Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Multithreading Architecture with Multiple Independent Shared Pipelines

PSAM consists of a number of multithreaded pipeline processors to support parallel computation. Thread control is implemented using a distributed approach, in which each processor can independently initiate and terminate a thread. This thread control mechanism is based on data ow model, and allows the degree of multiprocessing to vary with time. Although the basic processor is von Neumannbased, the overhead to support parallelism is very low.
The Transcription Factors c-rel and RelA Control Epidermal Development and Homeostasis in Embryonic and Adult Skin via Distinct Mechanisms

ABSTRACT Determining the roles of Rel/NF-κB transcription factors in mouse skin development with loss-of-function mutants has been limited by redundancy among these proteins and by embryonic lethality associated with the absence of RelA. Using mice lacking RelA and c-rel, which survive throughout embryogenesis on a tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-deficient background (rela −/− c-rel −/− tnfα−/−), we show that c-rel and RelA are required for normal epidermal development. Although mutant fetuses fail to form tylotrich hair and have a thinner epidermis, mutant keratinocyte progenitors undergo terminal differentiation to form an outer cornified layer. Mutant basal keratinocytes are abnormally small, exhibit a delay in G1 progression, and fail to form keratinocyte colonies in culture. In contrast to the reduced proliferation of mutant keratinocytes during embryogenesis, skin grafting experiments revealed that the mutant epidermis develops a TNF-α-dependent hyperproliferative condition. Collectively, our findings indicate that RelA and c-rel control the development of the epidermis and associated appendages during embryogenesis and regulate epidermal homeostasis in a postnatal environment through the suppression of innate immune-mediated inflammation.
A large outbreak of scombroid fish poisoning associated with eating escolar fish (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum)

In August 2003, an outbreak of scombroid fish poisoning occurred at a retreat centre in California, USA. In a retrospective cohort study, 42 (75%) of the 56 dinner attendees who ate escolar fish (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum) met the case definition. Individuals who ate at least 2 oz of fish were 1·5 times more likely to develop symptoms than those who ate less (relative risk 1·5, 95% confidence interval 0·9–2·6), and to develop more symptoms (median 7 vs. 3 symptoms, P=0·03). Patients who took medicine had a longer duration of symptoms than those who did not (median 4 vs. 1·5 h, P=0·05), and experienced a greater number of symptoms (median 8 vs. 3 symptoms, P=0·0002). Samples of fish contained markedly elevated histamine levels (from 2000 to 3800 ppm). This is one of the largest reported outbreaks of scombroid fish poisoning in the United States and was associated with a rare vehicle for scombroid fish poisoning, escolar.
A new motion compensation algorithm and new test algorithm to compare the result of motion compensation

In this paper, we propose a novel motion compensation (MC) algorithm. Compared with previous MC algorithm using only one interpolation method, the proposed MC algorithm chooses different interpolation methods according to the calculated sum of absolute difference (SAD) in the process of motion estimation (ME). The proposed MC algorithm can improve the quality of the interpolated frames. Based on the SAD calculated in ME, interpolation method is divided into three cases. Then in order to demonstrate the performance of the proposed MC algorithm, we propose a new test algorithm, which compares the results of several MCs. Experimental results indicate that, compared with common MC algorithm and the linear MC algorithm, quality of the image using proposed MC algorithm has been improved.
Humanized hemato-lymphoid system mice

Over the last decades, incrementally improved xenograft mouse models, supporting the engraftment and development of a human hemato-lymphoid system, have been developed and now represent an important research tool in the field. The most significant contributions made by means of humanized mice are the identification of normal and leukemic hematopoietic stem cells, the characterization of the human hematopoietic hierarchy, and their use as preclinical therapy models for malignant hematopoietic disorders. Successful xenotransplantation depends on three major factors: tolerance by the mouse host, correct spatial location, and appropriately cross-reactive support and interaction factors such as cytokines and major histocompatibility complex molecules. Each of these can be modified. Experimental approaches include the genetic modification of mice to faithfully express human support factors as non-cross-reactive cytokines, to create free niche space, the co-transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells, the implantation of humanized ossicles or other stroma, and the implantation of human thymic tissue. Besides the source of hematopoietic cells, the conditioning regimen and the route of transplantation also significantly affect human hematopoietic development in vivo. We review here the achievements, most recent developments, and the remaining challenges in the generation of pre-clinically-predictive systems for human hematology and immunology, closely resembling the human situation in a xenogeneic mouse environment.
Microbiologic study of organ-cultured donor corneas.

BACKGROUND Our purpose was to evaluate the sterility of organ-cultured human donor corneas at the time of surgery. METHODS We studied 603 organ-cultured corneas. Of these 603 corneas, 409 (68%) were grafted and 69 (11%) were contaminated during storage. RESULTS Contamination during preservation was either bacterial (65%) or fungal (35%). None of the tested antibiotics were effective against all of the 45 isolated bacteria. The risk of contamination decreased with death-to-organ culture time (P=0.008) and was higher for corneas excised in situ than for those enucleated (P=0.02). Corneoscleral rims were sterile in 99.3% of the grafted corneas. Deswelling media were sterile in 100% of cases. A 19- to 53-fold decrease in the percentage of rim contamination was assessed with organ culture as compared with hypothermic storage (previous studies, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate the benefit of organ culture over hypothermic storage, because it allows contaminated tissue to be discarded.
High Levels of Transforming Growth Factor 1 Correlate with Disease Progression in Human Colon Cancer 1

Several genes have been identified that play a role in colon cancer development. However, less is known about factors that increase the rate of progression of colon cancers to metastasis. One candidate is transforming growth factor J1 (TGF 1), which can enhance the aggressiveness of human colorectal cell lines in vitro and in vivo. The amount of TGF 1, TGF 2, and TGF 3 protein isoforms expressed in primary site colorectal cancers were measured to determine whether any correlation existed between protein levels and disease recurrence in a series of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital patients who underwent potentially curative resections. Intense staining for TGF 1 correlated significantly (P < 0.0013; odds ratio, 18) with disease progression to metastasis and was independent of nodal status and the degree of differentiation of the primary tumor. Therefore, in this study, patients with high TGFfJ1 protein levels in their primary site colorectal cancer were 18 times more likely to experience recurrence of their disease than were patients whose tumors exhibited low levels of TGF 1. In this casecontrol study, patients whose cancer recurred and those remaining cancer free were age and sex matched. The disease recurred at a mean of 26.8 ± 4.3 (SE) months, whereas the mean follow-up time in patients whose disease did not recur was over twice as long, 57.3 ± 6.6 months. Ninety-four % of the patients in each group were node positive at the time of resection, with equal mean numbers of positive nodes per patient. No correlation between disease progression and abundance of either TGFIJ2 or TGF 3 was observed. Thus, elevated levels of TGFg31 protein in the primary site colorectal cancer correlate with an increased risk for progression to metastasis.
Stealth Me.PEG-PLA nanoparticles avoid uptake by the mononuclear phagocytes system.

Nanoparticles were prepared from methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)poly(d,l-lactic acid) block copolymers (Me.PEG-PLA) or blends of Me.PEG-PLA and PLA by the precipitation-solvent diffusion method. These nanoparticles, labeled by introducing [14C]PLA in the formulation, were shown to be more slowly captured by cultured THP-1 monocytes than F68-coated PLA nanoparticles, in a PEG chain-length-dependent manner. In vivo, the half-life in plasma of the Me.PEG-PLA nanoparticles that were intravenously administered to rats is increased by a factor 180 compared with the F68-coated PLA nanoparticles. This mononuclear phagocytes system avoidance was explained according to a conformation model in which the PEG density at the surface of the particles is a key parameter.
A new implementation technique for fast spectral based document retrieval systems

The traditional methods of spectral text retrieval (FDS,CDS) create an index of spatial data and convert the data to its spectral form at query time. We present a new method of implementing and querying an index containing spectral data which will conserve the high precision performance of the spectral methods, reduce the time needed to resolve the query, and maintain an acceptable size for the index. This is done by taking advantage of the properties of the discrete cosine transform and by applying ideas from vector space document ranking methods.
Computational Simulation of a Supersonic-Combustion Benchmark Experiment

Verification and validation of a state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics code was performed using data from a supersonic combustion experiment. The fine grid solution was not proven to be fully grid-converged. However, differences between coarseand fine-grid solutions were less than the effects of the various turbulence and combustion models employed by the codes, so the code was deemed verified for the present purpose. Comparison with the experimental data shows that the code captures the relevant physics, particularly the existence of combustion downstream of fuel injection. However, calculations of the main parameters of the flow, such as wall pressure and ignition location, were not accurate: for example, wall pressure was roughly 20% low in the downstream half of the duct. From sensitivity analysis, the solution appears to be greatly affected by the selection of turbulence and chemistry sub-models and parameter values, especially the constant turbulent-diffusion parameters, the turbulent Schmidt and Prandtl numbers.
Lithography options and challenges for sub-45nm node interconnect layers

For the 45nm node and beyond, pitches below 90nm are required. This is becoming very challenging for lithography exposure tools and materials. Currently two main options are being pursued in order to further shrink the pitch: 193nm double patterning and EUV lithography. The status of these two options is discussed in this paper. While shrinking the pitch, also resist thickness and Depth-Of-Focus (DOF) for vias and trenches is reducing rapidly. In order to compensate for this, new materials have become available for patterning interconnects. An overview of these material developments is given in this paper.
Do Cash Transfer Programs Improve Infant Health: Evidence from the 1993 Expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit

In this paper I examine the effect of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) on birth outcomes by exploiting the 1993 expansion, which increased benefits disproportionately for families with two or more children. Using both difference-in-difference and difference-in-difference-in-difference approaches, I find that the expansion had small positive and statistically significant effects on birth weight, and that the expansion reduced the incidence of low birth weight. I also examine whether the increase in income as a result of the expansion led to greater investment into health inputs by testing whether the expansion increased the number of prenatal visits among eligible mothers. I find the expansion had no effect on prenatal care decisions.
Member to member learning in a therapeutic enactment group

This study examines the influence of member to member learning in a Therapeutic Enactment group. Using the lens of Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory this study utilizes this theoretical framework to examine the extent members have influenced and do influence each other’s therapeutic change process. Using Yalom’s (1985) work on group process as a base and incorporating the elements he has identified as necessary for therapeutic change the study examines the factors as they relate to the change process. Fourteen individuals participated in a therapeutic enactment based on a model Westwood &Wilensky (2005) developed using Moreno’s (1946) initial work. This is a qualitative study utilizing content analysis and Mayring’s (2000) model as the methodological
Recognising and locating objects with local sensors

This paper presents a recognition and location method for objects, composed of primitives with a simple analytical description, using local sensors such as an ultrasonic and an infra-red sensor. As these sensors only return local data, several measurements are needed to obtain global information. To allow effective exploration, on-line estimation is needed. Estimation is based on a constrained Kalman filter, the constraints defining relations between the primitives in the object model. Linearisation errors are reduced with a careful choice of the parametrisation of the primitives and by using a novel version of the constrained Kalman filter. Special features of the presented approach are the easy extendibility to objects composed of a different number and type of primitives, the fast convergence due to the effective use of geometric constraints, the ability to handle incomplete models, and the robustness to linearisation errors. The performance of the estimator has been thoroughly evaluated with simulations and experiments, showing that 10 measurements with an infrared sensor on the edges of a 800/spl times/550 mm/sup 2/ rectangular plate are sufficient to locate a point on the plate with standard deviation /spl sigma/=3 mm.
Assessing the influence of geographic distance in parasite communities of an exotic lizard

The decay of similarity between biological communities with increasing geographical distance is a well-established pattern in ecology, but there are more complex factors acting on host population connections that influence this association for parasite communities, such as parasites’ colonization ability and degree of connectivity between host populations. Here we aim to determine the helminth communities associated with different populations of the host lizard Hemidactylus mabouia, testing if the similarity of parasite communities decreases as the distance between them increases. For this, we collected samples of lizard populations in seven sites from Northeastern coast of Brazil and identified parasite species of helminths and pentastomids in each host, calculated the Sørensen indices of presence/absence and abundance of each pair of communities and related them to the geographical distance. We did not find a relationship of decaying similarity with increasing distance between the parasite communities of the host populations. This can be explained by factors such as the characteristics of the contact between the host populations, and by modes of transmission of most parasite species. Furthermore, it may be related to the exotic nature of the host in Brazil so that parasite communities have not reached equilibrium.
An Application of the BGP Community Attribute in Multi-home Routing

This document presents an application of the BGP community attribute [2] in simplifying the implementation and configuration of routing policies in the multi-provider Internet. It shows how the community based configuration can be used to replace the AS-based customization of the BGP "LOCAL_PREF" attribute, a common method used today. Not only does the technique presented simplifies configuration and management at the provider level, it also represents a paradigm shift in that it gives the potential for the customer to control its own routing policy with respect to its service provider, as well as providing the ability for policy configuration to be done at a prefix based granularity rather than the more common AS based granularity.
Systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index 2000.

OBJECTIVE To describe the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K), a modification of SLEDAI to reflect persistent, active disease in those descriptors that had previously only considered new or recurrent occurrences, and to validate SLEDAI-2K against the original SLEDAI as a predictor for mortality and as a measure of global disease activity in the clinic. METHODS All visits in our cohort of 960 patients were used to correlate SLEDAI-2K against the original SLEDAI, and the whole cohort was used to validate SLEDAI-2K as a predictor of mortality. A subgroup of 212 patients with SLE followed at the Lupus Clinic who had 5 regular visits, 3-6 months apart, in 1991-93 was also included. An uninvolved clinician evaluated each patient record and assigned a clinical activity level. The SLEDAI score was calculated from the database according to both the original and modified definitions. RESULTS SLEDAI-2K correlated highly (r = 0.97) with SLEDAI. Both methods for SLEDAI scoring predicted mortality equally (p = 0.0001), and described similarly the range of disease activity as recognized by the clinician. CONCLUSION SLEDAI-2K, which allows for persistent activity in rash, mucous membranes, alopecia, and proteinuria, is suitable for use in clinical trials and studies of prognosis in SLE.
A focused immune response targeting the homotypic binding domain of the carcinoembryonic antigen blocks the establishment of tumor foci in vivo

Metastatic forms of cancers remain the main cause of death in cancer patients. In this study, we demonstrate that directing a sustained antibody response towards the homotypic binding function of CEA interferes with the implantation and development of tumor foci in CEA‐expressing transgenic (CEA.Tg) mice. Specifically, vaccinating CEA.Tg mice with a recombinant, altered self‐form of the CEA Ig V‐like N domain led to the production of circulating IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies that inhibited CEA‐mediated adhesion of murine carcinoma expressing CEA (MC38.CEA) and mediated antibody‐dependent lysis of tumor cells. Moreover, vaccinated CEA.Tg mice were resistant to the development of tumor nodules in the lungs and the peritoneal cavity, suggesting that mounting a focused antibody response to the CEA N domain may represent a simple therapeutic strategy to control the establishment of metastatic foci in cancer patients.
Face recognition in simulated prosthetic vision: face detection-based image processing strategies

Objective. Given the limited visual percepts elicited by current prosthetic devices, it is essential to optimize image content in order to assist implant wearers to achieve better performance of visual tasks. This study focuses on recognition of familiar faces using simulated prosthetic vision. Approach. Combined with region-of-interest (ROI) magnification, three face extraction strategies based on a face detection technique were used: the Viola–Jones face region, the statistical face region (SFR) and the matting face region. Main results. These strategies significantly enhanced recognition performance compared to directly lowering resolution (DLR) with Gaussian dots. The inclusion of certain external features, such as hairstyle, was beneficial for face recognition. Given the high recognition accuracy achieved and applicable processing speed, SFR-ROI was the preferred strategy. DLR processing resulted in significant face gender recognition differences (i.e. females were more easily recognized than males), but these differences were not apparent with other strategies. Significance. Face detection-based image processing strategies improved visual perception by highlighting useful information. Their use is advisable for face recognition when using low-resolution prosthetic vision. These results provide information for the continued design of image processing modules for use in visual prosthetics, thus maximizing the benefits for future prosthesis wearers.
The polysemy of container pseudo-partitives

In a series of experimental studies, we investigate the nature of the ambiguity of con- tainer pseudo partitives (glass of water), asking whether its distinct interpretations are available simultaneously in copredication environments or whether they stand in competition. The studies compare the pattern of acceptability of container pseudo-partitives to lexical polysemes (book) and homonyms (date), for which copredication has been claimed to be licit and anomalous, re- spectively. Our results show that unlike the predictions of current approaches, the pseudo-partitive does not behave like homonyms, strongly suggesting the need to approximate its semantics to that of polysemes. However, we also show that copredication with pseudo-partitives is acceptable to a lesser extent than with polysemes, pointing to the possibility that copredication should be rethought in terms of the gradient costs it imposes, as well as the possibility of phrasal asymmetric polysemous expressions.
Evidence for metabolic hypothalamo-amygdala dysfunction in narcolepsy.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Proton resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) allows noninvasive chemical tissue analysis in the living brain. As neuronal loss and gliosis have been described in narcolepsy, metabolites of primary interest are N-acetylaspartate (NAA), a marker of neuronal integrity and myo-Inositol (ml), a glial marker and second messenger involved in the regulation of intracellular calcium. One 1H-MRS study in narcolepsy found no metabolic changes in the pontomedullary junction. Another study showed a reduction in NAA/creatine-phosphocreatine (Cr) in the hypothalamus of narcolepsy patients with cataplexy. We aimed to test for metabolic changes in specific brain areas, "regions of interest," thought to be involved in emotional processing, sleep regulation and pathophysiology of narcolepsy: hypothalamus, pontomesencephalic junction and both amygdalae. DESIGN We performed 1H-MRS using a 3T Philips Achieva whole body MR scanner. Single-voxel proton MR spectra were acquired and quantified with LCModel to determine metabolite concentration ratios. SETTING The participants in the study were recruited at the outpatient clinic for sleep medicine, Department of Neurology and magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed at the MRI facility, University Hospital Zurich. PARTICIPANTS 1H-MRS was performed in fourteen narcolepsy patients with cataplexy, CSF hypocretin deficiency (10/10) and HLA-DQB1*0602 positivity (14/14) and 14 age, gender and body mass index matched controls. Patients were treatment naïve or off therapy for at least 14 days before scanning. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS No differences were observed in the regions of interest for (total NAA)/Cr ratios. Myo-Inositol (ml)/Cr was significantly lower in the right amygdala of the patients, compared to controls (P < 0.042). Significant negative correlations only in the patients group were found between (total NAA)/Cr in hypothalamus and ml/Cr in the right amygdala (r = -0.89, P < 0.001), between ml/Cr in hypothalamus and (total NAA)/Cr in the right amygdala (r = -63, P < 0.05) and between ml/Cr in the left amygdala and total NAA)/Cr in the pontomesencephalic junction (r = -0.69, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest amygdala involvement and possible hypothalamo-amygdala dysfunction in narcolepsy.