Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microalbuminuria in essential hypertension. Reduction by different antihypertensive drugs.

The effects of four different antihypertensive drugs (the Ca(2+)-channel blocker felodipine, the beta-blocker metoprolol, the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril, and the alpha-blocking agent doxazosin) on microalbuminuria and renal hemodynamics were evaluated in a double-blind, crossover study in 17 patients (10 women, seven men, aged 39 +/- 14 years) with mild-to-moderate essential arterial hypertension and microalbuminuria. Patients were studied after a 2-week placebo phase preceded by 2 weeks off all medication and after 12 weeks of treatment with each drug. Between each drug treatment, there was another 14-day placebo washout period. At the end of the study, we performed two additional 2-week placebo periods. After each placebo and treatment period, we measured albumin excretion during a 3-day collecting period. Renal hemodynamics were assessed by clearance techniques (inulin and p-aminohippurate clearance) at the end of the first and last placebo periods and after each treatment period. All drugs reduced mean arterial pressure and microalbuminuria to a similar and statistically significant (p < 0.05) extent (mean arterial pressure: placebo phase, 116 +/- 5 mm Hg; felodipine, 101 +/- 4 mm Hg; metoprolol, 101 +/- 5 mm Hg; ramipril, 101 +/- 4 mm Hg; doxazosin, 102 +/- 5 mm Hg; urinary albumin excretion: placebo phase, 46 +/- 50 mg/day; felodipine, 18 +/- 23 mg/day; metoprolol, 14 +/- 12 mg/day; ramipril, 16 +/- 16 mg/day; doxazosin, 14 +/- 14 mg/day). Mean arterial pressure levels and urinary albumin excretion returned to baseline after the last placebo period (110 +/- 6 mm Hg and 40 +/- 46 mg/day, respectively). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Computational Framework for Simulating Fluorescence Microscope Images With Cell Populations

Fluorescence microscopy combined with digital imaging constructs a basic platform for numerous biomedical studies in the field of cellular imaging. As the studies relying on analysis of digital images have become popular, the validation of image processing methods used in automated image cytometry has become an important topic. Especially, the need for efficient validation has arisen from emerging high-throughput microscopy systems where manual validation is impractical. We present a simulation platform for generating synthetic images of fluorescence-stained cell populations with realistic properties. Moreover, we show that the synthetic images enable the validation of analysis methods for automated image cytometry and comparison of their performance. Finally, we suggest additional usage scenarios for the simulator. The presented simulation framework, with several user-controllable parameters, forms a versatile tool for many kinds of validation tasks, and is freely available at http://www.cs. tut.fi/sgn/csb/simcep.
Poly[[diaqua[μ2-3-carboxy-5-(pyridine-4-carboxamido)benzoato][μ4-5-(pyridine-4-carboxamido)isophthalato]cerium(III)] monohydrate]

In the title compound, {[Ce(C14H9N2O5)(C14H8N2O5)(H2O)2]·H2O}n, three carboxyl groups of two independent isophthalate anions are deprotonated and they bridge the CeIII cations, forming a two-dimensional polymeric structure parallel to (001); another carboxyl group is not deprotonated and links with the adjacent pyridine ring via an O—H⋯N hydrogen bond. The CeIII cation is coordinated by six O atoms from carboxyl groups and two O atoms from coordinated water molecules in a distorted square-antiprismatic arrangement. Extensive O—H⋯O and O—H⋯N hydrogen bonding occurs in the crystal structure.
Adherence of group B streptococci to adult and neonatal epithelial cells mediated by lipoteichoic acid

We have investigated the role of lipoteichoic acid in mediating the adherence of different serotypes of group B streptococci to human adult and neonatal epithelial cells. Pretreatment of neonatal buccal and vaginal epithelial cells with lipoteichoic acid, but not with deacylated lipoteichoic acid, induced a marked inhibition in the adherence of all strains tested. Pretreatment of bacteria with substances known to bind lipoteichoic acid, such as monoclonal and polyclonal antipolyglycerophosphate antibodies and albumin, also resulted in adherence inhibition. Group B streptococci adhered in 6- to 10-fold-higher numbers to buccal epithelial cells from neonates older than 3 days than to those from neonates less than 1 day old. This increase in receptiveness for group B streptococci was paralleled by an increased ability of epithelial cells from older neonates to bind group B streptococcal lipoteichoic acid. These data suggest a role for the lipid portion of lipoteichoic acid in the adherence of different serotypes of group B streptococci to vaginal and neonatal epithelial cells.
Gamifying Stereo Camera Registration for Augmented Reality

In this paper, we propose a solution to ease registrational tasks on users and keep them motivated during long lasting procedures using gamification elements. Augmented Reality (AR) technology appears in many different hardware setups ranging from mobile applications to full scale room tracking constructions. Many of which contain non-rigid sensors that require re-registrational maintenance to preserve satisfactory tracking capabilities. While important for a functioning setup, these tasks can become tiring over time leading to less care spent on a qualitative registration. We report on our preliminary study results, showing that a gami-fied registration routine incites participants to perform these tasks for a longer amount of time with up to four times as many measurements taken as the non-gamified version.
Initializability analysis of synchronous sequential circuits

This article addresses the problem of initializing synchronous sequential circuits, that is, of generating the shortest sequence able to drive the circuit to a known state, regardless of the initial state. Logic initialization is considered, being the only one compatible with current commercial tools. A hybrid Genetic Algorithm is proposed, which combines general ideas from evolutionary computation with specific techniques, well suited to the addressed problem. For the first time, experimental results provide data about the complete set of ISCAS'89 circuits, and show that, despite the inherent algorithm incompleteness, the method is capable of finding the optimum result for the considered circuits. A prototypical tool implementing the algorithm found better results than previous methods.
Semaphorin 6D regulates the late phase of CD4+ T cell primary immune responses

The semaphorin and plexin family of ligand and receptor proteins provides important axon guidance cues required for development. Recent studies have expanded the role of semaphorins and plexins in the regulation of cardiac, circulatory and immune system function. Within the immune system, semaphorins and plexins regulate cell–cell interactions through a complex network of receptor and ligand pairs. Immune cells at different stages of development often express multiple semaphorins and plexins, leading to multivariate interactions, involving more than one ligand and receptor within each functional group. Because of this complexity, the significance of semaphorin and plexin regulation on individual immune cell types has yet to be fully appreciated. In this work, we examined the regulation of T cells by semaphorin 6D. Both in vitro and in vivo T cell stimulation enhanced semaphorin 6D expression. However, semaphorin 6D was only expressed by a majority of T cells during the late phases of activation. Consequently, the targeted disruption of semaphorin 6D receptor–ligand interactions inhibited T cell proliferation at late but not early phases of activation. This proliferation defect was associated with reduced linker of activated T cells protein phosphorylation, which may reflect semaphorin 6D regulation of c-Abl kinase activity. Semaphorin 6D disruption also inhibited expression of CD127, which is required during the multiphase antigen-presenting cell and T cell interactions leading to selection of long-lived lymphocytes. This work reveals a role for semaphorin 6D as a regulator of the late phase of primary immune responses.
Augmented Reality Remote Collaboration with Dense Reconstruction

This paper describes an Augmented Reality remote collaboration system leveraging high-fidelity, dense scene reconstruction for intuitive and precise remote guidance. A local worker in need of help can use our system to automatically generate a 3D mesh of the surrounding and stream it to a remote expert. The remote expert can navigate and explore the reconstructed environment independently of the local worker in six degrees of freedom. World-stabilized text- and image-annotations can be placed in the scene and strokes drawn on surfaces are intelligently positioned in the world. In addition, the reconstruction allows the remote expert to segment colored objects from the mesh and use the resulting 3D model to create simple animations in order to convey precise instructions.
Variational inference for infinite mixtures of sparse Gaussian processes through KL-correction

We propose a new approximation method for Gaussian process (GP) regression based on the mixture of experts structure and variational inference. Our model is essentially an infinite mixture model in which each component is composed of a Gaussian distribution over the input space, and a Gaussian process expert over the output space. Each expert is a sparse GP model augmented with its own set of inducing points. Variational inference is made feasible by assuming that the training outputs are independent given the inducing points. In previous works on variational mixture of GP experts, the inducing points are selected through a greedy selection algorithm, which is computationally expensive. In our method, both the inducing points and hyperparameters of the experts are learned through maximizing an improved lower bound of the marginal likelihood. Experiments on benchmark datasets show the advantages of the proposed method.
Extended Workspace Using a Smartphone with a Depth Camera

In this paper, we propose a user interface which expands the workspace of a smartphone by superimposing a virtual touchscreen on a flat surface such as a desk and the user's lap and allowing the user to perform touch operation on the surface. Information is displayed not only on the flat surface but also outside and above the surface and is fixed in real space, which enables the user to effectively utilize the space and change the area to be displayed quickly by moving the device. The user can drag the entire workspace by swiping the surface or performing gesture operation in the air. This enables the user to move the objects outside the surface or out of the user's reach toward the user so that the user can touch the objects. We implemented a map application to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed interface.
MIME: A Mixed-Space Collaborative System with Three Immersion Levels and Multiple Users

Shared spaces for remote collaboration are nowadays possible by considering a variety of users, devices, immersion systems, interaction capabilities, navigation paradigms, etc. There is a substantial amount of research done in this line, proposing different solutions. However, still a more general solution that considers the heterogeneity of the involved actors/items is lacking. In this paper, we present MIME, a mixed-space tri-collaborative system. Differently from other mixed-space systems, MIME considers three different types of users (in different locations) according to the level of immersion in the system, who can interact simultaneously – what we call a tri-collaboration. For the three types, we provide a solution to navigate, point at objects/locations and make annotations, while users are able to see a virtual representation of the rest of users. Additionally, the total number of users that can simultaneously interact with the system is only restricted by the available hardware, i.e., various users of the same type can be simultaneously connected to the system. We have conducted a preliminary study at the laboratory level, showing that MIME is a promising tool that can be used in many real cases for different purposes.
Gonadal Steroids Regulate Neural Plasticity in the Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus of the Preoptic Area of Adult Male and Female Rats

Background: The densely staining sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDNPOA) is profoundly affected by gonadal steroids during perinatal development. Methods: We tested whether the SDNPOA in rats also remains responsive to gonadal hormones in adulthood. Results: Castration of 60-day-old male rats led to a reduction of soma size in SDNPOA neurons 28 days later, but not 14 days later. In contrast, the SDNPOA volume in males was unaffected by adult castration, increasing somewhat between 60 and 88 days of age in both castrated males and sham controls. For female rats ovariectomized at 60 days of age, testosterone treatment resulted in a significantly larger SDNPOA soma size after either 14 or 28 days of treatment, compared to blank-treated controls. Testosterone-treated ovariectomized females also had a modestly larger SDNPOA volume after 28 days, but not 14 days, of treatment compared to blank-treated ovariectomized animals. A second experiment revealed that these effects in females were due to ovariectomy: both SDNPOA soma size and regional volume shrank in females that were ovariectomized compared to females subjected to sham surgery. The effects of ovariectomy were blocked by testosterone treatment. The cessation of testosterone treatment in females returned SDNPOA soma size and regional volume to that of control-treated ovariectomized females. Conclusion: These results indicate considerable plasticity of the adult rat SDNPOA, and that (1) circulating androgens are required to maintain soma size, but not regional volume in males, and (2) ovarian steroids maintain both soma size and regional volume of the SDNPOA in females, an effect that can be mimicked with testosterone treatment and is fully reversible in adulthood.
A Novel Entorhinal Projection to the Rat Dentate Gyrus: Direct Innervation of Proximal Dendrites and Cell Bodies of Granule Cells and GABAergic Neurons

Entorhinal fibers to the fascia dentata originating from layer II stellate neurons are known to terminate exclusively in the outer two thirds of the molecular layer, where they innervate distal dendritic portions of dentate neurons. Using anterograde tracing withPhaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin, we unraveled a previously unknown entorhinal projection that directly innervates proximal dendritic portions and somata of granule cells and GABAergic neurons. This projection originates from neurons located in entorhinal layers IV–VI of the medial entorhinal area. These fibers enter the outer two thirds of the molecular layer, traverse the inner molecular layer (IML) and granule cell layer, where they form numerous boutons, and finally arborize subjacent to the granule cells. Correlated light and electron microscopy revealed that the boutons formed by these fibers establish asymmetric synapses on dendrites in the IML, on spines and somata of granule cells, and on spineless dendrites subjacent to the granule cell layer. Postembedding immunogold staining indicates that this entorhino-dentate projection is not GABAergic and that it also terminates on GABAergic inhibitory neurons. These data demonstrate that not all entorhino-dentate fibers display a similar high laminar specificity for the outer molecular layer (OML). Although fibers from the superficial layers of the entorhinal cortex terminate exclusively in the OML, entorhinal fibers arising from deeper layers are not confined to laminar boundaries. Finally, the possibility that these supposedly excitatory entorhinal afferents may monosynaptically activate proximal dendrites and somata of dentate neurons needs to be incorporated into contemporary concepts of the hippocampal network.
SAFEGUI: resampling-based tests of categorical significance in gene expression data made easy

Summary: A large number of websites and applications perform significance testing for gene categories/pathways in microarray data. Many of these packages fail to account for expression correlation between transcripts, with a resultant inflation in Type I error. Array permutation and other resampling-based approaches have been proposed as solutions to this problem. SAFEGUI provides a user-friendly graphical interface for the assessment of categorical significance in microarray studies, while properly accounting for the effects of correlations among genes. SAFEGUI incorporates both permutation and more recently proposed bootstrap algorithms that are demonstrated to be more powerful in detecting differential expression across categories of genes. Availability: http://cebc.unc. edu/software/ Contact: fwright@bios.unc. edu; dmgatti@email.unc. edu
Tolerance and Excretion of Iohexol after Intravenous Injection in Healthy Volunteers

In extensive animal series the acute toxicity of iohexol injected intravenously was found to be somewhat lower than that of metrizamide (Arnipaque), at present the only non-ionic contrast medium commercially available (SALVESEN 1980). The pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of iohexol were found favourable (Acta radiol. (1980) Suppl. No, 362). Based on this documentation iohexol has been released for human testing. The aim of the first human test series, now briefly presented, was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the contrast medium in healthy volunteers and to elucidate its distribution, possible metabolism and renal excretion (Phase I investigation).
Gender Determinants of Vaccination Status in Children: Evidence from a Meta-Ethnographic Systematic Review

Using meta-ethnographic methods, we conducted a systematic review of qualitative research to understand gender-related reasons at individual, family, community and health facility levels why millions of children in low and middle income countries are still not reached by routine vaccination programmes. A systematic search of Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, ERIC, Anthropological Lit, CSA databases, IBSS, ISI Web of Knowledge, JSTOR, Soc Index and Sociological Abstracts was conducted. Key words were built around the themes of immunization, vaccines, health services, health behaviour, and developing countries. Only papers, which reported on in-depth qualitative data, were retained. Twenty-five qualitative studies, which investigated barriers to routine immunisation, were included in the review. These studies were conducted between 1982 and 2012; eighteen were published after 2000. The studies represent a wide range of low- to middle income countries including some that have well known coverage challenges. We found that women's low social status manifests on every level as a barrier to accessing vaccinations: access to education, income, as well as autonomous decision-making about time and resource allocation were evident barriers. Indirectly, women's lower status made them vulnerable to blame and shame in case of childhood illness, partly reinforcing access problems, but partly increasing women's motivation to use every means to keep their children healthy. Yet in settings where gender discrimination exists most strongly, increasing availability and information may not be enough to reach the under immunised. Programmes must actively be designed to include mitigation measures to facilitate women's access to immunisation services if we hope to improve immunisation coverage. Gender inequality needs to be addressed on structural, community and household levels if the number of unvaccinated children is to substantially decrease.
Women's Experiences of Preeclampsia: Australian Action on Preeclampsia Survey of Women and Their Confidants

Introduction. The experience of normal pregnancy is often disrupted for women with preeclampsia (PE). Materials and Methods. Postal survey of the 112 members of the consumer group, Australian Action on Pre-Eclampsia (AAPEC). Results. Surveys were returned by 68 women (61% response rate) and from 64 (57%) partners, close relatives or friends. Respondents reported experiencing pre-eclampsia (n = 53), eclampsia (n = 5), and/or Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets (HELLP syndrome) (n = 26). Many women had no knowledge of PE prior to diagnosis (77%) and, once diagnosed, did not appreciate how serious or life threatening it was (50%). Women wanted access to information about PE. Their experience contributed substantial anxiety towards future pregnancies. Partners/friends/relatives expressed fear for the woman and/or her baby and had no prior understanding of PE. Conclusions. The PE experience had a substantial effect on women, their confidants, and their babies and affected their approach to future pregnancies. Access to information about PE was viewed as very important.
TCP24 modulates secondary cell wall thickening and anther endothecium development

miR319-targeted TCP genes are believed to regulate cell division in leaves and floral organs. However, it remains unknown whether these genes are involved in cell wall development. Here, we report that TCP24 negatively regulates secondary wall thickening in floral organs and roots. The overexpression of the miR319a-resistant version of TCP24 in Arabidopsis disrupted the thickening of secondary cell walls in the anther endothecium, leading to male sterility because of arrested anther dehiscence and pollen release. Several genes linked to secondary cell wall biogenesis and thickening were down-regulated in these transgenic plants. By contrast, the inhibition of TCP24 using the ectopic expression of a TCP24-SRDX repressor fusion protein, or the silencing of TCP genes by miR319a overexpression, increased cell wall lignification and the enhanced secondary cell wall thickening. Our results suggest that TCP24 acts as an important regulator of secondary cell wall thickening and modulates anther endothecium development.
An Approach to N-Gram Language Model Evaluation in Phrase-Based Statistical Machine Translation

N-gram Language model plays an important role in statistical machine translation. Traditional methods adopt perplexity to evaluate language models, while this metric does not consider the characteristics of statistical machine translation. In this paper, we propose a novel method, namely bag-of-words decoding, to evaluate n-gram language models in phrase-based statistical machine translation. As compared with perplexity, our approach has more remarkable correlation with translation quality measured by BLEU. Experimental results on NIST data sets demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
Control versus Generativity: A Complex Adaptive Systems Perspective on Platforms

Service platforms emerge as a dominant strategy for generating innovations. In this paper we argue that leveraging innovations on service platforms requires a careful trade-off between stimulating and controlling generativity. In order to gain a richer understanding of this duality we distill literature on generativity across disciplines. Our review yields two mechanisms for controlling generativity, architectural and relational control. We argue that conceptualizing service platforms as complex adaptive systems allows us to explain the impacts of both control mechanisms on the platform’s generativity. In order to observe control impacts we motivate a longitudinal methodological perspective and present first results of an empirical study at a large multinational service platform vendor. The final results of this study are expected to contribute to extant literature on service platforms and complex adaptive systems, as well as to provide valuable insights for decision makers in the field.