Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Online learning and transfer for user adaptation in dialogue systems

We address the problem of user adaptation in Spoken Dialogue Systems. The goal is to quickly adapt online to a new user given a large amount of dialogues collected with other users. Previous works using Transfer for Reinforcement Learning tackled this problem when the number of source users remains limited. In this paper, we overcome this constraint by clustering the source users: each user cluster, represented by its centroid, is used as a potential source in the state-of-the-art Transfer Reinforcement Learning algorithm. Our benchmark compares several clustering approaches , including one based on a novel metric. All experiments are led on a negotiation dialogue task, and their results show significant improvements over baselines.
Alpha‐synuclein protects cerebellar granule neurons against 6‐hydroxydopamine‐induced death

The physiological role of alpha‐synuclein, a protein found enriched in intraneuronal deposits characterizing Parkinson’s disease, is debated. While its aggregation is usually considered linked to neuropathology, its normal function may be related to fundamental processes of synaptic transmission and plasticity. By using antisense oligonucleotide strategy, we report in this study that alpha‐synuclein silencing in cultured cerebellar granule cells results in widespread death of these neurons, thus demonstrating an essential pro‐survival role of the protein towards primary neurons. To study alpha‐synuclein expression and processing in a Parkinson’s disease model of neurotoxicity, we exposed differentiated cultures of cerebellar granule neurons to toxic concentrations of 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA). This resulted in neuronal death accompanied by a decrease of the monomeric form of alpha‐synuclein, which was due to both decreased synthesis of the protein and its increased mono‐ubiquitination accompanied by nuclear translocation. The essential neuroprotective role of alpha‐synuclein was confirmed by the fact that subchronic valproate treatment, which increases alpha‐synuclein expression and prevents its nuclear translocation in cerebellar granule cells exposed to 6‐OHDA, significantly protected these neurons from 6‐OHDA insult. In agreement with the pro‐survival role of alpha‐synuclein in this model, subtoxic concentrations of alpha‐synuclein antisense oligonucleotides, aggravated 6‐OHDA toxicity towards granule neurons. Our results demonstrate that normal alpha‐synuclein expression is essential for the viability of primary neurons and that its pro‐survival role is abolished in 6‐OHDA neurotoxic challenge. These results are relevant to more precisely define the role of alpha‐synuclein in neuronal cells and to better understand its putative involvement in neurodegeneration.
ARHGEF3 controls HDACi-induced differentiation via RhoA-dependent pathways in acute myeloid leukemias

Altered expression and activity of histone deacetylases (HDACs) have been correlated with tumorigenesis. Inhibitors of HDACs (HDACi) induce acetylation of histone and non-histone proteins affecting gene expression, cell cycle progression, cell migration, terminal differentiation and cell death. Here, we analyzed the regulation of ARHGEF3, a RhoA-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor, by the HDACi MS275 (entinostat). MS275 is a well-known benzamide-based HDACi, which induces differentiation of the monoblastic-like human histiocytic lymphoma cell line U937 to monocytes/macrophages. Incubation of U937 cells with MS275 resulted in an up regulation of ARHGEF3, followed by a significant enhancement of the marker of macrophage differentiation CD68. ARHGEF3 protein is primarily nuclear, but MS275 treatment rapidly induced its translocation into the cytoplasm. ARHGEF3 cytoplasmic localization is associated with activation of the RhoA/Rho-associated Kinase (ROCK) pathway. In addition to cytoskeletal rearrangements orchestrated by RhoA, we showed that ARHGEF3/RhoA-dependent signals involve activation of SAPK/JNK and then Elk1 transcription factor. Importantly, MS275-induced CD68 expression was blocked by exposure of U937 cells to exoenzyme C3 transferase and Y27632, inhibitors of Rho and ROCK respectively. Moreover, ARHGEF3 silencing prevented RhoA activation leading to a reduction in SAPK/JNK phosphorylation, Elk1 activation and CD68 expression, suggesting a crucial role for ARHGEF3 in myeloid differentiation. Taken together, our results demonstrate that ARHGEF3 modulates acute myeloid leukemia differentiation through activation of RhoA and pathways directly controlled by small GTPase family proteins. The finding that GEF protein modulation by HDAC inhibition impacts on cell differentiation may be important for understanding the antitumor mechanism(s) by which HDACi treatment stimulates differentiation in cancer.
Influence of foot-stretcher height on rowing technique and performance

Abstract Strength, technique, and coordination are crucial to rowing performance, but external interventions such as foot-stretcher set-up can fine-tune technique and optimise power output. For the same resultant force, raising the height of foot-stretchers on a rowing ergometer theoretically alters the orientation of the resultant force vector in favour of the horizontal component. This study modified foot-stretcher heights and examined their instantaneous effect on foot forces and rowing technique. Ten male participants rowed at four foot-stretcher heights on an ergometer that measured handle force, stroke length, and vertical and horizontal foot forces. Rowers were instrumented with motion sensors to measure ankle, knee, hip, and lumbar–pelvic kinematics. Key resultant effects of increased foot-stretcher heights included progressive reductions in horizontal foot force, stroke length, and pelvis range of motion. Raising foot-stretcher height did not increase the horizontal component of foot force as previously speculated. The reduced ability to anteriorly rotate the pelvis at the front of the stroke may be a key obstacle in gaining benefits from raised foot-stretcher heights. This study shows that small changes in athlete set-up can influence ergometer rowing technique, and rowers must individually fine-tune their foot-stretcher height to optimise power transfer through the rowing stroke on an ergometer.
Effectiveness of multifaceted fall-prevention programs for the elderly in residential care

Background: Unintentional falls are particularly prevalent among older people and constitute a public health concern. Not much is known about the implications of multifaceted intervention programs implemented in residential care settings. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of multifaceted intervention programs in reducing the number of falls, fallers, recurrent fallers, and injurious falls among older people living in residential care facilities. Search strategy: Comprehensive searches of Medline, PubMed, and EMBASE up to July 2007, the cited literature lists of each included study, and the internet engines Google Scholar, Yahoo, and Dogpile were performed to identify eligible studies. Selection criteria: Eligible studies for this review were those that had randomized, controlled trials with adequate follow-up study components in their design. Studies that included elderly people in residential care who participated in multifaceted falls-prevention programs were included. Data collection and analysis: Two authors independently extracted the necessary data. Studies were assessed for quality by the criteria of Downs and Black. The results of the included studies have been reviewed narratively. Main results: From 21 articles potentially relevant to the topic, five studies met the inclusion criteria and all were reasonably well conducted. Three reported significant reductions in the number of recurrent fallers, two reported significant reductions in the number of falls, and one reported significant reductions in the number of fallers. One other reported a reduction in the number of injurious falls in those who received the multifaceted prevention program compared with the control group. However, the analyses of this specific study were not based on intent-to-treat, so the effect of intervention on the number of injurious falls remains inconclusive. No study reported on adverse events, costs, or sustainability of the interventions. Conclusions: Multifaceted programs that encompass a wide range of intervention strategies have shown some evidence of efficacy. However, more well-designed research is required that assesses effects on injurious falls, quality of life, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.
DOA Estimation Using Multipath Echo Power for MIMO Radar in Low-Grazing Angle

In this paper, we propose a novel direction of arrival estimation algorithm for multi-input multi-output radar in a low-grazing angle (LGA) condition. Considering the effect of earth curvature and atmosphere, we derive the received signal model based on the assumption that the waveforms are transmitted by widely spaced sensors and received by some separated uniform linear arrays (ULAs). In order to use the multipath echo power, the proposed algorithm can select the best transmitter multipath reflected coefficients by optimizing the virtual transmitter signal, remove the coherency by improved spatial smoothing method and select the best receiver multipath reflected coefficients by peaks searching method. As a result, the algorithm can avoid the attenuation caused by different multipath reflected coefficients and targets glint, resulting from the spatial diversity for transmitter sensors and receiver subarrays. Simulation results show that, in LGA, the proposed algorithm can achieve performance improvements for the realistic LGA model, and also with the increase of the transmit sensors and ULAs or compared with other recently developed methods.
A model for quantitative security measurement and prioritisation of vulnerability mitigation

Quantitative security measurement is an essential step in managing security proactively. This measurement can help system administrator in making optimal decisions about mitigation of security risks posed by presence of vulnerabilities. Quantifying security risks using security metrics is an important and yet challenging task, as metrics exists for individual vulnerabilities but how to aggregate these metrics is still an unresolved issue. In this paper, we propose a quantitative security measurement model that measures security level of hosts in the network by aggregating risk levels of vulnerabilities in a meaningful manner. Further, proposed model guides system administrator in prioritising vulnerability mitigation by evaluating relative risk level of vulnerabilities in the network. Proposed model produces quantitative security metrics that provide rapid and consistent security measurement, hence aid in automated and reasonable security management. A case study is presented to demonstrate the efficacy of proposed model.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukins associated with hepatitis C virus infection in Egypt.

INTRODUCTION Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis infection. Based on secretion of required cytokines upon infection, HCV can improve its own RNA and successfully complete the replication cycle. Importantly, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most common type of genetic variation and have been found to play a critical role in modulation of cellular cytokine production and interaction. METHODOLOGY A total of 100 blood samples were obtained from HCV patients, and 120 samples were obtained from healthy individuals who served as controls. SNPs of interleukin-10/592 (IL-10/592) and IL-4/589 were investigated for possible connection with HCV infection. Relative expression of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS The polymorphisms of IL-10 revealed a high rate of mutant genotype CC within the location IL-10/592 in HCV patients and controls, which resulted in low secretion of IL-10. Interestingly, the findings here demonstrate a positive association between HCV load of viremia and the mutant genotype IL-4-589/TT accompanied with low expression IL-4 in comparison with IL-6 expression. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that the expression of IL-4 is inversely proportional to HCV load of viremia, and this connection is due to the high level of mutant genotype IL-4-589/TT in infected patients located in gene promoter and inhibits gene expression.
One size does not fit all: a case for heterogeneous multiprocessor systems

Traditionally, general-purpose multiprocessor systems are built out of a certain number of identical nodes, i.e. the systems are homogeneous. Heterogeneous systems are exceptions that happen only for special-purpose applications, for large-scale systems, or as a consequence of node updates. Nevertheless, different applications do not have the same characteristics or even the same goals. Consequently, a heterogeneous system is a much better match for the application requirements. The objective of this work is to find the best matching heterogeneous system configuration for a workload composed of database queries which may have one of two goals: high-performance or low-energy. Experiments were performed on simulated systems with up to 32 nodes and using a large number of database queries, where 50% of them had as goal high-performance and the rest low-energy. The results showed that for medium and large systems the heterogeneous configuration achieves a significant reduction of the total penalty, up to 62%, compared to the best homogeneous configuration. In addition, a heterogeneous system configured using a simple heuristic achieved a penalty reduction within 3% from the best heterogeneous configuration found with exhaustive search. These results lead to the conclusion that when configuring a multiprocessor it is necessary to seriously consider a heterogeneous configuration.
Generation and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies against the Transcription Factor Nkx6.1

We present the generation of a panel of monoclonal antibodies (F55A10, F55A12, F64A6B4, and F65A2) against the homeodomain transcription factor Nkx6.1, one of the essential transcription factors that regulates the multistep differentiation process of precursor cells into endocrine β-cells in the pancreas. Expression of Nkx6.1 can be detected in developing pancreatic epithelium and in adult insulin-producing β-cells, making this transcription factor a unique β-cell marker. For production of monoclonal antibodies, RBF mice were immunized with a GST-Nkx6.1 fusion protein containing a 66-amino acid C-terminal fragment of rat Nkx6.1. Four clones were established as stable hybridoma cell lines and the produced antibodies were of the mouse IgG1/κ subtype. When applied for immunohistochemistry on frozen sections of adult mouse pancreas, monoclonal antibodies stain specifically the β-cells in the endocrine islets of Langerhans with patterns comparable to that of a previously produced polyclonal rabbit serum. Monoclonal antibodies can be divided into two groups that appear to recognize different epitopes, as determined by competition ELISA. The presented antibodies are useful tools for the further characterization of the role and function of Nkx6.1 in pancreatic development, especially for use in double-labeling experiments with existing polyclonal rabbit antibodies. (J Histochem Cytochem 54:567-574, 2006)
Chapter 2 Mouse Models of Intestinal Cancer

Intestinal cancers are a category of heterogeneous tumors that occur sporadically or through inherited susceptibility, each characterized by genetic alterations affecting a number of molecular pathways. As a result of this complexity, numerous genetically engineered mice (GEM) have been generated to model different genetic, morphologic, or clinical features of intestinal cancer. Mouse models of intestinal cancer can be broadly divided into six groups based on the underlying signaling pathway disrupted or by the means with which tumors were induced: Wnt-related GEM; GEM associated with alterations in TGF-beta (β) signaling; mismatch repair-deficient GEM; immunedeficient mice; carcinogen-treated mice; and others that do not neatly fit into the aforementioned categories. Although differences have been noted in lesions arising in these broadly grouped genetic and other models, some characteristics are shared. Adenomas are the most common lesion in mouse models of intestinal cancer. Unlike humans, lesions can be present throughout the intestinal tract, with no predilection for the colon. Invasion and metastasis occur rarely. This chapter will summarize the findings from most of the available mouse models of intestinal cancer.
Assessment of a Self‐administered Adapted 6‐Minute Walk Test

PURPOSE This study assessed the reliability and viability of the Home-Heart-Walk (HHW) test, adapting a standardized 6-minute walk test protocol for self-administration. METHODS Twenty-nine volunteers with documented coronary heart disease (CHD) undertook a structured 7-day program using the HHW. RESULTS The intervention was well received by participants. The intraclass correlation coefficient of the test distance over 7 days was 0.98, and the correlations between investigator and participant measures were high (r = 0.99 for day 1 [first test], r = 0.99 for day 1 [second test], and r = 0.99 on day 7). CONCLUSION These data demonstrate the potential of the HHW as a tool to promote and monitor physical activity in community-based settings. These observations require further investigation and testing in other populations.
Genetic diversity in clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Punjab.

SETTING Two hospitals, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and the TB and Chest Hospital, Amritsar, Punjab. OBJECTIVE To explore genetic diversity among the clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates prevalent in Punjab. DESIGN Fifty-six random clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis were cultured from the sputum specimens of pulmonary tuberculosis patients. DNA was extracted from cultured biomass and analysed using the mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units (MIRU) typing method. RESULTS MIRU typing of 51 isolates revealed 45 different patterns, with a combined Hunter-Gaston discriminatory index (HGDI) of 0.990. Five clinical isolates failed to amplify for one or more MIRUs and were excluded from the analysis. The remaining isolates were categorised in three groups based on the allelic heterogeneity of individual MIRUs. MIRU 10, 16, 26 and 31 were highly discriminant, with an HGDI value >0.6; MIRU 4, 23, 24, 39 and 40 were designated as moderately discriminant (HGDI value 0.6-0.3) and MIRU 2, 20 and 27 were poorly discriminant (HGDI value <0.3). CONCLUSION MIRU typing and the HGDI values revealed that M. tuberculosis strains from Punjab are genetically quite heterogeneous.
Conversion of the kinematics of a car with n trailers into a chained form

The authors propose a set of coordinates for the kinematics model of a car with n trailers with only two degrees of freedom. The absolute position of the system is given by the location of the rear trailer. By using these coordinates, the kinematic model is locally converted into a nilpotent, chained form. Control strategies for chained systems can be applied to locally control a car with n trailers. <<ETX>>
Comparison of multi-atlas based segmentation techniques for human MRI

Medical image segmentation is the process of segmenting/ sectioning out a particular structure of interest from an entire image, which is obtained from an imaging modality such as MRI or CT. The segmentation procedure used often depends on different factors such as the imaging modality, the properties of the structure of interest and the computational performance required. The problem of image segmentation is a widely explored topic in the domain of medical image processing. It makes the study of complex structures easier, which in turn helps immensely in better diagnosis and treatment planning. In this work, the aim is to study the performance of five different approaches for segmenting five different structures of the human brain in a T1 MR image. These methods make use of information from already segmented reference images to perform segmentation on the input and hence are classified as multi-atlas (multiple references) based techniques. They treat the entire brain volume as a group of patches (made of individual voxels) and perform segmentation by operating at the patch level and hence are called the patch based methods. The Dice coefficient is used as a measure to evaluate segmentation performance by each of these methods. Through this analysis, the objective is to implement, understand and analyze each of these methods and also identify their shortcomings.
Accounting for aerosol scattering in the CLARS retrieval of column averaged CO2 mixing ratios

The California Laboratory for Atmospheric Remote Sensing Fourier transform spectrometer (CLARS‐FTS) deployed at Mount Wilson, California, has been measuring column abundances of greenhouse gases in the Los Angeles (LA) basin in the near‐infrared spectral region since August 2011. CLARS‐FTS measures reflected sunlight and has high sensitivity to absorption and scattering in the boundary layer. In this study, we estimate the retrieval biases caused by aerosol scattering and present a fast and accurate approach to correct for the bias in the CLARS column averaged CO2 mixing ratio product, XCO2. The high spectral resolution of 0.06 cm−1 is exploited to reveal the physical mechanism for the bias. We employ a numerical radiative transfer model to simulate the impact of neglecting aerosol scattering on the CO2 and O2 slant column densities operationally retrieved from CLARS‐FTS measurements. These simulations show that the CLARS‐FTS operational retrieval algorithm likely underestimates CO2 and O2 abundances over the LA basin in scenes with moderate aerosol loading. The bias in the CO2 and O2 abundances due to neglecting aerosol scattering cannot be canceled by ratioing each other in the derivation of the operational product of XCO2. We propose a new method for approximately correcting the aerosol‐induced bias. Results for CLARS XCO2 are compared to direct‐Sun XCO2 retrievals from a nearby Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) station. The bias‐correction approach significantly improves the correlation between the XCO2 retrieved from CLARS and TCCON, demonstrating that this approach can increase the yield of useful data from CLARS‐FTS in the presence of moderate aerosol loading.
Structural Model Comparison of the Determining Factors for E-Purchase

This study investigates relationships among intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors of e-purchase. Three alternative causal models capturing the relationships among perceived ease-of-use, perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, perceived security, and e-purchase are developed and tested empirically. Structural equation analysis results show that the dual mediation impact model with perceived ease-of-use as the mediator is the best-fit model. Implications and research directions are discussed.