Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MicroRNAs, Innate Immunity and Ventricular Rupture in Human Myocardial Infarction

MicroRNAs are non-coding RNAs, functionioning as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Some microRNAs have been demonstrated to play a role in regulation of innate immunity. After myocardial infarction (MI), innate immunity is activated leading to an acute inflammatory reaction. There is evidence that an intense inflammatory reaction might contribute to the development of ventricular rupture (VR) after MI. Using real-time PCR, we analysed the expression of miR-146a, miR-150, and miR-155 in autopsy samples of infarcted heart tissue from 50 patients with MI (23 with VR and 27 without VR). An altered expression of all three microRNAs was found in MI compared to the normal hearts. Comparing MI patients with VR and those without VR, we found miR-146a up-regulation, and miR-150 and miR-155 down-regulation in patients with VR. In conclusion, our study demonstrated an altered expression of miR-146a, miR-150, and miR-155 in MI compared to the normal hearts. These microRNAs are involved in regulation of the innate immunity. Differential expression of these microRNAs in MI patients with VR in comparison to those without VR provides further evidence that innate immunity resulting in an intense inflammatory reaction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of VR after MI in humans.
Immunomodulatory spectrum of lipids associated with Mycobacterium avium serovar 8

HAL is a multidisciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt età la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, ´ emanant desétablissements d'enseignement et de recherche français oú etrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.
Job Preferences of Nurses and Midwives for Taking Up a Rural Job in Peru: A Discrete Choice Experiment

Background Robust evidence on interventions to improve the shortage of health workers in rural areas is needed. We assessed stated factors that would attract short-term contract nurses and midwives to work in a rural area of Peru. Methods and Findings A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted to evaluate the job preferences of nurses and midwives currently working on a short-term contract in the public sector in Ayacucho, Peru. Job attributes, and their levels, were based on literature review, qualitative interviews and focus groups of local health personnel and policy makers. A labelled design with two choices, rural community or Ayacucho city, was used. Job attributes were tailored to these settings. Multiple conditional logistic regressions were used to assess the determinants of job preferences. Then we used the best-fitting estimated model to predict the impact of potential policy incentives on the probability of choosing a rural job or a job in Ayacucho city. We studied 205 nurses and midwives. The odds of choosing an urban post was 14.74 times than that of choosing a rural one. Salary increase, health center-type of facility and scholarship for specialization were preferred attributes for choosing a rural job. Increased number of years before securing a permanent contract acted as a disincentive for both rural and urban jobs. Policy simulations showed that the most effective attraction package to uptake a rural job included a 75% increase in salary plus scholarship for a specialization, which would increase the proportion of health workers taking a rural job from 36.4% up to 60%. Conclusions Urban jobs were more strongly preferred than rural ones. However, combined financial and non-financial incentives could almost double rural job uptake by nurses and midwifes. These packages may provide meaningful attraction strategies to rural areas and should be considered by policy makers for implementation.
Identification and Autotuning of Temperature-Control System With Application to Injection Molding

Motivated by the practical barrel-temperature control of injection molding, this paper proposes two identification methods and a united control scheme for general temperature control design. Based on the unity step response, corresponding to the full heating response in a temperature-control system, an identification method is developed to obtain an integrating model for heating-up control design. By using a relay test around the set-point temperature, another identification method is proposed to obtain a model of stable or integrating type for control-system design to reject load disturbances during system operation. To ensure identification robustness, denoising strategies have also been presented for practical applications with measurement noise. For simplicity of implementation, a united control scheme based on the internal-model-control structure is proposed for both heating-up and steady operations against load disturbance. Analytical controller-design formulas and tuning rules are correspondingly developed for quantitative regulation of the heating-up response and the load-disturbance response for operation. Examples from the recent literature and a practical application to injection molding are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness and merit of the proposed identification methods and control scheme.
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Research Department Staff Report 287 Finite Memory and Imperfect Monitoring *

In this paper, we consider a class of infinitely repeated games with imperfect public monitoring. We look at symmetric perfect public equilibria with memory K: equilibria in which strategies are restricted to depend only on the last K observations of public signals. Define Γ K to be the set of payoffs of equilibria with memory K. We show that for some parameter settings, Γ K = Γ ∞ for sufficiently large K. However, for other parameter settings, we show that not only is lim K→∞ Γ K 6 = Γ ∞ , but that Γ k is completely degenerate. Moreover, this last result is essentially independent of the discount factor. * We thank Stephen Morris, Steven Tadelis, and participants of the Yale Theory discussion group for comments and suggestions. The views expressed herein are the those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis or the Federal Reserve System.
Search in P2P triangular mesh by space filling trees

We introduce a new P2P exploration strategy based on an extension of space filling curve principles. This strategy is exhaustive and do not generates redundant messages. Initiated at the source node of a search query, a walker is sent to explore the neighborhood of this node. This walker is carrying an increasing list of visited nodes as an Ariadne-sequence, building at the same time an uncrossable fence. When encountering a fence, this walker splits and its offspring continue the scanning of the close neighborhood. The set of walkers creates a tree-like covering structure that ensures that all nodes are visited once and only once. We describe the support overlay and introduce a low cost node heterogeneity management. We conclude with a discussion on experimental validation results.
An FPGA chip identification generator using configurable ring oscillator

An improved chip identification (ID) generator, otherwise known as a physically unclonable function (PUF) is described. Similar to previous designs, a cell, i, is used to obtain a measure of the difference in period of four ring oscillators and obtain the residue Ri, a random variable. Experiments show it is normally distributed with a mean of 0. A binary output value of 0 or 1 assigned depending on the sign of Ri. When |E(Ri)| is large, this scheme consistently gives the same output. Unfortunately, when it is small, the repeatability is compromised, particularly when variations in operating conditions such as supply voltage and temperature are also taken into account, which is a common problem for all previous works. To address this problem, we propose a cell with configurable ring oscillators together with an orthogonal re-initialisation scheme. Together, these two techniques maximise repeatability by causing the distribution of the mean of different Ri's to change from normal to bimodal. We implement this design in the Xilinx Spartan-3e FPGA. Nine FPGA chips are tested, and experimental results show that the new method significantly enhances reliability of ID generation and tolerance to environmental changes. Bit flip rate is reduced from 1.5% to approximately 0 at a fixed supply voltage and room temperature. Over the 20 – 80°C temperature range, and a 25% variation in supply voltage, the bit flip rate is reduced from 1.56% to 3.125 } 10−7, which is a 50000x improvement.
Gene Constellation of Influenza A Virus Reassortants with High Growth Phenotype Prepared as Seed Candidates for Vaccine Production

Background Influenza A virus vaccines undergo yearly reformulations due to the antigenic variability of the virus caused by antigenic drift and shift. It is critical to the vaccine manufacturing process to obtain influenza A seed virus that is antigenically identical to circulating wild type (wt) virus and grows to high titers in embryonated chicken eggs. Inactivated influenza A seasonal vaccines are generated by classical reassortment. The classical method takes advantage of the ability of the influenza virus to reassort based on the segmented nature of its genome. In ovo co-inoculation of a high growth or yield (hy) donor virus and a low yield wt virus with antibody selection against the donor surface antigens results in progeny viruses that grow to high titers in ovo with wt origin hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) glycoproteins. In this report we determined the parental origin of the remaining six genes encoding the internal proteins that contribute to the hy phenotype in ovo. Methodology The genetic analysis was conducted using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The characterization was conducted to determine the parental origin of the gene segments (hy donor virus or wt virus), gene segment ratios and constellations. Fold increase in growth of reassortant viruses compared to respective parent wt viruses was determined by hemagglutination assay titers. Significance In this study fifty-seven influenza A vaccine candidate reassortants were analyzed for the presence or absence of correlations between specific gene segment ratios, gene constellations and hy reassortant phenotype. We found two gene ratios, 6∶2 and 5∶3, to be the most prevalent among the hy reassortants analyzed, although other gene ratios also conferred hy in certain reassortants.
Efficient multifeature index structures for music data retrieval

In this paper, we propose four index structures for music data retrieval. Based on suffix trees, we develop two index structures called combined suffix tree and independent suffix trees. These methods still show shortcomings for some search functions. Hence we develop another index, called Twin Suffix Trees, to overcome these problems. However, the Twin Suffix Trees lack of scalability when the amount of music data becomes large. Therefore we propose the fourth index, called Grid-Twin Suffix Trees, to provide scalability and flexibility for a large amount of music data. For each index, we can use different search functions, like exact search and approximate search, on different music features, like melody, rhythm or both. We compare the performance of the different search functions applied on each index structure by a series of experiments.
Feasibility of using administrative data to compare hospital performance in the EU

Objective To describe hospitals' organizational arrangements relevant to the abstraction of administrative data, to report on the completeness of administrative data collected and to assess associations between organizational arrangements and completeness of data submission. Design A cross-sectional study design utilizing administrative data. Setting and Participants Randomly selected hospitals from seven European countries (The Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey). Main Outcome Measures Completeness of data submission for four quality indicators: mortality after acute myocardial infarction, stroke and hip fractures and complications after normal delivery. Results In general, hospitals were able to produce data on the four indicators required for this research study. A substantial proportion had missing data on one or more data items. The proportion of hospitals that was able to produce more detailed indicators of relevance for quality monitoring and improvement was low and ranged from 40.1% for thrombolysis performed on patients with acute ischemic stroke to 63.8% for hip-fracture operations performed within 48 h after admission for patients aged 65 or older. National factors were strong predictors of data completeness on the studied indicators. Conclusions At present, hospital administrative databases do not seem to be an appropriate source of information for comparison of hospital performance across the countries of the EU. However, given that this is a dynamic field, changes to administrative databases may make this possible in the near future. Such changes could be accelerated by an in-depth comparative analysis of the issues of using administrative data for comparisons of hospital performances in EU countries.
Testing Cyclin Specificity in the Exit from Mitosis

ABSTRACT Cyclical inactivation of B-type cyclins has been proposed to be required for alternating DNA replication and mitosis. Destruction box-dependent Clb5p degradation is strongly increased in mitotic cells, and constitutive overexpression of Clb5p lacking the destruction box resulted in rapid accumulation of inviable cells, frequently multiply budded, with DNA contents ranging from unreplicated to apparently fully replicated. Loss of viability correlated with retention of nuclear Clb5p at the time of nuclear division. CLB2-Δdboverexpression that was quantitatively comparable toCLB5-Δdb overexpression with respect to Clb protein production and Clb-associated kinase activity resulted in a distinct phenotype: reversible mitotic arrest with uniformly replicated DNA. Simultaneous overexpression of CLB2-Δdb andCLB5-Δdb overexpressers similarly resulted in a uniform arrest with replicated DNA, and this arrest was significantly more reversible than that observed with CLB5-Δdboverexpression alone. These results suggest that Clb2p and not Clb5p can efficiently block mitotic completion. We speculate thatCLB5-Δdb overexpression may be lethal, because persistence of high nuclear Clb5p-associated kinase throughout mitosis leads to failure to load origins of replication, thus preventing DNA replication in the succeeding cell cycle.
Video game characteristics, happiness and flow as predictors of addiction among video game players: A pilot study

Aims: Video games provide opportunities for positive psychological experiences such as flow-like phenomena during play and general happiness that could be associated with gaming achievements. However, research has shown that specific features of game play may be associated with problematic behaviour associated with addiction-like experiences. The study was aimed at analysing whether certain structural characteristics of video games, flow, and global happiness could be predictive of video game addiction. Method: A total of 110 video game players were surveyed about a game they had recently played by using a 24-item checklist of structural characteristics, an adapted Flow State Scale, the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, and the Game Addiction Scale. Results: The study revealed decreases in general happiness had the strongest role in predicting increases in gaming addiction. One of the nine factors of the flow experience was a significant predictor of gaming addiction – perceptions of time being altered during play. The structural characteristic that significantly predicted addiction was its social element with increased sociability being associated with higher levels of addictive-like experiences. Overall, the structural characteristics of video games, elements of the flow experience, and general happiness accounted for 49.2% of the total variance in Game Addiction Scale levels. Conclusions: Implications for interventions are discussed, particularly with regard to making players more aware of time passing and in capitalising on benefits of social features of video game play to guard against addictive-like tendencies among video game players.
ACR: Automatic checkpoint/restart for soft and hard error protection

As machines increase in scale, many researchers have predicted that failure rates will correspondingly increase. Soft errors do not inhibit execution, but may silently generate incorrect results. Recent trends have shown that soft error rates are increasing, and hence they must be detected and handled to maintain correctness. We present a holistic methodology for automatically detecting and recovering from soft or hard faults with minimal application intervention. This is demonstrated by ACR: an automatic checkpoint/restart framework that performs application replication and automatically adapts the checkpoint period using online information about the current failure rate. ACR performs an application- and user-oblivious recovery. We empirically test ACR by injecting failures that follow different distributions for five applications and show low overhead when scaled to 131,072 cores. We also analyze the interaction between soft and hard errors and propose three recovery schemes that explore the trade-off between performance and reliability requirements.
Metal nanoparticle film–based room temperature Coulomb transistor

A new transistor concept exploits the colloidal synthesis of metal nanoparticles and their Coulomb charging energy. Single-electron transistors would represent an approach to developing less power–consuming microelectronic devices if room temperature operation and industry-compatible fabrication were possible. We present a concept based on stripes of small, self-assembled, colloidal, metal nanoparticles on a back-gate device architecture, which leads to well-defined and well-controllable transistor characteristics. This Coulomb transistor has three main advantages. By using the scalable Langmuir-Blodgett method, we combine high-quality chemically synthesized metal nanoparticles with standard lithography techniques. The resulting transistors show on/off ratios above 90%, reliable and sinusoidal Coulomb oscillations, and room temperature operation. Furthermore, this concept allows for versatile tuning of the device properties such as Coulomb energy gap and threshold voltage, as well as period, position, and strength of the oscillations.
Cortical activation via an implanted wireless retinal prosthesis.

PURPOSE To demonstrate local cortical activations in the primary visual cortex of the cat as a result of retinal electrical stimulation by means of a completely wireless-controlled, implantable retinal prosthesis in a series of acute experiments. METHODS The transfer of energy to drive the device and signals to activate any combination of 25 retinal electrodes was achieved completely wirelessly by an external transmitter positioned in front of the eye. Individually configured electrical stimuli were applied via any combination of 25 electrodes, on sending the necessary pulse parameters to the implant. Placement of the implant onto the retinal surface was achieved after lensectomy and vitrectomy in the cat. Fixation was performed with a retinal tack. Cortical activation patterns were recorded by means of optical imaging of intrinsic signals. RESULTS Implantation and fixation were successfully performed in three cats. Wireless activation of the implant by radiofrequency was demonstrated by recording of stimulus artifacts from the sclera. Local activation of the visual cortex measured by optical imaging of intrinsic signals revealed a shift of cortical response that was well correlated with a change in the position of the activated retinal electrodes. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate the retinotopic activation of the visual cortex using a completely wireless, remote-controlled retinal implant.
A multidimensional view of industrial and academic science

We develop a conceptual framework to characterize science along four dimensions: (1) the nature of work; (2) characteristics of the workplace; (3) characteristics of workers; and (4) the disclosure of research results. Drawing on the broader organizational literature, we discuss relationships between these dimensions and derive predictions regarding differences and similarities in the four dimensions between industrial and academic science. We then employ detailed survey data from a representative sample of over 5,000 life scientists and physical scientists to examine key aspects of the framework. The descriptive results provide a nuanced and multidimensional view of industrial and academic science. Our analysis of relationships among dimensions suggests that the nature of work is a significant predictor of workplace characteristics and of the way in which research results are disclosed. However, important industryacademia differences in the latter dimensions remain even controlling for the nature of work, consistent with the view that sectoral differences in features of science also reflect distinct institutional logics. We thank participants in various seminars and workshops for their feedback. We thank especially Wes Cohen, Paul David, Lee Fleming, Chiara Franzoni, Richard Freeman, Aldo Geuna, Kostas Grigoriou, Frank Rothaermel, Jerry Thursby, Marie Thursby, and John Walsh. Henry Sauermann thanks the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for their financial support. We thank the National Science Foundation for providing the restricted-use SESTAT data employed in our empirical analysis. However, “the use of NSF data does not imply NSF endorsement of the research methods or conclusions contained in this report. ”
Prediction of Stroke Subtype and Recanalization Using Susceptibility Vessel Sign on Susceptibility-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background and Purpose— The susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) is a hypointense signal visualized because of the susceptibility effect of thrombi, sensitively detected on susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. The relationship of SVS parameters with the stroke subtype and recanalization status after endovascular treatment remains uncertain. Methods— The data from 89 patients with acute stroke caused by anterior circulation infarcts who underwent susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging before endovascular treatment were examined. Independent reviewers, blinded to the stroke subtype and recanalization status, measured the SVS diameter, length, and estimated volume. The intra- and interrater agreements of the SVS parameters were assessed. Results— The SVS was identified in 78% of the patients. SVS was more commonly associated with cardioembolism than with noncardioembolism (P=0.01). The SVS diameter (P<0.01) and length (P=0.01) were larger in the cardioembolism group. The SVS diameter was larger in the recanalization group (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction ≥2b) than in the nonrecanalization group (P=0.04). Multivariable analysis revealed that the SVS diameter was an independent predictor of cardioembolism (adjusted odds ratio, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.34–2.90; P<0.01). There was no significant association between the SVS volume and the recanalization status (adjusted odds ratio, 1.003; 95% confidence interval, 0.999–1.006; P=0.12). The optimal cutoff value of the SVS diameter for the cardioembolism was 5.5 mm (sensitivity, 45.6%; specificity, 93.8%). Conclusions— Increased SVS diameter on susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging may predict cardioembolism. No clear association was found between SVS volume and endovascular recanalization.