Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improved methods for the blind system identification using higher order statistics

It is demonstrated by a detailed analysis of blind system identification that under specific system configurations, a recently published least-squares algorithm shows a poor convergence behavior, especially if the system order is overdetermined. To overcome these problems, a supplementary condition is introduced that guarantees proper convergence in most cases. An alternative approach for the blind identification of mixed-phase systems, the so-called cumulant zero-matching method, is presented. In this approach, the solution of a set of nonlinear equations, which is necessary in the least-squares method, is replaced by the calculation of zeros of polynomials. The main advantage over the least-squares solution is that overdetermination of the system order is rather harmless, since it only results in additional zeros in the origin of the z-plane. The different methods for system identification presented are illustrated by simulation results. >
Effects of Early High-Dose Levothyroxine Treatment on Auditory Brain Event-Related Potentials at School Entry in Children with Congenital Hypothyroidism

Aims: We tested whether brain event-related potentials (ERPs) are normal in children with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) after early high-dose levothyroxine treatment. Methods: Auditory ERPs were recorded in 33 normal controls and in 15 children with CH at 5 years 9/12. Based on bone maturation at diagnosis, the CH group was divided into severe (n = 8) and moderate (n = 7) subgroups. CH patients were treated at a median age of 14 days with a mean initial dose of levothyroxine of 11.6 µg/kg·day. Two ERP components (N100 and N200) were measured and clinical follow-up variables collected. Results: The functional anatomical and cognitive organisation of the auditory system, as revealed by the analyses of ERP measures, did not differ between CH and controls, or between severe and moderate CH subjects. However, N200 latency was globally longer in the CH than in the control group (p = 0.01) and was positively correlated with the over-treatment index (r = 0.61; p < 0.05) and verbal IQ. N200 amplitude was negatively correlated with initial dose (r = –0.74; p < 0.005). Conclusion: These data suggest that sensitive tools such as ERPs can reveal differences between CH and controls and relate these differences to the adequacy of treatment of CH.
The Laryngeal Mask Airway Unique™ versus the Soft Seal™ Laryngeal Mask: A Randomized, Crossover Study in Paralyzed, Anesthetized Patients

We tested the hypothesis that ease of insertion, oropharyngeal leak pressure, fiberoptic position, ease of ventilation, and mucosal trauma are different for the Soft Seal™ laryngeal mask airway (SSLM) and the laryngeal mask airway Unique™ (LMA-U). Ninety paralyzed, anesthetized adult patients (ASA I–II; 18–80 yr old) were studied. Both devices were inserted into each patient in random order. Oropharyngeal leak pressure and fiberoptic position were determined during cuff inflation from 0–40 mL in 10-mL increments and at an intracuff pressure of 60 cm H2O. Ease of ventilation was determined by controlling ventilation for 10 min at 8 and 12-mL/kg tidal volume and recording hemoglobin oxygen saturation, end-tidal CO2, leak fraction, peak airway pressure, and the presence or absence of gastric insufflation. Mucosal trauma was determined by examining the first randomized device for the presence of visible and occult blood. Insertion time was shorter (P = 0.0001) and fewer attempts were required (P = 0.005) for the LMA-U. There were no failed uses of either device. Oropharyngeal leak pressures were similar, but fiberoptic position was superior with the LMA-U (P ≤ 0.0003). There were no differences in hemoglobin oxygen saturation, end-tidal CO2, leak fraction, or peak airway pressure at either tidal volume. Gastric insufflation was not detected in either group at either tidal volume. The frequency of visible (P = 0.009) and occult blood (P = 0.0001) was less with the LMA-U. We conclude that the LMA-U is superior to the SSLM in terms of ease of insertion, fiberoptic position, and mucosal trauma, but similar in terms of oropharyngeal leak pressure and ease of ventilation.
Perceived no reference image quality measurement for chromatic aberration

Abstract. Today there is need for no reference (NR) objective perceived image quality measurement techniques as conducting subjective experiments and making reference image available is a very difficult task. Very few NR perceived image quality measurement algorithms are available for color distortions like chromatic aberration (CA), color quantization with dither, and color saturation. We proposed NR image quality assessment (NR-IQA) algorithms for images distorted with CA. CA is mostly observed in images taken with digital cameras, having higher sensor resolution with inexpensive lenses. We compared our metric performance with two state-of-the-art NR blur techniques, one full reference IQA technique and three general-purpose NR-IQA techniques, although they are not tailored for CA. We used a CA dataset in the TID-2013 color image database to evaluate performance. Proposed algorithms give comparable performance with state-of-the-art techniques in terms of performance parameters and outperform them in terms of monotonicity and computational complexity. We have also discovered that the proposed CA algorithm best predicts perceived image quality of images distorted with realistic CA.
Recombinant antineuraminidase single chain antibody: Expression, characterization, and crystallization in complex with antigen

The variable heavy (VH) and variable light (VL) genes of NC10, a monoclonal antibody with specificity toward N9 neuraminidase (NA), were cloned and sequenced. A single chain Fv (scFv) fragment of NC10, consisting of VH and VL domains joined by a peptide linker, was designed, constructed and expressed in the E. coli expression vector pPOW. The N‐terminal secretion signal PelB directed the synthesized protein into the periplasm where it was associated with the insoluble membrane fraction. An octapeptide (FLAG) tail was fused to the C‐terminus of the single chain Fv to aid in its detection and remained intact throughout the protein purification process. NC10 scFv was purified by solubilization of the E. coli membrane fraction with guanidinium hydrochloride followed by column chromatography. The purified NC10 scFv showed binding affinity for its antigen, NA, 2‐fold lower than that of the parent Fab. The complex between NA and the scFv has been crystallized by the vapor diffusion method. The crystals are tetragonal, space group P4212, with unit cell dimensions a = b = 141 Å, c = 218 Å. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effect of folate fortification on folic acid-based homocysteine-lowering intervention and stroke risk: a meta-analysis

Abstract Objective Folate and vitamin B12 are two vital regulators in the metabolic process of homocysteine, which is a risk factor of atherothrombotic events. Low folate intake or low plasma folate concentration is associated with increased stroke risk. Previous randomized controlled trials presented discordant findings in the effect of folic acid supplementation-based homocysteine lowering on stroke risk. The aim of the present review was to perform a meta-analysis of relevant randomized controlled trials to check the how different folate fortification status might affect the effects of folic acid supplementation in lowering homocysteine and reducing stroke risk. Design Relevant randomized controlled trials were identified through formal literature search. Homocysteine reduction was compared in subgroups stratified by folate fortification status. Relative risks with 95 % confidence intervals were used as a measure to assess the association between folic acid supplementation and stroke risk. Setting The meta-analysis included fourteen randomized controlled trials, Subjects A total of 39 420 patients. Results Homocysteine reductions were 26·99 (sd 1·91) %, 18·38 (sd 3·82) % and 21·30 (sd 1·98) %, respectively, in the subgroups without folate fortification, with folate fortification and with partial folate fortification. Significant difference was observed between the subgroups with folate fortification and without folate fortification (P=0·05). The relative risk of stroke was 0·88 (95 % CI 0·77, 1·00, P=0·05) in the subgroup without folate fortification, 0·94 (95 % CI 0·58, 1·54, P=0·82) in the subgroup with folate fortification and 0·91 (95 % CI 0·82, 1·01, P=0·09) in the subgroup with partial folate fortification. Conclusions Folic acid supplementation might have a modest benefit on stroke prevention in regions without folate fortification.
Physical Models for Polarimetric SAR Analysis

Polarimetric signatures can be used to support target identification in the context of synthetic aperture radar (SAR). In this paper, we derive analytic expressions for the polarimetric signatures in the SAR image domain, for a class of localized scatters that may be found in a composite target. Specifically, we consider a convex surface, curved and straight edges, and a dihedral. For each of these subscatterers, we use asymptotic techniques to construct analytic expressions for the polarimetric images as a function of the target's geometry and orientation relative to the SAR scan, then extract Huynen's polarimetric parameters, and finally discuss the subscatterer identification in the composite image domain.
1 A 3-IOS-3 a-1 Unsupervised Sense Clustering of Related Chinese Words

Chinese words which share the same character may carry related but different meanings, e.g., “花錢(spend)”, “花 費(expend)”, “花園(garden)”, “開花(bloom))”. The semantics of these words form two clusters: {“花錢(spend)”, “花費(expend)”} and {“花園(garden)”, “開花(bloom)”}. In this paper, we aim at unsupervised clustering of a given set of such related Chinese words, where the quality of clustering results is to be judged based on the senses of the related words. Successfully differentiating these words not only represents an important step toward Chinese word sense disambiguation but also helps for computer assisted Chinese learning. Currently, we considered semantic context and tried to determine the clustering roughly. We employed two knowledge-based methods using ConceptNet5 and two corpus-based measures based on Chinese Wikipedia. Our experimental result shows it can be achieved 68.49% of Rand index in the best case using knowledge-based approach.
rhTNFR

Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), a proinflammatory cytokine, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis; therefore, TNF-α inhibitors potentially have an effect on endometriosis. To investigate the effect of anti–TNF-α treatment on endometriosis, 2 TNF-α inhibitors: recombinant human TNF receptor: Fc fusion protein (rhTNFR: Fc) and TNF-α monoclonal antibody (TNF-α mAb) were used to treat human eutopic endometrial stromal cells (hESCs), and the effects on cell survival, cell cycle, and invasiveness were compared. It was found that rhTNFR: Fc suppressed the TNF-α–induced hESC survival and invasiveness but not TNF-α mAb. Recombinant human TNF receptor: Fc fusion protein decreased the S phase of hESC compared with the TNF-α–treated group. Then, we used a surgically induced mouse model of endometriosis to study the effect of rhTNFR: Fc treatment in vivo. The fluorescence intensity and the size of implanted endometriotic lesions in the mouse model were decreased by rhTNFR: Fc. In conclusion, rhTNFR: Fc suppresses hESC survival and invasiveness and decreases the fluorescence intensity and implant size in the mouse model of endometriosis.
Comparison of ISSR and SSR markers for analysis of genetic diversity in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica

Posidonia oceanica is an endemic seagrass species in the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its ecological importance, it has been the subject of several genetic studies aimed at increasing general knowledge of the system and helping to define appropriate management strategies. We compared the efficiency of 2 different classes of molecular markers, 'inter simple sequence repeats' (ISSRs) and 'simple sequence repeats' (SSRs) or 'microsatellites', in population genetic analysis of P. oceanica. To do this, we analyzed meadows along the coasts of the Calabria peninsula (Italy, South Tyrrhenian Sea and Ionian Sea), a putative biogeographic barrier for P. oceanica. SSR and ISSR markers detected dif- ferent levels of genetic variability within P. oceanica populations. Dinucleotide microsatellites were more polymorphic than tri- and heptanucleotide microsatellites and ISSRs. Nevertheless, discriminat- ing power analysis performed for each single locus showed that some trinucleotide microsatellite and ISSR primers were more sensitive than dinucleotides. The use of selected ISSR and SSR markers together allowed the detection of higher polymorphism than either set of marker alone. Tyrrhenian meadows were always more polymorphic than Ionian ones, according to both SSRs and ISSRs. Both markers strongly suggested the Calabria peninsula as an important biogeographic barrier between the Western and the Eastern side of the Mediterranean basin.
Fluorescence guided optical coherence tomography for the diagnosis of early bladder cancer in a rat model.

PURPOSE We describe the technique of fluorescence image guided optical coherence tomography (FG-OCT). We examined its ability to enhance specificity and sensitivity for the noninvasive diagnosis of early bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Transitional cell carcinoma was developed in 54 Fisher 344 female rats by intravesical methyl-nitroso-urea instillations. Two or three rats were diagnosed sequentially by 5-ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride) induced fluorescence imaging, cross-sectional OCT and histological microscopy weekly during weeks 11 to 33 following initial methyl-nitroso-urea instillation to track the course of carcinogenesis. RESULTS The specificity of fluorescence detection was significantly enhanced by FG-OCT (53% and 93%, respectively, p <0.0001). The sensitivity of fluorescence detection and FG-OCT was 79% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS FG-OCT cystoscopy has the potential to diagnose early bladder cancer with high sensitivity and specificity with drastically decreased imaging time compared to that of white light guided OCT cystoscopy.
Cavin-2 regulates the activity and stability of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) in angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a highly regulated process for formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. Angiogenesis is dysregulated in various pathologies, including age-related macular degeneration, arthritis, and cancer. Inhibiting pathological angiogenesis therefore represents a promising therapeutic strategy for treating these disorders, highlighting the need to study angiogenesis in more detail. To this end, identifying the genes essential for blood vessel formation and elucidating their function are crucial for a complete understanding of angiogenesis. Here, focusing on potential candidate genes for angiogenesis, we performed a morpholino-based genetic screen in zebrafish and identified Cavin-2, a membrane-bound phosphatidylserine-binding protein and critical organizer of caveolae (small microdomains in the plasma membrane), as a regulator of angiogenesis. Using endothelial cells, we show that Cavin-2 is required for in vitro angiogenesis and also for endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. We noted a high level of Cavin-2 expression in the neovascular tufts in the mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy, suggesting a role for Cavin-2 in pathogenic angiogenesis. Interestingly, we also found that Cavin-2 regulates the production of nitric oxide (NO) in endothelial cells by controlling the stability and activity of the endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) and that Cavin-2 knockdown cells produce much less NO than WT cells. Also, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, and electron microscopy analyses indicated that Cavin-2 is secreted in endothelial microparticles (EMPs) and is required for EMP biogenesis. Taken together, our results indicate that in addition to its function in caveolae biogenesis, Cavin-2 plays a critical role in endothelial cell maintenance and function by regulating eNOS activity.
The YSNSG cyclopeptide derived from tumstatin inhibits tumor angiogenesis by down‐regulating endothelial cell migration

We previously demonstrated that the CNYYSNS peptide derived from tumstatin inhibited in vivo tumor progression. The YSNS motif formed a β‐turn crucial for biological activity. More recently, a YSNSG cyclopeptide with a constrained β‐turn on the YSNS residues was designed. Intraperitoneal administration of the YSNSG cyclopeptide inhibited in vivo melanoma progression more efficiently than the native linear peptide. In the present article, we showed that the YSNSG cyclopeptide also triggered an inhibition of in vivo tumor neovascularization and we further analyzed its in vitroantiangiogenic effect. The YSNSG cyclopeptide did not alter endothelial cell proliferation but inhibited cell migration by 83% in an in vitro wound healing model. The inhibition was mediated by a decrease in active MT1‐MMP at the migration front as well as a decrease in u‐PA and u‐PAR expression. The cyclopeptide also altered β1‐integrin distribution in endothelial cell lamellipodia, induced a strong decrease in the phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (p125FAK), disorganized F‐actin stress fibers and decreased the number of lamellipodia, resulting in a non migratory phenotype. Our results confirm the YSNSG cyclopeptide as a potent antitumor agent, through both the inhibition of invasive properties of tumor cells and the antiangiogenic activity.
Influence of periodic control messages on the Performance of Mobile Ad Hoc NETworks (MANET)

is an important research area for mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) as it increases the capacity of network, reduces the routing overhead and makes the network more scalable in the presence of both high mobility and a large number of mobile nodes. In cluster or hierarchical structure local connectivity knowledge of mobile nodes is necessary for the formation and maintenance of cluster. For determining and maintaining local connectivity information, MANET utilizes periodic control messages commonly known as hello messages. A reception of hello message indicates the presence of a neighbor. This results in at least one hello message broadcast during every time period. Frequent exchange of hello messages cause considerable overhead, which consume considerable bandwidth and drain mobile nodes energy quickly, likely cause congestion, collision and data delay in larger networks. Overhead due to periodic hello messages is a function of two variables, namely, number of nodes in networks and hello interval which is the maximum time interval between the transmissions of control messages. Changing the variables affect the number of hello messages transmitted and hence the overhead. This paper uses an implementation of Cluster Based Routing Protocol (CBRP) to examine the influence of periodic hello messages on the performance of mobile ad hoc networks by keeping the number of nodes constant and varying the hello interval. Packet delivery fraction, average end to end delay, normalized routing load, channel utilization and control overhead are evaluated by varying mobility and hello interval to show the effect of control messages.
Analysis of soft handoff algorithm for multi‐cellular systems: A finite integral approach

In this paper the performance of soft handoff algorithm based on pilot signal strength measurements has been studied. In connection with the soft handoff it has been observed that the existing analytic expressions often involve integration in infinite limits. The expressions containing such kind of integrals have been meticulously transformed into finite range equations. Probability of outage, number of base stations (BS) in the active set, and number of active set updates are some of the performance metrics commonly considered in soft handoff. Accurate closed forms for all these performance indicators have been computed which, in turn, simplifies the calculation of several other metrics entailing them. Moreover, the underlying system model takes into account of more than two BS (specifically three) extending the traditional two BS model toward more complex but realistic characterization of soft handoff performance analysis framework. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tailoring recombinant protein quality by rational media design

Clinical efficacy and safety of recombinant proteins are closely associated with their structural characteristics. The major quality attributes comprise glycosylation, charge variants (oxidation, deamidation, and C‐ & N‐terminal modifications), aggregates, low‐molecular‐weight species (LMW), and misincorporation of amino acids in the protein backbone. Cell culture media design has a great potential to modulate these quality attributes due to the vital role of medium in mammalian cell culture. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the way both classical cell culture medium components and novel supplements affect the quality attributes of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed in mammalian hosts, allowing rational and high‐throughput optimization of mammalian cell culture media. A selection of specific and/or potent inhibitors and activators of oligosaccharide processing as well as components affecting multiple quality attributes are presented. Extensive research efforts in this field show the feasibility of quality engineering through media design, allowing to significantly modulate the protein function. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 31:615–629, 2015
Association of interleukin‐18 promoter polymorphism and atherosclerotic diseases in Chinese patients with diabetic nephropathy

Aim: Interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) is a pro‐inflammatory cytokine and possibly plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. The relationship between two IL‐18 gene polymorphisms, namely C‐607A and G‐137C, and cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetic nephropathy was examined.
The Delphi Method for Program Enrichment: A Variation on the Theme

Abstract The aim of this paper is to illustrate how principles of the Delphi Method were used informally to evaluate and enrich a continuous professional learning (CPL) program. The program was developed to train classroom teachers to use music as support for diverse learners in an inclusive classroom. This paper explains the difference between the ‘classical’ Delphi method and the applied variant, and describes the method of the variant. As there is no known similar program, the first draft of the program was written by the researcher after a literature study. Experts were selected from different appropriate fields such as music education, inclusive education, creativity and materials development. An open-ended questionnaire was developed and e-mailed to experts, together with the first draft of the program. Responses were analyzed, categorized and incorporated into the program. Only one round was necessary. It can be concluded that this variant of the Delphi method was effective in ensuring that an innovative idea could be turned into a program and made available in a relatively short time to teachers in an enriched, practical format of good quality.