Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparative analysis of coronary adventitial T-lymphocytes--an autopsy study.

BACKGROUND Recent clinical and histopathologic data suggests that inflammation plays a key role in coronary artery plaque instability and subsequent occlusive thrombosis. The intima has received much attention as a site of inflammation, while the adventitia has remained relatively unexplored. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of inflammatory activity in the cap and shoulder region of unruptured, atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries and to correlate these findings with distribution of inflammatory cells in adventitia. METHODS The study was carried out in Histopathology Department, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi and National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), from August 2008 to July 2009. Sixty-seven autopsy cases performed at Military Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan were selected. The cases were divided into study group and control group. Case group (n = 35) included those where cause of death was ischemic heart disease. Those coronary arteries were taken as control (n = 32) where atherosclerotic changes were found by chance (death without history of ischemic heart disease). Plaques in each group were assessed by light microscopy and by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The ages of the deceased ranged from 38 to 49 years. Within study group, adventitial lymphocytes exhibited strong correlation with erosion, thrombus formation in culprit plaque (p = 0.001). No correlation was found between adventitial T-lymphocytes and erosion of plaque (p = 0.700) in control group. In 72% of culprit plaques moderate staining for T-lymphocytes was observed in adventitia as well as intima. In control group, most of the cases contained scattered cells. Few cases of stable plaques revealed lymphocytes as clusters, both in adventitia and in intima. CONCLUSION Adventitial inflammation may play a pivotal role for atherosclerotic lesion histology and atheroma instability. With the help of these autopsy findings, we hope to be able to reduce the incidence of culprit plaques related to inflammatory reaction in patients of ischemic heart disease.
Oxidant stress leads to transcriptional activation of the human heme oxygenase gene in cultured skin fibroblasts

Treatment of cultured human skin fibroblasts with near-UV radiation, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium arsenite induces accumulation of heme oxygenase mRNA and protein. In this study, these treatments led to a dramatic increase in the rate of RNA transcription from the heme oxygenase gene but had no effect on mRNA stability. Transcriptional activation, therefore, appears to be the major mechanism of stimulation of expression of this gene by either oxidative stress or sulfydryl reagents.
Secure beamforming design for SWIPT in cooperative D2D communications

In device-to-device (D2D) communications, device terminal relaying makes it possible for devices in a network to function as transmission relays for each other to enhance the spectral efficiency. In this paper we consider a cooperative D2D communication system with simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT). The cooperative D2D communication scheme allows two nearby devices to communicate with each other in the licensed cellular bandwidth by assigning D2D transmitters as half-duplex (HD) relay to assists cellular downlink transmissions. In particular, we focus on secure information transmission for the cellular users when the idle D2D users are the potential eavesdroppers. We aim to design secure beamforming schemes to maximize the D2D users data rate while guaranteeing the secrecy rate requirements of the cellular users and the minimum required amounts of power transferred to the idle D2D users. To solve this non-convex problem, a semi-definite programming relaxation (SDR) approach is adopted to obtain the optimal solution. Furthermore, we propose two suboptimal secure beamforming schemes with low computational complexity for providing secure communication and efficient energy transfer. Simulation results demonstrate the superiority of our proposed scheme.
VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

This paper describes the concept of visionary leadership in a new way, more suitable for strategic management. First, drawing on an account of theatre, it presents a model of visionary leadership as drama, an interaction of repetition, representation, and assistance. Second, considering the experiences of a number of visionary leaders, in terms of style, process, content, and context, the paper describes various types of visionary leadership—the creator, the proselytizer, the idealist, the bricoleur, and the diviner.
Olfactory information converges in the amygdaloid cortex via the piriform and entorhinal cortices: observations in the guinea pig isolated whole‐brain preparation

The amygdaloid cortex (AC) has reciprocal connections with the entorhinal cortex (EC) and also receives projections from the olfactory bulb and the piriform cortex (PC). To assess the possibility that the AC and EC represent functionally coupled structures in the olfactory stream of information, we investigated the propagation pattern of neural activity in olfactory cortices − PC, AC and EC − using optical recordings with voltage‐sensitive dyes in the guinea pig in vitro isolated whole‐brain preparation. We observed two distinct pathways that convey neural activation evoked by olfactory nerve stimulation: a medial pathway from the PC to the AC, and a lateral pathway from the PC to the lateral EC along the rhinal sulcus. Besides being activated directly via the medial pathway, the AC was activated a second time via activity that propagated from the lateral EC. Lesion experiments revealed that the lateral pathway close to the rhinal sulcus is crucial for neural activation of the EC. Consistent with this activation pattern, we observed two separate, sharp downward deflections in field potential recordings, and we recorded synaptic potentials with multiple peaks from single neurons in the AC. Our findings suggest that the AC and EC are functionally coupled during olfactory information processing, and that this functional linkage may allow the AC to integrate olfactory sensation with information retained or processed in the EC.
Cellular Cytotoxicity ( TDCC ) Assay Characterization of Bispecific T-cell Engager ( BiTE ® ) Antibodies with a High-Capacity T-cell Dependent

The Bispecific T-cell Engager (BiTE) antibody modality is a clinically validated immunotherapeutic approach for targeting tumors. Using T-cell dependent cellular cytotoxicity (TDCC) assays, we measure the percentage of specific cytotoxicity induced when a BiTE molecule engages T-cells, redirects T-cell mediated cytolysis, and ultimately kills target cells. We establish a novel luminescence-based TDCC assay quantified by measuring cell viability via constitutive expression of luciferase. The luciferase-based TDCC assay performance is valid and comparable to an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)based detection method. We demonstrate that the luciferase-based TDCC assay is an efficient homogeneous assay format that is amenable to both suspension and adherent target cells. The luciferase-based TDCC assay eliminates the need for plate-washing protocols, allowing for higher-throughput screening of BiTE antibodies and better data quality. Assay capacity is also improved by performing serial dilutions of BiTE antibodies in 384-well format with an automated liquid handler. We describe here a robust, homogeneous TDCC assay platform with capacity for in vitro assessment of BiTE antibody potency and efficacy using multiple tumor cell lines and T-cell donors.
Improving Semantic Knowledge Base for Transfer Learning in Sentiment Analysis

Sentiment analysis deals with the computational treatment of opinion, sentiment, and subjectivity in text, has attracted a great deal of attention. Sentiment analysis has been widely used across a wide range of domains in recent years, such as information retrieval, question answering systems and social network. This paper presents a new method for improving the semantic knowledge base for sentiment classification in social web applications. It comprises the three steps. First, to identify sentiment terms. Next, to provide the context information from training corpus and ground this information to lexical resources such as WordNet. This Work applies to a transfer learning method called cross-domain sentiment classification. In Sentiment Analysis, transfer learning can be applied to transfer sentiment classification from one domain to another or building a bridge between two domains. This is achieved by learning the semantic knowledge base across the different domains. A model called AS_LDA is used for the sentiment classification. The performance of the proposed system improves the accuracy of the Sentiment Classifier to a significant extent. Key terms: WordNet, Sentiment Analysis, Cross-Domain sentiment Classification, Transfer Learning.
A general control architecture for dynamic bipedal walking

We propose a general but simple bipedal walking control architecture that incorporates intuitive control and learning algorithms. The learning algorithm is mainly used to generate the key parameters for the swing leg. The intuitive control is used to maintain the height and body posture. Based on the proposed architecture, a control algorithm is constructed and applied to a planar biped and a 3D biped. By applying an appropriate local speed control mechanism, we demonstrate that the bipeds can successfully achieve walking of 100 seconds within a reasonable number of trials. No dynamic models or nominal joint trajectory data are required for the implementations.
Detecting and locating partially specified keywords in scanned images using hidden Markov models

A hidden Markov model (HMM) based system for detecting locating, or spotting, user-specified keywords in scanned images is described. The system is font-independent, and no pre-segmentation of text and graphics is required. The bounding boxes of potential lines of text are extracted from the image using morphology. Feature vectors based on the external shape and internal structure of characters are computed for each bounding box. A keyword HMM is created by concatenating appropriate context-dependent character HMMs. The non-keyword HMM is based on context-dependent sub-character models. Keywords are spotted using Viterbi decoding on an HMM network created from the keyword and non-keyword HMMs. This model allows detection of keywords embedded in a line without pre-segmentation of the line into words or characters. Thus keywords may be specified by a baseform and variants of the keyword can be detected. <<ETX>>
Malware classification using dynamic features and Hidden Markov Model

In recent years the number of new malware threats has increased significantly, causing a damage of billions of dollars globally. To counter this aggressive malware attack, the anti-malware industry needs to be able to correctly classify malware in order to provide defense against them. Consequently, malware classification has been an active area of research, and a multitude of malware classification approaches have been proposed in the literature. This paper evaluates two methods of sequence classification based on Hidden Markov Model, namely the maximum likelihood and similarity-based methods, for classification of malware using a large and comprehensive dataset. System calls generated by known malware during execution are used as observation sequences to train the Hidden Markov Models. Malware samples are evaluated against the trained models to produce similarity vectors, which are used in the maximum likelihood and similarity-based classification schemes to predict the family for an unknown malware sample. Comparison of the two schemes shows that combining the powerful statistical pattern analysis capability of Hidden Markov Models and discriminative classifiers in the similarity- based method results in a significantly better classification performance as compared to the maximum likelihood approach. Furthermore, evaluation of different classifiers in the similarity-based method demonstrates that Random Forest classifier performs better than other classifiers on malware similarity vectors.
An intra-regional comparison on RoHS practices for green purchasing management among electrical and electronics SMEs in Southeast Asia

Green purchasing (GP) has elicited increasing attention in recent years by both academics and practitioners. However, its industrial issues in developing countries have not been investigated at a regional level. This paper aims to compare practices of GP in connection with a widely applied compliance of RoHS among five countries of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. We sought to determine where the differences occur and which practices are further along. An investigation of 106 manufacturing SMEs in E%E sector shows that a partial difference in the extent of implementation of on RoHS-related GP practices, including documentation, supplier management, and internal management, among these five countries. The implication of this paper indicates that RoHS-related GP enables SMEs to green their purchasing activities by establishing win-win relationships with suppliers, and thus realise sustainable development for the whole supply chains. As a managerial implication, the present study shows that an appropriate monitoring approach involving suppliers in green initiatives can help GP diffusion and greener environment across Southeast Asia.
Sustainable Tourism Development and Management in the Phuket Province, Thailand

This study aims to study 1) the problems and threats facing sustainable tourism management in Phuket, 2) the important factors affecting the guidelines for conservation and sustainable tourism promotion in Phuket, and 3) the policy guidelines for tourism development in Phuket. This study used both qualitative and quantitative methods, and the tools for data collection were a questionnaire (400 sample), question framework, and semi-structured interviews. From the results, the researchers identified the following problems and threats in Phuket: 1) traffic jams, 2) conservation of natural resources, 3) waste management, 4) high cost of living, 5) tax policies, and 6) labor costs. The important factors affecting the guidelines for conservation and sustainable tourism promotion in Phuket and the policy guidelines for tourism development in Phuket necessitates that government agencies involved in tourism policy focus on: 1) the necessities of daily life, 2) security and access, 3) cultural tourism management, 4) conservation of natural resources and the environment, 5) public services, 6) waste management, and 7) the public transportation system.
Use of the NP-40 Detergent-Mediated Assay in Discovery of Inhibitors of β-Hematin Crystallization

ABSTRACT The protozoan parasite responsible for malaria affects over 500 million people each year. Current antimalarials have experienced decreased efficacy due to the development of drug-resistant strains of Plasmodium spp. , resulting in a critical need for the discovery of new antimalarials. Hemozoin, a crystalline by-product of heme detoxification that is necessary for parasite survival, serves as an important drug target. The quinoline antimalarials, including amodiaquine and chloroquine, act by inhibiting the formation of hemozoin. The formation of this crystal does not occur spontaneously, and recent evidence suggests crystallization occurs in the presence of neutral lipid particles located in the acidic digestive vacuole of the parasite. To mimic these conditions, the lipophilic detergent NP-40 has previously been shown to successfully mediate the formation of β-hematin, synthetic hemozoin. Here, an NP-40 detergent-based assay was successfully adapted for use as a high-throughput screen to identify inhibitors of β-hematin formation. The resulting assay exhibited a favorable Z′ of 0.82 and maximal drift of less than 4%. The assay was used in a pilot screen of 38,400 diverse compounds at a screening concentration of 19.3 μM, resulting in the identification of 161 previously unreported β-hematin inhibitors. Of these, 48 also exhibited ≥90% inhibition of parasitemia in a Plasmodium falciparum whole-cell assay at a screening concentration of 23 μM. Eight of these compounds were identified to have nanomolar 50% inhibitory concentration values near that of chloroquine in this assay.
Once bitten, twice shy? ? Learning from experience in the context of R&D cooperation and copying of IP

In this article we show how experience, learning, and, ultimately, knowledge influence a company? s strategic decision-making. We base our argumentation on learning from failure literature and the 4I framework. We test our hypotheses empirically using data from the German Mannheim Innovation Panel (Community innovation survey) in the context of R&D cooperation and copying and infringement of IP(R). Until now, research has not yet focused on how an organization? s own experience with copying of own non-protected intellectual property and infringement of own intellectual property rights (e.g., patents, trademarks, etc.) and learning from it affect the tendency to cooperate in R&D. We find that firms with experience regarding copying of IP are less willing to engage in research collaboration. In contrast, firms with experience regarding infringement of IPR are more likely to cooperate on R&D. Our findings have implications for management and policy. We find that companies should strive for unambiguous IP(R) ownership and invest into drawing contracts addressing these issues, especially if they want to cooperate with a partner who experienced copying of IP. Policy should strive for clear IP(R) ownership by providing reliable IPR regimes.
Identification of the Site-Specific DNA Invertase Responsible for the Phase Variation of SusC/SusD Family Outer Membrane Proteins in Bacteroides fragilis

ABSTRACT The human gut microbe Bacteroides fragilis can alter the expression of its surface molecules, such as capsular polysaccharides and SusC/SusD family outer membrane proteins, through reversible DNA inversions. We demonstrate here that DNA inversions at 12 invertible regions, including three gene clusters for SusC/SusD family proteins, were controlled by a single tyrosine site-specific recombinase (Tsr0667) encoded by BF0667 in B. fragilis strain YCH46. Genetic disruption of BF0667 diminished or attenuated shufflon-type DNA inversions at all three susC/susD genes clusters, as well as simple DNA inversions at nine other loci, most of which colocalized with susC/susD family genes. The inverted repeat sequences found within the Tsr0667-regulated invertible regions shared the consensus motif sequence AGTYYYN4GDACT. Tsr0667 specifically mediated the DNA inversions of 10 of the 12 regions, even under an Escherichia coli background when the invertible regions were exposed to BF0667 in E. coli cells. Thus, Tsr0667 is an additional globally acting DNA invertase in B. fragilis, which probably involves the selective expression of SusC/SusD family outer membrane proteins.
A framework for electronic services system

This paper reports on developing a framework for web-based EServices Acceptance Model (E-SAM). The paper argues that User Experience, User Motivation, Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) may influence User Acceptance of web-based Eservices. The model was examined at a university where students and staff use services that have moved from a paper-based to web-based EService system. The findings from the data analysis suggest that User Experience is strongly related to PEOU; and PU to User Motivation in User Acceptance of Web-based Eservices. The bonding of these variables and the lack of strong relationships between other components suggest that the model's application to Eservices and highlight a research framework.
Interactions between Pesticides and Microorganisms in Freshwater Sediments

In aquatic ecosystems sediment microbial communities provide many important functions, such as organic matter decomposition and by constituting a major food source for organisms at higher trophic levels. Sediments are also sites were pesti-cides have been frequently detected. In this thesis, laboratory microcosm experi-ments on the interactions between pesticides and microorganisms in fresh-water sediments were performed. Natural microbial communities were exposed to both environmentally relevant and high concentrations of different pesticides. In short-term exposures, pesticides decreased overall microbial activity at concentrations that are predicted to be environmentally safe. Surprisingly, short-term exposure to the high pesticide concentrations did not always affect the microbial activity. Long-term exposures (one month), were observed to induce different shifts in the microbial community composition, detected by using molecular methods, depending both on the type of pesticide and the concentrations applied. Hence, toxic effects of pesticides in microorganisms are not always straightforward and easy to interpret. The microbial community of an artificial sediment used in toxicity tests was shown to have a low microbial activity, biomass, diversity as well as a different community composition compared to natural sediments. This could have impli-cations for the fate of the test compound and the outcome of the toxicity tests, which may need to be considered when interpreting the toxicity test results. Sediment bacteria and their extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in biofilms were observed to increase the uptake and bioaccumulation of the hydrophobic pesticide chlorpyrifos to midge larvae, Chironomus riparius. This indicates that microorganisms and EPS may increase the bioavailability and be important vectors for the uptake of sediment-associated contaminants in aquatic food webs. Hence, the quality of the sediment organic carbon may need to be taken in consideration in toxicity tests and risk assessments of these pollutants. This thesis shows that sediment microorganisms can be affected by pesticide exposure and that they can affect pesticide bioavailability. Therefore, the role of microbial processes should be regarded in risk assessments of pesticides.
Active Compressive Sensing via Pyroelectric Infrared Sensor for Human Situation Recognition

Conventional pyroelectric infrared (PIR) motion sensors use paired elements for the detection of moving targets. This method makes them incapable of measuring thermal signals from static targets. We need an active sensor that can detect static thermal subjects. This paper presents our design of active PIR sensors. The proposed PIR sensing systems can actively detect static thermal targets by using three methods that are suitable to different applications: 1) a sensor that can be rotated by a self-controlled servo motor for the detection of moving or static thermal subjects nearby; 2) a sensor that is equipped with a mask for low-complexity posture recognition; and 3) a sensor that can be worn on the wrist for the recognition of surrounding subjects (this sensor is especially useful for blind users). Compressive sensing (CS) theory indicates that random down-sampling method can capture more accurate information of the original signal than the evenly spaced sampling. Based on CS theory, we have developed the random sampling structures for the active PIR systems, and have built a statistical feature space for human scenario recognition. The experimental results demonstrate that the active sensing system can efficiently measure the static thermal targets, and the random sampling scheme has a better recognition performance than the even sampling scheme.