Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Imaging methods as a diagnostic tool in neuro-AIDS. A review.

Since 1983, central nervous system (CNS) involvement in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is well recognized. Imaging methods are important in diagnosing AIDS-related primary and secondary CNS processes as HIV-1-associated encephalopathy, cerebral toxoplasmosis, primary CNS lymphoma, cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), and infectious spinal cord granulomas. This paper presents a review of typical AIDS-related CNS findings as seen in morphological radiologic techniques, i.e. cranial computed tomography (CCT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Furthermore, the paper discusses the value of CCT, MRI and functional (positron emission computed tomography = PET, single-photon emission computed tomography = SPECT, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy) as well as morphometric imaging methods in evaluating subclinical HIV-1-related cerebral deficits and predicting their clinical course.
The compound BTB06584 is an IF1‐dependent selective inhibitor of the mitochondrial F1Fo‐ATPase

Ischaemia compromises mitochondrial respiration. Consequently, the mitochondrial F1Fo‐ATPsynthase reverses and acts as a proton‐pumping ATPase, so maintaining the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), while accelerating ATP depletion and cell death. Here we have looked for a molecule that can selectively inhibit this activity without affecting ATP synthesis, preserve ATP and delay ischaemic cell death.
Subcellular Localization of Tetanus Neurotoxin-Insensitive Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein (VAMP)/VAMP7 in Neuronal Cells: Evidence for a Novel Membrane Compartment

The clostridial neurotoxin-insensitive solubleN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein (SNAP) receptors, tetanus neurotoxin-insensitive (TI)-vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP)/VAMP7, SNAP23, and syntaxin 3 have recently been implicated in transport of exocytotic vesicles to the apical plasma membrane of epithelial cells. This pathway had been shown previously to be insensitive to tetanus neurotoxin and botulinum neurotoxin F. TI-VAMP/VAMP7 is also a good candidate to be implicated in an exocytotic pathway involved in neurite outgrowth because tetanus neurotoxin does not inhibit this process in conditions in which it abolishes neurotransmitter release. We have now found that TI-VAMP/VAMP7 has a widespread distribution in the adult rat brain in which its localization strikingly differs from that of nerve terminal markers. TI-VAMP/VAMP7 does not enrich in synaptic vesicles nor in large dense-core granules but is associated with light membranes. In hippocampal neurons developing in vitro, TI-VAMP/VAMP7 localizes to vesicles in the axonal and dendritic outgrowths and concentrates into the leading edge of the growth cone, a region devoid of synaptobrevin 2, before synaptogenesis. After the onset of synaptogenesis, TI-VAMP/VAMP7 is found predominantly in the somatodendritic domain. In PC12 cells, TI-VAMP/VAMP7 does not colocalize with synaptobrevin 2, chromogranin B, or several markers of endocytic compartments. At the electron microscopic level, TI-VAMP/VAMP7 is mainly associated with tubules and vesicles. Altogether, these results suggest that TI-VAMP/VAMP7 defines a novel membrane compartment in neurite outgrowths and in the somatodendritic domain.
Family Matters: The Role of Mental Health Stigma and Social Support on Depressive Symptoms and Subsequent Help Seeking Among African American Boys

African American adolescent boys underutilize mental health service due to stigma associated with depression. Gaining an increased understanding of how depressed, African American adolescent boys perceive their mental health needs and engage in help-seeking behaviors might play an essential role in efforts to improve their symptoms and access to care. Using a mixed-methods design, this study examined the influence of mental health stigma and social support on depressive symptoms among African American adolescent boys. Findings indicated the protective effects of social support in decreasing depressive symptoms, especially when participants experienced mental health stigma. Results also revealed the pivotal role of family social support over both professional and peer support for participants who struggled with depressive symptoms. The primacy of family support among the sample, combined with the frequent distrust of professionals and peer networks, would indicate that working with families may improve initial identification of depression among African American adolescent boys and decrease their barriers to care.
A System of Logic

Copyright ©2010–2015 All rights reserved. Jonathan Bennett [Brackets] enclose editorial explanations. Small ·dots· enclose material that has been added, but can be read as though it were part of the original text. Occasional •bullets, and also indenting of passages that are not quotations, are meant as aids to grasping the structure of a sentence or a thought. Every four-point ellipsis . indicates the omission of a brief passage that seems to present more difficulty than it is worth. Longer omissions are reported between brackets in normal-sized type. First launched: September 2102.
The silhouette, concentration functions and ML-density estimation under order restrictions

Based on empirical Levy-type concentration functions, a new graphical representation of the ML-density estimator under order restrictions is given. This representation generalizes the well-known representation of the Grenander estimator of a monotone density as the slope of the least concave majorant of the empirical distribution function to higher dimensions and arbitrary order restrictions. From the given representation it follows that a density estimator called silhouette, which arises naturally out of the excess mass approach, is the ML-density estimator under order restrictions. This fact provides a new point of view to ML-density estimation from which one gains additional insight to this problem, as demonstrated in the present paper.
Next generation architecture for real time multimedia applications

An analysis of next generation network architectures enabling real time multimedia communications is presented in this paper. Current network architectures are not able to support real time multimedia communications for immersive application exploiting virtual or augmented reality. After the presentation of the state of the art a discussion of open issues and future research direction is presented. Attention is devoted to the analysis of the benefits that can arise when using Information-centric networks (ICN) as main component of the network architecture for assisting the deployment of AR/VR.
Learning and reproduction of valence-related communicative gesture

This paper proposes a robotic system capable of learning and reproducing robot gestures based on the Learning by Demonstration (LbD) approach. We focused on those gestures that are used for communicative purposes in human-human interaction. These gestures appear in various motions and this variation causes a delicate difference in the meaning and feeling that is delivered. While some (psychology and ethology) studies have shown that these variations are related to factors such as emotion, intimacy, and intensity, the best way to achieve robotic learning of these variations to allow for the reproduction of these motions remains unclear. With this motivation, we used the term `valence' from psychology as a causal factor and tried to build a system capable of representing and learning relations between `valence' factor and motion variation. Though there are many variations, we especially focus on the number of repetitions in this work. The system can segment a given motion into a set of unit motions by using states constructed by Gaussian Mixture Model(GMM) and Bayesian Network(BN) model is used to represent transition probabilities between states. In the model, transition probabilities are affected by `valence' value and appropriate motion corresponding to given `valence' value can be reproduced. Proposed system is applied to waving-hand motion of humanoid robot DARwIn-OP and we evaluate the validity of the system.
Conjugates of Immunoglobulin G with Different Fluorochromes. I. Characterization by Anionic‐exchange Chromatography

The conjugation of purified IgG for 1 hour at room temperature and pH 9.5 was found to be a simple and reproducible method useful with FITC. MRITC. RBITC and RB200SC fluorochromes. Anionic‐exchange chromatography revealed some difference between conjugates with two batches of FITC and with two batches of MRITC from the same commercial source. Storage of FITC and MRITC as dry powders had only a minor deleterious effect. These fluorochromes as well as fresh solutions of RB200SC produced satisfactory conjugates; but reliable information about their properties could only be obtained from chromatographic analyses. High‐affinity reactions apparently gave rise to optimum conjugates and depended on addition of small amounts of fluoruchrome; increased amounts of fluorochrome favoured low‐affinity reactions with resulting over‐coupling. This was a problem mainly with FITC and RB200SC. RBITC as well as aged solutions of RB200SC produced undue reduction in the isoelectric point of IgG relatively to degree of coupling. Species differences in IgG were found to influence the reactivity of FITC and MRITC.
The mechanism of protein splicing and its modulation by mutation.

Protein splicing results in the expression of two mature proteins from a single gene. After synthesis of a precursor protein, an internal segment (the intein) is excised and the external domains are joined together. A self‐catalyzed mechanism for this cleavage‐ligation reaction is presented, based on mutagenesis data and analysis of splicing intermediates. Mutations were used to block various steps in the protein splicing pathway, allowing each isolated step to be studied independently. A linear ester intermediate was identified and functional roles for the four conserved splice junction residues were determined. Understanding the mechanism of protein splicing provides a basis for protein engineering studies. For example, inteins can be constructed which fail to splice, but instead cleave the peptide bond at a chosen splice junction.
Exchange of Genetic Material Between Cells in Plant Tissue Grafts

Hard Graft In plants, it is not clear whether heritable changes can be induced by tissue grafting—for example, when one plant is grafted onto a different root stock. Stegemann and Bock (p. 649) now show that genetic material is transferred between plants across graft junctions. This suggests that eukaryotic cells can indeed exchange genetic information, and in this way, grafting allows genes to cross species barriers. Although the exchange is limited to the site around the graft, the finding blurs the boundary between natural gene transfer and genetic engineering techniques and suggests that natural grafting may serve as a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer during evolution. Plant genes can transfer between cells and across graft junctions, possibly explaining horizontal gene transfer. Tissue grafting includes applications ranging from plant breeding to animal organ transplantation. Donor and recipient are generally believed to maintain their genetic integrity, in that the grafted tissues are joined but their genetic materials do not mix. We grafted tobacco plants from two transgenic lines carrying different marker and reporter genes in different cellular compartments, the nucleus and the plastid. Analysis of the graft sites revealed the frequent occurrence of cells harboring both antibiotic resistances and both fluorescent reporters. Our data demonstrate that plant grafting can result in the exchange of genetic information via either large DNA pieces or entire plastid genomes. This observation of novel combinations of genetic material has implications for grafting techniques and also provides a possible path for horizontal gene transfer.
Reconnaissance automatique des émotions à partir du signal acoustique

Nous nous interessons a la detection automatique des appels problematiques dans un contexte reel de centres d'appels telephoniques. Nous utilisons l'information sur l'etat emotionnel du locuteur, vehiculee par le signal acoustique, pour detecter les problemes de comprehension entre un locuteur et un systeme de dialogue humain-machine. Notre contribution se situe a deux niveaux. Au premier niveau, nous avons developpe un systeme de reconnaissance automatique des emotions (RAE) base sur les traits de type MFCC, avec la celerite et l'acceleration, extraits au niveau d'une trame, analyses a l'echelle d'un enonce, et modelises par un melange de gaussiennes. Nous avons optimise les performances de ce systeme en ajustant trois types de parametres : le nombre de melanges de gaussiennes, l'utilisation de coefficients MFCC d'ordre superieur (20 versus 13 coefficients) et l'utilisation d'un modele du monde (UBM) pour l'entrainement des modeles GMM. Le systeme a ete entraine et teste pour reconnaitre les classes des emotions du corpus de donnees LDC Emotional Prosody (LDC). D'apres les resultats obtenus, nous avons apporte une amelioration de l'ordre de 11% par rapport aux meilleurs resultats de l'etat de l'art utilisant le meme corpus de donnees pour l'experience neutre vs tristesse alors que nous avons reproduit les meilleures performances pour l'experience neutre vs colere et pour rexperience avec 15 classes d'emotions. Notre seconde contribution est l'experimentation d'un nouveau modele de systeme de RAE base sur l'information prosodique a long terme obtenue par une approximation des courbes de l'energie et de la frequence fondamentale par des coefficients de polynomes de Legendre sur une echelle d'analyse appelee pseudosyllabe. Afin de mesurer l'efficacite de ce type de trait a long terme et de l'unite d'analyse, nous avons realise une comparaison de performance entre ce systeme et un systeme exploitant l'information prosodique a court terme (niveau de trame) sur l'echelle d'un enonce. Les taux de reconnaissance obtenus avec"un systeme base sur la pseudosyllabe et les coefficients de polynomes de Legendre et experimente avec le corpus LDC, sont nettement superieurs a ceux d'un systeme base sur Venonce et l'information a court terme. Le gain relatif realise est de l'ordre de 6% pour la reconnaissance des emotions neutre vs colere, tandis que ce gain est de l'ordre 91% pour neutre vs tristesse. Enfin, nous avons obtenu une amelioration de l'ordre de 41% pour la detection de 15 classes d'emotions.
A Precise Lower Bound on Image Subpixel Registration Accuracy

A new performance bound is proposed for analyzing parametric image registration methods objectively. This original bound is derived from the Cramer-Rao lower bound on the estimation error of parameters involved in a geometric transformation assumed between reference and template images (pure translation in this work) and parameters describing the texture of these images. For describing local fragments of both the reference and the template images, the parametric fractional Brownian motion (fBm) model has been chosen. Experimental results, obtained first on pure fBm data with full matching of the data to the texture model assumption, give evidence that the proposed bound describes more adequately the performance of conventional estimators than two other bounds previously proposed in the literature. This holds with respect to the signal-to-noise ratio value of both images, the roughness of their texture, their correlation, and the actual value of translation parameters between their grids. Then, one real Hyperion hyperspectral data set is considered to test the proposed bound behavior on real data. The proposed bound is demonstrated to describe more adequately the estimation accuracy of the translation parameters between different bands of this data set.
Conservation of low-frequency hearing in cochlear implantation

Objective As results with cochlear implants have continued to improve, patients with some remaining cochlear function have become eligible for cochlear implantation. Thus, preservation of acoustic hearing after implantation has gained importance. Hearing preservation can be considered a benchmark for atraumatic implantation preventing neural degeneration from loss of residual hair cells or subsequent to local trauma. In this prospective study, the possibility of preserving low-frequency hearing in cochlear implantation using a modified surgical technique has been explored. Materials and Methods In a prospective study design, 14 subjects with considerable low-frequency hearing of 2–60 dB in the frequency range 125–500 Hz but with unsatisfactory speech understanding with hearing aids of < 35% monosyllabic word understanding were implanted with a MED-EL COMBI-40+ cochlear implant. The insertion depth was intentionally limited to 19–24 mm to prevent damage to low-frequency regions of the cochlea. Pre- and postoperative pure-tone thresholds were measured. Results Hearing was conserved within 0-10 dB in 9/14 subjects and within 11–20 dB in 3/14; in 2/14 subjects hearing was completely lost in the implanted ear. Thus hearing could at least partially be conserved in 12/14 subjects (86%). Median threshold values decreased by 10, 15, 17.5 and 5 dB at 125, 250, 500 and 1000 Hz, respectively. Even high levels of hearing, e.g. 30 dB at 500 Hz, could be maintained after implantation in some subjects. Conclusions This study reports successful conservation of hearing after cochlear implantation using a modified surgical technique. Even high levels of hearing could be maintained, showing that implantation of an intracochlear electrode can be performed atraumatically with preservation of functional structures.
Spectrum and Energy Efficient Medium Access Control for Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

The increasingly growing number of mobile devices and volume of mobile data traffic necessitate establishing an effective self-organizing wireless ad hoc network to efficiently utilize radio spectrum and energy. The transmissions time and bandwidth should be dynamically coordinated based on instantaneous traffic load of the links in the network. Energy consumption in a mobile device can be reduced by putting the radio interface into a sleep mode. However, the mobile device cannot receive incoming data packets in the sleep mode. Thus, awake and sleep times of radio interfaces should be carefully planned to avoid missing incoming packets. In a wireless network, links that are far apart in distance can simultaneously transmit using the same bandwidth without interfering reception at destination nodes. Concurrent transmissions should be properly scheduled to maximize spatial spectrum utilization. Also, the transmission power level of each link should be optimized to enhance spectrum and energy efficiencies. First, we present a new energy-efficient medium access control (MAC) scheme for a fully connected wireless ad hoc network. Energy consumption is reduced by periodically putting radio interfaces in the sleep mode and by reducing transmission collisions. The network throughput and average packet transmission delay are also improved because of lower collision and contention overhead. The proposed MAC scheme can achieve energy saving for realtime traffic which requires a low packet transmission delay. An analytical model is established to evaluate the performance of the proposed MAC scheme. Analytical and simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme has a significantly lower energy consumption, achieves higher throughput, and has a lower packet transmission delay in comparison with existing power saving MAC protocols. Second, we present a novel distributed MAC scheme based on dynamic space-reservation
Inhibition of human lymphocyte proliferation and cleavage of interleukin-2 by Pseudomonas aeruginosa proteases

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa alkaline protease (AP) and elastase (ELA) on human lymphocyte function. AP at 50 micrograms/ml and ELA at 12 micrograms/ml caused a 50% inhibition of phytohemagglutinin-induced proliferation. There was no difference in the effect of proteases on CD4- and CD8-positive cells. To determine the effect of proteases on interleukin-2 (IL-2)-induced cell proliferation, the proteases and IL-2 were added to the IL-2-dependent CTLL-2 cell line. AP and ELA inhibited the proliferation of these cells. When IL-2 was added in excess, the inhibition was partly reversed. ELA at 10 micrograms/ml cleaved IL-2, as judged by size chromatography of a reaction mixture containing 125I-labeled IL-2 and the proteases. The ELA-digested IL-2 exhibited a reduced binding capacity to IL-2 receptors on the lymphocytes. Furthermore, treatment of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes with AP and ELA resulted in inhibition of binding of intact IL-2 to IL-2 receptors on the stimulated lymphocytes. These results indicated that P. aeruginosa-derived enzymes are able to interfere with human lymphocyte function in vitro and that this effect might be due to cleavage of IL-2.
From Suicide Survivor to Peer Counselor: Breaking the Silence of Suicide Bereavement

This study sought to explore the phenomenon of peer counseling in suicide bereavement by addressing the question, what are the lived experiences of suicide survivors who become peer counselors? Participants were 15 individuals bereaved through suicide who had been volunteering with others bereaved in the same manner. This research employed the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach to provide a detailed description of participants' journeys that went from experiencing the suicide of a loved one, to the decision to become a peer counselor, to, finally, providing support to other survivors. The findings suggest that participants understand the provision of peer counseling as a transformative process. Being a peer counselor means actively challenging the silence around suicide by speaking out about suicide-related issues and offering other survivors a safe space to share their stories. The broader implications of these findings for suicide postvention research and clinical practice are addressed.
Astrocytic Purinergic Signaling Coordinates Synaptic Networks

To investigate the role of astrocytes in regulating synaptic transmission, we generated inducible transgenic mice that express a dominant-negative SNARE domain selectively in astrocytes to block the release of transmitters from these glial cells. By releasing adenosine triphosphate, which accumulates as adenosine, astrocytes tonically suppressed synaptic transmission, thereby enhancing the dynamic range for long-term potentiation and mediated activity-dependent, heterosynaptic depression. These results indicate that astrocytes are intricately linked in the regulation of synaptic strength and plasticity and provide a pathway for synaptic cross-talk.