Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multimodal biometrics fusion using Correlation Filter Bank

In this paper, a novel class-dependence feature analysis method based on Correlation Filter Bank (CFB) technique for effective multimodal biometrics fusion at the feature level is developed. In CFB, the unconstrained correlation filter trained for a specific modality is designed by optimizing the overall original correlation outputs. Therefore, the differences between modalities have been taken into account and useful information in various modalities is fully exploited. Preliminary experimental results on the fusion of face and palmprint biometrics show the superiority of the novel method.
of Candidate Regions 712 Breast Tumors Reveals Factors that Influence Delineation Loss of Heterozygosity Mapping at Chromosome Arm 16 q in Updated

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the long arm of chromosome 16 occurs in at least half of all breast tumors and is considered to target one or more tumor suppressor genes. Despite extensive studies by us and by others, a clear consensus of the boundaries of the smallest region of overlap (SRO) could not be identified. To find more solid evidence for SROs, we tested a large series of 712 breast tumors for LOH at 16q using a dense map of polymorphic markers. Strict criteria for LOH and retention were applied, and results that did not meet these criteria were excluded from the analysis. We compared LOH results obtained from samples with different DNA isolation methods,i.e., from microdissected tissueversustotal tissue blocks. In the latter group, 16% of the cases were excluded because of noninterpretable LOH results. The selection of polymorphic markers is clearly influencing the LOH pattern because a chromosomal region seems more frequently involved in LOH when many markers from this region are used. The LOH detection method,i.e., radioactiveversusfluorescence detection, has no marked effect on the results. Increasing the threshold window for retention of heterozygosity resulted in significantly more cases with complex LOH, i.e., several alternating regions of loss and retention, than seen in tumors with a small window for retention. Tumors with complex LOH do not provide evidence for clear-cut SROs that are repeatedly found in other samples. On disregarding these complex cases, we could identify three different SROs, two at band 16q24.3 and one at 16q22.1. In all three tumor series, we found cases with single LOH regions that designated the distal region at 16q24.3 and the region at 16q22.1. Comparing histological data on these tumors did not result in the identification of a particular subtype with LOH at 16q or a specific region involved in LOH. Only the rare mucinous tumors had no 16q LOH at all. Furthermore, a positive estrogen content is prevalent in tumors with 16q LOH, but not in tumors with LOH at 16q24.3 only.
Complement System Part I – Molecular Mechanisms of Activation and Regulation

Complement is a complex innate immune surveillance system, playing a key role in defense against pathogens and in host homeostasis. The complement system is initiated by conformational changes in recognition molecular complexes upon sensing danger signals. The subsequent cascade of enzymatic reactions is tightly regulated to assure that complement is activated only at specific locations requiring defense against pathogens, thus avoiding host tissue damage. Here, we discuss the recent advances describing the molecular and structural basis of activation and regulation of the complement pathways and their implication on physiology and pathology. This article will review the mechanisms of activation of alternative, classical, and lectin pathways, the formation of C3 and C5 convertases, the action of anaphylatoxins, and the membrane-attack-complex. We will also discuss the importance of structure–function relationships using the example of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. Lastly, we will discuss the development and benefits of therapies using complement inhibitors.
Interlanguage Pragmatics: Deviant Patterns of Negative Responses to English Negative Yes/No Questions by L1 Thai Speakers

This study investigated the potential cause of L1 Thai speakers’ persistent deviations from target-like negative responses to negative yes/no questions in L2 English context based on the theory of interlanguage pragmatics, particularly pragmatic transfer. L1 Thai undergraduates were categorized into two groups according to their level of L2 English linguistic proficiency. A discourse completion task (DCT), which required the participants to complete their turns in a conversation under different situations, were used to elicit their negative responses. The results revealed that negative pragmatic transfer, influenced by differences in linguistic action patterns of negative responses to negative yes/no questions between Thai and English, occurred in the performance of L1 Thai speakers in both lower and higher L2 English proficiency groups. However, the overall results suggested that the lower proficiency group tended to rely more on their L1 Thai pragmatic competence and showed higher tendency of negative pragmatic transfer than the higher proficiency group. The research indicated that negative transfer from the speakers’ different L1 Thai pragmatic influence from L2 English could make an impact on their non-target-like performance. Moreover, their level of L2 English linguistic proficiency and degree of reliance on their L1 Thai pragmatic knowledge could affect their production to diverge from L2 English pragmatic norms.
Antipsychotic combinations vs monotherapy in schizophrenia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

CONTEXT Despite lacking evidence for its safety and efficacy, antipsychotic cotreatment is common in schizophrenia. OBJECTIVE To evaluate therapeutic and adverse effects of antipsychotic cotreatment vs monotherapy in schizophrenia. DATA SOURCES Cochrane Schizophrenia Group register and hand searches of relevant journals/conference proceedings. STUDY SELECTION Randomized controlled trials comparing antipsychotic monotherapy to cotreatment with a second antipsychotic. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently extracted data. For homogenous dichotomous data, we calculated random effects, relative risk (RR), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and numbers needed to treat (NNT). For continuous data, weighted mean differences were calculated. RESULTS In 19 studies (1229 patients) with 28 monotherapy and 19 cotreatment arms, antipsychotic cotreatment was superior to monotherapy regarding 2 a priori defined coprimary outcomes: less study-specific defined inefficacy (N = 22, n = 1202, RR = 0.76, CI = 0.63-0.90, P = .002, NNT = 7, CI = 4-17, P = .0008, I(2) = 78.9%) and all-cause discontinuation (N = 20, n = 1052, RR = 0.65, CI = 0.54-0.78, P < .00001). Results were consistent using Clinical Global Impressions thresholds of less than much (P = .006) and less than minimally (P = .01) improved. Specific psychopathology and adverse event data were insufficient to yield meaningful results. In sensitivity analyses, 5 efficacy moderators emerged: concurrent polypharmacy initiation, clozapine combinations, trial duration >10 weeks, Chinese trials, and second-generation + first-generation antipsychotics. In a meta-regression, similar dose combinations, second-generation + first-generation antipsychotics and concurrent polypharmacy initiation remained significant. CONCLUSIONS In certain clinical situations, antipsychotic cotreatment may be superior to monotherapy. However, the database is subject to possible publication bias and too heterogeneous to derive firm clinical recommendations, underscoring the need for future research.
Learning motor skills with non-rigid materials by reinforcement learning

This paper focuses on learning motor skills for anthropomorphic robots which must interact with non-rigid materials to perform tasks, such as wearing clothes, turning socks inside out, and bandaging. To learn such a motor skill, the task to be performed needs to be quantitatively defined using not only the state of the robot, but also the state of the non-rigid material. However, the non-rigid material is generally represented in a high dimensional configuration space (e.g., [1]) and obtaining such information in a real environment is difficult. In this paper we propose a novel learning framework for learning motor skills interacting with non-rigid materials by reinforcement learning that avoids these difficulties. Our learning framework focuses on the topological relationship between the configuration of the robot and the non-rigid material based on the consideration that most details of the material (e.g., wrinkles) are not important for performing the motor tasks. This focus allows us to define the task performance and provide reward signals based on a low-dimensional variable and to measure task performance in a real environment using reliable sensors. We constructed an experimental setting with an anthropomorphic dual-arm robot and a tailor-made T-shirt for the robot. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method, we applied the method to have the robot perform the motor task of putting on the T-shirt. As a result of our learning framework, through trial and error the robot was able to acquire sequential movements that performed the goal of putting both arms into the corresponding sleeves of the T-shirt.
Relaxed LMI-based stability conditions for fuzzy-model-based control systems under imperfect premise matching: Approximated membership function approach

This paper investigates the stability of the fuzzy-model-based control systems under imperfect premise matching that both fuzzy model and fuzzy controller are not required to share the same number of fuzzy rules and the same set of premise membership functions. Under the case of imperfect premise matching, it allows a greater design flexibility for fuzzy controller and is able to lower the implementation complexity when a less number of fuzzy rules and/or some simple membership functions are employed. However, due to the mismatch of the number of fuzzy rules and/or the membership functions, the existing analysis techniques with the parallel distributed compensation (PDC) cannot be applied to deal with the cross term of the membership functions and thus it leads to comparatively conservative stability conditions. In order to relax the stability conditions, we approximate the multiplication of the membership functions and the approximated membership functions exhibit some nice properties in favour of the stability analysis. Through the approximated membership functions, the information of the original membership functions is brought to the stability conditions. As a result, the proposed stability conditions are applied to a specified nonlinear plant characterized by the approximated membership functions rather than a family. A simulation example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Adjuvant dendritic cell vaccination induces tumor-specific immune responses in the majority of stage III melanoma patients

ABSTRACT Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of adjuvant dendritic cell (DC) vaccination to induce tumor-specific immunological responses in stage III melanoma patients. Experimental design: Retrospective analysis of stage III melanoma patients, vaccinated with autologous monocyte-derived DC loaded with tumor-associated antigens (TAA) gp100 and tyrosinase after radical lymph node dissection. Skin-test infiltrating lymphocytes (SKILs) obtained from delayed-type hypersensitivity skin-test biopsies were analyzed for the presence of TAA-specific CD8+ T cells by tetrameric MHC-peptide complexes and by functional TAA-specific T cell assays, defined by peptide-recognition (T2 cells) and/or tumor-recognition (BLM and/or MEL624) with specific production of Th1 cytokines and no Th2 cytokines. Results: Ninety-seven patients were analyzed: 21 with stage IIIA, 34 with stage IIIB, and 42 had stage IIIC disease. Tetramer-positive CD8+ T cells were present in 68 patients (70%), and 24 of them showed a response against all 3 epitopes tested (gp100:154–162, gp100:280–288, and tyrosinase:369–377) at any point during vaccinations. A functional T cell response was found in 62 patients (64%). Rates of peptide-recognition of gp100:154–162, gp100:280–288, and tyrosinase:369–377 were 40%, 29%, and 45%, respectively. Median recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival of the whole study population were 23.0 mo and 36.8 mo, respectively. Conclusions: DC vaccination induces a functional TAA-specific T cell response in the majority of stage III melanoma patients, indicating it is more effective in stage III than in stage IV melanoma patients. Furthermore, performing multiple cycles of vaccinations enhances the chance of a broader immune response.
The Mirror System, Imitation, and the Evolution of Language

A dance class in Santa Fe, Sept. 25, 1999: The percussion is insistent. Dancers move in rows from the back of the hall towards the drummers at the front. From time to time, the mistress of the dance breaks the flow, and twice repeats a sequence of energetic dance moves. The dancers then move forward again, repeating her moves, more or less. Some do it well, others not so well. Imitation involves, in part, seeing the instructor's dance as set of familiar movements of shoulders, arms, hands, belly and legs. Many constituents are variants of familiar actions, rather than familiar actions themselves. Thus one must not only observe actions and their composition, but also novelties in the constituents and their variations. One must also perceive the overlapping and sequencing of all these moves and then remember the “coordinated control program” so constructed Probably, memory and perception are intertwined. As the dancers perform they both act out the recalled coordinated control program and tune it. By observing other dancers and synchronizing with their neighbors and the insistent percussion of the drummers, they achieve a collective representation that tunes their own, possibly departing from the instructor's original. At the same time, some dancers seem more or less skilled – some will omit a movement, or simplify it, others may replace it with their imagined equivalent. (One example: the instructor alternates touching her breast and moving her arm outwards. Most dancers move their arms in and out with no particular target.) Other changes are matters of motor rather than perceptual or mnemonic skill – not everyone can lean back as far as the instructor without losing balance. These are the ingredients of imitation.
Neuropeptide Substance P Improves Osteoblastic and Angiogenic Differentiation Capacity of Bone Marrow Stem Cells In Vitro

Our previous work showed that implanting a sensory nerve or vascular bundle when constructing vascularized and neurotized bone could promote bone osteogenesis in tissue engineering. This phenomenon could be explained by the regulatory function of neuropeptides. Neuropeptide substance P (SP) has been demonstrated to contribute to bone growth by stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs). However, there have been no prior studies on the association between Wnt signaling and the mechanism of SP in the context of BMSC differentiation. Our results have shown that SP could enhance the differentiation of BMSCs by activating gene and protein expression via the Wnt pathway and by translocating β-catenin, which can be inhibited by Wnt signaling blocker treatment or by the NK-1 antagonist. SP could also increase the growth factor level of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). Additionally, SP could enhance the migration ability of BMSCs, and the promotion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression by SP has been studied. In conclusion, SP could induce osteoblastic differentiation via the Wnt pathway and promote the angiogenic ability of BMSCs. These results indicate that a vascularized and neurotized tissue-engineered construct could be feasible for use in bone tissue engineering strategies.
Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitory Activity and ACE Inhibitory Peptides of Salmon (Salmo salar) Protein Hydrolysates Obtained by Human and Porcine Gastrointestinal Enzymes

The objectives of the present study were two-fold: first, to detect whether salmon protein fractions possess angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory properties and whether salmon proteins can release ACE inhibitory peptides during a sequential in vitro hydrolysis (with commercial porcine enzymes) and ex vivo digestion (with human gastrointestinal enzymes). Secondly, to evaluate the ACE inhibitory activity of generated hydrolysates. A two-step ex vivo and in vitro model digestion was performed to simulate the human digestion process. Salmon proteins were degraded more efficiently by porcine enzymes than by human gastrointestinal juices and sarcoplasmic proteins were digested/hydrolyzed more easily than myofibrillar proteins. The ex vivo digested myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic duodenal samples showed IC50 values (concentration required to decrease the ACE activity by 50%) of 1.06 and 2.16 mg/mL, respectively. The in vitro hydrolyzed myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic samples showed IC50 values of 0.91 and 1.04 mg/mL, respectively. Based on the results of in silico studies, it was possible to identify 9 peptides of the ex vivo hydrolysates and 7 peptides of the in vitro hydrolysates of salmon proteins of 11 selected peptides. In both types of salmon hydrolysates, ACE-inhibitory peptides IW, IY, TVY and VW were identified. In the in vitro salmon protein hydrolysates an ACE-inhibitory peptides VPW and VY were also detected, while ACE-inhibitory peptides ALPHA, IVY and IWHHT were identified in the hydrolysates generated with ex vivo digestion. In our studies, we documented ACE inhibitory in vitro effects of salmon protein hydrolysates obtained by human and as well as porcine gastrointestinal enzymes.
CLASSIFYING SIMPLE AND COMPLEX CELLS ON THE BASIS OF RESPONSE MODULATION

BsnNr C. Srorn-. rN,r RUSSTU L. De Vuos,2 Devto H. GnosOr,r J. AxrxoNv Movsttox,l Duexe G. Arnnrcrrt and A. B. BoNos5 rDepartmenl of Psychology and 2Department of Psychology and Physiologcal Opucs Group' University of California, Bcrkeley, CA 94720, rCenter for Neural Science and Depanment of Psychology. New York University. New York, NY 10003. 'Depanmcll of Psychology, University of Tcxas, Ausrin, fi 78712 and 5Depanmcnt of Electrical Engineenng, Vanderbilt Untversity. Nashville. TN 37235. U.S.A.
Purine analog substitution of the HIV-1 polypurine tract primer defines regions controlling initiation of plus-strand DNA synthesis

Despite extensive study, the mechanism by which retroviral reverse transciptases (RTs) specifically utilize polypurine tract (PPT) RNA for initiation of plus-strand DNA synthesis remains unclear. Three sequence motifs within or adjacent to the purine-rich elements are highly conserved, namely, a rU:dA tract region immediately 5′ to the PPT, an rA:dT-rich sequence constituting the upstream portion of the PPT and a downstream rG:dC tract. Using an in vitro HIV-1 model system, we determined that the former two elements define the 5′ terminus of the (+)-strand primer, whereas the rG:dC tract serves as the primary determinant of initiation specificity. Subsequent analysis demonstrated that G→A or A→G substitution at PPT positions −2, −4 and +1 (relative to the scissile phosphate) substantially reduces (+)-strand priming. We explored this observation further using PPT substrates substituted with a variety of nucleoside analogs [inosine (I), purine riboside (PR), 2-aminopurine (2-AP), 2,6-diaminopurine (2,6-DAP), isoguanine (iG)], or one of the naturally occurring bases at these positions. Our results demonstrate that for PPT positions −2 or +1, substituting position 2 of the purine was an important determinant of cleavage specificity. In addition, cleavage specificity was greatly affected by substituting −4G with an analog containing a 6-NH2 moiety.
System structure for FPGA-based SOPC design using hard tasks

In this paper, the authors present a system structure for FPGA-based SOPC (system on programmable chip) design which uses an embedded processor to do scheduling to the HDL modules as its hard tasks. This kind of structure is implemented on the NIOS-II system offered by ALTERA and uses muC/OS-II as a real-time kernel in the embedded soft processor. The structure of the system is introduced in details on hard tasks, resources, processor and their relationships. A video capture card which is used for medical video capture and processing is also presented as an example to show the implementation and advantage of the structure for a complex embedded system.
Hospitalization trends for paediatric asthma in eastern Finland: a 10-yr survey

The prevalence of childhood asthma has increased during the past 20 yrs in eastern Finland. The use of regular medication for asthma has, consequently, also risen at the same time. The aim of the present study was to assess how these factors have influenced hospitalization for asthma in children. Data concerning the annual number of children aged <16 yrs treated for asthma, their number of hospital periods, and length of hospitalization were collected using patient-specific medical records for the years 1988–1997. Admissions for asthma more than doubled (from 1.2 in 1,000 to 2.7 in 1,000) (p<0.001), whereas re-admissions decreased from 28.1% to 8.7% (p<0.001) during the study period. The greatest increase was seen among children aged <2 yrs, whereas during recent years the admission rate among children aged >2 yrs has declined by one-third. Despite the increased prevalence of asthma, the decline in admissions seen in all but the youngest children may, at least partly, be attributed to the decrease in re-admissions, resulting from the early onset and increased use of inhaled steroids.
Microbiological Assessment of Indoor Air of Teaching Hospital Wards: A case of Jimma University Specialized Hospital

Background Hospital environment represents a congenial situation where microorganisms and susceptible patients are indoors together. Thus, the objective of this study is to provide fundamental data related to the microbial quality of indoor air of Jimma University Specialized Hospital wards, to estimate the health hazard and to create standards for indoor air quality control. Methods The microbial quality of indoor air of seven wards of Jimma University Specialized Hospital was determined. Passive air sampling technique, using open Petri-dishes containing different culture media, was employed to collect sample twice daily. Results The concentrations of bacteria and fungi aerosols in the indoor environment of the wards ranged between 2123 – 9733 CFU/m3. The statistical analysis showed that the concentrations of bacteria that were measured in all studied wards were significantly different from each other (p-value=0.017), whereas the concentrations of fungi that were measured in all sampled wards were not significantly different from each other (p-value=0.850). Moreover, the concentrations of bacteria that were measured at different sampling time (morning and afternoon) were significantly different (p-value =0.001). conclusion All wards that were included in the study were heavily contaminated with bacteria and fungi. Thus, immediate interventions are needed to control those environmental factors which favor the growth and multiplication of microbes, and it is vital to control visitors and students in and out the wards. Moreover, it is advisable that strict measures be put in place to check the increasing microbial load in the hospital environment.