Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonsmooth nonnegative matrix factorization (nsNMF)

We propose a novel nonnegative matrix factorization model that aims at finding localized, part-based, representations of nonnegative multivariate data items. Unlike the classical nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) technique, this new model, denoted "nonsmooth nonnegative matrix factorization" (nsNMF), corresponds to the optimization of an unambiguous cost function designed to explicitly represent sparseness, in the form of nonsmoothness, which is controlled by a single parameter. In general, this method produces a set of basis and encoding vectors that are not only capable of representing the original data, but they also extract highly focalized patterns, which generally lend themselves to improved interpretability. The properties of this new method are illustrated with several data sets. Comparisons to previously published methods show that the new nsNMF method has some advantages in keeping faithfulness to the data in the achieving a high degree of sparseness for both the estimated basis and the encoding vectors and in better interpretability of the factors.
Rapamycin promotes Schwann cell migration and nerve growth factor secretion

Rapamycin, similar to FK506, can promote neural regeneration in vitro. We assumed that the mechanisms of action of rapamycin and FK506 in promoting peripheral nerve regeneration were similar. This study compared the effects of different concentrations of rapamycin and FK506 on Schwann cells and investigated effects and mechanisms of rapamycin on improving peripheral nerve regeneration. Results demonstrated that the lowest rapamycin concentration (1.53 nmol/L) more significantly promoted Schwann cell migration than the highest FK506 concentration (100μmol/L). Rapamycin promoted the secretion of nerve growth factors and upregulated growth-associated protein 43 expression in Schwann cells, but did not significantly affect Schwann cell proliferation. Therefore, rapamycin has potential application in peripheral nerve regeneration therapy.
Protective Effect of Ginseng Polysaccharides on Influenza Viral Infection

Ginseng polysaccharide has been known to have multiple immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we investigated whether Panax ginseng polysaccharide (GP) would have a preventive effect on influenza infection. Administration of mice with GP prior to infection was found to confer a survival benefit against infection with H1N1 (A/PR/8/34) and H3N2 (A/Philippines/82) influenza viruses. Mice infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus suspended in GP solution showed moderately enhanced survival rates and lower levels of lung viral titers and the inflammatory cytokine (IL-6). Daily treatment of vaccinated mice with GP improved their survival against heterosubtypic lethal challenge. This study demonstrates the first evidence that GP can be used as a remedy against influenza viral infection.
Depth from Semi-Calibrated Stereo and Defocus

In this work, we propose a multi-camera system where we combine a main high-quality camera with two low-res auxiliary cameras. The auxiliary cameras are well calibrated and act as a passive depth sensor by generating disparity maps. The main camera has an interchangeable lens and can produce good quality images at high resolution. Our goal is, given the low-res depth map from the auxiliary cameras, generate a depth map from the viewpoint of the main camera. The advantage of our system, compared to other systems such as light-field cameras or RGBD sensors, is the ability to generate a high-resolution color image with a complete depth map, without sacrificing resolution and with minimal auxiliary hardware. Since the main camera has an interchangeable lens, it cannot be calibrated beforehand, and directly applying stereo matching on it and either of the auxiliary cameras often leads to unsatisfactory results. Utilizing both the calibrated cameras at once, we propose a novel approach to better estimate the disparity map of the main camera. Then by combining the defocus cue of the main camera, the disparity map can be further improved. We demonstrate the performance of our algorithm on various scenes.
[Studies on occupational stress intervention in workplaces abroad: a systematic review].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of occupational stress intervention in the workplaces abroad by systematic review and to provide a reference for domestic research. METHODS The Medline database was searched to collect the literature on occupational stress intervention published from January 1 in 2000 to September 4 in 2014, Using standardized forms, the methods, contents, subjects, study design, result indicator, effectiveness and evidence of the intervention were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria, with a total sample size of 5699 participants, including 20 randomized trials and 10 non-randomized or self-controlled studies from 12 countries, such as Germany, Japan, and Britain. The course of intervention ranged from 4 to 16 weeks. Six types of intervention were identified, i.e., cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT), relaxation technique, physical activity, organization-focused intervention, combined intervention, and multilevel intervention, among which CBT was used most frequently. The outcome variables mainly included social psychological variable and work-related variable. Occupational stress intervention could significantly improve the occupational stress and depressive symptoms, and also had some effects on the work-related outcomes. The effectiveness of the intervention might vary between the subjects with different occupational stress levels before intervention. The effectiveness of the intervention was better at an organizational level than at an individual level, but the effectiveness at a multiple level was not necessarily better than that at a single level. CONCLUSION Occupational stress intervention is an effective method to improve the occupational stress at workplace. However, the occupational stress level before intervention, the duration and frequency of intervention, measures and level of intervention, and follow-up period have certain influence on the effectiveness of intervention. Future research should pay attention to methodology, focus on organizational level and network-based intervention, and increase the cost-benefit analysis.
Effect of joint detection and decoding in non-orthogonal multiple access

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) can share the same frequency band with multiple mobile devices. In the conventional NOMA scheme, the possible pairs of users are limited and this limitation restricts the amount of capacity improvement. This is because the receiver only for the near user cancels the signal of the other user and then detect the desired signal. In this paper, a joint detection and decoding scheme in the far user of the NOMA downlink is proposed and its constellation constrained capacity (CCC) is evaluated through numerical analysis. The proposed scheme allows the pairing of users with the difference of the propagation losses of less than 8dB. The possible number of user pairs in the NOMA system then increases and a larger total capacity may be achievable.
Preconditioning effects on expression of proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun after hepatic ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

BACKGROUND Ischemia/reperfusion is the main cause of hepatic damage in liver transplantation. Immediate early genes (IEGs) encode proteins can regulate expression of cellular response genes after injury, and is associated with tissue repair and cell apoptosis. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of preconditioning on expression of immediate early genes c-fos and c-jun following hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (IR) and its roles in cellular regeneration and apoptosis. METHODS Ninety-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into IR group and hepatic ischemic preconditioning (IPC) group, and each group was further divided into eight sub-groups (n=6). The model of partial liver ischemia/reperfusion was used. The rats were subjected to 60-minute liver ischemia, preceded by 10-minute preconditioning. After 0-, 0.5-, 1-, 2-, 4-, 8-, 12-, 24-hour reperfusion, the serum and liver tissue in each group were collected to detect the level of serum ALT/AST, liver histopathology, expression of c-fos, and c-jun mRNA. Flow cytometer was used to detect Ki67 and Sub-G1 as the quantity indicators of cell regeneration and apoptosis respectively. RESULTS Compared with IR group, IPC group showed a significantly lower ALT/AST level in 0.5-hour sub-group to 8-hour sub-group (P<0.05). Ki67 elevated significantly at 0.5, 1, 2 hours, but decreased significantly at 24 hours (P<0.05). Ap index decreased significantly after 1-hour reperfusion (P<0.05). Expressions of c-fos and c-jun mRNA were low, especially c-jun at 0.5, 1 and 2 hours after reperfusion. CONCLUSION Ischemic preconditioning can protect liver cells against ischemia/reperfusion injury, and this protective effect may be related to influence transcription levels of c-fos and c-jun.
Rule-based assignment of comments to AST nodes in C++ programs

Comments are essential components of programming languages: they preserve the developer's intentions, help the maintainers to understand hidden concepts, and may act as a source of automatic documentation generation. However most of the software maintenance tools (refactorers, slicing and analyser tools) ignore them therefore they lose an important part of information about the software. One of the reasons why tools neglect comments is that there is no single well-defined location in the software's AST where to place them. The relationship between the program's control structure and the comments depend on code conventions and human habits. Our research -- part of a project to develop a software maintenance tool -- focuses on the code comprehension process of large legacy C++ projects and heavily utilize code comments. We evaluated the commenting behaviour used in large projects and categorized the major patterns. We found that these patterns are strongly correlating in a single project. In the paper we present a method to find the correct place of the comments in the AST-based on project-specific rules. We evaluate our method and test it against open source C++ projects.
Learning Language from Perceptual Context: A Challenge Problem for AI

We present the problem of learning to understand natural language from examples of utterances paired only with their relevant real-world context as an important challenge problem for AI. Machine learning has been adopted as the most effective way of developing naturallanguage processing systems; however, currently, complex annotated corpora are required for training. By learning language from perceptual context, the need for laborious annotation is removed and the system’s resulting understanding is grounded in its perceptual experience.
Impact damage assessment by using peridynamic theory

This study presents an application of peridynamic theory for predicting residual strength of impact damaged building components by considering a reinforced panel subjected to multiple load paths. The validity of the approach is established first by simulating a controlled experiment resulting in mixed-mode fracture of concrete. The agreement between the PD prediction and the experimentally observed behavior is remarkable especially considering the simple material model used for the concrete. Subsequently, the PD simulation concerns damage assessment and residual strength of a reinforced panel under compression after impact due to a rigid penetrator.
A hybrid facial expression recognition method based on neutral face shape estimation

In order to recognize the facial expression of a person, the knowledge of the neutral facial expression of that person is useful but may not always be available.We present a method based on Gaussian mixture models (GMM) to estimate the unknown neutral facial expression of an expressive face. The estimated neutral face is then subtracted from the features of the expressive image and classified using support vector classifiers (SVC). Experimental results on the extended Cohn-Kanade (CK+) database give an emotion recognition rate of 88% using geometric features only and 92% if appearance based features are also included.
Incorporating Metadata into Content-Based User Embeddings

Low-dimensional vector representations of social media users can benefit applications like recommendation systems and user attribute inference. Recent work has shown that user embeddings can be improved by combining different types of information, such as text and network data. We propose a data augmentation method that allows novel feature types to be used within off-the-shelf embedding models. Experimenting with the task of friend recommendation on a dataset of 5,019 Twitter users, we show that our approach can lead to substantial performance gains with the simple addition of network and geographic features.
Branched short-chain fatty acids modulate glucose and lipid metabolism in primary adipocytes

ABSTRACT Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), e.g. acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid, generated through colonic fermentation of dietary fibers, have been shown to reach the systemic circulation at micromolar concentrations. Moreover, SCFAs have been conferred anti-obesity properties in both animal models and human subjects. Branched SCFAs (BSCFAs), e.g., isobutyric and isovaleric acid, are generated by fermentation of branched amino acids, generated from undigested protein reaching colon. However, BSCFAs have been sparsely investigated when referring to effects on energy metabolism. Here we primarily investigate the effects of isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid on glucose and lipid metabolism in primary rat and human adipocytes. BSCFAs inhibited both cAMP-mediated lipolysis and insulin-stimulated de novo lipogenesis at 10 mM, whereas isobutyric acid potentiated insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by all concentrations (1, 3 and 10 mM) in rat adipocytes. For human adipocytes, only SCFAs inhibited lipolysis at 10 mM. In both in vitro models, BSCFAs and SCFAs reduced phosphorylation of hormone sensitive lipase, a rate limiting enzyme in lipolysis. In addition, BSCFAs and SCFAs, in contrast to insulin, inhibited lipolysis in the presence of wortmannin, a phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase inhibitor and OPC3911, a phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor in rat adipocytes. Furthermore, BSCFAs and SCFAs reduced insulin-mediated phosphorylation of protein kinase B. To conclude, BSCFAs have effects on adipocyte lipid and glucose metabolism that can contribute to improved insulin sensitivity in individuals with disturbed metabolism.
Audience Effect Alters Male Mating Preferences in Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata)

The social environment of animals strongly influences the mating preferences of both the choosing and the observing individuals. Notably, there is recent evidence that polygamous males decrease their selectivity when being observed by competitors in order to direct their rivals’ attention away from their true interest and, consequently, reduce sperm competition risk. Yet, other mechanisms, whose importance remains unexplored, could induce similar effects. In monogamous species with mutual choice, particularly, if males adjust their selectivity according to the risk of being rejected by their preferred mate, they should as well become less selective when potential rivals are present. Here, we investigated whether the presence of bystanders modifies male mating preferences when the risk of sperm competition is low, by carrying out mate-choice experiments with male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) whose preferences for two females were measured twice: with and without an audience. We found that the presence of potential rivals had no effect on the males’ choosiness. However, with an audience, they spent more time with the female that was considered as the less attractive one in the control condition. These findings support the hypothesis that monogamous males alter their mate choice decisions in the presence of a male audience to reduce the risk of remaining unpaired. Thus, our results indicate that several explanations can account for the changes in male preferences due to the presence of competitors and highlight the importance of assessing the relative role of each mechanism potentially involved, to be able to make conclusions about the effect of an audience on signal evolution.
The HIV/AIDS Vaccine Candidate MVA-B Administered as a Single Immunogen in Humans Triggers Robust, Polyfunctional, and Selective Effector Memory T Cell Responses to HIV-1 Antigens

ABSTRACT Attenuated poxvirus vectors expressing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antigens are considered promising HIV/AIDS vaccine candidates. Here, we describe the nature of T cell immune responses induced in healthy volunteers participating in a phase I clinical trial in Spain after intramuscular administration of three doses of the recombinant MVA-B-expressing monomeric gp120 and the fused Gag-Pol-Nef (GPN) polyprotein of clade B. The majority (92.3%) of the volunteers immunized had a positive specific T cell response at any time postvaccination as detected by gamma interferon (IFN-γ) intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assay. The CD4+ T cell responses were predominantly Env directed, whereas the CD8+ T cell responses were similarly distributed against Env, Gag, and GPN. The proportion of responders after two doses of MVA-B was similar to that obtained after the third dose of MVA-B vaccination, and the responses were sustained (84.6% at week 48). Vaccine-induced CD8+ T cells to HIV-1 antigens after 1 year were polyfunctional and distributed mainly within the effector memory (TEM) and terminally differentiated effector memory (TEMRA) T cell populations. Antivector T cell responses were mostly induced by CD8+ T cells, highly polyfunctional, and of TEMRA phenotype. These findings demonstrate that the poxvirus MVA-B vaccine candidate given alone is highly immunogenic, inducing broad, polyfunctional, and long-lasting CD4 and CD8 T cell responses to HIV-1 antigens, with preference for TEM. Thus, on the basis of the immune profile of MVA-B in humans, this immunogen can be considered a promising HIV/AIDS vaccine candidate.
Rate-Dependent Effects of Vernakalant in the Isolated Non-Remodeled Canine Left Atria Are Primarily Due to Block of the Sodium Channel: Comparison With Ranolazine and dl-Sotalol

Background— Several clinical trials have shown that vernakalant is effective in terminating recent onset atrial fibrillation (AF). The electrophysiological actions of vernakalant are not fully understood. Methods and Results— Here we report the results of a blinded study comparing the in vitro canine atrial electrophysiological effects of vernakalant, ranolazine, and dl-sotalol. Action potential durations (APD50,75,90), effective refractory period (ERP), post repolarization refractoriness (PRR), maximum rate of rise of the action potential (AP) upstroke (Vmax), diastolic threshold of excitation (DTE), conduction time (CT), and the shortest S1-S1 permitting 1:1 activation (S1-S1) were measured using standard stimulation and microelectrode recording techniques in isolated normal, non-remodeled canine arterially perfused left atrial preparations. Vernakalant caused variable but slight prolongation of APD90 (P=not significant), but significant prolongation of APD50 at 30 &mgr;mol/L and rapid rates. In contrast, ranolazine and dl-sotalol produced consistent concentration- and reverse rate-dependent prolongation of APD90. Vernakalant and ranolazine caused rate-dependent, whereas dl-sotalol caused reverse rate-dependent, prolongation of ERP. Significant rate-dependent PRR developed with vernakalant and ranolazine, but not with dl-sotalol. Other sodium channel-mediated parameters (ie, Vmax, CT, DTE, and S1-S1) also were depressed significantly by vernakalant and ranolazine, but not by dl-sotalol. Only vernakalant elevated AP plateau voltage, consistent with blockade of ultrarapid delayed rectified potassium current and transient outward potassium current. Conclusions— In isolated canine left atria, the effects of vernakalant and ranolazine were characterized by use-dependent inhibition of sodium channel-mediated parameters, and those of dl-sotalol by reverse rate-dependent prolongation of APD90 and ERP. This suggests that during the rapid activation rates of AF, the INa blocking action of the mixed ion channel blocker vernakalant takes prominence. This mechanism may explain vernakalant's anti-AF efficacy.
Aspirin Response and Failure in Cerebral Infarction

Background and Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the biological effect of aspirin as measured by the inhibition of platelet aggregation in patients taking aspirin for stroke prevention and in patients with acute stroke. Methods We administered increasing doses of aspirin (325,650,975, and 1,300 mg daily) to 113 patients for stroke prevention and measured the inhibition of platelet aggregation in these patients and in 33 patients with acute stroke taking aspirin before stroke onset. Results Eighty-five patients on ≤325 and six on ≥650 mg aspirin daily had complete inhibition of platelet aggregation. Increase of the dose by 325 mg in nine of the 22 patients with partial inhibition of platelet aggregation produced complete inhibition in five patients at 650 mg and in one at 975 mg. At 1,300 mg, three patients still had only partial inhibition of platelet aggregation (aspirin resistance). Of the 33 inpatients with acute stroke, 24 had platelet aggregation studies done before further administration of aspirin. Of these, 19 had complete inhibition of platelet aggregation and three had partial inhibition, with production of complete inhibition of platelet aggregation at dose escalation; one patient was aspirin-resistant and the other noncompliant. Conclusions How the inhibition of platelet aggregation relates to stroke prevention remains unclear. The ability of aspirin and the dose required to inhibit platelet aggregation may depend upon the individual.
Serum and liver concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1beta following administration of carbon tetrachloride to male rats.

Inflammatory cytokines are recognized as early mediators of tissue damage and repair. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of carbon tetrachloride administration on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) concentrations in serum and liver of rats. Administration of 0.2 ml/kg, i.p., of CCl4 to male Fischer 344 rats caused modest increases in serum levels of both cytokines; elevations of TNF-alpha were statistically significant at 4 and 12 h, and elevations of IL-1beta were statistically significant at 24 h. Although CCl4 produced substantial increases in liver IL-1beta concentrations (more than 3-fold), levels of TNF-alpha were not affected. Treatment with 0.1, 0.32 or 1.0 ml/kg of CCl4 produced dose-dependent increases in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) activities, but serum cytokine concentrations were not dose-dependent and did correspond with serum ALT and SDH activities. The results suggest that IL-1beta production in rat liver is stimulated by hepatotoxic doses of CCl4. Production of TNF-alpha may also be induced, but the source of TNF-alpha in serum could be a tissue or organ other than liver.