Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Non-conscious recognition of emotional body language

Patients with cortical blindness can reliably perceive some facial expressions even if they are unaware of their percept. We examined whether emotional body language may also be recognized in the absence of the primary visual cortex and without conscious stimulus perception. We presented emotional and neutral body images in the blind field of a patient with unilateral striate cortex damage. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we measured activation following presentation to the blind hemifield of whole body images (happy, neutral) with the face blurred. Unseen happy body images selectively activated area MT and the pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus, while unseen instrumental neutral body images activated the premotor cortex. Our results show that in the absence of the striate cortex implicit bodily emotion perception may be possible.
Evaluation of joint findings with gait analysis in children with hemophilia.

BACKGROUNDS AND OBJECTIVES Hemophilic arthropathy due to recurrent joint bleeding leads to physical, psychological and socioeconomic problems in children with hemophilia and reduces their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate joint damage through various parameters and to determine functional deterioration in the musculoskeletal system during walking using kinetic and kinematic gait analysis. MATERIAL AND METHOD Physical examination and kinetic and kinematic gait analysis findings of 19 hemophilic patients aged 7-20 years were compared with those of age, sex and leg length matched controls. RESULTS Stride time was longer in the hemophilia group (p=0.001) compared to the age matched healthy control group, while hip, knee and ankle joint rotation angles were more limited (p=0.001, p=0.035 and p=0.001, respectively). In the hemophilia group, the extensor moment of the knee joint in the stance phase was less than that in the control group (p=0.001). Stride time was longer in the severe hemophilia group compared to the mild-moderate hemophilia and control groups (p=0.011 and p=0.001, respectively). Rotation angle of the ankle was wider in the control group compared to the other two groups (p=0.001 for both). Rotation angle of the ankle joint was narrower in the severe hemophilia group compared to the others (p=0.001 for each). Extensor moment of the knee joint was greater in the control group compared to the other two groups (p=0.003 and p=0.001, respectively). Walking velocity was higher in the control group compared to the severe hemophilia group. CONCLUSION Kinetic and kinematic gait analysis has the sensitivity to detect minimal changes in biomechanical parameters. Gait analysis can be used as a reliable method to detect early joint damage.
An analysis of four missing data treatment methods for supervised learning

One relevant problem in data quality is missing data. Despite the frequent occurrence and the relevance of the missing data problem, many machine learning algorithms handle missing data in a rather naive way. However, missing data treatment should be carefully treated, otherwise bias might be introduced into the knowledge induced. In this work, we analyze the use of the k-nearest neighbor as an imputation method. Imputation is a term that denotes a procedure that replaces the missing values in a data set with some plausible values. One advantage of this approach is that the missing data treatment is independent of the learning algorithm used. This allows the user to select the most suitable imputation method for each situation. Our analysis indicates that missing data imputation based on the k-nearest neighbor algorithm can outperform the internal methods used by C4.5 and CN2 to treat missing data, and can also outperform the mean or mode imputation method, which is a method broadly used to treat missing values.
The Spike Protein of Infectious Bronchitis Virus Is Retained Intracellularly by a Tyrosine Motif

ABSTRACT We have analyzed the intracellular transport of the spike (S) protein of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), an avian coronavirus. Surface expression was analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy, by surface biotinylation, and by syncytium formation by S-expressing cells. By applying these methods, the S protein was found to be retained intracellularly. Tyr1143 in the cytoplasmic tail was shown to be a crucial component of the retention signal. Deletion of a dilysine motif that has previously been suggested to function as a retrieval signal did not abolish intracellular retention. Treatment of the S proteins with endoglycosidases did not reveal any differences between the parental and the mutant proteins. Furthermore, all S proteins analyzed were posttranslationally cleaved into the subunits S1 and S2. In coexpression experiments, the S protein was found to colocalize with a Golgi marker. Taken together, these results indicate that the S protein of IBV is retained at a late Golgi compartment. Therefore, this viral surface protein differs from the S proteins of transmissible gastroenteritis virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, which are retained at a pre-Golgi compartment or transported to the cell surface, respectively. The implications of these differences are discussed.
Posthysterectomy Cytology Screening: Indications and Clinical Implications

Objective To review the results of patients who were referred for posthysterectomy of abnormal cytology based on screening indications. Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective review of 64 patients who have been referred for posthysterectomy vaginal colposcopy to the gynecologic oncology service. Patients’ demographics, clinical features, reason for screening, and final diagnosis were recorded. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on posthysterectomy screening guidelines. Group A was considered to have undergone unnecessary screening based on national guidelines, and group B had risk factors that appropriately called for continued surveillance. The number of colposcopic examinations and the incidence of neoplasia were recorded for each group. Results The mean age of the patients was 65 years (range = 35–95 y). Group A included 22 patients with history of abnormal cytology posthysterectomy for benign disease. Of the 22 abnormal cytology results, 21 were low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (n = 14) or atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (n = 7) with 1 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. After referral and colposcopy of this group, no neoplasia was found. Group B included 42 total patients. Of these 42 patients, 20 (48%) had a history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, 12 (28%) had a history of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia, 6 (14%) had history of cervical cancer, 2 (5%) had history of diethylstilbestrol exposure, and 2 (5%) had a history of radiation therapy. In group B, 8 (9%) and 1 (2%) of the patients had vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 and squamous cell carcinoma, respectively. Conclusions Current national guidelines are appropriate. Adherence to these guidelines will decrease intervention and not affect the detection of vaginal neoplasia. Patients with risk factors for lower genital tract neoplasia warrant continued screening after hysterectomy.
Celoporthe dispersa gen. et sp. nov. from native Myrtales in South Africa

In a survey for Cryphonectria and Chrysoporthe species on Myrtales in South Africa, a fungus resembling the stem canker pathogen Chrysoporthe austroafricana was collected from native Syzygium cordatum near Tzaneen (Limpopo Province), Heteropyxis canescens near Lydenburg (Mpumalanga Province) and exotic Tibouchina granulosa in Durban (KwaZulu-Natal Province). The fungus was associated with dying branches and stems on S. cordatum, H. canescens and T. granulosa. However, morphological differences were detected between the unknown fungus from these three hosts and known species of Chrysoporthe. The aim of this study was to characterise the fungus using DNA sequence comparisons and morphological features. Pathogenicity tests were also conducted to assess its virulence on Eucalyptus (ZG 14 clones), H. natalensis and T. granulosa. Plants of H. canescens were not available for inoculation. Results showed distinct morphological differences between the unknown fungus and Chrysoporthe spp. Phylogenetic analysis showed that isolates reside in a clade separate from Chrysoporthe and other related genera. Celoporthe dispersa gen. et sp. nov. is, therefore, described to accommodate this fungus. Pathogenicity tests showed that C. dispersa is not pathogenic to H. natalensis, but that it is a potential pathogen of Eucalyptus and Tibouchina spp.
Complications in Operationalizing Lifelong Fatigue as an Exclusionary Criterion

The case definitions for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and chronic fatigue syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) stipulate that the experience of lifelong fatigue is an exclusionary criterion (Carruthers et al., 2003; Fukuda et al., 1994). This article examines the lifelong fatigue construct and identifies potential validity and reliability issues in using lifelong fatigue as an exclusionary condition. Participants in the current study completed the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire (Jason et al., 2010), and responses were examined to determine if they had experienced lifelong fatigue. This article discusses the extensive process that was needed to confidently discern which participants had or did not have lifelong fatigue. Using the most rigorous standards, few individuals were classified as having lifelong fatigue. In addition, those with and without lifelong fatigue had few significant differences in symptoms and functional areas. This article concludes with a recommendation that lifelong fatigue should no longer be used as an exclusionary criterion for CFS or ME/CFS.
Over-optimism in bioinformatics: an illustration

MOTIVATION In statistical bioinformatics research, different optimization mechanisms potentially lead to 'over-optimism' in published papers. So far, however, a systematic critical study concerning the various sources underlying this over-optimism is lacking. RESULTS We present an empirical study on over-optimism using high-dimensional classification as example. Specifically, we consider a 'promising' new classification algorithm, namely linear discriminant analysis incorporating prior knowledge on gene functional groups through an appropriate shrinkage of the within-group covariance matrix. While this approach yields poor results in terms of error rate, we quantitatively demonstrate that it can artificially seem superior to existing approaches if we 'fish for significance'. The investigated sources of over-optimism include the optimization of datasets, of settings, of competing methods and, most importantly, of the method's characteristics. We conclude that, if the improvement of a quantitative criterion such as the error rate is the main contribution of a paper, the superiority of new algorithms should always be demonstrated on independent validation data. AVAILABILITY The R codes and relevant data can be downloaded from http://www.ibe. med.uni-muenchen.de/organisation/mitarbeiter/020_professuren/boulesteix/overoptimism/, such that the study is completely reproducible.
Kinin-B2 Receptor Mediated Neuroprotection after NMDA Excitotoxicity Is Reversed in the Presence of Kinin-B1 Receptor Agonists

Background Kinins, with bradykinin and des-Arg9-bradykinin being the most important ones, are pro-inflammatory peptides released after tissue injury including stroke. Although the actions of bradykinin are in general well characterized; it remains controversial whether the effects of bradykinin are beneficial or not. Kinin-B2 receptor activation participates in various physiological processes including hypotension, neurotransmission and neuronal differentiation. The bradykinin metabolite des-Arg9-bradykinin as well as Lys-des-Arg9-bradykinin activates the kinin-B1 receptor known to be expressed under inflammatory conditions. We have investigated the effects of kinin-B1 and B2 receptor activation on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced excitotoxicity measured as decreased capacity to produce synaptically evoked population spikes in the CA1 area of rat hippocampal slices. Principal Findings Bradykinin at 10 nM and 1 µM concentrations triggered a neuroprotective cascade via kinin-B2 receptor activation which conferred protection against NMDA-induced excitotoxicity. Recovery of population spikes induced by 10 nM bradykinin was completely abolished when the peptide was co-applied with the selective kinin-B2 receptor antagonist HOE-140. Kinin-B2 receptor activation promoted survival of hippocampal neurons via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, while MEK/MAPK signaling was not involved in protection against NMDA-evoked excitotoxic effects. However, 100 nM Lys-des-Arg9-bradykinin, a potent kinin-B1 receptor agonist, reversed bradykinin-induced population spike recovery. The inhibition of population spikes recovery was reversed by PD98059, showing that MEK/MAPK was involved in the induction of apoptosis mediated by the B1 receptor. Conclusions Bradykinin exerted protection against NMDA-induced excitotoxicity which is reversed in the presence of a kinin-B1 receptor agonist. As bradykinin is converted to the kinin-B1 receptor metabolite des-Arg9-bradykinin by carboxypeptidases, present in different areas including in brain, our results provide a mechanism for the neuroprotective effect in vitro despite of the deleterious effect observed in vivo.
The in‐flight sensitivity of Gold‐Tube NOy converters to HCN

In‐flight measurements of the HCN conversion efficiency of three gold‐tube NOy converters were made during the recent TOTE/VOTE and SUCCESS aircraft projects. While sampling ambient air and with the upstream addition of 500 ppmv H2O, two converters had HCN conversion efficiencies averaging about 5%. The H2O addition was a routine part of the NOy measurement procedure for these projects. A third converter showed much higher HCN conversion, about 30%. Conversion efficiencies determined while sampling synthetic air were significantly higher than those measured while sampling ambient air. The dependence of conversion efficiency on ambient H2O and O3 was minimal, at least with respect to the variability of the measured values over the course of the missions.
Spread‐F observations by the Alouette Topside Sounder Satellite

Ionograms recorded by the Alouette topside sounder satellite exhibit a variety of spread-F echo configurations. The observed echoes are found to be consistent with three qualitative radio-propagation models involving aspect-sensitive scattering by thin magnetic-field-aligned irregularities, ducting along broad irregularities, and refraction within large-scale reductions of electron density. A large number of Alouette ionograms were examined for the three types of spread F to determine their frequency of occurrence. Spread F appeared on 54 per cent of the topside ionograms; the three types exhibit markedly different patterns of occurrence in geomagnetic latitude and local time.
Augmented Comanipulation in Robotic Surgery

This paper presents a control scheme for augmented comanipulation with force feedback in robotic surgery. This approach aims at increasing the surgeon’s dexterity. The surgeon manipulates a handle mounted on the robot which manipulates the instrument. The control law ensures that the instrument applies on the organ the same forces that the surgeon applies on the handle but decreased by a scale factor. As a consequence, the robotic device provides the surgeon with an augmented sensation of the interaction forces between the instrument and the organ. The proposed control law does not require any knowledge of the environment. This control scheme is proven stable thanks to a passivity study. Indeed, passivity analysis is a useful tool for the stability analysis of a robot interacting with an unknown environment. Experimental results are presented on a robot dedicated to minimally invasive surgery.
Proprioception assessment in subjects with idiopathic loss of shoulder range of motion: Joint position sense and a novel proprioceptive feedback index

We examined the effects of elevation range and plane on shoulder joint proprioception in subjects with idiopathic loss of shoulder range of motion (ROM). Joint position sense (JPS) and a novel proprioceptive feedback index (PFI), including difference magnitude and the similarity index, were used to assess proprioception. Twelve subjects (eight male, four female) with involved stiff shoulders and normal opposite shoulders were recruited from a university hospital. Subjects attempted to repeat six target positions. Target positions consisted of arm elevation in three planes (frontal, scapular, and sagittal planes) and two ranges (end/mid range). Six trials of each target position were used to determine acceptable trials for stabilization of the data, less than 5% of the cumulative mean values for at least three successive trials. The data stabilized at the sixth repetition. Compared to control shoulders, involved shoulders had enhanced proprioception during end range movements (p < 0.05). The magnitude of the repositioning error and difference magnitude decreased (1.6°–3.5° for repositioning error and 22.2°–62.1° for difference magnitude), whereas similarity index improved at end range movements compared to mid range movements (p < 0.05) in involved stiff shoulders. Results of JPS and PFI suggest that both capsuloligamentous and musculotendinous mechanoreceptors play an important role in proprioception feedback during active movements in subjects with idiopathic loss of shoulder ROM. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:1218–1224, 2008
DDX5 Facilitates HIV-1 Replication as a Cellular Co-Factor of Rev

HIV-1 Rev plays an important role in the late phase of HIV-1 replication, which facilitates export of unspliced viral mRNAs from the nucleus to cytoplasm in infected cells. Recent studies have shown that DDX1 and DDX3 are co-factors of Rev for the export of HIV-1 transcripts. In this report, we have demonstrated that DDX5 (p68), which is a multifunctional DEAD-box RNA helicase, functions as a new cellular co-factor of HIV-1 Rev. We found that DDX5 affects Rev function through the Rev-RRE axis and subsequently enhances HIV-1 replication. Confocal microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that DDX5 binds to Rev and this interaction is largely dependent on RNA. If the DEAD-box motif of DDX5 is mutated, DDX5 loses almost all of its ability to bind to Rev, indicating that the DEAD-box motif of DDX5 is required for the interaction between DDX5 and Rev. Our data indicate that interference of DDX5-Rev interaction could reduce HIV-1 replication and potentially provide a new molecular target for anti-HIV-1 therapeutics.
Identification of a Novel Cathelicidin Gene in the Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

ABSTRACT We report the cloning of a novel antimicrobial peptide gene, termed rtCATH_1, found in the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. The predicted 216-residue rtCATH_1 prepropeptide consists of three domains: a 22-residue signal peptide, a 128-residue cathelin-like region containing two identifiable cathelicidin family signatures, and a predicted 66-residue C-terminal cationic antimicrobial peptide. This predicted mature peptide was unique in possessing features of different known (mammalian) cathelicidin subgroups, such as the cysteine-bridged family and the specific amino-acid-rich family. The rtCATH_1 gene comprises four exons, as seen in all known mammalian cathelicidin genes, and several transcription factor binding sites known to be of relevance to host defenses were identified in the 5′ flanking region. By Northern blot analysis, the expression of rtCATH_1 was detected in gill, head kidney, and spleen of bacterially challenged fish. Primary cultures of head kidney leukocytes from rainbow trout stimulated with lipopolysaccharide or poly(I · C) also expressed rtCATH_1. A 36-residue peptide corresponding to the core part of the fish cathelicidin was chemically synthesized and shown to exhibit potent antimicrobial activity and a low hemolytic effect. Thus, rtCATH_1 represents a novel antimicrobial peptide gene belonging to the cathelicidin family and may play an important role in the innate immunity of rainbow trout.
The art of learning: wildfire, amenity migration and local environmental knowledge

Communicating the need to prepare well in advance of the wildfire season is a strategic priority for wildfire management agencies worldwide. However, there is considerable evidence to suggest that although these agencies invest significant effort towards this objective in the lead up to each wildfire season, landholders in at-risk locations often remain under-prepared. One reason for the poor translation of risk information materials into actual preparation may be attributed to the diversity of people now inhabiting wildfire-prone locations in peri-urban landscapes. These people hold widely varying experiences, beliefs, attitudes and values relating to wildfire, which influence their understanding and interpretation of risk messages – doing so within the constraints of their individual contexts. This paper examines the diversity of types of local environmental knowledge (LEK) present within wildfire-prone landscapes affected by amenity-led in-migration in south-east Australia. It investigates the ways people learn and form LEK of wildfire, and how this affects the ability of at-risk individuals to interpret and act on risk communication messages. We propose a practical framework that complements existing risk education mechanisms with engagement and interaction techniques (agency–community and within community) that can utilise LEK most effectively and facilitate improved community-wide learning about wildfire and wildfire preparedness.
Policy-Sealed Data: A New Abstraction for Building Trusted Cloud Services

Accidental or intentional mismanagement of cloud software by administrators poses a serious threat to the integrity and confidentiality of customer data hosted by cloud services. Trusted computing provides an important foundation for designing cloud services that are more resilient to these threats. However, current trusted computing technology is ill-suited to the cloud as it exposes too many internal details of the cloud infrastructure, hinders fault tolerance and load-balancing flexibility, and performs poorly. We present Excalibur, a system that addresses these limitations by enabling the design of trusted cloud services. Excalibur provides a new trusted computing abstraction, called policy-sealed data, that lets data be sealed (i.e., encrypted to a customer-defined policy) and then unsealed (i.e., decrypted) only by nodes whose configurations match the policy. To provide this abstraction, Excalibur uses attribute-based encryption, which reduces the overhead of key management and improves the performance of the distributed protocols employed. To demonstrate that Excalibur is practical, we incorporated it in the Eucalyptus open-source cloud platform. Policy-sealed data can provide greater confidence to Eucalyptus customers that their data is not being mismanaged.