Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sex and age specific prediction formulas for estimating body composition from bioelectrical impedance: a cross-validation study.

In 827 male and female subjects, with a large variation in body composition and an age range of 7-83 years, body composition was measured by densitometry, anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance. The relationship between densitometrically determined fat free mass (FFM) with body impedance (R), body weight (W) and body height (H) was analysed, taking age and sex into account. The intercept of the regression equation FFM = a x H2/R + b was found to be age, and (at older ages) sex dependent, increasing from age 7 to age 15, and slowly decreasing after age 16. Therefore the population was subdivided into two age categories, the one 15 years and younger, and the other 16 years and older. Each age category was randomly divided into two groups, A and B. In each age category the developed prediction formula for group A was cross-validated in group B, and vice versa. No statistically and biologically meaningful differences between predicted and measured FFM were observed in either group. Therefore the data of group A and B in each age category were combined. The best fitted prediction formula at ages less than or equal to 15 was: FFM = 0.406 x 10(4) x H2/R + 0.360 W + 5.58 H + 0.56 Sex - 6.48: n = 166, R2 = 0.97, SEE = 1.68 kg (cv% = 4.9 percent); and at ages greater than or equal to 16: FFM = 0.340 x 10(4) x H2/R + 15.34 H + 0.273 W - 0.127 age + 4.56 sex - 12.44: n = 661, R2 = 0.93, SEE = 2.63 kg (cv% = 5.0 percent). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ocean Surface Current Measurement Using Shipborne HF Radar: Model and Analysis

The extension of onshore high-frequency surface wave radar (HFSWR) to shipborne HFSWR has the advantage of extended monitoring area and high application flexibility. However, additional modulation on the echo signal introduced by the forward movement and six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) ship motion may increase the surface current measurement error. Considering the radar array position on the ship, six-DOF ship motion, forward movement velocity, first-order Bragg scatter, and background noise, this paper models the backscattered Doppler spectrum of shipborne HFSWR. Based on this model, the performance of surface radial current measurement is analyzed, with the adoption of the MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC) to estimate the azimuth of the sea patches. Simulation results show that, rotation, sway and forward movement of the ship all have significant impacts on the surface radial current measure error. Nevertheless, if the ship sails at relative low speed and keeps its sailing direction (with small yaw amplitude), shipborne HFSWR may provide a better result than onshore HFSWR.
Chemotherapeutic deletion of CTG repeats in lymphoblast cells from DM1 patients.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by the expansion of a (CTG). (CAG) repeat in the DMPK gene on chromosome 19q13.3. At least 17 neurological diseases have similar genetic mutations, the expansion of DNA repeats. In most of these disorders, the disease severity is related to the length of the repeat expansion, and in DM1 the expanded repeat undergoes further elongation in somatic and germline tissues. At present, in this class of diseases, no therapeutic approach exists to prevent or slow the repeat expansion and thereby reduce disease severity or delay disease onset. We present initial results testing the hypothesis that repeat deletion may be mediated by various chemotherapeutic agents. Three lymphoblast cell lines derived from two DM1 patients treated with either ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS), mitomycin C, mitoxantrone or doxorubicin, at therapeutic concentrations, accumulated deletions following treatment. Treatment with EMS frequently prevented the repeat expansion observed during growth in culture. A significant reduction of CTG repeat length by 100-350 (CTG). (CAG) repeats often occurred in the cell population following treatment with these drugs. Potential mechanisms of drug-induced deletion are presented.
Non-deterministic approach for hypercomplex orthogonal design (NAHOD)

The Alamouti scheme is a well known coding form for providing transmit diversity in wireless communication scenarios and is, for example, used in the 3G standard. The generalization of this technique using quaternions, allowing to use e.g. polarization as another signal attribute for diversity, has been discussed in several publications. However, there is still the open question how to design such coding matrices. In this paper, we present a generalized form of hypercomplex numbers used as basis for our computation allowing to generalize the notation of complex numbers and quaternions. Moreover, we will discuss the structure of generalized orthogonal designs allowing us to realize a non-deterministic approach for generating such code matrices.
Continuous robust sound event classification using time-frequency features and deep learning

The automatic detection and recognition of sound events by computers is a requirement for a number of emerging sensing and human computer interaction technologies. Recent advances in this field have been achieved by machine learning classifiers working in conjunction with time-frequency feature representations. This combination has achieved excellent accuracy for classification of discrete sounds. The ability to recognise sounds under real-world noisy conditions, called robust sound event classification, is an especially challenging task that has attracted recent research attention. Another aspect of real-word conditions is the classification of continuous, occluded or overlapping sounds, rather than classification of short isolated sound recordings. This paper addresses the classification of noise-corrupted, occluded, overlapped, continuous sound recordings. It first proposes a standard evaluation task for such sounds based upon a common existing method for evaluating isolated sound classification. It then benchmarks several high performing isolated sound classifiers to operate with continuous sound data by incorporating an energy-based event detection front end. Results are reported for each tested system using the new task, to provide the first analysis of their performance for continuous sound event detection. In addition it proposes and evaluates a novel Bayesian-inspired front end for the segmentation and detection of continuous sound recordings prior to classification.
Optimized SFCL and SMES Units for Multimachine Transient Stabilization Based on Kinetic Energy Control

Power system transient instability due to short circuits may result in loss of synchronism. To improve stability, resistive type superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) and superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) can be effectively used. This paper proposes a new optimization of multiple SFCL and SMES units for transient stabilization in a multimachine power system based on kinetic energy control. Two applications of the proposed optimization are studied in the West Japan six-area interconnected power system. First, the SFCL is applied to solve the inevitable problems of SMES used for transient stability enhancement, i.e., required large power and energy capacities, and fail-operational performance due to the large voltage drop at the SMES bus. When the fault occurs, the SFCL swiftly reduces the increase in the kinetic energy of all generators by limiting the fault current. Subsequently, the SMES handles the remaining unbalanced kinetic energy. The optimization problem of the resistive value of the SFCL is formulated, considering energy dissipation in combination with the power controller parameters of SMES with optimal coil size. A simulation study shows the superior effect of the combined SFCL and SMES over either device separately. With SFCL, the low voltage ride-through capability of SMES can be enhanced. The MW and MJ capacities of the SMES are also significantly reduced. Second, a new optimization of multiple SFCL units considering optimal locations, optimal number, optimal resistive values, and energy dissipation during quenching state is presented. The optimization problem is formulated by maximizing the decreasing rate of energy function during fault in combination with minimizing the energy dissipation of the SFCL during quenching state. A simulation study confirms the superior effect of optimal SFCL units over nonoptimal SFCL units.
Evaluation of conserved and ultra‐conserved non‐genic sequences in chromosome 15q15‐linked periodic catatonia

Conserved and ultra‐conserved non‐genic sequence elements (CNGs, UCEs) between human and other mammalian genomes seem to constitute a heterogeneous group of functional sequences which likely have important biological function. To determine whether variation in CNGs and UCEs contributes to risk for the schizophrenic subphenotype of periodic catatonia (according to K. Leonhard; OMIM 605419), we evaluated non‐coding elements at a critical 7.35 Mb interval on chromosome 15q15 in 8 unrelated cases with periodic catatonia (derived from pedigrees compatible with linkage to chromosome 15q15) and 8 controls, followed by association studies in a cohort of 510 cases and controls. Among 65 CNGs (≥100 bp, 100% identity; human‐mouse comparison), 7 CNGs matched criteria for UCE (≥200 bp, 100% identity). A hot spot of 62/65 CNGs (95%) appeared at the MEIS2 locus, which implicates functional importance of associated (ultra‐)conserved elements to this early developmental gene, which is present in the human fetal neocortex and associated with metabolic side effects to antipsychotic drugs. Further CNGs were identified at the PLCB2 and DLL4 locus or located intergenic between TYRO3 and MAPKBP1. Automated sequencing revealed genetic variation in 12.3% of CNGs, but frequencies were low (MAF: 0.06–0.4) in cases. Three variants located inside CNGs/UCEs were found in cases only. In a case–control association study we could not confirm a significant association of these three CNG‐variants with periodic catatonia. Our results suggest genetic variation in (ultra‐)conserved non‐genic sequence elements which might alter functional properties. The identified variants are genetically not associated with the phenotype of periodic catatonia. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Vimentin binding is critical for infection by the virulent strain of Japanese encephalitis virus

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a mosquito‐borne flavivirus, causes acute encephalitis with high mortality in humans. We used a pair of virulent (RP‐9) and attenuated (RP‐2ms) variants of JEV to pull down the cell surface molecules bound with JEV particle; their identities were revealed by LC‐MS/MS analysis. One major protein bound with RP‐9 and weakly with RP‐2ms was identified as the intermediate filament protein vimentin. Infection of RP‐9 but not that of RP‐2ms was blocked by anti‐vimentin antibodies and by recombinant‐expressed vimentin proteins. Knockdown of vimentin expression reduced the levels of viral binding and viral production of RP‐9, but not that of RP‐2ms. The different vimentin dependency for JEV infection could be attributed to the major structural envelope protein, as the recombinant RP‐9 with an E‐E138K mutation became resistant to anti‐vimentin blockage. Furthermore, RP‐2ms mainly depended on cell surface glycosaminoglycans for viral binding and it became vimentin‐dependent only when binding to glycosaminoglycans was blocked. Thus, we suggest that vimentin contributes to virulent JEV infection and might be a new target to intervene in this deadly infection.
Heterogeneous polymerase fidelity and mismatch repair bias genome variation and composition

Mutational heterogeneity must be taken into account when reconstructing evolutionary histories, calibrating molecular clocks, and predicting links between genes and disease. Selective pressures and various DNA transactions have been invoked to explain the heterogeneous distribution of genetic variation between species, within populations, and in tissue-specific tumors. To examine relationships between such heterogeneity and variations in leading- and lagging-strand replication fidelity and mismatch repair, we accumulated 40,000 spontaneous mutations in eight diploid yeast strains in the absence of selective pressure. We found that replicase error rates vary by fork direction, coding state, nucleosome proximity, and sequence context. Further, error rates and DNA mismatch repair efficiency both vary by mismatch type, responsible polymerase, replication time, and replication origin proximity. Mutation patterns implicate replication infidelity as one driver of variation in somatic and germline evolution, suggest mechanisms of mutual modulation of genome stability and composition, and predict future observations in specific cancers.
BAN-BAN Interference Rejection With Multiple Antennas at the Receiver

Rejection of interference from a nearby body area network (BAN) becomes significant in BAN applications, where a number of BANs are operating in the near vicinity of each other. Two interference rejection combining (IRC) techniques, optimum combining (OC) and Weiner-Hopf (WH) solution, are applied to the on-body wireless communication channels, and a more robust interference rejection technique, applicable to on-body channels, is proposed and compared to the conventional IRC algorithms. Three on-body channels are investigated by real time measurements of the desired and interference signals in an indoor environment with the antennas mounted on two human subjects walking around each other. The output signal to interference plus noise ratio improvement achieved with each algorithm is presented for the three channels and the dependence of the interference rejection gain on the average desired signal to interference ratio has been shown along with the covariance matrices for each channel. OC gives around 3-5 dB interference rejection gain for belt-wrist and belt-head channels. The WH solution gives the worst performance for all the channels. The proposed algorithm gives a flexible handle on the interference rejection gain and gives better rejection than the two conventional algorithms with proper interval selection.
New Insights into Prevalence, Genetic Diversity, and Proviral Load of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Types 1 and 2 in Pregnant Women in Gabon in Equatorial Central Africa

ABSTRACT Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is highly endemic in areas of central Africa; mother-to-child transmission and sexual transmission are considered to be the predominant routes. To determine the prevalence and subtypes of HTLV-1/2 in pregnant women in Gabon, we conducted an epidemiological survey in the five main cities of the country. In 907 samples, the HTLV-1 seroprevalence was 2.1%, which is lower than that previously reported. Only one case of HTLV-2 infection was found. The HTLV-1 seroprevalence increased with age and differed between regions (P ≤ 0.05), with the highest prevalence (5%) in the southeastern region. A wide range of HTLV-1 proviral loads was observed among the infected women. The level of the proviral load was correlated with a high HTLV-1 antibody titer (P ≤ 0.02). Sequencing of HTLV-1 env and long terminal repeat fragments showed that all but one strain belonged to the central African subtype B; the outlier was of cosmopolitan subtype A. The new strains of subtype B exhibited wide genetic diversity, but there was no evidence of clustering of specific genomes within geographical regions of the country. Some strains were closely related to simian T-cell leukemia virus type 1 strains of great apes, suggesting that in these areas some HTLV-1 strains could arise from relatively recent interspecies transmission. The sole HTLV-2 strain belonged to subtype B. In this study we showed that the prevalence of HTLV-1 in the southeast is one of the highest in the world for pregnant women.
Medical professionalism across cultures: A challenge for medicine and medical education

Abstract Background: The recognition of medical professionalism as a complex social construct makes context, geographical location and culture important considerations in any discussion of professional behaviour. Medical students, medical educators and practitioners are now much more on the move globally, exposing them to cultural and social attitudes, values and beliefs that may differ from their own traditional perceptions of professionalism. Aims and Methods: This paper uses the model of the intercultural development continuum and the concept of “cultural fit” to discuss what might transpire when a student, teacher or doctor is faced with a new cultural environment. Using our own experiences as medical educators working abroad and supported by evidence in the literature, we have developed four anecdotal scenarios to highlight some of the challenges that different cultural contexts bring to our current (Western) understanding of professionalism. Results and Conclusions: The scenarios highlight some of the potentially different regional and/or cultural perspectives and nuances of professional behaviours, attitudes or values that many of us either take for granted or find difficult, depending on our training and socio-cultural upbringing. With this paper, we hope to start a long overdue conversation about global professionalism amongst medical educators, identify potential areas for research and highlight a need for medical schools to embrace a “global” approach to how professionalism is embedded in their curricula.
Evolutionary basis of parallelism in North American scincid lizards

SUMMARY This study uses a phylogenetic framework to explore the causes of parallelism in two North American scincid lizard assemblages: the skiltonianus and fasciatus species groups of the genus Plestiodon. Each group consists of several closely related species with conserved neonate morphology; features that distinguish species become accentuated during ontogeny, and these differences often resemble different endpoints along a developmental continuum. This continuum is believed to be an expression of the ancestral ontogeny, and has led to the hypothesis that evolutionary change in development has generated much of the observed morphological diversity. However, progress on understanding these mechanisms is limited by a lack of well‐supported phylogenetic data for the fasciatus group, and for Plestiodon in general. Recent phylogenetic studies on the skiltonianus group have revealed previously undetected cases of parallelism, and raise the possibility that similar cases have yet to be discovered in the fasciatus group. Here, I estimate a phylogeny to test the monophyly of the fasciatus group and infer its relationship with other North American Plestiodon using 2537 bp from six mtDNA genes. I use the phylogeny to reconstruct the mode (graduated vs. punctuated) and direction of body size evolution, to map the evolution of two predominant color morphs, and to test whether size and color pattern evolve concertedly. The results show that the morphotypes of the traditional fasciatus group constitute good species, but that the species group is rendered paraphyletic by several geographically overlapping species that deviate from the fasciatus‐like ontogeny. Body size evolution has occurred gradually and bi‐directionally, and shifts to large body size have been consistently associated with the loss of the striped color pattern during ontogeny. I show that parallelism, a lack of rigorous phylogenetic analysis, and a reliance on shared ontogenetic features for predicting phylogenetic relatedness, has misled the traditional systematics of these lizards, but that general ideas concerning the role of development in their morphological evolution remain supported. I close by proposing that the processes influencing repeated phyletic patterns in the skiltonianus and fasciatus groups represent adherence to an ancestral ground state, and discuss the importance of using phylogenies for the initial characterization of evolutionary changes in development.
Significance of Enhanced Morphological Detection of Cryptosporidium sp. Oocysts in Water Concentrates Determined by Using 4′,6′-Diamidino-2-Phenylindole and Immunofluorescence Microscopy

ABSTRACT Of 2,361 water concentrates analyzed for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts between January 1992 and May 1998, 269 (11.4%) were positive, of which 235 (87.4%) were raw and 34 were final water concentrates. Of 740 oocysts enumerated in positive samples, 656 oocysts (88.7%) were detected in raw and 84 oocysts (11.3%) were detected in final water concentrates by using a commercially available fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled anti-Cryptosporidium sp. monoclonal antibody and the nuclear fluorogen 4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Of raw water positive samples, 66.8% had oocysts that contained nuclei, while 58.8% of final water samples had oocysts that contained nuclei. The most frequently identified oocysts had either no DAPI-positive nuclei and no internal morphology according to Nomarski differential interference-contrast microscopy (DIC) or four DAPI-positive nuclei together with internal contents according to DIC (39.5 and 32.8% of raw and 42.9 and 30.9% of final water positives, respectively). By use of the presence of DAPI-stained nuclei to support oocyst identification based upon oocyst wall fluorescence, 56.5% of oocysts were identified when at least one nucleus was present, while increasing the number of nuclei necessary for identification to four reduced the percentage identifiable to 32.8% in raw water concentrates. In final water concentrates, 51% of oocysts were identified using oocyst wall fluorescence and the presence of at least one nucleus, while increasing the number of nuclei necessary for identification to four reduced the percentage identifiable to 30.9%. By consolidating our identification criteria from the presence of at least one nucleus to the presence of four nuclei, we excluded approximately 20% of oocysts in either water type. Approximately 40% of oocysts detected in these United Kingdom samples were empty and could not be detected by alternative methods, including the PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization.
Idiopathic immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs: 42 cases (1986-1990)

Forty-two cases of Coombs' positive or agglutinating immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) in dogs were reviewed. Dogs ranged in age from 1 to 13 years, with a mean age of 6.4 +/- 3.4 years. The majority of dogs (74%) tested positive for IgG antibodies without complement. Spherocytosis was seen in 67% of the dogs, but hemoglobinemia and hemoglobinuria were found in only 10%. Marked bilirubinuria was found in all the dogs. A significant seasonal incidence was observed, with 40% of all cases diagnosed during the months of May and June. Severe anemia, with PCV < or = 20% was observed in 37 dogs (88%). Sixteen dogs (38%) had moderate to severe reticulocytosis and 12 dogs (29%) had mild reticulocytosis. Thus, the absence of reticulocytosis should not be used to rule out a diagnosis of IMHA. Concomitant mild to severe thrombocytopenia was observed in 28 dogs (67%). A mortality of 29% was observed during hospitalization. Risk of death was significantly increased in dogs without marked reticulocytosis, those with lower PCV, and dogs with serum bilirubin concentrations > or = 10 mg/dl. In severe cases of IMHA, rapid and aggressive supportive therapy is required.