Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design of a Protective Single-Dose Intranasal Nanoparticle-Based Vaccine Platform for Respiratory Infectious Diseases

Despite the successes provided by vaccination, many challenges still exist with respect to controlling new and re-emerging infectious diseases. Innovative vaccine platforms composed of adaptable adjuvants able to appropriately modulate immune responses, induce long-lived immunity in a single dose, and deliver immunogens in a safe and stable manner via multiple routes of administration are needed. This work describes the development of a novel biodegradable polyanhydride nanoparticle-based vaccine platform administered as a single intranasal dose that induced long-lived protective immunity against respiratory disease caused by Yesinia pestis, the causative agent of pneumonic plague. Relative to the responses induced by the recombinant protein F1-V alone and MPLA-adjuvanted F1-V, the nanoparticle-based vaccination regimen induced an immune response that was characterized by high titer and high avidity IgG1 anti-F1-V antibody that persisted for at least 23 weeks post-vaccination. After challenge, no Y. pestis were recovered from the lungs, livers, or spleens of mice vaccinated with the nanoparticle-based formulation and histopathological appearance of lung, liver, and splenic tissues from these mice post-vaccination was remarkably similar to uninfected control mice.
The Measurement of Poverty

The Census Bureau released a report in April 1982 showing that if in-kind income from government programs--food stamps, subsidized school lunches, Public Housing, Medicare and Medicaid--is valued and added to money incomes, then poverty in 1979 was substantially less than the 11.1 percent of persons the Census had previously reported. This paper assesses the implications of that report for the measurement of poverty and for transfer policy. Then some evidence on the present level and recent trend in poverty is presented. This is followed by a discussion of how current antipoverty policy differs from that of the past fifteen years. Finally, some projections of poverty into the mid-1980s are offered. The Measurement of Poverty: Implications for Antipoverty Policy INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY The Bureau of the Census (1982) has released a report showing that if in-kind income from government programs--food stamps, subsidized school lunches, public housing, Medicare and Medicaid--is valued and added to money incomes, then poverty in 1979 was substantially less than the 11.1 percent of persons the Census had previously reported. 1 The resulting estimates of the percentage of persons who are poor range from 6.4 to 9.8 percent, depending on which of the transfer benefits are included and how they are valued. 2 Many analysts concerned about the well-being of the poor have criticized the report, viewing it as an attempt to demonstrate that poverty is no longer a serious problem. Such skepticism is unwarranted for several reasons. First, it has long been recognized that programs like food stamps and subsidized housing increase the purchasing power of the poor even if they do not alter their cash incomes, and hence, the Census Bureau's official poverty statistics. Similar estimates for earlier years have been widely cited in the academic literature (Smeeding, 1975; Hoagland, 1982). 3 Thus, the Census Bureau has merely responded to academic and Congressional criticism of the official statistics. Second, rationales for reducing social welfare expenditures are seriously challenged by the findings. The report's lowest estimate of poverty is derived by valuing all of the in-kind transfers listed above at their market cost and adding them to reported cash incomes. That 13.6 million people, 6.4 percent of the population, remain poor refutes the
Genetic Algorithm for Variable and Samples Selection in Multivariate Calibration Problems

One of the main problems of quantitative analytical chemistry is to estimate the concentration of one or more species from the values of certain physicochemical properties of the system of interest. For this it is necessary to construct a calibration model, i.e., to determine the relationship between measured properties and concentrations. The multivariate calibration is one of the most successful combinations of statistical methods to chemical data, both in analytical chemistry and in theoretical chemistry. Among used methods can cite Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), the Nonlinear Partial Least Squares (N-PLS), Principal Components Regression (PCR) and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR). In addition of multivariate calibration methods algorithms of samples selection are used. These algorithms choose a subset of samples to be used in training set covering adequately the space of the samples. In other hand, a large spectrum of a sample is typically measured by modern scanning instruments generating hundreds of variables. Search algorithms have been used to identify variables which contribute useful information about the dependent variable in the model. This paper proposes a Genetic Algorithm based on Double Chromosome (GADC) to do these tasks simultaneously, the sample and variable selection. The obtained results were compared with the well-known algorithms for samples and variable selection Kennard-Stone, Partial Least Square and Successive Projection Algorithm. We showed that the proposed algorithm can obtain better calibrations models in a case study involving the determination of content protein in wheat samples.
Evaluation of a Similarity-based Approach to Customer-adaptive Electronic Sales Dialogs

Personalized consultation in large-scale businesses like found in electronic shops is getting more and more important. To provide customers with adequate product information, an automated, dynamic, customer-adaptive dialog has to be carried on that simulates a real sales talk between a sales person and a customer. The task of an electronic sales system is to gain very quickly as much information as possible from the customer. In this context, many approaches for dynamic question selection in automated dialogs only concentrate on dialog length using an information gain measure like the entropy approach. Neither the customers’ product knowledge nor the quality of the produced dialogs is taken into account. Here, we present a new measure for question selection in combination with consideration of the costs a question causes dependent on the respective customer class. Detailed evaluations show that this approach produces dialogs that reach the expected retrieval result with fewer questions.
Understanding Patterns of International Scientific Collaboration

International scientific collaboration has increased both in volume and importance. In this article, the authors study the interpretation of macro-level data on international co authorship collaboration. They address such questions as how one might explain country- to-country differences in the rates of international coauthorship, networks of interna tional scientific collaboration among countries, and patterns of international collaboration in scientific fields. Attention is drawn to cognitive, social, historical, geopolitical, and economic factors as potential determinants of the observed patterns. They present a methodology that gives one a measure, independent of size, of countries'propensities to collaborate internationally.
Cross-domain and cross-category emotion tagging for comments of online news

In many online news services, users often write comments towards news in subjective emotions such as sadness, happiness or anger. Knowing such emotions can help understand the preferences and perspectives of individual users, and therefore may facilitate online publishers to provide more relevant services to users. Although building emotion classifiers is a practical task, it highly depends on sufficient training data that is not easy to be collected directly and the manually labeling work of comments can be quite labor intensive. Also, online news has different domains, which makes the problem even harder as different word distributions of the domains require different classifiers with corresponding distinct training data. This paper addresses the task of emotion tagging for comments of cross-domain online news. The cross-domain task is formulated as a transfer learning problem which utilizes a small amount of labeled data from a target news domain and abundant labeled data from a different source domain. This paper proposes a novel framework to transfer knowledge across different news domains. More specifically, different approaches have been proposed when the two domains share the same set of emotion categories or use different categories. An extensive set of experimental results on four datasets from popular online news services demonstrates the effectiveness of our proposed models in cross-domain emotion tagging for comments of online news in both the scenarios of sharing the same emotion categories or having different categories in the source and target domains.
Second-Order Consistencies

In this paper, we propose a comprehensive study of second-order consistencies (i.e., consistencies identifying inconsistent pairs of values) for constraint satisfaction. We build a full picture of the relationships existing between four basic second-order consistencies, namely path consistency (PC), 3-consistency (3C), dual consistency (DC) and 2-singleton arc consistency (2SAC), as well as their conservative and strong variants. Interestingly, dual consistency is an original property that can be established by using the outcome of the enforcement of generalized arc consistency (GAC), which makes it rather easy to obtain since constraint solvers typically maintain GAC during search. On binary constraint networks, DC is equivalent to PC, but its restriction to existing constraints, called conservative dual consistency (CDC), is strictly stronger than traditional conservative consistencies derived from path consistency, namely partial path consistency (PPC) and conservative path consistency (CPC). After introducing a general algorithm to enforce strong (C)DC, we present the results of an experimentation over a wide range of benchmarks that demonstrate the interest of (conservative) dual consistency. In particular, we show that enforcing (C)DC before search clearly improves the performance of MAC (the algorithm that maintains GAC during search) on several binary and non-binary structured problems.
A New Approach of Hot-Carrier Degradation and Lifetime Prediction for N-MOS Transistors

In this paper the degradation in the drain current and threshold voltage of the N-MOS transistors are observed by operating the device under stress voltage conditions. Using the observation results the effect of hot-carriers was investigated statistically and a new statistical method for modeling was proposed to be an alternative to those given in the literature. The observed and the estimated values of the degradation are compared
Engaging the motor system with masked orthographic primes: A kinematic analysis

We report two experiments in which participants categorized target words (e.g., BLOOD or CUCUMBER) according to their canonical colour of red or green by pointing to a red square on the left or a green square on the right. Unbeknownst to the participants, the target words were preceded by the prime words “red” or “green”. We found that the curvature of participants’ pointing trajectories was greater following incongruent primes (green–BLOOD) than it was following congruent primes, indicating that individuals initiated a response on the basis of the prime and then corrected that response mid-flight. This finding establishes that the processing of masked orthographic stimuli extends down to include the formulation of an overt manual response.
Obsessive, prolific artistic output following subarachnoid hemorrhage

The emergence of artistic skills in the context of brain damage has been documented in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). 1 In this report, we describe an artist whose skills emerged following a sudden-onset brain injury without any associated dementia or impaired verbal abilities. This may represent a window into an alternative mechanism of artistic creativity to that illustrated by patients with FTD. A 51-year-old right-handed man was admitted to the hospital (January 2001) with a sudden onset of severe headache. Brain CT on admission showed blood in the anterior parts of the basal cisterns. Angiography demonstrated bilateral middle cerebral artery aneurysms, their irregularity suggested that they were the cause of the hemorrhage. A CT taken 16 days after admission demonstrated no evidence of focal injury. Our patient worked as a builder and reports that he had a fiery temper and aggressive personality. At no point was he involved with or interested in the creative arts. Following the subarachnoid hemorrhage he presented with severe depression and complained of a “split-mind disorder. ” He also claims to have had difficulty in shaving the left side of his face and his very early drawings show some signs of left hemispatial neglect (figure, A …
Platelet hyperfunction is decreased by additional aspirin loading in patients presenting with myocardial infarction on daily aspirin therapy

Objective:Currently 162-325 mg aspirin is recommended for the treatment of acute coronary syndrome. We tested the effect of an additional loading dose of 250 mg aspirin at the onset of acute coronary syndrome in patients who were already on chronic therapy with 100 mg aspirin. Design:This was a prospective trial in patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome that included a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial subgroup. Setting:An emergency department in a tertiary care center. Patients:Consecutive patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome were enrolled, including a cohort already on chronic aspirin therapy. Interventions:Patients received an intravenous infusion of 250 mg aspirin. Measurements and Main Results:Platelet function was measured with a platelet function analyzer in 234 patients before and after aspirin infusion. Aspirin infusion prolonged collagen epinephrine closure times in almost all patients. Aspirin infusion further lowered thromboxane B2 levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome who were on chronic aspirin therapy before admission. Concomitantly, collagen epinephrine closure times increased by 22% from 223 secs (95% confidence interval, 192-255 secs) before to 273 secs (95% confidence interval, 252-294 secs) after aspirin infusion (p < .01). Eleven patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction on daily aspirin therapy (53%) displayed platelet hyperfunction (collagen epinephrine closure times <193 secs). Additional aspirin infusion further decreased platelet function in these patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (30% prolongation of collagen epinephrine closure times; p < .01), and only two patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction still displayed platelet hyperfunction (p = .02). Conclusion:Aspirin loading in the emergency room further reduced thromboxane B2 levels and further inhibited platelet function in many patients with acute coronary syndrome already on 100 mg aspirin.
Draft Genome Sequence of Brazilian Escherichia coli Uropathogenic Strain E2

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli is a common pathogen recovered from cystitis infections. In this report, we announce the draft genome sequence of strain E2 isolated from the urine specimen from a female patient in South Brazil. The genome assembly has 5,081,209 bp, a G+C content of 50.57%, and virulence factors associated with both enteroaggregative and uropathogenic E. coli strains.
A Robust and Efficient Parser for Non-Canonical Inputs

We present in this paper a parser relying on a constraint-based formalism called Property Grammar. We show how constraints constitute an efficient solution in parsing non canonical material such as spoken language transcription or e-mails. This technique, provided that it is implemented with some control mechanisms, is very efficient. Some results are presented, from the French parsing evaluation campaign EASy.
Disability images and the art of theorizing normality

This paper addresses the power of images of disability as a way to examine how such images can be read as reproducing normality. By image of disability, I mean any appearance of disability made through the social act of interpretation. In this paper, I conduct an interpretive sociological analysis of common and even mundane everyday images of disability, including the universal icon for access. I aim to demonstrate the necessary ‘art’ of theorizing the connection between images of disability and the reproduction of normality. I call this pursuit an art since through theorizing how and why disability appears as it does in everyday life we can create a livelier, provocative, and perhaps deliberately different image of disability. This paper, then, makes normality something to wonder about by theorizing familiar disability images that are already part of Western collective existence.
Production of Selenoprotein P (Sepp1) by Hepatocytes Is Central to Selenium Homeostasis*

Background: Sepp1 transports selenium, but its complete role in selenium homeostasis is not known. Results: Deletion of Sepp1 in hepatocytes increases liver selenium at the expense of other tissues and decreases whole-body selenium by increasing excretion. Conclusion: Sepp1 production by hepatocytes retains selenium in the organism and distributes it from the liver to peripheral tissues. Significance: Sepp1 is central to selenium homeostasis. Sepp1 is a widely expressed extracellular protein that in humans and mice contains 10 selenocysteine residues in its primary structure. Extra-hepatic tissues take up plasma Sepp1 for its selenium via apolipoprotein E receptor-2 (apoER2)-mediated endocytosis. The role of Sepp1 in the transport of selenium from liver, a rich source of the element, to peripheral tissues was studied using mice with selective deletion of Sepp1 in hepatocytes (Sepp1c/c/alb-cre+/− mice). Deletion of Sepp1 in hepatocytes lowered plasma Sepp1 concentration to 10% of that in Sepp1c/c mice (controls) and increased urinary selenium excretion, decreasing whole-body and tissue selenium concentrations. Under selenium-deficient conditions, Sepp1c/c/alb-cre+/− mice accumulated selenium in the liver at the expense of extra-hepatic tissues, severely worsening clinical manifestations of dietary selenium deficiency. These findings are consistent with there being competition for metabolically available hepatocyte selenium between the synthesis of selenoproteins and the synthesis of selenium excretory metabolites. In addition, selenium deficiency down-regulated the mRNA of the most abundant hepatic selenoprotein, glutathione peroxidase-1 (Gpx1), to 15% of the selenium-replete value, while reducing Sepp1 mRNA, the most abundant hepatic selenoprotein mRNA, only to 61%. This strongly suggests that Sepp1 synthesis is favored in the liver over Gpx1 synthesis when selenium supply is limited, directing hepatocyte selenium to peripheral tissues in selenium deficiency. We conclude that production of Sepp1 by hepatocytes is central to selenium homeostasis in the organism because it promotes retention of selenium in the body and effects selenium distribution from the liver to extra-hepatic tissues, especially under selenium-deficient conditions.
Comprehensive Survey of SNPs in the Affymetrix Exon Array Using the 1000 Genomes Dataset

Microarray gene expression data has been used in genome-wide association studies to allow researchers to study gene regulation as well as other complex phenotypes including disease risks and drug response. To reach scientifically sound conclusions from these studies, however, it is necessary to get reliable summarization of gene expression intensities. Among various factors that could affect expression profiling using a microarray platform, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in target mRNA may lead to reduced signal intensity measurements and result in spurious results. The recently released 1000 Genomes Project dataset provides an opportunity to evaluate the distribution of both known and novel SNPs in the International HapMap Project lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). We mapped the 1000 Genomes Project genotypic data to the Affymetrix GeneChip Human Exon 1.0ST array (exon array), which had been used in our previous studies and for which gene expression data had been made publicly available. We also evaluated the potential impact of these SNPs on the differentially spliced probesets we had identified previously. Though the 1000 Genomes Project data allowed a comprehensive survey of the SNPs in this particular array, the same approach can certainly be applied to other microarray platforms. Furthermore, we present a detailed catalogue of SNP-containing probesets (exon-level) and transcript clusters (gene-level), which can be considered in evaluating findings using the exon array as well as benefit the design of follow-up experiments and data re-analysis.
Excitatory and Inhibitory Actions of Isoflurane on the Cholinergic Ascending Arousal System of the Rat

Background:The cholinergic arousal systems are known to critically regulate the state of consciousness. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of isoflurane on the inhibitory or excitatory neurotransmitters efflux in important nuclei within the cholinergic arousal system using in vivo intracerebral microdialysis. Methods:The efflux of glutamate, &ggr;-aminobutyric acid (GABA), or acetylcholine in the posterior hypothalamus (PH), the basal forebrain (BF), and the somatosensory cortex (S1BF) of rats was detected using intracerebral microdialysis under an awake condition and at 0.5–2.0 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) isoflurane anesthesia. The intrabasalis perfusion of &agr;-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) and N-methyl-d-aspartate on the cortical acetylcholine effluxes was also examined under both conditions. Results:Isoflurane had no influence on the glutamate and GABA efflux in the PH, whereas in the BF, it dose-dependently increased glutamate efflux and decreased GABA efflux. A transient increase in glutamate efflux at 1.0 MAC and a decrease in GABA at 0.5–1.5 MAC were observed in the S1BF. Isoflurane dose-dependently decreased acetylcholine efflux in the S1BF. Perfusion of the BF with AMPA increased acetylcholine efflux in the S1BF with electroencephalographic activation during 0.75 MAC isoflurane anesthesia, suggesting an inhibitory action of isoflurane on AMPA receptors in the BF. However, N-methyl-d-aspartate had no effect on these parameters. Conclusion:Isoflurane induces both excitatory and inhibitory actions in the cholinergic arousal system. The predominant inhibitory action of isoflurane over its excitatory action at the BF would result in the decrease in the acetylcholine efflux in the S1BF.
Constant-Gm , Rail-to-Rail Input Stage Operational Amplifier in 0 . 35 μ m CMOS

This paper introduces a fully differential Rail-to-Rail amplifier which uses an input differential pair in the whole range of the common mode voltage of input signal and consequently results in low frequency response. To obtain a gm-constant transconductor with Rail-to-Rail at the first stage, we constantly lowered the CMOS Techniques. This consequently lowered the voltage supply and increased the signal of noise ratio. This Opamp is designed in 0. 35μm level 49 (BSIM3v3) CMOS process and simulated in HSPICE.
Minutia-pair spectral representations for fingerprint template protection

We introduce a new fixed-length representation of fingerprint minutiae, for use in template protection. It is similar to the ‘spectral minutiae’ representation of Xu et al. but is based on coordinate differences between pairs of minutiae. Our technique has the advantage that it does not discard the phase information of the spectral functions. We show that the fingerprint matching performance (Equal Error Rate) is comparable to that of the original spectral minutiae representation, while the speed is improved.