Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Construction Method and Application of Heart Sound Wavelet NeuralNetwork

Constructing a targeted wavelet neural network is an effective method to enhance network performances and recognition effect. By introducing heart sounds wavelet of neural network hidden layer as the activation function, heart sound targeted learning and recognition technology are integrated deeply, to obtain a new heart sounds wavelet neural network. Selecting normal heart sounds and premature beats heart sound signals as the experimental objects, accuracy of recognition rate of heart sounds reached 97%. Compared with Morlet wavelet neural network and Mexicanhat wavelet neural network, the heart sound wavelet neural network shows obvious superiority on algorithm speed and convergence in heart sound recognition.
Interleukin-8 and SDF1-α mRNA expression in colonic biopsies from patients with inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVES:Interleukin-8 (IL-8) as an α-chemokine recruits and activates neutrophils, which are abundant in the intestinal lesions of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF1-α) is a new chemokine that is chemotactic to neutrophils. The aims of this study were to assess the relative expression of SDF1-α and IL-8 mRNA in different colonic regions and patients with inflammatory bowel disease with varied degrees of inflammation in the colon.METHODS:Colon biopsy samples were obtained from 19 patients with UC, 12 with CD, and 5 with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who underwent colonoscopy. Levels of IL-8 and SDF1-α mRNA expression were measured semiquantitatively by reverse-transcription and polymerase chain reaction amplification. The cytokine mRNA levels were corrected for glyceraldelyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA expression.RESULTS:IL-8 mRNA expression was significantly correlated with SDF1-α expression in normal biopsies from IBS patients (r = 0.58, p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in cytokine mRNA expression (IL-8 or SDF1-α) across different regions of the colon or rectum in uninflamed normal biopsies. The IL-8 mRNA expression ratios in UC (mean ± SD, 1.03 ± 0.52) and CD (0.90 ± 0.38) patients were significantly higher than in IBS (0.52 ± 0.17) (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively). The SDF1-α mRNA expression ratio in UC (0.30 ± 0.52) was higher than in both CD (0.21 ± 0.10) and IBS patients (0.22 ± 0.11) (p < 0.01, <0.05, respectively). A statistically significant correlation was found between the IL-8 mRNA expression and the colonic inflammation in UC patients (r = 0.44, p < 0.05) but not for SDF1-α expression in UC patients.CONCLUSIONS:IL-8 but not SDF1-α mRNA expression was associated with inflammation in UC. This suggests that IL-8 may play a more important role in inflammatory bowel disease than does SDF1-α.
Genetic algorithm based test pattern generation for multiple stuck-at faults and test power reduction in VLSI circuits

A method of test pattern generation for multiple stuck-at faults in VLSI circuits, using genetic algorithm is proposed. The test patterns were earlier generated for single stuck at faults only but in the proposed work, multiple faults are considered and fault masking is also taken into account when faults are injected. The test patterns to detect the faults are the binary values given as inputs to the circuit under test. These patterns should be compact and also should have minimum switching among them to reduce the test power. Genetic Algorithms (GA) is a search technique to find solutions to optimization and search problems. Hence the proposed work uses GA to generate test patterns. Here the chromosomes in GA are substituted for the test patterns. The test patterns are initialized randomly and their fitness value is evaluated. Now GA operators like selection, crossover and mutation are applied on this initial set to reproduce better test patterns. These generated test patterns are reordered using reordering techniques, don't cares filled by filling techniques to reduce the switching activity among them thus reducing the test power.
Twisting arms and sending messages

We examine the strategic rationale for terrorist tactics in civil war. We identify conditions that favor terrorism as a tactic in armed civil conflicts as well as the specific targets as a function of rebel characteristics, goals, and government responses to political demands. Terrorist tactics can be helpful as an instrument to coerce the government in asymmetric conflicts, as rebels are typically weak relative to the government. But terrorism can also help communicate the goals and resolve of a group when there is widespread uncertainty. We consider the strategic importance and rationale for terrorism in terms of the frequency of attacks and specific targets, and analyze our propositions using new data linking actors from the Uppsala/PRIO Armed Conflict Data and the Global Terrorism Database. Consistent with our expectations, we find that terrorism is used more extensively in civil conflicts by weaker groups and when attacks can help the group convey its goals without undermining popular support. Groups with more inclusive audiences are more likely to focus on ‘hard’ or official targets, while groups with more sectarian audiences are more likely to attack ‘soft’ targets and civilians.
Detection of specific IgM antibody in the investigation of an outbreak of pneumonia due to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1.

OBJECTIVE Management of outbreaks of pneumonia due to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (SG1) infection requires rapid and accurate diagnostic tests. Current serologic approaches, based on detection of seroconversion for total antibody, do not fulfil this requirement. METHODS A diagnostic test based on detection of IgM antibody to L. pneumophila SG1 by indirect immunofluorescence was developed and used to evaluate serum samples from patients involved in a community outbreak of L. pneumophila SG1 pneumonia that occurred in Spain. RESULTS Testing of samples from serologically proven, sporadic cases of pneumonia due to L. pneumophila SG1 (14), cases of atypical pneumonia due to other infectious agents (16) and healthy controls (100) supported the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. On samples from the outbreak, the IgM assay recognized five of six cases with isolation of L. pneumophila SG1 from respiratory secretions or lung tissue and more than 70% of cases with confirmed or presumptive diagnosis as determined by the current serologic criteria. In addition, the IgM assay was positive in 23-70% of patients who fulfilled the clinical and epidemiologic criteria of case definition but did not display diagnostically significant serologic results or who lacked a detectable antibody response in the routine assay. Among cases confirmed by the current criteria, detection of specific IgM was occasionally achieved before the conventional serology gave significant results. CONCLUSION Incorporation of IgM antibody detection in the current diagnostic criteria for L. pneumophila SG1 infection may help to improve the management of outbreaks of pneumonia due to this agent.
Transforming growth factor beta1 from endometriomas promotes fibrosis in surrounding ovarian tissues via Smad2/3 signaling†

Abstract To elucidate whether the endometriotic cells of endometriomas synthesize transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) and understand how it affects surrounding ovarian tissue. We collected biopsies of the cysticwalls from 42 endometriomas and 29mature teratomas and compared mRNA and protein expression of fibrosis-related factors between the cysticwalls. Then we detected TGFB1 mRNA synthesis in endometriomas, and tested TGF-beta1 fibrotic effect in vitro. Moreover, we verified the expression of Smad2/3 signaling components in the endometriotic cystic wall in order to understand whether TGF-beta1/Smad signaling is involved in fibrosis formation of the tissue surrounding endometriomas. The cystic walls from endometriomas demonstrated severe adhesion to ovarian tissue and obvious fibrosis compared with the mature teratomas, which was proven by the increased mRNA expression of fibrotic markers. Additionally, TGFB1 was obviously expressed in the endometriotic cystic wall, and total TGFB1 protein was significantly higher in the cystic walls of endometriomas than mature teratomas. Interestingly, TGFB1 mRNA was confirmed to be specifically synthesized in the endometriotic loci through fluorescence in situ hybridization. Cultured endometriomas derived stromal cells showed obvious fibrosis after exposed to TGF-beta1. Furthermore, components of the TGF-beta1/Smad pathway such as Smad2, Smad3, Smad4, and their phosphorylated forms were also expressed in the same location as TGF-beta1, TGF-beta receptor1, and fibrotic factors expressed in the endometriotic cystic walls. In summary, endometriotic cells of endometriomas synthesize TGF-beta1 leading to fibrosis and adhesion to ovarian tissues, and TGF-beta1/Smad signaling pathway is involved in this pathological process. Summary Sentence Prospectively analyzing cystic walls from excised ovarian endometriomas and mature teratomas, we demonstrated that TGF-beta1 is specifically expressed in endometriomas and promotes fibrosis in surrounding ovarian tissues via Smad2/3 signaling.
Two Distinct Monooxygenases for Alkane Oxidation inNocardioides sp. Strain CF8

ABSTRACT Alkane monooxygenases in Nocardioides sp. strain CF8 were examined at the physiological and genetic levels. Strain CF8 can utilize alkanes ranging in chain length from C2 to C16. Butane degradation by butane-grown cells was strongly inhibited by allylthiourea, a copper-selective chelator, while hexane-, octane-, and decane-grown cells showed detectable butane degradation activity in the presence of allylthiourea. Growth on butane and hexane was strongly inhibited by 1-hexyne, while 1-hexyne did not affect growth on octane or decane. A specific 30-kDa acetylene-binding polypeptide was observed for butane-, hexane-, octane-, and decane-grown cells but was absent from cells grown with octane or decane in the presence of 1-hexyne. These results suggest the presence of two monooxygenases in strain CF8. Degenerate primers designed for PCR amplification of genes related to the binuclear-iron-containing alkane hydroxylase fromPseudomonas oleovorans were used to clone a related gene from strain CF8. Reverse transcription-PCR and Northern blot analysis showed that this gene encoding a binuclear-iron-containing alkane hydroxylase was expressed in cells grown on alkanes above C6. These results indicate the presence of two distinct monooxygenases for alkane oxidation in Nocardioides sp. strain CF8.
Examination of VLC-PUFA-deficient photoreceptor terminals.

PURPOSE Juvenile-onset autosomal dominant Stargardt-like macular dystrophy (STGD3) is caused by mutations in ELOVL4 (elongation of very long fatty acids-4), an elongase necessary for the biosynthesis of very long chain fatty acids (VLC-FAs ≥ C26). Photoreceptors are enriched with VLC polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs), which are necessary for long-term survival of rod photoreceptors. The purpose of these studies was to determine the effect of deletion of VLC-PUFAs on rod synaptic function in retinas of mice conditionally depleted (KO) of Elovl4. METHODS Retina function was assessed in wild-type (WT) and KO by electroretinography. Outer plexiform structure was evaluated by immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. Single-cell recordings measured rod ion channel operation and rod bipolar glutamate signaling. Sucrose gradient centrifugation was used to isolate synaptosomes from bovine retina. Proteins and lipids were analyzed by Western blotting and tandem mass spectroscopy, respectively. RESULTS Inner retinal responses (b-wave, oscillatory potentials, and scotopic threshold responses) of the ERG were decreased in the KO mice compared to controls. However the rod ion channel operation and bipolar glutamate responses were comparable between groups. Biochemical analysis revealed that conventional and ribbon synapses have VLC-PUFAs. Ultrastructural analysis showed that the outer plexiform layer was disorganized and the diameter of vesicles in rod terminals was smaller in the KO mice. CONCLUSIONS Very long chain PUFAs affect rod function by contributing to synaptic vesicle size, which may alter the dynamics of synaptic transmission, ultimately resulting in a loss of neuronal connectivity and death of rod photoreceptors.
A Snapshot of the Effective Indications and Results of Surgery for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Tertiary Referral Centers: Is It Adherent to the EASL/AASLD Recommendations? An Observational Study of the HCC East-West Study Group

Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate in a retrospective setting the patients' profile and results of those undergoing surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-volume surgical centers throughout the world. Background:Whether surgery for HCC is a suitable approach and for which subset of patients is still controversial. The EASL/AASLD (European Association for the Study of Liver Disease/American Association for the Study of Liver Disease) guidelines, based on the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) classification, leave little room for hepatic resection; inversely, other reports promote its wider application. Methods:On the basis of the network “Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Eastern & Western Experiences,” data for 2046 consecutive patients resected for HCC in 10 centers were collected. According to the BCLC classification, 1012 (50%) were BCLC 0-A, 737 (36%) BCLC B, and 297 (14%) BCLC C. Analysis of overall survival and disease-free survival and multivariate analysis of prognostic factors were performed. Findings.The 90-day mortality rate was 2.7%. Overall morbidity was 42%. After a median follow-up of 25 months (range, 1–209 months), the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 95%, 80%, and 61% for BCLC 0-A; 88%, 71%, and 57% for BCLC B; and 76%, 49%, and 38% for BCLC C (P = 0.000). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rates were as follows: 77%, 41%, and 21% for BCLC 0-A; 63%, 38%, and 27% for BCLC B; and 46%, 28%, and 18% for BCLC C (P = 0.000). The multivariate analysis identified bilirubin, cirrhosis, esophageal varices, tumor size, and macrovascular invasion to be statistical and independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Conclusions:This large multicentric survey shows that surgery is in current practice widely applied among patients with multinodular, large, and macrovascular invasive HCC, providing acceptable short- and long-term results and justifying an update of the EASL/AASLD therapeutic guidelines in this sense.
The Addition of Strength Training to Aerobic Interval Training: Effects on Muscle Strength and Body Composition in CHF Patients

PURPOSE: The loss of lean muscle mass and muscle strength is a common problem in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. Endurance training is efficient in improving patient exercise capacity. This study sought to evaluate the additional effects of strength training on muscle strength and body composition in chf patients participating in an interval training program. METHODS: Twenty consecutive, stable CHF patients participated in a rehabilitation program. Subjects were randomly assigned to aerobic (n = 10) or combined aerobic plus strength training group (n = 10). Aerobic group performed interval training on cycle ergometers. Strength training incorporated exercises for various muscle groups, including quadriceps, hamstrings, biceps brachii, and the deltoids. Both regimes were of the same duration. Body composition was evaluated by whole-body dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and quadriceps strength by the sum of the 2-repitition maximum (2-RM) test for each leg. Peak oxygen uptake ( ) and peak work load (Wpeak) as well as oxygen uptake ( ) and workload at anaerobic threshold (WAT) were evaluated by a symptom limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing. RESULTS: Concerning leg lean mass, no significant within-subjects or between-groups changes were observed (P > .05). Both groups improved in 2-RM test (P < .05), while a significant difference was observed between groups (P < .05). and and Wpeak and WAT were equally improved between training groups (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Combined aerobic interval and strength training induces a greater benefit than interval training alone on muscle strength in CHF patients. Adaptations other than hypertrophy, such as muscle fiber type alterations and/or neuromuscular adjustments, may account for these results.
The tellurite reactions of coagulase negative staphylococci and micrococci.

Summary. Methods for determining the tellurite reactions of coagulase negative staphylococci and micrococci have been applied to strains causing urinary tract infections in human patients. The tellurite positive strains were assigned to Micrococcus subgroup 3 and Staphylococcus subgroup VI of the Baird-Parker (1963) classification.
The Erwinia chrysanthemi phoP‐phoQ operon plays an important role in growth at low pH, virulence and bacterial survival in plant tissue

We have studied the role of acidic pH as a barrier for the colonization of the plant apoplast by Erwinia chrysanthemi. A minitransposon containing a promoterless reporter gene, gus, was used for random mutagenesis of the bacterial genome. An acid‐sensitive mutant, named BT119, was isolated and had the following differential features with respect to the wild‐type strain: (i) inability to grow at pH ≤ 5.5; (ii) decreased survival at acid pH and in plant tissues; (iii) increased susceptibility to antimicrobial peptides; (iv) decreased virulence in chicory leaves and pear fruits; (v) reduced polygalacturonase production; and (vi) reduced ability to alkalinize chicory tissues after infection. The sequence of the interrupted gene was highly similar to the phoQ gene, which is involved in environmental sensing in several bacteria, such as Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Erwinia carotovora, Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli and thus, this designation was used for the E. chrysanthemi system. This gene was induced at low Mg2+ concentrations and in planta. These results suggest that E. chrysanthemi PhoP‐PhoQ system plays an important role in bacterial survival in plant tissues during the initial infection stages.
FOLIC ACID-CONJUGATED DOXORUBICIN-LOADED PHOTOSENSITIZING MANGANESE FERRITE NANOPARTICLES: SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTICANCER ACTIVITY AGAINST HUMAN CERVICAL CARCINOMA CELL LINE (HELA)

Objective: On account of several complications and adverse effects associated with the use of conventional chemotherapeutic regimen, the advanced drug-targeted therapies have gained the remarkable attention of the researchers due to their fabulous pharmaceutical and therapeutic advantages. The present study was designed with the aim to synthesize manganese ferrite nanoparticles (MnFe 2 O 4 NPs) and folic acid-conjugated doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded manganese ferrite bovine serum albumin NPs (FA-BSA-DOX-MnFe 2 O 4 NPs) using desolvation cross-linking method. Methods: Having assessed their physicochemical characteristics, the prepared NPs were evaluated for hem compatibility, photo-mediated cytotoxicity, and anti-cancer potential against human cervical carcinoma cell line (HeLa) using a range of in vitro assays which include hemolysis assay, sulforhodamine B (SRB) and MTT assays. Results: Spectroscopic characterization revealed that MnFe 2 O 4 NPs were spherical with an average size diameter of approx. 15 nm and a band gap of 1.4 eV. Another remarkable feature of FA-BSA-DOX conjugated MnFe 2 O 4 NPs was high entrapment efficiency (approx. 95%). MTT assay demonstrated that MnFe 2 O 4 NPs revealed potential photosensitizing ability upon exposure to sunlight. FA-BSA-DOX conjugated MnFe 2 O 4 NPs showed promising cytotoxicity against human cervical epithelial malignant carcinoma cell line (HeLa). Interestingly, the cytotoxicity of these NPs was gradually increased with time of exposure to sunlight. Conclusion: These findings suggested that FA-BSA-DOX conjugated MnFe 2 O 4 NPs exhibit promising photosensitizing and anticancer potential against human cervical carcinoma and thus can be considered as an alternative targeted therapy against human cervical cancer.
A Topic Extraction Process for Online Forums

Forums play a key role in the process of knowledge creation, providing means for users to exchange ideas and to collaborate. However, educational forums, along several others online educational environments, often suffer from topic disruption. Since the contents are mainly produced by participants (in our case learners), one or a few individuals might change the course of the discussions. Thus, realigning the discussed topics of a forum thread is a task often conducted by a tutor or moderator. In order to support learners and tutors to harmonically align forum discussions that are pertinent to a given lecture or course, in this paper, we present a method that combines semantic technologies and a statistical method to find and expose relevant topics to be discussed in online discussion forums.
Assessment of walking features from foot inertial sensing

An ambulatory monitoring system is developed for the estimation of spatio-temporal gait parameters. The inertial measurement unit embedded in the system is composed of one biaxial accelerometer and one rate gyroscope, and it reconstructs the sagittal trajectory of a sensed point on the instep of the foot. A gait phase segmentation procedure is devised to determine temporal gait parameters, including stride time and relative stance; the procedure allows to define the time intervals needed for carrying an efficient implementation of the strapdown integration, which allows to estimate stride length, walking speed, and incline. The measurement accuracy of walking speed and inclines assessments is evaluated by experiments carried on adult healthy subjects walking on a motorized treadmill. Root-mean-square errors less than 0.18 km/h (speed) and 1.52% (incline) are obtained for tested speeds and inclines varying in the intervals [3, 6] km/h and [-5, +15]%, respectively. Based on the results of these experiments, it is concluded that foot inertial sensing is a promising tool for the reliable identification of subsequent gait cycles and the accurate assessment of walking speed and incline.
Theory and Implementation of an Adaptive Middleware for Ubiquitous Computing Systems

An adaptive middleware system for ubiquitous computing environments, which are dynamic by nature, is proposed. The system introduces the relocation of software components to define functions between computers as a basic mechanism for adaptation on ubiquitous computing. It also defines a language for specifying adaptation policies. Since the language is defined on a theoretical foundation, it enables us to reason about and predict adaptations beforehand. It is also useful to detect conflicts or divergences that may be caused by the adaptations. It supports general-purpose software components and the relocation of the components according to policies described in the language. We describe the design and implementation of the system and present two practical applications.
Optimum microphone array for hands-free devices in a car

Nowadays, hands-free devices for cars is a hot technology that evolves very fast, providing new and advanced features to the users. However, the speech quality in such devices can be significantly degraded by different types of noise and interfering signals, having stronger impact in the person listening the speech acquired inside the car. Microphone arrays enable noise reduction by means of beamforming techniques. The purpose of this work is to find the optimum microphone array configuration, number of microphones and arrangement, that maximizes the output gain to the desired source.