Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perturbation response scanning specifies key regions in subtilisin serine protease for both function and stability

Abstract Can one infer the amino acids of the enzymes that are responsible for the stability or the level of the catalytic activity by computationally experimenting on the inhibited enzyme in the enzyme–inhibitor complex? In this article, we answer this question positively both by designing molecular dynamics simulations and by devising coarse-grained methodologies on the subtilisin serine protease. Both methodologies are based on the cross-correlations of the fluctuations of the residues, obtained either by monitoring the trajectories from the simulation or by constructing the inverse Laplacian of the elastic network model, of the complex. A perturbation scanning is applied to the complex using these correlations. The results indicate that the two methods almost point out the same regions on the flexible of the enzyme. These regions are: (i) 50–61, (ii) 155–164 and (iii) 192–194, all of which are designated to be important by experimental studies in the literature.
Text-Dependent Audiovisual Synchrony Detection for Spoofing Detection in Mobile Person Recognition

Liveness detection is an important countermeasure against spoofing attacks on biometric authentication systems. In the context of audiovisual biometrics, synchrony detection is a proposed method for liveness confirmation. This paper presents a novel, text-dependent scheme for checking audiovisual synchronization in a video sequence. We present custom visual features learned using a unique deep learning framework and show that they outperform other commonly used visual features. We tested our system on two testing sets representing realistic spoofing attack approaches. On our mobile dataset of short video clips of people talking, we obtained equal error rates of 0.8% and 2.7% for liveness detection of photos and video attacks, respectively.
About the possibility of recovering a trade network from Bill of Lading data

Importers and exporters play a central role in international trade and therefore are important economic agents. Customs data is an interesting source of company transactions and relationships, that may help to understand economic behaviour at the company, country or product level. We compare several approaches to clean a dataset of US Bill of Lading including a set of techniques from record linkage, text classification and network measures in order to improve the number of exporting companies with a country and product category which can be identified in this dataset. These experiments depicts our initial attempts to reconstruct a network of import-export companies from transactional data.
ELT-based wavelet coding of high-fidelity audio signals

An audio coder capable of high-fidelity representation of audio signals (sampled at 44.1 kHz) at a rate of 2.5 bits/sample is presented. The coder is based on a wavelet transform with frequency resolutions varying from 21.5 Hz to 344 Hz, and time resolutions varying from 23.2 ms to 1.45 ms. With this multiresolution approach, two benefits result. The preecho effect for high-frequency transients is virtually eliminated, and the wavelet transform has a computational complexity that is 15% lower than that of the commonly used block transform. <<ETX>>
The Challenges of Real-Time All

The research agendas of artificial intelligence and real-time systems are converging as AI methods move toward domains that require real-time responses, and real-time systems move toward complex applications that require intelligent behavior. They meet at the crossroads in an exciting new subfield commonly called "real-time AI. " This subfield is still being defined, and the precise goals for various real-time AI systems are in flux. Our goal is to identify promising areas for future research in both real-time and AI techniques. We describe an organizing conceptual structure for current real-time AI research, exploring the meanings this term has acquired. We then identify the goals of real-time AI research and specify some necessary steps for reaching them. >
Evaluation of adverse human lung function effects in controlled ozone exposure studies

The US EPA is evaluating controlled human ozone exposure studies to determine the adequacy of the current ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 75 ppb. These studies have shown that ozone exposures of 80 ppb and greater are associated with lung function decrements. Here, we critically review studies with exposures below 80 ppb to determine the lowest ozone concentration at which decrements are causally associated with ozone exposure and could be considered adverse using the Adverse Effects/Causation Framework. Regarding causation, the framework includes consideration of whether exposure‐related effects are primary or secondary, statistically significant, isolated or independent, or due to study limitations. Regarding adversity, the framework indicates one should consider whether effects are adaptive, compensatory, precursors to an apical effect, severe, transient and/or reversible. We found that, at exposures below 72 ppb ozone, lung function effects are primary effects, but are isolated, independent and not statistically different compared to effects observed during filtered air exposure, indicating a lack of causation. Up to 72 ppb, lung function effects may be precursors to an apical effect, but are not likely adverse because they are transient, reversible, of low severity, do not interfere with normal activity and do not result in permanent respiratory injury or progressive respiratory dysfunction. Overall, these studies do not demonstrate a causal association between ozone concentrations in the range of the current National Ambient Air Quality Standard and adverse effects on lung function. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Medicinal used plants from India: analysis of the essential oil of air-dried Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC.

The essential oil of the air-dried plant Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC. (Oxalidaceae) from Southern lndia was investigated by gas chromatographic-spectroscopic (GC-FID and GC-MS) and olfactoric methods to identify compounds responsible for the characteristic odor as well as partly for the folk medicinal use of this plant. Especially benzene derivatives, such as 1,4-dimethoxy benzene (24.9%), 1,2-dimethoxy benzene (10.6%) and 2-methoxy-4-methyl phenol (3.5%), the monoterpenes (Z)-linalool oxide (8.1%), (E)-linalool oxide (5.2%) and linalyl acetate (3.4%) as well as l-octen-3-ol (9.5%) and isophorone (3.1%) were found to be main constituents (concentrations higher than 3%, calculated as relative %-peak area of GC-FID analysis using an apolar column) of this essential oil, with totally 69 compounds identified. In addition, the odor impression of the sample is described and the possible biological activity of single volatiles discussed.
Treatment of Cleft Foot Deformity With a Suture-Button Construct in the Pediatric Foot

Ectrodactyly, ectodermal dysplasia, and clefting syndrome (EEC) is a rare autosomal dominant congenital condition. It is characterized by its “lobster-claw” cleft hand and foot deformities (ectrodactyly) in addition to clefting of the lip and palate and defects in the hair, teeth, nails, sweat glands. The incidence is estimated at 1:90 000 births when both hands and feet are involved and 1:150000 with isolated foot deformities. Cleft feet dysplasia is characterized by a spectrum of complete or partial loss of the central metatarsals and phalanges, often with present first and fifth rays lending to the lobster-claw appearance. Syndactyly of any present central digits is also common. Variations of the cleft feet syndromes have been classified both clinically and radiographically. Mild deformities are often observed if asymptomatic, and if symptomatic they are treated with accommodative shoe wear or orthoses that help distribute the load on the foot during gait. However, more severe cosmetic and functional deformities have been corrected operatively with a variety of procedures. The goal of any invasive treatment is a painless and biomechanically functional foot that can accommodate regular shoes. This is a report of a case of pediatric cleft foot corrected using a suture-button to reconstruct the intermetatarsal ligament.
FBG-based dynamic strain sensors demodulated by self-mixing interferometry: Improving strain measurement resolution

A fiber optic strain sensor has been devised based on the use of optical feedback or self-mixing interference within the cavity of a single-longitudinal-mode laser as a novel fiber Bragg grating interrogation scheme for strain measurement in the domain of structural health monitoring. The entire sensor device thus simply consists of a laser diode with an integrated photodiode coupled to a fiber Bragg grating under strain. The feasibility of demodulating the induced small wavelength shifts of fiber Bragg gratings under dynamic mechanical loading by self-mixing interferometry has been experimentally verified with strain gauges. This current investigation further reports new work to improve the accuracy of the measured strains. Measurement resolution, defined by the distance between two consecutive peaks from the optical fringes, has been improved from 10 με to 6 με by increasing the fiber gauge length.
Robust ILC with iteration-varying initial state shifts: a 2D approach

This paper deals with the problem of varying initial state shifts in continuous-time iterative learning control (ILC) by employing the two-dimensional (2D) analysis approach. Two PD-type ILC algorithms are considered based on an average operator, where the second one is combined with an initial rectifying action. For both ILC algorithms, 2D Roesser systems are applied to develop sufficient conditions to guarantee their convergence. It is shown that the ILC processes converge with the increasing of iteration, and the converged tracking error can be formulated in terms of the mean of the initial output error and the learning parameters. Numerical simulations are given to illustrate that both ILC algorithms are robust against varying initial state errors, and the second one can achieve uniform convergence over any specified time interval with good learning transients.
Genetic variability of 10 microsatellite markers in the characterization of Brazilian Nellore cattle (Bos indicus)

We assessed the polymorphism of 10 microsatellites in Brazilian Nellore cattle (Bos indicus) using a commercial multiplex system. Allele frequencies, polymorphism information content, heterozygosity and exclusion probability were calculated. Allele frequencies revealed that in the sample analyzed the markers were not equally polymorphic. The exclusion probabilities and the polymorphism information content of some loci in Nellore cattle were lower than in Bos taurus breeds. When all the microsatellites were considered the combined exclusion probability was 0.9989. This multiplex analysis can contribute toward pedigree information, adequate genetic improvements and breeding programs.
Exposure to Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Increases Blood Flow and Resting Energy Expenditure but not Oxidative Stress

Aims: This study examined the effects of exposure to mild hyperbaric oxygen on blood flow and resting energy expenditure. Study Design: Clinical study. Method s:Fourteen healthy women were exposed to mild hyperbaric conditions at 1.25 atmospheres absolute with 36.0% oxygen for 50 min. Their heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, blood flo w, resting energy expenditure, derived-reactive oxygen metabolites, and biological antioxidant potential were monitored, and the values before and after exposure were compared. Results: Heart rate decreased after exposure to mild hyperbaric oxygen. In contrast, peripheral oxygen saturation, blood flow, and resting energy expend iture increased after exposure. There were no changes in the levels of derived-reactive oxygen metabolites or biological antioxidant potential after exposure. Conclusions: Exposure to mild hyperbaric oxygen increases blood flow and metabolism without increasing levels of oxidative stress. OriginalResearch Article
Clinical Spectrum of Subclinical Hypothyroidism and its Management-A Prospective Observational Study

Hypothyroidism is a common problem; it causes symptoms that reduce the functional status and quality of life. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) describes a situation in which thyroid function is only mildly decreased, where the blood level of thyroxine remains within the normal range, but the TSH level in the blood is raised, which indicates mild thyroid failure or impending thyroid failure. Various causes are responsible for this type of medical scenario but the most common cause is chronic autoimmune thyroiditis followed by iodine deficiency, radiation therapy to head and neck region, use of drugs like lithium, amiodarone and unexplainable causes. Prevalence of SCH amounts to approximately 510%, being more frequent in women and with increasing prevalence with advancing age. Earlydiagnosis & treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism may prevent the onset of overt hypothyroidism and its associated effects. Our aim was to study the clinical spectrum of subclinical hypothyroidism and its management. All cases are diagnosed to have subclinical hypothyroidism with TSH > 4. 0μIU/ml and normal T3, T4 Levels. This study was conducted over a period of one year; total subjects included were 155 and included patients with ages 1877 years. Weight gain is the dominant symptom in majority. Goiter was noted in 19 subjects. The patients with subclinical hypothyroidism with TSH level above 10 mIU/L should be managed with low dose thyroxine with proper follow up in order to minimize thyroid deficient related symptoms and signs.
Progressive transmission of secured images with authentication using decompositions into monovariate functions

Abstract. We propose a progressive transmission approach of an image authenticated using an overlapping subimage that can be removed to restore the original image. Our approach is different from most visible watermarking approaches that allow one to later remove the watermark, because the mark is not directly introduced in the two-dimensional image space. Instead, it is rather applied to an equivalent monovariate representation of the image. Precisely, the approach is based on our progressive transmission approach that relies on a modified Kolmogorov spline network, and therefore inherits its advantages: resilience to packet losses during transmission and support of heterogeneous display environments. The marked image can be accessed at any intermediate resolution, and a key is needed to remove the mark to fully recover the original image without loss. Moreover, the key can be different for every resolution, and the images can be globally restored in case of packet losses during the transmission. Our contributions lie in the proposition of decomposing a mark (an overlapping image) and an image into monovariate functions following the Kolmogorov superposition theorem; and in the combination of these monovariate functions to provide a removable visible “watermarking” of images with the ability to restore the original image using a key.
Feature-Based Probabilistic Data Association and Tracking

In this contribution we present a concept for improvement of object tracking in applications that suffer from severe detection errors such as incomplete, merged, split, missing and clutter-based detections due to noisy data, sensory and algorithmic restrictions and occlusions. It is based on utilization of low-level information that is gained through tracking dedicated feature points with known relationship to the tracked objects. The proposed Feature-Based Probabilistic Data Association and Tracking Algorithm (FBPDA) can be applied not only in the field of driver assistance systems but also in surveillance applications and further video-based object tracking applications. The main requirement is the possibility to robustly track dedicated feature points in the image (and in 3D space). For this aim, both correlation-based techniques (optic flow) and correspondence-based techniques using e.g. SIFT [1] or SURF [2] features can be used.
Behavioral Consequences of Job-Related Stress among Resident Physicians: The Mediating Role of Psychological Strain

This study examined the correlations among stressors, psychological strain, and behavioral reactions in a national sample of 1785 resident physicians, 27 to 33 years old. Consistent with previous studies of resident physicians, analysis showed that those experiencing high job-related stressors experienced high psychological strain in both their personal and professional lives. Stressors were also correlated with behavioral reactions. Hierarchical regression suggested that psychological strain mediated the relations between two of the stressors and behavioral reactions to some extent. This was consistent with recent research suggesting that psychological reactions may mediate the relations between stressors and outcomes. Further research on both medical residency and the stressing process was suggested.
Human Skeletal Muscle Stem Cell Antiinflammatory Activity Ameliorates Clinical Outcome in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Models

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is considered one of the most promising approaches for treating different neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We previously characterized a subpopulation of human skeletal muscle-derived stem cells (SkmSCs) with MSC-like characteristics that differentiate into the neurogenic lineage in vitro. In the present study, we evaluated the SkmSC therapeutic effects in the most characterized model of spontaneous motor neuron degeneration, the Wobbler (Wr) mouse. Before evaluating the therapeutic efficacy in the Wr mouse, we followed the route of SkmSCs at different times after intracerebroventricular injection. Two exogenous tracers, superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles and Hoechst 33258, were used for the in vivo and ex vivo tracking of SkmSCs. We found that the loading of both Hoechst and SPIO was not toxic and efficiently labeled SkmSCs. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system 7 Tesla allowed us to localize transplanted SkmSCs along the whole ventricular system up to 18 wks after injection. The ex vivo Hoechst 33258 visualization confirmed the in vivo results obtained by MRI analyses. Behavioral observations revealed a fast and sustained improvement of motor efficacy in SkmSC-treated Wr mice associated with a relevant protection of functional neuromuscular junctions. Moreover, we found that in SkmSC-treated Wr mice, a significant increase of important human antiinflammatory cytokines occurred. This evidence is in accordance with previous findings showing the bystander effect of stem cell transplantation in neurodegenerative disorders and further strengthens the hypothesis of the possible link between inflammation, cytotoxicity and ALS.
Combined Mesothelial Cyst and Lymphangioma of the Small Bowel

Intra-abdominal cysts have a variety of origins, of which lymphatic and mesothelial types are the most commonly encountered. Here we describe a combined mesothelial cyst and lymphangioma arising within the small bowel subserosa of an 80-year-old woman. This was found incidentally at laparotomy performed for an unrelated condition. To date, such a hybrid lesion has not been previously reported. The ways by which this lesion might have arisen are discussed.
Immune Gene Expression Levels Correlate with the Phenotype of Japanese Flounder Exposed to Heavy Oil

Abstract —Heavy oil pollution caused by tanker accidents is one of the mostimportant environmental issues in the world. The pollution is related to theimpact on marine organisms, since heavy oil consists of toxic substances suchas polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals and benzol.However, the effect of heavy oil on the fish immune system is not wellunderstood. In the present study, therefore, we exposed Japanese flounder( Paralichthys olivaceus ) to heavy oil and measured the immune response of thefish. For the exposure experiment, six Japanese flounder (mean body weight:197 g) were acclimated under laboratory conditions at 19–20°C. Three fishwere exposed to heavy oil C (bunker C) at a concentration of 3.8 g/L for 3 days,and the others were kept in seawater without heavy oil and used as control.Then, the blood, kidney and skin mucus were collected from the tested fish.Results showed the number of leukocytes in flounder blood increased afterheavy oil exposure. The bacterial numbers in skin mucus of heavy oil-exposedfish were significantly higher than that from the control. Gene expressionanalyses displayed immune system-related genes were mostly down-regulatedby heavy oil exposure, while interleukin-8 and lysozyme, involved inproinflammatory processes, were up-regulated. Considering the data onphenotypic effects and gene expression profiling, pathogen resistance inflounder may be compromised by heavy oil exposure, which can cause bacterialinfection and subsequent induction of proinflammatory genes as a defensiveresponse against the infection.Keywords: heavy oil, Japanese flounder, immunityINTRODUCTION
How Voluntariness of Apologies Affects Actual and Hypothetical Victims’ Perceptions of the Offender

ABSTRACT Apologies are important in social interactions. Study 1 investigated participants’ reactions after being insulted by a confederate and receiving no apology, a voluntary apology, a coerced apology with consequences (i.e., explicitly coerced apology), or a coerced apology without consequences (i.e., implicitly coerced apology). Receiving any apology produced more positive perceptions of the offender and less serious recommended punishments than no apology. Study 2 replicated Study 1, except participants read about the insult and imagined being a victim (instead of being an actual victim as in Study 1). Actual victims distinguished between types of apologies while hypothetical victims did not. Results have implications for court-ordered apologies.
Platelet‐rich plasma‐derived growth factors promote osteogenic differentiation of rat muscle satellite cells: in vitro and in vivo studies

PRP (platelet‐rich plasma)‐derived growth factors are a new application of tissue engineering and a developing area for researchers and clinicians. We have assessed the effects of PRP‐derived growth factors on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rMSCs (rat muscle satellite cells), and constructed a novel tissue engineering bone composed of PRP‐derived growth factors and rMSCs. PRP were created by a freeze‐thaw process. rMSCs were isolated from rat masticatory muscle using serial platings technique. Wst‐1 assay, SEM (scanning electron microscopy), ALP (alkaline phosphatase) activity, total protein concentration, AR (Alizarin red S) staining, calcium analyses and RT‐PCR (reverse transcription–PCR) of osteogenic‐related genes were used to assess the effect of PRP‐derived growth factors on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of cultured rMSCs on scaffolds. The different composite scaffolds were implanted to the subcutaneous spaces of nude mice. H&E (haematoxylin and eosin) and Masson's trichrome staining were used to examine the ectopic bone formation. In vitro, we found that PRP‐derived growth factors showed excellent cell compatibility and significantly enhanced cell proliferation over serum and control groups at 48 and 72 h. SEM, ALP activity, AR staining, calcium analyses and RT‐PCR showed that PRP‐derived growth factors significantly increased cells osteogenic differentiation when compared with other groups. In vivo examination showed that more fibrous tissue capsule and bone with lamellar structures appeared in PRP‐derived growth factors groups. These results suggest that the PRP‐derived growth factors significantly promote rMSCs proliferation, osteogenic differentiation compared with serum and scaffolds alone, and may be suitable for stem cell growth factors delivery and bone tissue engineering.