Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Advancement of Bacterial Cellulose As A Bone and Vascular Scaffolds

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a natural hydrogel made of nanofibers. This material has been used in commercial products, including wound dressings. BC can be modified and optimized for improved performance in multiple applications. This work will focus on producing and characterizing resorbable cellulose, a composite for bone applications, and a composite for a synthetic venous valve leaflet. BC can be produced and modified to perform as a degradable tissue scaffold. This is achieved by an oxidation procedure after the initial production and purification of native BC. A material characterization of oxidized BC was performed to identify the changes in properties associated with varying the degree of oxidation. BC incubated in 20 millimolar periodate solution performed the best during an evaluation with preosteoblast cells. Another application is as a bone scaffold using hydroxyapatite precipitated on the surface of cellulose fibers. This composite has fibers similar to collagen and a biomimetic ceramic similar to that found in native bone. Evaluation of native BC, oxidized BC, and BC with hydroxyapatite were shown to be effective materials to support cell growth in an animal model. A separate evaluation utilized BC/hydroxyapatite composites as a source of biomimetic hydroxyapatite for use as a filler or powder in other systems. The extraction of hydroxyapatite from BC can be achieved by either enzymatically or thermally degrading bacterial cellulose. Each method leaves some residual product from the processing procedure, which varies depending on the method of analysis used to quantify the residual product. Lastly, an alternative application is its use as a fiber-reinforcing component in polyurethane. This cellulose/polyurethane composite is of interest for applications that require high-strength and blood compatibility, such as arterial and venous substitutes. A composite was produced with micron scale thickness, similar to a venous valve leaflet. The polyurethane/cellulose composite exhibited improved strength, modulus, and ductility over native BC. In vitro evaluation showed the scaffolds were non-toxic to endothelial cells and support cell growth.
Model Minimization, Regression, and Propositional STRIPS Planning

Propositional STRIPS planning problems can be viewed as finite state automata (FSAs) represented in a factored form. Automaton minimization is a well-known technique for reducing the size of an explicit FSA. Recent work in computer-aided verification on model checking has extended this technique to provide automaton minimization algorithms for factored FSAs. In this paper, we consider the relationship between STRIPS problem-solving techniques such as regression and the recently developed automaton minimization techniques for factored FSAs. We show that regression computes a partial and approximate minimized form of the FSA corresponding to the STRIPS problem. We then define a systematic form of regression which computes a partial but exact minimized form of the associated FSA. We also relate minimization to methods for performing reachability analysis to detect irrelevant fluents. Finally, we show that exact computation of the minimized automaton is NP-complete under the assumption that this automaton is polynomial in size.
A General Framework for One Database Private Information Retrieval

In this paper we present and analyze a general scheme for one database computationally Private Information Retrieval. This scheme was first presented by Ostrovsky and Skeith in [13]. This general framework shows such a PIR scheme based on any secure homomorphic public key encryption scheme. We complete the analysis of this framework, present a proof of security, and do a careful analysis of the communication and computation complexity.
Rescheduling Behavioral Subunits of a Fixed Action Pattern by Genetic Manipulation of Peptidergic Signaling

The ecdysis behavioral sequence in insects is a classic fixed action pattern (FAP) initiated by hormonal signaling. Ecdysis triggering hormones (ETHs) release the FAP through direct actions on the CNS. Here we present evidence implicating two groups of central ETH receptor (ETHR) neurons in scheduling the first two steps of the FAP: kinin (aka drosokinin, leucokinin) neurons regulate pre-ecdysis behavior and CAMB neurons (CCAP, AstCC, MIP, and Bursicon) initiate the switch to ecdysis behavior. Ablation of kinin neurons or altering levels of ETH receptor (ETHR) expression in these neurons modifies timing and intensity of pre-ecdysis behavior. Cell ablation or ETHR knockdown in CAMB neurons delays the switch to ecdysis, whereas overexpression of ETHR or expression of pertussis toxin in these neurons accelerates timing of the switch. Calcium dynamics in kinin neurons are temporally aligned with pre-ecdysis behavior, whereas activity of CAMB neurons coincides with the switch from pre-ecdysis to ecdysis behavior. Activation of CCAP or CAMB neurons through temperature-sensitive TRPM8 gating is sufficient to trigger ecdysis behavior. Our findings demonstrate that kinin and CAMB neurons are direct targets of ETH and play critical roles in scheduling successive behavioral steps in the ecdysis FAP. Moreover, temporal organization of the FAP is likely a function of ETH receptor density in target neurons.
Local Gabor Binary Patterns Based on Mutual Information for Face Recognition

Appropriate representation is one of the keys to the success of face recognition technologies. In this paper, we present a novel face representation approach using a reduced set of local histograms based on Local Gabor Binary Patterns (LGBP). In the proposed method, a face image is first represented by the LGBP histograms which are extracted from the LGBP images. Then, the local LGBP histograms with high separability and low relevance are selected to obtain a dimension-reduced face descriptor. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method not only greatly reduces the dimensionality of face representation, but also outperforms the state-of-the-art approaches for face recognition, such as Fisherfaces, and Gabor Fisher Classification (GFC).
BICD2, dynactin, and LIS1 cooperate in regulating dynein recruitment to cellular structures

This study dissects the recruitment of dynein and dynactin to cargo by a conserved motor adaptor BICD2. It is shown that dynein, dynactin, and BICD2 form a triple complex in vitro and in vivo. Investigation of the properties of this complex by direct visualization of dynein in live cells shows that BICD2-induced dynein transport requires LIS1.
Improved Rotor Position Estimation in Sensorless-Controlled Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Machines Having Asymmetric-EMF With Harmonic Compensation

This paper investigates the performance of sensorless control of switched-flux permanent-magnet synchronous machines (SFPM) with different stator winding topologies, such as all poles wound (double-layer winding) and alternate poles wound (single-layer winding), whose back electromotive force (EMF) exhibit different waveform characteristics, i.e., sinusoidal, asymmetric, and non-sinusoidal waves. Most importantly, it is found that the single-layer SFPM machine is with asymmetric back-EMFs, due to which the performance of sensorless control will deteriorate. In order to minimize this influence, a control strategy is developed for the improvement of accuracy of rotor position estimation, which is based on the elimination of back-EMF harmonics and not sensitive to the machine parameters. In addition, it also shows that the developed strategy is easy for implementation and the experimental results confirm that the influence of asymmetric and non-sinusoidal back-EMF can be effectively compensated. Consequently, an improvement in the accuracy of rotor position estimation is achieved at both steady and dynamic states as compared with those conventional methods without compensation.
Focused Topological Value Iteration

Topological value iteration (TVI) is an effective algorithm for solving Markov decision processes (MDPs) optimally, which 1) divides an MDP into strongly-connected components, and 2) solves these components sequentially. Yet, TVI’s usefulness tends to degrade if an MDP has large components, because the cost of the division process isn’t offset by gains during solution. This paper presents a new algorithm to solve MDPs optimally, focused topological value iteration (FTVI). FTVI addresses TVI’s limitations by restricting its attention to connected components that are relevant for solving the MDP. Specifically, FTVI uses a small amount of heuristic search to eliminate provably sub-optimal actions; this pruning allows FTVI to find smaller connected components, thus running faster. We demonstrate that our new algorithm outperforms TVI by an order of magnitude, averaged across several domains. Surprisingly, FTVI also significantly outperforms popular ‘heuristically-informed’ MDP algorithms such as LAO*, LRTDP, and BRTDP in many domains, sometimes by as much as two orders of magnitude. Finally, we characterize the type of domains where FTVI excels — suggesting a way to an informed choice of solver.
[Relation between hypertension and clinical cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia].

OBJECTIVES To confirm the relationship between hypertension and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in our environment, and to evaluate the association between hypertension and LUTS secondary to benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). METHODS We prospectively studied during 3 months all male patients older than 50 years (163 patients) analysing previous medical history, IPSS, digital rectal examination, urine sediment, basic biochemical profile, PSA, uroflowmetry, and urinary tract ultrasound. Patients with neurological diseases, previous pelvic trauma, diabetes mellitus, suspicious digital rectal examination, abnormal PSA, or under treatment with alpha blockers, antidepressants, finasteride or antipsychotic drugs were excluded. RESULTS From a total of 163 patients 113 were classified as suffering clinical BPH (LUTS, prostate greater than 30 gm, and uroflowmetry < 15 ml/sec), and 75 as hypertensive. Among 75 hypertensive patients 31 presented IPSS greater than 7 (41.3%) in comparison to 20 out of 88 non hypertensive patients (22.7%), being the difference statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Our study confirms what has been previously reported by other authors, that there is a statistically significant relationship between hypertension and LUTS secondary to BPH.
Low-Profile Compact Circularly-Polarized Antenna Based on Fractal Metasurface and Fractal Resonator

A novel low-profile and compact circularly-polarized (CP) antenna has been proposed and comprehensively investigated based on the combination of fractal metasurface and fractal resonator. The Hilbert shaped reactive impedance surface has improved the antenna performance in terms of low substrate thickness and good front-to-back ratio, and the Wunderlich-shaped fractal complementary split ring resonator with strong space-filling property achieves the CP property and further size reduction. For application, a CP antenna working at the Wimax band is numerically and experimentally studied. The results indicate that the proposed antenna achieves a compact layout of 40 mm ×45 mm ×2.5 mm at 3.5 GHz, a relative wide bandwidth of more than 1.86% and also a comparable gain of about 6.3 dBic. The strategy does not require any metallic via holes, sophisticated feeding networks or truncated corners, predicting promising applications in portable communication systems.
Sexual Relationship Power and Depression among HIV-Infected Women in Rural Uganda

Background Depression is associated with increased HIV transmission risk, increased morbidity, and higher risk of HIV-related death among HIV-infected women. Low sexual relationship power also contributes to HIV risk, but there is limited understanding of how it relates to mental health among HIV-infected women. Methods Participants were 270 HIV-infected women from the Uganda AIDS Rural Treatment Outcomes study, a prospective cohort of individuals initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Mbarara, Uganda. Our primary predictor was baseline sexual relationship power as measured by the Sexual Relationship Power Scale (SRPS). The primary outcome was depression severity, measured with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL), and a secondary outcome was a functional scale for mental health status (MHS). Adjusted models controlled for socio-demographic factors, CD4 count, alcohol and tobacco use, baseline WHO stage 4 disease, social support, and duration of ART. Results The mean HSCL score was 1.34 and 23.7% of participants had HSCL scores consistent with probable depression (HSCL>1.75). Compared to participants with low SRPS scores, individuals with both moderate (coefficient b = −0.21; 95%CI, −0.36 to −0.07) and high power (b = −0.21; 95%CI, −0.36 to −0.06) reported decreased depressive symptomology. High SRPS scores halved the likelihood of women meeting criteria for probable depression (adjusted odds ratio = 0.44; 95%CI, 0.20 to 0.93). In lagged models, low SRPS predicted subsequent depression severity, but depression did not predict subsequent changes in SPRS. Results were similar for MHS, with lagged models showing SRPS predicts subsequent mental health, but not visa versa. Both Decision-Making Dominance and Relationship Control subscales of SRPS were associated with depression symptom severity. Conclusions HIV-infected women with high sexual relationship power had lower depression and higher mental health status than women with low power. Interventions to improve equity in decision-making and control within dyadic partnerships are critical to prevent HIV transmission and to optimize mental health of HIV-infected women.
Fundamental Switching Frequency Optimal Pulsewidth Modulation of Medium-Voltage Nine-Level Inverter

A low device switching frequency operation is essential in medium-voltage (MV) high-power drives to increase semiconductor device utilization as well as to achieve higher overall system efficiency. However, there exists a tradeoff between device switching frequency and harmonic distortion of machine currents. Synchronous optimal pulsewidth modulation (SOP) is an evolving technique for controlling multilevel inverters of MV ac drives at low device switching frequency without compromising the quality of machine currents. The state-of-the-art generalized SOP algorithm for five or higher level inverters leads to unequal device switching frequency, and also, transients in machine currents are possible due to the change in the number of switching instants at higher modulation index values. The goal of our study is to propose a new SOP technique that ensures equal device switching frequency and further reduces device switching frequency compared to the generalized SOP method. Also, it is expected that machine current transients at higher modulation index values will be reduced. The proposed SOP technique has been verified experimentally on a cascade nine-level inverter-fed 1.5-kW induction motor drive.
MicroRNA-138 is a potential regulator of memory performance in humans

Genetic factors underlie a substantial proportion of individual differences in cognitive functions in humans, including processes related to episodic and working memory. While genetic association studies have proposed several candidate “memory genes,” these currently explain only a minor fraction of the phenotypic variance. Here, we performed genome-wide screening on 13 episodic and working memory phenotypes in 1318 participants of the Berlin Aging Study II aged 60 years or older. The analyses highlight a number of novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with memory performance, including one located in a putative regulatory region of microRNA (miRNA) hsa-mir-138-5p (rs9882688, P-value = 7.8 × 10−9). Expression quantitative trait locus analyses on next-generation RNA-sequencing data revealed that rs9882688 genotypes show a significant correlation with the expression levels of this miRNA in 309 human lymphoblastoid cell lines (P-value = 5 × 10−4). In silico modeling of other top-ranking GWAS signals identified an additional memory-associated SNP in the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of DCP1B, a gene encoding a core component of the mRNA decapping complex in humans, predicted to interfere with hsa-mir-138-5p binding. This prediction was confirmed in vitro by luciferase assays showing differential binding of hsa-mir-138-5p to 3′ UTR reporter constructs in two human cell lines (HEK293: P-value = 0.0470; SH-SY5Y: P-value = 0.0866). Finally, expression profiling of hsa-mir-138-5p and DCP1B mRNA in human post-mortem brain tissue revealed that both molecules are expressed simultaneously in frontal cortex and hippocampus, suggesting that the proposed interaction between hsa-mir-138-5p and DCP1B may also take place in vivo. In summary, by combining unbiased genome-wide screening with extensive in silico modeling, in vitro functional assays, and gene expression profiling, our study identified miRNA-138 as a potential molecular regulator of human memory function.
Brachial Artery Vasodilator Function and Systemic Inflammation in the Framingham Offspring Study

Background—In experimental studies, traditional risk factors and proinflammatory processes alter the regulatory functions of the vascular endothelium to promote atherosclerosis. These alterations include expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules and decreased bioavailability of endothelium-derived nitric oxide, an important regulator of vascular homeostasis and tone. The precise relations among risk factors, inflammation, and nitric oxide bioavailability remain uncertain. Methods and Results—To test the hypothesis that inflammation impairs endothelial function in humans, we measured brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, reactive hyperemia, and serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in 2701 participants from the Framingham Study (mean age 61 years, 53% women). There were modest unadjusted inverse correlations between flow-mediated dilation and CRP, IL-6, and sICAM-1 (P<0.001 for all) that were rendered nonsignificant after accounting for traditional coronary risk factors. For reactive hyperemia, we observed inverse correlations with markers of inflammation in unadjusted models that were attenuated 57% to 74% after accounting for risk factors. However, partial correlations of CRP, IL-6, and sICAM-1 with reactive hyperemia remained significant. Conclusions—Our observations are consistent with the hypothesis that risk factors induce a state of inflammation that impairs vascular function. For flow-mediated dilation, we found no evidence that inflammation has additional effects beyond those attributable to traditional risk factors. The incremental contribution of CRP, IL-6, and sICAM-1 to reactive hyperemia above and beyond known risk factors suggests that systemic inflammation may contribute to impaired vasomotor function in forearm microvessels.
The White-hat Bot: A Novel Botnet Defense Strategy

Abstract : Botnets are a threat to computer systems and users around the world. Botmasters can range from annoying spam email propagators to nefarious criminals. These criminals attempt to take down networks or web servers through distributed denial-of-service attacks, to steal corporate secrets, or to launder money from individuals or corporations. As the number and severity of successful botnet attacks rise, computer security experts need to develop better early-detection and removal techniques to protect computer networks and individual computer users from these very real threats. I will define botnets and describe some of their common purposes and current uses. Next, I will reveal some of the techniques currently used by software security professionals to combat this problem. Finally I will provide a novel defensive strategy, the White-hat Bot (WHB), with documented experiments and results that may prove useful in the defense against botnets in the future.
Fusing visual contour tracking with inertial sensing to recover robot egomotion

Amethodforestimatingmobilerobotegomotionis presented, which relies on tracking contours in realtime images acquired with an uncalibrated monocular video system. After fltting an active contour to an object in the image, 3D motion is derived from the a‐ne deformations sufiered by the contour in an image sequence. More than one object can be tracked atthesametimeyieldingsomedifierentposeestimations. Then,improvementsinposedeterminationare archievedbyfusingallthesedifierentestimations. Inertial information is used to obtain better estimates, asitintroducesinthetrackingalgorithmameasureof the real velocity. Inertial information is also used to eliminate some ambiguities arising from the use of a monocular image sequence. As the algorithms developed are intended to be used in real-time control systems, considerations on computation costs are taken into account.
Implementing a unified approach to family‐based tests of association

We describe a broad class of family‐based association tests that are adjusted for admixture; use either dichotomous or measured phenotypes; accommodate phenotype‐unknown subjects; use nuclear families, sibships or a combination of the two, permit multiple nuclear families from a single pedigree; incorporate di‐ or multi‐allelic marker data; allow additive, dominant or recessive models; and permit adjustment for covariates and gene‐by‐environment interactions. The test statistic is the covariance between a user‐specified function of the genotype and a user‐specified function of the trait. The distribution of the statistic is computed using the appropriate conditional distribution of offspring genotypes that adjusts for admixture. Genet. Epidemiol. 19(Suppl 1):S36–S42, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Statistical analysis of $k$-nearest neighbor collaborative recommendation

Collaborative recommendation is an information-filtering technique that attempts to present information items that are likely of interest to an Internet user. Traditionally, collaborative systems deal with situations with two types of variables, users and items. In its most common form, the problem is framed as trying to estimate ratings for items that have not yet been consumed by a user. Despite wide-ranging literature, little is known about the statistical properties of recommendation systems. In fact, no clear probabilistic model even exists which would allow us to precisely describe the mathematical forces driving collaborative filtering. To provide an initial contribution to this, we propose to set out a general sequential stochastic model for collaborative recommendation. We offer an in-depth analysis of the so-called cosine-type nearest neighbor collaborative method, which is one of the most widely used algorithms in collaborative filtering, and analyze its asymptotic performance as the number of users grows. We establish consistency of the procedure under mild assumptions on the model. Rates of convergence and examples are also provided.
The Stock Market and Corporate Investment: A Test of Catering Theory

We test a catering theory describing how stock market mispricing might influence individual firms' investment decisions. We use discretionary accruals as our proxy for mispricing. We find a positive relation between abnormal investment and discretionary accruals; that abnormal investment is more sensitive to discretionary accruals for firms with higher RD that firms with high abnormal investment subsequently have low stock returns; and that the larger the relative price premium, the stronger the abnormal return predictability. We show that patterns in abnormal returns are stronger for firms with higher R&D intensity or share turnover.