Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Methylglyoxal Induces Platelet Hyperaggregation and Reduces Thrombus Stability by Activating PKC and Inhibiting PI3K/Akt Pathway

Diabetes is characterized by a dysregulation of glucose homeostasis and platelets from patients with diabetes are known to be hyper-reactive and contribute to the accelerated development of vascular diseases. Since many of the deleterious effects of glucose have been attributed to its metabolite methylgyloxal (MG) rather than to hyperglycemia itself, the aim of the present study was to characterize the effects of MG on platelet function. Washed human platelets were pre-incubated for 15 min with MG and platelet aggregation, adhesion on matrix-coated slides and signaling (Western blot) were assessed ex vivo. In vivo, the effect of MG on thrombus formation was determined using the FeCl3-induced carotid artery injury model. MG potentiated thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and dense granule release, but inhibited platelet spreading on fibronectin and collagen. In vivo, MG accelerated thrombus formation but decreased thrombus stability. At the molecular level, MG increased intracellular Ca2+ and activated classical PKCs at the same time as inhibiting PI3K/Akt and the β3-integrin outside-in signaling. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the enhanced MG concentration measured in diabetic patients can directly contribute to the platelet dysfunction associated with diabetes characterized by hyperaggregability and reduced thrombus stability.
Regulatory RNA at the root of animals: dynamic expression of developmental lincRNAs in the calcisponge Sycon ciliatum

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important regulatory roles during animal development, and it has been hypothesized that an RNA-based gene regulation was important for the evolution of developmental complexity in animals. However, most studies of lncRNA gene regulation have been performed using model animal species, and very little is known about this type of gene regulation in non-bilaterians. We have therefore analysed RNA-Seq data derived from a comprehensive set of embryogenesis stages in the calcareous sponge Sycon ciliatum and identified hundreds of developmentally expressed intergenic lncRNAs (lincRNAs) in this species. In situ hybridization of selected lincRNAs revealed dynamic spatial and temporal expression during embryonic development. More than 600 lincRNAs constitute integral parts of differentially expressed gene modules, which also contain known developmental regulatory genes, e.g. transcription factors and signalling molecules. This study provides insights into the non-coding gene repertoire of one of the earliest evolved animal lineages, and suggests that RNA-based gene regulation was probably present in the last common ancestor of animals.
Improved robust user authentication scheme for wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been widely used in a wide variety of applications. Deploying WSNs in unattended environments can cause various security threats. In these scenarios, provisioning user authentication is a critical issue. In this paper, we propose improved robust user authentication scheme for WSNs, which is a variation of strong-password based solution. We have analyzed security properties of the proposed scheme and compared with the previous schemes in terms of overhead cost. We have also conducted formal verification of the proposed scheme.
Accounting for Taiwan GDP Growth: Parametric and Nonparametric Estimates

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of changes in prices of tradables on economic growth in a highly open economy, Taiwan. We do so by measuring productivity growth with both index number and parametric approaches, and identifying the sources of output growth using a methodology that allows the impacts of changes in the terms of trade to be accounted for. The results show that Taiwan's economic growth depends on inputs accumulation as well as technical progress with the terms-of-trade effect being negligible.
A metric for evaluating density level of wireless sensor networks

The term “Dense networks” is usually used to identify networks having large number of nodes within a small area while affecting network performance. Starting from this concept, different networking solutions were proposed. However, it seems to us that this view is very abstract and needs to be further investigated. Knowing the network density level can be of great importance in determining the network parameters. In this paper, we firstly examine the effect of network size over its performance, then introduce a metric to determine if a network is considered as a “dense network” or not. Finally, we applied our metric on experimental results published in the CRAWDAD dataset site to verify our metric.
Optimizing BackPropagation using PSO _ Hill and PSO _ A *

Back propagation algorithm (BPA) have the complexity, local minima problem so we are using Particle Swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms to reduce and optimize BPA. In this paper, two variants of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) PSO_Hill and PSO_A* is used as optimization algorithm. PSO_Hill and PSO_A* algorithms are analyzed and evaluated on the basis of their advantages, applied to feed forward neural network(FNN) for back propagation algorithm(BPA) which is a gredient desent technique. where BPA is used for non_linear problems. These non_linear problems are improved by a PSO_Hill and PSO_A* algorithms.
On the structural nature of cooperation in distributed network localization

We demonstrate analytically that the contribution of cooperation in improving the accuracy of distributed network localization has a fundamentally structural nature, rather then statistical as widely believed. To this end we first introduce a new approach to build Fisher Information Matrices (FIMs), in which the individual contribution of each cooperative pair of nodes is captured explicitly by a corresponding information vector. The approach offers new insight onto the structure of FIMs, enabling us to easily account for both anchor and node location uncertainties in assessing lower bounds on localization errors. Using this construction it is surprisingly found that in the presence of node location uncertainty and regardless of ranging error variances or network size, the Fisher information matrix (FIM) terms corresponding to the information added by node-to-node cooperation nearly vanish. In other words, the analysis reveals that the key contribution of cooperation in network localization is not to add statistical node-to-node information (in the Fisher sense), but rather to provide a structure over which information is better exploited.
DOES POLITICAL AMBIGUITY PAY?

Do politicians tend to follow a strategy of ambiguity in their policy positions or a strategy of reputational development to reduce uncertainty about where they stand? Ambiguity could allow a legislator to avoid alienating constituents and to play rival interests off against each other to maximize campaign contributions. Alternatively, reputational clarity could help to reduce uncertainty about a candidate and lead to high campaign contributions from favored interests. We outline a theory that considers conditions under which a politician would and would not prefer reputational development and policy-stance clarity in the context of repeat dealing with special interests. Our proxy for reputational development is the percent of repeat givers to a legislator. Using data on corporate political action committee contributions (PACs) to members of the U.S. House during the seven electoral cycles from 1983/84 to 1995/96, we find that legislators do not appear to follow a strategy of ambiguity and that high reputational development is rewarded with high PAC contributions. JEL Classifications: D71, D72, D78. Randall S. Kroszner Thomas Stratmann Graduate School of Business Department of Economics University of Chicago George Mason University Chicago, IL 60637 4400 University Drive and NBER Fairfax, VA 22030 Tel: 773-702-8779 Tel: 703-993-2317 E-mail: randy.kroszner@gsb.uchicago. edu E-mail: tstratma@gmu.ed
Compressed sensing and reconstruction with Semi-Hadamard matrices

Compressed sensing (CS) is a new signal acquisition technology which seeks to recover the signal using incomplete linear projections acquired by a projection matrix. Semi-Hadamard matrices and their simplifications are proposed as a kind of feasible projection matrix with binary structure in CS frame work. Basic definitions of semi-Hadamard and their simplifications are introduced. We present the mathematical results that the signal compressed sensing using binary or sparse binary matrices, including matrix presented in this paper, can be exactly recovered with high probability. Simulation results show that semi-Hadamard matrices perform equally well to the prominent Hadamard matrices and their simplifications can be regarded as a reliable operator in a computing resource limited environment.
An Intergenic Non-Coding rRNA Correlated with Expression of the rRNA and Frequency of an rRNA Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in Lung Cancer Cells

Background Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a central regulator of cell growth and may control cancer development. A cis noncoding rRNA (nc-rRNA) upstream from the 45S rRNA transcription start site has recently been implicated in control of rRNA transcription in mouse fibroblasts. We investigated whether a similar nc-rRNA might be expressed in human cancer epithelial cells, and related to any genomic characteristics. Methodology/Principal Findings Using quantitative rRNA measurement, we demonstrated that a nc-rRNA is transcribed in human lung epithelial and lung cancer cells, starting from approximately −1000 nucleotides upstream of the rRNA transcription start site (+1) and extending at least to +203. This nc-rRNA was significantly more abundant in the majority of lung cancer cell lines, relative to a nontransformed lung epithelial cell line. Its abundance correlated negatively with total 45S rRNA in 12 of 13 cell lines (P = 0.014). During sequence analysis from −388 to +306, we observed diverse, frequent intercopy single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in rRNA, with a frequency greater than predicted by chance at 12 sites. A SNP at +139 (U/C) in the 5′ leader sequence varied among the cell lines and correlated negatively with level of the nc-rRNA (P = 0.014). Modelling of the secondary structure of the rRNA 5′-leader sequence indicated a small increase in structural stability due to the +139 U/C SNP and a minor shift in local configuration occurrences. Conclusions/Significance The results demonstrate occurrence of a sense nc-rRNA in human lung epithelial and cancer cells, and imply a role in regulation of the rRNA gene, which may be affected by a +139 SNP in the 5′ leader sequence of the primary rRNA transcript.
Improvements in MLLR-Transform-based Speaker Recognition

We previously proposed the use of MLLR transforms derived from a speech recognition system as speaker features in a speaker verification system. In this paper we report recent improvements to this approach. First, we noticed a fundamental problem in our previous implementation that stemmed from a mismatch between male and female recognition models, and the model transforms they produce. Although it affects only a small percentage of verification trials (those in which the gender detector commits errors), this mismatch has a large effect on average system performance. We solve this problem by consistently using only one recognition model (either male or female) in computing speaker adaptation transforms regardless of estimated speaker gender. A further accuracy boost is obtained by combining feature vectors derived from male and female vectors into one larger feature vector. Using 1-conversation-side training, the final system has about 27% lower decision cost than a state-of-the-art ccpstral GMM speaker system, and 53% lower decision cost when trained on 8 conversation sides per speaker
How contingent should a communication robot be?

The purpose of our research is to develop lifelike behavior in a communication robot, which is expected to potentially make human-robot interaction more natural. Our earlier research demonstrated the importance of a robot's contingency for lifelikeness [1]. On the other hand, perfect contingency seems to give us a non-lifelike impression. In order to explore the appropriate contingency for communication robots, we developed a robot system that allows us to adjust its contingency to an interacting person in a simple mimic interaction. As a result of an experiment, we identified the relationships between the degree of contingency and the subjective impressions of lifelikeness, autonomy, and preference. However, the experimental result also seems to suggest the importance of the complexity of interaction for investigating the appropriate contingency of communication robots.
Hierarchical partitioning for field-programmable systems

This paper presents a new recursive bipartitioning algorithm for a hierarchical field-programmable system. It draws new insights into relating the quality of the bipartitioning algorithm to circuit structures by the use of the partitioning tree (Hagen et al., 1994). The final algorithm proposed not only forms the basis for the partitioning solution of a 1-million gate field programmable system (Lewis et al., 1997) but can also be applied to general VLSI or multiple-FPGA partitioning problems.
Human annotation of ASR error regions: Is “gravity” a sharable concept for human annotators?

This paper is concerned with human assessments of the severity of errors in ASR outputs. We did not design any guidelines so that each annotator involved in the study could consider the “seriousness” of an ASR error using their own scientific background. Eight human annotators were involved in an annotation task on three distinct corpora, one of the corpora being annotated twice, hiding this annotation in duplicate to the annotators. None of the computed results (inter-annotator agreement, edit distance, majority annotation) allow any strong correlation between the considered criteria and the level of seriousness to be shown, which underlines the difficulty for a human to determine whether a ASR error is serious or not.
A patient-specific planning target volume used in ‘plan of the day’ adaptation for interfractional motion mitigation

We propose a patient-specific planning target volume (PTV) to deal with interfractional variations, and test its feasibility in a retrospective treatment-planning study. Instead of using one planning image only, multiple scans are taken on different days. The target and organs at risk (OARs) are delineated on each images. The proposed PTV is generated from a union of those target contours on the planning images, excluding voxels of the OARs, and is denoted the PTV ‘GP–OAR’ (global prostate–organs at risk). The study is performed using ‘plan of the day’ adaptive workflow, which selects a daily plan from a library of plans based on a similarity comparison between the daily scan and planning images. The daily plans optimized for GP–OAR volumes are compared with those optimized for PTVs generated from a single prostate contour (PTV SP). Four CT serials of prostate cancer patient datasets are included in the test, and in total 28 fractions are simulated. The results show that the daily chosen GP–OAR plans provide excellent target coverage, with V95 values of the prostate mostly > 95%. In addition, dose delivered to the OARs as calculated from applying daily chosen GP–OAR plans is slightly increased but comparable to that calculated from applying daily SP plans. In general, the PTV GP–OARs are able to cover possible target variations while keeping dose delivered to the OARs at a similar level to that of the PTV SPs.
Statistical Analysis of Doubletalk Detection for Calibration and Performance Evaluation

Doubletalk detection is an important part of a practical echo canceller implementation, but a difficult problem is calibrating the doubletalk detector for arbitrary environments and input signals. In this paper, it is shown that a statistical model of a doubletalk detection variable's probability density function (PDF) can be used to obtain an optimal detection threshold and expected detection performance curves. In particular, a statistical analysis of a recently proposed cross-correlation-based doubletalk detector is presented. The doubletalk detection variable is modeled in terms of its constituent parameter estimators, resulting in conditional PDFs in the absence and presence of doubletalk. These are used to obtain a signal-adaptive detection threshold for calibration, and to provide expected doubletalk detection probability. Simulations are presented comparing the theoretical and measured detection probability compared to a fixed detection threshold for speech input and doubletalk signals. The results indicate a close agreement with the proposed model for moderate-to-high levels of doubletalk
Individual Pay and Outside Options: Evidence from the Polish Labor Force Survey

Using Polish Labour Force Survey data, we examine whether competition for labour has induced individual pay to depend on outside options, availability and quality of jobs. Exploiting the lack of inter-regional job and worker flows we estimate the elasticity of individual pay, amongst a rich set of individual characteristics, to be approximately -0.1 for local unemployment (job shortages) and + 0.1 for local job reallocation (restructuring). Variations in local labour market conditions explain approximately 50 per cent of the differences in expected individual earnings across regions, while differences in inherited human capital and occupation structures explain the rest.
The Mixmaster Spacetime, Geroch's Transformation and Constants of Motion Typeset Using Revt E X 1

We show that for U (1)-symmetric spacetimes on S 3 × R a constant of motion associated with the well known Geroch transformation, a functional K[h ij , π ij ], quadratic in gravitational momenta, is strictly positive in an open subset of the set of all U (1)-symmetric initial data, and therefore not weakly zero. The Mixmaster initial data appear to be on the boundary of that set. We calculate the constant of motion perturbatively for the Mixmaster spacetime and find it to be proportional to the minisuperspace Hamiltonian to the first order in the Misner anisotropy variables, i.e. weakly zero. Assuming that K is exactly zero for the Mixmaster spacetime, we show that Geroch's transformation , when applied to the Mixmaster spacetime, gives a new U (1)-symmetric solution of the vacuum Einstein equations, globally defined on S 2 × S 1 × R, which is non-homogeneous and presumably exhibits Mixmaster-like complicated dynamical behavior.
Skintimacy: exploring interpersonal boundaries through musical interactions

With 'Skintimacy' we present a skin-based interface for a collaborative musical performance. The experimental setup is intended to be both an evocative tool for interpersonal interaction and touch, as well as an alternative digital musical instrument. By integrating the human skin and touch into the musician-computer interface, we propose a bodily-close haptic and emotional experience. Our intention, our research question, the system design, and first observations of this phenomenological experience are outlined below.
Knots of substitution techniques of audio steganography

This paper sets the main focus on the evaluation of transparency, robustness and capacity of the embedding function of Substitution Techniques of digital audio steganography algorithms. Lots of steganography techniques have been described in this literature. Here, beside the evaluation of embedding parameters for the existing techniques, two problems -weaknesses- of Substitution Techniques are investigated which if they could be solved, the large capacity - strength- of Substitution Techniques would be practical.
2 0 Se p 20 00 Light Curves of GRB Optical Flashes

The standard model of GRB afterglows assumes that relativistically expanding material is decelerating due to interaction with the surrounding medium. The afterglows are well described by the synchrotron radiation from a forward shock, while the strong optical flash associated with GRB 990123 can be attributed to the emission from a reverse shock. We give a detailed study on the reverse shock emission. The full light curves are calculated for a long and a short GRB cases. We discuss the lack of the prompt optical detections by ROTSE for GRB 981121 and GRB 981223. Subject headings: gamma rays: bursts; hydrodynamics; shock waves; relativity
TECHNOLOGY Variation of OPC-Rice Husk Ash-Saw Dust Ash Composites Strength with Mix Proportion

This work investigated the variation of strength of OPC-RHA-SDA cement composites with mix proportion. 168 concrete cubes of 150mm x 150mm x 150mmwere produced with OPC and RHA-SDAusing percentage OPC replacement with RHA-SDA of 0%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, and sevenwater: blended cement: sand: granite mix proportions of 0.6:1:1.5:3, 0.6:1:2:3, 0.6:1:2:4, 0.7:1:2.5:4, 0.7:1:2.5:5, 0.7:1:3:5, and 0.7:1:3:6.168 sandcrete cubes and 168 soilcrete cubes were also p roduced using the same percentage replacements and water: blended cement: sand (or laterite for soilcrete) mi x proportions 0.6:1:4, 0.6:1:5, 0.6:1:6, 0.7:1:7, 0 . 7:1:8, 0.7:1:9, and 0.7:1:10.Three concrete, sandcrete, and soilcretecu bes for each percentage OPC replacement with RHA-SDA and mix proportion were crushed to obtain their compres sive strengths at 28 and 50 days of curing. It was found that for all percentage replacements of OPC with RHA-SDA at 28 and 50 days of curing, at a given water/cement r atio, the compressive strengths increased with leanness of mi x up to some level of leanness after which the stre ngth reduced. Concrete compressive strength values for 20% RHA-SDA at 50 days of curing rose from 20.60N/mm2 for 0.7:1:2.5:4 mix, to 21.20N/mm2 for 0.7:1:2.5:5, to 22.10N/mm2 for 0.7:1:3:5, and decreased to 21.60N/mm2 for 0.7:1:3:6. These results suggest that the leanest m ix proportions that would still allow for good comp action should be used in making OPC-RHA-SDA cement composites for optimum compressive strength and cost effectiveness.
A Novel Polyclonal Antiserum against Toxoplasma gondii Sodium Hydrogen Exchanger 1

The sodium hydrogen exchanger 1 (NHE1), which functions in maintaining the ratio of Na+ and H+ ions, is widely distributed in cell plasma membranes. It plays a prominent role in pH balancing, cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, and migration. However, its exact subcellular location and biological functions in Toxoplasma gondii are largely unclear. In this study, we cloned the C-terminal sequence of T. gondii NHE1 (TgNHE1) incorporating the C-terminal peptide of NHE1 (C-NHE1) into the pGEX4T-1 expression plasmid. The peptide sequence was predicted to have good antigenicity based on the information obtained from an immune epitope database. After induction of heterologous gene expression with isopropyl-b-D-thiogalactoside, the recombinant C-NHE1 protein successfully expressed in a soluble form was purified by glutathione sepharose beads as an immunogen for production of a rabbit polyclonal antiserum. The specificity of this antiserum was confirmed by western blotting and immunofluorescence. The antiserum could reduce T. gondii invasion into host cells, indicated by the decreased TgNHE1 expression in T. gondii parasites that were pre-incubated with antiserum in the process of cell entry. Furthermore, the antiserum reduced the virulence of T. gondii parasites to host cells in vitro, possibly by blocking the release of Ca2+. In this regard, this antiserum has potential to be a valuable tool for further studies of TgNHE1.