Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Matrix Field Theory

This thesis studies matrix field theories, which are a special type of matrix models. First, the different types of applications are pointed out, from (noncommutative) quantum field theory over 2-dimensional quantum gravity up to algebraic geometry with explicit computation of intersection numbers on the moduli space of complex curves. The Kontsevich model, which has proved the Witten conjecture, is the simplest example of a matrix field theory. Generalisations of this model will be studied, where different potentials and the spectral dimension (defined by the asymptotics of the external matrix) are introduced. Because they are naturally embedded into a Riemann surface, the correlation functions are graded by the genus and the number of boundary components. The renormalisation procedure of quantum field theory leads to finite UV-limit. We provide a method to determine closed Schwinger-Dyson equations with the usage of Ward-Takahashi identities in the continuum limit. The cubic (Kontsevich model) and the quartic (Grosse-Wulkenhaar model) potentials are studied separately. For the cubic potential, we show that the renormalisation procedure is compatible with topological recursion (TR). This means that the exact results computed by TR coincide perturbatively with the graph expansion renormalised by Zimmermann's forest formula. For the quartic model, the first correlation function (2-point function) is computed exactly. We give hints that the quartic model has structurally the same properties as the hermitian 2-matrix model with genus zero spectral curve.
Routledge handbook of contemporary Malaysia

The evolution of a social group into an ethnic group in a national context is largely the result of a modernist project of nation-state formation, and closely related to power relations; however, competing power relations functioning at different levels, in different periods, produce a plurality of understandings. Hence, ethnic identity is always subject to contestation and renegotiation – evidence of its versatile and adaptive nature. Even so, certain fundamental notions regarding racial and ethnic construction tend to persist, given the habituation of epistemological space. In
Gary Snyder and the Pacific Rim: Creating Countercultural Community

In ""Gary Snyder and the Pacific Rim"", Timothy Gray draws upon previously unpublished journals and letters, as well as his own close readings of Gary Snyder's well-crafted poetry and prose to track the early career of a maverick intellectual whose writings powered the San Francisco Renaissance of the 1950s and 1960s. Exploring various aspects of cultural geography, Gray asserts that this west coast literary community seized upon the idea of a Pacific Rim regional structure, in part to recognize their Orientalist desires and in part to consolidate their opposition to America's cold war ideology, which tended to divide East from West. The geographical consciousness of Snyder's writing was particularly influential, Gray argues, because it gave San Francisco's Beat and hippie cultures a set of physical coordinates by which they could chart their utopian visions of peace and love. Gray's introduction tracks the increased use of ""Pacific Rim discourse"" by politicians and business leaders following World War II. Ensuing chapters analyze Snyder's countercultural invocation of this regional idea, concentrating on the poet's migratory or ""creaturely"" sensibility, his gift for literary translation, his physical embodiment of trans-Pacific ideals, his role as tribal spokesperson for Haight-Ashbury hippies, and his burgeoning interest in environmental issues. Throughout, Gray's citations of such writers as Allen Ginsberg, Philip Whalen, and Joanne Kyger shed light on Snyder's communal role, providing an amazingly intimate portrait of the west coast counterculture. An interdisciplinary project that utilizes models of ecology, sociology, and comparative religion to supplement traditional methods of literary biography, ""Gary Snyder and the Pacific Rim"" offers a unique perspective on Snyder's life and work. This book will fascinate literary and Asian studies scholars, as well as the general reader interested in the Beat movement and multicultural influences on poetry.
Lentivirus-Specific Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Responses Are Rapidly Lost in Thymectomized Cats Infected with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

ABSTRACT To what extent the thymus is needed to preserve the virus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response of lentivirus-infected adults is unclear. Presented here is the first definitive study using thymectomized (ThX) animals to directly evaluate the contribution of thymic function to lentivirus-specific CTL response and the control of lentivirus infections. ThX and mock-ThX cats were inoculated with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and monitored for their FIV-specific CTL responses. Early in infection, both FIV-ThX and FIV-mock-ThX cats produced similar CTL responses, but surprisingly, after 20 weeks, the FIV-ThX cats showed a statistically significant loss of FIV-specific CTL activity, while FIV-infected cats with intact thymuses continued to maintain FIV-specific CTL. The loss of CTL did not affect plasma virus load, which remained elevated for both groups. These results emphasize the importance of thymic integrity in maintaining immunity to lentiviruses, but also bring into question the notion that virus load is regulated predominantly by the virus-specific CTL response.
Cloud Computing: The Issue of Service Quality: An Overview of Cloud Service Level Management Architectures

The paper presents a framework for quality management of Cloud Services, that aims to meet requirements of both providers and enterprises. In providers, a capacity planning phase forecasts the load in order to identify resources, while a quality aware cloud balances in real time SLM and efficiency. In enterprises, a dynamic SLA negotiation system chooses the most convenient provider for commodity services, while a dashboard enables enterprises to analyze the business impact of the cloud Qos. Finally, an independent authority verifies the actual QoS that is delivered by providers to enterprises.
Fusing Dual-Event Data Sets for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Machine Learning Models and Their Evaluation

The search for new tuberculosis treatments continues as we need to find molecules that can act more quickly, be accommodated in multidrug regimens, and overcome ever increasing levels of drug resistance. Multiple large scale phenotypic high-throughput screens against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) have generated dose response data, enabling the generation of machine learning models. These models also incorporated cytotoxicity data and were recently validated with a large external data set. A cheminformatics data-fusion approach followed by Bayesian machine learning, Support Vector Machine, or Recursive Partitioning model development (based on publicly available Mtb screening data) was used to compare individual data sets and subsequent combined models. A set of 1924 commercially available molecules with promising antitubercular activity (and lack of relative cytotoxicity to Vero cells) were used to evaluate the predictive nature of the models. We demonstrate that combining three data sets incorporating antitubercular and cytotoxicity data in Vero cells from our previous screens results in external validation receiver operator curve (ROC) of 0.83 (Bayesian or RP Forest). Models that do not have the highest 5-fold cross-validation ROC scores can outperform other models in a test set dependent manner. We demonstrate with predictions for a recently published set of Mtb leads from GlaxoSmithKline that no single machine learning model may be enough to identify compounds of interest. Data set fusion represents a further useful strategy for machine learning construction as illustrated with Mtb. Coverage of chemistry and Mtb target spaces may also be limiting factors for the whole-cell screening data generated to date.
Nonlinear water temperature control of three connected microreactors actuated by Peltier devices

In this paper, operator based nonlinear water temperature control for a new three connected microreactors actuated by Peltier devices is proposed. To control the water temperature of tube in the microreactor, the temperature change of aluminum effects is considered. Therefore, the temperature change of aluminum becomes the part of an input of the tube. First, nonlinear thermal models of aluminum plates and tubes that structures the microreactor are obtained. Then, an operator based nonlinear water temperature control system for the microreactor is designed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed models and methods is confirmed by simulations.
Induced hypotension with a mixture of sodium nitroprusside and trimetaphan camsylate

Thirty patients undergoing induced hypotension were given a 10:1 mixture of trimetaphan camsylate and sodium nitroprusside by intravenous infusion. A readily controllable hypotension was produced with considerable reduction in the dosage of these drugs compared to their use individually. There were no cases of prolonged hypotension.
A new five-level half-bridge based on a hybrid active neutral point clamped/flying dc-source inverter

This paper proposes a 5-level three-phase hybrid multilevel inverter topology with improved capacitor voltage balance and reduced capacitor rating. In order to validate the proposed structure, simulation and experimental results are presented. In addition, the proposed topology is compared with an existing counterpart structure in terms of capacitor voltage oscillation, capacitance size, losses, number of devices and value of power supply.
Perflubron emulsion delays blood transfusions in orthopedic surgery. European Perflubron Emulsion Study Group.

BACKGROUND Fluorocarbon emulsions have been proposed as temporary artificial oxygen carriers. The aim of the present study is to compare the effectiveness of perflubron emulsion with the effectiveness of autologous blood or colloid infusion for reversal of physiologic transfusion triggers. METHODS A multinational, multicenter, randomized, controlled, single-blind, parallel group study was performed in 147 orthopedic patients. Patients underwent acute normovolemic hemodilution with colloid to a target hemoglobin of 9 g/dl with an inspiratory oxygen fraction (FIO2) of 0.40. Patients were then randomized into one of four treatment groups after having reached any of the protocol-defined transfusion triggers including tachycardia (heart rate > 125% of posthemodilution rate or > 110 bpm), hypotension (mean arterial pressure < 75% of posthemodilution level or < or = 60 mmHg), elevated cardiac output (> 150% of posthemodilution level) or decreased mixed venous oxygen partial pressure (PVO2; < 38 mmHg). Treatments in the four groups were 450 ml autologous blood harvested during acute normovolemic hemodilution given at FO2 = 0.40; 450 ml colloid at FIO2 = 1.0; 0.9 g/kg perflubron emulsion with colloid (total = 450 ml) at FIO2 = 1.0; and 1.8 g/kg perflubron emulsion with colloid (total = 450 ml) at FIO2 = 1.0. The primary endpoint was duration of transfusion-trigger reversal. A secondary end-point was percentage of transfusion-trigger reversal. RESULTS Perflubron emulsion was well tolerated with no serious adverse event attributed to drug treatment. Duration of reversal was longest in the 1.8 g/kg perflubron group (median, 80 min; 95% confidence interval, 60-100 min; P = 0.014 vs. autologous blood, P < 0.001 vs. colloid) followed by the 0.9 g/kg perflubron group (median, 59 min; 95% confidence interval, 40-90 min), the autologous blood group (median, 55 min; 95% confidence interval, 30-70 min) and the colloid group (median, 30 min; 95% confidence interval, 27-60 min). Percentage of reversal was also highest in the 1.8 g/kg perflubron group (97%; P < 0.001 vs. autologous blood; P = 0.014 vs. colloid), followed by 0.9 g/kg perflubron (82%), colloid (76%), and autologous blood (60%). CONCLUSIONS Perflubron emulsion (1.8 g/kg) combined with 100% oxygen ventilation is more effective than autologous blood or colloid infusion in reversing physiologic transfusion triggers.
The behaviour of polyamino acids reveals an inverse side chain effect in amyloid structure formation

Amyloid fibrils and prions are proteinaceous aggregates that are based on a unique form of polypeptide configuration, termed cross‐β structure. Using a group of chemically distinct polyamino acids, we show here that the existence of such a structure does not require the presence of specific side chain interactions or sequence patterns. These observations firmly establish that amyloid formation and protein folding represent two fundamentally different ways of organizing polypeptides into ordered conformations. Protein folding depends critically on the presence of distinctive side chain sequences and produces a unique globular fold. By contrast, the properties of different polyamino acids suggest that amyloid formation arises primarily from main chain interactions that are, in some environments, overruled by specific side chain contacts. This side chain effect can be thought of as the inverse of the one that characterizes protein folding. Condi tions including Alzheimer's and Creutzfeldt‐Jakob diseases represent, on this basis, pathological cases in which a natural polypeptide chain has aberrantly adopted the conformation that is primarily defined by main chain interactions and not the structure that is determined by specific side chain contacts that depend on the polypeptide sequence.
De novo Identification of DNA Modifications Enabled by Genome-Guided Nanopore Signal Processing

Advances in nanopore sequencing technology have enabled investigation of the full catalogue of covalent DNA modifications. We present the first algorithm for the identification of modified nucleotides without the need for prior training data along with the open source software implementation, nanoraw. Nanoraw accurately assigns contiguous raw nanopore signal to genomic positions, enabling novel data visualization, and increasing power and accuracy for the discovery of covalently modified bases in native DNA. Ground truth case studies utilizing synthetically methylated DNA show the capacity to identify three distinct methylation marks, 4mC, 5mC, and 6mA, in seven distinct sequence contexts without any changes to the algorithm. We demonstrate quantitative reproducibility simultaneously identifying 5mC and 6mA in native E. coli across biological replicates processed in different labs. Finally we propose a pipeline for the comprehensive discovery of DNA modifications in any genome without a priori knowledge of their chemical identities.
Common and emerging infectious causes of hematological malignancies in the young

Comparative epidemiological studies have for a long time suggested a link (or links) between infectious agents and hematological malignancies in the young. Identification of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) as the major cause of specific subtypes of Burkitt's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease 20 and 10 years ago, respectively, and the recent involvement of human T‐cell leukemia virus in non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas of the T‐cell lineage in young adults in Jamaica have given further credit to early presumptions that these diseases have an infectious etiology. The spectrum of possibly involved viruses: old, EBV, and new, herpesviruses 6, 7 and 8, and unknown retroviruses – as well as the list of partially or totally unresolved disease entities: Hodgkin's disease in adolescents, non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas in the immunocompromised, and acute lymphocytic leukemia – is rapidly expanding. Both direct and indirect transforming effects of the above‐mentioned viruses are being rapidly disclosed. However, the complex interaction between the different viruses and other causes of hematological malignancies in the young guarantees that many things remain to be discovered also in the future.
Mutated connexin43 proteins inhibit rat glioma cell growth suppression mediated by wild‐type connexin43 in a dominant‐negative manner

Many lines of evidence support the hypothesis that connexins form a family of tumor‐suppressor genes. Transfection of connexin43 (Cx43) into rat C6 glioma cells have revealed that Cx43 functions as a growth‐ and tumor‐suppressor in C6 cells. In previous studies, we and others have reported that several mutant connexins can inhibit gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) realized by the wild type in a dominant‐negative manner. We have now examined dominant‐negative effects of Cx43 mutants on cell growth control exerted by wild‐type Cx43 in C6 cells. When 2 Cx43 mutants (L160M and A253V) were transfected into Cx43‐transfected C6 cells, they restored anchorage‐independent growth capacity and reinforced the tumorigenicity of these cells, meaning that these 2 mutants can inhibit growth‐suppressive function of wild‐type Cx43 in a dominant‐negative manner. Neither of the mutants appeared to affect phosphorylation states and subcellular localization of Cx43 proteins. Intriguingly, the mutant A253V did not suppress GJIC capacity, implying a growth‐suppressive pathway mediated by Cx43 may not be related to GJIC.Int. J. Cancer 78:446–453, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Absence of pro-apoptotic CYTOCHROME C gene mutation in common solid cancers and acute leukaemias.

Biosystems, USA). On the SSCP autoradiograms, all of the PCR products were clearly seen. The PCR-SSCP analysis identified aberrant bands in two (6.3%) of the 32 gastric carcinomas with MSI-H (Fig. 1), but not in the gastric carcinomas with MSI-L. DNA from normal tissues from the same patients showed no evidence of the mutation in SSCP, indicating the mutations had risen somatically (Fig. 1). A direct DNA sequence analysis of the gastric carcinoma tissues with the aberrant SSCP bands led to identification of an identical ERCC5 deletion mutation in the A9 repeat sequences (Fig. 1). The mutation was c.2751delA, which would result in premature stops of the amino acid synthesis (p.Lys917AsnfsX65). The A7 repeat did not harbour any mutation in the gastric carcinomas with MSI. We repeated the experiments twice, including PCR, SSCP and DNA sequencing analysis to ensure the specificity of the results, and found that the data were consistent. The earlier study observed a moderate incidence of ERCC5 frameshift mutations in colorectal carcinomas with MSI (8/80; 10.0%). Similarly, we detected a moderate incidence of the mutation in gastric carcinomas with MSI as well (2/32; 6.3%). Statistically, the mutation incidences between gastric and colorectal carcinomas with MSI are not different (Fisher’s exact test, p4 0.05), suggesting that the polyadenine tract A9 in ERCC5 gene may be a common target for the mutation in gastric and colorectal carcinomas with MSI. Together with other mutations in DNA repair system, the ERCC5 mutation may contribute to development of gastric and colorectal carcinomas with MSI by altering DNA repair in the cancer cells.
Influence of Glycemic Control on Interaction of Very-Low- and Low-Density Lipoproteins Isolated From Type I Diabetic Patients With Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages

The VLDL and LDL fractions were isolated from 29 patients with type 1 diabetes at the time of admission to the hospital to restore glycemic control and again at discharge. These lipoprotein fractions were incubated with human monocyte-derived macrophages, and the rates of macrophage CE synthesis were determined. The rates of CE synthesis in human macrophages were significantly greater (P < 0.005) when incubated with VLDL isolated from type I diabetic patients before compared with after glycemic control was attained and averaged 1.84 ± 0.52 and 1.09 ± 0.27 nmol (1.20 ± 0.34 and 0.71 ± 0.18 μg) [14C]cholesteryl oleate synthesized mg cell protein−1 · 20 h−1 respectively. In contrast, when LDL isolated from the same patient during the same period was incubated with human macrophages, the rates of cellular cholesteryl ester synthesis did not differ significantly and averaged 4.23 ± 1.26 and 3.91 ± 0.96 nmol (2.75 ± 0.82 and 2.55 ± 0.63 μg) [14C]cholesteryl oleate synthesized · mg−1 cell protein · 20 h−1, respectively. There was a significant increase in the total cholesterol content of VLDL isolated before glycemic control compared with that isolated after glycemic control was attained (P < 0.05) resulting from a significant increase in the FC and CE (P < 0.05) contents of these VLDL particles. There was a significant decrease in the ratio of FC to PL in VLDL, but not LDL, isolated after glycemic control (P < 0.05). The percentage of apoE in VLDL was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) after glycemic control was attained. In LDL isolated after glycemic control was achieved, a significant decrease (P < 0.005) in the percentage of triglycerides was observed. In addition, there was a significant decrease (P < 0.0001) in the extent of glycation of LDL isolated after glycemic control. These studies suggest that during periods of poor glycemic control, the composition of VLDL isolated from type 1 diabetic patients is altered. These modified VLDLs stimulate CE synthesis rates in human macrophages and, thus, may contribute to the increased prevalence of atherosclerosis in diabetic patients.
A ubiquitous chromatin opening element prevents transgene silencing in pluripotent stem cells and their differentiated progeny

Methylation‐induced gene silencing represents a major obstacle to efficient transgene expression in pluripotent cells and thereof derived tissues. As ubiquitous chromatin opening elements (UCOE) have been shown to prevent transgene silencing in cell lines and primary hematopoietic cells, we hypothesized a similar activity in pluripotent cells. This concept was investigated in the context of cytidine deaminase (CDD) gene transfer, an approach to render hematopoietic cells resistant to the chemotherapeutic agent Ara‐C. When murine induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)/embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were transduced with self‐inactivating lentiviral vectors using housekeeping (truncated elongation factor 1α; EFS) or viral (spleen focus‐forming virus; SFFV) promoters, incorporation of an heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins A2 B1/chromobox protein homolog 3 locus‐derived UCOE (A2UCOE) significantly increased transgene expression and Ara‐C resistance and effectively prevented silencing of the SFFV‐promoter. The EFS promoter showed relatively stable transgene expression in naïve iPSCs, but rapid transgene silencing was observed upon hematopoietic differentiation. When combined with the A2UCOE, however, the EFS promoter yielded stable transgene expression in 73% ± 6% of CD41+ hematopoietic progeny, markedly increased CDD expression levels, and significantly enhanced Ara‐C resistance in clonogenic cells. Bisulfite sequencing revealed protection from differentiation‐induced promoter CpG methylation to be associated with these effects. Similar transgene promoting activities of the A2UCOE were observed during murine neurogenic differentiation, in naïve human pluripotent cells, and during nondirected multilineage differentiation of these cells. Thus, our data provide strong evidence that UCOEs can efficiently prevent transgene silencing in iPS/ESCs and their differentiated progeny and thereby introduce a generalized concept to circumvent differentiation‐induced transgene silencing during the generation of advanced iPSC/ESC‐based gene and cell therapy products. STEM CELLS2013;31:488–499