Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cross-sectional study of conjugated linoleic acid in adipose tissue and risk of diabetes 1 – 3

Background: Some experimental studies on conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and insulin regulation suggested that CLA could be associated with risk of diabetes, but epidemiologic studies are lacking. Objective: The aim of the study was to test whether the amount of CLA in adipose tissue is associated with risk of diabetes. Design: A cross-sectional design was used to test the study hypothesis in 232 adults with diabetes and 1512 adults without diabetes who lived in Costa Rica. The cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 CLA isomers in adipose tissue and 48 other fatty acids were assessed by using gas chromatography. Prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% CIs were estimated by using Poisson regression adjusted for potential confounders. Results: The mean (6SD) percentage of total fatty acids of CLA for the cis-9, trans-11 isomer in adipose tissue was 0.57 6 0.18% in adults without diabetes and 0.53 6 0.17% in adults with diabetes (P = 0.0078). The trans-10, cis-12 CLA isomer was not detected in adipose tissue. The cis-9, trans-11 CLA isomer was associated with a lower risk of diabetes. In comparison with the first quintile, the PR (95% CI) for the fifth quintile was 0.48 (0.31, 0.76) (P-trend = 0.0005) in the basic and 0.46 (0.29, 0.72) (P-trend = 0.0002) in the multivariable model. Additional adjustment for other fatty acids in adipose tissue including trans-9 16:1, which is a fatty acid that was previously associated with diabetes, did not modify the results. Conclusion: The observed inverse association between the cis-9, trans11 CLA in adipose tissue and diabetes risk is consistent with the hypothesis that CLA may be involved in insulin regulation. Am J Clin Nutr 2012;96:175–81.
Providing Social Transparency through Visualizations in Wikipedia

The purpose of social visual analytics is to enable a group of people to reason around data, enabling discovery and illumination of issues and further discussion, elaboration, and analysis. In this paper, we briefly describe a research project in which we released a tool called WikiDashboard that visualizes the social dynamics and editing patterns of every article and editor of Wikipedia. The idea is that social transparency might be able to provide the necessary cues for users of Wikipedia to have a constructive conversation about the editing patterns.
The fabrication of macroporous polysilicon by nanosphere lithography

The fabrication of ordered macroporous silicon is obtained by exploiting the self-assembly properties of polymer nanospheres. Here, we demonstrate the method by using nanospheres of 200 nm and 500 nm. These self-assemble in monolayers of ordered hexagonal close-packed nanospheres. A controlled reactive ion etch of the assembled nanospheres, subsequent evaporation of metal, followed by ‘lift-off’ of the polymer nanospheres, provides a mask suitable for a further reactive ion etch step to provide macroporous polysilicon. This methodology provides a novel approach for the fabrication of highly ordered macroporous polysilicon; porous silicon substrates with pores of this size (50–500 nm) were previously only fabricated using rather difficult processing methods. The method reported here is straightforward and achieved using fabrication methods that are compatible with those currently used for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), photonic devices and nanostructured surfaces.
Retained coarse grains in bulk nanocrystalline Ni3Al

Abstract Transmission electron microscopy methods were used to study the nanocrystalline structure achieved by severe plastic deformation of L12 long-range ordered Ni3Al. The deformation by high-pressure torsion (up to 40 000 %) leads to a duplex structure consisting of a disordered nanocrystalline and an ordered coarse-grained structure carrying different shear strains. The volume fraction of the nanocrystalline structure increases with strain but varies locally. During the deformation micrometer sized coarse-grained volumes embedded in the nanocrystalline structure are retained; they show a predominance of orientations of high symmetry. This leads to the conclusion that the stability of the coarse grains results from their homogeneous slip caused by a homogeneous activation of the slip systems.
Multitask Feature Selection with Task Descriptors

Machine learning applications in precision medicine are severely limited by the scarcity of data to learn from. Indeed, training data often contains many more features than samples. To alleviate the resulting statistical issues, the multitask learning framework proposes to learn different but related tasks jointly, rather than independently, by sharing information between these tasks. Within this framework, the joint regularization of model parameters results in models with few non-zero coefficients and that share similar sparsity patterns. We propose a new regularized multitask approach that incorporates task descriptors, hence modulating the amount of information shared between tasks according to their similarity. We show on simulated data that this method outperforms other multitask feature selection approaches, particularly in the case of scarce data. In addition, we demonstrate on peptide MHC-I binding data the ability of the proposed approach to make predictions for new tasks for which no training data is available.
Research on Speed Control Model with Temperature in Hydraulically-Driven Cooling Fan

In order to obtain excellent cooling module, it is necessary to make air flow flowing into the radiator vary with ambient temperature. Cooling fan speed must vary with cooling power continuously. In this paper, the relation was obtained between fan speed and flow, static pressure, torque, power based on calculation and performance test data related to cooling fan. The mathematical model between fan speed and heat dissipation power in cooling module was deduced. Driving characteristics of cooling fan were analyzed.
Regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) by bone resorptive factors in osteoblastic cells

In addition to their stimulating function on osteoclastic bone resorption, bone resorptive factors may regulate proteinases and related factors in osteoblastic cells to degrade bone matrix proteins. This study investigated the regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) by bone resorptive factors in the cultures of mouse osteoblastic MC3T3‐E1 cells, mouse primary osteoblastic (POB) cells, and neonatal mouse calvariae. Expression of either MMP‐2, ‐3, ‐9, ‐11, ‐13, and ‐14 or TIMP‐1, ‐2, and ‐3 was detected in MC3T3‐E1 cells and POB cells. When the bone resorptive factors parathyroid hormone, 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3, prostaglandin E2, interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) were added to the cell cultures, MMP‐13 mRNA levels were found predominantly to increase by all resorptive factors in the three cultures. mRNA levels of either MMP‐3 and ‐9 or TIMP‐1 and ‐3 were found to increase mainly by the cytokines IL‐1β and TNF‐α. BB94, a nonselective MMP inhibitor, neutralized the 45Ca release stimulated by these resorptive factors to an extent similar to that of calcitonin, strongly suggesting that bone resorptive factors function at least partly through MMP formation. We propose that MMP‐13 mRNA expression in osteoblastic cells may play an important role in stimulating matrix degradation by both systemic and local resorptive factors, whereas either MMP‐3 and ‐9 or TIMP‐1 and ‐3 might modulate matrix degradation by local cytokines only. J. Cell. Physiol. 185:207–214, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Long-term HIV/AIDS-related prevention behaviours among men having sex with men: Switzerland 1992–2000

Abstract The aim of this paper is to present trends in reported HIV-related behaviours among men having sex with men (MSM) in Switzerland. In 1992, 1994, 1997 and 2000 a standardized anonymous questionnaire was placed in gay newspapers and distributed in gay associations. High levels of protection (no anal sex or consistent condom use) with casual partners were found: around 90%, with a peak in 1994 and a slight decrease in 2000 to the level of 1992. With the steady partner, the level of protection was 57% in 1992, 61% in 1997 and decreased in 2000 to the same level as in 1992. The proportion of couples with both HIV statuses known increased from 49% in 1994 to 59% in 2000. In 2000, 26% of concordant HIV negative couples protected themselves compared to 83% of those exposed to an actual or potential risk (HIV status discordant or unknown). Within each category of couples, there was no change over time in the level of reported practice of anal sex and condom use. This slight decrease in prevention behaviour justifies efforts to maintain HIV/AIDS prevention targeted at gay men.
The Finite Element Method for the Time-Dependent Gross-Pitaevskii Equation with Angular Momentum Rotation

We consider the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equation describing the dynamics of rotating Bose-Einstein condensates and its discretization with the finite element method. We analyze a mass conserving Crank-Nicolson-type discretization and prove corresponding a priori error estimates with respect to the maximum norm in time and the L2- and energy-norm in space. The estimates show that we obtain optimal convergence rates under the assumption of additional regularity for the solution to the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. We demonstrate the performance of the method in numerical experiments. © by SIAM 2017.
Draft Genome Sequences of Three Cellulolytic Bacillus licheniformis Strains Isolated from Imperial Geyser, Amphitheater Springs, and Whiterock Springs inside Yellowstone National Park

ABSTRACT Novel cellulolytic microorganisms are becoming more important for rapidly growing biofuel industries. This paper reports the draft genome sequences of Bacillus licheniformis strains YNP2-TSU, YNP3-TSU, and YNP5-TSU. These cellulolytic isolates were collected from several hydrothermal features inside Yellowstone National Park.
Scalable matching and ranking for network search

Network search makes operational data available in real-time to management applications. In contrast to traditional monitoring, neither the data location nor the data format needs to be known to the invoking process, which simplifies application development, but requires an efficient search plane inside the managed system. The search plane is realized as a network of search nodes that process search queries in a distributed fashion. This paper introduces matching and ranking for network search queries. We are proposing a semantic for matching and ranking, which is configurable to support different types of management applications-from exact matching for database-style queries to loose, approximate matching, which is appropriate for exploratory purposes. We describe an echo protocol for efficient distributed query processing that supports matching and ranking. Further, we present the design of a search node, which maintains a real-time database of operational information and allows for parallel processing of search queries. A prototype implementation on a cloud testbed shows that the network search system, on a 9-node cluster with 24 core servers, executes 200 global search queries/sec with the 75th percetile latency below 100 milliseconds and with a CPU utilization below 5%. The performance measurements, together with our design, suggest that a system of 100,000 servers processing the same load would exhibit the same overhead per server and a query latency of below 1 sec.
Update on Safety Issues Related to Antihyperglycemic Therapy

In Brief The American Diabetes Association emphasizes the importance of individualized patient care in the management of diabetes. One of the important considerations in choosing an antihyperglycemic agent is its side-effect and safety profile. This article reviews the common and clinically significant side effects of each class of agents, including ways to prevent and overcome their occurrence.
A Semantic Approach to Extract Individual Viewpoints from User Comments on an Activity

A vast amount of user contributed content about real world human activity exists in social web spaces (e.g. videos and user stories or comments in YouTube) rich of personal experiences and opinions which intuitively reflects reality settings. This content can be a useful source for enriching the learning experience in simulated environments, if exploited in an appropriate context for the learner. An interesting observed characteristic of the user contributed content is the diversity of viewpoints. A novel approach for multi-viewpoint knowledge elicitation and representation to enable intelligent content retrieval is being investigated, and conducted within one of the use cases of the ImReal EU project. The job interview process has been selected for studying the intricacy in interpersonal communications, focusing on the emotion and body language signals dimensions, and the different individual viewpoints of the activity. Work in progress presented in this paper includes an analysis of the problem domain, the information extraction process and preliminary results.
Exploring the RNA world in hematopoietic cells through the lens of RNA‐binding proteins

The discovery of microRNAs has renewed interest in posttranscriptional modes of regulation, fueling an emerging view of a rich RNA world within our cells that deserves further exploration. Much work has gone into elucidating genetic regulatory networks that orchestrate gene expression programs and direct cell fate decisions in the hematopoietic system. However, the focus has been to elucidate signaling pathways and transcriptional programs. To bring us one step closer to reverse engineering the molecular logic of cellular differentiation, it will be necessary to map posttranscriptional circuits as well and integrate them in the context of existing network models. In this regard, RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs) may rival transcription factors as important regulators of cell fates and represent a tractable opportunity to connect the RNA world to the proteome. ChIP‐seq has greatly facilitated genome‐wide localization of DNA‐binding proteins, helping us to understand genomic regulation at a systems level. Similarly, technological advances such as CLIP‐seq allow transcriptome‐wide mapping of RBP binding sites, aiding us to unravel posttranscriptional networks. Here, we review RBP‐mediated posttranscriptional regulation, paying special attention to findings relevant to the immune system. As a prime example, we highlight the RBP Lin28B, which acts as a heterochronic switch between fetal and adult lymphopoiesis.
Joint Embedding of Query and Ad by Leveraging Implicit Feedback

Sponsored search is at the center of a multibillion dollar market established by search technology. Accurate ad click prediction is a key component for this market to function since the pricing mechanism heavily relies on the estimation of click probabilities. Lexical features derived from the text of both the query and ads play a significant role, complementing features based on historical click information. The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of word embedding techniques to generate effective text features that can capture not only lexical similarity between query and ads but also the latent user intents. We identify several potential weaknesses of the plain application of conventional word embedding methodologies for ad click prediction. These observations motivated us to propose a set of novel joint word embedding methods by leveraging implicit click feedback. We verify the effectiveness of these new word embedding models by adding features derived from the new models to the click prediction system of a commercial search engine. Our evaluation results clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. To the best of our knowledge this work is the first successful application of word embedding techniques for the task of click prediction in sponsored search.
An Adaptive Superscalar Architecture for Embedded Systems

This paper presents an adaptive superscalar architecture for embedded systems based on the characteristics of embedded applications. The architecture uses a hardware-software cooperation solution to achieve dynamic processor resource allocation with minimal hardware overhead while providing some flexibility to the applications and the operating systems. The programmers and compilers can optimize applications by properly reconfiguring the architecture to lower the energy usage while maintaining the required performance level. Simulation results show that simple optimizations can result in a 9% improvement in energy consumption and a 7% power reduction at the cost of about 1% performance degradation.
Predicting mechanical properties of cold rolled low carbon steel based on magnetic parameter measurement using artificial neural network

In this report, the feasibility of predicting mechanical properties using magnetic parameters measurements and artificial neural network (ANN) will be presented. The yield and ultimate tensile strength are predicted by means of two back-propagation neural networks on the basis of hysteresis loop parameter measurements and sample thickness. Inductive measurements are carried out with exciting and pickup coils attached to the magnetizing yoke. Therefore, remanence (Br), coercive force (Hc), the hysteresis loss (Wh), maximum relative differential permeability (μr max) and harmonic components of the field and flux density extracted and used as input parameters for training neural network. The individual influence of several input parameters are shown and compared with metallurgical phenomena. The ANN, shown good performance and the results are in agreement with the experimental results. The developed model can be used as an on-line non-destructive evaluation technique.
Endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) and biomaterials : a synergy for next-generation cardiovascular implants

Endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) are circulating cells able to differentiate into mature endothelial cells and replenish the endothelial lining at the sites of vascular damage. Their utilization for cell therapies aiming to restore healthy endothelial lining of blood vessels and stimulate neovascularization of ischemic tissues has been the object of intense investigation. The overall aim of this project was to investigate and develop novel approaches for the promotion of vasculogenesis and endothelisation of vascular grafts by ECFCs. First, protease-activated receptors (PARs) were investigated as potential targets to stimulate in ECFC-driven vasculogenesis and promote therapeutic revascularization. Our data showed that PAR-1 and PAR-2 are both expressed in ECFCs and functionally coupled to the ERK1/2 pathway. Specific stimulation of PAR-1, but not PAR-2, significantly inhibits in vitro tube formation by ECFCs, and this effect is due to the down-regulation of VEGFR-2. Although the role of PAR-2 remains elusive, this study sheds new light on the regulation of the vasculogenic activity of ECFCs and suggests a potential link between adult vasculogenesis and the coagulation cascade. Secondly, we investigated the use of human platelet lysate gel (hPLG) as an animal product-free and patient-specific tool to isolate, amplify, differentiate and deliver endothelial progenitor cells. This extracellular matrix (ECM) was able to support the proliferation of ECFCs in 2D cultures and the formation of a complete microvascular network in vitro in 3D cultures. Interestingly, the culture of ECFCs on hPLG led to the upregulation of several angiogenic genes, such as VEGFR-2 and PDGFR-β, and also induced the robust sprouting of existing vessels in an ex vivo model. This discovery has the potential to accelerate the development of regenerative medicine applications based on implantation of microvascular networks expanded ex vivo or the generation of fully vascularised organs. Finally, the biomimetic and pro-angiogenic properties of human platelet lysate (hPL) were utilised to facilitate adhesion and proliferation of ECFCs on polymeric materials. hPL was shown to promote endothelisation of biomaterials, which can be utilised for tissue engineering purposes. Novel electrospun polymeric tubular scaffolds were developed and their surface properties enhanced using plasma treatment. These scaffolds exhibit increased adsorption of proteins from hPL, which acted as an interfacial layer to promote the adhesion and proliferation of ECFCs on their surface. Such findings demonstrate that the pro-angiogenic and pro-vasculogenic properties of platelet-derived factors can be transferred to scaffolds to stimulate endothelial growth on synthetic scaffolds for tissue engineering without the use of recombinant or animal products. In conclusion, we propose the use of ECFCs with platelet-derived products as an ideal synergy for the vascularization of tissue engineered constructs.
Improved mechanical properties by high-energy milling and Spark Plasma Sintering of a TRIP-matrix composite

A composite reinforced with 5 vol% MgO partially stabilized zirconia and a high-alloyed TRIP-steel matrix (16% Cr, 6% Ni, 6% Mn) was processed. The objective was to trigger a phase transformation under mechanical stresses within the steel and the ceramic. Therefore, the composite was processed by both mixing (110 r/min) and dispersing by intense milling (250 r/min) of the initial powders, and subsequent Spark Plasma Sintering. During Spark Plasma Sintering, the dwell time was varied (5 min, 10 min). The steel/MgO partially stabilized zirconia interfaces were improved through the intense milling and the 10 min dwell time. Furthermore, 50% of the MgO partially stabilized zirconia transformed to the monoclinic phase under quasi-static compressive loading (10−3 s−1) and the composite had a 1% offset compressive yield strength of 665 MPa. Independent from the processing route, 65% of the steel transformed to α′-martensite.
User-defined gestures for controlling primitive motions of an end effector

In designing and developing a gesture recognition system, it is crucial to know the characteristics of a gesture selected to control, for example, an end effector of a robot arm. We conducted an experiment to collect a set of user-defined gestures and investigate characteristics of the gestures for controlling primitive motions of an end effector in human–robot collaboration. We recorded 152 gestures from 19 volunteers by presenting virtual robotic arm movements to the participants, and then asked the participants to think about and perform gestures that would cause the motions. It was found that the hands were the parts of the body used most often for gesture articulation even when the participants were holding tools and objects with both hands: a number of participants used one- and two-handed gestures interchangeably, gestures were consistently performed by the participants across all pairs of reversible gestures, and the participants expected better recognition performance for gestures that were easy to think of and perform. These findings are expected to be useful as guidelines in creating a gesture set for controlling robotic arms according to natural user behaviors. Graphical Abstract