Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induction of Pluripotent Protective Immunity Following Immunisation with a Chimeric Vaccine against Human Cytomegalovirus

Based on the life-time cost to the health care system, the Institute of Medicine has assigned the highest priority for a vaccine to control human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) disease in transplant patients and new born babies. In spite of numerous attempts successful licensure of a HCMV vaccine formulation remains elusive. Here we have developed a novel chimeric vaccine strategy based on a replication-deficient adenovirus which encodes the extracellular domain of gB protein and multiple HLA class I & II-restricted CTL epitopes from HCMV as a contiguous polypeptide. Immunisation with this chimeric vaccine consistently generated strong HCMV-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells which co-expressed IFN-γ and TNF-α, while the humoral response induced by this vaccine showed strong virus neutralizing capacity. More importantly, immunization with adenoviral chimeric vaccine also afforded protection against challenge with recombinant vaccinia virus encoding HCMV antigens and this protection was associated with the induction of a pluripotent antigen-specific cellular and antibody response. Furthermore, in vitro stimulation with this adenoviral chimeric vaccine rapidly expanded multiple antigen-specific human CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells from healthy virus carriers. These studies demonstrate that the adenovirus chimeric HCMV vaccine provides an excellent platform for reconstituting protective immunity to prevent HCMV diseases in different clinical settings.
Image Noise Removal via Wavelet Transform and r/K-PSO

Image noise removal is a classic problem. In this paper, a novel scheme combining r/K-PSO and wavelet transform was introduced to removal image noise. By wavelet transform, image was decomposed into detail subbands and approximation subband. Every detail subband will be shrunk by a special threshold instead of a universe one. A novel optimization algorithm named r/K-PSO was introduced to optimize and determine the thresholds. The main idea of r/K-PSO is inspired by the r- and K-selection of Ecology. r-selection can be characterized as: quantitative, little parent care, large growth rate and rapid development and K-selection as: qualitative, much parent care, small growth rate and slow development. And experimental results also proved that the proposed noise removal scheme optimized by r/K-PSO was superior to 2-D Winner Filtering (WF), universal hard-thresholding (UHT) and universal soft-thresholding (UST) in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR).
Calcium-Selective Ion Channel, CaT1, Is Apically Localized in Gastrointestinal Tract Epithelia and Is Aberrantly Expressed in Human Malignancies

CaT1 is a highly selective calcium entry channel that has been proposed to be responsible for apical calcium entry in the vitamin D-regulated transcellular pathway of Ca2+ absorption; however, the lack of a CaT1 antibody suitable for immunohistochemistry has prevented the direct testing of this hypothesis by the localization of CaT1 protein in the gastrointestinal tract and other tissues. In this study, we developed two CaT1 antibodies and have used them to establish for the first time that CaT1 localizes to the apical membrane of intestinal absorptive cells, thereby providing the first direct evidence that this protein is in fact an apical entry channel in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, we found that CaT1 protein is highly expressed in a number of exocrine organs including pancreas, prostate, and mammary gland, suggesting an, as yet, unrecognized role in secretory epithelia. Finally, we found CaT1 protein to be present at elevated levels in comparison with normal tissues in a series of prostate, breast, thyroid, colon, and ovarian carcinomas, consistent with previous reports of up-regulation of CaT1 mRNA in prostate cancer tissues. Our findings indicate that CaT1 is likely to serve as a component of transcellular calcium transport mechanisms in many tissues and epithelial cancers.
DFT-Based Beamforming Weight-Vector Codebook Design for Spatially Correlated Channels in the Unitary Precoding Aided Multiuser Downlink

The DFT-based beamforming weight-vector codebook is considered as an effective design for spatially correlated channels. In this paper, we demonstrate that when the antenna elements are uniformly spaced as well as linearly arranged, and the channels are spatially correlated, the codewords in a DFT-based beaforming weight-vector codebook approximately match the distribution of the optimal beamforming weight-vectors. As a result, the DFT-based codebook is indeed effective. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that if the antenna elements are uniformly spaced and circulary arranged, the statistical distribution of the optimal beamforming weight-vectors becomes different. We will demonstrate that in this scenario the DFT-based codebook will no longer outperform the Grassmannian codebook, which has not been shown in previous studies. Finally, an algorithm is proposed for constructing the DFT-based precoding matrix, which outperforms the conventional algorithm by ensuring the orthogonality of the precoding matrix.
Riesz-based Volume Local Binary Pattern and A Novel Group Expression Model for Group Happiness Intensity Analysis

Automatic emotion analysis and understanding has received much attention over the years in affective computing. Recently, there are increasing interests in inferring the emotional intensity of a group of people. For group emotional intensity analysis, feature extraction and group expression model are two critical issues. In this paper, we propose a new method to estimate the happiness intensity of a group of people in an image. Firstly, we combine the Riesz transform and the local binary pattern descriptor, named Riesz-based volume local binary pattern, which considers neighbouring changes not only in the spatial domain of a face but also along the different Riesz faces. Secondly, we exploit the continuous conditional random fields for constructing a new group expression model, which considers global and local attributes. Intensive experiments are performed on three challenging facial expression databases to evaluate the novel feature. Furthermore, experiments are conducted on the HAPPEI database to evaluate the new group expression model with the new feature. Our experimental results demonstrate the promising performance for group happiness intensity analysis.
Millimeter wave generation with increased efficiency using the temporal talbot effect

The fractional temporal Talbot effect can be used to generate millimeter wave signals. It is shown that the efficiency of the frequency generation can be significantly improved by using arbitrary shaped dispersive elements in the setup instead of the typically used fibers or fiber bragg gratings. The frequency dependency required for an efficient RF tone generation of the arbitrary dispersive element is derived. Numerical simulations demonstrate the potential for an efficiency enhancement.
Stay off-pump and do not touch the aorta!

One of the major drawbacks in contemporary on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery is the inherent risk of intraoperative stroke. In addition, neurophysiological dysfunction and neurobehavioural changes have been reported in variable frequencies following on-pump bypass surgery. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes a systemic inflammatory response, haemodilution, change in vascular resistance, absence of pulsatile flow, and large volume shifts. As a result, temporary cerebral oedema can be seen in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies early after on-pump bypass surgery and has been identified as the substrate for what was termed ‘pump head’ in the past. Refinements of CPB circuits using biocompatible surfaces, the use of less traumatic oxygenators, and the addition of filters as well as the establishment of standardized perfusion protocols have improved the results of on-pump surgery. Despite these advances, CPB remains one major source for gaseous microembolization.1,2 Retransfusion of shed mediastinal blood during on-pump surgery has long been recognized as an additional source of embolization by fat particles and activation and derangement of the clotting cascade. Manipulation of the ascending aorta such as partial or total clamping and cannulation required for installation of CPB can cause additional solid emboli especially in the presence of atherosclerotic disease.3,4 Numerous studies have shown embolic showers in transcranial Doppler during cannulation and clamping and declamping manoeuvres. The release of particulate emboli correlates in particular with the release of the aortic cross-clamp.5 Gerriets et al. have reported a randomized controlled trial to demonstrate the impact of two different methods to decrease the embolic load during on-pump bypass surgery with partial aortic clamping in a … *Corresponding author. Tel: +41 44 255 32 98, Fax: +41 44 255 32 98, Email: volkmar.falk{at}usz.ch
Nutritional quality of diet and academic performance in Chilean students

Abstract Objective To explore associations between the nutritional quality of diet at age 16 years and academic performance in students from Santiago, Chile. Methods We assessed the nutritional quality of diet, using a validated food frequency questionnaire, in 395 students aged 16.8 ± 0.5 years. Depending on the amount of saturated fat, fibre, sugar and salt in the foods, diet was categorized as unhealthy, fair or healthy. Academic performance was assessed using high school grade-point average (GPA) and tests for college admission in language and mathematics. Academic results on or above the 75th percentile in our sample were considered good academic performance. We tested associations between nutritional quality of diet and good academic performance using logistic regression models. We considered sociodemographic, educational and body-mass index (BMI) factors as potential confounders. Findings After controlling for potential confounding factors, an unhealthy diet at age 16 years was associated with reduced academic performance. Compared to participants with healthy diets, those with unhealthy diets were significantly less likely to perform well based on language tests (odds ratio, OR: 0.42; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.18–0.98) mathematics tests (OR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.15–0.82) or GPA (OR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.09–0.56). Conclusion In our sample, excessive consumption of energy-dense, low-fibre, high-fat foods at age 16 years was associated with reduced academic performance.
A 12-lead clinical ECG classification method based on Semi-supervised Discriminant Analysis

In this paper, we propose an electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern classification method for 12-lead ECG using Semi-supervised Discriminant Analysis (SDA). The feature of 12-lead ECG signal is firstly extracted by wavelet transformation (WT). SDA is used to find a projection which projects the WT feature space into low dimension feature space for ECG pattern classification. The semi-supervised learning approach is used to cluster unlabeled data. Finally the SVM classifier is applied to multi-classification experiments. The experiment results show the proposed method can achieve high classification accuracy. When the labeled data is insufficient, the proposed method also demonstrates good generalization ability.
Reed-Muller Codes Achieve Capacity on the Binary Erasure Channel under MAP Decoding

We show that Reed-Muller codes achieve capacity under maximum a posteriori bit decoding for transmission over the binary erasure channel for all rates $0 < R < 1$. The proof is generic and applies to other codes with sufficient amount of symmetry as well. The main idea is to combine the following observations: (i) monotone functions experience a sharp threshold behavior, (ii) the extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) functions are monotone, (iii) Reed--Muller codes are 2-transitive and thus the EXIT functions associated with their codeword bits are all equal, and (iv) therefore the Area Theorem for the average EXIT functions implies that RM codes' threshold is at channel capacity.
Comparative study of alternative types of knowledge reduction in inconsistent systems

Many types of attribute reduction and decision rules have been proposed in the area of rough sets. It is required to provide their consistent classification. The task is not easy because new proposals address different issues such as: noise in data, compact representation, prediction capability. Usually, when introducing a new knowledge reduction method the authors relate it only to one basic type of knowledge reduction. The main objective of the paper was to find and prove static relationships among classical types of knowledge reduction in inconsistent decision tables in order to provide an underlying classification of knowledge reduction types. Hence, if a newly devised reduction type is a specialization of some known type then all its properties inherited from generalized types will be also known. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Accumulation of 5-oxoproline in myocardial dysfunction and the protective effects of OPLAH

OPLAH is cardioprotective for myocardial infarction, and its substrate 5-oxoproline is a putative circulating marker for heart failure. A fetal gene for heart failure One way the heart responds to cardiac injury is by reverting gene expression to developmental patterns. Van der Pol et al. discovered that Oplah, a gene encoding an enzyme that converts 5-oxoproline to glutamate as part of the γ-glutamyl cycle, was repressed in adult mouse hearts with heart failure. Depleting Oplah in cardiomyocytes increased 5-oxoproline and oxidative stress, and elevated 5-oxoproline in blood samples from patients with heart failure was associated with worse outcome. Overexpressing OPLAH protected mice from cardiac injury in models of heart failure, suggesting that OPLAH and other fetal-like genes could be therapeutic targets. In response to heart failure (HF), the heart reacts by repressing adult genes and expressing fetal genes, thereby returning to a more fetal-like gene profile. To identify genes involved in this process, we carried out transcriptional analysis on murine hearts at different stages of development and on hearts from adult mice with HF. Our screen identified Oplah, encoding for 5-oxoprolinase, a member of the γ-glutamyl cycle that functions by scavenging 5-oxoproline. OPLAH depletion occurred as a result of cardiac injury, leading to elevated 5-oxoproline and oxidative stress, whereas OPLAH overexpression improved cardiac function after ischemic injury. In HF patients, we observed elevated plasma 5-oxoproline, which was associated with a worse clinical outcome. Understanding and modulating fetal-like genes in the failing heart may lead to potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic options in HF.
Fair and efficient weighted sum rate maximization for multi-rate secondary users in cognitive radio network

Distributing scarce spectral resources among the unlicensed users has been an attractive research area for Cognitive Radio Network's (CRN) research community. A resource distribution technique, which emphasizes fairness, ensures allocation of resources for all Secondary Users (SUs) irrespective of their data rates and may cause efficiency loss for the CRN. On the other hand, a throughput based resource allocation approach considers SUs with high data rates only and consequently SUs with low data rates face negative experiences as they starve from resources. Our work aims to balance between the fairness and the efficiency of a CRN. We formulate an objective function, which is a nonlinear convex function, to achieve maximum weighted sum rate for the SUs while ensuring fairness to all. We use Primal Dual Interior Point Method to solve the optimization problem and define a weight factor to obtain balance between the fairness and the throughput of the CRN. Finally we present an online iterative algorithm which maximizes the weighted sum rate of the SUs while guaranteeing QoS to the Primary Users (PUs). Numerical results exhibit that our method achieves higher throughput while ensuring adequate fairness to the SUs, compared to other traditional fairness schemes.
Effects of a probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus strain on feed tolerance in dogs with non-specific dietary sensitivity

This study investigated the effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus strain DSM 13241 in dogs with non-specific dietary sensitivity (NSS). Six adult German Shorthair Pointers with NSS consecutively received a control dry diet and the same diet supplemented with the probiotic (6 · 106 cfu/g) for 12 weeks each, followed by another control period of four weeks. Frequency of defecations, faecal quality and nutrient digestibility were determined. Faeces were cultured for Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia spp. , lactobacilli and bifidobacteria and quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) was performed. Feeding the probiotic improved faecal consistency, faecal dry matter and defecation frequency (p < 0.05). Faecal concentrations of culturable lactobacilli and bifidobacteria increased numerically, but not significantly, also the decrease of the numbers of C. perfringens and Escherichia spp. did not reach the level of significance. Results from FISH showed more constant bacterial populations. It can be concluded that L. acidophilus DSM 13241 can stabilise the digestive processes in dogs with NSS.
Printer Pals: Experience-Centered Design to Support Agency for People with Dementia

Whereas there have been significant improvements in the quality of care provided for people with dementia, limited attention to the importance for people with dementia being enabled to make positive social contributions within care home contexts can restrict their sense of agency. In this paper we describe the design and deployment of 'Printer Pals' a receipt-based print media device, which encourages social contribution and agency within a care home environment. The design followed a two-year ethnography, from which the need for highlighting participation and supporting agency for residents within the care home became clear. The residents use of Printer Pals mediated participation in a number of different ways, such as engaging with the technology itself, offering shared experiences and participating in co-constructive and meaningful ways, each of which is discussed. We conclude with a series of design consideration to support agentic and caring interactions through inclusive design practices.
H3K9 Methylation Regulates Growth and Development in Aspergillus fumigatus

ABSTRACT In most species, chromatin remodeling mediates critical biological processes ranging from development to disease states. In fungi within the genus Aspergillus, chromatin remodeling may regulate expression of metabolic gene clusters, but other processes regulated by chromatin structure remain to be elucidated. In many eukaryotic species, methylation of lysine 9 of histone 3 (H3K9) is a hallmark of heterochromatin formation and subsequent gene silencing. The sole H3K9 methyltransferase in Schizosaccharomyces pombe is Clr4. We report that disruption of the Clr4 homolog in the pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus (ClrD), which is involved in both mono- and trimethylation of H3K9, results in several growth abnormalities. Developmental defects in ΔAfclrD include reduction in radial growth, reduction in conidial production, and delayed conidiation after developmental competence mediated by delayed expression of brlA, the master regulator of conidiophore development. Sensitivity of ΔAfclrD to 6-azauracil suggests that ClrD influences transcriptional processing in A. fumigatus. Despite growth abnormalities, macrophage assays suggest ClrD may be dispensable for host interactions.
Clostridium difficile Infections among Hospitalized Children, United States, 1997–2006

To the Editor: Zilberberg et al. described a notable increase in rates of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI)–related hospitalizations of children during 1997–2006 on the basis of analysis of data from 2 national administrative databases (1). As the authors acknowledge, they used administratively coded databases, which have inherent misclassification and testing biases. Detection of C. difficile toxin indicates that bowel flora have been perturbed. However, the clinical role of toxin detection or isolation of C. difficile organisms in children is controversial. Although primary CDI is a recognized pathologic entity in children, one needs to consider whether another etiology related to a concomitant infection, antimicrobial drug administration, or alteration in enteral nutrition may be the precipitating event resulting in C. difficile toxin production. It is our clinical observation that availability of testing for C. difficile and rapidity of assay results play a role in the submission of stool specimens for analysis. In 2007, we conducted a 5-month retrospective chart review of C. difficile testing practices at 2 local tertiary-care pediatric hospitals. Of 796 stool specimens submitted, 42 (5%) were notable for the detection of toxin A or B; these samples represented 35 patients (2). Medical coders likely face the same challenges as clinicians who must interpret toxin assay results and their clinical role with regard to hospitalized children. Although the ≈2-fold increase in CDI-associated hospitalization rates reported by Zilberberg et al. in their time series and cross-sectional analyses is notable, these results should be interpreted within the context of clinical and epidemiologic factors contributing to generation of this data.
Mechanistic insights from the crystal structures of a feast/famine regulatory protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv

Rv3291c gene from Mycobacterium tuberculosis codes for a transcriptional regulator belonging to the (leucine responsive regulatory protein/regulator of asparigine synthase C gene product) Lrp/AsnC-family. We have identified a novel effector-binding site from crystal structures of the apo protein, complexes with a variety of amino acid effectors, X-ray based ligand screening and qualitative fluorescence spectroscopy experiments. The new effector site is in addition to the structural characterization of another distinct site in the protein conserved in the related AsnC-family of regulators. The structures reveal that the ligand-binding loops of two crystallographically independent subunits adopt different conformations to generate two distinct effector-binding sites. A change in the conformation of the binding site loop 100–106 in the B subunit is apparently necessary for octameric association and also allows the loop to interact with a bound ligand in the newly identified effector-binding site. There are four sites of each kind in the octamer and the protein preferentially binds to aromatic amino acids. While amino acids like Phe, Tyr and Trp exhibit binding to only one site, His exhibits binding to both sites. Binding of Phe is accompanied by a conformational change of 3.7 Å in the 75–83 loop, which is advantageously positioned to control formation of higher oligomers. Taken together, the present studies suggest an elegant control mechanism for global transcription regulation involving binding of ligands to the two sites, individually or collectively.