Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multi‐dimensional time‐correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to detect FRET in cells

We present a novel, multi‐dimensional, time‐correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) technique to perform fluorescence lifetime imaging with a laser‐scanning microscope operated at a pixel dwell‐time in the microsecond range. The unsurpassed temporal accuracy of this approach combined with a high detection efficiency was applied to measure the fluorescent lifetimes of enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP) in isolation and in tandem with EYFP (enhanced yellow fluorescent protein). This technique enables multi‐exponential decay analysis in a scanning microscope with high intrinsic time resolution, accuracy and counting efficiency, particularly at the low excitation levels required to maintain cell viability and avoid photobleaching. Using a construct encoding the two fluorescent proteins separated by a fixed‐distance amino acid spacer, we were able to measure the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency determined by the interchromophore distance. These data revealed that ECFP exhibits complex exponential fluorescence decays under both FRET and non‐FRET conditions, as previously reported. Two approaches to calculate the distance between donor and acceptor from the lifetime delivered values within a 10% error range. To confirm that this method can be used also to quantify intermolecular FRET, we labelled cultured neurones with the styryl dye FM1‐43, quantified the fluorescence lifetime, then quenched its fluorescence using FM4‐64, an efficient energy acceptor for FM1‐43 emission. These experiments confirmed directly for the first time that FRET occurs between these two chromophores, characterized the lifetimes of these probes, determined the interchromophore distance in the plasma membrane and provided high‐resolution two‐dimensional images of lifetime distributions in living neurones.
Focusing Decomposition Accuracy by Personalizing Tensor Decomposition (PTD)

Tensor decomposition operation is the basis for many data analysis tasks from clustering, trend detection, anomaly detection, to correlation analysis. One key problem with tensor decomposition, however, is its computational complexity -- especially for dense data sets, the decomposition process takes exponential time in the number of tensor modes; the process is relatively faster for sparse tensors, but decomposition is still a major bottleneck in many applications. While it is possible to reduce the decomposition time by trading performance with decomposition accuracy, a drop in accuracy may not always be acceptable. In this paper, we first recognize that in many applications, the user may have a focus of interest -- i.e., part of the data for which the user needs high accuracy -- and beyond this area focus, accuracy may not be as critical. Relying on this observation, we propose a novel Personalized Tensor Decomposition(PTD) mechanism for accounting for the user's focus: PTD takes as input one or more areas of focus and performs the decomposition in such a way that, when reconstructed, the accuracy of the tensor is boosted for these areas of focus. We discuss alternative ways PTD can be implemented. Experiments show that PTD helps boost accuracy at the foci of interest, while reducing the overall tensor decomposition time.
Aircraft ground traffic optimization

Air traffic growth and especially hubs development cause new significant congestion and ground delays on major airports. Accurate models of airport traffic prediction can provide new tools to assist gr ound controllers in choosing the best taxiways and the most adapted holding points for aircraft. Such tools could also be used by airport designers to evaluate possible improvements on airport configurations and airpor t structure. In this paper, a ground traffic simulation tool is proposed and applied to Roissy Charles De Gaulle and Orly airports. A global optimization method using genetic algorithms is compared to a 1-to-n strategy to minimize time spent between gate and runway, while respecting aircraft separation and runway capacity. In order to compare the efficiency of the different optimization methods, simulations are carried out on a one day traffic sample, and ground delay due to holding points or taxiway lengthening is correlated to the traffic density on the airport.
Brain tissue properties differentiate between motor and limbic basal ganglia circuits

Despite advances in understanding basic organizational principles of the human basal ganglia, accurate in vivo assessment of their anatomical properties is essential to improve early diagnosis in disorders with corticosubcortical pathology and optimize target planning in deep brain stimulation. Main goal of this study was the detailed topological characterization of limbic, associative, and motor subdivisions of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in relation to corresponding corticosubcortical circuits. To this aim, we used magnetic resonance imaging and investigated independently anatomical connectivity via white matter tracts next to brain tissue properties. On the basis of probabilistic diffusion tractography we identified STN subregions with predominantly motor, associative, and limbic connectivity. We then computed for each of the nonoverlapping STN subregions the covariance between local brain tissue properties and the rest of the brain using high‐resolution maps of magnetization transfer (MT) saturation and longitudinal (R1) and transverse relaxation rate (R2*). The demonstrated spatial distribution pattern of covariance between brain tissue properties linked to myelin (R1 and MT) and iron (R2*) content clearly segregates between motor and limbic basal ganglia circuits. We interpret the demonstrated covariance pattern as evidence for shared tissue properties within a functional circuit, which is closely linked to its function. Our findings open new possibilities for investigation of changes in the established covariance pattern aiming at accurate diagnosis of basal ganglia disorders and prediction of treatment outcome. Hum Brain Mapp 35:5083–5092, 2014. © 2014 The Authors. Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Living with HIV postdiagnosis: a qualitative study of the experiences of Nairobi slum residents

Objectives To characterise the experiences of heterosexual men and women living with HIV postdiagnosis and explain these experiences in relation to their identity and sexuality. Design Qualitative study using in-depth interviews and a theoretically informed biographic disruption theory. Setting Interviews were conducted in two Nairobi slums (Kenya). Participants 41 HIV-infected heterosexual men and women aged 18 years or older. Results People living with HIV have divergent experiences surrounding HIV diagnosis. Postdiagnosis, there are multiple phases of identity transition, including status (non-)disclosure, and attempts at identity repair and normalcy. For some people, this process involves a transition to a new self-identity, incorporating both HIV and antiretroviral treatment (ART) into their lives. For others, it involves a partial transition, with some aspects of their prediagnosis identity persisting, and for others it involves a rejection of HIV identity. Those people who were able to incorporate HIV/AIDS in their identity, without it being disruptive to their biography, were pursuing safer sexual and reproductive lives. By contrast, those people with a more continuous biography continued to reflect their prediagnosis identity and sexual behaviour. Conclusions People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) had to rework their sense of identity following diagnosis in the context of living in a slum setting. Men and women living with HIV in slums are poorly supported by health systems and services as they attempt to cope with a diagnosis of HIV. Given the availability of ART, health services and professionals need to support the rights of PLWHA to be sexually active if they want to and achieve their fertility goals, while minimising HIV transmission risk.
Personal Computer Based Clinical Programming Software for Auditory Prostheses

Auditory Prostheses (AP) are widely used electronic devices for patients suffering with severe to profound senosorineural deafness by electrically stimulating the auditory nerve using an electrode array surgically placed in the inner ear. AP mainly contains external Body Worn Speech Processor (BWSP) and internal Implantable Receiver Stimulator (IRS). BWSP receives an external sound or speech and generates encoded speech data bits for transmission to IRS via radio frequency transcutaneous link for excitation of electrode array. After surgical placement electrode array in the inner ear, BWSP should be fine tuned to achieve the 80-100% speech reception abilities of patient by an audiologist. Problem statement: Basic objective of this research was to develop a simple personal computer based user friendly hardware and software interface to fine tune the BWSP to achieve the best possible speech reception abilities of each individual patient. Approach: Tuning process involved several tasks such as identifying the active electrode contacts, determination of detection and pain thresholds of each active electrode and loads these values into BWSP by reprogramming the BWSP. This study contracted with development of easy and simple user friendly hardware and software interface for audiologist to perform post operation tuning procedures. A microcontroller based impedance telemetry with bidirectional RF transceiver was developed as a hardware interface between PC and IRS. The clinical programming software was developed using VB.NET 2008 to perform the post-operative tuning procedures such as (i) impedance measurement, (ii) fitting to determine the threshold and comfort levels for each active electrodes and (iii) reprogramming the speech processor. Results: Simple hardware and software interfaces for audiologist were constructed and tested with laboratory model BWSP and IRS using simulated resistance electrode array. All the functional aspects were tested and results were enumerated. Conclusion: Clinical application software had been developed for AP used in postoperative fitting procedure used by the audiologists. Software is readily available for use after the laboratory model of BWSP and IRS are available as final product.
A survey of kernel methods for relation extraction

In this paper we present the main kernel approaches to the problem of relation extraction from unstructured texts. After a brief introduction to the problem and its characterization as a classication task, we present a survey of the methods and techniques used, and the results obtained. We nally suggest some future lines of work, such as the use of information retrieval techniques and the development of event factuality identication methods.
Inhibiting cytoplasmic accumulation of HuR synergizes genotoxic agents in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

HuR, an RNA-binding protein, post-transcriptionally regulates nearly 4% of encoding proteins implicated in cell survival. Here we show that HuR is required for the efficacy of chemotherapies in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. We identify pyrvinium pamoate, an FDA-approved anthelminthic drug, as a novel HuR inhibitor that dose-dependently inhibited cytoplasmic accumulation of HuR. Combining pyrvinium pamoate with chemotherapeutic agents (e.g. cisplatin, doxorubicin, vincristine and oxaliplatin) not only led to enhanced cytotoxicity in bladder cancer cells but also synergistically suppressed the growth of patient-derived bladder tumor xenografts in mice (P < 0.001). Mechanistically, pyrvinium pamoate promoted nuclear import of HuR by activating the AMP-activated kinase/importin α1 cascade and blocked HuR nucleo-cytoplasmic translocation by inhibiting the checkpoint kinase1/cyclin-dependent kinase 1 pathway. Notably, pyrvinium pamoate-additive treatment increased DNA double-strand breaks as indicated by elevated γH2AX expression, suggesting an involvement of DNA damage response. We further found that pyrvinium pamoate dramatically downregulated several key DNA repair genes in genotoxically-stressed cells, including DNA ligase IV and BRCA2, leading to unbearable genomic instability and cell death. Collectively, our findings are the first to characterize a clinical HuR inhibitor and provide a novel therapeutically tractable strategy by targeting cytoplasmic translocation of HuR for treatment of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.
From success to capability for healthy ageing: shifting the lens to include all older people

Abstract The ‘successful’ ageing model has been an important influence on research, intervention and public policy around ageing for three decades. Over this time, critiques of the model have grown until the shortcomings of the approach are now generally recognised in gerontology and beyond. This paper provides a summary of these critiques with empirical support for their unintended negative effects on the well-being of older people through oppressive policies, a focus on individual responsibility and denial of death. The limitations of attempts to overcome these shortcomings are then briefly surveyed before suggesting how the ‘capability approach’ will address each of these problems and provide a new socially oriented framework for research, policy and intervention that will support the development of health and well-being for all older people.
Impact of reconstruction parameters on quantitative I-131 SPECT

Radioiodine therapy using I-131 is widely used for treatment of thyroid disease or neuroendocrine tumors. Monitoring treatment by accurate dosimetry requires quantitative imaging. The high energy photons however render quantitative SPECT reconstruction challenging, potentially requiring accurate correction for scatter and collimator effects. The goal of this work is to assess the effectiveness of various correction methods on these effects using phantom studies. A SPECT/CT acquisition of the NEMA IEC body phantom was performed. Images were reconstructed using the following parameters: (1) without scatter correction, (2) with triple energy window (TEW) scatter correction and (3) with Monte Carlo-based scatter correction. For modelling the collimator-detector response (CDR), both (a) geometric Gaussian CDRs as well as (b) Monte Carlo simulated CDRs were compared. Quantitative accuracy, contrast to noise ratios and recovery coefficients were calculated, as well as the background variability and the residual count error in the lung insert. The Monte Carlo scatter corrected reconstruction method was shown to be intrinsically quantitative, requiring no experimentally acquired calibration factor. It resulted in a more accurate quantification of the background compartment activity density compared with TEW or no scatter correction. The quantification error relative to a dose calibrator derived measurement was found to be <1%,−26% and 33%, respectively. The adverse effects of partial volume were significantly smaller with the Monte Carlo simulated CDR correction compared with geometric Gaussian or no CDR modelling. Scatter correction showed a small effect on quantification of small volumes. When using a weighting factor, TEW correction was comparable to Monte Carlo reconstruction in all measured parameters, although this approach is clinically impractical since this factor may be patient dependent. Monte Carlo based scatter correction including accurately simulated CDR modelling is the most robust and reliable method to reconstruct accurate quantitative iodine-131 SPECT images.
Performance-asymmetry-aware topology virtualization for defect-tolerant NoC-based many-core processors

Topology virtualization techniques are proposed for NoC-based many-core processors with core-level redundancy to isolate hardware changes caused by on-chip defective cores. Prior work focuses on homogeneous cores with symmetric performance and optimizes on-chip communication only. However, core-to-core performance asymmetry due to manufacturing process variations poses new challenges for constructing virtual topologies. Lower performance cores may scatter over a virtual topology, while operating systems typically allocate tasks to continuous cores. As a result, parallel applications are probably assigned to a region containing many slower cores that become bottlenecks. To tackle the above problem, in this paper we present a novel performance-asymmetry-aware reconfiguration algorithm Bubble-Up based on a new metric called core fragmentation factor (CFF). Bubble-Up can arrange cores with similar performance closer, yet maintaining reasonable hop distances between virtual neighbors, thus accelerating applications with higher degree of parallelism, without changing existing allocation strategies for OS. Experimental results show its effectiveness.
Atlas Based Segmentation of the prostate in MR images

The large variability and contrast differences between prostates make its segmentation difficult using traditional segmentation methods. In this paper we present an automatic method based on nonrigid registration of a set of prelabelled MR altas images. The algorithm consists of three stages. Firstly, the target image is nonrigidly registered with each atlas image, using mutual information as the similarity measure. Subsequently, the best registered image is selected comparing normalised mutual information measures after registration. Finally, the segmentation is obtained by deforming the corresponding atlas labelled image selected before using the transformation determined on the registration stage. The method is evaluated on 15 images using the Dice similarity coeficient and 95% Hausdorff distance, obtaining medians of 0.79 and 7.11 mm respectively.
The Role of CED-3-Related Cysteine Proteases in Apoptosis of Cerebellar Granule Cells

The CED-3-related cysteine proteases (CRCPs) have been implicated as mediators of apoptosis, primarily in hematogenous cell systems, but their role in neuronal apoptosis remains unclear. The present study examined the role of two CRCP families—CPP32- and interleukin-1β converting enzyme (ICE)-like cysteine proteases—in apoptosis of cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) caused by withdrawal of serum and/or potassium (K+). Serum deprivation potentiated apoptosis caused by K+ withdrawal, reducing cell viability by approximately one half of control values after 12 hr as measured by calcein fluorescence. Cell death after serum/K+ deprivation was significantly attenuated by the CPP32-like inhibitor z-DEVD-fmk; however, the ICE-like inhibitor z-YVAD-fmk had only slightly protective effects at the highest concentration used. Both inhibitors reduced CPP32-like activity directly in an in vitro fluorometric assay system, although z-DEVD-fmk showed much greater potency. K+and serum/K+ deprivation each were accompanied by increased CPP32-like activity; however, ICE-like activity was absent after 12 hr of serum and/or K+ deprivation. CPP32 mRNA levels were unchanged after K+ deprivation but increased after serum and combined serum/K+withdrawal as measured by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), with peak values at 4 hr reaching 210 ± 37% and 269 ± 42% of control levels, respectively. In contrast, ICE mRNA was undetectable by RT-PCR. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that CPP32-like proteases play an important role in apoptosis of CGCs caused by deprivation of K+ or serum/K+.
Abstract--recently, Accidents Such That Seniors Fall down from the Bed in Care Facilities or Hospitals Are Increased. to Prevent These Accidents, We Have Developed an Awakening Detection System Using Neural Network (nn)

In this paper, to increase the detection capability of this system, we adopt a face extractive method into the proposed system to execute more detail extraction of the objective person's image from the background. We show its feasibility with experimental results. In addition, to confirm the detection capability of the awakening detection system in the clinical site, the detection experiment using the captured image in the clinical site for the detection is conducted. From the result of this experiment, the detection success rate of this experiment is low. So, we analyze the captured image in the clinical site. From the result of the histogram analysis, it proves that the fluctuation of brightness quantity make decrease the detection capability. Therefore, to decrease the influence of the brightness quantity, the histogram of the captured image is equalized. Finally, it is verified that the histogram equalization reduce the effect of fluctuation of brightness quantity.
Control configuration selection for multivariable descriptor systems

Control configuration selection is the procedure of choosing the appropriate input and output pairs for the design of SISO (or block) controllers. This step is an important prerequisite for a successful industrial control strategy. In industrial practices it is often the case that the system, which is needed to be controlled, is either in the descriptor form or can be represented in the descriptor form. Singular systems and the differential algebraic equation (DAE) systems are among these systems. Descriptor systems appear in the variety of fields to describe the practical processes ranging from power systems, hydraulic systems to heat transfer, and chemical processes. The focus of this paper is on the problem of control configuration selection for multivariable descriptor systems. A gramian-based interaction measure for control configuration selection of such processes is described in this paper. The proposed MIMO interaction measure is the extension of its gramian-based analogous counterpart, which has been proposed for the input-output pairing as well as for the controller architecture selection of the processes with the standard state-space form. The main advantage of this interaction measure is that it can be used to propose a richer sparse or block diagonal controller structure. The interaction measure is used for control configuration selection of the linearized CSTR model with descriptor from.
A dual-directional path-loss model in 5G wireless fractal small cell networks

With the anticipated increase in the number of low power base stations (BSs) deployed in small cell networks, blockage effects becoming more sensitive on wireless transmissions over high spectrums, variable propagation fading scenarios make it hard to describe coverage of small cell networks. In this paper, we propose a dual-directional path loss model cooperating with Line-of-Sight (LoS) and Non-Line-of-Sight (NLoS) transmissions for the fifth generation (5G) fractal small cell networks. Based on the proposed path loss model, a LoS transmission probability is derived as a function of the coordinate azimuth of the BS and the distance between the mobile user (MU) and the BS. Moreover, the coverage probability and the average achievable rate are analyzed for 5G fractal small cell networks. Numerical results imply that the minimum intensity of blockages and the maximum intensity of BSs can not guarantee the maximum average achievable rate in 5G fractal small cell networks. Our results explore the relationship between the anisotropic path loss fading and the small cell coverage in 5G fractal small cell networks.