Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synaptic efficiency modulations for context integration: The meta ODWE architecture

The new neural network architecture named ODWE (Orthogonal Delta Weight Estimator) implements a context dependent behavior by dynamically estimating the synaptic weight variations of a main MLP with regard to context parameters. The main MLP is first trained to modelize the general behavior of the task and then these connections are modulated to adapt to contextual parameters. We present in this paper a new extension of this principle by the generalization of the use of contextual modulation and show its performances in a combinatory problem: the multiplexor problem. We compare these results with other works.
INTERACTION OF ALCOHOL AND SMOKING IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF UPPER DIGESTIVE TRACT CANCERS - POSSIBLE CHEMOPREVENTION WITH CYSTEINE

8 INTRODUCTION . 10 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE . 12 1 Epidemiology of upper digestive tract cancers . 13 1.1 Alcohol and upper digestive tract cancers . 13 1.1.1 Mouth and pharynx . 14 1.1.2 Larynx . 14 1.1.3 Oesophagus . 15 1.1. 4 Stomach . 16 1.2 Synergistic effect of alcohol and tobacco on upper digestive tract cancers . 18 1.2.1 Mouth and pharynx . 19 1.2.2 Larynx . 19 1.2.3 Oesophagus . 20 1.2. 4 Stomach . 21 1.3 Effect of gene polymorphism on alcohol-related upper digestive tract cancers 22 1.3.1 ALDH-polymorphism . 22 1.3.2 ADH-polymorphism . 23 2 Ethanol metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract . 24 2.1 Distribution of ethanol . 24 2.2 Ethanol and acetaldehyde metabolism . 24 2.2.1 Alcohol dehydrogenase . 25 2.2.2 MEOS . 25 2.2.3 Catalase . 26 2.2. 4 Aldehyde dehydrogenase . 26 2.3 Microbial ethanol metabolism . 27 3 Ethanol and acetaldehyde as carcinogenic substances . 28 3.1 Ethanol . 28 3.2 Acetaldehyde . 29 3.2.1 Acetaldehyde-related experimental toxicity . 30 3.2.2 Acetaldehyde-related carcinogenicity in experimental animals . 32 3.2.3 Acetaldehyde-related carcinogenicity in humans . 33 3.3 Tobacco smoking and acetaldehyde . 35 4 Regulation of local acetaldehyde concentration in the upper digestive tract . 37 4.1 Role of microbes and oral hygiene . 37 4.2 Role of genetic factors . 39 4.3 Role of tobacco smoking . 40 4.4 Role of cysteine as an acetaldehyde-binding agent . 41 4.4.1 Interaction of acetaldehyde and cysteine . 41 4.4.2 Problems related to the in vivo use of cysteine . 43 AIMS OF THE STUDY . 45 MATERIALS AND METHODS . 46 1 Acetaldehyde production and ethanol oxidation by Escherichia coli (I) . 46 2 Effect of alcohol drinking and smoking on salivary acetaldehyde (II) . 47 3 Binding of salivary acetaldehyde by L-cysteine during alcohol metabolism (III) . 48 4 Binding of salivary acetaldehyde by L-cysteine during smoking (IV) . 49 5 Measurement of acetaldehyde and ethanol by gas chromatograph . 50 6 Statistical analysis . 51 7 Ethical considerations . 51 RESULTS . 52 1 ADH-dependent acetaldehyde formation of Escherichia coli in different oxygen tensions (I) . 52 2 Synergistic effect of alcohol drinking and smoking on acetaldehyde concentration in saliva (II) . 53 3 Ability of slow-releasing L-cysteine tablet to bind acetaldehyde in saliva during alcohol metabolism (III) . 54 4 Elimination of acetaldehyde from saliva by L-cysteine sucking tablet during smoking (IV) . 54 DISCUSSION . 56 1 Experimental evidence of microbial acetaldehyde production under different atmospheric conditions prevailing in the digestive tract . 56 2 Multiplicative exposure to carcinogenic acetaldehyde behind the synergistic effect of alcohol and tobacco on cancer risk . 57 3 Reducing exposure of the upper digestive tract to carcinogenic acetaldehyde by L-cysteine after alcohol consumption . 59 4 Reducing exposure to carcinogenic acetaldehyde by L-cysteine during smoking . 60 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS . 61 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . 63 REFERENCES . 64
Role of Cellular RNA Processing Factors in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 mRNA Metabolism, Replication, and Infectivity

ABSTRACT Expression of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genome requires several cellular factors regulating transcription, alternative splicing, RNA stability, and intracellular localization of the viral transcripts. In vitro and ex vivo approaches have identified SR proteins and hnRNPs of the A/B and H subfamilies as cellular factors that regulate different aspects of viral mRNA metabolism. To understand the role of these protein families within the context of the full replicating virus, we altered the expression levels of hnRNPs H, F, 2H9, GRSF1, A1, A2, and A3 and SR proteins SC35, SF2, and SRp40 in HEK 293 cells transfected with the proviral clone pNL4-3. Quantitative and semiquantitative PCR analyses showed that overexpression as well as downregulation of these proteins disrupted the balance of alternatively spliced viral mRNAs and may alter viral transcription. Furthermore, expression of hnRNPs H, F, 2H9, A1, and A2 and SR proteins SF2 and SRp40 increased nuclear localization of the unspliced Gag/Pol mRNA, while the same factors increased the cytoplasmic localization of the partially spliced Env mRNA. We also report that overexpression of hnRNPs A1 and A2 and SR proteins SF2, SC35, and SRp40 causes a dramatic decrease in virion production. Finally, utilizing a reporter TZM-bl cell line, we show that virion infectivity may be also impacted by deregulation of expression of most SR proteins and hnRNPs. This work demonstrates that cellular factors regulating mRNA processing have wide-ranging effects on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication and should be considered novel therapeutic targets.
Use of the GlucoWatch biographer in children with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether use of the GlucoWatch biographer improves glucose control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. METHODS Forty children in poor glucose control (glycohemoglobin [HbA1c] >8%) were randomized to diabetes management with or without glucose monitoring using the biographer. Conventional glucose monitoring was performed 4 times daily in both groups. Those randomized to the biographer group were asked to wear the device 4 times per week for 3 months (intervention phase) and to perform blood glucose monitoring if the biographer alerted them that glucose was < or =70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) or > or =300 mg/dL (16.7 mmol/L). After 3 months, all patients received biographers and were followed for 6 months (observation phase). HbA1c values were determined at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, and 9 months. RESULTS The median HbA1c was 8.6% and 8.9% (control versus biographer) at baseline and was significantly lower in the biographer group after 3 months (8.4% vs 9%). More hypoglycemia was detected when subjects were wearing the biographer, especially at night. No severe hypoglycemia occurred. During the observation phase, HbA1c values at 6 months were 8.5% and 8.3% and at 9 months were 8.6% and 8.4% in the control and biographer groups, respectively. Two children dropped out of the study, 1 because of skin irritation from using the device. CONCLUSIONS The GlucoWatch biographer was well tolerated by children and adolescents and significantly improved glucose control compared with standard therapy. The use of the biographer with an alarm to detect nocturnal hypoglycemia has the potential to increase the safety of diabetes management in children.
A scheduling algorithm for interactive video streaming in UMTS networks

The importance of a Variable Bit Rate (VBR) video transmission on UMTS networks is increasing in time. The bursty nature of VBR traffic complicates the design of efficient mechanisms for video retrieval, transport, and provisioning to achieve a high bandwidth utilization and reduce the negative effects of bandwidth fluctuations in wireless channels. To this aim, several scheduling algorithms can be successfully implemented. They regulate data transmission to reduce the rate variability peculiar of VBR streams. At client side, scheduled data are temporarily stored in the client buffer before being decoded on the terminal. In this work, a novel scheduling algorithm, the Scheduling Algorithm for Interactive Video (SAIV) is presented and analyzed. It is an algorithm thought for VBR stream transmission in UMTS networks that takes into account the user interactivity. Scheduling is performed “online”, over relatively small video segments to reduce delays. SAIV dynamically varies the sampling frequency of the Real Time Control Protocol (RTCP) feedbacks that carry information on the client buffer status. The sampling frequency is modulated according to the difference between the calculated buffer fill level at server side and the real buffer fill level at client side. The latter is exploited to reschedule data with the updated information. Numerical results testify the SAIV effectiveness compared to the classical SLWIN online algorithm already known by literature, in some simulation scenarios of real interest.
Romania FAR FROM EQUILIBRIUM COMPUTATION AND PARTICLE SWARM OPTIMIZATION

A new model for far from equilibrium computation is proposed in this paper. The model is based on classic Particle Swarm Optimization paradigm, but it is developed according to self-organization of far from equilibrium systems. A stimulus is introduced and particles movement is influenced both by neighboring particles and by external factors. Numerical experiments show that the proposed model performs similarly or sometimes even better than standard PSO approaches for several well-known problems. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 68T05, 37F05.
The Completeness of Propositional Resolution: A Simple and Constructive Proof

It is well known that the resolution method (for propositional logic) is com- plete. However, completeness proofs found in the literature use an argument by contra- diction showing that if a set of clauses is unsatisfiable, then it must have a resolution refutation. As a consequence, none of these proofs actually gives an algorithm for produc- ing a resolution refutation from an unsatisfiable set of clauses. In this note, we give a simple and constructive proof of the completeness of propositional resolution which consists of an algorithm together with a proof of its correctness.
Sphynx: A Shared Instruction Cache Exporatory Study

The Sphynx project was an exploratory study to discover what might be done to improve the heavy replication of in- structions in independent instruction caches for a massively parallel machine where a single program is executing across all of the cores. While a machine with only many cores (fewer than 50) might not have any issues replicating the instructions for each core, as we approach the era where thousands of cores can be placed on one chip, the overhead of instruction replication may become unacceptably large. We believe that a large amount of sharing should be possible when the ma- chine is configured for all of the threads to issue from the same set of instructions. We propose a technique that allows sharing an instruction cache among a number of independent processor cores to allow for inter-thread sharing and reuse of instruction memory. While we do not have test cases to demonstrate the potential magnitude of performance gains that could be achieved, the potential for sharing reduces the die area required for instruction storage on chip.
Myostatin negatively regulates satellite cell activation and self-renewal

Satellite cells are quiescent muscle stem cells that promote postnatal muscle growth and repair. Here we show that myostatin, a TGF-β member, signals satellite cell quiescence and also negatively regulates satellite cell self-renewal. BrdU labeling in vivo revealed that, among the Myostatin-deficient satellite cells, higher numbers of satellite cells are activated as compared with wild type. In contrast, addition of Myostatin to myofiber explant cultures inhibits satellite cell activation. Cell cycle analysis confirms that Myostatin up-regulated p21, a Cdk inhibitor, and decreased the levels and activity of Cdk2 protein in satellite cells. Hence, Myostatin negatively regulates the G1 to S progression and thus maintains the quiescent status of satellite cells. Immunohistochemical analysis with CD34 antibodies indicates that there is an increased number of satellite cells per unit length of freshly isolated Mstn−/− muscle fibers. Determination of proliferation rate suggests that this elevation in satellite cell number could be due to increased self-renewal and delayed expression of the differentiation gene (myogenin) in Mstn−/− adult myoblasts. Taken together, these results suggest that Myostatin is a potent negative regulator of satellite cell activation and thus signals the quiescence of satellite cells.
Three-year experience with human cytomegalovirus infections in heart transplant recipients.

One hundred twenty-four patients underwent heart transplantation over a 3-year period. All patients were monitored for human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection if at risk for primary CMV infection or in the presence of CMV-related symptoms. Rapid diagnosis of CMV infection relied on virus isolation and identification or viral antigen detection by using monoclonal antibodies to CMV immediate early or early antigens. In addition, "in situ" hybridization was used to detect viral DNA in tissue samples. Specimens examined included peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells for CMV viremia and antigenemia determination, together with the most appropriate clinical samples when organ involvement was suspected. There was a 100% (6/6 patients) incidence of primary CMV infection in seronegative recipients of hearts from seropositive donors, whereas no CMV infection occurred in the three seronegative recipients receiving a transplant heart from CMV-negative donors. CMV hyperimmunoglobulin prophylaxis did not prevent primary CMV infection. Five of the six patients with primary CMV infection were symptomatic. In addition, 15 patients (13%) had symptomatic recurrent CMV infection. The most frequent symptoms associated with CMV infection (either primary or recurrent) were fever (19 patients) and pneumonia (eight patients). CMV viremia was detected in 17 patients either before or concomitantly with the appearance of fever. CMV was isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage in all cases with pneumonia; however, another pathogen was associated with CMV and appeared to be the major cause of pneumonia in 75% of these patients (6/8). Twelve patients (five with primary and seven with recurrent CMV infections) were treated with ganciclovir. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
DC-DC converter with fast transient response and high efficiency for low-voltage microprocessor loads

The paper describes a DC-DC power converter for use with low voltage microprocessor loads. The control method is a hysteretic current-mode control in the continuous conduction mode which has fast transient response. At light loads, the power converter operates in the discontinuous conduction mode using a peak current control method which causes the switching frequency to be proportional to load current, thus maintaining high efficiency in a very wide range of loads. The control method implementation, transient response and output inductor design equations, and equations for designing an input filter to reduce input current di/dt are provided. An inductor current estimator which provides higher efficiency, good transient response, and current limiting, is presented. Experimental results for a 5.0 V input, 3.1 V output, 13 A DC-DC converter are included to verify the theoretical information.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SPATIAL COLOR AND SHAPE FEATURES FOR LOW LEVEL CONTENT BASED IMAGE RETRIEVAL SYSTEM ( 79-84 )

In multimedia technology, image data in various formats is becoming available at an explosive rate. Various multimedia systems need huge image data collection. Such data sources need search and retrieval of image databases to provide open access to relevant information source. Thus content-based information retrieval has become active research area. Development of Content Based Image Retrieval is enhanced due to growth in need of variety of images in multimedia technology. In particular texture, color and shape features of image are used to define similarity among images. In this paper a brief overview of local feature descriptors of image is given.
Subgoal Discovery in Reinforcement Learning Using Local Graph Clustering

Reinforcement Learning is an area of machine learning that studies the problem of solving sequential decision making problems. The agent must learn behavior through trial-and-error interaction with a dynamic environment. Learning efficiently in large scale problems and complex tasks demands a decomposition of the original complex task into simple and smaller subtasks. In this paper, we present a subgoal-based method for automatically creating useful skills in reinforcement Learning. Our method identifies subgoals using a local graph clustering algorithm. The main advantage of the proposed algorithm is that only the local information of the graph is considered to cluster the agent state space. Clustering of the transition graphs corresponding to MDPs can be performed in linear time using the proposed method. Subgoals discovered by the algorithm are then used to generate skills using the option framework. Experimental results show that the proposed subgoal discovery algorithm has a dramatic effect on the learning performance.
Host-dependent zonulin secretion causes the impairment of the small intestine barrier function after bacterial exposure.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Enteric infections have been implicated in the pathogenesis of both food intolerance and autoimmune diseases secondary to the impairment of the intestinal barrier. On the basis of our recent discovery of zonulin, a modulator of small-intestinal tight junctions, we asked whether microorganisms might induce zonulin secretion and increased small-intestinal permeability. METHODS Both ex vivo mammalian small intestines and intestinal cell monolayers were exposed to either pathogenic or nonpathogenic enterobacteria. Zonulin production and changes in paracellular permeability were monitored in Ussing chambers and micro-snapwells. Zonula occludens 1 protein redistribution after bacteria colonization was evaluated on cell monolayers. RESULTS Small intestines exposed to enteric bacteria secreted zonulin. This secretion was independent of either the species of the small intestines or the virulence of the microorganisms tested, occurred only on the luminal aspect of the bacteria-exposed small-intestinal mucosa, and was followed by a decrease in small-intestinal tissue resistance (transepithelial electrical resistance). The transepithelial electrical resistance decrement was secondary to the zonulin-induced tight junction disassembly, as also shown by the disengagement of the protein zonula occludens 1 protein from the tight junctional complex. CONCLUSIONS This zonulin-driven opening of the paracellular pathway may represent a defensive mechanism, which flushes out microorganisms and contributes to the host response against bacterial colonization of the small intestine.
The Adjuvant Double Mutant Escherichia coli Heat Labile Toxin Enhances IL-17A Production in Human T Cells Specific for Bacterial Vaccine Antigens

The strong adjuvant activity and low enterotoxicity of the novel mucosal adjuvant double mutant Escherichia coli heat labile toxin, LT(R192G/L211A) or dmLT, demonstrated in mice, makes this molecule a promising adjuvant candidate. However, little is known about the mechanisms responsible for the adjuvant effect of dmLT or whether dmLT also has an adjuvant function in humans. We investigated the effect of dmLT on human T cell responses to different bacterial vaccine antigens: the mycobacterial purified protein derivative (PPD) antigen, tested in individuals previously vaccinated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, the LT binding subunit (LTB), evaluated in subjects immunised with oral inactivated whole cell vaccines against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus pneumoniae whole cell vaccine antigens, tested in subjects naturally exposed to pneumococci. We found that dmLT enhanced the production of IL-17A by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to all antigens tested. dmLT had comparable effects on IL-17A responses to PPD as the single mutant LT(R192G) adjuvant, which has demonstrated clinical adjuvant activity in humans. Neutralisation of IL-1β and IL-23, but not IL-6, suppressed the IL-17A-enhancing effect of dmLT. Furthermore, CD4+ T cells produced higher levels of IL-17A when stimulated with monocytes pulsed with PPD and dmLT compared to PPD alone, supporting an important role of antigen presenting cells in enhancing IL-17A responses. dmLT also potentiated mitogen-induced IL-17A and IL-13 production. However, dmLT had variable influences on IFN-γ responses to the different stimuli tested. Our demonstration of a potent ability of dmLT to enhance human Th17 type T cell responses to bacterial vaccine antigens encourages further evaluation of the adjuvant function of dmLT in humans.
Anterior and Posterior Corneal Changes after Crosslinking for Keratoconus

Purpose To evaluate anterior and posterior changes in corneal topography and tomography after corneal crosslinking (CXL) in eyes with progressive keratoconus. Methods Scheimpflug analyses (Pentacam, Oculus) of 20 eyes with keratoconus performed before and after corneal CXL were included into retrospective analysis. Mean follow-up was 2 years. Changes in topographic, tomographic, and pachymetric values were statistically analyzed applying analysis of variance. Further, the distance and direction between the anterior maximum keratometry (Kmax) and the apex as well as the distance and direction between the thinnest point in corneal thickness (TPCT) and the corneal apex before and after CXL were studied. Results Two years after CXL, a statistically significant reduction of the keratometry at the flat meridian (−0.8 D, p < 0.05), the steep meridian (−0.5 D, p < 0.05), the “index of surface variance” (−5.3, p < 0.05), and the “index of highest decentration” (−0.05, p < 0.05) could be demonstrated. While the elevation of the front surface at the apex decreased (−1.5 &mgr;m, p < 0.05), the back elevation at the apex (+2 &mgr;m, p < 0.05) increased. Although not reaching statistical significance, the maximum front and back elevation demonstrated the same trend; while maximum front elevation data remained stable (−0.3 &mgr;m, p = 0.961), maximum back elevation data increased (+6.7 &mgr;m, p = 0.122). The corneal thickness at the apex (−22.0 &mgr;m, p < 0.001) and the TPCT (−20.0 &mgr;m, p < 0.001) decreased, leading to an increase of the corneal thickness progression from the corneal apex to the periphery. The position of Kmax and TPCT remained stable. Conclusions Corneal topography proved to be useful in the follow-up for CXL because of significant changes in the keratometry. Increasing posterior elevation values, despite a stabilized anterior corneal surface, might be a sign of ongoing ectatic changes in the posterior corneal surface.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Is It Time for a New Direction?

Background and Purpose— Despite recent advances in the treatment of patients after subarachnoid hemorrhage, morbidity and mortality rates have failed to improve significantly. Although this was often blamed on vasospasm, is it time to consider alternative etiologies? Summary of Review— Early brain injury (EBI) is a recently described term that describes the immediate injury to the brain after subarachnoid hemorrhage. A number of pathways have been recognized as having a role in the etiology of EBI. This review provides a brief synopsis of EBI and its implications for the future. Conclusions— EBI may be responsible for the detrimental effects seen in patients after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Additional studies are needed to determine the pathophysiology of EBI and to explore potential therapeutic options.