Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Calcium Signaling and Tissue Calcification.

Calcification is a regulated physiological process occurring in bones and teeth. However, calcification is commonly found in soft tissues in association with aging and in a variety of diseases. Over the last two decades, it has emerged that calcification occurring in diseased arteries is not simply an inevitable build-up of insoluble precipitates of calcium phosphate. In some cases, it is an active process in which transcription factors drive conversion of vascular cells to an osteoblast or chondrocyte-like phenotype, with the subsequent production of mineralizing "matrix vesicles. " Early studies of bone and cartilage calcification suggested roles for cellular calcium signaling in several of the processes involved in the regulation of bone calcification. Similarly, calcium signaling has recently been highlighted as an important component in the mechanisms regulating pathological calcification. The emerging hypothesis is that ectopic/pathological calcification occurs in tissues in which there is an imbalance in the regulatory mechanisms that actively prevent calcification. This review highlights the various ways that calcium signaling regulates tissue calcification, with a particular focus on pathological vascular calcification.
Identification of tumor‐associated antigens by screening phage‐displayed human cDNA libraries with sera from tumor patients

Screening cDNA libraries from solid human tumors with sera of autologous patients (SEREX) has proven to be a powerful approach to identifying tumor antigens recognized by the humoral arm of the immune system. In many cases, application of this methodology has led to the discovery of novel tumor antigens as unknown gene products. We tried to improve the potency of the SEREX approach by combining it with phage‐display technology. We designed a new lambda vector to express protein fragments as N‐terminal fusions to the D capsid protein and generated high‐complexity cDNA libraries from human breast carcinoma cell lines and solid tumors. Screening these phage‐displayed libraries required limited amounts of sera from patients and efficiently identified several tumor antigens specifically reacting with sera from breast cancer patients. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Factors Associated with Hepatitis B and C Co-Infection among HIV-Infected Patients in Singapore, 2006–2017

Co-infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with increased risk of hepatic complications and mortality. A retrospective study to estimate the proportion of HBV and HCV co-infections in Singapore was conducted using a clinical database. We included 3065 patients who were seen under the Clinical HIV Programme at the largest referral centre for HIV care between 2006 and 2017 and were tested for both HBV and HCV. Factors associated with HIV-HBV and HIV-HCV co-infections were determined using logistic regressions. The majority (86.3%) of HIV-infected patients were mono-infected, while 7.2% were co-infected with HBV, 6.0% with HCV, and 0.5% were co-infected with both HBV and HCV. The most common HCV genotype was GT1 (63%). Factors significantly associated with HBV co-infection in the multivariable model were: Aged 30–49 years and 50–69 years at HIV diagnosis, male gender, and HIV transmission through intravenous drug use (IDU). Independent factors associated with HCV co-infection were: Malay ethnicity, HIV transmission through IDU, and HIV diagnosis between 2006 and 2008. Behavioural risk factors such as IDU, as well as epidemiologic differences associated with co-infection, should inform further studies and interventions aimed at reducing viral hepatitis infection among HIV-infected individuals.
Expression of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Subunit (TERT) and Telomere Sizing in Pig Ovarian Follicles

Telomerase is crucial for chromosome stability because it maintains telomere length. Little is known about telomerase in ovarian follicles, where an intense cell division is crucial to sustain estrous cycle and to drive oocyte development. The present research was performed to detect, by immunohistochemistry, the distribution of telomerase catalytic subunit (TERT) during folliculogenesis and to study the effect of TERT expression on telomeres. To this aim, telomere length has been measured on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-processed sections either in follicular or in germ cells. In primary and preantral follicles, TERT was observed in granulosa and in germ cells, with a typical nuclear location. During antral differentiation, only somatic cells close to the antrum (antral layer) and cumulus cells maintained TERT expression. The relative oocytes located TERT in the ooplasm independent from the process of meiotic maturation. FISH results indicate that a correlation exists between TERT expression and telomere size. In fact, progressively bigger telomeres were observed from preantral to antral follicles where longer structures were recorded in cells of the cumulus oophorus and of the antral layer than those of the basal one. Stable and elongated telomeres were detected in fully grown oocytes that lost the functional TERT distribution within the nucleus.
Comparative Analysis of the Degradation Mechanisms in Logic and I/O FinFET Devices Induced by Plasma Damage

In this work, the impacts of Plasma-Induced Damage (PID)on logic (standard oxide thickness)and I/O (thicker oxide)FinFET transistors are compared. It is found that PID has a different signature on the electrical characteristics of these two types of transistors, which also depends on their polarity (N-type and P-type). A qualitative explanation is provided to explain this difference. Finally, it is also demonstrated with simulations that the magnitude of the electrical stress experienced by the transistors exposed to PID also depends on the gate impedance.
Withdrawal of maintenance therapy for cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients exhibiting immunological response to HAART.

BACKGROUND Before the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), CMV retinitis was a common complication in patients with advanced HIV disease and the therapy was well established; it consisted of an induction phase to control the infection with ganciclovir, followed by a lifelong maintenance phase to avoid or delay relapses. METHODS To determine the safety of CMV maintenance therapy withdrawal in patients with immune recovery after HAART, 35 patients with treated CMV retinitis, on maintenance therapy, with CD4+ cell count greater than 100 cells/mm(3) for at least three months, but almost all patients presented these values for more than six months and viral load < 30000 copies/mL, were prospectively evaluated for the recurrence of CMV disease. Maintenance therapy was withdrawal at inclusion, and patients were monitored for at least 48 weeks by clinical and ophthalmologic evaluations, and by determination of CMV viremia markers (antigenemia-pp65), CD4+/CD8+ counts and plasma HIV RNA levels. Lymphoproliferative assays were performed on 26/35 patients. RESULTS From 35 patients included, only one had confirmed reactivation of CMV retinitis, at day 120 of follow-up. No patient returned positive antigenemia tests. No correlation between lymphoproliferative assays and CD4+ counts was observed. CONCLUSION CMV retinitis maintenance therapy discontinuation is safe for those patients with quantitative immune recovery after HAART.
Correct Extrapolation Model for TDDB of STT-MRAM MgO Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

Magnesium oxide (MgO) has become a dielectric of growing importance, given its use in spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) devices as a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). From recent research studies by several groups, it is apparent that the fundamental physics of time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) in MgO is different from HfO2 and SiO2due to several factors which include ultra-thin dielectric (<1 nm), ferromagnetic material interfaces on both sides, different energetics of the defects and the combination of “very high” current density and “very low” voltage of operation in STT-MRAM technology. These factors have an impact on the TDDB lifetime extrapolation model that can be used for M gO reliability qualification. We analyze the applicability of the commonly proposed (I) ξ-model, (II) 1/ξ model and (III) power law model for front-end dielectrics and assess the suitability of each of them using evidence from large sample size TDDB tests performed on MTJ arrays at various voltage and temperature stress conditions. The most suited extrapolation model along with an underlying physical explanation that supports it will be presented. Our analysis reveals that a combination of the power law and thermochemical ξ-model would best represent MgO dielectric breakdown (BD).
Real-time onboard SVM-based human locomotion recognition for a bionic knee exoskeleton on different terrains

Locomotion intent recognition is essential for human-robot interaction to realize assistance control. In this study, we proposed a real-time locomotion intent recognition method running on the exoskeleton control hardware, which can recognize current locomotion mode and detect locomotion transitions in advance. Signals from two inertial measurement units installed on the exoskeleton (one on the thigh part, the other on the shank part) are used to detect the human intents, which include three locomotion modes (level walking (LW), stair ascending (SA) and stair descending (SD)) and four transitions (LW $\rightarrow$ SA, SA $\rightarrow$ LW, LW $\rightarrow$ SD and SD $\rightarrow$ LW) in this study. For a unilateral exoskeleton, the leg wearing the robot system played different roles especially for locomotion transitions and corresponding experiment trials are conducted respectively. Online recognition accuracy during steady locomotion periods is 95.74± 2.19%. During locomotion transition periods, all the transitions are correctly detected and most of them can be detected before transiting to new locomotion modes.
Opiate-Addicted Parents in Methadone Treatment: Long-Term Recovery, Health, and Family Relationships

ABSTRACT Few studies follow the lives of opiate-addicted parents. The authors examined a 12-year follow-up of 144 parents in methadone treatment and their 3- to 14-year-old children. Parent mortality was high. Among survivors, drug use and treatment, incarceration, residential and family disruptions, and health problems were common. Moderate and long-term recovery were associated with consistent methadone treatment, further education, employment, and fewer relationship disruptions. Earlier depression, deviant friends, and poor coping skills predicted continued drug problems. Thus, interventions should include treatment for depression and build skills for avoiding and refusing drugs, coping with stress, and maintaining recovery-supportive friendships.
Calibration of Vivaldi Antenna for EMC Measurements

The paper presents design and characterization of coaxially fed Vivaldi antenna in the frequency range from 0.5 to 4 GHz. The antennas are intended to be used for electromagnetic field measurements over wide frequency range (by which several narrow-band antennas can be replaced). It is shown that antenna exhibits stable characteristics and is relatively low-cost, while the obtained antenna factor is in line with requirements for measurements in the field of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
Learners' Attention Preferences and Learning Paths on Online Learning Content: An Empirical Study Based on Eye Movement

Online learning paths to understand online learning information processing methods and cognitive characteristics, and are also useful in optimizing the design of online learning processes. With eye movement capturing and data analyzing technology, the Tobii X120 eye movement instrument, Tobii studio and online learning platform were used to record and visualize the eye movements during the real online learning processes of 14 online learners. Based on Barbara A. Soloman's learning style classification framework, these learners' learning styles wwere classified in four dimensions. Their eye-movement data enabled their preferences regarding learning content and online learning paths to be traced according to their learning styles. It was found that their learning styles were related to their attention preferences and learning paths for online learning content. Learners with different learning styles had different focus areas and learning paths; those with a specific common learning style had basically the same focus areas and online learning paths.
How Are Issue Units Linked? Empirical Study on the Linking Behavior in GitHub

Issue reports and Pull Requests (PRs) are two important kinds of artifacts of software projects in GitHub. It is common for developers to leave explicit links in issues/PRs that refer to the other issues/PRs during discussions. Existing studies have demonstrated the value of such links in identifying complex bugs and duplicate issue reports. However, there are no broad examinations of why developers leave links within issues/PRs and the potential impact of such links on software development. Without such knowledge, practitioners and researchers may miss various opportunities to develop practical techniques for better solving bug-fixing or feature implementation related tasks. To fill this gap, we conducted the first empirical study to explore the characteristics of a large number of links within 642,281 issues/PRs of 16,584 popular (>50 stars) Python projects in GitHub. Specifically, we first constructed an Issue Unit Network (IUN, we refer to issue reports or PRs as issue units) by making use of the links between issue units. Then, we manually checked a sample of 1,384 links in the IUN and concluded six major kinds of linking relationships between issue units. For each kind of linking relationships, we presented some common patterns that developers usually adopted while linking issue units. By further analyzing as many as 423,503 links that match these common patterns, we found several interesting findings which indicate potential research directions in the future, including detecting cross-project duplicate issue reports, using IUN to help better identify influential projects and core issue reports.
Evaluation of covert video surveillance in the diagnosis of munchausen syndrome by proxy: lessons from 41 cases.

OBJECTIVE In 1993, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite (formery Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center, Atlanta, GA) added facilities to perform inpatient covert video surveillance (CVS) of suspected cases of Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP). Forty-one patients were monitored from 1993 to 1997. This study was performed to review our experience with these cases. How useful was video surveillance in making the diagnosis? What were the characteristics of families with children who were victims of MSBP? METHODOLOGY Medical, social work, security, and administrative records of all children who underwent covert video monitoring at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite from 1993 through 1997 were reviewed retrospectively by a team of physicians, risk managers, and social workers. RESULTS A diagnosis of MSBP was made in 23 of 41 patients monitored. CVS was required to make the diagnosis in 13 (56.1%) of these 23, and supportive of the diagnosis in 5 (21.7%) cases. In 4 patients, this surveillance was instrumental in establishing innocence of the parents. MSBP was more common in Caucasian patients than in other ethnic groups seen at our hospital. Fifty-five percent of mothers gave a history of health care work or study, and another 25% had previously worked in day care. Although many of caretakers fit the profile of MSBP, such as excessive familiarity with medical staff, eagerness for invasive medical testing, and history of health care work, these characteristics were not sensitive indicators of MSBP in our study. Even when present, they were not sufficiently compelling to make the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS CVS is required to make a definitive and timely diagnosis in most cases of MSBP. Without this medical diagnostic tool, many cases will go undetected, placing children at risk. All tertiary care children's hospitals should develop facilities to perform CVS in suspected cases.
Overlapping Community Detection using Clique Proximity and Modularity Maximization

Significant communities within social network contain some leading members. Detection of significant communities within a reasonable time is very difficult. This work proposes a new algorithm for a significant community detection using clique proximity measurement and modularity maximization. This algorithm has initially detected disjoint communities. Then some key nodes are identified within this disjoint community which appears in more than one of these disjoint communities. These nodes are subsequently utilized to detect overlapping communities. Experimental results show that present community detection approach shows better performance in terms of modularity.
Risk of Escherichia coli O157:H7 transmission linked to the consumption of raw milk

E. coli O157:H7 is associated with life threatening diseases such as hemorrhagic colitis (HC), hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Raw milk is considered a high risk food as it is highly nutritious and serves as an ideal medium for bacterial growth. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in raw cow, goat and buffalo milk samples. MPN-PCR method targeting the major virulence rfbE gene and fliCH 7 gene of E. coli O157:H7 was used. Total of 177 raw milk samples were collected from local dairy farms in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. The highest prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 was found in raw cow milk (8.75%) followed by raw goat milk (7.32%) and raw buffalo milk (1.79%). The estimated quantity of E. coli O157:H7 in raw cow, goat and buffalo milk ranged from <30 MPN/g to 120 MPN/g. In raw cow and goat milk samples examined contain E. coli O157:H7 microbial load ranged from 30 to 120 MPN/g and 30 to 36 MPN/g, respectively. E. coli O157:H7 microbial load in buffalo milk samples was found to be the lowest, only 30 MPN/g. Results of this research provide useful information on biosafety of E. coli O157:H7 in raw milk marketed in Malaysia.
The Oporto mixed-longitudinal growth, health and performance study. Design, methods and baseline results

Abstract Background: Studies concerning child and adolescent growth, development, performance and health aimed at the multiple interactions amongst this complex set of variables are not common in the Portuguese speaking countries. Aim: The aim of this paper is to address the key ideas, methodology and design of the Oporto Growth, Health and Performance Study (OGHPS). Subjects and methods: The OGHPS is a multidisciplinary mixed-longitudinal study whose main purpose is to examine the multiple interactions among biological, environmental and lifestyle indicators that affect growth, development, health and performance of Portuguese adolescents aged 10–18 years old. Results: This study briefly presents baseline results for growth, physical fitness and lifestyle behaviours for those participating in the cross-sectional sample (n ≈ 8000). Approximately 30% were over-fat or obese. On average, boys were more physically fit and active than girls. Few adolescents meet the guidelines for sleep duration (≈10%) and eating habits (16.2–24.8%), while 76–85% meet the recommended levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Conclusions: The OGHPS has an innovative approach due to its mixed-longitudinal design and the broad array of variables. Furthermore, subsequent analyses of the longitudinal data will enable a detailed exploration of important factors affecting the growth trajectories of health and performance variables and will also help to identify some of the most opportune times for interventions in terms of health behaviours.
Multilevel Impacts of Transformational Leadership on Service Quality: Evidence From China

In service contexts, leaders’ efforts to maintain and enhance employees’ service quality are vital to organizational performance. However, few studies have investigated the mechanisms underlying the relationship between transformational leadership (TFL) and employees’ service quality across levels. Based on the theory of planned behavior, this study investigated the multilevel impacts of TFL on employees’ service quality and the multilevel mechanisms mediating this relationship. Data were collected from 208 managers and 1,431 employees at 223 branches (chain restaurants) of a large catering corporation in southern China. The results showed that stronger TFL significantly improved employees’ service quality at both individual and branch level. Affective commitment and psychological empowerment partially mediated the relationship between individual-level TFL and employees’ service quality. Branch-level service climate fully mediated the relationship between branch-level TFL and employees’ service quality.
Modelling Degradation of Matched-Circuits in Operational Conditions: Active and Stand-by Modes

In today's technology [1], degradation in IC standby mode cannot be neglected, especially for high power consumption devices whose standby mode have seen a high junction temperature and DC voltage stress. In this study, degradation of a matched-circuit Peripheral Component Interconnect express (PCIe) in active and standby modes will be discussed. A model is proposed and confirmed with experimental data. While work is done on a typical circuit PCI-express; its framework can be used for other similar designs such as Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) ports, Transition Minimized-Differential-Signaling (TMDS), Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes), etc.
Some Factors Influencing Teachers' Intention to use ICT in Teaching in Secondary Vocational Schools in China

This paper reports and discusses our preliminary findings about factors impacting teachers' technology acceptance and intentions to use ICT in secondary vocational schools. We surveyed 1294 teachers from 13 secondary vocational schools in China and used the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to analyze the survey data and verify our hypotheses. Our findings indicate significant correlations between Perceived Usefulness and Attitude Towards Using, Perceived Usefulness and Behavioral Intention, Perceived Ease of Use and Attitude Towards Using, as well as Attitude Towards Using and Behavioral Intention. No significant correlation was found between Perceived Ease of Use and Perceived Usefulness.
A New Cost-Based Importance Measure for Multiple-Working Conditions

In reliability analysis, importance measures are used to identify the critical components in a system and these can be implemented in system design, upgrading, maintenance, etc. Existing importance measures have comprehensively addressed maintenance cost and multi-state systems, while little attention has been paid to component operating cost and multiple-working conditions. This paper introduces a new cost-based importance measure, the integrated cost multiple-working conditions importance measure (ICMC^c), which integrates operating cost and maintenance cost and considers the multiple working conditions that the system is exposed to. In addition, the new importance measure can adapt to decision preferences. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the properties of the new cost-based importance measure.