Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Time course of left atrial reverse remodelling after mitral valve surgery and the impact of left ventricular global longitudinal strain in patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation.

OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate the time course of left atrial (LA) reverse remodelling (LARR) after mitral valve (MV) surgery in patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and examine the impact of left ventricular (LV) mechanical function on LARR. METHODS A total of 140 patients (73 males, age 54 ± 16 years) with chronic severe MR undergoing MV surgery were analysed. All patients underwent two-dimensional, Doppler and speckle-tracking echocardiography before and after surgery (1 week, 6 months and 12 months). RESULTS There was a significant decrease in LA volume from 137.8 ± 85.5 to 89.7 ± 54.6 ml (-32.1 ± 16.7%, P < 0.001) at 1 week after surgery. LA volume further decreased to 77.4 ± 52.4 ml (-9.9 ± 13.4%, P < 0.001) at 6 months but increased to 79.7 ± 62.4 ml (3.6 ± 11.9%, P = 0.002) at 12 months after surgery. Patients with good LARR (a reduction of ≥25% in LA volume) showed lower LV global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) than those with poor LARR (P = 0.032). In simple correlation, age (r = 0.19, P = 0.026), preoperative LA volume (r = -0.28, P = 0.001) and preoperative LV-GLS (r = 0.28, P = 0.001) showed significant correlations with the % change in LA volume, whereas no correlations were observed with preoperative LV ejection fraction, global circumferential and radial strain. In multivariate analyses, preoperative LV-GLS (β = 0.24, P = 0.014) was an independent determinant for early LARR along with age and preoperative LA volume. CONCLUSIONS The majority of LARR after MV surgery occurred during the early postoperative period. LV-GLS, age and LA volume at surgery determined the degree of early LARR after MV surgery in patients with chronic severe MR.
The squamous cell carcinoma antigens as relevant biomarkers of atopic dermatitis

Background Although it is thought that both Th1‐ and Th2‐type inflammations are involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD), it is controversial which immune response is more involved in regulating the clinical severity of AD. We recently found that the squamous cell carcinoma antigens 1 (SCCA1) and SCCA2 are novel biomarkers of bronchial asthma, downstream of IL‐4 and IL‐13.
Deficits of olfactory interneurons in polysialyltransferase‐ and NCAM‐deficient mice

The neurogenic niche of the anterior subventricular zone (SVZ) persistently generates neuroblasts, which migrate along the rostral migratory stream (RMS) into the olfactory bulb (OB), where they differentiate into granule and periglomerular cells. Loss of the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM or its post‐translational modification polysialic acid (polySia) impairs migration causing accumulations of cells in the proximal RMS and decreased OB volume. Polysialylation of NCAM is implemented by two polysialyltransferases, ST8SIA2 and ST8SIA4, with overlapping functions. Here, we used mice with Ncam1 and polysialyltransferase deletions to analyze how partial or complete loss of polySia synthesis or a combined loss of polySia and NCAM affects the RMS and the interneuron composition in the OB. Numerous calretinin (CR)‐positive cells were detected dispersed around the RMS in Ncam1 knockout, St8sia2, St8sia4 double‐knockout, and St8sia2, St8sia4, Ncam1 triple‐knockout mice, as well as in St8sia2−/− but not in St8sia4−/− mice. These changes were not reflected by reductions of CR‐positive cells in the granule or glomerular layer of the OB. Instead, calbindin‐positive periglomerular interneurons were strongly reduced in all polySia‐NCAM negative mice and slightly attenuated in St8sia2−/− as well as in the St8sia4−/− mice, which were devoid of ectopic CR‐positive cells along the RMS. Consistent with the early developmental generation of calbindin‐ as compared with CR‐positive OB interneurons, this phenotype was fully developed at postnatal day 5. Together, these results demonstrate that the early development of calbindin‐positive periglomerular interneurons depends on the presentation of polySia on NCAM and requires the activity of both polysialyltransferases. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 421–433, 2016
Influence of atypical retardation pattern on the peripapillary retinal nerve fibre distribution assessed by scanning laser polarimetry and optical coherence tomography

Aim To investigate the influence of atypical retardation pattern (ARP) on the distribution of peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness measured with scanning laser polarimetry in healthy individuals and to compare these results with RNFL thickness from spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the same subjects. Methods 120 healthy subjects were investigated in this study. All volunteers received detailed ophthalmological examination, GDx variable corneal compensation (VCC) and Spectralis-OCT. The subjects were divided into four subgroups according to their typical scan score (TSS): very typical with TSS=100, typical with 99≥TSS ≥91, less typical with 90≥TSS ≥81 and atypical with TSS ≤80. Deviations from very typical normal values were calculated for 32 sectors for each group. Results There was a systematic variation of the RNFL thickness deviation around the optic nerve head in the atypical group for the GDxVCC results. The highest percentage deviation of about 96% appeared temporal with decreasing deviation towards the superior and inferior sectors, and nasal sectors exhibited a deviation of 30%. Percentage deviations from very typical RNFL values decreased with increasing TSS. No systematic variation could be found if the RNFL thickness deviation between different TSS-groups was compared with the OCT results. Conclusions The ARP has a major impact on the peripapillary RNFL distribution assessed by GDx VCC; thus, the TSS should be included in the standard printout.
Hepatocyte nuclear factors-1alpha, -1beta, and -3beta expressed in the gonad of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus).

Hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNFs) are upstream regulators of many liver-specific genes and are involved in many cellular functions in the body, but their existence, expression, and function in gonads are still poorly understood. Here we report on the first cloning of partial cDNAs of HNF-1alpha and -1beta and full HNF-3beta cDNA from a tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) liver cDNA library. The deduced amino acid sequence of tilapia HNF-3beta has a 90 to 96% identity with those of other fishes (dwarf gourami, medaka, and zebrafish), 74% with mammals (human, rat, and mouse), and 82% with Xenopus. RT-PCR detected IGF-I and -II and HNF-1alpha, -1beta, and -3beta in both liver and gonads and the identity of the PCR fragments was confirmed by PCR hybridization. Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting also detected all three HNF proteins in both liver and gonads. Expression of HNFs in the gonads of the tilapia suggests that multi-HNFs may form a cascade to regulate gonadal physiology in the bony fish.
Living with Uncertainty

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a common group of chronic illnesses. There is evidence that health professionals find them difficult to diagnose and manage. A consequence of this difficulty in diagnosis might be that sufferers of TMDs have an experience of illness comparable with other chronic illnesses. To explore the sufferers’ experience of TMDs, we conducted a qualitative study with a purposive maximum variation sample of secondary care TMD patients. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the sample and were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data collection and analysis continued until data saturation (n = 19). For analysis, we broadly followed the constant comparative method and used frameworks to organize the data. The key finding was that a lack of diagnosis caused uncertainty over the nature of the cause of the sufferer’s complaint. This uncertainty reportedly caused negative impacts on sufferers’ daily lives. Clearly, diagnosis of TMDs needs to be encouraged at the first point of contact.
Analysis of Port Hopping for Proactive Cyber Defense 1

Port hopping is a typical proactive cyber defense technology, which hides the service identity and confuses attackers during reconnaissance by constantly altering service ports. Although several kinds of port hopping mechanisms have been proposed and implemented, but it is still unknown how effective port hopping is and under what circumstances it is a viable moving target defense because the existed works are limited and they usually discuss only a few parameters. Besides, in many cases the defense effectiveness has been studied empirically. In order to have an insight into the effectiveness of port hopping, this paper introduces a quantitative analysis based on the urn model, which quantifies the probability of attacker success in terms of port pool size, number of probes, number of vulnerable services, and hopping frequency. Theoretical analysis shows that port hopping is an effective and promising proactive defense technology in thwarting cyber attacks.
Assessment of biochemical liver markers, physical activity, fitness and body mass index for a cardiometabolic risk model in childhood

The aim of this study was to investigate clustered cardiometabolic risk scores in healthy 10‐ to 12‐year‐olds using anthropometric characteristics, measurements of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and physical activity and blood markers of metabolic disease. We also evaluated how including markers of liver cell injury would affect the clustered cardiometabolic risk assessment model.
Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 after Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Interleukin-1β Converting Enzyme Deficient Mice

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is expressed after cerebral ischemia and blocking its action reduces subsequent ischemic brain injury. However, the mechanisms by which IL-1β affects ischemic brain are not understood. To investigate the role of IL-1β in regulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) during focal cerebral ischemia, the authors studied mutant mice deficient in the IL-1 converting enzyme (ICE) gene (ICE knockout [KO] mice). Ninety-four adult male ICE KO and wild-type mice underwent 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion using the suture method. Expression of TNF-α and ICAM-1 protein in ischemic brain was examined using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Neither ICE KO nor wild-type mice had significant differences in CBF and body temperature measurements during the ischemic procedure. TNF-α expression increased in the ipsilateral hemisphere after 3 hours of occlusion, peaked at 12 hours and decreased at 24 hours of ischemia in both ICE KO and wild-type mice. ICAM-1 immunohistochemistry showed that the number of ICAM-1–positive vessels in the ischemic hemisphere was reduced in ICE KO mice (P < .05). Western blot analysis showed that ICAM-1 protein expression was significantly attenuated in the ipsilateral hemisphere in the ICE KO mice, which paralleled the immunohistochemistry results, The authors' results indicate that TNF-α expression is increased in both ICE KO and wild-type mice suggesting that TNF-α expression is not related to or upregulated by IL-1β. ICAM-1 expression is significantly reduced in the ICE KO mice suggesting that IL-1β plays an important role in the upregulation of adhesion molecules during focal cerebral ischemia.
Stable: structural stability risk assessment

European cultural heritage (CH) is at risk, threatened by environmental processes strengthened by climate change and anthropogenic pressure. In particular, the slow (landslides, subsidence) and seismic (earthquakes) movements of the soil have a strong impact on the structural stability of our cultural heritage (CH). The actions to be carried out to protect and safeguard CH are in continuous development and this is where the STABLE (STructural stABiLity risk assEssment) project fits. STABLE concerns the design and development of a thematic platform, which combines structural stability models, simulation and damage assessment tools, advanced remote sensing, in situ monitoring technologies, geotechnical and cadastral data sets with the WebGIS application for mapping and long-term monitoring of the CH. The thematic platform, which is the final objective of the project, will therefore support the authorities responsible for the conservation of cultural heritage in the design and implementation of policies for monitoring, preserving and safeguarding our heritage. This will allow effective monitoring and management of CH to prevent or at least reduce the possible irreparable damages. STABLE will coordinate existing skills and research in a synergistic plan of collaborations and staff exchanges to offer a complete transfer of knowledge and training to researchers in the specific area under study. The development of the platform will be the strategy that scientists will have to follow to share and improve CH safeguard methods. It will serve professionals to apply the most advanced technologies in their fields.
Designing Value Proposition for Passenger Cars Based on Customer’s Preferred Attributes: An Emerging Market Perspective

With enormous economic growth in emerging markets, many business leaders want to identify the consumer insights. This study in automobile industry is an attempt to design the value proposition based on customers’ preferred attributes. By understanding the preferences of customer attributes for passenger cars, new product can be designed which are more suitable towards respective markets. In this study mainly rural and semi urban customers preferences were examined, through mix method approach. Depth interviews and focus groups were conducted followed by structured questionnaires. List of attributes was scientifically prepared and 879 responses were analyzed using univariate method. Five main constructs were studied, namely basic attributes, added attributes, dealer and network, pricing and finance, and brand related attributes. Within these main constructs 31 items were listed which were rated on a five point scale by customers. Finally value proposition has been deliberated reflecting customer’s preferences of these attributes in passenger cars. Customized strategies have been developed in the paper keeping in mind various demographic factors. This work shall fulfil the void in the literature regarding studies related to crafting value proposition. It would also benefit automobile managers by giving them more insights about consumer’s preferences and developing vehicles based on customers’ expectations and needs.
Wideband quasi-Yagi antenna with tapered driver

This paper presents a wideband quasi-Yagi antenna with a driven element in the form of tapered strip. The antenna is designed to be part of a circular array for a microwave imaging system. The feeding structure of the antenna includes a balun that is formed using a pair of microstrip to slotline transitions. The simulated results of the proposed antenna indicate more than 73% fractional bandwidth with more than 10 dB return loss and about 3 dBi to 5 dBi gain.
Cyber security concept for Internet of Everything (IoE)

In the article describes the main perspective directions of development of Worldwide network the Internet reveal: Internet of things, Industrial Internet of things, tactile Internet of things. These directions it is planned to unite in the general concept of Internet of with the basic principle “Always in touch”. Potentially it means increase number of connections to the Internet to 70 trillion by 2025, reconstruction and modernization of modern communication networks and new approach to ensuring information security. Information security becomes a cornerstone of creation of communication networks of future generations and how data and communication networks will be protected safety of Society and State will depend. If today objects, potentially vulnerable from the Internet, are computers and the maximum harm which hacker attack can cause is a temporary suspension of work of automated control systems and access to information, in networks of the Industrial Internet of things any element so-called “Digital economy” can become object of attack. It is necessary for prevention of potential threats: to classify these threats; to have the uniform formal description of threats and the warning and correcting influence; to have the uniform concept of the organization of information security. This article brings up questions which creation of the uniform concept of information security of Russia with the purpose to minimize potential danger of harmful impact on significant objects of protection has to form the basis and to exclude possibility of network attacks to critical objects.
New zero voltage vectors in direct torque control of brushless DC motor

Traditionally the voltage vector is defined as zero voltage vector (ZVV) when all power switches are off in direct torque control (DTC) system of brushless DC motor (BLDCM). However the study on the voltage and current of the conducting phase windings shows that the voltage vector is not actually zero by using the traditional ZVV. So it is redefined in this paper according to the definition of ZVV in BLDCM DTC system. The construction method and effectiveness of the New ZVV to reduce the torque ripple was discussed and verified by the experimental results and performance analysis.
Potent Suppression of Viral Infectivity by the Peptides That Inhibit Multimerization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Vif Proteins*

Virion infectivity factor (Vif) is essential for the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in vivo, but its function remains uncertain. Recently, we have shown that Vif proteins are able to form multimers, including dimers, trimers, or tetramers. Because the multimerization of Vif proteins is required for Vif function in the viral life cycle, we propose that it could be a novel target for anti-HIV-1 therapeutics. Through a phage peptide display method, we have identified a set of 12-mer peptides containing a PXP motif that binds to HIV-1 Vif protein. These proline-enriched peptides potently inhibited the Vif-Vif interaction in vitro. We have also screened a set of synthesized Vif peptides (15-mer), which covers all the amino acids of the HIV-1 Vif protein sequence, for their ability to inhibit the Vif-Vif interaction in vitro. We demonstrated that Vif-derived proline-enriched peptides that contain the161PPLP164 domain are able to inhibit the Vif-Vif interaction. Conversely, the deletion of the161PPLP164 domain of Vif protein will significantly impair the capability of Vif proteins to interact with each other, indicating that the 161PPLP164domain plays a key role in Vif multimerization. All these results demonstrate that the proline-enriched peptides block the multimerization of Vif through interfering with the polyproline interfaces of Vif formed by 161PPLP164 domain. Moreover, these peptides which inhibit the Vif-Vif interaction in vitro potently inhibit HIV-1 replication in the “nonpermissive” T-cells. We propose that this study starts a novel strategy to develop structural diverse inhibitors of Vif such as peptidomimetics or small organic molecules.
Molecular cloning and characterization of two Trithorax-Group genes from Phaseolus vulgaris roots and symbiotic nodules

In eukaryotes, trithorax group proteins play critical roles in the regulation of transcription, cell proliferation, differentiation and development. In this work we report the molecular cloning and characterization of two cDNAs, PvuTRX1h and PvuASH1h, from the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris , both of which encode polypeptides homologues of trithorax group members described in animals and yeast. A full length clone of PvuTRX1h was isolated from total RNA prepared from roots and consisting of a 3270 bp ORF encoding 1089 amino acids, while the PvuAsh1h consists of a 1446 bp ORF encoding 481 amino acids. Characterization of the isolated sequences revealed that they contain all the canonical domains present in proteins from the TRX (trithorax) and ASH1 families. A comparison of the PvuTRX1h and PvuASH1h SET-domain sequences with homologous proteins from plants, animals and yeast, revealed that PvuTRX1h is phylogenetically related to the TRX family of histone lysine methyltransferases while PvuASH1h clusters with members of the ASH1 family. Quantitative RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) analyses of transcript abundance in roots and nodules, at different developmental stages, demonstrated that PvuTRX1h is particularly abundant at early stages of nodule development, whereas PvuASH1h functions at the stages of highest nitrogen-fixing activity of the nodules, suggesting that these genes could be involved in the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules in P. vulgaris . This work reports the presence and characterization of Trithorax-group homolog genes in P. vulgaris and their expression patterns during nodule development.
Passive localization and detection of quadcopter UAVs by using dynamic vision sensor

We present a new passive and low power localization method for quadcopter UAVs (Unmanned aerial vehicles) by using dynamic vision sensors. This method works by detecting the speed of rotation of propellers that is normally higher than the speed of movement of other objects in the background. Dynamic vision sensors are fast and power efficient. We have presented the algorithm along with the results of implementation.
A 70‐kd protein of the yeast mitochondrial outer membrane is targeted and anchored via its extreme amino terminus.

The major 70‐kd protein of the yeast mitochondrial outer membrane is made on cytosolic ribosomes and imported into the outer membrane without proteolytic cleavage. We have attempted to identify the sequences which target the protein to the mitochondria and which permanently anchor it to the lipid bilayer of the outer membrane. By manipulating the cloned gene we have deleted 13 different regions throughout the polypeptide; in addition, we have fused amino‐terminal regions of different length to beta‐galactosidase. Each altered gene was introduced into yeast and the intracellular fate of the corresponding polypeptide product was determined by subcellular fractionation. All the information for targeting and anchoring the 70‐kd protein (617 amino acids) was contained within the amino‐terminal 41 amino acids. When this entire region was deleted, the protein was recovered with the cytosol fraction. However, several restricted deletions within this amino‐terminal region appeared to affect targeting and anchoring differentially: most of the altered protein remained in the cytosol but a small fraction was misrouted into the mitochondrial matrix space. We suggest that targeting is mediated by a region which includes the 11 amino‐terminal amino acids whereas the permanent membrane anchor is provided by a typical transmembrane sequence between residues 9 and 38.