Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Highly selective dengue virus detection using carbon nanotubes: Effect of pulse biasing in serum

Electrical pulse biasing was used for selective and sensitive detection in serum of a target DNA sequence (dengue fever virus-specific sequence in this study) based on a carbon nanotube network decorated with gold nano particles. A significant increase in the affinity constant (as much as 1.01×109 M-1 from the Langmuir fitting) has been obtained in addition to the enhancement in selectivity against the nonselective molecules. The physical reason of the enhancement is believed to be the physical oscillation of the probe DNA molecules caused by the applied electrical pulse trains, thereby increase in the binding chance between the probe and target DNA's. With the technique, a wide dynamic range (10 pM-10 μM) detection of the target DNA molecules has been achieved in the serum condition.
Role of p47phox in Vascular Oxidative Stress and Hypertension Caused by Angiotensin II

Abstract—Hypertension caused by angiotensin II is dependent on vascular superoxide (O2·−) production. The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAD[P]H) oxidase is a major source of vascular O2·− and is activated by angiotensin II in vitro. However, its role in angiotensin II-induced hypertension in vivo is less clear. In the present studies, we used mice deficient in p47phox, a cytosolic subunit of the NADPH oxidase, to study the role of this enzyme system in vivo. In vivo, angiotensin II infusion (0.7 mg/kg per day for 7 days) increased systolic blood pressure from 105±2 to 151±6 mm Hg and increased vascular O2·− formation 2- to 3-fold in wild-type (WT) mice. In contrast, in p47phox-/- mice the hypertensive response to angiotensin II infusion (122±4 mm Hg;P <0.05) was markedly blunted, and there was no increase of vascular O2·− production. In situ staining for O2·− using dihydroethidium revealed a marked increase of O2·−production in both endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells of angiotensin II-treated WT mice, but not in those of p47phox-/- mice. To directly examine the role of the NAD(P)H oxidase in endothelial production of O2·−, endothelial cells from WT and p47phox-/- mice were cultured. Western blotting confirmed the absence of p47phox in p47phox-/- mice. Angiotensin II increased O2·− production in endothelial cells from WT mice, but not in those from p47phox-/- mice, as determined by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. These results suggest a pivotal role of the NAD(P)H oxidase and its subunit p47phox in the vascular oxidant stress and the blood pressure response to angiotensin II in vivo.
Extending model transformations in the performance domain with a node modeling library

We introduce a new methodology that employs an architecture framework that can be used to automatically generate simulation models based on the UML model diagrams created by requirements engineers and software system architects. The framework takes advantage of a library of node models already specified by expert performance engineers. We envision that requirements engineers and architects will be able to generate optimized performance models using this approach by annotating UML deployment diagrams and sequence diagram models with performance requirements. In addition, they would be able to generate optimized simulation models by putting together existing simulation nodes. We report on our experience using our methodology to do a performance analysis of a large e-commerce application employing two different load balancing algorithms for the e-commerce application server. We have found that generating the simulation model using our approach was very efficient because requirements engineers and architects did not have to worry about the details of the simulation nodes implementation, which were developed by performance engineers. Therefore, they could focus their work on the UML diagram models that were related to their own domain of expertise.
Making sense of competitiveness indicators in south-eastern Europe

This paper sifts through a variety of competitiveness and business environment indicators to assess the state of reforms in south-eastern Europe (SEE). While common themes emerge, such as corruption, weak tax administration and the lack of availability of skills, there is a clear gap between those countries in the region that have joined, or are about to join, the European Union, and the remaining countries. The World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index signals some similarities across the region, but other sources of information, such as the World Bank’s Doing Business reports and the EBRD/World Bank Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey, show up marked cross-country differences. We conclude with a number of targeted recommendations for policy reforms in areas such as cross-border trade and investment, tax administration and the development of new skills and innovation.
Long Noncoding RNA HOTAIR as an Independent Prognostic Marker in Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Background HOTAIR, a newly discovered long intergenic noncoding RNA (lincRNA), has been reported to be aberrantly expressed in many types of cancers. This meta-analysis summarizes its potential role as a biomarker in malignancy. Methods A quantitative meta-analysis was performed through a systematic search in Pubmed, Medline and Web of Science for eligible papers on the prognostic impact of HOTAIR in cancer from inception to Feb. 28, 2014. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated to summarize the effect. Results Nineteen studies were included in the study, with a total of 2033 patients. A significant association was observed between high HOTAIR expression and poor overall survival (OS) in patients with cancer (pooled HR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.68–2.93). Place of residence (Asian or Western countries), type of cancer (digestive or non-digestive disease), sample size (more or less than 100), and paper quality (score more or less than 85%) did not alter the significant predictive value of HOTAIR in OS from various kinds of cancer but preoperative status did. By combining HRs from Cox multivariate analyses, we found that HOTAIR expression was an independent prognostic factor for cancer patients (pooled HR 2.26, 95% CI: 1.62–3.15). Subgroup analysis showed that HOTAIR abundance was an independent prognostic factor for cancer metastasis (HR 3.90, 95% CI: 2.25–6.74). For esophageal carcinoma, high HOTAIR expression was significantly associated with TNM stage (III/IV vs. I/II: OR 6.90, 95% CI: 2.81–16.9) without heterogeneity. In gastric cancer, HOTAIR expression was found to be significantly associated with lymph node metastases (present vs. absent: OR 4.47, 95% CI: 1.88–10.63) and vessel invasion (positive vs. negative: OR 2.88, 95% CI: 1.38–6.04) without obvious heterogeneity. Conclusions HOTAIR abundance may serve as a novel predictive factor for poor prognosis in different types of cancers in both Asian and Western countries.
The Association between Anhedonia, Suicidal Ideation, and Suicide Attempts in a Large Student Sample

Depression is a significant risk factor for suicide. Evidence suggests that anhedonia may be a symptom of depression that is uniquely associated with suicidality. However, exactly how anhedonia is related to suicide is unclear. To provide more specific evidence regarding this association, we investigated relationships between anhedonia, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. A large combined undergraduate sample completed the novel Specific Loss of Interest and Pleasure Scale (SLIPS), the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire—Revised (SBQ-R). Anhedonia was associated with suicidal ideation, even when accounting for depressive symptoms. Additionally, anhedonia was not associated with suicide attempts when symptoms of depression were held constant. The current study provides novel evidence regarding the relationship between anhedonia and risk of attempting suicide. Future research can examine the role anhedonia plays in the unfolding of suicidal behavior over time.
Design of a low-temperature-drift low-offset amplifier

Study about how to decrease the influence of an amplifier caused by the change of temperature, and how to reduce the offset voltage by the design of territory, then a three stage amplifier which is designed under high voltage craft is presented. The structure of the amplifier and capacitances feedback are the emphasis. PMOS is used for input differential pair to reduce input noise in the first stage and second stage of the main circuit amplification. The differential structure and folded cascode structure, which can not only decrease the offset voltage and temperature drift coefficients but also obtain the larger gain, are used in these stages. The basic common source structure is used to increase the output amplitude of the whole amp circuit in the third stage, the structure has ultra-low temperature drift coefficient and a higher accuracy of the output.
Utility-based Intelligent Network Selection in Beyond 3G Systems

Development in wireless access technologies and multihomed personal user devices is driving the way towards a heterogeneous wireless access network environment. Success in this arena will be reliant on the ability to offer an enhanced user experience. Users will plan to take advantage of the competition and always connect to the network which can best service their preferences for the current application. They will rely on intelligent network selection decision strategies to aid them in their choice. The contribution of this paper is to propose an intelligent utility-based strategy for network selection in this multi-access network scenario. A number of utility functions are examined which explore different user attitudes to risk for money and delay preferences related to their current application. For example we show that risk takers who are willing to pay more money get a better service.
Adaptive image retrieval using a Graph model for semantic feature integration

The variety of features available to represent multimedia data constitutes a rich pool of information. However, the plethora of data poses a challenge in terms of feature selection and integration for effective retrieval. Moreover, to further improve effectiveness, the retrieval model should ideally incorporate context-dependent feature representations to allow for retrieval on a higher semantic level. In this paper we present a retrieval model and learning framework for the purpose of interactive information retrieval. We describe how semantic relations between multimedia objects based on user interaction can be learnt and then integrated with visual and textual features into a unified framework. The framework models both feature similarities and semantic relations in a single graph. Querying in this model is implemented using the theory of random walks. In addition, we present ideas to implement short-term learning from relevance feedback. Systematic experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach for image retrieval. However, the model is not restricted to the image domain and could easily be employed for retrieving multimedia data (and even a combination of different domains, eg images, audio and text documents).
The Relationship between Subjective Memory and Objective Cognition, Depression, and Anxiety by Dementia Status

This secondary data analysis of the Health and Retirement Study – Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS) examines the relationship between subjective cognition and objective performance, depression, and anxiety in cognitive impairment with no dementia (CIND) and dementia. With a cross-sectional design, this study consists of 480 older adults between ages 72105. Participants completed the Mini-Mental State Examination. The Wechsler Memory ScaleRevised Logical Memory I/II measured memory. Anxiety and depression were measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Subjective memory was measured by the HRS Self-report Memory and Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly. Independent t-tests and Pearson correlation analysis were employed to determine differences between the dementia and non-dementia groups. Results demonstrated that the CIND group had significantly better general cognition; more severe cognitive/memory problems in the dementia group showed weaker relationships between general cognition and memory performance; anxiety/depression were weakly related in CIND and moderately related in dementia. INDEX WORDS: Subjective memory, Objective memory, Memory, CIND, Dementia, Anxiety, Depression, Cognition THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUBJECTIVE MEMORY AND OBJECTIVE COGNITION, DEPRESSION, AND ANXIETY BY DEMENTIA STATUS
DNA Variability and Divergence at the Notch Locus in Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans: A Case of Accelerated Synonymous Site Divergence

DNA diversity in two segments of the Notch locus was surveyed in four populations of Drosophila melanogaster and two of D. simulans. In both species we observed evidence of non-steady-state evolution. In D. simulans we observed a significant excess of intermediate frequency variants in a non-African population. In D. melanogaster we observed a disparity between levels of sequence polymorphism and divergence between one of the Notch regions sequenced and other neutral X chromosome loci. The striking feature of the data is the high level of synonymous site divergence at Notch, which is the highest reported to date. To more thoroughly investigate the pattern of synonymous site evolution between these species, we developed a method for calibrating preferred, unpreferred, and equal synonymous substitutions by the effective (potential) number of such changes. In D. simulans, we find that preferred changes per “site” are evolving significantly faster than unpreferred changes at Notch. In contrast we observe a significantly faster per site substitution rate of unpreferred changes in D. melanogaster at this locus. These results suggest that positive selection, and not simply relaxation of constraint on codon bias, has contributed to the higher levels of unpreferred divergence along the D. melanogaster lineage at Notch.
Using the Internet to enhance the treatment of depression.

OBJECTIVE Deficiencies in Australia's mental health systems persist despite over a decade of mental health reform. Recent developments in e-health provide the opportunity to facilitate health reform and improve services. This paper presents preliminary findings from the implementation of a comprehensive e-health system, called RecoveryRoad, which was designed to augment the routine clinical treatment of depression. METHODS Depressed patients (n = 144) were referred to RecoveryRoad from a public hospital and public and private clinics in Perth, Western Australia. Online features included secure e-consultations, progress monitoring questionnaires, psychoeducation and evidence-based therapy. Treating clinicians had online access to patients' progress monitoring outcomes and e-consultations. There were two types of adherence reminders: automated email reminders and personalized case management delivered by email and telephone. RESULTS Adherence to the system was high (from 53% to 84%, depending on the modality of reminder), and self-reported medication adherence was over 90%. Average depression severity declined from severe to mild by the eighth session, a large effect (d = 1.0). Both clinicians and patients were generally satisfied with the programme and reported that it improved clinician-patient relationships. Clinicians also reported that it helped patients to better manage depression. CONCLUSIONS Preliminary findings support the feasibility of comprehensive e-health systems in enhancing the delivery of mental health care.
Systematic Planning of Genome-Scale Experiments in Poorly Studied Species

Genome-scale datasets have been used extensively in model organisms to screen for specific candidates or to predict functions for uncharacterized genes. However, despite the availability of extensive knowledge in model organisms, the planning of genome-scale experiments in poorly studied species is still based on the intuition of experts or heuristic trials. We propose that computational and systematic approaches can be applied to drive the experiment planning process in poorly studied species based on available data and knowledge in closely related model organisms. In this paper, we suggest a computational strategy for recommending genome-scale experiments based on their capability to interrogate diverse biological processes to enable protein function assignment. To this end, we use the data-rich functional genomics compendium of the model organism to quantify the accuracy of each dataset in predicting each specific biological process and the overlap in such coverage between different datasets. Our approach uses an optimized combination of these quantifications to recommend an ordered list of experiments for accurately annotating most proteins in the poorly studied related organisms to most biological processes, as well as a set of experiments that target each specific biological process. The effectiveness of this experiment- planning system is demonstrated for two related yeast species: the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the comparatively poorly studied Saccharomyces bayanus. Our system recommended a set of S. bayanus experiments based on an S. cerevisiae microarray data compendium. In silico evaluations estimate that less than 10% of the experiments could achieve similar functional coverage to the whole microarray compendium. This estimation was confirmed by performing the recommended experiments in S. bayanus, therefore significantly reducing the labor devoted to characterize the poorly studied genome. This experiment-planning framework could readily be adapted to the design of other types of large-scale experiments as well as other groups of organisms.
GROWTH PARAMETERS OF FLORADWARF AND TIFDWARF BERMUDAGRASSES EXPOSED TO VARIOUS LIGHT REGIMES

Golf course superintendents are faced with a major challenge when light energy is reduced from tree shade, threatening the underlying vigor of the putting green. Relief from this stress often involves reducing the shade by thinning or removing trees. However, to maintain the natural setting of the course, these remedies are often met with resistance. A growth chamber study examined growth parameters of FloraDwarf and Tifdwarf bermudagrasses [Cynodon dactylon (L.)Pers. X C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy] and their response to six light regimes. Light treatments were (a) 12 h at 1540 µmols m -2 s -1 + 0 h 63% shade, (b) 8 h 1540 µmols m -2 s -1 + 4 h 63% shade, (c) 6 h 1540 µmols m -2 s -1 + 6 h 63% shade, (d) 4 h 1540 µmols m -2 s -1 + 8 h 63% shade, (e) 0 h light + 12 h 30% shade and (f) 0 h light + 12 h 63% shade. The shade component was based on a reduction from 1540 µmols m -2 s -1 . Results suggest FloraDwarf to have a slight advantage to Tifdwarf in light stressed conditions. At high levels of light stress, FloraDwarf had an 8 to 66% greater net photosynthetic rate suggesting a greater ability to assimilate carbon reserves at lower light levels. While this photosynthetic rate did not result in increased harvestable biomass at these light levels, FloraDwarf exhibits more prostrate growth than Tifdwarf. FloraDwarf had a 12 percent greater cover percentage at the 4 h 1540 µmols m -2 s -1 + 8 h 63% shade treatment compared to Tifdwarf. Furthermore, FloraDwarf displayed lower light compensation points at the high light treatment, also suggesting the ability to survive at lower light levels.
The impact of increased lupus activity on obstetric outcomes.

OBJECTIVE Systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with multiple adverse pregnancy outcomes. We examined the impact of disease activity on spontaneous abortions, perinatal mortality, preterm delivery, and birth weight. METHODS The study was designed to assess all pregnancies in a cohort of lupus patients who were observed prospectively from 1987 to 2002. At each visit, the physician's estimate of lupus activity was determined on a visual analog scale (high-activity lupus defined as a score of >or=2). Disease activity in each trimester was compared. We assessed the impact of high-activity lupus during pregnancy on gestational age, live birth rate, and small for gestational age babies. Potential confounders, including demographics of the women as well as maternal history of lupus, renal lupus, and antiphosphoplipid antibody syndrome, were analyzed through multivariate analysis. RESULTS Two hundred sixty-seven pregnancies were observed. Of these, 229 (85.8%) resulted in a live birth. High-activity lupus occurred in 57 pregnancies (21%). Fewer pregnancies among women with high-activity lupus ended with live births (77% versus 88% of those with low-activity lupus; P = 0.063). Full-term delivery was achieved in 15 pregnancies (26%) among women with high-activity lupus, compared with 127 pregnancies (61%) achieving full-term in those with no or mild lupus activity (P < 0.001). High-activity lupus in the first and second trimesters led to a 3-fold increase in pregnancy loss (miscarriages and perinatal mortality). CONCLUSION High-activity lupus during pregnancy leads to increased premature birth and a decrease in live births, with almost one-quarter of these pregnancies resulting in fetal loss. Pregnancies in lupus patients must be closely watched and treated during all trimesters to improve pregnancy outcomes.
ROLE OF RETINOID-X RECEPTOR-&agr; IN THE SUPPRESSION OF RAT BILE ACID COENZYME A-AMINO ACID N-ACYLTRANSFERASE IN LIVER DURING SEPSIS

Sepsis causes intrahepatic cholestasis and leads to hepatic failure. However, the pathophysiology of hepatic events is unclear. Expression of rat hepatic bile acid coenzyme A-amino acid N-acyltransferase (rBAT), a major enzyme for the conjugation of bile acids, is significantly decreased during sepsis. rBAT transcriptional regulation is mainly by a heterodimer of farnesoid-X receptor (FXR) and retinoid-X receptor-&agr; (RXR-&agr;) via the inverted repeat 1 sequence. During sepsis, nuclear receptors and translocation of RXR-&agr; from cytosol to nucleus decrease. The purpose of this study was to further clarify the mechanisms of RXR-&agr;-mediated rBAT regulation during polymicrobial sepsis and with dexamethasone treatment. Polymicrobial sepsis was induced in rats by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Liver tissues obtained 3, 6, 9, and 18 h after CLP were studied, and hepatocytes were isolated from rats with sepsis. Post-CLP decreases were observed in mRNA levels of rBAT (6 h), protein levels of rBAT (6 h), RXR-&agr; (6 h), and FXR (9 h). DNA binding activity of FXR/RXR significantly decreased at 6 h after CLP. Dexamethasone reversed sepsis-inhibited RXR-&agr; expression and the binding activity of FXR/RXR to rBAT DNA as well as rBAT protein expression. The results suggest that suppression of rBAT occurs at the transcriptional level, and the decrease in RXR-&agr; by septic insult may play a critical role in rBAT suppression at the early stage of polymicrobial sepsis.
Real Time Early-stage Influenza Detection with Emotion Factors from Sina Microblog

Influenza is an acute respiratory illness that occurs every year. Detection of Influenza in its earliest stage would reduce the spread of the illness. Sina microblog is a popular microblogging service, provides perfect sources for flu detection due to its real-time nature and large number of users. In this paper we investigate the real-time flu detection problem and describe a Flu model with emotion factors and sematic information (em-flu model). Experimental results show the robustness and effectiveness of our method and we are hopeful that it would help health organizations in identifying flu outbreak and take timely actions to control.