Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Considerations on the proposed linear theory of surface measurement for coherence scanning interferometers.

It was suggested in [Appl. Opt.52, 3662 (2013)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.52. 003662] that the result of a measurement via coherence scanning interferometry could be viewed as the convolution of a point spread function of the instrument and an open surface in 3D space that lies at the air/material interface over a portion of the object's surface. Further, it was suggested that by measuring certain objects, such as ones that are very close to spherical, and whose surface is known to a sufficient level of accuracy, that a point spread function for the instrument could be determined from the measurement result. We conclude that the approximations used in this calculation do not give sufficient accuracy to allow this to be achieved, and that the truncation of the surface function from the closed surface surrounding the object is not defined sufficiently well in order to give a unique solution to the problem. The physical justification for the truncation of the surface in this manner is also questioned.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma and its association with EBV and HIV infection

Abstract Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) constitutes a clonal expansion of what appears to be malignant B cells. Viruses are involved in its pathogenesis, such as the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Since these viral infections have been shown to play key roles in the pathogenesis of HL, countries with a prevalence of HIV and EBV represent interesting population targets to study the pathogenesis of HL, linking the evolution of the disease with viral infections. Usually, patients present with late stage disease often involving the bone marrow at the time of diagnosis. The present paper discusses the role of viral infection in African countries, as HL is considered to be a malignant disease characterized by an inflammatory reaction to an aberrant B cell clone that is well known as the Reed–Sternberg cell (HRS).
The use of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in differentiating type 3 hyperlipoproteinemia.

Abstract The plasma lipoprotein patterns obtained with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis have been compared with those obtained by paper electrophoresis in multiple samples from 138 patients previously classified into 5 different types of primary hyperlipoproteinemia. Special emphasis was placed on exploration of a possible diagnosis of Type III hyperlipoproteinemia by electrophoresis alone. In 95 per cent of 118 samples from 27 patients with Type III, β-migrating lipoproteins were present on paper in the absence of a discernible β-lipoprotein band in polyacrylamide. This combination occurred in only 3 of 228 samples from other types of hyperlipoproteinemia. It is concluded that conjoint electrophoresis offers a simple and reasonably accurate means of diagnosis of Type III hyperlipoproteinemia.
Hyaluronan content governs tissue stiffness in pancreatic islet inflammation

We have identified a novel role for hyaluronan (HA), an extracellular matrix polymer, in governing the mechanical properties of inflamed tissues. We recently reported that insulitis in type 1 diabetes of mice and humans is preceded by intraislet accumulation of HA, a highly hygroscopic polymer. Using the double transgenic DO11.10 × RIPmOVA (DORmO) mouse model of type 1 diabetes, we asked whether autoimmune insulitis was associated with changes in the stiffness of islets. To measure islet stiffness, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) and developed a novel “bed of nails”-like approach that uses quartz glass nanopillars to anchor islets, solving a long-standing problem of keeping tissue-scale objects immobilized while performing AFM. We measured stiffness via AFM nanoindentation with a spherical indenter and found that insulitis made islets mechanically soft compared with controls. Conversely, treatment with 4-methylumbelliferone, a small-molecule inhibitor of HA synthesis, reduced HA accumulation, diminished swelling, and restored basal tissue stiffness. These results indicate that HA content governs the mechanical properties of islets. In hydrogels with variable HA content, we confirmed that increased HA leads to mechanically softer hydrogels, consistent with our model. In light of recent reports that the insulin production of islets is mechanosensitive, these findings open up an exciting new avenue of research into the fundamental mechanisms by which inflammation impacts local cellular responses.
A compact readout platform for spectral-optical sensors

Abstract. The continuous monitoring of industrial and environmental processes is becoming an increasingly important aspect with both economic and societal impact. So far, spectral-optical sensors with their outstanding properties in terms of sensitivity and reliability have not been considered as a potential solution because of the cost-intensive and bulky readout hardware. Here we present a card-size, inexpensive, and robust readout platform based on a wavelength-sensitive photodiode. In test and characterization experiments we achieved a wavelength shift resolution of better than 0.1 nm and a detection limit of 0.001 AU for ratiometric measurements. We furthermore discuss the capability and current limitations of our readout unit in context with interrogation experiments we performed with a photonic crystal-based fluid sensor. In sum we expect the presented readout platform to foster the exploitation of spectral-optical sensor technology for gas monitoring, chemical analytics, biosensing and many others fields.
Longitudinal Changes in Stages of Change for Condom Use in Women

Purpose. This study identifies how women naturally progress through the Transtheoretical Model stages of condom use over a 1 year period, using the longitudinal dynamic methodology of latent transition analysis (LTA). Design. As part of a larger study of human immunodeficiency virus risk in women, participants were assessed for their stage of condom use two times, 1 year apart. Subjects. A total of 491 women who completed both assessments of the study were included in this analysis. Measures. Stage of condom use was assessed using two questions, which placed women into one of five stages of change for condom use (α = .90). Results. Latent transition analysis identified the best-fitting model of naturalistic stage progression, which included both forward and backward movement. Precontemplation and maintenance were found to be the most stable stages (more than 50% of the participants remaining in that stage 1 year later), and the action stage was the least stable (15 % remaining in this stage). Transition probabilities for all stages showed a high rate of relapse in the sample. Conclusions. A high proportion of women will remain within their stage of condom use over a 1-year period if no intervention is introduced. Interventions that are aimed at increasing condom use in women need to incorporate relapse prevention. In addition, the transition probabilities for the stages will help establish reasonable rates of change for intervention programs.
Impact of a Weight Management Intervention on Eating Competence: Importance of Measurement Interval in Protocol Design

Purpose: To examine changes in eating competence (EC) in 12-month weight loss intervention. Design: Randomized, parallel-arm with weight loss phase (baseline to month 4) and weight-maintenance phase (months 4-12). Setting: Face-to-face in University classrooms, supervised and self-directed fitness sessions at University fitness center, and home. Participants: Premenopausal, mostly college-educated Pennsylvania women, body mass index >25 (n = 101). Intervention: Twenty-eight, 1-hour classes tailored for extremes of the Dietary Guidelines’ fat recommendations, based on social cognitive theory, problem-based learning delivery over 12 months. Exercise component included supervised and self-directed stretching, aerobics, and strength training. Measures: Anthropometrics, lipid profile, blood pressure, 24-hour dietary recalls, cognitive behavioral measures, Satter Eating Competence Inventory (ecSI). Analysis: General linear model repeated measures analysis of variance for outcome variables. Results: A total of 40% (n = 40) completed the ecSI. Overall, education and supervised exercise session attendance were 77% and 88%, respectively. Similar weight loss for lower and moderate fat groups (6.7 kg and 5.4 kg). The EC was unchanged baseline to month 4 but increased significantly from months 4 to 12, baseline to month 12 for both groups. The EC change baseline to month 12 was inversely associated with weight change from baseline to months 4 and 12. Conclusion: Weight management interventions, likely to introduce concerns with eating attitudes, behaviors, and foods, can reduce EC. Short-term measurement of EC change captures these consequent adjustments without opportunity to regain self-efficacy. Extending the measurement interval better reflects intervention impact on EC.
Exploiting Optical Flow Field Properties for 3D Structure Identification

This paper deals with a new method that exploits optical flow field properties to simplify and strengthen the original c-velocity approach (Bouchafa and Zavidovique, 2012). C-velocity is a cumulative method based on a Hough-like transform adapted to velocities that allows 3D structure identification. In case of moving cameras, the 3D scene is assumed to be composed by a set of 3D planes that could be categorized in 3 main models : horizontal, lateral and vertical planes. We prove in this paper that, by using directly pixel coordinates to create what we will call the uv-velocity space, it is possible to detect 3D planes efficiently. We conduct our experiments on the KITTI optical flow dataset (Menze and Geiger, 2015) to prove our new concept besides the effectiveness of uv-velocity in detecting planes. In addition, we show how our approach could be applied to detect free navigation area (road), urban structures like buildings and obstacles from a moving camera in the context of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
Telomere length in poor-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia: associations with disease characteristics and outcome

Abstract Telomere length in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is described as an independent prognostic factor based largely on previously untreated patients from chemotherapy based trials. Here, we studied telomere length associations in high-risk, relapsed/refractory CLL treated with alemtuzumab in the CLL2O study (n = 110) of German and French CLL study groups. Telomere length (median 3.28 kb, range 2.52–7.24 kb) was relatively short, since 84.4% of patients had 17p- which is generally associated with short telomeres. Median telomere length was used for dichotomization into short and long telomere subgroups. Telomere length was associated with s-TK (p = .025) and TP53 mutations (p = .050) in untreated patients, while no association with clinical/biological characteristics was observed in relapsed/refractory CLL. Short telomeres had significant association with shorter PFS (p = .018) only in refractory CLL. Presence of short telomeres, loss of genes maintaining genomic integrity (SMC5) and increased incidence of chromothripsis, indicated the prevalence of genomic instability in this high-risk cohort (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01392079).
Accelerated fracture healing in transgenic mice overexpressing an anabolic isoform of fibroblast growth factor 2

The effect of targeted expression of an anabolic isoform of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) in osteoblastic lineage on tibial fracture healing was assessed in mice. Closed fracture of the tibiae was performed in Col3.6–18 kDaFgf2‐IRES‐GFPsaph mice in which a 3.6 kb fragment of type I collagen promoter (Col3.6) drives the expression of only the 18 kD isoform of FGF2 (18 kDaFgf2/LMW) with green fluorescent protein‐sapphire (GFPsaph) as well as Vector mice (Col3.6‐IRES‐GFPsaph, Vector) that did not harbor the FGF2 transgene. Radiographic, micro‐CT, DEXA, and histologic analysis of fracture healing of tibiae harvested at 3, 10 and 20 days showed a smaller fracture callus but accelerated fracture healing in LMWTg compared with Vector mice. At post fracture day 3, FGF receptor 3 and Sox 9 mRNA were significantly increased in LMWTg compared with Vector. Accelerated fracture healing was associated with higher FGF receptor 1, platelet derived growth factors B, C, and D, type X collagen, vascular endothelial cell growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase 9, tartrate resistant acid phosphatase, cathepsin K, runt‐related transcription factor‐2, Osterix and Osteocalcin and lower Sox9, and type II collagen expression at 10 days post fracture. We postulate that overexpression of LMW FGF2 accelerated the fracture healing process due to its effects on factors that are important in chondrocyte and osteoblast differentiation and vascular invasion. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 599–611, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MicroRNAs 15A and 16-1 Activate Signaling Pathways That Mediate Chemotaxis of Immune Regulatory B cells to Colorectal Tumors.

BACKGROUND & AIMS B cells infiltrate tumors, but little is known about how they affect tumor growth and progression. microRNA15A (MIR15A or miRNA15A) and microRNA16-1 (MIR16-1 or miRNA16-1) regulate cell proliferation, apoptosis, and drug resistance. We investigated their involvement in B-cell-mediated immune suppression by colorectal tumors. METHODS Mice with disruptions of the gene cluster that encodes MIR15A and MIR16-1 (knockout mice), and control (C57BL/B6) mice were given azoxymethane with dextran sodium sulfate (AD) to induce formation of colorectal tumors. Mice were given anti-CD20 to delete B cells, or injections of agomir to increase MIR15A and MIR16-1. Proliferation of CD8+T cells was measured by carboxyfluorescein-succinimidyl-ester analysis. Colon tissues were collected from mice and analyzed by flow cytometry, microRNA (miRNA) sequencing, and for cytokine production. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) were isolated and transfected with miRNA mimics, to identify their targets. We analyzed miRNA expression patterns and quantified B cells in colorectal cancer tissue microarrays derived from 90 patients who underwent surgical resection, from July 2006 through April 2008, in Shanghai, China; expression data were compared with clinical outcomes. RESULTS Tumors that developed in knockout mice following administration of AD were larger and contained greater numbers of B cells than tumors that grew in control mice. Most of the B cells in the tumors were positive for immunoglobulin A (IgA+). IgA+ B cells expressed high levels of immune regulatory molecules (programmed death ligand 1, interleukin 10, and transforming growth factor beta), and repressed the proliferation and activation of CD8+ T cells. Levels of MIR15A and MIR16-1 were reduced in colon tumors from mice, compared with nontumor colon tissue. Incubation of IECs with IL17A reduced expression of MIR15A and MIR16-1. Transgenic expression of MIR15A and MIR16-1 in IECs decreased activation of NF-κB and STAT1 by reducing expression of I-kappaB kinases; this resulted in reduced production of chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligands 9 and 10 and decreased chemotaxis of IgA+ B cells. Tumors in mice injected with AD and agomir grew more slowly than tumors in mice not given in agomir and contained fewer IgA+ B cells. We found a negative correlation between levels of MIR15A and MIR16-1 and numbers of IgA+B cells in human colorectal tumor tissues; high levels of MIR15A and MIR16-1 and low numbers of IgA+B cells were associated with longer survival times of patients. CONCLUSIONS We found increased levels of MIR15A and MIR16-1 to reduce numbers of IgA+ B cells in colorectal tumor tissues and correlate with increased survival time of patients. In mice that lack MIR15A and MIR16-1, colon tumors grow more rapidly and contain increased numbers of IgA+ B cells. MIR15A and MIR16-1 appear to activate signaling pathways required for B-cell-mediated immune suppression.
A microanalytical procedure for the determination of calcium, phosphate and fluoride in enamel biopsy samples.

This paper describes analytical methods for the determination of calcium, phosphate and fluoride in successive layers of enamel removed from rat and human teeth by acid etching. These methods include: (i) simple, sensitive spectrophotometric methods for the determination of calcium and phosphate; (ii) an easily constructed miniature fluoride electrode, and (iii) an improved electrode adapter that permits one fluoride electrode to measure numerous microsamples very rapidly. The high sensitivity and simplicity of the analytical techniques described allows many types of microsamples of interest in dental research to be analyzed with an accuracy and speed heretofore attainable only with much larger samples.
Prediction model based hybrid routing protocol for cognitive radio ad-hoc network

Cognitive is a new paradigm and now seen as a solution to the ‘spectrum scarcity’ problem in wireless communication system. It is necessary to use spectrum efficiently due to its limited availability. Cognitive radio network reuses the spectrum environment to detect the white spaces in the frequency spectrum. White spaces are then allocated to secondary user to carry out the transmission and keeping in check the interference to primary user. Various prediction models and algorithms based on probability theory have been used to predict the channel states to ensure efficient use. In this paper, we propose a Prediction Model Based Hybrid Routing protocol For Cognitive Radio Ad-hoc Network. Proposed method is compared with technique used previously. Simulating the scenario results, conclusions are drawn and discussed.
Automated Integrated Robotic Systems for Diagnostics and Test of Electric and Micropropulsion Thrusters

An integrated microcontroller-based data acquisition and robotic actuation suite comprising digital electronics, microcontrollers, custom-made hardware, and accessorial software for diagnostics, and characterization of electric propulsion thrusters in a large vacuum space environment simulator is designed, built, and tested. The components of the characterization suite have been aggregated into modular add-on units for rapid rearrangement and easy customization to suit various applications. The modules include a force calibration system for accurate thrust measurements in various thrust stands, and spatially resolved measurements in a multiprobe array comprising Langmuir and Faraday probes for plume diagnostics of plasma thrusters. Plume and thrust characteristics of a miniaturized Hall-type thruster were successfully measured in situ, enabling users to vary process controls and efficiently optimize the thruster performance. The system revealed a further potential for real-time flight mission diagnostics and control.
Technical Note: The air quality modeling system Polyphemus

Polyphemus is an air quality modeling platform which aims at covering the scope and the abilities of modern air quality systems. It deals with applications from local scale to continental scale, using two Gaussian models and two Eulerian models. It manages passive tracers, radioactive decay, photochemistry and aerosol dynamics. The structure of the system includes four independent levels with data management, physical parameterizations, numerical solvers and high-level methods such as data assimilation. This enables sensitivity and uncertainty analysis, primarily through multimodel approaches. On top of the models, drivers implement advanced methods such as model coupling or data assimilation.
Study of the Association between Alzheimer’s Disease and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism Using DNA from Lymphocytes

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) may play a role in cognition and memory. A recent study found that a 287-bp insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the ACE gene is associated with susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, this finding has not been replicated by all studies. These discrepancies may be due to the difference in ethnic background. Therefore, we investigated the possibility of such an association in 173 AD patients and 286 normal controls from a Chinese population. We found that there is an increased frequency of the ACE I allele in AD patients and the odds ratio for bearers of the I allele was 2.88. Our findings further support previous reports of an association between ACE polymorphism and AD. The implication of the ACE I/D polymorphism in the pathogenesis of AD warrants further exploration.
Multi-scale interaction techniques for the interactive visualization of execution traces. (Techniques d'interaction multi-échelles pour la visualisation interactive de traces d'exécution)

Developper des applications de streaming multimedia pour systemes embarques devient une tâche de plus en plus complexe. De nouveaux standards multimedia apparaissent regulierement sur le marche pour supporter de meilleures resolutions et delivrer du contenu multimedia de meilleure qualite. Une consequence est la complexification des plateformes materielles et du developpement logiciel. La methode traditionnelle de debogage pour les applications de streaming multimedia est l'utilisation de traces d'execution. Cependant, la quantite de donnees generee par les logiciels modernes augmente et les outils existants ne passent pas a l'echelle, ne permettent plus un debogage efficace. Dans cette these, nous nous focalisons sur de nouvelles techniques de visualisation enrichies par des resultats d'algorithmes de fouille de donnees afin de permettre une analyse efficace des traces d'execution.Nous commencons par presenter les Slick Graphs, une technique de decoupage et de lissage pour la visualisation de series temporelles. Les Slick Graphs minimisent les artefacts introduits par les techniques de lissage traditionnelles en utilisant le plus petit intervalle possible: les pixels. A travers une etude utilisateur, nous montrons que les Slick Graphs sont significativement plus rapides et plus precis avec des donnees periodiques. Nous proposons ensuite un nouveau systeme de visualisation interactive, TraceViz, pour explorer les traces d'execution a differents niveaux de details. Avec TraceViz, nous introduisons aussi un back-end permettant l'exploration interactive de trace d'execution de taille importante. Nous fournissons une analyse de performance montrant que le back-end de TraceViz delivre des performances significativement meilleures que les back-end utilises dans les outils de debogage disponibles aujourd'hui.Les traces contiennent aussi de nombreuses informations importantes qui peuvent etre calculees avec des algorithmes de fouille de donnees comme par exemple l'existence de sequences d’evenements repetees au cours de la trace ou des comportements periodiques. Cependant, meme si les techniques de fouille de donnees permettent d'avoir une meilleure comprehension des traces d'execution, leurs resultats sont difficiles a exploiter du au grand nombre de motifs a examiner un par un manuellement. Nous proposons une nouvelle methode d'analyse visuelle qui permet de visualiser les structures cachees dans une traces comme les sequences repetees et la periodicite d'un ensemble d’evenements, permettant de rapidement avoir une comprehension fine de la trace. Enfin, nous montrons aussi comment notre methode peut etre appliquees a differents types de donnees, autres que les traces d'execution.