Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between tumour PTEN/Akt/COX-2 expression, inflammatory response and survival in patients with colorectal cancer

In patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), local and systemic inflammatory responses have been extensively reported to associate with cancer survival. However, the specific signalling pathways responsible for inflammatory responses are not clear. The PTEN/Akt pathway is a plausible candidate as it may play a role in mediating inflammation via COX-2, and has been associated with cancer progression. This study therefore examined the relationship between tumour PTEN/Akt/COX-2 expression, inflammatory responses and survival in CRC patients using a tissue microarray. In 201 CRC patients, activation of tumour-specific PTEN/Akt significantly associated with poorer CSS (12.0yrs v 7.3yrs, P=0.032), poorer differentiation (P=0.032), venous invasion (P=0.008) and peritoneal involvement (P=0.004). Patients were stratified for peri-nuclear expression of COX-2 to examine associations with inflammatory responses. In patients with absent peri-nuclear COX-2 expression, activation of tumour-specific PTEN/Akt significantly associated with poorer CSS (11.9yrs v 5.4yrs, P=0.001), poorer differentiation (P=0.018), venous invasion (P=0.003) and peritoneal involvement (P=0.001). However, no associations were seen with either the local or systemic inflammatory responses. In CRC patients, tumour-specific PTEN/Akt pathway activation was significantly associated with poorer CSS, particularly when peri-nuclear COX-2 expression was absent. However, activation of the PTEN/Akt pathway appears not to be responsible for the regulation of inflammatory responses.
Phytoremediation of trichloroethylene with hybrid poplars.

Axenic tumor cultures of poplar cells, clone H11-11, were grown in the presence of [14C]-trichloroethylene (TCE) (uniformly labeled). The cells were capable of metabolizing TCE to produce trichloroethanol, di- and trichloroacetic acid. Some of the carbon from TCE was found in insoluble, nonextractable cell residue, and small amounts were mineralized to [14C]CO2. Poplar cuttings grown in soil and exposed to TCE produced the same metabolites. In field trials, trees were planted in soil in test cells and exposed to TCE via underground water injection during the growing season. During the growing season, at least 95% of the TCE was removed from the influent water stream in cells containing trees. Mass balance studies conducted in the laboratory indicated that 70 to 90% of the TCE was transpired; however, greenhouse and field study results showed that less than 5% of the total TCE taken up by the plants is transpired. These results show that significant TCE uptake and degradation occur in poplars. Poplars appear to be useful for in situ remediation of TCE-contaminated sites under proper conditions. ImagesFigure 2
Self-exercising checkers for unified built-in self-test (UBIST)

An original built-in self-test (BIST) scheme is proposed aimed at covering some of the shortcomings of self-checking circuits and applicable to all tests needed for integrated circuits. In this scheme, self-checking techniques and built-in self-test techniques are combined in an original way to take advantage of each other. The result is a unified BIST scheme (UBIST), allowing high fault coverage for all tests needed for integrated circuits, e.g., offline test (design verification, manufacturing test, maintenance test) and online concurrent error detection. An important concept introduced is that of self-exercising checkers. The strongly code-disjoint property of the checkers is ensured for a very large class of fault hypotheses by internal test pattern generation, and the design of the checkers is simplified. >
Reliability-Oriented Placement and Routing Algorithm for SRAM-Based FPGAs

As the feature size shrinks to the nanometer scale, SRAM-based FPGAs will become increasingly vulnerable to soft errors. Existing reliability-oriented placement and routing approaches primarily focus on reducing the fault occurrence probability (node error rate) of soft errors. However, our analysis shows that, besides the fault occurrence probability, the propagation probability (error propagation probability) plays an important role and should be taken into consideration. In this paper, we first propose a cube-based analysis algorithm to efficiently and accurately estimate the error propagation probability. Based on such a model, we propose a novel reliability-oriented placement and routing algorithm that combines both the fault occurrence probability and the error propagation probability together to enhance system-level robustness against soft errors. Experimental results show that, compared with the baseline versatile place and route technique, the proposed scheme can reduce the failure rate by 20.73%, and increase the mean time between failures by 39.44%.
Risk Assessment for Cloud-Based IT Systems

The use of Cloud Computing services is an attractive option to improve IT systems to achieve rapidly and elastically provisioned capability, and also to offer economic benefits. However, companies see security as a major concern in migrating to the Cloud. To bring clarity in Cloud security, this paper presents a systematic approach to manage the risks and analyzes the full range of risk in Cloud Computing solutions. Furthermore, as a study case, Google App Engine Platform is assessed based on ISO/IEC 27002 and OWASP Top 10 Risk List in this paper. Knowing the risks of Cloud solutions, companies can execute well-informed decisions on going into the Cloud and build their Cloud solutions in a secure way, relying on a robust e-trust relationship.
Shear and elongational rheology of polyethylenes with different molecular characteristics. II. Elongational rheology

The elongational viscosities of polyethylenes with different molecular characteristics were measured at different Hencky strains and temperatures with a capillary rheometer by the replacement of the capillary cylindrical die with a hyperbolic converging die. The hyperbolic shape of the die established a purely elongational flow field at a constant elongational strain rate throughout the die. The effects of molecular characteristics such as the molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and long-chain branching and processing conditions such as the temperature and Hencky strain on the elongational rheology of the polyethylene samples were studied. Good master curves were generated for temperature and Hencky strain shifting and simultaneous shifting with respect to both the temperature and Hencky strain. Both the molecular weight distribution and long-chain branching seemed to promote strain rate thinning and reduce the elongational viscosity. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1184–1194, 2007
Personality-based Knowledge Extraction for Privacy-preserving Data Analysis

In this paper, we present a differential privacy preserving approach, which extracts personality-based knowledge to serve privacy guarantee data analysis on personal sensitive data. Based on the approach, we further implement an end-to-end privacy guarantee system, KaPPA, to provide researchers iterative data analysis on sensitive data. The key challenge for differential privacy is determining a reasonable amount of privacy budget to balance privacy preserving and data utility. Most of the previous work applies unified privacy budget to all individual data, which leads to insufficient privacy protection for some individuals while over-protecting others. In KaPPA, the proposed personality-based privacy preserving approach automatically calculates privacy budget for each individual. Our experimental evaluations show a significant trade-off of sufficient privacy protection and data utility.
Discrete/Continuous Modelling of Speaking Style in HMM-Based Speech Synthesis: Design and Evaluation

This paper assesses the ability of a HMM-based speech synthesis systems to model the speech characteristics of various speaking styles 1 . A discrete/continuous HMM is presented to model the symbolic and acoustic speech characteristics of a speaking style. The proposed model is used to model the average characteristics of a speaking style that is shared among various speakers, depending on specific situations of speech communication. The evaluation consists of an identification experiment of 4 speaking styles based on delexicalized speech, and compared to a similar experiment on natural speech. The comparison is discussed and reveals that discrete/continuous HMM consistently models the speech characteristics of a speaking style. Index Terms: speaking style, speech synthesis, speech prosody, average modelling.
Smooth surface reconstruction from image sequences

This paper addresses the problem of 3D surface reconstruction using image sequences. It has been shown that shape recovery from three or more occluding contours of the surface is possible given a known camera motion. Recent algorithms allow the estimation of a 3D depth map of points on extremal contours. We present our approach which is based on local approximations up to order two of the surface. Such reconstruction must then be followed by a global surface description stage. This is done by constructing a triangulation of the reconstructed points and by performing a regularisation step in order to correct perturbations which affect the reconstruction. Experiments on real data were conducted which have proved the reliability of the method.
Four Pillars for Improving the Quality of Safety-Critical Software- Reliant Systems

Studies of safety-critical software-reliant systems developed using the current practices of build-then-test show that requirements and architecture design defects make up approximately 70% of all defects, many system level related to operational quality attributes, and 80% of these defects are discovered late in the development life cycle [Redman 2010]. Exponential growth in software size and complexity has pushed the cost for the current generation of aircraft to the limit of affordability. We present four pillars of an improvement strategy for an integrate-then-build practice that result in early defect discovery and increased confidence through incremental end-to-end system validation and verification throughout the life cycle (Figure 1). • Capture of mission and safety-criticality requirements in analyzable form; • Virtual integration of the physical system, hardware platform, and software architectures through consistent analyzable architecture models; • Static analysis techniques applied to the models and actual system implementation to complement testing; and • Incremental assurance of justified confidence through consistent end-to-end evidence throughout the development life cycle.
Chemical Sympathectomy Alters the Development of Hypertension in Miniature Swine

To determine if the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine could be used to chemically sympathectomize neonatal miniature swine, eight newborn swine were treated with 6-hydroxydopamine beginning on the first day after birth and continuing at regular intervals for the next 6 months. Six littermates served as controls and received vehicle injections. A significant reduction in the pressor response to intravenous tyramine (95%) and in the tissue norepinephrine content of the kidneys, left ventricle, and gastrocnemius muscle (more than 93%) provided evidence for an effective long-term sympathectomy in the 6-hydroxydopamine-treated animals. In addition, the blood pressure response of these young, chemically sympathectomized swine to chronic deoxycorticosterone acetate treatment was evaluated. Mean arterial pressure before deoxycorticosterone was similar in the 6-hydroxydopamine-treated (116±2 mm Hg) and control (125±5 mm Hg) groups. One week after deoxycorticosterone, mean arterial pressure had risen significantly by 20-22 mm Hg in both groups. Blood pressure continued to increase in the control group, reaching a value of 163 ±6 mm Hg by the third week after treatment In contrast, mean arterial pressure in the 6-hydroxydopamine group did not increase further during weeks 2 and 3 after deoxycorticosterone. In conclusion, chronic treatment of neonatal swine with 6-hydroxydopamine produced an animal model with an effective, general, peripheral sympathectomy. The significant attenuation of the hypertensive response in these sympathectomized animals lends further support to the hypothesis that an intact sympathetic nervous system is necessary for the full expression of deoxycorticosterone hypertension in miniature swine.
Hybrid multievolutionary system to solve function optimization problems

Evolutionary algorithms are optimization methods inspired by natural evolution. They usually search for the optimal solution in large space areas. In Evolutionary Algorithms it is very important to select an appropriate balance between the ability of the algorithm to explore and exploit the search space. The paper presents a hybrid system consisting of a Genetic Algorithm and an Evolutionary Strategy designed to optimize the function of many variables. In this system, we combined the ability of the Genetic Algorithm to explore the search space and the ability of the Evolutionary Strategy to exploit the search space. Optimization performed by the Genetic Algorithm and the Evolutionary Strategy runs at the same time, so it is possible to perform parallel computations. The results of the experiments suggest that the proposed system can be an effective tool in solving complex optimization problems.
The core-C6 (CC6) sleep state of the AMD bobcat x86 microprocessor

This paper describes the architecture and physical design of the AMD Bobcat x86 microprocessor core-C6 (CC6) sleep state. Each core and dedicated 512KB L2 cache use control flows to save and restore the x86 architectural state in concert with a network of PFET sleep transistors that drive an internal voltage domain. Measured results show an approximate 92% reduction in leakage power at the cost of 1-3% die area with a 31μs restore latency. Each core and L2 cache pair use 98cm of total sleep transistor width in a TSMC 40nm bulk CMOS process.
Energy Expenditure in Obese and Nonobese Adolescents

ABSTRACT: We measured body composition, basal metabolic rate (BMR), and total energy expenditure in 28 nonobese and 35 obese adolescents aged 12-18 y using indirect calorimetry and the doubly labeled water method. BMR was highly correlated with fat-free mass in both the nonobese and obese groups (r = 0.77 and 0.84, respectively). BMR adjusted for fat-free mass was significantly greater in males than females and in the obese subjects. Total energy expenditure was significantly greater in the obese than nonobese cohort but ratios of total energy expenditure/BMR were not significantly different in the two groups (1.79 ± 0.2 versus 1.68 ± 0.19, nonobese and obese males and 1.69 ± 0.28 versus 1.74 ± 0.19 nonobese and obese females, respectively). These data indicate that BMR and total energy expenditure are not reduced in the already obese adolescent. Therefore, reduced energy expenditure cannot be responsible for the maintenance of obesity in adolescents.
The effect of ZnO nanoparticles on the mechanical, tribological and antibacterial properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

In this study, the response of different filler loadings (5–20 wt%) of zinc oxide nanoparticles reinforced ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene on the mechanical, tribological and antibacterial performances were attempted. The compression, tensile and micro-hardness properties of the nano-zinc oxide/ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene composites were studied. The tribological properties were investigated using DUCOM pin-on-disc tester with variable applied loads (5–35 N) and sliding speeds (0.209 m/s and 0.419 m/s) against 1200 grit size silicon carbide abrasive paper under dry sliding conditions. The worn surfaces and transfer films of the composites were observed using the scanning electron microscopy. Experimental results show that reinforcing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene with zinc oxide nanoparticles would improve certain mechanical and tribological properties. Wear performance was enhanced with maximum wear resistance found at 10 wt% nano-zinc oxide/ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene composite. The average coefficient of friction of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene shows a decrease after reinforcement with zinc oxide nanoparticles. Upon zinc oxide nanoparticles reinforcement, the worn surface shows reduced severity of wear. The nano-zinc oxide/ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene composite imparts antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
AntBot: Ant Colonies for Video Games

The video game industry is an emerging market which continues to expand. From its early beginning, developers have focused mainly on sound and graphical applications, paying less attention to developing game bots or other kinds of nonplayer characters (NPCs). However, recent advances in artificial intelligence offer the possibility of developing game bots which are dynamically adjustable to several difficulty levels as well as variable game environments. Previous works reveal a lack of swarm intelligence approaches to develop these kinds of agents. Considering the potential of particle swarm optimization due to its emerging properties and self-adaptation to dynamic environments, further investigation into this field must be undertaken. This research focuses on developing a generic framework based on swarm intelligence, and in particular on ant colony optimization, such as it allows general implementation of real-time bots that work over dynamic game environments. The framework has been adapted to allow the implementation of intelligent agents for the classical game Ms. Pac-Man. These were trialed at the Ms. Pac-Man competitions held during the 2011 International Congress on Evolutionary Computation.
PD-1 immunoreceptor inhibits B cell receptor-mediated signaling by recruiting src homology 2-domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase 2 to phosphotyrosine

PD-1 is an immunoreceptor that belongs to the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily and contains two tyrosine residues in the cytoplasmic region. Studies on PD-1-deficient mice have shown that PD-1 plays critical roles in establishment and/or maintenance of peripheral tolerance, but the mode of action is totally unknown. To study the molecular mechanism for negative regulation of lymphocytes through the PD-1 receptor, we generated chimeric molecules composed of the IgG Fc receptor type IIB (FcγRIIB) extracellular region and the PD-1 cytoplasmic region and expressed them in a B lymphoma cell line, IIA1.6. Coligation of the cytoplasmic region of PD-1 with the B cell receptor (BCR) in IIA1.6 transformants inhibited BCR-mediated growth retardation, Ca2+ mobilization, and tyrosine phosphorylation of effector molecules, including Igβ, Syk, phospholipase C-γ2 (PLCγ2), and ERK1/2, whereas phosphorylation of Lyn and Dok was not affected. Mutagenesis studies indicated that these inhibitory effects do not require the N-terminal tyrosine in the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif-like sequence, but do require the other tyrosine residue in the C-terminal tail. This tyrosine was phosphorylated and recruited src homology 2-domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP-2) on coligation of PD-1 with BCR. These results show that PD-1 can inhibit BCR signaling by recruiting SHP-2 to its phosphotyrosine and dephosphorylating key signal transducers of BCR signaling.
Computing differential properties of 3-D shapes from stereoscopic images without 3-D models

We are considering the problem of recovering the three-dimensional geometry of a scene from binocular stereo disparity. Once a dense disparity map has been computed from a stereo pair of images, one often needs to calculate some local differential properties of the corresponding 3-D surface such as orientation or curvatures. The usual approach is to build a 3-D reconstruction of the surface(s) from which all shape properties will then be derived without ever going back to the original images. In this paper, we depart from this paradigm and propose to use the images directly to compute the shape properties. We thus propose a new method extending the classical correlation method to estimate accurately both the disparity and its derivatives directly from the image data. We then relate those derivatives to differential properties of the surface such as orientation and curvatures. <<ETX>>
Mechanisms for interaction between RF fields and biological tissue

Interaction of radiofrequency (RF) fields with biological tissue can involve either electric or magnetic fields. Many interaction mechanisms have been considered, both thermal and nonthermal, but it has not been established that any of these could result in adverse health effects at radiation levels below guidelines. The principles underlying most of these mechanisms have been well reviewed. The aim of the present study is to give a qualitative discussion of some of the more recently published work. Bioelectromagnetics Supplement 7:S98–S106, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cardiovascular Responses in Unrestrained WKY Rats to Inhaled Ultrafine Carbon Particles

Based on epidemiologic observations, the issue of adverse health effects of inhaled ultrafine particles (UFP) is currently under intensive discussion. We therefore examined cardiovascular effects of UFP in a controlled animal exposure on young, healthy WKY rats. Short-term exposure (24 h) to carbon UFPs (38 nm, 180 μg m−3), generated by spark discharging, induced a mild but consistent increase in heart rate (18 bpm, 4.8%), which was associated with a significant decrease in heart-rate variability during particle inhalation. The timing and the transient character of these responses point to a particle induced alteration of cardiac autonomic balance, mediated by a pulmonary receptor activation. After 24 h of inhalation exposure, bronchoalveolar lavage revealed significant but low-grade pulmonary inflammation (clean air 1.9% vs. UFPs 6.9% polymorphonuclear cells) and on histopathology sporadic accumulation of particle-laden macrophages was found in the alveolar region. There was no evidence of an inflammation-mediated increase in blood coagulability, as UFP inhalation did not induce any significant changes in plasma fibrinogen or factor VIIa levels and there were no prothrombotic changes in the lung or the heart at both the protein and mRNA level. Histological analysis revealed no signs of cardiac inflammation or cardiomyopathy. This study therefore provides toxicological evidence for UFP-associated pulmonary and cardiac effects in healthy rats. Our findings suggest that the observed changes are mediated by an altered sympatho-vagal balance in response to UFP inhalation, but do not support the concept of an inflammation-mediated prothrombotic state by UFP.
Adaptive Equi-Energy Sampler: Convergence and Illustration

Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods allow to sample a distribution known up to a multiplicative constant. Classical MCMC samplers are known to have very poor mixing properties when sampling multimodal distributions. The Equi-Energy sampler is an interacting MCMC sampler proposed by Kou, Zhou and Wong in 2006 to sample difficult multimodal distributions. This algorithm runs several chains at different temperatures in parallel, and allow lower-tempered chains to jump to a state from a higher-tempered chain having an energy “close” to that of the current state. A major drawback of this algorithm is that it depends on many design parameters and thus, requires a significant effort to tune these parameters. In this article, we introduce an Adaptive Equi-Energy (AEE) sampler that automates the choice of the selection mecanism when jumping onto a state of the higher-temperature chain. We prove the ergodicity and a strong law of large numbers for AEE, and for the original Equi-Energy sampler as well. Finally, we apply our algorithm to motif sampling in DNA sequences.