Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The 2‐Year Cost‐Effectiveness of 3 options to Treat Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Patients

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) may result from degenerative changes of the spine, which lead to neural ischemia, neurogenic claudication, and a significant decrease in quality of life. Treatments for LSS range from conservative management including epidural steroid injections (ESI) to laminectomy surgery. Treatments vary greatly in cost and success. ESI is the least costly treatment may be successful for early stages of LSS but often must be repeated frequently. Laminectomy surgery is more costly and has higher complication rates. Minimally invasive lumbar decompression (mild®) is an alternative. Using a decision‐analytic model from the Medicare perspective, a cost‐effectiveness analysis was performed comparing mild® to ESI or laminectomy surgery. The analysis population included patients with LSS who have moderate to severe symptoms and have failed conservative therapy. Costs included initial procedure, complications, and repeat/revision or alternate procedure after failure. Effects measured as change in quality‐adjusted life years (QALY) from preprocedure to 2 years postprocedure. Incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios were determined, and sensitivity analysis conducted. The mild® strategy appears to be the most cost‐effective ($43,760/QALY), with ESI the next best alternative at an additional $37,758/QALY. Laminectomy surgery was the least cost‐effective ($125,985/QALY).
Spatiotopic Organization in Human Superior Colliculus Observed with fMRI

Spatiotopy is a fundamental organizing principle of the visual brain. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we have demonstrated reliable data, consistent with spatiotopic organization in the human superior colliculi. Five subjects underwent cardiac-triggered echo-planar image acquisition, during which they viewed alternating left and right visual hemifield stimulation. Intensity variations from the variable TR were removed, and the data were evaluated for correlation with the lateralized stimulus. The data indicate a strongly preferential response of the left superior colliculus to the right side of visual space, and vice versa. This is consistent with previous findings in animal systems and confirms the existence of spatiotopy in the human superior colliculus.
Two gesture recognition systems for immersive math education of the deaf

The general goal of our research is the creation of a natural and intuitive interface for navigation, interaction, and input/recognition of American Sign Language (ASL) math signs in immersive Virtual Environments (VE) for the Deaf. The specific objective of this work is the development of two new gesture recognition systems for SMILE™, an immersive learning game that employs a fantasy 3D virtual environment to engage deaf children in math-based educational tasks. Presently, SMILE includes standard VR interaction devices such as a 6DOF wand, a pair of pinch gloves, and a dance platform. In this paper we show a significant improvement of the application by proposing two new gesture control mechanisms: system (1) is based entirely on hand gestures and makes use of a pair of 18-sensor data gloves, system (2) is based on hand and body gestures and makes use of a pair of data gloves and a motion tracking system. Both interfaces support first-person motion control, object selection and manipulation, and real-time input/recognition of ASL numbers zero to twenty. Although the systems described in the paper rely on high-end, expensive hardware, they can be considered a first step toward the realization of an effective immersive sign language interface.
See you next time: a model for modern shoulder surfers

Friends, family and colleagues at work may repeatedly observe how their peers unlock their smartphones. These "insiders" may combine multiple partial observations to form a hypothesis of a target's secret. This changing landscape requires that we update the methods used to assess the security of unlocking mechanisms against human shoulder surfing attacks. In our paper, we introduce a methodology to study shoulder surfing risks in the insider threat model. Our methodology dissects the authentication process into minimal observations by humans. Further processing is based on simulations. The outcome is an estimate of the number of observations needed to break a mechanism. The flexibility of this approach benefits the design of new mechanisms. We demonstrate the application of our methodology by performing an analysis of the SwiPIN scheme published at CHI 2015. Our results indicate that SwiPIN can be defeated reliably by a majority of the population with as few as 6 to 11 observations.
Analytical Study of the Propagation of Fast Longitudinal Modes along wz-BN/AlN Thin Acoustic Waveguides

The propagation of the fundamental symmetric Lamb mode S0 along wz-BN/AlN thin composite plates suitable for telecommunication and sensing applications is studied. The investigation of the acoustic field profile across the plate thickness revealed the presence of modes having longitudinal polarization, the Anisimkin Jr. plate modes (AMs), travelling at a phase velocity close to that of the wz-BN longitudinal bulk acoustic wave propagating in the same direction. The study of the S0 mode phase velocity and coupling coefficient (K2) dispersion curves, for different electrical boundary conditions, has shown that eight different coupling configurations are allowable that exhibit a K2 as high as about 4% and very high phase velocity (up to about 16,700 m/s). The effect of the thickness and material type of the metal floating electrode on the K2 dispersion curves has also been investigated, specifically addressing the design of an enhanced coupling device. The gravimetric sensitivity of the BN/AlN-based acoustic waveguides was then calculated for both the AMs and elliptically polarized S0 modes; the AM-based sensor velocity and attenuation shifts due to the viscosity of a surrounding liquid was theoretically predicted. The performed investigation suggests that wz-BN/AlN is a very promising substrate material suitable for developing GHz band devices with enhanced electroacoustic coupling efficiency and suitable for application in telecommunications and sensing fields.
Using Spatial Order to Boost the Elimination of Incorrect Feature Matches

Correctly matching feature points in a pair of images is an important preprocessing step for many computer vision applications. In this paper we propose an efficient method for estimating the number of correct matches without explicitly computing them. In addition, our method estimates the region of overlap between the images. To this end, we propose to analyze the set of matches using the spatial order of the features, as projected to the x-axis of the image. The set of features in each image is thus represented by a sequence. This reduces the analysis of the matching problem to the analysis of the permutation between the sequences. Using the Kendall distance metric between permutations and natural assumptions on the distribution of the correct and incorrect matches, we show how to estimate the abovementioned values. We demonstrate the usefulness of our method in two applications: (i) a new halting condition for RANSAC based epipolar geometry estimation methods that considerably reduce the running time, and (ii) discarding spatially unrelated image pairs in the Structure-from-Motion pipeline. Furthermore, our analysis can be used to compute the probability that a given match is correct based on the estimated number of correct matches and the rank of the features within the sequences. Our experiments on a large number of synthetic and real data demonstrate the effectiveness of our method. For example, the running time of the image matching stage in the Structure-from-Motion pipeline may be reduced by about 99% while preserving about 80% of the correctly matched feature points.
Proactive Resilience Revisited: The Delicate Balance Between Resisting Intrusions and Remaining Available

In a recent paper, we presented proactive resilience as a new approach to proactive recovery, based on architectural hybridization. We showed that, with appropriate assumptions about fault rate, proactive resilience makes it possible to build distributed intrusion-tolerant systems guaranteed not to suffer more than the assumed number of faults during their lifetime. In this paper, we explore the impact of these assumptions in asynchronous systems, and derive conditions that should be met by practical systems in order to guarantee long-lived, i.e., available, intrusion-tolerant operation. Our conclusions are based on analytical and simulation results as implemented in Mobius, and we use the same modeling environment to show that our approach offers higher resilience in comparison with other proactive intrusion-tolerant system models
Development of new high strength Al – Sc filler wires for fusion welding 7000 series aluminium aerospace alloys

Abstract It has been reported that the transition metal scandium (Sc) can improve the weldability and mechanical properties of aluminium aerospace alloys that are normally considered to be 'unweldable'. However, little is currently known about the mechanisms by which Sc leads to such improvements. Here, the effect of the Sc concentration in the fusion zone of metal inert gas (MIG) welds in a typical 7000 series Al aerospace alloy has been investigated in detail. It was found that at a critical Sc level (~ 0.4 wt-%) a dramatic level of grain refinement occurs, leading to a highly uniform, ultrafine (~ 10 μ m) grain structure across the entire the fusion zone. Grain refinement was accompanied by an increase in the concentration of solute that was retained in solid solution after solidification, which led to a reduction in the volume fraction of eutectic per unit grain boundary area, and a significant age hardening response in the fusion zone. The tensile properties of single pass MIG welds, produced with an Al–Sc filler wire, were compared to welds made using commercial Al filler wires recommended for welding 7000 series alloys (5087, 5180, and 5039). The Sc containing filler wire greatly outperformed all the commercial filler wires, both in terms of weld strength and ductility. Further improvements in the tensile properties of the welds were achieved by exploiting the enhanced aging response of the Al–Sc filler wires, through welding in a solution heat treated condition and using a post-weld aging treatment. The underlying metallurgical processes by which Sc brings about these improvements are discussed.
A Role for AQP5 in Activation of TRPV4 by Hypotonicity

Regulation of cell volume in response to changes in osmolarity is critical for cell function and survival. However, the molecular basis of osmosensation and regulation of cell volume are not clearly understood. We have examined the mechanism of regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in salivary gland cells and report a novel association between osmosensing TRPV4 (transient receptor potential vanalloid 4) and AQP5 (aquaporin 5), which is required for regulating water permeability and cell volume. Exposure of salivary gland cells and acini to hypotonicity elicited an increase in cell volume and activation of RVD. Hypotonicity also activated Ca2+ entry, which was required for subsequent RVD. Ca2+ entry was associated with a distinct nonselective cation current that was activated by 4αPDD and inhibited by ruthenium red, suggesting involvement of TRPV4. Consistent with this, endogenous TRPV4 was detected in cells and in the apical region of acini along AQP5. Importantly, acinar cells from mice lacking either TRPV4 or AQP5 displayed greatly reduced Ca2+ entry and loss of RVD in response to hypotonicity, although the extent of cell swelling was similar. Expression of N terminus-deleted AQP5 suppressed TRPV4 activation and RVD but not cell swelling. Furthermore, hypotonicity increased the association and surface expression of AQP5 and TRPV4. Both these effects and RVD were reduced by actin depolymerization. These data demonstrate that (i) activation of TRPV4 by hypotonicity depends on AQP5, not on cell swelling per se, and (ii) TRPV4 and AQP5 concertedly control regulatory volume decrease. These data suggest a potentially important role for TRPV4 in salivary gland function.
Multiple copies of cytochrome oxidase 1 in species of the fungal genus Fusarium

Using data from published mitochondrial or complete genomes, we developed and tested primers for amplification and sequencing of the barcode region of cytochrome oxidase 1 (COX1) of the fungal genus Fusarium, related genera of the order Hypocreales, and degenerate primers for fungi in the subdivision Pezizomycotina. The primers were successful for amplifying and sequencing COX1 barcodes from 13 genera of Hypocreales (Acremonium, Beauveria, Clonostachys, Emericellopsis, Fusarium, Gliocladium, Hypocrea, Lanatonectria, Lecanicillium, Metarhizium, Monocillium, Neonectria and Stilbella), 22 taxa of Fusarium, and two genera in other orders (Arthrosporium, Monilochaetes). Parologous copies of COX1 occurred in several strains of Fusarium. In some, copies of the same length were detected either by heterozygous bases in otherwise clean sequences or in different replicates of amplification and sequencing events; this may indicate multiple transcribed copies. Other strains included one or two introns. Two intron insertion sites had at least two nonhomologous intron sequences among Fusarium species. Irrespective of whether the multiple copy issue could be resolved by sequencing RNA transcripts, developing a precise COX1‐based barcoding system for Fusarium may not be feasible. The overall divergence among homologous COX1 sequences obtained so far is rather low, with many species sharing identical sequences.
Differential expression of neuroendocrine-specific protein in form-deprived chick eyes.

PURPOSE To identify genes that are highly expressed in form-deprived retina-retinal pigment epithelium-choroid tissues. Neuroendocrine-specific proteins were found to be highly expressed. METHODS mRNAs enriched in retina-retinal pigment epithelium-choroid tissues from 3-, 7-, and 14-day form-deprived chick eyes were isolated by differential display technique with cDNA library screening. Neuroendocrine-specific protein A and C were cloned in control and form-deprived eyes. mRNA and protein levels, with respective regional localizations, were examined by Northern blot, Western blot, and immunohistochemical analyses, respectively. RESULTS The isolated clone included an insert with a sequence homologous to both chick neuroendocrine-specific proteins A and C. The increases in mRNA and protein levels were confirmed by Northern and Western blot analyses, respectively. Immunohistochemical localization of neuroendocrine-specific proteins A and C was detected in the layer of photoreceptor inner segments, presumably in the cone cells. Northern blot analysis using negative lenses showed that levels of neuroendocrine-specific protein A and C mRNAs were not altered using negative lenses. CONCLUSIONS The expression of both neuroendocrine-specific proteins A and C mRNAs in cone photoreceptor cells was upregulated within 14 days of form deprivation, but not in response to negative spectacle lenses. These data suggest that the increase in induction of neuroendocrine-specific proteins is not a secondary consequence of ocular elongation or myopic refraction. Induction of neuroendocrine-specific proteins in form-deprived eyes may be causally related to the development of myopia or may be an unrelated effect of form deprivation.
Combining usage and content in an online music recommendation system for music in the long-tail

In this paper we propose a hybrid music recommender system, which combines usage and content data. We describe an online evaluation experiment performed in real time on a commercial music web site, specialised in content from the very long tail of music content. We compare it against two stand-alone recommenders, the first system based on usage and the second one based on content data. The results show that the proposed hybrid recommender shows advantages with respect to usage- and content-based systems, namely, higher user absolute acceptance rate, higher user activity rate and higher user loyalty.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging in ADHD : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis 2

(2012). Diffusion tensor imaging in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis 2 26 2 ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) allows in vivo examination of the microstructural integrity of white matter brain tissue.
Validation of Lifetime Prediction of IGBT Modules Based on Linear Damage Accumulation by Means of Superimposed Power Cycling Tests

In this paper, the lifetime prediction of power device modules based on the linear damage accumulation is studied in conjunction with simple mission profiles of converters. Superimposed power cycling conditions, which are called simple mission profiles in this paper, are made based on a lifetime model in respect to junction temperature swing duration. This model has been built based on 39 power cycling test results of 600-V 30-A three-phase-molded IGBT modules. Six tests are performed under three superimposed power cycling conditions using an advanced power cycling test setup. The experimental results validate the lifetime prediction of the IGBT modules based on the linear damage accumulation by comparing the test results with the predicted lifetime from the lifetime model. Furthermore, the test results show the importance of the junction temperature swing duration effect for the lifetime prediction of IGBT modules under power converter applications.
Identification of specific histidines as pH sensors in flavivirus membrane fusion

The flavivirus membrane fusion machinery, like that of many other enveloped viruses, is triggered by the acidic pH in endosomes after virus uptake by receptor-mediated endocytosis. It has been hypothesized that conserved histidines in the class II fusion protein E of these viruses function as molecular switches and, by their protonation, control the fusion process. Using the mutational analysis of recombinant subviral particles of tick-borne encephalitis virus, we provide direct experimental evidence that the initiation of fusion is crucially dependent on the protonation of one of the conserved histidines (His323) at the interface between domains I and III of E, leading to the dissolution of domain interactions and to the exposure of the fusion peptide. Conserved histidines located outside this critical interface were found to be completely dispensable for triggering fusion.
A Sense of Balance: Experimental Investigation and Modeling of a Malonyl-CoA Sensor in Escherichia coli

Production of value-added chemicals in microorganisms is regarded as a viable alternative to chemical synthesis. In the past decade, several engineered pathways producing such chemicals, including plant secondary metabolites in microorganisms have been reported; upscaling their production yields, however, was often challenging. Here, we analyze a modular device designed for sensing malonyl-CoA, a common precursor for both fatty acid and flavonoid biosynthesis. The sensor can be used either for high-throughput pathway screening in synthetic biology applications or for introducing a feedback circuit to regulate production of the desired chemical. Here, we used the sensor to compare the performance of several predicted malonyl-CoA-producing pathways, and validated the utility of malonyl-CoA reductase and malonate-CoA transferase for malonyl-CoA biosynthesis. We generated a second-order dynamic linear model describing the relation of the fluorescence generated by the sensor to the biomass of the host cell representing a filter/amplifier with a gain that correlates with the level of induction. We found the time constants describing filter dynamics to be independent of the level of induction but distinctively clustered for each of the production pathways, indicating the robustness of the sensor. Moreover, by monitoring the effect of the copy-number of the production plasmid on the dose–response curve of the sensor, we managed to coarse-tune the level of pathway expression to maximize malonyl-CoA synthesis. In addition, we provide an example of the sensor’s use in analyzing the effect of inducer or substrate concentrations on production levels. The rational development of models describing sensors, supplemented with the power of high-throughput optimization provide a promising potential for engineering feedback loops regulating enzyme levels to maximize productivity yields of synthetic metabolic pathways.
Large enantiomeric excesses in primitive meteorites and the diverse effects of water in cosmochemical evolution

Carbonaceous chondrites are meteoritic fragments of asteroids that avoided the geological reprocessing of larger planets and allow laboratory probing of early solar-nebula materials. Among these, Renazzo-type (CR) chondrites found in Antarctica appear remarkably pristine and are distinguished by abundant organic materials and water-soluble molecules such as amino acids and ammonia. We present a comprehensive analysis of the organic composition of selected CR meteorites of different petrographic classification and compare compounds’ abundance and distribution as they may relate to asteroidal aqueous processing and concomitant evolution of the mineral phases. We found that several CR compounds such as amino acids and sugar alcohols are fully represented in stones with no or minimal water exposure indicating a formation that, if solar, preceded parent body processes. The most pristine CRs also revealed natal enantiomeric excesses (ee) of up to 60%, much larger than ever recorded. However, aqueous alteration appears to affect CR soluble organic composition and abundances, in particular some diastereomeric amino acids may gauge its extent by the consequent racemization of their ee.
The Gene Resource Locator: gene locus maps for transcriptome analysis

Since the advent of the draft human genome sequence there has been growing interest in transcriptome analysis based on genomic data. The Gene Resource Locator (GRL) assembles gene maps that include information on gene-expression patterns, cis-elements in regulatory regions and alternatively spliced transcripts. The database was constructed using customized software, and currently contains 2.2 million alignments (exon-intron structures). The alignments have been annotated and integrated into a system that encompasses approximately 90 000 EST loci sharing common exons, 8091 alternatively spliced transcript groups, 10 801 expression-profile groups, 8066 candidate regulatory regions in full-length cDNAs, and 1 million SNP loci. We have used Flash technology to build a dynamic web viewer that facilitates browsing through the millions of alignments. All of the information is available through the World Wide Web at the Gene Resource Locator web site (http://grl.gi.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp).
On the performance of bit-interleaved coded DAPSK over Rayleigh fading channels

We analyze the achievable performance of the coded differential amplitude and phase shift keying (DAPSK) over a frequency non-selective Rayleigh fading channel with ideal bit interleaving. The bit metrics based on the exact probability density of detector output and the average mutual information of the system with conventional differential detection are derived and compared with that of multiple-symbol differential detection (MSDD). It is shown that by suitably incorporating the amplitude statistics of transmitted signals into bit metrics, the performance of conventional DAPSK can be significantly improved without increasing complexity. Theoretical framework developed above is also justified by the comparative simulation results using convolutional and turbo codes.