Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification, Cloning, and Functional Characterization of the IL-1 Receptor Antagonist in the Chicken Reveal Important Differences between the Chicken and Mammals

The human IL-1 family contains 11 genes encoded at three separate loci. Nine, including IL-1R antagonist (IL-1RN), are present at a single locus on chromosome 2, whereas IL-18 and IL-33 lie on chromosomes 11 and 9, respectively. There are currently only two known orthologs in the chicken, IL-1β and IL-18, which are encoded on chromosomes 22 and 24, respectively. Two novel chicken IL-1 family sequences were identified from expressed sequence tag libraries, representing secretory and intracellular (icIL-1RN) structural variants of the IL-1RN gene, as seen in mammals. Two further putative splice variants (SVs) of both chicken IL-1RN (chIL-1RN) structural variants were also isolated. Alternative splicing of human icIL-1RN gives three different transcripts; there are no known SVs for human secretory IL-1RN. The chicken icIL-1RN SVs differ from those found in human icIL-1RN in terms of the rearrangements involved. In mammals, IL-1RN inhibits IL-1 activity by physically occupying the IL-1 type I receptor. Both full-length structural variants of chIL-1RN exhibited biological activity similar to their mammalian orthologs in a macrophage cell line bioassay. The four SVs, however, were not biologically active. The chicken IL-1 family is more fragmented in the genome than those of mammals, particularly in that the large multigene locus seen in mammals is absent. This suggests differential evolution of the family since the divergence of birds and mammals from a common ancestor, and makes determination of the full repertoire of chicken IL-1 family members more challenging.
Optimization of the Griddling Process of Kpejigaou (a Traditional Low Fat Nutritious Cowpea Food) Using Response Surface Methodology

Kpejigaou is a griddled cowpea paste product eaten mainly in West Africa. As its processing does not involve the use of fat, it has the potential of meeting consumers’ demand for healthy, low fat nutritious foods. Product texture is considered an important quality index by kpejigaou consumers. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum processing conditions of kpejigaou with respect to its textural properties. The study followed a 2 × 3 design with two processing variables each at three levels as follows: griddling temperature (130, 200, 270 °C) and time (5, 7.5 and 10 min). Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) was done on freshly processed samples. The data were fitted into multiple regression models from which the optimum griddling conditions for kpejigaou were determined. Kpejigaou processed at the optimum conditions was evaluated by untrained consumers for acceptability. Traditionally processed kpejigaou served as the control. The TPA results showed that hardness, chewiness and modulus of deformability were significantly affected by griddling conditions. Adjusted R2 for the models for hardness, chewiness and modulus of deformability were 96%, 97% and 78%, respectively. Using response surface methodology, the optimum griddling conditions for kpejigaou (for acceptable textural properties) were determined to be 170 °C for 5-6 min. The texture of optimized kpejigaou was very much liked for its higher degree of sponginess as compared to the control. It also had acceptable sensory attributes of color, taste and flavor. These findings provide the basis for the development of a process for mass production and quality assurance of kpejigaou.
Chirp-Scaling Algorithm for Bistatic SAR Data in the Constant-Offset Configuration

This paper discusses the processing method for bistatic SAR data in the constant-offset configuration. The constant-offset configuration is also known as the azimuth stationary or invariant configuration where transmitter and receiver follow each other, moving on identical velocity vector. In this paper, the proposed processing method for bistatic SAR data is based on Loffeld's bistatic formula that consists of two terms, i.e., the quasi-monostatic (QM) term and bistatic-deformation (BD) term. Our basic idea is to linearize the aforementioned two terms and then incorporate the BD term into the QM term to obtain an analogous monostatic spectrum. Based on the new spectrum, any efficient 2-D frequency or range-Doppler domain processor can easily be employed to process the bistatic data, where the Doppler phase parameters of the processor need to be adjusted. In this paper, we concentrate on the application of chirp-scaling-algorithm (CSA) processor. In addition, a bistatic-motion error model is developed where the position deviations of the two platforms are simplified as the bistatic slant-range displacement in the zero Doppler plane. Using this model, the monostatic motion-compensation technique is applied and integrated into CSA to compensate the trajectory deviations of transmitter and receiver. Finally, real and simulated data are used to validate the proposed processing method.
A novel path tracking controller for ackerman steering vehicles

In this paper, a path tracking controller for autonomous driving is presented. The path tracking problem involves the solution of two disparate subproblems: a trajectory optimization problem and a trajectory tracking control problem. The trajectories here are generated by discretizing the steering control space with taking the environmental and kinematic constraints into account. The optimal trajectory is determined based on the discretized steering control space by minimizing a cost function. Different from typical path tracking controllers, the proposed controller ensures that vehicles are able to drive within a preferred corridor freely rather than track the predefined geometric path restrictively. Tracking control law is designed based on an inner model control framework. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed control law is demonstrated by the simulation experiments.
Opportunities to Replace the Use of Animals in Sepsis Research

Sepsis and multiple organ failure are common causes of death in patients admitted to intensive care units. The incidence of sepsis and associated mortalities has been steadily increasing over the past 20 years. Sepsis is a complex inflammatory condition, the precise causes of which are still poorly understood. Animal models of sepsis have the potential to cause substantial suffering, and many of them have been poorly representative of the human syndrome. However, a number of non-animal approaches, including in vitro, in silico and clinical studies, show promise for addressing this situation. This report is based on discussions held at an expert workshop convened by Focus on Alternatives and held in 2004 at the Wellcome Trust, London. It provides an overview of some non-animal approaches to sepsis research, including their strengths and weaknesses, and argues that they should be prioritised for further development.
Long-Term Clinical and Radiological Postoperative Outcomes After an Interspinous Microdecompression of Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Study Design. A retrospective study to evaluate the clinical outcome and the risk of postoperative instability 5 years after microsurgical management of lumbar spinal stenosis using the interspinous approach. Objective. To evaluate the long-term outcome and the risk of postoperative instability after the microsurgical interspinous decompression of lumbar spinal stenosis. Summary of Background Data. The interspinous approach involves partial resection of the supraspinous ligament followed by resection of the interspinous ligament, partial resection of the caudal aspect of the superior spinous process and resection of the ligamentum flavum, producing a central fenestration through which the decompression of the cauda equina and the nerve roots can be effected with an undercutting technique, with tailored partial resection of the lamina and the medial aspects of the facet joints. In this article, we investigated the long-term clinical outcome and the long-term risk for instability after using this approach. Methods. One hundred and 6 patients undergoing decompressive surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis using the interspinous approach, including cases with spondylolisthesis without instability, were included in this study. The long-term outcome was evaluated in a follow-up study, 5 years after surgery. The clinical long-term outcome was evaluated retrospectively using self-rating questionnaires: the Oswestry Disability Index, visual analogue scale (0–10), walking capacity (1–5), progress in walking capacity and global activity, and level of satisfaction. The risk of postoperative instability was evaluated on the basis of dynamic radiographs of the lumbar spine. Results. The Oswestry Disability Index showed a mean improvement in symptoms from 58.20% to 21.61%, and the visual analogue scale showed that the intensity of leg and back pain decreased from 8.62 and 8.69 points to 2.33 and 3.48 points, respectively. Walking capacity increased from 3.37 (severely restricted) to 1.81 (slightly restricted), and 93.23% of cases indicated that they were moderately satisfied or very satisfied. Dynamic radiographs revealed no postoperative instability after decompression using the interspinous approach. Conclusion. The clinical outcome 5 years postoperatively after using the interspinous approach for lumbar spinal stenosis showed a favorable maintenance of improvement in symptoms. Radiological data showed that this approach does not alter the stability of the spine. Level of Evidence: 4
Distance function based 6DOF localization for unmanned aerial vehicles in GPS denied environments

This paper presents an algorithm for localizing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in GPS denied environments. Localization is performed with respect to a pre-built map of the environment represented using the distance function of a binary mosaic, avoiding the need for extraction and explicit matching of visual features. Edges extracted from images acquired by an on-board camera are projected to the map to compute an error metric that indicates the misalignment between the predicted and true pose of the UAV. A constrained extended Kalman filter (EKF) framework is used to generate an estimate of the full 6-DOF location of the UAV by enforcing the condition that the distance function values are zero when there is no misalignment. Use of an EKF also makes it possible to seamlessly incorporate information from any other system on the UAV, for example, from its auto-pilot, a height sensor or an optical flow sensor. Experiments using a hexarotor UAV both in a simulation environment and in the field are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Structural priming from complex sentences

Speakers tend to reuse recently encountered linguistic forms such as alternants of the dative alternation. This study explores whether speakers’ tendency to reuse forms of this alternation is affected by the syntactic context in which the form occurs. Speakers were exposed to forms of the alternation occurring in either matrix position of complex sentences or in an embedded position, i.e., a complement or relative clause. Experiment One found that speakers reused a given form regardless of where it originally occurred. Experiment Two found that the tendency to reuse recently encountered forms persists over long intervals and is independent of the syntactic context of the prime. These findings suggest that structural priming is not influenced by the syntactic complexity of the context of the prime.
A Comparative Study on the Performance of TCIM Full Newton versus Backward-Forward Power Flow Methods for Large Distribution Systems

This panel discussion summarizes performance comparisons between the well-known backward-forward sweep and a Newton load-flow algorithm when applied to large scale three-phase distribution systems. The three-phase current injection method-TCIM, applies the full Newton method to solve the nonlinear current injection equations which are derived using phase coordinates, and the complex variables are written in rectangular form. This summary intends to discuss simulation results obtained using some practical large scale distribution systems
Analysis of the structural behaviour of colonic segments by inflation tests: Experimental activity and physio-mechanical model

A coupled experimental and computational approach is provided for the identification of the structural behaviour of gastrointestinal regions, accounting for both elastic and visco-elastic properties. The developed procedure is applied to characterize the mechanics of gastrointestinal samples from pig colons. Experimental data about the structural behaviour of colonic segments are provided by inflation tests. Different inflation processes are performed according to progressively increasing top pressure conditions. Each inflation test consists of an air in-flow, according to an almost constant increasing pressure rate, such as 3.5 mmHg/s, up to a prescribed top pressure, which is held constant for about 300 s to allow the development of creep phenomena. Different tests are interspersed by 600 s of rest to allow the recovery of the tissues’ mechanical condition. Data from structural tests are post-processed by a physio-mechanical model in order to identify the mechanical parameters that interpret both the non-linear elastic behaviour of the sample, as the instantaneous pressure–stretch trend, and the time-dependent response, as the stretch increase during the creep processes. The parameters are identified by minimizing the discrepancy between experimental and model results. Different sets of parameters are evaluated for different specimens from different pigs. A statistical analysis is performed to evaluate the distribution of the parameters and to assess the reliability of the experimental and computational activities.
Autofocusing‐based phase correction

Phase artifacts due to B0 inhomogeneity can severely degrade the quality of MR images. The artifacts are particularly prominent in long‐TE scans and usually appear as ghosting and blur. We propose a retrospective phase correction method based on autofocusing. The proposed method uses raw data acquired with standard imaging sequences, and does not rely on navigators or external measures of field inhomogeneity.
A new microtransducer catheter for measuring esophageal pressure in infants

Measurement of esophageal pressure, as a reflection of pleural pressure, is essential for assessment of dynamic lung mechanics in neonates and infants. Conventionally, an esophageal balloon or a fluid‐filled catheter is used, but considerable skill is required to obtain accurate results. Both devices have problems, and failure to achieve valid occlusion tests have been reported, particularly in small infants with lung disease. Recently, a flexible #3 French gauge (FG) microtransducer catheter (MTC®, Dräger Netherlands) has become available for medical monitoring. We have assessed the accuracy and feasibility of using this device for measuring lung mechanics in 51 spontaneously breathing infants and small children aged 1 day to 24 months (weight 1.35 to 12.0 kg), 9 of whom were healthy neonates, the remainder suffering from a variety of cardio‐respiratory diseases, and in 18 sick ventilated infants (weight 0.6 to 4.0 kg). Positioning of the catheter was well tolerated by all infants. The ratio of esophageal to airway opening pressure changes (ΔPes:ΔPao) ranged from 0.94 to 1.09 [mean (SD) 1.013 (0.03)] for the spontaneously breathing infants and from 0.98 to 1.06 [mean (SD) 1.003 (0.02)] in the ventilated infants with no significant difference in this ratio between the two groups (p = 0.16). This new generation of catheter tip pressure transducers may provide a simpler and more reliable tool for assessing transpulmonary pressure changes in infants than has previously been available. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1996; 22:117–124. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Two types of MGDG synthase genes, found widely in both 16:3 and 18:3 plants, differentially mediate galactolipid syntheses in photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic tissues in Arabidopsis thaliana

In Arabidopsis, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) is synthesized by a multigenic family of MGDG synthases consisting of two types of enzymes differing in their N-terminal portion: type A (atMGD1) and type B (atMGD2 and atMGD3). The present paper compares type B isoforms with the enzymes of type A that are known to sit in the inner membrane of plastid envelope. The occurrence of types A and B in 16:3 and 18:3 plants shows that both types are not specialized isoforms for the prokaryotic and eukaryotic glycerolipid biosynthetic pathways. Type A atMGD1 gene is abundantly expressed in green tissues and along plant development and encodes the most active enzyme. Its mature polypeptide is immunodetected in the envelope of chloroplasts from Arabidopsis leaves after cleavage of its transit peptide. atMGD1 is therefore likely devoted to the massive production of MGDG required to expand the inner envelope membrane and build up the thylakoids network. Transient expression of green fluorescent protein fusions in Arabidopsis leaves and in vitro import experiments show that type B precursors are targeted to plastids, owing to a different mechanism. Noncanonical addressing peptides, whose processing could not be assessed, are involved in the targeting of type B precursors, possibly to the outer envelope membrane where they might contribute to membrane expansion. Expression of type B enzymes was higher in nongreen tissues, i.e., in inflorescence (atMGD2) and roots (atMGD3), where they conceivably influence the eukaryotic structure prominence in MGDG. In addition, their expression of type B enzymes is enhanced under phosphate deprivation.
The use of commercial video games in rehabilitation: a systematic review

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of commercial video games (VGs) in physical rehabilitation of motor functions. Several databases were screened (Medline, SAGE Journals Online, and ScienceDirect) using combinations of the following free-text terms: commercial games, video games, exergames, serious gaming, rehabilitation games, PlayStation, Nintendo, Wii, Wii Fit, Xbox, and Kinect. The search was limited to peer-reviewed English journals. The beginning of the search time frame was not restricted and the end of the search time frame was 31 December 2015. Only randomized controlled trial, cohort, and observational studies evaluating the effect of VGs on physical rehabilitation were included in the review. A total of 4728 abstracts were screened, 275 were fully reviewed, and 126 papers were eventually included. The following information was extracted from the selected studies: device type, number and type of patients, intervention, and main outcomes. The integration of VGs into physical rehabilitation has been tested for various pathological conditions, including stroke, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, balance training, weight loss, and aging. There was large variability in the protocols used (e.g. number of sessions, intervention duration, outcome measures, and sample size). The results of this review show that in most cases, the introduction of VG training in physical rehabilitation offered similar results as conventional therapy. Therefore, VGs could be added as an adjunct treatment in rehabilitation for various pathologies to stimulate patient motivation. VGs could also be used at home to maintain rehabilitation benefits.
Does sarcopenia originate in early life? Findings from the Hertfordshire cohort study.

BACKGROUND Sarcopenia is defined as the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength with aging. Recent epidemiological studies have shown that men and women who grew less well in early life have lower muscle strength. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between birth weight, infant growth, and the development of sarcopenia. METHODS We studied 730 men and 673 women, of known birth weight and weight at 1 year, who were born in Hertfordshire, U.K., between 1931 and 1939. Participants completed a health questionnaire, and we measured their height, weight, and grip strength. Standard deviation scores for birth weight, and for infant growth conditional on birth weight, were analyzed in relation to grip strength before and after adjustment for adult size. RESULTS Grip strength was most strongly associated with birth weight in men (r = 0.19, p < .001) and women (r = 0.16, p < .001). These relationships remained significant after adjustment for adult height and weight. In contrast, the associations with infant growth were weakened after allowing for adult size. Adjustment for age, current social class, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol did not affect these results. CONCLUSIONS Birth weight is associated with sarcopenia in men and women, independently of adult height and weight. The influence of infant growth on long-term muscle strength appears to be mediated through adult size. Sarcopenia may have its origins in early life, and identifying influences operating across the whole life course may yield considerable advances in developing effective interventions.
Surface fluxes and thermohaline variability over the ADRICOSM polygon Pelješac-Vis-Drvenik

Thermohaline properties in the east Adriatic coastal area were measured bi-weekly during the cold season of 2002/2003 and weekly in the warm season of 2003 at 14 stations.The collected data set has space and time coverage suitable for comparison with general thermohaline climatology of the region.Temporal salinity changes registered during the experiment show strong departures from the typical annual cycle in which salinity follows average surface water flux variability.Throughout the experiment, high salinity values were measured as a consequence of prolonged bora events in the cold period, and unusual spring-summer atmospheric conditions.Due to the anomalously long and strong heating season, corresponding surface temperatures were also higher than the long-term averages.Surface heat and water fluxes were calculated for the research period, and were compared with climatological values originating from meteorological stations in the ADRICOSM polygon.
Changes in Temperature and Moisture Content of an Extensive-Type Green Roof

Green roofs ought to be perceived as ensuring a wide-ranging contribution to the sustainable urban environment. The aim of the study was; (1) to investigate and analyse the differences in the surface temperature between four models of green roofs of the extensive type and a conventional roof (covered with bitumen) under the conditions of a continental climate; (2) to assess the influence of environmental parameters (climatic water balance, air temperature, relative humidity, moisture content in the profile) on changes in the temperature of the extensive type green roof profile (substrate and vegetation mat). The study (1) was carried out during the period of June–December 2016 using a thermal imaging camera. As a result, the greatest differences in temperature were noted in June and July, with a maximum difference between the temporary surface temperature of a green roof and a conventional roof of up to 24 °C. The (2) study was conducted on a green roof profile with sedum plant vegetation. The measured parameters were: the temperature of the surface, the temperature and humidity at depths of 3 cm and 15 cm, and active radiation in the photosynthesis process (PAR). As the result, the range of daily changes in the surface temperatures and the vegetation mat were higher than the range of changes in the air temperature. Atmospheric precipitation decreased the thermal gradient in the soil, as well as the temperature fluctuations in the course of a day as a result of the increase in humidity following a rainfall. During the summer period, over the course of a day, the surface temperature was 5 °C higher than the air temperature. The largest correlation was obtained between the air temperature and the temperature of the surface as well as the temperature of the structural layers.