Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human action recognition using RGB data

Human action recognition is an important computer vision research area, which is helpful in umpteen applications. This paper presents our method to recognize human activities. We use the Spatio-Temporal Interest Point (STIP) for detection of the important change in the image. Then, we extract appearance and motion features of these interest points using the histogram of Oriented Gradient (HOG) and Histogram of Optical Flow (HOF) descriptors. Finally, we match the Support Vector Machine (SVM) by Bag Of Word (BOW) of the space-time interest point descriptor to give the label of each video sequence. We perform our approach to UTD-MHAD complex dataset and it provides a good action recognition rate. Our proposed algorithm perform better than other methods based on the same sequence data of the public UTD-MHAD database.
Effects of temperature-sensitive variants of the Bacillus subtilis dnaB gene on the replication of a low-copy-number plasmid

The dnaB gene of Bacillus subtilis is involved in the initiation of DNA replication and also in the binding of the chromosomal origin to the bacterial membrane. We studied the effect of temperature-sensitive dnaB mutants (dnaB1 and dnaB19) on the replication and on the DNA-membrane binding of the plasmid pKW1, which was derived from the low-copy-number plasmid pBS2. In the dnaB19 mutant, pKW1 was not able to replicate at the restrictive temperature. In the dnaB1 mutant, however, the dimeric form of pKW1 DNA was preferentially produced as the restrictive temperature, but the replication of the monomeric form was totally blocked. We also examined the effects of the dnaB(Ts) gene on the DNA-membrane binding of both the double-stranded and single-stranded DNA from pKW1. The single-stranded DNA from pKW1 was prepared from the DNA of the phage M13 mp19, which contained the origin of replication of pKW1. In the dnaB1 mutant, pKW1 DNA in both the double-stranded and single-stranded form was released from the membrane at the restrictive temperature. On the other hand, in the dnaB19 mutant, only double-stranded DNA, and not single-stranded DNA, was released from the membrane at the restrictive temperature. These results suggest that the product of the dnaB gene has at least two domains which influence the replication of DNA and the binding of DNA to the cell membrane in separate ways.
Role of Chicken TL1A on Inflammatory Responses and Partial Characterization of Its Receptor

The role of chicken TNF-like ligand 1A (ChTL1A) on inflammation and its receptor candidates was investigated to further understand its function as a proinflammatory cytokine. ChTL1A decreased the viability of CHO-K1 cells transfected with chicken TNFR2 or decoy receptor 3 and bound to TNFR2 and decoy receptor 3. ChTL1A was detected in chicken blood samples taken 4 h after LPS injection. Increased mRNA for inflammatory response-related factors such as IL-1β, IL-6, ChTL1A, IFN-γ, inducible NO synthase, and cyclooxygenase 2 were found in spleen samples following LPS injection. Ceruloplasmin and α1 acid glycoprotein (as positive acute phase proteins) were increased in chicken plasma 12 h after ChTL1A injection. The injection of anti-ChTL1A Ab was able to prevent typical increases in plasma nitrite plus nitrate, ceruloplasmin, and α1 acid glycoprotein concentrations following LPS injection. These results indicate that ChTL1A is a proinflammatory cytokine in chickens, animals that do not have TNF-α and lymphotoxin α orthologous genes, and that its proinflammatory action is, at least in part, expressed through binding to TNFR2.
Knock-downs of Iron-Sulfur Cluster Assembly Proteins IscS and IscU Down-regulate the Active Mitochondrion of Procyclic Trypanosoma brucei*

Transformation of the metabolically down-regulated mitochondrion of the mammalian bloodstream stage of Trypanosoma brucei to the ATP-producing mitochondrion of the insect procyclic stage is accompanied by the de novo synthesis of citric acid cycle enzymes and components of the respiratory chain. Because these metabolic pathways contain multiple iron-sulfur (FeS) proteins, their synthesis, including the formation of FeS clusters, is required. However, nothing is known about FeS cluster biogenesis in trypanosomes, organisms that are evolutionarily distant from yeast and humans. Here we demonstrate that two mitochondrial proteins, the cysteine desulfurase TbiscS and the metallochaperone TbiscU, are functionally conserved in trypanosomes and essential for this parasite. Knock-downs of TbiscS and TbiscU in the procyclic stage by means of RNA interference resulted in reduced activity of the marker FeS enzyme aconitase in both the mitochondrion and cytosol because of the lack of FeS clusters. Moreover, down-regulation of TbiscS and TbiscU affected the metabolism of procyclic T. brucei so that their mitochondria resembled the organelle of the bloodstream stage; mitochondrial ATP production was impaired, the activity of the respiratory chain protein complex ubiquinol-cytochrome-c reductase was reduced, and the production of pyruvate as an end product of glucose metabolism was enhanced. These results indicate that mitochondrial FeS cluster assembly is indispensable for completion of the T. brucei life cycle.
Transverse Upper Gracilis Flap as an Alternative to Abdominal Tissue Breast Reconstruction: Technique and Modifications

Background: The inner thigh skin and fat based on the transverse upper gracilis musculocutaneous flap blood supply provide an autologous donor area with qualities favorable to microvascular breast reconstruction. The flap can be shaped to mimic a mastectomy specimen, providing excellent contour and projection, and has a consistent blood supply. The characteristics and skin color of the flap allow for immediate nipple-areola complex reconstruction in skin-sparing mastectomy. Methods: From 2004 to 2007, the authors performed 32 free inner thigh flap microvascular breast reconstructions after mastectomy for breast cancer in 20 patients, in both delayed and immediate settings. Results: All flaps survived without any soft-tissue loss or fat necrosis. Complications were a single take-back for venous thrombosis with salvage, donor-site skin breakdown in eight flaps, and five seromas. There was no functional loss at the donor site, and all patients resumed normal activity. Conclusions: Transverse upper gracilis musculocutaneous flap microvascular breast reconstruction is an excellent option for patients who desire autologous reconstruction and who do not have adequate abdominal donor tissue or who do not desire abdominal scarring. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.
Encuesta de Discapacidad, Autonomía personal y situaciones de Dependencia (EDAD 2008). Primeros resultados. Datos 2008

Por sexo, más de 2,30 millones de mujeres afirman tener una discapacidad, frente a 1,55 millones de hombres. Las tasas de discapacidad de las mujeres son más elevadas que las de los hombres en edades superiores a 45 años. En los tramos de edad inferiores a 44 años las tasas de los varones superan a las de las mujeres.
Ribosome display: next-generation display technologies for production of antibodies in vitro

Antibodies represent an important and growing class of biologic research reagents and biopharmaceutical products. They can be used as therapeutics in a variety of diseases. With the rapid expansion of proteomic studies and biomarker discovery, there is a need for the generation of highly specific binding reagents to study the vast number of proteins encoded by the genome. Display technologies provide powerful tools for obtaining antibodies. Aside from the preservation of natural antibody repertoires, they are capable of exploiting diversity by DNA recombination to create very large libraries for selection of novel molecules. In contrast to in vivo immunization processes, display technologies allow selection of antibodies under in vitro-defined selection condition(s), resulting in enrichment of antibodies with desired properties from large populations. In addition, in vitro selection enables the isolation of antibodies against difficult antigens including self-antigens, and this can be applied to the generation of human antibodies against human targets. Display technologies can also be combined with DNA mutagenesis for antibody evolution in vitro. Some methods are amenable to automation, permitting high-throughput generation of antibodies. Ribosome display is considered as representative of the next generation of display technologies since it overcomes the limitations of cell-based display methods by using a cell-free system, offering advantages of screening larger libraries and continuously expanding new diversity during selection. Production of display-derived antibodies can be achieved by choosing one of a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell-based expression systems. In the near future, cell-free protein synthesis may be developed as an alternative for large-scale generation of antibodies.
Changes in Myopia, Visual Acuity, and Psychological Distress after Biofeedback Visual Training

The effects of auditory biofeedback training on myopia, visual acuity (VA), and psychological distress were evaluated in a controlled prospective study involving 55 mildly myopic (≤-3.5 D) high school students. These myopes were divided into 2 groups, matched for age and dioptric defect: 33 were treated with visual training and 22 were not; 27 emmetropic subjects formed a further control group. Subjects were evaluated at the baseline (TO), at 10 weeks after the end of the treatment (T1), and after an interval of 12 months (T2) from the baseline for: (1) manifest and cycloplegic refraction, and the difference between them (cycloplegic tonus); (2) VA measured with a conventional optotype in all subjects, and also with a computer-generated optotype in the treated group; and (3) psychometric values and personality profile. At T2, myopia had significantly worsened both in the treated and in the control myopes; VA in the treated myopes appeared significantly improved when measured by the conventional optotype, but unchanged when measured by computer. Psychometric scores improved significantly in the treated myopes and in the emmetropic controls. Objectively the autorefractometer showed that 38% of the myopes had voluntary control of positive accommodation, i.e., the ability to increase spherical defect; no voluntary control of negative accommodation was observed. An increase in VA was associated with a significant increase in the foveation time (i.e., the period of time when the target is imaged on the fovea and the eye is motionless), and was partly attributable to a learning effect. In conclusion, biofeedback visual training had a positive effect on psychological distress and subjective VA improvement, but failed to reduce the existing myopia or delay its evolution.
A Voting Scheme for Partial Object Extraction under Cluttered Environment

Shape extraction aims to detect and localize objects via the shape information. The paper presents a novel voting scheme that can extract partially occluded objects under cluttered environments using a single shape. It works by jointly figuring out the boundaries and resolving the geometric configurations. To model the missing part lead by occlusion, we discretize the shape template into a set of its subpart, named portions. Our representation of shape template is through a set of portion together with their interconnections. Instead of forming a fully connected network, our interconnections make the portions consistent with the chain along the boundary of shape template. Based on the representation, we formulate an auto-locked objective function that contains both the unary and pairwise terms and balances the effects of missing parts. Min-sum voting scheme with strategy driven by bottom–up information is then proposed to minimize the objective function. Conducted experiments show that proposed algorithm is promising for shape extraction with occlusion and noisy backgrounds and allows the non-rigid deformations.
Regulation of phosphatase activity in bacterial chemotaxis.

Bacterial chemotaxis is the most studied model system for signaling by the widely spread family of two-component regulatory systems. It is controlled by changes in the phosphorylation level of the chemotactic response regulator, CheY, mediated by a histidine kinase (CheA) and a specific phosphatase (CheZ). While it is known that CheA activity is regulated, via the receptors, by chemotactic stimuli, the input that may regulate CheY dephosphorylation by CheZ has not been found. We measured, by using stopped-flow fluorometry, the kinetics of CheZ-mediated dephosphorylation of CheY. The onset of dephosphorylation was delayed by approximately 50 ms after mixing phosphorylated CheY (CheY approximately P) with CheZ, and a distinct overshoot was observed in the approach to the new steady state of CheY approximately P. The delay and overshoot were not observed in a hyperactive mutant CheZ protein (CheZ54RC) that does not support chemotaxis in vivo and appears to be constitutively active. CheZ activity was cooperative with respect to CheY approximately P, with a Hill-coefficient of 2.5. The observed delayed modulation of CheZ activity and its cooperativity suggest that the phosphatase activity is regulated at the level of CheY approximately P-CheZ interaction. This novel kind of interplay between a response regulator and its phosphatase may be involved in signal tuning and in adaptation to chemotactic signals.
Assessing and Adjusting for Cross-Cultural Validity of Impairment and Activity Limitation Scales Through Differential Item Functioning Within the Framework of the Rasch Model: The PRO-ESOR Project

IntroductionIn Europe it is common for outcome measures to be translated for use in other languages. This adaptation may be complicated by culturally specific approaches to certain tasks; for example, bathing. In this context the issue of cross-cultural validity becomes paramount. ObjectiveTo facilitate the pooling of data in international studies, a project set out to evaluate the cross-cultural validity of impairment and activity limitation measures used in rehabilitation from the perspective of the Rasch measurement model. MethodsCross-cultural validity is assessed through an analysis of Differential Item Functioning (DIF) within the context of additive conjoint measurement expressed through the Rasch model. Data from patients undergoing rehabilitation for stroke was provided from 62 centers across Europe. Two commonly used outcome measures, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor scale are used to illustrate the approach. ResultsPooled data from 3 countries for the MMSE were shown to fit the Rasch model with only 1 item displaying DIF by country. In contrast, many items from the FIM expressed DIF and misfit to the model. Consequently they were allowed to be unique across countries, so resolving the lack of fit to the model. ConclusionsWhere data are to be pooled for international studies, analysis of DIF by culture is essential. Where DIF is observed, adjustments can be made to allow for cultural differences in outcome measurement.
Steering kernel regression: An adaptive denoising tool to process GPR data

The recently introduced steering kernel regression (SKR) framework was originally developed to attenuate random noise in images and video sequences. The core of the method is the steering kernel function which incorporates a robust local estimate of image structure into the denoising framework. This helps to minimize image blurring and to preserve edges and corners. As such filter characteristics are also desirable for random noise attenuation in ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data, we propose to adopt the SKR method for processing GPR data. We test and evaluate this denoising method using different GPR data examples. Our results show that SKR is successful in removing random noise present in our data sets. Concurrently, it preserves local image structure and amplitudes. Thus, the method can be considered as a promising and novel approach for denoising GPR data.
From UML State Machines to code and back again !

UML state machines and their visual representations are much more suitable to describe logical behaviors of system entities than equivalent text based description such as IF-THEN-ELSE or SWITH-CASE constructions. Although many industrial tools and research prototypes can generate executable code from such a graphical language, generated code could be manually modified by programmers. After code modifications, round-trip engineering is needed to make the model and code consistent, which is a critical aspect to meet quality and performance constraints required for software systems. Unfortunately, current UML tools only support structural concepts for roundtrip engineering such as those available from class diagrams. In this paper, we address the round-trip engineering of UML statemachine and its related generated code. We propose an approach consisting of a forward process which generates code by using transformation patterns, and a backward process which is based on code pattern detection to update the original state machine model from the modified code. We implemented a prototype and conducted several experiments on different aspects of the roundtrip engineering to verify the proposed approach.
Nerve growth factor inhibits osmotic swelling of rat retinal glial (Müller) and bipolar cells by inducing glial cytokine release

Osmotic swelling of neurons and glial cells contributes to the development of retinal edema and neurodegeneration. We show that nerve growth factor (NGF) inhibits the swelling of glial (Müller) and bipolar cells in rat retinal slices induced by barium‐containing hypoosmotic solution. NGF also reduced Müller and bipolar cell swelling in the post‐ischemic retina. On the other hand, NGF prevented the swelling of freshly isolated Müller cells, but not of isolated bipolar cells, suggesting that NGF induces a release of factors from Müller cells that inhibit bipolar cell swelling in retinal slices. The inhibitory effect of NGF on Müller cell swelling was mediated by activation of TrkA (the receptor tyrosine kinase A), but not p75NTR, and was prevented by blockers of metabotropic glutamate, P2Y1, adenosine A1, and fibroblast growth factor receptors. Basic fibroblast growth factor fully inhibited the swelling of freshly isolated Müller cells, but only partially the swelling of isolated bipolar cells. In addition, glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor and transforming growth factor‐β1, but not epidermal growth factor and platelet‐derived growth factor, reduced the swelling of bipolar cells. Both Müller and bipolar cells displayed TrkA immunoreactivity, while Müller cells were also immunostained for p75NTR and NGF. The data suggest that the neuroprotective effect of NGF in the retina is in part mediated by prevention of the cytotoxic glial and bipolar cell swelling.
Differential Aging Trajectories of Modulation of Activation to Cognitive Challenge in APOE ε4 Groups: Reduced Modulation Predicts Poorer Cognitive Performance

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), ApolipoproteinE ε4 (APOEε4), on the ability of the brain to modulate activation in response to cognitive challenge in a lifespan sample of healthy human adults. A community-based sample of 181 cognitively intact, healthy adults were recruited from the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Thirty-one APOEε4+ individuals (48% women), derived from the parent sample, were matched based on sex, age, and years of education to 31 individuals who were APOEε4-negative (APOEε4−). Ages ranged from 20 to 86 years of age. Blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging was collected during the performance of a visuospatial distance judgment task with three parametric levels of difficulty. Multiple regression was used in a whole-brain analysis with age, APOE group, and their interaction predicting functional brain modulation in response to difficulty. Results revealed an interaction between age and APOE in a large cluster localized primarily to the bilateral precuneus. APOEε4− individuals exhibited age-invariant modulation in response to task difficulty, whereas APOEε4+ individuals showed age-related reduction of modulation in response to increasing task difficulty compared with ε4− individuals. Decreased modulation in response to cognitive challenge was associated with reduced task accuracy as well as poorer name–face associative memory performance. Findings suggest that APOEε4 is associated with a reduction in the ability of the brain to dynamically modulate in response to cognitive challenge. Coupled with a significant genetic risk factor for AD, changes in modulation may provide additional information toward identifying individuals potentially at risk for cognitive decline associated with preclinical AD. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Understanding how risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) affect brain function and cognition in healthy adult samples may help to identify the biomarkers needed to detect nonsymptomatic, preclinical phases of the disease. Findings from the current study show that ApolipoproteinE ε4-positive (APOEε4+) individuals exhibit an altered lifespan trajectory in the ability of the brain to dynamically modulate function to cognitive challenge compared with APOEε4− individuals. This effect manifests in otherwise healthy individuals who are at increased risk for AD in the precuneus, a salient region for early AD changes. Notably, these functional alterations are detrimental to performance, and thus, the combination of a genetic risk factor and altered modulation may provide important information for identifying individuals who are at increased risk for AD.
Design of a Monopulse Antenna Using a Dual V-Type Linearly Tapered Slot Antenna (DVLTSA)

The dual V-type linearly tapered slot antenna (DVLTSA) is a modified version of the Vivaldi radiator and is first introduced here. It is much more compact and keeps the advantages of the conventional tapered slot antenna (TSA). Furthermore, this antenna is suitable for a monopulse antenna owing to its special configuration. Both the sum and difference beams can be generated only employing a single DVLTSA respectively through the multimode substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) feeding technology. With detailed theoretical analysis, a prototype of the monopulse antenna proposed at the center frequency of 36 GHz was integrated on a single substrate using the normal PCB process. Measured gain of the sum beam is 10.6 dBi, while the zero depth of the difference beam is lower than -35 dB. It also has good cross-polar characteristics and can be applied over a broad bandwidth as well.
Titin Isoform Variance and Length Dependence of Activation in Skinned Bovine Cardiac Muscle

We have explored the role of the giant elastic protein titin in the Frank‐Starling mechanism of the heart by measuring the sarcomere length (SL) dependence of activation in skinned cardiac muscles with different titin‐based passive stiffness characteristics. We studied muscle from the bovine left ventricle (BLV), which expresses a high level of a stiff titin isoform, and muscle from the bovine left atrium (BLA), which expresses more compliant titin isoforms. Passive tension was also varied in each muscle type by manipulating the pre‐history of stretch prior to activation. We found that the SL‐dependent increases in Ca2+ sensitivity and maximal Ca2+‐activated tension were markedly more pronounced when titin‐based passive tension was high. Small‐angle X‐ray diffraction experiments revealed that the SL dependence of reduction of interfilament lattice spacing is greater in BLV than in BLA and that the lattice spacing is coupled with titin‐based passive tension. These results support the notion that titin‐based passive tension promotes actomyosin interaction by reducing the lattice spacing. This work indicates that titin may be a factor involved in the Frank‐Starling mechanism of the heart by promoting actomyosin interaction in response to stretch.