Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Difficulties in Defining a Clinical Score for Acute Flare-Ups in an Osteoarthritic Knee

The basic idea of this editorial was to try to propose new techniques and laboratory measurements for future incorporation into a new score for identifying an acutely inflamed osteoarthritic knee joint. In the area of research, defining clinical status was always a hurdle to proper patient recruitment because working on quiet cases of OA with minimal to moderate pain is totally different from working on acute cases of OA with a lot of pain. Hence the problem of defining the clinical status at time of recruitment has become of an utmost importance. To achieve this goal we have navigated through all available methods and tests whether validated or still waiting for validation, to find the most suitable for a new sensitive score. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint points to a clinical syndrome of joint pain associated with varying degrees of functional deterioration and lesser quality of life. It is the most prevalent form of arthritis, and one of the principal causes of pain and disability among the globe. A strong discrepancy has always been demonstrated between the level of radiological deterioration and clinical symptomatology. In other words minimal radiological changes can be associated with a lot of pain during flare-ups in contrast to a severe radiological deterioration with modest reduction in function and a modest level of pain [1]. Several scores and indexes have been created for OA serving many relevant points. A short description of the scores and indexes available will be done. Lequesne‘s algo-functionnal index [2] has dealt with many points as nocturnal pain, walking ability, stiffness and some daily activities. The score gave special emphasis on the distance walked by the patients which is not accomplished by knee only as several body systems contribute to walking. The impression given to users was that the score deals with function more than it does with acuteness of symptoms. For example if the patient has severe nocturnal pain and stiffness but can walk, then the score gets down abrogating the element of pain, an important issue in acute flare-ups.
Chapter 1 A Survey of Compressed Sensing

Compressed sensing was introduced some ten years ago as an effective way of acquiring signals, which possess a sparse or nearly sparse representation in a suitable basis or dictionary. Due to its solid mathematical backgrounds, it quickly attracted the attention of mathematicians from several different areas, so that the most important aspects of the theory are nowadays very well understood. In recent years, its applications started to spread out through applied mathematics, signal processing, and electrical engineering. The aim of this chapter is to provide an introduction into the basic concepts of compressed sensing. In the first part of this chapter, we present the basic mathematical concepts of compressed sensing, including the Null Space Property, Restricted Isometry Property, their connection to basis pursuit and sparse recovery, and construction of matrices with small restricted isometry constants. This presentation is easily accessible, largely self-contained, and includes proofs of the most important theorems. The second part gives an overview of the most important extensions of these ideas, including recovery of vectors with sparse representation in frames and dictionaries, discussion of (in)coherence and its implications for compressed sensing, and presentation of other algorithms of sparse recovery. Holger Boche Technische Universität München, Theresienstr. 90/IV, München, Germany e-mail: boche@tum.de Robert Calderbank Duke University, 317 Gross Hall, Durham NC, U. S. A. e-mail: robert.calderbank@duke.edu Gitta Kutyniok Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 136, Berlin, Germany e-mail: kutyniok@math.tu-berlin.de Jan Vybı́ral Department of Mathematical Analysis, Charles University, Sokolovska 83, 186 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic e-mail: vybiral@karlin.mff. cuni.cz
One-Pot, One-Step Production of Dietary Nucleotides by Magnetic Biocatalysts

The enzymatic synthesis of nucleotides offers several advantages over traditional multistep chemical methods, such as stereoselectivity, regioselectivity, enantioselectivity, simple downstream processing, and the use of mild reaction conditions. However, in order to scale up these bioprocesses, several drawbacks, such as the low enzyme stability and recycling, must be considered. Enzyme immobilization may overcome these cost-related problems by enhancing protein stability and facilitating the separation of products. In this regard, tetrameric hypoxanthine–guanine–xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGXPRT) from Thermus thermophilus HB8 was covalently immobilized onto glutaraldehyde-activated MagReSyn®Amine magnetic iron oxide porous microparticles (MTtHGXPRT). In this context, two different strategies were followed: (a) an enzyme immobilization through its N-terminus residues at pH 8.5 (derivatives MTtHGXPRT1-3); and (b) a multipoint covalent immobilization through the surface lysine residues at pH 10 (derivatives MTtHGXPRT4-5). The immobilized derivatives of MTtHGXPRT3 (activity 1581 international units per gram of support, IU/g; retained activity 29%) and MTtHGXPRT5 (activity 1108 IU/g; retained activity 23%) displayed the best wet biocatalyst activity, and retained activity values in the enzymatic synthesis of inosine-5′-monophosphate (IMP). In addition, the dependence of the activities and stabilities of both derivatives on pH and temperature was tested, as well as their reusability potential. Taking these results into account, MTtHGXPRT3 was chosen as the best biocatalyst (negligible loss of activity at 60 °C during 24 h; reusable up to seven cycles). Finally, as proof of concept, the enzymatic production of dietary nucleotides from high concentrations of low soluble bases was achieved.
The Expansion of Capital and Uneven Development on a World Scale

This paper explains the divergence among countries in level of development in terms of primary and secondary uneven development, both resulting from the process of accumulation. Primary uneven development arises because of the more dynamic expansion of capitalist countries relatively to countries in which capitalism is incipient. This difference is inherent in the social relations of capital. Secondary uneven development occurs within the group of predominantly capitalist countries, due to competition and adoption of technical innovations within the social relations of capital. The former generates divergence; the latter exhibits a cyclical pattern of convergence and divergence, with convergence the long term tendency.
Effect of thyroid hormones on Hyperglycaemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Insulin and thyroid hormones are both involved in cellular metabolism and excess or deficit of either of these hormones may result in the functional derangement of the other. Thyroid hormone action has long been recognized as an important determinant of glucose homeostasis. The present study was conducted to find out the correlation between hyperglycaemia and thyroid hormones in patients with T2DM.
Soft Biometrics Classification Using Denoising Convolutional Autoencoders and Support Vector Machines

This work presents a methodology to perform the classification of soft biometrics in images of pedestrians using a Denoising Convolutional Autoencoder as feature extractor and a Support Vector Machine as classifier. The Denoising Convolutional Autoencoder was trained with a custom dataset containing a combination of five available datasets (3DPES, Market1501, PRID2011, VIPeR and ETHZ) and used as a feature extractor of the images of the VIPeR dataset. The extracted features were then used as input values for a Support Vector Machine classifier, with its hyper-parameters set by using Grid Search, in order to classify the images according to two soft biometrics or labels: Long-Hair and Sunglasses. The results obtained with the proposed approach were compared to those obtained using other well-known feature extractor: Histogram of Oriented Gradients.
Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery: Review of Pros and Cons

Despite huge advances in minimally invasive surgeries, efforts still continue for finding less invasive methods of surgery. Patients desire less postoperative pain as well as better cosmetic outcomes. This may be achieved by decreasing the number of laparoscopic ports in which all the surgical maneuvers are performed through a single incision. However, surgeons should be also equipped to act well while avoiding adverse events of the new practicing approach. Along with increasing trends in performing of single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) in routine practice, the number of assessing the pros and cons of this new modality is also on the rise. Although it has been claimed that SILS is able to make the dream of invisible laparoscopy true for patients and surgeons, consecutive studies regarding postoperative outcomes questioned the benefits of the new evolved technique. Subsequent meta-analysis also revealed equal outcomes for SILS in comparison to the standard laparoscopy. Our review aimed to outline the pros and cons of SILS.
Assessing spider diversity on the forest floor: expert knowledge beats systematic design

Abstract The design of sampling schemes affects the results of biodiversity inventories. As an approach for quantifying the implications of such effects, we compared data on spider communities sampled in a beech-dominated forest floor habitat by 1) a regular grid of pitfall traps (systematic design) and 2) an expert-based distribution of traps (stratified design). We tested whether the two designs would lead to similar conclusions about the diversity and composition of ground-dwelling spider communities. Estimates of species richness, rarefied species richness and activity density calculated per trap were significantly higher in the stratified than in the systematic design. The community composition based on the presence or absence of sampled species or based on log-transformed activity densities differed significantly. Most of the dissimilarity between the community estimates of the two designs was attributable to three species, with Pardosa saltans Töpfer-Hofmann 2000 being more common in traps of the stratified design and Tenuiphantes zimmermanni (Bertkau 1890) and Walckenaeria cuspidata Blackwall 1833 being more frequently observed in traps of the systematic design. Our study suggests that a stratified sampling design is better suited for inventory surveys of spider communities of forest-floor habitats, as trap locations of this design reflect specific habitat needs. It is important to note that inventories are a major field for the application of such designs and that greater care is needed for the application of inferential statistics. For example, the non-randomness that is caused by expert selection of sampling sites may violate fundamental assumptions of simple linear models.
Community development and democratic practice: pas de deux or distinct and different?

In this introductory article, we discuss the theme of the Special Issue of Community Development focused on community development and democratic practice. Seven articles are summarized and highlight a range of case studies that vary by location, scale, and purpose, followed by a reflective essay. Drawing from the articles in the Special Issue and a series of joint learning exchanges on the topic sponsored by the Kettering Foundation, we then outline a heuristic framework for “democratic community development. ” The framework asks a number of related questions about how democracy, community, and the public are constituted, and what processes, end goals, methods, and tools are to be used to further democratic community development.
Optimization of the Degradation of Hydroquinone, Resorcinol and Catechol Using Response Surface Methodology

A clay catalyst (montmorillonite and kaolinite) was prepared and used to degrade three phenolic compounds: hydroquinone, resorcinol and catechol obtained from the treatment the Olive Mill Wastewater (OMW) generated in the production of olive oil. The operating conditions of the degradation of these compounds are optimized by the response surface methodology (RSM) which is an experimental design used in process optimization studies. The results obtained by the catalytic tests and analyses performed by different techniques showed that the modified montmorillonites have very interesting catalytic, structural and textural properties; they are more effective for the catalytic phenolic compound degradation, they present the highest specific surface and they may support iron ions. We also determined the optimal degradation conditions by tracing the response surfaces of each compound; for example, for the catechol, the optimal conditions of degradation at pH 4 are obtained after 120 min at a concentration of H2O2 equal to 0.3 M. Of the three phenolic compounds, the kinetic degradation study revealed that the hydroquinone is the most degraded compound in the least amount of time. Finally, the rate of the catalyst iron ions release in the reaction is lower when the Fe-modified montmorillonites are used.
Mitochondrial DNA analyses reveal widespread tardigrade diversity in Antarctica

Abstract. Antarctica contains some of the most challenging environmental conditions on the planet due to freezing temperatures, prolonged winters and lack of liquid water. Whereas 99.7% of Antarctica is permanently covered by ice and snow, some coastal areas and mountain ridges have remained ice-free and are able to sustain populations of microinvertebrates. Tardigrades are one of the more dominant groups of microfauna in soil and limno-terrestrial habitats, but little is known of their diversity and distribution across Antarctica. Here, we examine tardigrades sampled from across an extensive region of continental Antarctica, and analyse and compare their partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene sequences with those from the Antarctic Peninsula, maritime and sub-Antarctica, Tierra del Fuego and other worldwide locations in order to recognise operational taxonomic units (OTUs). From 439 new tardigrade COI sequences, we identified 98 unique haplotypes (85 from Antarctica) belonging to Acutuncus, Diphascon, Echiniscus, Macrobiotus, Milnesium and unidentified Parachela. Operational taxonomic units were delimited by Poisson tree processes and general mixed Yule coalescent methods, resulting in 58 and 55 putative species, respectively. Most tardigrades appear to be locally endemic (i.e. restricted to a single geographic region), but some (e.g. Acutuncus antarcticus (Richters, 1904)) are widespread across continental Antarctica. Our molecular results reveal: (i) greater diversity than has previously been appreciated with distinct OTUs that potentially represent undescribed species, and (ii) a lack of connectivity between most OTUs from continental Antarctica and those from other Antarctic geographical zones.
Streamlined open-source gel dosimetry analysis in 3D slicer

Three dimensional dosimetry is being used in an increasingly wide variety of clinical applications as more gel and radiochromic plastic dosimeters become available. However, accessible 3D dosimetry analysis tools have not kept pace. 3D dosimetry data analysis is time consuming and laborious, creating a barrier to entry for busy clinical environments. To help in the adoption of 3D dosimetry, we have produced a streamlined, open-source dosimetry analysis system by developing a custom extension in 3D Slicer, called the Gel Dosimetry Analysis slicelet, which enables rapid and accurate data analysis. To assist those interested in adopting 3D dosimetry in their clinic or those unfamiliar with what is involved in a 3D dosimeter experiment, we first present the workflow of a typical gel dosimetry experiment. This is followed by the results of experiments used to validate, step-wise, each component of our software. Overall, our software has made a full 3D gel dosimeter analysis roughly 20 times faster than previous analysis systems.
Molecular cloning of full-length coding sequences and characterization of α chains for donkey ( Equus asinus ) type I collagen

Donkey (Equus asinus) is a good donor for the collagen production. However, the information on mRNA and protein of donkey collagen has never been reported. In this work, the cDNA sequences coding proα1 and proα2 chains of donkey type I procollagen were determined from six and seven overlapping RT-PCR products, respectively. Further characterization of deduced amino acid sequences detailed the propeptides, telopeptides and triple-helical regions in donkey type I procollagen and collagen chains. Two proα chains of donkey type I procollagen share high similarities with corresponding sequences in mammalian species observed in this study. Considering the significance of lysine and proline in the structure and function of collagen, the distribution patterns of these two characteristic residues in α chains of donkey type I collagen were observed. The mRNA expression levels of type I collagen in donkey tissues were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. Keywords : Collagen, Col1a1, Col1a2, donkey, complementary DNA African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(27), pp. 4290-4302
Diet of common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) in the Pacific coast of Ecuador

The diet and the feeding habits of the common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) in the Pacific coast of Ecuador was assessed by examining 320 stomachs of individuals ranging from 51 to 149 cm in total length. Fish was the predominant prey group in the diet (Alimentary Index, %AI = 95.39) followed by cephalopods (%AI = 4.13) and crustaceans (%AI = 0.48). Among the 17 prey items that make up the dolphinfish diet, the Exocoetidae family was the most important prey (%AI = 57.13), Dosidicus gigas being the most abundant invertebrate species (%AI = 7.65). Feeding patterns were evaluated using the graphing method of Amundsen, which suggested that this species shows a varying degree of specialization on different prey taxa. Thus, while some species were unimportant and rare (Hippocampus hippocampus, Lagocephalus lagocephalus, Gobiidae and Argonauta sp.), several dolphinfishes showed a high degree of specialization on Scombridae, Pleuroncodes planipes, Portunus xantusii and Opisthonema libertate. Size-related and temporal shifts in dietary composition were investigated by PERMANOVA analysis, which showed wide variations among size classes and periods of capture. The results of this study indicate that the common dolphinfish is an opportunistic feeder, which is capable of consuming a wide variety of schooling epipelagic organisms.
Geological habitat template overrides late Quaternary climate change as a determinant of range dynamics and phylogeography in some habitat‐specialist water beetles

Aim We investigated the roles of lithology and climate in constraining the ranges of four co‐distributed species of Iberian saline‐habitat specialist water beetles (Ochthebius glaber, Ochthebius notabilis, Enochrus falcarius and Nebrioporus baeticus) across the late Quaternary and in shaping their geographical genetic structure. The aim was to improve our understanding of the effects of past climate changes on the biota of arid Mediterranean environments and of the relative importance of history and landscape on phylogeographical patterns.
Pathogenicity and rDNA-ITS sequence analysis of the Corynespora cassiicola isolates from rubber plantations in Indonesia

Corynespora cassiicola is an important pathogen causing Corynespora leaf fall disease on the rubber tree. Analysis of virulence, rDNA-ITS sequence and identification of cas gene were undertaken to investigate the effect of agro-climatic conditions and host rubber clones to virulence of 23 C. cassiicola isolates on six clones (RRIC 100, BPM 24, BPM 1, PB 260, GT 1 and RRIM 600) and to observed the evolution pattern of C. cassiicola isolates. Virulence analysis showed that there is an interaction between isolates and clones, indicating the differences of each isolates virulence to six clones. Agro-climatic conditions and host clones influenced the virulence of isolates and rDNA-ITS sequence variation. Analysis of rDNA-ITS showed that there were three of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) that separated of isolates into 5 haplotypes. Most of the isolates belonging to the haplotype 1. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that C. cassiicola have a high diversity, however the clustering did not indicate country and host species of isolates. This information will be very useful on developing strategies of disease management and rubber plant breeding towards resistance to CLF disease.
Noise figure vs. PM noise measurements: a study at microwave frequencies

This paper addresses two issues: (i) it compares the usefulness of phase-modulation (PM) noise measurements vs. noise figure (NF) measurements in characterizing the merit of an amplifier, and (ii) it reconciles a general misunderstanding in using -174 dBc/Hz (relative to carrier input power of 0 dBm) as thermal noise level. The residual broadband (white PM) noise is used as the basis for estimating the noise figure (NF) of an amplifier. We have observed experimentally that many amplifiers show an increase in the broadband noise of 1 to 5 dB as the signal level through the amplifier increases. This effect is linked to input power through the amplifier's nonlinear intermodulation distortion. Consequently, this effect is reduced as linearity is increased. It is important to note that NF is sometimes used as a selection criteria for an amplifier but yields no information about potentially important close-to-carrier 1/f noise of an amplifier, whereas PM and amplitude modulation (AM) noise measurements do. We have verified theoretically and experimentally that the single-sideband PM (and AM) noise floor due to thermal noise is -177 dBc/Hz, relative to a carrier input power of 0 dBm.