Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Control of lymphocyte development and activation by negative regulatory transmembrane adapter proteins

Summary: Signals emanating from antigen receptors critically regulate immune cell activation, survival, and differentiation. Transmembrane adapter proteins (TRAPs), a group of molecules that organize signaling complexes at the plasma membrane, play a pivotal role in propagating and fine‐tuning antigen receptor‐mediated signaling. During the last years, it has been demonstrated that most of the TRAPs possess inhibitory functions, including linker for activation of T cells (LAT), the best characterized adapter that links the T‐cell receptor (TCR) to Ca2+ flux and mitogen‐activated protein kinase activation. Indeed, it appears that LAT may assemble inhibitory complexes that trigger negative feedback loops, thus terminating T‐cell activation. Additionally, recent data demonstrate that SIT [Src homology 2 domain‐containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2)‐interacting TRAP] fine‐tunes TCR‐mediated signaling events and negatively regulates T‐cell development and homeostasis. The experimental evidence suggests that TRAPs play a crucial role also in establishing tolerance. In fact, loss of SIT, LAX, or NTAL (non‐T cell activation linker)/linker for activation of B cells (LAB) resulted in the spontaneous development of autoimmune diseases. Moreover, we recently showed that in addition to the inhibition of Src‐family kinases, PAG (phosphoprotein associated with glycosphingolipid‐enriched domains) is also involved in the negative regulation of Ras activation. Collectively, these data demonstrate that TRAPs are important modulators of immune cell activation and function. Finally, it appears that TRAPs possess redundant yet not completely overlapping functions.
A Market Driver Volatility Model via Policy Improvement Algorithm

In the over-the-counter market in derivatives, we sometimes see large numbers of traders taking the same position and risk. When there is this kind of concentration in the market, the position impacts the pricings of all other derivatives and changes the behaviour of the underlying volatility in a nonlinear way. We model this effect using Heston's stochastic volatility model modified to take into account the impact. The impact can be incorporated into the model using a special product called a market driver, potentially with a large face value, affecting the underlying volatility itself. We derive a revised version of Heston's partial differential equation which is to be satisfied by arbitrary derivatives products in the market. This enables us to obtain valuations that reflect the actual market and helps traders identify the risks and hold appropriate assets to correctly hedge against the impact of the market driver.
Combining trace transform and SVD for classification of micro-calcifications in digital mammograms

Breast cancer has been most frequent form of common cancer in women. It is also the leading cause of mortality in women each year. Breast cancer is much less common in younger women and is most often diagnosed when women are over 60. Breast cancer is the second-most common and leading cause of cancer death among women. It has turn into a major health issue in the world over the past 50 years, and its occurrence has increased in recent years. One of the leading methods for diagnosing breast cancer is screening mammography. The appearance of micro-calcification in mammograms is an early sign of breast cancer. To overcome the issue automated micro-calcification detection techniques play a vital role in cancer diagnosis and treatment. This paper aims to develop an automatic system to classify the digital mammogram images into Benign or Malignant images. We have proposed Support vector machine (SVM) based classifier for to detect the microcalcification at each location in the mammogram images. The proposed method has been implemented in three stages (a) preprocessing (b) feature extraction (c) SVM classification. The proposed method has been evaluated using Mammogram Image Analysis Society (MIAS) database. Experimental results show that, when compared to several other methods SVM shows 94.94% micro calcification detection in mammograms.
The Effect of Presentation Level on Memory Performance

Objectives: A loss of speech intelligibility at high presentation levels is called rollover. It is a phenomenon that increases in prevalence as people age. Whether the adverse effect of high presentation levels extends to processes subsequent to speech intelligibility, such as memory, is unknown. The present study examined this question on the basis of the previous finding that older but not younger adults showed memory impairment when acoustically distorted words were presented at 50 dB SL compared with an undistorted baseline presented at 65 dB SPL. One question investigated in the present study was whether a presentation level of 50 dB SL put older listeners at the cusp of rollover and whether this subsequently impaired memory. Moreover, we wanted to know whether and at what level it was possible to induce a similar impairment in younger listeners. Design: We used a paired-associate memory paradigm in which five word pairs per list were presented at a rate of 4 secs per word pair. After each list, the first word of one of the pairs was presented again and the listener was asked to recall the second word. Over the course of the experiment, all list positions were tested an equal number of times. The word pairs, which were acoustically distorted using a jittering algorithm, were presented at 40 dB SL to all younger and older participants and just below an uncomfortably loud level for younger listeners only. Intelligibility of the distorted words was equated across age groups for each presentation level. The effect of presentation level on memory performance was investigated and compared with data of a previous study that used the same design but presented the distorted and undistorted words at 50 dB SL to both age groups. A total of 58 younger and 24 older adults were tested in two experiments. Results: The results showed that for older adults, memory performance for distorted words was decreased in all list positions at a presentation level of 50 dB SL compared with 40 dB SL and an undistorted 65 dB SPL baseline. This effect did not occur for younger listeners. However, when younger adults were tested at a very high presentation level, they showed the same memory decrease compared with the baseline as older adults showed for 50 dB SL. Conclusions: A high presentation level of distorted words can adversely affect memory even after intelligibility is equated for. Moreover, older listeners are affected at lower presentation levels. Hence, the choice of sound level, particularly for older listeners, is important and may affect their level of cognitive performance beyond its effects on intelligibility. Higher presentation levels may not always lead to better performance when the task involves recall of words previously heard.
Enhancing the Radiation Performance of a Pyramidal Horn Antenna by Loading a Subwavelength Metasurface

We present the detailed design and experimental demonstration of a low-sidelobe horn antenna based on controlling the amplitude and the phase distribution of the electromagnetic fields over the aperture of the horn antenna using a thin single-layer metasurface lens. The lens is composed of two identical subwavelength metallic square-ring arrays printed on the two sides of a single dielectric layer. By placing the metasurface lens inside a standard pyramidal horn, the electromagnetic fields over the horn aperture can be manipulated, resulting in low sidelobe radiation in both <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$E$ </tex-math></inline-formula>- and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$H$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-planes. Both simulated and measured results demonstrate the tapered field distribution over the horn aperture and the significant reduction of sidelobes in the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$E$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-plane as well as the reduction of the backlobes.
Effective Request Distributing in Distributed SSL Reverse Proxies

We focus on effective request distributing for locally or globally distributed Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) reverse proxies in a Web system. We assume a system consisting of a front-end request distributor and several back-end SSL reverse proxy nodes, each has its own queue for caching requests. The proposed two request distribution strategies SSLSARD-D and SSLSARD-W are both composed of a back-end load estimation algorithm, a request distribution algorithm and a queue resource scheduling algorithm. We test the proposed strategies' performances using a request flow with bursty arrivals. We show that the proposed strategies perform well in reducing packet losses when coming across bursty arrivals, but need to be at the expense of increasing request latency. Comparing with SSLSARD-D, SSLSARD-W provides higher SSL session resumption rate and performs better when the request flow fluctuates greatly.
A taxonomy of logistics centres: overcoming conceptual ambiguity

ABSTRACT This manuscript aims to disentangle the conceptual ambiguity around the notion of logistics centre. It proposes an overarching framework that categorises different types of infrastructure and identifies their distinctive components. The lack of a sound conceptualisation of logistics centres originates from the variety in temporal and spatial approaches. In transportation chains, path-breaking trends in market needs, technological innovations and institutional changes, as well as the place specificity of logistics centres embedded in various national contexts, inevitably led to a substantial theoretical ambiguity. This study consolidates prior fragmented works and identifies suitable criteria for classifying logistics centres. The functional criterion is proposed as a cornerstone for building a sound conceptualisation of these infrastructures. By capturing the distinctive characteristics of each type of logistics centre, the paper proposes an original and comprehensive taxonomy, which emphasises commonalities and specificities of various infrastructures. The paper provides a contribution to literature by sketching out a trustworthy conceptualisation of logistics centres. In addition, the outcomes bring insightful implications for researchers, policy-makers and practitioners.
How Cyberattacks Terrorize: Cortisol and Personal Insecurity Jump in the Wake of Cyberattacks

Do cyberattacks fuel the politics of threat? By what mechanism does it do so? To address these questions, we employ a technological and physiological experiment (2 × 2) involving a simulated cyberattack. Participants were randomly assigned to "cyberattack" (treatment) or "no attack" (control) conditions. We find that cyber-attacks make people more likely to express threat perceptions; we suggest salivary cortisol, a measure of stress, as the mechanism bridging cyber and the politics of threat. Contrary to existing evidence, salivary cortisol is the mechanism that translates simulated exposure to cyberattacks into political threat perceptions.
Measuring the Effects of Welfare Time Limits

This paper develops a simple regression model that incorporates the behavioral dynamics of time limits and is estimable by panel data techniques. By relating this model to reduced-form analysis, I clarify an implicit assumption that underlies a popular difference-in-differences (DID) specification, which understates the overall effects of time limits. I also find that a considerable amount of dynamics is due to individuals reducing welfare use, as their stock of remaining welfare eligibility depletes. This generates more plausible predictions related to counterfactuals, cumulative welfare use patterns, and mechanical termination of benefits.
Epileptogenesis in chronically injured cortex: in vitro studies.

1. Field potentials and intracellular activities were examined in neocortical slices obtained through areas of chronic cortical injury produced by cortical undercutting and transcortical lesions made in vivo 7-122 days before the terminal in vitro slice experiment. 2. Abnormal field potentials characterized by long- and variable-latency multiphasic events could be evoked by layer VI-white matter or subpial stimulation in 9 of 15 animals that had adequate partial cortical isolations. These "epileptiform" field potentials were recorded in layers II-V and propagated across the cortex. They appeared at threshold in an all-or-none fashion and, in most slices, could be blocked by increasing stimulus intensity. In one slice, spontaneous epileptiform events occurred that were similar to those evoked by extracellular stimulation. 3. Intracellular activities during the epileptiform field potentials consisted of polyphasic synaptic events that were predominantly depolarizing and that could last < or = 400-500 ms, synchronous with the field potential activities. A variety of observations suggested that the neuronal activities underlying epileptiform field potentials were relatively asynchronous and much less intense than those previously found in chemically induced epileptogenesis within the neocortex. 4. Inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) were not prominent in neurons when threshold stimuli evoked epileptiform events; however, suprathreshold stimuli could elicit biphasic IPSPs and block the long-latency polysynaptic activity and abnormal field potential in most slices. Depolarizing components of the polysynaptic activity had the appearance of excitatory postsynaptic potentials in terms of their responses to alterations in membrane potential. 5. Comparison of spike parameters in layer V neurons of epileptogenic slices with those in control layer V neurons showed no significant differences in spike height, threshold, duration, or rise time. Resting membrane potentials were also not significantly different. 6. There was a highly significant difference in input resistance (RN) between layer V neurons in control and injured slices; the mean value for neurons in lesioned cortex was 68.1 M omega, whereas that in control cells was 30.5 M omega. There was also a significant prolongation of the slow membrane time constant in neurons of injured cortex (19.4 ms) as opposed to that in control cells (12.2 ms), suggesting that a change in specific resistivity or capacitance contributed to the higher RNS. 7. The relationship between adapted spike frequency and applied current (f-I slope) was steeper in layer V neurons from injured cortical slices (44.3 Hz/nA) than in normal layer V cells (28.2 Hz/nA). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The determinants of the performance of dairy smallholders in Malawi

Milk production in Malawi is stagnating although neighbouring countries steadily increase outputs. In this paper, we explored the determinants of the performance of dairy smallholders. As indicators of on-farm performance we used annual milk yield, calving intervals, and annual dairy income. Regression models revealed that milk yield was negatively related with farmer’s age, female farmer, and household size, but positively influenced by farmers’ experience. Calving intervals were strongly associated with labour costs and breeding method. Income from dairying was only associated with farmers’ education but varied strongly with region. Regional effects existed for all performance indicators which may partly be rooted in land scarcity in the south and the efforts of development agencies to promote dairying in the northern and central regions. Results also revealed a tendency for pure breeds to produce higher outputs, but crossbreeds due to lower costs provided better income. Thus, we recommend that experienced farmers become involved in extension programs to provide comprehensive services that help farmers make more efficient use of their scarce assets, and thus realise more of the animals’ genetic potential with regard to the three observed performance indicators.
Motor tele-rehabilitation in post-stroke patients

Primary objective: The advanced communication technology may allow rehabilitative interventions to patients living at home from a remote provider. We evaluated the effects of a tele-rehabilitation system for the therapy of arm motor impairments due to a stroke. Research design: Experimental observational study. Methods and procedures: We selected five patients suffering from mild/intermediate arm motor impairments due to a long-lasting ischaemic stroke. Two workstations were utilized, one in the patient's house and the other in the rehabilitation hospital, connected through the phone lines. A virtual reality based software allowed the patient to perform adequate motor tasks created by the physiotherapist. During performance, the patient could see not only their movement but also the correct trajectory that they had to accomplish. The feedback derived from the patient's action, its outcome, and feedback from the supervision of the physiotherapist may favour the acquisition of new motor abilities. Main outcome measures: The arm motor performance and the activities of daily living were evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer and Functional Independence Measure scale, together with the determination of the velocity and duration of 10 representative reaching movements. Results: Subjects underwent the tele-rehabilitation programme for 4 weeks. The therapy significantly improved the Fugl-Meyer mean score, the mean duration and the velocity of the movements, but not the Functional Independence Measure scale score. Conclusions: These results indicated that this tele-rehabilitation system did not appear to adversely affect rehabilitation; rather it may improve arm motor deficits due to a stroke. If these evidences are further confirmed, tele-rehabilitation may represent a new home-based therapy to treat disabled people.
Latent tuberculous infection testing among HIV-infected persons in clinical care, United States, 2010-2012.

SETTING Current guidelines recommend latent tuberculous infection (LTBI) testing at the time of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis and annually thereafter for persons at high risk of LTBI. OBJECTIVES To estimate LTBI testing prevalence and describe the characteristics of HIV-infected persons who would benefit from annual LTBI testing. DESIGN We estimated the proportions of LTBI testing among a nationally representative sample of HIV-infected adults in care between 2010 and 2012, and compared the patient characteristics of those with a positive LTBI test result to those with a negative result using χ2 tests. RESULTS Among 2772 patients, 68.8% had been tested for LTBI at least once since HIV diagnosis, and 39.4% had been tested during the previous 12 months. Among patients tested at least once, 6.9% tested positive, 80.7% tested negative, and 12.4% had an indeterminate or undocumented result. Patients with a positive test were significantly more likely to be foreign-born, have lower educational attainment, and a household income at or below the federal poverty level. CONCLUSIONS More than 30% of HIV-infected patients had never been tested for LTBI. Providers should test all patients for LTBI at the time of HIV diagnosis. The patient characteristics associated with a positive LTBI test result may guide provider decisions about annual testing.
Based on the Technological Analysis of Big Data Security and Privacy Protection Technology

With the rapid development of network society and intelligent society, and the increase of data acquisition source, the volume of data is on an explosive growth, which has led to the emergence of big data and wide use in all walks of life. Big data also brings a lot of trouble to people at the same time they bring in the convenience. People found that in the process of big data collection, transmission, storage, management, analysis, release, use, destruction and other processes there were security problems and big data security faced more challenges. By analyzing the data security problems and the privacy risks in the big data environment, this paper puts forward the strategies of big data security privacy protection, and provides reference for the construction of big data security and privacy protection system.
Business Intelligence Capabilities and Effectiveness: An Integrative Model

Organizations may not be equally predisposed towards successful adoption and implementation of business intelligence (BI) initiatives and applications. A key to understanding the success or failure of BI within an organization, termed as BI Effectiveness, is the identification and assessment of BI Capabilities and their constituent dimensions. Using this theoretical foundation, we develop a conceptual framework that identifies four BI Capabilities, comprising of eleven dimensions, and offer three propositions that illustrate their effect on BI Effectiveness. To facilitate empirical research, we develop and cross-validate a questionnaire instrument to measure these new constructs, which can serve as a diagnostic tool through which organizations can assess the effectiveness of their BI initiatives. We thus provide a definitional and empirical context for assessing key BI Capabilities that directly impact an organization's effectiveness at BI implementation and use.
Urinary protein fraction in healthy subjects using cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis followed by colloidal silver staining

We previously reported a rapid and highly sensitive colloidal silver staining solution suitable for the cellulose acetate membrane. This method was useful for detecting even very small amounts of urinary protein. In the present study, we examined urinary protein fractions in healthy subjects, using cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis (CAE) with a highly sensitive colloidal silver staining, in an attempt to determine the clinical relevance of urinary protein fractions. Sixty unconcentrated spot urine specimens were analyzed by CAE and calculated by densitometry. All of the samples were separated into five fractions by CAE. The mean±1 SD of the percentage of five fractions was 28.37±8.51 in albumin, 4.30±4.19 in α1‐globulin, 14.41±6.14 in α2‐globulin, 19.45±7.10 in β‐globulin, and 33.46±8.24 in γ‐globulin. The albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio was 0.41±0.17. These six items and the concentrations of total protein, albumin, and β‐N‐acetyl‐D‐glucosaminidase (NAG) did not significantly differ between males and females. NAG is the marker of tubulointerstitial nephropathy. The results suggest that there are no gender‐dependent differences in the urinary protein fractions of healthy subjects. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 18:231–236, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.