Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alveolar macrophages are required for protective pulmonary defenses in murine Klebsiella pneumonia: elimination of alveolar macrophages increases neutrophil recruitment but decreases bacterial clearance and survival

To study the in vivo role of alveolar macrophages (AM) in gram-negative bacterial pneumonia in mice, AM were eliminated by the intratracheal (i.t.) administration of dichloromethylene diphosphonate encapsulated liposomes. Subsequently, the AM-depleted mice were infected i.t. with 100 CFU of Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the effects of AM depletion on survival, bacterial clearance, and neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte [PMN]) recruitment were assessed. It was shown that depletion of AM decreases survival dramatically, with 100% lethality at day 3 postinfection, versus 100% long-term survival in the control group. This increased mortality was accompanied by 20- to 27- and 3- to 10-fold increases in the number of K. pneumoniae CFU in lung and plasma, respectively, compared to those in nondepleted animals. This decreased bacterial clearance was not due to an impaired PMN recruitment; on the contrary, the K. pneumoniae-induced PMN recruitment in AM-depleted lungs was sevenfold greater 48 h postinfection than that in control infected lungs. Together with an increased PMN infiltration, 3- and 10-fold increases in lung homogenate tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) levels, respectively, were measured. Neutralization of TNF-alpha or MIP-2, 2 h before infection, reduced the numbers of infiltrating PMN by 41.6 and 64.2%, respectively, indicating that these cytokines mediate PMN influx in infected lungs, rather then just being produced by the recruited PMN themselves. Our studies demonstrate, for the first time, the relative importance of the AM in the containment and clearance of bacteria in the setting of Klebsiella pneumonia.
Epigallocatechin Gallate, a Green Tea Polyphenol, Mediates NO-dependent Vasodilation Using Signaling Pathways in Vascular Endothelium Requiring Reactive Oxygen Species and Fyn*

Green tea consumption is associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality in some epidemiological studies. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a bioactive polyphenol in green tea, mimics metabolic actions of insulin to inhibit gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes. Because signaling pathways regulating metabolic and vasodilator actions of insulin are shared in common, we hypothesized that EGCG may also have vasodilator actions to stimulate production of nitric oxide (NO) from endothelial cells. Acute intra-arterial administration of EGCG to mesenteric vascular beds isolated ex vivo from WKY rats caused dose-dependent vasorelaxation. This was inhibitable by l-NAME (NO synthase inhibitor), wortmannin (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor), or PP2 (Src family kinase inhibitor). Treatment of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) with EGCG (50 μm) acutely stimulated production of NO (assessed with NO-specific fluorescent dye DAF-2) that was inhibitable by l-NAME, wortmannin, or PP2. Stimulation of BAEC with EGCG also resulted in dose- and time-dependent phosphorylation of eNOS that was inhibitable by wortmannin or PP2 (but not by MEK inhibitor PD98059). Specific knockdown of Fyn (but not Src) with small interfering RNA inhibited both EGCG-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS as well as production of NO in BAEC. Treatment of BAEC with EGCG generated intracellular H2O2 (assessed with H2O2-specific fluorescent dye CM-H2DCF-DA), whereas treatment with N-acetylcysteine inhibited EGCG-stimulated phosphorylation of Fyn, Akt, and eNOS. We conclude that EGCG has endothelial-dependent vasodilator actions mediated by intracellular signaling pathways requiring reactive oxygen species and Fyn that lead to activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Akt, and eNOS. This mechanism may explain, in part, beneficial vascular and metabolic health effects of green tea consumption.
Avaliação experimental da influência dos requisitos de durabilidade na segurança contra incêndio de protótipos de pilares pré-fabricados de concreto armado

As recentes tragedias ocorridas no Brasil motivaram a revisao de leis e diretrizes sobre seguranca contra incendio das edificacoes. Paralelamente, novos requisitos de seguranca foram exigidos pela norma de desempenho (ABNT, 2013a), fortalecendo o debate. Estes fatores, reforcados pela intensificacao da fiscalizacao e das exigencias para o licenciamento edilicio, acentuou o dever de prever a seguranca contra incendio em projeto. Nas estruturas de concreto, as normas que definem as especificacoes de durabilidade, a NBR 6118 (ABNT, 2014) e NBR 12655 (ABNT, 2015), nao consentem os parâmetros de seguranca contra incendio da NBR 15200 (ABNT, 2012), e vice-versa. Este trabalho visa avaliar, experimentalmente, o tempo de resistencia ao fogo (TRF) de prototipos de pilares pre-fabricados produzidos com parâmetros normativos de durabilidade do concreto, comparando-os com as recomendacoes da NBR 15200 (ABNT, 2012). O estudo foi feito em 16 pilares, 4 para cada classe de agressividade ambiental, com secao transversal 25x25cm e altura 300cm, com diferentes classes de resistencia e produzidos numa industria de pre-fabricados, ensaiados na idade de 28 dias por 240 minutos, sem carregamento, com a curva de aquecimento da ISO 834 (ISO, 2014). Para cada pilar de mesma classe, uma espessura de cobrimento distinta foi adotada. Concluiu-se que os parâmetros de durabilidade do concreto influenciaram no grau de desplacamento, havendo, contudo, preponderância do diâmetro das barras e da espessura de cobrimento no TRF destes pilares. Os maiores diâmetros, apesar de desenvolverem temperaturas medias menores durante o ensaio, intensificaram o desplacamento de aresta, que aumentou em paralelo com a resistencia a compressao nos concretos de ate 63MPa, diminuindo nas resistencias superiores a esta. O metodo analitico de verificacao da NBR 15200 (ABNT, 2012) se mostrou seguro, notando-se um grau de conservadorismo intrinseco. Apos o ensaio, as armaduras principais e o concreto apresentaram perda residual de resistencia.
Interaction between the Candida albicans High-Osmolarity Glycerol (HOG) Pathway and the Response to Human β-Defensins 2 and 3

ABSTRACT Human β-defensins 2 and 3 are small cationic peptides with antimicrobial activity against the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. We found that hog1 and pbs2 mutants were hypersensitive to treatment with these peptides, pointing to a role of the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway in the response to defensin-induced cell injury.
Analyzing Language Learned by an Active Question Answering Agent

We analyze the language learned by an agent trained with reinforcement learning as a component of the ActiveQA system [Buck et al., 2017]. In ActiveQA, question answering is framed as a reinforcement learning task in which an agent sits between the user and a black box question-answering system. The agent learns to reformulate the user's questions to elicit the optimal answers. It probes the system with many versions of a question that are generated via a sequence-to-sequence question reformulation model, then aggregates the returned evidence to find the best answer. This process is an instance of \emph{machine-machine} communication. The question reformulation model must adapt its language to increase the quality of the answers returned, matching the language of the question answering system. We find that the agent does not learn transformations that align with semantic intuitions but discovers through learning classical information retrieval techniques such as tf-idf re-weighting and stemming.
On natural linewidth of Fabry-Perot lasers; simulation of experiments

A medium component of the natural linewidth is considered, the component being found when applying nonlinear photorefractivity on laser frequencies. The natural linewidth is calculated on the basis of a new formula for the line shape which has been derived in the process of applying nonlinear photorefractivity. Medium, phase, and amplitude components of the natural linewidth are taken into account. We have defined and found the numerical values of laser parameters describing the natural linewidth of Fabry-Perot semiconductor lasers by solving an inverse problem, and then have simulated all experimental measurements represented in the literature we have available.
Understanding Software Operations Support Expertise: A Revealed Causal Mapping Approach

This paper utilizes a qualitative methodology, revealed causal mapping (RCM), to investigate the phenomenon of software operations support expertise. Software operations support is a large portion of the IS work performed in organizations. While we as researchers have access to generalized theories and frameworks of expertise, very little is known about expertise in this critical area. To understand software operations support expertise, a mid-range theory is evoked from interviews with experts and the construction of RCMs from those interviews. The results of this study indicate that software operation support expertise is comprised of five major constructs: personal competencies, environmental factors, support personnel motivation, IS policies, and support personnel outcomes. Additionally, this study revealed that these constructs interact differently in contexts where software support is the main activity versus contexts where the focus is development. This study demonstrates that the use of the RCM methodology yields constructs of software operations support expertise that are not suggested by generalized theory. In addition, the use of RCM as an evocative, qualitative methodology reveals the interaction and linkages between these constructs. This paper also provides a history of and tutorial to the RCM methodology for use by the research community.
On achievable rates in a multi-antenna Gaussian broadcast channel

A Gaussian broadcast channel with r single-antenna receivers and t antennas at the transmitter is considered. Both transmitter and receivers have perfect knowledge of the channel. Despite its apparent simplicity, this model is in general a non-degraded broadcast channel, for which the capacity region is not fully known. We propose a novel transmission scheme based on "ranked known interference" (RKI). In brief, the transmitter decomposes the channel into an ordered (or ranked) set of interference channels for which the interference signal of the i-th channel is generated as a linear combination of the signals transmitted in channels j<i. In this way, known techniques of coding for non-causally known interference can be applied to make the interference in each channel harmless without further power penalty. We show that the proposed scheme is throughputwise asymptotically optimal for both low and high SNR. We provide a modification of the basic RKI scheme which achieves optimal throughput for all SNRs in the special case of 2 antenna and 2 users. For independent Rayleigh fading closed-form throughput expressions are obtained in various cases of interest and numerical examples are provided for the infinite-dimensional Rayleigh channel.
Tools and Methods for Building Watson

The DeepQA team built the Watson QA system for Jeopardy! in under four years by adopting a metrics-driven research and development methodology. This methodology relies heavily on disciplined integration of new and improved components, extensive experimentation at the component and end-to-end system level, and informative error analysis. To support this methodology, we adopted a formal protocol for integrating components into the overall system and running end-to-end integration tests, assembled a powerful computing environment for running a large volume of high-throughput experiments, and built several tools for deploying experiments and evaluating results. We describe our software development and integration protocol, the DeepQA computing environment for development, and the tools we built and used to create Watson for Jeopardy! We also briefly allude to some of the more recent enhancements to these tools and methods as we extend Watson to operate in commercial applications.
SVM ensemble intrusion detection model based on Rough Set feature reduct

To address the problem of low accuracy and high false alarm rate in network intrusion detection system, an Intrusion detection model of SVM ensemble using rough set feature reduct is presented. Utilizing the character that Rough set algorithm can keep the discernability of original dataset after reduction, the reducts of the original dataset are calculated and used to train individual SVM classifier for ensemble, which increase the diversity between individual classifiers, and consequently, increase the probability of detection accuracy improving. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, simulation experiments are performed based on the KDD 99 dataset. During the process of the experiments, two arguments, the sample number and the base classification number, are discussed to test their effect on the final result. And then detection performance comparison among the SVMusing all samples, SVM-Bagging ensemble and Rough Set based SVM-Bagging are performed. The results show that the Rough Set based SVM-Bagging is a promised ensemble method owning to its high diversity, high detection accuracy and faster speed in intrusion detection.
Low-Serum Testosterone Levels Pre-Liver Transplantation Are Associated With Reduced Rates of Early Acute Allograft Rejection in Men

Background Low pretransplant serum testosterone has recently been associated with increased mortality in men awaiting liver transplantation, but the potential impact on rejection has not yet been investigated. Methods Pretransplantation serum testosterone, SHBG, and other variables were collected on 190 consecutive men who received a liver transplant between 2007 and 2013. Rates of subsequent acute cellular rejection were recorded. Multivariable analysis was performed to define variables associated with rejection and other clinically important end points. Results Thirty (16%) of 190 men experienced acute cellular rejection. Lower pretransplant testosterone was associated with lower rejection rates, −7% (95% confidence interval [CI], −2% to −12%) per nmol/L decrease in total testosterone and −4% (95% CI, −0.5% to −7%) per 10 pmol/L decrease in free testosterone. Total testosterone (correlation 0.29, P=0.04) and free testosterone (correlation 0.37, P=0.01) correlated significantly with the histological severity of rejection. Older age at transplant (+5% [95% CI, 9%–2%]) per year, and nonautoimmune etiology of liver disease (OR, 1.0 for autoimmune, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.07–0.73] for hepatitis C virus, and 0.58 [95% CI, 0.21–1.71] for other etiologies) were also associated with decreased rejection risk. In a generalized linear model including the covariates testosterone, SHBG, age, etiology, and MELD, total testosterone remained a significant predictor of rejection (adjusted OR, 1.06; P=0.03), as did age at transplant (OR, 0.95; P=0.01). Conclusion Low preliver transplant serum testosterone independently predicts a decreased risk of acute allograft rejection. Whether testosterone is a marker of disease-associated immune dysfunction or has immune-modulatory effects requires further study.
Relation between skin surface temperature and minimal blanching during argon, Nd‐YAG 532, and CW dye 585 laser therapy of port‐wine stains

Laser photocoagulation has proven to be valuable in the treatment of port‐wine stains. In this application, the minimal blanching technique is used as an indicator of suitable dosage since it has been demonstrated that the immediate appearance a white mark is required to achieve permanent blanching a few months later. The objective of the investigations undertaken in this study was to correlate the temperature attained at the surface of port‐wine stains with immediate blanching, upon irradiation with different laser fluences. A comparative study was performed using an argon laser (all lines), a 532 nm Nd:YAG and a 585 nm argon pumped dye laser. Surface temperature was studied using an infrared camera. Temperature was measured on 10 different port‐wine stains using different fluences. Whitening threshold fluence was related to surface temperature. It appeared that whitening threshold fluence corresponded to a surface temperature of 53°C (±3°C). The whitening threshold fluence was dependent on port‐wine stains and wavelength. However, whitening threshold fluence remained lower for 532 nm and 585 nm and it correlated to the absorption curve of hemoglobin. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Direct automated EMIT d.a.u. analysis of N,N-dimethylformamide-modified serum, plasma, and postmortem blood for amphetamines, barbiturates, methadone, methaqualone, phencyclidine, and propoxyphene.

The addition of two volumes of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) to serum, plasma, and postmortem blood with subsequent centrifugation resulted in supernatant that could be directly analyzed by EMIT d.a. u. urine reagents on the Syva autocarousel. Application of this method to the drugs below gave cutoff concentrations in milligrams of immunochemically cross-reactive analyte equivalents/L as follows: 0.05 for amphetamine, 0.05 for secobarbital, 0.075 for methadone, 0.05 for methaqualone, 0.025 for phencyclidine, and 0.05 for propoxyphene. Quantitative "false" negative/positive noncongruence between total EMIT cross-reactants and free-drug analyses by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were 3/4 (n = 50) for amphetamines, 2/0 (n = 60) for barbiturates, 0/0 (n = 47) for methadone, 0/0 (n = 48) for methaqualone, 1/0 (n = 44) for phencyclidine, and 1/2 for propoxyphene (n = 53). Within-day precision, as indicated by the coefficient of variation, of quantitative estimates using low and high controls ranged from 3.7 to 11% and 1.8 to 10.3%, respectively. Using the same control levels, between-day precision of quantitative estimates varied from 5.8 to 30.3% and 3.0 to 11.8%, respectively.
Short-Pulse Dual-Wavelength System Based on Mode-Locked Diode Lasers With a Single Polarization-Maintaining Yb:Fiber Amplifier

In this paper, we report on the development of a short-pulse dual-wavelength source consisting of mode-locked diode lasers and a single Yb-doped double-clad fiber amplifier. Two mode-locked external-cavity semiconductor oscillators operating at a repetition rate of 577 MHz with center wavelengths of 1040 nm and 1079 nm are synchronized, producing short pulses that are injected into a Yb-doped polarization-maintaining fiber for amplification. Numerical simulations are used to determine the optimal fiber length and seeding configuration for dual-wavelength amplification in the fiber. Each signal is amplified to an average power of 0.5 W with pulse durations of around 5 ps. Performance issues associated with two-signal amplification in Yb-doped fibers are discussed, as well as perspectives for increasing the wavelength separation of the seed lasers.
Deproteinized cancellous bovine bone (Bio-Oss) as bone substitute for sinus floor elevation. A retrospective, histomorphometrical study of five cases.

OBJECTIVES To study in detail the performance of deproteinized cancellous bovine bone (DPBB, Bio-Osso) granules as a bone substitute, a histomorphometric was performed on five patients treated with DPBB for reconstruction of the severely atrophic maxilla. MATERIAL AND METHODS DPBB was used as mixture with autogenous bone particles, in concentrations that increased from 20% to 100% DPBB, with the time of healing increasing accordingly from 5 to 8 months. A total of 20 vertical biopsies was taken at the time of fixture installation and used for histomorphometry as undecalcified Goldner stained sections. RESULTS The results show that in all cases, the DPBB granules had been interconnected by bridges of vital newly formed bone. The volume of bone in the grafted area correlated inversely with the concentration of DPBB grafted, and varied between 37% and 23%. However, the total volume of mineralized material (bone plus DPI3B granules) remained within the same range in all five patients (between 53% and 59%). The high values for osteoid and resorption surface, and the presence of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated osteoclasts in resorption lacunae, indicated that bone remodeling was very active in all grafts. Osteoclasts were also observed in shallow resorption pits on DPBB surfaces. The percentage DPBB surface in contact with bone remained stable at about 35% and could not be related to the proportion of DPBB grafted. CONCLUSION Although the number of patients examined was limited, the data suggest that deproteinized cancellous bovine bone, preferably combined with autogenous bone particles, is a suitable material for sinus floor elevation in the severely atrophic human maxilla.
Resting State Functional Connectivity between the Amygdala and Cortical Sites in Parkinson ’ s Patients Symptomatic for REM Behavior Disorder

Study Objective: To assess resting state functional connectivity between the amygdala and cortical sites in Parkinson’s patients who were symptomatic for REM Behavior Disorder. Design: Between-groups, resting state fcMRI in RBD symptomatic PD patients versus non-symptomatic PD patients Settings: MAGNETOM Trio 3 Tesla MRI at the Boston VA, and in-person cognitive assessments Participants: 13 Parkinson’s patients with RBD symptoms and 28 clinically matched PD patients without RBD symptoms were administered neuropsychologic assessments. A subgroup (N=25) of this sample consisting of 11 Parkinson’ patients with RBD symptoms and 14 patients without RBD underwent fcMRI analysis. Results: The RBD symptomatic group did not significantly differ from the non-RBD group on any background, clinical, or cognitive variables except that a larger percentage of RBD symptomatic patients were on agonists. Seed-analysis of rsf MRI data revealed greater correlations between BOLD time series of the bilateral amygdala and the bilateral precentral, and left transverse temporal regions in the RBD symptomatic group when compared to the RBD nonsymptomatic group. Conclusions: RBD dream enactment behaviors, including auditory hallucinations, may be related to BOLD correlations between amygdala and left sided primary auditory cortex.
The use of MADM methods in the vertical handover decision making context

The vertical handover is an important issue in the world of internet. In fact, the use of internet is becoming wider with the diversity of possible offered services, going from emailing, Data and video transfers, to IoT. The number of internet users has reached multimillions of people these last two decades, in addition, they are willing to connect wirelessly anytime and anywhere, to the best available technology, under the Always Best-Connected paradigm (ABC). The mobile terminals are nowadays, equipped with multiple interfaces, allowing them, to connect to any available wireless access technology, and this provokes vertical handovers to happen. The vertical handover is the changing of the wireless access technology (Ex: from Wi-Fi to 4G), unlike the horizontal handover, which means changing the base station or access point, while staying within the same wireless technology. Thus, the vertical handover process needs to be improved, especially the decision phase, which is the most crucial, while the sensors and antennas' technologies are developing very fast, to collect more efficient metrics, to make faster and more precise decisions anytime. Many theories have been used to deal with the vertical handover decision making, like utility function, fuzzy theory, neural networks, artificial intelligence, and Multi-Attributes Decision Making (MADM). Naturally, MADM methods are the most suitable for this kind of decision making issues. Moreover, these algorithms are relatively simple to implement, and are executing fast enough, to ensure a “seamless” handover, without interrupting the services and sessions. The aim of this paper is to investigate which MADM combination is relatively the best, amongst 120 combinations of MADM methods compared.