Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Therapeutic Potential and Mechanisms of Action of Quercetin in Relation to Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Sepsis In Vitro and In Vivo

Sepsis caused by Gram-negative bacterial infection is characterized by extensive inflammatory cytokine production, which leads to multiple organ failure and a high lethality rate. Therefore, compounds that are able to alleviate profound inflammatory responses may have therapeutic potential in relation to sepsis. Quercetin, one of the flavonoids found widely in the human diet, has been reported to have many health benefits, but the mechanisms underlying its biological effects remain obscure. In the present study, our aim was to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which quercetin inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production and to evaluate the capacity of quercetin to attenuate the mortality rate in a mice model of lethal sepsis. Our results show that quercetin significantly attenuates LPS-induced production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in RAW264.7 macrophages. The LPS-stimulated phosphorylations of the inhibitors of κB kinase (IKKs), Akt, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) are also inhibited by quercetin. Quercetin causes a significant reduction in the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitor of κBα (IκBα) and in the nuclear level of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), the latter being associated with decreased NF-κB binding activity. Most importantly, acute administration of quercetin reduces the lethality rate and circulating levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in C57BL/6J mice with endotoxemia induced by LPS, whereas chronic dietary supplementation with quercetin shows no inhibitory effect on serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels. These findings provide clues that quercetin may be a promising agent for the prevention of systemic inflammatory diseases such as sepsis.
Promising Future of Metamaterials

This article summarized and reviewed the realization and applications of the waveguide-based metamaterial structures. In particular, an overview of the existing metamaterial elements was presented. We discussed the possible solutions to enable wave propagation below the waveguide cutoff frequency by loading these elements. Then a detailed analysis on those waveguide unit-cells loaded with different metamaterial elements was provided based on HFSS simulation. Various guided and radiated microwave applications based on these novel metamaterial-based waveguide structures were presented. Those obtained simulation and experimental results were found to be in good agreement with the theoretical prediction. These applications also demonstrate that the combination of waveguide structure and metamaterials offers an excellent alternative approach to the design of miniaturized and high-performance microwave components. Waveguide has high-power handling capability and high Q-factor. It also provides a uniform and lossless ε-negative (μ-negative) environment when operated based on the TE modes (TM modes) below the cutoff frequency. This is a promising and potentially rewarding research topic. We are looking forward to achieving more truly high-performance metamaterial devices by taking advantages of these features in the near future.
Visual aftereffects and sensory nonlinearities from a single statistical framework

When adapted to a particular scenery our senses may fool us: colors are misinterpreted, certain spatial patterns seem to fade out, and static objects appear to move in reverse. A mere empirical description of the mechanisms tuned to color, texture, and motion may tell us where these visual illusions come from. However, such empirical models of gain control do not explain why these mechanisms work in this apparently dysfunctional manner. Current normative explanations of aftereffects based on scene statistics derive gain changes by (1) invoking decorrelation and linear manifold matching/equalization, or (2) using nonlinear divisive normalization obtained from parametric scene models. These principled approaches have different drawbacks: the first is not compatible with the known saturation nonlinearities in the sensors and it cannot fully accomplish information maximization due to its linear nature. In the second, gain change is almost determined a priori by the assumed parametric image model linked to divisive normalization. In this study we show that both the response changes that lead to aftereffects and the nonlinear behavior can be simultaneously derived from a single statistical framework: the Sequential Principal Curves Analysis (SPCA). As opposed to mechanistic models, SPCA is not intended to describe how physiological sensors work, but it is focused on explaining why they behave as they do. Nonparametric SPCA has two key advantages as a normative model of adaptation: (i) it is better than linear techniques as it is a flexible equalization that can be tuned for more sensible criteria other than plain decorrelation (either full information maximization or error minimization); and (ii) it makes no a priori functional assumption regarding the nonlinearity, so the saturations emerge directly from the scene data and the goal (and not from the assumed function). It turns out that the optimal responses derived from these more sensible criteria and SPCA are consistent with dysfunctional behaviors such as aftereffects.
Evaluation of Floating Floor System with Steady State Dynamics Simulation in the Context of Impact Sound Level

Evaluation of floating floor at the design level imposes to take into account assumption of proper execution of this system, which means assertion of proper localization of dilation. Aim of this research is to analyse usefulness of Steady State Dynamics (SSD) simulation in the context of floating floor performance and execution errors such as global or local lack of circumferential dilatation. For this purpose, two-storey building with one room at each floor was simulated. Floating floor system was applied at structural ceiling between upper and lower floor. Excitation of system was done by application of pressure with given frequencies at central part of floor. Three types of systems were analysed: system without floating floor, system with properly executed floating floor and system with floating floor short-circuited to walls. Application of dynamic bridge was done gradually - at each wall - till whole floating floor was short-circuited. In the result of correlation between akin in-situ test compatible with standards, normative prediction of weighted impact sound reduction index and SSD simulations results was evaluated. Moreover, influence of dynamic short-circuit on floating floor system was analysed. Finally flanking vibration transition between upper and lower room with different systems was discussed. Principal conclusion of performed analysis is fact that SSD simulation results are sufficient to show vibration velocity spectrum nature of changes between systems with and without floating floor. What is more application of dynamic bridges at circumference of floating slab makes given system similar structural ceiling only system, which meets with akin in-situ test in matter of acoustic performance – similar nature of results of impact sound level with and without floating floor. Nevertheless, SSD simulation results are hardly agreeable with normative prediction and in-situ test of weighted impact sound reduction index.
Modelling dialogues using argumentation

A number of authors have suggested the use of argumentation techniques as the basis for negotiation dialogues between agents. In this paper we augment this work by investigating the use of argumentation as the basis for a wider range of types of dialogue. The approach we take is based upon MacKenzie's dialogue game DC, and we show that a translation of this into our system of argumentation can support a subset of the types of dialogue identified by Walton and Krabbe (1995).
Improving the Extent of Malignant Glioma Resection by Dual Intraoperative Visualization Approach

Despite continuing debates around cytoreductive surgery in malignant gliomas, there is broad consensus that increased extent of tumor reduction improves overall survival. However, maximization of the extent of tumor resection is hampered by difficulty in intraoperative discrimination between normal and pathological tissue. In this context, two established methods for tumor visualization, fluorescence guided surgery with 5-ALA and intraoperative MRI (iMRI) with integrated functional neuronavigation were investigated as a dual intraoperative visualization (DIV) approach. Thirty seven patients presumably suffering from malignant gliomas (WHO grade III or IV) according to radiological appearance were included. Twenty-one experimental sequences showing complete resection according to the 5-ALA technique were confirmed by iMRI. Fourteen sequences showing complete resection according to the 5-ALA technique could not be confirmed by iMRI, which detected residual tumor. Further analysis revealed that these sequences could be classified as functional grade II tumors (adjacent to eloquent brain areas). The combination of fluorescence guided resection and intraoperative evaluation by high field MRI significantly increased the extent of tumor resection in this subgroup of malignant gliomas located adjacent to eloquent areas from 61.7% to 100%; 5-ALA alone proved to be insufficient in attaining gross total resection without the danger of incurring postoperative neurological deterioration. Furthermore, in the case of functional grade III gliomas, iMRI in combination with functional neuronavigation was significantly superior to the 5-ALA resection technique. The extent of resection could be increased from 57.1% to 71.2% without incurring postoperative neurological deficits.
EReM: Energy-Efficient Resource Management in Body Area Networks with Fault Tolerance

Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) are inherently resource-constrained in nature and each WBAN has different kind of Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements. Therefore, in the presence of interference and poor link-quality, the resource pool of WBANs depletes significantly, which inherently increases the data dissemination delay and decreases the QoS requirements of WBANs in terms of resource availability. In order to minimize the data dissemination delay and to provide fair resources to WBANs in a link-failure situation, first we propose a fault tolerant mechanism for WBANs. Thereafter, we propose an energy-efficient resource management process to provide fair amount of resources to WBANs and minimize the energy consumption rate. We formulate the proposed scheme mathematically and evaluate through a series of simulations. Results show that the proposed scheme provides significant improvement in terms of delay, fairness and network throughput.
Oxidative stress-mediated antibacterial activity of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Background Graphene holds great promise for potential use in next-generation electronic and photonic devices due to its unique high carrier mobility, good optical transparency, large surface area, and biocompatibility. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effects of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this work, we used a novel reducing agent, betamercaptoethanol (BME), for synthesis of graphene to avoid the use of toxic materials. To uncover the impacts of GO and rGO on human health, the antibacterial activity of two types of graphene-based material toward a bacterial model P. aeruginosa was studied and compared. Methods The synthesized GO and rGO was characterized by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, particle-size analyzer, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Further, to explain the antimicrobial activity of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide, we employed various assays, such as cell growth, cell viability, reactive oxygen species generation, and DNA fragmentation. Results Ultraviolet-visible spectra of the samples confirmed the transition of GO into graphene. Dynamic light-scattering analyses showed the average size among the two types of graphene materials. X-ray diffraction data validated the structure of graphene sheets, and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy was employed to investigate the morphologies of prepared graphene. Raman spectroscopy data indicated the removal of oxygen-containing functional groups from the surface of GO and the formation of graphene. The exposure of cells to GO and rGO induced the production of superoxide radical anion and loss of cell viability. Results suggest that the antibacterial activities are contributed to by loss of cell viability, induced oxidative stress, and DNA fragmentation. Conclusion The antibacterial activities of GO and rGO against P. aeruginosa were compared. The loss of P. aeruginosa viability increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Exposure to GO and rGO induced significant production of superoxide radical anion compared to control. GO and rGO showed dose-dependent antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa cells through the generation of reactive oxygen species, leading to cell death, which was further confirmed through resulting nuclear fragmentation. The data presented here are novel in that they prove that GO and rGO are effective bactericidal agents against P. aeruginosa, which would be used as a future antibacterial agent.
Residual computation using dynamic time warping

This work describes the adaptation of Dynamic Time Warping algorithm in order to be used on-line for residual computation purpose. The main motivation is to compensate modelling errors and hybrid systems behaviour with on/off sensors. To illustrate the proposed method a laboratory plant where significant time distortions are manifested has been used to test this approach.
Predictive Anisotropy of Surface Winds by Linear Statistical Prediction

AbstractThis study considers characteristics of the statistical predictability of surface wind vectors by linear regression using midtropospheric climate fields as predictors. Specifically, predictive anisotropy, which refers to unequal predictability of wind components projected onto different directions, is considered. The spatial distribution of predictability of surface wind components is determined at 2109 land surface meteorological stations across the globe. The results show that predictive anisotropy is a common feature that is spatially organized in terms of both magnitude and direction. The relationships between predictability and potential influential factors (topographic complexity, mean surface wind vectors, and standard deviation and kurtosis of wind components) are considered. It is found that poor predictability of wind components is generally associated with wind components characterized by relatively weak and non-Gaussian variability. While predictive anisotropy is often found in regions.
Extensive and Biased Intergenomic Nonreciprocal DNA Exchanges Shaped a Nascent Polyploid Genome, Gossypium (Cotton)

Genome duplication is thought to be central to the evolution of morphological complexity, and some polyploids enjoy a variety of capabilities that transgress those of their diploid progenitors. Comparison of genomic sequences from several tetraploid (AtDt) Gossypium species and genotypes with putative diploid A- and D-genome progenitor species revealed that unidirectional DNA exchanges between homeologous chromosomes were the predominant mechanism responsible for allelic differences between the Gossypium tetraploids and their diploid progenitors. Homeologous gene conversion events (HeGCEs) gradually subsided, declining to rates similar to random mutation during radiation of the polyploid into multiple clades and species. Despite occurring in a common nucleus, preservation of HeGCE is asymmetric in the two tetraploid subgenomes. At-to-Dt conversion is far more abundant than the reciprocal, is enriched in heterochromatin, is highly correlated with GC content and transposon distribution, and may silence abundant A-genome-derived retrotransposons. Dt-to-At conversion is abundant in euchromatin and genes, frequently reversing losses of gene function. The long-standing observation that the nonspinnable-fibered D-genome contributes to the superior yield and quality of tetraploid cotton fibers may be explained by accelerated Dt to At conversion during cotton domestication and improvement, increasing dosage of alleles from the spinnable-fibered A-genome. HeGCE may provide an alternative to (rare) reciprocal DNA exchanges between chromosomes in heterochromatin, where genes have approximately five times greater abundance of Dt-to-At conversion than does adjacent intergenic DNA. Spanning exon-to-gene-sized regions, HeGCE is a natural noninvasive means of gene transfer with the precision of transformation, potentially important in genetic improvement of many crop plants.
Determining the Range of the Power Consumption in Linear DC Interval Parameter Circuits

The paper considers the following worst-case steady-state tolerance analysis problem: given a linear dc circuit whose resistors and sources have preset tolerances, determine the range of the electrical power consumed in the circuit. It is shown that the power range sought can be computed as the range of an associated interval linear programming problem. A method for solving the latter problem is suggested whose numerical complexity is not a priori exponential. A numerical example illustrating the new method is provided.
Verifying an implementation of SSH

We present a case study in the formal verification of an open source Java implementation of SSH. We discuss the security flaws we found and fixed by means of formal specification and verification – using the specification language JML and the program verification tool ESC/Java2 – and by more basic manual code inspection. Of more general interest is the methodology we propose to formalise security protocols such as SSH using finite state machines. This provides a precise but accessible formal specification, that is not only useful for formal verification, but also for development, testing, and for clarification of official specification in natural language.
The expansion and impact on native species of a sea anemone introduced into a tropical marine lake (Jellyfish Lake, Palau)

Author(s): Patris, Sharon | Advisor(s): Dawson, Michael; Beman, Michael | Abstract: Introduced species often are considered one of the major threats to biodiversity in island and marine habitats. However, generalizations from anecdotal observations, bias in scientific literature, and the unpredictability of species’ responses to new environments have limited our understanding of the impact of invasive species. To address this limitation, there is a need for an increase in quantitative studies that objectively assess occurrence, distribution and impact of non–native species in systems that are under–represented in the scientific literature. Here, we describe the introduction of a non-native sea anemone species into Jellyfish Lake, an isolated tropical marine lake. From 2003–2012, we gathered samples to identify the introduced species and quantitative data using transect and photo–quadrat surveys to describe its abundance and distribution. We also assessed its impact on native species through possible competition for space. The non–native species was found at the tourist entry into the lake in 2003 and identified as Exaiptasia sp. , a symbiotic sea anemone; temporal patterns of tourism, the spatial extent of the anemone, and genetic analyses of the symbiont, were consistent with the early stages of invasion. Subsequent expansion of Exaiptasia sp. occurred within six years, fully encompassing the perimeter of the lake, occurring predominately on mangrove roots. Species’ assemblages that experienced invasion were significantly different among surveys and habitats. Using Pearson’s and Spearman rank correlation, we determined both positive and negative relationships between the percent cover of Exaiptasia sp. and a subset of 20 native species that were present in all four surveys. Overall, Exaiptasia sp. percent cover had a significant but weak negative correlation (-0.5
Cluster-Weighted Modeling as a Basis for Non-Additive GFM

The cluster-weighted modeling (CWM) is a mixture density estimator around local models. To be specific, the input regions together with output regions are treated to be Gaussian serving as local models. These models are linked by a linear function involving the mixture of densities of local models. A connection between the CWM and generalized fuzzy model (GFM) is established in this work for utilizing the concepts of probability theory in deriving additive and non-additive fuzzy system versions of GFM
SMILE: Experimental Results of the WP4 PTS Large Scale Test Performed on a Component in Terms of Cracked Cylinder Involving Warm Pre-Stress

The Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) is an essential component, which is liable to limit the lifetime duration of PWR plants. The assessment of defects in RPV subjected to pressurized thermal shock (PTS) transients made at an European level generally does not necessarily consider the beneficial effect of the load history (Warm Pre-stress, WPS). The SMILE project Structural Margin Improvements in aged embrittled RPV with Load history Effects aims to give sufficient elements to demonstrate, to model and to validate the beneficial WPS effect. It also aims to harmonize the different approaches in the national codes and standards regarding the inclusion of the WPS effect in a RPV structural integrity assessment. The project includes significant experimental work on WPS type experiments with C(T) specimens and a PTS type transient experiment on a large component. This paper deals with the results of the PTS type transient experiment on a component-like specimen subjected to WPSloading, the so called Validation Test, carried out within the framework of
Interpolation based transmit beamforming for MIMO-OFDM with limited feedback

Transmit beamforming and receive combining are simple methods for exploiting spatial diversity in multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) system. Optimal beamforming requires channel state information in the form of the beamforming vectors for each OFDM subcarrier. This paper proposes a limited feedback architecture that combines beamforming vector quantization and smart vector interpolation. In the proposed system, the receiver sends a fraction of information about the optimal beamforming vectors to the transmitter and the transmitter computes the beamforming vectors for all subcarriers through interpolation. A new spherical interpolator is developed that exploits parameters for phase rotation to satisfy the phase invariance and unit norm properties of the transmitted beamforming vectors. The beamforming vectors and phase parameters are quantized at the receiver and the quantized information is provided to the transmitter. The proposed quantization system provides only a moderate increase in complexity versus over comparable approaches. Numerical simulations show that the proposed scheme performs better than existing diversity techniques with the same feedback data rate.