Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ZiLoc: Energy efficient WiFi fingerprint-based localization with low-power radio

Indoor localization is essential to enable location-based services in wireless pervasive computing environment. In recent years, WiFi fingerprint-based localization has received considerable attention due to its deployment practicability. In order to achieve on-the-fly localization, WiFi receivers (e.g., mobile phones or laptops) being located need to scan WiFi signals continuously. Since they are normally battery driven, energy efficiency is a very important consideration in WiFi fingerprinting localization systems. Motivated by the fact that IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) and 802.15. 4 (ZigBee) channels overlap in the 2.4GHz ISM band, in this work, we develop a WiFi fingerprint-based localization system using ZigBee radio, called ZiLoc. We first present a novel RSS-location fingerprint model to identify the features of surrounding APs. We then propose a simple yet effective method to compute the similarity of two RSS fingerprints. Experimental results demonstrate that ZiLoc can achieve an average of 85% room-level localization accuracy and reduce more than 60% energy consumption compared with the method using WiFi interfaces to collect RSS fingerprints.
Low-Dose Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blockade Prevents Western Diet–Induced Arterial Stiffening in Female Mice

Women are especially predisposed to development of arterial stiffening secondary to obesity because of consumption of excessive calories. Enhanced activation of vascular mineralocorticoid receptors impairs insulin signaling, induces oxidative stress, inflammation, and maladaptive immune responses. We tested whether a subpressor dose of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, spironolactone (1 mg/kg per day) prevents aortic and femoral artery stiffening in female C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat/high-sugar western diet (WD) for 4 months (ie, from 4–20 weeks of age). Aortic and femoral artery stiffness were assessed using ultrasound, pressurized vessel preparations, and atomic force microscopy. WD induced weight gain and insulin resistance compared with control diet–fed mice and these abnormalities were unaffected by spironolactone. Blood pressures and heart rates were normal and unaffected by diet or spironolactone. Spironolactone prevented WD-induced stiffening of aorta and femoral artery, as well as endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells, within aortic explants. Spironolactone prevented WD-induced impaired aortic protein kinase B/endothelial nitric oxide synthase signaling, as well as impaired endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation. Spironolactone ameliorated WD-induced aortic medial thickening and fibrosis and the associated activation of the progrowth extracellular receptor kinase 1/2 pathway. Finally, preservation of normal arterial stiffness with spironolactone in WD-fed mice was associated with attenuated systemic and vascular inflammation and an anti-inflammatory shift in vascular immune cell marker genes. Low-dose spironolactone may represent a novel prevention strategy to attenuate vascular inflammation, oxidative stress, and growth pathway signaling and remodeling to prevent development of arterial stiffening secondary to consumption of a WD.
Measurement of skin-electrode impedance for a 12-lead electrocardiogram

In electrocardiographic recording one of the main sources of error is an imperfect mechanical contact in the skin-electrode interface because it causes high impedances that can contribute to distortion in the ECG. We measured contact impedance to determine the corresponding values to a reliable contact in this interface in 10 electrodes of the standard 12-lead ECG of 5 normal subjects from 1 Hz to 50 kHz. An impedance decrease for increasing frequency and a wider dispersion in low frequencies was observed. In the ECG frequency range, maximum contact impedances varied from 20 k/spl Omega/ in 50 Hz and 100 Hz to 75 k/spl Omega/ in 1 Hz. Because we are interested in analyzing ECG low frequency waves, we use the range of impedance values in 5 Hz for each electrode to detect a poor electrode placement in the 12-lead ECG recording.
Visual-inertial structure from motion: Observability vs minimum number of sensors

This paper analyzes the observability properties of the visual inertial structure from motion as the number of inertial sensors is reduced. Specifically, instead of considering the standard formulation where the inertial sensors are 3 orthogonal accelerometers and 3 orthogonal gyroscopes, the sensor system here considered only consists of a monocular camera and 1 or 2 accelerometers. This analysis has never been provided before. The main result achieved in this context is that the observability properties of visual inertial structure from motion do not change by removing all the 3 gyroscopes and 1 accelerometer. By removing a further accelerometer, if the camera is not extrinsically calibrated, the system loses part of its observability properties. On the other hand, if the camera is extrinsically calibrated, the system maintains the same observability properties as in the standard case. This contribution clearly shows that the information provided by a monocular camera, 3 accelerometers and 3 gyroscopes is redundant. Additionally, it provides a new perspective in the framework of neuroscience to the process of vestibular and visual integration for depth perception and self motion perception. Finally, to analyze these systems with a reduced number of inertial sensors, the paper introduces a new method to derive the observability properties of a non linear system when part of its input controls is unknown. This method is a further original paper contribution in control theory.
Nonlinear adaptive control using the Fourier integral and its application to CSTR systems

This paper presents a new nonlinear adaptive tracking controller for a class of general time-variant nonlinear systems. The control system consists of an inner loop and an outer loop. The inner loop is a fuzzy sliding mode control that is used as the feedback controller to overcome random instant disturbances. The stability of the inner loop is designed by the sliding mode control method. The other loop is a Fourier integral-based control that is used as the feedforward controller to overcome the deterministic type of uncertain disturbance. The asymptotic convergence condition of the nonlinear adaptive control system is guaranteed by the Lyapunov direct method. The effectiveness of the proposed controller is illustrated by its application to composition control in a continuously stirred tank reactor system.
How long can you keep working with benign multiple sclerosis?

Objective To study employment in benign multiple sclerosis (MS), the frequency of employment was analysed and the effect of early clinical and demographic factors on time to disability pension was evaluated in a population based MS cohort. The frequency of depression, cognitive function, fatigue and pain between benign and non-benign MS patients was compared, and their impact on employment in benign MS was studied. Methods All 188 patients alive, including 60 benign patients with onset of MS during 1976–1986 in Hordaland County, Western Norway, were interviewed and clinically examined in 2003. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), cognitive function, fatigue, pain, year of disability pension, employment and type of occupation were registered. Benign MS was defined as an EDSS score ≤3.0 at least 10 years after disease onset. Results After a mean disease duration of 22.2 years, 32.4% of the cohort were still employed. A relapsing–remitting course, higher educational level and light physical work were significantly associated with longer time to disability pension in the general MS population. Thirty-nine (65.0%) benign MS patients were employed, independent of light or heavy physical work. Mild depressive symptoms were markedly associated with not being employed in benign MS (OR=7.3). Conclusions A relapsing–remitting course, higher educational level and light physical work significantly predicted longer time to disability pension in the total MS population. Among the benign MS patients, depressive symptoms, although mild, were strongly associated with not being employed.
The Progression of Liver Fibrosis Is Related with Overexpression of the miR-199 and 200 Families

Background Chronic hepatitis C (CH) can develop into liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Liver fibrosis and HCC development are strongly correlated, but there is no effective treatment against fibrosis because the critical mechanism of progression of liver fibrosis is not fully understood. microRNAs (miRNAs) are now essential to the molecular mechanisms of several biological processes. In order to clarify how the aberrant expression of miRNAs participates in development of the liver fibrosis, we analyzed the liver fibrosis in mouse liver fibrosis model and human clinical samples. Methodology In a CCL4-induced mouse liver fibrosis model, we compared the miRNA expression profile from CCL4 and olive oil administrated liver specimens on 4, 6, and 8 weeks. We also measured expression profiles of human miRNAs in the liver biopsy specimens from 105 CH type C patients without a history of anti-viral therapy. Principle Findings Eleven mouse miRNAs were significantly elevated in progressed liver fibrosis relative to control. By using a large amount of human material in CH analysis, we determined the miRNA expression pattern according to the grade of liver fibrosis. We detected several human miRNAs whose expression levels were correlated with the degree of progression of liver fibrosis. In both the mouse and human studies, the expression levels of miR-199a, 199a*, 200a, and 200b were positively and significantly correlated to the progressed liver fibrosis. The expression level of fibrosis related genes in hepatic stellate cells (HSC), were significantly increased by overexpression of these miRNAs. Conclusion Four miRNAs are tightly related to the grade of liver fibrosis in both human and mouse was shown. This information may uncover the critical mechanism of progression of liver fibrosis. miRNA expression profiling has potential for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Control over unreliable networks affected by packet erasures and variable transmission delays

This paper describes a novel control strategy aimed at achieving good performance over an unreliable communication network affected by packet loss and variable transmission delays. The key ingredient in the method described here is to use the large data packet frame size of typical modern communication protocols to transmit control sequences which cover multiple data-dropout and delay scenarios. Stability and performance of the resultant scheme are addressed under nominal networked conditions. Simulations verify that the strategy performs exceptionally well under realistic conditions with noise and unmeasured disturbances.
Vigorous SO42– influx via the gills is balanced by enhanced SO42– excretion by the kidney in eels after seawater adaptation

SUMMARY Sulfate (SO42–) is maintained at ∼1 mmol–1 l–1 in teleost fishes that are exposed to media of varying SO42– concentrations. We first measured plasma SO42– concentration in euryhaline fishes that adapt to both SO42–-poor freshwater (<0.5 mmol l) and SO42–-enriched seawater (30 mmol l–1). Unlike Mozambique tilapia and chum salmon, Japanese eels maintained higher plasma SO42– concentration in freshwater (6.2±2.3 mmol l–1) than in seawater (0.7±0.1 mmol l–1). We then analyzed the whole-body SO42– budget using 35SO42–. 35SO42– influx in seawater-adapted eels occurred by 84.5% via body surfaces and 15.5% via digestive tracts. The SO42– influx was higher in seawater eels (1.55 μmol kg–1 h–1) than in freshwater eels (0.09 μmol kg–1 min–1), but it was facilitated in freshwater eels when the difference in SO42– concentrations between plasma and environment was taken into account (freshwater eels, 6.2 vs 0.3 mmol l–1; seawater eels, 0.7 vs 30 mmol l–1). One hour after injection of 35SO42– into the blood of seawater eels, the kidney excreted ∼97% of the ionized form, whereas the radioactivity increased gradually in the medium and the rectal fluid more than 3 h after injection. As the radioactivity was poorly adsorbed by anion-exchange resin, 35SO42– in the blood may be incorporated into cells and excreted by the intestine, gills and skin, probably as mucus. These results show that freshwater eels take up SO42– actively from the environment, but seawater eels cope with the obligatory influx of SO42– through the gills by excreting excess SO42– via the kidney and in mucus.
Phase Transitions in Higher Derivative Gravity

This paper deals with black holes, bubbles and orbifolds in Gauss–Bonnet theory in five dimensional anti de Sitter space. In particular, we study stable, unstable and metastable phases of black holes from thermodynamical perspective. By comparing bubble and orbifold geometries, we analyse associated instabilities. Assuming AdS/CFT correspondence, we discuss the effects of this higher derivative bulk coupling on a specific matrix model near the critical points of the boundary gauge theory at finite temperature. Finally, we propose another phenomenological model on the boundary which mimics various phases of the bulk space-time.
A neurotrophic hypothesis of depression: role of synaptogenesis in the actions of NMDA receptor antagonists

Molecular and cellular studies have demonstrated opposing actions of stress and antidepressant treatment on the expression of neurotrophic factors, particularly brain-derived neurotrophic factor, in limbic structures of the brain. These changes in neurotrophic factor expression and function result in structural alterations, including regulation of neurogenesis, dendrite length and spine density in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC). The deleterious effects of stress could contribute to the reduced volume of these brain regions in depressed patients. Conversely, the actions of antidepressant treatment could be mediated in part by blocking or reversing the atrophy caused by stress and depression. Recent studies have identified a novel, rapid-acting antidepressant, ketamine, in treatment-resistant depressed patients that addresses the limitations of currently available agents (i.e. delayed onset of action and low response rates). We have found that ketamine, an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, causes a rapid induction of synaptogenesis and spine formation in the PFC via stimulation of the mammalian target of the rapamycin signalling pathway and increased synthesis of synaptic proteins. These effects of ketamine rapidly reverse the atrophy of PFC neurons caused by chronic stress and correspond to rapid behavioural actions of ketamine in models of depression. Characterization of a novel signalling pathway also identifies new cellular targets that could result in rapid and efficacious antidepressant actions without the side effects of ketamine.
Comparison of the Rapid Yeast Plus Panel with the API20C Yeast System for Identification of Clinically Significant Isolates of Candida Species

ABSTRACT The RapID Yeast Plus system (Innovative Diagnostic Systems, Norcross, Ga.) is a qualitative micromethod employing conventional tests and single-substrate chromogenic tests and having a 4-h incubation period. This system was compared with the API20C (bioMerieux Vitek, Hazelwood, Mo.) system, a 24- to 72-h carbohydrate assimilation method. One hundred thirty-three clinical yeast isolates, including 57 of Candida albicans, 26 of Candida tropicalis, 23 of Candida glabrata, and 27 of other yeasts, were tested by both methods. When discrepancies occurred, isolates were further tested by the Automated Yeast Biochemical Card (bioMerieux Vitek). Germ tube production and microscopic morphology were used as needed to definitively identify yeast isolates. The RapID Yeast Plus system correctly identified 125 yeast isolates, with an overall accuracy of 94% (125 of 133). Excellent correlation was found in the recognition of the three yeasts most commonly isolated from human sources. The test was 99% (105 of 106 isolates) accurate with C. albicans,C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata. The RapID Yeast Plus system compares favorably with the API20C system and provides a simple, accurate alternative to conventional assimilation methods for the rapid identification of the most commonly encountered isolates ofCandida species.
Identification and characterization of a sphere organelle protein

Sphere organelles are nuclear structures in amphibian oocytes that are easily visible by light microscopy. These structures are up to 10 microns in diameter and have been described morphologically for decades, yet their function remains obscure. The present study defines a protein component of the sphere organelle, named SPH-1, which is recognized by a mAb raised against purified Xenopus laevis oocyte nucleoplasm. SPH-1 is an 80-kD protein which is localized specifically to spheres and is undetectable elsewhere on lampbrush chromosomes or in nucleoli. We show using confocal microscopy that SPH-1 is localized to the cortex of sphere organelles. Furthermore, we have isolated a cDNA that can encode SPH-1. When epitope-tagged forms of SPH-1 are expressed in X. laevis oocytes the protein specifically localizes to spheres, demonstrating that the cloned cDNA encodes the sphere antigen. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence with sequence databases shows SPH-1 is related to p80-coilin, a protein associated with coiled bodies; coiled bodies are nuclear structures found in plant and animal cells. The sphere-specific mAb stains X. laevis tissue culture cells in a punctate nuclear pattern, showing that spheres or sphere antigens are present in somatic cells as well as germ cells and suggesting a general and essential function for spheres in all nuclei.
Classification of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Based on Copy Number Alterations

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide and non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the most part. NSCLC can be further divided into adenocarcinoma (ACA) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It is of great value to distinguish these two subgroups clinically. In this study, we compared the genome-wide copy number alterations (CNAs) patterns of 208 early stage ACA and 93 early stage SCC tumor samples. As a result, 266 CNA probes stood out for better discrimination of ACA and SCC. It was revealed that the genes corresponding to these 266 probes were enriched in lung cancer related pathways and enriched in the chromosome regions where CNA usually occur in lung cancer. This study sheds lights on the CNA study of NSCLC and provides some insights on the epigenetic of NSCLC.
Prognostic indicators from electrodiagnostic studies for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow

Introduction: We examined the prognostic value of electrodiagnostic (EDX) studies for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). Methods: In this retrospective study, EDX results were compared with subjective recovery (resolution of symptoms) and surgery in patients diagnosed with UNE. Results: Of the 193 patients, 59 with “definite” UNE were included in the analysis. The combination of conduction block across the elbow to the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and normal distal compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude from the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) was strongly associated with recovery: 86% of these subjects achieved full subjective recovery compared to only 7% without conduction block and with an abnormal CMAP. There were no EDX predictors of surgery. Conclusion: EDX results contain useful prognostic information in UNE. Muscle Nerve, 2011
Pancreatic Cancer Cell Glycosylation Regulates Cell Adhesion and Invasion through the Modulation of α2β1 Integrin and E-Cadherin Function

In our previous studies we have described that ST3Gal III transfected pancreatic adenocarcinoma Capan-1 and MDAPanc-28 cells show increased membrane expression levels of sialyl-Lewis x (SLex) along with a concomitant decrease in α2,6-sialic acid compared to control cells. Here we have addressed the role of this glycosylation pattern in the functional properties of two glycoproteins involved in the processes of cancer cell invasion and migration, α2β1 integrin, the main receptor for type 1 collagen, and E-cadherin, responsible for cell-cell contacts and whose deregulation determines cell invasive capabilities. Our results demonstrate that ST3Gal III transfectants showed reduced cell-cell aggregation and increased invasive capacities. ST3Gal III transfected Capan-1 cells exhibited higher SLex and lower α2,6-sialic acid content on the glycans of their α2β1 integrin molecules. As a consequence, higher phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase tyrosine 397, which is recognized as one of the first steps of integrin-derived signaling pathways, was observed in these cells upon adhesion to type 1 collagen. This molecular mechanism underlies the increased migration through collagen of these cells. In addition, the pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines as well as human pancreatic tumor tissues showed colocalization of SLex and E-cadherin, which was higher in the ST3Gal III transfectants. In conclusion, changes in the sialylation pattern of α2β1 integrin and E-cadherin appear to influence the functional role of these two glycoproteins supporting the role of these glycans as an underlying mechanism regulating pancreatic cancer cell adhesion and invasion.
Universal infant hearing screening programme in a community with predominant non-hospital births: a three-year experience

Background: To evaluate three-year outcomes of a pilot community-based universal newborn/infant hearing screening programme (UNHS) and the associated factors in a low-income country where a high proportion of births occur outside hospitals. Methods: A two-stage screening programme consisting of a first-stage transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and a second-stage automated auditory brainstem-response test was implemented in an inner-city community in Lagos, Nigeria from 2005 to 2008. Programme performance was measured by screening coverage, first-stage referral rate and second-stage screening results. The impact of infant’s age-at-screening on otoacoustic emissions referral was assessed with survival analysis, while maternal/infant factors associated with screening results were explored by multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: About 96.7% (7175) of eligible infants were screened, 51.7% of whom were born outside hospitals. Overall referral rate after second-stage screening was 1.8%. Cumulative proportion of otoacoustic emissions failures was significantly higher (p = 0.045) among infants born outside hospital compared to those born in hospitals. Low social class, screening after one month of age, multiple gestation and severe neonatal jaundice were predictive of screen failure, while multiparity, screening after one month of age and severe jaundice were independently associated with programme drop-out. Conclusions: Community-based UNHS facilitates early detection of infants at risk of sensorineural hearing loss born outside hospitals and the overall performance is comparable to conventional hospital-based UNHS. Maternal education at antenatal clinics may be valuable in addressing the associated risk factors.