Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring How African American Faculty Cope with Classroom Racial Stressors

Abstract:This study was an examination of how African American faculty discussed their coping with racially stressful classrooms. Despite aims for racial equality in higher education, the classroom has been a significant site of racial stressors for African American faculty. Analysis of interviews with 16 (8 women, 8 men) African American faculty at a large, predominantly White, university revealed that African American faculty use group-specific coping strategies for classroom racial stressors. Specifically, they coped by creating safe space for students, employing assertive actions to establish authority, questioning students' thinking, and focusing on learning goals for students.
A TS Fuzzy System Learned Through a Support Vector Machine in Principal Component Space for Real-Time Object Detection

This paper proposes a Takagi-Sugeno (TS) fuzzy system learned through a support vector machine (SVM) in principal component space (TFS-SVMPC) for real-time object detection. The antecedent part of the TFS-SVMPC classifier is generated using an algorithm that is similar to fuzzy clustering. The dimension of the free parameter vector in the TS consequent part of the TFS-SVMPC is first reduced by principal component analysis (PCA). A linear SVM is then used to tune the subsequent parameters in the principal component space to give the system better generalization performance. The TFS-SVMPC is used as a classifier in a camera-based real-time object detection system. The object detection system consists of two stages. The first stage uses a color histogram of the global color appearance of an object as a detection feature for a TFS-SVMPC classifier. In particular, an efficient method for histogram extraction during the image scanning process is proposed for real-time implementation. The second stage uses the geometry-dependent local color appearance as a color feature for another TFS-SVMPC classifier. Comparisons with other types of classifiers and detection methods for the detection of different objects verify the performance of the proposed TFS-SVMPC-based detection method.
Preprocessing of Complex Non-Ground Rules in Answer Set Programming

In this paper we present a novel method for preprocessing complex non-ground rules in answer set programming (ASP). Using a well-known result from the area of conjunctive query evaluation, we apply hypertree decomposition to ASP rules in order to make the structure of rules more explicit to grounders. In particular, the decomposition of rules reduces the number of variables per rule, while on the other hand, additional predicates are required to link the decomposed rules together. As we show in this paper, this technique can reduce the size of the grounding significantly and thus improves the performance of ASP systems in certain cases. Using a prototype implementation and the benchmark suites of the Answer Set Programming Competition 2011, we perform extensive tests of our decomposition approach that clearly show the improvements in grounding time and size.
Contribution of individual random mutations to genotype-by-environment interactions in Escherichia coli

Numerous studies have shown genotype-by-environment (G×E) interactions for traits related to organismal fitness. However, the genetic architecture of the interaction is usually unknown because these studies used genotypes that differ from one another by many unknown mutations. These mutations were also present as standing variation in populations and hence had been subject to prior selection. Based on such studies, it is therefore impossible to say what fraction of new, random mutations contributes to G×E interactions. In this study, we measured the fitness in four environments of 26 genotypes of Escherichia coli, each containing a single random insertion mutation. Fitness was measured relative to their common progenitor, which had evolved on glucose at 37°C for the preceding 10,000 generations. The four assay environments differed in limiting resource and temperature (glucose, 28°C; maltose, 28°C; glucose, 37°C; and maltose, 37°C). A highly significant interaction between mutation and resource was found. In contrast, there was no interaction involving temperature. The resource interaction reflected much higher among mutation variation for fitness in maltose than in glucose. At least 11 mutations (42%) contributed to this G×E interaction through their differential fitness effects across resources. Beneficial mutations are generally thought to be rare but, surprisingly, at least three mutations (12%) significantly improved fitness in maltose, a resource novel to the progenitor. More generally, our findings demonstrate that G×E interactions can be quite common, even for genotypes that differ by only one mutation and in environments differing by only a single factor.
Correlated Non-Parametric Latent Feature Models

We are often interested in explaining data through a set of hidden factors or features. When the number of hidden features is unknown, the Indian Buffet Process (IBP) is a nonparametric latent feature model that does not bound the number of active features in dataset. However, the IBP assumes that all latent features are uncorrelated, making it inadequate for many realworld problems. We introduce a framework for correlated non-parametric feature models, generalising the IBP. We use this framework to generate several specific models and demonstrate applications on realworld datasets.
A Patient-Adapting Heartbeat Classifier Using ECG Morphology and Heartbeat Interval Features

An adaptive system for the automatic processing of the electrocardiogram (ECG) for the classification of heartbeats into one of the five beat classes recommended by ANSI/AAMI EC57:1998 standard is presented. The heartbeat classification system processes an incoming recording with a global-classifier to produce the first set of beat annotations. An expert then validates and if necessary corrects a fraction of the beats of the recording. The system then adapts by first training a local-classifier using the newly annotated beats and combines this with the global-classifier to produce an adapted classification system. The adapted system is then used to update beat annotations. The results of this study show that the performance of a patient adaptable classifier increases with the amount of training of the system on the local record. Crucially, the performance of the system can be significantly boosted with a small amount of adaptation even when all beats used for adaptation are from a single class. This study illustrates the ability to provide highly beneficial automatic arrhythmia monitoring and is an improvement on previously reported results for automated heartbeat classification systems
Suppression of pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis by HMP19 identified through genome‐wide shRNA screen

Therapeutic effectiveness against metastatic or even locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is dismal, with 5‐year survival less than 5%. Even in patients who undergo potentially curative resection, most patients' tumors recur in the liver. Improving therapies targeting or preventing liver metastases is crucial for improving prognosis. To identify genes suppressing metastasis, a genome‐wide shRNA screen was done using the human non‐metastatic PDAC cell line, S2‐028. After identification of candidates, functional validation was done using intrasplenic and orthotopic injections in athymic mice. HMP19 strongly inhibited metastasis but also partially attenuated tumor growth in the pancreas. Knockdown of HMP19 increased localization of activated ERK1/2 in the nucleus, corresponding to facilitated cell proliferation, decreased p27Kip1 and increased cyclin E1. Over‐expression of HMP19 exerted the opposite effects. Using a tissue microarray of 84 human PDAC, patients with low expression of HMP19 showed significantly higher incidence of liver metastasis (p = 0.0175) and worse prognosis (p = 0.018) after surgery. HMP19, a new metastasis/tumor suppressor in PDAC, appears to alter signaling that leads to cell proliferation and appears to offer prognostic value in human PDAC.
Speaker verification using kernel-based binary classifiers with binary operation derived features

In this paper, we study the use of two kinds of kernel-based discriminative models, namely support vector machine (SVM) and deep neural network (DNN), for speaker verification. We treat the verification task as a binary classification problem, in which a pair of two utterances, each represented by an i-vector, is assumed to belong to either the “within-speaker” group or the “between-speaker” group. To solve the problem, we employ various binary operations to retain the basic relationship between any pair of i-vectors to form a single vector for training the discriminative models. This study also investigates the correlation of achievable performances with the number of training pairs and the various combinations of basic binary operations, using the SVM and DNN binary classifiers. The experiments are conducted on the male portion of the core task in the NIST 2005 Speaker Recognition Evaluation (SRE), and the results are competitive or even better, in terms of normalized decision cost function (minDCF) and equal error rate (EER), while compared to other non-probabilistic based models, such as the conventional speaker SVMs and the LDA-based cosine distance scoring.
Frequency and causes of kangaroo–vehicle collisions on an Australian outback highway

Kangaroo–vehicle collisions are frequent on Australian highways. Despite high economic costs, detrimental effects on animal welfare, and potential impacts on population viability, little research has been done to investigate the impact of road mortality on kangaroo populations, where and why accidents occur, and how the collisions can be mitigated. We therefore collected data on species (Macropus rufus, M. giganteus, M. fuliginosus, M. robustus), sex and age of kangaroos killed on a 21.2-km bitumenised section of outback highway over 6 months in far western New South Wales, Australia. The spatial and temporal distribution of road-killed kangaroos was investigated in relation to the cover and quality of road-side vegetation, road characteristics, the density of kangaroos along the road, climatic variables and traffic volume. A total of 125 kangaroos were found killed on the road at a rate of 0.03 deaths km–1 day–1. Grey kangaroos of two species (M. giganteus, M. fuliginosus) were under-represented in the road-kill sample in comparison with their proportion in the source population estimated during the day. No bias towards either sex was found. The age structure of road-killed kangaroos was similar to age structures typical of source kangaroo populations. Road-kills mainly occurred in open plains country. In road sections with curves or stock races, road-kill frequencies were higher than expected. Greater cover and greenness of roadside vegetation at the verge probably attracted kangaroos to the road and variation in this vegetation affected the spatial distribution of road-kills. The temporal distribution of road-kills was positively correlated with the volume of night-time traffic. The probability of a kangaroo–vehicle collision increased exponentially with traffic volume. Results are discussed in relation to the potential for mitigation of kangaroo–vehicle collisions.
Elements of Self-Regulation in Students' Scripts Related to Particular Learning Situations.

Self-regulation refers to the degree that individuals become metacognitively, motivationally, and behaviorally active in their own learning processes. One potentially helpful means of examining students' self-regulation is to analyze their internal representations, or scripts, for recurring academic tasks. For this study, researchers analyzed the script elements, the primary script norms, the elements of self-regulation incorporated into students' scripts, and the effects of gender on basic script elements in 61 students in grade 11. The scripts related to three common high school learning situations: writing a term paper, studying for a final examination, and preparing an oral presentation. The incidence and nature of self-regulation revealed in the students' written protocols were also examined. Results show that in the 3 learning situations, there were 1224 script elements, which included 624 elements of self-regulation. Primary norm scripts, basic script elements, and elements of self-regulation in 15 categories of self-regulated learning processes varied according to learning situations. There was no gender effect found on script elements or elements of self-regulation. Findings indicate that scripts can be useful sources for investigating self-regulation in high school students. Contains approximately 85 references. (RJM) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************************************************************************
Discovery of Web services in a federated registry environment

The potential of a large scale growth of private and semi-private registries is creating the need for an infrastructure which can support discovery and publication over a group of autonomous registries. Recent versions of UDDI have made changes to accommodate interactions between distributed registries. In this paper, we discuss METEOR-S Web service Discovery Infrastructure, which provides an ontology-based infrastructure to access a group of registries that are divided based on business domains and grouped into federations. We also discuss how Web service discovery is carried out within a federation.
Deficiency in Epstein-Ban- Virus Receptors on B-Lymphocytes of Preleukemia Patients1

Lymphocytes from eight preleukemia patients were exposed to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in vitro in an attempt to establish lymphoblastoid cell lines. No signs of viral infection were de tected, and no cell lines were obtained. Studies using fluoresceinlabeled EBV and flow cytometry revealed an unusual and con sistent deficiency in EBV receptors in all patients examined. In control studies, about 15% of the unseparated lymphocytes from healthy donors bound fluorescein-labeled EBV. In spite of the lack of EBV receptors, B-lymphocytes amounted to 10 to 20% of the preleukemia lymphocyte populations, a proportion similar to that in healthy donors. When lymphocytes from preleukemic patients were first implanted with functional EBV receptors and then exposed to EBV, synthesis of EBV-determined nuclear, early, and viral capsid antigens was induced. Subsequently, several cell lines originating from preleukemic patients' lympho cytes were established. These lines are of a B-lymphocyte origin and carry EBV genome. They will provide experimental material for the molecular analysis of lymphocytic defects in preleukemia and their possible role in the transition to acute leukemia.
SDQuery DSI: Integrating data management support with a wide area data transfer protocol

In many science areas where datasets need to be transferred or shared, rapid growth in dataset size, coupled with much slower increases in wide area data transfer bandwidths, is making it extremely hard for scientists to analyze the data. This paper addresses the current limitations by developing SDQuery DSI, a GridFTP plug-in that supports flexible server-side data subsetting. An existing GridFTP server is able to dynamically load this tool to support new functionality. Different queries types (query over dimensions, coordinates and values) are supported by our tool. A number of optimizations, like parallel indexing, performance model for data subsetting, and parallel streaming are also applied. We compare our SDQuery DSI with GridFTP default File DSI in different network environments, and show that our method can achieve better efficiency in almost all cases.
JNK1 activation mediates C5b‐9‐induced P0 mRNA instability and P0 gene expression in Schwann cells

Abstract The protein zero (P0) glycoprotein is an important component of compact peripheral nerve myelin produced by the glial cells of the mammalian peripheral nervous system. P0 mRNA expression is reduced following exposure of Schwann cells to sublytic C5b‐9, the terminal activation complex of the complement cascade. Sublytic complement treatment decreased P0 mRNA by 81% within 6 h and required C5b‐9 assembly. C5b‐9 induced a threefold increase in both JNK1 activity and c‐jun mRNA within 20 and 30 min, respectively, compared with cells treated with either human serum depleted of complement component C7 (C7dHS) or medium alone. Sublytic C5b‐9 stimulation, in the presence of the transcription inhibitor Actinomycin D, decreased P0 mRNA expression by 52%, indicating that mRNA was selectively destabilized. This effect was prevented by pretreatment with L‐JNK inhibitor 1 (L‐JNKI1). To study a potential inhibition of P0 gene transcription, we transfected Schwann cells with a P0 promoter‐firefly luciferase construct. Sublytic C5b‐9 stimulation of the transfected cells decreased luciferase activity by 82% at 6 h, and this effect was prevented by pretreatment with L‐JNKI1 inhibitor. Our results indicate that the ability of C5b‐9 in vitro to affect P0 gene expression is mediated via JNK1 activation that leads to enhanced mRNA decay and transcriptional repression of P0.
Automatic Rib Segmentation in Chest CT Volume Data

An automatic segmentation method for extraction of human rib structures from chest CT volume data is presented. Segmentation is initiated from the middle coronal slice to attain complete and isolated 12 pairs of ribs with a recursive tracking on coronal slices spreading from the middle coronal slice. At each coronal slice, the lung contours are extracted, candidate rib regions are derived from thresholding, and refined by adding constraints on shape and location with respect to the lung contour and centroids of rib regions of the former coronal slice. Anatomical and radiological prior knowledge has been explored to ignore those rib regions connected to spine for breaking the connection with spine. Appropriate thresholds are chosen so that lung regions can be binarized, the cartilage connecting ribs and sternum are binarized as background to break the connection between the sternum and ribs. Our method is tested on 15 CT data sets. Experiments show that radiologists are satisfied with the extracted rib regions on coronal slices, and only those rib regions connected to spine are discarded (5.5% of all 2D rib regions). The method provides a foundation for further investigation on computer-aided diagnosis of rib fractures.
RIG-I–like Receptor Triggering by Dengue Virus Drives Dendritic Cell Immune Activation and TH1 Differentiation

Dengue virus (DENV) causes 400 million infections annually and is one of several viruses that can cause viral hemorrhagic fever, which is characterized by uncontrolled immune activation resulting in high fever and internal bleeding. Although the underlying mechanisms are unknown, massive cytokine secretion is thought to be involved. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the main target cells of DENV, and we investigated their role in DENV-induced cytokine production and adaptive immune responses. DENV infection induced DC maturation and secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF. Inhibition of DENV RNA replication abrogated these responses. Notably, silencing of RNA sensors RIG-I or MDA5 abrogated DC maturation, as well as cytokine responses by DENV-infected DCs. DC maturation was induced by type I IFN responses because inhibition of IFN-α/β receptor signaling abrogated DENV-induced DC maturation. Moreover, DENV infection of DCs resulted in CCL2, CCL3, and CCL4 expression, which was abrogated after RIG-I and MDA5 silencing. DCs play an essential role in TH cell differentiation, and we show that RIG-I and MDA5 triggering by DENV leads to TH1 polarization, which is characterized by high levels of IFN-γ. Notably, cytokines IL-6, TNF, and IFN-γ and chemokines CCL2, CCL3, and CCL4 have been associated with disease severity, endothelial dysfunction, and vasodilation. Therefore, we identified RIG-I and MDA5 as critical players in innate and adaptive immune responses against DENV, and targeting these receptors has the potential to decrease hemorrhagic fever in patients.
Significant obesity‐associated gene expression changes occur in the stomach but not intestines in obese mice

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract can have significant impact on the regulation of the whole‐body metabolism and may contribute to the development of obesity and diabetes. To systemically elucidate the role of the GI tract in obesity, we performed a transcriptomic analysis in different parts of the GI tract of two obese mouse models: ob/ob and high‐fat diet (HFD) fed mice. Compared to their lean controls, significant changes in the gene expression were observed in both obese mouse groups in the stomach (ob/ob: 959; HFD: 542). In addition, these changes were quantitatively much higher than in the intestine. Despite the difference in genetic background, the two mouse models shared 296 similar gene expression changes in the stomach. Among those genes, some had known associations to obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance. In addition, the gene expression profiles strongly suggested an increased gastric acid secretion in both obese mouse models, probably through an activation of the gastrin pathway. In conclusion, our data reveal a previously unknown dominant connection between the stomach and obesity in murine models extensively used in research.
HTLV-I Tax Increases Genetic Instability by Inducing DNA Double Strand Breaks during DNA Replication and Switching Repair to NHEJ

Background Appropriate responses to damaged DNA are indispensible for preserving genome stability and preventing cancer. Tumor viruses often target DNA repair machinery to achieve transformation. The Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is the only known transforming human retrovirus and the etiological agent of Adult T-cell Leukemia (ATLL). Although HTLV-I-transformed leukemic cells have numerous genetic lesions, the precise role of the viral tax gene in this process is not fully understood. Results Our results show a novel function of HTLV-I oncoprotein Tax as an inducer of genomic DNA double strand breaks (DDSB) during DNA replication. We also found that Tax acts as a potent inhibitor of homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair through the activation of the NF-kB pathway. These results were confirmed using HTLV-I molecular clones expressing Tax at physiological levels in a natural context. We further found that HTLV-I- and Tax-transformed cells are not more susceptible to DNA damaging agents and repair DNA lesions at a rate similar to that of normal cells. Finally, we demonstrated that during S phase, Tax-associated DDSB are preferentially repaired using the error-prone non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway. Conclusions This study provides new insights in Tax effects on DNA repair and genome instability. Although it may not be self sufficient, the creation of DNA breaks and subsequent abnormal use of the non-conservative NHEJ DNA repair during the S phase in HTLV-I-infected Tax-expressing cells may cooperate with other factors to increase genetic and genome instability and favor transformation.