Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ethanol Modulates the VR-1 Variant Amiloride-insensitive Salt Taste Receptor. II. Effect on Chorda Tympani Salt Responses

The effect of ethanol on the amiloride- and benzamil (Bz)-insensitive salt taste receptor was investigated by direct measurement of intracellular Na+ activity ([Na+]i) using fluorescence imaging in polarized fungiform taste receptor cells (TRCs) and by chorda tympani (CT) taste nerve recordings. CT responses to KCl and NaCl were recorded in Sprague-Dawley rats, and in wild-type (WT) and vanilloid receptor-1 (VR-1) knockout mice (KO). CT responses were monitored in the presence of Bz, a specific blocker of the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC). CT responses were also recorded in the presence of agonists (resiniferatoxin and elevated temperature) and antagonists (capsazepine and SB-366791) of VR-1 that similarly modulate the Bz-insensitive VR-1 variant salt taste receptor. In the absence of mineral salts, ethanol induced a transient decrease in TRC volume and elicited only transient phasic CT responses. In the presence of mineral salts, ethanol increased the apical cation flux in TRCs without a change in volume, increased transepithelial electrical resistance across the tongue, and elicited CT responses that were similar to salt responses, consisting of both a phasic component and a sustained tonic component. At concentrations <50%, ethanol enhanced responses to KCl and NaCl, while at ethanol concentrations >50%, those CT responses were inhibited. Resiniferatoxin and elevated temperature increased the sensitivity of the CT response to ethanol in salt-containing media, and SB-366791 inhibited the effect of ethanol, resiniferatoxin, and elevated temperature on the CT responses to mineral salts. VR-1 KO mice demonstrated no Bz-insensitive CT response to NaCl and no sensitivity to ethanol. We conclude that ethanol increases salt taste sensitivity by its direct action on the Bz-insensitive VR-1 variant salt taste receptor.
Some Modeling and Optimization Problems in Cognitive Radio Ad Hoc Networks

Since its inception, cognitive radio (CR) has quickly been accepted as the enabling radio technology for next-generation wireless communications. A CR promises unprecedented flexibility in radio functionalities via programmability at the lowest layer, which was once done in hardware. Due to its spectrum sensing, learning, and adaptation capabilities, CR is able to address the heart of the problem associated with spectrum scarcity (via dynamic spectrum access (DSA)) and inter-operability (via channel switching). It is envisioned that CR will be employed as a general radio platform upon which numerous wireless applications can be implemented. For both theoretical and practical purposes, it is important for network researchers to model a cognitive radio ad hoc network (CRN) and optimize its performance. Such efforts are important not only for theoretical understanding, but also in that such results can be used as benchmarks for the design of distributed algorithms and protocols. However, due to some unique characteristics associated with CRNs, existing analytical techniques may not be applied directly. As a result, new theoretical results, along with new mathematical techniques, need to be developed. In this thesis, we focus on modeling and optimization of CRNs. In particular, we will study multicast communications in CRN and MIMO-empowered CRN, which we describe as follows. An important service that must be supported by CRNs is multicast. Although there are a lot of research on multicast in ad hoc networks, those results cannot be applied to a CRN, because of the complexity associated with a CR node (e.g., multiple available frequency bands, difference in available bands from neighboring nodes). In addition, a single-layer approach (e.g., multicast routing) is overly simplistic when resource optimization (i.e., minimizing network resource) is the main objective. For this purpose, a cross-layer approach is usually necessary, which should include joint consideration of multiple lower layers, in addition to network layer. However, such a joint formulation is usually highly complex and difficult. In this thesis, we aim to develop some novel algorithms that provide near-optimal solutions. Our goal is to minimize the required network-wide resource to support a set of multicast sessions, with a certain bit rate for each multicast session. The unique characteristics associated with CR and distinguish this problem from existing multicast research for ad hoc networks. In this work, we formulate this problem via a cross-layer approach with joint consideration of scheduling and routing. Although the problem formulation is in the form of mixed …
Fabrication and Optimization of Novel Lornoxicam Matrix Tablets Using 3-Factor 3-Level Box-Behnken Statistical Design: Invitro and Invivo Evaluation.

In the present study efforts have been made to prepare sustained release matrix tablets of Lornoxicam. Matrix tablets were prepared by direct compression method by using Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose K15 (HPMC- K15), Ethyl cellulose (EC) and Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (Na-CMC) as polymers in different concentrations. A 3-factor 3- level Box-Behnken statistical design was used as an optimization tool having total of 17 experimental runs with 5 central points. All three polymers were selected as independent variables while %age drug release at various time intervals and hardness were used as dependant variables. In vivo studies were conducted on human plasma using Tenoxicam as internal standered. All the detections were made on SYKNM HPLC. Foriour Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetery (DSC) studies were conducted and no chemical interaction was found between drug and polymers. The drug release mechanism was mainly governed by non-fickian (anomalous) diffusion and zero-order (case II) transport diffusion. Regression analysis was performed on dissolution data obtained with the selected response variables and polynomial models were constructed. Polynomial models were further validated using one way ANOVA and results indicated that all the polymers used have significant effect on selected response (p>0.05). Contour plots and three dimensional response surface curves were drawn. In- vivo studies were conducted on two tablet formulation indicating slow and sustained release of the drug from matrix. From Behnken design it is possible to successfully formulate and optimize Lornoxicam sustained release matrix tablets with three polymers (HPMC- K15, EC and Na-CMC) in combination.
A Lobster-inspired Hybrid Actuator With Rigid and Soft Components

Soft actuators have drawn significant attention from researchers with an inherently compliant design to address the safety issues in physical human-robot interactions. However, they are also vulnerable and pose new challenges in the design, fabrication, and analysis due to their inherent material softness. In this paper, a novel hybrid actuator design is presented with bio-inspirations from the lobster, or crustaceans in a broader perspective. We enclose a soft chamber with rectangular cross-section using a series of articulated rigid shells to produce bending under pneumatic input. By mimicking the shell pattern of lobsters' abdomen, foldable rigid shells are designed to provide the soft actuator with full protection throughout the motion range. The articulation of the rigid shells predefines the actuator's bending motions. As a result, the proposed design enables one to analyze this hybrid actuator with simplified quasi-static models and rigid-body kinematics, which are further validated by mechanical tests. This paper demonstrates that the proposed hybrid actuator design is capable of bridging the major design drawbacks of the entirely rigid and soft robots while preserving their engineering merits in performance.
Expenditure of chronic venous leg ulcer management in German primary care: results from a population‐based study

The aim of the study was to determine the demand on health service utilisation and to estimate the therapeutical costs caused by patients with chronic leg ulcer (CLU) in German primary care. A population‐based case–control study was conducted using electronic medical records of 116 059 patients extracted from the CONTENT primary care database of Heidelberg, Germany, between April 2007 and March 2010. The drug and non drug prescription rates among patients with CLU were analysed by means of a unified German identification key and compared with those of patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) without CLU. In the 3‐year‐contact group, CLU patients had significantly more patient–doctor encounters (55·9 versus 40·3; p < 0·0001), more referrals to home‐care services (6·12 versus 3·08; p < 0·0001), and more admissions to hospitals (0·9 versus 0·4; p < 0·0001) than CVI patients, but no difference in referrals to specialists. The annual treatment costs for drugs and non drugs in CLU patients were substantially higher than in CVI patients (1645·75 € versus 1188·17 €; p < 0·0001). Wound dressings were identified as the most cost‐enlarging factor. Summarising, CLU patients in primary care settings place a higher demand on health service utilisation and need nearly one‐third higher therapeutical costs compared to venous patients without ulceration.
Review of Sustainable Multimodal Freight Transportation System in African Developing Countries: Evidence from Ghana

The importance of transportation in the socio-economic development of nations cannot be downplayed. Intermodal transport has become vital concept for ensuring sustainable freight transport in developed economies but less focused on among African scientific community as it attracts fewer researches and developments. This paper aims to review and promote the development of sustainable intermodal freight transport systems in African developing countries with insights from Ghana.The researchers adopted literature review approach for the global intermodal developments and that of developing economies with emphasis on Africa and Ghana.Transport experts and experienced practitioners’ opinions were sought to complement the limited literature on the means to improve intermodal transport and logistics management systems. Authors discovered that some African countries like Ghana potentially posses some relevant multimodal resources such as seaport, waterway, railway and road infrastructures. However, they are not well interconnected to acquire intermodal benefits. Besides, the existing transportation systems were mostly road dominated and frauded with cost-inefficiencies; greenhouse gas emissions, traffic congestion, accidents, high maintenance and service deficiencies.The constraints are lack of skilled labor, limited infrastructure, safety and security problems, limited institutional capacity, poor intermodal transport network and connectivity issues. Some practical measures to improve the lapses in the transport system were highlighted. It was suggested that management of African developing countries must remodify their transport policies to attract investors and transport players. This would strengthen Public Private Partnerships (PPP) collaborations in developing intermodal freight transport and logistics systems.
RNA modifications go viral

Viral life cycles are often coordinated by precise mechanisms that act on their RNA. For example, the microRNA miR-122 interacts with the viral RNA genome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and is required for HCV replication [1]. In the past year, several groups have reported a new RNA regulatory control to viral infection—the posttranscriptional RNA modification N6methyladenosine (mA). This reversible RNA modification is the most prevalent internal modification of the more than 60 known chemical modifications in eukaryotic RNA. The deposition of mA on RNA is controlled by cellular mA machinery comprising methyltransferase and demethylase enzymes, as well as mA-specific binding proteins (recently reviewed in [2]; Fig 1). By affecting mRNA and noncoding RNA structure, localization, and function, mA plays an important role in many fundamental biological processes [2]. A role for mA in viral infection has been hypothesized since the 1970s, when mA was found on RNA of several viruses [3–7]. Recently, advances in sequencing-based strategies used to profile mA have expanded the known repertoire of viruses with mA in their RNA to include human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) and RNA viruses in the family Flaviviridae,
Low-Volume Morning-Only Polyethylene Glycol with Specially Designed Test Meals versus Standard-Volume Split-Dose Polyethylene Glycol with Standard Diet for Colonoscopy: A Prospective, Randomized Trial

Background/Aims: Split-dose polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a standard bowel preparation regimen for colonoscopy, but the large volume is burdensome to ingest and the night dose causes sleep disturbance. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a bowel preparation protocol using low-volume morning-only PEG with specially designed low-residue test meals (LV-PEG with TM) compared to a standard-volume split-dose PEG bowel preparation with a standard diet (SV-PEG with SD). Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, randomized, investigator-blinded, noninferiority study. The primary end point was bowel preparation quality according to the Ottawa scale. Tolerability, compliance, adverse events, sleep quality and polyp/adenoma detection were also assessed. Results: Among 197 patients analyzed (mean age 54.6 years, 51.3% men), 97 received LV-PEG with TM and 100 received SV-PEG with SD. The Ottawa score for the total colon was 3.76 ± 2.07 in the LV-PEG with TM group and 3.67 ± 1.57 in the SV-PEG with SD group (p = 0.723; difference 0.09, 95% confidence interval -0.60 to 0.42). The compliance was high (more than 95%) in both groups (p = 0.621). PEG was easier to ingest for patients in the LV-PEG with TM group compared to the SV-PEG with SD group [visual analogue scale (VAS) for difficulty: 4.64 ± 2.46 vs. 5.97 ± 2.42, respectively; p < 0.001]. Diet instructions were also easier to comply with for patients in the LV-PEG with TM group compared to the SV-PEG with SD group (VAS for difficulty: 3.11 ± 2.25 vs. 4.00 ± 2.39, respectively; p = 0.008). Patients in the LV-PEG with TM group had a lower incidence of abdominal bloating (p = 0.012) and better sleep quality (p < 0.001). There was no difference between the groups regarding polyp and adenoma detection. Conclusions: LV-PEG with TM and SV-PEG with SD have similar efficacy with regard to bowel preparation for colonoscopy. LV-PEG with TM provided easier PEG intake and diet compliance, less abdominal bloating and better sleep quality than SV-PEG with SD.
The SMN Protein is a Key Regulator of Nuclear Architecture in Differentiating Neuroblastoma Cells

The cell nucleus contains two closely related structures, Cajal bodies (CBs) and gems. CBs are the first site of accumulation of newly assembled splicing snRNPs (small nuclear ribonucleoproteins) following their import into the nucleus, before they form their steady‐state localization in nuclear splicing speckles. Gems are the nuclear site of accumulation of survival motor neurons (SMNs), an insufficiency of which leads to the inherited neurodegenerative condition, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SMN is required in the cytoplasm for the addition of core, Sm, proteins to new snRNPs and is believed to accompany snRNPs to the CB. In most cell lines, gems are indistinguishable from CBs, although the structures are often separate in vivo. The relationship between CBs and gems is not fully understood, but there is evidence that symmetrical dimethylation of arginine residues in the CB protein coilin brings them together in HeLa cells. During neuronal differentiation of the human neuroblastoma cell line SH‐SY5Y, CBs and gems increase their colocalization, mimicking changes seen during foetal development. This does not result from alterations in the methylation of coilin, but from increased levels of SMN. Expression of exogenous SMN results in an increased efficiency of snRNP transport to nuclear speckles. This suggests different mechanisms are present in different cell types and in vivo that may be significant for the tissue‐specific pathology of SMA.
A combined approach to feature extraction for mouth characterization and tracking

A statistical active appearance model (AAM) is developed to model and track the lips. A major challenge in modelling the mouth area, considered the most deformable facial feature, is the weak contrast between lips and skin colour. In order to perform accurately, AAM requires a strong initialization point. In our approach, key information is firstly extracted using chrominance analysis. Then optimal parameters of the model are determined using AAM fitting procedure. A detailed description of our model and its corresponding fitting algorithm are given and preliminary results on different databases are summarised.
Chromatin Organization and Radio Resistance in the Bacterium Gemmata obscuriglobus

ABSTRACT The organization of chromatin has a major impact on cellular activities, such as gene expression. For bacteria, it was suggested that the spatial organization of the genetic material correlates with transcriptional levels, implying a specific architecture of the chromosome within the cytoplasm. Accordingly, recent technological advances have emphasized the organization of the genetic material within nucleoid structures. Gemmata obscuriglobus, a member of the phylum Planctomycetes, exhibits a distinctive nucleoid structure in which chromatin is encapsulated within a discrete membrane-bound compartment. Here, we show that this soil and freshwater bacterium tolerates high doses of UV and ionizing radiation. Cryoelectron tomography of frozen hydrated sections and electron microscopy of freeze-substituted cells have indicated a more highly ordered condensed-chromatin organization in actively dividing and stationary-phase G. obscuriglobus cells. These three-dimensional analyses revealed a complex network of double membranes that engulf the condensed DNA. Bioinformatics analysis has revealed the existence of a putative component involved in nonhomologous DNA end joining that presumably plays a role in maintaining chromatin integrity within the bacterium. Thus, our observations further support the notion that packed chromatin organization enhances radiation tolerance.
Automatic summarization of English broadcast news speech

This paper proposes an automatic speech summarization technique for English. In our proposed method, a set of words maximizing a summarization score indicating appropriateness of summarization is extracted from automatically transcribed speech and concatenated to create a summary. The extraction process is performed using a Dynamic Programming (DP) technique according to a target compression ratio. In this paper, English broadcast news speech transcribed using a speech recognizer is automatically summarized. In order to apply our method, originally proposed for Japanese, to English, the model of estimating word concatenation probabilities based on a dependency structure in the original speech given by a Stochastic Dependency Context Free Grammar (SDCFG) is modified. A summarization method for multiple utterances using two-level DP technique is also proposed. The automatically summarized sentences are evaluated by a summarization accuracy based on the comparison with the manual summarization of correctly transcribed speech by human subjects. Experimental results show that our proposed method effectively extracts relatively important information and remove redundant and irrelevant information from English news speech.
Stripe-based SPIHT lossy compression of volumetric medical images for low memory usage and uniform reconstruction quality

This paper presents a low memory implementation of efficient lossy volumetric medical image compression using the set partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT) algorithm. The coding units in this three-dimensional wavelet transform and compression method are short sequences of horizontal stripes cut from the sequence of slices in the volumetric image. As the compression degree increases, the boundaries between adjacent coding units became increasingly visible. Unlike video, where image frames are viewed under dynamic conditions, the volume image is examined under static conditions and must not exhibit such boundary artifacts. In order to eliminate them, we utilize overlapping both at the intra-slice and inter-slice boundaries between adjacent and successive stripe sequences. Our low memory implementation smooths out considerably the variation in mean squared error among different slices and suffers only an insignificant loss in performance from that of a full memory implementation.
Measuring the Similarity of Sentential Arguments in Dialogue

When people converse about social or political topics, similar arguments are often paraphrased by different speakers, across many different conversations. Debate websites produce curated summaries of arguments on such topics; these summaries typically consist of lists of sentences that represent frequently paraphrased propositions, or labels capturing the essence of one particular aspect of an argument, e.g. Morality or Second Amendment. We call these frequently paraphrased propositions ARGUMENT FACETS. Like these curated sites, our goal is to induce and identify argument facets across multiple conversations, and produce summaries. However, we aim to do this automatically. We frame the problem as consisting of two steps: we first extract sentences that express an argument from raw social media dialogs, and then rank the extracted arguments in terms of their similarity to one another. Sets of similar arguments are used to represent argument facets. We show here that we can predict ARGUMENT FACET SIMILARITY with a correlation averaging 0.63 compared to a human topline averaging 0.68 over three debate topics, easily beating several reasonable baselines.
Phylogeographic differentiation versus transcriptomic adaptation to warm temperatures in Zostera marina, a globally important seagrass

Populations distributed across a broad thermal cline are instrumental in addressing adaptation to increasing temperatures under global warming. Using a space‐for‐time substitution design, we tested for parallel adaptation to warm temperatures along two independent thermal clines in Zostera marina, the most widely distributed seagrass in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. A North–South pair of populations was sampled along the European and North American coasts and exposed to a simulated heatwave in a common‐garden mesocosm. Transcriptomic responses under control, heat stress and recovery were recorded in 99 RNAseq libraries with ~13 000 uniquely annotated, expressed genes. We corrected for phylogenetic differentiation among populations to discriminate neutral from adaptive differentiation. The two southern populations recovered faster from heat stress and showed parallel transcriptomic differentiation, as compared with northern populations. Among 2389 differentially expressed genes, 21 exceeded neutral expectations and were likely involved in parallel adaptation to warm temperatures. However, the strongest differentiation following phylogenetic correction was between the three Atlantic populations and the Mediterranean population with 128 of 4711 differentially expressed genes exceeding neutral expectations. Although adaptation to warm temperatures is expected to reduce sensitivity to heatwaves, the continued resistance of seagrass to further anthropogenic stresses may be impaired by heat‐induced downregulation of genes related to photosynthesis, pathogen defence and stress tolerance.