Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Overlapping Functions of ABC Transporters in Topotecan Disposition as Determined in Gene Knockout Mouse Models

It is established that efflux transporters of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily can affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs through mechanisms pertaining to drug absorption, elimination, and distribution. To characterize the role of multiple transporters in topotecan's pharmacokinetics, total (lactone+carboxylate) and lactone forms were measured by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) in plasma, bile, urine, and feces following intravenous administration at doses of 1 and 4 mg/kg to eight mouse strains: C57BL/6 [wild-type (WT)], Abcb1−/−, Abcc2−/−, Abcc4−/−, Abcg2−/−, Abcc2;Abcb1−/−, Abcc2;Abcg2−/−, and Abcc4;Abcg2−/−. Compared with WT mice and at both dose levels, the plasma areas under the curve for topotecan lactone were not significantly different in the Abcc2−/−, Abcc4−/−, and Abcb1−/− strains, whereas significant differences were found in Abcg2−/−, Abcc2;Abcb1−/− (only at the high dose), Abcc4;Abcg2−/−, and Abcc2;Abcg2−/− mice and ranged from 2.1- to 3.3-fold higher. Consistent with these changes, the fecal and biliary excretion of topotecan was reduced, whereas renal elimination was elevated in Abcg2−/−-based strains. Similarly, the Abcc2;Abcb1−/− strain also had elevated renal elimination and reduced fecal excretion of topotecan lactone. This was more pronounced at the 4 mg/kg dose level, suggesting possible saturation of Abcg2. The Abcc4 transporter was found not to be a major determinant of topotecan pharmacokinetics. It is concluded that Abcg2 has the most significant effect on topotecan elimination, whereas both Abcb1 and Abcc2 have overlapping functions with Abcg2. As such it is relevant to examine how polymorphisms in these transporters influence topotecan activity in patients and whether coadministration of transport modulators could positively affect efficacy without increasing toxicity. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(7); 1343–55. ©2013 AACR.
An Active Vision System for a Social Robot

Motivation: Much of human social behavior is influenced by the directional, foveated nature of our visual perception. We have developed characteristic eye and head movements to serve the functional requirements of acquiring information through vision, and we intuitively “read” those movements in others. A humanoid robot whose vision system follows the human organization can enter into this implicit protocol. This introduces an extra dimension to the control problem, where we must design for the social significance that people will assign to the robot’s behavior – such as making and breaking eye contact during conversational turn-taking.
A balanced and energy-efficient clustering algorithm for heterogeneous wireless sensor networks

In Wireless Sensor networks clustering algorithm is an effective technology to save sensor nodes energy and extend network lifetime, but most of these algorithms are often designed for homogeneous sensor networks, which is not realistic and practical. In this paper, we propose an improved clustering protocol BEEC (Balanced and Energy-Efficient Clustering algorithm) for heterogeneous wireless sensor networks. In BEEC, it optimizes the threshold for selecting cluster heads and uses coverage radius to balance the distribution of cluster heads. It also introduces a novel approach to choose cluster head for cluster members so as to take fully advantage of energy heterogeneity. Simulation results show that this improved clustering algorithm can effectively prolong network lifetime and enlarge network throughput when compared with other existing clustering protocols in heterogeneous environments.
Cognitive Communication in Rail Transit: Awareness, Adaption, and Reasoning

Wireless communication plays a vital role in the operations of modern rail transportation. The characteristics of rapid train motion make the wireless spectrum environment unstable, discontinuous, and unpredictable. These uncertainties, coupled with inherent spectrum scarcity, result in inefficiencies in wireless communication. Applying cognitive radio in railway wireless communication systems is a cutting-edge research field. Most rail cognitive radio studies focus only on solving spectrum scarcity. The authors’ improved rail cognitive radio model uses a Bayesian network with numerous channel contextual features to probabilistically infer the likelihood of spectrum accessibility. This scheme provides a completely new way to solve the problem of low spectral efficiency of cognitive radio in rail transit.
Identifying and quantifying nonlinear structured relationships in complex manufactural systems

Accurately identifying time-invariant operational relationships among different components is critical to autonomic management of complex manufactural systems. In this paper, we collect time series of sensor readings from manufacturing systems, and propose a solution leveraging Sparse Group LASSO to discover structured pairwise nonlinear relationships and quantify them by mathematical formulas. We consider both real-life operational patterns and underlying physical reactions inside the manufactural systems, which leads to a learning formulation for combined periodic and aperiodic system behaviors. An accelerated gradient descent algorithm is developed to efficiently solve the related optimization problem. We estimate sample correlations between proximal time points to improve the accuracy of the discovered relationships and the nonlinear quantitative formulas. The method is evaluated using both synthetic and real-world datasets, which shows superior performance over the state of the art in discovering nonlinear relationships in manufactural systems.
Imaging of the SEG/EAGE Salt Model Seismic Data Using Sparse  $f$–  $x$ Finite-Impulse-Response Wavefield Extrapolation Filters

In this paper, a stable explicit depth wavefield extrapolation is obtained using sparse frequency-space (f-x) finite impulse response (FIR) digital filters. The ideal impulse response of the wavefield extrapolation filter is nonsparse in nature, as will be shown. The problem of designing such filters to obtain stable images of the famous challenging Society of Exploration Geophysicists/European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (SEG/EAGE) salt model seismic data was formulated as an L1-norm minimization that is convex with a quadratic constraint. Then, sparse filters were obtained by employing hard thresholding to the filter coefficients' magnitude. An ad hoc threshold value was set to the minimum of the bin location values that were used to calculate the histogram of the f-x FIR filter coefficients' magnitude. Thus, the f-x FIR filter coefficients (both real and imaginary parts), at which the filter coefficients' magnitude is below the threshold, were set equal to zero. Poststack depth imaging of the SEG/EAGE salt model data set was then performed using the explicit depth wavefield extrapolation with the proposed nonsparse and sparse L1-norm minimization-based algorithms. Taking into account the amount of improved computational efficiency and compared with the results of other methods such as the phase shift plus interpolation migration algorithm, the results of the proposed sparse L1-norm minimization method showed practically stable images of the salt data set. The proposed method can therefore be used to design high accuracy sparse extrapolation filters.
Toward a Model of Mind as a Laissez-Faire Economy of Idiots

A learning machine called \The Hayek Machine" is proposed and tested on a simulated Blocks World planning problem. Hayek learns a set of agents from reinforcement. The agents interact in a market economy. A price mechanism is proposed and seen to have three desirable eeects. First, the market price learns to estimate Hayek's future reward from using a given agent. Second, the market automatically selects the agent with highest estimate to act next. Third, new agents can enter the market if and only if they have greater expected utility than direct competitors. Hayek learns by gradual accretion of useful agents and elimination of poor ones,and by reenement of its price estimates. Many agents act in consort to solve problems. Our Blocks World (BW) problems, which involve discovering the abstract goal of copying a stack, and necessitate solving Towers of Hanoi-like problems, are far more complex than any BW problems previously addressed by a learning algorithm. Starting from tabula rasa, and with reinforcement only upon completion of an instance, Hayek learns to solve eight block problems. These are larger than can be solved by a simple handcrafted program, and of comparable complexity to those solvable by general purpose planners. Given intermediate reinforcement or simple features such as \top of stack", Hayek does much better. Given both, Hayek produces a set of agents which solves arbitrary Blocks World Instances, and does so eeciently on almost all such instances. My goals in studying Hayek are threefold. First, Hayek represents progress toward a useful program for learning to reason. Second, it is intended as a model of mind. It models how human-like mental capabilities can be autonomously broken into simple components nowhere invoking a homunculus. Third, it is a model of economics. Utilizing very limited agents and starting far from equilibrium, Hayek achieves a productive and stable economy. It thus gives insight as to why and how far mathematical economic predictions based on assumptions of computationally powerful and rational agents, and on convergence to equilibrium, can be expected to hold in the real world.
A game theory based classification for distributed downloading of multiple description coded video

Recent works have shown how Multiple Description Coding (MDC) proves to be an effective solution for the multimedia transmission over Peer-to-Peer and Content Delivery Networks. However, despite the flexibility and scalability of these novel transmission paradigms, packet streams are still affected by losses, and an effective packet labelling that differentiates the QoS levels for the transmitted data is required. The paper presents a Game Theory based approach to classify the MDC coded video packets that are downloaded from a set of terminals spread throughout the network. The proposed approach improves the quality of the reconstructed sequence with limited feedback information from the network.
K-core decomposition of Internet graphs: hierarchies, self-similarity and measurement biases

We consider the $k$-core decomposition of network models and Internet graphs at the autonomous system (AS) level. The k-core analysis allows to characterize networks beyond the degree distribution and uncover structural properties and hierarchies due to the specific architecture of the system. We compare the $k$-core structure obtained for AS graphs with those of several network models and discuss the differences and similarities with the real Internet architecture. The presence of biases and the incompleteness of the real maps are discussed and their effect on the $k$-core analysis is assessed with numerical experiments simulating biased exploration on a wide range of network models. We find that the $k$-core analysis provides an interesting characterization of the fluctuations and incompleteness of maps as well as information helping to discriminate the original underlying structure.
Stabilization of measles virus for vaccine formulation

An attenuated live measles virus (MV) was characterized by several biophysical methods as a function of temperature and pH. Following a method developed previously, the resultant light scattering and spectroscopic data were synthesized into an empirical phase diagram that visually and simultaneously represents the entire data set. Using this empirically-based phase diagram, screening assays were developed to identify potential vaccine stabilizers. Various compounds are shown by these assays to inhibit the temperature-induced aggregation of viral particles, and also to protect the integrity of the viral envelope. Accelerated stability assays show that, upon thermal challenge, MV formulated with these excipients retains its infectivity to a significant extent. Thus, the enhanced physical stability produced by this method is shown to protect the biological activity of this important but labile vaccine.
Distribution and Abundance of Benthic Meiofauna in the Eastern Red Sea Coasts (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)

This study was achieved in collaboration between all authors. Author AH designed the study, sampling and counting meiofauna and wrote the manuscript. Author MBA performed the statistical analysis and managed the literature searches. Authors AHNED and BA contribute in meiofauna sampling and managed the literature searches. Author MMSH participated in sampling and counting meiofauna and reviewing manuscript. Author TS contribute in meiofauna sampling and sediment analysis. Author FB participated in free-living nematodes identification. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. ABSTRACT An investigative study was conducted during September 2017 along the eastern Red Sea coasts (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia). During this study, 5 stations were prospected and samples of sediment were especially collected in order to study their meiobenthic organisms. Results showed important variations of the environmental factors between stations mainly for salinity measurements that were clearly higher at Shuaiba lagoon (47.70 psu). Meiofauna densities ranged from 218.50 to 485.25 ind.10 cm -2 . Nematodes, Polychaeta, Foraminifera and Ostracoda were the most abundant among the 14 taxa registered. The highest densities of meiofauna were related to high levels of organic matter in Al Saif bay station while the lowest were observed in Shuaiba lagoon station with muddy sediments, low dissolved oxygen and high salinity. Statistical analyses showed that dissolved oxygen rate had a positive effect on Polychaeta, Turbellaria, Gastrotricha and Tardigrada whereas Arachnida, Mollusca and Brachiopoda were respectively affected by organic matter and salinity.
Activity of Vasopressinergic Neurones of the Human Supraoptic Nucleus os Age‐ and Sex‐Dependent

In the human hypothalamus, arginine‐vasopressin (AVP) is produced for a major part by the neurones of the supraoptic nucleus (SON). Since plasma AVP levels in men were reported to be higher than those of women and we did not find a sex difference in the neurone number, a higher vasopressinergic neurone activity was supposed to be present in the SON of men. Therefore we studied the size of the Golgi‐apparatus (GA), which has been demonstrated previously to be a sensitive parameter for protein synthetic ability of neurones, in 15 men and 17 women ranging in age from 29 to 94 years. A polyclonal antibody against immunoaffinity purified MG‐160, a sialoglycoprotein of the medial cisternae of the GA was applied on paraffin‐embedded sections containing the dorsolateral SON ( dl‐SON) from which 90–95% of neurones are vasopressinergic. SON areas that contain oxytocin (OT) cells were excluded on the basis of adjacent sections stained with a monoclonal antibody against OT. By means of an image analysis system the size of the GA and the cellular profile area were determined in dl‐SON neurones with a nucleolus. Our results showed indeed an age‐dependent sex difference in the size of the GA that appeared to be twice as large in young men (≤50 years old) than in young women of the same age. The size of the GA increased with age in women but not in men. In addition, the mean cell profile area, another measure for neuronal activity, was significantly larger in young men than in young women and was in old women larger than in young women. In conclusion, these data show the presence of a sex‐dependent age‐difference in the activity of vasopressinergic neurones in dl‐SON which may relate to differences in AVP and sex hormone levels and kidney AVP receptors.
A Multilingual Paradigm for Automatic Verb Classification

We demonstrate the benefits of a multilingual approach to automatic lexical semantic verb classification based on statistical analysis of corpora in multiple languages. Our research incorporates two interrelated threads. In one, we exploit the similarities in the crosslinguistic classification of verbs, to extend work on English verb classification to a new language (Italian), and to new classes within that language, achieving an accuracy of 86.4% (baseline 33.9%). Our second strand of research exploits the differences across languages in the syntactic expression of semantic properties, to show that complementary information about English verbs can be extracted from their translations in a second language (Chinese). The use of multilingual features improves classification performance of the English verbs, achieving an accuracy of 83.5% (baseline 33.3%).
Groundwater–Surface Water Exchange: From Plot Scale to Catchment Scale

The exchange of groundwater-surface water has been investigated in the western part of Denmark. Holtum stream provides the framework for all the performed investigations. Several methods are used, primarily field based measurements combined with numerical models to achieve insight to the governing processes of interaction between groundwater and surface water. By using heat as a tracer it has been possible to use temperature directly as calibration targets in a groundwater and heat transport model. Thus, it is possible to use heat to investigate the change in groundwater discharge in dynamic conditions related to rainfall-runoff events. By combining geochemical, geophysical and hydrogeological models with numerical modeling, groundwater flow paths to a stream were investigated in a wetland. By combining the different tracers, confidence in the parameters of the numerical model could be established and geochemical patterns were interpreted. The strength of the approach using multiple tracers was obvious since the deduced flow paths could not have been established from a single tracer alone. The combination of groundwater age tracers (CFCs) with streamflow accretion was used to constrain a groundwater stream flow model at catchment scale. However, this was not possible since the model did not simulate observed streamflow accretion and thereby simulating groundwater ages that were not comparable with calculated CFC ages. The errors are likely related to the fact that the measured streamflow accretion did not represent steady-state conditions. However, the hypothesis could still be tested with a more robust data set of flow accretion and potentially offer an alternative tool for constraining groundwater flow model where the focus is on GW–SW exchange. Further investigations at the catchment scale were carried out by using simple temperature devices along a stream to delineate the areas of interest in regard to GW–SW exchange. Thus, at several locations in a stream a temperature data logger was placed in the water column and right at the streambed-water interface. By looking at the correlation of streambed/stream temperature with air temperatures areas of enhanced groundwater discharge were identified.
PAN-on-Demand: leveraging multiple radios to build self-organizing, energy-efficient pans

We present PAN-on-Demand, a self-organizing wireless personal-area network (PAN) that balances performance and energy concerns by scaling the structure of the network to match the demands of applications. PAN-on-Demand autonomously organizes co-located mobile devices with one or more commodity radios such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to form a network that enables data sharing among those devices. It improves performance and extends battery life by switching between interfaces and opportunistically exploiting available power-saving modes. When applications are actively using the network, PAN-on-Demand offers high-bandwidth, low-latency communication; when demand is light, it adapts the network structure to minimize energy usage. Our results show that PAN-on-Demand reduces the average response time of PAN activities such as MP3 playing, e-mail viewing, and photo sharing by up to 92% and extends battery life by up to 47% compared to current PAN communication strategies.
Influence of aromatic substitution patterns on azo dye degradability by Streptomyces spp. and Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Twenty-two azo dyes were used to study the influence of substituents on azo dye biodegradability and to explore the possibility of enhancing the biodegradabilities of azo dyes without affecting their properties as dyes by changing their chemical structures. Streptomyces spp. and Phanerochaete chrysosporium were used in the study. None of the actinomycetes (Streptomyces rochei A10, Streptomyces chromofuscus A11, Streptomyces diastaticus A12, S. diastaticus A13, and S. rochei A14) degraded the commercially available Acid Yellow 9. Decolorization of monosulfonated mono azo dye derivatives of azobenzene by the Streptomyces spp. was observed with five azo dyes having the common structural pattern of a hydroxy group in the para position relative to the azo linkage and at least one methoxy and/or one alkyl group in an ortho position relative to the hydroxy group. The fungus P. chrysosporium attacked Acid Yellow 9 to some extent and extensively decolorized several azo dyes. A different pattern was seen for three mono azo dye derivatives of naphthol. Streptomyces spp. decolorized Orange I but not Acid Orange 12 or Orange II. P. chrysosporium, though able to transform these three azo dyes, decolorized Acid Orange 12 and Orange II more effectively than Orange I. A correlation was observed between the rate of decolorization of dyes by Streptomyces spp. and the rate of oxidative decolorization of dyes by a commercial preparation of horseradish peroxidase type II, extracellular peroxidase preparations of S. chromofuscus A11, or Mn(II) peroxidase from P. chrysosporium. Ligninase of P. chrysosporium showed a dye specificity different from that of the other oxidative enzymes. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Design and Implementation of a Sounding Rocket-Borne RS (255, 223) Encoder

The Reed-Solomon (RS) (255,223) code is a powerful burst error correcting code, and it can correct any combination of 16 or fewer RS symbols in error per codeword. Based on the Berlekamp's bit-serial multiplication algorithm, we design and implement a sounding rocket-borne RS (255, 223) encoder with 2-depth symbol interleaving capability. The implementation result of the encoder on single-chip Xilinx FPGA XC3S400 is presented. The encoder is tested by three classes of RS symbols, and the test results indicate that the designed RS (255, 223) encoder is highly efficient and suitable for applying on sounding rocket missions.