Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disruption of a synaptotagmin (SYT14) associated with neurodevelopmental abnormalities

We report cytogenetic and molecular studies of a de novo, apparently balanced t(1;3)(q32.1;q25.1) identified in a 12‐year‐old female (designated DGAP128) with cerebral atrophy, macrocephaly seizures, and developmental delay. A combination of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and Southern blot analysis demonstrated disruption of a synaptotagmin gene (SYT14) at the 1q32 breakpoint. Expression of SYT14 in human brain was confirmed using Northern analysis. Because members of the synaptotagmin family of proteins function as sensors that link changes in calcium levels with a variety of biological processes, including neurotransmission and hormone‐responsiveness, SYT14 is an intriguing candidate gene for the abnormal development in this child. This is the first known constitutional rearrangement of SYT14, and further systematic genetic analysis and clinical studies of DGAP128 may offer unique insights into the role of SYT14 in neurodevelopment. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Do the Primary and Secondary Intensions of Phenomenal Concepts Coincide in all Worlds

A slew of conceivability arguments have been given against physicalism. Many physicalists try to undermine these arguments by offering accounts of phenomenal concepts that explain how there can be an epistemic gap, but not an ontological gap, between the phenomenal and the physical. Some complain, however, that such accounts fail to do justice to the nature of our introspective grasp of phenomenal properties. A particularly influential version of this complaint comes from David Chalmers (1996; 2003), who claims, in opposition to the accounts of phenomenal concepts described above, that phenomenal concepts have primary and secondary intensions that coincide in all worlds. In this paper, I construct an argument that casts doubt upon Chalmers' claim. At the heart of this argument is an idea that Chalmers shows some affinity for: namely, that introspection doesn't reveal whether phenomenal properties are fundamental properties or whether they are derived from more basic protophenomenal properties. I argue that this claim implies that the primary and secondary intensions of our phenomenal concepts do not coincide in all worlds. In this way, I show that a plausible idea about the powers of introspection – an idea that Chalmers himself is drawn to – is a reason for rejecting the claim that phenomenal concepts have primary and secondary intensions that coincide in all worlds.
Redox status and pro‐survival/pro‐apoptotic protein expression in the early cardiac hypertrophy induced by experimental hyperthyroidism

This study was conducted to analyse the redox status and redox‐sensitive proteins that may contribute to a non‐genomic mechanism of cardiac hypertrophy induction by hyperthyroidism. Wistar rats, treated with L‐thyroxine (T4) during 2 weeks (12 mg·l‐1 in drinking water), presented cardiac hypertrophy (68% higher than control), without signals of liver or lung congestion. Myocardial reduction of the reduced glutathione: oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio (45%) (redox status) and elevation in hydrogen peroxide concentration (H2O2) (28%) were observed in hyperthyroid as compared with the control. No significant difference was found in thioredoxin (Trx), Trx reductase activity and Nrf2 (a transcriptional factor) protein expression between groups. Redox‐sensitive proteins, quantified using Western blot, presented the following results: increased p‐ERK: total extracellular‐regulated kinase (ERK) (200%) and Bax : Bcl‐2 (62%) ratios and reduced total‐Akt (63%) and p‐Akt (53%) expressions in the hyperthyroid rats as compared with the control. The redox imbalance, associated with increased immunocontent of a protein related to maladaptative growth (ERK) and reduced immunocontent of protein related to cytoprotection/survival (Akt), may suggest that the molecular scenario could favour the decompensation process of cardiac hypertrophy induced by experimental hyperthyroidism. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Wi-Fi fingerprinting in the real world - RTLS@UM at the EvAAL competition

Research and development around indoor positioning and navigation is capturing the attention of an increasing number of research groups and labs around the world. Among the several techniques being proposed for indoor positioning, solutions based on Wi-Fi fingerprinting are the most popular since they exploit existing WLAN infrastructures to support software-only positioning, tracking and navigation applications. Despite the enormous research efforts in this domain, and despite the existence of some commercial products based on Wi-Fi fingerprinting, it is still difficult to compare the performance, in the real world, of the several existing solutions. The EvAAL competition, hosted by the IPIN 2015 conference, contributed to fill this gap. This paper describes the experience of the RTLS@UM team in participating in track 3 of that competition.
Sensor based robot control in the presence of uncertainties: bounding the task function tracking errors

This paper focuses on the design of robust motion rate sensor based control of robots. Considering the widely used task function approach of this problem, we first derive a general condition on the control gains with respect to the uncertainties, so as to guarantee bounded tracking errors. This general result is applied to an example case, consisting of a 2-DOF vision based controller. Experimental results of comparing different control strategies are presented.
Reflector Shape Optimization for Wideband Uni-directional of CPW-fed Slot Antenna

The size and shape of the reflectors conductor of CPW-fed slot antennas using loading metallic strips and a widened tuning stub (CPW-FSLW) have been observed. By shaping the reflector, noticeable enhancements in both radiation pattern which provides uni-directional and bandwidth can be achieved while maintaining the easy fabrication and installation. Comparing each shapes for the same width reflector, the -and inverted- shape reflectors with a horizontal plate structure have noticeable enhancement both radiation pattern and impedance bandwidth.
Revelation and Normativity in Visual Experience

Suppose Figure 1 depicts Stimuli from an experiment on shape discrimination, where the subjects are asked to point out the best circle. Now suppose that Figure 2 shows Stimuli from a color-discrimination experiment where the subjects’ task is to pick the purest green — green that is neither yellowish nor bluish — in other words, is unique green. In both these tasks there are individual differences between different subjects. However, notice that in the shape-discrimination case there is exactly one correct response: the best circle is the fourth from the left. In the color case it is not obvious, to put it mildly, that there is exactly one correct response. One color-normal subject may find that the purest green is the third from the left, whereas another may choose the fifth from the left, and still another may pick the fourth. Who is right, and who is wrong? More importantly, why is there this difference between shape perception and color perception?
Haptic motion: Improving sensation of self-motion in virtual worlds with force feedback

Haptic feedbacks are usually used to provide a sensation of interaction with virtual or distant objects. These feedbacks give an access to the physical properties or constraints of these objects in a given environment. In the present study, we wondered if a haptic feedback in the hands can provide an enhanced sensation of whole-body self-motion in virtual worlds. We designed two experiments where subjects were visually immersed in a moving virtual environment and exposed, in parallel, to a force feedback stimulation in hands coherent with the virtual camera motion. In the first experiment, the motion was in a straight line combined with a force feedback acting only on Z-axis (longitudinal) and with an amplitude proportional to the acceleration of the virtual camera. We showed that the visuo-haptic stimulation produces a higher sensation of self-motion compared to the visual feedback alone. In the second experiment, we tested our method with a more complex virtual camera trajectory, inducing an acceleration vector of the virtual camera owning components in each 3D axis. Based on the difference of orientation between the velocity and acceleration vectors of the camera, we showed that the force feedback, providing the most important sensation of self-motion, has the same 3D orientation and is proportional in magnitude to the acceleration of the virtual camera. These results highlight the way visual and haptic cues interact together to provide a self-motion sensation. Taken together our results suggest new applications of force-feedback devices in VR, for the purpose of enhancing self-motion sensations.
Maltreatment Histories of Foster Youth Exiting Out-of-Home Care Through Emancipation

Little is known about maltreatment among foster youth transitioning to adulthood. Multiple entries into out-of-home care and unsuccessful attempts at reunification may nevertheless reflect extended exposure to chronic maltreatment and multiple types of victimization. This study used administrative data from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to identify all unduplicated allegations of maltreatment in a cohort of 801 foster youth transitioning to adulthood in the state of Illinois. A latent variable modeling approach generated profiles of maltreatment based on substantiated and unsubstantiated reports of maltreatment taken from state administrative data. Four indicators of maltreatment were included in the latent class analysis: multiple types of maltreatment, predominant type of maltreatment, chronicity, and number of different perpetrators. The analysis identified four subpopulations of foster youth in relation to maltreatment. Study findings highlight the heterogeneity of maltreatment in the lives of foster youth transitioning to adulthood and draw attention to a need to raise awareness among service providers to screen for chronic maltreatment and multiple types of victimization.
Sex Differences in Right Hemisphere Tasks

We tested the hypothesis that sex differences in spatial ability and emotional perception are due to sex differences in intrahemispheric organization of the right hemisphere. If the right hemisphere is differently organized by sex-primarily specialized for spatial ability in men, but primarily specialized for emotional perception in women-then there should be a negative correlation between spatial ability and emotional perception within sex, and the greatest disparity between abilities should be found in people with characteristic arousal of the right hemisphere. Undergraduate men (N = 86) and women (N = 132) completed tests of Mental Rotation, Surface Development, Profile of Nonverbal Sensitivity, Progressive Matrices, and Chimeric Faces. Although the expected pattern of sex differences was observed, there was no evidence for the hypothesized negative correlation between spatial ability and emotional perception, even after statistical control of general intelligence.
Relation Between Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test and WISC-III Scores of Children with RD

Concurrent validity of the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT) with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) was evaluated, as well as the K-BIT's accuracy as a predictor of WISC-III scores, in a sample of young children with reading disabilities. The two measures were administered to 65 children from Atlanta, Boston, and Toronto who ranged from 6-5 to 7-11 years of age at testing. Correlations between the verbal, nonverbal, and composite scales of the K-BIT and WISC-III were . 60, . 48, and . 63, respectively. Mean K-BIT scores ranged from 1.2 to 5.0 points higher than the corresponding WISC-III scores. Standard errors of estimation ranged from 10.0 to 12.3 points. In individual cases, K-BIT scores can underestimate or overestimate WISC-III scores by as much as 25 points. Results suggest caution against using the K-BIT exclusively for placement and diagnostic purposes with young children with reading disabilities if IQ scores are required.
Advanced modulation formats and signal processing for high speed spectrally efficient optical communications. (Formats de modulation et traitement du signal avancés pour les communications optiques très hauts débits à forte efficacité spectrale)

3 LIST OF ACRONYMS AND SYMBOLS . 5 LIST OF ACRONYMS . 5 LIST OF SYMBOLS . 8 INTRODUCTION . 13 CHAPTER 1. DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS . 19 1.1. COMMUNICATIONS OVER THE GAUSSIAN CHANNEL . 20 1.2. MODULATION FORMATS . 22 1.2.1 Hard and soft decision . 24 1.2.2 Symbol and bit error probability . 26 1.2.3 Mutual information . 27 1.3. CHANNEL CODING . 32 1.3. 1 Low density parity check codes . 34 1.3. 2 Spatially coupled LDPC . 36 1.3. 3 Net coding gain . 38 1.4. SUMMARY . 40 CHAPTER 2. COHERENT OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS . 43 2.1. SYSTEM OVERVIEW . 44 2.2. LINEAR MODEL . 46 2.3. RECEIVER AND SIGNAL PROCESSING . 49 2.3. 1 CD compensation . 52 2.3. 2 Adaptive equalization . 53
The growing volume of diabetes-related dialysis: a population based study.

BACKGROUND End-stage renal failure requiring dialysis is one of the most serious complications of diabetes mellitus, and diabetes is the most common cause of end-stage renal failure. The aim of this large, observational study is to describe the population-based incidence and prevalence rates and outcomes of diabetic individuals in Ontario, Canada who require dialysis therapy. METHODS Two cohorts of patients, those with diabetes and those without, were created between April 1, 1994 and March 31, 2000 (total of approximately 8.4 million) and followed until March 31, 2001 using several large, linked administrative databases at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. The incidence, prevalence and mortality on dialysis for each cohort were determined. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis, adjusting for age, sex and co-morbidity, was used to determine the independent impact of diabetes on patient survival. RESULTS The average annual incidence rate of dialysis was 12 times greater in persons with diabetes (130 per 100,000) vs without diabetes (11 per 100,000). By 1999-2000, diabetic patients comprised 51% of the incident dialysis population. The average annual prevalence rate was 10 times greater in the diabetic cohort. Patients with diabetes had more co-morbidities at the start of dialysis and poorer 3 year survival (55 vs 68%; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS The incident and prevalent rates of dialysis for patients with diabetes mellitus are many times the rates of those without diabetes. Patients with diabetes mellitus often start dialysis with significant co-morbidities, which may contribute to the relatively high rate of mortality on dialysis.
Neural spike representation using Cepstrum

Neural spikes define the human brain function. An accurate extraction of spike features leads to better understanding of brain functionality. The main challenge of feature extraction is to mitigate the effect of strong background noises. To address this problem, we introduce a new feature representation for neural spikes based on Cepstrum of multichannel recordings. Simulation results indicated that the proposed method is more robust than the existing Haar wavelet method.
Analytical Modeling of Overshooting Effect in Sub-100 nm CMOS inverters

Modeling of CMOS inverters and consequently, CMOS gates, is a critical task for improving accuracy and speed of simulation in modern sub-100 nm digital circuits. One of the key factors that determine the operation of a CMOS structure is the influence of the input-to-output coupling capacitance, also called overshooting effect. In this paper, an analytical model for this effect is presented, that computes the time period which is necessary to eliminate the extra output charge transferred through the input-to-output capacitance at the beginning of the switching process in a CMOS inverter. In addition, the maximum or minimum output voltage (depending on the considered edge) is analytically computed. The derived model is based on analytical expressions of the CMOS inverter output voltage waveform, which include the influences of both transistor currents and the input-to-output (gate-to-drain) coupling and load capacitances. An accurate version of the alpha-power law MOSFET model is used to relate the terminal.
Forecasting women's apparel sales using mathematical modeling

Traditionally, statistical time series methods like moving average (MA), auto‐regression (AR), or combinations of them are used for forecasting sales. Since these models predict future sales only on the basis of previous sales, they fail in an environment where the sales are more influenced by exogenous variables such as size, price, color, climatic data, effect of media, price changes or campaigns. Although, a linear regression model can take these variables into account its approximation function is restricted to be linear. Soft computing methods such as fuzzy logic, artificial neural networks (ANNs), and genetic algorithms offer an alternative taking into account both endogenous and exogenous variables and allowing arbitrary non‐linear approximation functions derived (learned) directly from the data. In this paper, two approaches have been investigated for forecasting women's apparel sales, statistical time series modeling, and modeling using ANNs. Four years' sales data (1997‐2000) were used as backcast data in the model and a forecast was made for 2 months of the year 2000. The performance of the models was tested by comparing one of the goodness‐of‐fit statistics, R2, and also by comparing actual sales with the forecasted sales of different types of garments. On an average, an R2 of 0.75 and 0.90 was found for single seasonal exponential smoothing and Winters' three parameter model, respectively. The model based on ANN gave a higher R2 averaging 0.92. Although, R2 for ANN model was higher than that of statistical models, correlations between actual and forecasted were lower than those found with Winters' three parameter model.
CIPP, a Novel Multivalent PDZ Domain Protein, Selectively Interacts with Kir4.0 Family Members, NMDA Receptor Subunits, Neurexins, and Neuroligins

We report a novel multivalent PDZ domain protein, CIPP (for channel-interacting PDZ domain protein), which is expressed exclusively in brain and kidney. Within the brain, the highest CIPP mRNA levels were found in neurons of the cerebellum, inferior colliculus, vestibular nucleus, facial nucleus, and thalamus. Furthermore, we identified the inward rectifier K+ (Kir) channel, Kir4.1 (also called "Kir1.2"), as a cellular CIPP ligand. Among several other Kir channels tested, only the closely related Kir4.2 (or "Kir1.3") also interacted with CIPP. In addition, specific PDZ domains within CIPP associated selectively with the C-termini of N-methyl-D-aspartate subtypes of glutamate receptors, as well as neurexins and neuroligins, cell surface molecules enriched in synaptic membranes. Thus, CIPP may serve as a scaffold that brings structurally diverse but functionally connected proteins into close proximity at the synapse. The functional consequences of CIPP expression on Kir4.1 channels were studied using whole-cell voltage clamp techniques in Kir4.1 transfected COS-7 cells. On average, Kir4.1 current densities were doubled by cotransfection with CIPP.
Cathepsin S activity is detectable in human keratinocytes and is selectively upregulated upon stimulation with interferon-gamma.

Keratinocytes are an integral component of the skin immune system and function as nonprofessional antigen-presenting cells in pathophysiologic conditions when they express major histocompatibility complex class II molecules, e.g., in psoriasis. In order to analyze further this function we investigated the activity of cathepsin S in comparison with cathepsins B and L. These enzymes were suggested to be involved in antigen presentation. Specific catalytic activities of these cathepsins were determined fluorometrically by hydrolysis of a synthetic substrate (Z-Phe-Arg-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin) in subcellular fractions of human keratinocytes. It was found that the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT exhibits activities of all three cathepsins investigated. Endosomal/lysosomal compartments show highest cathepsin activities. Normal human keratinocytes in primary culture show a comparable pattern of cathepsin activities. In contrast to this, in syngeneic Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells the level of cathepsin B activity was found to be 10% of that in the corresponding keratinocytes, whereas the activities for cathepsins L and S were in a similar range. Interferon-gamma stimulation of primary keratinocytes and HaCaT cells resulted in a selective upregulation of the cathepsin S activity, the extent of which was very similar. The mechanism of this upregulation was demonstrated as induction at the mRNA and protein levels. This report documents that cathepsin S in human keratinocytes is selectively upregulated, in parallel to major histocompatibility complex class II molecules, in response to a pro-inflammatory cytokine. Our observations support the concept of keratinocytes functioning as nonprofessional antigen-presenting cells in states of inflammation.
A Qualitative Analysis of Decision-Making for Total Knee Replacement in Patients With Osteoarthritis

Objective:Variation in the utilization of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for patients with osteoarthritis has been well documented. Conceivably, patient preferences may play a major role in these differences; however, this has not been adequately assessed. The purpose of this study was to conduct a qualitative analysis of decision-making factors influencing preferences for TKA in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods:We conducted 6 focus groups of patients with knee osteoarthritis from diverse ethnic backgrounds attending primary care clinics affiliated to the largest private outpatient institution in Houston, TX. All groups were lead by race-concordant facilitators. The group discussions were centered on factors considered to be important in the decision-making for TKA. Thematic analysis was conducted, using a grounded theory approach aided by qualitative software. Results:Several themes emerged from the groups' discussions. Positive and negative personal experiences played a major role in decision-making. Generally, participants had good expectations about improved function and quality of life, but a number of fears were identified, the most prevalent being fear of a lengthy recovery, followed by fear of complications and of anesthesia. Additional emerging themes included trust in surgeon, financial concerns, and worries about general health. Conclusions:The attitudes and beliefs of patients with knee osteoarthritis about TKA are largely based on personal experiences, expectations, and fears, and they are largely influenced by their close social environment. These findings emphasize the need for open doctor-patient communication around individual experiences to achieve satisfactory shared decision-making for TKA.