gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
On file sharing over a wireless social network (2011)

We consider the problem of broadcasting a large file over a wireless network (e.g., students in a campus). If each user who wants the file must download it from the carrier's WAN, dissemination time scales linearly. Two often-occurring facts suggest we can do better: (a) the demand for the file often spreads via a social network (e.g., Facebook); and (b) the devices predominantly used are GPS enabled, and equipped with a peer-to-peer (ad hoc) transmission mode. The premise of this paper is that (a) and (b) are often the case. Starting from here, we consider this coupled-network problem (demand on the social network; bandwidth on the wireless network) and taking advantage of the fact that the two networks have different topologies, we propose a file dissemination algorithm. In our scheme, users query their social network to find geographically nearby friends that have the desired file, and utilize the underlying ad hoc network to route the data via multi-hop transmissions. We show that for many popular models for social networks, the file dissemination time scales sublinearly with the number of users.
Use of Human Dental Pulp and Endothelial Cell Seeded Tyrosine-Derived Polycarbonate Scaffolds for Robust in vivo Alveolar Jaw Bone Regeneration (2020)

The ability to effectively repair craniomaxillofacial (CMF) bone defects in a fully functional and aesthetically pleasing manner is essential to maintain physical and psychological health. Current challenges for CMF repair therapies include the facts that craniofacial bones exhibit highly distinct properties as compared to axial and appendicular bones, including their unique sizes, shapes and contours, and mechanical properties that enable the ability to support teeth and withstand the strong forces of mastication. The study described here examined the ability for tyrosine-derived polycarbonate, E1001(1K)/β-TCP scaffolds seeded with human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to repair critical sized alveolar bone defects in an <i>in vivo</i> rabbit mandible defect model. Human dental pulp stem cells are uniquely suited for use in CMF repair in that they are derived from the neural crest, which naturally contributes to CMF development. E1001(1k)/β-TCP scaffolds provide tunable mechanical and biodegradation properties, and are highly porous, consisting of interconnected macro- and micropores, to promote cell infiltration and attachment throughout the construct. Human dental pulp stem cells/HUVECs seeded and acellular E1001(1k)/β-TCP constructs were implanted for one and three months, harvested and analyzed by micro-computed tomography, then demineralized, processed and sectioned for histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Our results showed that hDPSC seeded E1001(1k)/β-TCP constructs to support the formation of osteodentin-like mineralized jawbone tissue closely resembling that of natural rabbit jaw bone. Although unseeded scaffolds supported limited alveolar bone regeneration, more robust and homogeneous bone formation was observed in hDPSC/HUVEC-seeded constructs, suggesting that hDPSCs/HUVECs contributed to enhanced bone formation. Importantly, bioengineered jaw bone recapitulated the characteristic morphology of natural rabbit jaw bone, was highly vascularized, and exhibited active remodeling by the presence of osteoblasts and osteoclasts on newly formed bone surfaces. In conclusion, these results demonstrate, for the first time, that E1001(1K)/ β-TCP scaffolds pre-seeded with human hDPSCs and HUVECs contributed to enhanced bone formation in an <i>in vivo</i> rabbit mandible defect repair model as compared to acellular E1001(1K)/β-TCP constructs. These studies demonstrate the utility of hDPSC/HUVEC-seeded E1001(1K)/β-TCP scaffolds as a potentially superior clinically relevant therapy to repair craniomaxillofacial bone defects.
Data-driven stock trading in financial markets: an adaptive control approach (2020)

In financial markets, stock trading techniques usually require to learn a model of the non-stationary dynamics of the underlying asset in order to make reliable predictions and take effective decisions. In the recently introduced feedback approach to trading, the stock price is instead treated as an exogenous disturbance to a feedback loop scheme and a controller is synthesised with the unique goal of minimising the impact of the return variations on the investment gain. Since such an approach is intrinsically model-free, the tuning of the controller represents a critical task. In this work, we propose a data-driven adaptive control strategy, exploiting the knowledge of the gain/loss as well as the measured returns over a moving window. The proposed approach is extensively back-tested on real-world financial series and the related performance is compared to that of classical feedback schemes and to benchmark investment strategies.
Iboga Inspired N-Indolylethyl-Substituted Isoquinuclidines as a Bioactive Scaffold: Chemoenzymatic Synthesis and Characterization as GDNF Releasers and Antitrypanosoma Agents (2022)

The first stage of the drug discovery process involves the identification of small compounds with biological activity. Iboga alkaloids are monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) containing a fused isoquinuclidine-tetrahydroazepine ring. Both the natural products and the iboga-inspired synthetic analogs have shown a wide variety of biological activities. Herein, we describe the chemoenzymatic preparation of a small library of novel <i>N</i>-indolylethyl-substituted isoquinuclidines as iboga-inspired compounds, using toluene as a starting material and an imine Diels-Alder reaction as the key step in the synthesis. The new iboga series was investigated for its potential to promote the release of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) by C6 glioma cells, and to inhibit the growth of infective trypanosomes. GDNF is a neurotrophic factor widely recognized by its crucial role in development, survival, maintenance, and protection of dopaminergic neuronal circuitries affected in several neurological and psychiatric pathologies. Four compounds of the series showed promising activity as GDNF releasers, and a leading structure (compound <b>11</b>) was identified for further studies. The same four compounds impaired the growth of bloodstream <i>Trypanosoma brucei brucei</i> (EC<sub>50</sub> 1-8 μM) and two of them (compounds <b>6</b> and <b>14</b>) showed a good selectivity index.
The Biology of Human CD2 (1989)

Specific antigen recognition by human T lymphocytes involves a set of surface proteins whose various components include a clone-specific heterodimer and the non-covalently associated CD3 γ, δ, ε, and χ subunits (collectively termed T-cell receptor or TCR) as well as a set of “accessory” structures including CD2 and CD4 and/or CD8. The invariant CD2, CD4, and CD8 structures are thought to facilitate T-lymphocyte activation by mediating adhesion between the plasma membrane of a T lymphocyte and its cognate partner (target cells for cytolytic T lymphocytes [CTL] or antigen-presenting cells [APC] for helper T cells). In addition, these structures themselves are involved in providing activation signals.
Author Correction: Feline coronavirus drug inhibits the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 and blocks virus replication (2020)

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Analysis of plasma protein adsorption onto PEGylated nanoparticles by complementary methods: 2‐DE, CE and Protein Lab‐on‐chip® system (2007)

The biodistribution of colloidal carriers after their administration in vivo depends on the adsorption of some plasma proteins and apolipoproteins on their surface. Poly(methoxypolyethyleneglycol cyanoacrylate-co-hexadecylcyanoacrylate) (PEG-PHDCA) nanoparticles have demonstrated their capacity to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) by a mechanism of endocytosis. In order to clarify this mechanism at the molecular level, proteins and especially apolipoproteins adsorbed at the surface of PEG-PHDCA nanoparticles were analyzed by complementary methods such as CE and Protein Lab-on-chip in comparison with 2-D PAGE as a method of reference. Thus, the ability of those methodologies to identify and quantify human and rat plasma protein adsorption onto PEG-PHDCA nanoparticles and conventional PHDCA nanoparticles was evaluated. The lower adsorption of proteins onto PEG-PHDCA nanoparticles comparatively to PHDCA nanoparticles was evidenced by 2-D PAGE and Protein Lab-on-chip methods. CE allowed the quantification of adsorbed proteins without the requirement of a desorption procedure but failed, in this context, to analyze complex mixtures of proteins. The Protein Lab-on-chip method appeared to be very useful to follow the kinetic of protein adsorption from serum onto nanoparticles; it was complementary to 2-D PAGE which allowed the identification (with a relative quantification) of the adsorbed proteins. The overall results suggest the implication of the apolipoprotein E in the mechanism of passage of PEG-PHDCA nanoparticles through the BBB.
Modeling applications for adaptive QoS-based resource management (2002)

The paper describes two innovative models that facilitate adaptive QoS driven resource management in distributed systems comprising heterogeneous computing, storage, and communication resources. The first model, denoted the Logical Application Stream Model (LASM), recursively captures a distributed application's structure, resource requirements, and relevant end to end quality of service (QoS) parameters. Upon invocation of the application by a user, the resource manager can use this model to initially structure the end to end application, allocate resources to this application, and schedule this application on these resources, so as to provide QoS to all applications and to efficiently utilize system resources. Later, when the system state changes, the resource manager can use this application model to dynamically reallocate, reschedule, and restructure applications. The recursive nature of the model enables application developers to easily model large scale applications. We also describe a model, denoted the Benefit Function (BF), that captures user QoS preferences and enables the resource manager to gracefully degrade application QoS under certain conditions.
Role of Sodium Doping in Lead Chalcogenide Thermoelectrics (2013)

The solubility of sodium and its effects on phonon scattering in lead chalcogenide PbQ (Q = Te, Se, S) family of thermoelectric materials was investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy and density functional calculations. Among these three systems, Na has the highest solubility limit (~2 mol %) in PbS and the lowest ~0.5 mol %) in PbTe. First-principles electronic structure calculations support the observations, indicating that Na defects have the lowest formation energy in PbS and the highest in PbTe. It was also found that in addition to providing charge carriers (holes) for PbQ, Na introduces point defects (solid solution formation) and nanoscale precipitates; both reduce the lattice thermal conductivity by scattering heat-carrying phonons. These results explain the recent reports of high thermoelectric performance in p-type PbQ materials and may lead to further advances in this class of materials.
Sugar and pH dual-responsive mesoporous silica nanocontainers based on competitive binding mechanisms (2014)

A sugar and pH dual-responsive controlled release system, which is highly specific towards molecular stimuli, has been developed based on the binding between catechol and boronic acid on a platform of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). By grafting phenylboronic acid stalks onto the silica surface, catechol-containing β-cyclodextrins can be attached to the orifices of the MSNs' nanopores through formation of boronate esters which block access to the nanopores. These esters are stable enough to prevent cargo molecules from escaping. The boronate esters disassociate in the presence of sugars, enabling the molecule-specific controlled-release feature of this hybrid system. The rate of release has been found to be tunable by varying both the structures and the concentrations of sugars, as a result of the competitive binding nature associated with the mechanism of its operation. Acidification also induces the release of cargo molecules. Further investigations show that the presence of both a low pH and sugar molecules provides cooperative effects which together control the rate of release.
Anthocyanins from the Fruit of Vitis Coignetiae Pulliat Inhibit TNF-Augmented Cancer Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion in A549 Cells (2017)

Objective: Anthocyanins belong to a class of flavonoids, exhibiting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions have been reported to have anti-cancer effects. Here, we investigated whether anthocyanins can inhibit cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis in human lung cancer A549 cells, which are critically involved in cancer metastasis. Methods: We used anthocyanins from fruits of Vitis coignetiae Pulliat (AIMs) which has been used in Korean folk medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancers. We have performed cell proliferation assays, cell invasion assay, gelatin zymography, wound healing assay and western blotting to examine whether anthocyanins can inhibit cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis in A549 cells. Result: AIMs did not inhibit cancer cell proliferation on A549 cells. Also, AIMs suppressed cancer migration, and invasion by supressing MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. The Immuno-blotting results also revealed that AIMs suppressed the proteins involved in cancer proliferation (COX- 2, C-myc, cyclin D1), migration and invasion (MMP-2, MMP-9), anti-apoptosis (XIAP, and c-IAP2), adhesion and angiogenesis (ICAM-1, VEGF). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the anthocyanins isolated from fruits of Vitis coignetiae Pulliat inhibit cancer proliferation, cancer migration, and invasion that is involve in cancer-metastasis. This study provides evidence that AIMs might have anti-cancer effects on human lung cancer.
Role of melanocortinergic neurons in feeding and the agouti obesity syndrome (1997)

Abstract DOMINANT alleles at the agouti locus (A) cause an obesity syndrome in the mouse, as a consequence of ectopic expression of the agouti peptide1–6. This peptide, normally only found in the skin, is a high-affinity antagonist of the melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor (MC1-R)7, thus explaining the inhibitory effect of agouti on eumelanin pigment synthesis. The agouti peptide is also an antagonist of the hypothalamic melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4-R)7–9. To test the hypothesis that agouti causes obesity by antagonism of hypothalamic melanocortin receptors7, we identified cyclic melanocortin analogues10 that are potent agonists or antagonists of the neural MC3 (refs 11, 12) and MC4 receptors. Intracerebroventricular administration of the agonist, MTII, inhibited feeding in four models of hyperphagia: fasted C57BL/6J, ob/ob, and AY mice, and mice injected with neuropeptide Y. Co-administration of the specific melanocortin antagonist and agouti-mimetic SHU9119 completely blocked this inhibition. Furthermore, administration of SHU9119 significantly enhanced nocturnal feeding, or feeding stimulated by a prior fast. Our data show that melanocortinergic neurons exert a tonic inhibition of feeding behaviour. Chronic disruption of this inhibitory signal is a likely explanation of the agouti obesity syndrome.
Mathematical Models for Under-Deposit Corrosion in Aerated Media (2013)

A three-dimensional mathematical model was developed to investigate conditions under which the onset of under-deposit corrosion occurs. A model for corrosion in the fluids containing dissolved oxygen is presented. The location of anodic and cathodic regions was not assumed a priori, but was rather the result of the numerical simulation, which revealed galvanic coupling caused by the formation of differential aeration cells. The model accounts for electrochemical reactions, homogeneous reactions, and deposition of reaction products which influenced the rate of the electrochimical reactions and resulted in an active-passive transition.
An efficient lentiviral CRISPRi approach to silence genes in primary human monocytes (2020)

Abstract Human primary monocytes are critical in controlling immune responses and tissue homeostasis. However, to identify and study molecular components that underlie the function of these cells, there remains a need to develop methods to perturb genes in these cells. Here we report lentiviral-based delivery of dCas9-KRAB and guide RNAs to efficiently silent target genes, such as CD45 and CD209 . We further show that sgRNAs against TICAM1 dampen proinflammatory cytokine and interferon expression in response to lipopolysaccharide. When delivered by lentivirus, sgRNAs are incorporated into the genome, thus enabling pooled screening to perturb and identify coding and non-coding elements that contribute to the functions of primary human monocytes.
Insight into how skin changes perfume (1996)

Synopsis Overall consumer perception of personal products such as colognes, deodorants, talc, and soap is often strongly influenced by the presence and nature of the fragrance incorporated into these products, which is also true for the corresponding olfactory characteristics of skin during and after application. Although extensive research has been carried out to define the morphology and characteristics of living skin, relatively little is known about the physical or (bio)chemical behaviour of perfume once deposited onto skin. It is widely acknowledged that some perfumes may perform very differently on different skins, but little definitive information is available to elucidate the associated mechanism(s). Rationalization of this may necessitate understanding both the physical and the chemical interactions between perfume and skin. To assist studies in this area, techniques based on headspace analysis and solvent swabbing have been developed to monitor fragrance concentrations on and above skin in use. Using these techniques, we have carried out some initial exploration into the physical and chemical interactions between skin and perfume. (a) Physical interactions: differences in perfume behaviour when on skin and when on a relatively inert surface (vitreous tile) were quantified to build up at least a qualitative idea of the importance of physical interactions between skin and perfume. (b) Chemical interactions: the potential for skin-mediated chemical transformation of perfume was examined across a wide range of functional groups relevant to perfumes, but was found to be low under 'non-forcing'conditions (i.e. clean dry skin). However, some evidence has been found for changes in perfume ingredients in the underarm, probably arising from microbially catalysed reactions. It is envisaged that it may be possible to harness such transformations usefully - for example, to deliver unusual fragrance effects or enhance fragrance longevity. In addition, product-mediated transformation on skin is feasible, and a specific case has been investigated based on the pH sensitivity of citral acetalization.
DNA Methylation of PITX2 and PANCR Is Prognostic for Overall Survival in Patients with Resected Adenocarcinomas of the Biliary Tract (2016)

Biliary tract cancers (BTC) are rare but highly aggressive malignant epithelial tumors. In order to improve the outcome in this lethal disease, novel biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy response prediction are urgently needed. DNA promoter methylation of PITX2 variants (PITX2ab, PITX2c) and intragenic methylation of the PITX2 adjacent non-coding RNA (PANCR) were investigated by methylations-specific qPCR assays in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from 80 patients after resection for BTC. Results were correlated with clinicopathologic data and outcome. PITX2 variants and PANCR showed significant hypermethylation in tumor vs. normal adjacent tissue (p < 0.001 and p = 0.015), respectively. In survival analysis, dichotomized DNA methylation of variant PITX2c and PANCR were significantly associated with overall survival (OS). Patients with high tumor methylation levels of PITX2c had a shorter OS compared to patients with low methylation (12 vs. 40 months OS; HR 2.48 [1.38-4.48], p = 0.002). In contrast, PANCR hypermethylation was associated with prolonged survival (25 vs. 19 months OS; HR 0.54 [0.30-0.94], p = 0.015) and qualified as an independent prognostic factor on multivariate analysis. The biomarkers investigated in this study may help to identify BTC subpopulations at risk for worse survival. Further studies are needed to evaluate if PITX2 might be a clinically useful biomarker for an optimized and individualized treatment.
Early gut colonization byBifidobacterium breveandB. catenulatumdifferentially modulates eczema risk in children at high risk of developing allergic disease (2016)

Temporal variations in Bifidobacterium colonization patterns early in life are associated with later development of eczema and/or atopic sensitization in infants at high risk of allergic disease. Modulation of the early microbiota may provide a means to prevent eczema in high-risk infants.
Low-cost UHF near-field power transmission for RFID applications (2017)

This paper presents a low-cost contactless power transfer structure for planar configuration working at UHF frequencies. The theory of defected ground structure (DGS) is applied to unconventional materials for power transmission between two closely spaced microstrip lines. Such configuration is studied and described in details, for an easy implementation employing very low-cost materials, characteristics of deemed importance in radio frequency identification (RFID) applications. Influence of nearby material is analyzed and theoretical results are experimentally validated. A possible application for RFID readers is finally proposed.
Centrality dependence of dihadron correlations and azimuthal anisotropy harmonics in PbPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}= 2.76\ \mbox{TeV}$ (2012)

Abstract Measurements from the CMS experiment at the LHC of dihadron correlations for charged particles produced in PbPb collisions at a nucleon–nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 2.76 TeV are presented. The results are reported as a function of the particle transverse momenta ( p T ) and collision centrality over a broad range in relative pseudorapidity (Δ η ) and the full range of relative azimuthal angle (Δ ϕ ). The observed two-dimensional correlation structure in Δ η and Δ ϕ is characterised by a narrow peak at (Δ η ,Δ ϕ )≈(0,0) from jet-like correlations and a long-range structure that persists up to at least |Δ η |=4. An enhancement of the magnitude of the short-range jet peak is observed with increasing centrality, especially for particles of p T around 1–2 GeV/ c . The long-range azimuthal dihadron correlations are extensively studied using a Fourier decomposition analysis. The extracted Fourier coefficients are found to factorise into a product of single-particle azimuthal anisotropies up to p T ≈3–3.5 GeV/ c for at least one particle from each pair, except for the second-order harmonics in the most central PbPb events. Various orders of the single-particle azimuthal anisotropy harmonics are extracted for associated particle p T of 1–3 GeV/ c , as a function of the trigger particle p T up to 20 GeV/ c and over the full centrality range.