Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FCER2 T2206C variant associated with chronic symptoms and exacerbations in steroid‐treated asthmatic children

To cite this article: Koster ES, Maitland‐van der Zee A‐H, Tavendale R, Mukhopadhyay S, Vijverberg SJH, Raaijmakers JAM, Palmer CNA. FCER2 T2206C variant associated with chronic symptoms and exacerbations in steroid‐treated asthmatic children. Allergy 2011; 66: 1546–1552.
Factors that Affect Depth Perception in Stereoscopic Displays

This study investigated several factors that affect depth perception in stereoscopic displays: half-image separation magnitude, separation direction (crossed vs. uncrossed), viewing distance, stimulus size, and exposure duration. The depth perceived under various combinations of levels of these factors was compared with depth predicted by the geometry of stereopsis. Perceived depth in the crossed-separation direction was frequently close to predictions, such that increases in separation and viewing distance produced appropriate increases in perceived depth. Depth in the uncrossed direction was frequently less than that predicted, especially for small stimuli presented at a long viewing distance, with a large half-image separation, and/or with a brief duration. Thus depth in both crossed and uncrossed directions equaled predictions only for large stimuli exposed for a long duration.
Acceleration of nonlinear POD models: A neural network approach

This paper presents a way of accelerating the evaluation and simulation of nonlinear POD models by using feedforward neural networks. Traditionally, Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) and Galerkin projection have been employed to reduce the high-dimensionality of the discretized systems used to approximate Partial Differential Equations (PDEs). Although a large model-order reduction can be obtained with these techniques, the computational saving is small when we are dealing with nonlinear or Linear Time Variant (LTV) models. If we approximate the nonlinear vector function of the POD models by means of a feedforward neural network like a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), then we can speed up the simulation of the POD models given that the on-line evaluation of this kind of networks can be done very fast. This is the approach that is presented in this paper.
Population-based register of stroke: manual of operations

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and hospitalization in both sexes in nearly all countries of Europe. The main forms of cardiovascular disease are ischaemic heart disease and stroke. Stroke by itself is the second leading cause of death in the European Union, and the annual number of cases of stroke is expected to increase within the next few decades, mainly owing to a growth in the proportion of older people. Stroke is an expensive disease because of the large number of premature deaths, ongoing disability in survivors, and the impact on families or caregivers and on health services (treatment and rehabilitation). Therefore, there is a pressing need to make stroke prevention and treatment a priority, to reduce the growing health burden and lessen its socioeconomic impact. The magnitude of the problem contrasts with the shortage, weak quality, and comparability of data available in most European countries. A stepwise surveillance procedure based on standardized data collection, appropriate record linkage, and validation methods was set up by the EUROCISS project (EUROpean Cardiovascular Indicators Surveillance Set), to build up comparable and reliable indicators for the surveillance of stroke at the population level. This manual of operations is intended for health professionals and policy makers. It provides a standardized and simple model for the implementation of a population-based register, which can provide estimates of attack rate and case fatality. The manual recommends starting from a minimum data set. Before implementing a population-based register, it is important to identify the target population under surveillance, which should preferably cover a well defined geographical and administrative area or region representative of the whole country, where population data and vital statistics (mortality and hospital discharge records at least) are routinely collected and easily available each year. All cases among residents should be recorded even if the case occurs outside the area. Validation of a sample of fatal and nonfatal events is mandatory. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 14 (Suppl 3):S23-S41 © 2007 The European Society of Cardiology
Vehicles as Connected Resources: Opportunities and Challenges for the Future

With the introduction of smartphones, cloud and edge computing, and mobile Internet, the automotive ecosystem is shifting toward the Internet of Vehicles (IoV). This article looks at the evolution leading to the IoV and identifies related research and engineering challenges, including 1) coexistence of cloud, edge computing, and data caching strategies at the edge; 2) integration of data processing and management as IoV services; and 3) seamless interoperability among vehicular sensors, computing platforms, and consumer devices. To address these challenges, we present an Internet of Things (IoT) architecture that considers vehicles as IoT resources and provides 1) mechanisms to integrate them in an IoV ecosystem and 2) seamless interoperation among components (e.g., vehicular sensors, computational platform, and consumers). The functional elements and operational stages of the architecture also assist in maintaining interoperability among the components.
Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer as a Probe for G‐Quartet Formation by a Telomeric Repeat

The secondary structure of guanine‐rich oligodeoxynucleotides has been investigated with fluorescent probes. Intramolecular folding of a telomeric oligonucleotide into a quadruplex led to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between a donor (fluorescein) and an acceptor (tetramethylrhodamine) covalently attached to the 5′ and 3′ ends of the DNA, respectively. Depending on oligonucleotide length, quenching efficiency varied between 0.45 and 0.72 at 20 °C. The conjugation of the dyes to the oligonucleotide had a limited, but significant, influence on the thermodynamics of G‐quartet formation. Intramolecular folding was demonstrated from the concentration independence of fluorescence resonance energy transfer over a wide concentration range. Folding of the oligonucleotide was confirmed by UV absorption, UV melting, and circular dichroism experiments. The folding of the G‐quartet could be followed at concentrations as low as 100 pM. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer can thus be used to reveal the formation of multistranded DNA structures.
Probabilistic models of state estimation predict visuomotor transformations during prism adaptation

Abstract This study aims to create a prediction model for state-space estimation and to elucidate the required information processing for identifying an external space in prism adaptation. Subjects were 57 healthy students. The subjects were instructed to rapidly perform reaching movements to one of the randomly illuminating light-emitting diode lights. Their movements were measured while wearing prism glasses and after removing that. We provided the following four conditions and control. In target condition, reaching error distance was visually fed back to the subject. In trajectory condition, the trajectory of fingertip movement could be seen, and the final reaching error was not fed back. Two restricted visual feedback conditions were prepared based on a different presentation timing (on-time and late-time conditions). We set up a linear parametric model and an estimation model using Kalman filtering. The goodness of fit between the estimated and observed values in each model was examined using Akaike information criterion (AIC). AIC would be one way to evaluate two models with different number of parameters. In the control, the value of AIC was 179.0 and 154.0 for the linear model and Kalman filtering, respectively, while these values were 173.6 and 161.1 for the target condition, 202.8 and 159.7 for the trajectory condition, 192.7 and 180.8 for the on-time condition, and 206.9 and 174.0 for the late-time condition. Kalman gain in the control was 0.07–0.26. Kalman gain relies on the prior estimation distribution when its value is below 0.5. Kalman gain in the trajectory and late-time conditions was 0.03–0.60 and 0.08–0.95, respectively. The Kalman filter, a state estimation model based on Bayesian theory, expressed the dynamics of the internal model under uncertain feedback information better than the linear parametric model. The probabilistic estimation model can clearly simulate state estimation according to the reliability of the visual feedback.
Filtering techniques for low-noise previews of interactive stochastic ray tracing

Progressive stochastic ray tracing is increasingly used in interactive applications. Examples of such applications are interactive design reviews and digital content creation. This dissertation aims at advancing this development. For one thing, two filtering techniques are presented, which can generate fast and reliable previews of global illumination solutions. For another thing, a system architecture is presented, which supports exchangeable rendering back-ends in distributed rendering systems.
Quantitative analyses of DAPK1 methylation in AML and MDS

Aberrant DNA methylation and concomitant transcriptional silencing of death‐associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) have been demonstrated to be key pathogenic events in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), however, the presence of elevated DNA methylation levels has been a matter of continued controversy. Several studies demonstrated highly variable frequencies of DAPK1 promoter methylation by the use of methylation‐specific PCR (MSP). By quantitative high‐resolution assessment, we demonstrate that aberrant DNA methylation is an extremely rare event in this region. We observed elevated levels just in one out of 246 (0.4%) AML patients, all 42 MDS patients were unmethylated. In conclusion, we present a refined DAPK1 methylation analysis in a large representative patient cohort of AML and MDS patients proofing almost complete absence of elevated DNA methylation. Our results highlight the importance of quantitative measurements for translational research questions on primary patient specimens, particularly.
Isolation and characterization of a D‐cysteine desulfhydrase protein from Arabidopsis thaliana

In several organisms d‐cysteine desulfhydrase (d‐CDes) activity (EC 4.1.99.4) was measured; this enzyme decomposes d‐cysteine into pyruvate, H2S, and NH3. A gene encoding a putative d‐CDes protein was identified in Arabidopsis thaliana (L) Heynh. based on high homology to an Escherichia coli protein called YedO that has d‐CDes activity. The deduced Arabidopsis protein consists of 401 amino acids and has a molecular mass of 43.9 kDa. It contains a pyridoxal‐5′‐phosphate binding site. The purified recombinant mature protein had a Km for d‐cysteine of 0.25 mm. Only d‐cysteine but not l‐cysteine was converted by d‐CDes to pyruvate, H2S, and NH3. The activity was inhibited by aminooxy acetic acid and hydroxylamine, inhibitors specific for pyridoxal‐5′‐phosphate dependent proteins, at low micromolar concentrations. The protein did not exhibit 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate deaminase activity (EC 3.5.99.7) as homologous bacterial proteins. Western blot analysis of isolated organelles and localization studies using fusion constructs with the green fluorescent protein indicated an intracellular localization of the nuclear encoded d‐CDes protein in the mitochondria. d‐CDes RNA levels increased with proceeding development of Arabidopsis but decreased in senescent plants; d‐CDes protein levels remained almost unchanged in the same plants whereas specific d‐CDes activity was highest in senescent plants. In plants grown in a 12‐h light/12‐h dark rhythm d‐CDes RNA levels were highest in the dark, whereas protein levels and enzyme activity were lower in the dark period than in the light indicating post‐translational regulation. Plants grown under low sulfate concentration showed an accumulation of d‐CDes RNA and increased protein levels, the d‐CDes activity was almost unchanged. Putative in vivo functions of the Arabidopsisd‐CDes protein are discussed.
Computing Optical Flow in the Primate Visual System

Computing motion on the basis of the time-varying image intensity is a difficult problem for both artificial and biological vision systems. We show how gradient models, a well-known class of motion algorithms, can be implemented within the magnocellular pathway of the primate's visual system. Our cooperative algorithm computes optical flow in two steps. In the first stage, assumed to be located in primary visual cortex, local motion is measured while spatial integration occurs in the second stage, assumed to be located in the middle temporal area (MT). The final optical flow is extracted in this second stage using population coding, such that the velocity is represented by the vector sum of neurons coding for motion in different directions. Our theory, relating the single-cell to the perceptual level, accounts for a number of psychophysical and electrophysiological observations and illusions.
Arginine Methylation Increases the Stability of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Tat

ABSTRACT Arginine methylation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat protein downregulates its key function in viral-gene transactivation. The fate of methylated Tat is unknown, so it is unclear whether methylated Tat is degraded or persists in the cell for additional functions. Here we show that the arginine methyltransferase PRMT6 increases Tat protein half-life by 4.7-fold. Tat stabilization depends on the catalytic activity of PRMT6 and requires arginine methylation within the Tat basic domain. In contrast, HIV-1 Rev, which is also methylated by PRMT6, is completely refractory to the stabilizing effect. Proteasome inhibition and silencing experiments demonstrated that Tat can be degraded by a REGγ-independent proteasome, against which PRMT6 appears to act to increase Tat half-life. Our data reveal a proteasome-dependent Tat degradation pathway that is inhibited by arginine methylation. The stabilizing action of PRMT6 could allow Tat to persist within the cell and the extracellular environment and thereby enable functions implicated in AIDS-related cancer, neurodegeneration, and T-cell death.
Global Profiling of TSEC Proliferative Potential by the Use of a Reporter Mouse for Proliferation

Introduction: “Tissue-selective estrogen complex” or TSEC is a novel concept of estrogen replacement therapy for the postmenopause based on the combined use of estrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). The aim of this study was to exploit the potential of a novel transgenic mouse where luciferase expression is associated with cell proliferation (the MITO-luc mouse) to investigate cell proliferation in reproductive and nonreproductive tissues in mice exposed to repetitive treatments with TSEC. Material and Methods: Ovariectomized MITO-Luc mice were subjected to a daily oral treatment with bazedoxifene, conjugated estrogen (CE), TSEC, or raloxifene for 21 days. During the treatment, the proliferative effects of treatments were monitored by bioluminescence-based in vivo imaging. At the end of the treatment, mice were euthanized and cell proliferation assessed in selected tissues by quantitative analysis of luciferase activity and by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: In uterus treatment with CE, but not TSEC, induced a large increase in luciferase activity underlying the proliferative effect of the hormone. No accumulation of luciferase was observed in other organs and tissues target of estrogen action. We observed an increase of Ki67 immunoreactivity only in the uterus of mice treated with CE. Conclusion: Pairing of an SERM with estrogens results in a complete blockage of CE proliferative effects in uterus and the absence of any undesired proliferative effects in other organs; moreover, the MITO-Luc mouse is an efficacious tool for the global, rapid, and reliable analysis of drug-induced proliferation.
School Day Physical Activity Patterns of Pima Indian Children in Two Communities

Developing a physically active lifestyle is critical for all children. This is especially relevant for Pima Indian children living in Native American communities in the southwestern United States. Since the 1950s, obesity and type II diabetes mellitus incidence rates in Pima communities have increased dramatically (Kriska et al., 2003). These conditions are becoming prevalent in Pima children as well. A study of 1,704 Native American children revealed that 53.7% and 27.3% of Pima girls and boys, respectively, (M age = 7.6 years, SD = 0.6) are above the 95th percentile for body mass index (BMI; Caballero et al., 2003). Also, Dabelea et al. (1998) found that the prevalence of type II diabetes mellitus in Pima children and adolescents ages 10–19 years increased from 1967 to 1996. Specifically, type II diabetes rates for boys ages 10–14 years increased from 0% in 1967–76 to 1.4% in 1987–96 and in girls ages 10–14 years from 0.72% in 1967–76 to 2.88% in 1987–96. More alarming are the increased prevalence rates in Pima adolescents ages 15–19 years. During the same time periods mentioned above, adolescent type II diabetes prevalence rates rose from 2.43% to 3.78% for boys and from 2.73% to 5.31% for girls. Several prospective studies have shown that a physically active lifestyle can lessen the likelihood of acquiring type II diabetes mellitus (Helmrich, Ragland, Leung, & Paffenbarger, 1991; Manson et al., 1991). Specifically, Kriska et al. (2003) examined the relationship of leisure and occupational physical activity and BMI on type II diabetes mellitus incidence rates in 1,728 nondiabetic Pima Indians 15–59 years from 1987 to 2000. Of the participants, 346 developed diabetes. Men and women in the high physical activity group had a lower diabetes incidence than men and women in the low physical activity group. After adjusting for age and BMI, the differences between the high and low activity groups were only statistically significant in women. Results from the study suggest that physical activity participation may be a defense against type II diabetes. The apparent protective effects of physical activity against type II diabetes warrants investigation into the current physical activity participation of Pima children living in Native American communities.
Cell type-specific protein-DNA interactions in the human zeta-globin upstream promoter region: displacement of Sp1 by the erythroid cell-specific factor NF-E1

The protein-DNA interactions of the upstream promoter region of the human embryonic zeta-globin gene in nuclear extracts of erythroid K562 cells and nonerythroid HeLa cells were analyzed by DNase I footprinting, gel mobility shift assay, methylation interference, and oligonucleotide competition experiments. There are mainly two clusters of nuclear factor-binding sites in the zeta promoter. The proximal cluster spans the DNA sequence from -110 to -60 and consists of binding sites for CP2, Sp1, and NF-E1. NF-E1 binding is K562 specific, whereas CP2 binding is common to both types of cells. Overlapping the NF-E1- and CP2-binding sites is a hidden Sp1-binding site or CAC box, as demonstrated by binding studies of affinity-purified Sp1. In the distal promoter region at -250 to -220, another NF-E1-binding site overlaps a CAC box or Sp1-binding site. Extract-mixing experiments demonstrated that the higher affinity of NF-E1 binding excluded the binding of Sp1 in the K562 extract. NF-E1 factors could also displace prebound Sp1 molecules. Between the two clusters of multiple-factor-binding sites are sequences recognized by other factors, including zeta-globin factors 1 and 2, that are present in both HeLa and K562 extracts. We discuss the cell type-specific, competitive binding of multiple nuclear factors in terms of functional implications in transcriptional regulation of the zeta-globin gene.
Re-calibration of camera space manipulation techniques accounting for fisheye lens radial distortion

We explore the possibility to use Linear Camera Space manipulation (LCSM) algorithm [1] to map a large workspace using cameras equipped with fisheye lenses. We tested how the distortion of the image caused by the lens influences the precision of the LCSM algorithm when used to estimate the positions of visual cues in 3-D space. We used two Hero3 GoPro® (H3GP) cameras as a good compromise between acquisition rate and number of pixel in the image. We used a previously published correction algorithm to eliminate the fisheye distortion [2] and compare it with standard calibration. The model estimate the radial distortion with a bi-quadratic equation which coefficients K and K2 To estimate such coefficients a non-linear calibration called Stereo Calibration Method was also used [2]. Stereo calibration uses a pair of images, also known as a stereo pair, to estimate the relative depth of points in the scene. These estimates are represented in a stereo disparity map, which is constructed by matching corresponding points within the stereo pair. These coordinates are used to calculate the distortion factors of each camera lens.
Persuasive Technology and Users Acceptance of E-commerce: Users Perceptions of Website Persuasiveness

Persuasive technologies have been extensively applied in the context of e-commerce for the purpose of marketing, enhancing system credibility, and motivating users to adopt the systems. Recognising that persuasion impacts on consumer behaviour to purchase online have not been investigated previously. This study reviews theories of technology acceptance, and identifies their limitation in not considering the effect of persuasive technologies when determining user online technology acceptance. The study proposes a theoretical model that considers the effect of persuasive technologies on consumer acceptance of e-commerce websites; with consideration of other related variables, i.e. trust and technological attributes. Moreover the paper proposes a model based on the UTAUT2, which contains relevant contributing factors; including the concept of perceived persuasiveness.
Influence of Modest Endotoxemia on Postoperative Antithrombin Deficiency and Circulating Secretory Immunoglobulin A Levels

Objective To evaluate the influence of modest endotoxemia on postoperative antithrombin deficiency and cholestasis. Summary Background Data It has not been determined whether endotoxin translocation in small amounts is a physiological phenomenon or whether it is a potential health hazard. Methods Blood endotoxin, antithrombin III (ATIII), secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), which was selected as a marker of cholestasis, C-reactive protein (CRP), and &agr;-1-antitrypsin (AAT) concentrations were measured from the 20 patients undergoing curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer preoperatively and postoperatively. Portal and systemic blood samples were taken for the analysis of endotoxin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations during surgery in these patients. Results Although plasma endotoxin levels showed a significant increase during surgery, we did not find a correlation with ATIII, sIgA, CRP, and IL-6 levels. Systemic blood endotoxin levels during surgery correlated with a postoperative rise of serum AAT levels. Plasma ATIII levels transiently decreased on the first and third postoperative day, and sIgA levels were shown to increase on the seventh postoperative day. There was a weak relationship between the extent of postoperative endotoxemia and a reduction in ATIII concentrations. Conclusions The influence of modest endotoxemia on postoperative antithrombin deficiency and cholestasis was limited, and increased translocational endotoxemia during abdominal surgery may be a physiological phenomenon to trigger off an acute-phase protein response.