Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
T cell stimulation by staphylococcal enterotoxins. Clonally variable response and requirement for major histocompatibility complex class II molecules on accessory or target cells

Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) are the most potent mitogens for T lymphocytes known; concentrations of less than 10(-9) M are sufficient for T cell activation. The mechanism of T cell activation by SE is unknown. We have used cloned human cytotoxic and proliferative T lymphocytes to dissect the molecular mechanism of T cell activation by SE. With rare exceptions, all TCR alpha/beta chain-expressing T cell clones of CD4+ or CD8+ phenotype, as well as CD4-8- TCR alpha/beta chain negative chain-expressing T lymphocyte clones, respond with proliferation and/or cytotoxicity to SE. For triggering of all these clones, the presence of autologous or allogeneic MHC class II molecules on accessory or target cells is necessary. This requirement for class II antigens is not due to an immunological recognition of processed SE, since inhibition of antigen processing has no influence on the T cell response to SE. SE acts on the T cells directly since (a) they stimulate a rise in intracellular calcium concentration in T cell lines or purified T cells, and (b) accessory cells can be replaced by phorbolesters in the proliferative activation of resting T cells by SE. Furthermore, the T cell response to SE shows extensive clonal heterogeneity. These results suggest that SE are functionally bivalent mitogens binding highly selectively to HLA class II molecules and the TCR. Thus, compared with other polyclonal T cell activating agents, activation with SE most closely mimicks the physiological way of MHC-restricted antigen recognition by T lymphocytes.
Source decomposition as a global absorbing boundary condition for multi-region problems

A two dimensional implementation of the source decomposition method (SDM) is presented in comparison with the PML and Higdon absorbing boundary conditions for FDTD applications. The SDM is global in nature, however it can accommodate reflective external domains. The comparison shows that the results are of similar quality, indicating that the Higdon conditions can be a viable choice at a lower cost as far as non-reflective boundaries are concerned. The SDM is grid compatible and can be integrated into a general diakoptic scheme. It is expected to perform best over smooth boundaries, since corners tend to generate instabilities at the moment.
The present situation and application of Biosensor

Biosensor is one kind of device taking the biological activity unit as sensitive unit, combining chemistry, physics transition elements, which is quite sensitive to the aimed objects and can select the targets properly and accurately. It has many advantages, such as high sensitivity, quick speed in examination, simple operation, low cost, continuously dynamic observation and so on. Apart from the introduction of Biosensor's characteristics and usual application, this paper will be concerning the application of Biosensor in domains including the Food Industry, Environmental Monitoring, Fermentation Industry, and Medicine. The prospects for development of Biosensor will be discussed briefly as well.
Extraction of the dialog act and the topic from utterances in a spoken dialog system

This paper presents an approach to extraction of dialog acts and topics from utterances in a spoken dialog system. Two knowledge sources are used to describe the dialog history. One is a transition network of dialog acts and the otheris a tree of topicswhichmightappear in domain communications. Dialog acts and topics are extracted through bottom-up and top-down analyses. Bottom-up candidates are decided by applying a set of specially designed rules to the semantic representation of an utterance, and top-down candidates by using the current state of the dialog history. The logical ANDs between bottom-up and top-down candidates are taken to decide the dialog act and topic of an utterance. This method was examined with a corpus of fourteen dialogs including 335 utterances. Correct extraction rates were 85% for the topic and 82% for the dialog act.
Environmental Veto Synchronizes Mast Seeding in Four Contrasting Tree Species

Synchronized and variable reproduction by perennial plants, called mast seeding, is a major reproductive strategy of trees. The need to accumulate sufficient resources after depletion following fruiting (resource budget), the efficiency of mass flowering for outcross pollination (pollen coupling), or the external factors preventing reproduction (environmental veto) could all synchronize masting. We used seed production data for four species (Quercus ilex, Quercus humilis, Sorbus aucuparia, and Pinus albicaulis) to parametrize resource budget models of masting. Based on species life-history characteristics, we hypothesized that pollen coupling should synchronize reproduction in S. aucuparia and P. albicaulis, while in Q. ilex and Q. humilis, environmental veto should be a major factor. Pollen coupling was stronger in S. aucuparia and P. albicaulis than in oaks, while veto was more frequent in the latter. Yet in all species, costs of reproduction were too small to impose a replenishment period. A synchronous environmental veto, in the presence of environmental stochasticity, was sufficient to produce observed variability and synchrony in reproduction. In the past, vetoes like frost events that prevent reproduction have been perceived as negative for plants. In fact, they could be selectively favored as a way to create mast seeding.
Interaction between the RNA binding domains of Ser-Arg splicing factor 1 and U1-70K snRNP protein determines early spliceosome assembly

It has been widely accepted that the early spliceosome assembly begins with U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1 snRNP) binding to the 5′ splice site (5′SS), which is assisted by the Ser/Arg (SR)-rich proteins in mammalian cells. In this process, the RS domain of SR proteins is thought to directly interact with the RS motif of U1-70K, which is subject to regulation by RS domain phosphorylation. Here we report that the early spliceosome assembly event is mediated by the RNA recognition domains (RRM) of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1 (SRSF1), which bridges the RRM of U1-70K to pre-mRNA by using the surface opposite to the RNA binding site. Specific mutation in the RRM of SRSF1 that disrupted the RRM–RRM interaction also inhibits the formation of spliceosomal E complex and splicing. We further demonstrate that the hypo-phosphorylated RS domain of SRSF1 interacts with its own RRM, thus competing with U1-70K binding, whereas the hyper-phosphorylated RS domain permits the formation of a ternary complex containing ESE, an SR protein, and U1 snRNP. Therefore, phosphorylation of the RS domain in SRSF1 appears to induce a key molecular switch from intra- to intermolecular interactions, suggesting a plausible mechanism for the documented requirement for the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycle during pre-mRNA splicing.
Gene Expression Profiling of U12-Type Spliceosome Mutant Drosophila Reveals Widespread Changes in Metabolic Pathways

Background The U12-type spliceosome is responsible for the removal of a subset of introns from eukaryotic mRNAs. U12-type introns are spliced less efficiently than normal U2-type introns, which suggests a rate-limiting role in gene expression. The Drosophila genome contains about 20 U12-type introns, many of them in essential genes, and the U12-type spliceosome has previously been shown to be essential in the fly. Methodology/Principal Findings We have used a Drosophila line with a P-element insertion in U6atac snRNA, an essential component of the U12-type spliceosome, to investigate the impact of U12-type introns on gene expression at the organismal level during fly development. This line exhibits progressive accumulation of unspliced U12-type introns during larval development and the death of larvae at the third instar stage. Surprisingly, microarray and RT-PCR analyses revealed that most genes containing U12-type introns showed only mild perturbations in the splicing of U12-type introns. In contrast, we detected widespread downstream effects on genes that do not contain U12-type introns, with genes related to various metabolic pathways constituting the largest group. Conclusions/Significance U12-type intron-containing genes exhibited variable gene-specific responses to the splicing defect, with some genes showing up- or downregulation, while most did not change significantly. The observed residual U12-type splicing activity could be explained with the mutant U6atac allele having a low level of catalytic activity. Detailed analysis of all genes suggested that a defect in the splicing of the U12-type intron of the mitochondrial prohibitin gene may be the primary cause of the various downstream effects detected in the microarray analysis.
First stars IX- mixing in extremely metal-poor giants. Variation of the 12C/13C, [Na/Mg] and [Al/Mg] ratios

Context: . Extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars preserve a fossil record of the composition of the ISM when the Galaxy formed. It is crucial, however, to verify whether internal mixing has modified their surface composition, especially in the giants where most elements can be studied. Aims: . We aim to understand the CNO abundance variations found in some, but not all EMP field giants analysed earlier. Mixing beyond the first dredge-up of standard models is required, and its origin needs clarification. Methods: . The 12C/^{13C} ratio is the most robust diagnostic of deep mixing, because it is insensitive to the adopted stellar parameters and should be uniformly high in near-primordial gas. We have measured 12C and ^{13C} abundances in 35 EMP giants (including 22 with {[Fe/H] < -3.0}) from high-quality VLT/UVES spectra analysed with LTE model atmospheres. Correlations with other abundance data are used to study the depth of mixing. Results: . The 12C/^{13C} ratio is found to correlate with [C/Fe] (and Li/H), and clearly anti-correlate with [N/Fe], as expected if the surface abundances are modified by CNO processed material from the interior. Evidence for such deep mixing is observed in giants above {log L/L? = 2.6}, brighter than in less metal-poor stars, but matching the bump in the luminosity function in both cases. Three of the mixed stars are also Na- and Al-rich, another signature of deep mixing, but signatures of the ON cycle are not clearly seen in these stars. Conclusions: . Extra mixing processes clearly occur in luminous RGB stars. They cannot be explained by standard convection, nor in a simple way by rotating models. The Na- and Al-rich giants could be AGB stars themselves, but an inhomogeneous early ISM or pollution from a binary companion remain possible alternatives.
The ISMIP-HOM benchmark experiments performed using the Finite-Element code Elmer

Abstract. The aim of this paper is to describe in detail how the benchmark tests ISMIP-HOM (Ice Sheet Model Intercomparison Project-Higher-Order ice-sheet Model) have been performed using the open source finite element (FE) code Elmer ( http://www.csc.fi/elmer ). The ISMIP-HOM setup consists of five diagnostic and one prognostic experiments, for both 2-D and 3-D geometries. For all the tests, the full-Stokes equations are solved. Some technical points concerning FE, such as mesh characteristics, stabilisation methods, numerical methods used to solve the linear system and parallel performance are discussed. For all these setups, the CPU time consumption in relation to the accuracy of the solution is analysed. Based on these findings, some general rules on optimising the computing time versus the accuracy of the results are deduced.
Performance- and Cost-Aware Topology Generation Based on Clustering for Application-Specific Network on Chip

algorithm embedded in the topology generation is proposed to construct links between routers. The proposed approach together with the recursive algorithm significantly reduces the network communication latency, power consumption, routers area and resource costs. The evaluation performed on various multimedia benchmark applications confirms the efficiency of the proposed approach. Experimental results show that the approach saves about 60% of the communication latency, power consumption and router area as compared to those using regular Mesh topology. Significant network resource improvement is also achieved. Moreover, the approach performs well for two multimedia applications compared to existing algorithms.
IFTE 2018 4 th International Forum on Teacher Education PEDAGOGICAL ACTIVITY : FROM CREATING CONDITIONS FOR SELF-DISCLOSURE OF THE STUDENTS ' PREDICTING ABILITIES

The relevance of the study is due to the need to improve the effectiveness of the youth's higher education. The aim of the study is to identify the psychological and pedagogical predictors for the effectiveness of students' education. Demonstrating a multifaceted approach to a man, existential analysis being a method of research is intended to reveal the person's abilities for self-organization and selfmanagement by means of available resources. The sample of the study included 187 students in the educational organizations of the Trans-Baikal Territory. It is revealed that there are differences in the structure of the predictors for the educational effectiveness. The effectiveness of education for technical college students is primarily determined by the following predictors: the intrapersonal type of intellect, autonomy and sense of reality, responsibility, the motive «Learning of trade». While among the university students the predictors of the educational effectiveness are the adaptability to educational activity, the father's «positive interest» in relation to the daughter and the factor of criticism from the mother, the existentiality, the motive ‘Getting a diploma’. It is concluded that the ability for deep and open interaction with the world can have an activating impact on the educational effectiveness. The results of the research make it possible to identify the predictors of improving the effectiveness of students' education and can be used in the educational process in order to design educational programs aimed at strategic quality control in education. © 2018 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy. org.UK
Efficient 3-D range searching in external memory

We present a new approach to designing data structures for the important problem of externalmemory range searching in two and three dimensions. We construct data structures for answering range queries in O ( (log log log~ N) logB N + K/B) 1/0 operations, where N is the number of points in the data structure, B is the 1/0 block size, and K is the number of points in the answer to the query. We base our data structures on the novel concept of B-approximate boundaries, which are manifolds that partition space into regions based on the output size of queries at points within the space. Our data structures answer a longstanding open problem by providing three dimensional results comparable to those provided by [8, 10] for the two dimensional case, though completely new techniques are used. Ours is the first 3-D range search data structure that simultaneously achieves both a base-B logarithmic search overhead (namely, (log log log~ N) logB N) and a fully blocked output component (namely, K/B). This gives us an *Supported in part by the U.S. Army Research Office under grant DAAH04–93–G–O076 and by the National Science Foundation under grant DMR–9217290. Portions of this work were conducted while visiting the University of Michigan. +Supported in part by the National Science Foundation under grant CCR–9522047, and by the U.S. Army Research Office under grant DAAH04-93-G-O076. Permission to make digitellhard copies of all or pan of thk material for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that the copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage, the copyright notice, the title of the publication and its date appear, and notice ia given that copyright ia by permission of the ACM, Inc. To copy olherwiae, to reoublish. to ooat on servers or to radktribute to tists, requiraa specific perrsr fee. STOC’96, Philadelphia PA, USA 01996 ACM ()-89791-785-5/96/05. $3.50 Jeffrey Scott Vittert Duke University
Programming paradigms for dummies: what every programmer should know

This chapter gives an introduction to all the main programming paradigms, their underlying concepts, and the relationships between them. We give a broad view to help programmers choose the right concepts they need to solve the problems at hand. We give a taxonomy of almost 30 useful programming paradigms and how they are related. Most of them differ only in one or a few concepts, but this can make a world of difference in programming. We explain briefly how programming paradigms influence language design, and we show two sweet spots: dual-paradigm languages and a definitive language. We introduce the main concepts of programming languages: records, closures, independence (concurrency), and named state. We explain the main principles of data abstraction and how it lets us organize large programs. Finally, we conclude by focusing on concurrency, which is widely considered the hardest concept to program with. We present four little-known but important paradigms that greatly simplify concurrent programming with respect to mainstream languages: declarative concurrency (both eager and lazy), functional reactive programming, discrete synchronous programming, and constraint programming. These paradigms have no race conditions and can be used in cases where no other paradigm works. We explain why for multi-core processors and we give several examples from computer music, which often uses these paradigms.
Designing information technology governance processes: diagnosing contemporary practices and competing theories

Whereas previous studies have been primarily focused on the structural features of information technology governance, the paper describes an exploratory study of IT governance processes. Rooted in competing theories of organizational decision-making, and based on a case study investigation of large complex organizations, the paper examines the design and effectiveness of IT governance processes from both rational and social perspectives. The results indicate that, regardless of the level of environmental dynamism and turbulence, effective IT governance processes are characterized by both methodological comprehensiveness and social interventions, involving strategic integration of business and IT decisions, and building collaborative relationships and shared understanding among key stakeholders. The implications of these results for research and practice are outlined.
An examination of the precise nature of ironic performance breakdown

This thesis investigates the potential role of Wegner’s (1994) theory of ironic processes of mental control in a performance context. Chapter 1 reviewed the literature on Wegner’s (1994) theory in a performance setting. Chapter 2 addressed a significant limitation of previous ironic effects research by differentiating ironic performance errors from non-ironic performance errors. Specifically, when instructed not to miss in a specific direction, anxious performers did so a significantly greater number of times; importantly, there was no difference in non-ironic performance error, which provides the first specific support for this prediction of Wegner’s theory in a performance context. Chapter 2 also presents the first examination of the precision of ironic errors. When anxious, participants performed not only more ironically but also performed more precisely in the to-be-avoided zone than when they were not anxious. Chapter 3 reports the first examination of neuroticism as a predictor of the incidence of ironic processes of mental control. Moderation analyses revealed a consistent moderating effect of neuroticism on the incidence of ironic errors under pressure. Specifically, when anxious, neurotics displayed prominent increases in ironic performance error, and more dramatic decreases in target performance. Chapter 4 present three novel tests of Wegner’s (1994) theory in an externally paced task under conditions of low-and high-anxiety. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence that participants made significantly more ironic errors when anxious during reactive motor tasks (Study 5 and 6). Results from Study 7 provide the first evidence that instructional interventions can reduce the incidence of anxiety-induced ironic performance errors in reactive motor tasks. The performance of movement is more successful when (self-) instructions pertain to what to do as opposed to what to avoid. The last chapter (Chapter 5) discusses the findings emanating from this thesis in relation to the theory of ironic processes of mental control (Wegner, 1994) and the anxiety-performance relationship more globally.
Drawing Analogies: Finding Visual References By Sketching

In creative and conceptual designing, architects often look to books, magazines, and other collections of images to find forms they can adopt and adapt in designs. On line visual collections are becoming available but typically they are indexed only with descriptive key words. We argue that in addition to key word indexing, which supports retrieval of images based on design concepts or issues, a more directly visual, graphical reminding scheme based on sketches can help designers recall interesting references from various domains. We describe Drawing Analogies, a shape based reminding program that uses hand drawn sketches to index and query visual databases.
Minimally cultured bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate fibrotic lung injury

Clinical use of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) holds great promise for regenerative medicine in intractable lung diseases, such as lung fibrosis or acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, a severe obstacle to the clinical application of BMMSC transplantation is the time-consuming, laborious processes required for cell culture. In order to evaluate the clinical applicability of BMMSC transplantation, we tested whether engraftment of minimally cultured BMMSCs ameliorates progressive fibrotic lung injury. Differences between murine BMMSCs cultured for 2 h (2-h adherent BMMSCs) and conventionally (9-day) cultured BMMSCs were examined in vitro. The effects of grafting either type of BMMSCs on fibrotic lung injury were then assessed by transfer experiments in a murine bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis model, in which donor cells were administered 3 days after challenge. 2-h adherent BMMSCs were smaller, less granular, possessed higher proliferative capacity and expressed higher levels of several stem cell markers and chemokine receptors than 9-day cultured BMMSCs, but lower type I procollagen, α-smooth muscle actin, tumour necrosis factor-β and oncogenic transcription factor c-Myc, suggesting that they may be advantageous for cell-based therapy compared with 9-day cultured BMMSCs. Grafting 2-h adherent BMMSCs ameliorated inflammatory and fibrotic lung disorders, and reduced mortality equally well or better than 9-day cultured BMMSCs. Minimally cultured BMMSCs can substitute for conventionally cultured BMMSCs and will be a promising cell source for the treatment of acute fibrotic lung injury.