Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Wearable Inertial Sensor Node for Body Motion Analysis

A wearable wireless inertial sensor node for body motion analysis is designed and implemented. A triaxial accelerometer, a biaxial gyroscope, and a yaw rate gyroscope are employed to sense the accelerations and angular rates of the object attached. These three ICs, a wireless mote, the power circuit, and a modified printed inverted-F antenna are integrated on a four-layer printed circuit board. To achieve the compact size for comfortable wearing, the printed antenna is deliberately designed as small as possible, while maintaining a reasonable antenna performance. The proposed inertial sensor node is also easily adaptable to applications with different power requirements because of the consideration of the periodic and moving-event wakeup in the software design. The static characteristics and Allan deviations of the implemented node are measured and analyzed. The false alarm rate of a moving detection based on Bayes rule is presented and a threshold is suggested. Finally, the raw data of several body motions are measured and those behaviors are observed apparently. The proposed inertial sensor node is compact and easily wearable; hence, it is feasible to be applied to the body motion analysis.
A semi‐closed loop computer‐assisted insulin infusion system

Closed loop insulin delivery systems are impractical for widespread hospital use. Thus, a semi‐closed loop computer‐assisted insulin infusion system (CAIIS) was developed for the intravenous delivery of insulin. In its basal program, insulin delivery is determined by blood glucose measurements at intervals of three hours, while the open‐loop meal program delivers 7.5 units over three hours. Control of meal‐induced hyperglycaemia was satisfactory in six subjects with diabetes tested over two to four days, as was mean glycaemic control in the four non‐obese subjects (7.1$pM0.8 mmol/L). To allow for variations in insulin sensitivity, an adjustment incrementing or decrementing the basal insulin delivery rate was applied according to the progressive blood glucose response. Empirical use of this adjustment resulted in good control (mean blood glucose level, 4.1—7.5 mmol/L) in 10 additional subjects with diabetes. This study demonstrates the potential usefulness of a semi‐closed loop insulin infusion system.
In Vitro Resistance Profile of the Hepatitis C Virus NS3/4A Protease Inhibitor TMC435

ABSTRACT TMC435 is a small-molecule inhibitor of the NS3/4A serine protease of hepatitis C virus (HCV) currently in phase 2 development. The in vitro resistance profile of TMC435 was characterized by selection experiments with HCV genotype 1 replicon cells and the genotype 2a JFH-1 system. In 80% (86/109) of the sequences from genotype 1 replicon cells analyzed, a mutation at NS3 residue D168 was observed, with changes to V or A being the most frequent. Mutations at NS3 positions 43, 80, 155, and 156, alone or in combination, were also identified. A transient replicon assay confirmed the relevance of these positions for TMC435 inhibitory activity. The change in the 50% effective concentrations (EC50s) observed for replicons with mutations at position 168 ranged from <10-fold for those with the D168G or D168N mutation to ∼2,000-fold for those with the D168V or D168I mutation, compared to the EC50 for the wild type. Of the positions identified, mutations at residue Q80 had the least impact on the activity of TMC435 (<10-fold change in EC50s), while greater effects were observed for some replicons with mutations at positions 43, 155, and 156. TMC435 remained active against replicons with the specific mutations observed after in vitro or in vivo exposure to telaprevir or boceprevir, including most replicons with changes at positions 36, 54, and 170 (<3-fold change in EC50s). Replicons carrying mutations affecting the activity of TMC435 remained fully susceptible to alpha interferon and NS5A and NS5B inhibitors. Finally, combinations of TMC435 with alpha interferon and NS5B polymerase inhibitors prevented the formation of drug-resistant replicon colonies.
Effect of aqueous extract of Tribulus terrestris on oxalate-induced oxidative stress in rats

The present study was aimed at studying the effect of Tribulus terrestris on different parameters of oxidative stress and gene expression profiles of antioxidant enzymes in renal tissues of male wistar rats after induction of hyperoxaluria. The animals were divided into three groups. The animals in group I (control) were administered vehicle only. In group II, the animals were treated with ethylene glycol (hyperoxaluric agent) and those in group III were administered T. terrestris plant extract in addition to ethylene glycol. All treatments were continued for a period of seven weeks. Ethylene glycol feeding resulted in hyperoxaluria as well as increased excretion of calcium and phosphate. Serum creatinine, uric acid and blood urea nitrogen levels were also altered in hyperoxaluric animals. Various oxidative stress parameters viz. lipid peroxidation and activity of antioxidant enzymes were used to confirm the peroxidant state. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was used to confirm whether steady-state transcription level of different antioxidant enzymes was altered. T. terrestris significantly reduced the excretion of oxalate, calcium, and phosphate along with decreased levels of blood urea nitrogen, uric acid and creatinine in serum. T. terrestris also reduced hyperoxaluria- caused oxidative stress, and restored antioxidant enzyme activity and their expression profile in kidney tissue. Histological analysis depicted that T. terrestris treatment decreased renal epithelial damage, inflammation, and restored normal glomerular morphology.
RELATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ECTOPIC LIVER AND ABDOMINAL FAT ACCUMULATION TO ARTERIAL STIFFNESS.

OBJECTIVE To compare the arterial stiffness between the abdominal obese population without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (referred to as abdominal fat accumulation), the normal-weight population with NAFLD (ectopic liver fat accumulation), and the population with both abdominal obesity and NAFLD (accumulation of both abdominal and ectopic liver fat). METHODS A total of 111,552 Chinese adults who underwent the health checkups from January 2012 to December 2012 were screened. Clinical and biochemical parameters were measured in each subject. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonography. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). RESULTS Normal-weight subjects with NAFLD had significantly higher CAVI than subjects with abdominal obesity with or without NAFLD (8.12 ± 1.16 vs. 7.93 ± 1.38, 7.96 ± 1.20; P<.01). When the presence of abdominal obesity, NAFLD, and both diseases (abdominal obesity and NAFLD) were included in regression analyses individually, CAVI was independently associated with abdominal obesity or NAFLD or both after adjusting for confounders. When the presence of abdominal obesity and NAFLD and both diseases were included simultaneously in regression analyses, the association between NAFLD and CAVI and the association between both diseases and CAVI remained significant, whereas the association between abdominal obesity and CAVI was no longer significant. The presence of NAFLD conferred a greater odds ratios of having an elevated CAVI than did the presence of abdominal obesity or even the presence of both diseases. CONCLUSION Ectopic liver fat accumulation is associated with greater risk of arterial stiffness compared with abdominal fat accumulation or accumulation of both abdominal and ectopic liver fat.
The Efficient Security Architecture for Authentication and Authorization in the Home Network

Most people say that home network will become one of the most important things in the future industries and create high profit. Home network will grow to the direction that improves human life more conveniently. In the near future, the intelligent home environment where diverse home services are provided, there are various devices connected to the network and people can roam between homes will emerge in the human life. However, due to such a complexity of the home network, it will become more difficult for us to find an appropriate security mechanism for home network. In this paper, we present the efficient authentication and authorization architecture for smart home network. To achieve our goal, we consider the various characteristics of home network such as performance of home appliances, roaming between homes, privacy, etc.
Log-Periodic Power Law and Generalized Hurst Exponent Analysis in Estimating an Asset Bubble Bursting Time

Abstract We closely examine and compare two promising techniques helpful in estimating the moment an asset bubble bursts. Namely, the Log-Periodic Power Law model and Generalized Hurst Exponent approaches are considered. Sequential LPPL fitting to empirical financial time series exhibiting evident bubble behavior is presented. Estimating the critical crash-time works satisfactorily well also in the case of GHE, when substantial „decorrelation“ prior to the event is visible. An extensive simulation study carried out on empirical data: stock indices and commodities, confirms very good performance of the two approaches.
Chronic Inflammation in Hemodialysis: The Role of Contaminated Dialysate

Routine sodium bicarbonate-buffered dialysate is contaminated with predominantly gram-negative micro-organisms. These bacteria release pyrogenic substances such as endotoxins, peptidoglycans, exotoxins and fragments thereof. Pyrogens derived from contaminated dialysate either alone or in costimulation with activated complement components are the most important activators of circulating mononuclear cells in patients on chronic intermittent hemodialysis. Activated mononuclear cells release proinflammatory cytokines which are key mediators in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases associated with long-term hemodialysis therapy. Recent experimental and clinical data suggest that the use of pyrogen-free dialysate prevents activation of mononuclear cells and improves the state of chronic inflammation, as indicated by decreased plasma levels of C-reactive protein in chronic hemodialysis patients. Future clinical studies have to prove whether the use of pyrogen-free dialysate in combination with biocompatible dialyzer membranes and tubings reduces the incidence and severity of chronic inflammatory diseases (β2-microglobulin amyloidosis, muscle protein wasting, atherosclerosis) in long-term hemodialysis patients.
Molecular characterization of blaESBL-producing Escherichia coli cultured from pig farms in Ireland.

OBJECTIVES To characterize ESBL-encoding Escherichia coli cultured from pigs and their plasmids carrying these genes following conjugation into recipient strains. METHODS Six ESBL-producing E. coli were recovered from faecal samples taken from pigs along with a further isolate from the environment of a farrowing house on three pig farms in Ireland. These isolates were characterized by phylogenetic grouping, MLST and ESBL genotype analyses. Conjugation experiments were carried out in broth mating assays. S1-nuclease PFGE was used to determine the plasmid profiles. Whole-genome sequences of the seven E. coli were determined and subsequently analysed. RESULTS Phylogenetic groups and the corresponding MLST STs identified among the seven tested E. coli isolates included A/ST10, A/ST34, C/ST23 and C/ST1629. All seven isolates carried one or more high-molecular-weight plasmids and demonstrated the ability to transfer their cefotaxime resistance phenotype at high frequencies. Five transmissible plasmid replicon types were detected, including IncK/B (n = 3), IncI1 (n = 2), IncFIA (n = 1), IncFIB (n = 1) and IncN (n = 1). ESBL-encoding genes, including blaCTX-M-14, blaCTX-M-15 and blaTEM-20, were identified. CONCLUSIONS As the first report from pig sources in Ireland, characterization of these ESBL-encoding isolates and their transmissible plasmids extends our understanding on these resistance markers from porcine E. coli.
Burkholderia cenocepacia Induces Neutrophil Necrosis in Chronic Granulomatous Disease1

Burkholderia cepacia complex is a life-threatening group of pathogens for patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), whose phagocytes are unable to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Unlike other CGD pathogens, B. cepacia complex is particularly virulent, characteristically causing septicemia, and is the bacterial species responsible for most fatalities in these patients. We found that a nonmucoid Burkholderia cenocepacia (a predominant species in the B. cepacia complex) isolate was readily ingested by normal human neutrophils under nonopsonic conditions and promoted apoptosis in these cells. The proapoptotic effect was not due to secreted bacterial products, but was dependent on bacterial viability. Phagocytosis was associated with a robust production of ROS, and the apoptotic neutrophils could be effectively cleared by monocyte-derived macrophages. The proapoptotic effect of B. cenocepacia was independent of ROS production because neutrophils from CGD patients were rendered apoptotic to a similar degree as control cells after challenge. More importantly, neutrophils from CGD patients, but not from normal individuals, were rendered necrotic after phagocytosis of B. cenocepacia. The extreme virulence of B. cepacia complex bacteria in CGD, but not in immunocompetent hosts, could be due to its necrotic potential in the absence of ROS.
Optimized flow cytometric assay for the measurement of platelet microparticles in plasma: pre-analytic and analytic considerations

Platelet microparticles (PMP) are submicroscopic membrane vesicles released by platelets during activation. Flow cytometry is the most widely used method for quantifying PMP, but the optimization of the technical method has not yet been fully evaluated. This study was designed to assess the pre-analytical variables including blood sampling conditions, and to evaluate the analytical variations including effect of the platelet-specific antibodies and quantitative beads, precision, linearity and accuracy in comparison with β-thromboglobulin, which is one of the platelet activation markers. Numbers of PMP collected into citrate–theophylline–adenosine-dipyridamole (CTAD) tubes were increased with time, but to a lesser extent than when collected into sodium citrate tubes. The precision of the PMP assay was relatively high. Excellent linear correlation was observed for dilution linearity. Regarding the platelet-specific antibodies used, anti-CD41a-labeled samples resulted in higher PMP levels than those labeled with anti-CD61 and anti-CD42a. There was no significant difference of PMP counts according to the quantitative beads. The PMP assay is well correlated with β-thromboglobulin levels. Our findings suggest that blood samples for the PMP assay should be collected in a CTAD tube and delayed measurement is not allowed to avoid artefactual platelet activation. The PMP assay can be used successfully as a useful marker of the detection of in vivo platelet activation, provided that pre-analytical and technical points are optimally taken into consideration.
Three screening batteries to detect cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis

To compare the sensitivities for detecting cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and administration times of three brief batteries of neuropsychological tests, 64 patients with MS completed the Neuropsychological Screening Battery for Multiple Sclerosis (NPSBMS), the Screening Examination for Cognitive Impairment (SEFCI), and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Failure on a particular test was defined as a score below the 5th percentile for healthy controls, and the number of patients who failed at least one or two tests (out of four) was determined for each battery. Both the SEFCI and the NPSBMS identified significantly more patients with impairment than the RBANS, which was no more sensitive than the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE). Results were similar at both the one- and two-failed-tests criteria, but there were no significant differences between the SEFCI and the NPSBMS at either failure criterion. Mean administration time was 22.6 min for the SEFCI compared to 31.7 min for the NPSBMS (p <0.001). Eleven (17%) of the patients refused to attempt the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), one component of the NPSBMS. For screening patients on a single occasion, the SEFCI is preferred because its administration time is shorter than the NPSBMS.
Epitypification of Ophiostoma galeiforme and phylogeny of species in the O. galeiforme complex

Ophiostoma galeiforme was described first in 1951 from Larix kaempferi in Scotland, where it was found to be associated with the bark beetles Hy-lurgops palliatus, Dryocoetes autographus, and the ambrosia beetle Trypodendron lineatum. The taxonomy of this fungus has been uncertain because of a lack of sexual structures on the type specimen and contamination of a preserved ex-type culture. The aim of this study was to clarify application of the species name, O. galeiforme, by designating an epitype and to consider phylogenetic relationships of the species. Nineteen isolates resembling O. galeiforme from different parts of the world were used, including collections from Pinus sylvestris infested with Tomicus pi-niperda in Scotland and the contaminated ex-type culture. Morphological characteristics of isolates from Sweden, South Africa, Scotland, Chile and Aus-tria corresponded well with those originally described for O. galeiforme, and an isolate from Scotland is designated as the epitype. A detailed description is provided. Results of interfertility tests showed that O. galeiforme is heterothallic. Analysis of ITS rDNA sequences showed that the isolates representing O. galeiforme were distinct from three morphologically similar isolates from the USA and Mexico, which probably represent an undescribed taxon.
Influence of species, environmental factors, and tissue cellularity on calcification of porcine aortic wall tissue.

Valve tissue calcification has complex host, implant, and mechanical determinants. We studied the influence of species (rat v sheep), environmental factors (presence v absence of blood contact and arterial stress), and tissue cellularity (normal v acellularized tissue) on porcine aortic wall mineralization. Porcine aortic wall samples underwent standard glutaraldehyde-fixation or combined enzyme-detergent acellularization. Samples were implanted subcutaneously in rats (n = 8) and in juvenile sheep (n = 8). Furthermore, in juvenile sheep, similar samples were implanted into the jugular vein (blood contact) and into the carotid artery (blood contact and arterial stress). After 8 and 12 weeks, tissue was explanted and evaluated by X-ray, light- and electron-microscopy, and calcium content measurement (atomic absorption spectrometry). On the Von Kossa staining, auto-fluorescence of elastic fibers was used to identify the relation between calcific deposits and elastin. Subcutaneously implanted, glutaraldehyde-fixed tissue calcified severely in rat, but much less in sheep (calcium content: 56.2 +/- 13.6 v 9.9 +/- 9.0 microg/mg, respectively; P <.001). In sheep, the presence of blood contact (venous implants) increased wall calcification significantly (36.9 +/- 15.8; P <.001), but hemodynamic stress (arterial implants) had no additional mineralizing effect on the aortic wall (P >.05 v venous implants). Calcification of glutaraldehyde-fixed tissue occurred predominantly at the level of cells and cellular remnants, as confirmed by electron- and fluorescence-microscopy, locating calcific deposits in between elastic fibers. Acellularized tissue calcified significantly less, but an inflammatory response towards the tissue led to fragmentation, lysis, and subsequent calcification of elastic fibers. Results from subcutaneous implantations show large inconsistencies in calcification between the species. In sheep, blood contact increases aortic wall calcification significantly, while arterial stress has no additional effect. The sheep-jugular implantation model can be used as a simplified model for further study of aortic wall calcification and new antimineralization treatments. Calcification of glutaraldehyde-fixed aortic wall tissue is initiated at the level of cellular remnants, with little or no contribution from elastic fibers. Acellularization can avoid this cell-mediated calcification, but an additional treatment (glutaraldehyde, cryopreservation, photo-fixation,.) will be necessary to avoid the inflammation leading to elastolysis and consequent calcification of elastic fibers.
Evolution of the ssrA degradation tag in Mycoplasma: Specificity switch to a different protease

Stalled ribosomes in bacteria are rescued by the tmRNA system. In this process, the nascent polypeptide is modified by the addition of a short C-terminal sequence called the ssrA tag, which is encoded by tmRNA and allows normal termination and release of ribosomal subunits. In most bacteria, ssrA-tagged proteins are degraded by the AAA+ protease, ClpXP. However, in bacterial species of the genus Mycoplasma, genes for ClpXP and many other proteins were lost through reductive evolution. Interestingly, Mycoplasma ssrA tag sequences are very different from the tags in other bacteria. We report that ssrA-tagged proteins in Mesoplasma florum, a Mycoplasma species, are efficiently recognized and degraded by the AAA+ Lon protease. Thus, retaining degradation of ssrA-tagged translation products was apparently important enough during speciation of Mycoplasma to drive adaptation of the ssrA tag to a different protease. These results emphasize the importance of coupling proteolysis with tmRNA-mediated tagging and ribosome rescue.
The micro-dynamics of environmental policy diffusion: conditions, motivations, and mechanisms

This thesis contributes to the scholarship on policy diffusion in general, and on environmental policy diffusion in particular, by unpicking the drivers of different diffusion mechanisms. Its overarching aim is to investigate the motivational dynamics influencing environmental policymaking at the fuzzy, understudied, pre-legislative stage. The thesis comprises four standalone papers: The first paper (Chapter 2) examines policymakers’ motivations to engage with the climate change mitigation agenda based on a case study of Israeli climate change mitigation policy. It suggests that Israel’s engagement with the climate change mitigation agenda, displaying an evident pattern of diffusion by emulating developed countries, is significantly motivated by considerations of internal, rather than external, legitimacy, contrary to expectations. The second paper (Chapter 3) makes theoretical advancements in recognising issue attributes as explanatory factors for the different mechanisms of policy diffusion, addressing an acknowledged gap in the literature. The third paper (Chapter 4) is an empirical application of the issue attributes model introduced in Chapter 3; the concept is applied to three diffusion processes of environmental issues in Israel: climate change, air pollution, and waste, analysing the differences in the attributes of these three issues, and subsequently, the differences in diffusion mechanisms in practice. The fourth paper (Chapter 5) investigates GLOBE International, a previously unstudied network of legislators committed to advancing climate change legislation. Its main findings show that GLOBE facilitates a mechanism of policy and political learning, but perhaps more interestingly, generates network-enabled emotional energy and esprit de corps among its members, which has helped to motivate and sustain climate action by legislators. The thesis takes a qualitative, microlevel approach, utilising data from 64 interviews with policy actors from 21 countries, as well supporting textual sources, thus contributing to the qualitative knowledge base needed to support analytical aggregations on policy diffusion processes.