Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Person Re-Identification by Optimally Organizing Multiple Similarity Measures

Person re-identification refers to matching people across disjoint camera views. Most existing person re-identification methods use the same feature descriptors and similarity metrics for all pedestrian pairs. However, these methods ignore that image pairs with different visual consistency conditions are sensitive to different features and metrics. In this paper, we propose to optimally organize multiple similarity measures of global pedestrian and body part pairs with respect to different visual consistency measures (VCM). First, we compute multiple similarity measures for global image and body parts. Then, we group the global image and body part set into three classes based on their VCM value, respectively. Finally, the VCM-specific similarity measures of pedestrian as well as body part pairs are selected and optimally organized to form an ensemble by the reliability estimation and adaptively weighting combination. This method is termed as multiple similarity ensemble based on the visual consistency measure (MSE-VCM). Our contributions are 1) the visual consistency measure method which can select the most appropriate similarity measures for image pairs and 2) optimal organization of these VCM-specific features and metrics on global image and body parts. Extensive experiments on three challenging data sets are conducted. Results demonstrate that our method achieves the comparable performance versus the state-of-the-art methods.
Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity and Expression in Experimental Diabetic Neuropathy

The changes of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and expression in experimental diabetic neuropathy have not been examined. Increases in ganglia NOS might be similar to those that follow axotomy, whereas declines in endothelial NOS (eNOS) and immunological NOS (iNOS) might explain dysfunction of microvessels or macrophages. In this work, we studied NOS activity in lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of rats with both short- and long-term experimental streptozotocin-induced diabetes and correlated it with expression of each of the 3 NOS isoforms. NOS enzymatic activity in DRG increased after 12 months of diabetes. This increase, however, was not accompanied by an increase in neuronal NOS immunohistochemistry or mRNA. Immunohistochemical and RT-PCR studies did not identify changes of eNOS expression in 12-month sciatic nerves or DRG from diabetics. Two-month diabetic DRG had increased eNOS mRNA and there was novel eNOS labeling of capsular DRG and perineurial cells. iNOS mRNA levels were lower in diabetics at both time points in peripheral nerves but were unchanged in DRG. Diabetic ganglia showed an increase in NOS activity not explained by novel NOS isoform synthesis. The increases may compensate for NO “quenching” by endproducts of glycosylation. Declines in iNOS may indicate impaired macrophage function.
Increased female fertility in aquaporin 8‐deficient mice

Aquaporin‐8 (AQP8) is a water channel expressed extensively in male and female reproductive systems. But its physiological functions are largely unknown. In the present study, we first found significantly increased number of offspring delivered by AQP8−/− mothers compared with wild‐type mothers in cross‐mating experiments. Comparison of ovulation in the two genotypes demonstrated that AQP8−/− ovaries released more oocytes (9.5 ± 1.9 vs. 7.1 ± 2.1 in normal ovulation and 37.8 ± 6.7 vs. 27.9 ± 5.7 in superovulation). Histological analysis showed increased number of corpus luteums in mature AQP8−/− ovaries, suggesting increased maturation and ovulation of follicles. By RT‐PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses, we determined the expression of AQP8 in mouse ovarian granulosa cells. Granulosa cells isolated from AQP8−/− mice showed 45% of decreased membrane water permeability than wild‐type mice. As the atresia of ovarian follicles is primarily due to apoptosis of granulosa cells, we analyzed the apoptosis of isolated granulosa cells from wild‐type and AQP8−/− mice. The results indicated significantly lower apoptosis rate in AQP8−/− granulosa cells (21.3 ± 3.6% vs. 32.6 ± 4.3% in AQP8+/+ granulosa cells). Taken together, we conclude that AQP8 deficiency increases the number of mature follicles by reducing the apoptosis of granulosa cells, thus increasing the fertility of female mice. This discovery may offer new insight of improving female fertility by reducing granulosa cell apoptosis through AQP8 inhibition. © IUBMB IUBMB Life, 62(11): 852–857, 2010.
Effects of sheep kraal manure on growth, dry matter yield and leaf nutrient composition of a local amaranthus accession in the central region of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa #

Indigenous vegetables that supply abundant amounts of protein, vitamins, calories and minerals could alleviate problems of malnutrition, in developing countries. Amaranthus is one such vegetable that could be domesticated and cultivated but information on its fertility requirements is scanty. A dry-land field experiment was therefore conducted to study the effects of sheep kraal manure application rates on growth, fresh and dry matter yields, nutrient uptake and grain yield of one of the Amaranthus accessions that grow in the wild in the Eastern Cape. The treatments were sheep kraal manure rates ranging from 0 to 10 t/ha and an NPK {2:3:4(30) + 0.5% Zn} fertiliser as a positive control at 150 kg/ha. Low manure rates (.2.5 t/ha) resulted in plant heights and fresh matter yields which were comparable to those in the unfertilised control, whereas higher rates (5 and 10 t/ha) and NPK fertiliser gave greater plant heights and higher yields at both 30 and 60 days after transplant (DAT) (p increase in manure application rate with N uptake reaching a maximum of 308 mg N /plant at a manure rate of 2.5 t/ha which corresponded with the maximum dry matter yield of 45.97 g/plant. There was no effect of manure rate or fertiliser on residual soil N and Ca, whereas P, K, Mg and Zn were increased (p<0.005). The findings suggested that . 2.5 t/ha sheep kraal manure could result in growth, nutrient uptake and yield comparable to 150 kg/ha NPK fertiliser for the Amaranthus accession used in this work.
Attitudes among medical students regarding HIV/AIDS.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate attitudes and misgivings among the medical faculty's students regarding HIV/AIDS. MATERIAL AND METHODS The 10-item questionnaires was distributed among 237 fifth year medical students regarding willingness to take care for people living with HIV/AIDS, misgivings contracting HIV, comfortable relationship with AIDS patients, attitudes towards HIV infected health care workers and support for routine HIV testing. The students filled the questionnaire before and after completing the 3-weeks long clinical training. RESULTS Neither willingness to take care nor obligation to treat patients with HIV changed significantly during the clinical training. We achieved reduction of fear of contracting HIV and an increase in feeling comfortable with HIV infected patients. There were no changes in support for HIV testing among patients and health care workers. CONCLUSIONS Medical schools should develop and frequently update programmes for continuous training on HIV/AIDS.
Early viral load and recipient interleukin‐28B rs12979860 genotype are predictors of the progression of hepatitis C after liver transplantation

There have been few detailed studies of viral kinetics after liver transplantation (LT), and conflicting data have been reported on viral loads and the severity of recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) disease. This long‐term study aimed to examine (1) the impact of HCV RNA levels at specific points in time within the first year and (2) the influence of interleukin‐28B (IL‐28B) genotypes on patient outcomes and the severity of recurrent HCV disease. The viral loads were measured 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks after LT, and the recipient/donor IL‐28B genotypes of 164 patients were determined. A Cox regression analysis showed that the viral load at week 2 was an independent negative predictor of recipient outcomes. A week 2 viral load ≥ 6.0 log10 IU/mL was significantly associated with reduced patient survival. After a mean follow‐up of 6.5 years, 21 of 164 patients (12.8%) developed a cholestatic type of HCV recurrence and/or rapidly progressed to cirrhosis within 1 year. A multivariate binary regression analysis showed that HCV viremia at week 2 and a non‐C/C recipient IL‐28B genotype were independent risk factors for cholestatic recurrent HCV. No predictive factors could be found for the occurrence of recurrent liver cirrhosis 5 and 10 years after LT. Our study shows that the HCV RNA level at week 2 and the recipient IL‐28B genotype are independent, statistically significant risk factors for post‐LT cholestatic HCV, and it emphasizes the importance of viral load monitoring and IL‐28B genotyping for identifying HCV recipients at risk for severe HCV recurrence. Liver Transpl 18:671–679, 2012. © 2012 AASLD.
Room‐Temperature Formation of Highly Crystalline Multication Perovskites for Efficient, Low‐Cost Solar Cells

A room-temperature perovskite material yielding a power conversion efficiency of 18.1% (stabilized at 17.7%) is demonstrated by judicious selection of cations. Both cesium and methylammonium are necessary for room-temperature formamidinium-based perovskite to obtain the photoactive crystalline perovskite phase and high-quality crystals. This room-temperature-made perovskite material shows great potential for low-cost, large-scale manufacturing such as roll-to-roll processing.
Curcumin alleviates oxidative stress, inflammation, and renal fibrosis in remnant kidney through the Nrf2-keap1 pathway.

SCOPE We hypothesized that curcumin, by increasing the expression of nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), could reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and renal fibrosis in remnant kidney. METHODS AND RESULTS Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy and randomly assigned to untreated (Nx), curcumin-treated (75 mg/kg/day, orally), and telmisartan-treated groups (10 mg/kg/day, orally; as positive control). Sham-operated rats also served as controls. Five/sixth nephrectomy caused renal dysfunction, as evidenced by elevated proteinuria, blood urea nitrogen, and plasma creatinine, and decreased creatinine clearance that were ameliorated by curcumin or telmisartan treatment. The Nx rats demonstrated reduced Nrf2 protein expression, whereas the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 was upregulated and heme oxygenase-1 level was significantly diminished. Consequently, Nx animals had significantly higher kidney malondialdehyde concentration and lower glutathione peroxidase activity, which was associated with the upregulation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphatase oxidase subunit (p67(phox) and p22(phox) ), NF-kappaB p65, TNF-α, TGF-β1, cyclooxygenase-2, and fibronectin accumulation in remnant kidney. Interestingly, all of these changes were ameliorated by curcumin or telmisartan. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that, by modulating Nrf2-Keap1 pathway, the curcumin effectively attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation, and renal fibrosis, which suggest that curcumin hold promising potential for safe treatment of chronic kidney disease.
EFSA SCIENTIFIC COLLOQUIUM NO. 11 ACRYLAMIDE CARCINOGENICITY NEW EVIDENCE IN RELATION TO DIETARY EXPOSURE

In 2005, the Joint FAO/WHO expert committee on food additives (JECFA) carried out a risk assessment of acrylamide in food following a FAO/WHO expert consultation on this topic in 2002. The EFSA ́s Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) concurred with the principle conclusions and recommendations made by the JECFA and did not see the need for an additional evaluation by EFSA at that time. Additional information has become available since 2005, including epidemiological studies of cancer risk associated with dietary exposure to acrylamide.
Special Attention to the Weight-Control Strategies Employed by Olympic Athletes Striving for Leanness Is Required

Background:Optimization of body weight and composition is a key priority for elite athletes striving for a competitive advantage. The present investigation was designed to characterize various parameters related to weight control in Olympic competitors. Design:Cross-sectional study. Setting:Research unit at a University Hospital. Participants:223 athletes (125 men and 98 women, with only 1 drop-out), all members of the Swedish teams participating in the Olympic Games of 2002 and 2004. Main Outcome Measurements:Self-reported body weight and height, from which BMI was calculated, variation in weight during the year prior to Olympic competition, and self-reported weight control strategies by questionnaire. The athletes were divided into two groups on the basis of whether their sporting discipline emphasized leanness or not. Results:The athletes participating in disciplines that emphasize leanness demonstrated a lower mean BMI (22.7 ± 2.7 vs 3.7 ± 2.3 for nonlean athletes, P < 0.05), greater variation in weight (5.3% vs 4.7%, P < 0.05), more frequent attempts to lose weight (P < 0.001), longer total training time (P < 0.001), a higher training load yet weighed more than they desired at the time of competition. These differences were most evident in male athletes. Furthermore, 9.4% of lean athletes reported previously suffering from an eating disorder, in comparison to 2.7% of the nonlean athletes (P < 0.05). More athletes in disciplines emphasizing leanness also reported being ill during the prior 3 month period (38.5% vs 21.6%, P < 0.05). Conclusions:This investigation reveals that the weight control practices employed by Olympic athletes participating disciplines that emphasize leanness appear to be suboptimal. Counseling concerning weight control could be used as a tool to prevent illness and enhance performance.
Innovation in Designing Health Information Websites: Results from a Quantitative Study

A wealth of health information exists on the Internet, but successfully finding that information is not easy. One of the issues causing this is the lack of tools for exploring information and assisting in navigation within health websites. As a result, relevant information cannot be easily discovered. We hope to rectify this issue from the design perspective. Based on previous work, we have created a prototype website called Better Health Explorer to better support such information seeking behaviours. This paper reports on a quantitative study evaluating this prototype. The results demonstrate several improvements in health information seeking supported by the tool. Furthermore, we have identified three general design characteristics that should to be considered when designing consumer health websites. These findings have design implications for health information seeking applications, as well as identifying directions for further research.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Mutations in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease (L90M, G48V, and L90M/G48V) arise when HIV is passaged in the presence of the HIV protease inhibitor saquinavir. These mutations yield a virus with less sensitivity to the drug (L90M > G48V ≫ L90M/G48V). L90M, G48V, and L90M/G48V proteases have 1/20, 1/160, and 1/1000 the affinity for saquinavir compared to WT protease, respectively. Therefore, the affinity of mutant protease for saquinavir decreased as the sensitivity of the virus to saquinavir decreased. Association rate constants for WT and mutant proteases with saquinavir were similar, ranging from 2 to 4 × 107 M−1 s−1. In contrast, the dissociation rate constants for WT, L90M, G48V, and L90M/G48V proteases complexed with saquinavir were 0.0014, 0.019, 0.128, and 0.54 s−1, respectively. This indicated that the reduced affinity for mutant proteases and saquinavir is primarily the result of larger dissociation rate constants. The increased dissociation rate constants may be the result of a decrease in the internal equilibrium between the bound inhibitor with the protease flaps up and the bound inhibitor with the flaps down. Interestingly, the affinity of these mutant proteases for VX-478, ABT-538, AG-1343, or L-735,524 was not reduced as much as that for saquinavir. Finally, the catalytic constants of WT and mutant proteases were determined for eight small peptide substrates that mimic the viral cleavage sites in vivo. WT and L90M proteases had similar catalytic constants for these substrates. In contrast, G48V and L90M/G48V proteases had catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) values with TLNF-PISP, RKIL-FLDG, and AETF-YVDG that were 1/10 to 1/20 the value of WT protease. The decreased catalytic efficiencies were primarily the result of increased Km values. Thus, mutations in the protease decrease the affinity of the enzyme for saquinavir and the catalytic efficiency with peptide substrates.
Automated voicing analysis in Praat: Statistically equivalent to manual segmentation

The “fraction of locally unvoiced frames” measure in Praat’s Voice Report (VR) is an automated method of obtaining the percentage of a segment which is voiced, but its accuracy has been called into question due to values that change based on scrolling and zooming in Praat’s viewing window and don’t always match manual voicing segmentation. This study offers statistical support for the accuracy of VR when certain guidelines are followed: (1) use the object window; (2) decrease the time step to increase temporal resolution; and (3) use gender-specific pitch ranges. The closure and frication portions of 277 affricates were analyzed using VR in this way and the results were compared to manual voicing segmentation using paired Wilcoxon tests. The results show that there is no significant difference between VR and manual segmentation, regardless of whether only the closure portion, only the frication portion, or the entire affricate is considered.
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in simian immunodeficiency virus infection: Immunohistological and scanning and transmission electron microscopical studies

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia occurred in 6 of 17 rhesus monkeys infected with simian immunodeficiency virus and was studied by immunohistochemistry and by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. A monoclonal antibody/streptavidin‐biotin‐peroxidase staining method was highly sensitive for detecting the organisms in small, early lesions and was much more sensitive and specific than traditional silver impregnation methods. Reprocessing of paraffin wax‐embedded lung tissue for scanning electron microscopy and use of a video printer to produce a photographic montage of light microscopic lesions allowed the same areas of tissue to be examined and compared by both methods. The ultrastructural morphology of P. carinii in the rhesus monkey was identical to that in man, as were the histological and electron microscopic lesions, including pulmonary fibrosis. Trophozoites were seen attached to alveolar type I epithelium mainiy by intimate apposition to the plasma membrane, but scanning electron microscopy also showed attachement by elongated filopodia. Few macrophages were present in infected alveoli, and though phagocytosis followed by digestion of P. carinii trophozoites was observed, it appeared to occur at a very low level.
Family planning programmes in university medical schools Problems as perceived by the medical officers in charge

Medical schools in the United States, once institutions exclusively for teaching and research, are today increasingly becoming involved in service programmes to the advantage of both the community at large and their own medical training programmes (James, 1969). In May 1969, the United States Government’s Office of Economic Opportunity approved a grant of almost $2,000,000 to develop the resources of 14 medical schools in the eastern half of the United States SO that they could provide comprehensive community-centred family planning services to the indigent population in the areas surrounding the schools. The Population Council, a private, American-based organization engaged for some years in activities associated with research and technical assistance to family planning programmes in the United States and abroad, was selected as prime grantee to co-ordinate, provide funds to, monitor, and evaluate the family planning activities at the 14 medical schools. Under the programme known as the OEO/ Population Council Family Planning via Medical Schools Program, a system was set up to compile information related to the progress of the new family planning programme as well as the degree of community involvement, and the use of medical schools in the delivery of family planning services. The following is a summary of the programme’s achievements the first ever published in a journal and a subjective analysis of bar-
Pleural opening impairs respiratory system compliance and resistance in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

AIM This study evaluated the effect of pleurotomy on respiratory system compliance and resistance in off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) using the left internal thoracic artery (LITA). METHODS Thirty-two patients were prospectively allocated into two groups: OP group (n = 16 patients with open left pleural cavity); IP group (N.=16 patients with intact pleural cavity). Static and dynamic lung compliance and total respiratory system resistance calculation were recorded at anesthesia induction (before chest opening) and immediately after chest closure. RESULTS Static lung compliance values significantly decreased after chest closure in both groups (P < 0.0001), but the OP group had a significantly greater decline (P = 0.0007). Dynamic lung compliance decreased in either groups after chest closure (P < 0.0001), however, no significant difference was found between groups (P = 0.228). Total respiratory system resistance increased in both groups (P < 0.05), however the OP group had a higher increase (P = 0.0005). Orotracheal intubation time (P = 0.041) and hospital stay (P = 0.0004) were higher in the OP group. CONCLUSION Pleura opening and need of chest tube insertion induced significant reduction in static lung compliance and increase in total respiratory system resistance, furthermore contributing to impair pulmonary dysfunction in the early postoperative period after OPCAB.
The effects of an active live yeast product on the growth performance of finishing lambs.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a rumen-specific, active live yeast ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; SC CNCM I-1077), alone or in combination with an ionophore (lasalocid-Na) in standard feedlot diets, on production performance and carcass quality of lambs. Sixty South African (S.A.) Mutton Merino lambs, weighing 25.7 ± 2.2 kg, were randomly allocated to four treatments (15 lambs per treatment) and further subdivided into five replicates per treatment (three lambs per replicate). The four dietary treatments consisted of an iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic basal diet (177 g crude protein (CP)/kg dry matter (DM) and 276 g neutral detergent fibre (NDF)/kg DM) differing only in the additive included, i.e. (i) the control (C) diet (no additive), (ii) live yeast (SC) (220 g/ton), (iii) ionophore (G) (120 g/ton) and (iv) both live yeast with ionophore (SCG) at the same mentioned levels. After adaptation (8 days), the experimental diets were fed for 47 days in a finishing period. Feed intake and body weights were recorded weekly. At completion all animals were slaughtered (44.5 ± 3.8 kg) and the cold (2 °C) carcass weight and carcass characteristics recorded. Dietary treatment had no effect on feed intake, daily live weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass weight and carcass characteristics. Carcasses were leaner on the ionophore treatment (G) in comparison to the control diet (C). The results suggested that this rumen-specific live yeast included alone or in combination with an ionophore in finishing diets, containing less than 28% NDF/kg DM, did not affect performance and carcass traits of S.A. Mutton Merino lambs. Keywords: Feedlot lambs, ionophore, live yeast