Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Glycosphingolipids Are Not Essential for Formation of Detergent-resistant Membrane Rafts in Melanoma Cells

Recent data suggest that membrane microdomains or rafts that are rich in sphingolipids and cholesterol are important in signal transduction and membrane trafficking. Two models of raft structure have been proposed. One proposes a unique role for glycosphingolipids (GSL), suggesting that GSL-head-group interactions are essential in raft formation. The other model suggests that close packing of the long saturated acyl chains found on both GSL and sphingomyelin plays a key role and helps these lipids form liquid-ordered phase domains in the presence of cholesterol. To distinguish between these models, we compared rafts in the MEB-4 melanoma cell line and its GSL-deficient derivative, GM-95. Rafts were isolated from cell lysates as detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs). The two cell lines had very similar DRM protein profiles. The yield of DRM protein was 2-fold higher in the parental than the mutant line, possibly reflecting cytoskeletal differences. The same amount of DRM lipid was isolated from both lines, and the lipid composition was similar except for up-regulation of sphingomyelin in the mutant that compensated for the lack of GSL. DRMs from the two lines had similar fluidity as measured by fluorescence polarization of diphenylhexatriene. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin removed cholesterol from both cell lines with the same kinetics and to the same extent, and both a raft-associated glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored protein and residual cholesterol showed the same distribution between DRMs and the detergent-soluble fraction after cholesterol removal in both cell lines. Finally, a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored protein was delivered to the cell surface at similar rates in the two lines, even after cholesterol depletion with methyl-β-cyclodextrin. We conclude that GSL are not essential for the formation of rafts and do not play a major role in determining their properties.
Remote measurements of gases using discretely tunable infrared lasers

Single-ended laser radars using discretely tunable infrared gas lasers have been demonstrated to be capable of high-sensitivity remote measurement of gases. Two systems have been investigated: (1) A deuterium fluoride laser was used for remote measurement of the integrated concentration of HCI, CH4, and N20 between the lidar system and a topographic target; and (2) a CO2 laser was used for range-resolved measurement of water vapor using radiation backscattered from naturally occurring aerosols in the atmosphere. Calculations indicate that range-resolved concentration profiles can be obtained for many gases at a range of 10 km using commercially available components.
Hypoxia-induced Changes to Integrin α 3 Glycosylation Facilitate Invasion in Epidermoid Carcinoma Cell Line A431*

Hypoxia is a critical microenvironmental factor that drives cancer progression through angiogenesis and metastasis. Glycoproteins, especially those on the plasma membrane, orchestrate this process; however, questions remain regarding hypoxia-perturbed protein glycosylation in cancer cells. We focused on the effects of hypoxia on the integrin family of glycoproteins, which are central to the cellular processes of attachment and migration and have been linked with cancer in humans. We employed electrostatic repulsion hydrophilic interaction chromatography coupled with iTRAQ labeling and LC-MS/MS to identify and quantify glycoproteins expressed in A431. The results revealed that independent of the protein-level change, N-glycosylation modifications of integrin α 3 (ITGA3) were inhibited by hypoxia, unlike in other integrin subunits. A combination of Western blot, flow cytometry, and cell staining assays showed that hypoxia-induced alterations to the glycosylation of ITGA3 prevented its efficient translocation to the plasma membrane. Mutagenesis studies demonstrated that simultaneous mutation of glycosites 6 and 7 of ITGA3 prevented its accumulation at the K562 cell surface, which blocked integrin α 3 and β 1 heterodimer formation and thus abolished ITGA3's interaction with extracellular ligands. By generating A431 cells stably expressing ITGA3 mutated at glycosites 6 and 7, we showed that lower levels of ITGA3 on the cell surface, as induced by hypoxia, conferred an increased invasive ability to cancer cells in vitro under hypoxic conditions. Taken together, these results revealed that ITGA3 translocation to the plasma membrane suppressed by hypoxia through inhibition of glycosylation facilitated cell invasion in A431.
The increase in human plasma antioxidant capacity after acute coffee intake is not associated with endogenous non-enzymatic antioxidant components

This study evaluated the association between the main plasma endogenous non-enzymatic antioxidant components and the increase in human antioxidant capacity (AC) after acute coffee intake. Ten adults were tested before and 90 min after consumption of coffee or water, in a crossover design, with a 7-day interval between tests. AC (FRAP and TRAP), ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol, albumin, bilirubin and uric acid were analyzed in plasma/serum. After coffee consumption FRAP and TRAP increased 2.6% and 7.6% (P<0.05), whereas after water consumption FRAP and TRAP decreased 2.5% and 1.0% (P <0.05), respectively. In general, AC assays correlated with uric acid and α-tocopherol (r >0.75; P <0.04), independently of treatment and time point. Changes in AC assays after coffee intake did not correlate with endogenous components, which remained unchanged. These results suggest that coffee components spare endogenous antioxidants or are themselves the main contributors to plasma AC increase after coffee intake.
Iris Recognition Based On the Low Order Norms of Gradient Components

Abstract—Iris pattern is an important biological feature of human body; it becomes very hot topic in both research and practical applications. In this paper, an algorithm is proposed for iris recognition and a simple, efficient and fast method is introduced to extract a set of discriminatory features using first order gradient operator applied on grayscale images. The gradient based features are robust, up to certain extents, against the variations may occur in contrast or brightness of iris image samples; the variations are mostly occur due lightening differences and camera changes. At first, the iris region is located, after that it is remapped to a rectangular area of size 360x60 pixels. Also, a new method is proposed for detecting eyelash and eyelid points; it depends on making image statistical analysis, to mark the eyelash and eyelid as a noise points. In order to cover the features localization (variation), the rectangular iris image is partitioned into N overlapped sub-images (blocks); then from each block a set of different average directional gradient densities values is calculated to be used as texture features vector. The applied gradient operators are taken along the horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions. The low order norms of gradient components were used to establish the feature vector. Euclidean distance based classifier was used as a matching metric for determining the degree of similarity between the features vector extracted from the tested iris image and template features vectors stored in the database. Experimental tests were performed using 2639 iris images from CASIA V4-Interival database, the attained recognition accuracy has reached up to 99.92%.
Contrast-to-noise ratio and low-contrast object resolution on full- and low-dose MDCT: SAFIRE versus filtered back projection in a low-contrast object phantom and in the liver.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to evaluate the effect of sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) on contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) compared with filtered back projection (FBP) and to determine whether SAFIRE improves low-contrast object detection or conspicuity in a low-contrast object phantom and in the liver on full- and low-dose examinations. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A low-contrast object phantom was scanned at 100%, 70%, 50%, and 30% dose using a single-source made of a dual-source MDCT scanner, with the raw data reconstructed with SAFIRE and FBP. Unenhanced liver CT scans in 22 patients were performed using a dual-source MDCT. The raw data from both tubes (100% dose) were reconstructed using FBP, and data from one tube (50% dose) were reconstructed using both FBP and SAFIRE. CNR was measured in the phantom and in the liver. Noise, contrast, and CNR were compared using paired Student t tests. Six readers assessed sphere detection and conspicuity in the phantom and liver-inferior vena cava conspicuity in the patient data. The phantom and patient data were assessed using multiple-variable logistic regression. RESULTS The phantom at 70% and 50% doses with SAFIRE had decreased noise and increased CNR compared with the 100% dose with FBP. In the liver, the mean CNR improvement at 50% dose with SAFIRE compared with FBP was 31.4% and 88% at 100% and 50% doses, respectively (p < 0.001). Sphere object detection and conspicuity improved with SAFIRE (p < 0.001). However, smaller spheres were obscured on both FBP and SAFIRE images at lower doses. Liver-vessel conspicuity improved with SAFIRE over 50%-dose FBP in 67.4% of cases (p < 0.001), and versus 100%-dose FBP, improved in 38.6% of cases (p = 0.085). As a predictor for detection, CNR alone had a discriminatory ability (c-index, 0.970) similar to that of the model that analyzed dose, lesion size, attenuation difference, and reconstruction technique (c-index, 0.978). CONCLUSION Lower dose scans reconstructed with SAFIRE have a higher CNR. The ability of SAFIRE to improve low-contrast object detection and conspicuity depends on the radiation dose level. At low radiation doses, low-contrast objects are invisible, regardless of reconstruction technique.
Freespace estimation in an autonomous wheelchair using a stereoscopic camera system

This paper is concerned with the estimation of the height and width of freespace based on a Bayesian Recursive (BR) algorithm for an autonomous wheelchair using a stereoscopic camera system for disabled people. A 2D distance map for the purpose of freespace estimation is converted from a 3D point map using geometric projection and computation. The comparison of this 2D map to a 2D map obtained from Laser is carried out. Moreover, freespaces in the 2D map are estimated using a BR algorithm based on uncertainty information and control data. Given the average probability, a possible movement decision is then made for the mobile wheelchair. Experimental results obtained in an indoor environment prove the effectiveness of this estimation algorithm.
Predictors of quality of life among individuals who have a lower limb amputation

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify factors that predict an individual's subjective quality of life (QoL) after having a lower limb amputation. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study design. Subjects: A total of 415 unilateral, above knee (27.0%) and below knee (73.0%) amputees with an average age of 61.9 years (SD = 15.7) who had lost their limb related to vascular (53.0%) or non-vascular (47.0%) etiology. Methods: Medical chart review, questionnaires (Frenchay Activities Index, Interpersonal Support Evaluation List, the Center for Epidemiology Studies – Depression scale, Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire mobility subscale, and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale) and a QoL Visual Analogue Scale were assessed using multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The analysis revealed seven significant factors (depression, perceived prosthetic mobility, social support, comorbidity, prosthesis problems, age and social activity participation) as predictors of subjects' perceived QoL. Depression explained 30% of the variation, while the full model explained 42% of the variation. Conclusion: Several modifiable characteristics influence QoL after lower limb amputation including depression and participation in daily living. This finding suggests the importance of addressing individuals' affective status to regain or maintain QoL.
Bias reduction in generalized linear models

brglm2 provides tools for the estimation and inference from generalized linear models using various methods for bias reduction. Reduction of estimation bias is achieved either through the mean-bias reducing adjusted score equations in Firth (1993) and Kosmidis and Firth (2009), or through the direct subtraction of an estimate of the bias of the maximum likelihood estimator from the maximum likelihood estimates as prescribed in Cordeiro and McCullagh (1991), or through the median-bias reducing adjusted score equations in Kenne Pagui, Salvan, and Sartori (2017).
Hyper-reality in Sebold's The Lovely Bones

Heaven and hell are good places for creating the plot of a story because no one has ever seen these lands. They are hyper-real places because we imagine them like what we see on earth and can never imagine them as they are. Their reality is based on what we read about them in the holy books. By using Jean Baudrillad's ideas of "Hyper-reality" and "Simulacra and Simulation," the present study attempts to consider the concept of hyper-reality in Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones (2002) in which the main character starts her life on heaven. She tries to indicate heaven as a human creation a place like earth. The writer depicts heaven as an earthly landscape and makes the readers believe that whatever they read about heaven is really true and this fact puts more emphasis on the hyper-reality of heaven in the novel. Through the story heaven is simulated as a copy of a real religious one. Thus, the heaven of the novel is a hyper-reality because as it is a copy of religious one but it has no origin. We mean the things and places as amusement parks, different American cars, magic ice creams and newspapers have no place in the real religious heaven that we read about in different holy books such as The Bible and The Holy Quran.
Malpractice. The problem in perspective.

Malpractice, for all intents and purposes, is ordinary negligence or carelessness. By legal definition, it is an unintentional act; that is, you cannot form the intent to commit an act of ordinary negligence. You may be intentionally careless, but such act would not come within the definition of ordinary negligence or malpractice. Rather, it would be categorized as willful and reckless misconduct, and I can assure you that this distinction is more than a paper one if for no other reason than the substantially greater amount of monetary damages awarded in the latter case. If you cannot form the intent to commit an act of ordinary negligence then, conversely, it is logical and correct to postulate that you cannot, by an act of the will, prevent ordinary negligent conduct. The act of ordinary negligence which will occur with statistical surety in a random fashion in all our daily lives can only be prevented by diligent conduct—by the practice of good medicine. You assure yourself that good medicine is practiced by participating in ongoing medical education programs and continuous association with those persons and practices which will maintain your intellectual capacity. Worrying about the occurrence of acts of negligence is of no value and is often harmful.
Self-reported Suicide Attempts and Associated Risk and Protective Factors Among Secondary School Students in New Zealand

Objective: To examine associations between individual, family, school and community characteristics and rates of suicide attempts in a national population sample of New Zealand secondary school students. Method: A total of 9570 randomly selected 9- to 13-year-old students from 114 schools were surveyed, using the New Zealand Adolescent Health Survey. This is a 523-item anonymous self-report comprehensive questionnaire delivered by Multi-Media Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing. Multivariate analyses were used to examine correlates of self-reported suicide attempts within the last 12 months. Results: In total, 739 participants (4.7% of males and 10.5% of females) reported having made a suicide attempt within the last 12 months. Depressive symptoms, alcohol abuse, -having a friend or family member attempt suicide, family violence and non-heterosexual attractions were independently associated with increased rates of suicide attempts while parents caring, other family members caring, teachers being fair and feeling safe at school were independently associated with decreased rates of suicide attempts. Caring friendships, attending worship frequently, possible sexual abuse and anxiety symptoms were not independently associated with suicide attempts. Risk and protective factors operated in the same way for male and female students and for those with and without other suicide predictors. Conclusions: New Zealand secondary school students, particularly female students, report high rates of suicide attempts. Risk of suicide attempts is lower in students reporting caring home and fair, safe school environments and this effect remains once depression is taken into account. This study confirms the importance of depression, substance use, problem behaviour, negative life events, exposure to suicide behaviour by others and the significance of sexual orientation in suicidal behaviour among school students and provides evidence of the importance of the family and school environments in reducing risk among this group.
Inversion-Based Sensitivity Analysis of Snow-Covered Sea Ice Electromagnetic Profiles

For the microwave remote sensing of snow-covered sea ice dielectric profiles, the sensitivity of the normalized radar cross-section data with respect to the complex permittivity and thickness values is investigated. Our results show that the data collected closer to the nadir in monostatic setups, and the data collected closer to the specular angle in bistatic setups represent higher sensitivity values. Using both synthetically and experimentally collected data sets, we demonstrate that the inversion of data sets having higher sensitivity values results in enhanced reconstruction accuracy.
A simple strategy for moving target imaging via an experimental UWB through-wall radar

In this paper, a simple and effective procedure for through-wall moving target imaging is introduced and discussed via the UWB-SP radar. The modified Kirchhoff migration algorithm is selected as the imaging method to validate the effectiveness of the proposed detection procedure. Considering that the motion of the target behind wall is irregular and unknown, the model of the target with the “go-stop” motion is adopted in the procedure. Based on this model, a proper background removal strategy without complicated operations is introduced to extract the “go-stop” target signal. As the original imaging results obtained from the modified Kirchhoff migration imaging method are dissatisfactory, an effective imaging processing step is given out.
The effects of dexamethasone treatment on immunoreactive and bioactive insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF-binding proteins in normal male volunteers.

Glucocorticoids inhibit somatic growth in man and laboratory animals, and have long been regarded as suppressors of both stimulated GH secretion and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) activity. Recent evidence suggests, however, that glucocorticoids can be potent GH secretagogues in their own right with concomitant increases in circulating IGF-I levels. IGFs circulate tightly bound to a group of high-affinity binding proteins (IGFBPs) which modulate their actions. In order to investigate the effects of glucocorticoids on serum levels of IGFs and IGFBPs, normal male volunteers were sampled over 24-h periods before and directly after treatment with dexamethasone (2 mg twice daily) for 96 h. Following dexamethasone administration, all volunteers showed a marked increase in mean +/- S.E. M. IGF-I levels over the 24-h sampling period (292.2 +/- 31.8 before dexamethasone, 425.9 +/- 37 micrograms/l after dexamethasone, P < 0.005); there was no change in mean IGF-II levels. Integrated mean insulin levels were raised by dexamethasone treatment (50 +/- 4.6 before dexamethasone, 117 +/- 13.4 mU/l after dexamethasone, P = 0.002) and IGFBP-1 was significantly suppressed (42.9 +/- 8.2 before dexamethasone, 28.0 +/- 7.9 micrograms/l after dexamethasone, P < 0.001). IGFBP-2 levels were similarly suppressed after dexamethasone (319.5 +/- 24.5 before dexamethasone, 214.8 +/- 8.5 micrograms/l after dexamethasone, P = 0.002), and there was a significant increase in IGFBP-3 levels from 3.24 +/- 0.25 to 3.67 +/- 0.32 mg/l (P = 0.0153). Mean IGF bioactivity over the sampling period after dexamethasone was reduced by approximately 60% (0.93 +/- 0.39 before dexamethasone, 0.39 +/- 0.05 U/ml after dexamethasone, P < 0.0001). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Technical integration of virtual power plants into German system operation

This paper critically evaluates the operational perspective of Virtual Power Plants (VPP) in Germany by analyzing key factors to replace conventional power plants in the future power system. Therefore, its necessity for the secure operation as well as the technical and economic benefits for the German power system are pointed out. The single sections describe in detail how the requirements on technical functions and standardized communication can be reconciled with the increasing challenges on volatile generation. Furthermore, a new sensitivity calculation concept based on accounting areas and under consideration of VPP are presented. Based on that, different operation concepts are assessed with respect to their mathematical algorithms and their practical feasibility under consideration of given circumstances and future developments.
A FEATURE-BASED MATCHING STRATEGY FOR AUTOMATED 3D MODEL RECONSTRUCTION IN MULTI-IMAGE CLOSE-RANGE PHOTOGRAMMETRY

Feature-based matching is commonly employed for object surface reconstruction in topographic and stereo close-range photogrammetry, but rarely in conjunction with convergent photogrammetric networks. This paper describes a new feature-based matching approach to automated 3D object reconstruction from highly convergent, multi-image networks. Geometric diversity and redundancy in the network design are a distinct advantage with the approach, which commences with automatic exterior orientation. The FAST interest operator is then applied to Wallis-filtered images to extract interest points, and matching of interest points is carried out to yield a dense 3D point cloud. The surface point data is subsequently converted to a triangulated mesh via a Poisson Surface Reconstruction technique, and textured. Three core components of the proposed object reconstruction approach, namely the FAST interest operator, Wallis filtering and Poisson Surface Reconstruction are first described. The results of an experimental test of the approach are then presented, the measurement being an engineering application in which surface modeling is performed to support deformation analysis. The results obtained highlight the practicability, robustness and accuracy of the reported automated multi-image object surface measurement approach incorporating feature-based matching.
Measure Power Voltage Normalize Edge Detection Cluster Analysis Build Appliance Models Tabulate Statistics

In this project report we present the idea of electric load identification using supervised machine learning. The primary goal of this project is to identify the different devices running in the household using whole house electric consumption data and estimate the individual device energy consumption. We present a framework for creating the appropriate features and labels from the training data and use these features to predict the device status (on/off) and device energy consumption using a variety of classifiers. Finally, we identify a best performing classifier based on a thorough error analysis on test data. The best classifier was found to give sufficient predictions of device energy consumption.