Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
11C-2 Minute Roughness Measurement Using Phase Tracking for Arterial Wall Diagnosis Non-Invasively In Vivo

Early diagnosis of atherosclerosis is essential as many of the risk factors are life-style dependent. We suggest a new method to measure minute roughness of the size of micrometers of the arterial wall. The method was evaluated using three silicone phantoms sized 13 mum, 23 mum and 33 mum, respectively. The mean of the measured heights of the phantoms were 8.1 mum (SD 0.0), 23.3 mum (SD 0.2) and 29.6 mum (SD 0.1) in the forward direction, and 7.7 mum (SD 0.0), 21.9 mum (SD 0.2) and 27.3 mum (SD 3.6) in the backward direction, respectively. The phantom study shows very promising result and encourages to further evaluation and in vivo investigations.
Real-Time Classification of Hand Motions Using Ultrasound Imaging of Forearm Muscles

Surface electromyography (sEMG) has been the predominant method for sensing electrical activity for a number of applications involving muscle-computer interfaces, including myoelectric control of prostheses and rehabilitation robots. Ultrasound imaging for sensing mechanical deformation of functional muscle compartments can overcome several limitations of sEMG, including the inability to differentiate between deep contiguous muscle compartments, low signal-to-noise ratio, and lack of a robust graded signal. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of real-time graded control using a computationally efficient method to differentiate between complex hand motions based on ultrasound imaging of forearm muscles. Dynamic ultrasound images of the forearm muscles were obtained from six able-bodied volunteers and analyzed to map muscle activity based on the deformation of the contracting muscles during different hand motions. Each participant performed 15 different hand motions, including digit flexion, different grips (i.e., power grasp and pinch grip), and grips in combination with wrist pronation. During the training phase, we generated a database of activity patterns corresponding to different hand motions for each participant. During the testing phase, novel activity patterns were classified using a nearest neighbor classification algorithm based on that database. The average classification accuracy was 91%. Real-time image-based control of a virtual hand showed an average classification accuracy of 92%. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of using ultrasound imaging as a robust muscle-computer interface. Potential clinical applications include control of multiarticulated prosthetic hands, stroke rehabilitation, and fundamental investigations of motor control and biomechanics.
Relationships between sequestration, antigenic variation and chronic parasitism in Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi– a rodent malaria model

Summary We describe here a rodent malaria model using cloned lines of Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi in inbred CBA/Ca mice that exhibits both clonal antigenic variation in late stage‐specific surface antigens, and deep vascular schizogony in the liver. We show that both these features are modulated by the spleen, and that surface antigen expression is crucially involved in the sequestering phenotype. Surface antigens are variant in chronic infection, and host protective immune responses can distinguish between these variants. Splenectomy abolishes this difference. The acute infection with non‐sequestering cloned lines is kinetically indistinguishable from sequestering clones, but parasites unable to express variant sequestration‐associated antigen do not form a chronic recrudescing infection. Another clone, able to re‐express this antigen in the presence of the spleen, undergoes typical chronic recrudescence. In this model, the biological significance of sequestration‐associated variant antigen seems to enable the establishment of chronic infection in the presence of a primed spleen.
Comparison of Repeatability and Agreement between Swept-Source Optical Biometry and Dual-Scheimpflug Topography

Purpose To assess the repeatability and agreement of parameters obtained with two biometers and to compare the predictability. Methods Biometry was performed on 101 eyes with cataract using the IOLMaster 700 and the Galilei G6. Three measurements were obtained per eye with each device, and repeatability was evaluated. The axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), keratometry (K), white-to-white (WTW) corneal diameter, central corneal thickness (CCT), and lens thickness (LT) were measured and postoperative predictability was compared. Results Measurements could not be obtained with the IOLMaster 700 in one eye and in seven eyes with the Galilei G6 due to dense cataract. Both the IOLMaster 700 and Galilei G6 showed good repeatability, although the IOLMaster 700 showed better repeatability than the Galilei G6. There were no statistically significant differences in AL, ACD, steepest K, WTW, and LT (P > 0.050), although flattest K, mean K, and CCT differed (P < 0.050). The proportion of eyes with an absolute prediction error within 0.5 D was 85.0% for the IOLMaster 700 and was 80.0% for the Galilei G6 based on the SRK/T formula. Conclusions Two biometers showed high repeatability and relatively good agreements. The swept-source optical biometer demonstrated better repeatability, penetration, and an overall lower prediction error.
Effects of fine‐scale genetic structure on male mating success in gynodioecious Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima

Plant mating systems are known to influence population genetic structure because pollen and seed dispersal are often spatially restricted. However, the reciprocal outcomes of population structure on the dynamics of polymorphic mating systems have received little attention. In gynodioecious sea beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima), three sexual types co‐occur: females carrying a cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) gene, hermaphrodites carrying a non‐CMS cytoplasm and restored hermaphrodites that carry CMS genes and nuclear restorer alleles. This study investigated the effects of fine‐scale genetic structure on male reproductive success of the two hermaphroditic forms. Our study population was strongly structured and characterized by contrasting local sex‐ratios. Pollen flow was constrained over short distances and depended on local plant density. Interestingly, restored hermaphrodites sired significantly more seedlings than non‐CMS hermaphrodites, despite the previous observation that the former produce pollen of lower quality than the latter. This result was explained by the higher frequency of females in the local vicinity of restored (CMS) hermaphrodites as compared to non‐CMS hermaphrodites. Population structure thus strongly influences individual fitness and may locally counteract the expected effects of selection, suggesting that understanding fine scale population processes is central to predicting the evolution of gender polymorphism in angiosperms.
Apicobasal polarity of brain endothelial cells

Normal brain homeostasis depends on the integrity of the blood–brain barrier that controls the access of nutrients, humoral factors, and immune cells to the CNS. The blood–brain barrier is composed mainly of brain endothelial cells. Forming the interface between two compartments, they are highly polarized. Apical/luminal and basolateral/abluminal membranes differ in their lipid and (glyco-)protein composition, allowing brain endothelial cells to secrete or transport soluble factors in a polarized manner and to maintain blood flow. Here, we summarize the basic concepts of apicobasal cell polarity in brain endothelial cells. To address potential molecular mechanisms underlying apicobasal polarity in brain endothelial cells, we draw on investigations in epithelial cells and discuss how polarity may go awry in neurological diseases.
Ion-binding properties of a K+ channel selectivity filter in different conformations

Significance The selectivity filter of K+ channels is responsible for their exquisite ion selectivity. This region is also responsible for C-type inactivation, a regulatory process in many voltage-dependent K+ channels. Although the functional properties of inactivated channels have been known for decades, the first potential glimpse of their structure emerged from crystal structures of a constricted selectivity filter in an open channel. However, recent studies challenged the suggestion that the constricted selectivity filter is the inactivated structure, leaving open the question of what the inactivated structure looks like. Here, we provide evidence that the thermodynamic properties of the selectivity filter in an inactivated channel are more similar to properties of the conductive channel rather than the constricted open channel. K+ channels are membrane proteins that selectively conduct K+ ions across lipid bilayers. Many voltage-gated K+ (KV) channels contain two gates, one at the bundle crossing on the intracellular side of the membrane and another in the selectivity filter. The gate at the bundle crossing is responsible for channel opening in response to a voltage stimulus, whereas the gate at the selectivity filter is responsible for C-type inactivation. Together, these regions determine when the channel conducts ions. The K+ channel from Streptomyces lividians (KcsA) undergoes an inactivation process that is functionally similar to KV channels, which has led to its use as a practical system to study inactivation. Crystal structures of KcsA channels with an open intracellular gate revealed a selectivity filter in a constricted conformation similar to the structure observed in closed KcsA containing only Na+ or low [K+]. However, recent work using a semisynthetic channel that is unable to adopt a constricted filter but inactivates like WT channels challenges this idea. In this study, we measured the equilibrium ion-binding properties of channels with conductive, inactivated, and constricted filters using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). EPR spectroscopy was used to determine the state of the intracellular gate of the channel, which we found can depend on the presence or absence of a lipid bilayer. Overall, we discovered that K+ ion binding to channels with an inactivated or conductive selectivity filter is different from K+ ion binding to channels with a constricted filter, suggesting that the structures of these channels are different.
MOTIVATING FACTORS OF REMITTANCES INFLOWS INTO DEVELOPING ASIAN ECONOMIES

Considering 11 major Asian migrant sending countries during 1975–2012, the study explores the factors that motivate migrants to remit their earnings to home countries. Using panel regressions, it finds that it is primarily the growth rate and interest rate differentials between the home and host, the household consumption and financial sector development at home along with per capita income of host countries which lead to remittances inflows. It concludes that it is not only the altruistic (or consumption) and higher interest income motives; but also the patriotic motives reflected from significant impact of past remittances, are crucial factors of such flows.
Nonmaturity Deposits and Banks’ Exposure to Interest Rate Risk: Issues Arising from the Basel Regulatory Framework

Because publicly available measures of deposit runoff risk are scarce, regulators' models to measure interest rate risk in the banking book are based on very coarse assumptions about the allocation of non-maturity deposits within the regulatory maturity ladder. Using well-established statistical approaches, we address this issue by developing a methodology that considers deposits' actual behavior in terms of both price sensitivity to changes in market rates and volume stability over time. Our model extends the current knowledge of public measures of interest rate risk and can be applied to publicly available data in a manner replicable by those outside of banking institutions. The use of different allocation criteria affects not only the size of the risk indicator but also the nature of banks' risk exposure and determines the risk inversion phenomenon, that is, banks exposed to an increase in interest rates can experience a reduction in their equity economic value if interest rates decrease. Overall, our results confirm the importance of accurate modeling of non-maturity deposits for estimating interest rate risk in the banking book.
Comparison of pressor action of aliphatic amines.

The pressor activity of thirty-nine aliphatic amines has been compared in pithed dogs. The most active compounds are 2-amino-4-methyl-hexane and 2-amino-heptane. Presentation of results has been made in relation to chemical structure. The amino groups on C2 appears to have the most favorable influence on the pressor activity.
Multipoint Wireless Information and Power Transfer to Maximize Sum-Throughput in WBAN With Energy Harvesting

Wireless body area networks (WBANs) are not only an extension and branch of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) but also a practical application area of Internet of Things (IoT). With the extensive development of IoT technology, WBAN can monitor human physiological parameters in real time. Reliable information transmission is an important factor limiting the development of WBAN owing to special path loss and shadowing effect. Therefore, maximizing throughput is a pivotal part of improving system performance. In this paper, a multipoint WBAN (MP-WBAN) with energy harvesting for normal and abnormal scenarios is studied. We propose two different protocols, including a time switching (TS) strategy and a hybrid TS and power splitting (PS) strategy, respectively. In the abnormal scenarios, the access point (AP) harvests independent command signals from sensor nodes in the uplink (UL) and broadcasts dedicated energy signals to all sensor nodes in the downlink (DL). At the same time, the AP simultaneously broadcasts wireless command and energy signals to all sensor nodes in the normal situation. After all sensors harvest energy from the radio frequency (RF) signals, physiological datas can be transfered to the AP in a specific time sequence. We optimize TS ratios to achieve the abnormal situation sum-throughput maximization by utilizing convex optimization techniques. For sum-throughput maximization in normal situation, a near-optimal solution can be acquired by iteratively updating TS ratios and PS ratios. Numerical simulation results show the system performances of sum-throughput can be significantly improved by the proposed algorithms.
Comparison of Polyethylene Glycol 3350 and Lactulose for Treatment of Chronic Constipation in Children

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 and lactulose were compared in an unblinded, randomized, crossover design for treatment of constipation in 37 children aged 2 to 16 years. Subjects received lactulose (1.3 g/kg/d divided twice daily up to 20 g) or PEG 3350 (10 g/m2/day) for 2 weeks. PEG 3350 significantly decreased the total colonic transit time compared to lactulose (47.6 +2.7 vs 55.3 ±2.4 hours, mean ±SE, PEG 3350 vs lactulose, respectively, p = 0.038). The stool frequency, form, and the ease of passage were similar for each laxative. Polyethylene glycol 3350 is an effective laxative for the treatment of chronic constipation in children.
Container Ports Throughput Analysis: A Comparative Evaluation of China and Five West African Countries' Seaports Efficiencies

The measurement of the container port throughput and efficiency of China and 5 West African ports was the objective of this study. The DEA model, which is a non-parametric methodology, was applied to a number of inputs of port production and a single output. The results show that although China’s ports are the largest in terms of throughput and size, they are relatively inefficient due to over-capacity. In West Africa, it was revealed that the Tema port in Ghana was the most efficient although it displayed some operational inefficiencies with the Cotonou port in Benin been the least efficient. The results will therefore, add value to future port planning and management and performance ratings.
Looseness of Associations in Acute Schizophrenia

Summary To study looseness of associations and other theoretically relevant variables of speech pathology, 51 acute psychiatric patients, including 26 schizophrenics, were studied at the acute phase of their disorder by means of a free verbalization interview. The results on these 51 patients during the acute period were. 1. There were clear differences between the schizophrenic patient group and the control patient group, the overall index of deviant verbalizations being significant at the . 001 el. 2. Many types of looseness were found in non-schizophrenic patients as well as in schizophrenics. Except at the very mildest levels, however, the variants of overt looseness were strikingly more frequent in occurrence and severe in degree in the schizophrenic group (p < .01). 3. Gaps in communication, vagueness of ideas and blocking, though present to some degree in our control group, were much more common in the schizophrenic sample (p < .001). 4. In the control group of patients, private meanings (including neologisms), repetition and perseveration were extremely rare, and current delusional thinking virtually non-existent. Private meanings and current delusional thinking were conspicuously present in the schizophrenic sample; repetition and perseveration were present to a mild degree in this acute schizophrenic sample. 5. Schizophrenic patients tend to show more looseness of associations when faced with a request to talk about topics not related to their illness.
Sociological Analysis of “Dua Wajah Ibu” a Short Story by Guntur Alam

--The purpose of this study is to describe the dimensions of the text, discourse practices and socio-cultural practices in the short story "Dua Wajah Ibu" by Guntur Alam. The theory used is the literary sociology theory. The method used is qualitative method with Fairclough's model of critical discourse analysis. The results of the analysis in this study are: (1) Dimensions of the text, representing "Dua Wajah Ibu" with the face of Jakarta as the capital of Indonesia and the face of Mak Inang as a mother. Interpreting the reality of Jakarta's shabby and chaotic face, the writer describes it through the Mak Inang figure who is able to see the fierce conditions of dirty Jakarta and also not according to what is previously imagined. Mak Inang figures also describe the foreigner’s behavior that is still happy to try their luck in Jakarta to change their social status. Guntur Alam also conveyed a message to readers that Jakarta is actually full of immorality, corruption, and so on. he wants to transform Jakarta into a clean capital, (2) the dimension of discourse practices related to intertextuality and interdiscurivity in this short story where Mak Inang as the main character uses references in the form of practices in Islam and intertextual on Said's Senen Triangle in Memories which written in 2006, (3) the dimension of socio-cultural practices in which the Author included the ideology of urbanism that is featured in this short story through the social reality. Keyword---sociology, fairclough, guntur alam
Evaluation of the effects of a killed whole-cell vaccine against Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in 3 herds of dairy cattle with natural exposure to the organism.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate effects of vaccination with a killed whole-cell vaccine against Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP) on fecal shedding of the organism, development of clinical paratuberculosis (Johne's disease [JD]), milk production, measures of reproduction, and within-herd longevity of dairy cattle naturally exposed to MAP. DESIGN Controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS 200 vaccinated and 195 unvaccinated (control) dairy cows from 3 herds in Wisconsin. PROCEDURES Every other heifer calf born in each herd received the MAP vaccine; 162 vaccinates and 145 controls that had ≥ 1 lactation were included in analyses. Bacteriologic culture of fecal samples for MAP was performed annually for 7 years; results were confirmed via histologic methods and PCR assay. Production records and culture results were evaluated to determine effects of vaccination on variables of interest in study cows. Annual whole-herd prevalence of MAP shedding in feces was also determined. RESULTS Vaccinates had a significantly lower hazard of testing positive for MAP via culture of fecal samples than did controls over time (hazard ratio, 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.34 to 0.97). Fewer vaccinates developed clinical JD than did controls (n = 6 and 12, respectively), but these differences were nonsignificant. Overall within-herd longevity, total milk production, and calving-to-conception intervals were similar between vaccinates and controls. In all herds, prevalence of MAP shedding in feces decreased over time. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Vaccination with a killed whole-cell MAP vaccine appeared to be an effective tool as part of a program to control the spread of JD in dairy cattle.
Some measurement results for frequency-dependent inductance of IC interconnects on a lossy silicon substrate

Frequency dependent measurements of scattering (S) parameters using a vector network analyzer (VNA) have been performed on IC interconnects on a lossy silicon substrate. The multiline calibration method has been used to perform the de-embedding of the line parameters, from which the line inductance is extracted. A highly accurate closed-form approximation for frequency-dependent impedance per unit length of a lossy silicon substrate for IC interconnects has been used to compare with the measurements performed.
QoS-Aware Enhanced-Security for TDMA Transmissions from Buffered Source Nodes

This paper proposes a cross-layer design to enhance the security of a set of buffered legitimate source nodes wishing to communicate with a common destination node using a time-division multiple-access scheme with probabilistic time slot assignment. The users’ assignment probabilities to the time slots are optimized to satisfy a certain quality-of-service (QoS) requirement for each of the legitimate source nodes. To further improve the system security, we propose beamforming-based cooperative jamming schemes subject to the availability of the channel state information (CSI) at the legitimate nodes. We assume that if a source node is not selected for data transmission, it is a cooperative jamming node. We impose an average transmit power constraint (averaged across time slots) on each source node. Hence, the source nodes should efficiently distribute their average transmit powers throughout the network operation between data and artificial noise transmissions to satisfy the QoS requirements. We investigate the two cases where a global CSI is assumed at the legitimate nodes and where there is no eavesdropper’s CSI. The case where there is no CSI at the jamming nodes is also investigated and a new scheme is proposed. We derive closed-form expressions for the instantaneous secrecy rate for each scheme as well as the secrecy outage probability. Moreover, we derive the secrecy stable-throughput and delay-requirement regions of the network. Our proposed jamming schemes achieve significant increases in the secure throughput over existing schemes from the literature and over the no-jamming scheme.
Bond Markets and Monetary Policy

Since the early 1990’s, and until the 2008 financial crisis, the main policy tool of the FOMC has been a nominal interest rate target. This paper surveys an extensive literature that studies the link between monetary policy and the dynamics of bond yields. This literature uses ‘high-frequency’ identification around FOMC announcements to measure shocks to market participant’s expectations about the current and future stance of monetary policy. Summarising the literature, we argue monetary policy affects yields at all maturities because of two types of shock: (i) shocks to the target rate; and (ii) shocks to the future path of the monetary policy. Interestingly, compelling evidence shows that path shocks are not linked to changes in expected inflation but linked to two alternative channels: an information and a (real) risk premium channel. We present novel empirical evidence in support of a risk premium channel.