Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
3D object position using automatic viewpoint transitions

This paper presents IUCA (Interaction Using Camera Animations), a new interaction technique for 3D objects manipulation. IUCA allows efficient interaction in a full-resolution perspective view by integrating transients animated transitions to orthographic views into the manipulation task. This provides an interaction in context, with precise object positioning and alignment. An evaluation of the technique shows that, compared to the classical configurations, IUCA allows to reduce pointing time by 14% on average. Testing with professional 3D designers and novice users indicate that IUCA is easy to use and to learn; and that users feel comfortable with it.
A common oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) polymorphism modulates intranasal oxytocin effects on the neural response to social cooperation in humans

Intranasal oxytocin (OT) can modulate social‐emotional functioning and related brain activity in humans. Consequently, OT has been discussed as a potential treatment for psychiatric disorders involving social behavioral deficits. However, OT effects are often heterogeneous across individuals. Here we explore individual differences in OT effects on the neural response to social cooperation as a function of the rs53576 polymorphism of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). Previously, we conducted a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study in which healthy men and women were randomized to treatment with intranasal OT or placebo. Afterwards, they were imaged with functional magnetic resonance imaging while playing an iterated Prisoner's Dilemma Game with same‐sex partners. Within the left ventral caudate nucleus, intranasal OT treatment increased activation to reciprocated cooperation in men, but tended to decrease activation in women. Here, we show that these sex differences in OT effects are specific to individuals with the rs53576 GG genotype, and are not found for other genotypes (rs53576 AA/AG). Thus, OT may increase the reward or salience of positive social interactions for male GG homozygotes, while decreasing those processes for female GG homozygotes. These results suggest that rs53576 genotype is an important variable to consider in future investigations of the clinical efficacy of intranasal OT treatment.
Advances and Applications in Bioinformatics and Chemistry Dovepress Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research Open Access Full Text Article an Online Conserved Ssr Discovery through Cross-species Comparison

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) play important roles in gene regulation and genome evolution. Although there exist several online resources for SSR mining, most of them only extract general SSR patterns without providing functional information. Here, an online search tool, CG-SSR (Comparative Genomics SSR discovery), has been developed for discovering potential functional SSRs from vertebrate genomes through cross-species comparison. In addition to revealing SSR candidates in conserved regions among various species, it also combines accurate coordinate and functional genomics information. CG-SSR is the first comprehensive and efficient online tool for conserved SSR discovery.
Ventral Striatal Dopamine Synthesis Capacity Predicts Financial Extravagance in Parkinson’s Disease

Impulse control disorders (ICDs), including disordered gambling, can occur in a significant number of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) receiving dopaminergic therapy. The neurobiology underlying susceptibility to such problems is unclear, but risk likely results from an interaction between dopaminergic medication and a pre-existing trait vulnerability. Impulse control and addictive disorders form part of a broader psychopathological spectrum of disorders, which share a common underlying genetic vulnerability, referred to as externalizing. The broad externalizing risk factor is a continuously varying trait reflecting vulnerability to various impulse control problems, manifested at the overt level by disinhibitory symptoms and at the personality level by antecedent traits such as impulsivity and novelty/sensation seeking. Trait “disinhibition” is thus a core endophenotype of ICDs, and a key target for neurobiological investigation. The ventral striatal dopamine system has been hypothesized to underlie individual variation in behavioral disinhibition. Here, we examined whether individual differences in ventral striatal dopamine synthesis capacity predicted individual variation in disinhibitory temperament traits in individuals with PD. Eighteen early-stage male PD patients underwent 6-[18F]Fluoro-l-DOPA (FDOPA) positron emission tomography scanning to measure striatal dopamine synthesis capacity, and completed a measure of disinhibited personality. Consistent with our predictions, we found that levels of ventral, but not dorsal, striatal dopamine synthesis capacity predicted disinhibited personality, particularly a propensity for financial extravagance. Our results are consistent with recent preclinical models of vulnerability to behavioral disinhibition and addiction proneness, and provide novel insights into the neurobiology of potential vulnerability to impulse control problems in PD and other disorders.
BHMT G742A and MTHFD1 G1958A polymorphisms and Down syndrome risk in the Brazilian population.

BACKGROUND Mechanisms underlying meiotic nondisjunction are poorly understood. Attempts to elucidate the causes of Down syndrome (DS) have analyzed the relationship between polymorphism in folate metabolism and DS. AIM The role of methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 1 (MTHFD1) G1958A and betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) G742A polymorphisms in DS risk was investigated. METHODS Blood samples were collected from a total of 86 DS mothers and from 161 control mothers. The investigation of the MTHFD1 G1958A polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and by real-time PCR for the BHMT G742A polymorphism. RESULTS The median maternal age of case mothers (30.40; 12.9-46.3 years) was significantly higher (p<0.0005) than in the control group (26.60; 15.4-57.9 years). The frequency of BHMT variant genotypes was significantly lower in DS mothers compared with controls (p=0.047). A significant decreased risk for BHMT 742 AA genotype (odds ratio [OR]=0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10-0.93; p=0.037) was observed. Moreover, when the dominant model was applied (BHMT 742GA or 7428AA versus 742GG), there was also a significant decrease in DS risk (OR=0.58; 95% CI: 0.37-0.98; p=0.042). MTHFD1 G1958A genotype frequencies were not significantly altered in DS mothers (p=0.206). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that the polymorphism BHMT G742A may modulate the DS risk in Brazilian mothers.
A framework for streamlining research workflow in neuroscience and psychology

Successful accumulation of knowledge is critically dependent on the ability to verify and replicate every part of scientific conduct. However, such principles are difficult to enact when researchers continue to resort on ad-hoc workflows and with poorly maintained code base. In this paper I examine the needs of neuroscience and psychology community, and introduce psychopy_ext, a unifying framework that seamlessly integrates popular experiment building, analysis and manuscript preparation tools by choosing reasonable defaults and implementing relatively rigid patterns of workflow. This structure allows for automation of multiple tasks, such as generated user interfaces, unit testing, control analyses of stimuli, single-command access to descriptive statistics, and publication quality plotting. Taken together, psychopy_ext opens an exciting possibility for a faster, more robust code development and collaboration for researchers.
Trade-off Consideration in Query Processing for Wireless Sensor Networks

In sensor networks, continuous query is commonly used for collecting periodical data from objects under monitoring. This query needs to be carefully designed, in order to minimize the power consumption and maximize the lifetime. This paper presents a novel method for optimizing sliding window based continuous queries. In particular, we deal with queries with direct aggregation operations, but the proposal can be easily extended for general continuous queries' optimization. Our approach is, by compromising between accuracy and energy efficiency, to find out an optimal sampling rate so that the global performance can be optimal. A QoS weight item is specified along with the query, in which the importance of the two factors, power and accuracy can be expressed. Then, an optimal query plan can be derived by studying the two factors simultaneously, leading to the minimum cost. Problem is formalized and algorithm is described in detail. Analysis is made to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Effects of Antifungal Interventions on the Outcome of Experimental Infections with Phenotypic Switch Variants of Cryptococcus neoformans

ABSTRACT In cryptococcal infection, phenotypic switching from a smooth to a mucoid variant can occur in vivo, producing variants with enhanced virulence that are subsequently selected and affect the outcome of infection. Here, we demonstrate that antifungal treatment of the chronically infected host can promote this phenomenon. Amphotericin B treatment reduces fungal burden less effectively in mucoid variant-infected than in smooth variant-infected mice. Consequently, amphotericin B treatment resulted in a more pronounced prolongation of survival in smooth variant-infected than in mucoid variant-infected mice (20 versus 42 days; P < 0.05). Administration of anticapsular monoclonal antibody mediated better protection in smooth variant-infected than in mucoid variant-infected mice, although a protective effect was not consistently observed at all doses. Most interestingly, both antifungal drug therapy and administration of anticapsular monoclonal antibody promoted the selection of mucoid variants in smooth variant-infected mice, a phenomenon manifested by a statistically higher percentage of mucoid colonies in smooth variant-infected mice than in nontreated control mice. This finding suggests that both chemotherapeutic and immunological antifungal interventions may promote the selection of the more virulent mucoid variant, which could affect the outcome of infection in chronically infected hosts.
Impact of potential pregabalin or duloxetine drug–drug interactions on health care costs and utilization among Medicare members with fibromyalgia

Purpose To examine the impact of newly initiated pregabalin or duloxetine treatment on fibromyalgia (FM) patients’ encounters with potential drug–drug interactions (DDIs), the health care cost and utilization consequences of those interactions, and the impact of treatment on opioid utilization. Patients and methods Subjects included those with an FM diagnosis, a pregabalin or duloxetine prescription claim (index event), ≥1 inpatient or ≥2 outpatient medical claims, and ≥12 months preindex and ≥6 postindex enrollment. Propensity score matching was used to help balance the pregabalin and duloxetine cohorts on baseline demographics and comorbidities. Potential DDIs were defined based on Micromedex 2.0 software and were identified by prescription claims. Results No significant differences in baseline characteristics were found between matched pregabalin (n=794) and duloxetine cohorts (n=794). Potential DDI prevalence was significantly greater (P<0.0001) among duloxetine subjects (71.9%) than among pregabalin subjects (4.0%). There were no significant differences in all-cause health care utilization or costs between pregabalin subjects with and without a potential DDI. By contrast, duloxetine subjects with a potential DDI had higher mean all-cause costs ($9,373 versus $7,228; P<0.0001) and higher mean number of outpatient visits/member (16.0 versus 13.0; P=0.0009) in comparison to duloxetine subjects without a potential DDI. There was a trend toward a statistically significant difference between pregabalin and duloxetine subjects in their respective pre- versus post-differences in use of ≥1 long-acting opioids (1.6% and 3.4%, respectively; P=0.077). Conclusion The significantly higher prevalence of potential DDIs and potential cost impact found in FM duloxetine subjects, relative to pregabalin subjects, underscore the importance of considering DDIs when selecting a treatment.
Cryptographic Key Generation from Multiple Biometric Modalities: Fusing Minutiae with Iris Feature

Human users find difficult to remember long cryptographic keys. Therefore, researchers, for a long time period, have been investigating ways to use biometric features of the user rather than memorable password or passphrase, in an attempt to produce tough and repeatable cryptographic keys. Our goal is to integrate the volatility of the user's biometric features into the generated key, so as to construct the key unpredictable to a hacker who is deficient of important knowledge about the user's biometrics. In our earlier research, we have incorporated multiple biometric modalities into the cryptographic key generation to provide better security. In this paper, we propose an efficient approach based on multimodal biometrics (Iris and fingerprint) for generating a secure cryptographic key, where the security is further enhanced with the difficulty of factoring large numbers. At first, the features, minutiae points and texture properties are extracted from the fingerprint and iris images respectively. Then, the extracted features are fused at the feature level to obtain the multi-biometric template. Finally, a multi-biometric template is used for generating a 256-bit cryptographic key. For experimentation, we have used the fingerprint images obtained from publicly available sources and the iris images from CASIA Iris Database. The experimental results have showed that the generated 256-bit cryptographic key is capable of providing better user authentication and better security.
Mid-Infrared Photometry and Spectra of Three High-Mass Protostellar Candidates at IRAS 18151–1208 and IRAS 20343+4129

We present arcsecond-scale mid-IR photometry (in the 10.5 μm N band and at 24.8 μm), and low-resolution spectra in the N band (R ≃ 100) of a candidate high-mass protostellar object (HMPO) in IRAS 18151–1208 and of two HMPO candidates in IRAS 20343+4129, IRS 1 and IRS 3. In addition, we present high-resolution mid-IR spectra (R ≃ 80,000) of the two HMPO candidates in IRAS 20343+4129. These data are fitted with simple models to estimate the masses of gas and dust associated with the mid-IR-emitting clumps, the column densities of overlying absorbing dust and gas, the luminosities of the HMPO candidates, and the likely spectral type of the HMPO candidate for which [Ne II] 12.8 μm emission was detected (IRAS 20343+4129 IRS 3). We suggest that IRAS 18151–1208 is a pre-ultracompact H II region HMPO, IRAS 20343+4129 IRS 1 is an embedded young stellar object with the luminosity of a B3 star, and IRAS 20343+4129 IRS 3 is a B2 ZAMS star that has formed an ultracompact H II region and disrupted its natal envelope.
A real-time stereo vision system using a tree-structured dynamic programming on FPGA

Many hardware systems for stereo vision have been proposed. Their processing speed is very fast, but the algorithms used in them are limited in order to achieve the high processing speed by simplifying the sequences of the memory accesses and operations. The error rates by them can not compete with those by software programs. In this paper, we describe an FPGA implementation of a tree-structured dynamic programming algorithm. The computational complexity of this algorithm is higher than those by previous hardware systems, but the processing speed of our system is still fast enough for real-time applications, and its error rate is competitive with software algorithms.
Brain oxygen tension controls the expansion of outer subventricular zone-like basal progenitors in the developing mouse brain

The mammalian neocortex shows a conserved six-layered structure that differs between species in the total number of cortical neurons produced owing to differences in the relative abundance of distinct progenitor populations. Recent studies have identified a new class of proliferative neurogenic cells in the outer subventricular zone (OSVZ) in gyrencephalic species such as primates and ferrets. Lissencephalic brains of mice possess fewer OSVZ-like progenitor cells and these do not constitute a distinct layer. Most in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that oxygen regulates the maintenance, proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells. Here we dissect the effects of fetal brain oxygen tension on neural progenitor cell activity using a novel mouse model that allows oxygen tension to be controlled within the hypoxic microenvironment in the neurogenic niche of the fetal brain in vivo. Indeed, maternal oxygen treatment of 10%, 21% and 75% atmospheric oxygen tension for 48 h translates into robust changes in fetal brain oxygenation. Increased oxygen tension in fetal mouse forebrain in vivo leads to a marked expansion of a distinct proliferative cell population, basal to the SVZ. These cells constitute a novel neurogenic cell layer, similar to the OSVZ, and contribute to corticogenesis by heading for deeper cortical layers as a part of the cortical plate. Highlighted article: In the developing mouse brain, hypoxia impairs proliferation and causes apoptosis, while hyperoxia induces the expansion of a normally rare population of neural progenitors.
Local decomposer increase composting rate and produce quality rice straw compost

This study at aiming to examine the ability of Balinese local decomposers in composting rice straw. Another goal is to examine the composting rate and quality of compost in enumeration rice straw that is not enumerated. The study used 2 combinations of local decomposers and comparative decomposers. The local decomposer 1 combination consists of Paenibacillus polimyxa, Pseudomonas flourescens, and Trichoderma hazianum. The combination of local decomposers 2 consists of Pseudomonas flourescens, Trichoderma hazianum, and Aspergilus niger. Comparative decomposers are commercial decomposers consists of Azospirillum, Aspergillus, Actinomycetes, Lactobacillus, Pseudomonas, and yeast. The study was conducted in Tangkas Village, Klungkung on June 17 up to July 23, 2017. The study used a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 3 (three) replications. Composting is conducted for 35 days and compost reversal is conducted every 7 days. The results showed that the addition of local decomposer 1 was able to provide a C/N ratio of up to 13.78, local decomposers 2 to 14.80 and this result was not significantly different from the comparison decomposition C/N ratio which reached 15.31.
Equine placentitis is associated with a downregulation in myometrial progestin signaling†

Abstract The current study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying myometrial activation during equine placentitis related to progestogens and the progesterone receptor signaling pathways. Placentitis was induced via intracervical inoculation with Streptococcus equi ssp zooepidemicus in mares at approximately 290 days of gestation (placentitis group; n = 6) with uninoculated gestationally matched mares as controls (n = 4). Mares in the placentitis and control groups were euthanized, and myometrial samples were collected from two regions: region 1—parallel to active placentitis lesion with placental separation in placentitis group (P1) or caudal pole of the placenta in control group (C1); and region 2—parallel to apparently normal placenta without separation in placentitis group (P2) or uterine body in control group (C2). In the current study, SRD5A1 and AKR1C23, which encode for the key P4 metabolizing enzymes, were downregulated in P1 in comparison to C1, C2, and P2, and this was associated with a decline (P < 0.05) in 5αDHP, allopregnanolone (3αDHP), and 20αDHP in P1 in comparison to C1. Further, myometrial expression of PR was downregulated (P < 0.05) in P1 in comparison to C1 and P2, and this was associated with activation of the inflammatory cascade as reflected by significant upregulation of IL-1β and IL-8 in P1 in comparison to C1, C2, and P2, and supported by increased tissue leukocytes in P1 in comparison to C1. In conclusion, equine placentitis is associated with a localized withdrawal of progestins and a downregulation of the PR in the myometrium concomitant with upregulation of inflammatory cytokines and subsequent myometrial activation. Summary Sentence This is the first report elucidating that equine placentitis is associated with a localized myometrial progestin withdrawal, as well as a functional withdrawal of progestins concurrent with a localized inflammatory response.
Joint analysis of trade and diplomacy

World system analysis is an interesting case in social network analysis. The nature of multirelational of world system requires studies about associations between this multiple relations. In this paper we perform positional analysis of trade and diplomacy relations jointly. Intriguing interpretations emerged, using joint blockmodeling, were presented and then direction of dependency between trade and diplomacy in world system structure was examined.
Silk - A Link Discovery Framework for the Web of Data

Web of Data is built upon two simple ideas: Employ the RDF data model to publish structured data on the Web and to set explicit RDF links between entities within different data sources. This paper presents the Silk - Link Discovery Framework, a tool for finding relationships between entities within different data sources. Data publishers can use Silk to set RDF links from their data sources to other data sources on the Web. Silk features a declarative language for specifying which types of RDF links should be discovered between data sources as well as which conditions entities must fulfill in order to be interlinked. Link conditions may be based on various similarity metrics and can take the graph around entities into account, which is addressed using a path-based selector language. Silk accesses data sources over the SPARQL protocol and can thus be used without having to replicate datasets locally.
A distributed location algorithm for underground miners based on rescue robot and coal-mining wireless sensor networks

Rescue robot places an important role when any severe disaster in underground coal mine happens. To locate and keep a track of miners working in a well becomes an impossible completed mission once the well communication infrastructure is all destroyed due to the disasters such as fire damp explosion. Wireless sensor networks, together with underground mine rescue robot provide a potential solution for the challenges in terms of many unique advantages of the wireless sensor networks like random deployments of nodes and network self-organized multi-hops. In this paper, a new coal-mining wireless sensor network (C-WSN) is developed. We propose a distributed system architecture and an improved location algorithm for rescue robot based on radio signal strength indicator (RSSI). The experimental results are analyzed. Finally, we draw conclusion and address the future work.
Non-Invasive Heart Murmur Detection via a Force Sensing-Based System and SVM Classification

— Noninvasive heart murmur detection is the process of diagnosing a patient's heart condition without intrusion into the body. By providing a physician with effective and economical tools to help aid in the diagnosis could decrease misdiagnosis rates. This paper presents a study of detecting low frequency vibrations on the human chest via a FlexiForce force sensing technique and then correlate them to cardiac conditions via the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification technique. The force sensor-based system is implemented and, with the consent of the University of Minnesota Institutional Review Board (IRB), the system was tested through clinical trials. A Support Vector Machine (SVM) learning algorithm is then used to train, tune, and classify signals. Our preliminary study indicates that a SVM is able to distinguish signals between normal and abnormal cardiac conditions.