Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combining multiple biometrics to protect privacy

As biometrics are gaining popularity, there is increased concern over the loss of privacy and potential misuse of biometric data held in central repositories. The association of fingerprints with criminals raises further concerns. On the other hand, the alternative suggestion of keeping biometric data in smart cards does not solve the problem, since forgers can always claim that their card is broken to avoid biometric verification altogether. We propose a biometric authentication framework which uses two separate biometric features combined to obtain a non-unique identifier of the individual, in order to address privacy concerns. As a particular example, we demonstrate a fingerprint verification system that uses two separate fingerprints of the same individual. A combined biometric ID composed of two fingerprints is stored in the central database and imprints from both fingers are required in the verification process, lowering the risk of misuse and privacy loss. We show that the system is successful in verifying a person’s identity given both fingerprints, while searching the combined fingerprint database using a single fingerprint, is impractical.
Task-Induced Brain Activity Patterns in Type 2 Diabetes: A Potential Biomarker for Cognitive Decline

Patients with type 2 diabetes demonstrate reduced functional connectivity within the resting state default mode network (DMN), which may signal heightened risk for cognitive decline. In other populations at risk for cognitive decline, additional magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities are evident during task performance, including impaired deactivation of the DMN and reduced activation of task-relevant regions. We investigated whether middle-aged type 2 diabetic patients show these brain activity patterns during encoding and recognition tasks. Compared with control participants, we observed both reduced 1) activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during encoding and 2) deactivation of the DMN during recognition in type 2 diabetic patients, despite normal cognition. During recognition, activation in several task-relevant regions, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and DMN regions, was positively correlated with HbA1c and insulin resistance, suggesting that these important markers of glucose metabolism impact the brain’s response to a cognitive challenge. Plasma glucose ≥11 mmol/L was associated with impaired deactivation of the DMN, suggesting that acute hyperglycemia contributes to brain abnormalities. Since elderly type 2 diabetic patients often demonstrate cognitive impairments, it is possible that these task-induced brain activity patterns observed in middle age may signal impending cognitive decline.
Susceptibility of nonprimate cell lines to hepatitis A virus infection

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) has been adapted to grow in primate cell cultures. We investigated replication of HAV in nonprimate cells by inoculating 20 cell lines from different species with the tissue culture-adapted HM175 strain. Slot blot hybridization and immunofluorescence analysis revealed that HAV replicated in GPE, SP 1K, and IB-RS-2 D10 cells of guinea pig, dolphin, and pig origin, respectively. Studies in IB-RS-2 D10 cells were discontinued because cultures were contaminated with classical swine fever virus. A growth curve showed that HAV grew poorly in GPE cells and intermediately in SP 1K cells compared with growth in FRhK-4 cells. Therefore, the cell surface receptor(s) and other host factor(s) required for HAV replication are present in nonprimate as well as primate cells.
Continuous Assessment of Levodopa Response in Parkinson's Disease Using Wearable Motion Sensors

Objective: Fluctuations in response to levodopa in Parkinson's disease (PD) are difficult to treat as tools to monitor temporal patterns of symptoms are hampered by several challenges. The objective was to use wearable sensors to quantify the dose response of tremor, bradykinesia, and dyskinesia in individuals with PD. Methods: Thirteen individuals with PD and fluctuating motor benefit were instrumented with wrist and ankle motion sensors and recorded by video. Kinematic data were recorded as subjects completed a series of activities in a simulated home environment through transition from off to on medication. Subjects were evaluated using the unified Parkinson disease rating scale motor exam (UPDRS-III) at the start and end of data collection. Algorithms were applied to the kinematic data to score tremor, bradykinesia, and dyskinesia. A blinded clinician rated severity observed on video. Accuracy of algorithms was evaluated by comparing scores with clinician ratings using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: Algorithm scores for tremor, bradykinesia, and dyskinesia agreed with clinician ratings of video recordings (ROC area > 0.8). Summary metrics extracted from time intervals before and after taking medication provided quantitative measures of therapeutic response (p < 0.01). Radar charts provided intuitive visualization, with graphical features correlated with UPDRS-III scores (R = 0.81). Conclusion: A system with wrist and ankle motion sensors can provide accurate measures of tremor, bradykinesia, and dyskinesia as patients complete routine activities. Significance: This technology could provide insight on motor fluctuations in the context of daily life to guide clinical management and aid in development of new therapies.
Human Ocular Drusen Possess Novel Core Domains with a Distinct Carbohydrate Composition

Ocular drusen are extracellular deposits that form between the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and Bruch's membrane. Although the presence of large and/or numerous drusen in the macula is a significant risk factor for development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a major cause of irreversible blindness, little is known about their origin or composition. We have expanded on our previous investigations related to drusen-associated glycoconjugates by examining lectin binding patterns after removal of terminal sialic acid residues. Strikingly, intense and distinct labeling of drusen subdomains is revealed by Arachea hypogea agglutinin (PNA) after neuraminidase treatment. PNA binding is confined to discrete domains within both hard and soft drusen. These “cores” are positioned centrally within drusen and are typically juxtaposed to Bruch's membrane. Only one core per druse is observed. PNA labeling of drusen cores does not co-localize with associated lipids and is abrogated by digestion with O-glycosidase but not N-glycosidase. The association of cores with small drusen suggests that they may participate in drusen biogenesis.
MicroRNA 373 Facilitates the Replication of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus by Its Negative Regulation of Type I Interferon Induction

ABSTRACT MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the regulation of immune responses. Previous studies have indicated that dysregulating the miRNAs leads to the immunosuppression of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). However, it is not clear how PRRSV regulates the expression of host miRNA, which may lead to immune escape or promote the replication of the virus. The present work suggests that PRRSV upregulated the expression of miR-373 through elevating the expression of specificity protein 1 (Sp1) in MARC-145 cells. Furthermore, this work demonstrated that miR-373 promoted the replication of PRRSV, since miR-373 was a novel negative miRNA for the production of beta interferon (IFN-β) by targeting nuclear factor IA (NFIA), NFIB, interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1), IRAK4, and interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1). We also found that both NFIA and NFIB were novel proteins for inducing the production of IFN-β, and both of them could inhibit the replication of PRRSV. In conclusion, PRRSV upregulated the expression of miR-373 by elevating the expression of Sp1 and hijacked the host miR-373 to promote the replication of PRRSV by negatively regulating the production of IFN-β. IMPORTANCE PRRSV causes one of the most economically devastating diseases of swine, and there is no effective method for controlling PRRSV. It is not clear how PRRSV inhibits the host's immune response and induces persistent infection. Previous studies have shown that PRRSV inhibited the production of type I IFN, and the treatment of type I IFN could efficiently inhibit the replication of PRRSV, so it will be helpful to design new methods of controlling PRRSV by understanding the molecular mechanism by which PRRSV modulated the production of IFN. The current work shows that miR-373, upregulated by PRRSV, promotes PRRSV replication, since miR-373 impaired the production of IFN-β by targeting NFIA, NFIB, IRAK1, IRAK4, and IRF1, and both NFIA and NFIB were antiviral proteins to PRRSV. In conclusion, this paper revealed a novel mechanism of PRRSV that impaired the production of type I IFN by upregulating miR-373 expression in MARC-145 cells.
Definitive Chemoradiation With Full-dose Gemcitabine for Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer: Efficacy of Involved-Field Radiotherapy

Objectives: Definitive chemoradiotherapy for unresectable pancreatic cancer has traditionally involved 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. Our institution has a long history of combining gemcitabine and radiotherapy (RT), and performed a retrospective review of all patients treated in this manner. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 180 patients treated from 1999 to 2012. Mean RT dose was 40.9 Gy in 2.2-Gy fractions, and targeted only radiographically apparent disease. Ninety-six percent of patients received full-dose gemcitabine-based chemotherapy with RT. Kaplan-Meier was used to analyze time-to-event endpoints, and Cox regression models were used to assess significant prognostic variables. Results: Eighty-nine percent of patients completed RT without a toxicity-related treatment break. Median follow-up was 10.2 months. Twenty-nine percent of patients had a radiographic decrease in primary tumor size following treatment. Median overall survival was 11.8 months, time to distant metastasis (TDM) was 6.7 months, and time to local recurrence (TLR) was 8.3 months. On multivariate analysis, male sex, lower performance status, and higher posttreatment CA 19-9 level predicted for worse overall survival. Posttreatment, CA 19-9 was also associated with TDM and TLR, and radiographic tumor response was associated with better TLR. Conclusion: Definitive chemoradiation using full-dose gemcitabine is well tolerated and achieves survival outcomes comparable to reported trials in the literature.
The Second Measurement of Anisotropy in the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation at 0.°5 Scales near the Star μ Pegasi

During the fifth flight of the Microwave Anisotropy Experiment (MAX5), we revisited a region with significant dust emission near the star μ Pegasi. A 3.5 cm-1 low-frequency channel has been added since the previous measurement (Meinhold et al. 1993a). The data in each channel clearly show structure correlated with IRAS 100 μm dust emission. The spectrum of the structure in the 6, 9, and 14 cm-1 channels is described by Iν ∝ νβBν(Tdust), where β = 1.3 and Tdust = 19 K and Bν is the Planck function. However, this model predicts a smaller amplitude in the 3.5 cm-1 band than is observed. Considering only linear combinations of the data independent of the best-fit foreground spectrum for the three lower channels, we find an upper limit to CMBR fluctuations of ΔT/T = ⟨Cll(l + 1)/2π⟩1/2 ≤ 1.3 × 10-5 at the 95% confidence level. The result is for a flat-band power spectrum and does not include a 10% uncertainty in calibration. It is consistent with our previous observation in the region.
RNA Binding Properties of Bunyamwera Virus Nucleocapsid Protein and Selective Binding to an Element in the 5′ Terminus of the Negative-Sense S Segment

ABSTRACT The genome of Bunyamwera virus (BUN) (familyBunyaviridae, genus Bunyavirus) comprises three negative-sense RNA segments which act as transcriptional templates for the viral polymerase only when encapsidated by the nucleocapsid protein (N). Previous studies have suggested that the encapsidation signal may reside within the 5′ terminus of each segment. The BUN N protein was expressed as a 6-histidine-tagged fusion protein in Escherichia coli and purified by metal chelate chromatography. An RNA probe containing the 5′-terminal 32 and 3′-terminal 33 bases of the BUN S (small) genome segment was used to investigate binding by the N protein in vitro using gel mobility shift and filter binding assays. On acrylamide gels a number of discrete RNA-N complexes were resolved, and analysis of filter binding data indicated a degree of cooperativity in N protein binding. RNA-N complexes were resistant to digestion with up to 1 μg of RNase A per ml. Competition assays with a variety of viral and nonviral RNAs identified a region within the 5′ terminus of the BUN S segment for which N had a high preference for binding. This site may constitute the signal for initiation of encapsidation by N.
Ambulatory Pulse Wave Velocity Is a Stronger Predictor of Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality Than Office and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Hemodialysis Patients

Arterial stiffness and augmentation of aortic blood pressure (BP) measured in office are known cardiovascular risk factors in hemodialysis patients. This study examines the prognostic significance of ambulatory brachial BP, central BP, pulse wave velocity (PWV), and heart rate–adjusted augmentation index [AIx(75)] in this population. A total of 170 hemodialysis patients underwent 48-hour ambulatory monitoring with Mobil-O-Graph-NG during a standard interdialytic interval and followed-up for 28.1±11.2 months. The primary end point was a combination of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke. Secondary end points included: (1) all-cause mortality; (2) cardiovascular mortality; and (3) a combination of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, resuscitation after cardiac arrest, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for heart failure. During follow-up, 37(21.8%) patients died and 46(27.1%) had cardiovascular events. Cumulative freedom from primary end point was similar for quartiles of predialysis-systolic BP (SBP), 48-hour peripheral-SBP, and central-SBP, but was progressively longer for increasing quartiles for 48-hour peripheral-diastolic BP and central-diastolic BP and shorter for increasing quartiles of 48-hour central pulse pressure (83.7%, 71.4%, 69.0%, 62.8% [log-rank P=0.024]), PWV (93.0%, 81.0%, 57.1%, 55.8% [log-rank P<0.001]), and AIx(75) (88.4%, 66.7%, 69.0%, 62.8% [log-rank P=0.014]). The hazard ratios for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and the combined outcome were similar for quartiles of predialysis-SBP, 48-hour peripheral-SBP, and central-SBP, but were increasing with higher ambulatory PWV and AIx(75). In multivariate analysis, 48-hour PWV was the only vascular parameter independently associated with the primary end point (hazard ratios, 1.579; 95% confidence intervals, 1.187–2.102). Ambulatory PWV, AIx(75), and central pulse pressure are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality, whereas office and ambulatory SBP are not. These findings further support that arterial stiffness is the prominent cardiovascular risk factor in hemodialysis.
Single-molecule studies of SNARE complex assembly reveal parallel and antiparallel configurations

Vesicle fusion in eukaryotes is thought to involve the assembly of a highly conserved family of proteins termed soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) into a highly stable parallel four-helix bundle. We have used intermolecular single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer to characterize preassembled neuronal SNARE complexes consisting of syntaxin, synaptobrevin, and synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa on deposited lipid bilayers. Surprisingly, we found a mixture of parallel as well as antiparallel configurations involving the SNARE motifs of syntaxin and synaptobrevin as well as those of syntaxin and synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa. The subpopulation with the parallel four-helix bundle configuration could be greatly enriched by an additional purification step in the presence of denaturant, indicating that the parallel configuration is the energetically most favorable state. Interconversion between the configurations was not observed. From this observation, we infer the conversion rate to be <1.5 h–1. The existence of antiparallel configurations suggests a regulatory role of chaperones, such as N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor, or the membrane environment during SNARE complex assembly in vivo, and it could be a partial explanation for the relatively slow rates of vesicle fusion observed by reconstituted fusion experiments in vitro.
Synchronized access to streams in SIMD vector multiprocessors

The synchronized and simultaneous access to several vectors that form a single stream is typical in SIMD vector multiprocessors as well as in MIMD superscalar multiprocessors with decoupled access. In this paper we propose a block-interleaved storage scheme and an out-of-order access mechanism that allows conflict-free access to streams with an arbitrary initial address and constant stride between elements. The memory system can have any degree of unmatchness and we consider the use of either a crossbar or a multistage interconnection network. A maximal number of conflict-free families including the most commonly used strides can be obtained. We describe the hardware for address calculation and control and show that their additional costs are minimal compared with the cost of the hardware for in-order access. Finally, we evaluate the applicability of this technique to real loops from some programs of the Perfect Club and SPEC suites.
Coinheritance of B-Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia in Southwestern Nigeria

Background Genes for haemoglobin S are found in high frequencies in Nigeria. However, there is little information on beta thalassemia in sickle cell anaemia in this population. The clinical presentation of HbS- β thalassemia is enormously variable, ranging from an asymptomatic state to a severe disorder similar to homozygous sickle cell disease. Materials and Methods Haemoglobin A2 and HbF were determined in sickle cell anaemia patients attending LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, by elution after electrophoresis and alkaline denaturation methods respectively. Haematological parameters were estimated using Sysmex KX-21N and percentage target cells using Leishman's staining technique. Results Exactly 6% f the SCA patients were found to have elevated HbA2 (>3.3%) and HbF (>1.3%). These patients also had normal erythrocyte indices, increased platelet count, a significantly higher HCT and an increased % target cell. Conclusion These findings confirm that the frequency of beta thalassaemia in sickle cell patients in Nigeria is higher than previously thought. It is therefore important to consider the possibility of this variant in patients with sickle cell anaemia since their course may differ from that of patients with homozygous sickle cell anaemia.
Exploring DIY Practices of Complex Home Technologies

We are surrounded by increasingly complex networks of smart objects, yet our understanding and attachment to them is rather limited. One way to support stronger end users’ engagement with such complex technologies is by involving them in the design process and, with the advent of Arduino prototyping platform, even in their making. While DIY practice offers the potential for stronger user engagement with physical artifacts, we know little about end users’ DIY practice of making complex electronic technologies and their potential to ensure engagement with such devices. In this article, we report on interviews with 18 participants from two green communities who built and used an open source DIY energy monitor, with the aim to explore the end users DIY practices of making such complex electronic devices. Findings indicate four key qualities of DIY monitors: transparent modularity, open-endedness, heirloom, and disruptiveness, and how they contribute to more meaningful engagement with the DIY monitors, elevating them from the status of unremarkable objects to that of things. We conclude with three implications for design for supporting end user development of complex electronic DIY: designing transparent open hardware technologies, standardizing communication protocols for the current and future DIY of IoT, and deliberately calling for personal investment and labor in the assembling of DIY kits.
Interaction of colloidal nanoparticles with their local environment: the (ionic) nanoenvironment around nanoparticles is different from bulk and determines the physico-chemical properties of the nanoparticles

The physico-chemical properties of colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) are influenced by their local environment, as, in turn, the local environment influences the physico-chemical properties of the NPs. In other words, the local environment around NPs has a profound impact on the NPs, and it is different from bulk due to interaction with the NP surface. So far, this important effect has not been addressed in a comprehensive way in the literature. The vicinity of NPs can be sensitively influenced by local ions and ligands, with effects already occurring at extremely low concentrations. NPs in the Hückel regime are more sensitive to fluctuations in the ionic environment, because of a larger Debye length. The local ion concentration hereby affects the colloidal stability of the NPs, as it is different from bulk owing to Debye Hückel screening caused by the charge of the NPs. This can have subtle effects, now caused by the environment to the performance of the NP, such as for example a buffering effect caused by surface reaction on ultrapure ligand-free nanogold, a size quenching effect in the presence of specific ions and a significant impact on fluorophore-labelled NPs acting as ion sensors. Thus, the aim of this review is to clarify and give an unifying view of the complex interplay between the NP's surface with their nanoenvironment.
Determination of effects of milk protein genotype on production traits of Israeli Holsteins.

Genotypes of 112 Israeli Holstein sires were determined for beta-lactoglobulin and kappa-casein by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of amplified DNA. Frequencies of the A alleles were . 89 and . 52 for kappa-casein and beta-lactoglobulin, respectively. Genotype frequencies were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Two models were used to test the effect of these loci on production of milk, fat, and protein and on fat and protein percentages. The dependent variable in the first model was production of 84,593 daughters of 110 genotyped sires, and the independent variables were herd-year-season, sire genotype for beta-lactoglobulin and kappa-casein, the interaction of the two loci, and sire nested within genotype. In the second model, the dependent variable was individual animal model genetic evaluations of 111 sires for production traits, and milk protein genotypes were the independent variables. The only significant effect of genotype with both models was the interaction of the two loci on fat percentage. When sires, rather than cows, were genotyped, the contrasted groups differed by only one-half of the genotype effect, but the residual variance was reduced.