Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Potential application of thermo-sensitive hydrogels for controlled release of phenacetin

Over the past years, many scientific research studies have been focused on thermo-sensitive hydrogels containing N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) as a monomer. The NIPAM based hydrogels with 20 mol% 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMet) were synthesized using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker. The characterization of xerogel and phenacetin using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)confirm the performed synthesis with satisfactory purity as well as loading of phenacetin into hydrogel. The swelling transport mechanism at simulated physiological conditions (pH 2.20 and 7.40 at 37 °C) is described by the time-independent kinetics. The potential application of synthesized hydrogels for the controlled release of phenacetin as a model drug was investigated at simulated physiological conditions by HPLC method.
Proteasomal Protein Degradation in Mycobacteria Is Dependent upon a Prokaryotic Ubiquitin-like Protein*

The striking identification of an apparent proteasome core in Mycobacteria and allied actinomycetes suggested that additional elements of this otherwise strictly eukaryotic system for regulated protein degradation might be conserved. The genes encoding this prokaryotic proteasome are clustered in an operon with a short open reading frame that encodes a small protein of 64 amino acids resembling ubiquitin with a carboxyl-terminal di-glycine-glutamine motif (herein called Pup for prokaryotic ubiquitin-like protein). Expression of a polyhistidine-tagged Pup followed by pulldown revealed that a broad spectrum of proteins were post-translationally modified by Pup. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis allowed us to conclusively identify two targets of this modification as myoinositol-1-phosphate synthase and superoxide dismutase. Deletion of the penultimate di-glycine motif or the terminal glutamine completely abrogated modification of cellular proteins with Pup. Further mass spectral analysis demonstrated that Pup was attached to a lysine residue on its target protein via the carboxyl-terminal glutamine with deamidation of this residue. Finally, we showed that cell lysates of wild type (but not a proteasome mutant) efficiently degraded Pup-modified proteins. These data therefore establish that, despite differences in both sequence and target linkage, Pup plays an analogous role to ubiquitin in targeting proteins to the proteasome for degradation.
Stream cipher by reed-solomon code

Reed-Solomon code or RS code is widely used for error corrections of data in transmission and storages. However, it is thought of as insecure for direct implementation in code-based cryptography due to plaintext-known attacks. In recent years, McEliece cryptosystem with enhanced public key security by generalized RS code and Goppa code are discussed for hardware implementation. In this work, from another point of view a stream cipher based on RS code is proposed for communications between two parties, with the generalized RS code not used. First, it copies or shifts the stream cipher a few times to XOR with the message composed of a codeword; second, between the RS encoding and decoding it conceals the cipher within the RS code. There are two advantages with this scheme: First, compared with generalized RS code it uses systematic encoding instead of nonsystematic encoding, which decreases the power overhead. Second, the stream cipher requires no extra hardware rather than the RS encoding and decoding modules, which is already included in many computer systems or devices. Third, the stream cipher may depend on the difficulty of a well-know NP-complete problem: the difficulty of decoding a random linear code. Meanwhile, since the cipher is a numerical value hidden in the codeword rather than a function with algorithmic definitions, the synchronization of cipher and messages can be easily held as a whole.
AMP-activated protein kinase selectively inhibited by the type II inhibitor SBI-0206965

Inhibition of the metabolic regulator AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is increasingly being investigated for its therapeutic potential in diseases where AMPK hyperactivity results in poor prognoses, as in established cancers and neurodegeneration. However, AMPK-inhibitory tool compounds are largely limited to compound C, which has a poor selectivity profile. Here we identify the pyrimidine derivative SBI-0206965 as a direct AMPK inhibitor. SBI-0206965 inhibits AMPK with 40-fold greater potency and markedly lower kinase promiscuity than compound C and inhibits cellular AMPK signaling. Biochemical characterization reveals that SBI-0206965 is a mixed-type inhibitor. A co-crystal structure of the AMPK kinase domain/SBI-0206965 complex shows that the drug occupies a pocket that partially overlaps the ATP active site in a type IIb inhibitor manner. SBI-0206965 has utility as a tool compound for investigating physiological roles for AMPK and provides fresh impetus to small-molecule AMPK inhibitor therapeutic development.
FINDING THE SELF: A BEHAVIORAL MEASURE AND ITS CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

We present a clinical model of the development of self . The model focuses on the early learning responsible for linguistic self-referents such as "I" and "me. " This model offers an account for why some patients, such as those with borderline personality disorder (BPD), feel that they "do not know who they are" or that their sense of self is controlled by other people, while other patients have a sense of a secure, stable self that is not prey to the whims of others. We administered a new self-report instrument, the Experiencing of Self Scale, which measures the degree to which other people influence the experience of self, along with the SelfEsteem Scale and the Dissociative Experiences Scale to 284 undergraduate students and 14 BPD patients. We found that the degree to which other people influence the experience of self depended on the nature and closeness of the people involved, that those in our BPD sample suffered from excessive influence of other people over the experience of self relative to the undergraduates, and that the degree of influence correlated
Animal model of metastatic pheochromocytoma: evaluation by MRI and PET.

OBJECTIVE The development of metastatic pheochromocytoma animal model provides a unique opportunity to study the physiology of these rare tumors and to evaluate experimental treatments. Here, we describe the use of small animal imaging techniques to detect, localize and characterize metastatic lesions in nude mice. METHODS Small animal positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to detect metastatic lesions in nude mice following intravenous injection of mouse pheochromocytoma cells. [18F]-6-fluoro-dopamine ([18F]-DA) and [18F]-L-6-fluoro-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, which are commonly used for localization of pheochromocytoma lesions in clinical practice, were selected as radiotracers to monitor metastatic lesions by PET. RESULTS MRI was able to detect liver lesions as small as 0.5mm in diameter. Small animal PET imaging using [18F]-DA and [18F]-DOPA detected liver, adrenal gland, and ovarian lesions. CONCLUSION We conclude that MRI is a valuable technique for tumor growth monitoring from very early to late stages of tumor progression and that animal PET confirmed localization of metastatic pheochromocytoma in liver with both radiotracers.
Visual Field Map Organization in Human Visual Cortex

The search for organizing principles of visual processing in cortex has proven long and fruitful, demonstrating specific types of organization arising on multiple scales (e.g., magnocellular / parvo-cellular pathways [1] and ocular dominance columns [2]). One of the more important larger scale organizing principles of visual cortical organization is the visual field map (VFM): neurons whose visual receptive fields lie next to one another in visual space are located next to one another in cortex, forming one complete representation of contralateral visual space [3]. Each VFM subserves a specific computation or set of computations; locating these VFMs allows for the systematic exploration of these computations across visual cortex [4, 5]. It has been suggested that this retinotopic organization of VFMs allows for efficient connectivity between neurons that represent nearby locations in visual space, likely necessary for such processes as lateral inhibition and gain control [6-9]. This chapter will discuss the primary neuroimaging techniques used for measuring human VFMs, our current understanding of the organization of visuospatial representations across human visual cortex, the present state of our knowledge of white matter connectivity among these representations, and how these measurements inform us about the functional divisions of visual cortex in human.
Controlling motion artefact levels in MR images by suspending data acquisition during periods of head motion

Head movements are a major source of MRI artefacts that hamper radiological assessment and computer-based morphological and functional measures of the human brain. Prospective motion correction techniques continuously update the MRI scanner based on head position information provided by an external tracking system. While prospective motion correction significantly improves data quality, strong motion artefacts may remain with large head motions or when motion takes place at sensitive times of the acquisition. Here we present a framework that allows the suspension of data acquisition when head motion is predicted to have a strong negative impact on data quality. The predictor, calculated in real-time during the acquisition, accounts for the amplitude of the signal acquired at the time of the motion, thereby offering a re-acquisition strategy more efficient than relying on head speed alone. The suspension of data acquisition is governed by the trade-off between image degradation due to motion and prolonging the scan time. This trade-off can be tuned by the user according to the desired level of image quality and the participant‘s tolerability. We test the framework using two motion experiments and two head coils. Significant improvements in data quality are obtained with stringent threshold values for the suspension of acquisition. Substantial reductions in motion artefact levels are also achieved with minimal prolongation of scan time. However, high levels of motion artefacts occasionally remain despite stringent thresholds with the 64-channel head coil, an effect that might be attributed to head movement in the sharp sensitivity profile of this coil.
CHA2DS2-VASc Score Predict No-Reflow Phenomenon in Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Introduction: No-reflow is one of the major complications of primary PCI in patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction. This phenomenon is associated with adverse outcomes in these patients. In the current study, we evaluated the effectiveness of CHA2DS2-VASc score in predicting no-reflow phenomenon. CHA2DS2-VASc score is a risk stratification method to estimate the risk of thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods: In total, 396 patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction who had undergone primary PCI were evaluated in our study. Based on post interventional TIMI flow rate results, the patients were divided into two groups: control group (294 patients) and no-reflow group (102 patients). The CHA2DS2-VASc score was calculated for each participant. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the predictive value of this score. Results: Our findings showed that CHA2DS2-VASc score can predict no-reflow independently (odds ratio: 3.06, 95%, confidence interval: 2.23-4.21, P <0 .001). Moreover, lower systolic blood pressure, higher diastolic blood pressure, grade 0 initial TIMI flow rate and smaller stent size were other independent predictors of the no-reflow in our study. We also defined a cut off value of ≥ 2 for the CHA2DS2-VASc score in predicting the no-reflow with a sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 67%, area under curve: 0.83 with 95% CI (0.79-0.88). Conclusion: The CHA2DS2-VASc score could be used as a simple applicable tool in the prediction of no-reflow before primary PCI in the acute ST elevation myocardial infarction patients.
Electroacupuncture for migraine protocol for a systematic review of controlled trials

Background and Objective: A migraine is one of the primary headache disorders. Acupuncture has been widely used to treat migraine. Furthermore, electroacupuncture (EA) treatment has been also used to treat migraine. However, there has been no systematic review by assessing efficacy and safety of EA on migraine. This protocol is developed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the evidences related to the effectiveness and safety of EA on migraine. Methods and analysis: This protocol follows the guideline according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocol and registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). The following seven databases will be searched from their inception to September 2016: Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, OASIS, the Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal, the Korean Medical Database and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). This Systemic review will include only the randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) of acupuncture therapy on migraine. We will perform data extraction, study selection, assessment with risk of bias and data analysis. The primary outcomes of this study are headache pain intensity and the total treatment effective rate. And this protocol study for systematic reviews, the approval of IRB was not required. Ethics and dissemination: This systematic review will not need ethical approval, because it doesn’t involve human beings. We will publish this systematic review electronically in a peer-reviewed journal. This systematic review will give healthcare practitioners good practical guide and information for treating migraine. Systematic review registration: PROSPEROCRD42018085099
STATISTICAL INFERENCE ON TEMPORAL GRADIENTS IN REGIONALLY AGGREGATED CALIFORNIA ASTHMA HOSPITALIZATION DATA By

Advances in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have led to enormous recent burgeoning of spatial-temporal databases and associated statistical modeling. Here we depart from the rather rich literature in space-time modeling by considering the setting where space is discrete (e.g. aggregated data over regions), but time is continuous. Our major objective is to carry out inference on gradients of the temporal process, while at the same time accounting for spatial similarities of the temporal process across neighboring regions. Rather than use parametric forms to model time, we opt for a more flexible stochastic process embedded within a dynamic Markov random field framework. Through the cross-covariance function we can ensure that the temporal process realizations are mean square differentiable, and may thus subsequently carry out inference on temporal gradients in a posterior predictive fashion. We use this approach to evaluate temporal gradients in a dataset comprised of monthly county level asthma hospitalization rates in the state of California where we are concerned with temporal changes in the residual and fitted rate curves after accounting for seasonality, spatiotemporal ozone levels, and several spatially-resolved important sociodemographic covariates.
Accelerated statistical shape model-based technique for tissue deformation estimation

A novel finite element (FE) based technique is introduced, which can be applied for real-time or near real-time soft tissue deformation calculation, irrespective of the complexities arising from the tissue constitutive law or loading conditions. Unlike classical FE methods, which are computationally slow, this technique is very fast and yet highly accurate. The proposed technique is based on statistical analysis of pre-processed FE models on a class of organ shapes similar to the object shape of interest. We show that FE analysis results of any new shape in the class of objects can be obtained by a linear combination of main modes of the FE output parameter space. Several examples are presented for validation and finally an application of this method in real-time elastography is demonstrated.
A Review of Model-Driven Verification Techniques for Self-Adaptive Systems : A Feature-based Analysis

A self-adaptive software (SAS) system must be able to cope with complex requirements and changing environmental conditions to fulfill its desired behavior without violating its specified properties. Model-driven development (MDD) is a promising way to decrease the complexity of system design and implementation, and thereby facilitate formal verification of self-adaptive systems. In this paper, we review the state of the art in application of MDD approaches to the design and verification of SAS systems. To do so, we identify the key qualitative features of SAS, MDD, and formal verification systems, and evaluate the current MDD-based SAS verification approaches with respect to these features. We discuss the results and their implications, and identify the remaining challenges and research opportunities in the application of MDD techniques to SAS system design and verification.
Evaluating Java runtime reflection for implementing cross-language method invocations

Cross-language method invocations are commonly used for integrating objects residing in different programming language environments. In this experience report, we evaluate the performance and the design impact of alternative implementations of cross-language method invocations for the object-oriented scripting language Frag, implemented and embedded in Java. In particular, we compare reflective integration and generative integration techniques. For that, we present a performance evaluation based on a large set of test cases. In addition, we propose a new method for quantifying and comparing the implementation efforts needed for cross-language method invocations based on cross-language refactorings. We report on the lessons learnt and discuss the consequences of the implementation variants under review.
Association of prehospitalization aspirin therapy and acute lung injury: Results of a multicenter international observational study of at-risk patients*

Objective:To evaluate the association between prehospitalization aspirin therapy and incident acute lung injury in a heterogeneous cohort of at-risk medical patients. Design:This is a secondary analysis of a prospective multicenter international cohort investigation. Setting:Multicenter observational study including 20 US hospitals and two hospitals in Turkey. Patients:Consecutive, adult, nonsurgical patients admitted to the hospital with at least one major risk factor for acute lung injury. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:Baseline characteristics and acute lung injury risk factors/modifiers were identified. The presence of aspirin therapy and the propensity to receive this therapy were determined. The primary outcome was acute lung injury during hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included intensive care unit and hospital mortality and intensive care unit and hospital length of stay. Twenty-two hospitals enrolled 3855 at-risk patients over a 6-month period. Nine hundred seventy-six (25.3%) were receiving aspirin at the time of hospitalization. Two hundred forty (6.2%) patients developed acute lung injury. Univariate analysis noted a reduced incidence of acute lung injury in those receiving aspirin therapy (odds ratio [OR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.46–0.90; p = .010). This association was attenuated in a stratified analysis based on deciles of aspirin propensity scores (Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel pooled OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.48–1.03; p = .072). Conclusions:After adjusting for the propensity to receive aspirin therapy, no statistically significant associations between prehospitalization aspirin therapy and acute lung injury were identified; however, a prospective clinical trial to further evaluate this association appears warranted.
Validation of the in vivo assessment of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity using hyperpolarised 13C MRS

Many diseases of the heart are characterised by changes in substrate utilisation, which is regulated in part by the activity of the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). Consequently, there is much interest in the in vivo evaluation of PDH activity in a range of physiological and pathological states to obtain information on the metabolic mechanisms of cardiac diseases. Hyperpolarised [1‐13C]pyruvate, detected using MRS, is a novel technique for the noninvasive evaluation of PDH flux. PDH flux has been assumed to directly reflect in vivo PDH activity, although to date this assumption remains unproven. Control animals and animals undergoing interventions known to modulate PDH activity, namely high fat feeding and dichloroacetate infusion, were used to investigate the relationship between in vivo hyperpolarised MRS measurements of PDH flux and ex vivo measurements of PDH enzyme activity (PDHa). Further, the plasma concentrations of pyruvate and other important metabolites were evaluated following pyruvate infusion to assess the metabolic consequences of pyruvate infusion during hyperpolarised MRS experiments. Hyperpolarised MRS measurements of PDH flux correlated significantly with ex vivo measurements of PDHa, confirming that PDH activity influences directly the in vivo flux of hyperpolarised pyruvate through cardiac PDH. The maximum plasma concentration of pyruvate reached during hyperpolarised MRS experiments was approximately 250 µM, equivalent to physiological pyruvate concentrations reached during exercise or with dietary interventions. The concentrations of other metabolites, including lactate, glucose and β‐hydroxybutyrate, did not vary during the 60 s following pyruvate infusion. Hence, during the 60‐s data acquisition period, metabolism was minimally affected by pyruvate infusion. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Worm Robot with Dynamic Adaptation to Pipe Diameter for In-Pipe Inspection 1

This paper proposes an in-pipe inspection robot that can adapt to changes in pipe diameter. The sophisticated design and configuration of the robot enables it to travel autonomously through pipes and adapt to diameters changing from 65mm to 220mm. It consists of two clamping modules and one module for steering and locomotion. The clamping modules utilize flexible spring sheets to enable the robot to dynamically adjust its radial dimension and clamping force to attach to pipes of different inner diameters and handle sudden or smooth changes in pipe diameters. A middle module is engineered to enable the robot to not only propel through the pipeline, but also to steer into the desired direction when approaching elbows or junctions . The robot finds its obstacle-free path using a set of sensors mounted on the robot nose.
A practical precoder design for EST-based modulation in frequency-selective channel

In this paper, a practical precoder for EST-based modulation to obtain transmit diversity in frequency-selective channel is considered. First, we design the finite impulse response (FIR) filter based matched filter bound (MFB) as precoder at the transmitter. Then the criterion which evaluates the overall performance of EST-based iterative receiver and adjust the length of FIR filter is proposed.