Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EZH2 is a marker of aggressive breast cancer and promotes neoplastic transformation of breast epithelial cells

The Polycomb Group Protein EZH2 is a transcriptional repressor involved in controlling cellular memory and has been linked to aggressive prostate cancer. Here we investigate the functional role of EZH2 in cancer cell invasion and breast cancer progression. EZH2 transcript and protein were consistently elevated in invasive breast carcinoma compared with normal breast epithelia. Tissue microarray analysis, which included 917 samples from 280 patients, demonstrated that EZH2 protein levels were strongly associated with breast cancer aggressiveness. Overexpression of EZH2 in immortalized human mammary epithelial cell lines promotes anchorage-independent growth and cell invasion. EZH2-mediated cell invasion required an intact SET domain and histone deacetylase activity. This study provides compelling evidence for a functional link between dysregulated cellular memory, transcriptional repression, and neoplastic transformation.
Series-Resonant Multiinverter for Multiple Induction Heaters

Multiple-load and multiple-source systems are widely present in the current technology. These systems require controlling either the supplied voltage or power to several loads with different requirements simultaneously. As a consequence, the cost and size of the power stage may increase beyond the admissible limits for certain applications. Considering multiple-inductor loads, a novel series-resonant multiinverter topology is proposed to obtain a cost-effective and high-power density solution. The converter is based on a common inverter block and a resonant-load block. The performed analysis includes the description of the operation modes and the control strategy analysis. Domestic induction heating has been considered for application due to its special cost and size requirements, and the extensive inductor use. The proposed converter has been designed and validated experimentally through a prototype, which includes the power converter and the field-programmable gate array-based control architecture.
Correlation parameterization in random function models to improve normal approximation of the likelihood or posterior

Transformations can help small sample likelihood/Bayesian inference by improving the approximate normality of the likelihood/posterior. In this a rticle we investigate when one can expect an improvement for a one-dimensional random function (Gaussian process) model. The log transformation of the range parameter is compared with an alternative (the logexp) for the family of Power Exponential correlations. Formulas are developed for measuring nonnormality based on Sprott (1973). The effect of transformations on non-normality is evaluated analytically and by simulations. Results show that, on average, the log transformation improves approximate normality for the Squared Exponential (Gaussian) correlation function, but this is not always the case for the other members of the Power Exponential family.
2D-pattern matching image and video compression: theory, algorithms, and experiments

In this paper, we propose a lossy data compression framework based on an approximate two-dimensional (2D) pattern matching (2D-PMC) extension of the Lempel-Ziv (1977, 1978) lossless scheme. This framework forms the basis upon which higher level schemes relying on differential coding, frequency domain techniques, prediction, and other methods can be built. We apply our pattern matching framework to image and video compression and report on theoretical and experimental results. Theoretically, we show that the fixed database model used for video compression leads to suboptimal but computationally efficient performance. The compression ratio of this model is shown to tend to the generalized entropy. For image compression, we use a growing database model for which we provide an approximate analysis. The implementation of 2D-PMC is a challenging problem from the algorithmic point of view. We use a range of techniques and data structures such as k-d trees, generalized run length coding, adaptive arithmetic coding, and variable and adaptive maximum distortion level to achieve good compression ratios at high compression speeds. We demonstrate bit rates in the range of 0.25-0.5 bpp for high-quality images and data rates in the range of 0.15-0.5 Mbps for a baseline video compression scheme that does not use any prediction or interpolation. We also demonstrate that this asymmetric compression scheme is capable of extremely fast decompression making it particularly suitable for networked multimedia applications.
The Association between Anti-Oxidant/Redox Status and Sister Chromatid Exchanges in Down Syndrome Individuals

The main objective of this project is to study the possible association between anti-oxidant/redox status and DNA instability in Down syndrome. The activities of 5 antioxidant enzymes were studied in 19 Down syndrome (DS) cases and in age- and sex-matched normal controls. Sister Chromatid Exchanges (SCE) were measured in lymphocyte cultures derived from all DS and control subjects. All DS and control individuals had normal hematological parameters, but the proliferation and mitotic indices were significantly lower in the DS- than in the controls-derived lymphocyte cultures, while the average generation time was higher than that in the controls. The specific activity of superoxide dismutase in the DS individuals was 40% higher than that in the controls, while the specific activity of glutathione S-transferase in the DS group was significantly lower than that in the controls (P ≤ 0.05). Catalase and glutathione peroxides’ activities were not different between the two groups (P > 0.05). SCE rate in the DS derived cultures was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that of the controls. DS individuals have a higher oxidative stress, higher superoxide dismutase activities and higher rates of SCE in their derived lymphocyte cultures compared to those of the controls. We claim that such differences may have resulted from the over expression of superoxide dismutase gene, leading to imbalanced cellular antioxidant mechanisms and, consequently, resulted in a high concentration of free radicals that destabilized the DNA as expressed by the high rate of SCE.
Red blood cell transfusions are associated with lower mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock: A propensity-matched analysis*

Objectives:To evaluate the effects of transfusions in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock on mortality. Design:Propensity-matched analysis of a prospective observational database (April 2005 to February 2009). Setting:Twenty-two medical and surgical intensive care units in 12 teaching hospitals in Korea. Patients:One thousand fifty-four patients with community-acquired severe sepsis and septic shock. InterventionsNone. Measurements and Main Results:Of the 1,054 patients, 407 (38.6%) received a blood transfusion. The mean pretransfusion hemoglobin level was 7.7 ± 1.2 g/dL. Transfused patients had higher 28-day and in-hospital mortality rates (32.7% vs. 17.3%; p < .001, 41.3% vs. 20.3%; p < .001, respectively) and a longer duration of hospital stay (21 [interquartile range, 10–35] vs. 13 [interquartile range, 8–24] days; p < .001), but were more severely ill at admission (lower systolic blood pressure, higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at admission). In 152 pairs matched according to the propensity score depending on patient transfusion status, transfused patients had a lower risk of 7-day (9.2% vs. 27.0%; p < .001), 28-day (24.3% vs. 38.8%; p = .007), and in-hospital mortality rates (31.6% vs. 42.8%; p = .044). After adjusting for blood transfusion as a time-dependent variable in multivariable analysis, blood transfusion was independently associated with lower risk of 7-day (hazard ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.19–0.50, p = .026), 28-day (hazard ratio 0.43, 95% confidence interval 0.29–0.62, p < .001), and in-hospital mortality (hazard ratio 0.51, 95% confidence interval 0.39–0.69, p < .001). Conclusions:In this observational study of patients with community-acquired severe sepsis and septic shock, red blood cell transfusions were associated with lower risk of mortality.
Quality of life and depression in carers of patients with early onset dementia

Objective: To investigate the quality of life (QoL) and depression and its correlates in carers living with early onset dementia (EOD) patients. Method: The subjects were 49 carers, either married to or cohabiting with EOD patients, 38 with Alzheimer's disease and 11 with other types of dementia. The Quality of Life – Alzheimer Disease scale (QoL-AD) and Geriatric Depression Scale – 15 items (GDS-15) were used. Results: The mean QoL score for the carers was 37.9 (SD 5.5) and the mean GDS-15 score 5.1 (SD 2.9). Linear regression analyses with QoL and GDS-15 score as dependent variables were performed. Increased age of the carer (B = 0.32) and greater insight of the patients (B = −0.186) were significantly associated with a better QoL for the carer. Being married (B = 2.10), having children together with the patient (B = 1.61) and being the carer of a patient with cardiovascular disease (B = 2.28) were associated significantly with a higher GDS-15 score, whereas being the carer of a patient who received domiciliary nursing care (B = −2.29) was significantly associated with a lower GDS-15 score. Conclusion: The QoL for carers of EOD patients corresponds positively with the increased age of carers and with patients’ insight into their condition. Increased depressive symptomatology in carers was associated with being married, having offspring and caring for a patient with dementia and a co-morbid cardiovascular disease. A reduction in depression was seen in carers when the patients received domiciliary nursing care.
A Mobile Agent Platform for Remote Measurement

Nowadays, remote control of instrumentation and remote measurement techniques represent a particularly interesting topic. Mature technologies are able to fully control devices and, in particular, help in remote measurement processes and calibrations. Now the attention is moved to other questions, such as resource consumption, network availability, client-server communication link etc. The mobile agents technology is capable of providing interesting solutions to the aforementioned problems and an investigation concerning the possibility to migrate this technology to the measurement world is advisable. This paper reports some preliminary considerations and examples of application about this interesting issue
A new technique for characterization of the "End" resistance in modulation-doped FET's

We propose a new extended "end" resistance measurement technique to determine the series source and drain resistance of a field-effect transistor. In this method the small-signal "end" resistance, defined as a derivative of the drain-source voltage, with respect to the gate current, is measured as a function of the drain current. The "end" resistance includes the contributions from the source series resistance and from the resistance related to the conducting channel under the gate. As the drain current increases, the drain side of the channel becomes more reverse biased with respect to the gate. This shifts the gate current distribution towards the source, decreasing the channel contribution to the "end" resistance. By extrapolation to infinite drain current the channel contribution can be eliminated and the series resistance of the undepleted source and drain regions can be accurately determined. The technique is applied to a long-gate modulation-doped field-effect transistor and is shown to Yield reasonable values of the series resistances.
Phosphorylation of protein kinase C sites in NBD1 and the R domain control CFTR channel activation by PKA

Activation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel by protein kinase A (PKA) is enhanced by protein kinase C (PKC). However, the mechanism of modulation is not known and it remains uncertain whether PKC acts directly on CFTR or through phosphorylation of an ancillary protein. Using excised patches that had been pre‐treated with phosphatases, we found that PKC exposure results in much larger PKA‐activated currents and shifts the PKA concentration dependence. To examine if these effects are mediated by direct PKC phosphorylation of CFTR, a mutant was constructed in which serines or threonines at nine PKC consensus sequences on CFTR were replaced by alanines (i.e. the ‘9CA’ mutant T582A/T604A/S641A/T682A/S686A/S707A/S790A/T791A/S809A). In excised patches, 9CA channels had greatly reduced responses to PKA (i.e. 5–10 % that of wild‐type), which were not enhanced by PKC pre‐treatment, although the mutant channels were still functional according to iodide efflux assays. Stimulation of iodide efflux by chlorophenylthio‐cAMP (cpt‐cAMP) was delayed in cells expressing 9CA channels, and a similar delay was observed when cells expressing wild‐type CFTR were treated with the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine. This suggests that weak activation by PKA in excised patches and slow stimulation of iodide efflux from intact cells are specifically due to the loss of PKC phosphorylation. Finally, PKC caused a slight activation of wild‐type channels when added to excised patches after phosphatase pre‐treatment but had no effect on the mutant. We conclude that direct phosphorylation of CFTR at one or more of the nine sites mutated in 9CA is required for both the partial activation by PKC and for its modulation of CFTR responses to PKA.
Movement-Related EEG Decomposition Using Independent Component Analysis

This contribution describes one possible approach for EEG decomposition into movement-related and non-movement-related components with the help of independent components analysis (ICA). The application is targeted to the brain-computer interface (BCI) EEG preprocessing. Our previous work [1] has shown that it is possible to decompose EEG into movement-related and non-movement-related ICs. The selection of only movement related ICs might lead to BCI EEG classification score increasing. The real number of the independent sources in the brain is an important parameter of the whole process. In [1] we used principal component analysis (PCA) for number of the independent sources estimation. However, PCA estimates only the number of uncorrelated and not independent components ignoring the higher-order signal statistics. In this work we use another approach -selection of highly correlated ICs from several ICA runs.
Video-based heart rate measurement from human faces

The paper describes a video-based heart rate detection system that enables contact-free determination of a person's physical behavior under relaxed and active conditions. The heart rate or heart rate variation is an important measure for phases of human activity or relaxation. The common ways of measurement such as finger pulse amplitude and Heart Rate Belt sensor technologies are not applicable since their usability is limited in every day use. Our system uses face detection for ROI constrained near-realtime signal analysis. The experimental environment has been tested on a personal computer workplace. Although, with some optimization it can be easily ported to a mobile phone with an integrated camera.
Penetration of [3H] Tiazofurin Into Guinea Pig Eye by a Saturable Mechanism

This study investigated the transport of tiazofurin (2-ß-D-ribofuranosyl thia-zole-4-carboxamide) across the blood-aqueous humor barrier, using the vascular perfusion method in the guinea pig. Volume of distribution (Vd) of [3H] tiazofurin increased almost linearly in time, from 4% of its plasma concentration at 3 min to 10% after 12 min of perfusion. Unidirectional transport constant, Kin was 7.01 ± 1.06 × 10-3 ml/min/g. These results indicate that tiazofurin penetrates the aqueous humor to a considerable extent. Addition of unlabelled tiazofurin to the perfusing medium caused a significant decrease in the uptake of [3H] labelled tiazofurin (Kin = 2.60 ± 0.91 × 10-3 ml/min/g). Therefore, penetration of tiazofurin from blood into aqueous humor seems to be a saturable process with a diffusional component that cannot be disregarded. Such findings could be of considerable importance since this molecule is known to affect tissue metabolism.
Minimum Hidden Guarding of Histogram Polygons

A hidden guard set $ G $ is a set of point guards in polygon $ P $ that all points of the polygon are visible from some guards in $ G $ under the constraint that no two guards may see each other. In this paper, we consider the problem for finding minimum hidden guard sets in histogram polygons under orthogonal visibility. Two points $ p $ and $ q $ are orthogonally visible if the orthogonal bounding rectangle for $ p $ and $ q $ lies within $ P $. It is known that the problem is NP-hard for simple polygon with general visibility and it is true for simple orthogonal polygon. We proposed a linear time exact algorithm for finding minimum hidden guard set in histogram polygons under orthogonal visibility. In our algorithm, it is allowed that guards place everywhere in the polygon.
LCN2 and TIMP1 as Potential Serum Markers for the Early Detection of Familial Pancreatic Cancer.

High-risk individuals of familial pancreatic cancer (FPC) families are considered to be good candidates for screening programs to detect early PC or its high-grade precursor lesions, especially pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) 2/3 lesions. There is a definite need for diagnostic markers as neither reliable imaging methods nor biomarkers are available to detect these lesions. On the basis of a literature search, the potential serum markers neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (LCN2), metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (TIMP1), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 16 (CXCL16), IGFBP4, and iC3a, which were first tested in transgenic KrasLSL. (G12D/+);p53(R172H/+);Pdx1-Cre mice, were identified. ELISA analyses of LCN2, TIMP1, and CXCL16 revealed significantly higher levels in mice with PanIN2/3 lesions or PC compared to mice with normal pancreata or PanIN1 lesions. Analysis of preoperative human serum samples from patients with sporadic PC (n = 61), hereditary PC (n = 24), chronic pancreatitis (n = 28), pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (n = 11), and FPC patients with histologically proven multifocal PanIN2/3 lesions (n = 3), as well as healthy control subjects (n = 20), confirmed significantly higher serum levels of LCN2 and TIMP1 in patients with PC and multifocal PanIN2/3 lesions. The combination of LCN2 and TIMP1 as a diagnostic test for the detection of PC had a sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of 100% each. Although this preliminary finding needs to be validated in a large series of individuals at high risk for FPC, serum measurement of LCN2 and TIMP1 might be a promising screening tool.
La confusión de líquidas implosivas en Castilla-La Mancha: un enfoque desde la teoría de la optimidad

espanolEste articulo presenta un analisis fonologico dentro del marco de la Teoria de la Optimidad (Prince y Smolensky 1993) de la confusion de r y / implosivas en las hablas confundidoras de Castilla-La Mancha (Atlas Linguistico y etnografico de Castilla-La Mancha). Nuestra propuesta trata de explicar las causas que rigen la aparicion de una u otra solucion �lateral (beber > bebel) y rotica (multa > marta)� del fenomeno confundidor en la zona. Para ello, nos hemos basado en la importancia que adquieren en estas hablas las restricciones fonologicas universales relativas a las distancias de sonicidad (a partir de Clements 1990), asi como las referentes a las exigencias de similitud entre segmentos adyacentes (Lombardi 1999; Colina 2007). Este analisis permite tambien dar cuenta de la confusion de liquidas en otras variedades (como el catalan hablado en Alguer, Cerdena, o el castellano de algunos puntos del Caribe). EnglishThis paper puts forward a phonological analysis of the confusion of r and / in coda in some areas of Castilla-La Mancha (Atlas Linguistico y etnografico de Castilla-La Mancha) within the framework of Optimality Theory (Prince & Smolensky 1993). Our claim tries to account for the factors which trigger the realisation of one or other output �lateral (beber > bebel) and rhotic (multa > murta)� of the phenomenon. In order to achieve this goal, we have relied upon the prevalence in these varieties of the universal phonological constraints relative to the sonority distances (based on Clements 1990), and those requiring similarity between adjacent segments (Lombardi 1999; Colina 2007). The present analysis allows also accounting for the confusion of liquid consonants in other varieties, such as the Catalan spoken in Alguer (Sardinia) or the Spanish of some areas in the Caribbean.
Bayesian Nonparametric Regression Analysis of Data with Random Effects Covariates from Longitudinal Measurements

Summary We consider nonparametric regression analysis in a generalized linear model (GLM) framework for data with covariates that are the subject‐specific random effects of longitudinal measurements. The usual assumption that the effects of the longitudinal covariate processes are linear in the GLM may be unrealistic and if this happens it can cast doubt on the inference of observed covariate effects. Allowing the regression functions to be unknown, we propose to apply Bayesian nonparametric methods including cubic smoothing splines or P‐splines for the possible nonlinearity and use an additive model in this complex setting. To improve computational efficiency, we propose the use of data‐augmentation schemes. The approach allows flexible covariance structures for the random effects and within‐subject measurement errors of the longitudinal processes. The posterior model space is explored through a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampler. The proposed methods are illustrated and compared to other approaches, the “naive” approach and the regression calibration, via simulations and by an application that investigates the relationship between obesity in adulthood and childhood growth curves.
Digital Forensic Analysis of Cybercrimes: Best Practices and Methodologies

This paper reviews the existing methodologies and best practices for digital investigations phases like collecting, evaluating and preserving digital forensic evidence and chain of custody of cybercrimes. Cybercriminals are adopting new strategies to launch cyberattacks within modified and ever changing digital ecosystems, this article proposes that digital investigations must continually readapt to tackle cybercrimes and prosecute cybercriminals, working in international collaboration networks, sharing prevention knowledge and lessons learned. The authors also introduce a compact cyber forensics model for diverse technological ecosystems called Cyber Forensics Model in Digital Ecosystems CFMDE. Transferring the knowledge, international collaboration, best practices and adopting new digital forensic tools, methodologies and techniques will be hereinafter paramount to obtain digital evidence, enforce organizational cybersecurity policies, mitigate security threats, fight anti-forensics practices and indict cybercriminals. The global Digital Forensics community ought to constantly update current practices to deal with cybercriminality and foreseeing how to prepare to new technological environments where change is always constant.