Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A life story approach for people with profound learning disabilities.

This article presents an alternative approach to studying issues concerning people with profound learning disabilities. Previous approaches have relied too heavily on quantitative methods, e.g. questionnaires and rating scales, which demand a certain degree of verbal competence. When working with people with profound learning disabilities who can not talk, these techniques are clearly limited. The current research aims to redress this imbalance by presenting an in-depth qualitative analysis of issues concerning the identities of people moving from a long-stay hospital to community care. Life story books were introduced as a resource for presenting biographical information about clients previously undocumented. It is suggested that we should move away from measuring to observing. Life story books take the focus away from viewing the participants as patients or subjects to considering them as people with their own unique life.
Watershed Segmentation based on Distance Transform and Edge Detection Techniques

An edge detection algorithm for digital images is proposed in this paper. Edge detection is one of the important and most difficult tasks in image processing and analysis. In images edges can create major variation in the picture quality where edges are areas with strong intensity contrasts. Edges in digital images are areas with strong intensity contrasts and a jump in intensity from one pixel to the next can create major variation in the picture quality. This paper proposed an effective edge detection algorithm based morphological edge detectors and watershed segmentation algorithm using distance transform. The result confirms that the proposed algorithm is found to yield satisfactory and efficient segmentation of the digital images for edge detection. Experimental result presented in this paper is obtained by using MATLAB.
Selective Efficacy of Static and Dynamic Imagery in Different States of Physical Fatigue

There is compelling evidence that motor imagery contributes to improved motor performance, and recent work showed that dynamic motor imagery (dMI) might provide additional benefits by comparison with traditional MI practice. However, the efficacy of motor imagery in different states of physical fatigue remains largely unknown, especially as imagery accuracy may be hampered by the physical fatigue states elicited by training. We investigated the effect of static motor imagery (sMI) and dMI on free-throw accuracy in 10 high-level basketball athletes, both in a non-fatigued state (Experiment 1) and immediately after an incremental running test completed until exhaustion (20m shuttle run-test–Experiment 2). We collected perceived exhaustion and heart rate to quantify the subjective experience of fatigue and energy expenditure. We found that dMI brought better shooting performance than sMI, except when athletes were physically exhausted. These findings shed light on the conditions eliciting optimal use of sMI and dMI. In particular, considering that the current physical state affects body representation, performing dMI under fatigue may result in mismatches between actual and predicted body states.
Role of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase in the cytotoxic activity of cloretazine

Cloretazine (VNP40101M; 101M; 1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)-2-[(methylamino)carbonyl]hydrazine) is a sulfonylhydrazine prodrug that generates both chloroethylating and carbamoylating species on activation. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the broad anticancer activity observed in preclinical studies, cloretazine and chloroethylating-only [i.e., 1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)hydrazine] and carbamoylating-only (i.e., 1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-[(methylamino)carbonyl]hydrazine) analogues were evaluated in five murine hematopoietic cell lines. These cell lines were separable into two groups by virtue of their sensitivity to 1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)hydrazine; the sensitive group included L1210, P388, and F-MEL leukemias (IC50s, 6–8 μmol/L) and the resistant group consisted of Ba/F3 bone marrow and WEHI-3B leukemia cells (IC50s, 50–70 μmol/L). Resistant cells expressed O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT), whereas sensitive cells did not. A correlation existed between AGT expression and the functional status of p53; AGT− cells possessed defective p53, whereas AGT+ cells contained wild-type p53. Based on recent findings on regulation of AGT gene expression by others, we suspect that silencing of the AGT gene by promoter hypermethylation frequently occurs during tumor progression involving p53 inactivation. O6-Chloroethylguanine is the initial DNA lesion that progresses to lethal interstrand DNA cross-links. Cloretazine exhibited a much higher preference toward the O6-chloroethylation of guanine, as measured by the difference in IC50s to wild-type and AGT-transfected L1210 cells, than 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, which targets the same site in DNA. Preferential toxicity of cloretazine against AGT− tumor cells coupled with decreased toxicity to AGT+ cells in host tissues constitute the therapeutic basis for cloretazine.
GSOS: Gauss-Seidel Operator Splitting Algorithm for Multi-Term Nonsmooth Convex Composite Optimization

In this paper, we propose a fast Gauss-Seidel Operator Splitting (GSOS) algorithm for addressing multi-term nonsmooth convex composite optimization, which has wide applications in machine learning, signal processing and statistics. The proposed GSOS algorithm inherits the advantage of the Gauss-Seidel technique to accelerate the optimization procedure, and leverages the operator splitting technique to reduce the computational complexity. In addition, we develop a new technique to establish the global convergence of the GSOS algorithm. To be specific, we first reformulate the iterations of GSOS as a twostep iterations algorithm by employing the tool of operator optimization theory. Subsequently, we establish the convergence of GSOS based on the two-step iterations algorithm reformulation. At last, we apply the proposed GSOS algorithm to solve overlapping group Lasso and graph-guided fused Lasso problems. Numerical experiments show that our proposed GSOS algorithm is superior to the state-of-the-art algorithms in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness.
Adaptive Rendering Based on Weighted Local Regression

Monte Carlo ray tracing is considered one of the most effective techniques for rendering photo-realistic imagery, but requires a large number of ray samples to produce converged or even visually pleasing images. We develop a novel image-plane adaptive sampling and reconstruction method based on local regression theory. A novel local space estimation process is proposed for employing the local regression, by robustly addressing noisy high-dimensional features. Given the local regression on estimated local space, we provide a novel two-step optimization process for selecting bandwidths of features locally in a data-driven way. Local weighted regression is then applied using the computed bandwidths to produce a smooth image reconstruction with well-preserved details. We derive an error analysis to guide our adaptive sampling process at the local space. We demonstrate that our method produces more accurate and visually pleasing results over the state-of-the-art techniques across a wide range of rendering effects. Our method also allows users to employ an arbitrary set of features, including noisy features, and robustly computes a subset of them by ignoring noisy features and decorrelating them for higher quality.
Functional analysis of hemichannels and gap-junctional channels formed by connexins 43 and 46

Purpose The gap junctions (GJs) mediating direct cell-cell interaction are formed by clusters of membrane-spanning proteins known as connexins (Cxs). These channels play a key role in signal transmission, and their permeability, time-, and voltage-dependence are governed by the properties of the specific Cxs forming the gap junctions. Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells express Cx43 and Cx46. Here, we employed a heterologous expression system to explore the functional properties of the hemichannels and GJs that could be formed by different combinations of these Cxs. Specifically, we examined the response kinetics of GJs formed by pairing cells expressing Cx43 or Cx46, or those expressing both, i.e., designated as Cx43•Cx46. Methods The Xenopus oocyte expression system and a two-electrode voltage clamp technique were used to study the properties of hemichannels and GJs formed in oocytes transfected with Cx43 and/or Cx46 mRNA. Results Depolarizing voltages activated hemicurrents of similar amplitude from single oocytes transfected with Cx46 or Cx43•Cx46, but not in oocytes expressing Cx43 alone. Incorporating Cx43 with Cx46 altered the gating charge, but not the voltage sensitivity of the hemichannels. In addition, Cx43•Cx46 hemichannel currents exhibited faster activation kinetics than homomeric Cx46 hemichannels. Both homotypic GJs formed by Cx43 and Cx46, and heteromeric Cx43•Cx46 GJs exhibited large junctional conductances with amplitudes of 6.5±3.0 μS (Cx43), 8.9±3.4 μS (Cx46), and 8.5±1.8 μS (Cx43•46); a significantly lower conductance (1.8±0.7 μS) was observed for heterotypic GJs formed by Cx43 and Cx46. There were also differences in their gating kinetics. Whereas the kinetics of homotypic Cx46 could be described by a single exponential function (τ=0.91 s), double exponential functions were required for homotypic Cx43 (τ1=0.24, τ2=3.4 s), heterotypic Cx43/Cx46 (τ1=0.29, τ2=3.6 s), and heteromeric Cx43•Cx46/Cx43•Cx46 (τ1=1.2, τ2=8.1 s) junctions. Conclusions The failure of oocytes expressing Cx43 to exhibit hemichannel activity is an intrinsic membrane property of this Cx, and cannot be attributed to a lack of expression; western blot analysis showed clearly that Cx43 was expressed in oocytes in which it was injected. Our results provide further evidence that Cx43 and Cx46 form both heterotypic and heteromeric channels when co-expressed, an indication that various combinations of Cxs may participate in gap-junctional communication between RPE cells.
Decoupled Powered Caster Wheel for omnidirectional mobile platforms

This paper presents a novel design of a Powered Caster Wheel (PCW) that decouples the steering and rolling motions. The working principles and mechanical design of the PCW are introduced in details. Kinematic modeling, trajectory planning and control algorithms are derived for PCW-based omnidirectional mobile platforms. To demonstrate the new PCW design, a PCW prototype has been developed and an omnidirectional mobile platform based on the decoupled PCW has also been constructed and tested.
High-speed Keck II and RXTE spectroscopy of Cygnus X-2 - I. Three X-ray components revealed by correlated variability

We have performed simultaneous X-ray and optical spectroscopic observations of the low-mass X-ray binary Cygnus X-2. We have used a new data system attached to the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (LRIS) instrument on Keck II to obtain spectra with a mean time resolution of 72.075 ms, simultaneous with pointed X-ray observations using the Proportional Counter Array (PCA) onboard RXTE. In this paper, we have analysed the variability in both wavebands on time-scales of 16 s. During our observations Cygnus X-2 covered all three branches of the Z-curve, allowing us to study how the changes in X-ray spectral state affect the optical emission. As the optical flux rises, the X-ray intensity first rises on the horizontal branch (0 < Sz < 1) but then falls on the normal branch (1 < Sz < 2) and flaring branch (2 < Sz < 3), where Sz is a rank number characterizing the position on the Z-curve. This linear increase in the optical flux with Sz indicates the optical flux is a good predictor of the accretion rate (possibly normalized by its own long-term average) inferred from the Z-state Sz. We have used this correlation to decompose the total X-ray count rate into three distinct spectral components.
Potential impact of data source and interoperability messaging on health information technology (HIT) users: a study series from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Background The promise of Health Information Exchange (HIE) systems rests in their potential to provide clinicians and administrative staff rapid access to relevant patient data to support judgement and decision-making. However, HIE systems can have usability and technical issues, as well as fail to support user workflow. Objective Share the findings from a series of studies that address HIE system deficiencies for an Electronic Health Record (EHR) viewer which accesses multiple data sources. Methods A variety of methods were used, in a series of studies, to gain a better understanding of issues and their mitigation through use of promising EHR viewer features. Results The study series results are presented by the themes that underscore the importance for users to distinguish between data that are available but missing due to connection or system errors, data that are omitted entirely because they are not available and data that are excluded due to filtered search criteria. Conclusions The principal findings from this study series led to improvement recommendations for the EHR viewer, as well as citing areas that are ripe for further investigation and analysis.
Concepts in Imaging and Microscopy Imaging Membrane Potential With Voltage-Sensitive Dyes

Membrane potential can be measured optically using a variety of molecular probes. These measurements can be useful in studying function at the level of an indi- vidual cell, for determining how groups of neurons generate a behavior, and for studying the correlated behavior of populations of neurons. Examples of the three kinds of measurements are presented. The signals obtained from these measurements are generally small. Methodological considerations necessary to optimize the resulting signal-to- noise ratio are discussed.
Genetic epidemiology of muscular dystrophies resulting from sarcoglycan gene mutations.

BACKGROUND: The autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs) are a group of genetically heterogeneous muscle diseases characterised by progressive proximal limb muscle weakness. Six different loci have been mapped and pathogenetic mutations in the genes encoding the sarcoglycan complex components (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-sarcoglycan) have been documented. LGMD patients affected with primary "sarcoglycanopathies" are classified as LGMD2D, 2E, 2C, and 2F, respectively. METHODS: A geographical area in north east Italy (2,319,147 inhabitants) was selected for a genetic epidemiological study on primary sarcoglycanopathies. Within the period 1982 to 1996, all patients living in this region and diagnosed with muscular dystrophy were seen at our centre. Immunohistochemical and immunoblot screening for alpha-sarcoglycan protein deficiency was performed on all muscle biopsies from patients with a progressive muscular dystrophy of unknown aetiology and normal dystrophin. Sarcoglycan mutation analyses were conducted on all patient muscle biopsies shown to have complete or partial absence of alpha-sarcoglycan immunostaining or a decreased quantity of alpha-sarcoglycan protein on immunoblotting. RESULTS: Two hundred and four patient muscle biopsies were screened for alpha-sarcoglycan protein deficiency and 18 biopsies showed a deficiency. Pathogenetic mutations involving one gene for sarcoglycan complex components were identified in 13 patients: alpha-sarcoglycan in seven, beta-sarcoglycan in two, gamma-sarcoglycan in four, and none in the delta-sarcoglycan gene. The overall prevalence of primary sarcoglycanopathies, as of 31 December 1996, was estimated to be 5.6 x 10(-6) inhabitants. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate estimated in this study is the first to be obtained after biochemical and molecular genetic screening for sarcoglycan defects.
Towards a Computable Data Corpus of Temporal Correlations between Drug Administration and Lab Value Changes

Background The analysis of electronic health records for an automated detection of adverse drug reactions is an approach to solve the problems that arise from traditional methods like spontaneous reporting or manual chart review. Algorithms addressing this task should be modeled on the criteria for a standardized case causality assessment defined by the World Health Organization. One of these criteria is the temporal relationship between drug intake and the occurrence of a reaction or a laboratory test abnormality. Appropriate data that would allow for developing or validating related algorithms is not publicly available, though. Methods In order to provide such data, retrospective routine data of drug administrations and temporally corresponding laboratory observations from a university clinic were extracted, transformed and evaluated by experts in terms of a reasonable time relationship between drug administration and lab value alteration. Result The result is a data corpus of 400 episodes of normalized laboratory parameter values in temporal context with drug administrations. Each episode has been manually classified whether it contains data that might indicate a temporal correlation between the drug administration and the change of the lab value course, whether such a change is not observable or whether a decision between those two options is not possible due to the data. In addition, each episode has been assigned a concordance value which indicates how difficult it is to assess. This is the first open data corpus of a computable ground truth of temporal correlations between drug administration and lab value alterations. Discussion The main purpose of this data corpus is the provision of data for further research and the provision of a ground truth which allows for comparing the outcome of other assessments of this data with the outcome of assessments made by human experts. It can serve as a contribution towards systematic, computerized ADR detection in retrospective data. With this lab value curve data as a basis, algorithms for detecting temporal relationships can be developed, and with the classification made by human experts, these algorithms can immediately be validated. Due to the normalization of the lab value data, it allows for a generic approach rather than for specific or solitary drug/lab value combinations.
The Use of Lipofilling to Treat Congenital Hypoplastic Breast Anomalies: Preliminary Experiences

BackgroundTreatment options for congenital hypoplastic breast anomalies are often open, including radial scoring, parenchymal flaps, and insertion of expanders and implants. Drawbacks of open techniques involve scarring, the use of drains, and inpatient stays. The use of lipofilling to treat breast deformities is increasing, as more research is completed in this area. Patients and MethodsWe report a retrospective study of 10 patients below the age of 20 following autologous fat transfer between January 1, 2003 and January 1, 2004. (2 Poland syndrome, 3 bilateral tuberous breast, and 5 unilateral micromastia). Age, cup size, the number of sessions, time interval between each session, volumes injected, and complications were recorded. Postoperative mammography, ultrasonography, and MRI were assessed by a specialized radiologist. Patients answered a questionnaire 1 year after the procedure. ResultsMean follow-up was 68 months (60–77 months) and mean age was 17.5 years (15–20 years). Mean number of fat injection sessions was 2 (1–4) and mean volume injected 285 mL per breast (200–500 mL). The time interval between each session was 5 months (3–6 months). Cup size remained unchanged after at least 5 years of follow-up. One case underwent a contralateral breast reduction. The cosmetic results considered satisfactory in almost all the patients after 1 year of follow-up. None of our patients complained of scars or defects at the donor site. All breasts imaging were normal except 1 patient with oil cysts. ConclusionOur preliminary results using lipofilling to treat young patients with breast hypoplasia with lipofilling are very encouraging. The authors believe it is an alternative of choice for the correction of the young woman’s breast deformities if the avoidance of scarring is preferred.
Finding and extracting crypto routines from malware

In this paper we present a new approach for identifying the crypto routines in different types of malware. In traditional malware analysis, like sandboxing, network data is examined as seen on the wire or data is collected as it is written to a file. The use of proprietary binary formats, obfuscation, or encryption hides important details, which are necessary for investigating malicious behavior. It is hardly possible to create decryptors just from monitored sandbox data. Our approach not only examines the data when leaving or entering the malware but also correlates it with information from inside the malware. By monitoring the data at I/O interfaces as well as data dependencies our approach automatically reveals the data origin. Knowing the data origin enables an analyst to easily find the crypto functions. Using this approach, we were able to identify the encryption, decryption, and command parser in different malware samples each within minutes. In our evaluation, we present the results for the Kraken command&control protocol encryption and for the file encryption of the Srvcp trojan.
A widespread and early requirement for a novel Notch function during Drosophila embryogenesis.

The Notch pathway plays a key role in the formation of many tissues and cell types in Metazoans. We recently showed that Notch acts in two pathways to determine muscle precursor fates. The first is the "standard" Notch pathway, in which Delta activates the Notch receptor, which then translocates into the nucleus in conjunction with Su(H) to reprogram transcription patterns and bring about changes in cell fates. The second pathway is poorly defined, but known to be independent of the ligands and downstream effectors of the standard pathway. The standard pathway is required in many different developmental contexts and we wondered if there was also a general requirement for the novel pathway. Here we show that the novel Notch pathway is required for the development of each of five examined cell types. These results indicate that the novel pathway is a widespread and fundamental component of Notch function. We further show that both Notch pathways operate in the differentiation of the same cell types. In such cases, the novel pathway acts first and appears to set up or limit the size of equivalence groups. The standard pathway then acts within the equivalence groups to limit individual cell fates.
Enhancement of absorption from the intact and transected canine small intestine by electrical pacing.

Abstract Our aim was to answer three questions: Does retrograde electrical pacing enhance absorption from intact jejunum? Does duodenal transection, which facilitates pacing, reduce jejunal absorption? Does pacing after transection enhance absorption over that of intact bowel? In four dogs, a 75-cm segment of jejunum was constructed to exclude its lumen from the intestinal stream, but to preserve its myoelectric continuity with the duodenal pacemaker via a bridge of tunica muscularis. Recording and stimulating electrodes were sewn to the segment, and an infusion catheter was inserted into its proximal end. After recovery, six experiments were done in each dog; in each a 100 mM-glucose, 90 mM-NaCl solution was infused into the proximal end of the segment at 14.5 ml/5 min, and 5-min aliquots of effluent were collected from the distal stoma for 3 hr. During the second hour, electric stimuli were given via a distal bipolar electrode. The experiments were repeated after complete duodenal transection and reanastomosis. Before transection, electrical stimulation did not alter pacesetter potential frequency (x ± SE, 17.9 ± 0.2 cycles/min), but absorption of water, glucose, and sodium was increased (P