Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new method to detect apoptosis in paraffin sections: in situ end-labeling of fragmented DNA.

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) can be difficult to detect in routine histological sections. Since extensive DNA fragmentation is an important characteristic of this process, visualization of DNA breaks could greatly facilitate the identification of apoptotic cells. We describe a new staining method for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections that involves an in situ end-labeling (ISEL) procedure. After protease treatment to permeate the tissue sections, biotinylated nucleotides are in situ incorporated into DNA breaks by polymerase and subsequently stained with DAB via peroxidase-conjugated avidin. Staining of cells with the morphological characteristics of apoptosis was demonstrated in tissues known to exhibit programmed cell death, i.e., prostate and uterus after castration, tumors, lymph node follicles, and embryos. Apoptotic cells could be discriminated morphologically from areas of labeled necrotic cells, in which DNA degradation also occurs. Because apoptosis is relatively easily recognized in H&E-stained sections of involuting prostates of castrated rats, we used this model system to validate the ISEL method for the quantification of apoptotic cells. A high correlation was found between the fractions of ISEL-labeled cells and the fractions of apoptotic cells that were morphologically determined in adjacent sections. We conclude that ISEL is a useful technique for quantification of apoptosis in paraffin sections, especially for those tissues in which morphological determination is difficult. Furthermore, this new staining method enables the use of automated image cytometry for evaluating apoptosis.
Visual Exploration of Sparse Traffic Trajectory Data

In this paper, we present a visual analysis system to explore sparse traffic trajectory data recorded by transportation cells. Such data contains the movements of nearly all moving vehicles on the major roads of a city. Therefore it is very suitable for macro-traffic analysis. However, the vehicle movements are recorded only when they pass through the cells. The exact tracks between two consecutive cells are unknown. To deal with such uncertainties, we first design a local animation, showing the vehicle movements only in the vicinity of cells. Besides, we ignore the micro-behaviors of individual vehicles, and focus on the macro-traffic patterns. We apply existing trajectory aggregation techniques to the dataset, studying cell status pattern and inter-cell flow pattern. Beyond that, we propose to study the correlation between these two patterns with dynamic graph visualization techniques. It allows us to check how traffic congestion on one cell is correlated with traffic flows on neighbouring links, and with route selection in its neighbourhood. Case studies show the effectiveness of our system.
Talking to strangers: an evaluation of the factors affecting electronic collaboration

This empirical study examines factors influencing the success of a commercial groupware system in creating group archives and supporting asynchronous communication. The study investigates the use of Lotus Notes TM in a workplace setting. We interviewed 21 Notes users and identified three factors that they thought contributed to the successful use of Notes databases for archiving and communication. We then tested the effect of these factors on 15,571 documents in 20 different databases. Contrary to our users' beliefs, we found the presence of an active database moderator actually inhibited discussions, and reduced browsing. Further paradoxical results were that conversations and the creation of group archives were more successful in databases with large numbers of diverse participants. Conversations and archiving were less successful in smaller, more homogeneous, project teams. Database size was also important: a large database containing huge amounts of information was more likely to be used for further conversations and archiving, than a small one. This result again ran counter to users' beliefs that small databases are superior. We discuss possible reasons for these findings in terms of critical mass and media competition, and conclude with implications for design.
Development of a Method for the Determination of Chromium and Cadmium in Tannery Wastewater Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

This paper illustrates systematic development of a convenient analytical method for the determination of chromium and cadmium in tannery wastewater using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). A new approach was developed by which liquid was converted into solid phase sample surface using absorption paper for subsequent LIBS analysis. The optimized values of LIBS parameters were 146.7 mJ for chromium and 89.5 mJ for cadmium (laser pulse energy), 4.5 μs (delay time), 70 mm (lens to sample surface distance), and 7 mm (light collection system to sample surface distance). Optimized values of LIBS parameters demonstrated strong spectrum lines for each metal keeping the background noise at minimum level. The new method of preparing metal standards on absorption papers exhibited calibration curves with good linearity with correlation coefficients, R2 in the range of 0.992 to 0.998. The developed method was tested on real tannery wastewater samples for determination of chromium and cadmium.
Mean-Shift Tracking with Random Sampling

In this work, boosting the efficiency of Mean-Shift Tracking using random sampling is proposed. We obtained the surprising result tha t mean-shift tracking requires only very few samples. Our experiments demonstrate that robust tracking can be achieved with as few as even 5 random samples from the image of the object. As the computational complexity is considerably reduced and becomes independent of object size, the processor can be used to handle other processing tasks while tracking. It is demonstrated t hat random sampling significantly reduces the processing time by two order s of magnitude for typical object sizes. Additionally, with random sampli ng, we propose a new optimal on-line feature selection algorithm for objec t tracking which maximizes a similarity measure for the weights of the RGB channels. It selects the weights of the RGB channels which discriminate the object and the background the most using Steepest Descent. Moreover, the spatial distribution of pixels representing the object is estimated for sp atial weighting. Arbitrary spatial weighting is incorporated into Mean-Shi ft Tracking to represent objects with arbitrary or changing shapes by picking up non-uniform random samples. Experimental results demonstrate that our tracker with online feature selection and arbitrary spatial weighting out performs the original mean-shift tracker with improved computational efficiency and tracking accuracy.
Mixing deformable and rigid-body mechanics simulation

This article presents a new method to achieve heterogeneous physical simulation, within the same global system, of both deformable and rigid-bodies objects, whatever their intrinsic nature. The proposed approach combines several mechanical formalisms in the same system and offers a common constraint management via Lagrange multipliers. This allows the simulation of a wide variety of models, including deformable and rigid pans linked by constraints. Some applications of this approach are presented to show its effectiveness
Investigation and Suppression of Harmonics Interaction in High-Power PWM Current-Source Motor Drives

For high-power PWM current-source drive systems, the distortion of dc-link current cannot be ignored due to the low converter switching frequency and the relative small dc choke for reduced cost/weight. The distorted dc-link current may introduce interharmonics in the grid side and the motor side through the rectifier and the inverter, and may give rise to the system resonance at certain motor speeds. When resonance occurs, significant interharmonics are introduced in the drive system, which will degrade the grid-side power quality and produce the excessive torque ripples on the motor side. In this paper, the harmonics interaction in a high-power PWM current-source drive system is investigated, and a method for the system resonance estimation is proposed. Based on the estimation of resonance conditions, a dc-link virtual impedance-based control method is developed to mitigate the resonance resulted from the harmonics interaction. The investigation of harmonics interaction, the proposed resonance estimation method, and the dc-link virtual impedance-based suppression method are verified through both simulations and experiments.
Direction-of-arrival estimation using single antenna in high-speed-train environments

In this paper, a measurement campaign in high-speed-train (HST) environments is introduced where the downlink signals of an in-service Universal Mobile Terrestrial System (UMTS) deployed along a HST railway between Beijing and Shanghai were required by a single receiving antenna. Channel Impulse Responses (CIRs) are extracted from the data received in Common PIlot CHannels (CPICHs). The train speed is estimated by exploiting the characteristics of the Doppler frequency trajectory of the Line-of-Sight (LoS) path. Direction-of-Arrivals (DoAs) are estimated based on the Space-Alternating Generalized Expectation-maximization (SAGE) principle by constructing a virtual antenna array constructed on the knowledge of the train speed.
Hesperidin, A Popular Antioxidant Inhibits Melanogenesis via Erk1/2 Mediated MITF Degradation

Regulation of melanogenesis has been the focus of treatment for hyperpigmentary skin disorders. Although hesperidin is one of the most well-known, naturally occurring flavonoids with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, its anti-melanogenic effect is not known. The present study aims to determine the anti-melanogenic effect of hespiridin as well as its underlying molecular mechanisms. Melanin contents were measured in normal human melanocytes and B16F10 melanoma cells. Protein and mRNA levels of tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1) and TRP-2 were determined. Melanogenesis-regulating signals were examined. In results, hesperidin strongly inhibited melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity. Hesperidin decreased tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 protein expression but increased phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-Erk1/2) expression. Specific inhibitor of Erk1/2 or proteasome inhibitor reversed the inhibition of melanogenesis induced by hesperidin. Taken together, hesperidin, a popular antioxidant, stimulated Erk1/2 phosphorylation which subsequently degraded MITF which resulted in suppression of melanogenic enzymes and melanin synthesis.
Description Logics based Formalization of Wh-Queries

The problem of Natural Language Query Formalization (NLQF) is to translate a given user query in natural language (NL) into a formal language so that the semantic interpretation has equivalence with the NL interpretation. Formalization of NL queries enables logic based reasoning during information retrieval, database query, question-answering, etc. Formalization also helps in Web query normalization and indexing, query intent analysis, etc. In this paper we are proposing a Description Logics based formal methodology for wh-query intent (also called desire) identification and corresponding formal translation. We evaluated the scalability of our proposed formalism using Microsoft Encarta 98 query dataset and OWL-S TC v.4. 0 dataset.
The Arabidopsis PLEIOTROPIC DRUG RESISTANCE8/ABCG36 ATP Binding Cassette Transporter Modulates Sensitivity to the Auxin Precursor Indole-3-Butyric Acid[C][W]

Plants have developed numerous mechanisms to store hormones in inactive but readily available states, enabling rapid responses to environmental changes. The phytohormone auxin has a number of storage precursors, including indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), which is apparently shortened to active indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in peroxisomes by a process similar to fatty acid β-oxidation. Whereas metabolism of auxin precursors is beginning to be understood, the biological significance of the various precursors is virtually unknown. We identified an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant that specifically restores IBA, but not IAA, responsiveness to auxin signaling mutants. This mutant is defective in PLEIOTROPIC DRUG RESISTANCE8 (PDR8)/PENETRATION3/ABCG36, a plasma membrane–localized ATP binding cassette transporter that has established roles in pathogen responses and cadmium transport. We found that pdr8 mutants display defects in efflux of the auxin precursor IBA and developmental defects in root hair and cotyledon expansion that reveal previously unknown roles for IBA-derived IAA in plant growth and development. Our results are consistent with the possibility that limiting accumulation of the IAA precursor IBA via PDR8-promoted efflux contributes to auxin homeostasis.
Built-in resistance compensation (BRC) technique for fast charging Li-Ion battery charger

This paper presents a BRC technique to speed up the charging time of the Li-Ion battery. Based on the physical properties of the battery cell, the charger circuit charges the cell with three stages, which are trickle current (TC), constant current (CC), and constant voltage (CV) stages. Due to the internal parasitic resistance of the Li-Ion battery pack system, the charger circuit switches from the CC stage to the CV stage without fully charging the cell to the rated voltage value. At the CV stage, the cell is needed to be charged by a degrading current. The longer the cell stays at the CV stage, the longer the charging time is due to the degrading current. The BRC technique can dynamically estimate the internal resistance of the battery pack system to extend the period of the CC stage. The test chip was fabricated in TSMC 0.35-mum process. Experimental results show the period of the CC stage can extended to about 40% that of the original design. The charging time can be effectively reduced.
A New Tyrosyl Radical on Phe208 as Ligand to the Diiron Center in Escherichia coli Ribonucleotide Reductase, Mutant R2-Y122H

The R2 protein subunit of class I ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) belongs to a structurally related family of oxygen bridged diiron proteins. In wild-type R2 of Escherichia coli, reductive cleavage of molecular oxygen by the diferrous iron center generates a radical on a nearby tyrosine residue (Tyr122), which is essential for the enzymatic activity of RNR, converting ribonucleotides into deoxyribonucleotides. In this work, we characterize the mutant E. coli protein R2-Y122H, where the radical site is substituted with a histidine residue. The x-ray structure verifies the mutation. R2-Y122H contains a novel stable paramagnetic center which we name H, and which we have previously proposed to be a diferric iron center with a strongly coupled radical, FeIIIFeIIIR·. Here we report a detailed characterization of center H, using 1H/2H-14N/ 15N- and 57Fe-ENDOR in comparison with the FeIIIFeIV intermediate X observed in the iron reconstitution reaction of R2. Specific deuterium labeling of phenylalanine residues reveals that the radical results from a phenylalanine. As Phe208 is the only phenylalanine in the ligand sphere of the iron site, and generation of a phenyl radical requires a very high oxidation potential, we propose that in Y122H residue Phe208 is hydroxylated, as observed earlier in another mutant (R2-Y122F/E238A), and further oxidized to a phenoxyl radical, which is coordinated to Fe1. This work demonstrates that small structural changes can redirect the reactivity of the diiron site, leading to oxygenation of a hydrocarbon, as observed in the structurally similar methane monoxygenase, and beyond, to formation of a stable iron-coordinated radical.
An Agent-Based Simulation of In-Store Customer Experience

Agent-based modelling and simulation offers a new and exciting way of understanding the world of work. In this paper we describe the development of an agent-based simulation model, designed to help to understand the relationship between human resource management practices and retail productivity. We report on the current development of our simulation model which includes new features concerning the evolution of customers over time. To test some of these features we have conducted a series of experiments dealing with customer pool sizes, standard and noise reduction modes, and the spread of the word of mouth. Our multidisciplinary research team draws upon expertise from work psychologists and computer scientists. Despite the fact we are working within a relatively novel and complex domain, it is clear that intelligent agents offer potential for fostering sustainable organisational capabilities in the future.
Quasi text-independent speaker-verification based on pattern matching

We present a new approach to quasi text-independent speaker verification based on pattern matching. Our method first seeks phonetically matched segments in two speech signals. For all aligned frame pairs of these segments we compute the probability that they were uttered by the same speaker. Based on these frame-level probabilities we take the decision whether the two signals were spoken by the same speaker or not. Our method to find phonetically matched segments does not depend on a speech recognizer. We show that our system performs better than a baseline speaker verification system based on Gaussian mixture models when the signals are long enough. Especially interesting is the fact that a combination of the devised system with the baseline system performs much better than either of the systems alone.
Renin angiotensin aldosterone system and glycemia in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in the general population. The RAAS is activated during pregnancy. However, it is unknown whether the RAAS contributes to glycemia in pregnant women. METHODS Plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone levels were quantified at delivery in 689 Chinese mothers. An oral glucose tolerance test in fasted women was performed in the second trimester of pregnancy. The diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and impaired glucose tolerance during pregnancy were made according to the guidelines of the Chinese Society of Obstetrics. RESULTS Plasma aldosterone was significantly higher in pregnant women with GDM as compared to those without impairment of glycemic control (normal pregnancies: 0.27 +/- 0.21 ng/mL, GDM: 0.36 +/- 0.30 ng/mL; p < 0.05). Regression analyses revealed that PRA was negatively correlated with fasting blood glucose (FBG) (R2 = 0.03, p = 0.007), whereas plasma aldosterone and aldosterone/PRA ratio were positively correlated with FBG (R2 = 0.05, p < 0.001 and R = 0.03, p = 0.007, respectively). Multivariable regression analysis models considering relevant confounding factors confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that fasting blood glucose in pregnant women is inversely correlated with the PRA, whereas plasma aldosterone showed a highly significant positive correlation with fasting blood glucose during pregnancy. Moreover, plasma aldosterone is significantly higher in pregnant women with GDM as compared to those women with normal glucose tolerance during pregnancy. Although causality cannot be proven in association studies, these data may indicate that the RAAS during pregnancy contributes to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance/new onset of diabetes during pregnancy.
Early Deaths During Tuberculosis Treatment Are Associated With Depressed Innate Responses, Bacterial Infection, and Tuberculosis Progression

Up to 14% of Malawian adults die during the intensive phase of tuberculosis treatment. In a prospective cohort of 199 Malawian adults with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis, clinical and laboratory parameters were compared between those who died or deteriorated with those who had an uneventful recovery. Baseline tumor necrosis factor alpha responses to stimulation with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis and lipopolysaccharide were reduced among the 22 patients with poor outcome (P = .017). Low body mass index (P = .002) and elevated respiratory rate (P = .01) at tuberculosis diagnosis independently predicted poor outcome. Validation of a clinical score identifying high-risk individuals is warranted, together with further investigation of immunological derangements.
Hypothermia for perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy A Swiss survey of opinion, practice and cerebral investigations

In Switzerland, access to therapeutic hypothermia is widespread and Swiss neonatologists believe that therapeutic hypothermia for perinatal asphyxia is effective. National cooling protocols are needed for the management of infants with perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy in order to ensure safe cooling, appropriate monitoring, imaging and follow-up assessment. A national registry is needed to collect data on diagnosis, treatment, adverse events and outcome. Abstract Background Perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy occurs in 1-2 per 1000 live births and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Therapeutic hypothermia increases intact survival and improves neurodevelopmental outcome in survivors. Aims To evaluate (i) the opinion and practice of therapeutic hypothermia as a therapy for moderate to severe perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy amongst Swiss neonatologists and paediatric intensive care specialists, (ii) the current clinical management of infants with perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy and (iii) the need for a national perinatal asphyxia and therapeutic hypothermia registry. Methods Two were the
A New Subunit of Cytochromeb 6 f Complex Undergoes Reversible Phosphorylation upon State Transition*

A 15.2-kDa polypeptide, encoded by the nuclear gene PETO, was identified as a novel cytochromeb 6 f subunit in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The PETO gene product is a bona fide subunit, subunit V, of the cytochromeb 6 f complex, because (i) it copurifies with the other cytochromeb 6 f subunits in the early stages of the purification procedure, (ii) it is deficient in cytochromeb 6 f mutants accumulating little of the complex, and (iii) it colocalizes with cytochrome f, which migrates between stacked and unstacked membrane regions upon state transition. Sequence analysis and biochemical characterization of subunit V shows that it has a one transmembrane α-helix topology with two large hydrophilic domains extending on the stromal and lumenal side of the thylakoid membranes, with a lumenal location of the N terminus. Subunit V is reversibly phosphorylated upon state transition, a unique feature that, together with its topological organization, points to the possible role of subunit V in signal transduction during redox-controlled short term and long term adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus in eukaryotes.
An implementation of access-control protocol for IoT home scenario

The internet of things comes into our daily life. It connected lots of resource-constrained devices, denoted as smart device, in an Internet-like structure. Considering the computing burden, the CoAP protocol is developed for serving the resource-constrained device and maps to HTTP for integration with existing web. In this paper, an access-control protocol will be introduced. The protocol is designed for IoT(Internet of Things) home scenario. Like the most IoT we can see, the IoT home scenario contains lots smart devices which collect some private information from us. To protect those data, an access-control protocol is needed. The protocol is deployed into Contiki OS and evaluated using the powertrace and some other tools. The results shows the protocol we designed takes a little more memory usage than an OAuth based authorisation protocol but smaller power consumption and more suitable for small scale IoT environment.