Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stochastic Modeling of the Spatiotemporal Wavelet Coefficients and Applications to Quality Enhancement and Error Concealment

We extend a stochastic model of hierarchical dependencies between wavelet coefficients of still images to the spatiotemporal decomposition of video sequences, obtained by a motion-compensated wavelet decomposition. We propose new estimators for the parameters of this model which provide better statistical performances. Based on this model, we deduce an optimal predictor of missing samples in the spatiotemporal wavelet domain and use it in two applications: quality enhancement and error concealment of scalable video transmitted over packet networks. Simulation results show significant quality improvement achieved by this technique with different packetization strategies for a scalable video bit stream.
Failure Strengths of Composite Additions and Repairs.

PURPOSE When adding composite to a cured composite restoration, the intent is to achieve the same failure strength as the original restorative material. This study evaluated the failure strengths of added or repaired composite using various chemical and/or mechanical surface treatments. METHODS Failure strengths were determined using a four-point bending test. Beam-shaped specimens were fabricated by adding new composite to cured composite (Filtek Supreme Ultra). The cured composites were either fresh or aged seven days (N=10-14). The composite surfaces were left unground or were ground before treatment with various combinations of roughening, acid etching, silane, and dental adhesives (conventional Adper SingleBond Plus or new multimode Scotchbond Universal) and/or tribochemistry (CoJet system). Monolithic composite specimens were the control. Failure strengths were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and the Fisher protected least significant difference (α=0.05). RESULTS Failure strengths (mean ± standard deviation) when composite was added to unground freshly cured composites (111±25 MPa) and aged composites using a new multimode adhesive with (102±22 MPa) or without (98±22 MPa) tribochemical treatment were not significantly lower than the monolithic specimens (122±23 MPa). Grinding the surfaces of freshly cured composite significantly reduced failure strength, either with (81±30 MPa) or without (86±31 MPa) use of conventional adhesive. Failure strengths of aged composites were also significantly lower (51±21 MPa with SingleBond Plus), even after tribochemical treatment (71±29 MPa with SingleBond Plus; 73±35 MPa with Silane-Visiobond). CONCLUSIONS Using a new multimode adhesive when adding composite to freshly cured or aged composite substrates recovered the failure strength to that of the original monolithic composite.
alpha-Difluoromethylornithine, an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, inhibits tumor promoter-induced polyamine accumulation and carcinogenesis in mouse skin.

The role of ornithine decarboxylase (OrnDCase, EC 4.1.1.17) and of the polyamines [putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm)] in mouse skin tumor promotion was investigated by the use of alpha-difluoromethylornithine (CHF2-Orn), an enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitor of OrnDCase. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), mezerein, and ethyl phenylpropiolate (EPP) were employed as complete, stage II specific, and nonpromoting agents, respectively. TPA and mezerein, but not EPP, provided for a dose-dependent increase in tissue Put accumulation. The Put level in papillomas developed by TPA (2 micrograms) treatment was approximately equal to 15-fold higher than that of the surrounding skin tissue; Spd accumulation was 2- to 3-fold greater in the papillomas. Put administered (intraperitoneally) with TPA greatly enhanced papilloma yield. CHF2-Orn, given orally or intraperitoneally, abolished the TPA-induced OrnDCase activity and Put accumulation in mouse epidermis. The reduction of polyamine accumulation by CHF2-Orn was directly proportional to reduction of tumor size. CHF2-Orn administered in a two-stage (TPA-mezerein) promotion protocol [Slaga, T. J., Fischer, S. M. , Nelson, K. G. & Gleason, G. L. (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77, 3659-3663; Slaga, T. J., Klein-Szanto, A. J. P., Fischer, S. M. , Weeks, C. E. , Nelson, K. & Major, S. (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77, 2251-2254] reduced tumor size, inhibited by 65-70% the number of papillomas per mouse, and decreased by 40% the percentage of mice with tumors when given with the stage II agent mezerein. CHF2-Orn provided considerably less effect on tumorigenesis when administered with the TPA portion of the protocol, and CHF2-Orn did not inhibit the induction of dark basal keratinocytes by TPA. Based on our results with CHF2-Orn, we suggest that regulation of polyamine biosynthesis, particularly Put, is a critical factor in stage II promotion.
Apoptosis of neutrophils

Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes and serve as a first line of defense against infectious microorganisms. For this purpose, neutrophils contain granules filled with proteolytic and other cytotoxic enzymes. Neutrophils have the shortest lifespan of all leukocytes. To prevent senescent neutrophils from releasing their toxic contents into the surrounding tissues, these cells become apoptotic and are then internalized by tissue macrophages. Recent studies have revealed more details about effects of cytokines on neutrophil apoptosis and on the uptake of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages. In addition, the intracellular events leading to apoptosis are slowly being unraveled.
NIVELES SANGUINEOS DE INSECTICIDAS ORGANOCLORADOS EN VARIOS GRUPOS DE POBLACION COLOMBIANA

Utilizando cromatografia de gases se determinaron los niveles sanguineos de organoclorados en grupos de poblacion ocupacionalmente expuestos (Formuladores, aplicadores del servicio de erradicacion de la malaria y aplicadores agricolas) y grupos no ocupacionalmente expuestos, encontrandose que el 98% que conforman los grupos estudiados resultaron contaminados con residuos de Insecticidas organoclorados; los niveles de contaminacion fueron bajos en comparacion con los observados en otros paises a excepcion del DDT en el grupo de aplicadores del servicio de erradicacion de la malaria y en el grupo que habita en regiones con aplicacion agricola y sin uso sanitario.
Thai speech recognition using Double filter banks for basic voice commanding

This paper describes the methodology to recognize Thai speech words by integrating two approaches e.g., Double filter banks and Euclidian distance in a feature extraction and the recognition processes, respectively. Firstly, the speech signals are transformed into the 3-dimension of signal or spectrogram. The spectrogram displays energy information along both time and frequency axes. Secondly, the frequencies to be within the bin spread and correlated them with each triangular filter. Thus, each bin holds a weighted sum, and represents the spectral magnitude in that filter bank channel. Finally, the filter banks are normalized into the normalized bank for comparison between the entry signal of word and various words of dictionary. The Euclidian distance is used to measure the similarity between them. The system was evaluated for its accuracy and stability in performing various conditions. The accuracy was tested with 9,000 speeches from several volunteers. The average accuracy rate is about 96.3 %. The results show that the evaluation was beyond satisfaction for every aspect.
An ABC Transporter System of Yersinia pestis Allows Utilization of Chelated Iron by Escherichia coliSAB11

ABSTRACT The acquisition of iron is an essential component in the pathogenesis of Yersinia pestis, the agent of bubonic and pneumonic plague. A cosmid library derived from the genomic DNA ofY. pestis KIM6+ was used for transduction of anEscherichia coli mutant (SAB11) defective in the biosynthesis of the siderophore enterobactin. Recombinant plasmids which had a common 13-kb BamHI fragment were isolated from SAB11 transductants in which growth but not enterobactin synthesis was restored on media containing the iron chelator EDDA [ethylenediamine-di(o-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid)]. Subcloning and transposon mutagenesis revealed a 5.6-kb region, designated yfe, essential for SAB11 growth stimulation. In vitro transcription-translation analysis identified polypeptides of 18, 29.5, 32, and 33 kDa encoded by the yfe locus. Sequence analysis shows this locus to be comprised of five genes in two separate operons which have potential Fur-binding sequences in both promoters. A putative polycistronic operon, yfeABCD, is Fur regulated and responds to iron and manganese. A functional Fur protein is required for the observed manganese repression of this operon. This operon encodes polypeptides which have strong similarity to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family of transporters and include a periplasmic binding protein (YfeA), an ATP-binding protein (YfeB), and two integral membrane proteins (YfeC and -D), which likely function in the acquisition of inorganic iron and possibly other ions. The ∼21-kDa protein encoded by the separately transcribedyfeE gene may be located in the cell envelope, since ayfeE::TnphoA fusion is PhoA+. Mutations in this gene abrogate growth of SAB11 on iron-chelated media.
Effects of a nine-week core strengthening exercise program on vertical jump performances and static balance in volleyball players with trunk instability.

AIM The aim of this study was to establish the effects of core strengthening exercise program on trunk instability in response to vertical jump performances and static balance variables in volleyball players. As a core stabilization program aids in developing a stable spine over the pelvis and improves trunk stability this concept should be incorporated in sports tasks involving jump and reach in those with an unstable spine. METHODS Forty state level volleyball players with trunk instability were randomly divided into two groups, control ([C] m=10; f=10) and experimental ([E] m=10; f=10). Modified double straight leg lowering test was used to check the degree of trunk instability. Counter movement jump, squat jump, spike jump and block jumps were used to measure jumping abilities and a wobble board test was used to test balance. Pre- and postreadings were noted before and after the nine-week training protocol and statistical data analysis was done using SPSS 16. RESULTS After nine weeks of core stabilization training, trunk stability (P<0.001), block difference (BD) in block jump (P<0.01) were enhanced significantly comparing to (C) group using independent T test. Effect size Cohen's d score demonstrated better improvement of spike jump (d=0.25) and block jump (d=0.52) in (E) group. Other jumps and static balance were improved but non-significant when compared between groups. CONCLUSION Nine-week strategic core strengthening exercise program increases trunk stability and in turn improves block difference (vertical jump parameter).
Wind alters landing dynamics in bumblebees

ABSTRACT Landing is an important but understudied behavior that flying animals must perform constantly. In still air, insects decelerate smoothly prior to landing by employing the relatively simple strategy of maintaining a constant rate of image expansion during their approach. However, it is unclear whether insects employ this strategy when faced with challenging flight environments. Here, we tested the effects of wind on bumblebees (Bombus impatiens) landing on flowers. We find that bees' approach paths to flowers shift from multidirectional in still air to unidirectional in wind, regardless of flower orientation. In addition, bees landing in a 3.5 m s−1 headwind do not decelerate smoothly, but rather maintain a high flight speed until contact, resulting in higher peak decelerations upon impact. These findings suggest that wind has a strong influence on insect landing behavior and performance, with important implications for the design of micro aerial vehicles and the ecomechanics of insect flight. Summary: Wind alters bumblebee landing performance and may preclude optic flow-based strategies for control of landing speed.
Difference in the amplitude of the human soleus H reflex during walking and running.

1. The Hoffman reflex, or H reflex, was strongly modulated in the human soleus muscle during both walking (4 km/h) and running (8 km/h). It was relatively low at the time of heel contact, increased progressively during the stance phase, and reached its maximum amplitude late in the stance phase. During ankle dorsiflexion the H reflex was absent. 2. During running the peak e.m. g. level of the soleus was on average 2.4 times higher than during walking but the maximum amplitude of the H reflex was never larger than during walking. In fact, the H reflex was on average significantly (P less than 0.05 for one‐tailed t test) smaller during running than during walking. Furthermore, the slope of the least‐squares line fitted to the relation between the H reflex amplitude and the background e.m. g. was always steeper for the walking data than for the running data. 3. The difference in the H reflex in the two tasks is evidence that the size of the H reflex is not simply a passive consequence of the alpha‐motoneurone excitation level, as indicated by the e.m. g. , but is also influenced by other central neural mechanisms. We suggest that presynaptic inhibition is the most likely mechanism accounting for the change in the slope. 4. The modulation of the reflexes during walking and running can be interpreted in terms of the idea of automatic gain compensation. The decreased gain during running may be appropriate to reduce saturation of motor output and potential instability of the stretch reflex feed‐back loop.
Galerkin-like Method and Generalized Perturbed Sweeping Process with Nonregular Sets

In this paper we present a new method to solve differential inclusions in Hilbert spaces. This method is a Galerkin-like method where we approach the original problem by projecting the state into a $n$-dimensional Hilbert space but not the velocity. We prove that the approached problem always has a solution and that, under some compactness conditions, the approached problems have a subsequence which converges strongly pointwisely to a solution of the original differential inclusion. We apply this method to the generalized perturbed sweeping process governed by nonregular sets (equi-uniformly subsmooth or positively $\alpha$-far). This differential inclusion includes Moreau's sweeping process, the state-dependent sweeping process, and second-order sweeping process for which we give very general existence results.
Engineering Ameliorates Arthritis in a Neonatal Fc Receptor Blockade by Fc

Hector Perez Montoyo, Raimund J. Ober and E. Sally WardDipesh A. Patel, Alberto Puig-Canto, Dilip Kumar Challa,http://www.jimmunol.org/content/187/2/1015doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1003780June 2011;J Immunol€2011; 187:1015-1022; Prepublished online 20Referenceshttp://www.jimmunol.org/content/187/2/1015.full#ref-list-1This article cites 50 articles, 19 of which you can access for free at: Subscriptionshttp://jimmunol.org/subscriptionsInformation about subscribing to The Journal of Immunology is online at: Permissionshttp://www.aai. org/ji/copyright.htmlSubmit copyright permission requests at: Email Alertshttp://jimmunol.org/cgi/alerts/etocReceive free email-alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up at:
An introduction to computational fluid dynamics - the finite volume method

*Introduction. *Conservation Laws of Fluid Motion and Boundary Conditions. *Turbulence and its Modelling. *The Finite Volume Method for Diffusion Problems. *The Finite Volume Method for Convection-Diffusion Problems. *Solution Algorithms for Pressure-Velocity Coupling in Steady Flows. *Solution of Discretised Equations. *The Finite Volume Method for Unsteady Flows. *Implementation of Boundary Conditions. *Advanced topics and applications. Appendices. References. Index.
A longitudinal follow‐up of asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen‐positive chinese children

Fifty‐one asymptomatic Chinese hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier children (34 boys, 17 girls), age 1 to 15 years (median: 10 years), were prospectively followed for up to 4 years (median: 30 months) to determine the natural evolution of clinical, biochemical and virological features during the early phase of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
Can Growing Degree Days and Photoperiod Predict Spring Wheat Phenology?

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) production in the rainfed area of Pothwar Pakistan is extremely vulnerable to high temperature. The expected increase in temperature due to global warming should result in shorter crop life cycles, and thus lower biomass and grain yield. Two major factors control wheat phenological development: temperature and photoperiod. To evaluate wheat development in response to these factors, we conducted experiments that created diverse temperature and daylength conditions by adjusting the crop sowing time. The study was conducted during 2013-14 and 2014-15 using five spring wheat genotypes, four sowing times, at three sites under rainfed management in Pothwar, Pakistan. Wheat crops experienced more cold days with early sowing, but later sowing dates resulted in higher temperatures, especially from anthesis to maturity. These treatments produced large differences in phenology, biomass production, and yield. To investigate whether growing degree days (GDD) and photoperiod algorithms could predict wheat phenology under these changing conditions, GDD was calculated based on the method proposed by Wang and Engel while photoperiod followed the approach introduced in the APSIM crop growth model. GDD was calculated separately and in combination with photoperiod from germination to anthesis. For the grain filling period, only GDD was calculated. The observed and predicted number of days to anthesis and maturity were in good agreement, showing that the combination of GDD and photoperiod algorithms provided good estimations of spring wheat phenology under variable temperature and daylength conditions.
The optimum number and types of plasma samples necessary for an accurate activated partial thromboplastin time-based heparin therapeutic range.

CONTEXT Monitoring of unfractionated heparin therapy by activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) using the ex vivo method for determining the aPTT-based heparin therapeutic range (HTR) is the standard of practice. Many intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence its accuracy. OBJECTIVE To investigate the optimum number and types of samples acceptable for an accurate ex vivo HTR determination. DESIGN Values from patients receiving unfractionated heparin are used to determine the HTR by published guidelines. The number and types of samples are changed to investigate the effect on HTR parameters. RESULTS Absolute minimum number of samples for an accurate HTR is 20, with fewer than 10% of the samples from the same patient or 50% of the samples with international normalized ratio of 1.3 to 1.5. CONCLUSIONS The ex vivo HTR method is the best protocol currently available; however, the number of samples used affects its accuracy. The optimum number of samples is 30 or more but the absolute minimum number is 20. In addition, limitation of specific sample types also affects the HTR parameters. An inaccurate HTR may be calculated if inappropriate sample number or types of samples are used.
Brain atrophy can introduce age‐related differences in BOLD response

Use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in studies of aging is often hampered by uncertainty about age‐related differences in the amplitude and timing of the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) response (i.e., hemodynamic impulse response function (HRF)). Such uncertainty introduces a significant challenge in the interpretation of the fMRI results. Even though this issue has been extensively investigated in the field of neuroimaging, there is currently no consensus about the existence and potential sources of age‐related hemodynamic alterations. Using an event‐related fMRI experiment with two robust and well‐studied stimuli (visual and auditory), we detected a significant age‐related difference in the amplitude of response to auditory stimulus. Accounting for brain atrophy by circumventing spatial normalization and processing the data in subjects' native space eliminated these observed differences. In addition, we simulated fMRI data using age differences in brain morphology while controlling HRF shape. Analyzing these simulated fMRI data using standard image processing resulted in differences in HRF amplitude, which were eliminated when the data were analyzed in subjects' native space. Our results indicate that age‐related atrophy introduces inaccuracy in co‐registration to standard space, which subsequently appears as attenuation in BOLD response amplitude. Our finding could explain some of the existing contradictory reports regarding age‐related differences in the fMRI BOLD responses. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3402–3414, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
OFTHE CORRELATIONS BETWEEN OXIDATIVE STRESS , GELATINASES AND THEIR TISSUE INHIBITORS INTHE HUMAN SUBJECTS WITH OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEPAPNEA SYNDROME

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated partial or complete obstructions of upper airways during sleep with consequent apnea or hypopnea, intermittent arterial oxygen desaturation and sleep disruption (1). OSAS af fects especially middle-aged and elderly subjects and its prevalence is increasing worldwide (2). OSAS is significantly and independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular events and all-cause mortality and some studies have demonstrated that the incidence of cardiovascular events is related to its severity (3-5). Atherosclerosis is common in OSAS (6), and the elevated mortality is associated with the severity of the atherosclerosis (7). The mechanisms leading to the development and the progression of atherosclerotic plaques involve multiple factors, including oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammatory factors. The continued hypoxia-reoxygenation episodes have a key role in the pathogenesis of the endothelial dysfunction: the intermittent hypoxia may induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that contribute to the generation of adhesion molecules, leukocyte activation, and to an enhanced systemic inflammation (8). In particular , evaluating the oxidative/antioxidant status of subjects with OSAS, several authors have observed an increase in lipid (9-11) and protein oxidation (9, 12) and a decrease in nitric oxide (NO) metabolites (13), and in antioxidant defenses (9, 10, 14), even if other authors did not find any dif ference in plasma lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity and protein carbonyl levels between OSAS subjects and controls (15). In addition, an altered expression of some matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) has been described in subjects with OSAS (16-22). MMPs, and in particular gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), are involved in the atherosclerotic lesion development and progression (23, 24). MMPs and oxidative stress seem to be strongly correlated in subjects with high cardiovascular risk (25, 26, 28-31). The link between oxidative stress and MMPs has been demonstrated in several experimental models (32-34): peroxynitrite, in the presence of gluthation, activates some MMPs via the Sglutathiolation of the cystein in the propeptide domain (26, 34) but, at higher concentrations, can lead to the inactivation of MMP-2 (34). Also hydrogen peroxide (H 2O2) activates MMP-2 and promotes the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in human venous endothelial cells (35). The activation of MMPs via Snitrosylation is still unclear , even if a role of NO has been suggested by some authors (27). In addiction, ROS can influence JOURNALOF PHYSIOLOGYAND PHARMACOLOGY 2015, 66, 6, 803-810