Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term dynamics of death rates of emphysema, asthma, and pneumonia and improving air quality

Background The respiratory tract is a major target of exposure to air pollutants, and respiratory diseases are associated with both short- and long-term exposures. We hypothesized that improved air quality in North Carolina was associated with reduced rates of death from respiratory diseases in local populations. Materials and methods We analyzed the trends of emphysema, asthma, and pneumonia mortality and changes of the levels of ozone, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matters (PM2.5 and PM10) using monthly data measurements from air-monitoring stations in North Carolina in 1993–2010. The log-linear model was used to evaluate associations between air-pollutant levels and age-adjusted death rates (per 100,000 of population) calculated for 5-year age-groups and for standard 2000 North Carolina population. The studied associations were adjusted by age group-specific smoking prevalence and seasonal fluctuations of disease-specific respiratory deaths. Results Decline in emphysema deaths was associated with decreasing levels of SO2 and CO in the air, decline in asthma deaths–with lower SO2, CO, and PM10 levels, and decline in pneumonia deaths–with lower levels of SO2. Sensitivity analyses were performed to study potential effects of the change from International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 to ICD-10 codes, the effects of air pollutants on mortality during summer and winter, the impact of approach when only the underlying causes of deaths were used, and when mortality and air-quality data were analyzed on the county level. In each case, the results of sensitivity analyses demonstrated stability. The importance of analysis of pneumonia as an underlying cause of death was also highlighted. Conclusion Significant associations were observed between decreasing death rates of emphysema, asthma, and pneumonia and decreases in levels of ambient air pollutants in North Carolina.
Some Fundamental Concepts of Femtosecond Laser Filamentation

This paper attempts to clarify some fundamental concepts of femtosecond (fs) laser filamentation in an optical (transparent) medium since there are currently many new applications which are being explored. These range from remote sensing in the atmosphere to few cycle pulse generation, micro-material processing, writing wave guides, fiber Bragg gratings, etc. in the laboratory. For a most recent comprehensive review, see Ref. 1. First of all, we should emphasize that the fundamental physics of filamentation is the same in all optical media, be they gases, liquids, or solids. It is simply the balancing actions between Kerr self-focusing of the pulse in a neutral medium and the self-de-focusing by the selfgenerated weak plasma (free electrons). The difference lies in the details of free electrons generation. In gases, tunnel ionization of the gas molecules inside the selffocal volume results in a plasma that defocuses the pulse [2]. In condensed matters, excitation of free electrons from the valence to the conduction bands [3] is followed by inverse Bremstrahlung and electron impact ionization [4] before the short pulse is over. The well-known type of optical breakdown of the medium (generation of a spark) by longer laser pulses in the picosecond (ps) and nanosecond (ns) regimes does not occur in the fs self-focusing regime because there is not enough time to sustain cascade (avalanche) ionization. For example, at a one-atmosphere pressure, the mean free time of an electron collision is ∼1 ps. This time is longer than the fs pulse duration so that only tunnel ionization, an ‘instantaneous’ electronic transition process, is responsible for the generation of free electrons [5] even though the full pulse is involved in the self-focusing including external
Aerodynamic parameter estimation using neuro-fuzzy model based method

In this paper, the problem of aerodynamic parameter estimation has been solved using Neuro-Fuzzy model based — ANFIS-Delta method using UAV data. The In-house designed and developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), with cropped delta planform configuration has been flown to gather the data and estimate aerodynamic coefficients. The obtained parameter estimated results are also compared with neural network based Delta method.
Crizotinib targets in glioblastoma stem cells

Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) are believed to be involved in the mechanisms of tumor resistance, therapeutic failures, and recurrences after conventional glioblastoma therapy. Therefore, elimination of GSCs might be a prerequisite for the development of successful therapeutic strategies. ALK, ROS1, and MET are targeted by Crizotinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor which has been approved for treatment of ALK‐rearranged non–small‐cell lung cancer. In this study we investigated ALK, ROS1, and MET status in nine glioblastoma stem cell lines and tumors from which they arise. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), Sanger's direct sequencing, and immunohistochemistry were used to screen genomic rearrangements (or amplifications), genomic mutations, and protein expression, respectively. The immunohistochemical and FISH studies revealed no significant dysregulation of ROS1 in GSCs and associated tumors. Neither amplification nor polysomy of ALK was observed in GSC, but weak overexpression was detected by IHC in three of nine GSCs. Similarly, no MET amplification was found by FISH but three GSCs presented significant immunohistochemical staining. No ALK or MET mutation was found by Sanger's direct sequencing. In this study, we show no molecular rearrangement of ALK, ROS1, and MET that would lead us not to propose, as a valid strategy, the use of crizotinib to eradicate GSCs. However, MET was overexpressed in all GSCs with mesenchymal subtype and three GSCs presented an overexpression of ALK. Therefore, our study corroborates the idea that MET and ALK may assume a role in the tumorigenicity of GSC.
Dislocations as a cause of mechanical damping in metals

Zener has shown how thermoelastic effects give rise to damping of the mechanical vibrations of a solid. For example, in a vibrating reed opposite sides are alternately compressed and extended. This gives rise to an alternating temperature-difference across the width of the reed, and the resulting flow of heat leads to dissipation of mechanical energy. In a vibrating single crystal of a metal an additional energy loss is observed which is usually attributed to the motion of dislocations. In the present paper the following mechanism is proposed. Dislocations are trapped in 'potential troughs’ at the minima of the internal stress in the crystal. When the crystal vibrates the dislocations oscillate in their potential troughs and the moving stress-system associated with them produces a fluctuating temperature distribution in the material; this leads to damping as in Zener’s case. The rate of loss of energy produced by a dislocation oscillating with given amplitude is calculated and the effect of a collection of them is discussed. An actual estimate of the damping in a vibrating crystal requires (i) a knowledge of the relation between the amplitude of oscillation of a dislocation and the vibrational stress causing it to move, and (ii) a knowledge of the density of dislocations in the material. A tentative discussion of (i) is given. The quantity (ii) is unknown; however, It is shown that the damping depends only on the ratio of the number of dislocations per unit area to the number of potential troughs per unit area. If this ratio is calculated from the theoretical result and the observed damping in copper single crystals, it is found to be of the order of unity. The present theory predicts that the damping should increase with frequency. This is in disagreement with the limited experimental data available. Two subsidiary effects are also investigated, the thermoelastic damping arising from the interaction between the vibrational stresses and the stresses surrounding stationary dislocations, and the damping due to the emission of elastic waves from an oscillating dislocation. Both these effects are shown to be small compared with the thermoelastic damping caused by moving dislocations.
Human identification based on ECG signals from wearable health monitoring devices

Wearable health monitoring devices have been widely explored to enable continuous monitoring of physiological vital signals, such as electrocardiogram (ECG). In this work, we investigate the applicability of ECG signals from such wearable devices in human identification. In the 5-subject study we undertook, the proposed method exhibits near-100% recognition rates based on single heartbeats, even with a six-month interval between the training and testing data. This indicates that ECG signals can be used as robust biometrics and as an automatic login solution for such wearable health monitoring devices.
Relationship between anthropogenic impacts and bleaching-associated tissue mortality of corals in Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles)

Chronic anthropogenic impacts can have a negative effect on coral health and on coral energy budgets needed for regeneration of lesions. I therefore hypothesise that during massive bleaching events, the degree of corals showing bleaching-related tissue mortality is higher in areas subject to chronic anthropogenic impacts than in relatively pristine areas. In the present study, the degree of bleaching and bleaching-related tissue mortality was estimated for eight abundant coral species in Curacao, at the onset of a massive Caribbean bleaching event in 1995, and three months afterwards. To study the possible effects of anthropogenic disturbances, the study was done at four unpolluted control sites, two polluted sites (sedimentation, sewage), and four sites at the mouth of lagoons with outflow of nutrient-rich, warm and turbid seawater. No pattern of an overall difference in bleaching between impacted and control sites was found for the degree of bleaching. However, the percentage of corals showing bleaching-related tissue mortality was higher at the impacted sites than at the control sites for the total number of corals and for corals with < 50% of their surface area bleached. Highest and most significant values of tissue mortality were found at a reef site experiencing chronic pollution by raw sewage. The data thus suggest that unfavourable conditions caused by anthropogenic influences, such as increased sedimentation, eutrophication and seawater temperature, have an additional negative effect on the tissue survival of coral colonies during bleaching episodes. Rev. Biol. Trop. 54 (Suppl. 3): 31-43. Epub 2007 Jan. 15.
Deep learning application based on embedded GPU

Since the Deep Neural Networks(DNNs) in the machine vision challenge has made outstanding achievements, a variety of excellent models are used in a variety of scenes. Embedded applications based on deep learning have become the key to becoming a product. This paper introduces the task of image recognition based on deep learning. And starts with the actual demand, it introduces the application of depth learning in commercial video analysis and accelerates the existing algorithm model. The results show that the optimized algorithm can realize the deep learning for embedded applications.
Protein kinase C delta phosphorylates ecdysone receptor B1 to promote gene expression and apoptosis under 20-hydroxyecdysone regulation

Significance The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) promotes apoptosis during larval-to-adult metamorphosis in insects. However, the mechanisms governing this process are unclear. This work reveals that 20E up-regulates the expression of the protein kinase PKCδ isoform E. Overexpression of the catalytic domain of PKCδ is sufficient to increase caspase-3 activity and apoptosis. PKCδ directly phosphorylates a threonine residue at position 468 of the amino acid sequence of nuclear receptor EcRB1. The phosphorylation of EcRB1 is essential for apoptotic gene transcription. These results demonstrate the mechanism by which the steroid hormone 20E promotes PKCδ expression to regulate apoptosis. The nuclear receptor EcRB1, which is activated by the insect steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), is reportedly phosphorylated by a protein kinase after 20E induction. However, the protein kinase has not been identified, and the significance of EcRB1 phosphorylation is unclear. In this study, we identified a protein kinase C δ (PKCδ) isoform (the E isoform) that phosphorylates EcRB1 in the lepidopteran Helicoverpa armigera, a serious agricultural pest worldwide, to promote apoptotic gene expression and apoptosis during metamorphosis. Through activation of the EcRB1/USP1 transcription complex by 20E, PKCδ expression was up-regulated in several tissues during the metamorphic stage. Knockdown of PKCδ caused failure to transition from larvae to pupae, prevented tissues from undergoing programmed cell death (PCD), and down-regulated the expression of the transcription factor Brz-7 and the apoptosis executors caspase-3 and caspase-6. The threonine residue at position 1343 of PKCδ was phosphorylated and was critical for its proapoptotic function. Overexpression of the PKCδ catalytic domain was localized to the nuclei in HaEpi cells, which increased caspase-3 activity and apoptosis. PKCδ directly phosphorylated a threonine residue at position 468 in the amino acid sequence of EcRB1. The phosphorylation of EcRB1 was critical for its heterodimeric interaction with the USP1 protein and for binding to the ecdysone response element. The data suggested that 20E up-regulates PKCδ expression to regulate EcRB1 phosphorylation for EcRB1/USP1 transcription complex formation, apoptotic gene transcription, and apoptosis.
c-Myc deregulation induces mRNA capping enzyme dependency

c-Myc is a potent driver of many human cancers. Since strategies for directly targeting c-Myc protein have had limited success, upstream regulators and downstream effectors of c-Myc are being investigated as alternatives for therapeutic intervention. c-Myc regulates transcription and formation of the mRNA cap, which is important for transcript maturation and translation. However, the direct mechanism by which c-Myc upregulates mRNA capping is unclear. mRNA cap formation initiates with the linkage of inverted guanosine via a triphosphate bridge to the first transcribed nucleotide, catalysed by mRNA capping enzyme (CE/RNGTT). Here we report that c-Myc increases the recruitment of catalytically active CE to RNA polymerase II and to its target genes. c-Myc-induced target gene expression, cell proliferation and cell transformation is highly dependent on CE, but only when c-Myc is deregulated. Cells retaining normal control of c-Myc expression are insensitive to repression of CE. c-Myc expression is also dependent on CE. Therefore, inhibiting CE provides an attractive route for selective therapeutic targeting of cancer cells which have acquired deregulated c-Myc.
Semen Bacterial Concentrations and HIV-1 RNA Shedding Among HIV-1–Seropositive Kenyan Men

Introduction: HIV-1 is transmitted through semen from men to their sexual partners. Genital infections can increase HIV-1 RNA shedding in semen, but shedding also occurs in the absence of typical pathogens. We hypothesized that higher bacterial concentrations in semen would be associated with higher HIV-1 RNA levels. Methods: We analyzed semen samples from 42 HIV-1–seropositive Kenyan men using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to assess bacterial concentrations and real-time PCR to measure HIV-1 RNA levels. Generalized estimation equations were used to evaluate associations between these 2 measures. Broad-range 16S rRNA gene PCR with pyrosequencing was performed on a subset of 13 samples to assess bacterial community composition. Results: Bacteria were detected in 96.6% of 88 samples by quantitative PCR. Semen bacterial concentration and HIV-1 RNA levels were correlated 0.30 (P = 0.01). The association between bacterial concentration and HIV-1 RNA detection was not significant after adjustment for antiretroviral therapy (ART) (adjusted odds ratio: 1.27, 95% CI: 0.84 to 1.91). Factors associated with semen bacterial concentration included insertive anal sex (adjusted beta 0.92, 95% CI: 0.12 to 1.73) and ART use (adjusted beta: −0.77, 95% CI: −1.50 to 0.04). Among 13 samples with pyrosequencing data, Corynebacterium spp. , Staphylococcus spp. , and Streptococcus spp. were most frequently detected. Conclusion: Most of these HIV-1–infected men had bacteria in their semen. ART use was associated with undetectable semen HIV-1 RNA and lower semen bacterial concentrations, whereas insertive anal sex was associated with higher bacterial concentrations. Additional studies evaluating the relationship between semen bacteria, inflammation, mucosal immunity, and HIV-1 shedding are needed to understand implications for HIV-1 transmission.
Evolutionary cost-optimal composition synthesis of modular robots considering a given task

Commercially available robots cannot always be adapted to arbitrary tasks or environments, particularly when the task would exceed the kinematic or dynamic limits of the robot. Modular robots offer a solution to this problem, since they can be reconfigured in various ways from a set of modules. The challenge of choosing the optimal composition for a given task, however, is hard since the search space of compositions is vast. Our approach addresses this problem: instead of finding the cost-optimal solution over all possible compositions individually, we propose a time-efficient composition synthesis method which uses evolutionary algorithms by taking task-related objectives into account. Simulations show that our algorithm finds the cost-optimal module composition with less computation time than other methods in the literature.
Theoretical maximum throughput of IEEE 802.11ad millimeter wave wireless LAN in the contention based access period: With two level aggregation

IEEE 802.11ad standard defines high data rate WLAN at 60 GHz. It uses a hybrid MAC protocol consists of CSMA/CA and TDMA. This paper investigates theoretical maximum throughput of IEEE 802.11ad milli meter Wave (mmWave) WLAN during contention based access period (CBAP). We describe an analytical model to compute the maximum achievable throughput with two level MAC frame aggregation for various physical layer modulation and coding schemes. ns-3 simulations are used for validating the result. MAC frame size which maximizes the throughput under error prone channels is also calculated. Numerical and simulation results show that frame aggregation is mandatory for 802.11ad WLAN systems.
Hierarchical policies for software defined networks

Hierarchical policies are useful in many contexts in which resources are shared among multiple entities. Such policies can easily express the delegation of authority and the resolution of conflicts, which arise naturally when decision-making is decentralized. Conceptually, a hierarchical policy could be used to manage network resources, but commodity switches, which match packets using flow tables, do not realize hierarchies directly. This paper presents Hierarchical Flow Tables (HFT), a framework for specifying and realizing hierarchical policies in software defined networks. HFT policies are organized as trees, where each component of the tree can independently determine the action to take on each packet. When independent parts of the tree arrive at conflicting decisions, HFT resolves conflicts with user-defined conflict-resolution operators, which exist at each node of the tree. We present a compiler that realizes HFT policies on a distributed network of OpenFlow switches, and prove its correctness using the Coq proof assistant. We then evaluate the use of HFT to improve performance of networked applications.
ScaffoldSeq: Software for characterization of directed evolution populations

ScaffoldSeq is software designed for the numerous applications—including directed evolution analysis—in which a user generates a population of DNA sequences encoding for partially diverse proteins with related functions and would like to characterize the single site and pairwise amino acid frequencies across the population. A common scenario for enzyme maturation, antibody screening, and alternative scaffold engineering involves naïve and evolved populations that contain diversified regions, varying in both sequence and length, within a conserved framework. Analyzing the diversified regions of such populations is facilitated by high‐throughput sequencing platforms; however, length variability within these regions (e.g., antibody CDRs) encumbers the alignment process. To overcome this challenge, the ScaffoldSeq algorithm takes advantage of conserved framework sequences to quickly identify diverse regions. Beyond this, unintended biases in sequence frequency are generated throughout the experimental workflow required to evolve and isolate clones of interest prior to DNA sequencing. ScaffoldSeq software uniquely handles this issue by providing tools to quantify and remove background sequences, cluster similar protein families, and dampen the impact of dominant clones. The software produces graphical and tabular summaries for each region of interest, allowing users to evaluate diversity in a site‐specific manner as well as identify epistatic pairwise interactions. The code and detailed information are freely available at http://research.cems. umn.edu/hackel. Proteins 2016; 84:869–874. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
African American Stroke Survivors: More Caregiving Time, but Less Caregiving Burden

Background— Blacks have higher stroke incidence and experience greater poststroke disability than whites. To optimize care for stroke survivors, it is important to understand the amount of care that they receive and the implications for stroke caregivers. Methods and Results— Data from 2 nationally representative, population-based studies, the NHATS (National Health and Aging Trends Study) linked to the NSOC (National Study of Caregiving), were used to identify elderly stroke survivors and their caregivers. We compared hours of care received and unmet activity need among the 581 white and 225 black stroke survivors. We then performed racial comparisons of positive and negative aspects of caregiving reported by caregivers of black and white stroke survivors. Black stroke survivors were more likely than white stroke survivors to have a caregiver (62.5% versus 49.7%; P<0.01) and received on average more hours of help per week (31.7 versus 20.5; P<0.01). There was little racial difference in unmet need for assistance. Caregivers of black stroke survivors reported more positive aspects of caregiving than caregivers of white stroke survivors (6.8 versus 6.0; P<0.01). There was no racial difference in negative aspects of caregiving, depression, or anxiety. Conclusions— Black stroke survivors received an average of ≈11 more hours of care than white stroke survivors without substantial differences in unmet need. Despite providing more hours of care, caregivers of black stroke were more positive about their caregiver role than caregivers of white stroke survivors.