Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Mitochondrial Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Activation by the β-Adrenoceptor/cAMP/Protein Kinase A Axis during Oxidative Stress

We investigated the regulation of mitochondrial poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) by the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) system during oxidative stress in U937 monocytes. Oxidative stress induced an early (10 minutes) mitochondrial DNA damage, and concomitant activation of PARP1 in the mitochondria. These early events were followed by a progressive mitochondrial oxidant production and nuclear PARP1 activation (by 6 hours). These processes led to a functional impairment of mitochondria, culminating in cell death of mixed (necrotic/apoptotic) type. β-Adrenoceptor blockade with propranolol or inhibition of its downstream cAMP/PKA signaling attenuated, while β-adrenoceptor agonists and cAMP/PKA activators enhanced, the oxidant-mediated PARP1 activation. In the presence of cAMP, recombinant PKA directly phosphorylated recombinant PARP1 on serines 465 (in the automodification domain) and 782 and 785 (both in the catalytic domain). Inhibition of the β-adrenergic receptor/cAMP/PKA axis protected against the oxidant-mediated cell injury. Propranolol also suppressed PARP1 activation in peripheral blood leukocytes during bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation in mice. We conclude that the activation of mitochondrial PARP1 is an early, active participant in oxidant-induced cell death, which is under the control of β-adrenoceptor/cAMP/PKA axis through the regulation of PARP1 activity by PARP1 phosphorylation.
BitTorrent Traffic Localization via Operator-Related Information

Applications based on peer-to-peer systems are oblivious to the underlying Internet topology. Chaotic connections between peers generate a large amount of traffic crossing carriers' borders, causing growth of operators' costs and have negative influence on performance (increased download time). In this paper, Yukka method is proposed to improve performance by localizing traffic on the basis of the operator and autonomous system related information. YukkaPlugin, an implementation of the Yukka method in one of the BitTorrent clients, uses for illustration RIPE NCC database responses mapping each IP address within Europe into an ISP network and country. The YukkaPlugin favors peers which are localized in an area close to a user. Applying the Yukka method results in shorter completion times achieved by an end-user.
Millimeter- and Submillimeter-Wave Observations of the OMC-2/3 Region. I. Dispersing and Rotating Core around the Intermediate-Mass Protostar MMS 7

We report the results of H13CO+ (1-0), CO (1-0), and 3.3 mm dust continuum observations toward MMS 7, one of the strongest millimeter-wave sources in OMC-3, with the Nobeyama Millimeter Array (NMA) and the Nobeyama 45 m telescope. With the NMA, we detected centrally condensed 3.3 mm dust continuum emission, which coincides with the mid-infrared (MIR) source and the free-free jet. Our H13CO+ observations revealed a disklike envelope around MMS 7, whose size and mass are 0.15 × 0.11 pc and 5.1 M☉, respectively. The outer portion of the disklike envelope has a fan-shaped structure, which delineates the rim of the observed CO outflow. The position-velocity diagrams in the H13CO+ (1-0) emission show that the velocity field in the disklike envelope is composed of a dispersing gas motion and a possible rigid-like rotation. The mass-dispersing rate is estimated to be 3.4 × 10-5 M☉ yr-1, which implies that MMS 7 has an ability to disperse ~10 M☉ during the protostellar evolutional time. The specific angular momentum in the disklike envelope is nearly 2 orders of magnitude larger than that in low-mass cores. The turnover point of the power law of the angular momentum distribution in the disklike envelope (≤0.007 pc), which is likely to be related to the outer radius of the central mass accretion, is similar in size to the 3.3 mm dust condensation. We propose that MMS 7 is in the last stage of the main accretion phase and that a substantial portion of the outer gas has already been dispersed, while mass accretion may still be ongoing at the innermost region, traced by the dusty condensation.
Automated coverage calculation and test case generation

This article describes the use of symbolic execution, a formal method of static analysis, to calculate code coverage of a program's existing JUnit test suites. Code coverage is measured with respect to a number of test adequacy criteria, including statement coverage, branch coverage, condition coverage, method coverage, class coverage, and loop coverage. The results of the code coverage calculation is then used to automatically generate JUnit test cases to reach areas of a program that are not sufficiently covered. The level of redundancy of each test case is also calculated during coverage calculation, thereby identifying fully redundant, and partially redundant, test cases. These calculations are packaged as an Eclipse plug-in, named ATCO. ATCO can also be used to perform coverage calculation during a manual execution of a program, allowing testers to measure the effectiveness of manual testing.
LASSO: A Tool for Surfing the Answer Net

This paper presents the architecture, operation and results obtained with the Lasso system developed in the Natural Language Processing Laboratory at SMU. The system relies on a combination of syntactic and semantic techniques, and lightweight abductive inference to (cid:12)nd answers. The search for the answer is based on a novel form of indexing called paragraph indexing. A score of 55.5% for short answers and 64.5% for long answers was achieved.
The utility of Apc-mutant rats in modeling human colon cancer

Prior to the advent of genetic engineering in the mouse, the rat was the model of choice for investigating the etiology of cancer. Now, recent advances in the manipulation of the rat genome, combined with a growing recognition of the physiological differences between mice and rats, have reignited interest in the rat as a model of human cancer. Two recently developed rat models, the polyposis in the rat colon (Pirc) and Kyoto Apc Delta (KAD) strains, each carry mutations in the intestinal-cancer-associated adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) gene. In contrast to mouse models carrying Apc mutations, in which cancers develop mainly in the small intestine rather than in the colon and there is no gender bias, these rat models exhibit colonic predisposition and gender-specific susceptibility, as seen in human colon cancer. The rat also provides other experimental resources as a model organism that are not provided by the mouse: the structure of its chromosomes facilitates the analysis of genomic events, the size of its colon permits longitudinal analysis of tumor growth, and the size of biological samples from the animal facilitates multiplexed molecular analyses of the tumor and its host. Thus, the underlying biology and experimental resources of these rat models provide important avenues for investigation. We anticipate that advances in disease modeling in the rat will synergize with resources that are being developed in the mouse to provide a deeper understanding of human colon cancer.
Better flash access via shape-shifting virtual memory pages

Today, many system designers try to fit the entire data set of an application in RAM to avoid the cost of accessing magnetic disk. However, for many data-centric applications this is not an option due to the capacity and high $/GB constraints of RAM. As a result, system designers are relying on NAND-Flash to augment RAM. However, rewriting applications to efficiently tier data between memory and storage is a complicated process and may take months or years. In this paper, we present Chameleon, a system to transparently augment RAM with NAND-Flash. Chameleon is the first transparent tiering system to provide low-latency accesses to both RAM and NAND-Flash. We show that applications using Chameleon outperform applications using state-of-the-art tiering mechanisms by providing more than two orders of magnitude improvement in latency for working sets that can fit in RAM. We also show that Chameleon provides up to 47% latency improvement for out-of-core applications. Finally, we show that Chameleon improves the flash device's lifetime by up to 8x.
Metric Spaces Library

We describe a library to support similarity searching in metric spaces. It contains various metric space and index implementations, as well as some tools to evaluate their performance for similarity searching. The library is is an integral part of the new conference Similarity Search and Applications (SISAP) created in 2008. It was defined and initially populated by the authors, but we expect it to grow with other contributions over time. The goal of similarity searching is, given a finite set of objects U (called a database) drawn from a (possibly infinite) universe X, and a distance function d(·, ·) defined among objects of X, preprocess U and build a data structure (called an index) so that similarity searches can be carried out on that set. The objects are seen as black boxes, on which the only operation one can perform is to compute distances, and nothing else should be assumed on them. As the distance function is in many cases expensive to compute, it is customary to take the number of distance computations as the complexity measure for index construction and searching. In particular, for metric space searching, the distance d is assumed to be strictly positive (except d(x, x) = 0, which must always hold), symmetric (d(x, y) = d(y, x)), and to satisfy the triangle inequality, that is, d(x, z) ≤ d(x, y)+d(y, z). The library focuses on the two most popular types of queries:
Abandoning emotion classes - towards continuous emotion recognition with modelling of long-range dependencies

Abstract Class based emotion recognition from speech, as performedin most works up to now, entails many restrictions for practi-cal applications. Human emotion is a continuum and an auto-matic emotion recognition system must be able to recognise itas such. We present a novel approach for continuous emotionrecognitionbasedonLongShort-TermMemoryRecurrentNeu-ral Networks which include modelling of long-range dependen-cies between observations and thus outperform techniques likeSupport-VectorRegression. Transferringtheinnovativeconceptof additionally modelling emotional history to the classiﬁcationof discrete levels for the emotional dimensions “valence” and“activation” we also apply Conditional Random Fields whichprevail over the commonly used Support-Vector Machines. Ex-periments conducted on data that was recorded while humansinteracted with a Sensitive Artiﬁcial Listener prove that for ac-tivation the derived classiﬁers perform as well as human anno-tators.Index Terms: Emotion Recognition, Sensitive Artiﬁcial Lis-tener, LSTM
Dialect recognition using adapted phonetic models

In this paper, we introduce a dialect recognition method that makes use of phonetic models adapted per dialect without phonetically labeled data. We show that this method can be implemented efficiently within an existing PRLM[1] system. We compare the performance of this system with other state-of-theart dialect recognition methods (both acoustic and token-based) on the NIST LRE 2007 English and Mandarin dialect recognition tasks. Our experimental results indicate that this system can perform better than baseline GMM and adapted PRLM systems, and also results in consistent gains of 15-23% when combined with other systems.
Phenytoin‐induced cerebral thrombosis in rats: cerebral ultrastructure, water content and ischaemic volume in the acute phase

A new rat model for multifocal cerebral thrombosis has recently been reported (Tani et al., 1994; 1995). Ultrastructural changes in the cerebral neocortex in the acute phase were investigated in order to characterize the early pathological events in this model. A bolus injection of alkaline phenytoin solution (pH 10.8) into one internal carotid artery in the rat caused severe endothelial injury accompanied by thrombosis in the cerebral vasculature within 5 minutes, and severe oedema of the ipsilateral hemisphere within an hour. Cerebral water content was measured by the simple dry–wet method, and cerebral surface area and the surface area and volume of the ischaemic zone were measured using computer‐aided image analysis. Good correlations were demonstrated between cerebral water content and cerebral surface area, and between the surface area and volume of the ischaemic zone. We report here that quantitative evaluation of acute cerebral damage induced by phenytoin solution is possible with high reliability using simple image analysis.
Culinary Deserts, Gastronomic Oases: A Classification of US Cities

This paper explores the role of restaurants, as consumption spaces, in defining the consumptional identity of 243 American cities. Specifically, it is asked whether, and how, US cities can be classified on the basis of the local prevalence of specific types of restaurants-are some cities culinary deserts, while others are gastronomic oases? A two-stage cluster analysis reveals four distinct city types, which fall along two intersecting dimensions: a quantitative dimension of restaurant availability and a qualitative cultural dimension. These four city types are characterised and connected to the existing literature on consumption spaces, with particular attention to a strong parallel between these city types and the communities discussed by Richard Florida. Several directions for future research using the city classification as a conceptual framework are offered. Additionally, these analyses involve the development and application of a new method of measuring a city's number of consumption spaces, which is theoretically superior to traditional per capita measures and which is described in a methodological appendix.
Design of Robust Differential Microphone Arrays

Differential microphone arrays (DMAs), due to their small size and enhanced directivity, are quite promising in speech enhancement applications. However, it is well known that differential beamformers have the drawback of white noise amplification, which is a major issue in the processing of wideband signals such as speech. In this paper, we focus on the design of robust DMAs. Based on the Maclaurin's series approximation and frequency-independent beampatterns, the robust first-, second-, and third-order DMAs are proposed by using more microphones than the order plus one, and the corresponding minimum-norm filters are derived. Compared to the traditional DMAs, the proposed designs are more robust with respect to white noise amplification while they are capable of achieving similar directional gains.
Thinking with hands: an embodied approach to the analysis of children's interaction with computational objects

We present the theory and mixed methods approach for analyzing how children's hands can help them think during interaction with computational objects. The approach was developed for a study investigating the benefits of different input methods for object manipulation activities in digitally supported problem solving. We propose a classification scheme based on the notions of complementary and epistemic actions in spatial problem solving. In order to overcome inequities in number of access points when comparing different input methods, we develop a series of relative measures based on our classification scheme.
A new biometric using sclera vein recognition for human identification

Biometrics is a technique of identity verification that is based on the principle of measurable physiological characteristics like vein patterns from sclera region. Sclera vein is a new biometric recognition method for human identification. Sclera vessel pattern's images are saturated and the arrangement of vessel patterns is multi layered and also it is quite complex to extract the features of vein from sclera. In order eliminate high frequency noise components present in sclera, low pass filter is used. To extract the features, a set of vessel segments combine to create Y shaped branches often belonging to same sclera layer. Mapping scheme is based on Y shaped structure in the sclera that is observed to be more stable feature and is used to efficiently eliminate the most unlikely matches. The observational result shows that the proposed method can dramatically provide more secure authentication without compromising the recognition accuracy.
Comparative Educational Administration: Developing a Cross-Cultural Conceptual Framework

Although educational administration has experienced impressive development over the past three decades, the fact that a robust comparative branch of the field has failed to emerge is equally conspicuous. This article acknowledges and highlights the need for comparative educational administration and argues that the development of conceptual frameworks is imperative in building a comparative dimension. A conceptual framework is described and justified based on a cultural and cross-cultural approach focusing on the school level as the baseline unit for analysis. Specifically, the proposed framework is architectured around the interrelationship between the core concepts of culture, organizational structures, leadership and management processes, curriculum, and teaching and learning. Finally, implicatitons of the model are discussed, including the need for the framework to be operationalized by the development of appropriate research instruments.
An autopsy case of an aged patient with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2

We report the case of a woman who developed limb clumsiness in her fifties and gait disturbance in her sixties. She was bedridden after bone fractures at age 75 and showed disorientation, slow eye movement, gaze palsy, ataxic speech, muscle atrophy and weakness, and areflexia with pathological reflex. She died of respiratory failure at age 85. This patient was diagnosed genetically as having spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2), and the number of expanded CAG repeats was 41. At autopsy, the brain weighed 965 g, and the brainstem, cerebellum, frontal convexity and spinal cord were atrophic. Neuronal loss and gliosis were severe in the pontine nucleus, inferior olivary nucleus, cerebellar cortex, gracile and cuneate nuclei and moderate in the substantia nigra, cerebellar dentate nucleus, anterior horns of the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia. Axonal loss was observed in the middle and inferior cerebellar peduncles, pyramidal tract and posterior column of the spinal cord. Senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) were diffusely found in the cerebrum (plaque stage C; NFT stage IV). Expanded polyglutamine‐immunoreactive inclusions in the neuronal cytoplasm were widely distributed in the CNS, and neuronal intranuclear inclusions were observed in the pontine nucleus and cerebral cortex. This patient in this autopsy case is a late‐onset and aged patient with SCA2, and this is the first report of SCA2 combined with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Neuropathological findings in this patient, except for AD pathology, were consistent with those of reported SCA2 cases. However, the olivo‐ponto‐cerebellar system of this patient was relatively preserved and the cerebellar dentate nucleus was more involved as compared with previously reported cases. These results suggest that age at onset or the number of CAG repeat expansions could correlate with the distribution pattern of SCA2 neurodegeneration.
Depressive Symptoms in Mothers: The Role of Employment and Role Quality

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether paid employment of mothers in Austria with children up to 10 years of age is related to depressive symptoms (N = 248). Three contrasting theories—scarcity theory, role enhancement theory, and role quality theory—have been discussed to explain the relation of multiple-role occupation and depressive symptoms. Results indicate that (a) in accordance with the assumptions of scarcity theory working mothers have higher levels of depressive symptoms than not-working mothers; (b) in accordance with role quality theory only mothers with low work-role quality have higher rates of depressive symptoms; and (c) besides work status the perceived quality of the mother role was significantly related to depressive symptoms.
Plans for achieving self support case studies using the social security administration's PASS plans

This article provides a historical overview of the legislation creating financial work incentives, such as PASS, for use by people with disabilities. The PASS incentive, under the Social Security Administration, is described in detail. The primary intent of this article, however, is to provide the reader with case studies using the PASS incentive. The case studies present situations that vary by use of PASS savings, funds, financial status, and time1ines. This article concludes by offering the reader the current status of PASS usage and provides avenues to boost the beneficial use of
Immune-checkpoint proteins VISTA and PD-1 nonredundantly regulate murine T-cell responses

Significance Multiple immune-checkpoint proteins, such as programmed death 1 (PD-1), LAG3, and TIM3, are coexpressed on immune cells and functionally synergize with each other. V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) is a recently identified immune-checkpoint molecule that suppresses T-cell activation. This study establishes that VISTA and PD-1 exert nonredundant immune regulatory functions and synergistically regulate T-cell responses. Combinatorial treatment using VISTA- and PD-ligand 1-specific monoclonal antibodies achieved synergistic therapeutic efficacy in murine tumor models. This study critically advances our knowledge of the immune regulatory function of VISTA and provides a rationale for targeting both VISTA and PD-1 to more effectively treat T-cell-regulated diseases such as cancer. V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) is a negative immune-checkpoint protein that suppresses T-cell responses. To determine whether VISTA synergizes with another immune-checkpoint, programmed death 1 (PD-1), this study characterizes the immune responses in VISTA-deficient, PD-1-deficient (KO) mice and VISTA/PD-1 double KO mice. Chronic inflammation and spontaneous activation of T cells were observed in both single KO mice, demonstrating their nonredundancy. However, the VISTA/PD-1 double KO mice exhibited significantly higher levels of these phenotypes than the single KO mice. When bred onto the 2D2 T-cell receptor transgenic mice, which are predisposed to development of inflammatory autoimmune disease in the CNS, the level of disease penetrance was significantly enhanced in the double KO mice compared with in the single KO mice. Consistently, the magnitude of T-cell response toward foreign antigens was synergistically higher in the VISTA/PD-1 double KO mice. A combinatorial blockade using monoclonal antibodies specific for VISTA and PD-L1 achieved optimal tumor-clearing therapeutic efficacy. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the nonredundant role of VISTA that is distinct from the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in controlling T-cell activation. These findings provide the rationale to concurrently target VISTA and PD-1 pathways for treating T-cell-regulated diseases such as cancer.