Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A tunable approximately piecewise linear model derived from the modified probabilistic neural network

A simple model, which can be adjusted by a single smoothing parameter continuously from the best piecewise linear model in each linear subregion to the best approximately piecewise linear model overall, is developed for multivariate general nonlinear regression. The model provides an accurate, smooth, approximately piecewise linear model to cover the entire data space. It provides a logical basis for extrapolation to regions not represented by training data, based on the closest piecewise linear model. This model has been developed by making relatively minor changes to the form of a modified probabilistic neural network (MPNN), which is a network that id used for general nonlinear regression. The MPNN structure allows it to model data by weighting piecewise linear models associated with each of the network's radial basis functions in the data space.
Exploiting pre‐rRNA processing in Diamond Blackfan anemia gene discovery and diagnosis

Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA), a syndrome primarily characterized by anemia and physical abnormalities, is one among a group of related inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS) which share overlapping clinical features. Heterozygous mutations or single‐copy deletions have been identified in 12 ribosomal protein genes in approximately 60% of DBA cases, with the genetic etiology unexplained in most remaining patients. Unlike many IBMFS, for which functional screening assays complement clinical and genetic findings, suspected DBA in the absence of typical alterations of the known genes must frequently be diagnosed after exclusion of other IBMFS. We report here a novel deletion in a child that presented such a diagnostic challenge and prompted development of a novel functional assay that can assist in the diagnosis of a significant fraction of patients with DBA. The ribosomal proteins affected in DBA are required for pre‐rRNA processing, a process which can be interrogated to monitor steps in the maturation of 40S and 60S ribosomal subunits. In contrast to prior methods used to assess pre‐rRNA processing, the assay reported here, based on capillary electrophoresis measurement of the maturation of rRNA in pre‐60S ribosomal subunits, would be readily amenable to use in diagnostic laboratories. In addition to utility as a diagnostic tool, we applied this technique to gene discovery in DBA, resulting in the identification of RPL31 as a novel DBA gene. Am. J. Hematol. 89:985–991, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Proposed two layer cryptography key generation for off-premise cloud computing

Data Growth and Data complexity will increase day by day. Present day needs of data will require unstructured and more access will lead to more data backup, audit, security concerns and need of preparing reduplication. Term cloud computing has opened entire new domain of computability, reliability and efficiency for organizations in term of private cloud computing. It can now focus on providing targeted services and overcome challenges to consumers rather than considering infrastructure and resource issues. Nowadays, sharing secure data to another person without authentication and authorization it with can be more and more difficult for the off-premise cloud which leads to some key points like the security of cloud data should be considered, sharing of cloud data as per requirement should be done. This research paper is based on providing some mechanism to allow secure file sharing for off-premise cloud computing among various cloud users. This paper proposes a framework that can be followed easily to share the file using roll management concept which residing on the cloud with another cloud user. In this framework, a concept of cryptography has been used to generate the secure key that can be shared among users. Cryptography allows encryption and decryption of different normal text to some cipher text that cannot be interpreted easily. This paper proposes the secure mechanism of generating key, sharing a key and validating use of the key for given file.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Heart failure is a condition that will affect 2-3% of the population. Around one third of the patients have a decreased LVEF and a widened QRS complex as a sign of ventricular dyssynchrony. CRT has emerged as a treatment that reduces morbidity, mortality and improve functional status in this population. However, a substantial amount of treated patients do not respond satisfactory after implantation. This thesis sought to assess characteristics and factors associated with long termmortality and outcome in a cohort of CRT patients. The thesis includes four papers: Paper i assessed the association between early subjective response after implantation and long term outcome in CRT-P patients. We found that those who exhibited a self-assessed positive therapy response after 1-2 months had a significantly better survival rate compared with those who did not. The second paper investigated long termmortality in CRT-P and primary prophylactic CRT-D patients. Patients with CRT-D had better crude survival rates than those with CRT-P. However, the CRT-P group was older and had more comorbidities. CRT-D was not significantly associated with better survival when adjusting for confounders, as compared to CRT-P. The third paper assessed a method of estimating myocardial scar burden from a standard 12-lead ECG (Selvester QRS score) in patients with Left Bundle Branch Block. 401 patients were assessed and divided into a high-score and a low-score group. The group with high Selvester QRS score was found to have a worse survival rate compared to the group of patients with lower scores. The last paper found that the CHA2DS2-VASc score, which is commonly used for stroke risk estimation in atrial fibrillation patients, was associated with long term mortality and a composite endpoint of mortality or hospitalization for heart failure in a CRT population. When comparing CHA2DS2-VASc to other, CRT-specific scores, it performed approximately as well in predicting mortality and the composite endpoint.
Liver‐specific suppressor of cytokine signaling‐3 deletion in mice enhances hepatic insulin sensitivity and lipogenesis resulting in fatty liver and obesity 1

Obesity is associated with chronic inflammation and contributes to the development of insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The suppressor of cytokine signaling‐3 (SOCS3) protein is increased in inflammation and is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance by inhibiting insulin and leptin signaling. Therefore, we studied the metabolic effects of liver‐specific SOCS3 deletion in vivo. We fed wild‐type (WT) and liver‐specific SOCS3 knockout (SOCS3 LKO) mice either a control diet or a high‐fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks and examined their metabolic phenotype. We isolated hepatocytes from WT and SOCS3 LKO mice and examined the effects of tumor necrosis factor α and insulin on Akt phosphorylation and fatty acid metabolism and lipogenic gene expression. Hepatocytes from control‐fed SOCS3 LKO mice were protected from developing tumor necrosis factor α–induced insulin resistance but also had increased lipogenesis and expression of sterol response element–binding protein‐1c target genes. Lean SOCS3 LKO mice fed a control diet had enhanced hepatic insulin sensitivity; however, when fed an HFD, SOCS3 LKO mice had increased liver fat, inflammation, and whole‐body insulin resistance. SOCS3 LKO mice fed an HFD also had elevated hypothalamic SOCS3 and fatty acid synthase expression and developed greater obesity due to increased food intake and reduced energy expenditure. Conclusion: Deletion of SOCS3 in the liver increases liver insulin sensitivity in mice fed a control diet but paradoxically promotes lipogenesis, leading to the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, inflammation, and obesity. (HEPATOLOGY 2010.)
Carob Pods (Ceratonia siliqua L.) as a Source of Polyphenolic Antioxidants

Summary The possibility of utilising chopped and deseeded carob pods (kibbles) as a source of polyphenolic antioxidants was examined by performing extractions with various solvent systems, in order to evaluate and optimize the conditions for the recovery of polyphenols. Maximum quantities of polyphenolic components were found in 80 % acetone extracts, as evaluated by measuring total polyphenol and total flavanol content. By contrast, ethyl acetate was inefficient in extracting polyphenols. The assessment of the antioxidant potency of carob pod extracts employing two characteristic in vitro models showed that carobs contain polyphenols with appreciable antiradical and reducing properties. The values obtained were compared to the data on red wines and pure polyphenolic antioxidants.
An overview of the modeling and simulation of the single event transients at the circuit level

The single event transients (SETs) are a common source of malfunction in nano-scale CMOS integrated circuits. For this reason, evaluation of the SET effects and application of appropriate measures for their mitigation are fundamental tasks in the design of advanced radiation hardened integrated circuits. In general, SET analysis is based on the multi-scale modeling and simulation approach comprising four main phases: modeling and simulation of radiation-matter interactions, device-level modeling and simulation, circuit-level modeling and simulation and logic-level modeling and simulation. In order to reduce the time and cost of the evaluation and design processes, a lot of effort is invested into the development of appropriate models which could provide accurate SET simulations at the circuit level. The circuit-level simulations provide a good trade-off between the complexity and speed of simulations, and at the same time ensure very good accuracy. This paper reviews the approaches for modeling and simulation of SET effects at the circuit level, emphasizing the major advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
Effect of alloy composition on the gain performance of a Si/Ge1−ySny avalanche photodiode

We have investigated the effects of alloy composition (y) on gain of a Ge1-ySny heterostructure avalanche photodiodes (APDs). The band-offsets become a function of alloy composition and affect the carrier confinement at heterointerfaces. The photocurrent is computed using the composition dependent parameters and, hence, the effect of alloy composition on gain of the APDs have been investigated.
Treatment of melasma with oral administration of compound tranexamic acid: a preliminary clinical trial

focal microscopy imaging of lichen planus: a real-time, non-invasive aid for clinical diagnosis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2012; 26: 1258–1265. 4 Ardig o M, Maliszewski I, Cota C et al. Preliminary evaluation of in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy features of discoid lupus erythematosus. Br J Dermatol 2007; 156: 1196. 5 Astner S, Gonz alez S, Gonzalez E. Noninvasive evaluation of allergic and irritant contact dermatitis by in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy. Dermatitis 2006; 17: 182. 6 O’goshi K, Suihko C, Serup J. In vivo imaging of intradermal tattoos by confocal scanning laser microscopy. Skin Res Technol 2006; 12: 94.
Microscopic simulation of the temperature dependence of static and dynamic 1.3-/spl mu/m multi-quantum-well laser performance

The temperature dependence of the performance of 1.3-/spl mu/m Fabry-Perot (FP) multiple-quantum-well (MQW) lasers is analyzed using detailed microscopic simulations. Both static and dynamic properties are extracted and compared to measurements. Devices with different profiles of acceptor doping in the active region are studied. The simulation takes into account microscopic carrier transport, quantum mechanical calculation of the optical and electronic quantum well properties, and the solution of the optical mode. The temperature dependence of the Auger coefficients is found to be important and is represented by an activated form. Excellent agreement between measurement and simulation is achieved as a function of both temperature and doping profile for static and dynamic properties of the lasers, threshold current density, and effective differential gain. The simulations show that the static carrier density, and hence the contribution to the optical gain, varies significantly from the quantum wells on the p-side of the active layer to those on the n-side. Furthermore, the modal differential gain and the carrier density modulation also vary. Both effects are a consequence of the carrier dynamics involved in transport through the MQW active layer. Despite the complexity of the dynamic response of the MQW laser, the resonance frequency is determined by an effective differential gain, which we show can be estimated by a gain-weighted average of the local differential gain in each well.
Depth measurement from integral images through viewpoint image extraction and a modified multibaseline disparity analysis algorithm

Integral imaging is a technique capable of displaying images with continuous parallax in full natural color. This paper presents a method of extracting depth map from integral images through viewpoint image extraction. The approach starts with the constructions of special viewpoint images from the integral image. Each viewpoint image contains a two-dimensional parallel recording of the three-dimensional scene. A new mathematical expression giving the relationship between object depth and the corresponding viewpoint image pair displacement is derived by geometrically analyzing the integral recording process. The depth can be calculated from the corresponding displacement between two viewpoint images. A modified multibaseline algorithm, where the baseline is defined as the sample distance between two viewpoint images, is further adopted to integrate the information from multiple extracted viewpoint images. The developed depth extraction method is validated and applied to both real photographic and computer generated unidirectional integral images. The depth measuring solution gives a precise description of the object thickness with an error of less than 0.3% from the photographic image in the example.
To test or not to test: psychosocial barriers to HIV testing in high‐income countries

To contribute to the evidence‐based understanding of the psychosocial factors that influence individuals' uptake of testing for HIV, we assessed and synthesized the pertinent published literature in the fields of public health, behavioural medicine, and (health) psychology. Although the evidence base appears too limited to allow firm conclusions and definition on psychological barriers to HIV testing in high‐income countries, we identified convergent themes from the available studies. Testing for HIV seems to be more likely when individuals perceive that they have been at risk, though this association is not perfectly observed. Fear of the consequences of testing positive –mainly worries related to discrimination and rejection – also hinders HIV testing. Finally, individuals appear more likely to test for HIV when they perceive more benefits from testing. The perspective of targeted individuals, in particular the social connotations and consequences of HIV diagnoses, is crucial to understand testing decisions.
Hydroxyindole-O-methyl transferases in rat pineal, retina and harderian gland.

Hydroxyindole—O—methyl transferase activity (HIOMT) is present in rat pineal, retina and harderian gland. We have studied the biochemical properties of HIOMT activities in homogenates of these tissues by measuring the transfer of a 14C—methyl group from S—adenosylmethionine to N—acetylserotonin. Melatonin synthesis was linear for 30 min; pH optima were 7.5–8.4 (pineal and retina) and 7.3–7.9 (harderian gland). The HIOMT activity in pineal and retina, but not in harderian gland, decayed to 35% of initial value after 5 days of storage at –20 C. Mg++ enhanced the activity of the harderian gland enzyme, but had no effect on pineal or retinal HIOMT; sulfhydryl blocking agents inhibited all three enzymes. N—Acetylserotonin was the best indolic substrate (i.e., highest maximal velocity) for all three. The relative O—methylations of 5–hydroxyindoleacetic acid, 5–hydroxytryptophol and serotonin were similar in all these cases. The Km for S—adenosylmethionine was about 10–55M for the three enzymes and the Km for N—.
Raf kinase inhibitor protein: a putative molecular target in prostate cancer

Each year in the United States, prostate cancer kills over 40,000 men, and over 200,000 new cases are diagnosed, making it the second most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths among males. Unfortunately, the best available diagnostic tests are substantially less than 100 percent sensitive and specific, and many men have incurable prostate cancer at the time of diagnosis which created the need for the development of new drugs to reduce prostate cancer risk. Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP), a member of the phosphatidyl ethanolamine binding protein (PEBP) family, is a small cytosolic protein associated with signal transduction pathways. RKIP is a suppressor of metastases, which paved the way for structural and functional efforts towards drug development; here we describe the molecular modeling of RKIP that should provide a structural framework on which the design of specific inhibitors may be based.
Comparative study of two root coverage procedures: a 24-month follow-up multicenter study.

BACKGROUND Treatment alternatives to cover exposed root surfaces include free grafts, pedicle flaps, and barrier membranes. This 24-month follow-up study clinically evaluated the long-term effect of a coronally advanced flap procedure with the additional use of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) to treat gingival recession versus the subpedicle connective tissue graft (CTG) procedure. METHODS Miller Class I or II buccal recession-type defects in the anterior teeth or premolars in 65 patients (28 in EMD and 37 in CTG groups) were treated in several centers. At baseline and 12 and 24 months post-treatment, vertical recession defect (VRD), height of keratinized tissue (HKT), and probing depth (PD) were recorded, and the percentage of root coverage (PRC) of the original defect was calculated. Student t test, analysis of variance, and analysis of covariance were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS At 12- and 24-month evaluations, PRC was 73.2% (SD=15.58%) and 76.9% (SD=16.77%) in the EMD group and 86.8% (SD=12.48%) and 84.3% (SD=13.32%) in the CTG group, respectively (P<0.001). Differences between groups were statistically significant (P=0.002). Baseline HKT was 1.07 mm (SD=0.66 mm) in the EMD group and 1.65 mm (SD=0.92 mm) in the CTG group. At 12 and 24 months, values were 1.75 mm (SD=0.59 mm) and 2.25 mm (SD=0.52 mm) in the EMD group and 4.24 mm (SD=0.89 mm) and 4.05 mm (SD=0.94 mm) in the CTG group, respectively. Differences in HKT were statistically significant within (EMD: P<0.001; CTG: P=0.017) and between (P<0.001) groups. CONCLUSIONS Both treatments proved clinically successful. CTG treatment showed a higher percentage of root coverage and HKT increase. EMD is a valuable, long-term effective treatment alternative to achieve root coverage together with an increase in HKT.
Square-root algorithms for the continuous-time linear least squares estimation problem

A simple differential equation for the triangular square-root of the error covariance of the linear state estimator is derived. Previous algorithms involved an antisymmetric matrix in the square-root differential equation. In the constant model case, Chandrasekhar-type equations are shown to constitute a set of fast square-root algorithms for the derivative of the error variance. Square-root algorithms for the smoothing problem are presented and as in the discrete case, an array method for handling continuous squareroots is developed. This method also yields very naturally the usual normalizations of stochastic calculus, suggesting extensions to more general stochastic equations, even to estimators for nonlinear models.
Human immunodeficiency viruses containing heterologous enhancer/promoters are replication competent and exhibit different lymphocyte tropisms

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 long terminal repeat (LTR) contains binding sites for nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) and the constitutively expressed transcription factor Sp1, both of which are highly conserved in HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus isolates. To delineate the effects of these motifs on the replicative capacity of HIV and to explore the possibility of extending the virus host range, known heterologous enhancer/promoters were inserted into the HIV-1 LTR in place of the NF-kappa B and Sp1 binding sites. The effects of these substitutions on viral replication in transfected HeLa cells and on HIV infection of human peripheral blood lymphocytes or continuous T-leukemia cell lines were evaluated. HIVs in which the NF-kappa B/Sp1 enhancer plus the downstream TATA element were replaced with heterologous enhancer/promoters were also constructed. Viruses containing the human cytomegalovirus immediate-early enhancer exhibited infectious kinetics similar to that of wild-type HIV in activated human peripheral blood lymphocytes and AA2 cells but replicated less efficiently in H9 and CEM cells. These studies indicate that heterologous enhancer elements are capable of restoring Tat responsiveness to the HIV LTR in the context of directing reporter gene expression as well as in the production of infectious progeny virions.
Troponin I Assay for Identification of a Significant Coronary Stenosis in Patients with Suspected Acute Myocardial Infarction and Wide QRS Complex

Background Common ECG criteria such as ST-segment changes are of limited value in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and bundle branch block or wide QRS complex. A large proportion of these patients do not suffer from an AMI, whereas those with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) equivalent AMI benefit from an aggressive treatment. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic information of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in hemodynamically stable patients with wide QRS complex and suspected AMI. Methods In 417 out of 1818 patients presenting consecutively between 01/2007 and 12/2008 in a prospective multicenter observational study with suspected AMI a prolonged QRS duration was observed. Of these, n = 117 showed significant obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) used as diagnostic outcome variable. cTnI was determined at admission. Results Patients with significant CAD had higher cTnI levels compared to individuals without (median 250ng/L vs. 11ng/L; p<0.01). To identify patients needing a coronary intervention, cTnI yielded an area under the receiver operator characteristics curve of 0.849. Optimized cut-offs with respect to a sensitivity driven rule-out and specificity driven rule-in strategy were established (40ng/L/96ng/L). Application of the specificity optimized cut-off value led to a positive predictive value of 71% compared to 59% if using the 99th percentile cut-off. The sensitivity optimized cut-off value was associated with a negative predictive value of 93% compared to 89% provided by application of the 99th percentile threshold. Conclusion cTnI determined in hemodynamically stable patients with suspected AMI and wide QRS complex using optimized diagnostic thresholds improves rule-in and rule-out with respect to presence of a significant obstructive CAD.