Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Production of 25-Hydroxycholesterol by Testicular Macrophages and Its Effects on Leydig Cells1

Abstract Testicular macrophages secrete 25-hydroxycholesterol, which can be converted to testosterone by neighboring Leydig cells. The purposes of the present studies were to determine the mode of production of this oxysterol and its long-term effects on Leydig cells. Because oxysterols are produced both enzymatically and by auto-oxidation, we first determined if testicular macrophages possess cholesterol 25-hydroxylase mRNA and/or if macrophage-secreted products oxidize cholesterol extracellularly. Rat testicular macrophages had 25-hydroxylase mRNA and converted 14C-cholesterol to 14C-25-hydroxycholesterol; however, radiolabeled cholesterol was not converted to 25-hydroxycholesterol when incubated with medium previously exposed to testicular macrophages. Exposure of Leydig cells to 10 μg/ml of 25-hydroxycholesterol, a dose within the range known to result in high basal production of testosterone when tested from 1 to 6 h, completely abolished LH responsiveness after 2 days of treatment. Because 25-hydroxycholesterol is toxic to many cell types at 1–5 μg/ml, we also studied its influence on Leydig cells during 4 days in culture using a wide range of doses. Leydig cells were highly resistant to the cytotoxic effects of 25-hydroxycholesterol, with no cells dying at 10 μg/ml and only 50% of cells affected at 100 μg/ml after 2 days of treatment. Similar conditions resulted in 100% death of a control lymphocyte cell line. These results demonstrate that 1) testicular macrophages have mRNA for cholesterol 25-hydroxylase and can convert cholesterol into 25-hydroxycholesterol, 2) macrophage-conditioned medium is not capable of auto-oxidation of cholesterol, 3) Leydig cells are highly resistant to the cytotoxic influences of 25-hydroxycholesterol, and 4) long-term treatment with high doses of 25-hydroxycholesterol results in loss of LH responsiveness. These results support the concept that testicular macrophages enzymatically produce 25-hydroxycholesterol that not only is metabolized to testosterone by Leydig cells when present at putative physiological levels but also may exert inhibitory influences on Leydig cells when present for extended periods at very high concentrations that may occur under pathological conditions.
Bayesian curve fitting using multivariate normal mixtures

SUMMARY Problems of regression smoothing and curve fitting are addressed via predictive inference in a flexible class of mixture models. Multidimensional density estimation using Dirichlet mixture models provides the theoretical basis for semi-parametric regression methods in which fitted regression functions may be deduced as means of conditional predictive distributions. These Bayesian regression functions have features similar to generalised kernel regression estimates, but the formal analysis addresses problems of multivariate smoothing, parameter estimation, and the assessment of uncertainties about regression functions naturally. Computations are based on multidimensional versions of existing Markov chain simulation analysis of univariate Dirichlet mixture models.
Rescaling in the Perceptron Algorithm for Solving Linear Programs in Polynomial Time

We show that a polynomial-time rescaling algorithm, in [5], for finding feasible solutions to linear programs, has flaws in its theoretical framework. With new estimates for the algorithm, we show that it indeed terminates in polynomial time. Also, we present a modification of the algorithm, where we suggest a data dependent way of choosing a rescaling direction, instead of choosing a vector at random.
State development and the rescaling of agricultural hydrosocial governance in semi-arid Northwest China

Over the past 20 years, agriculture in the semi-arid Zuli river valley in Northwest China has been transformed from subsistence to commercial production. Instead of spring wheat and millet, peasants now grow maize, potatoes, and cabbage for national markets. This transformation has been facilitated by a series of interventions that have rescaled agricultural hydrosocial relations in the valley. Many of these interventions, such as alternative cash crops, do not fall under what is traditionally considered water governance, but have altered peasants’ relationship with agricultural water nonetheless. This article (1) calls for a broadening of our understanding of scale in hydrosocial relations that gives more attention to the socioeconomic interactions that facilitate human relationships with water in the absence of the biophysical resource of water; (2) illustrates that state-backed rescaling of hydrosocial relations comprises contingent processes, which may or may not be planned; and (3) examines how water governance can mean examining what people do without water, as well as what they do with water. This article illustrates that a diverse set of state actors govern farmers’ relationships with agricultural water in often conflicting ways by rescaling both the biophysical resource of water, and socioeconomic institutions that affect agricultural water use.
Sparse Indexing: Large Scale, Inline Deduplication Using Sampling and Locality

We present sparse indexing, a technique that uses sampling and exploits the inherent locality within backup streams to solve for large-scale backup (e.g., hundreds of terabytes) the chunk-lookup disk bottleneck problem that inline, chunk-based deduplication schemes face. The problem is that these schemes traditionally require a full chunk index, which indexes every chunk, in order to determine which chunks have already been stored; unfortunately, at scale it is impractical to keep such an index in RAM and a disk-based index with one seek per incoming chunk is far too slow. We perform stream deduplication by breaking up an incoming stream into relatively large segments and deduplicating each segment against only a few of the most similar previous segments. To identify similar segments, we use sampling and a sparse index. We choose a small portion of the chunks in the stream as samples; our sparse index maps these samples to the existing segments in which they occur. Thus, we avoid the need for a full chunk index. Since only the sampled chunks' hashes are kept in RAM and the sampling rate is low, we dramatically reduce the RAM to disk ratio for effective deduplication. At the same time, only a few seeks are required per segment so the chunk-lookup disk bottleneck is avoided. Sparse indexing has recently been incorporated into number of Hewlett-Packard backup products.
Applications of Conformal Geometric Algebra in Mesh Deformation

We illustrate the suitability of Conformal Geometric Algebra for representing deformable mesh models. State-of-the-art modeling tools allow the user to deform 3D models (or region of interest) by selecting sets of points on the surface, called "handles", and move them freely. The deformed surface should look "naturally" stretched and bent. Mesh representations based on Conformal Geometric Algebra extend, quite naturally, the existing deformable mesh representations by introducing rigid-body-motion handles, a.k. a "motor handles", instead of just translation handles. We show how these mesh representations conduct to a fast and easy formulation for the Spline-aligned deformation and a formulation for linear surface deformation based on generalized barycentric coordinates. Also, we reformulate the Free-Form Deformation (FFD), Harmonic Coordinates (HC) and As-Rigid-As-Possible (ARAP) Surface Modeling into the Conformal Geometric Algebra framework and discuss the advantages of these reformulations.
Discrimination of machine-printed from handwritten text using simple structural characteristics

In this paper, we present a trainable approach to discriminate between machine-printed and handwritten text. An integrated system able to localize text areas and split them in text-lines is used. A set of simple and easy-to-compute structural characteristics that capture the differences between machine-printed and handwritten text-lines is introduced. Experiments on document images taken from IAM-DB and GRUHD databases show a remarkable performance of the proposed approach that requires minimal training data.
Centered Kernel Alignment Enhancing Neural Network Pretraining for MRI-Based Dementia Diagnosis

Dementia is a growing problem that affects elderly people worldwide. More accurate evaluation of dementia diagnosis can help during the medical examination. Several methods for computer-aided dementia diagnosis have been proposed using resonance imaging scans to discriminate between patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy controls (NC). Nonetheless, the computer-aided diagnosis is especially challenging because of the heterogeneous and intermediate nature of MCI. We address the automated dementia diagnosis by introducing a novel supervised pretraining approach that takes advantage of the artificial neural network (ANN) for complex classification tasks. The proposal initializes an ANN based on linear projections to achieve more discriminating spaces. Such projections are estimated by maximizing the centered kernel alignment criterion that assesses the affinity between the resonance imaging data kernel matrix and the label target matrix. As a result, the performed linear embedding allows accounting for features that contribute the most to the MCI class discrimination. We compare the supervised pretraining approach to two unsupervised initialization methods (autoencoders and Principal Component Analysis) and against the best four performing classification methods of the 2014 CADDementia challenge. As a result, our proposal outperforms all the baselines (7% of classification accuracy and area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve) at the time it reduces the class biasing.
Impact of Two Common Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group D (XPD) Gene Polymorphisms on Risk of Prostate Cancer

Background DNA repair genes (eg: xeroderma pigmentosum group D, XPD) may affect the capacity of encoded DNA repair enzymes to effectively remove DNA adducts or lesions, which may result in enhanced cancer risk. The association between XPD gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility of prostate cancer (PCa) was inconsistent in previous studies. Methodology/Principal Findings A meta-analysis based on 9 independent case-control studies involving 3165 PCa patients and 3539 healthy controls for XPD Gln751Lys SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) and 2555 cases and 3182 controls for Asn312Asp SNP was performed to address this association. Meanwhile, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate this relationship. Statistical analysis was performed with STATA10.0. No significant association was found between XPD Gln751Lys SNP and PCa risk. On the other hand, in subgroup analysis based on ethnicity, associations were observed in Asian (eg. Asn vs. Asp: OR = 1.34, 95%CI = 1.16–1.55; Asn/Asn+Asn/Asp vs. Asp/Asp: OR = 1.23, 95%CI = 1.07–1.42) and African (eg. Asn vs. Asp: OR = 1.31, 95%CI = 1.01–1.70; Asn/Asn vs. Asp/Asp: OR = 1.71, 95%CI = 1.03–7.10) populations for Asn312Asp SNP. Moreover, similar associations were detected in hospital-based controls studies; the frequency of Asn/Asn genotype in early stage of PCa men was poorly higher than those in advanced stage of PCa men (OR = 1.45, 95%CI = 1.00–2.11). Conclusion/Significance Our investigations demonstrate that XPD Asn312Asp SNP not the Gln751Lys SNP, might poorly increase PCa risk in Asians and Africans, moreover, this SNPs may associate with the tumor stage of PCa. Further studies based on larger sample size and gene-environment interactions should be conducted to determine the role of XPD gene polymorphisms in PCa risk.
Adherence to a Videogame-Based Physical Activity Program for Older Adults with Schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVES Adults with schizophrenia are a growing segment of the older adult population. Evidence suggests that they engage in limited physical activity. Interventions are needed that are tailored around their unique limitations. An active videogame-based physical activity program that can be offered at a treatment facility can overcome these barriers and increase motivation to engage in physical activity. The purpose of this report is to describe the adherence to a videogame-based physical activity program using the Kinect(®) for Xbox(®) 360 game system (Microsoft(®), Redmond, WA) in older adults with schizophrenia. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a descriptive longitudinal study among 34 older adults with schizophrenia to establish the adherence to an active videogame-based physical activity program. In our ongoing program, once a week for 6 weeks, participants played an active videogame, using the Kinect for Xbox 360 game system, for 30 minutes. Adherence was measured with a count of sessions attended and with the total minutes attended out of the possible total minutes of attendance (180 minutes). RESULTS Thirty-four adults with schizophrenia enrolled in the study. The mean number of groups attended was five out of six total (standard deviation=2), and the mean total minutes attended were 139 out of 180 possible (standard deviation=55). Fifty percent had perfect attendance. CONCLUSIONS Older adults with schizophrenia need effective physical activity programs. Adherence to our program suggests that videogames that use the Kinect for Xbox 360 game system are an innovative way to make physical activity accessible to this population.
Reliability Test of Korean Version of Berg Balance Scale

Objective: The purpose of this study is to translate the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) to the Korean version (K-BBS) and to evaluate its reliability. Method: With the agreement of Katherine Berg, the original editor of the BBS, two physiatrists and three physical therapists had translated the English version of BBS into Korean (K-BBS). This was back-translated into English by a Korean-American physiatrist fluent in English. After a 2- hour K-BBS education course, the video recorded K-BBS of 18 stroke patients were reviewed by nine examiners (four physiatrists and five physical therapists) to assess the interrater and the intra-rater reliability. Kendall's correlation coefficient and Pearson's correlation coefficient were computed to assess the intra-rater and test-retest reliability, respectively. Results: The inter-rater reliability was 0.97 at 2 separate evaluations with an interval of 10 days (p
Linear Polarization in Gamma-Ray Bursts: The Case for an Ordered Magnetic Field

Linear polarization at the level of ~1%-3% has by now been measured in several gamma-ray burst afterglows. Whereas the degree of polarization, P, was found to vary in some sources, the position angle, θp, was roughly constant in all cases. Until now, the polarization has been commonly attributed to synchrotron radiation from a jet with a tangled magnetic field that is viewed somewhat off-axis. However, this model predicts either a peak in P or a 90° change in θp around the "jet break" time in the light curve, for which there has so far been no observational confirmation. We propose an alternative interpretation, wherein the polarization is attributed, at least in part, to a large-scale, ordered magnetic field in the ambient medium. The ordered component may dominate the polarization even if the total emissivity is dominated by a tangled field generated by postshock turbulence. In this picture, θp is roughly constant because of the uniformity of the field, whereas P varies as a result of changes in the ratio of the ordered-to-random mean-squared field amplitudes. We point out that variable afterglow light curves should be accompanied by a variable polarization. The radiation from the original ejecta, which includes the prompt γ-ray emission and the emission from the reverse shock (the "optical flash" and "radio flare"), could potentially exhibit a high degree of polarization (up to ~60%) induced by an ordered transverse magnetic field advected from the central source.
Shear Stress Regulates Endothelial Microparticle Release

Rationale: Endothelial activation and apoptosis release membrane-shed microparticles (EMP) that emerge as important biological effectors. Objective: Because laminar shear stress (SS) is a major physiological regulator of endothelial survival, we tested the hypothesis that SS regulates EMP release. Methods and Results: EMP levels were quantified by flow cytometry in medium of endothelial cells subjected to low or high SS (2 and 20 dyne/cm2). EMP levels augmented with time in low SS conditions compared with high SS conditions. This effect was sensitive to extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and Rho kinases inhibitors but unaffected by caspase inhibitors. Low SS-stimulated EMP release was associated with increased endothelial Rho kinases and ERK1/2 activities and cytoskeletal reorganization. Overexpression of constitutively active RhoA stimulated EMP release under high SS. We also examined the effect of nitric oxide (NO) in mediating SS effects. L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME), but not D-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester, increased high SS-induced EMP levels by 3-fold, whereas the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP) decreased it. L-NAME and SNAP did not affect Rho kinases and ERK1/2 activities. Then, we investigated NO effect on membrane remodeling because microparticle release is abolished in ABCA1-deficient cells. ABCA1 expression, which was greater under low SS than under high SS, was augmented by L-NAME under high SS and decreased by SNAP under low SS conditions. Conclusions: Altogether, these results demonstrate that sustained atheroprone low SS stimulates EMP release through activation of Rho kinases and ERK1/2 pathways, whereas atheroprotective high SS limits EMP release in a NO-dependent regulation of ABCA1 expression and of cytoskeletal reorganization. These findings, therefore, identify endothelial SS as a physiological regulator of microparticle release.
Strategic capabilities of Japanese independent suppliers

Because of low profitability recently, large manufacturers in Japan have reduced R&D expenditure, and cannot afford to carry on long-term continuous trading with small manufacturers. This has resulted in an R&D shift from large manufacturers to suppliers, creating a new technological opportunity for the latter. Some of Japan's hi-tech small suppliers tried to be independent, and created a new market by developing advanced high technologies. Using data on patents, this study analyzed the R&D shift from large manufacturers to suppliers and reviewed trading conditions and the innovations of Japanese small manufacturing companies. Moreover, three case studies were conducted on small hi-tech manufacturers located in Yao city, Osaka prefecture, Japan. The results show that these companies realized their competitive advantages by dynamic entrepreneurial management.
A survey on metrics for the evaluation of user simulations

Abstract User simulation is an important research area in the field of spoken dialogue systems (SDSs) because collecting and annotating real human–machine interactions is often expensive and time-consuming. However, such data are generally required for designing, training and assessing dialogue systems. User simulations are especially needed when using machine learning methods for optimizing dialogue management strategies such as Reinforcement Learning, where the amount of data necessary for training is larger than existing corpora. The quality of the user simulation is therefore of crucial importance because it dramatically influences the results in terms of SDS performance analysis and the learnt strategy. Assessment of the quality of simulated dialogues and user simulation methods is an open issue and, although assessment metrics are required, there is no commonly adopted metric. In this paper, we give a survey of User Simulations Metrics in the literature, propose some extensions and discuss these metrics in terms of a list of desired features.
Dc-free convolutional codes and dc-free turbo codes

In this paper we integrate convolutional/turbo encoding with multimode encoding to generate dc-free convolutional/turbo codes. Based on the generators of error-control codes, we employ flipping or puncturing to ensure that the coded sequences are dc-balanced. At the receiver, the channel output is first decoded by a convolutional/turbo decoder (with consideration of detection when flipping is used during encoding), and then by a dc-free decoder. We show that good spectrum performance can be obtained at the cost of an increase in complexity in the encoder and that excellent bit error rate (BER) performance can be obtained particularly when source data logic values are not equiprobable.
HMM-Based Deception Recognition from Visual Cues

Behavioral indicators of deception and behavioral state are extremely difficult for humans to analyze. This research effort attempts to leverage automated systems to augment humans in detecting deception by analyzing nonverbal behavior on video. By tracking faces and hands of an individual, it is anticipated that objective behavioral indicators of deception can be isolated, extracted and synthesized to create a more accurate means for detecting human deception. Blob analysis, a method for analyzing the movement of the head and hands based on the identification of skin color is presented. A proof-of-concept study is presented that uses Blob analysis to extract visual cues and events, throughout the examined videos. The integration of these cues is done using a hierarchical hidden Markov model to explore behavioral state identification in the detection of deception, mainly involving the detection of agitated and over-controlled behaviors
A Review of Family and Social Determinants of Children’s Eating Patterns and Diet Quality

With the growing problem of childhood obesity, recent research has begun to focus on family and social influences on children’s eating patterns. Research has demonstrated that children’s eating patterns are strongly influenced by characteristics of both the physical and social environment. With regard to the physical environment, children are more likely to eat foods that are available and easily accessible, and they tend to eat greater quantities when larger portions are provided. Additionally, characteristics of the social environment, including various socioeconomic and sociocultural factors such as parents’ education, time constraints, and ethnicity influence the types of foods children eat. Mealtime structure is also an important factor related to children’s eating patterns. Mealtime structure includes social and physical characteristics of mealtimes including whether families eat together, TV-viewing during meals, and the source of foods (e.g., restaurants, schools). Parents also play a direct role in children’s eating patterns through their behaviors, attitudes, and feeding styles. Interventions aimed at improving children’s nutrition need to address the variety of social and physical factors that influence children’s eating patterns.