Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arginase I Induction during Leishmania major Infection Mediates the Development of Disease

ABSTRACT In a previous work, we demonstrated that the induction of arginase I favored the replication of Leishmania inside macrophages. Now we have analyzed the differential expression of this enzyme in the mouse model of L. major infection. Ours results show that arginase I is induced in both susceptible and resistant mice during the development of the disease. However, in BALB/c-infected tissues, the induction of this protein parallels the time of infection, while in C57BL/6 mice, the enzyme is upregulated only during footpad swelling. The induction of the host arginase in both strains is mediated by the balance between interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-12 and opposite to nitric oxide synthase II expression. Moreover, inhibition of arginase reduces the number of parasites and delays disease outcome in BALB/c mice, while treatment with l-ornithine increases the susceptibility of C57BL/6 mice. Therefore, arginase I induction could be considered a marker of disease in leishmaniasis.
Eosinophils Promote Allergic Disease of the Lung by Regulating CD4+ Th2 Lymphocyte Function1

Eosinophils are primarily thought of as terminal effectors of allergic responses and of parasite elimination. However, limited studies suggest a more discrete immunomodulatory role for this leukocyte during these inflammatory responses. In this investigation, we highlight the potential of eosinophils to act as APCs and thus modulators of allergic responses by influencing Th2 cell function. In response to Ag provocation of the allergic lung, eosinophils rapidly trafficked to sites of Ag deposition (airways lumen) and presentation (lung-associated lymph nodes and T cell-rich paracortical zones). Eosinophils from the allergic lung expressed class II MHC peptides, T cell costimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86), and rapidly internalized and processed Ag that was sampled from within the airway lumen. Ag-loaded eosinophils promoted the production of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in cocultures with in vitro-polarized Th2 cells and induced IL-5 production in a dose-dependent manner from Ag-specific CD4+ T cells isolated from allergic mice. In addition, Ag-loaded eosinophils primed for Th2 cell-driven allergic disease of the lung when transferred to naive mice. Thus, eosinophils have the potential to not only activate Th2 cells to release disease-modulating cytokines but also to assist in priming the immune system for allergic responses. This investigation highlights the potential of eosinophils to not only act as terminal effector cells but also to actively modulate allergic inflammation by amplifying Th2 cell responses.
Share Brings Benefits: Towards Maximizing Revenue for Crowdsourced Mobile Network Access

Crowdsourced mobile network access (CMNA), in which mobile users can share their Internet access with others, is a promising paradigm for addressing users' increasing needs for ubiquitous connectivity and alleviating cellular network congestion. In this paper, we study the operator-assisted CMNA model, in which a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) incentivizes its subscribers to operate as mobile WiFi hotspots (hosts) through reimbursement and gets revenue from the relayed traffic. Despite of the promising performance, practical strategies for MVNO and hosts have not been studied yet. Existing works usually assume both MVNO and hosts can obtain complete information, and ignore the accompanied overhead in backhaul and privacy threats to users. Such assumptions are unrealistic in practice. To address this issue, we first systematically characterize the revenue loss for both MVNO and hosts with incomplete market information. Based on the analysis, we propose a novel partial cooperation strategy (PCS) to enable appropriate information exchange between MVNO and hosts with little overhead. With adaptive reimbursement and subtle information control, our PCS efficiently improves MVNO's revenue at equilibrium, and also satisfies the hosts' rationality. Through extensive evaluation on data from the real world, we demonstrate our PCS can improve MVNO's revenue by 23% at equilibrium, compared with the results without PCS.
Entropy Extraction from Bio-Signals in Healthcare IoT

In this paper, the theoretical approach to estimate the amount of entropy which can be extracted from heart-rate based biomedical signals has been considered. Mathematical models for estimating the values of min-entropy, Shannon entropy, and collision entropy have been created. This allows obtaining the theoretical background and estimations for upper bound of entropy that can be extracted from the biomedical inter-pulse interval signal for the usage in healthcare and biomedical applications. These results will be useful when estimating the security of healthcare systems and during the certification of the devices.
A Reliable Turning Process by the Early Use of a Deep Simulation Model at Several Manufacturing Stages

The future of machine tools will be dominated by highly flexible and interconnected systems, in order to achieve the required productivity, accuracy, and reliability. Nowadays, distortion and vibration problems are easily solved in labs for the most common machining operations by using models based on the equations describing the physical laws of the machining processes; however, additional efforts are needed to overcome the gap between scientific research and real manufacturing problems. In fact, there is an increasing interest in developing simulation packages based on “deep-knowledge and models” that aid machine designers, production engineers, or machinists to get the most out of the machine-tools. This article proposes a methodology to reduce problems in machining by means of a simulation utility, which uses the main variables of the system and process as input data, and generates results that help in the proper decision-making and machining plan. Direct benefits can be found in (a) the fixture/clamping optimal design; (b) the machine tool configuration; (c) the definition of chatter-free optimum cutting conditions and (d) the right programming of cutting toolpaths at the Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) stage. The information and knowledge-based approach showed successful results in several local manufacturing companies and are explained in the paper.
Legal and Social Ties Between Children and Cohabiting Fathers

The article examines whether legal ties between the members in the nuclear family affect the father-child relationship after domestic breakup. Data were taken from a sample of 419 younger Danish children from previous marital unions, and consensual unions with either sole or joint legal custody before family dissolution. The study found no evidence that civil status as a single factor could explain possible differences in the post-separation organization of parenting, but a sole legal custody arrangement from the child's birth may disfavour cohabiting fathers as future residential parents. The results further suggested that father's potential as breadwinner together with his involvement in preseparation childcare care constitutive elements of modern fatherhood.
Using Bayesian Blocks to Partition Self-Organizing Maps

Self organizing maps (SOMs) are widely-used for unsupervised classification. For this application, they must be combined with some partitioning scheme that can identify boundaries between distinct regions in the maps they produce. We discuss a novel partitioning scheme for SOMs based on the Bayesian Blocks segmentation algorithm of Scargle [1998]. This algorithm minimizes a cost function to identify contiguous regions over which the values of the attributes can be represented as approximately constant. Because this cost function is well-defined and largely independent of assumptions regarding the number and structure of clusters in the original sample space, this partitioning scheme offers significant advantages over many conventional methods. Sample code is available.
Decision-making framework with double-loop learning through interpretable black-box machine learning models

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address the problem of weak acceptance of machine learning (ML) models in business. The proposed framework of top-performing ML models coupled with general explanation methods provides additional information to the decision-making process. This builds a foundation for sustainable organizational learning. Design/methodology/approach To address user acceptance, participatory approach of action design research (ADR) was chosen. The proposed framework is demonstrated on a B2B sales forecasting process in an organizational setting, following cross-industry standard process for data mining (CRISP-DM) methodology. Findings The provided ML model explanations efficiently support business decision makers, reduce forecasting error for new sales opportunities, and facilitate discussion about the context of opportunities in the sales team. Research limitations/implications The quality and quantity of available data affect the performance of models and explanations. Practical implications The application in the real-world company demonstrates the utility of the approach and provides evidence that transparent explanations of ML models contribute to individual and organizational learning. Social implications All used methods are available as an open-source software and can improve the acceptance of ML in data-driven decision making. Originality/value The proposed framework incorporates existing ML models and general explanation methodology into a decision-making process. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to support organizational learning with a framework combining ML explanations, ADR, and data mining methodology based on the CRISP-DM industry standard.
A Single Mutation in Chikungunya Virus Affects Vector Specificity and Epidemic Potential

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an emerging arbovirus associated with several recent large-scale epidemics. The 2005–2006 epidemic on Reunion island that resulted in approximately 266,000 human cases was associated with a strain of CHIKV with a mutation in the envelope protein gene (E1-A226V). To test the hypothesis that this mutation in the epidemic CHIKV (strain LR2006 OPY1) might influence fitness for different vector species, viral infectivity, dissemination, and transmission of CHIKV were compared in Aedes albopictus, the species implicated in the epidemic, and the recognized vector Ae. aegypti. Using viral infectious clones of the Reunion strain and a West African strain of CHIKV, into which either the E1–226 A or V mutation was engineered, we demonstrated that the E1-A226V mutation was directly responsible for a significant increase in CHIKV infectivity for Ae. albopictus, and led to more efficient viral dissemination into mosquito secondary organs and transmission to suckling mice. This mutation caused a marginal decrease in CHIKV Ae. aegypti midgut infectivity, had no effect on viral dissemination, and was associated with a slight increase in transmission by Ae. aegypti to suckling mice in competition experiments. The effect of the E1-A226V mutation on cholesterol dependence of CHIKV was also analyzed, revealing an association between cholesterol dependence and increased fitness of CHIKV in Ae. albopictus. Our observation that a single amino acid substitution can influence vector specificity provides a plausible explanation of how this mutant virus caused an epidemic in a region lacking the typical vector. This has important implications with respect to how viruses may establish a transmission cycle when introduced into a new area. Due to the widespread distribution of Ae. albopictus, this mutation increases the potential for CHIKV to permanently extend its range into Europe and the Americas.
Emerging Roots Alter Epidermal Cell Fate through Mechanical and Reactive Oxygen Species Signaling[C][W]

In rice (Oryza sativa), adventitious roots emerge at the stem nodes in response to submergence. To facilitate root emergence, epidermal cells above root primordia undergo cell death. Root growth and cell death are controlled by ethylene via reactive oxygen species signaling. In addition, growing roots exert a local force on epidermal cells. The mechanical signal provides spatial resolution to ethylene-induced local cell death. A central question in biology is how spatial information is conveyed to locally establish a developmental program. Rice (Oryza sativa) can survive flash floods by the emergence of adventitious roots from the stem. Epidermal cells that overlie adventitious root primordia undergo cell death to facilitate root emergence. Root growth and epidermal cell death are both controlled by ethylene. This study aimed to identify the signal responsible for the spatial control of cell death. Epidermal cell death correlated with the proximity to root primordia in wild-type and ADVENTITIOUS ROOTLESS1 plants, indicating that the root emits a spatial signal. Ethylene-induced root growth generated a mechanical force of ∼18 millinewtons within 1 h. Force application to epidermal cells above root primordia caused cell death in a dose-dependent manner and was inhibited by 1-methylcyclopropene or diphenylene iodonium, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase. Exposure of epidermal cells not overlying a root to either force and ethylene or force and the catalase inhibitor aminotriazole induced ectopic cell death. Genetic downregulation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger METALLOTHIONEIN2b likewise promoted force-induced ectopic cell death. Hence, reprogramming of epidermal cell fate by the volatile plant hormone ethylene requires two signals: mechanosensing for spatial resolution and ROS for cell death signaling.
Sad Mood and Music Choice: Does the Self-Relevance of the Mood-Eliciting Stimulus Moderate Song Preference?

Recent findings regarding the influence of sad mood on music preference have been inconsistent, with some research suggesting that sadness promotes selective exposure to happy music and other work suggesting the very opposite. In three experiments, we investigated whether this discrepancy may have resulted from differences in the extent to which sadness was elicited by having participants think about personally relevant versus personally irrelevant negative events. To this end, we manipulated sad mood via a guided visualization technique in which participants were led to imagine experiencing a loss that was relevant either to their own or to an unfamiliar individual's concerns. Results revealed that irrespective of the self-relevance of the mood induction, individuals in sad, relative to happy, or neutral moods preferred to avoid expressively happy music. This aversion was partially mediated by beliefs that choosing happy music while sad would be inappropriate and thereby ineffectual in mood repair. Together, these findings contribute to resolving discrepancies in the literature and help advance understanding of the influence of mood on music choice.
Real-time cinematic camera control for interactive narratives

Current 3D game engines offer the potential for new types of interactive storytelling. In this paper, we discuss automated cinematography as it relates to interactive narratives in virtual worlds. Due to the interactive nature of these environments, automated camera controllers cannot fully utilize all of the idioms in the domain of cinematography. It is important to note that substantial investigations into interactive cinematography have already been made [1, 2, 3]. In contrast to these individual systems, we propose a hybrid system that uses abstractly defined cinematographic idioms as constraints to choose the best camera placement for any shot at any moment within any geometry.
Analysis and Suppression of Alias in Digitally Controlled Inverters

In digitally controlled inverters, the output voltage and current contain high-frequency harmonics due to the switching process. Unfortunately, the sampling frequency is often less than twice the bandwidth of measurement signal. Then, the aliasing phenomenon is brought into the sampling process and some low-frequency alias signals which cause power quality deterioration are produced. This paper presents a quantitative analysis to reveal the characteristic of the aliasing phenomenon in digitally controlled inverters. Specifically, the magnitude of alias signal will drop to zero and the phase will be inversed with some special sampling delays. Two alias suppression methods are then proposed by controlling the sampling delay. Steady-state error and low-frequency harmonics are significantly decreased with the proposed methods. The proposed methods have little delay so that the system has a better dynamic performance. The theoretical analysis and alias suppression strategies are validated by experimental results.
Signal transduction by immunoglobulin is mediated through Ig alpha and Ig beta

Immunoglobulin (Ig) antigen receptors are composed of a noncovalently- associated complex of Ig and two other proteins, Ig alpha and Ig beta. The cytoplasmic domain of both of these Ig associated proteins contains a consensus sequence that is shared with the signaling proteins of the T cell and Fc receptor. To test the idea that Ig alpha-Ig beta heterodimers are the signaling components of the Ig receptor, we have studied Ig mutations that interfere with signal transduction. We find that specific mutations in the transmembrane domain of Ig that inactivate Ca2+ and phosphorylation responses also uncouple IgM from Ig alpha-Ig beta. These results define amino acid residues that are essential for the assembly of the Ig receptor. Further, receptor activity can be fully reconstituted in Ca2+ flux and phosphorylation assays by fusing the cytoplasmic domain of Ig alpha with the mutant Igs. In contrast, fusion of the cytoplasmic domain of Ig beta to the inactive Ig reconstitutes only Ca2+ responses. Thus, Ig alpha and Ig beta are both necessary and sufficient to mediate signal transduction by the Ig receptor in B cells. In addition, our results suggest that Ig alpha and Ig beta can activate different signaling pathways.
Performance evaluation of a hybrid of public and private Smart Grid wireless access networks

The most challenging issue in Smart Grid (SG) communications is the management of a vast amount of SG communications traffic in the wireless access network, which connects power substations to a large number of SG devices. To confront this challenge, electric utilities and telecommunications operators have proposed the use of a hybrid wireless access network, referred to as a hybrid SG network, which is a combination of both public and private access networks. The public access network is leased by the electric utility from a telecommunications operator, where the network carries both Human-to-Human (H2H) communications traffic and SG communications traffic. On the contrary, the private access network is owned by the electric utility to exclusively deliver the SG communications traffic. However, a key issue in hybrid SG networks is how to efficiently partition the SG traffic onto public and private access networks. In this paper, we propose a unified analytical framework, based on a queuing system, to evaluate the performance of hybrid SG networks under different policies for the partitioning of the SG traffic. By using this framework, expressions for several performance metrics are derived and used to compare between two basic partitioning policies, referred to as load-based and traffic-based. The analytical framework is validated by simulations of a wireless network model using real-world SG traffic profiles from the Ausgrid Smart Grid Smart City project and shown to agree well with the simulations.
Refractory patella tendinopathy with failed conservative treatment—shock wave or arthroscopy?

Aim: To identify whether the location of refractory patella tendinopathy (PT) has an effect on treatment modality (radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) or arthroscopic debridement). Methods: Between 2012 and 2014, 40 patients with PT underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. This confirmed the diagnosis as either involving the tendon itself (group A, 20) or with retropatella fat pad extension (group B, 20). All patients underwent rESWT. If there was no improvement patients proceeded with surgery in the form of arthroscopic debridement (by senior authors CW and AG). Outcomes were assessed before and after treatment using the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Patella (VISA-P) score. Results: There were 18 males and 2 females in group A and 15 males and 5 females in group B. The mean age was 41.4 years in group A (23–59) and 34.7 in group B (19–52). Seventeen of 20 in group A reported good or excellent outcomes and did not require surgical intervention (remaining three improved after second course of ESWT). All patients in group B failed to improve with rESWT, resulting in arthroscopic debridement and reported good or excellent outcomes. After 6 months, group A mean VISA-P score increased from 50.2 to 65.0 (p = 0.01) and group B from 39.6 to 78.4 (p = <0.001). Conclusion: An MRI should be performed to determine the precise location of tendinosis in patients with refractory PT who fail standard conservative management. If the MRI scan shows intratendon changes only, ESWT should be performed and those with extension into the fat pad should proceed to arthroscopic debridement without rESWT.
The Pegasus heterogeneous multidatabase system

Pegasus, a heterogeneous multidatabase management system that responds to the need for effective access and management of shared data across in a wide range of applications, is described. Pegasus provides facilities for multidatabase applications to access and manipulate multipole autonomous heterogeneous distributed object-oriented relational, and other information systems through a uniform interface. It is a complete data management system that integrates various native and local databases. Pegasus takes advantage of object-oriented data modeling and programming capabilities. It uses both type and function abstractions to deal with mapping and integration problems. Function implementation can be defined in an underlying database language or a programming language. Data abstraction and encapsulation facilities in the Pegasus object model provide an extensible framework for dealing with various kinds of heterogeneities in the traditional database systems and nontraditional data sources. <<ETX>>