Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Appearance Modeling via Proxy-to-Image Alignment

Endowing 3D objects with realistic surface appearance is a challenging and time-demanding task, as real-world surfaces typically exhibit a plethora of spatially variant geometric and photometric detail. Not surprisingly, computer artists commonly use images of real-world objects as an inspiration and a reference for their digital creations. However, despite two decades of research on image-based modeling, there are still no tools available for automatically extracting the detailed appearance (microgeometry and texture) of a 3D surface from a single image. In this article, we present a novel user-assisted approach for quickly and easily extracting a nonparametric appearance model from a single photograph of a reference object. The extraction process requires a user-provided proxy, whose geometry roughly approximates that of the object in the image. Since the proxy is just a rough approximation, it is necessary to align and deform it so as to match the reference object. The main contribution of this work is a novel technique to perform such an alignment, which enables accurate joint recovery of geometric detail and reflectance. The correlations between the recovered geometry at various scales and the spatially varying reflectance constitute a nonparametric appearance model. Once extracted, the appearance model may then be applied to various 3D shapes, whose large-scale geometry may differ considerably from that of the original reference object. Thus, our approach makes it possible to construct an appearance library, allowing users to easily enrich detail-less 3D shapes with realistic geometric detail and surface texture.
DNA methylation directs genomic localization of Mbd2 and Mbd3 in embryonic stem cells

Cytosine methylation is an epigenetic and regulatory mark that functions in part through recruitment of chromatin remodeling complexes containing methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) proteins. Two MBD proteins, Mbd2 and Mbd3, were previously shown to bind methylated or hydroxymethylated DNA, respectively; however, both of these findings have been disputed. Here, we investigated this controversy using experimental approaches and re-analysis of published data and find no evidence for methylation-independent functions of Mbd2 or Mbd3. We show that chromatin localization of Mbd2 and Mbd3 is highly overlapping and, unexpectedly, we find Mbd2 and Mbd3 are interdependent for chromatin association. Further investigation reveals that both proteins are required for normal levels of cytosine methylation and hydroxymethylation in murine embryonic stem cells. Furthermore, Mbd2 and Mbd3 regulate overlapping sets of genes that are also regulated by DNA methylation/hydroxymethylation factors. These findings reveal an interdependent regulatory mechanism mediated by the DNA methylation machinery and its readers. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.21964. 001
Cost‐effectiveness of selective neck dissection versus modified radical neck dissection for treating metastases in patients with oral cavity cancer: A modelling study

Choosing between a more or less extensive neck dissection implies a tradeoff between survival, quality of life, and costs. The purpose of this study was to determine if selective neck dissection (level I–III or I–IV) is cost‐effective compared with modified radical neck dissection (level I–V) in patients with cT1–2 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) with singular nodal disease confined to level I or II.
Pareto Optimal Distributed Beamforming for the Multi-Band Multi-Cell Downlink

In this paper, we consider a multi-cell multi-band downlink where the base-station (BS) in each cell has multiple transmit antennas and each cell has one active mobile station (MS) with a single receive antenna and treats interference from the other cells as noise. There is a sum transmit power constraint for each BS over all the bands. An alternating maximization (AM) algorithm is proposed to determine the optimal power allocation among the bands and the optimal beamforming vectors for each BS in each band. This algorithm can be implemented in a distributed manner with limited exchange of interference constraints between the BSs. Using simulations, the algorithm is shown to converge to the weighted sum rate optimal point on the Pareto boundary of the achievable rate region. Furthermore, significant performance gain is observed compared to: (i) equal power allocation across bands and weighted sum rate optimization in each band, (ii) zero-forcing (ZF) beamforming, and (iii) maximal ratio transmission (MRT) beamforming.
Usurious Piety: The Cash Waqf Controversy in the Ottoman Empire

Among the various institutions and practices singled out as distinctly Ottoman contributions to Islamic civilization, one has drawn surprisingly little comment and analysis. Neither so eye-catching as the devşirme system nor as fundamental as the kanun, it still emerges as an important factor in Ottoman, thence Islamic, history. This is the legitimized practice of usurious piety, the waqf al-nuqūd (pl. awqaf al-nuqud), the establishment of a trust with money the interest from which might pay the salary of a teacher, or preacher, or even unashamedly pass into the pocket of the founder of the trust.
Single- and Multi-core Configurable AES Architectures for Flexible Security

As networking technology advances, the gap between network bandwidth and network processing power widens. Information security issues add to the need for developing high-performance network processing hardware, particularly that for real-time processing of cryptographic algorithms. This paper presents a configurable architecture for Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption, whose major building blocks are a group of AES processors. Each AES processor provides 219 block cipher schemes with a novel on-the-fly key expansion design for the original AES algorithm and an extended AES algorithm. In this multicore architecture, the memory controller of each AES processor is designed for the maximum overlapping between data transfer and encryption, reducing interrupt handling load of the host processor. This design can be applied to high-speed systems since its independent data paths greatly reduces the input/output bandwidth problem. A test chip has been fabricated for the AES architecture, using a standard 0.25-¿m CMOS process. It has a silicon area of 6.29 mm2, containing about 200,500 logic gates, and runs at a 66-MHz clock. In electronic codebook (ECB) and cipher-block chaining (CBC) cipher modes, the throughput rates are 844.9, 704, and 603.4 Mb/s for 128-, 192-, and 256-b keys, respectively. In order to achieve 1-Gb/s throughput (including overhead) at the worst case, we design a multicore architecture containing three AES processors with 0.18-¿m CMOS process. The throughput rate of the architecture is between 1.29 and 3.75 Gb/s at 102 MHz. The architecture performs encryption and decryption of large data with 128-b key in CBC mode using on-the-fly key generation and composite field S-box, making it more cost effective (with better thousand-gate/gigabit-per-second ratio) than conventional methods.
Helicobacter pylori Stimulates Dendritic Cells To Induce Interleukin-17 Expression from CD4+ T Lymphocytes

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori is a human gastroduodenal pathogen that leads to active chronic inflammation characterized by T-cell responses biased toward a Th1 phenotype. It has been accepted that H. pylori infection induces a Th17 response. At mucosal sites, dendritic cells (DCs) have the capacity to induce effector T cells. Here, we evaluate the role of DCs in the H. pylori-induced interleukin-17 (IL-17) response. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were performed on human gastric mucosal biopsy samples and showed that myeloid DCs in H. pylori-infected patients colocalized with IL-23- and that IL-17-producing lymphocytes were present in H. pylori-infected antral biopsy samples. In parallel, human monocyte-derived DCs stimulated in vitro with live H. pylori cells produced significant levels of IL-23 in the absence of IL-12 release. The subsequent incubation of H. pylori-infected DCs with autologous CD4+ T cells led to gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and IL-17 expression. The inhibition of IL-1 and, to a lesser extent, IL-23 inhibited IL-17 production by T cells. Finally, isogenic H. pylori mutant strains not expressing major virulence factors were less effective in inducing IL-1 and IL-23 release by DCs and IL-17 release by T cells than parental strains. Altogether, we can conclude that DCs are potent inducers of IL-23/IL-17 expression following H. pylori stimulation. IL-1/IL-23 as well as H. pylori virulence factors seem to play an important role in mediating this response.
Role of ERK 1/2 signaling in neuronal differentiation of cultured embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells represent an ideal source for cell engraftment in the damaged central nervous system (CNS). Understanding key signals that control ES cell differentiation may improve cell type‐specific differentiation that is suitable for transplantation therapy. We tested the hypothesis that extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation is an early signaling event required for the neuronal differentiation of ES cells. Cultured mouse ES cells were treated with an all‐trans‐retinoic‐acid (RA) protocol to generate neurally induced progenitor cells. Western blot analysis showed a dramatic increase in ERK 1/2 phosphorylation (p‐ERK 1/2) 1–5 days after RA induction, which was attenuated in the presence of the p‐ERK 1/2‐specific inhibitor UO126. Phospho‐ERK 1/2 inhibition significantly reduced the number of NeuN‐positive cells and the expression of associated cytoskeletal proteins. In differentiating ES cells, there was increased nuclear translocation of STAT3 and decreased protein expression levels of GDNF, BDNF and NGF. STAT3 translocation was attenuated by UO126. Finally, caspase‐3 activation was observed in the presence of UO126, suggesting that the ERK pathway also contributes to the survival of differentiating ES cells. These data indicate that ERK 1/2 phosphorylation is a key event required for early neuronal differentiation and survival of ES cells.
Azithromycin novel drug delivery system for ocular application

Background: Azithromycin (AZT) is a macrolide antibiotic derived from and similar in structure to erythromycin. Oral administration of AZT is effective for the treatment of trachoma; however, topical formulations are difficult to develop because of the drug's hydrophobicity. The aim of this study is to formulate a novel topical ophthalmic delivery system of AZT. Materials and Methods: In the present study, ocular inserts of AZT are prepared using alginate, carbopol, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) to solve the said formulation problem of drug and to facilitate ocular bioavailability. Ocular inserts were prepared by film casting method and the prepared films were subjected to investigations for their physical and mechanical properties, swelling behaviors, ex vivo bioadhesion, and in vitro drug release. Ocular irritation of the developed formulation was also checked by hen's egg chorioallantoic membrane test for ocular irritation potential. Results: The physicochemical, bioadhesive, and swelling properties of films were found to vary significantly depending on the type of polymers used and their combinations. The alginate films exhibited greater bioadhesion and showed higher tensile strength and elasticity than the carbopol films. HPMC addition to the films significantly affected the properties of ocular inserts. Carbopol:HPMC (30:70)-based ocular inserts sustained drug release for longest span of 6 h. The release profile of AZT showed that drug release was by both diffusion and swelling. The formulation was found to be practically nonirritant in ocular irritation studies. Conclusion: AZT can therefore be developed as an ocular insert delivery system for the treatment of ocular surface infections.
Lost in Transition: A Systematic Review of Neonatal Electroencephalography in the Delivery Room—Are We Forgetting an Important Biomarker for Newborn Brain Health?

Background Electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring is routine in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) for detection of seizures, neurological monitoring of infants following perinatal asphyxia, and increasingly, following preterm delivery. EEG monitoring is not routinely commenced in the delivery room (DR). Objectives To determine the feasibility of recording neonatal EEG in the DR, and to assess its usefulness as a marker of neurological well-being during immediate newborn transition. Methods We performed a systematic stepwise search of PubMed using the following terms: infant, newborns, neonate, DR, afterbirth, transition, and EEG. Only human studies describing EEG monitoring in the first 15 min following delivery were included. Infants of all gestational ages were included. Results Two original studies were identified that described EEG monitoring of newborn infants within the DR. Both prospective observational studies used amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) monitoring and found it feasible in infants >34 weeks’ gestation; however, technical challenges made it difficult to obtain continuous reliable data. Different EEG patterns were identified in uncompromised newborns and those requiring resuscitation. Conclusion EEG monitoring is possible in the DR and may provide an objective baseline measure of neurological function. Further feasibility studies are required to overcome technical challenges in the DR, but these challenges are not insurmountable with modern technology.
Cardiac autonomic function and baroreflex changes following 4 weeks of resistance versus aerobic training in individuals with pre‐hypertension

Aim: Cardiac autonomic modulation and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) are altered in individuals with hypertension. Aerobic exercise (AE) training has been shown to improve both measures, yet little is known about the effects of resistance exercise (RE). The purpose of this study was to examine the heart rate variability (HRV) and BRS following 4 weeks of resistance or aerobic training in a population with borderline high blood pressure (BP).
The Canadian Neurological Scale and the NIHSS: Development and Validation of a Simple Conversion Model

Background: The Canadian Neurological Scale (CNS) and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) are among the most reliable stroke severity assessment scales. The CNS requires less extensive neurological evaluation and is quicker and simpler to administer. Objective: Our aim was to develop and validate a simple conversion model from the CNS to the NIHSS. Methods: A conversion model was developed using data from a consecutive series of acute-stroke patients who were scored using both scales. The model was then validated in an external dataset in which all patients were prospectively assessed for stroke severity using both scales by different observers which consisted of neurology residents or stroke fellows. Results: In all, 168 patients were included in the model development, with a median age of 73 years (20–94). Men constituted 51.8%. The median NIHSS score was 6 (0–31). The median CNS score was 8.5 (1.5–11.5). The relationship between CNS and NIHSS could be expressed as the formula: NIHSS = 23 – 2 × CNS. A cohort of 350 acute-stroke patients with similar characteristics was used for model validation. There was a highly significant positive correlation between the observed and predicted NIHSS score (r = 0.87, p < 0.001). The predicted NIHSS score was on average 0.61 higher than the observed NIHSS score (95% CI = 0.31–0.91). Conclusions: The CNS can be reliably converted to the NIHSS using a simple conversion formula: NIHSS = 23 – 2 × CNS. This finding may have a practical impact by permitting reliable comparisons with NIHSS-based evaluations and simplifying the routine assessment of acute-stroke patients in more diverse settings.
Inkjet Printed Series-Fed Two-Dipole Antenna Comprising a Balun Filter on Liquid Crystal Polymer Substrate

This paper presents a series-fed two-dipole antenna, fabricated on a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate using inkjet-printing technology. The radio frequency characteristics of inkjet-printing silver film onto an LCP substrate are studied using the microstrip line. The proposed antenna consists of two modified dipole elements of distinct lengths: a modified ground plane and a balun filter yielding a wide bandwidth with bandpass responses. The proposed antenna can be used at frequency band of 26-33 GHz. The bending behaviors of the microstrip line and antenna are also measured. Inkjet printing on LCP substrates provides a low-cost, compact, and flexible packaging solution that can be used in future communication technology.
Is Repeat PCR Needed for Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile Infection?

ABSTRACT Patients with diarrhea, defined as loose or watery stool, and two or more Clostridium difficile tcdB PCR tests within 14 days of each other were investigated. Repeat PCR for 293 patients with a prior negative result yielded negative results in 396 (97.5%) of 406 tests. Ten new positives were detected, including one false positive. Repeat PCR within 7 days appears rarely useful, except for patients with evidence of a new infection.
Serum antibodies against prostasomal clusterin in prostate cancer patients

Objective. Clusterin is a ubiquitous secretory sulphated glycoprotein present in prostasomes. It is an anti‐apoptotic mediator in prostate cancer and is among the most frequently occurring prostasomal proteins immunogenic in prostate cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of anti‐clusterin antibodies in the serum of patients with prostate cancer and whether there is a relationship between anti‐clusterin antibody titres and other clinico‐pathological variables. Material and methods. Serum samples were collected from 391 consecutive patients with suspected prostate cancer (150 benign prostate and 241 prostate cancer). The patients' serum samples were used in an ELISA where microtitre wells were coated with purified clusterin from serum of a healthy volunteer. Flow cytometric studies of clusterin and prostasomes were performed. Results. Flow cytometric analyses revealed the presence of clusterin on the surface of seminal prostasomes. Anti‐clusterin ELISA titres in sera of patients did not differ significantly from those of a control group. A significant “inverse” correlation existed between anti‐clusterin ELISA titres and lymph node metastases (p = 0.047), but only 11 out of 161 patients had metastases. These titres correlated significantly with total prostate (p = 0.021) and transitional zone (p = 0.015) volumes of the patients. Conclusions. The correlation between serum anti‐clusterin antibody titres and other clinico‐pathological variables was generally weak in prostate cancer patients, although clusterin has been assigned an important role in tumourigenesis and progression of prostate cancer. However, the anti‐clusterin antibody titre appeared to be related to prostate volume, correlating to both transitional zone volume and total volume of the prostate.
Proenzyme Structure and Activation of Astacin Metallopeptidase*

Proteolysis is regulated by inactive (latent) zymogens, with a prosegment preventing access of substrates to the active-site cleft of the enzyme. How latency is maintained often depends on the catalytic mechanism of the protease. For example, in several families of the metzincin metallopeptidases, a “cysteine switch” mechanism involves a conserved prosegment motif with a cysteine residue that coordinates the catalytic zinc ion. Another family of metzincins, the astacins, do not possess a cysteine switch, so latency is maintained by other means. We have solved the high resolution crystal structure of proastacin from the European crayfish, Astacus astacus. Its prosegment is the shortest structurally reported for a metallopeptidase, and it has a unique structure. It runs through the active-site cleft in reverse orientation to a genuine substrate. Moreover, a conserved aspartate, projected by a wide loop of the prosegment, coordinates the zinc ion instead of the catalytic solvent molecule found in the mature enzyme. Activation occurs through two-step limited proteolysis and entails major rearrangement of a flexible activation domain, which becomes rigid and creates the base of the substrate-binding cleft. Maturation also requires the newly formed N terminus to be precisely trimmed so that it can participate in a buried solvent-mediated hydrogen-bonding network, which includes an invariant active-site residue. We describe a novel mechanism for latency and activation, which shares some common features both with other metallopeptidases and with serine peptidases.
Finite-Time Input to State Stability of Discontinuous Dynamical Systems: A Case Study of Networked Euler-Lagrange Systems

In this study, Finite-Time Input-to-State Stability (FTISS) is considered for discontinuous dynamical systems based on extended Filippov's solutions and non-smooth Lyapunov functions. The convergence of these systems is analyzed using non-smooth and set-valued analysis, thereby proving the existence of a finite-time input-to-state Lyapunov function for the intended systems implies FTISS of these systems. As an illustration, the results of the theorem are applied to study finite-time input-to-state stability of Multi-Agent Systems (MASs) with Euler-Lagrange dynamics.
Sst2, a negative regulator of pheromone signaling in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae: expression, localization, and genetic interaction and physical association with Gpa1 (the G-protein alpha subunit)

Sst2 is the prototype for the newly recognized RGS (for regulators of G-protein signaling) family. Cells lacking the pheromone-inducible SST2 gene product fail to resume growth after exposure to pheromone. Conversely, overproduction of Sst2 markedly enhanced the rate of recovery from pheromone-induced arrest in the long-term halo bioassay and detectably dampened signaling in a short-term assay of pheromone response (phosphorylation of Ste4, Gbeta subunit). When the GPA1 gene product (Galpha subunit) is absent, the pheromone response pathway is constitutively active and, consequently, growth ceases. Despite sustained induction of Sst2 (observed with specific anti-Sst2 antibodies), gpa1delta mutants remain growth arrested, indicating that the action of Sst2 requires the presence of Gpa1. The N-terminal domain (residues 3 to 307) of Sst2 (698 residues) has sequence similarity to the catalytic regions of bovine GTPase-activating protein and human neurofibromatosis tumor suppressor protein; segments in the C-terminal domain of Sst2 (between residues 417 and 685) are homologous to other RGS proteins. Both the N- and C-terminal domains were required for Sst2 function in vivo. Consistent with a role for Sst2 in binding to and affecting the activity of Gpa1, the majority of Sst2 was membrane associated and colocalized with Gpa1 at the plasma membrane, as judged by sucrose density gradient fractionation. Moreover, from cell extracts, Sst2 could be isolated in a complex with Gpa1 (expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion); this association withstood the detergent and salt conditions required for extraction of these proteins from cell membranes. Also, SST2+ cells expressing a GTPase-defective GPA1 mutant displayed an increased sensitivity to pheromone, whereas sst2 cells did not. These results demonstrate that Sst2 and Gpa1 interact physically and suggest that Sst2 is a direct negative regulator of Gpa1.