Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Une Approche Intégrée pour Résoudre le Problème de Formation des Cellules de Production avec des Routages Alternatifs

Dans cet article, nous traitons les problemes de formation de cellules en presence de routages alternatifs et de contraintes de capacite au niveau des machines. Connaissant la capacite des machines, le processus de fabrication des produits et les quantites a produire, le probleme consiste a choisir, pour chaque produit, le routage preferentiel qui permettra d’optimiser la mise en cellule en terme de trafic intercellulaire. L’objectif principal est de minimiser ce trafic en respectant les contraintes de capacite. Nous proposons une approche basee sur l’integration d’un algorithme genetique de groupement multi-objectifs pour la formation des cellules dans un premier algorithme genetique de groupement multi-objectifs pour le choix du routage preferentiel (en resolvant un probleme associe de resource planning).
Exogenous fatty acid binding protein 4 promotes human prostate cancer cell progression

Epidemiologic studies have found that obesity is associated with malignant grade and mortality in prostate cancer. Several adipokines have been implicated as putative mediating factors between obesity and prostate cancer. Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), a member of the cytoplasmic fatty acid binding protein multigene family, was recently identified as a novel adipokine. Although FABP4 is released from adipocytes and mean circulating concentrations of FABP4 are linked with obesity, effects of exogenous FABP4 on prostate cancer progression are unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of exogenous FABP4 on human prostate cancer cell progression. FABP4 treatment promoted serum‐induced prostate cancer cell invasion in vitro. Furthermore, oleic acid promoted prostate cancer cell invasion only if FABP4 was present in the medium. These promoting effects were reduced by FABP4 inhibitor, which inhibits FABP4 binding to fatty acids. Immunostaining for FABP4 showed that exogenous FABP4 was taken up into DU145 cells in three‐dimensional culture. In mice, treatment with FABP4 inhibitor reduced the subcutaneous growth and lung metastasis of prostate cancer cells. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the number of apoptotic cells, positive for cleaved caspase‐3 and cleaved PARP, was increased in subcutaneous tumors of FABP4 inhibitor‐treated mice, as compared with control mice. These results suggest that exogenous FABP4 might promote human prostate cancer cell progression by binding with fatty acids. Additionally, exogenous FABP4 activated the PI3K/Akt pathway, independently of binding to fatty acids. Thus, FABP4 might be a key molecule to understand the mechanisms underlying the obesity‐prostate cancer progression link.
Using Fourier transform and model based filters to measure time-varying harmonics

Power quality problems have become an important issue in electrical power systems design and operation. Therefore, methods to identify and quantify these problems are receiving increased attention. A good deal of those methods rely on the time-varying phasor description of power system currents and voltages. This paper is an attempt to summarize two established processing techniques to obtain these quantities based on a time sampled data stream. The first class of methods is based on the Fourier transform, whereas the second is model based. Finally, references to new processing techniques are given.
Uncertain homogenous bilinear systems: a variable-structure control approach

This paper considers the design of a sliding mode control (SMC) to stabilize a class of uncertain homogenous bilinear systems. A new approach based on the concept of integral sliding mode is proposed along with an auxiliary control law to overcome the key problems associated with using the classical SMC for such systems. The design is robust with respect to a family of conically bounded perturbations in the sense that it ensures reachability of the sliding manifold as well as asymptotic closed-loop stability in the presence of any perturbation belonging to the uncertainty family
Closing the Loop between Neuroscience and Information Technology: A Possible Mission?

Computational neuroscience is a truly interdisciplinary field, connecting a wide range of approaches, from clinical applications to engineering. In its extremes, computational neuroscientists can be grouped into two (little overlapping) categories: The ‘‘neuroscientists’’ who aim to understand the function and dysfunction of the nervous system using mathematical and computational methods, and the ‘‘computer scientists’’ who aim to improve computer algorithms trying to imitate brain-type computations. Examples for the benefits of neuroscience coming from the so-called ‘‘exact’’ mathematical sciences are manifold. They particularly include the well-known mathematical models of physiological processes, but also (and equally important) algorithms that directly help to perform experiments and analyze data. Examples in which engineering benefits from neuroscience are also wellestablished but less ubiquitous. They mostly arise from either high-level psychology to improve man-machine interfaces or the ‘‘ecological’’ consideration that in order to build a machine that solves a task in some specific real-world environment, it may be a good idea to study an animal (often also a human) solving that task in the same environment. Then, the mathematical formulation of the constraints under which the animal’s brain operates is a good starting point for building the artificial system, although the solution finally implemented by the latter may differ largely from its biological model. If we consider computational neuroscience as a single discipline, we of course may (or should) ask, whether it is actually possible to close the loop between neuroscience and computer science, i.e., to derive algorithms inspired by brain processes, which then help to improve understanding of the brain, which then yield new, even better, algorithms, and so on. Examples in which this loop was closed are more difficult to identify. One of them is the theory of efficient coding. In its early development (Attneave 1954; Barlow 1961) it was clearly driven by neuroscientific curiosity, trying to understand the
Myocardial perfusion acquisition without magnetization preparation or gating

Current myocardial perfusion MRI acquisitions are performed with a saturation recovery sequence, in large part to minimize sensitivity to arrhythmia. A new approach is proposed here where the images are acquired ungated at steady state without use of a saturation pulse. The data are acquired continuously and reach steady state after the first few images. A confluence of advances has made this new paradigm of an ungated steady‐state acquisition possible—very rapid undersampled readouts with new reconstruction technologies permit enough measurements that continuous acquisition becomes a feasible approach. Gating can be applied retrospectively from a logged electrocardiogram (ECG) or with self‐gating methods. In this work, simulations and measurements in a concentration phantom are used to demonstrate that similar contrast and signal can be obtained with the standard saturation recovery and the proposed spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) acquisition. Specifically, for a flip angle of 14° and a saturation recovery time of 80 ms, similar signals are acquired over a range of T1s that reflect realistic myocardial tissue concentrations. Preliminary results in one subject are presented to show the potential of this new approach. The method may allow for cine cardiac perfusion and more signal‐to‐noise ratio‐efficient acquisitions. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison of Barbed Sutures in Porcine Flexor Tenorrhaphy

Background: Barbed suture use has become more popular as technology and materials have advanced. Minimal data exist regarding performance of the 2 commercially available products, V-LocTM and StratafixTM in tendon repairs. The purpose of this study was to compare gap resistance and ultimate tensile strength of both suture materials and nonbarbed suture in a porcine ex vivo model. Methods: Porcine flexor tendons were harvested and divided into 3 groups of 10 of varying suture material (3-0 PDS™, 3-0 V- V-Loc 180™, or 3-0 Stratafix™). A modified 4-strand cruciate technique was used to repair each tendon. Knotless repair was performed using barbed suture, whereas a buried 6-throw square knot was done using conventional suture. A servohydrolic tester was used for biomechanical testing of linear 2-mm gap resistance and maximum tensile strength. Results: No difference was found in 2-mm gap resistance among the 3 groups. No difference was found in ultimate tensile strength between V-Loc™ (76.0 ± 9.4 N) and Stratafix™ (68.1 ± 8.4 N) repairs, but the ultimate strength of the PDS™ control group (83.4 ± 10.0 N) was significantly higher than that of Stratafix™. Conclusions: Barbed (knotless) and nonbarbed suture repairs demonstrate equivalent 2-mm gap resistance. Stratafix™ repairs show slightly inferior performance to nonbarbed repairs in ultimate tensile strength, although this occurred at gap distances far beyond the 2-mm threshold for normal tendon gliding. Both barbed and nonbarbed 4-strand cruciate flexor tendon repairs may require peripheral repair to withstand physiologic loads.
Apprentissage interactif de règles d'extraction d'information textuelle. (Iteractive learning of textual information extraction rules)

L’Extraction d’Information est une discipline qui a emerge du Traitement Automatique des Langues afin de proposer des analyses fines d’un texte ecrit en langage naturel et d’ameliorer la recherche d’informations specifiques. Les techniques d’extraction d’information ont enormement evolue durant les deux dernieres decennies.Les premiers systemes d’extraction d’information etaient des systemes a base de regles ecrites manuellement. L’ecriture manuelle des regles etant devenue une tâche fastidieuse, des algorithmes d’apprentissage automatique de regles ont ete developpes.Ces algorithmes necessitent cependant la redaction d’un guide d’annotation detaille, puis l’annotation manuelle d’une grande quantite d’exemples d’entrainement. Pour minimiser l’effort humain requis dans les deux familles d’approches de mise au point de regles, nous avons propose, dans ce travail de these, une approche hybride qui combine les deux en un seul systeme interactif qui procede en plusieurs iterations.Ce systeme que nous avons nomme IRIES permet a l’utilisateur de travailler de maniere duale sur les regles d’extraction d’information et les exemples d’apprentissage.Pour mettre en place l’approche proposee, nous avons propose une chaine d’annotation linguistique du texte et l’utilisation d’un langage de regles expressif pour la comprehensibilite et la genericite des regles ecrites ou inferees, une strategie d’apprentissage sur un corpus reduit pour ne pas discriminer les exemples positifs non encore annotes a une iteration donnee, la mise en place d’un concordancier pour l’ecriture de regles prospectives et la mise en place d’un module d’apprentissage actif(IAL4Sets) pour une selection intelligente d’exemples.Ces propositions ont ete mises en place et evaluees sur deux corpus : le corpus de BioNLP-ST 2013 et le corpus SyntSem. Une etude de differentes combinaisons de traits linguistiques utilises dans les expressions des regles a permis de voir l’impactde ces traits sur les performances des regles. L’apprentissage sur un corpus reduit a permis un gain considerable en temps d’apprentissage sans degradationde performances. Enfin, le module d’apprentissage actif propose (IAL4Sets) a permis d’ameliorer les performances de l’apprentissage actif de base de l’algorithme WHISK grâce a l’introduction de la notion de distance ou de similarite distributionnelle qui permet de proposer a l’utilisateur des exemples semantiquement proches des exemples positifs deja couverts.
Programmed cell death in the neurulating embryo is prevented by the chaperone heat shock cognate 70

Neuronal cell death is a genuine developmental process, with precise regulation and defined roles. In striking contrast, characterization of cell death that occurs at early stages of neural development is very limited. We previously showed that embryonic proinsulin increases the level of the chaperone heat shock cognate 70 (Hsc70) and reduces the incidence of apoptosis in the neurulating chick embryo [de la Rosa, et al. (1998), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 95, 9950]. We now demonstrate that Hsc70 is directly involved in cell survival during neurulation, as specific downregulation of endogenous Hsc70 by antisense oligodeoxynucleotide interference provoked an increase in apoptosis both in vitro and in ovo. In parallel, activation of caspase‐3 was increased after hsc70 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide treatment. Dead cells were located mostly in the developing nervous system, distributed in areas where the incidence of cell death was high. These areas coincided both in vivo and under different death‐inducing conditions, including antisense interference and growth factor deprivation. Hsc70 immunostaining was strong in at least some areas of high cell death. Apoptotic cells within these areas presented undetectable Hsc70 levels, however, suggesting that this protein acts as an intrinsic protector of neuroepithelial and neural precursor cells.
Cognitive dysfunction evaluation in multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon beta-1b: an open-label prospective 1 year study.

BACKGROUND The cognitive impairment (frontal, parietal) in many patients with multiple sclerosis does not correlate with the degree of neurological disability and disease duration. Frontal/prefrontal cognitive impairment requires neuropsychological diagnostic tools. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the clinical effect of IFNbeta-1b (Betaferon) treatment on cognitive function and event-related potential as compared to the clinical course (EDSS) in MS patients during 1 year of follow-up. METHODS This prospective open-label design study included 16 consecutive patients with relapsing forms of MS attending the MS outpatient clinic. Mean EDSS score was calculated prior to starting treatment. Parietal lobe event-related potential P300 was elicited using an auditory physical stimulus to an alert subject. Mean P300 amplitude and latency were calculated for the group before treatment. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, which measures frontal lobe functions, was performed before the treatment. After 1 year of treatment a second P300 and Wisconsin test were performed and the mean change between visit 1 and baseline was calculated for each parameter. Correlation between the change in P300 and the Wisconsin test score at baseline was measured using the paired t-test. RESULTS There was a significant reduction in P300 amplitude and latency after 1 year of treatment with IFNbeta-1b: from 20.3 +/- 8.3 microv to 13.1 +/- 10.6 microv (P = 0.026) for amplitude, and from 312.9 +/- 15.6 msec to 302.0 +/- 17.0 msec (P = 0.002) for latency. The Perseverative Response (raw score) and the Perseverative Response U.S. Census age-matched standard score showed a significant improvement--from 20.7 +/- 30.7 to 13.1 +/- 10.6 (P = 0.001) and 96.7 +/- 15.7 to 100.1 +/- 11.1 (P = 0.0025) respectively--after 1 year of treatment. A mild but not significant improvement was observed on the EDSS after 1 year of treatment: 2.9 +/- 0.5 to 2.8 +/- 1.1. CONCLUSIONS A cognitive decline in MS patients may have a negative impact on the quality of life, affecting all active daily living domains. IFNbeta-1b, a disease-modifying therapy, has demonstrated a positive therapeutic effect on cognitive dysfunction, unrelated to its effect on the EDSS score and course of the disease.
Empirical Study of a Bayesian Kernel Model

Kernel models have been used extensively in machine learning due to their flexibility as non-parametric models. Recently a fully Bayesian framework and theory for kernel regression and classification was developed. Models developed in this framework allow for the incorporation of variable selection and other kernel hyper-parameters. This paper is an empirical study of the performance and modeling considerations of this family of models. We first illustrate the efficacy of the model as a point estimator for a variety of simulated and real data. The true benefit of the Bayesian model – estimates and formal modeling of uncertainty – is examined by simulating the posterior distributions of predictions as well the posterior distributions on the relevance of input variables. We will discuss the sensitivity of the posterior to both priors on model parameters and hyperparameters.
Neuronal activity in the primary somatosensory cortex in monkeys (Macaca mulatta) during active touch of textured surface gratings: responses to groove width, applied force, and velocity of motion.

1. In a descriptive survey of primary somatosensory cortex (SI) responses during active touch, two monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were trained to stroke their fingertips over pairs of gratings with constant ridge (250 microns) and varying groove (500-2,900 microns) width (roughness) and to identify the smoother (smaller groove). Speed of hand motion and applied force level during the stroke were monitored and recorded. Transdural single-unit recordings were obtained from areas 3b and 1 of SI while animals performed the task. 2. The statistical sample consisted of 164 single units. Most cells in the sample responded in some fashion during the stroke, including brief increased or decreased activity to 1-mm ridges (touch strips) placed between surface pairs and at ends of each block to serve as touch sensors. These peristroke response patterns were described briefly. Most cells (153/164) responded to grating contact. Three types of responses to groove width were characterized. 1) Response was proportional to groove width in many cells. There was a vigorous response to roughest and none to smoothest surface. Mean firing rates for these cells appeared linearly related to groove width. 2) Graded responses were seen with smaller response differences to the same groove width range as in 1. Responses of some cells of types 1 and 2 were uncorrelated with variations in applied force and velocity of stroke. 3) There were inverse responses to groove width. Greater responses occurred during contact with smoother surfaces. 3. Many cells were influenced by a combination of changes in groove width, force, and/or velocity. Activity of a small sample of cells in area 1 with slowly adapting (SA) response properties was an almost exclusive positive function of variations in force level. Unlike SAs in 3b, responses of these cells were uncorrelated with alterations in groove width or stroke velocity. Velocity effects were almost always associated with response to groove width. Positive velocity cells coded temporal period. Significant velocity effects were not evident in graded or inverse graded cells. Negative force and velocity effects were due to shifts in behavioral strategy. Periodicity related to the spatial period of the grating was found in autocorrelograms of a small number of cells. Finally, responses of some cells were unaffected by changes in groove width, force, or velocity. Some of these were affected by contact with touch strips. Others responded in undifferentiated fashion to the stroke, and their function remains unresolved. Overall, there was a continuum of response patterns. Subgroups of cells were not distinct. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
MeCP2 Behaves as an Elongated Monomer That Does Not Stably Associate with the Sin3a Chromatin Remodeling Complex*

MeCP2 is a transcription factor that recognizes and binds symmetrically methylated CpG dinucleotides to repress transcription. MeCP2 can associate with the Sin3a/histone deacetylase corepressor complex and mediate repression in a histone deacetylase-dependent manner. In extracts from rodent tissues, cultured cells, and Xenopus laevis oocytes, we find that only a small amount of mammalian MeCP2 interacts with Sin3a and that this interaction is not stable. Purification of rat brain MeCP2 (53 kDa) indicates no associated proteins despite an apparent molecular mass by size exclusion chromatography of 400–500 kDa. Biophysical analysis demonstrated that the large apparent size was not because of homo-multimerization, as MeCP2 consistently behaves as a monomeric protein that has an elongated shape. Our findings indicate the MeCP2 is not an obligate component of the Sin3a corepressor complex and may therefore engage a more diverse range of cofactors for repressive function.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Subtypes Defined by Rome II and Rome III Criteria are Similar

Background The implications of the Rome III recommendations to change the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) subtype criteria for stool pattern are unknown. Aim (1) Determine the level of agreement between Rome II and Rome III subtypes and (2) compare the behaviors of Rome II and Rome III subtypes over time. Methods Female patients (n=148) with Rome II defined IBS were prospectively tracked over 5 consecutive 3-month periods. At baseline, bowel habit reports on questionnaires were used to subclassify patients into Rome II and Rome III subtypes. Over the subsequent 15 months, bowel habit reports on diary cards were used to subclassify patients based on previously derived surrogate criteria into Rome II and Rome III IBS subtypes. Results The level of agreement between Rome II and Rome III subtype assignments was quite high (86.5%; κ 0.79). The behavior of Rome II and Rome III subtypes over time was also similar in terms of subtype prevalence, subtype stability, and the proportion of subjects who met criteria for alternating irritable bowel syndrome. Conclusions Rome II and Rome III IBS subtypes are in high agreement and behave similarly over time. Therefore, studies that used Rome II subtype criteria and studies that will use Rome III criteria will define comparable populations.
Complete Reconstitution of the Human Coenzyme A Biosynthetic Pathway via Comparative Genomics*

The biosynthesis of CoA from pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is an essential universal pathway in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The CoA biosynthetic genes in bacteria have all recently been identified, but their counterparts in humans and other eukaryotes remained mostly unknown. Using comparative genomics, we have identified human genes encoding the last four enzymatic steps in CoA biosynthesis: phosphopantothenoylcysteine synthetase (EC6.3.2.5), phosphopantothenoylcysteine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.36), phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.3), and dephospho-CoA kinase (EC 2.7.1.24). Biological functions of these human genes were verified using a complementation system in Escherichia colibased on transposon mutagenesis. The individual human enzymes were overexpressed in E. coli and purified, and the corresponding activities were experimentally verified. In addition, the entire pathway from phosphopantothenate to CoA was successfully reconstituted in vitro using a mixture of purified recombinant enzymes. Human recombinant bifunctional phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase/dephospho-CoA kinase was kinetically characterized. This enzyme was previously suggested as a point of CoA biosynthesis regulation, and we have observed significant differences in mRNA levels of the corresponding human gene in normal and tumor cells by Northern blot analysis.