Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Body Shape Descriptors for Biometric Recognition Using MMW Images

The use of Millimetre wave images has been proposed recently in the biometric field to overcome certain limitations when using images acquired at visible frequencies. In this paper, several body shape-based techniques were applied to model the silhouette of images of people acquired at 94 GHz. We put forward several methods for the parameterization and classification stage with the objective of finding the best configuration in terms of biometric recognition performance. Contour coordinates, shape contexts, Fourier descriptors and silhouette landmarks were used as feature approaches and for classification we utilized Euclidean distance and a dynamic programming method. Results showed that the dynamic programming algorithm improved the performance of the system with respect to the baseline Euclidean distance and the necessity of a minimum resolution of the contour to achieve promising equal error rates. The use of the contour coordinates is the most suitable feature to use in the system regarding the performance and the computational cost involved when having at least 3 images for model training. Besides, Fourier descriptors are more robust against rotations, which may be of interest when dealing with few training images.
Pragmatic Insights Into a Nurse‐Delivered Motivational Interviewing Intervention in the Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Setting

PURPOSE Despite an increasing interest in motivational interviewing as a strategy to facilitate behavior change in people with cardiovascular disease, its use in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) appears minimal. Therefore, it is unclear whether the clinical method of motivational interviewing requires modification for the CR population, in which it could be argued that people are motivated and engaged. The purposes of this report are to describe processes in incorporating motivational interviewing in the CR setting and to discuss insights gained regarding the use of this intervention. METHODS As part of a randomized controlled trial currently recruiting in the CR setting, patients allocated to the intervention group participate in 2 motivational interviewing sessions with a motivational interviewing-trained nurse. To ascertain treatment fidelity, this process review comprised 3 sources: (1) the extant literature on motivational interviewing, (2) reflections of the project team, and (3) data derived from audiotaped interviews. RESULTS Key observations reflect that the motivational interviewing technique is well received, with patients appreciating the opportunity to “tell their story. ” Preliminary qualitative data revealed that patients rate “health” and “family” as their most important values, with many commenting on their recovery phase as a “second chance. ” CONCLUSIONS This report demonstrates that motivational interviewing is potentially useful and has significant promise in the CR setting. Discussion of pragmatic considerations as well as outcome data should assist clinicians in implementing this model of intervention in the CR setting.
Follistatin Is Induced by IL-1β and TNF-α in Stromal Cells From Endometrioma

The aim of this study is to examine the regulation of follistatin, an activin-binding protein, in endometriosis. Endometrioma stromal cells (EoSCs) were obtained from 9 patients undergoing laparoscopy of the ovarian endometrioma. In cultured EoSCs, interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which could induce activin-A, also induced follistatin messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein. The cystic fluid of endometrioma from 8 patients was obtained to measure the concentration of activin-A and follistatin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Also, activin activity in the fluid was examined by erythroid differentiation assay using mouse erythroleukemia F5-5.fl cells. In the cystic fluid of endometrioma, the mean values of activin-A and follistatin concentration were 36.8 ng/mL and 4.0 ng/mL, respectively. In a bioassay, all 8 samples exhibited activin activity, which was equivalent to recombinant activin-A activity of 12.8 ± 1.4 ng/mL. Although follistatin was present in the cystic fluid of endometrioma, the activity of activin, which is an exacerbation factor of endometriosis, was predominant in vivo.
Qualitative study of peer workers within the ‘Partners in Recovery’ programme in regional Australia

In Australia and internationally, Peer Workers are increasingly being incorporated into the mental health workforce. Underpinning this trend is the conviction that the inclusion of workers with lived experience in overcoming mental health challenges is central to transforming service delivery. Given there are few identified Australian studies into the experiences of Peer Workers, this paper reports findings from qualitative interviews conducted in a Partners In Recovery programme in one regional area in Australia. The interviews formed part of a larger mixed-method study evaluating Peer Worker roles in the programme. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts with Peer Workers and other staff employed in the programme (n = 22) was undertaken. Central to the five themes that emerged was the concept of lived experience expertise in overcoming mental health challenges. The themes were: (i) role variance, (ii) the challenges and opportunities for Peer Worker, (iii) the processes Peer Workers employed as they attempted to shape an identify and language, (iv) the inconsistencies and challenges of employing lived experience as a defining feature of the peer worker role, and (v) the nature of trust arising from lived experience relationships. From this study, it is evident that the Peer Worker role remains underdeveloped. The difficulties experienced by Peer Workers in establishing a homogenous identity and role is not unique. The process and lack of clarity around role identity revealed from the narratives, parallels the experiences of Mental Health Nursing.
Gender Classification From Face Images Using Mutual Information and Feature Fusion

In this article we report a new method for gender classification from frontal face images using feature selection based on mutual information and fusion of features extracted from intensity, shape, texture, and from three different spatial scales. We compare the results of three different mutual information measures: minimum redundancy and maximal relevance (mRMR), normalized mutual information feature selection (NMIFS), and conditional mutual information feature selection (CMIFS). We also show that by fusing features extracted from six different methods we significantly improve the gender classification results relative to those previously published, yielding 99.13% of the gender classification rate on the FERET database.
Comparison of Modeling Methods to Determine Liver-to-blood Inocula and Parasite Multiplication Rates During Controlled Human Malaria Infection

Controlled human malaria infection is used to measure efficacy of candidate malaria vaccines before field studies are undertaken. Mathematical modeling using data from quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) parasitemia monitoring can discriminate between vaccine effects on the parasite's liver and blood stages. Uncertainty regarding the most appropriate modeling method hinders interpretation of such trials. We used qPCR data from 267 Plasmodium falciparum infections to compare linear, sine-wave, and normal-cumulative-density-function models. We find that the parameters estimated by these models are closely correlated, and their predictive accuracy for omitted data points was similar. We propose that future studies include the linear model.
Oxygen Consumption Can Regulate the Growth of Tumors, a New Perspective on the Warburg Effect

Background The unique metabolism of tumors was described many years ago by Otto Warburg, who identified tumor cells with increased glycolysis and decreased mitochondrial activity. However, “aerobic glycolysis” generates fewer ATP per glucose molecule than mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, so in terms of energy production, it is unclear how increasing a less efficient process provides tumors with a growth advantage. Methods/Findings We carried out a screen for loss of genetic elements in pancreatic tumor cells that accelerated their growth as tumors, and identified mitochondrial ribosomal protein L28 (MRPL28). Knockdown of MRPL28 in these cells decreased mitochondrial activity, and increased glycolysis, but paradoxically, decreased cellular growth in vitro. Following Warburg's observations, this mutation causes decreased mitochondrial function, compensatory increase in glycolysis and accelerated growth in vivo. Likewise, knockdown of either mitochondrial ribosomal protein L12 (MRPL12) or cytochrome oxidase had a similar effect. Conversely, expression of the mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) increased oxygen consumption and decreased tumor growth. Finally, treatment of tumor bearing animals with dichloroacetate (DCA) increased pyruvate consumption in the mitochondria, increased total oxygen consumption, increased tumor hypoxia and slowed tumor growth. Conclusions We interpret these findings to show that non-oncogenic genetic changes that alter mitochondrial metabolism can regulate tumor growth through modulation of the consumption of oxygen, which appears to be a rate limiting substrate for tumor proliferation.
Proteomic Analysis of the Effect of Acupuncture on the Suppression of Kainic Acid-Induced Neuronal Destruction in Mouse Hippocampus

Kainic acid (KA) is a neurotoxin that induces epileptic seizures and excitotoxicity in the hippocampus. Acupuncture is frequently used as an alternative therapy for epilepsy, and it has been known to protect hippocampal neurons against KA toxicity. Using proteomic analysis, we investigated protein expression changes in the hippocampus following acupuncture stimulation at HT8. Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice (20–25 g) received acupuncture treatment at HT8 acupoint bilaterally once a day for 3 days and were then administered KA (30 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. Twenty-four hours after KA injection, neuronal survival and astrocyte activation in the hippocampus were measured, and protein expression in the hippocampus was identified by 2-dimensional electrophoresis. Acupuncture stimulation at HT8 suppressed KA-induced neuronal death and astrocyte activation in the hippocampus. We identified the changes in the expression of 11 proteins by KA or acupuncture stimulation at HT8 and found that acupuncture stimulation at HT8 normalized the expression of dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 2 and upregulated the expression of transcriptional activator protein pur-alpha, serine/threonine-protein phosphatase 5, and T-complex protein 1 subunit alpha, which are related to the survival of neurons. These results suggest that acupuncture stimulation at HT8 changes protein expression profiles in the hippocampus in favor of neuronal survival in KA-treated mice.
β-Tricalcium phosphate silica aerogel as an alternative bioactive ceramic for the potential use in dentistry

In this study, a mesoporous silica aerogel with β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP-AE) was manufactured. The effect of β-TCP-AE on gene expressions (BMP2, BMP7, Runx2 and OSX) of SAOS-2 cells was tested. For the in vivo evaluation, the ‘calvaria critical-size defect’ model was used: following 1 and 3 months of the artificial surgical bone defects filled with β-TCP-AE, histopathological analyses were performed. Gene expression studies demonstrated a mild osteoblastic differentiation of the SAOS-2 cells triggered after seven days of β-TCP-AE treatment. Digital histology of rat's calvarial bone defects reconstructed with β-TCP-AE showed that after 1 month, calcifications and early ossifications developed with the presence of capillary-rich fibrous inflammation and remnants of exogenous compounds which nearly disappeared by the third month, and replaced with multiple newly formed bone islets mediated by osteoblasts. Based on our results, this bioceramic compound appears to have favourable properties for the use as a scaffold in the reconstructive medical practice.
Prediction of ttt curves of cold working tool steels using support vector machine model

The cold working tool steels are of high carbon steels with metallic alloy additions which impart higher hardenability, abrasion resistance and less distortion in quenching. The microstructure changes occurring in tool steel during heat treatment is of very much importance as the final properties of the steel depends upon these changes occurred during the process. In order to obtain the desired performance the alloy constituents and its ratio plays a vital role as the steel transformation itself is complex in nature and depends very much upon the time and temperature. The proper treatment can deliver satisfactory results, at the same time process deviation can completely spoil the results. So knowing time temperature transformation (TTT) of phases is very critical which varies for each type depending upon its constituents and proportion range. To obtain adequate post heat treatment properties the percentage of retained austenite should be lower and metallic carbides obtained should be fine in nature. Support vector machine is a computational model which can learn from the observed data and use these to predict or solve using mathematical model. Back propagation feedback network will be created and trained for further solutions. The points on the TTT curve for the known transformations curves are used to plot the curves for different materials. These data will be trained to predict TTT curves for other steels having similar alloying constituents but with different proportion range. The proposed methodology can be used for prediction of TTT curves for cold working steels and can be used for prediction of phases for different heat treatment methods.
Regulator Leniency and Mispricing in Beneficent Nonprofits

We posit that nonprofits that provide a greater supply of unprofitable services (beneficent nonprofits) face lenient regulatory enforcement for mispricing in price-regulated markets. Consequently, beneficent nonprofits exploit such regulatory leniency and exhibit higher mispricing. Drawing on organizational legitimacy theory, we argue that both regulators and beneficent nonprofits seek to protect their legitimacy with stakeholders, including those who demand access to unprofitable services. Using data from hospitals, we examine mispricing via "upcoding", which involves misclassifying ailment severity. Archival analysis indicates less stringent regulatory enforcement of upcoding for beneficent nonprofit hospitals, defined as hospitals that provide higher charity care and medical education. After observing regulator leniency, beneficent hospitals demonstrate higher upcoding. Our results suggest that lenient enforcement assists beneficent nonprofits to obtain higher revenues in price-regulated markets. data source: Publicly available from the sources identified in the text
16 Biomedical Literature Mining for Biological Databases Annotation

Margherita Berardi 1,5, Donato Malerba1 , Roberta Piredda2, Marcella Attimonelli2, Gaetano Scioscia3,4 and Pietro Leo3,4 1Dipartimento di Informatica – Università degli Studi di Bari 2Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare “E.Quagliariello" – Università degli Studi di Bari 3IBM Italia S.p.A. Molecular Biodiversity Laboratory 4IBM Italia S.p.A. GBS Innovation Centre 5Exhicon S.r. l. , Bari Italy
Modified Vonk's Method to Determine Crystallinity and Crystal Distortion in Polymers

ABSTRACT Using a modified method developed from Vonk's method, detailed values of crystallinity and crystal disorder were obtained by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). In Vonk's method, the crystallinity (w) is determined by extrapolation of the WAXD experimental curve back to zero scattering angle, while the distortion factor (k) is determined by the inclination of the experimental curve at zero scattering angle. In our new method, both w and k are determined at the same time by using the least squares method. In order to show the efficiency of our method, the new fitting procedure was applied to the experimental values of polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate as measured by Vonk, and the values of w and k determined by our new method were compared with those found by Vonk's method. The new fitting method has the advantage that it uses the whole experimental curve. Moreover, our modified Vonk's method enables us to discuss crystal distortions as arising from first-kind (thermal) disorder and second-kind (paracrystalline) disorder.
Rab 25 Associates with a 5 b 1 Integrin to Promote Invasive Migration in 3 D Microenvironments

Patrick T. Caswell,1 Heather J. Spence,1 Maddy Parsons,2 Dominic P. White,1 Katherine Clark,3 Kwai Wa Cheng,4 Gordon B. Mills,4 Martin J. Humphries,5 Anthea J. Messent,5 Kurt I. Anderson,1 Mary W. McCaffrey,6 Bradford W. Ozanne,1 and Jim C. Norman1,* 1Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK 2Randall Centre, King’s College London, Guy’s Medical School Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK 3Department of Biochemistry, Henry Wellcome Building, University of Leicester, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK 4Department of Molecular Therapeutics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA 5Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK 6Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland *Correspondence: j.norman@beatson.gla. ac.uk DOI 10.1016/j.devcel. 2007.08. 012
Visible Genotype Sensor Array

A visible sensor array system for simultaneous multiple SNP genotyping has been developed using a new plastic base with specific surface chemistry. Discrimination of SNP alleles is carried out by an allele-specific extension reaction using immobilized oligonucleotide primers. The 3′-ends of oligonucleotide primers are modified with a locked nucleic acid to enhance their efficiency in allelic discrimination. Biotin-dUTPs included in the reaction mixture are selectively incorporated into extending primer sequences and are utilized as tags for alkaline phosphatase-mediated precipitation of colored chemical substrates onto the surface of the plastic base. The visible precipitates allow immediate inspection of typing results by the naked eye and easy recording by a digital camera equipped on a commercial mobile phone. Up to four individuals can be analyzed on a single sensor array and multiple sensor arrays can be handled in a single operation. All of the reactions can be performed within one hour using conventional laboratory instruments. This visible genotype sensor array is suitable for “focused genomics” that follows “comprehensive genomics”.
Strategies for the preparation of polymer composites with complex alignment of the dispersed phase

Abstract The design and production of anisotropic composites and nanocomposites has become increasingly relevant in materials science and engineering because they provide an opportunity of enhancing and adapting the properties of a material for specialized applications. This article reviews the strategies that have been developed to achieve anisotropy based on the position and orientation of the dispersed phase in polymer composites including polymer nanocomposites. Flow and electric field-driven alignment methodologies are briefly described, which is followed by a focus on magnetically oriented composites. The use of magnetic fields for this purpose has been of particular interest in recent years due to its ease of use and the variety of materials on which this method can be applied. Strong magnetic fields are required to align diamagnetic fillers. However, the modification of particles with low magnetic susceptibilities with magnetic nanoparticles (i.e. iron oxide nanoparticles) has been proven to be a successful approach to broaden the capabilities of magnetic alignment in polymer composites. The development of filler manipulation techniques opens the possibility to mimic complex biological structures that promise to improve the mechanical properties of bioinspired composites and even achieve advanced functionalities in self-shaping materials for example. Graphical Abstract
Ultra-tangibles: creating movable tangible objects on interactive tables

Tangible objects placed on interactive surfaces allow users to employ a physical object to manipulate digital content. However, creating the reverse effect - having digital content manipulate a tangible object placed on the surface - is a more challenging task. We present a new approach to this problem, using ultrasound-based air pressure waves to move multiple tangible objects, independently, around an interactive surface. We describe the technical background, design, implementation, and test cases for such a system. We conclude by discussing practical uses of our system, Ultra-Tangibles, in the creation of new tangible user interfaces.
Maximum Throughput of IEEE 802.15.4 Enabled Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we study the maximum throughput of IEEE 802.15. 4 enabled wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In general, deploying more sensor nodes would increase the throughput, but if excessive sensor nodes were involved to report data, the throughput might decrease due to packet collisions. In this paper, we analyze the CSMA/CA performance of the IEEE 802.15. 4 enabled WSNs, and develop an analytical throughput model between the maximum throughput and the optimal number of deployed sensor nodes. Extensive simulations are conducted to verify our analytical throughput model.
Tor and Cyclic AMP-Protein Kinase A: Two Parallel Pathways Regulating Expression of Genes Required for Cell Growth

ABSTRACT In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Tor and cyclic AMP-protein kinase A (cAMP-PKA) signaling cascades respond to nutrients and regulate coordinately the expression of genes required for cell growth, including ribosomal protein (RP) and stress-responsive (STRE) genes. The inhibition of Tor signaling by rapamycin results in repression of the RP genes and induction of the STRE genes. Mutations that hyperactivate PKA signaling confer resistance to rapamycin and suppress the repression of RP genes imposed by rapamycin. By contrast, partial inactivation of PKA confers rapamycin hypersensitivity but only modestly affects RP gene expression. Complete inactivation of PKA impairs RP gene expression and concomitantly enhances STRE gene expression; remarkably, this altered transcriptional pattern is still sensitive to rapamycin and thus subject to Tor control. These findings illustrate how the Tor and cAMP-PKA signaling pathways respond to nutrient signals to govern gene expression required for cell growth via two parallel routes, and they have broad implication for our understanding of analogous regulatory networks in normal and neoplastic mammalian cells.