Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Salivary LL-37 Secretion in Individuals with Down Syndrome is Normal

Antimicrobial peptides play an important role in the innate immune response. Deficiency in salivary LL-37 antimicrobial peptide has been implicated in periodontitis in patients with morbus Kostman syndrome. Down syndrome is associated with periodontitis, diminished salivary flow, and salivary immunoglobulin deficiency. In the present study, levels of LL-37 and its hCAP18 precursor were measured in saliva samples from young individuals with Down syndrome and compared with levels in those from age-matched healthy controls. LL-37 and human cathelicidin antimicrobial protein (hCAP18) were detected in whole but not in parotid saliva. hCAP18 was more abundant than LL-37. The concentrations of salivary hCAP18 and LL-37 were found to be higher in individuals with Down syndrome than in healthy controls, but their secretion rates were similar. We concluded that, while the adaptive immunity of individuals with Down syndrome is impaired at the oral mucosa, the secretion rate of the LL-37 component of the innate immune system is normal.
Progression of atherosclerosis in middle‐aged men:  effects of multifactorial intervention

Persson J, Israelsson B, Stavenow L, Holmström E, Berglund G (Department of Medicine, Lund University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden). Progression of atherosclerosis in middle‐aged men: effects of multifactorial intervention. J Intern Med 1996; 239: 425–33.
Who Changed You? Obfuscator Identification for Android

Android developers commonly use app obfuscation to secure their apps and intellectual property. Although obfuscation provides protection, it presents an obstacle for a number of legitimate program analyses such as detection of app cloning and repackaging, malware detection, identification of third-party libraries, provenance analysis for digital forensics, and reverse engineering for test generation and performance analysis. If the obfuscator used to create an app can be identified, and if some details of the obfuscation process can be inferred, subsequent analyses can exploit this knowledge. Thus, it is desirable to be able to automatically analyze a given app and determine (1) whether it was obfuscated, (2) which obfuscator was used, and (3) how the obfuscator was configured. We have developed novel techniques to identify the obfuscator of an Android app for several widely-used obfuscation tools and for a number of their configuration options. We define the obfuscator identification problem and propose a solution based on machine learning. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to formulate and solve this problem. We identify a feature vector that represents the characteristics of the obfuscated code. We then implement a tool that extracts this feature vector from Dalvik bytecode and uses it to identify the obfuscator provenance information. We evaluate the proposed approach on real-world Android apps obfuscated with different obfuscators, under several configurations. Our experiments indicate that the approach identifies the obfuscator with about 97% accuracy and recognizes the configuration with more than 90% accuracy.
Technology delivered self-monitoring application to promote successful inclusion of an elementary student with autism

ABSTRACT The ever-increasing prevalence of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is paralleled in public educational settings, including general education classrooms. Challenges with social/behavioral functioning, including limited self-management and behavior inhibition, can lead to off-task and disruptive behaviors that interfere with acquisition of academic and social skills. Without effective and efficient interventions, opportunities to participate in inclusive settings will likely be reduced. Self-monitoring (SM) is an intervention with strong evidence for increasing prosocial behaviors and decreasing challenging behaviors for students with ASD in educational settings, although the cuing mechanisms (e.g., timers, stopwatch) and tracking materials (e.g., paper, pencil) can be cumbersome and obtrusive. I-Connect is an SM application that allows for customizable prompts, recording, and data monitoring. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, utilizing an ABAB design, the functional relationship between implementation of I-Connect SM intervention and increases in on-task behavior with concurrent decreases in disruptive behavior for an elementary student with ASD in a general education classroom. Results indicate an immediate increase in on-task behavior as well as a decrease in disruptive behaviors with each introduction of I-Connect. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Microphotometry of Underwater Shadowing by a Moss from a Niagara Escarpment Waterfall

Abstract Microscope and fiber-optic spectrophotometry of transmittance and backscattering both showed moss leaves to be capable of casting strong shadows, with a single leaf blocking approximately 90% of incident light from a point source. In leaves with only one layer of cells, the transmittance through the cytoplasm of single cells was similar to that for whole leaves. Analysis of cell wall birefringence by polarized-light interferometry indicated that cell walls might normally scatter rather than transmit light. Spectra transmitted through, or backscattered from, the upper green layers of moss were dominated by selective absorbance from chlorophyll, but there was also evidence of wavelength-dependent scattering, as detected in the lower layers of brown, dead moss. Specular reflectance from moss leaves was detected by polarimetry and may have contributed to the relatively high macroscopic transmittance of stationary moss in water. Shadowing by moss leaves was confirmed by dynamic measurements of mosses in turbulent water without bubbles. Flicker patterns from leaves were superimposed on the underwater flicker pattern created at the air-water interface, thus flecks of light were reduced in intensity, increased in frequency, and decreased in duration. This was detected with both point source and diffuse illumination of samples.
Effect of growth rate and incC mutation on symmetric plasmid distribution by the IncP‐1 partitioning apparatus

The incC and korB genes of IncP‐1 plasmid RK2 encode homologues of ubiquitous ParA and ParB partitioning proteins of bacterial plasmids and chromosomes. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, we found that KorB, which binds to 12 widely distributed sites on the genome, is located in symmetrically placed foci in cells containing IncP‐1 plasmids. When maintained by the low‐copy‐number P7 replicon, an RK2 segment including incC, korB and the kla, kle and korC regions encodes an efficient partitioning system that gives a pattern of foci similar to RK2 itself. Symmetrical distribution of KorB foci correlates with segregational stability conferred by either the IncP‐1 or P7 partitioning systems; KorB distribution follows plasmid distribution. In the absence of a second partitioning system, incC inactivation resulted in paired or clumped foci that were not symmetrically distributed. At a slow growth rate, position analysis of foci showed a cycle from one central focus to two foci (at one‐ and three‐quarter positions) and back, and at a high growth rate it showed a cycle from two foci to four and back. This pattern fits with the plasmid being coupled to the replication zones in the cell and being moved to successively younger zones by active partitioning, indicating a tight association between replication and partitioning.
High-drive current (>1MA/cm2) and highly nonlinear (>103) TiN/amorphous-Silicon/TiN scalable bidirectional selector with excellent reliability and its variability impact on the 1S1R array performance

An optimized TiN/amorphous-Silicon/TiN (MSM) two-terminal bidirectional selector is proposed for high density RRAM arrays. The devices show superior performance with high drive current exceeding 1MA/cm2 and half-bias nonlinearity of 1500. Excellent reliability is fully demonstrated on 40nm-size crossbar structures, with statistical ability to withstand bipolar cycling of over 106 cycles at drive current conditions and thermal stability of device operation exceeding 3hours at 125°C. Furthermore, for the first time, we address the impact of selector variability in a 1S1R memory array, by including circuit simulations in a Monte Carlo loop and point out the importance of selector variability for the low resistive state and its implications on the read margin and power consumption.
The Xanthophyll Cycle, Protein Turnover, and the High Light Tolerance of Sun-Acclimated Leaves

Changes in photosynthesis rate and photochemical characteristics in response to high irradiance, followed by recovery at low irradiance, were determined in four groups of sun-acclimated leaves of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). These four groups were untreated control leaves, leaves treated with either an inhibitor of energy dissipation associated with the xanthophyll cycle (dithiothreitol, DTT) or an inhibitor of chloroplast-encoded protein synthesis (chloramphenicol, CAP), as well as leaves treated with a combination of DTT + CAP. In these sun leaves, treatment with either CAP or DTT alone did not result in an inhibition of the recovery from high-light-induced decreases in photochemical efficiency. Only the treatment with a combination of CAP + DTT caused a strong and irreversible depression of photochemical efficiency. We suggest that in the presence of DTT (and in the absence of xanthophyll cycle-associated energy dissipation), protein turnover may be involved in the recovery process. We further suggest that the reversible depression of photochemical efficiency in CAP-treated sun leaves reflects xanthophyll cycle-associated energy dissipation. In the leaves treated with CAP + DTT a slowly developing decrease in the maximal yield of chlorophyll fluorescence in high light may indicate an alternative, xanthophyll cycle-independent dissipation process in the photochemical system. Moreover, CAP treatments did not cause any changes in the deepoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle. However, CAP-treated leaves, but not those treated with CAP + DTT, exhibited some decrease in the pool size of the xanthophyll cycle during the exposure to high light.
The location of v-src in a retrovirus vector determines whether the virus is toxic or transforming

We prepared infectious stocks of an avian retrovirus, a modified spleen necrosis virus, containing the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene and the avian sarcoma virus v-src gene. Viruses were recovered after cotransfection of chicken cells with DNA of recombinants between cloned spleen necrosis virus thymidine kinase and v-src and with DNA of cloned reticuloendotheliosis virus strain A. When v-src was inserted near the 5'end of the viral genome, only low titers of recombinant virus were recovered. Most of the recovered viruses were smaller than expected and did not transform the morphology of rat or chicken cells. A very small amount of virus of the expected structure was recovered; this virus transformed rat cells and expressed v-src. Cotransfection data indicated that one reason we failed to recover a significant titer of recombinant virus is that efficient expression of v-src is acutely toxic to chicken and dog cells. Insertion of v-src near the 3' end of the viral genome, such that it was expressed at a lower level compared with the 5'-v-src-containing virus, yielded a higher titer of recombinant virus, and this virus was transforming. The differences in the recovery and transforming activity of these viruses indicate that the location of an oncogene in the viral genome is an important factor regulating the level of its expression and whether or not this expression is toxic or transforming to cells.
Automatic Construction of Real-World Datasets for 3D Object Localization Using Two Cameras

Unlike classification, position labels cannot be assigned manually by humans. For this reason, generating supervision for precise object localization is a hard task. This paper details a method to create large datasets for 3D object localization, with real world images, using an industrial robot to generate position labels. By knowledge of the geometry of the robot, we are able to automatically synchronize the images of the two cameras and the object 3D position. We applied it to generate a screw-driver localization dataset with stereo images, using a KUKA LBR iiwa robot. This dataset could then be used to train a CNN regressor to learn end-to-end stereo object localization from a set of two standard uncalibrated cameras.
Quantification of superficial venous reflux by duplex ultrasound-role of reflux velocity in the assessment the clinical stage of chronic venous insufficiency.

OBJECTIVES This study we compare the duplex-derived parameters of reflux in patients with early and advanced superficial venous insufficiency (SVI) to identify parameters reflecting this. METHODS Two thousand and one hundred sixty limbs with primary reflux, categorized according to the CEAP (clinical, etiologic, anatomic and pathophysiologic) classification, and the patients were divided into two groups (group I [C1-3, Ep, As, Pr]; group II [C4-6, Ep, As, Pr]) were studied. The vein diameter, reflux duration(s), mean reflux velocity (MRV; cm/s), peak reflux velocity (PRV; cm/s), and total reflux volume (TRV; ml/s) were determined at the sapheno-femoral junction (SFJ), great saphenous vein (GSV) and sapheno-popliteal junction (SPJ). RESULTS Age and the proportion of males were greater in group II. MRV, PRV and TRV were greater in group II at the SFJ, SPJ and in GSV (p <0.01 for all), although the duration of SPJ reflux was non-discriminatory (p = 0.78). From receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, optimal cut-off points of 27.8, 47.8, and 36.2 cm/s for the PRV at the SFJ (p <0.01), GSV (p <0.01), and SPJ (p <0.01) discriminated between the two groups. CONCLUSION PRV and MRV improved discrimination between early and advanced SVI compared to reflux duration.
Haplotype analysis and identification of genes for a complex trait: examples from schizophrenia

For more than a decade there has been intensive research into the genetic etiology of schizophrenia, yet it is only recently that the first findings of promising genes associating with the disorder have been reported. Linkage analyses in families collected from different populations have provided relatively well defined genomic loci. These have been typically followed by fine mapping studies using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A number of analysis programs have been produced to test SNPs and their haplotypes for association. Typically association has been established to specific haplotypes representing an allelic variant of the corresponding gene. The inherent problem of multiple testing in the analysis of haplotypes needs to be addressed fully, to determine if any of these recent findings can be considered as confirmed susceptibility genes for schizophrenia. However, informative haplotypes have provided a way to define allelic variants of genes associated with schizophrenia in numerous study samples, and are a useful tool in characterizing the extent of allelic diversity of putative schizophrenia susceptibility genes within different populations.
Development of metaheuristics to solve a transportation inventory location routing problem considering lost sale for perishable goods

PurposeFinding a rational approach to maintain a freshness of foods and perishable goods and saving their intrinsic attributes during a distribution of these products is one of the main issues for distribution and logistics companies. This paper aims to provide a framework for distribution of perishable goods which can be applied for real life situations.Design/methodology/approachThis paper proposes a novel mathematical model for transportation inventory location routing problem. In addition, the paper addresses the impact of perishable goods age on the demand of final customers. The model is optimally solved for small- and medium-scale problems. Moreover, regarding to NP-hard nature of the proposed model, two simple and one hybrid metaheuristic algorithms are developed to cope with the complexity of problem in large scale problems.FindingsNumerical examples with different scenarios and sensitivity analysis are conducted to investigate the performance of proposed algorithms and impacts of important parameters on optimal solutions. The results show the acceptable performance of proposed algorithms.Originality/valueThe authors formulate a novel mathematical model which can be applicable in perishable goods distribution systems In this regard, the authors consider lost sale which is proportional to age of products. A new hybrid approach is applied to tackle the problem and the results show the rational performance of the algorithm.
Increased major bleeding complications related to triple antithrombotic therapy usage in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary artery stenting.

BACKGROUND The optimal antithrombotic therapy strategy for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation (PCI-S) is unknown. We assessed the safety of antithrombotic therapy strategies in AF patients with indication for oral anticoagulation (OAC) undergoing PCI-S. METHODS We studied consecutive AF patients with indication for OAC who underwent PCI-S. We compared patients that received triple antithrombotic therapy (TT) [aspirin, clopidogrel, and coumadin] against other regimes (non-TT) after PCI-S. The primary end point was defined as the occurrence of major bleeding complications that were termed as early major bleeding (EMB) [< or = 48 h] or late major bleeding (LMB) [> 48 h]. Clinical follow-up was performed, and complications were recorded. RESULTS We studied 104 patients (mean age +/- SD, 72 +/- 8 years; 70% men); TT was used in 51 patients (49%). TT was associated with a higher incidence of LMB (21.6% vs non-TT, 3.8%; p = 0.006) but not of EMB (5.8% vs non-TT, 11.3%; p = 0.33). In multivariate analyses, glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitor use (hazard ratio [HR], 13.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7 to 108.3; p = 0.014) and PCI-S of three vessels or left main artery disease (HR, 7.9; 95% CI, 1.6 to 39.2; p = 0.01) were independent predictors for EMB. TT use (HR, 7.1; 95% CI, 1.5 to 32.4; p = 0.012), the occurrence of EMB (HR, 6.7; 95% CI, 1.8 to 25.3; p = 0.005), and baseline anemia (HR, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.2 to 12.5; p = 0.027) were independent predictors for LMB. No differences in major cardiovascular events were observed in patients treated with TT vs non-TT (25.5% vs 21.0%; p = 0.53). CONCLUSION A high rate of major bleeding is observed in AF patients with indication for OAC undergoing PCI-S who receive TT. GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor use and multivessel/left main artery disease during PCI-S were independent predictors for EMB, while TT use, occurrence of EMB, and baseline anemia were independent predictors for LMB.
Bearing fault detection in induction motor using pattern recognition techniques

In this paper a procedure based on pattern recognition technique is presented for fault diagnosis of rolling element bearings through artificial neural networks (ANN). The artificial neural networks are trained with a subset of the experimental data for known machine conditions. The networks are tested using the remaining set of data. In this method the characteristic features of time and frequency domain vibration signals of the rotating machinery with normal and defective bearings have been used as inputs to the ANN. The features are obtained from direct processing of the signal segments using very simple preprocessing. Three different cases; healthy, inner race defect, and outer race defect is classified using the proposed algorithm. The obtained results indicate that using time-domain features can be effective in the diagnosis of various motor bearing faults quickly and with high precision.
MESENCHYMAL STEM CELL AND GENE THERAPIES FOR SPINAL FUSION

THE IDEAL GRAFT material to promote spinal fusion should possess osteoconductive, osteoinductive, and osteogenic properties. Although autogenous bone graft has all three qualities and is the standard for comparison, research has focused on finding alternatives that have similar efficacy but not the morbidities associated with graft donor sites. Efforts have focused on various osteoconductive scaffolds and introduction of osteoinductive proteins, including bone morphogenetic protein. Recently, interest in using osteoprogenitor cells, or osteogenesis, for spinal fusion has increased. Bone marrow aspiration allows the introduction of mesenchymal stem cells and ultimately osteoblasts to promote fusion. Preclinical studies suggest that the addition of osteoprogenitor cells to various osteoconductive materials results in a fusion rate similar to that of autograft. There is growing recognition that local gene therapy has the benefit of delivering therapeutic genes that encode novel osteoinductive proteins. Gene delivery offers an alternative to local implantation of recombinant protein, which typically requires high doses of the protein to result in a sufficient osteoinductive response. The findings of animal studies demonstrate that gene therapy results in sustained and regulated production of desired osteoinductive proteins and is efficacious in promoting spinal fusion; however, before treatment in humans can be undertaken, obstacles such as the safety profile, host immune response, transfection rates with insufficient transgene expression, and imprecise control of the timing of transgene expression must be overcome. In this review, the authors summarize the latest research efforts under way to promote spinal fusion with osteoprogenitor cells and gene therapy and discuss the clinical implications of these treatments.
Conformational Switch and Role of Phosphorylation in PAK Activation

ABSTRACT p21-activated protein kinases (PAKs) are involved in signal transduction processes initiating a variety of biological responses. They become activated by interaction with Rho-type small GTP-binding proteins Rac and Cdc42 in the GTP-bound conformation, thereby relieving the inhibition of the regulatory domain (RD) on the catalytic domain (CD). Here we report on the mechanism of activation and show that proteolytic digestion of PAK produces a heterodimeric RD-CD complex consisting of a regulatory fragment (residues 57 to 200) and a catalytic fragment (residues 201 to 491), which is active in the absence of Cdc42. Cdc42-GppNHp binds with low affinity (Kd 0.6 μM) to intact kinase, whereas the affinity to the isolated regulatory fragment is much higher (Kd 18 nM), suggesting that the difference in binding energy is used for the conformational change leading to activation. The full-length kinase, the isolated RD, and surprisingly also their complexes with Cdc42 behave as dimers on a gel filtration column. Cdc42-GppNHp interaction with the RD-CD complex is also of low affinity and does not dissociate the RD from the CD. After autophosphorylation of the kinase domain, Cdc42 binds with high (14 nM) affinity and dissociates the RD-CD complex. Assuming that the RD-CD complex mimics the interaction in native PAK, this indicates that the small G protein may not simply release the RD from the CD. It acts in a more subtle allosteric control mechanism to induce autophosphorylation, which in turn induces the release of the RD and thus full activation.