Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decreased Fat Storage by Lactobacillus Paracasei Is Associated with Increased Levels of Angiopoietin-Like 4 Protein (ANGPTL4)

Background Intervention strategies for obesity are global issues that require immediate attention. One approach is to exploit the growing consensus that beneficial gut microbiota could be of use in intervention regimes. Our objective was to determine the mechanism by which the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus paracasei ssp paracasei F19 (F19) could alter fat storage. Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is a circulating lipoprotein lipase (LPL) inhibitor that controls triglyceride deposition into adipocytes and has been reported to be regulated by gut microbes. Methodology/Principal Findings A diet intervention study of mice fed high-fat chow supplemented with F19 was carried out to study potential mechanistic effects on fat storage. Mice given F19 displayed significantly less body fat, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, and a changed lipoprotein profile. Given that previous studies on fat storage have identified ANGPTL4 as an effector, we also investigated circulating levels of ANGPTL4, which proved to be higher in the F19-treated group. This increase, together with total body fat and triglyceride levels told a story of inhibited LPL action through ANGPTL4 leading to decreased fat storage. Co-culture experiments of colonic cell lines and F19 were set up in order to monitor any ensuing alterations in ANGPTL4 expression by qPCR. We observed that potentially secreted factors from F19 can induce ANGPTL4 gene expression, acting in part through the peroxisome proliferator activated receptors alpha and gamma. To prove validity of in vitro findings, germ-free mice were monocolonized with F19. Here we again found changes in serum triglycerides as well as ANGPTL4 in response to F19. Conclusions/Significance Our results provide an interesting mechanism whereby modifying ANGPTL4, a central player in fat storage regulation, through manipulating gut flora could be an important gateway upon which intervention trials of weight management can be based.
Strategic pseudonym change in agent-based e-commerce

In agent-based e-commerce applications, vendors can construct detailed profiles about customers' preferences. These profiles can then be used to perform practices such as price discrimination, poor judgment, etc. The use of pseudonyms and, specially, changing pseudonyms from time to time are known to minimize profiling. Although there are some agent frameworks and platforms that support pseudonym change, there are few proposals that suggest or directly change the pseudonym in an automatic fashion. Instead, users are usually provided with the mechanisms to change pseudonyms but without any mechanism that aids them to decide when to change their pseudonyms. We present in this paper an approach to pseudonym change based on human privacy attitudes.
Libyan family with hypercholesterolemia and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma.

Genetic deficiencies of cholesteryl ester transport protein (CETP) and hepatic lipase activities have been associated with hyperalpha-lipoproteinemias. Here we present a family of 11 members, of which 9, including the father, mother, 5 sons, and 2 daughters, show a marked increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol alone with low plasma concentrations of triglycerides. Analyses of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity, cholesteryl ester transfer between HDL fractions, hepatic lipase (HL) activity, and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in these cases showed that a decrease in the heparin-releasable HL activity was the possible cause of the marked increase of HDL2 fractions observed in nine of them. Such a defect in HL activity could significantly affect HDL metabolism in particular and lipoprotein metabolism in general. Evidently, a marked increase in serum total cholesterol due to abnormal metabolism of HDL cholesterol, separate from known causes of altered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism, e.g., a clearance or a receptor defect, is not uncommon. The coordinated action of HL, LCAT, LPL, and CETP may be essential for normal metabolism of plasma lipoproteins.
Evaluation of ECG random number generator for wireless body sensor networks security

In current investigations toward security, most solutions based on wireless body sensor networks (WBSNs) are relied on the application of cryptography. The generation of random numbers (RNs) and statistical test of the number's randomness are crucial part of many cryptographic systems. To guarantee the safety and reliability for WBSNs applications, it's necessary to choose an appropriate random number generator (RNG) to provide high-quality RNs. In this paper, we proposed a new RNG using the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. We evaluated our ECG method using P-value and pass rate as the performance metrics by comparing with nine existed popular RNGs. The experimental results demonstrated that the ECG method achieved good randomness quality as some popular RNGs.
Posttraumatic Overmodulation, Callous–Unemotional Traits, and Offending Among Justice-Involved Youth

ABSTRACT A large body of research has demonstrated an association between childhood trauma exposure (TE) and adolescent delinquency. This association may be explained by callous–unemotional (CU) traits, which may stem from TE and are associated with persistent offending and recidivism. However, research on the mechanisms underlying TE and delinquency has lacked specificity regarding the posttraumatic symptoms that may drive this effect, particularly new models that distinguish between posttraumatic symptoms (PTS) of overmodulation versus undermodulation. This article sought to investigate the role of overmodulation in the association between TE and CU traits and their relations with persistent offending. Participants included 829 detained youth who completed self-report measures of TE, PTS, and CU traits. Official records of youth offenses were also obtained. Results of path analyses demonstrated that the association between interpersonal TE and persistent offending exhibited an indirect effect through overmodulation and CU traits. Efforts to address overmodulation among traumatized detained youth may represent a promising avenue of intervention for reducing recidivism.
Implementing Swati Verma's Digital Signature Schemes based on Integer Factorization and Discrete Logarithms

A digital signature is a cryptographic method for verifying the identity of an individual. It can be a process, computer system, or any other entity, in much the same way as a handwritten signature verifies the identity of a person. Digital signatures use the properties of public-key cryptography to produce pieces of information that verify the origin of the data. Several digital schemes have been proposed as on date based on factorization, discrete logarithm and elliptical curve. However, the
AGV parking system based on tracking landmark

This paper presents an efficient method that locates the automated guided vehicle (AGV) into a specific position using vision-based system. For an automated transshipment system in the container terminal, it is necessary for the AGV to recognize the current position of the transfer crane, so that the port AGV locates itself into the working area of the crane. Using an artificially designed landmark attached on the crane, the vehicle detects and tracks the position of the landmark from the video stream through CCD camera fixed to the vehicle. The AGV calculates its position from the position of landmark in the image and control the velocity to align with the crane. The detection method is based on the local features of the landmark such as edges, corners, and color information. After detecting the landmark the vehicle tracks the trace of the target using Condensation algorithm and refinement stage. Detecting and tracking steps are performed in HSI color space to reduce the effect of illumination. Experiment shows reasonable results.
Inhibition of soluble tumor necrosis factor is therapeutic in Huntington's disease.

Neuroinflammation is a common feature of many neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease (HD). HD is an autosomal dominant genetic disease caused by an expanded CAG repeat in exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene. Previous studies demonstrated that levels of several proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, were higher in the plasma and brain tissues of mice and patients with HD, suggesting that inflammation may contribute to HD progression. To evaluate the pathological role of TNF-α in HD pathogenesis, we blocked TNF-α signaling using a dominant negative inhibitor of soluble TNF-α (XPro1595). XPro1595 effectively suppressed the inflammatory responses of primary astrocytes-enriched culture isolated from a transgenic mouse model (R6/2) and human astrocytes-enriched culture derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of HD patients evoked by lipopolysaccharide and cytokines, respectively. Moreover, XPro1595 protected the cytokine-induced toxicity of primary R6/2 neurons and human neurons derived from iPSCs of HD patients. To assess the beneficial effect of XPro1595 in vivo, an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion was provided with an osmotic minipump. ELISA analyses showed that i.c. v. infusion of XPro1595 decreased elevated levels of TNFα in the cortex and striatum, improved motor function, reduced caspase activation, diminished the amount of mutant HTT aggregates, increased neuronal density and decreased gliosis in brains of R6/2 mice. Moreover, reducing the peripheral inflammatory response by a systemic injection of XPro1595 improved the impaired motor function of R6/2 mice but did not affect caspase activation. Collectively, our findings suggest that an effective and selective anti-inflammatory treatment targeting the abnormal brain inflammatory response is a potential therapeutic strategy for HD.
Regression Modelling with Fixed E ects | Missing Values and related ProblemsH

The paper considers new devices to predict the response variable using a convex target function weighting the response and its expectation. A MDEP-matrix superiority condition is given concerning BLUE, RLSE and mixed estimator where the latter is used in case of imputation for missing values. A small simulation study compares the alternative esti-mators. Finally the detection of non-MCAR processes in linear regression is discussed. Some Hypotheses about Statistics for the twenty rst century 1. Statistical research in next century will be largely based on artiicial intelligence. Appropriate models for any given data set will be searched through computers. 2. We have many empirical studies now. These will be fruitfully employed in developing non-conjugate prior distributions that will describe reality. The availability of realistic prior distributions will lead to high importance to Bayesian inference. 3. Generally we pay attention to one problem at a time. Next century will provide answers to questions that relate to problems which occur simultaneously. For example, consider the traditional linear regression analysis. Such an analysis may not be appropriate due to, for instance, nonlinear-ity, autocorrelated disturbance and measurement errors. If only one of the problems is present, we know some solution. But if all the three problems are present simultaneously, we have practically no suitable solution. Such issues will be an important aspect of future research. 4. Nonparametric procedures will gain popularity. Considerable eeorts will be directed towards the study of performance properties of nonparametric procedures in nite samples. In general, computer based research will dominate the traditional work.
A novel imidazopyridine derivative, X22, attenuates sepsis-induced lung and liver injury by inhibiting the inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo

Sepsis remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Despite years of extensive research, effective drugs to treat sepsis in the clinic are lacking. In this study, we found a novel imidazopyridine derivative, X22, which has powerful anti-inflammatory activity. X22 dose-dependently inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced proinflammatory cytokine production in mouse primary peritoneal macrophages and RAW 264.7 macrophages. X22 also downregulated the LPS-induced proinflammatory gene expression in vitro. In vivo, X22 exhibited a significant protection against LPS-induced death. Pretreatment or treatment with X22 attenuated the sepsis-induced lung and liver injury by inhibiting the inflammatory response. In addition, X22 showed protection against LPS-induced acute lung injury. We additionally found that pretreatment with X22 reduced the inflammatory pain in the acetic acid and formalin models and reduced the dimethylbenzene-induced ear swelling and acetic acid-increased vascular permeability. Together, these data confirmed that X22 has multiple anti-inflammatory effects and may be a potential therapeutic option in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Multi-Criteria Assessment of Land Cover Dynamic Changes in Halgurd Sakran National Park (HSNP), Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Halgurd Sakran National Park (HSNP) is Iraq’s first designated national park, located in the Kurdistan Region, which has suffered multiple armed conflicts over the past decades. This study assesses how vegetation dynamics have affected the landscape structure and composition of the core zone of the park over the last 31 years. Spatio-temporal changes in land cover were mapped for three points in time using remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and landscape metrics. Land cover changes were mapped using random forest classifications of satellite images from Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+, and Landsat 8 LDCM acquired in 1984, 1998, and 2015. Five landscape pattern metrics were analysed at class and landscape levels in order to quantify landscape patterns arising from land use and land cover (LULC) change in HSNP using FRAGSTATS 4.2. These landscape pattern metrics were patch metrics, area metrics, shape metrics interspersion/juxtaposition and contagion metrics and diversity metrics. Significant changes in cultivated areas after 1991 were observed, which indicate the role of anthropogenic activities in land cover change. Areas of bare surface and forest lands declined and became more fragmented in 1984 and 1998 while, at the same time, cultivated areas increased, with a continuing fragmentation of pasture land. Internal migration of people was one of the major drivers of LULC change. The results reveal that significant LULC changes in terms of composition and spatial structure over the 31-year period have occurred in the designated protected area. Landscape metrics were able to assess the trend of spatial patchiness over the studied period. A discussion of the significance of changes in land use systems for understanding the causes and consequences of change is provided.
Comparison of two test methods for VIS: paper-pencil test and CAT*

Abstract This paper examines listening comprehension skills of visually impaired students (VIS) using computerised adaptive testing (CAT) and reader-assisted paper-pencil testing (raPPT) and student views about them. Explanatory mixed method design was used in this study. Sample is comprised of 51 VIS, in 7th and 8th grades. 9 of these students were interviewed for determining student views about tests. Results indicated that scores obtained from CAT are significantly lower than scores obtained from raPPT. Additionally, a positive and high correlation was found between scores of CAT and raPPT. This result suggests that similar ability estimations were made by CAT and raPPT. Another finding is CAT made more reliable predictions, and was completed in shorter duration using fewer items. In qualitative part, student views were gathered through interviews and content analysis revealed three themes as technical features, test features, and psychological effects. In general, students reported positive views about CAT. VIS prefer CAT due to its listening/control options, shorter test durations, clarity of reading, and fairness of test, elimination of dependency to reader. Study provides implications for test developers and test-users to consider CAT as a multi-accommodation for VIS through its advantages.
Scene Classification Using Pyramid Histogram of Multi-Scale Block Local Binary Pattern

Pyramid Histogram of Multi-scale Block Local Binary Pattern (PH-MBLBP) descriptor for recognizing scene categories, is presented in this paper. We show that scene categorization, especially for indoor and outdoor environments, requires its visual descriptor to process properties that are different from other vision domains (e.g., SIFT descriptor used for object categorization). Our proposed PH-MBLBP satisfies these properties and suits the scene categorization task. Since the proposed PH-MBLBP mainly encodes micro- and macro-structures of image patterns, thus, it provides relatively more complete image descriptor than the basic LBP operator. Moreover, our PH-MBLBP descriptor is more powerful texture descriptor than the conventional operator and it can also be calculated extremely fast. Our experiments demonstrate that PH-MBLBP outperforms the other descriptor such as SIFT.
How to compare the structure of parsing algorithms

Parsing schemata are de ned as an intermediate level of abstraction between context free grammars and parsers Clear concise speci cations of radically di erent parsing algo rithms can be expressed as parsing schemata Moreover because of the uniformity of these speci cations relations between di erent parsing algorithms can be formally established This article gives an introduction to the parsing schemata framework
Shadows Cast on the Screen

A brief literature overview of avatar studies is presented in this paper. It shows that this emerging field of research is characterised by heterogeneity and interdisciplinary contributions from the disciplines of psychology, sociology, technology studies, social interaction and behavioural studies, human-computer interaction, and philosophy. However, a common thread of many studies appears to be the understanding that the relations of a person with his or her avatar(s) are representational: The avatar is seen as the virtual representation of the real in-front-of-the-screen person, like a shadow cast on the screen. This understanding is questioned with reference to a semiotic understanding of avatars if seen as triadic relationships of sign processes—that is, as something that stands for something for someone. This understanding is exemplified by the case of Thomas and his businessman avatar, DC Aspen. Finally, with reference to the semiotic understanding it is suggested that we see avatars as transformative mediators of communication.
Preparation of Temozolomide-Loaded Nanoparticles for Glioblastoma Multiforme Targeting—Ideal Versus Reality

Temozolomide (TMZ) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents for glioblastoma multiforme, but the required high administration dose is accompanied by side effects. To overcome this problem and to further improve TMZ’s efficacy, targeted delivery of TMZ by using polymeric nanoparticles has been explored. We synthesised the PLGA-PEG-FOL copolymer and attempted encapsulation of TMZ into PLGA-PEG-FOL nanoparticles using the emulsion solvent evaporation method and the nanoprecipitation method. Conjugation of PEG and FOL to PLGA has been reported to be able to increase the delivery of TMZ to the brain as well as targeting the glioma cells. However, despite making numerous modifications to these methods, the loading of TMZ in the nanoparticles only ranged between 0.2% and 2%, and the nanoparticles were between 400 nm and 600 nm in size after freeze-drying. We proceed with determining the release profile of TMZ in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Our initial data indicated that TMZ was slowly released from the nanoparticles. The metabolite of TMZ rather than the parent compound was detected in PBS. Our study suggests that while PLGA-PEG-FOL can be used as a polymeric or encapsulation material for central delivery of TMZ, a practical and cost effective formulation method is still far from reach.
Transfer Function Map

Transfer function design in volume visualization has been a challenging problem due to the huge design space. In this work, we present a system which is capable of integrating the transfer function design results from a group of users. For a specified volume dataset, intermediate and final transfer function designs for many users with different backgrounds are collected. A 2D representation of the transfer function feature space, called transfer function map, is then constructed for each volume data set by MDS projection of the collected transfer function samples. With the proposed transfer function map, interactions, including flexible navigation in the transfer function feature space and transfer function design recommendation, have been developed.
RN / 09 / 02 Model Checking Optimisation-Based Congestion Control Models

Model checking has been widely applied for verification of network protocols, particularly on the sequences of interactions between protocol entities. Alternatively, optimisation has been used to reason about the large scale dynamics of networks, particularly with regard to congestion and rate control protocols such as TCP. This paper intends to provide a bridge and explore synergies between these two approaches. An optimisation-based congestion control algorithm was usually being assumed as synchronous in the sense that all agents act on the same time schedule, while some literature like [1] suggested the existence of asynchronous algorithms that have been proved stable. We carry over the duality structure of the underlying optimisation models and explore systematically these options of composition frameworks with formal semantics. The nondeterminism of interleaving between active agents represents discrete approximations of those optimisation-based congestion control algorithms with a hierarchy of expressiveness. We then use branching-time temporal logic to specify formally the convergence criteria for the system dynamics. Through model checking, convergence of those algorithms can be witnessed in the form of the sequences of interactions between primal and dual agents. Moreover, the number of steps for a system to converge at a stable equilibrium point can also be quantified. However, these discrete transition models cannot always converge due to discretisation and relaxation of synchrony, but the counterexamples returned from the model checker NuSMV [2] reveal certain realistic issue where the continuous state space is a less fit. We report on our experiences in using the abstractions of model checking to capture features of the continuous dynamics typical of optimisation-based approaches.
Effort and Accuracy in Social Preferences

People often tend to be more other-regarding in the laboratory than in the real world. This experiment uses between-subject variations of adapted dictator games to investigate the larger complexity of finding out the consequences of one’s choices in the real world as a source for that difference. This complexity may lead to a tradeoff between effort and accuracy, where the willingness to sacrifice accuracy in order to save effort is significantly larger when it concerns other’s payoff than when it concerns own payoff. The experiment finds that the lower concern for others in more opaque settings can be subscribed to strategic ignorance and can be mitigated by a possibility to receive feedback on performance while finding out the choice consequences. This has obvious implications for the realism of future lab experiments as well as the efficacy of fund raising applications. JEL-classification: C25, C91, D63, D64, D91