Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Local administration of dendritic cells inhibits established breast tumor growth: implications for apoptosis-inducing agents.

Dendritic cells (DCs) can efficiently acquire foreign antigen(s) from apoptotic cells and induce MHC class I-restricted, antigen-specific CTLs. An accumulation of DCs within solid tumor masses in situ has been associated indirectly with a more favorable prognosis. Therefore, DCs may offer an efficient means for triggering immune responses within tumors, particularly in those masses containing significant apoptosis. We examined whether delivery of DCs could, alone, impact on the progressive growth of a tumor with a relatively high apoptotic index. We detected significant early apoptosis within the mass of a s.c. growing murine MT-901 breast carcinoma. DCs could efficiently engulf MT-901 tumor apoptotic cells in vitro. Intratumoral injections of syngeneic but not allogeneic DCs resulted in significant inhibition of MT-901 tumor growth. Histological examination of the tumor revealed intense mononuclear cell infiltration during and after DC injections. Tumor growth inhibition was relatively radiosensitive and dependent on host-derived CD8+ T cells. The baseline level of tumor apoptosis could be increased substantially by tumor necrosis factor alpha administration, leading to a greater DC-mediated antitumor effect. The antitumor effect could also be enhanced by first pulsing DCs with the foreign helper protein, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, prior to intratumoral delivery and combining it with the systemic administration of interleukin 2. Splenocytes from treated animals showed heightened levels of specific CTL activity and production of cytokines. The level of in situ tumor apoptosis appears to play a critical role in DC-mediated antitumor effects. The potential implication of these findings in DC-based tumor therapy strategies is discussed.
Using Internet technology to deliver a behavioral weight loss program.

CONTEXT Rapid increases in access to the Internet have made it a viable mode for public health intervention. No controlled studies have evaluated this resource for weight loss. OBJECTIVE To determine whether a structured Internet behavioral weight loss program produces greater initial weight loss and changes in waist circumference than a weight loss education Web site. DESIGN Randomized, controlled trial conducted from April to December 1999. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Ninety-one healthy, overweight adult hospital employees aged 18 to 60 years with a body mass index of 25 to 36 kg/m(2). Analyses were performed for the 65 who had complete follow-up data. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomly assigned to a 6-month weight loss program of either Internet education (education; n = 32 with complete data) or Internet behavior therapy (behavior therapy; n = 33 with complete data). All participants were given 1 face-to-face group weight loss session and access to a Web site with organized links to Internet weight loss resources. Participants in the behavior therapy group received additional behavioral procedures, including a sequence of 24 weekly behavioral lessons via e-mail, weekly online submission of self-monitoring diaries with individualized therapist feedback via e-mail, and an online bulletin board. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Body weight and waist circumference, measured at 0, 3, and 6 months, compared the 2 intervention groups. RESULTS Repeated-measures analyses showed that the behavior therapy group lost more weight than the education group (P =.005). The behavior therapy group lost a mean (SD) of 4.0 (2.8) kg by 3 months and 4.1 (4.5) kg by 6 months. Weight loss in the education group was 1.7 (2.7) kg at 3 months and 1.6 (3.3) kg by 6 months. More participants in the behavior therapy than education group achieved the 5% weight loss goal (45% vs 22%; P =.05) by 6 months. Changes in waist circumference were also greater in the behavior therapy group than in the education group at both 3 months (P =.001) and 6 months (P =.005). CONCLUSIONS Participants who were given a structured behavioral treatment program with weekly contact and individualized feedback had better weight loss compared with those given links to educational Web sites. Thus, the Internet and e-mail appear to be viable methods for delivery of structured behavioral weight loss programs.
Growth and Competitive Effects of Centaurea stoebe Populations in Response to Simulated Nitrogen Deposition

Increased resource availability can promote invasion by exotic plants, raising concerns over the potential effects of global increases in the deposition of nitrogen (N). It is poorly understood why increased N favors exotics over natives. Fast growth may be a general trait of good invaders and these species may have exceptional abilities to increase growth rates in response to N deposition. Additionally, invaders commonly displace locals, and thus may have inherently greater competitive abilities. The mean growth response of Centaurea stoebe to two N levels was significantly greater than that of North American (NA) species. Growth responses to N did not vary among C. stoebe populations or NA species. Without supplemental N, NA species were better competitors than C. stoebe, and C. stoebe populations varied in competitive effects. The competitive effects of C. stoebe populations increased with N whereas the competitive effects of NA species decreased, eliminating the overall competitive advantage demonstrated by NA species in soil without N added. These results suggest that simulated N deposition may enhance C. stoebe invasion through increasing its growth and relative competitive advantage, and also indicate the possibility of local adaptation in competitive effects across the introduced range of an invader.
Predicate Priority Based Event Matching Algorithm in Publish/Subscribe System

The large distributed interactive simulation system which based on the publish/subscribe model has considerable data, it needs to disseminate accurate data to the interested users quickly, so improving the match efficient is a very important method to solve this problem. Based on the study and comparison of current matching algorithm, we have proposed a predicate priority based event matching algorithm(hereinafter referred to as PPEM). Performance analysis and detailed experimentations are carried out to verify the effectiveness of PPEM. When the number of subscriptions is 10000, the average time of matching one event is only 22.6ms and when we change the type of data distribution or increase the number of event attribute, the average matching time of PPEM is almost unchangeable comparing with bucket and multi-dimension algorithms. All the results show that PPEM achieves high matching efficiency and also has good scalability and robustness.
A Method of Discovering Collaborative Users Based on Psychological Model in Academic Recommendation

Facing lager amount of web academic information and resources, collaborative filtering is an effective way to improve the efficiency of researchers information seeking. We can predict the researcher interest and needed by collaborative users which have similar interest to current researcher. So how to discover collaborative users is a key issue in collaborative filtering. But current existing methods cannot meet the needs of academic researchers from the user cognitive capacity and level. According to the current problems existing in the research, this paper proposes an approach which obtains the user's interest and discovers collaborative users based on psychology model. First, we proposed Browsing Interest Model for Personalized Service based on attitude behavior relationship model in psychology. Secondly, the paper presents a users similarity measure method based on the contrast model in psychology between users in the academic database which is Similarity Measure Mode for Personalized Service. Finally, according to acquired user interest which is represented by Concept-Relation Graph for Personalized Service and an improved user similarity measure method between users which is expressed by SMMPS that we can obtain collaborative users. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is better than the traditional algorithm for discovering collaborative users in academic database.
An Investigation into the use of Fuzzy C-Means Clustering of Fourier Transform Infrared Microscopic Data for the Automation of Breast Cancer Grading

Medical prognosis plays a vital role in predicting the survival of patients. In the case of breast cancer, prognostic indices are frequently used for estimating survival of patients. One of the most widely used indices is the Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) which combines three independent factors for prognosis. Of these factors, grading is an important parameter and is determined subjectively by Nottingham Grading System. There is need for development of automated methods to help pathologists in determining the grade of breast cancer. One such potential technique, Fourier Transform Infrared MicroSpectroscopy, has been investigated by many researchers in different areas, including the medical sciences. This paper describes the initial work done to apply this technique with advanced computational methods as an objective replacement of the current breast cancer grading system.
The Checkpoint Interval Optimization of Kernel-Level Rollback Recovery Based on the Embedded Mobile Computing System

Due to the limited resources of the embedded mobile computing systems, such as wearable computers, PDAs or sensor nodes, reducing the overhead of the software implemented fault tolerance mechanism is a key factor in reliability design. Two checkpoint interval optimization techniques of kernel level rollback recovery mechanism are discussed. Step checkpointing algorithm modulates checkpoint intervals on-line according to the characteristics of software or hardware environment-dependent system that the failure rate fluctuates acutely shortly after the system fails. Checkpoint size monitoring and threshold-control technique adjusts the checkpoint interval by predicting the amount of data to be saved. Combining these two techniques can effectively improve the performance of the embedded mobile computer system.
Hidden components of 3D-DIC: interpolation and matching—Part 2

4. Subset matching (Both 3D & 2D) 5. Triangulation (3D only) 6. Post-processing (Both 3D & 2D) Digital image correlation (DIC) requires three steps: calibrating the stereo-rig (in case of 3D-DIC), obtaining the deformed images, and running the analysis. Determining the best method for conducting these steps requires definition of the DIC ‘‘hidden components. ’’ The last article covered calibration and subset shape functions. This article will discuss interpolation and subset matching. The purpose is to introduce the reader to DIC terminology and the function of each component. This will help with future articles as we discuss the practical aspects for conducting quality full-field measurements.
Visible Changes in Lesion Borders on CT Scan after Five Years Poststroke, and Long-Term Recovery in Aphasia

This study examined 12 aphasia patients at approximately 1 year poststroke (Time 1) and again at 5-12 years poststroke (Time 2) with language testing and CT scan. Significant increases in naming scores, and phrase length in nonfluent speech were observed after 5 years poststroke. Significant expansion in visible lesion borders (lesion size) was observed after 5 years poststroke; an increase in lesion size of > 1% was present in 9/12 cases (75%). Not one case had a second stroke. Thus, it appears that even though lesion expansion may occur after 5 years poststroke, as long as this expansion is unilateral and gradual, it has no adverse effect on language, and in fact, continued recovery in naming and nonfluent speech may also occur. Long-term recovery patterns in aphasia which may be associated with brain reorganization deserve further study, especially with functional brain imaging techniques.
Jaundice in low birthweight infants: pathobiology and outcome

Jaundice in preterm, as well as full term, infants results from (a) an increased bilirubin load in the hepatocyte, (b) decreased hepatic uptake of bilirubin from the plasma, and/or (c) defective bilirubin conjugation. Hyperbilirubinaemia in preterm infants is more prevalent, more severe, and its course more protracted than in term neonates.
Speaker recognition using syllable-based constraints for cepstral frame selection

We describe a new GMM-UBM speaker recognition system that uses standard cepstral features, but selects different frames of speech for different subsystems. Subsystems, or “constraints”, are based on syllable-level information and combined at the score level. Results on both the NIST 2006 and 2008 test data sets for the English telephone train and test condition reveal that a set of eight constraints performs extremely well, resulting in better performance than other commonly-used cepstral models. Given the still largely-unexplored world of possible constraints and combinations, it is likely that the approach can be even further improved.
Identification of a Candida glabrata homologue of the S. cerevisiae VRG4 gene, encoding the Golgi GDP‐mannose transporter

Mannoproteins on the cell wall of yeast and fungi help regulate cell shape, porosity, and cell–cell interactions, including those required for attachment to host cells by fungal pathogens. The mannose‐containing oligosaccharides on proteins and lipids are extended in the Golgi by glycosyltransferases that use GDP‐mannose as the sugar substrate. A membrane‐bound transporter that, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is encoded by the VRG4 gene catalyses delivery of GDP‐mannose into the lumen of the Golgi. We report here the cloning of the homologous VRG4 gene from the pathogenic yeast, Candida glabrata, by functional complementation of an S. cerevisiae vrg4 mutant. The sequence of the CgVrg4 protein displays significant homology to GDP‐mannose transporters from other yeast, fungi, protozoa, and plants. CgVRG4 fully complements the glycosylation defect and other cell wall associated vrg4 mutant phenotypes. Like ScVRG4, CgVRG4 is essential for the viability of C. glabrata. These results suggest that, as in S. cerevisiae, CgVrg4p accounts for all of the GDP‐mannose transport activity in the Golgi lumen. The GenBank Accession No. for CgVRG4 is #AF360395. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vitro human chondrocyte culture on plasma-treated poly(glycerol sebacate) scaffolds

Porous poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) scaffolds were prepared using a salt leaching technique and subsequently surface modified by a low oxygen plasma treatment prior to the use in the in vitro culture of human chondrocytes. Condensation polymerization of glycerol and sebacic acid used at various mole ratios, i.e. 1:1, 1:1.25, and 1:1.5, was initially conducted to prepare PGS prepolymers. Porous elastomeric PGS scaffolds were directly fabricated from the mixtures of each prepolymer and 90% (w/w) NaCl particles and then subjected to the plasma treatment to enhance the surface hydrophilicity of the materials. The properties of both untreated and plasma-treated PGS scaffolds were comparatively evaluated, in terms of surface morphology, surface chemical composition, porosity, and storage modulus using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, micro-computed tomography, and dynamic mechanical analysis, respectively. The responses of chondrocytes cultured on individual PGS scaffolds were assessed, in terms of cell proliferation and ECM production. The results revealed that average pore sizes and porosity of the scaffolds were increased with an increasing sebacic acid concentration used. The storage moduli of the scaffolds were raised after the plasma treatment, possibly due to the further crosslinking of PGS upon treatment. Moreover, the scaffold prepared with a higher sebacic acid content demonstrated a greater capability of promoting cell infiltration, proliferation, and ECM production, especially when it was plasma-treated; the greatest HA, sGAG, uronic acid, and collagen contents were detected in matrix of this scaffold. The H & E and safranin O staining results also strongly supported this finding. The storage modulus of the scaffold was intensified after incubation with the chondrocytes for 21 days, indicating the accretion and retention of matrix ECM on the cell-cultured scaffold.
Thermodynamically based multiphysic modeling of ionic polymer metal composites

The modeling of the complex response of the IPMC-like body to electrical and mechanical stimuli is set within the context of the 3-D theory of linear elasticity. A field of chemically induced distortions is included in the model; these mechanical distortions and the derivation of the final PDE equations of the multiphysics problem are thermodynamically consistent. Some results of the numerical experiments are revisited through an original analysis of the stress distribution along the IPMC-like body.
Diminished hand: A diminished reality-based work area visualization

Live instructors perspective videos are useful to present intuitive visual instructions for trainees in medical and industrial settings. In such videos, the instructors hands often hide the work area. In this demo, we present a diminished hand for visualizing the work area hidden by hands by capturing the work area with multiple cameras. To achieve the diminished reality, we use a light field rendering technique, in which light rays avoid passing through penalty points set in the unstructured light fields reconstructed from the multiple viewpoint images.
Edge-state-transmission duality relation and its implication for measurements

The duality in the Chalker-Coddington network model is examined. We are able to write down a duality relation for the edge state transmission coefficient, but only for a specific symmetric Hall geometry. Looking for a broader implication of the duality, we calculate the transmission coefficient T in terms of the conductivity axx and axy in the diffusive limit. The edge state scattering problem is reduced to solving the diffusion equation with two lead boundary conditions (dy — ^-dx)4> = 0 and [dx -\—xv a xy dy](f> = 0. We find that the resistances in the geometry considered are not necessarily measures of the resistivity and Pxx = WT^ (R = I — T) holds only when pxy is quantized. We conclude that duality alone is not sufficient to explain the experimental findings of Shahar et al., and that the Landauer-Buttiker argument does not render the additional condition, contrary to previous expectation.
Analysis of clipping effect in color images captured by CCD cameras

CCD cameras have a limited dynamic range that constrains the brightness of the incident light that can be quantified. If the ray of incident light is too intense, the sensor saturates. This color clipping effect is a common problem in computer vision and it can become specially difficult when dealing with specular objects against a low-intensity background. In this paper, we present a method for analyzing such clipping effects appearing in color images. Using an averaging technique to estimate the color of the illuminant, we define two types of axes in the RGB color cube: the illumination axis and the clipping axis. Our study concludes the following: 1) the clipped pixels from a dielectric object form one or two lines, depending on the number of color channels on which the clipping effect takes place; and 2) these lines are parallel to the clipping axes. These two properties allow for a framework for a color-based segmentation that works even in the presence of saturated (specular) regions in the image. Moreover, the captured images can now be obtained under a wider variation of illumination conditions.
OpenRoads: empowering research in mobile networks

We present OpenRoads, an open-source platform for innovation in mobile networks. OpenRoads enable researchers to innovate using their own production networks, through providing an wireless extension OpenFlow. Therefore, you can think of OpenRoads as "OpenFlow Wireless". The OpenRoads' architecture consists of three layers: flow, slicing and controller. These layers provide flexible control, virtualization and high-level abstraction. This allows researchers to implement wildly different algorithms and run them concurrently in one network. OpenRoads also incorporates multiple wireless technologies, specifically WiFi and WiMAX. We have deployed OpenRoads, and used it as our production network. Our goal here is for those to deploy OpenRoads and build their own experiments on it.
A simplified hybrid EEG-fNIRS Brain-Computer Interface for motor task classification

Hybrid Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) has shown great promise for neuro-prosthetics and assistive devices in the field of rehabilitation. However, the complexity involved with the system design and time cost for classification of motor tasks is a core problem when we step into clinical applications. To help address this problem, simultaneous measurements of Electroencephalography (EEG) and functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) signals were carried out on three healthy volunteers under a left-right hand grasping paradigm. In this work, we applied a wavelet-based method to extract the wavelet approximation coefficients from EEG signals and we employed the slope information to discriminate the concentration change of Oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) during left-right hand grasping tasks. To maximize the valuable information implied in two modalities, we proposed an approach based on principle component analysis (PCA) to integrate the features of fNIRS and EEG signals. Two classifiers, including support vector machine (SVM) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were applied to identify and estimate the control signals associated with left-right hand grasping tasks. The present experimental result demonstrates that the complement of EEG and fNIRS can significantly improve the classification accuracy with 3∼9% on average. The reduction of dimensionality by PCA could achieve a reduction of time complexity and computational complexity with little loss in accuracy.
Secure control of portable images in a virtual computing utility

A virtual computing utility hosts guest virtual machines on server provider sites. Each VM is an instantiation of some image or virtual appliance, which might be supplied by the VM owner or a third-party image provider. This paper addresses the problem of establishing a secure channel between a VM and an automated controller running on behalf of the VM's authorized owner. A secure channel is an essential toehold for post-install actions by the controller to adapt the VM to its local environment, join it to an application service, and/or monitor and control its execution. A simple and practical solution is to modify an image for a particular site or owner, e.g., by pre-installing keys or tokens onto the image. That approach compromises the portability of images, and could interfere with image sharing, use of new operating systems on image appliances, or endorsement of standard images by image providers. This paper presents an alternative solution that preserves the portability of images. The solution employs a standard keymaster service on the images. The keymaster and controller conduct a one-round binding protocol for mutual authentication and key exchange, seeded by secure tokens passed from the utility boot authority. The binding protocol relies only on security mechanisms at the transport layer and above, so it is suitable for use with remote controllers.