Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Space based sensor management strategies based on informational uncertainty pursuit-evasion games

In this paper, a pursuit-evasion (PE) orbital game approach for space situational awareness (SSA) is presented to deal with imperfect measurements and information with uncertainties. The objective function includes the distance to be minimized by pursuers (observers/sensors) and maximized by evaders (space objects being tracked). The proposed PE approach provides a method to solve the realistic SSA problem with imperfect state information, where the evader will exploit the sensing and tracking model to confuse their opponents by corrupting their tracking estimates, while the pursuer wants to decrease the tracking uncertainties. A numerical simulation scenario with one space based space surveillance (SBSS) satellite as a pursuer and one geosynchronous (GEO) satellite as an evader is simulated to demonstrate the PE orbital game approach. Both SBSS and GEO apply the continuous low-thrust such as the Ion thrust in maneuvers. An add-on module is developed for the NORAD SGP4/SDP4 to propagate the satellites with maneuvers. Worst case maneuvering strategies for SBSS satellites are obtained from the Nash equilibrium of the PE game.
Relaxation-Time Limit in the Isothermal Hydrodynamic Model for Semiconductors

This work is concerned with the relaxation-time limit in the multidimensional isothermal hydrodynamic model for semiconductors in the critical Besov space. As the initial data are sufficiently close to equilibrium, the uniform (global) classical solutions are constructed by the high- and low-frequency decomposition methods. Furthermore, it is shown that the scaled classical solutions strongly converge towards that of a drift-diffusion model, as the relaxation time tends to zero.
Realization of eighth order current mode Butterworth characteristics using Multioutput Operational Floating conveyors and grounded components

This paper presents an active realization of an eighth order current mode Butterworth filter function using Multioutput Operational Floating conveyors (MOOFCs) and grounded passive components. The proposed realization is based on cascading a new low component single input multi output (SIMO) current mode universal biquadratic filter (UBF). The UBF is constructed employing only two MOOFCs, four grounded components, that lead to simple structure, easy to design and suitable for IC fabrication. The proposed UBF can realize all standard biquadratic responses without any matching conditions and has current outputs at a high impedance terminal, which enable easy cascadablity. The proposed filter has the advantages of minimum requirement of active and passive component count, low sensitivity, and high performance. The performance of the filter is verified through PSPICE simulation using low supply voltage of 0.75 volts.
Unique neurobiology during the sensitive period for attachment produces distinctive infant trauma processing

Background Trauma has neurobehavioral effects when experienced at any stage of development, but trauma experienced in early life has unique neurobehavioral outcomes related to later life psychiatric sequelae. Recent evidence has further highlighted the context of infant trauma as a critical variable in determining its immediate and enduring consequences. Trauma experienced from an attachment figure, such as occurs in cases of caregiver child maltreatment, is particularly detrimental. Methods Using data primarily from rodent models, we review the literature on the interaction between trauma and attachment in early life, which highlights the role of the caregiver's presence in engagement of attachment brain circuitry and suppressing threat processing by the amygdala. We then consider how trauma with and without the caregiver produces long-term changes in emotionality and behavior, and suggest that these experiences initiate distinct pathways to pathology. Results Together these data suggest that infant trauma processing and its enduring effects are impacted by both the immaturity of brain areas for processing trauma and the unique functioning of the early-life brain, which is biased toward processing information within the attachment circuitry. Conclusion An understanding of developmental differences in trauma processing as well as the critical role of the caregiver in further altering early life brain processing of trauma is important for developing age-relevant treatment and interventions. Highlights of the article Trauma experienced in early life has been linked with life-long outcomes for mental health through a mechanism that remains unclear. Trauma experienced in the presence of a caregiver has unique consequences. The infant brain is predisposed toward processing information using attachment circuitry rather than threat circuitry. Data from rodent models suggest that repeated trauma in the presence of a caregiver prematurely engages brain areas important for threat, which may play a role in deleterious outcome.
Writer identification using VLAD encoded contour-Zernike moments

Local feature descriptors in combination with bag of (visual) words have recently become the state of the art in writer identification. In this work we propose the use of Zernike moments evaluated at the contours of the script as local descriptor. We then form a global descriptor by encoding the extracted Zernike moments into Vectors of Locally Aggregated Descriptors (VLAD). This local / global descriptor combination outperforms existing methods: on the ICDAR 2013 benchmark database our Zernike / VLAD method yields 0.880 mAP, a 31% improvement over the 0.671 mAP of the state of the art. We also set a new performance standard on the CVL dataset.
Towards Predicting Maintainability for Relational Database-Driven Software Applications: Extended Evidence from Software Practitioners 1

The accurate maintainability prediction of relational database-driven software applications can improve the management of projects relating to these applications, thus benefitting software organisations. This paper gives an up-to-date account of the state of practice in maintainability prediction for relational database-driven software applications and provides a baseline for conducting further research in this area. The research involved conducting twelve semi-structured interviews with software professionals, which were then analysed using content analysis with the help of NVivo. The results provide both an account of the current state of practice in that area and also a list of potential maintainability predictors for relational database-driven software applications. These predictors relate to database schema, front-end application, and the interaction of database schema with the front-end application. These results provide the basis for further work involving the proposal and empirical validation of maintainability prediction models for relational database-driven software applications.
The Expression of Voltage‐Gated Ca2+ Channels in Pituicytes and the Up‐Regulation of L‐Type Ca2+ Channels During Water Deprivation

The primary components of the neurohypophysis are the neuroendocrine terminals that release vasopressin and oxytocin, and pituicytes, which are astrocytes that normally surround and envelop these terminals. Pituicytes regulate neurohormone release by secreting the inhibitory modulator taurine in an osmotically‐regulated fashion and undergo a marked structural reorganisation in response to dehydration as well as during lactation and parturition. Because of these unique functions, and the possibility that Ca2+ influx could regulate their activity, we tested for the expression of voltage‐gated Ca2+ channel α1 subunits in pituicytes both in situ and in primary culture. Colocalisation studies in neurohypophysial slices show that pituicytes (identified by their expression of the glial marker S100β), are immunoreactive for antibodies directed against Ca2+ channel α1 subunits CaV2.2 and CaV2.3, which mediate N‐ and R‐type Ca2+ currents, respectively. Pituicytes in primary culture express immunoreactivity for CaV1.2, CaV2.1, CaV2.2, CaV2.3 and CaV3.1 (which mediate L‐, P/Q‐, N‐, R‐ and T‐type currents, respectively) and immunoblotting studies confirmed the expression of these Ca2+ channel α1 subunits. This increase in Ca2+ channel expression may occur only in pituicytes in culture, or may reflect an inherent capability of pituicytes to initiate the expression of multiple types of Ca2+ channels when stimulated to do so. We therefore performed immunohistochemistry studies on pituitaries obtained from rats that had been deprived of water for 24 h. Pituicytes in these preparations showed a significantly increased immunoreactivity to CaV1.2, suggesting that expression of these channels is up‐regulated during the adaptation to long‐lasting dehydration. Our results suggest that Ca2+ channels may play important roles in pituicyte function, including a contribution to the adaptation that occurs in pituicytes when the need for hormone release is elevated.
Diarrhoea-predominant IBS patients show mast cell activation and hyperplasia in the jejunum

Background: Increased numbers of mast cells and mast cell activation in distal gut segments are associated with symptom onset and severity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Although upper gut symptoms are common, mast cells have not been thoroughly evaluated in proximal gut in IBS patients. Methods: Jejunal biopsies obtained by Watson’s capsule, aspiration of intestinal fluid and one blood sample were obtained in 20 diarrhoea-predominant patients with IBS (D-IBS) and 14 healthy volunteers (H). Psychological stress (Holmes-Rahe Scale) and depression (Beck’s Depression Inventory) were evaluated at baseline and food and respiratory allergy excluded. Biopsies were processed for H&E staining and microscopic inflammation assessed by counting intraepithelial lymphocytes. Mast cells in lamina propria were counted by immunohistochemistry with CD117 (c-kit). Tryptase concentration was measured in intestinal fluid and serum. Results: D-IBS patients showed higher psychological stress than healthy volunteers (D-IBS: 203 (SD 114) v H: 112 (SD 99); p = 0.019). Immunohistochemical staining of jejunal mucosa revealed mild increase in intraepithelial CD3+ cells in D-IBS patients (D-IBS: 15.3 (SD 5.5; 95% CI 12.7 to 17.9) v H: 10.3 (SD 3.9; 95% CI 8.0 to 12.5); p = 0.006). Moreover, D-IBS patients showed marked increase in mast cells numbers (D-IBS: 34 (SD 9.3); H: 15.3 (SD 4.4) mast cells/hpf; p<0.001) and higher tryptase concentration in jejunal fluid (D-IBS: 0.45 (SD 0.38); H: 0.09 (SD 0.10) µg/l; p = 0.005). Upper gut symptoms were not associated with gender, mast cell counts, jejunal tryptase or basal stress. Conclusion: This jejunal mucosal inflammatory profile may help identify diarrhoea-predominant IBS, a stress-related disorder.
P2X7 pre‐synaptic receptors in adult rat cerebrocortical nerve terminals: a role in ATP‐induced glutamate release

Although growing evidence suggests that extracellular ATP might play roles in the control of astrocyte/neuron crosstalk in the CNS by acting on P2X7 receptors, it is still unclear whether neuronal functions can be attributed to P2X7 receptors. In the present paper, we investigate the location, pharmacological profile, and function of P2X7 receptors on cerebrocortical nerve terminals freshly prepared from adult rats, by measuring glutamate release and calcium accumulation. The preparation chosen (purified synaptosomes) ensures negligible contamination of non‐neuronal cells and allows exposure of ‘nude’ release‐regulating pre‐synaptic receptors. To confirm the results obtained, we also carried out specific experiments on human embryonic kidney 293 cells which had been stably transfected with rat P2X7 receptors. Together, our findings suggest that (i) P2X7 receptors are present in a subpopulation of adult rat cerebrocortical nerve terminals; (ii) P2X7 receptors are localized on glutamatergic nerve terminals; (iii) P2X7 receptors play a significant role in ATP‐evoked glutamate efflux, which involves Ca2+‐dependent vesicular release; and (iv) the P2X7 receptor itself constitutes a significant Ca2+‐independent mode of exit for glutamate.
Monitoring White Blood Cell Mitochondrial Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity: Implications for Nitrate Therapy in Humans

Recent animal data suggest that reduced lipoic acid (LA) prevents oxidative inhibition of the nitrate bioactivating enzyme, the mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-2), and that pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) does not induce nitrate tolerance because of its intrinsic antioxidative properties, thereby preserving ALDH-2 activity. We sought to determine whether ALDH-2 activity in circulating white blood cells (WBCs) can be used to monitor nitrate tolerance and whether LA can prevent nitroglycerin tachyphylaxis in humans. Eight healthy male volunteers received, in randomized order, a single dose of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN; 0.8 mg), PETN (80 mg), or GTN plus LA (600 mg) orally. GTN (30 min) and PETN (120 min) administration lead to a comparable dilation of the brachial artery (15 ± 1%). In contrast to PETN, acute GTN treatment resulted in a 60% decrease in WBC ALDH-2 activity (high-performance liquid chromatography), 30% reduction of nitrate bioactivation, and 25% decrease in serum antioxidant capacity (fluorescence assay), which all were prevented by pretreatment with LA. Mechanistic studies in rats identified oxidative stress, ALDH-2 inactivation, and vascular dysfunction as common features in acute and chronic nitrate tolerance. Treatment with GTN, but not PETN, acutely inhibits ALDH-2 activity and nitrate bioactivation in healthy volunteers. These effects were prevented by LA pretreatment, emphasizing the role of oxidative stress-triggered ALDH-2 dysfunction. Assessment of WBC ALDH-2 activity could be used as an easily accessible marker for the detection of nitroglycerin-induced tachyphylaxis in humans and may be of high clinical interest because recent data suggest that ALDH-2 activity correlates with protection from ischemic heart damage in infarct models.
Dentition status and treatment needs of human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients on anti retro viral therapy in Raichur taluk, Karnataka, India: A cross sectional study

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the dentition status and the treatment needs of the HIV-positive patients on ART for more than a year in Raichur, Karnataka. Materials and Methods: Convenience sampling was followed. The sample size was 170. The dentition status and treatment needs of the patients were recorded as per the WHO guidelines. Results: The overall prevalence of dental caries was 79.4%. Males had higher percentage of dental caries than the females, and this was found to be statistically significant. The prevalence of dental caries was higher among the participants who used finger to clean their teeth compared to the toothbrush, neem stick, and charcoal users, and this was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Higher prevalence of dental caries was observed among the study population. Most of them required some type of treatment. Patients with a low CD4 count required higher treatments than the others.
Flail arm syndrome with several issues related to the diagnostic process

trophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is important to distinguish the two diseases because FAS patients have significantly better survival rates compared with other typical ALS variants. We report a FAS patient confirmed by clinical and electrophysiological findings based on review of literatures. We show the findings of polysomnography (PSG) in patient with FAS. We suggest that several issues related to the diagnostic process needed to be addressed.
A session-based empirical investigation of web usage

This paper reports the results of a study of Web usage of 139 users over a 8 month period of time. It uses a longitudinal Web log analysis of the URLs accessed during 33916 user-days of Web usage. It aims to detect changes in Web usage associated with increased experience of using the Web. Specifically, it answers the question whether or not users shift from undirected browsing in the Web to directed access of Web sites as they gain expertise in using the Web. We used a session-based approach to measure individual Web usage. The results of our study have several important implications both for Business to Consumer electronic commerce and for public policy as it pertains to the digital divide. Christ, Baron, Krishnan, Nagin, Gunther A Session-based Empirical Investigation of Web Usage
MAEL contributes to gastric cancer progression by promoting ILKAP degradation

The cancer-testis gene MAEL is involved in the development and progression of bladder, liver and colorectal cancers. However, its role in other cancers is unclear. By systematically analyzing transcriptomics and genomics data from various cancer databases, we identified that the MAEL gene is aberrantly elevated in gastric cancer (GC) tissues and that its expression is strongly negatively correlated with DNA methylation (Pearson's correlation coefficient = −0.675). Survival analysis revealed that MAEL expression may serve as a prognostic marker for GC patients (overall survival: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.54, p = 1.2E-4; first progression: HR = 1.51, p = 8.7E-4). In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that silencing MAEL expression in the GC cell lines HGC-27 and AGS inhibits proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion and growth of xenograft tumors, whereas MAEL overexpression exerts the opposite effects in the normal gastric cell line GES-1. Mechanistically, MAEL promotes the lysosome-dependent degradation of the protein phosphatase ILKAP, leading to increased phosphorylation of its substrates (p38, CHK1 and RSK2). Moreover, adenovirus-mediated ILKAP overexpression reversed the oncogenic effects of MAEL in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, these results indicate that MAEL exerts its oncogenic function by promoting ILKAP degradation in the GC.
Tryptophan content of Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin

The tryptophan content of Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin was investigated. When the tryptophan content was determined by amino acid analysis after the hydrolysis of epsilon prototoxin with methanesulfonic acid containing 3-(2-aminoethyl)indole and by the spectrophotometric method with N-bromosuccinimide, the number of tryptophan residues was calculated at 1/mol of the protein. Cleavage of the prototoxin or the toxin with N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of urea gave two new fragments on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. There was only a tyrosine residue as the new N-terminal amino acid after the cleavage of the prototoxin or the toxin with N-bromosuccinimide. The data showed that epsilon prototoxin or epsilon toxin contained only one tryptophan residue.
Human resting-state electrophysiological networks in the alpha frequency band: Evidence from magnetoencephalographic source imaging

In the resting-state, extended regions of the human cortex engage in electrical oscillations within the alpha-frequency band (7–14 Hz) that can be measured outside the head by magnetoencephalography (MEG). Given the accumulating evidence that alpha oscillations play a fundamental role in attentional processing and working memory, it becomes increasingly important to characterize their cortical organization. Event-related studies have demonstrated that attentional allocation can modulate alpha power selectively within the visual, auditory, and somatosensory cortices, as well as in higher-level regions. Such studies demonstrate the existence of multiple generators by exploiting experimental contrasts and trial-averaging. The identification of alpha generators from resting-state data alone has proven much harder and, consequently, relatively little is known about their organization: Apart from the classical visual, somatosensory, and auditory rhythms, it is unclear how many more generators can be observed with MEG and how they are organized into functional networks. Such knowledge, however, possibly enables to delineate separate cognitive, perceptual, and motor processes that co-occur in the resting-state and is therefore important. In this study we use the resting-state MEG data-set provided by the Human Connectome Project to identify cortical alpha generators and to characterize their organization into functional networks. The large number of subjects (N = 94), multiple scans per subject, and state-of-the-art surface-based cortical registration enable a detailed characterization of alpha in human cortex. By applying non-negative matrix factorization to source-projected power fluctuations, we identify 16 reliable cortical generators in each hemisphere. These include the classical sensory alpha rhythms as well as several additional ones in the lateral occipital and temporal lobes and in inferior parietal cortex. We show that the generators are coordinated across hemispheres and hence form resting-state networks (RSNs), two of which are the default mode network (DMN) and the ventral attention network (VAN). Our study hence provides a further subdivision of RSNs within the alpha frequency band and shows that these RSNs are supported by alpha generators. As such, it links the classical literature on human alpha with more recent research into electrophysiological RNSs.
The prevalence of plasmid‐mediated quinolone resistance determinants among clinical isolates of ESBL or AmpC‐producing Escherichia coli from Chinese pediatric patients

Three kinds of PMQR determinants (qnr genes, aac(6’)‐Ib‐cr, and qepA) have been discovered and shown to be widely distributed among clinical isolates. To characterize the prevalence of PMQR determinants in ESBL or AmpC‐producing E. coli clinical isolates in Chinese children, a total of 292 ESBL or AmpC‐producing E. coli clinical isolates collected from five children's hospitals in China from 2005 to 2006 were screened for PMQR determinants by PCR. Twenty (6.8%) of the 292 isolates were positive for PMQR determinants. A total of 12 (4.1%) isolates were positive for qnr genes, comprising three positive for qnrA (1.0%), three for qnrB (1.0%), and six for qnrS (2.1%). Twenty‐four (8.2%) isolates were positive for aac(6’)‐Ib, of which 10 (3.4% of 292) had the –cr variant. There was no qepA gene detected in the isolates. Conjugation revealed that qnr, aac(6’)‐Ib‐cr, and ESBL‐encoding genes were transferred together.