Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rituximab Efficiently Depletes Increased CD20-Expressing T Cells in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

In multiple sclerosis (MS), B cell–depleting therapy using monoclonal anti-CD20 Abs, including rituximab (RTX) and ocrelizumab, effectively reduces disease activity. Based on indirect evidence, it is generally believed that elimination of the Ag-presenting capabilities and Ag nonspecific immune functions of B cells underlie the therapeutic efficacy. However, a small subset of T lymphocytes (T cells) was shown to also express CD20, but controversy prevails surrounding the true existence of this T cell subpopulation. Using single-cell imaging flow cytometry and expression profiling of sorted lymphocyte subsets, we unequivocally demonstrate the existence of CD3+CD20dim T cells. We show that in MS patients, increased levels of CD3+CD20dim T cells are effectively depleted by RTX. The pathological relevance of this T cell subset in MS remains to be determined. However, given their potential proinflammatory functionality, depletion of CD20-expressing T cells may also contribute to the therapeutic effect of RTX and other mAbs targeting CD20.
Identification of epidural space using loss of resistance syringe, infusion drip, and balloon technique: A comparative study

Background and Objective: There are various techniques to identify epidural space but superiority of one technique over other has not been adequately studied. We conducted a study to Compare and evaluate the three techniques for epidural space localization that is, loss of resistance (LOR) syringe technique, balloon technique and drip infusion technique. Materials and Methods: Seventy-five patients of either sex, belonging to American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Class 1 or 2, between 20 and 50 years of age, scheduled to undergo lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries were randomly allocated to one of the three groups (n = 25 each) depending upon epidural space localization. In Group I, epidural space localization was done with LOR syringe technique. In Group II Balloon technique and in Group III drip infusion technique was used. Distance of the epidural space from skin, number of attempts, time taken for epidural space localization and quality of the block were the parameter recorded during the study. Results: First attempt success rate for epidural space localization was highest in Group III (100%). The mean time taken for epidural space localization was least in Group III, and when compared with other groups it was found to be statistically significant with P = 0.016. Number of attempt for space localization and success rate of the block was better in the majority of patients of Group III, but the difference was found to be statistically nonsignificant. Complication rate was almost negligible in all three techniques. Conclusion: We conclude that the time taken to localize the epidural space was least in drip infusion technique. As for number of attempts, quality of the block and complications is concerned, all the three techniques are comparable.
To Improve the Robustness of LSTM-RNN Acoustic Models Using Higher-Order Feedback from Multiple Histories

This paper investigates a novel multiple-history long short-term memory (MH-LSTM) RNN acoustic model to mitigate the robustness problem of noisy outputs in the form of mis-labeled data and/or mis-alignments. Conceptually, after an RNN is unfolded in time, the hidden units in each layer are re-arranged into ordered sub-layers with a master sub-layer on top and a set of auxiliary sub-layers below it. Only the master sub-layer generates outputs for the next layer whereas the auxiliary sublayers run in parallel with the master sub-layer but with increasing time lags. Each sub-layer also receives higher-order feedback from a fixed number of sub-layers below it. As a result, each sub-layer maintains a different history of the input speech, and the ensemble of all the different histories lends itself to the model’s robustness. The higher-order connections not only provide shorter feedback paths for error signals to propagate to the farther preceding hidden states to better model the long-term memory, but also more feedback paths to each model parameter and smooth its update during training. Phoneme recognition results on both real TIMIT data as well as synthetic TIMIT data with noisy labels or alignments show that the new model outperforms the conventional LSTM RNN model.
Self-enhancing bias in personality, subjective happiness, and perception of life-events: A replication in a Korean aged sample

Interrelations among self-enhancing bias in personality, subjective happiness, and perception of life-events have been examined. Elderly people with higher subjective happiness, compared to those with lower happiness, were predicted to have higher self-enhancing bias in personality, and perceive negative life-events less negatively. One hundred and forty elderly Korean citizens were assessed as to their tendency to self-enhance and to perceive positive and negative life-events. A correlation of 0.26 was found between subjective happiness and self-enhancing bias. Contrary to our prediction, those with higher subjective happiness perceived positive life-events more positively than those with lower subjective happiness, whereas there was no difference between the two groups in the perception of negative life-events.
Emergence of effective fuzzy rules for controlling mobile robots using DNA coding method

Studies the discovery of fuzzy rules for fuzzy inference systems with multiple inputs. Recently, many research studies on fuzzy inference systems using genetic algorithms have been done. However, it is difficult to find effective rules if the system has many inputs and outputs. We have proposed a new coding method based on biological DNA and a mechanism of development from artificial DNA. We call this the "DNA coding method". This method has redundancy and overlapping genes. This paper applies the DNA coding method to the discovery of fuzzy rules. Selection of input variables and tuning of membership functions are carried out. Effective fuzzy rules for mobile robots are found through chasing and avoiding operations. An application of virus and enzyme operators to the artificial DNA is also presented in this paper.
Significant indicators of intent to leave among Army Dental Corps junior officers.

OBJECTIVE To identify the significant predictors associated with Army Dental Corps junior officers' intent to leave (ITL) the military. METHODS A secondary data analysis of the 2009 Army Dental Officer Retention Survey was conducted. Frequencies, bivariate, linear, and logistic regression analyses were calculated. RESULTS Forty-six percent of junior officers completed the survey (N = 577; n = 267). Fifty-eight percent of respondents reported an ITL the military before retirement. The following variables were positively associated (p < 0.05) with ITL: unit of assignment, specialty training status or area of concentration, military lifestyle, and residency training. Age and benefits were negatively associated with ITL. CONCLUSION This study suggests that ITL is a multifactorial issue.
A high efficiency, electrically-small, 3-D machined-substrate antenna fabricated with fused deposition modeling and 3-D printing

This paper presents a high efficiency, electrically-small, light-weight, 3-D machined-substrate antenna. The antenna is a half-wave dipole conformed into a cubical shape and has an integrated parallel plate balun for the feed. The operational frequency is 2.4 GHz and the measured 10 dB return loss bandwidth and gain are 3.6% and 1.5 dBi, respectively. The antenna fits in a sphere of radius λ/10.5 and weighs 0.5 g. The antenna substrate is built of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene plus material using the fused deposition process and then metalized using the direct print additive manufacturing processed Dupont CB-028 silver ink. The performance is compared to a previous prototype made with printed circuit board technology and other 3-D antenna designs from the literature.
Dual-Polarized Coupled Sectorial Loop Antennas for UWB Applications

In this letter, we present two compact dual-polarized UWB antennas based on the coupled sectorial loops antenna (CSLA) concept. The first antenna is a directional dual-polarized cavity-backed asymmetric CSLA for radar and communications applications. The antenna has the added ad vantage of easily controllable gain compared to conventional dual-polarized antennas. The second antenna design is a planar CSLA in a crossed dipole configuration that offers both polarization and pattern diversities. Its dimensions are 0. 44λm × 0. 44λm, where λm is the wavelength at the lowest operating frequency. These dimensions are about 20% higher than those of the original CSLA, but with the advantage of providing an extra polarization. This antenna is fabricated with an integrated balun feed and measured. The measurements and the simulations agree well and show good matching over more than two octaves of bandwidth and isolation better than 25 dB between the two polarization ports.
Multi-User MIMO Channel Estimation with Multiple CSI Feedbacks in an LTE-Like Scenario

Downlink multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) has been adopted in some recent wireless communication standards to enhance spectral efficiency, but it requires accurate channel state information at the transmitter (CSIT) to fully exploit its potential. In a frequency-division duplex (FDD) system, the obtaining of CSIT requires receiver feedback, and various CSI compression and feedback methods have been proposed in the literature. The present work considers an LTE-like scenario where the transmitter uses implicit CSI fed back by the receivers to reconstruct the MIMO channel coefficients, where the implicit CSI includes preferred precoding matrices and channel quality indications. To solve for the channel coefficients from these implicit CSI quantities, however, requires multiple feedbacks computed using different sounding pilots. We describe the overall design of the proposed method, formulate the corresponding mathematical problem of CSIT estimation, and derive a solution to the problem considering both time-invariant and time-varying channels. And we present some numerical results to illustrate the performance of the method.
General and Food-Specific Inhibitory Control As Moderators of the Effects of the Impulsive Systems on Food Choices

The present study aimed to extend the application of the reflective-impulsive model to restrained eating and explore the effect of automatic attention (impulsive system) on food choices. Furthermore, we examined the moderating effects of general inhibitory control (G-IC) and food-specific inhibitory control (F-IC) on successful and unsuccessful restrained eaters (US-REs). Automatic attention was measured using “the EyeLink 1000,” which tracked eye movements during the process of making food choices, and G-IC and F-IC were measured using the Stop-Signal Task. The results showed that food choices were related to automatic attention and that G-IC and F-IC moderated the predictive relationship between automatic attention and food choices. Furthermore, among successful restrained eaters (S-REs), automatic attention to high caloric foods did not predict food choices, regardless of whether G-IC or F-IC was high or low. Whereas food choice was positively correlated with automatic attention among US-REs with poor F-IC, this pattern was not observed in those with poor G-IC. In conclusion, the S-REs had more effective self-management skills and their food choices were affected less by automatic attention and inhibitory control. Unsuccessful restrained eating was associated with poor F-IC (not G-IC) and greater automatic attention to high caloric foods. Thus, clinical interventions should focus on enhancing F-IC, not G-IC, and on reducing automatic attention to high caloric foods.
Spectroscopie des supernovæ à grand d'écalage vers le rouge

Cette these a permis de comparer les caracteristiques spectrales des supernovae de type Ia en fonction du decalage vers le rouge ("evolution"). Dans le cadre des collaborations Supernova Cosmology Project (SCP) et SuperNova Legacy Survey (SNLS), dont l'objectif scientique commun est l'etude de l'energie noire a l'aide de supernovae de type Ia a grand decalage vers le rouge, une part importante du travail de these est consacree a la reduction des donnees spectrales, etape necessaire pour obtenir le spectre physiquement exploitable a partir de donnees observees. La reduction de l'ensemble des spectres SCP issus du spectrographe a echellettes Keck-ESI a permis d'obtenir des supernovae de type Ia parmi les plus lointaines jamais observees. Dans l'experience SNLS, l'identication spectroscopique est essentiellement realisee avec le spectrographe longue fente FORS1 monte au foyer du VLT UT1. Pour le SNLS, il s'agit de reduire et d'identier une dizaine de spectres par lunaison pendant 5 ans. Dans le cadre de cette these, un logiciel d'identication en temps reel de SNIa a ete developpe, il permet d'etablir le type, le decalage vers le rouge et l'âge du candidat quasi automatiquement. Il evalue aussi la contamination de la galaxie hote (dont on peut aussi estimer la morphologie) dans le spectre. Le logiciel a ete teste sur un echantillon de spectres analyses en detail. Par ailleurs, pour certains d'entre eux, on a mesure la vitesse du CaH&K (3945.12A) dans la photosphere puis on a compare les resultats avec les memes mesures realisees sur un lot de spectres proches. Ce resultat a permis de conrmer l'hypothese de standardite des SNIa a grand decalage vers le rouge. C'est une hypothese fondamentale pour mesurer les parametres cosmologiques avec les supernovae de type Ia.
Embryonic ablation of osteoblast Smad4 interrupts matrix synthesis in response to canonical Wnt signaling and causes an osteogenesis-imperfecta-like phenotype

Summary To examine interactions between bone morphogenic protein (BMP) and canonical Wnt signaling during skeletal growth, we ablated Smad4, a key component of the TGF-&bgr;–BMP pathway, in Osx1+ cells in mice. We show that loss of Smad4 causes stunted growth, spontaneous fractures and a combination of features seen in osteogenesis imperfecta, cleidocranial dysplasia and Wnt-deficiency syndromes. Bones of Smad4 mutant mice exhibited markers of fully differentiated osteoblasts but lacked multiple collagen-processing enzymes, including lysyl oxidase (Lox), a BMP2-responsive gene regulated by Smad4 and Runx2. Accordingly, the collagen matrix in Smad4 mutants was disorganized, but also hypomineralized. Primary osteoblasts from these mutants did not mineralize in vitro in the presence of BMP2 or Wnt3a, and Smad4 mutant mice failed to accrue new bone following systemic inhibition of the Dickkopf homolog Dkk1. Consistent with impaired biological responses to canonical Wnt, ablation of Smad4 causes cleavage of &bgr;-catenin and depletion of the low density lipoprotein receptor Lrp5, subsequent to increased caspase-3 activity and apoptosis. In summary, Smad4 regulates maturation of skeletal collagen and osteoblast survival, and is required for matrix-forming responses to both BMP2 and canonical Wnt.
A direct band-pass implementation of subspace-based techniques for direction finding and digital beamforming applications

This paper presents a all-digital antenna array approach using direct band-pass or RF sampling, where an eight-channel system is fabricated in hardware and field tested. Measured results include direction finding for interfacing signals using both conventional digital beamforming and MUSIC algorithms. In all cases, the MUSIC direction finding algorithm clearly shows the angle of arrival whereas conventional digital beamforming exhibits some uncertainties in its angular power spectrum.
Characterization of a Protein Kinase that Phosphorylates Serine 189 of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Homolog ERK3 (*)

A novel protein kinase activity present in nuclear and cytosolic extracts has been identified and partially purified as a consequence of its tight binding to and phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 3. This novel protein kinase is inactivated by treatment with phosphoprotein phosphatase 2A. The ERK3 protein kinase was immunologically distinct from mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase/ERK kinases (MEK) 1 and 2 which phosphorylate the ERK3-related MAP kinases ERK1 and ERK2. This ERK3 kinase phosphorylated a single site on ERK3, Ser, comparable to Thr, one of the two activating phosphorylation sites of ERK2. To test the specificity of the ERK3 kinase, mutants of ERK3 and ERK2 were made in which the phosphorylated residues were exchanged. The double mutant S189T,G191Y ERK3, in which the phosphorylated residues from ERK2 replaced the comparable residues in ERK3, was phosphorylated by the ERK3 kinase but only on threonine. The ERK3 kinase did not phosphorylate ERK2 or ERK2 mutants. These findings indicate that although the ERK3 kinase is highly specific for ERK3, it does not recognize tyrosine, a feature that distinguishes it from MEKs that phosphorylate other ERK/MAP kinase family members.
Reliability of a Graded Exercise Test for Assessing Recovery From Concussion

Objective:To evaluate a graded treadmill test for retest reliability (RTR) and interrater reliability (IRR) in the evaluation of the physiologic effects of symptom exacerbation from concussion. Design:Prospective case series (RTR) and blinded rater assessment of 10 actors portraying patients with and without symptom exacerbation (IRR). Setting:University Sports Medicine Concussion Clinic. Participants:For RTR, 21 refractory concussed patients (11 athletes and 10 nonathletes) and 10 healthy subjects; for IRR, 32 raters representing a variety of health care disciplines. Intervention:For RTR, a Balke protocol treadmill test to symptom exacerbation before and after 2 to 3 weeks. For IRR, video recordings of actors during the treadmill test viewed by raters blinded to condition. Main Outcome Measures:For RTR, agreement of the tests for maximal heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and rating of perceived exertion. For IRR, presence or absence of symptom exacerbation and the symptom exacerbation HR. Results:Raters achieved a sensitivity of 99% for identifying actors with symptom exacerbation and a specificity of 89% for ruling out concussion symptoms and agreed on 304 of 320 observations (accuracy of 95%). The intraclass correlation coefficient for the symptom exacerbation HR was large at 0.90 (95% confidence interval, 0.78-0.98). The treadmill test had good RTR for maximum HR (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.79) but not for systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, or rating of perceived exertion. Conclusions:The Balke exercise treadmill protocol has very good IRR and sufficient RTR for identifying patients with symptom exacerbation from concussion.
Serum Caffeine Concentrations in Preterm Neonates

Caffeine therapy reduces apnea of prematurity, promotes successful extubation from invasive positive-pressure ventilation, and decreases the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The recommended dosing for caffeine is a loading dose of 20 mg/kg followed by a 5 mg/kg/d maintenance dose. However, controversy exists about the optimal dosing regimen and data on serum caffeine concentrations in extremely immature infants are scant. We determined serum caffeine concentrations approximately 7 days after starting therapy with a 20 or 25 mg/kg loading dose and a 6 mg/kg/d maintenance dose in 154 infants with a mean gestational age of 29 weeks. The 25th to 75th percentile range for the serum caffeine concentrations with the two dosing regimens was equivalent, approximately 18 to 23 mg/L. Within the first 14 postnatal days, the serum caffeine concentrations were not dependent on postmenstrual age, weight, or postnatal age, and were in a range that is safe and therapeutic. This latter observation remained valid over the ranges of clinical and laboratory assessments of renal and hepatic functions that are usually found in practice. Routine measurement of steady-state serum caffeine concentrations in infants 24 to 35 weeks gestational age is not required in the absence of ongoing apnea/hypopnea or signs compatible with toxicity.
Tampere University of Technology Graph-Based Map Matching for Indoor Positioning Citation

This article presents a probabilistic motion model that is based on an economical graph-based indoor map representation, such that the motion of the user is constrained according to the floor plan of a building. The floor plan is modeled as a combination of links and open space polygons that are connected by nodes. In the authors’ earlier work the link transition probabilities in this graph are proportional to the total link lengths that are the total lengths of the subgraphs accessible by choosing the considered link option, and this article extends this model to include open space polygons as well. A particle filter using the extended motion model in which all particles are constrained according to the map structure is presented. Furthermore, wireless local area network and Bluetooth Low Energy positioning tests show that the proposed algorithm outperforms comparison methods especially if the measurement rate is low. Keywords—indoor positioning; particle filter; motion model; map matching; graph
Streptococcus pneumoniae Endohexosaminidase D, Structural and Mechanistic Insight into Substrate-assisted Catalysis in Family 85 Glycoside Hydrolases*

Endo-β-d-glucosaminidases from family 85 of glycoside hydrolases (GH85 endohexosaminidases) act to cleave the glycosidic linkage between the two N-acetylglucosamine units that make up the chitobiose core of N-glycans. Endohexosaminidase D (Endo-D), produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae, is believed to contribute to the virulence of this organism by playing a role in the deglycosylation of IgG antibodies. Endohexosaminidases have received significant attention for this reason and, moreover, because they are powerful tools for chemoenzymatic synthesis of proteins having defined glycoforms. Here we describe mechanistic and structural studies of the catalytic domain (SpGH85) of Endo-D that provide compelling support for GH85 enzymes using a catalytic mechanism involving substrate-assisted catalysis. Furthermore, the structure of SpGH85 in complex with the mechanism-based competitive inhibitor NAG-thiazoline (Kd = 28 μm) provides a coherent rationale for previous mutagenesis studies of Endo-D and other related GH85 enzymes. We also find GH85, GH56, and GH18 enzymes have a similar configuration of catalytic residues. Notably, GH85 enzymes have an asparagine in place of the aspartate residue found in these other families of glycosidases. We propose that this residue, as the imidic acid tautomer, acts analogously to the key catalytic aspartate of GH56 and GH18 enzymes. This topographically conserved arrangement of the asparagine residue and a conserved glutamic acid, coupled with previous kinetic studies, suggests these enzymes may use an unusual proton shuttle to coordinate effective general acid and base catalysis to aid cleavage of the glycosidic bond. These results collectively provide a blueprint that may be used to facilitate protein engineering of these enzymes to improve their function as biocatalysts for synthesizing glycoproteins having defined glycoforms and also may serve as a guide for generating inhibitors of GH85 enzymes.