Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Histamine involvement in UVB‐ and cis‐urocanic acid‐induced systemic suppression of contact hypersensitivity responses

Studies in experimental models have implicated histamine and prostanoids in ultra‐violet B (UVB)‐ and cis‐urocanic acid (UCA)‐induced systemic immunosuppression. This study examined he hypothesis that UVB irradiation and cis‐UCA suppressed contact hypersensitivity responses to hapten by induction of histamine, which in turn evoked a prostanoid‐dependent component of immunosuppression. BALB/c mice were administered with a cis‐UCA monoclonal antibody, a combination of histamine types 1 and 2 receptor antagonists, or indomethacin. Mice were sensitized to 2,4,6‐trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB) on their ventral surface 5 days after UVB irradiation, or cis‐UCA or histamine administration. Ears were challenged with TNCB 5 days later. Cis‐UCA antibody inhibited the suppressive effects of UVB by approximately 60% and confirmed that suppression of contact hypersensitivity responses by UVB was due, at least in part, to mechanisms involving cis‐UCA. Histamine suppressed contact hypersensitivity responses and the effects of cis‐UCA and histamine were not cumulative, suggesting that cis‐UCA and histamine signal largely through the same pathway. The immunosuppressive effects of histamine were not affected by the cis‐UCA antibody, consistent with the model that histamine acts downstream of cis‐UCA. Administration of histamine receptor antagonists and indomethacin each approximately halved the UVB‐ and cis‐UCA‐induced systemic suppression of contact hypersensitivity responses. The effects of the reagents that inhibited the action of histamine and prevented prostanoid production were not cumulative, and suggested involvement in the same pathway. These results support the involvement of cis‐UCA, histamine and prostanoids, in a sequence, in UVB‐induced systemic suppression of contact hypersensitivity responses.
Simple vertebrate models for chemical genetics and drug discovery screens: Lessons from zebrafish and Xenopus

Chemical genetics uses small molecules to modulate protein function and, in principle, has the potential to perturb any biochemical event in a complex cellular context. The application of chemical genetics to dissect biological processes has become an attractive alternative to mutagenesis screens due to its technical simplicity, inexpensive reagents, and low‐startup costs. In vertebrates, only fish and amphibians are amenable to chemical genetic screens. Xenopus frogs share a long evolutionary history with mammals and so represent an excellent model to predict human biology. In this review, we discuss the lessons learned from chemical genetic studies carried out in zebrafish and Xenopus. We highlight how Xenopus can be employed as a convenient first‐line animal model at various stages of the drug discovery and development process and comment on how they represent much‐needed tools to bridge the gap between traditional in vitro and preclinical mammalian assays in biomedical research and drug development. Developmental Dynamics 238:1287–1308, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Privacy-Aware Cloud Services Composition

We propose a service-oriented privacy-preserving model for data integration across autonomous clouds. Our model allows to execute aggregations of cloud data sharing services without revealing any extra information to any of the involved services, i.e., none of involved services nor their providers are able to learn/infer any information about the data the other services provide beyond what these services already know.
The Contribution of Lysosomotropism to Autophagy Perturbation

Autophagy refers to the catabolic process in eukaryotic cells that delivers cytoplasmic material to lysosomes for degradation. This highly conserved process is involved in the clearance of long-lived proteins and damaged organelles. Consequently, autophagy is important in providing nutrients to maintain cellular function under starvation, maintaining cellular homeostasis, and promoting cell survival under certain conditions. Several pathways, including mTOR, have been shown to regulate autophagy. However, the impact of lysosomal function impairment on the autophagy process has not been fully explored. Basic lipophilic compounds can accumulate in lysosomes via pH partitioning leading to perturbation of lysosomal function. Our hypothesis is that these types of compounds can disturb the autophagy process. Eleven drugs previously shown to accumulate in lysosomes were selected and evaluated for their effects on cytotoxicity and autophagy using ATP depletion and LC3 assessment, respectively. All eleven drugs induced increased staining of endogenous LC3 and exogenous GFP-LC3, even at non toxic dose levels. In addition, an increase in the abundance of SQSTM1/p62 by all tested compounds denotes that the increase in LC3 is due to autophagy perturbation rather than enhancement. Furthermore, the gene expression profile resulting from in vitro treatment with these drugs revealed the suppression of plentiful long-lived proteins, including structural cytoskeletal and associated proteins, and extracellular matrix proteins. This finding indicates a retardation of protein turnover which further supports the notion of autophagy inhibition. Interestingly, upregulation of genes containing antioxidant response elements, e.g. glutathione S transferase and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1 was observed, suggesting activation of Nrf2 transcription factor. These gene expression changes could be related to an increase in SQSTM1/p62 resulting from autophagy deficiency. In summary, our data indicate that lysosomal accumulation due to the basic lipophilic nature of xenobiotics could be a general mechanism contributing to the perturbation of the autophagy process.
The Subjective Precision of Computers: A Methodological Comparison with Human Coding in Content Analysis

With the increased sophistication and speed of computers, fewer text content analysis projects utilize traditional human coding. This methodological case study was designed to compare results of human versus computer-assisted coding using the same data set. The two processes yielded significantly different results in a content analysis of newspaper coverage of a political campaign. In computer-assisted coding, several subjective steps must be taken to adapt the content to the program. Those decisions can be arbitrary and fall outside the concept of traditional intercoder reliability.
Uncoupling protein 3 transcription is regulated by peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α in the adult rodent heart

Relatively little is known concerning the regulation of uncoupling proteins (UCPs) in the heart. We investigated in the adult rodent heart 1) whether changes in workload, substrate supply, or cytokine (TNF‐α) administration affect UCP‐2 and UCP‐3 ex¬pression, and 2) whether peroxisome proliferator‐acti¬vated receptor α (PPARα) regulates the expression of either UCP‐2 or UCP‐3. Direct comparisons were made between cardiac and skeletal muscle. UCP‐2, UCP‐3, and PPARα expression were reduced when cardiac workload was either increased (pressure overload by aortic constriction) or decreased (mechanical unload¬ing by heterotopic transplantation). Similar results were observed during cytokine administration. Reduced di¬etary fatty acid availability resulted in decreased expres‐sion of both cardiac UCP‐2 and UCP‐3. However, when fatty acid (the natural ligand for PPARα) supply was increased (high‐fat feeding, fasting, and STZ‐induced diabetes), cardiac UCP‐3 but not UCP‐2 expression increased. Comparable results were observed in rats treated with the specific PPARα agonist WY‐14,643. The level of cardiac UCP‐3 but not UCP‐2 expression was severely reduced (20‐fold) in PPARα−/− mice compared to wild‐type mice. These results suggest that in the adult rodent heart, UCP‐3 expression is regu¬lated by PPARα. In contrast, cardiac UCP‐2 expression is regulated in part by a fatty acid‐dependent, PPARα‐independent mechanism. —Young, M. E. , Patil, S. , Ying, J., Depre, C. , Ahuja, H. S. , Shipley, G. L. , Stepkowski, S. M. , Davies, P. J. A. , Taegtmeyer H. Uncoupling protein 3 transcription is regulated by peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α in the adult rodent heart. FASEB J. 15, 833‐845 (2001)
Generalized Silver Codes

For an <i>nt</i> transmit, <i>nr</i> receive antenna system (<i>nt</i> ×<i>nr</i> system), a full-rate space time block code (STBC) transmits at least <i>nmin</i> = <i>min</i>(<i>nt</i>,<i>nr</i>) complex symbols per channel use. The well-known Golden code is an example of a full-rate, full-diversity STBC for two transmit antennas. Its ML-decoding complexity is of the order of <i>M</i><sup>2.5</sup> for square <i>M</i> -QAM. The Silver code for two transmit antennas has all the desirable properties of the Golden code except its coding gain, but offers lower ML-decoding complexity of the order of <i>M</i><sup>2</sup>. Importantly, the slight loss in coding gain is negligible compared to the advantage it offers in terms of lowering the ML-decoding complexity. For higher number of transmit antennas, the best known codes are the Perfect codes, which are full-rate, full-diversity, information lossless codes (for <i>nr</i> ≥ <i>nt</i>) but have a high ML-decoding complexity of the order of <i>M</i><sup>n</sup><sup>t</sup><sup>n</sup><sup>min</sup> (for n<sub>r</sub> <; nt, the punctured Perfect codes are considered). In this paper, a scheme to obtain full-rate STBCs for 2a transmit antennas and any n<sub>r</sub> with reduced ML-decoding complexity of the order of M<sup>n</sup><sup>t</sup>(<sup>n</sup>min-3/4)-0.5 is presented. The codes constructed are also information lossless for <i>nr</i> ≥ <i>nt</i>, like the Perfect codes, and allow higher mutual information than the comparable punctured Perfect codes for <i>nr</i> <; <i>nt</i>. These codes are referred to as the generalized Silver codes, since they enjoy the same desirable properties as the comparable Perfect codes (except possibly the coding gain) with lower ML-decoding complexity, analogous to the Silver code and the Golden code for two transmit antennas. Simulation results of the symbol error rates for four and eight transmit antennas show that the generalized Silver codes match the punctured Perfect codes in error performance while offering lower ML- decoding complexity.
300 GHz gyrotron material processing system

We developed the material heating system by using a 300 GHz gyrotron. This system are consisted of a 300 GHz, 3.5 kW, CW gyrotron with a cryogen free 12 T superconducting magnet (Gyrotron FU CW I), a corrugated circular waveguide and an applicator. The circular corrugated waveguide ( i.d. = 6.35 cm) with a corrugated period and depth of 254mum have been designed. The applicator has been designed for both volumetric heating by uniformly distributed microwave and surface heating by a focused wave beam.
Together we stand, Together we fall, Together we win: Dynamic team formation in massive open online courses

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offer a new scalable paradigm for e-learning by providing students with global exposure and opportunities for connecting and interacting with millions of people all around the world. Very often, students work as teams to effectively accomplish course related tasks. However, due to lack of face to face interaction, it becomes difficult for MOOC students to collaborate. Additionally, the instructor also faces challenges in manually organizing students into teams because students flock to these MOOCs in huge numbers. Thus, the proposed research is aimed at developing a robust methodology for dynamic team formation in MOOCs, the theoretical framework for which is grounded at the confluence of organizational team theory, social network analysis and machine learning. A prerequisite for such an undertaking is that we understand the fact that, each and every informal tie established among students offers the opportunities to influence and be influenced. Therefore, we aim to extract value from the inherent connectedness of students in the MOOC. These connections carry with them radical implications for the way students understand each other in the networked learning community. Our approach will enable course instructors to automatically group students in teams that have fairly balanced social connections with their peers, well defined in terms of appropriately selected qualitative and quantitative network metrics.
Applying a Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm to Combinatorial Problems

Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is a population based stochastic algorithm for continuous optimization inspired by social behavior of bird flocking or fish schooling that has been successfully applied in different areas. However, its potential in discrete problems has not been sufficiently explored. Recent works have proposed hybridization of PSO using local search and Path relinking algorithms with promising results. This paper aims to present a hybrid PSO algorithm that uses local search and Path relinking too, but differently to the previous approaches, this work maintains the main PSO concept for the update of the velocity of the particle. The paper describes the proposed algorithm and a set of experiments with the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP). The hybrid algorithm shows competitive results compared to other state of the art metaheuristics.
Depth, Highness and DNR degrees

We study Bennett deep sequences in the context of recursion theory; in particular we investigate the notions of \(O(1)\text {-deep}_K\), \(O(1)\text {-deep}_C\), order\(\text {-deep}_K\) and order\(\text {-deep}_C\) sequences. Our main results are that Martin-Lof random sets are not order\(\text {-deep}_C\), that every many-one degree contains a set which is not \(O(1)\text {-deep}_C\), that \(O(1)\text {-deep}_C\) sets and order\(\text {-deep}_K\) sets have high or DNR Turing degree and that no K-trival set is \(O(1)\text {-deep}_K\).
Reliability in the Shadow of Long-Stall Instructions

Soft errors due to cosmic rays are now a major concern for both computer manufacturers and end users. Due to continually shrinking silicon manufacturing processes and greater chip integration, the chipand system-level soft error rate is projected to continue increasing for the forseeable future. Du e to these concerns, chip manufacturers have long designed cache structures (generally the largest on-chip structures in a highperformance processor) to include protection techniques such a s parity or ECC. In order to meet SER targets, new chip designs are starting to incorporate such protection on physical register files. As the soft error rate increases, however, large processo r pipeline structures will also require protection against soft errors. Unfortunately, many of these pipeline structures are latencycritical, needing to complete multiple accesses per processor cycle. Thus, many of these structures are ill-suited for protectio n techniques such as ECC, which can add latency to each access. In modern processors, these structures typically contain inflight instructions, which can vary in their vulnerability contribution. Thus, uniform protection such as that provided by ECC may not be necessary. Our goal is to explore and explain some of the underlying causes of this variation in vulnerability among instructions. In this study, we examine the vulnerability contribution of instructions that are in-flight during (in the shadow of) long-stall instructions, which will define the maximum potential benefit of techniques that exploit these stall cycles.
Drug Seeking Behavior

Concept: Drug seeking behavior (DSB) is often mixed in illicit drug diversion confounding legitimate attempts to control acute and chronic pain. Objective: To review the literature of acute and chronic pain control against the medical and legal context of DSB. Design: Retrospective literature review from National Library of Medical Computerized Data Base 1990–2004. Patients: Preference to human prospective on retrospective clinical trials. Results: Drug use and abuse have significant adverse consequences. Pain control is desirable and necessary with chronic pain syndromes more prone to DSB. This behavior can be accurately profiled and information used to assist recovery. Conclusion: It is desirable to address DSB stressing acceptance and a multidisciplinary approach to recovery.
Late adolescent couples' rejection sensitivity and patterns of cortisol reactivity and recovery in relationship conflict.

LATE ADOLESCENT COUPLES' REJECTION SENSITIVITY AND PATTERNS OF CORTISOL REACTIVITY AND RECOVERY IN RELATIONSHIP CONFLICT FEBRUARY 2007 SUSAN F. BALABAN, B.A., SMITH COLLEGE M.S., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS Directed by: Professor Sally I. Powers Theory and empirical evidence suggest that rejection sensitivity (RS) should relate to a heightened physiological stress response to relationship conflict. The hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the body's major neuroendocrine stress response system and Cortisol is its product. This study hypothesized that 198 late adolescent heterosexual dating couples would demonstrate heightened HPA axis reactivity and a slower rate of recovery in response to an experimental conflict negotiation task. Cortisol samples were collected at entry to the lab, in anticipation, and five times after the conflict task to measure individuals' response to conflict and recovery. Growth modeling techniques were used to plot temporal stress response trajectories predicted by rejection sensitivity questionnaire (RSQ) scores. Most of these hypotheses were not confirmed, however, RS was a significant predictor of the rate at which males' secrete Cortisol in response to relationship conflict, and this effect was not mediated by attachment anxiety.
Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibition Improves Synaptic Function, Memory, and Amyloid-β Load in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model

Memory loss, synaptic dysfunction, and accumulation of amyloid β-peptides (Aβ) are major hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Downregulation of the nitric oxide/cGMP/cGMP-dependent protein kinase/c-AMP responsive element-binding protein (CREB) cascade has been linked to the synaptic deficits after Aβ elevation. Here, we report that the phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5) sildenafil (Viagra), a molecule that enhances phosphorylation of CREB, a molecule involved in memory, through elevation of cGMP levels, is beneficial against the AD phenotype in a mouse model of amyloid deposition. We demonstrate that the inhibitor produces an immediate and long-lasting amelioration of synaptic function, CREB phosphorylation, and memory. This effect is also associated with a long-lasting reduction of Aβ levels. Given that side effects of PDE5 inhibitors are widely known and do not preclude their administration to a senile population, these drugs have potential for the treatment of AD and other diseases associated with elevated Aβ levels.
Fuzziness as a Model of User Preference in Semantic Web Search

Web 2.0 is based on personalized access to impre- cise and incomplete information from heterogeneous sources. In this paper we present a web-based system enabling preference-based search. We use modified Fagin's model of fuzzy preferences based on aggregation of attribute preferences. Aggregation is generated by user ranking of objects. Our contributions are twofold. First we present a formal model and implementation suitable for efficient pref- erential search. Second we provide several fuzzy measures to evalu- ate experimental results of our system.
How to Avoid Unwanted Pregnancies: Domain Adaptation using Neural Network Models

We present novel models for domain adaptation based on the neural network joint model (NNJM). Our models maximize the cross entropy by regularizing the loss function with respect to in-domain model. Domain adaptation is carried out by assigning higher weight to out-domain sequences that are similar to the in-domain data. In our alternative model we take a more restrictive approach by additionally penalizing sequences similar to the outdomain data. Our models achieve better perplexities than the baseline NNJM models and give improvements of up to 0.5 and 0.6 BLEU points in Arabic-to-English and English-to-German language pairs, on a standard task of translating TED talks.
Ensemble Multi-label Classification: A Comparative Study on Threshold Selection and Voting Methods

Multi-label classification has attracted an increasing amount of attention in recent years. To this end, many ensemble-based algorithms have been developed to classify multi-label data in an effective manner. There are several factors that differentiate between the various ensembles methods to output a label set prediction for unseen instances: the method of combining the predictions of the base classifiers and the thresholding strategy to implement a decision function. In this paper, we present an extensive empirical study comparing several multi-label ensemble methods over ten benchmark data sets. We also examine the influence of two types of voting schemas and the effect of calibrating the final decision function via single and Multi thresholding strategies on each performance metric. The experimental results were analyzed using statistical test to assess the statistical differences in the predictions performance.
Study Design Considerations for Evaluating Efficacy of Systemic Preexposure Prophylaxis Interventions

Background:The development of interventions for systemic pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) faces several significant challenges following the US Food and Drug Administration's approval of emtricitabine/tenofovir (FTC/TDF) for HIV prevention. This development is particularly complex because of inconsistency of efficacy results of FTC/TDF PrEP trials for HIV prevention. Methods:Possible designs for a PrEP phase 3 efficacy trial are obtained by considering scenarios for potential experimental PrEP and control regimens, including consideration of placebo and active controls, longer acting PrEP and alternate dosing schedules. Results:Noninferiority (NI) trials with hazard ratio NI margins ranging from 1.10 to 1.25 can be justified in the contexts of the 3 PrEP trials demonstrating efficacy of FTC/TDF. However, these HIV endpoint trials may require extremely large number of participants, particularly in settings where FTC/TDF has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV acquisition. NI trials also are often difficult to interpret because they depend on previous placebo-controlled efficacy results. Superiority trials for PrEP are plausible in settings where FTC/TDF efficacy is not yet established, possibly due to low adherence (ie, women at risk as in FemPrEP and VOICE): a new product with potential for higher adherence and potency would be a promising candidate in this setting. Conclusions:Following Food and Drug Administration's approval of FTC/TDF for PrEP, trials to establish efficacy of new PrEP regimens require stringent design standards, together with rigorous debate about adherence within study populations and many important ethical issues.