Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptive distance normalization for real-time music tracking

The goal of real-time music tracking is to follow a musical performance on-line and at any time report the current position in the score. To achieve this, both the score and the performance have to be represented in a suitable way. In this paper, we first evaluate the performance of some well-known features and then propose a simple but effective distance normalization strategy for onset-emphasized features, which greatly improves the alignment results. Finally, we combine both harmonic and onset-emphasized features in a fashion known from off-line audio alignment, resulting in a combination which outperforms each individual feature regarding robustness and accuracy.
A failure of meiotic chromosome segregation in a fbh1Δ mutant correlates with persistent Rad51-DNA associations

The F-box DNA helicase Fbh1 constrains homologous recombination in vegetative cells, most likely through an ability to displace the Rad51 recombinase from DNA. Here, we provide the first evidence that Fbh1 also serves a vital meiotic role in fission yeast to promote normal chromosome segregation. In the absence of Fbh1, chromosomes remain entangled or segregate unevenly during meiosis, and genetic and cytological data suggest that this results in part from a failure to efficiently dismantle Rad51 nucleofilaments that form during meiotic double-strand break repair.
Insulin Administered Intranasally as an Insulin-Bile Salt Aerosol: Effectiveness and Reproducibility in Normal and Diabetic Subjects

Efficacy and reproducibility of insulin administered intranasally as an insulin-deoxycholate 1% (w/v) aerosol to normal and diabetic subjects were assessed by measurements of blood glucose and serum insulin levels. Following administration of 0.5 U insulin/kg with the unconjugated bile salt to fasting volunteers (N = 29), peak serum insulin levels of 103 ± 49 μM/ml above baseline were observed at 10 min. Blood glucose concentration began to fall by 10 min, reaching 54 ± 14% of control levels by 30 min, and returning to baseline by 60–80 min. Blood glucose response and peak serum insulin levels were reproducible when the same aerosol dose was repeatedly administered to the same subjects; however, intersubject variations were noted. By comparing serum insulin levels after i.v. and nasal routes of administration, nasal insulin absorption was approximately 10% as efficient as intravenous insulin. Dose response studies revealed that peak serum insulin concentrations were a linear function of the administered dose. In subjects with type I and type II diabetes mellitus, serum insulin levels increased in a manner similar to controls, and resulted in a prompt reduction of blood glucose concentration. However, in contrast to normal subjects, the duration of the glucose response was more prolonged, lasting as long as 5 h. Nasal administration of insulin as an aerosol with bile salts or bile salt analogs should be further evaluated as a possible nonparenteral approach to insulin therapy.
Awareness and Perception about Tuberculosis in the General Population of Delhi

The present study was conducted to assess awareness and perception regarding tuberculosis among the general population of Delhi. A total of 1,008 adults, selected by multistage stratified systematic sampling, were interviewed using a pre-tested proforma. The majority had heard about tuberculosis (99.1%) and most (89.2%) perceived it to be an infectious disease. The correct mode of transmission i.e. airborne (coughing / sneezing) was known to 71.8% study subjects. The majority (90.1%) knew cough as a symptom. Nearly all (98.2%) perceived Tuberculosis to be a preventable disease, citing the treatment of patients as the main-stay of preventing spread of the disease. However, responses like separation of utensils or hospitalisation of the patient to prevent the spread of the disease indicate persistence of stigma and discrimination in a small proportion of the population. There is a need to widen the scope and intensify the information and education being provided to the population based on gaps identified. Asia Pac J Public Health 2007; 19(2): 10-15.
Longitudinal Changes of Resting-State Functional Connectivity During Motor Recovery After Stroke

Background and Purpose— Functional MRI (fMRI) studies could provide crucial information on the neural mechanisms of motor recovery in patients with stroke. Resting-state fMRI is applicable to patients with stroke who are not capable of proper performance of the motor task. In this study, we explored neural correlates of motor recovery in patients with stroke by investigating longitudinal changes in resting-state functional connectivity of the ipsilesional primary motor cortex (M1). Methods— A longitudinal observational study using repeated fMRI experiments was conducted in 12 patients with stroke. Resting-state fMRI data were acquired 4 times over a period of 6 months. Patients participated in the first session of fMRI shortly after onset and thereafter in subsequent sessions at 1, 3, and 6 months after onset. Resting-state functional connectivity of the ipsilesional M1 was assessed and compared with that of healthy subjects. Results— Compared with healthy subjects, patients demonstrated higher functional connectivity with the ipsilesional frontal and parietal cortices, bilateral thalamus, and cerebellum. Instead, functional connectivity with the contralesional M1 and occipital cortex were decreased in patients with stroke. Functional connectivity between the ipsilesional and contralesional M1 showed the most asymmetry at 1 month after onset to the ipsilesional side. Functional connectivity of the ipsilesional M1 with the contralesional thalamus, supplementary motor area, and middle frontal gyrus at onset was positively correlated with motor recovery at 6 months after stroke. Conclusions— Resting-state fMRI elicited distinctive but comparable results with previous task-based fMRI, presenting complementary and practical values for use in the study of patients with stroke.
Growth failure occurs through a decrease in insulin-like growth factor 1 which is independent of undernutrition in a rat model of colitis

BACKGROUND Linear growth retardation is a frequent complication of inflammatory bowel disease in children. The precise mechanisms causing growth failure are not known. AIMS To determine the relative contribution of reduced calorie intake and inflammation to linear growth delay and to determine the effect of inflammation on the hypothalamic-pituitary-growth axis. METHODS Linear growth was assessed in prepubertal rats with trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) induced colitis, in healthy free feeding controls, and in a pair-fed group (i.e. healthy animals whose daily food intake was matched to the colitic group thereby distinguishing between the effects of undernutrition and inflammation). RESULTS Changes in length over five days in the TNBS colitis and pair-fed groups were 30% and 56%, respectively, of healthy free feeding controls. Linear growth was significantly reduced in the colitic group compared with the pair-fed group. Nutritional supplementation in the colitic group increased weight gain to control values but did not completely reverse the growth deficit. Plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6) concentrations were sixfold higher in the colitic group compared with controls. Plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) but not growth hormone (GH) were significantly lower in the colitic compared with the pair-fed group. Administration of IGF-1 to the colitic group increased plasma IGF-1 concentrations and linear growth by approximately 44–60%. CONCLUSIONS It seems likely that approximately 30–40% of linear growth impairment in experimental colitis occurs as a direct result of the inflammatory process which is independent of undernutrition. Inflammation acts principally at the hepatocyte/IGF-1 level to impair linear growth. Optimal growth in intestinal inflammation may only be achieved by a combination of nutritional intervention and anticytokine treatment.
Mechanism-Based Modeling of Nutritional and Leptin Influences on Growth in Normal and Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Influences of genetic and nutritional factors on body weight, fat mass, and leptin production and effects of leptin were assessed in normal [Wistar-Kyoto (WKY)] and diabetic [Goto-Kakizaki (GK)] rats by mechanism-based modeling. The study included 60 WKY and 60 GK rats; half received high-fat diet (HF), and the others received normal rat chow (N). Body weights and food consumption were measured twice weekly. Six rats per group were sacrificed at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks. Abdominal fat was weighed, and plasma leptin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All data were comodeled using NONMEM version VI level 1.1 (first-order conditional estimation with interaction) (Beal SL, Boeckmann AJ, Sheiner LB, and NONMEM Project Group, NONMEM Users Guides, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 2007). Weight gain was modeled as differences between energy intake and metabolic rate based on allometrically scaled lean body mass (LBM). The GK had higher metabolic rates (1.15 kcal/day/g LBM0.75) than WKY-N (0.92) and WKY-HF (1.02) rats and higher efficiency in transforming energy into body weight. Leptin effect was modeled as inhibition of food consumption. Total body fat was estimated from abdominal fat. Leptin production from fat was 4.7-fold higher for GK (3.03 ng/ml/day/g) than WKY (0.66 ng/ml/day/g). Leptin production rate from LBM was 0.53 ng/ml/day/g for all groups. The IC50 for inhibition of food intake by leptin was approximately 3-fold higher in GK versus WKY, indicating leptin resistance for the effect on food consumption in GK. The GK had similar intake of kilocalories but lower body weights and fat mass than WKY, possibly because of higher metabolic rates. Our mechanism-based model explains intrinsic reasons for differences in growth, food intake, and leptin concentrations among these two strains of rats.
Sexual behaviour and smoking as determinants of cervical HPV infection and of CIN3 among those infected: a case–control study nested within the Manchester cohort

To distinguish risk factors for acquisition of cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection from the determinants of neoplasia among infected individuals we have conducted a three-arm case-control study nested within a large population-based cohort of women (the Manchester cohort) screened for HPV at entry using L1 consensus primer PCR. The study includes 181 HPV-positive controls who did not develop high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN3) during follow-up, 203 HPV-negative controls, and 199 HPV-positive cases with histologically confirmed CIN3. Detailed information on sexual, reproductive and gynaecological history, oral contraceptive use and smoking was obtained at face-to-face interview. There was a striking division between risk factors for infection and those predictive of disease. Comparing the HPV-positive against the HPV-negative controls, the only risk factors for infection were number of sexual partners (OR for six or more = 3.89; 95% Cl = 1.99–7.62), a relatively recent new sexual relationship (OR for a new partner within the previous 2 years = 4.17; 95% Cl = 2.13–8.33), and a history of previous miscarriage (OR = 2.59; 95% Cl = 1.28–5.21). The determinants of CIN3 among infected women were, in contrast, early age at first intercourse (OR for 16 years old or less = 3.23; 95% Cl = 1.33–7.69), a long time since starting a new sexual relationship (OR for 6 years or more = 4.94; 95% Cl = 2.51–9.71), and cigarette smoking, with strong evidence for a dose– response (OR for current smoking habit 20+ per day = 2.57; 95% Cl = 1.49–4.45). Oral contraceptive use was not significantly associated with either HPV infection or CIN3. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer. com
Climate drivers of the 2015 Gulf of Carpentaria mangrove dieback

ESCC Hub researchers investigated the oceanic and atmospheric conditions leading up to the major mangrove dieback in late 2015 to identify potential stressors that contributed to the tree deaths. They found that it was most likely a result of a combination of very dry conditions and lower than average sea level. In combination, it appears that these conditions were unprecedented since at least 1971, and linked to the strong El Nino of 2015/16. More detailed attribution studies are necessary to determine what role, if any, human-induced climate change played in the 2015 dieback event. This would help inform natural resource policy-makers, planners and associated decision-makers about the causes of such events and how they may change into the future.
Riblets in fully developed turbulent channel flow - An experimental campaign

Riblets are well known to reduce the skin friction drag in turbulent flows and have been extensively studied numerically and experimentally in the past. One major experimental contribution was made by Bechert et al. [1], who investigated various types of riblets in an oil channel facility. These oil channel data sets have an accuracy that exceeds all prior air flow investigations. The present contribution aims to extend the available data for the change of turbulent skin friction drag in the presence of riblets through highly accurate measurements in fully developed turbulent air flow. In contrast to oil, the physical dimensions of the riblets are significantly smaller in air but at the same time a much larger range of Reynolds numbers can be covered with the present facility. We investigate three sets of riblets in a Reynolds number (Reb = UbH/ν) range 3×103 < Reb < 8.5×104, where Ub is the bulk velocity, H the channel height and ν the kinematic viscosity.
Urban Form and Productivity: What is the Shape of Latin American Cities?

This paper examines the linkages between urban form and city productivity, using alternative metrics for urban form and applying them to a comprehensive sample of Latin American cities. Although most of the literature has concentrated on the effects of population density (compact versus sprawling urban development), this paper seeks to assess whether different dimensions of a city's urban form, such as shape, structure, and land-use, affect its economic performance. The paper finds that the shape of the urban extent, the inner-city connectedness, and fullness have a statistically significant influence on the productivity level of the city.
Global Changes in Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Virus Gene Expression Patterns following Expression of a Tetracycline-Inducible Rta Transactivator

ABSTRACT An important step in the herpesvirus life cycle is the switch from latency to lytic reactivation. In order to study the life cycle of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), we developed a gene expression system in KSHV-infected primary effusion lymphoma cells. This system uses Flp-mediated efficient recombination and tetracycline-inducible expression. The Rta transcriptional activator, which acts as a molecular switch for lytic reactivation of KSHV, was efficiently integrated downstream of the Flp recombination target site, and its expression was tightly controlled by tetracycline. Like stimulation with tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA), the ectopic expression of Rta efficiently induced a complete cycle of viral replication, including a well-ordered program of KSHV gene expression and production of infectious viral progeny. A striking feature of Rta-mediated lytic gene expression was that Rta induced KSHV gene expression in a more powerful and efficient manner than TPA stimulation, indicating that Rta plays a central, leading role in KSHV lytic gene expression. Thus, our streamlined gene expression system provides a novel means not only to study the effects of viral gene products on overall KSHV gene expression and replication, but also to understand the natural viral reactivation process.
Patient-reported outcome measures after routine periodontal and implant surgical procedures.

OBJECTIVES To compare patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after different dental surgical procedures over a 1-week post-surgical period and in relation to duration of the surgery, and periosteal releasing incisions. To evaluate the prevalence of post-surgical complications. MATERIAL & METHODS Four hundred and sixty-eight healthy dental patients requiring surgeries, such as crown lengthening (CL), open flap debridement (OFD) and implant installation (IMP) in the National Dental Centre, Singapore (2009-2011), were consecutively recruited. PROMs on bleeding, swelling, pain and bruising were obtained using Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) on days 0, 3, 5 and 7 post-operatively. RESULTS On the day of surgery, the IMP procedure gave the lowest median VAS for all four PROM parameters. After a week, OFD still had a significantly higher VAS for swelling, pain and bruising. Patients who underwent procedures lasting more than 60 min. had higher VAS for all parameters except bleeding. After considering other important confounders, type of surgery procedure was no longer associated with the VAS score for any of the parameters. Time after surgery, male gender and shorter surgery duration reduced post-operative VAS for one or more of the parameters. Longer surgeon experience helps reduce VAS scores only for bleeding. Prevalence for tenderness to palpation was 11.6%, 8.9% and 12.2% for IMP, CL and OFD, respectively, 1-week post-operatively. Swelling and suppuration occurred rarely. CONCLUSIONS The median VAS scores for all PROM parameters were generally low and reduced to near zero over a week following all three surgical procedures tested. Time after surgery and shorter surgery duration were associated with lower VAS scores in all the PROM parameters in this cohort of patients. Surgery type was not associated significantly with VAS after adjustment with other important confounders. Low prevalences of post-surgical complications were reported.
Functional expression of the ecto‐ATPase NTPDase2 and of nucleotide receptors by neuronal progenitor cells in the adult murine hippocampus

An astrocyte‐like cell population corresponding to residual radial glia represents the neuronal progenitors of the adult mammalian hippocampus. We show that radial glia‐like cells of the dentate gyrus express surface‐located ATP‐hydrolyzing activity and are immunopositive for NTPDase2. This enzyme hydrolyzes extracellular nucleoside triphosphates such as ATP and UTP to their nucleoside diphosphates and is thus involved in the control of signaling via P2 receptors. NTPDase2 is expressed from embryonic day 17 onward. In the hippocampus, the embryonic pattern of NTPDase2 expression mirrors that of the dentate migration of neuroblasts. Double‐immunolabeling revealed that NTPDase2 is associated with subpopulations of glial fibrillary acidic protein‐, nestin‐ and doublecortin‐positive radial cells. It is absent from mature granule cells or S100‐positive astrocytes. NTPDase2‐positive cells proliferate. Furthermore, after mitosis, progenitor cells preferentially reveal an NTPDase2‐positive phenotype. Patch‐clamp analysis demonstrates functional nucleotide receptors in progenitor cells expressing nestin promotor‐driven green fluorescent protein. Our results identify the ecto‐nucleotidase NTPDase2 and functional P2X receptors at hippocampal progenitor cells. We infer that signaling pathways via extracellular nucleotides may play a role in the control of hippocampal neurogenesis. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A phase II/III clinical study of enzyme replacement therapy with idursulfase in mucopolysaccharidosis II (Hunter syndrome)

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of recombinant human iduronate-2-sulfatase (idursulfase) in the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis II.Methods: Ninety-six mucopolysaccharidosis II patients between 5 and 31 years of age were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients were randomized to placebo infusions, weekly idursulfase (0.5 mg/kg) infusions or every-other-week infusions of idursulfase (0.5 mg/kg). Efficacy was evaluated using a composite endpoint consisting of distance walked in 6 minutes and the percentage of predicted forced vital capacity based on the sum of the ranks of change from baseline.Results: Patients in the weekly and every-other-week idursulfase groups exhibited significant improvement in the composite endpoint compared to placebo (P = 0.0049 for weekly and P = 0.0416 for every-other-week) after one year. The weekly dosing group experienced a 37-m increase in the 6-minute-walk distance (P = 0.013), a 2.7% increase in percentage of predicted forced vital capacity (P = 0.065), and a 160 mL increase in absolute forced vital capacity (P = 0.001) compared to placebo group at 53 weeks. Idursulfase was generally well tolerated, but infusion reactions did occur. Idursulfase antibodies were detected in 46.9% of patients during the study.Conclusion: This study supports the use of weekly infusions of idursulfase in the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis II.
Development of Response Timing and Direction Selectivity in Cat Visual Thalamus and Cortex

Single-unit recordings were made in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and visual cortex of kittens that were 4–13 weeks of age. Responses to visual stimuli were analyzed to determine the relationship between two related facets of the behaviors of the cells: direction selectivity (DS) and timing. DS depends on timing differences within the receptive field. Cortical DS was present at all ages, but its temporal frequency tuning changed. In kittens, DS was more common at high (∼4 Hz) than low (∼1 Hz) temporal frequencies. This is in contrast to adults, in which DS is tuned to low frequencies, more common at 1 Hz than at 4 Hz (Saul and Humphrey, 1992a). In adult cats, the LGN provides the cortex with a wide range of timings that are also observable in cortical receptive fields (Saul and Humphrey, 1990,1992b; Alonso et al., 2001). In kittens, LGN and cortical timing were immature. Most cells showed long-latency sustained responses. At low temporal frequencies, the variance in timing was small, but at higher frequencies, all timings were well represented. The timing data thus matched the temporal frequency tuning of DS. Kittens show DS at high temporal frequencies because of the abundance of inputs with different timing at high frequencies. As cells in the LGN mature, more low-frequency timing differences become available to the cortex, allowing DS at low frequencies to become possible for more cortical cells.
Dopamine D(2) receptors mediate amylin's acute satiety effect.

The anorectic effect of the pancreatic peptide amylin has been established in numerous studies. Here, we investigated the influence of a pretreatment with dopamine (DA) D(1)- and D(2)-receptor antagonists on the anorectic effect of intraperitoneally injected amylin in rats fed a medium-fat (18% fat) diet. In 24-h food-deprived rats, pretreatment with the DA D(2)-receptor antagonist raclopride [100 microg/kg (0.2 micromol/kg) ip] significantly attenuated amylin's (5 microg/kg ip) anorectic effect, whereas raclopride alone had no effect on food intake [i.e., food intakes 1 h after injection were (n = 12): NaCl/NaCl 7.3 +/- 0.5 g; NaCl/amylin 3.9 +/- 0.6; raclopride/NaCl 7.7 +/- 0.7; raclopride/amylin 5.6 +/- 0.7]. Pretreatment with another DA D(2) receptor antagonist, sulpiride [50 mg/kg (154 micromol/kg) ip], similarly reduced amylin's satiety effect, whereas pretreatment with the DA D(1)-receptor antagonist SCH-23390 [10 microg/kg (0.03 micromol/kg) ip] did not influence amylin's effect. SCH-23390, however, completely blocked the anorexia induced by D-amphetamine (0.3 mg/kg ip). These results suggest that, under the present feeding conditions, the dopaminergic system mediates part of amylin's inhibitory effect on feeding in rats when administered intraperitoneally. This seems to involve DA D(2) receptors but not D(1) receptors.