Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Improved Algorithm to Delineate Urban Targets with Model-Based Decomposition of PolSAR Data

In model-based decomposition algorithms using polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) data, urban targets are typically identified based on the existence of strong double-bounced scattering. However, urban targets with large azimuth orientation angles (AOAs) produce strong volumetric scattering that appears similar to scattering characteristics from tree canopies. Due to scattering ambiguity, urban targets can be classified into the vegetation category if the same classification scheme of the model-based PolSAR decomposition algorithms is followed. To resolve the ambiguity and to reduce the misclassification eventually, we introduced a correlation coefficient that characterized scattering mechanisms of urban targets with variable AOAs. Then, an existing volumetric scattering model was modified, and a PolSAR decomposition algorithm developed. The validity and effectiveness of the algorithm were examined using four PolSAR datasets. The algorithm was valid and effective to delineate urban targets with a wide range of AOAs, and applicable to a broad range of ground targets from urban areas, and from upland and flooded forest stands.
Potentially Explaining Literature Based Discoveries in Non-Medical Domains

Literature base discovery has been used for many years as a way to identify possible discoveries of related concepts where the concepts have never been mentioned previously in the same document. Linking concepts and the nature of the relationship between the hidden discovery and the linking concepts may be gleaned from the documents using existing relationship extraction techniques. Little has been done to automatically explain the relationship between the hidden knowledge the literature based discovery candidate pair. This paper presents our work in automatically identifying the nature of the relationship of the hidden discovery using supervised machine learning techniques. It starts with the research that has been completed on the medical domain and proposes work that may be done in the intelligence domain.
Defining the clinical course of multiple sclerosis

Standardization of terminology used to describe the pattern and course of MS is essential for mutual understanding between clinicians and investigators.It is particularly important in design of, and recruitment for, clinical trials statistically powered for expected outcomes for given patient populations with narrowly defined entry criteria. For agents that prove safe and effective for MS, knowledge of the patient populations in definitive clinical trials assists clinicians in determining who may ultimately benefit from use of the medication. An international survey of clinicians involved with MS revealed areas of consensus about some terms classically used to describe types of the disease and other areas for which there was lack of consensus. In this report, we provide a summary of the survey results and propose standardized definitions for the most common clinical courses of patients with MS. NEUROLOGY 1996;46: 907-911
Impact of high-intensity concurrent training on cardiovascular risk factors in persons with multiple sclerosis – pilot study

Abstract Purpose: High-intensity concurrent training positively affects cardiovascular risk factors. Because this was never investigated in multiple sclerosis, the present pilot study explored the impact of this training on cardiovascular risk factors in this population. Methods: Before and after 12 weeks of high-intense concurrent training (interval and strength training, 5 sessions per 2 weeks, n = 16) body composition, resting blood pressure and heart rate, 2-h oral glucose tolerance (insulin sensitivity, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood glucose and insulin concentrations), blood lipids (high- and low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, triglyceride levels) and C-reactive protein were analyzed. Results: Twelve weeks of high-intense concurrent training significantly improved resting heart rate (−6%), 2-h blood glucose concentrations (−13%) and insulin sensitivity (−24%). Blood pressure, body composition, blood lipids and C-reactive protein did not seem to be affected. Conclusions: Under the conditions of this pilot study, 12 weeks of concurrent high-intense interval and strength training improved resting heart rate, 2-h glucose and insulin sensitivity in multiple sclerosis but did not affect blood C-reactive protein levels, blood pressure, body composition and blood lipid profiles. Further, larger and controlled research investigating the effects of high-intense concurrent training on cardiovascular risk factors in multiple sclerosis is warranted. Implications for rehabilitation High-intensity concurrent training improves cardiovascular fitness. This pilot study explores the impact of this training on cardiovascular risk factors in multiple sclerosis. Despite the lack of a control group, high-intense concurrent training does not seem to improve cardiovascular risk factors in multiple sclerosis.
The mitochondrial tRNAGln T4353C mutation may not be associated with essential hypertension in Han Chinese population

Abstract We reported here the possible role of a mitochondrial tRNA mutation: T4353C in clinical expression of essential hypertension in Chinese population. The human mammalian mitochondrial tRNA database was used to analyze the conservation index of this mutation between different species. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis showed that the T4353C mutation belonged to human mitochondrial haplogroup HV, a West Eurasian haplogroup found throughout Western Asia and Eastern European but was infrequent in China. In addition, structural prediction of the T4353C mutation indicated that this transition did not alter the secondary structure of tRNAGln. Together, our data indicated that the T4353C mutation occurred infrequent and may not be associated with essential hypertension in Han Chinese population.
Stent Grafting of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Pre-and Postoperative Evaluation with Multislice Helical CT

Endovascular stent grafting of abdominal aortic aneurysms is a new technique that may replace open surgery in selected cases. Pre-and postoperative angiography can be replaced by helical CT. This pictorial essay describes and illustrates the use of multislice helical CT where maximum intensity projection and multiplanar reformats play a central role in the evaluation.
Rearrangement between ornithine decarboxylase and the switch region of the gamma 1 immunoglobulin gene in alpha‐difluoromethylornithine resistant mouse myeloma cells.

We demonstrate here that the functional ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) gene of alpha‐difluoromethylornithine (alpha‐DFMO, a suicide inhibitor of ODC) resistant mouse myeloma 653‐1 cells has been rearranged with the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus in a c‐myc like manner. Structural analysis of a molecular clone representing this gene revealed that it is joined in a head to head configuration to the switch region of the gamma 1 immunoglobulin gene. Comparison of this rearranged ODC gene to a germline ODC gene isolated from mouse liver DNA revealed identity in the region downstream to the breakpoint which was mapped to position −1371 +/‐ 1 relative to the transcription initiation site (position +1). In the switch region of the gamma 1 immunoglobulin gene the breakpoint falls within a 49 bp repeat, in a sequence frequently involved in class switching. This finding further supports the notion that in B cells the immunoglobulin gene clusters are prone to random rearrangements which under selection for a tumorigenic phenotype involve oncogenes. However, as demonstrated here, employment of specific pharmacological selection can reveal rearrangements with non‐oncogenic genes.
In utero haemopoietic sensitivity to alpha, beta or X-irradiation in CBA/H mice.

PURPOSE To assess in utero sensitivity to x-rays, alpha-emissions from plutonium-239 and beta-emissions from tritium in terms of induction of chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS CBA/H mice were exposed to a single dose of X-rays (0.5Gy) on either day 7 or day 14 of pregnancy or given (239)Pu (100 kBq kg(-1)) by intraperitoneal injection on either day 6 or day 13. Tritium was administered to mice throughout pregnancy as either tritiated water, ad libitum in drinking water (total intake averaged 130 MBq), or as homogenized tritiated cress, administered by gastric intubation (total 60 MBq). Irradiated and unexposed control mice and their offspring were sacrificed at 2-8 weeks after birth. Direct metaphase preparations from femoral bone marrow cells from mothers and offspring were used for G-band analysis. RESULTS The incidence of stable aberrations was significantly and similarly increased in neonatal and maternal marrow samples after exposure to X-rays, (239)Pu or (3)H. The estimated average bone absorbed doses from (239)Pu in pregnant females were similar to the X-ray dose of 0.5 Gy, suggesting a low RBE for alpha-irradiation in adults. The similar levels of damage observed in neonates after X-irradiation and 239Pu exposure are indicative of greater in utero sensitivity to alpha-irradiation since the overall estimated in utero alpha-particle doses to haemopoietic tissue were much lower. In utero doses from (3)H and corresponding maternal doses were around 0.5Gy, showing no evidence of greater in utero sensitivity, no significant difference between the effects of the two forms of tritium, and were consistent with an RBE value of 1-2. CONCLUSIONS Comparison of stable aberration yields in haemopoietic cells suggests a greater sensitivity to alpha-particles from (239)Pu than X-rays or beta-particles from (3)H for irradiation in utero but a low RBE value in adults.
The experience of libraries across time: Thematic analysis of undergraduate recollections of library experiences

To understand the human experience of libraries and the implications this understanding has for library use and service, education, and design, 118 undergraduate students were asked to list three personally memorable incidents concerning library use. Following this, they were asked to write a short narrative of one of these experiences. Incidents reported by participants ranged from preschool to college age, and content analysis indicated that a majority took place at two or more grade levels, sometimes as early as the participant's first (preschool) visit to a library. Phenomenological analysis of individual narratives produced a thematic structure for each of the four grade levels represented in the data: elementary school and younger, middle school, high school, and college/adult. Themes common across all four levels include Atmosphere, Size and Abundance, Organization/Rules and Their Effects on Me, and What I Do in the Library. A theme of Memories was unique to narratives that took place during elementary and younger age levels. Although all remaining themes were noted across age levels, the relative importance of various themes and subthemes was different at different ages. Implications of the thematic structure for library practice are discussed.
Multidrug resistance proteins in rheumatoid arthritis, role in disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug efficacy and inflammatory processes: an overview

Drug resistance is generally accepted as an important cause of treatment failure for patients with neoplastic or infectious diseases. Molecular mechanisms underlying drug resistance include the action of drug efflux pumps belonging to the super‐family of ATP binding cassette (ABC) proteins, which mediate the cellular extrusion of a large variety of therapeutic drugs, a phenotype that is referred to as multidrug resistance (MDR). Unlike neoplastic and infectious diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases have received little attention. The potential role of ABC transporters in determining the efficacy of anti‐rheumatic drugs, notably disease modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is unclear. Based on knowledge from the field of oncology and immunology, this review concentrates on the pharmacological role of MDR proteins in the (clinical) efficacy of several DMARDs, as well as the physiological role of MDR proteins in transporting signalling molecules important in inflammatory processes.
Fault Tolerant Operation of T-NPC Three-Level Asymmetric Six-Phase PMSM Drives Based on Direct Torque Control

In this paper, a novel remedial direct torque control (DTC) scheme is proposed for T type NPC (T- NPC) three-level asymmetric six-phase PMSM drives under open-phase faults. A simplified space vector modulation (SVM) is designed and applied for the DTC controlled asymmetric six-phase drive, in such a way that both good current harmonic performance and small DC link voltage fluctuation are available. The relationship between the stator fluxes and the stator voltages including the faulty phase is derived after the fault. Thus, the perturbation could be added to the voltage references, and the control system under is kept almost unchanged after fault. The experiments on a laboratory prototype are carried out to verify that the proposed remedial scheme can provide smooth torque while good harmonic performance without changing the control structure.
TNF receptor 1 is involved in the induction of apoptosis by the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 in the prostate cancer cell line PC‐3

Loss of p27Kip1, a cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor, is observed in aggressive prostate cancers. We demonstrated that intratumoral injections of recombinant adenovirus overexpressing p27Kip1 (Adp27) reduced the growth of prostate cancer xenografts in nude mice. Presently, we studied the mechanism(s) of cell death induced by Adp27 in prostate cancer cell line PC‐3. Cells were infected with Adp27 and compared with those infected by empty virus or were non‐infected. Cell cycle and typical markers of apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry in the presence of the following reagents: cycloheximide, pan‐caspase inhibitor ZVAD‐fmk, neutralizing anti‐TNFR1, and anti‐TNFR2. Ooverexpression of p27Kip1 protein and cell cycle arrest were noted within 24 h after Adp27‐infection. Sub‐G1 fraction, chromatin margination, and phosphatidylserine exposure were evident by the third day of treatment. Cycloheximide elevated sub‐G1 fraction in Adp27‐ infected cells by threefold, while ZVAD‐fmk reduced sub‐G1 to control levels. Caspase‐ dependent apoptosis occurred in a third of the population, while two‐thirds were ZVAD‐fmk insensitive but TUNEL‐positive. Flow cytometry showed increased expression of TNFR1 and TNFR2 in Adp27‐infected cells. Neutralizing anti‐TNFR1 decreased TUNEL‐positive score, while anti‐TNFR2 did not affect p27Kip1‐induced apoptosis. This is the first report showing that p27Kip1 induces caspase‐dependent and ‐independent stages of cell death that may involve TNF‐ signaling through TNFR1.
Forecasting volatility in developing countries’ nominal exchange returns

This article identifies the best models for forecasting the volatility of daily exchange returns of developing countries. An emerging consensus in the recent literature focusing on industrialized countries has noted the superior performance of the Fractionally Integrated Generalized Autoregressive Conditionally Heteroscedastic (FIGARCH) model in the case of industrialized countries, a result that is reaffirmed here. However, we show that when dealing with developing countries’ data the IGARCH model results in substantial gains in terms of the in-sample results and out-of-sample forecasting performance.
Familial Progressive Sensorineural Deafness Is Mainly Due to the mtDNA A1555G Mutation and Is Enhanced by Treatment with Aminoglycosides

Summary Hearing loss involves both genetic and environmental factors. A mutation (A1555G) in the mtDNA has been associated with aminoglycoside-induced and nonsyndromic sensorineural deafness. The pathological significance of this mutation in Caucasoid families has not been established, and its relationship with antibiotic treatment is not well understood. We studied 70 Spanish families with sensorineural deafness (36 congenital and 34 late onset) for the mtDNA A1555G mutation. The A1555G mutation was found in 19 families with maternally transmitted deafness but not in the other 51 families or in 200 control subjects. In 12 families all the patients with the A1555G mutation who received aminoglycosides became deaf, representing 30.3% of the deaf patients in these families. None of the deaf patients from seven other families received aminoglycosides. Overall, only 17.7% of the patients with deafness and the A1555G mutation had been treated with aminoglycosides. The age at onset of deafness was lower (median age 5 years, range 1–52 years) in those treated with aminoglycosides than in those who did not receive antibiotics (median age 20 years, range 1–65 years) ( P
Design of Nonlinear Observer for Dynamical Uncertain System

The designing problem of the sliding mode observers as a nonlinear observer is considered. Based on Edwards's sliding mode observer, a robust sliding mode observer is presented, and the singular value decomposition technology endows the canonical process with simplification. Then the linear feedback gain and the nonlinear feedback gain of the robust sliding mode observer are synthetically processed by linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). And the nonlinear discontinuous injection is designed to modulate the convergence rate between the observer and the system, so as to attain the desired performances of the state estimation. At last, a numerical example is presented to illustrate the proposed method
Evaluation of sorptive partitioning of nonionic pollutants in closed systems by headspace analysis.

An equilibrium headspace technique is shown to be applicable to the determination of sorption equilibria for the nonionic volatile organic compounds toluene and trichloroethylene (TCE). This procedure avoids the problems inherent in other experimental techniques that directly analyze aqueous phase concentration. Such problems include incomplete solid phase separation and subsequent measurements of solute bound to dissolved or colloidal sorbent as free solute. Sorptive partitioning coefficients may be determined by the headspace procedure in the absence of carrier solvents or knowledge of the aqueous concentration of the volatile compounds of concern. Experiments examining the sorption of toluene and TCE onto humic acids, alumina coated with humic acids, and two soil core samples demonstrated the applicability of the headspace technique to sorption studies.
Active Learning for Structured Prediction from Partially Labeled Data

We propose a general purpose active learning algorithm for structured prediction, gathering labeled data for training a model that outputs a set of related labels for an image or video. Active learning starts with a limited initial training set, then iterates querying a user for labels on unlabeled data and retraining the model. We propose a novel algorithm for selecting data for labeling, choosing examples to maximize expected information gain based on belief propagation inference. This is a general purpose method and can be applied to a variety of tasks or models. As a specific example we demonstrate this framework for learning to recognize human actions and group activities in video sequences. Experiments show that our proposed algorithm outperforms previous active learning methods and can achieve accuracy comparable to fully supervised methods while utilizing significantly less labeled data.
The human foamy virus Bel-1 transcription factor is a sequence-specific DNA binding protein

The Bel-1 transcriptional transactivator encoded by human foamy virus (HFV) can efficiently activate gene expression directed by both the HFV long terminal repeat (LTR) and internal (Int) promoter elements. By DNA footprinting and gel retardation analysis, we demonstrate that Bel-1 can specifically bind to discrete sites in both the LTR and Int promoter elements in vitro. However, transactivation of the HFV LTR by Bel-1 was observed to require not only the promoter-proximal Bel-1 binding site identified in vitro but also additional promoter-distal sequences. These data suggest that Bel-1 binding is necessary but not sufficient for efficient transactivation of Bel-1-responsive promoters in mammalian cells and therefore raise the possibility that Bel-1 function may require the action of a cellular DNA binding protein(s). Importantly, these data demonstrate that Bel-1 is unique among retroviral regulatory proteins in being a sequence-specific DNA binding protein.
Association between Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C, Chemokine Receptor CXCR4 and Lymph Node Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer

Objectives: Lymph node metastasis is one of the determining factors of a poor prognosis for colorectal cancer. Recent studies have reported that cancer cells can promote lymphangiogenesis and that chemokine receptors expressed by cancer cells might play a role in metastasis. In this study, we examined the correlation between the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) C, the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer. Methods: One hundred and sixty-one consecutive patients who underwent resection at our department were studied. Lymph node metastasis was observed in 69 cases (43%) and lymphatic involvement was present in 105 cases (65%). Immunohistochemical staining was performed using antibodies for VEGF-C and CXCR4. Moreover, lymphatic vessel density (LVD) was evaluated within the tumor by immunostaining with a D2-40 antibody. Results: VEGF-C expression was found in 81 cases (50%) and CXCR4 expression in 87 cases (54%). Regarding the correlation between nodal metastasis and the expression of CXCR4 and VEGF-C, the incidence of nodal metastasis was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in patients with CXCR4-positive tumors than in those with CXCR4-negative tumors. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between CXCR4 and VEGF-C expression and lymphatic invasion (p < 0.01). LVD was significantly higher in VEGF-C-positive tumors compared with VEGF-C-negative tumors. However, there was no significant correlation between LVD and CXCR4 expression. Using multivariate analysis, VEGF-C, CXCR4, lymphatic invasion and wall invasion were found to be independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: This study suggests that although the mechanism that promoted lymph node metastasis was different between VEGF-C and CXCR4, both VEGF-C and CXCR4 contributed to lymphatic involvement and nodal metastasis in colorectal cancer.
Lipoteichoic acid is the major cell wall component responsible for surface hydrophobicity of group A streptococci

The contribution of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) to the hydrophobic surface properties of group A streptococci was investigated in aqueous dextran-polyethylene glycol two-phase systems. Enzymatic digestions were performed to characterize the hydrophobic surface structure. The results obtained indicated that LTA is a major factor responsible for the hydrophobic character of the cell surface of group A streptococci. This was further supported by the similarity of partition in polymer two-phase systems between whole group A streptococci and tritiated LTA extracted from a group A streptococcal strain. Surface LTA was also determined on intact organisms by a new method measuring the adsorption of antibodies to LTA to the bacterial surface. A correlation was found between the content of surface LTA and the hydrophobicity of the group A streptococci. We conclude that surface-associated LTA is the major factor determining surface hydrophobicity of group A streptococci.