Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatoma polarization limits CD81 and hepatitis C virus dynamics

Many viruses target the polarized epithelial apex during host invasion. In contrast, hepatitis C virus (HCV) engages receptors at the basal surface of hepatocytes in the polarized liver parenchyma. Hepatocyte polarization limits HCV entry by undefined mechanism(s). Given the recent reports highlighting a role for receptor mobility in pathogen entry, we studied the effect(s) of hepatocyte polarization on viral receptor and HCV pseudoparticle (HCVpp) dynamics using real‐time fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and single particle tracking. Hepatoma polarization reduced CD81 and HCVpp dynamics at the basal membrane. Since cell polarization is accompanied by changes in the actin cytoskeleton and CD81 links to actin via its C‐terminus, we studied the dynamics of a mutant CD81 lacking a C‐terminal tail (CD81ΔC) and its effect(s) on HCVpp mobility and infection. CD81ΔC showed an increased frequency of confined trajectories and a reduction of Brownian diffusing molecules compared to wild‐type protein in non‐polarized cells. However, these changes were notobserved in polarized cells. HCVpp showed a significant reduction in Brownian diffusion and infection of CD81ΔC expressing non‐polarized cells. In summary, these data highlight the dynamic nature of CD81 and demonstrate a role for CD81 lateral diffusion to regulate HCV infection in a polarization‐dependent manner.
A Robust Estimator for Structure from Motion Based on Kernel Density Estimation

A robust model fitting technique is presented for recovery of structure and motion from a sequence. The error bound of the inliers is not needed and the outliers are assumed to be randomly (uniformly) distributed. Unlike other methods in the RANSAC family that need some prior information or a scale estimator to select the best consensus set, we estimate the parameters of the model directly based on Bayesian theory and kernel density estimation. Then the estimated parameters can be used directly or used to determine the best consensus set. The advantage of the proposed method is that it can robustly determine the best consensus set without any prior information of the data and need a lower computational cost than other auto-scale algorithms in the RANSAC family. The proposed method is applied to structure from planar motion estimation. The experiments indoor and outdoor have been done to verify the performance of the algorithm and the very promising results are obtained
A novel hybrid single molecule approach reveals spontaneous DNA motion in the nucleosome

Structural dynamics of nucleic acid and protein is an important physical basis of their functions. These motions are often very difficult to synchronize and too fast to be clearly resolved with the currently available single molecule methods. Here we demonstrate a novel hybrid single molecule approach combining stochastic data analysis with fluorescence correlation that enables investigations of sub-ms unsynchronized structural dynamics of macromolecules. Based on the method, we report the first direct evidence of spontaneous DNA motions at the nucleosome termini. The nucleosome, comprising DNA and a histone core, is the fundamental packing unit of eukaryotic genes that must be accessed during various genome transactions. Spontaneous DNA opening at the nucleosome termini has long been hypothesized to enable gene access in the nucleosome, but has yet to be directly observed. Our approach reveals that DNA termini in the nucleosome open and close repeatedly at 0.1–1 ms−1. The kinetics depends on salt concentration and DNA–histone interactions but not much on DNA sequence, suggesting that this dynamics is universal and imposes the kinetic limit to gene access. These results clearly demonstrate that our method provides an efficient and robust means to investigate unsynchronized structural changes of DNA at a sub-ms time resolution.
Lumbar Intradural Extramedullary Bronchiogenic Cyst

The pathological findings of an intradural and extramedullary cyst at the L1 level of the spinal canal are described in a 28-year-old male who presented with chronic lumbago and progressive weakness and numbness in both lower limbs. Histopathological examination revealed the diagnosis of bronchiogenic cyst. Bronchiogenic cysts in the spinal canal are uncommon, and cysts at the L1 level are extremely rare. Their pathogenesis is still poorly understood. They are thought to be a malformation arising from a split notochordal syndrome. We conclude that intradural extramedullary bronchiogenic cysts may appear also at lumbar levels. Surgical resection can be achieved with good outcome.
A comparison of short- and long-term family therapy for adolescent anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE Research suggests that family treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa may be effective. This study was designed to determine the optimal length of such family therapy. METHOD Eighty-six adolescents (12-18 years of age) diagnosed with anorexia nervosa were allocated at random to either a short-term (10 sessions over 6 months) or long-term treatment (20 sessions over 12 months) and evaluated at the end of 1 year using the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) between 1999 and 2002. RESULTS Although adequately powered to detect differences between treatment groups, an intent-to-treat analysis found no significant differences between the short-term and long-term treatment groups. Although a nonsignificant finding does not prove the null hypothesis, in no instance does the confidence interval on the effect size on the difference between the groups approach a moderate . 5 level. However, post hoc analyses suggest that subjects with severe eating-related obsessive-compulsive features or who come from nonintact families respond better to long-term treatment. CONCLUSIONS A short-term course of family therapy appears to be as effective as a long-term course for adolescents with short-duration anorexia nervosa. However, there is a suggestion that those with more severe eating-related obsessive-compulsive thinking and nonintact families benefit from longer treatment.
Investigation of Possible Neural Architectures Underlying Information-Geometric Measures

A novel analytical method based on information geometry was recently proposed, and this method may provide useful insights into the statistical interactions within neural groups. The link between information-geometric measures and the structure of neural interactions has not yet been elucidated, however, because of the ill-posed nature of the problem. Here, possible neural architectures underlying information-geometric measures are investigated using an isolated pair and an isolated triplet of model neurons. By assuming the existence of equilibrium states, we derive analytically the relationship between the information-geometric parameters and these simple neural architectures. For symmetric networks, the first- and second-order information-geometric parameters represent, respectively, the external input and the underlying connections between the neurons provided that the number of neurons used in the parameter estimation in the log-linear model and the number of neurons in the network are the same. For asymmetric networks, however, these parameters are dependent on both the intrinsic connections and the external inputs to each neuron. In addition, we derive the relation between the information-geometric parameter corresponding to the two-neuron interaction and a conventional cross-correlation measure. We also show that the information-geometric parameters vary depending on the number of neurons assumed for parameter estimation in the log-linear model. This finding suggests a need to examine the information-geometric method carefully. A possible criterion for choosing an appropriate orthogonal coordinate is also discussed. This article points out the importance of a model-based approach and sheds light on the possible neural structure underlying the application of information geometry to neural network analysis.
Large vocabulary quantization for searching instances from videos

A very promising application involving video collections is to search for relevant video segments from a video database when given few visual examples of the specific instance, e.g. a person, object, or place. However, this problem is difficult due to the lighting variations, different viewpoints, partial occlusion, and large changes in appearance. In this paper, we focus on a kind of restricted instance searching task, where the region of a specific instance to be searched for is manually labeled on each query image. We formulate this problem in a large vocabulary quantization based Bag-of-Words framework, while putting more research emphasis on investigating to what extent we can benefit from these labeled instance regions. The contribution of this paper mainly lies in two aspects: first, we proposed an algorithm for instance search that outperformed all submissions on the instance search dataset TRECVID 2011. Secondly, after thoroughly analyzing the experiment results, we show that our top performance is mainly due to similar scene retrieval, instead of the same instance search. This observation reveals that in the current dataset background is more dominated than instance, and it also suggests that a promising direction in which to further improve the current algorithm, which may also be the breakthrough for achieving this challenge, is to investigate more about how to truly take advantage of additional labeled instance regions. We believe our research opens a window for future new methods for searching instance.
An Augmented Reality Setup with an Omnidirectional Camera Based on Multiple Object Detection

We propose a novel augmented reality (AR) setup with an omni directional camera on a table top display. The table acts as a mirror on which real playing cards appear augmented with virtual elements. The omni directional camera captures and recognizes its surrounding based on a feature based image retrieval approach which achieves fast and scalable registration. It allows our system to superimpose virtual visual effects to the omni directional camera image. In our AR card game, users sit around a table top display and show a card to the other players. The system recognizes it and augments it with virtual elements in the omni directional image acting as a mirror. While playing the game, the users can interact with each other directly and through the display. Our setup is a new, simple, and natural approach to augmented reality. It opens new doors to traditional card games.
Knowledge creation in the healthcare sector: a legitimation strategy

There are two purposes of this study: 1. to examine the legitimacy-gaining model (the relationship between legitimation strategies and legitimacy) in the context of the hospital industry; 2. to explore the influence of the legitimacy-gaining model on the process through which knowledge is created within the hospital industry. This paper proposes a legitimacy-gaining model as the determinant of hospitals' knowledge-creation activities. We further suggest managerial and theoretical implications at the end of this paper.
REMODE: Probabilistic, monocular dense reconstruction in real time

In this paper, we solve the problem of estimating dense and accurate depth maps from a single moving camera. A probabilistic depth measurement is carried out in real time on a per-pixel basis and the computed uncertainty is used to reject erroneous estimations and provide live feedback on the reconstruction progress. Our contribution is a novel approach to depth map computation that combines Bayesian estimation and recent development on convex optimization for image processing. We demonstrate that our method outperforms state-of-the-art techniques in terms of accuracy, while exhibiting high efficiency in memory usage and computing power. We call our approach REMODE (REgularized MOnocular Depth Estimation). Our CUDA-based implementation runs at 30Hz on a laptop computer and is released as open-source software.
Measurement of V-t characteristics of suspention insulators to evaluate for lightning characteristics of traction power supply system

In d.c. traction power supply system, direct stroke of lightning to the overhead catenaries system and electric pole causes the continuing grounding fault and it results in the breaking of overhead wire. The countermeasure for lightning is one of the important issues to realize more reliable public transportation. In this paper, V-t characteristics of suspension insulators were experimentally measured in detail. It was confirmed that the flashover voltage increases about 40% or more in a short time region of V-t characteristics. Such measurements will be important and valuable for evaluation of lightning characteristics of traction power supply system and useful for reasonable proposal of countermeasures against lightning in the future.
Application and Analysis of the Folin Ciocalteu Method for the Determination of the Total Phenolic Content from Limonium Brasiliense L.

Limonium brasiliense is a common plant on the southern coast of Brazil. The roots are traditionally used for treatment of premenstrual syndrome, menstrual disturbances and genito-urinary infections. Pharmaceutical preparations obtained from its roots and used for these purposes were marketed in Brazil in the 1980s and 1990s. Currently, the Brazilian Drug Agency (National Health Surveillance Agency, ANVISA) has canceled the registration of these products, and their use was discontinued because of a lack of studies to characterize the plant raw material and ensure the effectiveness and safety of its use. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate an analytical method to determine the content of total polyphenols (TP) in an extract from L. brasiliense roots, by the UV/Vis spectrophotometric method. L. brasiliense roots were extracted in acetone:water (7:3, v/v-10% w/v). The crude extract was used to develop a method for TP assay. The method was validated according to national and international guidelines. The optimum conditions for analysis time, wavelength, and standard substance were 30 min, 760 nm, and pyrogallol, respectively. Under these conditions, validation by UV/Vis spectrophotometry proved the method to be linear, specific, precise, accurate, reproducible, robust, and easy to perform. This methodology complies with the requirements for analytical application and to ensure the reliability of the results.
Grooming Telecommunications Networks : Optimization Models and Methods

Grooming has emerged as an active area of research within the operations research and telecommunications fields and concerns the optimization of network transmissions that span multiple distinct transmission channels, protocols, or technologies. This study explores the meaning of grooming, the technical context in which it can be applied, and example situations. A new taxonomy captures key aspects of grooming problems and is used to summarize over 50 key publications on this important traffic-engineering and optimization problem class.
Gender differences in the treatment and secondary prevention of CHD at population level

Objectives. Treatment and secondary prevention measures, received by persons with coronary heart disease (CHD), are insufficiently known at the moment. The aim of this study was to investigate the state of treatment and secondary prevention of CHD in a population-based sample and to analyze possible gender differences in different age groups. Design. 300 men and 300 women with CHD were identified from a nationally representative health examination survey with 88% participation rate, carried out in Finland in 2000–2001. Results. Revascularization had been performed on 34% (95% confidence interval 29, 40%) of men and 13% (8, 18%) of women. Moreover, 76% (71, 81%) of the men and 63% (57, 69%) of the women used antithrombotic medications. Two thirds of both men and women used beta-blockers and one third lipid-lowering medication. Smoking was more common among men, whereas obesity and high total cholesterol concentration were more common among women. Conclusions. Secondary prevention of CHD is far from optimal and there are gender differences in the care of CHD.
An Energy-Efficient Communication Scheme for Wireless Networks: A Redundant Radix-Based Approach

We propose a redundant radix based number (RBN) representation for encoding and transmitting data for applications which typically utilize low cost devices and demand low power operations with simple modulation techniques like ASK, OOK and FSK. Coupled with silent periods for communicating the digit zero, this encoded communication scheme, called as RBNSiZeComm, provides a highly energy-efficient technique for data transmission. Considering an n-bit data representation and assuming that each of the 2n binary strings is equally likely to occur, theoretically obtainable fraction of energy savings by using our proposed RBNSiZeComm transmission protocol is, on an average, 1 - n+2/4n. A hybrid modulation scheme using FSK and ASK with non-coherent detection based receiver for the RBNSiZeComm protocol has been presented. Assuming equal likelihood of all possible binary strings of a given length, there is nearly 53% savings in energy on an average at the transmitter relative to binary FSK, over additive white gaussian noise (AWGN) channels. Simulation results demonstrate that compared to binary FSK, our proposed implementation can extend the battery life of devices from about 33% to 62% on an average in applications like remote healthcare and wireless sensor networks for agriculture.
Identifying Personality Features Related to Religious Vocation: A Comparison between Seminarians and their Peers Using the NEO Personality Inventory (Revised)

Do seminarians tend to exhibit a psychological structure that differs from that of their peers? Besides the ideals and motivations behind the religious call, are there personality factors that distinguish seminarians, and perhaps predispose them to choose this religious vocation? Building on previous research with the use of NEO PI-R, and analyzing data obtained from 62 male seminarians and 49 male and 51 female psychology students, this study addresses this question. Significant differences were found on all personality factors except Neuroticism, with the seminarians most notably scoring higher on Agreeableness and Conscientiousness and lower on Openness to Experience. Besides confirming the usefulness of the Five Factor Model (FFM) for the study of religion, the results shed light on possible differences between religion and spirituality.
Managing the Quality of Experience in the Multimedia Internet of Things: A Layered-Based Approach †

This paper addresses the issue of evaluating the Quality of Experience (QoE) for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, with particular attention to the case where multimedia content is involved. A layered IoT architecture is firstly analyzed to understand which QoE influence factors have to be considered in relevant application scenarios. We then introduce the concept of Multimedia IoT (MIoT) and define a layered QoE model aimed at evaluating and combining the contributions of each influence factor to estimate the overall QoE in MIoT applications. Finally, we present a use case related to the remote monitoring of vehicles during driving practices, which is used to validate the proposed layered model, and we discuss a second use case for smart surveillance, to emphasize the generality of the proposed framework. The effectiveness in evaluating classes of influence factors separately is demonstrated.
Luminescence materials for pH and oxygen sensing in microbial cells – structures, optical properties, and biological applications

Abstract Luminescence including fluorescence and phosphorescence sensors have been demonstrated to be important for studying cell metabolism, and diagnosing diseases and cancer. Various design principles have been employed for the development of sensors in different formats, such as organic molecules, polymers, polymeric hydrogels, and nanoparticles. The integration of the sensing with fluorescence imaging provides valuable tools for biomedical research and applications at not only bulk-cell level but also at single-cell level. In this article, we critically reviewed recent progresses on pH, oxygen, and dual pH and oxygen sensors specifically for their application in microbial cells. In addition, we focused not only on sensor materials with different chemical structures, but also on design and applications of sensors for better understanding cellular metabolism of microbial cells. Finally, we also provided an outlook for future materials design and key challenges in reaching broad applications in microbial cells.
Variations in the risk for cerebrovascular events after kidney transplant compared with experience on the waiting list and after graft failure.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES This study examined the risks, predictors, and mortality implications of cerebrovascular disease events after kidney transplantation in a national cohort. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS This analysis used United States Renal Data System registry data to study retrospectively Medicare-insured kidney transplant candidates (n = 51,504), recipients (n = 29,614), and recipients with allograft failure (n = 2954) in 1995 through 2002. New-onset cerebrovascular disease events including ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and transient ischemic attacks were ascertained from billing records, and participants were followed until Medicare-end or December 31, 2002. Multivariable survival analysis was used to compare cerebrovascular disease event incidence and risk profiles among the study samples. RESULTS The cumulative, 3-yr incidence of de novo cerebrovascular disease events after transplantation was 6.8% and was lower than adjusted 3-yr estimates of 11.8% on the waiting list and 11.2% after graft loss. In time-dependent regression, transplantation predicted a 34% reduction in subsequent, overall cerebrovascular disease events risk compared with remaining on the waiting list, whereas risk for cerebrovascular disease events increased >150% after graft failure. Similar relationships with transplantation and graft loss were observed for each type of cerebrovascular disease event. Smoking was a potentially preventable correlate of posttransplantation cerebrovascular disease events. Women were not protected. All forms of cerebrovascular disease event diagnoses after transplantation predicted increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS Along with known benefits for cardiac complications, transplantation with sustained graft function seems to reduce risk for vascular disease events involving the cerebral circulation.