Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recombinant Human Parvovirus B19 Vectors: Erythroid Cell-Specific Delivery and Expression of Transduced Genes

ABSTRACT A novel packaging strategy combining the salient features of two human parvoviruses, namely the pathogenic parvovirus B19 and the nonpathogenic adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV), was developed to achieve erythroid cell-specific delivery as well as expression of the transduced gene. The development of such a chimeric vector system was accomplished by packaging heterologous DNA sequences cloned within the inverted terminal repeats of AAV and subsequently packaging the DNA inside the capsid structure of B19 virus. Recombinant B19 virus particles were assembled, as evidenced by electron microscopy as well as DNA slot blot analyses. The hybrid vector failed to transduce nonerythroid human cells, such as 293 cells, as expected. However, MB-02 cells, a human megakaryocytic leukemia cell line which can be infected by B19 virus following erythroid differentiation with erythropoietin (N. C. Munshi, S. Z. Zhou, M. J. Woody, D. A. Morgan, and A. Srivastava, J. Virol. 67:562–566, 1993) but lacks the putative receptor for AAV (S. Ponnazhagan, X.-S. Wang, M. J. Woody, F. Luo, L. Y. Kang, M. L. Nallari, N. C. Munshi, S. Z. Zhou, and A. Srivastava, J. Gen. Virol. 77:1111–1122, 1996), were readily transduced by this vector. The hybrid vector was also found to specifically target the erythroid population in primary human bone marrow cells as well as more immature hematopoietic progenitor cells following erythroid differentiation, as evidenced by selective expression of the transduced gene in these target cells. Preincubation with anticapsid antibodies against B19 virus, but not anticapsid antibodies against AAV, inhibited transduction of primary human erythroid cells. The efficiency of transduction of primary human erythroid cells by the recombinant B19 virus vector was significantly higher than that by the recombinant AAV vector. Further development of the AAV-B19 virus hybrid vector system should prove beneficial in gene therapy protocols aimed at the correction of inherited and acquired human diseases affecting cells of erythroid lineage.
Generic Approach for Security Error Detection Based on Learned System Behavior Models for Automated Security Tests

The increasing complexity of software and IT systems creates the necessity for research on technologies addressing current key security challenges. To meet security requirements in IT infrastructures, a security engineering process has to be established. One crucial factor contributing to a higher level of security is the reliable detection of security vulnerabilities during security tests. In the presented approach, we observe the behavior of the system under test and introduce machine learning methods based on derived behavior metrics. This is a generic method for different test targets which improves the accuracy of the security test result of an automated security testing approach. Reliable automated determination of security failures in security test results increases the security quality of the tested software and avoids costly manual validation.
Compression of Images in CFA Format

In this paper, images in color filter array (CFA) format are compressed without converting them to full-RGB color images. Green pixels are extracted from the CFA image data and placed in a rectangular array, and compressed using a transform based method without estimating the corresponding luminance values. In addition, two sets of color difference (or chrominance) coefficients are obtained corresponding to the red and blue pixels of the CFA data and they are also compressed using a transform based method. The proposed method produces better PSNR values compared to the standard approach of bilinear interpolation followed by compression.
Capacity performance of millimeter wave heterogeneous networks at 28GHz/73GHz

Current communication technologies at the microwave band are insufficient to meet the exponential increase in wireless data demands, essentially due to scarcity in bandwidth. Millimeter wave (mmW) offers a potential means to fulfill such soaring demands with wide bandwidth and beamforming capabilities. In this paper we investigate the mmW heterogeneous network (HetNet) capacity operating at 28GHz and 73GHz by system simulations, in both the 3GPP scenario and Munich urban city. Two types of control channel modes for pico cell coverage are analyzed. Simulation results show that control signaling at microwave band provides better coverage, while data communications at the mmW band enable up to multi-Tbps/km2 system capacity, which is also dependent on the pico-user association. It is found that in both scenarios the capacity gain of 73GHz over 28GHz is in the range of 7~10-fold under the same user-pico association.
Diameter of the superior ophthalmic vein in relation to intracranial pressure.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Bilateral engorged superior ophthalmic veins (SOV) have been reported in patients with diffuse brain swelling. We investigated the relationship between the diameter of the SOV on brain MR images and the intracranial pressure (ICP). METHODS We reviewed the medical records of neurologic inpatients who had undergone both MR imaging of the brain and lumbar puncture. MR imaging had to have been performed before lumbar puncture, and the two studies had to have occurred within 2 days. The diameters of the SOV were measured on coronal contrast-enhanced fat-saturated T1-weighted MR images. For this, the image nearest the rear of the globe of the eye was chosen. RESULTS Sixty-nine patients (32 male, 37 female; mean age, 46 years +/- 19) were included. The average diameters of the SOV and the ICP were positively correlated (r = 0.58, P <.001), if an SOV diameter of <1 mm was treated as 0.5 mm for calculations. In patients with increased ICP (CSF pressure >200 mm H(2)O), SOV diameters were larger than those of patients with a normal CSF pressure (3.0 vs 1.6 mm, P <.001). Frequencies of increased ICP were 3% among patients with an average SOV diameter of 0.5-1 mm, 15% for 1.5-2 mm, and 58% for 2.5-5 mm (P <.001). CONCLUSION This study showed that the SOV diameter, determined on the basis on MR imaging, was positively correlated with ICP. Dilatation of the SOV should alert physicians to the possibility of increased ICP.
M-Cells Contribute to the Entry of an Oral Vaccine but Are Not Essential for the Subsequent Induction of Protective Immunity against Francisella tularensis

M-cells (microfold cells) are thought to be a primary conduit of intestinal antigen trafficking. Using an established neutralizing anti-RANKL (Receptor Activator of NF-κB Ligand) antibody treatment to transiently deplete M-cells in vivo, we sought to determine whether intestinal M-cells were required for the effective induction of protective immunity following oral vaccination with ΔiglB (a defined live attenuated Francisella novicida mutant). M-cell depleted, ΔiglB-vaccinated mice exhibited increased (but not significant) morbidity and mortality following a subsequent homotypic or heterotypic pulmonary F. tularensis challenge. No significant differences in splenic IFN-γ, IL-2, or IL-17 or serum antibody (IgG1, IgG2a, IgA) production were observed compared to non-depleted, ΔiglB-vaccinated animals suggesting complementary mechanisms for ΔiglB entry. Thus, we examined other possible routes of gastrointestinal antigen sampling following oral vaccination and found that ΔiglB co-localized to villus goblet cells and enterocytes. These results provide insight into the role of M-cells and complementary pathways in intestinal antigen trafficking that may be involved in the generation of optimal immunity following oral vaccination.
Review: Benzodiazepines in generalized anxiety disorder: heterogeneity of outcomes based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

No systematic review or meta-analysis using a hard outcome has been conducted on the role of benzodiazepines for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and efficacy of benzodiazepines in the treatment of GAD based on trial drop-out rates. We used a systematic review of randomized controlled trials that compared any of the three best established benzodiazepines (diazepam, Lorazepam and aLprazolam) against placebo. Our primary outcome for effectiveness was withdrawal for any reason. Our secondary outcome tapping efficacy was withdrawal due to lack of efficacy, and that tapping side effects was withdrawals due to adverse events. We included 23 trials. Pooled analysis indicated less risk of treatment discontinuation due to lack of efficacy for benzodiazepines, compared to placebo, relative risk (RR) 0.29 (95% CI 0.18—0.45; p < 0.00001). Nevertheless, pooled analysis showed no conclusive results for risk of all-cause patient discontinuation, RR 0.78 (95% CI 0.62—1.00; p = 0.05). Meta-regression model showed that 74% of the variation in logRR across the studies was explained by year of publication (p <0.001). This systematic review did not find convincing evidence of the short-term effectiveness of the benzodiazepines in the treatment of GAD. On the other hand, for the outcome of efficacy, this review found robust evidence in favour of benzodiazepines. Due to the heterogeneity induced by year of publication, three hypotheses are plausibLe when it comes to being able to account for the differences between efficacy and effectiveness observed in the outcomes (publication bias, quality of the trial literature and a non-differential response to the placebo effect).
Impact of translucent water-based acrylic paint on the thermal performance of a low cost house.

Insulation materials are selected based on their R-value, which is a measure of the thermal resistance of a material. Therefore, the higher the R-value of a material, the better its thermal insulation performance. There are two major groups of insulation materials: bulk and reflective insulation (or combine bulk and reflective). Bulk insulation is design to resist heat transfer due to conduction and convection. Reflective insulation resists radiant heat flow due to its high reflectivity and low emissivity. Insulation materials are not restricted to these materials only. Other low thermal conductive materials can be used as long as the primary aim of thermal insulation, which is increasing thermal resistance, is achieved. Hence, the aim of the project is to investigate the insulation ability of Translucent Water-based Acrylic Paint (TWAP) on the thermal performance of Low Cost Housing (LCH). To achieve the aim of the study, the inner surfaces of the external walls of LCH was coated with TWAP. Before the inner surfaces of the external walls were coated, the following techniques were used to characterised the paint; Scanning Electron Microscopy/ Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) and IR thermography. SEM/EDX was adapted to view the surface morphology and to detect the elemental composition responsible for the thermal resistance of the TWAP. FTIR spectroscopy was used to determine the functional group and organic molecular composition of the paint. The heat resistance of TWAP was analyzed using IR thermography technique. A low cost house located in the Golf Course settlement in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa under the Nkonkobe Municipality Eastern Cape was used as a case study in this research. The house is facing geographical N16°E, It comprises a bedroom, toilet and an open plan living room and kitchen. The house has a floor dimension of 7.20 m x 5.70 m, giving an approximate area of 41 m2. The roof is made of galvanized corrugated iron sheets with no ceiling or any form of roof insulation. The walls of the buildings are made of the M6 (0.39 m 0.19 m x 0.14 m) hollow concrete blocks, with no plaster or insulation. The following meteorological parameters were measured: temperature, relative humidity, solar irradiance, wind speed and wind direction. Eleven type-K thermocouples were used to measure the indoor temperature, inner and outer surfaces temperature of the building walls. Two sets of HMP50 humidity sensors were used to measure the indoor and outdoor relative humidity as well as the ambient temperature. The indoor temperature and relative humidity were measured at a height of 1.80 m so as to have good indoor parameter variation patterns that are not influenced by the roof temperature. The outdoor relative humidity sensor together with a 03001 wind sentry anemometer/vane and Li-Cor pyranometer were installed at a height of 0.44 m above the roof of the building. Wind speed and direction were measured by the 03001 wind sentry anemometer/vane, while solar radiation…
Chassis optimization as a cornerstone for the application of synthetic biology based strategies in microbial secondary metabolism

The increased number of bacterial genome sequencing projects has generated over the last years a large reservoir of genomic information. In silico analysis of this genomic data has renewed the interest in bacterial bioprospecting for bioactive compounds by unveiling novel biosynthetic gene clusters of unknown or uncharacterized metabolites. However, only a small fraction of those metabolites is produced under laboratory-controlled conditions; the remaining clusters represent a pool of novel metabolites that are waiting to be “awaken”. Activation of the biosynthetic gene clusters that present reduced or no expression (known as cryptic or silent clusters) by heterologous expression has emerged as a strategy for the identification and production of novel bioactive molecules. Synthetic biology, with engineering principles at its core, provides an excellent framework for the development of efficient heterologous systems for the expression of biosynthetic gene clusters. However, a common problem in its application is the host-interference problem, i.e., the unpredictable interactions between the device and the host that can hamper the desired output. Although an effort has been made to develop orthogonal devices, the most proficient way to overcome the host-interference problem is through genome simplification. In this review we present an overview on the strategies and tools used in the development of hosts/chassis for the heterologous expression of specialized metabolites biosynthetic gene clusters. Finally, we introduce the concept of specialized host as the next step of development of expression hosts.
Multi-Agent Cooperative Design Support in Distributed Environments

The paper addresses system modelling and engineering in cooperative distributed environments. Multi-agent systems, ontologies and web technologies are used for the support and management of resources in a distributed virtual environment. Distributed design involves dispersed heterogeneous teams of people who have to establish and maintain an efficient cooperation process in order to reach global 'optimal' solutions to various problems. Key needs addressed by the introduced multi-agent system refer to inter operation among distributed resources and knowledge sharing, reuse and integration. An ontology library creates a common shared understanding of the domain for inter operating agents. The proposed system employs agents for information storage and retrieval, for enhancing collaboration within a distributed design environment and for providing a suitable interface to the user. The agents offer content-related support to the user by committing to the same library of ontologies. The proposed multi-agent design information management system aims to facilitate the optimization of the solution space of the collective dispersed design team.
Mechanical Properties of Recycled Butyl Rubber/Virgin Butyl Rubber Composite

Large amounts of butyl rubber (IIR) are used as inner tires for aeroplanes, trucks, cars, two-wheelers etc. However, after long runs when these tires are not serviceable they are discarded. Almost the entire amount of rubber from the worn out tires is discarded, which again need very long time for natural degradation due to crosslinked structure of rubbers and presence of additives. To solve this problem, recycled rubber is used as a partial substitute for new IIR in inner tire compounds. The blends with a certain amount of recycled rubber content show good mechanical properties.
Hair receptor sensitivity to changes in laminar boundary layer shape

Biologists have shown that bat wings contain distributed arrays of flow-sensitive hair receptors. The hair receptors are hypothesized to feedback information on airflows over the bat wing for enhanced stability or maneuverability during flight. Here, we study the geometric specialization of hair-like structures for the detection of changes in boundary layer velocity profiles (shapes). A quasi-steady model that relates the flow velocity profile incident on the longitudinal axis of a hair to the resultant moment and shear force at the hair base is developed. The hair length relative to the boundary layer momentum thickness that maximizes the resultant moment and shear-force sensitivity to changes in boundary layer shape is determined. The sensitivity of the resultant moment and shear force is shown to be highly dependent on hair length. Hairs that linearly taper to a point are shown to provide greater output sensitivity than hairs of uniform cross-section. On an order of magnitude basis, the computed optimal hair lengths are in agreement with the range of hair receptor lengths measured on individual bat species. These results support the hypothesis that bats use hair receptors for detecting changes in boundary layer shape and provide geometric guidelines for artificial hair sensor design and application.
Seizures and enhanced cortical GABAergic inhibition in two mouse models of human autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy

Selected mutations in the human α4 or β2 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit genes cosegregate with a partial epilepsy syndrome known as autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE). To examine possible mechanisms underlying this inherited epilepsy, we engineered two ADNFLE mutations (Chrna4S252F and Chrna4+L264) in mice. Heterozygous ADNFLE mutant mice show persistent, abnormal cortical electroencephalograms with prominent delta and theta frequencies, exhibit frequent spontaneous seizures, and show an increased sensitivity to the proconvulsant action of nicotine. Relative to WT, electrophysiological recordings from ADNFLE mouse layer II/III cortical pyramidal cells reveal a >20-fold increase in nicotine-evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents with no effect on excitatory postsynaptic currents. i.p. injection of a subthreshold dose of picrotoxin, a use-dependent γ-aminobutyric acid receptor antagonist, reduces cortical electroencephalogram delta power and transiently inhibits spontaneous seizure activity in ADNFLE mutant mice. Our studies suggest that the mechanism underlying ADNFLE seizures may involve inhibitory synchronization of cortical networks via activation of mutant α4-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors located on the presynaptic terminals and somatodendritic compartments of cortical GABAergic interneurons.
Mining Document Collections to Facilitate Accurate Approximate Entity Matching

Many entity extraction techniques leverage large reference entity tables to identify entities in documents. Often, an entity is referenced in document collections differently from that in the reference entity tables. Therefore, we study the problem of determining whether or not a substring "approximately" matches with a reference entity. Similarity measures which exploit the correlation between candidate substrings and reference entities across a large number of documents are known to be more robust than traditional stand alone string-based similarity functions. However, such an approach has significant efficiency challenges. In this paper, we adopt a new architecture and propose new techniques to address these efficiency challenges. We mine document collections and expand a given reference entity table with variations of each of its entities. Thus, the problem of approximately matching an input string against reference entities reduces to that of exact match against the expanded reference table, which can be implemented efficiently. In an extensive experimental evaluation, we demonstrate the accuracy and scalability of our techniques.
A note of liver cirrhosis classification on M-mode ultrasound images by higher-order local auto-correlation features

Ultrasound images are widely used for diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. In liver cirrhosis classification using M-mode ultrasound images, Zhou's method has been shown to be effective. However, in Zhou's approach, the liver cirrhosis classification performance depends on the accuracy of the abdominal aorta wall extraction. Therefore, we examine to classify the liver cirrhosis not using the abdominal aorta wall extraction process. In this paper, we propose a liver cirrhosis classification method using higher-order local auto-correlation (HLAC) features. Furthermore, we also propose to use image processing techniques of a thresholding technique and a shading technique to effectively extract the HLAC features. Experimental results show that the proposed method is promising.
Semi-Supervised Automatic Generation of Wikipedia Articles for Named Entities

We investigate the automatic generation of Wikipedia articles as an alternative to its manual creation. We propose a framework for creating a Wikipedia article for a named entity which not only looks similar to other Wikipedia articles in its category but also aggregates the diverse aspects related to that named entity from the Web. In particular, a semi-supervised method is used for determining the headings and identifying the content for each heading in the Wikipedia article generated. Evaluations show that articles created by our system for categories like actors are more reliable and informative compared to those generated by previous approaches of Wikipedia article automation.
LCM cycle based optimal scheduling in robotic cell with parallel workstations

Robot-centered cells play a more and more important role in the fields of incorporate automation and repetitive processing in order to increase productivity and to improve quality. In practice, it is always desired to achieve maximum/near-maximum throughput in a robotic cell. Sometimes, even a small improvement in throughput will be one of the highlighted objectives in robot scheduling, for instance, in the 3C industry of communication, computer and consumer electronics. In this paper, the scheduling problem in an n-workstation (n<;=8) m-stage robotic cell with parallel workstations is discussed by considering the constraints in real engineering practice, including free/non-free pick-up, allowed time window, and free/non-free process. A new method is proposed for optimal scheduling by means of optimally arranging each blocked cycles in every LCM cycle (Least Common Multiple), and assembling them in a proper order. This method is applied to a practical scheduling problem for a 7-workstation robotic cell. It is shown that the throughput is dramatically enhanced after optimization in the engineering scenario. Moreover, by comparing the resultant increase in revenue with the additional equipment costs, the result diagrams also provide managerial insights into links between throughput and cell layout flexibility.