Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum Adiponectin and Vaspin Levels in Systemic Sclerosis

Objective: Chronic inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which are associated with insulin resistance and accelerated atherosclerosis, also lead to increased adipokines levels. However, it is not fully known whether systemic sclerosis (SSc), another chronic inflammatory disease, leads to insulin resistance and atherosclerosis and affects adipokine levels. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the serum adiponectin and vaspin levels and their possible effects on the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMAIR) index and intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery in a cohort of patients with SSc Method: Twenty-three patients with SSc, 22 patients with SLE (serving as a patient control group), and 29 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. Serum adiponectin and vaspin levels and the HOMA-IR index and IMT were determined. Results: Adiponectin level was significantly lower in the SSc group than in the SLE or HC groups and the decrease of vaspin level was significant after adjusting for age in the SSc group compared to the SLE group. HOMA-IR indexes were similar in the SSc and HC groups, but higher in the SLE group. IMTs were higher in both patient groups than in the HC group. Adiponectin and vaspin serum levels were not correlated with either HOMA-IR index or IMT in SSc. Conclusion: SSc is associated with decreased adipokines levels, but does not induce insulin resistance, in contrast to SLE. Similar to SLE, SSc accelerates atherogenesis. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of adipokines in SSc.
Generating a Visual Overview of Large Diachronic Document Collections based on the Detection of Topic Change

Large digital diachronic document collections are a central source of information in science, business, and for the general public. One challenge for the efficient visualization of these collections is the automatic calculation and visualization of the main topics. These topics can then serve as the basis for an overview of the content and any subsequent interactive visual analysis. We introduce the new language processing concept of volatility of terms measured as the change of the context of terms. We demonstrate that volatility can serve as an excellent basis for the visual overview of large collections using two different examples.
Can Cloning Help Save Beleaguered Species?

Conservation BiologySome scientists say that cells banked at the San Diego Zoo's Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species and other "frozen zoos" could be used to clone Przewalski's horses, South China tigers, and other species on the brink of extinction. But many conservation biologists are concerned that efforts to clone endangered species could be so expensive that they derail efforts to preserve habitat.
Alignment-free cancelable iris biometric templates based on adaptive bloom filters

Biometric characteristics are largely immutable, i.e. unprotected storage of biometric data provokes serious privacy threats, e.g. identity theft, limited re-newability, or cross-matching. In accordance with the ISO/IEC 24745 standard, technologies of cancelable biometrics offer solutions to biometric information protection by obscuring biometric signal in a non-invertible manner, while biometric comparisons are still feasible in the transformed domain. In the presented work alignment-free cancelable iris biometrics based on adaptive Bloom filters are proposed. Bloom filter-based representations of binary biometric templates (iris-codes) enable an efficient alignment-invariant biometric comparison while a successive mapping of parts of a binary biometric template to a Bloom filter represents an irreversible transform. In experiments, which are carried out on the CASIA - v 3 iris database, it is demonstrated that the proposed system maintains biometric performance for diverse iris recognition algorithms, protecting biometric templates at high security levels.
The Genome Sequence of the Cyanobacterium Oscillatoria sp. PCC 6506 Reveals Several Gene Clusters Responsible for the Biosynthesis of Toxins and Secondary Metabolites

ABSTRACT We report a draft sequence of the genome of Oscillatoria sp. PCC 6506, a cyanobacterium that produces anatoxin-a and homoanatoxin-a, two neurotoxins, and cylindrospermopsin, a cytotoxin. Beside the clusters of genes responsible for the biosynthesis of these toxins, we have found other clusters of genes likely involved in the biosynthesis of not-yet-identified secondary metabolites.
BubR1 and CENP-E Have Antagonistic Effects Upon the Stability of Microtubule-Kinetochore Attachments in Drosophila S2 Cell Mitosis

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint ensures the fidelity of chromosome segregation at each cell division cycle. Previous reports have indicated that in higher eukaryotes checkpoint proteins, such as BubR1, are also implicated in chromosome congression, more specifically that BubR1 regulates chromosome-spindle attachments. Also, several studies have shown that BubR1 interacts with the microtubule motor protein CENP-E. Whether this association contributes to the regulation of chromosome-spindle attachments is not yet known. Accordingly, we performed a detailed analysis of microtubule-kinetochore interactions after depletion of BubR1 and the Drosophila CENP-E homologue, CENP-meta by RNAi. We find that depletion of BubR1 affects mitosis very differently from depletion of CENP-meta. While BubR1-depleted cells exit mitosis prematurely due to loss of SAC activity, CENP-meta-depleted cells accumulate in prometaphase and do not exit mitosis after spindle damage. Also, in contrast to cells depleted for CENP-meta, cells depleted for BubR1 very rarely reach full metaphase alignment even if arrested in mitosis with the proteasome inhibitor MG132. More importantly, we show for the first time that BubR1-depleted cells contain a high frequency of either monoriented or fully unattached chromosomes while most CENP-meta dsRNAi-treated cells have chromosomes attached to spindle microtubules. Moreover, simultaneous depletion of both proteins reveals that absence of CENP-meta is able to partially rescue the unattached chromosome phenotype observed after BubR1 depletion. These results strongly suggest that while BubR1 is required to promote stable microtubule kinetochore attachment, CENP-E appears to be required to destabilize kinetochore attachment. Overall our results suggest that activation of the mechanism that corrects inappropriate kinetochore attachment requires the antagonistic effects of BubR1 and CENP-E.
SPEECH DETECTION IN NOISE

We present an algorithm for identifying the location of sibilant phones in noisy speech. Our algorithm does not attempt to identify sibilant onsets and offsets directly but instead detects a sustained increase in power over the entire duration of a sibilant phone. The normalized estimate of the sibilant power in each of 14 frequency bands forms the input to two Gaussian mixture models that are trained on sibilant and non-sibilant frames respectively. The likelihood ratio of the two models is then used to classify each frame. We evaluate the performance of our algorithm on the TIMIT database and demonstrate that the classification accuracy is over 80% at 0 dB signal to noise ratio for additive white noise.
Highly Luminescent $a\hbox{-SiO}_{\rm x} \langle \hbox{Er} \rangle/\hbox{SiO}_{2}/\hbox{Si}$ Multilayer Structure

We have fabricated highly luminescent samples with erbium-doped amorphous silicon suboxide <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$(a\hbox{-SiO}_{x} \langle \hbox{Er}\rangle)$</tex></formula> layers on <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$\hbox{SiO}_{2}/\hbox{Si}$</tex></formula> substrates. The layers are designed to provide a resonance with large modal overlap with the active material and with low quality factor (Q-factor) at 1540 nm. Also, the structure has higher Q-factor resonances in the wavelength range between 800 and 1000 nm. Within this range, strong light emission from <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$a\hbox{-SiO}_{x}$</tex></formula> defect-related radiative centers and emission from the <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$\hbox{Er}^{3+}\,{}^{4}{ \rm I}_{11/2} - ^{4}{\rm I}_{15/2}$</tex></formula> optical transition (980 nm) are observed. A twofold and fourfold improvement in photoluminescence (PL) intensity are achieved in the wavelength ranges between 800 and 1000 nm and between 1500 and 1600 nm (region of <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$\hbox{Er}^{3+}\,{}^{4}{\rm I}_{13/2} - {}^{4}{\rm I}_{15/2}$</tex></formula> transition), respectively, when compared to the <formula formulatype="inline"> <tex Notation="TeX">$a\hbox{-SiO}_{x} \langle \hbox{Er} \rangle$</tex></formula> active material deposited directly on Si substrate. The latter higher PL intensity enhancement is apparently caused by optical pumping at 980 nm (higher Q-factor) with subsequent emission from the <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">${}^{4}{\rm I}_{15/2}$</tex></formula> level in the low Q-factor resonance at 1540 nm. Further, five times increase of this emission at 1540 nm is obtained after optimized temperature annealing. The temperature-induced quenching in the PL intensity indicates distinct deactivation energies related to different types of Er centers which are more or less coupled to defects depending on the thermal treatment temperature
Purification and Characterization of Adenosine Diphosphate Glucose Pyrophosphorylase from Maize/Potato Mosaics1

Adenosine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) catalyzes a rate-limiting step in starch biosynthesis. The reaction produces ADP-glucose and pyrophosphate from glucose-1-P and ATP. Investigations from a number of laboratories have shown that alterations in allosteric properties as well as heat stability of this enzyme have dramatic positive effects on starch synthesis in the potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber and seeds of important cereals. Here, we report the characterization of purified recombinant mosaic AGPases derived from protein motifs normally expressed in the maize (Zea mays) endosperm and the potato tuber. These exhibit properties that should be advantageous when expressed in plants. We also present an in-depth characterization of the kinetic and allosteric properties of these purified recombinant AGPases. These data point to previously unrecognized roles for known allosteric effectors.
Self-Dithering Technique for High-Resolution SAR ADC Design

In this brief, a high-resolution successive-approximation-register analog-to-digital-conversion architecture for biomedical data acquisition is proposed. A filtered least-significant-bit segment is employed as a dither to improve the resolution. Theoretical analysis and behavioral simulations show that the error of a most-significant-bit segment can be converted into shaped noise if the input signal is sufficiently small. The proposed self-dithering technique can be used, together with averaging, to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and the differential nonlinearity (DNL) performance. The performance improvement is similar to that of a conventional nonsubtractive scheme using a uniform deterministic dither but with simplified hardware and reduced computation complexity.
Expression of selected genes in preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes

Objective. To analyse the expression of 15 genes encoding receptors and enzymes associated with the molecular mechanism of the tocolytic drugs atosiban (oxytocin receptor antagonist), nifedipine (calcium channel blocker) and celecoxib (selective cyclo‐oxygenase‐2 inhibitor) in preterm labor patients with premature rupture of fetal membranes in relation to symptoms of intrauterine infection and preterm labor risk factors. Design. Experimental molecular study. Setting. Tertiary obstetric care center. Sample. Myometrial samples were obtained during cesarean sections from 35 patients who delivered preterm with unverified symptoms of intrauterine infection, 35 patients who delivered preterm without symptoms of intrauterine infection and 90 women who delivered at term. Methods. The Micro Fluidic Profiling Card analytic system was used to evaluate mRNA expression of the genes of interest. Main outcome measures. The relative quantification values for mRNA expression. Results. The median oxytocin receptor and cyclo‐oxygenase‐2 mRNA expression in preterm patients with clinical symptoms of intrauterine infection was significantly higher than in preterm patients without symptoms. The median mRNA expression of β1, β3 and β4 subunits of the L‐type calcium channel and prostaglandin E2 receptor was significantly higher in preterm patients compared with term patients. Conclusions. The mRNA expression of hormones, enzymes and their receptors associated with tocolytic actions can differ in various clinical conditions. The expression of these genes is regulated at different levels and can be modified by inflammatory factors, which affect their functions.
Improving Japanese-to-English Neural Machine Translation by Paraphrasing the Target Language

Neural machine translation (NMT) produces sentences that are more fluent than those produced by statistical machine translation (SMT). However, NMT has a very high computational cost because of the high dimensionality of the output layer. Generally, NMT restricts the size of vocabulary, which results in infrequent words being treated as out-of-vocabulary (OOV) and degrades the performance of the translation. In evaluation, we achieved a statistically significant BLEU score improvement of 0.55-0.77 over the baselines including the state-of-the-art method.
Identification and analysis of three myristylated vaccinia virus late proteins

Previous studies have shown that at least three vaccinia virus (VV) late proteins (with apparent molecular asses of 37, 35, and 25 kDa) label with myristic acid. Time course labeling of VV-infected cells with [3H]myristic acid reveals at least three additional putative myristylproteins, with apparent molecular masses of 92, 17, and 14 kDa. The 25-kDa protein has previously been identified as that encoded by the L1R open reading frame, leaving the identities of the remaining proteins to be determined. Sequence analysis led to the preliminary identification of the 37-, 35-, and 17-kDa proteins as G9R, A16L, and E7R, respectively. Using synthetic oligonucleotides and PCR techniques, each of these open reading frames was amplified by using VV DNA as a template and then cloned individually into expression vectors behind T7 promoters. These plasmid constructs were then transcribed in vitro, and the resulting mRNAs were translated in wheat germ extracts and radiolabeled with either [35S]methionine or [3H]myristic acid. Each wild-type polypeptide was labeled with [35S]methionine or [3H]myristic acid in the translation reactions, while mutants containing an alanine in place of glycine at the N terminus were labeled only with [35S]methionine, not with myristic acid. This result provided strong evidence that the open reading frames had been correctly identified and that each protein is myristylated on a glycine residue adjacent to the initiating methionine. Subcellular fractionations of VV-infected cells suggested that A16L and E7R are soluble, in contrast to L1R, which is a membrane-associated protein.
Polymer-based surface plasmon resonance biochip: construction and experimental aspects

Abstract Introduction: Surface plasmon resonance biosensors are high sensitive analytical instruments that normally employ glass materials at the optical substrate layer. However, the use of polymer-based substrates is increasing in the last years due to favorable features, like: disposability, ease to construction and low-cost design. Review Recently, a polymer-based SPR biochip was proposed by using monochromatic and polychromatic input sources. Its construction and experimental considerations are detailed here. Experimental considerations and results, aspects from performance characteristics (resonance parameters, sensitivity and full width at half maximum – FWHM – calculations) are presented for hydrophilic and hydrophobic solutions. It is included also a brief description of the state of the art of polymer-based SPR biosensors.
Regular vs prn nebulized treatment in wheeze preschool children

Background: International guidelines recommend regular treatment with inhaled glucocorticoids for children with frequent wheezing; however, prn inhaled bronchodilator alone or in combination with glucocorticoid is also often used in practice. We aimed to evaluate whether regular nebulized glucocorticoid plus a prn bronchodilator or a prn nebulized bronchodilator/glucocorticoid combination is more effective than prn bronchodilator alone in preschool children with frequent wheeze.
Communicating simulated emotional states of robots by expressive movements

This research focuses on the non-verbal emotional communication of a non-android robotic arm used for Human Robot Interaction (HRI). It investigates whether products, by moving in a life-like way, can communicate their emotions and intentions to humans or not. The research focuses mainly on the mechanoid robot (IGUS Robolink) whether it is able to communicate its emotions to the user or not. It further inspects about the motion parameters that are important to change the behaviour of mechanoid robot used. In this study, a relationship is developed between the motion of the robot and the perceived emotion. The validity of the perceived emotion by the user is later checked using three different emotional models: Russell’s circumplex model of affect, Tellegen-Watson-Clark model and PAD scale. The motion characteristics such as velocity and acceleration are changed systematically to observe the change in the perception of affect caused by the robotic motion. The perceived affect is then marked by the user on all three emotional behaviour models. The novelty of the research lies in two facts: Firstly the robotic embodiment used does not have any anthropomorphic or zoomorphic features. Secondly the embodiment is programmed to adopt the smooth human motion profile unlike traditional trapezoidal motion used in industrial robots. From the results produced it can be concluded that the selected motion parameters of velocity and acceleration are linked with the changed of perceived emotions. The emotions at low values of motion parameters are perceived as sad and unhappy. As the values for motion parameters are increased the perceived emotion changes from sad to happy and then to excited. Moreover the validity of perceived emotions is proved as the emotion marked by the user is same on all the three scales, also confirming the reliability of all the three emotional scale models. Another major finding of this research is that mechanoid robots are also able to communicate their emotions to the user successfully. These findings for Human-Robot interaction on user’s perception of emotions are important if robots are to co-exist with humans in various environments, such as co-workers in industry or care-workers in domestic settings.
Authentication and authorization model in wireless network based on identity-based encryption

In the wireless environment,using a digital certificate to prove the user identity and public key needs to consume large bandwidth.To improve the authentication efficiency,users can access services by using the ID-based ticket for user authentication.When users move from the home network into a foreign one,they can also access services from the foreign network after they pass the authentication by the foreign network.Analysis result shows that the scheme can be secure against replay attack and impersonation attack.
The Diagnostic Performance of Maximum Uptake Value and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in Differentiating Benign and Malignant Ovarian or Adnexal Masses: A Meta-Analysis

Objective The purpose of this meta-analysis was to provide evidence for using maximum uptake value (SUVmax) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) to quantitatively differentiate benign and malignant ovarian or adnexal masses, and to indirectly compare their diagnostic performance. Material and Methods The association between SUVmax, ADC and ovarian or adnexal benign and malignant masses was searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases until October 1, 2021. Two authors independently extracted the data. Studies included in the analysis were required to provide data for the construction of a 2 × 2 contingency table to evaluate the diagnostic performance of SUVmax or ADC in differentiating benign and malignant ovarian or adnexal masses. The quality of the enrolled studies was evaluated by Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) instrument, and the meta-analysis was conducted using Stata software version 14.0. Forest plots were generated according to the sensitivity and specificity of SUVmax and ADC, and meta-regression analysis was further used to assess heterogeneity between studies. Results A total of 14 studies were finally included in this meta-analysis by gradually excluding duplicate literatures, conference abstracts, guidelines, reviews, case reports, animal studies and so on. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of SUVmax for quantitative differentiation of benign and malignant ovarian or adnexal masses were 0.88 and 0.89, respectively, and the pooled sensitivity and specificity for ADC were 0.87 and 0.80, respectively. Conclusion Quantitative SUVmax and ADC values have good diagnostic performance in differentiating benign and malignant ovarian or adnexal masses, and SUVmax has higher accuracy than ADC. Future prospective studies with large sample sizes are needed for the analysis of the role of SUVmax and ADC in the differentiation of benign and malignant ovarian or adnexal masses.
The use of natural language processing of infusion notes to identify outpatient infusions

Outpatient infusions are commonly missing in Veterans Health Affairs (VHA) pharmacy dispensing data sets. Currently, Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes are used to identify outpatient infusions, but concerns exist if they correctly capture all infusions and infusion‐related data such as dose and date of administration. We developed natural language processing (NLP) software to extract infusion information from medical text infusion notes. The objective was to compare the sensitivity of three approaches to identify infliximab administration dates and infusion doses against a reference standard established from the Veterans Affairs rheumatoid arthritis (VARA) registry.
Novel Promoter Sequence Required for Inductive Expression of the Aspergillus nidulans Endoglucanase Gene eglA

Expression of the eglA gene, encoding for a major endoglucanse EG A in Aspergillus nidulans, is induced by cellulose and cellobiose, but not by xylose. This suggests that induction is independent of XlnR, a transcriptional activator of xylanolytic and cellulolytic genes in Aspergillus. Mutational analysis of the eglA promoter was performed to identify the novel cis-element responsible for XlnR-independent induction. The region spanning −153 to −138 (CCGTACCTTTTTAGGA), designated CeRE(Cellulose Responsive Element), was found to be the upstream activating element essential to inductive expression of the eglA gene.