Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The MHC Class I Homolog of Human Cytomegalovirus Is Resistant to Down-Regulation Mediated by the Unique Short Region Protein (US)2, US3, US6, and US11 Gene Products1

Human CMV encodes four unique short region proteins (US), US2, US3, US6, and US11, each independently sufficient for causing the down-regulation of MHC class I molecules on the cell surface. This down-regulation allows infected cells to evade recognition by cytotoxic T cells but leaves them susceptible to NK cells, which lyse cells that lack class I molecules. Another human CMV-encoded protein, unique long region protein 18 (UL18), is an MHC class I homolog that might provide a mechanism for inhibiting the NK cell response. The sequence similarities between MHC class I molecules and UL18 along with the ability of UL18 to form trimeric complexes with β2-microglobulin and peptides led to the hypothesis that if the US and UL18 gene products coexist temporally during infection, the US proteins might down-regulate UL18 molecules, similar to their action on MHC class I molecules. We show here that temporal expression of US and UL18 genes partially overlaps during infection. However, unlike MHC class I molecules, the MHC class I homolog, UL18, is fully resistant to the down-regulation associated with the US2, US3, US6, and US11 gene products. The specific effect of US proteins on MHC class I molecules, but not on UL18, represents another example of how viral proteins have evolved to evade immune surveillance, avoiding fratricide by specifically targeting host proteins.
Residential Energy Consumption Scheduling: A Coupled-Constraint Game Approach

This paper investigates the residential energy consumption scheduling problem, which is formulated as a coupled-constraint game by taking the interaction among users and the temporally-coupled constraint into consideration. The proposed solution consists of two parts. Firstly, dual decomposition is applied to transform the original coupled-constraint game into a decoupled one. Then, Nash equilibrium of the decoupled game is proven to be achievable via best response, which is computed by gradient projection. The proposed solution is also extended to an online version, which is able to alleviate the impact of the price prediction error. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed approach can effectively shift the peak-hour demand to off-peak hours, enhance the welfare of each user, and minimize the peak-to-average ratio. The scalability of the approach and the impact of the user number are also investigated.
Privacy-Preserving Queries over Secret-Shared Graph-Structured Data

We investigate the use of the SPDZ multiparty computation platform to facilitate secure cloud storage of graphstructured data such as telecommunications metadata. We report on an implementation of a simple scheme for answering adjacency, nearest-neighbour and second-hop queries. Our solution hides the data, the query and the answer from the cloud servers unless they all collude to recover them.
SonicSeat: a seat position tracker based on ultrasonic sound measurements for rowing technique analysis

A significant share of rowers does not have access to professional supervision by coaches. However, proper technique is a key component for both success in competitions and to prevent injuries or long-term induced postural deformity. In cooperation with national rowing coaches we developed a sensor system to continuously monitor the rower's seat position. It allows offline data analysis and complements existing state-of-the art methods to analyze rowing technique based on video footage. Both quantitative analyses for coaches as well as qualitative and visual feedback for athletes are provided. We tested our system on the water and present exemplary data and analyses.
Nitric oxide mediates prostaglandins' deleterious effect on lipopolysaccharide-triggered murine fetal resorption

Genital tract bacterial infections could induce abortion and are some of the most common complications of pregnancy; however, the mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the role of prostaglandins (PGs) in the mechanism of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pregnancy loss in a mouse model, and we hypothesized that PGs might play a central role in this action. LPS increased PG production in the uterus and decidua from early pregnant mice and stimulated cyclooxygenase (COX)-II mRNA and protein expression in the decidua but not in the uterus. We also observed that COX inhibitors prevented embryonic resorption (ER). To study the possible interaction between nitric oxide (NO) and PGs, we administered aminoguanidine, an inducible NO synthase inhibitor. NO inhibited basal PGE and PGF2α production in the decidua but activated their uterine synthesis and COX-II mRNA expression under septic conditions. A NO donor (S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine) produced 100% ER and increased PG levels in the uterus and decidua. LPS-stimulated protein nitration was higher in the uterus than in the decidua. Quercetin, a peroxynitrite scavenger, did not reverse LPS-induced ER. Our results suggest that in a model of septic abortion characterized by increased PG levels, NO might nitrate and thus inhibit COX catalytic activity. ER prevention by COX inhibitors adds a possible clinical application to early pregnancy complications due to infections.
Time-dependent Photoionization in a Dusty Medium. I. Code Description and General Results

We present a time-dependent photoionization code that combines self-consistently metal evolution and dust destruction under an intense X-ray UV radiation field. First, we extend the mathematical formulation of the time-dependent evolution of dust grains under an intense radiation flux with the inclusion of the process of ion field emission (IFE). We determine the relative importance of IFE with respect to X-ray and UV sublimation as a function of grain size, intensity, and hardness of the incident spectrum. We then combine the processes of dust destruction with a photoionization code that follows the evolution of the ionization states of the metals and the relative radiative transitions. Our code treats, self-consistently, the gradual recycling of metals into gas as dust is sublimated away; it allows for any initial dust grain distribution and follows its evolution in space and time. In this first paper, we use our code to study the time-dependent behavior of the X-ray and optical opacities in the nearby environment of a gamma-ray burst and show how the time variability of the low- and high-energy opacities can yield powerful clues on the characteristics of the medium in which the bursts occur.
The Forensic Symptoms Inventory — Revised ( FSI-R Adults ) : Measurement and Structural Invariance Across Gender and Age Groups

This article investigates the measurement and structural invariance of a newly developed self-report questionnaire, the Forensic Symptoms Inventory-Revised, aimed at measuring eight cognitive, emotional, and behavioral deficits (aggression, lack of social support, problematic substance use, lack of concentration, anger, poor self-regulation, impulsivity, and sexual problems) among adult forensic outpatients. The sample consisted of 716 outpatients (603 males, 113 females) with a mean age of 38.19 (SD1⁄4 12.47). Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analyses supported the measurement and structural invariance with respect to gender and age groups (18–23 years and 24 years). Between-group comparisons revealed that, compared to females, male outpatients reported more substance related problems, as well as incapacities to control verbal and/or physical aggression. Compared to adults, young adults displayed more inadequate self-regulation skills and reported more social support. These findings may promote the formulation of genderand age-specific treatment goals.
Current control of voltage source converters connected to the grid through an LCL-filter

The aim of this paper is to propose a current control of VSCs connected to the grid through an LCL-filter. The proposed algorithm controls the grid current using only two sensors. Other variables are obtained with a state estimator, and the possible disturbances of the system are attenuated with active damping. The control algorithm has been proved for different disturbances, such as temporal variations in the components of the model and perturbations in the grid, and also with the linear and nonlinear models.
Finite size Lyapunov exponent: review on applications

In dynamical systems, the growth of infinitesimal perturbations is well characterized by the Lyapunov exponents. In many situations of interest, however, important phenomena involve finite amplitude perturbations, which are ruled by nonlinear dynamics out of tangent space, and thus cannot be captured by the standard Lyapunov exponents. We review the application of the finite size Lyapunov exponent (FSLE) for the characterization of non-infinitesimal perturbations in a variety of systems. In particular, we illustrate their usage in the context of predictability of systems with multiple spatio-temporal scales of geophysical relevance, in the characterization of nonlinear instabilities, and in some aspects of transport in fluid flows. We also discuss the application of the FSLE to more general aspects such as chaos-noise detection and coarse-grained descriptions of signals. This article is part of a special issue of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical devoted to ‘Lyapunov analysis: from dynamical systems theory to applications’.
Differential effects of estrogen on luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone gene expression in slice explant cultures prepared from specific rat forebrain regions.

Five serially sectioned tissue slices (400 microns) from the preoptic area/hypothalamus of postnatal day 4 rats were cultured using a slice explant roller culture technique. After 18 days in culture, these slices thinned sufficiently to allow immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization histochemical assays for LHRH peptide and LHRH mRNA, respectively. Large numbers of neurons containing mRNA encoding LHRH were detected in these slices using in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH). These 35S-labeled cells were distributed in the cultured slices in a pattern similar to that found with LHRH immunocytochemistry and ISHH in vivo, indicating that LHRH neurons were maintained in these cultures in an organotypic manner. Densitometric single cell analyses after ISHH of the culture slices were performed using a Loats image analysis system, so as to provide a density value per cell (density/cell). Comparisons of these density values from the slice explants cultured in presence or absence of 10(-7) M estradiol found that: 1) under basal (control) culture conditions there were no consistent differences in the frequency distributions of the density/cell values between all the five slices derived from either male or female rats, 2) mean density/culture values under control conditions did not differ significantly between slices and sexes, 3) the presence of estradiol in the culture media resulted in an overall decrease in density/cell values, with the most significant decrease occurring in slice 3 which is comparable to the level of the organum vasculosum lamina terminalis/rostral preoptic area (OVLT/rPOA) in vivo, and 4) this decrease in density/cell values in slice 3 due to estradiol treatment, was greater in cultures derived from female vs. male tissues. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Toward Optimal Financial Reward Allocation for Promoting Knowledge Sharing Activity in CoPs

The purpose of this study is to introduce CoP reward allocation (COREA) system that efficiently solves a mathematical optimization problem to optimally allocate limited financial reward and to promote knowledge sharing activities in CoPs. To test the validity and usefulness of COREA, we simulate three knowledge sharing climates in which the majority of CoPs performs below-, on-, or above-average. In addition, we also allow knowledge sharing activity of CoPs to improve or deteriorate over years in each climate. Our experimental results confirm that the proposed COREA system performs significantly better than the currently available reward system over various scenarios. In particular, the COREA system finds approximately optimal financial reward allocations for many cases in which the current reward system fails to find solutions that meet constraints.
The Journal of Communication and the Field of Communication Studies : Mapping Scientific Communication Online

In this study, the authors have three objectives: 1. To make aggregated journal-journal citation networks based on the Journal Citation Reports 2004 of the Science Citation Index (5968 journals) and the Social Science Citation Index (1712 journals) accessible online from the perspective of any of these journals. The results are available at http://www.leydesdorff. net/jcr04 as input-files for the visualization program Pajek. The user is thus able to analyze the citation environment of a scientific journal, for example, in terms of core groups and peripheries. 2. To study the journal structure of communication studies as a discipline using the Journal of Communication as an example. Communication studies can be considered as a single field from the perspective of “being cited,” but it is divided into two communities who reconstruct the field differently by making references. 3. To replace the notion of a global impact factor with that of a local impact factor relative to a journal’s citation environment. The local impact of a journal in its citation environment can be defined as its share of the total citations in this environments. The vertical size of the nodes is varied proportionally to this citation impact; the horizontal axis of each node will be used to provide the same information after correction for within-journal (self-)citations.
KECIR at the NTCIR-10 INTENT Task

This paper describes the approaches and results of our system for the NTCIR-10 INTENT task. We present some methods for Subtopic Mining subtask and Document Ranking subtask. In the Subtopic Mining subtask, we employ a voting method to rank candidate subtopics and semantic resource HowNet was used to merge those candidate subtopics which may impact diversity. In the Document Ranking Subtask, we also employ a voting method based on the mined subtopics. In the Chinese subtopic mining, our best values of I rec@10, D nDCG@10 and D# nDCG@10 were separately 0.3743, 0.3965 and 0.3854. In the Document Ranking subtask, they were separately 0.6366, 0.3998 and 0.5182.
Hsiao-Code Check Matrices and Recursively Balanced Matrices

The key step of generating the well-known Hsiao code is to construct a {0,1}-check-matrix in which each column contains the same odd-number of 1's and each row contains the same number of 1's or differs at most by one for the number of 1's. We also require that no two columns are identical in the matrix. The author solved this problem in 1986 by introducing a type of recursively balanced matrices. However, since the paper was published in Chinese, the solution for such an important problem was not known by international researchers in coding theory. In this note, we focus on how to practically generate the check matrix of Hsiao codes. We have modified the original algorithm to be more efficient and effective. We have also corrected an error in algorithm analysis presented in the earlier paper. The result shows that the algorithm attained optimum in average cases if a divide-and-conquer technique must be involved in the algorithm.
Centrosome reorientation in regenerating endothelial monolayers requires bFGF

Monolayers of endothelial cells respond to physical denudation with a characteristic sequence of lamellipodia extrusion, cell migration, and cell proliferation. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been implicated as a necessary component of this process: addition of exogenous bFGF enhances monolayer regeneration both in vitro and in vivo, and monolayer regeneration can be inhibited in vitro by treatment with neutralizing antibodies raised against bFGF. Centrosome reorientation from a random location to one preferentially situated between the nucleus and the denudation edge has been postulated as a mechanism essential for cell polarization and subsequent migration. This present study examined the effects of a polyclonal antibody to bFGF and suramin on monolayer regeneration, actin microfilament staining, and centrosome orientation at the wound edge of partially denuded bovine large vessel endothelial monolayers. Treatment with anti‐bFGF or suramin abolished monolayer repair in these cultures. Cells at the denudation edge showed altered actin staining patterns and reduced lamellipodia extrusion, and there was complete inhibition of centrosome reorientation in treated cultures. Monolayer repair and centrosome reorientation could be restored by addition of exogenous bFGF in antibody but not suramin treated cultures. Recent evidence suggests that preferential centrosome location in migrating cells may be a consequence of lamellipodia protrusion and cell spreading, rather than an indication of cell polarization. However, these results indicate that agents which interfere with bFGF availability prevent endothelial monolayer regeneration via mechanisms involving cell spreading and/or centrosome reorientation.
Exhaled markers of pulmonary disease.

Introduction Nitric Oxide Source of NO in exhaled air Measurement Asthma COPD Cystic fibrosis Bronchiectasis Primary ciliary dyskinesia Rhinitis Interstitial lung diseases Pulmonary hypertension Occupational diseases Infections Chronic cough Lung cancer Lung transplant rejection Adult respiratory distress syndrome Diffuse Panbronchiolitis Carbon Monoxide Source of exhaled CO Measurement Asthma COPD Bronchiectasis Cystic fibrosis Interstitial lung disease Allergic rhinitis Infections Other conditions Exhaled Hydrocarbons Origin Measurement Asthma COPD Cystic Fibrosis Other lung diseases Exhaled Breath Condensate Origin Hydrogen peroxide Eicosanoids Products of lipid peroxidation Vasoactive amines NO-related products Ammonia Electrolytes Hydrogen ions Proteins and cytokines Other Methods Exhaled temperature Combined gas chromatography/spectroscopy The selected ion flow tube (SIFT) technique Polymer-coated surface-acoustic-wave resonators Future Directions Standardization of measurements Clinical application Profiles of mediators Measuring devices New markers
Isotopic evidence for the spatial heterogeneity of the planktonic food webs in the transition zone between river and lake ecosystems

Resources and organisms in food webs are distributed patchily. The spatial structure of food webs is important and critical to understanding their overall structure. However, there is little available information about the small-scale spatial structure of food webs. We investigated the spatial structure of food webs in a lake ecosystem at the littoral transition zone between an inflowing river and a lake. We measured the carbon isotope ratios of zooplankton and particulate organic matter (POM; predominantly phytoplankton) in the littoral zone of a saline lake. Parallel changes in the δ 13C values of zooplankton and their respective POMs indicated that there is spatial heterogeneity of the food web in this study area. Lake ecosystems are usually classified at the landscape level as either pelagic or littoral habitats. However, we showed small-scale spatial heterogeneity among planktonic food webs along an environmental gradient. Stable isotope data is useful for detecting spatial heterogeneity of habitats, populations, communities, and ecosystems.
Long-term treatment of osteoporosis: safety and efficacy appraisal of denosumab

Denosumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody to the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily essential for osteoclastogenesis. Denosumab treatment is associated with a rapid, sustained, and reversible reduction in bone turnover markers, a continuous marked increase in bone mineral density at all sites, and a marked decrease in the risk of vertebral, hip, and nonvertebral fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Therefore, it could be considered as an effective alternative to previous bisphosphonate treatment as well as first-line treatment of severe osteoporosis. Cost-effectiveness studies support this suggestion. In addition, denosumab seems to be the safest treatment option in patients with impaired renal function. Denosumab is characterized by reversibility of its effect after treatment discontinuation, in contrast with bisphosphonates. Large-scale clinical trials, including the extension of FREEDOM trial for up to 5 years, are reassuring for its safety. However, given its brief post-market period, vigilance regarding adverse events related to putative RANKL inhibition in tissues other than bone, as well as those related to bone turnover oversuppression, is advised.
Nonlinear Discontinuous Dynamics Averaging and PWM-Based Sliding Control of Solenoid-Valve Pneumatic Actuators

A pneumatic actuator with solenoid valves is a discontinuous-input system because each valve can be either in on or off state. For such an actuator, this paper proposes a sliding-mode control scheme that is based on an averaged continuous-input model of the discontinuous-input open-loop system. The averaged model is obtained from the nonlinear dynamics of the open-loop system undergoing pulse width modulation (PWM) at the input (i.e., valve open/close action). The PWM duty cycle will be regarded as a continuous input to the proposed averaged model, and thus generated by the proposed sliding-mode controller. For the sliding control design, we note that a pneumatic actuator has two chambers with a total of four on/off valves. Thus, there are sixteen possible combinations for the valves' switching. Seven of these sixteen operating “modes” are considered both functional and unique. The proposed sliding control utilizes and switches between these seven modes of the open-loop system in order to select the ones with necessary and sufficient amounts of drive energy. In comparing the new seven-mode controller to previous controllers, we will demonstrate reductions in the position tracking error and the number of switches made by the actuator's on/off valves. The proposed control scheme is used in both position control of a pneumatic cylinder and bilateral control of a one degree of freedom teleoperation system. Experimental results are presented to validate our theoretical findings.