Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Emerging Infectious Diseases

What Is Antigenic Variation? Immunodominant antigens are commonly used to distinguish strains of a species of pathogens. These antigens can vary from strain to strain to the extent that the strain-specific immune responses of vertebrate reservoirs determine the population structure of the pathogen. One such strain-defining antigen is the OspC outer membrane protein of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi in the northeastern United States (1). Different strains express different OspC surface proteins in the rodent reservoirs of B. burgdorferi. The single type of ospC gene in a cell does not vary during infections of immunocompetent mammals (2). OspC sequences are diverse, and the immune responses to them appear to provide for balancing selection. This diversity between strains in an immunodominant antigen is often called antigenic variation. True antigenic variation, however, arises in a single clone or genotype in a single host and “involves the loss, gain, or change in a particular antigenic group, usually by loss, gain, or change in one of the polypeptide or polysaccharide antigens. ” (3). In most cases, this change is reversible, i.e., the information for producing the original antigen is archived in the cell and can be used in the future. The adaptive immune system of an infected vertebrate selects against the original infecting serotype, but that specific response is ineffective against new variants. One example of antigenic variation occurs in B. hermsii, a cause of tickborne relapsing fever (4), which has a protein homologous to the OspC protein of B. burgdorferi. However, instead of a single version of this gene, each cell of B. hermsii has several copies of silent genes (alleles) that may be expressed during infection. The sequences of these alleles within a single strain of B. hermsii vary as widely as the ospC alleles of different strains of B. burgdorferi. We review infectious pathogens that undergo clonal antigenic variation and, like B. hermsii, depend on arthropod vectors for transmission. These pathogens are not free-living and do not form spores or have equivalent means for survival outside an animal. Vertical transmission in the arthropod or the vertebrate either does not occur or is too rare to maintain the pathogen in nature. Without access to another vertebrate host through an arthropod, the pathogen will die with the host. We restrict this review to situations in which an immune response against an antigen is synonymous with selection for another allele in the population. Many pathogens have repetitivegene families. A multimember family may Antigenic Variation in Vector-Borne Pathogens
Cognitive considerations in the design of multi-modal input systems

of multimodal systems from the ground up (see articles by Cohen and McGee and Pieraccini et al. in this section). This article discusses six main categories of guidelines and represents a preliminary effort to establish principles for multimodal interaction design. A more detailed discussion of these guidelines will be available in [6]. Requirements Specification. Critical to the design of any application are the user requirements and system capabilities for the given domain. Here, we provide some general considerations for multi-modal system requirements specification. Design for broadest range of users and contexts of use. Designers should become familiar with users' psychological characteristics (for example, cognitive abilities, motivation), level of experience, domain and task characteristics, cultural background , as well as their physical attributes (for example, age, vision, hearing). An application will be valued and accepted if it can be used by a wide population and in more than one manner. Thus, multi-modal designs can aid in extending the range of potential users and uses, such as when redundancy of speech and keypad input enables an application to be used in dark and/or noisy environments. Designers should support the best modality or combination of modalities anticipated in changing environments (for example, private office vs. driving a car). Address privacy and security issues. Users should be recognized by an interface only according to their explicit preference and not be remembered by default. In situations where users wish to maintain privacy by avoiding speech input or output, multimodal interfaces that use speech should also provide a non-speech mode to prevent others from overhearing private conversations. Non-speech alterna-I n today's pursuit of more transparent, flexible, and efficient human-computer interaction, a growing interest in multimodal interface design has emerged [5]. The goals are twofold: to achieve an interaction closer to natural human-human communication , and to increase the robustness of the interaction by using redundant or complementary information. New interaction paradigms and guidelines are necessary to facilitate the design
Airborne Ultrasonic Tactile Display Brain-computer Interface Paradigm

We study the extent to which contact-less and airborne ultrasonic tactile display (AUTD) stimuli delivered to the palms of a user can serve as a platform for a brain computer interface (BCI) paradigm. Six palm positions are used to evoke combined somatosensory brain responses, in order to define a novel contact-less tactile BCI. A comparison is made with classical attached vibrotactile transducers. Experiment results of subjects performing online experiments validate the novel BCI paradigm.
Desensitizing toothpastes for treatment of dentin hypersensitivity

Dentin hypersensitivity is a common condition characterized by short, sharp pain in response to external stimuli. Several over-the-counter treatment aids and clinical methods are available to manage the same. Desensitizing tooth pastes appear to be the most common method of management of dentin hypersensitivity. Potassium salts, strontium salts, stannous salts and fluorides have been evaluated as components of desensitizing pastes and commercial formulations are available. The latest in this regard are the bioglass technology (NovaMin) and arginine based toothpastes (ProArgin technology) which have shown good results in clinical trials. This review discusses the desensitizing toothpastes used for treatment of dentin hypersensitivity.
A Novel Comprehensive Network Security Assessment Approach

Network security assessment is critical to the survivability and reliability of distributed systems. In this paper, we propose a novel assessment approach that supports automatic vulnerability assessment utilizing Bayesian attack graphs. We also integrate several major vulnerability database into a comprehensive database and build a customized vulnerability scanner to assist attack graph generation. Different from existing solutions that manually assign probabilities to a Bayesian attack graph, we design a set of quantitative metrics to automatically analyze vulnerability and evaluate the proposed approach with real-world examples. Our results show the promising capability of the proposed approach in further improving assessment quality.
An inverse kinematics method based on muscle dynamics

Inverse kinematics is one of the most popular method in computer graphics to control 3D multi-joint characters. In this paper, we propose an inverse kinematics algorithm that takes the characteristics of human bodies into account. The mausculoskeletal model is used to solve the redundancy of the human body. Using our method, feasible human body motion can be obtained simply by specifying the motion of several end effectors or body segments. Since muscle dynamics is taken into account, the configuration space of the human body is automatically calculated, and unrealistic postures can be avoided. It is also possible to tune the motion by changing the external load applied to the muscles. Using our method, the amount of work by the animators is reduced to create natural human animation.
Evaluating SNMP, NETCONF, and RESTful web services for router virtualization management

In network virtualization environments (NVEs), the physical infrastructure is shared among different users (or service providers) who create multiple virtual networks (VNs). As part of VN provisioning, virtual routers (VRs) are created inside physical routers supporting virtualization. Currently, the management of NVEs is mostly realized by proprietary solutions. Heterogeneous NVEs (i.e., with different equipment and technologies) are difficult to manage due to the lack of standardized management solutions. As a first step to achieve management interoperability, good performance, and high scalability, we implemented, evaluated, and compared four management interfaces for physical routers that host virtual ones. The interfaces are based on SNMP (v2c and v3), NETCONF, and RESTful Web Services, and are designed to perform three basic VR management operations: VR creation, VR retrieval, and VR removal. We evaluate these interfaces with regard to the following metrics: response time, CPU time, memory consumption, and network usage. Results show that the SNMPv2c interface is the most suitable one for small NVEs without strict security requirements and NETCONF is the best choice to compose a management interface to be deployed in more realistic scenarios, where security and scalability are major concerns.
A case study of a system level approach to exploration of queuing management schemes for input queue packet switches

A new system-level exploration method called architectural probing is proposed. It embodies the widely accepted concepts of behavior/architecture codesign, and allows one to selectively gather functional information from a functional diagram and feed it into the architectural diagram allowing one to reduce the amount of details that are simulated at the architectural level, while still maintaining a high degree of accuracy. The effectiveness of this novel method is demonstrated by a case study of exploring data queuing management schemes for packet switches with input queues. As shown in the experimental results, the method enables us to evaluate the impact of different data management algorithms and different system parameters such as DMA size and packet payload size, in terms of power and performance tradeoff by estimating the average energy per bit transferred, on each architectural component, such as memories, buses and bus arbiters, involved in the implementation of the queuing management system.
Human adaptations for the visual assessment of strength and fighting ability from the body and face

Selection in species with aggressive social interactions favours the evolution of cognitive mechanisms for assessing physical formidability (fighting ability or resource-holding potential). The ability to accurately assess formidability in conspecifics has been documented in a number of non-human species, but has not been demonstrated in humans. Here, we report tests supporting the hypothesis that the human cognitive architecture includes mechanisms that assess fighting ability—mechanisms that focus on correlates of upper-body strength. Across diverse samples of targets that included US college students, Bolivian horticulturalists and Andean pastoralists, subjects in the US were able to accurately estimate the physical strength of male targets from photos of their bodies and faces. Hierarchical linear modelling shows that subjects were extracting cues of strength that were largely independent of height, weight and age, and that corresponded most strongly to objective measures of upper-body strength—even when the face was all that was available for inspection. Estimates of women's strength were less accurate, but still significant. These studies are the first empirical demonstration that, for humans, judgements of strength and judgements of fighting ability not only track each other, but accurately track actual upper-body strength.
Flow-Level QoE of Video Streaming in Wireless Networks

The Quality of Experience (QoE) of streaming service is often degraded by frequent playback interruptions. To mitigate the interruptions, the media player prefetches streaming contents before starting playback, at a cost of initial delay. We study the QoE of streaming from the perspective of flow dynamics. First, a framework is developed for QoE when streaming users join the network randomly and leave after downloading completion. We model the distribution of prefetching delay using partial differential equations (PDEs), and the probability generating function of playout buffer starvations using ordinary differential equations (ODEs) for constant bit-rate (CBR) streaming. The explicit form starvation probabilities and mean start-up delay are obtained by use of a matrix function approach. Second, we extend our framework to characterize the throughput variation caused by opportunistic scheduling at the base station, and the playback variation of variable bit-rate (VBR) streaming. Our study reveals that the flow dynamics is the fundamental reason of playback starvation. The QoE of streaming service is dominated by the first moments such as the average throughput of opportunistic scheduling and the mean playback rate. While the variances of throughput and playback rate have very limited impact on starvation behavior in practice.
Conjugation with the ubiquitin‐related modifier SUMO‐1 regulates the partitioning of PML within the nucleus

The PML protein, identified first as part of the oncogenic PML–RARα chimera in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), concentrates within discrete subnuclear structures, corresponding to some types of nuclear bodies. These structures are disrupted in APL cells, and retinoic acid (RA) can trigger their reorganization, correlating with its therapeutic effect in this type of leukemia. Recently, arsenic trioxide (As2O3) was identified as a potent antileukemic agent which, similarly to RA, induces complete remissions in APL patients. Here we show that, in APL cells, As2O3 triggers rapid degradation of PML–RARα and provokes the restoration of intact nuclear bodies. In non‐APL cells, the ubiquitin‐like protein SUMO‐1 is covalently attached to a subset of wild‐type PML in a reversible and phosphorylation‐dependent manner. The unmodified form of PML is found in the soluble nucleoplasmic fraction, whereas the SUMO‐1‐polymodified forms of PML are compartmentalized exclusively in the PML nuclear bodies. As2O3 administration strikingly increases the pool of SUMO‐1–PML conjugates that, subsequently, accumulate in enlarged nuclear bodies. In contrast to PML–RARα, the overall amount of PML seems to remain unaltered up to 36 h following As2O3 treatment. These findings indicate that the conjugation of PML with SUMO‐1 modulates its intracellular localization and suggest that post‐translational modification by SUMO‐1 may be more generally involved than previously suspected in the targeting of proteins to distinct subcellular structures. They provide additional evidence that the role of ‘ubiquitin‐like’ post‐translational modification is not limited to a degradation signal.
Assessing the Quality of Opinion Retrieval Systems

Due to the complexity of topical opinion retrieval systems, standard measures, such as MAP or precision, do not fully succeed in assessing their performances. In this paper we introduce an evaluation framework based on artificially defined opinion classifiers. Using a Monte Carlo sampling, we perturb a relevance ranking by the outcomes of these classifiers and analyse how the opinion retrieval performance changes. In this way it is possible to assess the performance of an approach to opinion mining from that of the overall system and to clarify how relevance and opinion are affected by each other.
Processable 3-nm thick graphene platelets of high electrical conductivity and their epoxy composites

Graphene platelets (GnPs) are a class of novel 2D nanomaterials owing to their very small thickness (∼3 nm), high mechanical strength and electric conductivity (1460 S cm−1), and good compatibility with most polymers as well as cost-effectiveness. In this paper we present a low-cost processing technique for producing modified GnPs and an investigation of the electrical and mechanical properties of the resulting composites. After dispersing GnPs in solvent N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, a long-chain surfactant (Jeffamine D 2000, denoted J2000) was added to covalently modify GnPs, yielding J2000-GnPs. By adjusting the ratio of GnPs to the solvent, the modified GnPs show different average thickness and thus electrical conductivity ranging from 694 to 1200 S cm−1. To promote the exfoliation and dispersion of J2000-GnPs in a polymeric matrix, they were dispersed in the solvent again and further modified using diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) producing m-GnPs, which were then compounded with an epoxy resin for the development of epoxy/m-GnP composites. A percolation threshold of electrical volume resistivity for the resulting composites was observed at 0.31 vol%. It was found that epoxy/m-GnP composites demonstrated far better mechanical properties than those of unmodified GnPs of the same volume fraction. For example, m-GnPs at 0.25 vol% increased the fracture energy release rate G1c from 0.204 ± 0.03 to 1.422 ± 0.24 kJ m−2, while the same fraction of unmodified GnPs increased G1c to 1.01 ± 0.24 kJ m−2. The interface modification also enhanced the glass transition temperature of neat epoxy from 58.9 to 73.8 °C.
Association between Blood Lipid Levels and Personality Traits in Young Korean Women

Abnormal lipid levels are important etiological factors associated with the development of atherosclerosis and with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Lipid levels are also influenced by lifestyle and behavioral factors, which suggests that personality traits might be related to abnormal lipid profiles. Studies on personality traits and lipid levels are relatively scarce in Korea. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the association between lipid levels and personality traits in young Korean women. A total of 1,701 young Korean women [mean age = 24.9±4.6 years (range 17–39)] who volunteered for personality trait evaluation were recruited for this study. Lipid levels, including total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride, were measured in all subjects after an overnight fast, and a low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level was calculated. The study population was divided into abnormal and normal lipid level groups according to the clinical criteria. Personality traits were measured using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory for the Five-Factor Model of personality. High neuroticism was associated with low HDL cholesterol levels. Low extraversion and openness were associated with high levels of triglyceride. At the facet level, the association between personality and lipid levels were generally consistent. Angry hostility, self-consciousness, vulnerability to stress, activity, and straightforwardness were associated with HDL cholesterol levels. Activity, positive emotion, aesthetics, actions, and deliberation were associated with triglyceride. When applying clinical criteria, conscientiousness was less likely to have abnormal total cholesterol levels. Our results showed that the women with the low HDL cholesterol levels are like to be more neurotic and the hyperglycemic women are prone to lower extraversion and openness in Korea. Understanding the associations between blood lipid levels and personality traits may have a beneficial effect for the managing of dyslipidemia.
Transient Mesenteric Ischemia Leads to Remodeling of Rat Mesenteric Resistance Arteries

Mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. We studied the effect of mesenteric I/R on structural and mechanical properties of rat mesenteric resistance artery (MRA) that, once disrupted, might impact the outcome of this devastating clinical condition. Superior mesenteric artery from Wistar–Kyoto rats was occluded (90 min) and reperfused (24 h). The effect of tezosentan, a dual endothelin (ET)-receptor antagonist, was studied in ischemic (IO) and sham-operated (SO) animals. MRA structure and mechanics were assessed by pressure myography. Nuclei distribution, elastin content and organization, collagen I/III and ET-1 expression, ET-1 plasma levels, superoxide anion (O2⋅−) production, and mRNA levels of NAD(P)H-oxidase subunits were measured. To assess ET-1 effects on O2⋅− production, MRA from non-operated rats were incubated in culture medium with ET-1. Mesenteric I/R increased MRA wall thickness (P < 0.05) and cross-sectional area (P < 0.05) but decreased wall stiffness (P < 0.05). Arterial remodeling was paralleled by enhancement of: (i) collagen I/III expression (P < 0.01), ET-1 expression (P < 0.05), and O2⋅− formation (P < 0.01) in the vessel wall; (ii) number of internal elastic lamina (IEL) fenestrae (P < 0.05); and (iii) plasma levels of ET-1 (P < 0.05). Moreover, ET-1 increased O2⋅− (P < 0.05) production in cultured MRA. Tezosentan prevented hypertrophic remodeling and collagen I/III deposition, and enhanced O2⋅− production, but it did not affect the decreased wall stiffness after mesenteric I/R. These results indicate that 90 min occlusion/24 h reperfusion induces hypertrophic remodeling of MRA linked to ET-1-mediated increase of collagen and O2⋅−. Decreased stiffness may be associated with increased number of IEL fenestrae. The resulting MRA remodeling, initially adaptive, might become maladaptive contributing to the pathology and poor outcome of mesenteric I/R, and might be a valuable treatment target for mesenteric I/R.
Corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete - causes and prevention

Where concrete is of poor or variable quality and the environment aggressive, corrosion of the reinforcement is likely to occur. In this paper the factors causing corrosion and the processes of degradation of the steel and the concrete are discussed. Design detailing, both of the mix and the reinforcement, to minimise the risk of corrosion, are indicated. Finally a case study is considered when it is shown that saline water used for curing and its subsequent permeation into the concrete, was the main factor causing the corrosion. Procedures used for determining the extent of the corrosion and remedial repairs are also discussed.
Intestinal Helminth Infections and Nutritional Status of Children Attending Primary Schools in Wakiso District, Central Uganda

A cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of intestinal helminth infections and nutritional status of primary school children was conducted in the Wakiso district in Central Uganda. A total of 432 primary school children aged 6–14 years were randomly selected from 23 schools. Anthropometric measurements of weight, height, MUAC were undertaken and analyzed using AnthroPlus software. Stool samples were examined using a Kato-Katz method. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) was 22.5%, 5.3% and 18.5% respectively. Males had a threefold risk of being underweight (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.17–9.4, p = 0.011) and 2 fold risk of suffering from MAM (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.21–3.48, p = 0.004). Children aged 10–14 years had a 2.9 fold risk of stunting (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.37–6.16, p = 0.002) and 1.9 risk of MAM (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.07–3.44, p = 0.019). Attending urban slum schools had 1.7 fold risk of stunting (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.03–2.75, p = 0.027). Rural schools presented a twofold risk of helminth infection (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.12–3.32, p = 0.012). The prevalence of helminth infections was (10.9%), (3.1%), (1.9%), (0.2%) for hookworm, Trichuria trichiura, Schistosoma mansoni and Ascaris lumbricoides, respectively. The study revealed that 26.6%, 46% and 10.3% of incidences of stunting, underweight and MAM respectively were attributable to helminth infections.