Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metformin effects on dipeptidylpeptidase IV degradation of glucagon-like peptide-1.

There is current interest in the use of inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DP IV) as therapeutic agents to normalize glycemic excursions in type 2 diabetic patients. Data indicating that metformin increases the circulating amount of active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in obese nondiabetic subjects have recently been presented, and it was proposed that metformin might act as a DP IV inhibitor. This possibility has been investigated directly using a number of in vitro methods. Studies were performed on DP IV enzyme from three sources: 20% human serum, purified porcine kidney DP IV, and recombinant human DP IV. Inhibition of DP IV hydrolysis of the substrate Gly-Pro-pNA by metformin was examined spectrophotometrically. Effects of metformin on GLP-1([7-36NH2]) degradation were assessed by mass spectrometry. In addition, surface plasmon resonance was used to establish whether or not metformin had any effect on GLP-1([7-36NH2]) or GLP-1([9-36NH2]) interaction with immobilized porcine or human DP IV. Metformin failed to alter the kinetics of Gly-Pro-pNA hydrolysis or GLP-1 degradation tested according to established methods. Surface plasmon resonance recordings indicated that both GLP-1([7-36NH2]) and GLP-1([9-36NH2]) show micromolar affinity (K(D)) for DP IV, but neither interaction was influenced by metformin. The results conclusively indicate that metformin does not act directly on DP IV, therefore alternative explanations for the purported effect of metformin on circulating active GLP-1 concentrations must be considered.
APR: A Trust Model Based on Perceived Risk for P2P E-commerce System

To solve security problems of E-commerce system, this paper proposed a new trust model APR which is based on anticipative perceived risk. The concept of perceived risk was introduced into APR, many kinds of trust factor were taken to calculate the trust value among nodes, and an origination method was provided to integrate direct trust and recommendation trust. Comparing with other trust models, APR guaranteed the valuation accuracy of trust model and sharpened the anti-risk ability of nodes.
Molecular Mechanisms of Hypoxic Responses via Unique Roles of Ras1, Cdc24 and Ptp3 in a Human Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Cryptococcus neoformans encounters a low oxygen environment when it enters the human host. Here, we show that the conserved Ras1 (a small GTPase) and Cdc24 (the guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Cdc42) play an essential role in cryptococcal growth in hypoxia. Suppressor studies indicate that PTP3 functions epistatically downstream of both RAS1 and CDC24 in regulating hypoxic growth. Ptp3 shares sequence similarity to the family of phosphotyrosine-specific protein phosphatases and the ptp3Δ strain failed to grow in 1% O2. We demonstrate that RAS1, CDC24 and PTP3 function in parallel to regulate thermal tolerance but RAS1 and CDC24 function linearly in regulating hypoxic growth while CDC24 and PTP3 reside in compensatory pathways. The ras1Δ and cdc24Δ strains ceased to grow at 1% O2 and became enlarged but viable single cells. Actin polarization in these cells, however, was normal for up to eight hours after transferring to hypoxic conditions. Double deletions of the genes encoding Rho GTPase Cdc42 and Cdc420, but not of the genes encoding Rac1 and Rac2, caused a slight growth retardation in hypoxia. Furthermore, growth in hypoxia was not affected by the deletion of several central genes functioning in the pathways of cAMP, Hog1, or the two-component like phosphorylation system that are critical in the cryptococcal response to osmotic and genotoxic stresses. Interestingly, although deletion of HOG1 rescued the hypoxic growth defect of ras1Δ, cdc24Δ, and ptp3Δ, Hog1 was not hyperphosphorylated in these three mutants in hypoxic conditions. RNA sequencing analysis indicated that RAS1, CDC24 and PTP3 acted upon the expression of genes involved in ergosterol biosynthesis, chromosome organization, RNA processing and protein translation. Moreover, growth of the wild-type strain under low oxygen conditions was affected by sub-inhibitory concentrations of the compounds that inhibit these biological processes, demonstrating the importance of these biological processes in the cryptococcal hypoxia response.
Traffic sign shape classification evaluation I: SVM using distance to borders

This paper deals with the detection and classification of traffic signs in outdoor environments. The information provided by traffic signs on roads is very important for the safety of drivers. However, in these situations the illumination conditions can not be predicted, the position and the orientation of signs in the scene are not known and other objects can block the vision of them. For these reasons we have developed an extensive test set which includes all kind of signs. In an artificial vision system, the key to recognize traffic signs is how to detect them and identify their geometric shapes. So, in this work we propose a method that uses a technique based on support vector machines (SVMs) for the classification. The patterns generated by the vectors represent the distances to borders (DtB) of the objects candidate to be traffic signs. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Expression Profiling of Castanea Genes during Resistant and Susceptible Interactions with the Oomycete Pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi Reveal Possible Mechanisms of Immunity

The most dangerous pathogen affecting the production of chestnuts is Phytophthora cinnamomi a hemibiotrophic that causes root rot, also known as ink disease. Little information has been acquired in chestnut on the molecular defense strategies against this pathogen. The expression of eight candidate genes potentially involved in the defense to P. cinnamomi was quantified by digital PCR in Castanea genotypes showing different susceptibility to the pathogen. Seven of the eight candidate genes displayed differentially expressed levels depending on genotype and time-point after inoculation. Cast_Gnk2-like revealed to be the most expressed gene across all experiments and the one that best discriminates between susceptible and resistant genotypes. Our data suggest that the pre-formed defenses are crucial for the resistance of C. crenata to P. cinnamomi. A lower and delayed expression of the eight studied genes was found in the susceptible Castanea sativa, which may be related with the establishment and spread of the disease in this species. A working model integrating the obtained results is presented.
Wage Ceilings and Floors: The Gender Gap in Ukraine's Transition

This paper uses new micro data from the Ukrainian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (ULMS) to examine the gender gaps across the distribution of wages in Ukraine during communism (1986), the start of transition (1991), and after Ukraine started to be considered a market economy (2003). We find that the gender pay gap is higher in the top half of the distribution than at the bottom half and that this 'glass ceiling' is persistent across the three points in time, while the wage floor rose for women in 2003. Closer inspection of two sectors – the private and the public – reveals the striking finding that the glass ceiling is lower in the public than in the private sector but the floor is the same. We use the Machado and Mata (2004) method to create counterfactuals that advance our knowledge of which factors are driving these differences; we find that the differences in men's and women's rewards (? s) rather than differences in their productive characteristics (Xs) explain most of the wage gap throughout the distribution. The different ceilings in the public and private sectors are largely due to differences in men's and women's productive characteristics, which favor men in the public and women in the private sector. The fall in the gender gap in the lower part of the distribution from 1986 to 2003 is explained partially by the improvement in women's productive characteristics and partially by the worsening in men's rewards in the bottom half of the distribution over time. However, probably the most important reason for the reduction in the gap at the bottom of the distribution over time is that the value of the minimum wage was set relatively high in 2003 and it raised the wage floor for more women than men.
A fast approach for parallel deduplication on multicore processors

In this paper, we propose a fast approach that parallelizes the deduplication process on multicore processors. Our approach, named MD-Approach, combines an efficient blocking method with a robust data parallel programming model. The blocking phase is composed of two steps. The first step generates large blocks by grouping records with low degree of similarity. The second step segments large blocks, that may result in unbalanced load, in more precise sub-blocks. A parallel data programming model is used to implement our approach in a sequence of both map and reduce operations. An empirical evaluation has shown that our deduplication approach is almost twice faster than BTO-BK, that is a scalable parallel deduplication solution in distributed environment. To the best of our knowledge, MD-Approach is the first to focus on multicore processors for parallel dedu-plication.
“A GROUP OF ME’S”: Learning Through Group Process for People Living with Multiple Sclerosis

The purpose of this study was to understand the learning process that took place during a group program for people with fatigue from multiple sclerosis (MS). Group process, acceptance, and self-compassion supported learning. Several types of learning were present. Findings have implications for health educators of people with chronic illness. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive neurological disorder that affects approximately 2.1 million people worldwide (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2013). Of the many symptoms of MS, fatigue is one of the most common and most disabling. One wellestablished approach to address fatigue is fatigue management education provided by an occupational therapist. This method is effective in face-to-face (Mathiowetz, Finlayson, Matuska, Hua Yun, & Ping, 2005), online (Ghahari, Packer, & Passmore, 2010), and teleconference (Finlayson, Preissner, Cho, & Plow, 2011) formats. Although researchers have discussed why positive changes occur in people with MS who participate in fatigue management education, the focus has been on the group leaders’ perceptions of individual group members’ progress (Finlayson, Preissner, Stout, & Newman, 2010). Therefore, there was a need for a deeper understanding of the learning process that supported change in fatigue management education from the perspective of people with MS. To address this need, this study explored the learning that took place during a teleconferencedelivered, group MS fatigue management program, with attention to how group process facilitated learning and the types of learning that occurred. Literature Review Adult learning literature discusses the importance of others in the learning process. Individuals can teach and learn through discussion (Brookfield & Preskill, 1999), use group members as resources for their self-directed learning (Tough, 1967), and engage in discussion that results in a change in worldview (Mezirow, 2000). Other group benefits include feeling less isolated (Liu et al., 2008) and providing motivation to participants (Barlow, Bancroft, & Turner, 2005). Participants can gain hope (Liu et al., 2008) and confidence in their respective abilities to take charge of their health care (Barlow et al., 2005). Practical information and techniques for coping with illness can be exchanged (Kennedy, Schepp, & Rungruangkonkit, 2008). Much of the literature on the benefits of group process is framed by Yalom’s eleven therapeutic group factors (Yalom & Leszcz, 2005). Therapeutic factors represent “different parts of the chance process, actual mechanisms for change, and conditions for change” (MacNairSemands & Lese, 2000, p. 158). Research concerning therapeutic factors perceived by group
Microfluidic Device for the Selective Chemical Stimulation of Neurons and Characterization of Peptide Release with Mass Spectrometry

Neuropeptides are synthesized in and released from neurons and are involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including temperature homeostasis, learning, memory, and disease. When working with sparse neuronal networks, the ability to collect and characterize small sample volumes is important as neurons often release only a small proportion of their mass-limited content. Microfluidic systems are well suited for the study of neuropeptides. They offer the ability to control and manipulate the extracellular environment and small sample volumes, thereby reducing the dilution of peptides following release. We present an approach for the culture and stimulation of a neuronal network within a microfluidic device, subsequent collection of the released peptides, and their detection via mass spectrometry. The system employs microvalve-controlled stimulation channels to selectively stimulate a low-density neuronal culture, allowing us to determine the temporal onset of peptide release. Released peptides from the well-characterized, peptidergic bag cell neurons of Aplysia californica were collected and their temporal pattern of release was characterized with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. We show a robust difference in the timing of release for chemical solutions containing elevated K+ (7 ± 3 min), when compared to insulin (19 ± 7 min) (p < 0.000 01).
An Authorization Scheme Concealing Client's Access from Authentication Server

OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect are widely used authorization frameworks in the development of web applications. However, there are privacy concerns when using these frameworks because an authentication server can easily identify the URI of a website being accessed by a client. In this study, we proposed and implemented an authorization scheme that allows a client to conceal a URI from an authentication server when a web service detects the client's request.
New insights into stop codon recognition by eRF1

In eukaryotes, translation termination is performed by eRF1, which recognizes stop codons via its N-terminal domain. Many previous studies based on point mutagenesis, cross-linking experiments or eRF1 chimeras have investigated the mechanism by which the stop signal is decoded by eRF1. Conserved motifs, such as GTS and YxCxxxF, were found to be important for termination efficiency, but the recognition mechanism remains unclear. We characterized a region of the eRF1 N-terminal domain, the P1 pocket, that we had previously shown to be involved in termination efficiency. We performed alanine scanning mutagenesis of this region, and we quantified in vivo readthrough efficiency for each alanine mutant. We identified two residues, arginine 65 and lysine 109, as critical for recognition of the three stop codons. We also demonstrated a role for the serine 33 and serine 70 residues in UGA decoding in vivo. NMR analysis of the alanine mutants revealed that the correct conformation of this region was controlled by the YxCxxxF motif. By combining our genetic data with a structural analysis of eRF1 mutants, we were able to formulate a new model in which the stop codon interacts with eRF1 through the P1 pocket.
Employee Attributions of Corporate Social Responsibility as Substantive or Symbolic: Validation of a Measure

Using three samples aggregating over 1,000 working adults, we developed and tested a measure of Substantive and Symbolic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR-SS). The resultant 14-item CSR-SS scale is a reliable and parsimonious measure that is best represented by two broad and distinctive factors—substantive and symbolic attributions of CSR. Our findings provide evidence of a solid nomological network and criterion validity, supporting predictions that when employees attribute CSR as substantive, greater benefits accrue to the individual and the organisation as a whole than when CSR is attributed as symbolic. This measure contributes a valid and reliable tool toward the advancement of micro CSR research on both negative and positive consequences of organisations’ CSR proclaimed initiatives.
THE GEMINI/HST CLUSTER PROJECT: STRUCTURAL AND PHOTOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF GALAXIES IN THREE z = 0.28–0.89 CLUSTERS

We present the data processing and analysis techniques we are using to determine the structural and photometric properties of galaxies in our Gemini/HST Galaxy Cluster Project sample. The goal of this study is to understand cluster galaxy evolution in terms of scaling relations and structural properties of cluster galaxies at redshifts 0.15 < z < 1.0. To derive parameters such as total magnitude, half-light radius, effective surface brightness, and Sersic n, we fit r1/4 law and Sersic function two-dimensional surface brightness profiles to each of the galaxies in our sample. Using simulated galaxies, we test how the assumed profile affects the derived parameters and how the uncertainties affect our Fundamental Plane results. We find that while fitting galaxies that have Sersic index n < 4 with r1/4 law profiles systematically overestimates the galaxy radius and flux, the combination of profile parameters that enter the Fundamental Plane has uncertainties that are small. Average systematic offsets and associated random uncertainties in magnitude and log re for n>2 galaxies fitted with r1/4 law profiles are −0.1 ± 0.3 and 0.1 ± 0.2, respectively. The combination of effective radius and surface brightness, log re − βlog 〈I〉e, that enters the Fundamental Plane produces offsets smaller than −0.02 ± 0.10. This systematic error is insignificant and independent of galaxy magnitude or size. A catalog of photometry and surface brightness profile parameters is presented for three of the clusters in our sample, RX J0142.0+2131, RX J0152.7−1357, and RX J1226.9+3332 at redshifts 0.28, 0.83, and 0.89, respectively.
Adaptive Rectifier Driven by Power Intake Predictors for Wind Energy Harvesting Sensor Networks

This paper presents a power management technique for improving the efficiency of harvesting energy from air-flows in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) applications. The proposed architecture consists of a two-stage energy conversion circuit: an ac-dc converter followed by a dc-dc buck-boost regulator with maximum power point tracking capability. The key feature of the proposed solution is the adaptive hybrid voltage rectifier, which exploits both passive and active topologies combined with power prediction algorithms. The adaptive converter significantly outperforms other solutions, increasing the efficiency between 10% and 30% with respect to the only passive and the only active topologies. To assess the performance of this approach in a real-life scenario, air-flow data have been collected by deploying WSN nodes interfaced with a wind microturbine in an underground tunnel of the Metro B1 line in Rome. It is shown that, using the adaptive ac-dc converter combined with power prediction algorithms, nodes deployed in the tunnel can harvest up to 22% more energy with respect to previous methods. Finally, it is shown that using power management techniques optimized for the specific scenario, the overall system overhead, in terms of average number of sampling performed per day by a node, is reduced of up to 93%.
Game-Tree Properties and MCTS Performance

In recent years Monte-Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) has become a popular and effective search method in games, sur-passing traditional ↵� methods in many domains. The question of why MCTS does better in some domains than in others remains, however, relatively open. In here we identify some general properties that are encountered in game trees and measure how these properties affect the success of MCTS. We do this by running it on custom-made games that allow us to parameterize various game properties in order for trends to be discovered. Our experiments show how MCTS can favor either deep, wide or balanced game trees. They also show how the level of game progression relates to playing strength and how disruptive Optimistic Move can be.
Pivotal Role of the Non-hr Origin of DNA Replication in the Genesis of Defective Interfering Baculoviruses

ABSTRACT The generation of deletion mutants, including defective interfering viruses, upon serial passage of Spodoptera exigua multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) in insect cell culture has been studied. Sequences containing the non-homologous region origin of DNA replication (non-hr ori) became hypermolar in intracellular viral DNA within 10 passages in Se301 insect cells, concurrent with a dramatic drop in budded virus and polyhedron production. These predominant non-hr ori-containing sequences accumulated in larger concatenated forms and were generated de novo as demonstrated by their appearance and accumulation upon infection with a genetically homogenous bacterial clone of SeMNPV (bacmid). Sequences were identified at the junctions of the non-hr ori units within the concatemers, which may be potentially involved in recombination events. Deletion of the SeMNPV non-hr ori using RecE/RecT-mediated homologous ET recombination in Escherichia coli resulted in a recombinant bacmid with strongly enhanced stability of virus and polyhedron production upon serial passage in insect cells. This suggests that the accumulation of non-hr oris upon passage is due to the replication advantage of these sequences. The non-hr ori deletion mutant SeMNPV bacmid can be exploited as a stable eukaryotic heterologous protein expression vector in insect cells.
Survey of Error Correction Mechanisms for Video Streaming over the Internet

This overview is targeted at determining state- of-the-art on Error control mechanisms for video streaming over the Internet. The aims of error control mechanisms are to provide and protect the data from errors caused by packet loss due to congestion and link failure. The error control classified into two categories: Error correction coding and Error detection coding. Error control mechanisms for video applications can be classified into four types: forward error correction (FEC), retransmission, error resilience, and error concealment. In this paper, we provide a survey on the existing error control mechanisms, representative error mechanisms systems. We describe the challenges and solutions of each error control mechanisms. Finally we show the Factors effect in the video quality through transmission over Internet.
Design of a frequency reconfigurable pixel patch antenna for cognitive radio applications

This paper proposes a frequency reconfigurable pixel patch antenna for Cognitive radio applications. A single patch antenna is designed and simulated for a frequency of 10 GHz. identical patches are then connected lengthwise and widthwise to the designed single patch. Henceforth the concept is used for the design of a 3×3 pixel patch antenna. The proposed reconfigurable antenna consists of a grid of 3×3 electrically small rectangular metallic patches. Each patch (called pixel) is operating at a resonant frequency of 10 GHz. Consecutive pixels are connected to each other by a switch. The ON/OFF status of switches changes the current distribution on the antenna surface and thus causing re-configurability. The proposed reconfigurable antenna operates in three different frequency bands with resonant frequencies of 10.2 GHz, 5GHz and 3.8GHz. An optimized series cantilever based RF MEMS switch is proposed in this paper which is integrated hybridally with the reconfigurable antenna.