Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physiological Concentrations of Dopamine Inhibit the Proliferation and Cytotoxicity of Human CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells in vitro: A Receptor-Mediated Mechanism

Objective: Dopamine, a catecholamine neurotransmitter, influences growth and proliferation of lymphocytes. Pharmacological doses of dopamine have been shown to modulate T cell functions significantly, but no information is available on the effect of physiological concentrations of circulating dopamine on CD4+ and CD8+ T cell functions. This information may be of importance since significantly elevated plasma dopamine levels were observed in humans during uncoping stress, and suppression of T cell functions during stress is a well-known phenomenon. However, the mechanism inducing the suppression of T cell functions during stress is not yet clear. In the present investigation, we evaluated the effect of the dopamine level attained in the plasma of individuals with uncoping stress on the proliferation and cytotoxicity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in vitro. Methods: T cell subpopulations were separated by panning. The effect of dopamine on IL-2-induced cell proliferation in vitro was evaluated by [3H]thymidine incorporation and cytotoxicity by 51Cr release, receptors by radioligand binding, cAMP by an assay kit and apoptosis by DNA fragmentation. Results: At these elevated physiological concentrations, dopamine was found to inhibit significantly the proliferation and cytotoxicity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in vitro. This dopamine-mediated inhibition of proliferation was more marked on CD8+ T cells than on CD4+ T cells. The underlying mechanism was found to be D1 class of dopamine-receptor-mediated stimulation of intracellular cAMP. Conclusion: Results may be of significance to understand the role of peripheral dopamine in human neuroimmune communication in terms of physiological homeostasis in health and disease.
Biodegradation of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Macrophages through Respiratory Burst Modulation

The biodegradation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) may be one of major determinants of the toxic outcomes in exposed individuals. In this study, we employed a macrophage/monocyte model, Raw264.7, to investigate the feasibility of regulating the biodegradation of three types of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) (pristine, ox-, and OH-SWCNTs) by respiratory burst modulation. An artificial fluid mimicking the enzymatic reactions of respiratory burst was constituted to reveal the role of respiratory burst played in SWCNT biodegradation. The biodegradation of SWCNTs were characterized by Raman, ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Our results showed significantly accelerated biodegradation of ox-SWCNTs and OH-SWCNTs in macrophages activated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), which could be prevented by N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), whereas p-SWCNTs were resistant to biodegradation. Similar tendencies were observed by using the in vitro enzymatic system, and the degradation rates of these SWCNTs are in the order of OH-SWCNTs > ox-SWCNTs >> p-SWCNTs, suggesting a pivotal role of respiratory burst in accelerating the biodegradation of SWCNTs and that defect sites on SWCNTs might be a prerequisite for the biodegradation to occur. Our findings might provide invaluable clues on the development of intervention measurements for relieving the side effects of SWCNTs and would help to design safer SWCNT products with higher biodegradability and less toxicity.
Sentiment Analysis of Reviews: Should we analyze writer intentions or reader perceptions?

Many sentiment-analysis methods for the classification of reviews use training and test-data based on star ratings provided by reviewers. However, when reading reviews it appears that the reviewers’ ratings do not always give an accurate measure of the sentiment of the review. We performed an annotation study which showed that reader perceptions can also be expressed in ratings in a reliable way and that they are closer to the text than the reviewer ratings. Moreover, we applied two common sentiment-analysis techniques and evaluated them on both reader and reviewer ratings. We come to the conclusion that it would be better to train models on reader ratings, rather than on reviewer ratings (as is usually done).
The physiological basis of mental images.

An important hypothesis in neurophysiology supposes that sensory information is encoded in spatial patterns of neural activity. A test of this hypothesis in rabbits reveals that the spatial pattern of encephalographic (EEG) activity of the olfactory bulb depends less on odor than on expectation of odor. Analysis of the structure and nonlinear dynamics of the olfactory system suggests that the EEG manifests a neural activity pattern that is an active filter corresponding to what ethologists call a "chemical search image. " This first glimpse at the physical aspect of what may be a primitive form of mental image allows us to infer some of its properties. It is self-organized; input destabilizes the bulb, and the event runs a course that is shaped by the initial conditions, the sensory input, the chemical state of the bulb from centrifugal input, and the record of past input embedded in synaptic connections. The event is analog, but not an analog of input. Its intensity pattern exists in two dimensions but it is not a picture. Its bases in feedback and resonance make it connotative and ascriptive, not denotative or descriptive. The neural-mental image is an operator, not an operand. It gathers neurons by the millions into coherent activity and creates information, which it transmits to the next stage in the brain, thereby helping to shape behavior. It cannot be understood without reference to both what the subject does and what is done to it. Its function in the bulb is to regulate olfactory input with minimal and nonspecific centrifugal control.
How to Retain Your Customers: The Impact of Consumer Trust and Commitment in E-marketplaces

Retaining your customers is important for E-sellers to survive in the intensified competitive e-marketplace. We approach this issue from the perspective of “continuance intention”, a behavior intention that describes the willingness of customers to continue transacting with sellers. Drawing upon the trust-commitment theory, as well as institution-based trust factors, we examine two types of trustees, EC platform and individual E-sellers, in the process of maintaining customers in e-marketplaces. A model is theoretically developed to understand customers’ continuance intention to do business with specific E-sellers on an EC platform. An empirical study was conducted in three public universities to validate the model. The results suggest that affective commitment and calculative commitment jointly nurture customers’ continuance intention. In addition, five factors of institution-based trust strongly influence trust in EC platform, and then transfers to trust in individual E-sellers.
New Doppler ultrasound signs improve the non-invasive diagnosis of cirrhosis or severe liver fibrosis

Objectives To determine whether ultrasound and, particularly, new Doppler signs increased the diagnostic accuracy of the most accurate, currently available markers for the diagnosis of cirrhosis or severe fibrosis. Methods Thirty-two clinical (n = 4), biochemical (n = 11) and Doppler ultrasound (n = 17) variables were recorded in 106 patients with compensated chronic liver disease. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated by discriminant analysis; first, globally, using all variables then by stepwise analysis. Results (A) Diagnosis of cirrhosis. Using Doppler ultrasound, diagnostic accuracy was 92% (95% confidence interval 81–98) globally, and 89% (76–95) with three variables (spleen length, hepatic vein spectrum and maximum portal vein velocity). Based upon clinical signs, diagnostic accuracy was 86% (77–92) globally, and 85% (76–91) with one variable (firm liver). Based upon biochemical parameters, diagnostic accuracy was 80% (70–88) globally, and 81% (72–88) with two variables (hyaluronate and platelet count). Based upon all parameters, diagnostic accuracy was 91% (79–96.5) globally, and 91% (79–96.5) with four variables (firm liver, hyaluronate, platelet and hepatic vein spectrum). On an intention to diagnose basis, Doppler ultrasound provided a lower independent contribution due to missing data. (B) In the diagnosis of severe fibrosis, diagnostic accuracy was 83% (69–92) globally, and 77% (62–87) with one variable. Conclusions Cirrhosis can be correctly diagnosed in approximately 90% of patients with compensated chronic liver disease using a few Doppler ultrasound signs including a new sign, the hepatic vein spectrum. Doppler ultrasound could be used for the first line diagnosis and biochemical markers, such as hyaluronate, in patients with missing Doppler ultrasound data.
A new constraint on the cosmological background of relativistic particles

We have derived new bounds on the relativistic energy density in the Universe from cosmic microwave background (CMB), large scale structure (LSS), and type Ia supernova (SNI-a) observations. In terms of the effective number of neutrino species, a bound of Nν = 4.2−1.7+1.2 is derived at 95% confidence. This bound is significantly stronger than previous determinations, mainly due to the inclusion of new CMB and SNI-a observations. The absence of a cosmological neutrino background (Nν = 0) is now excluded at 5. 4σ. The value of Nν is compatible with the value derived from big bang nucleosynthesis considerations, marking one of the most remarkable successes of the standard cosmological model. In terms of the cosmological helium abundance, the CMB, LSS, and SNI-a observations predict a value of 0.240 < Y < 0.281.
Process and Policy: Resource‐Bounded NonDemonstrative Reasoning

This paper investigates the appropriateness of formal dialectics as a basis for nonmonotonic reasoning and defeasible reasoning that takes computational limits seriously. Rules that can come into conflict should be regarded as policies, which are inputs to deliberative processes. Dialectical protocols are appropriate for such deliberations when resources are bounded and search is serial.
Leukocyte-specific protein 1 interacts with DC-SIGN and mediates transport of HIV to the proteasome in dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) capture and internalize human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 through C-type lectins, including DC-SIGN. These cells mediate efficient infection of T cells by concentrating the delivery of virus through the infectious synapse, a process dependent on the cytoplasmic domain of DC-SIGN. Here, we identify a cellular protein that binds specifically to the cytoplasmic region of DC-SIGN and directs internalized virus to the proteasome. This cellular protein, leukocyte-specific protein 1 (LSP1), was defined biochemically by immunoprecipitation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. LSP1 is an F-actin binding protein involved in leukocyte motility and found on the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane. LSP1 interacted specifically with DC-SIGN and other C-type lectins, but not the inactive mutant DC-SIGNΔ35, which lacks a cytoplasmic domain and shows altered virus transport in DCs. LSP1 diverts HIV-1 to the proteasome. Down-regulation of LSP1 with specific small interfering RNAs in human DCs enhanced HIV-1 transfer to T cells, and bone marrow DCs from lsp1−/− mice also showed an increase in transfer of HIV-1BaL to a human T cell line. Proteasome inhibitors increased retention of viral proteins in lsp1+/+ DCs, and substantial colocalization of virus to the proteasome was observed in wild-type compared with LSP1-deficient cells. Collectively, these data suggest that LSP1 protein facilitates virus transport into the proteasome after its interaction with DC-SIGN through its interaction with cytoskeletal proteins.
Evidence for a systemic immune activation during depression: results of leukocyte enumeration by flow cytometry in conjunction with monoclonal antibody staining

SYNOPSIS Several studies have reported a suppressed immune function (e.g. blast transformation) during depression. In an attempt to define the cellular basis of the reported immune disorders, the present study investigates the leukocyte cell subset profile of minor, simple major, and melancholic depressives, versus normal controls. We have counted the number of white blood cells (WBC) lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes, while the number of lymphocyte (sub)populations has been identified by phenotype, using monoclonal antibody staining in conjunction with flow cytometry. The following cell surface antigens were determined: CD3+ (pan T), CD19+ (pan B), CD4+ (T helper/inducer), CD8+ (T suppressor/cytotoxic), CD4+CD45RA (T-memory cells), CD4+CD45RA+ (T-virgin cells), surface Ig, class II MHC HLA-DR, and CD25+ (IL-2 receptor). By means of pattern recognition methods, we established distinct immunological changes in minor and simple major depressed and in melancholic patients, setting them apart from the reference population. Depression, per se, is characterized by a higher number of WBC, monocytes, class II MHC HLA-DR, and memory T cells. Minor and simple major depressives exhibited an increased T helper/suppressor ratio. Increased numbers of IL-2 receptor bearing cells are a hallmark for major depression. Melancholics showed an increased number of pan T, pan B and T suppressor/cytotoxic cells. It was concluded that the established immune cell profile of depressed patients may point towards the existence of a systemic immune activation during that illness.
A Framework for an R to OpenGL Interface for Interactive 3D graphics

We describe a framework for providing interactive 3D graphics in R. The key component is the interface between R and OpenGL, which provides a set of commands for specifying objects and operations that enable three-dimensional graphical visualization. An alpha version of the software, the core of which is written in ANSI-compliant C++, is available for testing and feedback (Win32 and X11). An important goal in the design has been to facilitate portability to different operating systems. An object-oriented approach is used throughout. A simple and intuitive user interface for navigating in 3D using a pointer device is provided by moving the viewer around the surface of a sphere that surrounds the relevant space; the view is focussed on the centre of the sphere. The focus of the current implementation is to manipulate 3D “primitives” (for example points, lines, triangles, quads, spheres, text, etc.) which constitute the building blocks for more complex 3D objects (such as histograms, perspective plots, scatterplot, axes, etc. ). A number of attractive OpenGL features, such as multiple lighting, fog, texture-mapping, alpha-blending (transparency) and side-dependent rendering are accessible directly from R via functions that control shapes and appearance. Further functions control deviceand-scene management (opening closing windows, clearing selected objects), environment setup (setting lights, bounding boxes, viewpoints) and export (making and exporting snapshots). The calling sequences are similar to those used in the existing and familiar R graphics functions, such as persp. ∗Institut fur Statistik und Okonometrie, University of Gottingen DSC 2003 Working Papers 2
A review on pedestrian detection techniques based on Histogram of Oriented gradient feature

Locally normalized Histogram of Oriented Gradient (HOG) algorithm originally proposed by Dalal & Triggs presents excellent results for pedestrian detection. However, as the demand of accuracy and speed in real-time application increase, the detection speed and robustness of this method is becoming insufficient. Over the years, improvements have been proposed by different researchers in order to meet the requirement of the robustness and processing speed. This includes the improvement in the ways HOG feature is extracted, combination of HOG feature with other image features and using part based detection method. This paper reviews the current advancement in HOG features for human detection.
A robust training strategy against extraneous acoustic variations for spontaneous speech recognition

In the paper, we propose a robust training strategy to deal with extraneous acoustic variations for conversational speech recognition. This strategy generalizes speaker adaptive training, where HMM parameter transformations are used to normalize the extraneous variations in the training data according to a set of pre-defined conditions. Then a compact model and the associated prior p.d. f. ’s of transformation parameters are estimated using the maximum likelihood criterion. In the testing phase, the compact model and the prior p.d. f. ’s are used to search for the unknown word sequence based on Bayesian Prediction Classification. The proposed strategy is evaluated in a Switchboard task to deal with pronunciation variations in spontaneous speech recognition. Preliminary results show moderate word error rate reduction over a well-trained baseline system under identical experimental conditions.
Fatty acid-binding protein from embryonic chick retina resembles mammalian heart fatty acid-binding protein.

PURPOSE Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABP) make up a family of cytosolic proteins of unknown function found in many tissues, including the embryonic chick retina. To further understand its function in the developing retina, the protein from embryonic chicks was purified and characterized. The tissue distribution of this protein in embryonic and hatched chicks was determined using polyclonal antiserum prepared against this FABP. METHODS FABP was purified by column chromatography and native gel electrophoresis; denaturing gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing were used to characterize the protein. Polyclonal antiserum prepared in rabbits demonstrated immunoreactivity with a single protein from retina cytosolic fraction. Tissue distribution of retinal FABP was determined by immunoblotting and localization of FABP in eyes of E15 and adult chickens was studied by immunohistochemistry on paraffin sections. RESULTS Retinal FABP has a molecular weight of approximately 15,100 and an isoelectric point of 4.4. An immunoreactive protein of the same apparent molecular weight is present in the brain, heart, adipose tissue, and red muscle; a trace of FABP is present in white muscle, lung, and liver. There is no apparent cross-reactivity with a protein in intestine or in retinal pigment epithelium/choroid. Immunostaining of sections of the adult eye at the region of the ora serrata revealed little staining of the retina, but intense staining of the nonpigmented layer of the ciliary epithelium. CONCLUSIONS Retinal FABP resembles the heart subtype of FABP (H-FABP) with respect to molecular weight, isoelectric point, and tissue distribution. However, as retinas do not use fatty acids for beta-oxidation, a process H-FABP is believed to participate in, there must be some other function for FABP in the chick eye, especially at early stages of development. In the mature retina, this function is apparently not needed, because there is little staining of the retina in adults but obvious immunoreactivity in the ciliary epithelium, implying some other role for FABP in this tissue.
Molecular Diagnosis of Fragile X Syndrome in Subjects with Intellectual Disability of Unknown Origin: Implications of Its Prevalence in Regional Pakistan

Fragile-X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited intellectual disability (ID) and affects 0.7–3.0% of intellectually compromised population of unknown etiology worldwide. It is mostly caused by repeat expansion mutations in the FMR1 at chromosome Xq27.3. The present study aimed to develop molecular diagnostic tools for a better detection of FXS, to assess implementation of diagnostic protocols in a developing country and to estimate the prevalence of FXS in a cohort of intellectually disabled subjects from Pakistan. From a large pool of individuals with below normal IQ range, 395 subjects with intellectual disability of unknown etiology belonging to different regions of the country were recruited. Conventional-PCR, modified-PCR and Southern blot analysis methods were employed for the detection of CGG repeat polymorphisms in the FMR1 gene. Initial screening with conventional-PCR identified 13 suspected patients. Subsequent investigations through modified PCR and Southern blot analyses confirmed the presence of the FMR1 mutation, suggesting a prevalence of 3.5% and 2.8% (mean 3.3%) among the male and female ID patients, respectively. These diagnostic methods were further customized with the in-house conditions to offer robust screening of referral patients/families for diagnostics and genetic counseling. Prescreening and early diagnosis are crucial for designing a prudent strategy for the management of subjects with ID. Outcome of the study recommends health practitioners for implementation of molecular based FXS diagnosis in routine clinical practice to give a better care for patients similar to the ones included in the study.
Exploring Patterns and Effects of Aerosol Quantity Flag Anomalies in MODIS Surface Reflectance Products in the Tropics

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) has been supplying a continuous data stream since 2000, lending to detailed time series analysis of the global terrestrial environment. This paper explores a quality anomaly present in the tropics relating to the aerosol quantity flag in the daily MODIS surface reflectance products (MOD09 series) and the 16-day Vegetation Index (VI) composite products (MOD13 series) derived from the daily observations. While the anomaly is to some extent a known issue reported by the MODIS Land Quality Assessment group, very little is known about the scale of the issue, the nature and patterns of its occurrence, and potential consequences for data analysis, which explains why it is not adequately recognized throughout the literature. Two tropical regions were used to explore the anomaly and demonstrate the effects it has on the quality of selected MODIS products—one in the South American Amazon, the other in mainland Southeast Asia. The origins of the anomaly are described qualitatively in detail, and quantitative estimates of affected evergreen forest area in the MOD13A1 time series are made using blue band thresholding. The anomaly originates in the 1 km State dataset, whereby, under certain conditions, high aerosol quantity pixels are given a low aerosol quantity label, resulting in poor quality pixels with "good" quality labels. MODIS users are advised to investigate whether this anomaly has significant implications for their respective analysis and to consider the effects it may have on past studies.
Output-feedback control of uncertain nonlinear systems using direct adaptive fuzzy cerebellar model articulation controller

A direct adaptive fuzzy cerebellar model articulation controller (CMAC) is developed for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems. Only the system output measurement is available for feedback. The adjustable weighting factors of the direct adaptive fuzzy CMAC are updated online by an adaptive law. Strictly positive real Lyapunov theory is used to verify the stability of the closed-loop system, and the proposed control scheme guarantees that all signals involved are bounded and the system output asymptotically tracks the desired output. Finally, simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.