Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The prognostic value of T 393 C-SNP of GNAS 1 in patients with solid tumors

Although some studies have assessed the prognostic value of T393C-SNP of GNAS1 in patients with solid tumors, the relationship between the T393C-SNP of GNAS1 and outcome of tumors remains unknown. We performed a meta-analysis with 15 studies, including a total of 2565 cases. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of T393C-SNP of GNAS1 for cancer survival were calculated. We found that individuals with the CC and CT genotypes had a statistically significant poor prognosis (HR=1.70, 95% CI=1.33-2.18, CC vs. TT; HR=1.41, 95% CI=1.20-1.65, CT vs. TT), compared with the TT genotype, respectively. In homozygote comparison (CC vs. TT), the risk effect was more pronounced among Caucasian patients (HR=1.70, 95% CI=1.27-2.27), with non-small cell lung cancer (HR=2.17, 95% CI=1.55-3.05), urogenital neoplasms (HR=2.57, 95% CI=1.14-4.70), publication year <2010 (HR=1.86, 95% CI=1.46-2.36) and HR estimation obtained from studies (HR=2.02, 95% CI=1.60-2.55). Subgroup analysis on No. of patients, follow time, outcomes, and quality score did not alter the significant prognostic impact of GNAS1 T393C. Moreover, the similar results were also found in the heterozygote comparison (CT vs. TT). The results suggest that T393C-SNP of GNAS1 may serve as a candidate positive marker to predict the prognosis of patients with carcinoma.
Mining Temporal Patterns in an Automotive Environment

Mining frequent temporal patterns from interval-based data proved to be a valuable tool for generating knowledge in the automotive business. Many problems in our domain contain a temporal component and thus can be formulated by using interval sequences. In this paper we present three substantially different applications which can all be addressed by the same mining task: mining of frequent temporal patterns. We show that contemporary approaches for temporal pattern mining are not addressing this task sufficiently and present our algorithmic solution FSMTree. Further, we discuss the assessment of temporal rules which can be derived from the set of frequent patterns.
HSP90 empowers evolution of resistance to hormonal therapy in human breast cancer models

Significance Although hormonal therapies for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer make up the earliest, and arguably most effective, “molecularly targeted” anticancer drugs, continued progress in controlling metastatic disease has been slow. Heterogeneity and the complexity of signaling in advanced cancers have frustrated efforts to prevent the rapid evolution of resistance to hormonal therapies, as well as kinase inhibitors and other agents. On the basis of earlier work defining the role of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) in other evolutionary processes, we tested whether low-level HSP90 inhibition would limit the evolution of hormone resistance in breast cancer models. Results in culture and in mice provide support for a readily implemented strategy by which the heterogeneity and evolvability of metastatic ER+ breast tumors, and perhaps other advanced cancers, might be controlled. The efficacy of hormonal therapies for advanced estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers is limited by the nearly inevitable development of acquired resistance. Efforts to block the emergence of resistance have met with limited success, largely because the mechanisms underlying it are so varied and complex. Here, we investigate a new strategy aimed at the very processes by which cancers evolve resistance. From yeast to vertebrates, heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) plays a unique role among molecular chaperones by promoting the evolution of heritable new traits. It does so by regulating the folding of a diverse portfolio of metastable client proteins, many of which mediate adaptive responses that allow organisms to adapt and thrive in the face of diverse challenges, including those posed by drugs. Guided by our previous work in pathogenic fungi, in which very modest HSP90 inhibition impairs resistance to mechanistically diverse antifungals, we examined the effect of similarly modest HSP90 inhibition on the emergence of resistance to antiestrogens in breast cancer models. Even though this degree of inhibition fell below the threshold for proteotoxic activation of the heat-shock response and had no overt anticancer activity on its own, it dramatically impaired the emergence of resistance to hormone antagonists both in cell culture and in mice. Our findings strongly support the clinical testing of combined hormone antagonist-low-level HSP90 inhibitor regimens in the treatment of metastatic estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. At a broader level, they also provide promising proof of principle for a generalizable strategy to combat the pervasive problem of rapidly emerging resistance to molecularly targeted therapeutics.
Split Bregman Algorithm for Structured Sparse Reconstruction

Sparse reconstruction has attracted considerable attention in recent years and shown powerful capabilities in many applications. In standard sparse reconstruction, the sparse nonzero elements appear anywhere in a vector. However, in many applications, the nonzero elements usually exhibit additional structure. Structured sparsity can be reconstructed from asymptotically less measurement than standard sparsity. In this paper, a unified framework is given to express the existing sparsity structures. Then efficient algorithm based on split Bregman iteration is proposed to solve the structured sparse reconstruction problem. The convergence of the proposed algorithm is also discussed. Numerical results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm for both synthetic and real-world data.
Effect of UWB channel time delay parameters on TDOA localization

In this paper, we present a time delay analysis for indoor localization based on time difference of arrival (TDOA) algorithm, where we have performed both simulative and practical experiment together. Besides, we introduce the different channel parameter effects for line of sight (LOS) and non-line of sight (NLOS) scenario in indoor environment. This time delay analysis can be useful to understand the behavior of indoor channels and to choose the perfect technology for indoor localization. Results show remarkable effects of delay in TDOA localization in such environment. In addition, these results give enough information for improving localization techniques.
Data-driven rendering of fabric textures on electrostatic tactile displays

Due, in part, to the popularity of online shopping, there is considerable interest in enabling consumers to experience material touch via internet connected devices. While there have been several efforts to render texture via electrostatic tactile displays, the textures involved have typically consisted of synthetic patterns, such as shapes, shadings, or gradients of photographic textures. In this paper, we propose a data-driven algorithm for the haptic rendering of fabric textures on an electrostatic tactile display. We measure the friction force, normal force, and displacement during the swiping of a finger across real fabric using a new measurement apparatus introduced here. Using these measurements, we compute friction coefficients derived from the recorded frictional and normal forces. We then reproduce the friction coefficients by controlling the voltage applied to an electrostatic tactile display in order to render the tactile texture of the measured fabric. In order to evaluate this rendering method, we conducted a psychophysical experiment that assessed the visual and haptic similarity of ten real and simulated fabrics. The experimental results show that the virtual textures generated using this electrostatic rendering algorithm were perceptually similar to the corresponding real textures for all fabrics tested, underlining the promise of electrostatic tactile displays for material simulation.
Visual Voice Activity Detection Based on Motion Vectors of MPEG Encoded Video

This article presents a visual voice activity detector (VVAD) that relies on features extracted from an MPEG encoded video, e.g. MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) or MPEG-H part 2 HEVC (H.265). The technique uses the inter frames resulting from the motion compensation and estimation of the temporal redundancy analysis, in which blocks of the image comprises the representation of motion vectors. The proposed algorithm relies on this information already available in the encoded video to estimate the lip motion and thus reducing processing time and code complexity. A standard voice activity detector (VAD) based on the audio signal is also performed and similarities on the audio and video approaches can assure not only a more reliable voice activity detector, especially in noisy environments but can also be useful as liveness detection for biometric systems.
Defining the concept of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva: a new perspective based on standardization of criteria and current evidence

The phrase "locally advanced carcinoma of the vulva" has often been mentioned in the literature, though not accurately defined, or even leading to the interpretation overlapping. Grounded on cervical cancer experience, we are able to state that designing a tailored primary strategy based on clinically measurable adverse prognostic factors represents the cornerstone of therapy. This fact urged us to rethink about the real usefulness of the concept of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. We will refer to this concept as a clinical entity emerging from a rigorous workup which is a valuable guiding tool in the context of a thorough debate about the best primary treatment approach to be used. Furthermore, bulky tumors of the vulva have been associated with a worse prognosis on several occasions. Some authors have questioned the fact that tumor size has not been considered in the staging system. Finally, a standardized definition will help us compare the results obtained, which is extremely necessary given the worldwide low prevalence of this disease.
Three-Dimensional UAV Routing With Deconfliction

The work presented in this paper relates to the conceptual definition, simulation, and performance analysis of a novel, 3-D graph theory-based routing algorithm. The proposed router is designed to provide path planning with deconfliction, i.e., collision avoidance with other moving objects, for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) applications in general and autonomous UAV missions in particular. Thus, novel ways for “sampling” 3-D operating spaces containing hazard areas and other moving objects are presented. The router operates in a way that conforms to the commonly observed behavior of aircraft flying over relatively long periods of time at constant speed and barometric height. Thus, flying is restricted to a number of possible altitude bands, where changes in altitude and/or direction are restricted to values that ensure excessive airframe stress is avoided. The paper attaches considerable emphasis on algorithmic complexity reduction and develops a novel, adaptive, graph search scheme. The proposed router can also be used to support manned aircraft operation, both for pre-flight planning and during the mission as a pilot aid. Computer simulation results are indicative of a routing system which generates realistic flyable routes while algorithmic complexity is suppressed.
Activation of temperature-sensitive TRPV1-like receptors in ARC POMC neurons reduces food intake

Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) respond to numerous hormonal and neural signals, resulting in changes in food intake. Here, we demonstrate that ARC POMC neurons express capsaicin-sensitive transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 receptor (TRPV1)-like receptors. To show expression of TRPV1-like receptors in ARC POMC neurons, we use single-cell reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, electrophysiology, TRPV1 knock-out (KO), and TRPV1-Cre knock-in mice. A small elevation of temperature in the physiological range is enough to depolarize ARC POMC neurons. This depolarization is blocked by the TRPV1 receptor antagonist and by Trpv1 gene knockdown. Capsaicin-induced activation reduces food intake that is abolished by a melanocortin receptor antagonist. To selectively stimulate TRPV1-like receptor-expressing ARC POMC neurons in the ARC, we generate an adeno-associated virus serotype 5 (AAV5) carrying a Cre-dependent channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2)–enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) expression cassette under the control of the two neuronal POMC enhancers (nPEs). Optogenetic stimulation of TRPV1-like receptor-expressing POMC neurons decreases food intake. Hypothalamic temperature is rapidly elevated and reaches to approximately 39 °C during treadmill running. This elevation is associated with a reduction in food intake. Knockdown of the Trpv1 gene exclusively in ARC POMC neurons blocks the feeding inhibition produced by increased hypothalamic temperature. Taken together, our findings identify a melanocortinergic circuit that links acute elevations in hypothalamic temperature with acute reductions in food intake.
Evaluation of technique performances in freestyle swimming

KESKINEN K.L. Evaluation of technique performances in freestyle swimming. Kinesiology, Vol. 2. No. 1, pp. 30-38, 1997. This is a review of studies on some methods that have shown to be useful when evaluating the technique performances of swimmers in training conditions. The mean velocity of swimming (v), excluding starts and turns, and independent of the stroke pattern, can be estimated from the product of stroke rate (SR) and siroke length (SL). SL rather than SR have been found to be the determinant factor in a swimmer's average speed so that the decline of v during racing is almost completely accounted for by decreasing SL. Thus one of the best parameters to describe the effectiveness of stroking is to examine the stroke length (SL) at a given swimming velocity. SR was noted to increase with increasing v with only minor differences between the curves of 100-m and 300-m distances. SL decreased when v increased above lactate threshold. The absolute values of SL at a certain speed were distance dependent having the shortest values when the distance was longest. When the stroke parameters were examined between different phases of swimming exercises of 400-m swims it was shown that the basic stroke patterns during the early part of the exercises were not different from those observed in competition. However, the patterns changed with the enhancement of swimming intensity suggesting that the degree of metabolic acidosis may determine the stroke patterns to be used. It is suggested that in order to get more benefit from the technique testing, unfatigued swimming should be compared with those of real competitive nature, where fatigue progresses. Moreover, it was found that best swimmers are superior in maximum velocities, in starting and turning as well in counter movement jump. With respect to the intra-cycle variation of force and velocity in front crawl it was observed that well balanced swimming was characterised by lower velocities in pull phases and higher velocities in push phases for both arms separately, while pulls were performed with higher force than push phases. Finally a one minute all out tethered swimming force in swimmers and triathlonists is discussed.
Verbal Working Memory in Children With Cochlear Implants.

Purpose Verbal working memory in children with cochlear implants and children with normal hearing was examined. Participants Ninety-three fourth graders (47 with normal hearing, 46 with cochlear implants) participated, all of whom were in a longitudinal study and had working memory assessed 2 years earlier. Method A dual-component model of working memory was adopted, and a serial recall task measured storage and processing. Potential predictor variables were phonological awareness, vocabulary knowledge, nonverbal IQ, and several treatment variables. Potential dependent functions were literacy, expressive language, and speech-in-noise recognition. Results Children with cochlear implants showed deficits in storage and processing, similar in size to those at second grade. Predictors of verbal working memory differed across groups: Phonological awareness explained the most variance in children with normal hearing; vocabulary explained the most variance in children with cochlear implants. Treatment variables explained little of the variance. Where potentially dependent functions were concerned, verbal working memory accounted for little variance once the variance explained by other predictors was removed. Conclusions The verbal working memory deficits of children with cochlear implants arise due to signal degradation, which limits their abilities to acquire phonological awareness. That hinders their abilities to store items using a phonological code.
Effects of zinc-bearing palygorskite on rumen fermentation in vitro

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of zinc-bearing palygorskite (Zn-Pal) on rumen fermentation by in vitro gas-production system. Methods In trial, 90 incubators were evenly divided into five groups: control (0% Zn-Pal), treatment I (0.2% Zn-Pal), treatment II (0.4% Zn-Pal), treatment III (0.6% Zn-Pal), and treatment IV (0.8% Zn-Pal). The contents of zinc for treatments were 0, 49, 98, 147, 196 mg/kg, respectively. The main chemical composition and microstructure of Zn-Pal was investigated by X-ray diffraction. The physicochemical features were evaluated by Zeta potential analysis, cation-exchange capacity, ethylene blue absorption and specific surface area (the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method). In vitro gas production (GP) was recorded at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 h incubation. Incubation was stopped at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h and the inoculants were tested for pH, microbial protein yield (MCP), NH3-N, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results The results showed that the GP in the treatment groups was not significantly different from the control groups (p>0.05). Compared to the control group, pH was higher at 24 h, 48 h (p<0.05), and 72 h (p<0.01) (range 6 to 7). The concentration of NH3-N in the three treatment groups was higher than in the control group at 24 h (p<0.01), meanwhile, it was lower at 48 h and 72 h (p<0.01), except in the treatment IV. The concentration of MCP in treatment I group was higher than in the control at 48 h (p<0.01). Compared with control, the LPS concentration in treatment III became lower at 12 h (p<0.05). Total VFAs in treatments were higher than in the control at 24 h, 48 h (p<0.05). Conclusion These results suggest that the addition of Zn-Pal can improve the rumen fermentation, especially when adding 0.2% Zn-Pal.
Modeling and Simulation of a New Tethered Wind Power System

This paper presents a dynamic simulation model of tethered-wind power systems, consisting an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a generator placed on the ground level. The UAV is connected with the generator using a tether, which the tether is oriented upwind and downwind. A simple model was developed in MATLAB using ODE45 solver to capture the dominant dynamics and to verify the feasibility of the system. The simulation shows that the proposed system is viable and capable of periodic motions. The power out of the system was simulated, which predicts the average power out is about 600 watts in a 15m/s wind.
Composition and dynamics of the phytoplankton of the Ionian Sea (eastern Mediterranean)

[1] The relationship between phytoplankton distribution and dynamics, and the resident water masses in the Ionian Sea was investigated in the spring of 1999 by flow cytometry, HPLC, microscopy, 14C incorporation, and serial dilutions. More than 50% of total biomass was represented by ultraphytoplankton, with proportions increasing with depth (up to 80%) and eastward (up to 60%). Synechococcus sp. cyanobacteria dominated ultraphytoplankton numbers and biomass. Hydrological stability explained the relative vertical distribution of Synechococcus sp. and Prochlorococcus sp. cyanobacteria and their degree of photoacclimation. The northwestern area (“Italian Side”) was in a transition from bloom to oligotrophic conditions, reflected in high biological instability in terms of phytoplankton composition, photoacclimative properties, and photosynthetic efficiency (P/B of 11.40 mg C mg chl−1 h−1). The influence of the Adriatic Surface Water, carrying a trace of the spring bloom was visible from satellite imagery (SeaWiFS). The eastern part of the sampled area (“Greek Side,” GS) was hydrologically more stable (low estimated vertical velocities), resulting in higher photosynthetic efficiency (P/B of 20.47 mg C mg chl−1 h−1) and phytoplankton photoacclimative properties. The Atlantic Water (AW) was the most oligotrophic in terms of nutrient concentration, chla, and productivity (208.0 mg C m−2 d−1), but also the most variable in terms of mesoscale features. Growth of Synechococcus sp. and Prochlorococcus sp. was slow (0.36 d−1 at max), while picoeukaryotes grew well in the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) of the GS (0.67 d−1) Picoeukaryote growth was tightly coupled with grazing (0.80 d−1), indicating efficient biomass recycling. Biological characterization and DCM dynamics in the three areas are discussed in relation to physical features present at the time of sampling.
White matter pathways as both a target and mediator of health behaviors

Health behaviors arise from the dynamics of highly interconnected networks in the brain and variability in these networks drives individual differences in behavior. In this review, we show how many factors that predict the physical health of the body also correlate with variability of the myelinated fascicles, called white matter, that connect brain regions together. The general pattern present in the literature is that as predictors of physical health decline, there is often a coincident reduction in the integrity of major white matter pathways. We also highlight a plausible mechanism, inflammatory pathways, whereby health‐related activation of the immune system can impact the myelin sheath, a protective tissue that facilitates long range communication in the brain. The growing body of evidence supports the hypothesis that degrading health in the periphery may disrupt the communication efficiency of the macroscopic neural circuits that mediate complex behaviors, which can in turn contribute to poorer physical health.
Reproduction of Virtual Sound Sources Moving at Supersonic Speeds in Wave Field Synthesis

In conventional implementations of wave field synthesis, moving sources are reproduced as sequences of stationary positions. As reported in the literature, this process introduces various artifacts. It has been shown recently that these artifacts can be reduced when the physical properties of the wave field of moving virtual sources are explicitly considered. However, the findings were only applied to virtual sources moving at subsonic speeds. In this paper we extend the published approach to the reproduction of virtual sound sources moving at supersonics speeds. The properties of the actually reproduced sound field are investigated via numerical simulations.