Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CD8 T Cell Response Maturation Defined by Anentropic Specificity and Repertoire Depth Correlates with SIVΔnef-induced Protection

The live attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus (LASIV) vaccine SIVΔnef is one of the most effective vaccines in inducing protection against wild-type lentiviral challenge, yet little is known about the mechanisms underlying its remarkable protective efficacy. Here, we exploit deep sequencing technology and comprehensive CD8 T cell epitope mapping to deconstruct the CD8 T cell response, to identify the regions of immune pressure and viral escape, and to delineate the effect of epitope escape on the evolution of the CD8 T cell response in SIVΔnef-vaccinated animals. We demonstrate that the initial CD8 T cell response in the acute phase of SIVΔnef infection is mounted predominantly against more variable epitopes, followed by widespread sequence evolution and viral escape. Furthermore, we show that epitope escape expands the CD8 T cell repertoire that targets highly conserved epitopes, defined as anentropic specificity, and generates de novo responses to the escaped epitope variants during the vaccination period. These results correlate SIVΔnef-induced protection with expanded anentropic specificity and increased response depth. Importantly, these findings render SIVΔnef, long the gold standard in HIV/SIV vaccine research, as a proof-of-concept vaccine that highlights the significance of the twin principles of anentropic specificity and repertoire depth in successful vaccine design.
Typification of Angiospermae described from the Bonin Islands 1: Metachlamydeae

During the preparation of a database of plant specimens from the Bonin Islands, Japan, we found several cases in which type material for taxa described from the islands was uncertain. This is either because specimens were not cited, because cited specimens in protologues include multiple collections, or because the citations contained ambiguous locality and/or collector data. Thus, many Bonin Islands species require typification. Here, lectotypes are newly designated or reconfirmed for 10 taxa, based on the herbarium materials of Metachlamydeae at the Botanical Gardens section of TI Herbarium, the University of Tokyo.
Fuzzy Regression Analysis by Support Vector Learning Approach

Support vector machines (SVMs) have been very successful in pattern classification and function approximation problems for crisp data. In this paper, we incorporate the concept of fuzzy set theory into the support vector regression machine. The parameters to be estimated in the SVM regression, such as the components within the weight vector and the bias term, are set to be the fuzzy numbers. This integration preserves the benefits of SVM regression model and fuzzy regression model and has been attempted to treat fuzzy nonlinear regression analysis. In contrast to previous fuzzy nonlinear regression models, the proposed algorithm is a model-free method in the sense that we do not have to assume the underlying model function. By using different kernel functions, we can construct different learning machines with arbitrary types of nonlinear regression functions. Moreover, the proposed method can achieve automatic accuracy control in the fuzzy regression analysis task. The upper bound on number of errors is controlled by the user-predefined parameters. Experimental results are then presented that indicate the performance of the proposed approach.
Semantic-level Understanding of Human Actions and Interactions using Event Hierarchy

Understanding human behavior in video data is essential in numerous applications including surveillance, video annotation/retrieval, and human-computer interfaces. This paper describes a framework for recognizing human actions and interactions in video by using three levels of abstraction. At low level, the poses of individual body parts including head, torso, arms and legs are recognized using individual Bayesian networks (BNs), which are then integrated to obtain an overall body pose. At mid level, the actions of a single person are modeled using a dynamic Bayesian network (DBN) with temporal links between identical states of the Bayesian network at time t and t+1. At high level, the results of mid-level descriptions for each person are juxtaposed along a common time line to identify an interaction between two persons. The linguistic 'verb argument structure' is used to represent human action in terms of <agent-motion-target> triplets. Spatial and temporal constraints are used for a decision tree to recognize specific interactions. A meaningful semantic description in terms of subject-verb-object is obtained. Our method provides a user-friendly natural-language description of several human interactions, and correctly describes positive, neutral, and negative interactions occurring between two persons. Example sequences of real persons are presented to illustrate the paradigm.
Development of the auto manipulation system towards the single cell automatic analysis inside an environmental SEM

In this paper, an automatic system for single cell analysis inside an environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) was proposed. Single yeast cell was put on an tungsten probe substrate inside ESEM. The endeffector for single cell analysis was fixed to an nanorobotic manipulator, which has three degrees of freedom, i.e. X, Y and Z translation. The real time images during the experiment can be observed by ESEM system in realtime. Therefore, the position of the endeffector and the single cell can be recognized by imaging processing. These position information were used as the feedback signal to control the movement of the nanorobotic manipulator. Finally, a single cell cutting experiment was performed to demonstrate the working mechanism of this system. Two types of cell pattern substrates were also designed and fabricated as the cell analysis chips for the automation single cell analysis in the future.
Comparison of lifestyle and structured interventions to increase physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness: a randomized trial.

CONTEXT Even though the strong association between physical inactivity and ill health is well documented, 60% of the population is inadequately active or completely inactive. Traditional methods of prescribing exercise have not proven effective for increasing and maintaining a program of regular physical activity. OBJECTIVE To compare the 24-month intervention effects of a lifestyle physical activity program with traditional structured exercise on improving physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. DESIGN Randomized clinical trial conducted from August 1, 1993, through July 31, 1997. PARTICIPANTS Sedentary men (n = 116) and women (n = 119) with self-reported physical activity of less than 36 and 34 kcal/kg per day, respectively. INTERVENTIONS Six months of intensive and 18 months of maintenance intervention on either a lifestyle physical activity or a traditional structured exercise program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcomes were physical activity assessed by the 7-Day Physical Activity Recall and peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) by a maximal exercise treadmill test. Secondary outcomes were plasma lipid and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, blood pressure, and body composition. All measures were obtained at baseline and at 6 and 24 months. RESULTS Both the lifestyle and structured activity groups had significant and comparable improvements in physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness from baseline to 24 months. Adjusted mean changes (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were 0.84 (95% CI, 0.42-1.25 kcal/kg per day; P<.001) and 0.69 (95% CI, 0.25-1.12 kcal/kg day; P = .002) for activity, and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.18-1.36 mL/kg per minute; P = .01) and 1.34 (95% CI, 0.72-1.96 mL/kg per minute; P<.001) for VO2peak for the lifestyle and structured activity groups, respectively. There were significant and comparable reductions in systolic blood pressure (-3.63 [95% CI, -5.54 to -1.72 mm Hg; P<.001] and -3.26 [95% CI, -5.26 to -1.25 mm Hg; P = .002]) and diastolic blood pressure (-5.38 [95% CI, -6.90 to -3.86 mm Hg; P<.001] and -5.14 [95% CI, -6.73 to -3.54 mm Hg; P<.001) for the lifestyle and structured activity groups, respectively. Neither group significantly changed their weight (-0.05 [95% CI, -1.05 to 0.96 kg; P = .93] and 0.69 [95% CI, -0.37 to 1.74 kg; P = .20]), but each group significantly reduced their percentage of body fat (-2.39% [95% CI, -2.92% to -1.85%; P<.001] and -1.85% [95% CI, -2.41 % to -1.28%; P<.001]) in the lifestyle and structured activity groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In previously sedentary healthy adults, a lifestyle physical activity intervention is as effective as a structured exercise program in improving physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and blood pressure.
Controlled vs Spontaneous Ventilation for Bronchoscopy in Children with Tracheobronchial Foreign Body

Introduction Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration is a common life-threatening condition in children. There are controversies in the management of this condition, including the type of ventilation during bronchoscopy. This study aims to compare anesthesia with controlled ventilation versus spontaneous ventilation in rigid bronchoscopy in children with foreign body aspiration. Materials and Methods: Patients who were candidates for rigid bronchoscopy due to foreign body aspiration were randomly assigned to either anesthesia with spontaneous ventilation or controlled ventilation. End tidal CO2 (ETCO2), electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) and complications and accidents during the surgery and recovery were recorded for each patient. Surgeon comfort during the procedure was also evaluated for each patient. A 20% change in HR or NIBP was considered significant. SpO2 values under 90% are considered desaturation. Results: Fifty-one patients (31 male and 20 female) entered the study. The mean age was 26.76 months, ranging from 6 to 100 months. Choking and cough were present in 94% and 96.1% of the patients, respectively. Nuts were the most common foreign body (76.9%). The controlled ventilation group had significantly fewer complications, and surgeon comfort was significantly higher in this group. Oxygen desaturation was significantly more prevalent in the spontaneous ventilation group during laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy (P<0.001). Conclusion: Controlled ventilation has the potential to be used as an effective alternative option in anesthesia for patients with suspected foreign body aspiration.
Whiskey, Weed, and Wukan on the World Wide Web: On Measuring Censors' Resources and Motivations

The ability to compare two instances of Internet censorship is important because it is the basis for stating what is or is not justified in terms of, for example, international law or human rights. However these comparisons are challenging, even when comparing two instances of the same kind of censorship within the same country. In this position paper, we use examples of Internet censorship in three different contexts to illustrate the importance of the elements of motivation, resources, and time in Internet censorship. We argue that, while all three of these elements are challenging to measure and analyze, Internet censorship measurement and analysis is incomplete without all three. The contexts we draw examples from are: public wireless networks in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA; microblogging in China; and, chat programs in China.
Vulnerability of Commercial Tree Species to Water Stress in Logged Forests of the Guiana Shield

The future of tropical managed forests is threatened by climate change. In anticipation of the increase in the frequency of drought episodes predicted by climatic models for intertropical regions, it is essential to study commercial trees' resilience and vulnerability to water stress by identifying potential interaction effects between selective logging and stress due to a lack of water. Focusing on 14 species representing a potential or acknowledged commercial interest for wood production in the Guiana Shield, a joint model coupling growth and mortality for each species was parametrized, including a climatic variable related to water stress and the quantity of aboveground biomass lost after logging. For the vast majority of the species, water stress had a negative impact on growth rate, while the impact of logging was positive. The opposite results were observed for the mortality. Combining results from growth and mortality models, we generate vulnerability profiles and ranking from species apparently quite resistant to water stress (Chrysophyllum spp., Goupia glabra Aubl., Qualea rosea Aubl.), even under logging pressure, to highly vulnerable species (Sterculia spp.). In light of our results, forest managers in the Guiana Shield may want to conduct (i) a conservation strategy of the most vulnerable species and (ii) a diversification of the logged species. Conservation of the already-adapted species may also be considered as the most certain way to protect the tropical forests under future climates.
A pilot study of yoga for breast cancer survivors: physical and psychological benefits

Background: Physical activity provides a number of physical and psychological benefits to cancer survivors, including lessening the impact of detrimental cancer‐related symptoms and treatment side‐effects (e.g. fatigue, nausea), and improving overall well‐being and quality of life. The purpose of the present pilot study was to examine the physical and psychological benefits afforded by a 7‐week yoga program for cancer survivors.
Towards the Web of Things: Web Mashups for Embedded Devices

In the \Internet of Things" vision, the physical world becomes integrable with computer networks. Embedded computers or visual markers on everyday objects allow things and information about them to be accessible in the digital world. However, this integration is based on competing standards and requires custom solutions, thus requires extensive time and technical expertise. Based on the success of Web 2.0 mashup applications, we propose a similar approach for integrating real-world devices to the Web, allowing for them to be easily combined with other virtual and physical resources. In this paper we discuss possible integration method, in particular how the REST principles can be applied to embedded devices. Then we illustrate these principles with two concrete implementations: on the Sun SPOT platform and on the Ploggs wireless energy monitors. Finally, we show how RESTful interactions can be leveraged to quickly create new prototypes and mashups that combine the physical and virtual world.
Effect of nano-Y2O3 on microstructure and mechanical properties of W–Ni–Cu alloys

The mechanical properties and microstructures of the W–Ni–Cu–Y2O3 alloys with different Y2O3 contents through cold pressing/sintering were investigated. The results demonstrated that the W–Ni–Cu–Y2O3 alloys mainly included the W, (Ni, Cu) and Y2O3 phases. As the Y2O3 content increased, the wrapped W crystals of the W–Ni–Cu–(≤0.4%)Y2O3 alloys were refined. When the Y2O3 content increased to 0.5%, the W crystals began to grow and the pores increased in amount. The densification, the bending strength and the micro-hardness of the W–Ni–Cu–Y2O3 alloys were higher compared to the W–Ni–Cu alloy. The refined and denser microstructure could enhance the mechanical properties of the W–Ni–Cu–Y2O3 alloys, while the Y2O3 aggregation would weaken the corresponding mechanical properties.
Contact Surface Resistivity as a Favorable Condition of Commutation Process.

It is shown on the basis of analysis for electrotechnical model of commutation process in the contact zone of rail accelerator of macrobodies that surface resistivity of electrodes of a contact pair is a necessary condition for favorable commutation of current in electromechanical transducers with a sliding contact. In the model of accelerator which has the increasing resistivity of the rail surface layer along with the rise of armature motion velocity it is shown that the volume Joule’s losses in the skin layer per unit of rail length can be constant in spite of its resistivity growth, so causing no additional superheating of the conductor. A discussion is performed concerning simi-lar situation in the rotating commutator machines. K e y w o r d s: sliding contact of machines, problems of commutation, resistivity of contact surface, application in rail accelerator, similarity with rotational machines.
Mobile Computation offloading - Factors Affecting Technology Evolution

Compared to desktop devices, mobile devices have inherent constraints such as limited processing power, memory, and battery capacity. With the proliferation of resource-hungry applications, researchers are looking for new solutions to address these limitations. One such solution is mobile cloud computing (MCC), which uses cloud infrastructure to enhance the capabilities of mobile devices. This paper focuses on a related, emerging technology called mobile computation offloading (MCO), where the emphasis is on dynamically offloading computation from native applications running on mobile devices to outside surrogates such as cloud infrastructure. We use an exploratory approach to evaluate the business potential of MCO by identifying critical factors that influence the technology evolution of MCO. We base this evaluation on a literature review of MCO and utilize a research framework derived from the existing literature on technology evolution and MCO.
The Effects of Text Drawing Styles, Background Textures, and Natural Lighting on Text Legibility in Outdoor Augmented Reality

A challenge in presenting augmenting information in outdoor augmented reality (AR) settings lies in the broad range of uncontrollable environmental conditions that may be present, specifically large-scale fluctuations in natural lighting and wide variations in likely backgrounds or objects in the scene. In this paper, we motivate the need for research on the effects of text drawing styles, outdoor background textures, and natural lighting on user performance in outdoor AR. We present a pilot study and a follow-on user-based study that examined the effects on user performance of outdoor background textures, changing outdoor illuminance values, and text drawing styles in a text identification task using an optical, see-through AR system. We report significant effects for all these variables, and discuss user interface design guidelines and ideas for future work.
Sequential Learning of Analysis Operators

In this paper two sequential algorithms for learning analysis operators are presented, which are built upon the same optimisation principle underlying both Analysis K-SVD and Analysis SimCO and use a stochastic gradient descent approach similar to ASimCO. The sequential analysis operator learning (SAOL) algorithm is based on projected gradient descent with an appropriately chosen step size while the implicit SAOL (ISAOL) algorithm avoids choosing a step size altogether by using a strategy inspired by the implicit Euler scheme for solving ordinary differential equations. Both algorithms are tested on synthetic and image data in comparison to Analysis SimCO and found to give slightly better recovery rates resp. decay of the objective function. In a final denoising experiment the presented algorithms are again shown to perform well in comparison to the state of the art algorithm ASimCO.
Space-time functional gradient optimization for motion planning

Functional gradient algorithms (e.g. CHOMP) have recently shown great promise for producing locally optimal motion for complex many degree-of-freedom robots. A key limitation of such algorithms is the difficulty in incorporating constraints and cost functions that explicitly depend on time. We present T-CHOMP, a functional gradient algorithm that overcomes this limitation by directly optimizing in space-time. We outline a framework for joint space-time optimization, derive an efficient trajectory-wide update for maintaining time monotonicity, and demonstrate the significance of T-CHOMP over CHOMP in several scenarios. By manipulating time, T-CHOMP produces lower-cost trajectories leading to behavior that is meaningfully different from CHOMP.
Novel Human Papillomavirus Type 174 from a Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

ABSTRACT We report the cloning and characterization of a novel human papillomavirus (HPV), now officially recognized as HPV-174, isolated from a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. HPV-174 has a genome organization characteristic of cutaneous HPV types, clusters to the genus Betapapillomavirus, species β2, and is most closely related to HPV-145.
Statistical Modeling of Bowing Control Applied to Violin Sound Synthesis

Excitation-continuous music instrument control patterns are often not explicitly represented in current sound synthesis techniques when applied to automatic performance. Both physical model-based and sample-based synthesis paradigms would benefit from a flexible and accurate instrument control model, enabling the improvement of naturalness and realism. We present a framework for modeling bowing control parameters in violin performance. Nearly non-intrusive sensing techniques allow for accurate acquisition of relevant timbre-related bowing control parameter signals. We model the temporal contour of bow velocity, bow pressing force, and bow-bridge distance as sequences of short Be¿zier cubic curve segments. Considering different articulations, dynamics, and performance contexts, a number of note classes are defined. Contours of bowing parameters in a performance database are analyzed at note-level by following a predefined grammar that dictates characteristics of curve segment sequences for each of the classes in consideration. As a result, contour analysis of bowing parameters of each note yields an optimal representation vector that is sufficient for reconstructing original contours with significant fidelity. From the resulting representation vectors, we construct a statistical model based on Gaussian mixtures suitable for both the analysis and synthesis of bowing parameter contours. By using the estimated models, synthetic contours can be generated through a bow planning algorithm able to reproduce possible constraints caused by the finite length of the bow. Rendered contours are successfully used in two preliminary synthesis frameworks: digital waveguide-based bowed string physical modeling and sample-based spectral-domain synthesis.
NOS2 (iNOS) Deficiency in Kidney Donor Accelerates Allograft Loss in a Murine Model

Renal NOS2 is expressed and produces abundant nitric oxide (NO) in various renal cells in response to proinflammatory cytokines. However, the role of this enzyme in renal allograft survival remains unknown. Kidney allotransplantation was performed in the murine model of C57BL/6J (H‐2d) to nephrectomized Balb/c (H‐2b) mice. Here we show that deficiency in NOS2 expression in kidney donors significantly advanced allograft failure, indicated by decreasing mean survival of recipients receiving NOS2 null grafts (15.4 ± 6.4 days) as compared to those with wild type grafts (65.4 ± 28.1 days) (p = 0.0005). Consistent with survival results, NOS2 null grafts had more severe renal tubule injury and decreased renal function compared to wild type grafts. In vitro NOS2 expressing TEC had greater resistance to allogeneic lymphocyte‐mediated apoptosis. The addition of exogenous NO inhibited Fas‐mediated TEC apoptosis and reduced proliferation of allogeneic lymphocytes. These data suggest that endogenous production of NO through renal NOS2 activity can play a protective role in kidney grafts through attenuating Fas‐mediated donor cell apoptosis as well as by inhibiting proliferation of inflammatory infiltrating lymphocytes. Enhanced donor NOS2 expression may be a useful strategy to improve kidney transplant survival.