Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GIL: a blood group system review

Abstract The GIL blood group system was added to the list of systems already recognized by the International Society for Blood Transfusion in 2002. It was designated as system 29 after the antigen was located on the aquaglyceroporin 3 (AQP3) protein and the gene encoding the protein was identified in 2002. There is only one antigen in the system, GIL, and the antigen, as well as the system, was named after the antigen-negative proband identified in the United States who had made anti-GIL. It was later shown to be the same as an unidentified high-incidence antigen lacking from the red blood cells of a French woman. Coincidentally all the antibodies found have been produced as a result of pregnancy. While there has not been a direct link to a disease, the absence of the AQP3 protein may result in a worse than expected rate of survival of patients with bladder cancer as compared with patients with the same disease who express the protein. Future work may center on using GIL as a marker for AQP3 and involving it in targeted cancer therapies. Immunohematology2013;29:141–144
Subcellular Location and Molecular Mobility of Human Cytosolic Sulfotransferase 1C1 in Living Human Embryonic Kidney 293 Cells

Cytosolic sulfotransferases were first isolated from the hepatic cytosol, and they have been localized in the cytoplasm of formaldehyde-fixed human cell samples. The current work was carried out to determine the subcellular localization and molecular mobility of cytosolic sulfotransferases in living human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. In this work, the subcellular location of human cytosolic sulfotransferase 1C1 (SULT1C1) was studied in cultured HEK293 cells using confocal laser-scanning microscopy. A green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged SULT1C1 protein was localized in the cytoplasm of living HEK293 cells. This is consistent with results from previous studies on several other cytosolic sulfotransferase isoforms. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching microscopy was performed to assess the molecular mobility of the expressed GFP-SULT1C1 molecules. The results suggested that the expressed recombinant GFP-SULT1C1 molecules in living HEK293 cells may include both mobile and immobile populations. To obtain additional insights into the subcellular location of SULT1C1, two machine learning algorithms, Sequential Minimal Optimization and Multilayer Perceptron, were used to compute the probability distribution for the localization of SULT1C1 in nine selected cellular compartments. The resulting probability distribution suggested that the most likely subcellular location of SULT1C1 is the cytosol.
On the Perturbation of LU, Cholesky, and QR Factorizations

In this paper error bounds are derived for a rst order expansion of the LU factorization of a perturbation of the identity. The results are applied to obtain perturbation expansions of the LU, Cholesky, and QR factorizations. ABSTRACT In this paper error bounds are derived for a rst order expansion of the LU factorization of a perturbation of the identity. The results are applied to obtain perturbation expansions of the LU, Cholesky, and QR factorizations.
Methylated RASSF1A in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors identifies neurofibromatosis type 1 patients with inferior prognosis

Background Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare and highly aggressive disease with no evidence of effect from adjuvant therapy. It is further associated with the hereditary syndrome neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Silencing of the tumor suppressor gene RASSF1A through DNA promoter hypermethylation is known to be involved in cancer development, but its impact in MPNSTs remains unsettled. Methods The RASSF1A promoter was analyzed by methylation-specific PCR in 113 specimens, including 44 NF1-associated MPNSTs, 47 sporadic MPNSTs, 21 benign neurofibromas, and 1 nonneoplastic nerve sheath control. Results RASSF1A methylation was found only in the malignant samples (60%) and identified a subgroup among patients with NF1-associated MPNST with a poor prognosis. These patients had a mean 5-year disease-specific survival of 27.3 months (95% CI: 17.2–37.4) versus 47.4 months (95% CI: 37.5–57.2) for NF1 patients with unmethylated promoters, P = 0.014. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, methylated RASSF1A remained an adverse prognostic factor independent of clinical risk factors, P = . 013 (hazard ratio: 5.2; 95% CI: 1.4–19.4). Conclusion A considerable number of MPNST samples display hypermethylation of the RASSF1A gene promoter, and for these tumors, this is the first molecular marker that if validated can characterize a subgroup of patients with inferior prognosis, restricted to individuals with NF1.
Numerical smoothness and error analysis on WENO for the nonlinear conservation laws

In this study, we give an a posteriori error analysis on the weighted essentially nonoscillatory schemes for the nonlinear scalar conservation laws. This analysis is based on the new concept of numerical smoothness, with some new error analysis mechanisms developed for the finite difference and finite volume discretizations. The local error estimate is of optimal order in space and time. The global error estimate grows linearly in time, because of the direct application of the L1 ‐contraction between entropy solutions in the error propagation analysis. As a beginning, we only deal with smooth solutions in this article. Within the same error propagation framework, when we deal with piecewise smooth solutions later, we only need to work on estimating the local error where smoothness is lost. The smoothness indicators not only serve the purpose of local error estimation, but also serve as a monitor on both the possible numerical instability and the expected solution shapening. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013
LipActs: Efficient representations for visual speakers

Video-based lip activity analysis has been successfully used for assisting speech recognition for almost a decade. Surprisingly, this same capability has not been heavily used for near real-time visual speaker retrieval and verification, due to tracking complexity, inadequate or difficult feature determination, and the need for a large amount of pre-labeled data for model training. This paper explores the performance of several solutions using modern histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) features, several quantization techniques, and analyzes the benefits of temporal sampling and spatial partitioning to derive a representation called LipActs. Two datasets are used for evaluation: one with 81 participants derived from varying quality YouTube content and one with 3 participants derived from a forward-facing mobile video camera with 10 varied lighting and capture angle environments. Over these datasets, LipActs with a moderate number of pooled temporal frames and multi-resolution spatial quantization, offer an improvement of 37–73% over raw features when optimizing for lowest equal error rate (EER).
Association of Animal and Plant Proteins Intake with Hypertension in Iranian Adult Population: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program

Background: There is evidence regarding the relationship between dietary proteins intake and blood pressure (BP), but they had inconsistent results. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the association between different kinds of protein intake (animal and plant protein) and BP. Materials and Methods: Data were collected from Isfahan Healthy Heart Program. We performed a cross-sectional study among 9660 randomly selected Iranian adults aged ≥19-year-old that they were selected from three large Iranian regions in 2007. A simplified validated 48-item-food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake including all kinds of protein. Systolic and diastolic BPs were measured in duplicate by trained personnel using a standard protocol. Multivariable regressions were applied to assess the relationship between protein intake and BP levels and the presence of hypertension (HTN). Results: More frequent consumption of animal, plant, and total protein intake were inversely associated with BP in a crude model (P < 0.001); however, after adjustment for potential confounders this relationship remained only for plant protein (P = 0.04). The risk of HTN occurrence decreased in the highest quintile of total and plant protein consumption by 19% (odds ratio [OR] = 0.81; confidence interval [CI]: [0.65–0.96]; P for trend = 0.004) and 18% (OR = 0.82; [CI: (0.67–0.94]; P for trend = 0.03), respectively. Conclusions: More frequent protein intake, especially plant protein consumption was inversely associated with BP and risk of HTN among Iranian adults.
Design study of a high-resolution breast-dedicated PET system built from cadmium zinc telluride detectors

We studied the performance of a dual-panel positron emission tomography (PET) camera dedicated to breast cancer imaging using Monte Carlo simulation. The proposed system consists of two 4 cm thick 12 × 15 cm2 area cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) panels with adjustable separation, which can be put in close proximity to the breast and/or axillary nodes. Unique characteristics distinguishing the proposed system from previous efforts in breast-dedicated PET instrumentation are the deployment of CZT detectors with superior spatial and energy resolution, using a cross-strip electrode readout scheme to enable 3D positioning of individual photon interaction coordinates in the CZT, which includes directly measured photon depth-of-interaction (DOI), and arranging the detector slabs edge-on with respect to incoming 511 keV photons for high photon sensitivity. The simulation results show that the proposed CZT dual-panel PET system is able to achieve superior performance in terms of photon sensitivity, noise equivalent count rate, spatial resolution and lesion visualization. The proposed system is expected to achieve ∼32% photon sensitivity for a point source at the center and a 4 cm panel separation. For a simplified breast phantom adjacent to heart and torso compartments, the peak noise equivalent count (NEC) rate is predicted to be ∼94.2 kcts s−1 (breast volume: 720 cm3 and activity concentration: 3.7 kBq cm−3) for a ∼10% energy window around 511 keV and ∼8 ns coincidence time window. The system achieves 1 mm intrinsic spatial resolution anywhere between the two panels with a 4 cm panel separation if the detectors have DOI resolution less than 2 mm. For a 3 mm DOI resolution, the system exhibits excellent sphere resolution uniformity (σrms/mean) ⩽ 10%) across a 4 cm width FOV. Simulation results indicate that the system exhibits superior hot sphere visualization and is expected to visualize 2 mm diameter spheres with a 5:1 activity concentration ratio within roughly 7 min imaging time. Furthermore, we observe that the degree of spatial resolution degradation along the direction orthogonal to the two panels that is typical of a limited angle tomography configuration is mitigated by having high-resolution DOI capabilities that enable more accurate positioning of oblique response lines.
A multiscale tour in protein interactomics

For most of the research work currently and extensively undertaken in protein interactomics, the classical barriers are both problems of coverage, i.e. what is really known of most interactomes, and of accuracy, i.e. what is the level of precision we can assign to experimental measurements. However, there are several complex computational tasks that are challenging. We face one of them, which has been left quite unexplored so far. Interesting work has been recently proposed on possible extensions of random networks, by switching from uncorrelated to correlated systems, from static to dynamic features of nodes, from fixed to probabilistic labelling of edges through some kind of hidden variable models. Overall, this shift of complexity might suggest better ways to approach more rigorously crucial aspects such as learning nonlinear maps, the separation of transient from persistent activity dynamics, the design of local versus global stability measures, the definition of new statistical measures describing network topologies. We believe that a particular emphasis should be given to the treatment of multi-scale internal network fluctuations. We assume that protein interaction can respond to dynamics occurring at different resolutions or scales, with natural consequencies for the study of various network characteristics.
A simple and efficient face detection algorithm for video database applications

The objective of this work is to provide a simple and yet efficient tool to detect human faces in video sequences. This information can be very useful for many applications such as video indexing and video browsing. In particular the paper focuses on the significant improvements made to our face detection algorithm presented by Albiol, Bouman and Delp (see IEEE Int. Conference on Image Processing, Kobe, Japan, 1999). Specifically, a novel approach to retrieve skin-like homogeneous regions is presented, which is later used to retrieve face images. Good results have been obtained for a large variety of video sequences.
Three-Dimensional Models of the Oligomeric Human Asialoglycoprotein Receptor (ASGP-R)

The work presented here is aimed at suggesting plausible hypotheses for functional oligomeric forms of the human asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R), by applying a combination of different computational techniques. The functional ASGP-R is a hetero-oligomer, that comprises of several subunits of two different kinds (H1 and H2), which are highly homologous. Its stoichiometry is still unknown. An articulated step-wise modeling protocol was used in order to build the receptor model in a minimal oligomeric form, necessary for it to bind multi-antennary carbohydrate ligands. The ultimate target of the study is to contribute to increasing the knowledge of interactions between the human ASGP-R and carbohydrate ligands, at the molecular level, pertinent to applications in the field of hepatic tissue engineering.
Synthesis and evaluation of a hematoporphyrin derivative in a folate receptor-targeted solid-lipid nanoparticle formulation.

PURPOSE This study was aimed at the synthesis, formulation and in vitro evaluation of folate receptor (FR)-targeted solid-lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) as a carrier for a lipophilic derivative of the photosensitizer hematoporphyrin (Hp), in FR-overexpressing tumor cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS FR-targeted hematoporphyrin-stearylamine (HpSa) SLN composed of Triolein:Egg-phosphatidylcholine (EPC):Tween-80 (T-80) (64:25:10), with 0.5 mole % of folate-polyethyleneglycol-cholesterol (FPC) or polyethyleneglycol-distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-DSPE), were prepared by ethanol injection method. Stability of the SLN was monitored by changes in particle size at 4 degrees C and drug retention at various time points. Cellular uptake and IC50 values of the FR-targeted formulations were determined in vitro in the FR (+) KB cells. RESULTS Stable targeted SLNs were prepared by ethanol injection encapsulating greater than 95 percent of 5 mole % of HpSa, having a mean diameter < 200 nm. In vitro cytotoxicity assay on the FR-targeted SLN gave IC50 of 1.57 microM in KB cells and non-targeted SLNs gave an IC50 of 5.17 microM. FR selectivity was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. CONCLUSION FR-targeted SLNs incorporating the lipophilic drug HpSa were capable of specific receptor binding in cultured KB cells, which warrants further investigation.
A collaborative approach to building evaluated web pages datasets

In order to evaluate information retrieval algorithms it is imperative to use a dataset as a test database. However, access to such datasets is often difficult and expensive, since building them is a time-consuming and costly task. This paper presents a collaborative approach to dataset creation that uses a data quality evaluation technique based on fuzzy theory, to assist users in selecting suitable web documents for their datasets. These documents are automatically captured by a crawler and assessed on information derived from their metadata.
Re-synthesis in technology mapping for heterogeneous FPGAs

Field programmable gate arrays containing more than one size of lookup-table occupy a large and growing portion of the market, but technology mapping for these architectures has hardly been considered. New algorithms have been developed for decomposition, covering and restructuring targeted at these architectures. Benchmark results show that the new method produces circuits which are on average 15% smaller than the best previous approach we know of.
Hardware emulation of phase change memory

Phase-change memory technology is emerging as a two-folded concept, as a universal non-volatile memory and in non-von Neumann computing systems. A major challenge concerning this technology is the reliable retrieval of the stored information, since noise and time-dependent resistance drift affect the initially stored value. Designing and experimenting with PCM technology at a large scale requires the development of a fast and accurate emulator that can be used in high performance computing systems for fast prototyping of new computing concepts. In this work, we present the basic unit of such a hardware emulator and the architecture of a tool that can be used to accurately emulate the memory characteristics.
Improving lipid evaluation and management in medicare patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND The control of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in patients with known coronary artery disease, particularly in those with acute myocardial infarction, has been shown to reduce the rates of disease progression, recurrent events, and mortality. OBJECTIVES To evaluate and improve hospital-based processes for measuring and treating, when necessary, LDL-C levels above 3.36 mmol/L (>130 mg/dL) in patients with an acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN A nonrandomized retrospective baseline study followed by a collaborative educational intervention with participating hospitals and a second nonrandomized postintervention study. PATIENTS Four hundred six preintervention patients discharged from the hospital alive after a confirmed acute myocardial infarction in 1996, and 498 postintervention patients discharged from the hospital in 1999. INTERVENTIONS Performance of lipid profiles on admission to the hospital and during hospitalization and drug and dietary interventions. RESULTS The measurement of LDL-C level on admission to the hospital increased from 8% preintervention in 1996 to 32% postintervention in 1999. The measurement during hospitalization increased from 14% preintervention to 48% postintervention. Hospitals that initiated programs to ensure early lipid evaluations through preprinted orders and policy changes achieved an average patient LDL-C measurement rate of 70% in 1999. Hospitals lacking standard policies averaged only 23% at the same time. Of the patients with a measured LDL-C level greater than 3.36 mmol/L (>130 mg/dL) who were not undergoing drug therapy on admission to the hospital, 46% were given lipid-lowering agents by discharge from the hospital during the postintervention period. During this same period, only 11% of the patients were prescribed this therapy if they had either a lower measured level or no LDL-C measurement at all. CONCLUSION Active hospital-based programs to ensure routine LDL-C measurements in patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction increased the use of appropriate lipid-lowering therapy in these high-risk individuals and could contribute to reducing the incidence of recurrent coronary artery disease.
Product configuration analysis with design structure matrix

Purpose – Product configurator is a sales and production‐planning tool that helps to transform customer requirements into bills‐of‐materials, lists of features and cost estimations. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a method of how to analyse sales configuration models by using a design structure matrix (DSM) tool. By applying the DSM techniques, the sales configuration managers may sequence the product configuration questions and organize the connection to production.Design/methodology/approach – First, the paper explains a sales configuration system structure from published academic and non‐academic works. These sources employ both theoretical and practical views on the topic of computer‐based sales expert systems. Second, the paper demonstrates an application of using DSM for configuration modelling.Findings – The current sales configuration approaches include constraint‐based, rules‐based, and object‐oriented approaches. Product description methods vary, but the general problem remains the sam.
Nasa-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX); 20 Years Later

NASA-TLX is a multi-dimensional scale designed to obtain workload estimates from one or more operators while they are performing a task or immediately afterwards. The years of research that preceded subscale selection and the weighted averaging approach resulted in a tool that has proven to be reasonably easy to use and reliably sensitive to experimentally important manipulations over the past 20 years. Its use has spread far beyond its original application (aviation), focus (crew complement), and language (English). This survey of 550 studies in which NASA-TLX was used or reviewed was undertaken to provide a resource for a new generation of users. The goal was to summarize the environments in which it has been applied, the types of activities the raters performed, other variables that were measured that did (or did not) covary, methodological issues, and lessons learned
Through-Life Management of Built Facilities: Towards a Framework For Analysis

Although built facilities are required to cater to changing requirements over time, effective through-life management is absent as an in-process activity from most large scale procurements. Through a review of key literature, several approaches which address aspects relevant to through-life management are discussed. An attempt is made to create a unified framework of understanding of what constitutes through-life management. Furthermore, an initial diagnostic style checklist is provided as a way of identifying the absence of through-life management.