Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nef-M1, a peptide antagonist of CXCR4, inhibits tumor angiogenesis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in colon and breast cancers

The Nef-M1 peptide competes effectively with the natural ligand of CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), stromal cell-derived factor 1-alpha, to induce apoptosis and inhibit growth in colon cancer (CRC) and breast cancer (BC). Its role in tumor angiogenesis, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulation, key steps involved in tumor growth and metastasis, are unknown. We evaluated the angioinhibitory effect of Nef-M1 peptide and examined its role in the inhibition of EMT in these cancers. Colon (HT29) and breast (MDA-MB231) cancer cells expressing CXCR4 were studied in vitro and in xenograft tumors propagated in severe combined immunodeficient mice. The mice were treated intraperitoneally with Nef-M1 or scrambled amino acid sequence of Nef-M1 (sNef-M1) peptide, a negative control, starting at the time of tumor implantation. Sections from tumors were evaluated for tumor angiogenesis, as measured by microvessel density (MVD) based on immunostaining of endothelial markers. In vitro tumor angiogenesis was assessed by treating human umbilical vein endothelial cells with conditioned media from the tumor cell lines. A BC cell line (MDA-MB 468) which does not express CXCR4 was used to study the actions of Nef-M1 peptide. Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses assessed the effect of Nef-M1 on tumor angiogenesis and EMT in both tumors and cancer cells. Metastatic lesions of CRC and BC expressed more CXCR4 than primary lesions. It was also found that tumors from mice treated with sNef-M1 had well established vascularity, while Nef-M1 treated tumors had very poor vascularization. Indeed, the mean MVD was lower in tumors from Nef-M1 treated mice than in sNef-M1 treated tumors. Nef-M1 treated tumor has poor morphology and loss of endothelial integrity. Although conditioned medium from CRC or BC cells supported HUVEC tube formation, the conditioned medium from Nef-M1 treated CRC or BC cells did not support tube formation. Western blot analyses revealed that Nef-M1 effectively suppressed the expression of VEGF-A in CRC and BC cells and tumors. This suggests that Nef-M1 treated CRC and BC cells are more consistent with E-cadherin signature, and thus appears more epithelial in nature. Our data indicate that Nef-M1 peptide inhibits tumor angiogenesis and the oncogenic EMT process. Targeting the chemokine receptor, CXCR4, mediated pathways using Nef-M1 may prove to be a novel therapeutic approach for CRC and BC.
How to protect ADS-B: Confidentiality framework for future air traffic communication

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADSB) is one of the crucial technologies for future “e-Enabled” aircrafts. Basically, ADS-B uses avionics in the e-Enabled aircrafts to broadcast essential flight data such as the aircraft call sign, altitude, heading, and other extra positioning information. On one hand ADS-B brings significant benefits to the aviation industry, but on the other hand it could pose some security concern as channels between ground controllers and aircrafts for ADS-B communications are not secured and the ADS-B messages could be captured by random individuals who might own ADS-B receivers. For certain situations, those ADS-B data can be very critical, especially when communications occur among military and mission-critical civil airplanes. These communications need to be protected from any interruption and eavesdropping. The challenge here is to construct an encryption scheme fast enough for very frequent encryption and flexible enough for effective key management. To address these issues, we propose a Staged Identity Based Encryption (SIBE) scheme, which is an extended version of hybrid Identity-Based Encryption. Based on the the proposed SIBE scheme, we introduce a new confidentiality framework for future e-Enabled aircrafts with ADS-B capability.
Effectiveness of Using Quantified Intermarket Influence for Predicting Trading Signals of Stock Markets

This paper investigates the use of influence from foreign stock markets (intermarket influence) to predict the trading signals, buy, hold and sell, of the of a given stock market. Australian All Ordinary Index was selected as the stock market whose trading signals to be predicted. Influence is taken into account as a set of input variables for prediction. Two types of input variables were considered: quantified (weighted) input variables and their un-quantified counterparts. Two criteria was applied to determine the trading signals: one is based on the relative returns while the other uses the conditional probability that a given relative return is greater than or equals zero. The prediction of trading signals was done by Feedforward neural networks, Probabilistic neural networks and so called probabilistic approach which was proposed in past studies. Results suggested that using quantified intermarket influence as input variables to predict trading signals, is more effective than using their un-quantified counterparts.
Sexual Dysfunction, Depression and Quality of Life in Patients With HIV Infection

Objective: In Iran, psychological aspect of HIV infection is poorly understood. The purposes of this study were to evaluate sexual dysfunction, depression rate and health-related quality of life and evaluate the association between sexual dysfunction, depression and quality of life in a group of HIV+ subjects in Shiraz, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 278 male HIV-positive patients who had referred to voluntary counseling and testing and methadone maintenance therapy centers were recruited based on convenience sampling from May to October 2010. The purpose of the study was explained and interested individuals provided informed consent and completed validated questionnaires [Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36(, Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory (BMSFI), Beck Depression Inventory-short form(BDI)] to assess overall health related quality of life (HRQOL), sexual function, and depression. Results: Average age of the participants was 34.9 ± 10.7 years and 37.5% were severely depressed. Ordinal logistic regression indicated that sexual drive (-0.15; CI: -0.28 to -0.027), ejaculation (-1.91, CI: -2.71 to -1.12), and problem assessment (-0.098, CI: -0.17 to -0.02) had significant effect on depression type. Depression was significantly correlated with poorer quality of life in all domains. Pearson’s correlation coefficients between the BMSFI and the domains of SF-36 indicated that sexual drive (r= 0.215), ejaculation (r= 0.297) and problem assessment (r= 0.213) were significantly correlated with emotional wellbeing. Conclusion: Sexual function and depression showed association with quality of life. Effective treatment of depression and sexual function may improve the quality of life of HIV-infected person. Declaration of interest: None.
&bgr;-Adrenergic Activation Initiates Chamber Dilatation in Concentric Hypertrophy

Abstract—It is uncertain whether chronic &bgr;-adrenoreceptor (&bgr;-AR)–activation in hypertension could initiate the progression from compensated left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy to pump dysfunction. It is also uncertain if this effect is through adverse LV remodeling (chamber dilatation with wall thinning and pump dysfunction) or intrinsic myocardial contractile dysfunction. We evaluated the effect of 5 months of isoprenaline (0.02 mg · kg−1 · d−1) on hemodynamics, LV wall thickness, cavity size, and interstitial characteristics in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with compensated LV hypertrophy. In the absence of myocyte necrosis, changes in volume preload, pressure afterload, and heart rate or decreases in baseline systolic myocardial elastance (load independent measure of intrinsic myocardial contractility), ISO produced a right shift in LV diastolic pressure–volume (P-V) relations (chamber dilatation), a decrease in LV wall thickness despite a further increase in LV weight in SHR, LV pump dysfunction (right shift in LV systolic P-V relations), and deleterious interstitial remodeling (increments in total and noncrosslinked myocardial collagen concentrations). The isoprenaline-induced LV geometric, chamber performance, and interstitial changes were similar to alterations noted during decompensation in older SHR. In summary, in the absence of tissue necrosis and baseline intrinsic myocardial contractile dysfunction, chronic &bgr;-AR activation induces interstitial and chamber remodeling and, hence, pump dysfunction. These data suggest that chronic sympathetic activation initiates the progression from compensated concentric LV hypertrophy in hypertension to cardiac dysfunction primarily through deleterious cardiac remodeling rather than intrinsic myocardial contractile dysfunction.
Building a Transparent Batching Layer for Storm Building a Transparent Batching Layer for Storm Hp Labs Technical Report Hpl-2013-69

Storm is a distributed intra-node-parallel stream processing system built for very low latency processing. One major drawback of Storm is its relatively low throughput. In order to increase Storm's throughput, we designed a batching layer for Storm that is able to improve Storm's throughput significantly. In order to get a high user acceptance, we did not modify Storm but build the batching layer "on top" of it. The layer is transparent to the Storm system as well as to the user code, i.e., the user-defined functions. Thus, already developed Storm programs (so-called topologies) can benefit from our batching layer without modification. In this document, we describe the design of the batching layer and provide inside into some implementation details. Abstract Storm is a distributed intra-node-parallel stream processing system built for very low latency processing. One major drawback of Storm is its relatively low throughput. In order to increase Storm's throughput, we designed a batching layer for Storm that is able to improve Storm's throughput significantly. In order to get a high user acceptance, we did not modify Storm but build the batching layer " on top " of it. The layer is transparent to the Storm system as well as to the user code, i.e., the user-defined functions. Thus, already developed Storm programs (so-called topologies) can benefit from our batching layer without modification. In this document, we describe the design of the batching layer and provide inside into some implementation details.
The origin of primary nitrogen in galaxies

We investigate the role of stellar axial rotation on the nitrogen nucleosynthesis at low metallicities Z . For this purpose, we have calculated models with initial masses between 2 and 60 $M_\odot$ at $Z=0.00001$ from the zero age sequence to the phase of thermal pulses for models below or equal to 7 $M_\odot$, and up to the end of central C–burning for the more massive stars. The models include all the main physical effects of rotation. We show that intermediate mass stars with rotation naturally reproduce the occurrence and amount of primary nitrogen in the early star generations in the Universe. We identify two reasons why rotating models at low Z produce primary 14 N: 1) Since the stars lose less angular momentum, they rotate faster. Simultaneously, they are more compact, thus differential rotation and shear mixing are stronger. 2) The H–burning shell has a much higher temperature and is thus closer to the core, which favours mixing between the two.
Real-Time Stochastic Processing Networks with Concurrent Resource Requirements

Stochastic Processing Networks (SPNs) can be used to model communication networks, manufacturing systems, service systems, etc. We consider a real-time SPN where tasks generate jobs with strict deadlines according to their traffic patterns. Each job requires the concurrent usage of some resources to be processed. The processing time of a job may be stochastic, and may not be known until the job completes. Finally, each task may require that some portion of its tasks to be completed on time. In this paper, we study the problem of verifying whether it is feasible to fulfill the requirements of tasks, and of designing scheduling policies that actually fulfill the requirements. We first address these problems for systems where there is only one resource. Such systems are analog to ones studied in a previous work, and, similar to the previous work, we can develop sharp conditions for feasibility and scheduling policy that is feasibility-optimal. We then study systems with two resources where there are jobs that require both resources to be processed. We show that there is a reduction method that turns systems with two resources into equivalent single-resource systems. Based on this method, we can also derive sharp feasibility conditions and feasibility-optimal scheduling policies for systems with two resources.
Sucesso escolar de crianças e jovens institucionalizadas: intervenção do assistente social

III Índice: Figuras, Gráficos, Tabelas e Quadros . 8 Siglas e abreviaturas . 10 Introdução . 11 Capítulo I: ENQUADRAMENTO TEÓRICO . 13 1. Crianças e Jovens Institucionalizadas . 13 1.1. A institucionalização de crianças e jovens em Portugal . 13 1.2. Sistema de proteção à criança/jovem em risco . 16 1.3. Modalidades de acolhimento . 20 2. Sucesso Escolar . 22 2.1. O papel da escola . 22 2.2. A escola e as crianças/jovens institucionalizadas . 23 3. Intervenção do Assistente Social . 27 3.1. A proteção da criança/jovem institucionalizada: uma problemática do Serviço Social . 27 3.2. Modelos de intervenção em LIJ . 30 Capítulo II: METODOLOGIA DE INVESTIGAÇÃO . 33 4. Metodologia . 33 4.1. Campo empírico . 33 4.2. Universo . 33 4.3. Estratégia de investigação . 34 Sucesso Escolar de Crianças e Jovens Institucionalizadas: Intervenção do Assistente Social 7 4.4. Técnicas de recolha e tratamento de dados . 35 5. Apresentação e análise de dados . 37 5.1. Caracterização das instituições . 37 5.2. Identificação . 39 5.2.1. Crianças e jovens institucionalizadas . 39 5.2.2. Técnicos dos LIJ . 43 5.2. 3. Diretores de Turma . 44 5.3. A criança/jovem e a escola . 45 5.3.1. Percurso escolar . 45 5.3.2. Inserção escolar . 53 5.3. 3. Sucesso escolar . 58 5.3. 4. Relação entre o LIJ e a Escola . 67 5.4. Apoio prestado pelo LIJ às crianças e jovens . 69 5.4.1. O papel do Assistente Social num LIJ . 72 5.5. Perceções, sonhos e ambições das crianças e jovens . 75 Conclusão . 79 Bibliografia . 85 Anexos . 90 Anexo 1: Carta institucional . 90 Anexo 2: Inquérito por questionário às crianças e jovens . 91 Anexo 3: Guião de entrevista aos Técnicos dos LIJ . 97 Anexo 4: Guião de entrevista aos Diretores de Turma . 99 Anexo 5: Currículo Vitae . 101 Sucesso Escolar de Crianças e Jovens Institucionalizadas: Intervenção do Assistente Social
Reflected light from 3D exoplanetary atmospheres and simulation of HD 209458b

We present radiation transfer models that demonstrate that reflected light levels from 3D exoplanetary atmospheres can be more than 50 per cent lower than those predicted by models of homogeneous or smooth atmospheres. Compared to smooth models, 3D atmospheres enable starlight to penetrate to larger depths resulting in a decreased probability for the photons to scatter back out of the atmosphere before being absorbed. The increased depth of penetration of starlight in a 3D medium is a well-known result from theoretical studies of molecular clouds and planetary atmospheres. For the first time we study the reflectivity of 3D atmospheres as a possible explanation for the apparent low geometric albedos inferred for extrasolar planetary atmospheres. Our models indicate that 3D atmospheric structure may be an important contributing factor to the non-detections of scattered light from exoplanetary atmospheres. We investigate the self-shadowing radiation transfer effects of patchy cloud cover in 3D scattered light simulations of the atmosphere of HD 209458b. We find that, for a generic planet, geometric albedos can be as high as 0.45 in some limited situations, but that in general the geometric albedo is much lower. We conclude with some explanations on why extrasolar planets are likely dark at optical wavelengths.
A Mobile Peer to Peer Content Dissemination Model to Minimize Load on Cellular Network

Cellular networks do not have enough capacity to accommodate the exponential growth of mobile data requirement. Data can be delivered between mobile terminals through peer-to-peer WiFi communications (e.g. WiFi direct), but contacts between mobile terminals are frequently disrupted because of the user's mobility. This paper proposes a Subscribe-and-Send architecture, under which a user subscribes contents on the Content Service Provider (CSP) but does not download the subscribed contents. Some users who have downloaded the contents deliver the contents to the subscribers through WiFi opportunistic peer-to-peer communications. Numerical simulations provide an evaluation of the traffic offloading performance of Subscribe-and-Send. Simulation results show that Subscribe-and-Send architecture can offload 72%~90% cellular network data traffic load.
Analysis of a One-Dimensional Nonlocal Quasi-Continuum Method

The accuracy of the quasi-continuum method is analyzed using a series of models with increasing complexity. It is demonstrated that the existence of the ghost force may lead to large errors. It is also shown that the ghost force removal strategy proposed by E, Lu, and Yang leads to a version of the quasi-continuum method with uniform accuracy.
Shiga Toxin 1, as DNA Repair Inhibitor, Synergistically Potentiates the Activity of the Anticancer Drug, Mafosfamide, on Raji Cells

Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1), produced by pathogenic Escherichia coli, targets a restricted subset of human cells, which possess the receptor globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer/CD77), causing hemolytic uremic syndrome. In spite of the high toxicity, Stx1 has been proposed in the treatment of Gb3Cer/CD77-expressing lymphoma. Here, we demonstrate in a Burkitt lymphoma cell model expressing this receptor, namely Raji cells, that Stx1, at quasi-non-toxic concentrations (0.05–0.1 pM), inhibits the repair of mafosfamide-induced DNA alkylating lesions, synergistically potentiating the cytotoxic activity of the anticancer drug. Conversely, human promyelocytic leukemia cells HL-60, which do not express Gb3Cer/CD77, were spared by the toxin as previously demonstrated for CD34+ human progenitor cells, and hence, in this cancer model, no additive nor synergistic effects were observed with the combined Stx1/mafosfamide treatment. Our findings suggest that Stx1 could be used to improve the mafosfamide-mediated purging of Gb3Cer/CD77+ tumor cells before autologous bone marrow transplantation.
Interaction anxiousness and associated factors among college students

Objective To explore epidemiology of anxiety among college students and to explore possible risk factors.Methods The Interaction Anxiousness Scale,Self-Esteem Scale,Intolerance of Uncertainty Questionnaire,Meta-Worry Questionnaire were used to investigate the Interaction Anxiousness and associated psychological information in 905 undergraduates.ResultsThere were significant differences of Interaction Anxiousness scores in genders,family economic status and prior residence place.Analysis showed that Interaction Anxiousness was significantly negatively correlated with parental educational level and self-esteem and positively related to intolerance of uncertainty and meta-worry.Path analysis showed that self-esteem had the important direct effect on the Interaction Anxiousness,and also had indirect effects on it through the effects of intolerance of uncertainty and meta-worry.The intolerance of uncertainty had the most impact on Interaction Anxiousness.Conclusion Intolerance of uncertainty,meta-worry and self-esteem could influence Interaction Anxiousness.Self-esteem also has indirect effect on interaction anxiousness through intolerance of uncertainty and meta-worry.
Design and experimental investigation of a full bridge series-parallel resonant inverter

This paper presents 250W, 50 KHz LCC resonant inverter having Efficiencies greater than 90% were obtained down to resistive loads of 50%. Efficiencies greater than 75% were obtained at significantly reduced loads (11%). Operation above resonance was utilized to increase the efficiency and maintain zero voltage switching (ZVS) for varied loads. Total harmonic distortion (THD) of less than 10% was achieved for all resistive loads. The evaluation version of PSIM was used to model the LCC topology for varied loads and LCC configurations. An LCC Resonant Inverter is proposed for applications in high frequency distributed AC power systems. The advantages of the LCC topology are low total harmonic distortion (THD) high efficiency and the ability to handle varying loads.
Can a multi-model approach improve hydrological ensemble forecasting? A study on 29 French catchments using 16 hydrological model structures

Abstract. An operational hydrological ensemble forecasting system based on a meteorological ensemble prediction system (M-EPS) coupled with a hydrological model searches to capture the uncertainties associated with the meteorological prediction to better predict river flows. However, the structure of the hydrological model is also an important source of uncertainty that has to be taken into account. This study aims at evaluating and comparing the performance and the reliability of different types of hydrological ensemble prediction systems (H-EPS), when ensemble weather forecasts are combined with a multi-model approach. The study is based on 29 catchments in France and 16 lumped hydrological model structures, driven by the weather forecasts from the European centre for medium-range weather forecasts (ECMWF). Results show that the ensemble predictions produced by a combination of several hydrological model structures and meteorological ensembles have higher skill and reliability than ensemble predictions given either by one single hydrological model fed by weather ensemble predictions or by several hydrological models and a deterministic meteorological forecast.
Family Income and Child Outcomes:The 1990 Cocoa Price Shock in Cote d'Ivoire

We study the drastic cut of the administered cocoa producer price in 1990 Cote d’Ivoire and investigate the extent to which cocoa producers’ children suffered from this severe income shock in terms of school enrollment, increased labor, height stature and sickness. Comparing pre-crisis (1986- 1988) data and post-crisis (1993) data, we propose a difference-in-difference within-village strategy in order to identify the causal effect of family income on children outcomes. We find a strong impact of family income variation for the four variables we examine.
Dynamic Diversity Control in Genetic Algorithm for Extended Exploration of Solution Space in Multi-Objective TSP

Premature convergence in the process of genetic algorithm (GA) for searching solution is frequently faced and the evolutionary processes are often trapped in a local but not global optimum. This phenomenon occurs when the population of a genetic algorithm reaches a suboptimal state that the genetic operators can no longer produce offspring with a better performance than their parents. In the literature, plenty of work has been investigated to introduce new methods and operators in order to overcome this essential problem of genetic algorithms. As these methods and the belonging operators are rather problem specific in general. In this research, we observe the progress of the evolutionary process, and when the diversity of the population dropping below a threshold level then artificial chromosomes with high diversity will be introduced to increase the average diversity level thus to ensure the process can jump out the local optimum. The proposed approach is implemented independently of the problem characteristics and can be applied to improve the global convergence behavior of genetic algorithms. We eventually apply this approach to solve Multi-Objective (MO) Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) which were combined KroA with KroB, KroC, KroD and KroE to be trade-off problems. The result shows the solution quality to validate the adaptability of DDCGA for solving such problems.