Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distribution of mesoscale elastic properties and mass density in the human femoral shaft

Abstract Cortical bone properties are determined by tissue composition and structure at several hierarchical length scales. In this study, the spatial distribution of micro- and mesoscale elastic properties within a human femoral shaft has been investigated. Microscale tissue degree of mineralization (DMB), cortical vascular porosity Ct.Po and the average transverse isotropic stiffness tensor CMicro of cylindrical-shaped samples (diameter: 4.4 mm, N = 56) were obtained from cortical regions between 20 and 85% of the total femur length and around the periphery (anterior, medial, posterior and lateral quadrants) by means of synchrotron radiation µCT (SRµCT) and 50-MHz scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM). Within each cylinder, the volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and the mesoscale stiffness tensor CMeso were derived using a numerical homogenization approach. Moreover, microelastic maps of the axial elastic coefficient c33 measured by SAM at distinct cross-sectional locations along the femur were used to construct a 3-D multiscale elastic model of the femoral shaft. Variations of vBMD (6.1%) were much lower than the variations of mesoscale elastic coefficients (11.1–21.3%). The variation of DMB was only a minor predictor for variations of the mesoscale elastic properties (0.05 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.34). Instead, variations of the mesoscale elastic properties could be explained by variations of cortical porosity and microscale elastic properties. These data were suitable inputs for numerical evaluations and may help to unravel the relations between structure and composition on the elastic function in cortical bone.
Encouraging contraceptive uptake by motivating men to communicate about family planning: the Malawi Male Motivator project.

OBJECTIVES We examined the effect of a peer-delivered educational intervention, the Malawi Male Motivator intervention, on couples' contraceptive uptake. We based the intervention design on the information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model. METHODS In 2008 we recruited 400 men from Malawi's Mangochi province who reported not using any method of contraception. We randomized them into an intervention arm and a control arm, and administered surveys on contraceptive use at baseline and after the intervention. We also conducted in-depth interviews with a subset of intervention participants. RESULTS After the intervention, contraceptive use increased significantly within both arms (P < .01), and this increase was significantly greater in the intervention arm than it was in the control arm (P < .01). Quantitative and qualitative data indicated that increased ease and frequency of communication within couples were the only significant predictors of uptake (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that men facilitated contraceptive use for their partners. Although the IMB model does not fully explain our findings, our results show that the intervention's content and its training in communication skills are essential mechanisms for successfully enabling men to help couples use a contraceptive.
Data Protection and Crypto Algorithms' Performance in RSMAD

The paper presents the architecture of the Radio System for Monitoring and Acquisition of Data from Traffic Enforcement Cameras (in short: RSMAD), particularly concerning the protection of confidential data. Ultimately, the system will be used for transmission and archiving image data of traffic offenses, but can also perform other duties related to traffic safety. The study presents also detailed results of research of AES/Rijndael compliance with the SAC criterion and comparative analysis in terms of performance AES-128 and Triple-DES algorithms carried out in RSMAD.
Some Properties of Composite Panels Manufactured from Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) Using Modified Starch as a Green Binder

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate basic properties of particleboard panels manufactured from Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) using modified starch and low percent of urea formaldehyde as binder. Experimental panels in the form of three-layer configuration were made from the raw material at two density levels. Bending characteristics, namely, modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and internal bond strength (IB) in addition to dimensional stability and surface roughness of the samples were determined. The highest MOE and MOR values of the samples with 0.80 g/cm3 density level were found as 2344.32 and 12.14 MPa, respectively. Both bending and IB values of the samples were comparable to those of commercially manufactured panels from other species. It appears that dimensional stability of the panels needs to be enhanced. Based on the findings in this work, modified starch could have potential as green binder in particleboard panels manufactured from Eastern redcedar without having substantial adverse influence on their properties.
Expression and clinical significance of programmed death-1 on lymphocytes and programmed death ligand-1 on monocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with cervical cancer

The programmed death-1 (PD-1) signaling pathway serves a critical role in immune regulation and tolerance by suppressing the activation and proliferation of T cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of PD-1 and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) on the development of cervical carcinoma and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). A total of 40 healthy controls (HC), 40 patients with CIN and 66 newly diagnosed cervical cancer patients were recruited. The expression level of PD-1 expression on peripheral cluster of differentiation (CD)4+ and CD8+ T cells and PD-L1 on monocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression level of soluble PD-L1 in serum was determined by an ELISA. The results of the present study demonstrated that the PD-1 expression level on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was significantly increased in CIN and cervical cancer, compared with that in HC. In addition, the PD-1 expression level on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was increased in cervical cancer, compared with that in CIN. However, the expression level of PDL-1 on CD14+ monocytes was increased in cancer and CIN, but limited in cancer and CIN. In addition, PD-1 expression on CD4+ T cells was positively associated with PD-1 expression on CD8+ T cells in cervical cancer (P<0.05). Further analyses revealed that the proportion of PD-1 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were positively associated with tumor stages. However, no difference in the degree of soluble PD-1 among cancer, CIN and HC cells was revealed. The results suggested that the PD-1 signaling pathway is involved in the development of CIN and cervical cancer.
Exercise Training Reverses Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in an Experimental Model of VCP Disease

Background The therapeutic effects of exercise resistance and endurance training in the alleviation of muscle hypertrophy/atrophy should be considered in the management of patients with advanced neuromuscular diseases. Patients with progressive neuromuscular diseases often experience muscle weakness, which negatively impact independence and quality of life levels. Mutations in the valosin containing protein (VCP) gene lead to Inclusion body myopathy associated with Paget's disease of bone and frontotemporal dementia (IBMPFD) and more recently affect 2% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-diagnosed cases. Methods/Principle Findings The present investigation was undertaken to examine the effects of uphill and downhill exercise training on muscle histopathology and the autophagy cascade in an experimental VCP mouse model carrying the R155H mutation. Progressive uphill exercise in VCPR155H/+ mice revealed significant improvement in muscle strength and performance by grip strength and Rotarod analyses when compared to the sedentary mice. In contrast, mice exercised to run downhill did not show any significant improvement. Histologically, the uphill exercised VCPR155H/+ mice displayed an improvement in muscle atrophy, and decreased expression levels of ubiquitin, P62/SQSTM1, LC3I/II, and TDP-43 autophagy markers, suggesting an alleviation of disease-induced myopathy phenotypes. There was also an improvement in the Paget-like phenotype. Conclusions Collectively, our data highlights that uphill exercise training in VCPR155H/+ mice did not have any detrimental value to the function of muscle, and may offer effective therapeutic options for patients with VCP-associated diseases.
Ovarian Hormones and Migraine Headache: Understanding Mechanisms and Pathogenesis—Part 2

Migraine headache is strongly influenced by reproductive events that occur throughout the lifespan of women. Each of these reproductive events has a different “hormonal milieu,” which might modulate the clinical course of migraine headache. Estrogen and progesterone can be preventative or provocative for migraine headache under different circumstances depending on their absolute serum levels, constancy of exposure, and types of estrogen/progesterone derivatives. Attacks of migraine with and without aura respond differently to changes in ovarian hormones. Clearly a greater knowledge of ovarian hormones and their effect on migraine is essential to a greater understanding of the mechanisms and pathogenesis of migraine headache.
Single-molecule imaging of telomerase reverse transcriptase in human telomerase holoenzyme and minimal RNP complexes

Telomerase synthesizes chromosome-capping telomeric repeats using an active site in telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and an integral RNA subunit template. The fundamental question of whether human telomerase catalytic activity requires cooperation across two TERT subunits remains under debate. In this study, we describe new approaches of subunit labeling for single-molecule imaging, applied to determine the TERT content of complexes assembled in cells or cell extract. Surprisingly, telomerase reconstitutions yielded heterogeneous DNA-bound TERT monomer and dimer complexes in relative amounts that varied with assembly and purification method. Among the complexes, cellular holoenzyme and minimal recombinant enzyme monomeric for TERT had catalytic activity. Dimerization was suppressed by removing a TERT domain linker with atypical sequence bias, which did not inhibit cellular or minimal enzyme assembly or activity. Overall, this work defines human telomerase DNA binding and synthesis properties at single-molecule level and establishes conserved telomerase subunit architecture from single-celled organisms to humans. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.08363. 001
Impact of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism on the risk of gastric cancer and its interaction with Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND Attempts for early detection of gastric cancer have recently focused on host's genetic susceptibility factors and gene-environment interactions. We have, herein, studied the association of MTHFR C677T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and its interaction with Helicobacter pylori infection, smoking, age and gender on the risk of gastric cancer among an Iranian population. METHODS Gastric cancer patients (n = 450) and cancer-free controls (n = 780) were studied for serum H. pylori-specific IgG antibodies by ELISA and MTHFR C677T polymorphism (SNP) by PCR-RFLP. Demographic and life style data were collected through patient interviews. Unconditional logistic regression model estimated odds ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS The interactions of MTHFR genotype with H. pylori infection (P = 0.03), age (P = 0.049) and gender (P = 0.007) were statistically significant. Accordingly, MTHFR C677T carriers who were also positive for H. pylori infection exhibited 80% (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.0-2.9) significant excess risk of non-cardia gastric cancer. Furthermore, subjects over the age of 50 or female subjects carrying MTHFR C677T SNP showed 40 (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.0-2.0) and 100 (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.2-3.2) percent increased risk of gastric cancer, respectively. CONCLUSION MTHFR C677T SNP seems to increase the risk of gastric cancer and the effect is significantly inflated by interactions with H. pylori infection, age and gender.
SPEECH PROSODY — THEORIES , MODELS AND ANALYSIS

Modern study of speech prosody started almost as early as modern study of segmental aspect of speech (Cruttendon, 1997). Over the decades, many theories and models are proposed. While the diversity of approaches is a sign of creativity of the field, the situation could be confusing for readers who are new to the area. Even for seasoned researchers, if they have not given much thought to methodological issues, the key differences between the many approaches may not be immediately clear. This chapter offers an overview of the state of the art in prosody research mainly from a methodological perspective. I will first try to highlight the critical differences between the theories and models of prosody by outlining a way of classifying them along a number of dividing lines. I will then discuss a number of key issues in prosody analysis, with focus also mainly on methodological differences.
Developmental Regulation of the cm2 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Gene: Selective Induction by a Secreted Factor Produced by Embryonic Chick Retinal Cells

The expression of the cm2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor gene increases dramatically in chick retina during embryonic development in vivo. A similar developmental increase incm2 expression occurs in embryonic chick retinal cells in culture. Conditioned medium from mature, but not young, retinal cultures contains a secreted factor that causes a selective increase in expression of cm2, but not cm3 or cm4, receptors. The secreted factor has been partially purified from serum-free medium, is protease-sensitive, and has a molecular weight >10 kDa. The cm2-inducing factor stimulates expression of a cm2promoter/luciferase reporter gene, demonstrating that the increase incm2 expression is attributable to increased gene transcription. Incubation of retinal cells with 14 identified neurotrophic and growth factors did not increase cm2expression, suggesting that a novel developmentally regulated secreted factor mediates the subtype-specific induction of thecm2 receptor gene in retina.
Initiation of minus-strand RNA synthesis by the brome mosaicvirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase: use of oligoribonucleotide primers

Various DNA- and RNA-dependent RNA polymerases have been reported to use oligoribonucleotide primers to initiate nucleic acid synthesis. For the brome mosaic virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), we determined that in reactions performed with limited GTP concentrations, minus-strand RNA synthesis can be stimulated by the inclusion of guanosine monophosphate or specific oligoribonucleotides. Furthermore, guanylyl-3',5'-guanosine (GpG) was incorporated into minus-strand RNA and increased the rate of minus-strand RNA synthesis. In the presence of GpG, RdRp's Km for GTP decreased from 50 microM to approximately 3 microM while the Kms for other nucleotides were unaffected. These results have implications for the mechanism of initiation by RdRp.
Compression after low-velocity impact (CAI) properties of multistitched composites

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to investigate compression after low-velocity impact (CAI) properties of a multistitched composite. It was found that the CAI strength of the multistitched composite was high compared to the unstitched composites. In addition, stitching density, stitching type, stitching direction, and stitching fibers were found to be important structural parameters. The CAI load on the multistitched composites resulted in lateral damages near the impacted indentation region. The structures showed large damaged areas, but the out-of-plane layer delamination was confined to relatively small areas. Thus, the multistitching enhanced the CAI properties of the composite.
A hybrid genetic algorithm and inver over approach for the travelling salesman problem

This paper proposes a two-phase hybrid approach for the travelling salesman problem (TSP). The first phase is based on a sequence based genetic algorithm (SBGA) with an embedded local search scheme. Within the SBGA, a memory is introduced to store good sequences (sub-tours) extracted from previous good solutions and the stored sequences are used to guide the generation of offspring via local search during the evolution of the population. Additionally, we also apply some techniques to adapt the key parameters based on whether the best individual of the population improves or not and maintain the diversity. After SBGA finishes, the hybrid approach enters the second phase, where the inver over (IO) operator, which is a state-of-the-art algorithm for the TSP, is used to further improve the solution quality of the population. Experiments are carried out to investigate the performance of the proposed hybrid approach in comparison with several relevant algorithms on a set of benchmark TSP instances. The experimental results show that the proposed hybrid approach is efficient in finding good quality solutions for the test TSPs.
Diversity of Phototrophic Genes Suggests Multiple Bacteria May Be Able to Exploit Sunlight in Exposed Soils from the Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica

Microbial life in exposed terrestrial surface layers in continental Antarctica is faced with extreme environmental conditions, including scarcity of organic matter. Bacteria in these exposed settings can therefore be expected to use alternative energy sources such as solar energy, abundant during the austral summer. Using Illumina MiSeq sequencing, we assessed the diversity and abundance of four conserved protein encoding genes involved in different key steps of light-harvesting pathways dependent on (bacterio)chlorophyll (pufM, bchL/chlL, and bchX genes) and rhodopsins (actinorhodopsin genes), in exposed soils from the Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica. Analysis of pufM genes, encoding a subunit of the type 2 photochemical reaction center found in anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria, revealed a broad diversity, dominated by Roseobacter- and Loktanella-like sequences. The bchL and chlL, involved in (bacterio)chlorophyll synthesis, on the other hand, showed a high relative abundance of either cyanobacterial or green algal trebouxiophyceael chlL reads, depending on the sample, while most bchX sequences belonged mostly to previously unidentified phylotypes. Rhodopsin-containing phototrophic bacteria could not be detected in the samples. Our results, while suggesting that Cyanobacteria and green algae are the main phototrophic groups, show that light-harvesting bacteria are nevertheless very diverse in microbial communities in Antarctic soils.
Chronic Daily Headache in Childhood and Adolescence: Clinical Aspects and a 4-Year Follow-up

Chronic daily headache (CDH) represents a challenge in clinical practice and the scientific field. CDH with onset in children and adolescents represent a matchless opportunity to understand mechanisms involved in adult CDH. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnosis, prognosis and psychiatric co-morbidity of CDH with young onset in the young. Fifty-nine CDH patients has been followed from 1997 to 2001 in our department. Headache and psychiatric diagnoses were made on the basis of the international system of classification (International Headache Society, 1988; DSM-IV). X2 test and multinomial logistic regressions were applied to analyse factors predicting outcome. The current diagnostic system allows a diagnosis in 80% of CDH patients, even if age-related characteristics have been evidenced. Psychiatric disorders are notable in CDH (about 64% of patients) and predict (mainly anxiety) a poorer outcome. Surprisingly, analgesic overuse is not involved in the chronicization process. Diagnosis of CDH needs further study. Psychiatric disorders predict a worse outcome and greater account should be taken of them in treatment planning.
The Developmental Regulator Pax6 Is Essential for Maintenance of Islet Cell Function in the Adult Mouse Pancreas

The transcription factor Pax6 is a developmental regulator with a crucial role in development of the eye, brain, and olfactory system. Pax6 is also required for correct development of the endocrine pancreas and specification of hormone producing endocrine cell types. Glucagon-producing cells are almost completely lost in Pax6-null embryos, and insulin-expressing beta and somatostatin-expressing delta cells are reduced. While the developmental role of Pax6 is well-established, investigation of a further role for Pax6 in the maintenance of adult pancreatic function is normally precluded due to neonatal lethality of Pax6-null mice. Here a tamoxifen-inducible ubiquitous Cre transgene was used to inactivate Pax6 at 6 months of age in a conditional mouse model to assess the effect of losing Pax6 function in adulthood. The effect on glucose homeostasis and the expression of key islet cell markers was measured. Homozygous Pax6 deletion mice, but not controls, presented with all the symptoms of classical diabetes leading to severe weight loss requiring termination of the experiment five weeks after first tamoxifen administration. Immunohistochemical analysis of the pancreata revealed almost complete loss of Pax6 and much reduced expression of insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin. Several other markers of islet cell function were also affected. Notably, strong upregulation in the number of ghrelin-expressing endocrine cells was observed. These findings demonstrate that Pax6 is essential for adult maintenance of glucose homeostasis and function of the endocrine pancreas.
New Gold in Them Thar Hills: Testing a Novel Supply Route for Plant-Derived Galanthamine

Many secondary plant compounds are synthesized in response to stressed growing conditions. We tested the feasibility of exploiting this feature in a novel strategy for the commercial production of the plant alkaloid galanthamine. Experimental lines of Narcissus pseudonarcissus were established under marginal upland permanent pasture at four different sites. Over 80% of bulbs successfully established at each site. There was no effect of altitude or planting density on galanthamine concentrations within vegetative tissues, which were higher than anticipated. The results confirm that planting N. pseudonarcissus under grass competition in upland areas could offer a novel and sustainable source of plant-derived galanthamine.
A neural network approach to a classic image recognition problem

Scenes from ldquoWherepsilas Waldo? rdquo are used as data sets to explore a method of pattern recognition using local histograms and neural networks. The method consists of splitting the image into a number of sub images, selecting random training images, training the neural networks and then passing the whole set of puzzles through the image to find the character Waldo. Results are shown which demonstrates that this method is effective for finding the pattern found in Waldopsilas shirt.