Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of the Yeast Ste20 Protein Kinase Ortholog Map4k4 in Adipose Tissue Function: A Dissertation

Obesity has increased globally in epidemic proportions and as have the associated disorders. Insulin resistance that could further lead to type 2 diabetes is a major obesity associated dysfunction. Studies using insulin resistant mouse models and observations from human subjects exhibiting insulin resistance provide evidence for ectopic lipid deposition in organs like liver, muscle and heart as one of the major risk factors for developing insulin resistance. These observations suggest that deregulated adipose function to sequester and store excess energy as fat, could lead to insulin resistance. Furthermore, several studies have demonstrated adipose tissue dysfunction leading to inflammation and related syndromes. Interestingly, a mouse model with transgenic expression of glucose transporter in the adipose tissue exhibited improved glucose tolerance and increased insulin sensitivity despite development of obesity, upon high fat feeding. Thus mechanisms that improve adipose function could alleviate insulin resistance and associated diseases. Mitogen activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 4 (MAP4K4) was identified in our laboratory as a negative regulator of adipocyte function. Interestingly, siRNA mediated knockdown of MAP4K4 promoted PPARγ protein expression. Additionally, silencing of MAP4K4 increased adipocyte triglyceride content. Because MAP4K4 is a negative regulator of PPARγ expression and adipocyte function, understanding the mechanism by which MAP4K4 regulates PPARγ expression is of interest. Thus, for the first part of this thesis, I characterized the signaling pathways utilized by MAP4K4 to regulate PPARγ expression in cultured adipocytes. Here I show that MAP4K4 regulates PPARγ expression through regulation of its protein translation. siRNA mediated MAP4K4 gene silencing stimulated PPARγ protein synthesis without changing its mRNA transcription or its protein degradation. This increase in PPARγ protein translation was due to an increase in the activity of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). The increase in PPARγ protein expression mediated by mTOR activation was a specific effect of the 4E-BP1 phosphorylation that leads to its inactivation and was not a general increase in mTOR activity towards all of its substrates. Finally, adenovirus mediated over expression of MAP4K4 inhibited mTOR activation, and suppressed PPARγ protein translation. For the second part of this thesis, I assessed the role of MAP4K4 in adipocytes in vivo. To accomplish this, a lentivirus mediated shRNA construct was generated to attenuate MAP4K4 expression selectively in the mouse adipose tissue. First we demonstrate that the MAP4K4 shRNA construct is able to efficiently silence the expression of MAP4K4 in vitro when co-expressed with Cre recombinase. Furthermore, we show that following modification of the lentiviral conditional vector that was introduced into a mouse embryo at one cell stage, and crossing the resulting founders with aP2-Cre mice, adipose tissue specific MAP4K4 gene silencing was…
A State Of The Art Survey On Cold Start Problem In A Collaborative Filtering System

: Internet is being flooded with information. Finding the necessary information is a difficult task. Recommender System is a panacea to this problem. Recommender System can help us finding a needle in a haystack. Recommender System takes a user-profile as an input and tries to find out products that shall be of interest to the user. Recommender System faces several challenges. One issue is the Cold-Start problem where a new product is not recommended to the user due to the unavailability of the necessary information about the product. In this paper, we survey the various solutions available to address the cold-start product when the recommender System uses a Collaborative Filtering based recommender systems. This study investigates how the cold-start problem is handled in the existing Recommender Systems and their application domains and also provides an analysis of various performance metrics.
On Self Managing Autonomous Ubiquitous Networks

: The interfaces of computing systems are expanding. This expansion has revealed many new problems that were never considered for conventional software systems. Ubiquitous networks belong to the generation of computing systems that deals with high levels of mobility and ‘interface everywhere’ theme. So they require more resilience. Conventional methods for managing these networks are inappropriate and very costly. Autonomic self management is a promising new concept that aims to (i) increase reliability by designing systems to be self-protecting and self-healing; and (ii) increase autonomy and performance by enabling systems to adapt to changing circumstances, using self-configuring and self-optimizing mechanisms. In this paper we propose that the cost attached with network management can be cut short with increased quality of service and performance. We give the architecture of an Autonomic Management System (AMS) in a smart home scenario, which we plan to implement in our project.
GENERATION OF 3D PANORAMIC MAP FOR TOURISM MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS

Recently, accurate three-dimensional (3D) data and mapping applications have become advanced prerequisites for supporting the development and management of tourism. The derived high quality mapping products allow both natural and manmade features to be captured in great detail. The main advantage of 3D maps is the clear and realistic visualization of landscape objects. The developed geodatabases are essential in spatial analysis, modelling and planning of tourist infrastructure and tourist routes. The present study aims to generate a 3D panoramic map of rural landscape around a wine-growing village with a new tourist infrastructure (wine cellar, resort and spa, guest houses, cultural and historical sites, tourist routes, and entertainment complexes). The study area of the village of Mogilovo is located in Stara Zagora region in Southern Bulgaria. The main developed GIS datasets include: relief, land cover, hydrography, buildings, roads and tourist infrastructure. A 3D model of relief and a 3D model of buildings were generated using the above mentioned GIS data. All developed GIS datasets and 3D models were processed in Visual Nature Studio (VNS) professional software to generate the photorealistic terrain visualization and animation. As a result, the high-resolution 3D panoramic map was created with great details of landscape using the rendering tools in VNS software. The map’s legend, frame layout, text elements and 2D symbols were added to complete the map design. The created 3D panoramic map can be used in many applications such as printed and multimedia materials that present the region as a destination for wine, congress and rural tourism. The first application is the production of large-format information boards which are placed next to the hotel complex in the center of the village of Mogilovo.
Mouse TCRαβ+CD8αα Intraepithelial Lymphocytes Express Genes That Down-Regulate Their Antigen Reactivity and Suppress Immune Responses12

Mouse small intestine intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) that express αβTCR and CD8αα homodimers are an enigmatic T cell subset, as their specificity and in vivo function remain to be defined. To gain insight into the nature of these cells, we performed global gene expression profiling using microarray analysis combined with real-time quantitative PCR and flow cytometry. Using these methods, TCRαβ+CD8αα IEL were compared with their TCRαβ+CD8β+ and TCRγδ+ counterparts. Interestingly, TCRαβ+CD8αα IEL were found to preferentially express genes that would be expected to down-modulate their reactivity. They have a unique expression pattern of members of the Ly49 family of NK receptors and tend to express inhibitory receptors, along with some activating receptors. The signaling machinery of both TCRαβ+CD8αα and TCRγδ+ IEL is constructed differently than other IEL and peripheral T cells, as evidenced by their low-level expression of the linker for activation of T cells and high expression of the non-T cell activation linker, which suppresses T cell activation. The TCRαβ+CD8αα IEL subset also has increased expression of genes that could be involved in immune regulation, including TGF-β3 and lymphocyte activation gene-3. Collectively, these data underscore the fact that, while TCRαβ+CD8αα IEL resemble TCRγδ+ IEL, they are a unique population of cells with regulated Ag reactivity that could have regulatory function.
A survey on consensus methods in blockchain for resource-constrained IoT networks

The success of blockchain as the underlying technology for cryptocurrencies has opened up possibilities for its use in other application domains as well. The main advantages of blockchain for its potential use in other areas are its inherent security mechanisms and immunity to data manipulation attacks. A blockchain relies on a consensus method for agreeing on any new data. Most of the consensus methods which are currently used for the blockchain of different cryptocurrencies require high computational power and thus are not suitable for resource-constrained systems. In this article, we survey the various blockchain-based consensus methods that are applicable to resource-constrained IoT devices and networks. In a typical IoT network, there exist several devices with limited computational and communication capabilities. Most often, these devices cannot perform intensive computations and are starved for bandwidth. Therefore, we discuss the possible measures that can be taken to reduce the computational power and convergence time for the underlying consensus methods. We also talk about some of the alternatives to the public blockchain, such as private blockchain and tangle, along with their potential adoption for IoT networks. Furthermore, we review the existing consensus methods that have been implemented and explore the possibility of utilizing them to realize a blockchainbased IoT network. Some of the open research challenges including AI-enabled blockchains are also put forward.
Improving the Properties of Self-compacted Concrete with Using Combined Silica Fume and Metakaolin

The viscosity is the main property of selfcompacted concrete (SCC) and using of pozzolan material such as metakaolin (MK) and Silica fume (SF) can help to achieve that goal. The effect of simultaneous substitution of MK and SF instead of cement on the rheological and mechanical properties of self-compacted concrete was experimentally investigated in this paper. Seventeen mix designs were cast with a substitution weight percentage (5, 10, 15, 20 %) in water to adhesive material ratio equal 0.32. All mixes were examined by compressive, tensile strengths and water absorption tests with an appropriate fluidity, without having signs of segregation or instability. The test results were indicated that the SCC mixes containing MK and SF had higher compressive and tensile strengths in comparison with no-pozzolan concrete. The comparison of linear multiple regression techniques (LMRT) and nonlinear multiple regression technique outputs with experimental results showed an appropriate similarity.
Moving from Internet of Threats to Internet of Things: A Cyber Security Reference Architecture for Smart Home Environments

—The H2020 European research project GHOST – Safe-Guarding Home IoT Environments with Personalised Real-time Risk Control – aims to deploy a highly effective security framework for IoT smart home residents through a novel reference architecture for user-centric cyber security in smart homes providing an unobtrusive and user-comprehensible solution. The aforementioned security framework leads to a transparent cyber security environment by increasing the effectiveness of the existing cyber security services and enhancing system’s self-defence through disruptive software-enabled network security solutions. In this paper GHOST security framework for IoT-based smart homes is presented. It is aiming to address the security challenges posed by several types of attacks, such as network, device and software. The effective design of the overall multi-layered architecture is analysed, with particular emphasis given to the integration aspects through dynamic and re-conﬁgurable solutions and the features provided by each one of the architectural layers. Additionally, real-life trials and the associated use cases are described showcasing the competences and potential of the proposed framework.
Integrative Modeling of pFC

■ pFC is generally regarded as a region critical for abstract reasoning and high-level cognitive behaviors. As such, it has become the focus of intense research involving a wide variety of subdisciplines of neuroscience and employing a diverse range of methods. However, even as the amount of data on pFC has increased exponentially, it appears that progress toward understanding the general function of the region across a broad array of contexts has not kept pace. Effects observed in pFC are legion, and their interpretations are generally informed by a particular perspective or methodology with little regard with how those effects may apply more broadly. Consequently, the number of specific roles and functions that have been identified makes the region a very crowded place indeed and one that appears unlikely to be explained by a single general principle. In this theoretical article, we describe how the function of large portions of pFC can be accommodated by a single explanatory framework based on the computation and manipulation of error signals and how this framework may be extended to account for additional parts of pFC. ■
Multiobjective Model Predictive Control of a Parabolic Advection-Diffusion-Reaction Equation

In the present paper, a multiobjective optimal control problem governed by a linear parabolic advection-diffusion-reaction equation is considered. The optimal controls are computed by applying model predictive control (MPC), which is a method for controlling dynamical systems over long or infinite time horizons by successively computing optimal controls over a moving finite time horizon. Numerical experiments illustrate that the proposed solution approach can be successfully applied although some of the assumptions which are necessary to conduct the theoretical analysis cannot be guaranteed for the studied tests.
Online Game-Based Formative Assessment: Distant Learners Post Graduate Students’ Positive Perceptions Towards Quizizz

— In educational context, gamification can be applied at all levels namely elementary education, lifelong education, and higher education. „Quizizz‟ is an online game that is used by educators for academic purposes. It allows educators to conduct self-paced online formative assessments in a fun and engaging manner. This study is a quantitative study undertaken to explore the perception of 91 distant post graduate students towards Quizizz. Most of these post graduate students are English teachers serving at elementary schools, secondary schools and tertiary institutions. However, in this article only the students‟ positive perceptions towards Quizizz and its benefits to the learning process are discussed. The questionnaire consists of 29 items. The data were analyzed descriptively (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) using SPSS version 25. The most prominent finding is the respondents were able to reflect on their errors after answering the Quizizz questions. In addition, they could learn the topic better when they were asked to construct questions for Quizizz based on the learnt topics. They prefer to be given the opportunity to refer to their notes when answering the questions in order to reduce their anxiety level. They prefered Quizizz to be carried out in the form of homework in comparison to face to face classroom activities as they could answer the questions when they are fully prepared and in a more relaxed environment. They also agreed that Quizizz is able to provide a platform which promotes positive reinforcement, motivation and immediate feedback when their marks are being displayed on the leaderboard. It is hoped that these findings could encourage educators to integrate Quizizz as a form of formative assessment more effectively.
Basic Biochemical constituents in the laboratory culture of six species of Micro Algae

Among live feeds, micro algae constitute the primary food of almost all aquatic organisms. Motility, cell size and cell constituents are the main criteria in selecting suitable live feed to various culture organisms at different stages of their growth. Levels of assimilates such as solublc protein, free aminoacids, total soluble sugars and lipids were estimated from six cultures of microalgal feed to compare the nutritive eficiency of these live feeds. The phytoflagellate Isochrysis and the diatom Chaetoceros were found to contain all the basic assimilates in satisfactory levels, although the species of Chlorella. Tetraselmis. Dunaliella and Nannochlorop contained more levels of protein (45 mg/g dry wt). The results of investigation were compared and discussed in the light of manipulating the dietary requirement of cultivable molluscs and crustaceans at their different growth stages.
Isosceles Triangular Resonator Based Compact Triple Band Quad Element Multi Terminal Antenna

A triple band quad element multi-input-multioutput (MIMO) antenna is proposed for Bluetooth (2.4 GHz), WLAN (2.5/4.9 GHz) and LTE (3.7 GHz) applications. A compact triangular ring-shaped structure is used as an antenna element. An isosceles triangular ring resonator is designed in such a way that it offers dual-band and another ring resonator is placed inside the empty space of the first resonator to obtain the third band. The antenna element is studied in terms of |S11| and also the current distributions are observed at three resonance frequencies to find out the resonance mechanism. The proposed quad element MIMO antenna is compact in total area (0.45λ0 × 0.45λ0). Isolation better than 20 dB is achieved with minimum inter-element spacing of 0. 07λ0 without extra isolation circuit. Gain, radiation patterns, envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), diversity gain (DG), channel capacity loss (CCL) and total active reflection coefficient (TARC) values are studied to comprehend the MIMO performance of the proposed design.
A Survey on Security Issues in Cloud Computing

—— Cloud computing provide on demand computational infrastructure to the users which has the latent to reduce the huge cost to assemble IT based services. It can offer ubiquitous, expedient data storage space. One of the main significant issue of cloud computing is that the entire data are stored in different location of the world using a set of interconnected resource pools and an authorized user can access this data through virtual machines. Most of the today’s internet companies have built immense data centres and day by day it is growing incredibly. For this reason we are getting various types of cloud flavour in terms of excellent applications or services. But it has several dark sides and insecurity creates major problem for cloud users. Since the resource pools are situated over various corners of the world, the privacy and security of data is highly challenging. Due to new dimension of cloud computing, the security problem enters into the problem scope related flexibility, multi-tenancy, layer dependency over its architecture. There are several types of security issues that need to be address in cloud computing. The main aim of this paper is to focus on various security issues of cloud computing and analyse the different unsolved security problem that threatening the different organization to adopt this technology
Preparation of Fluorescent Carbon-Based Dots from Waste Tire Pyrolysis

The pyrolysis of waste tire has been proposed as an alternative route to its recycling producing residual oils that can be used as fuels. In this work, a physicochemical process to obtain carbonbased dots (CBD) from carbon black (CBL) derivatives of tires is described. For this, the CBL was treated with different acids to produce CBL1 and CBL2 particles suspension. The pH of the suspension was adjusted to 5.6 to precipitate remaining impurities. Afterwards, the supernatant was ultra-centrifuged and the yellow pale solid, the purified CBD obtained by roto evaporation, was characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis), photoluminescence (PL) at 320-380 nm, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared microscopy (μFTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This material showed the typical excitation wavelength dependent emission and a PL quantum yield of 19.29% and was constituted by a well-defined spherical shaped and single sheets of “graphene quantum dots” with undefined shape, with potential applications in optoelectronic and fluorescence imaging devices.
A biographical study of Neolithic hoarding: A regional case study of Funnel Beaker Culture hoards from the Southern Limfjord area, Den- mark

The tradition of hoarding axeheads is a well-known phenomenon within the first agrarian societies on the North European Plain. Unfortunately, the majority of known hoards have been found as stray finds or under circumstances with poor or no documentation, leading to considerable source critical issues. However, in this paper we analyze four hoards that have either been professionally excavated or have had their find circumstances recorded and found within the same geographical area along the southern Limfjord region of Denmark. The detailed contextual information is used as a foundation for interpreting the hoards and to question the oft-repeated dualistic categorization of hoards as wetland or dryland phenomena. The analytical method employed in this study uses microand macro-scopic observations to create biographies for the axeheads in order to shed new light on hoarding practices. This approach challenges the previous macro-scale approaches, which has resulted in extensive catalogues and generalized interpretations of the hoarding practice within TRB society. The results in the study provide a detailed insight on production, use-life, exchange and deposition of axeheads in hoards within the TRB. The aim of the paper is to forward this analytical approach and to offer a fresh perspective on the TRB hoards. ARTICLE HISTORY Received 20 June 2019; Accepted 09 January 2020