Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hausdorff measure of arcs and Brownian motion on Brownian spatial trees

A Brownian spatial tree is defined to be a pair $(\mathcal{T},\phi)$, where $\mathcal{T}$ is the rooted real tree naturally associated with a Brownian excursion and φ is a random continuous function from $\mathcal{T}$ into ℝd such that, conditional on $\mathcal{T}$, φ maps each arc of $\mathcal{T}$ to the image of a Brownian motion path in ℝd run for a time equal to the arc length. It is shown that, in high dimensions, the Hausdorff measure of arcs can be used to define an intrinsic metric $d_{\mathcal{S}}$ on the set $\mathcal{S}:=\phi(\mathcal{T})$. Applications of this result include the recovery of the spatial tree $(\mathcal{T},\phi)$ from the set $\mathcal{S}$ alone, which implies in turn that a Dawson–Watanabe super-process can be recovered from its range. Furthermore, $d_{\mathcal{S}}$ can be used to construct a Brownian motion on $\mathcal{S}$, which is proved to be the scaling limit of simple random walks on related discrete structures. In particular, a limiting result for the simple random walk on the branching random walk is obtained.
Detecting the spectrum of multigene mutations in non-small cell lung cancer by Snapshot assay

As molecular targets continue to be identified and more targeted inhibitors are developed for personalized treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), multigene mutation determination will be needed for routine oncology practice and for clinical trials. In this study, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of multigene mutation testing by using the Snapshot assay in NSCLC. We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 110 consecutive NSCLC specimens for which epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation testing was performed between November 2011 and December 2011 using Sanger sequencing. Using the Snapshot assay, mutation statuses were detected for EGFR, Kirsten rate sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), phosphoinositide-3-kinase catalytic alpha polypeptide (PIK3CA), v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF), v-ras neuroblastoma viral oncogene homolog (NRAS), dual specificity mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in patient specimens and cell line DNA. Snapshot data were compared to Sanger sequencing data. Of the 110 samples, 51 (46.4%) harbored at least one mutation. The mutation frequency in adenocarcinoma specimens was 55.6%, and the frequencies of EGFR, KRAS, PIK3CA, PTEN, and MEK1 mutations were 35.5%, 9.1%, 3.6%, 0.9%, and 0.9%, respectively. No mutation was found in the HER2, NRAS, or BRAF genes. Three of the 51 mutant samples harbored double mutations: two PIK3CA mutations coexisted with KRAS or EGFR mutations, and another KRAS mutation coexisted with a PTEN mutation. Among the 110 samples, 47 were surgical specimens, 60 were biopsy specimens, and 3 were cytological specimens; the corresponding mutation frequencies were 51.1%, 41.7%, and 66.7%, respectively (P = 0.532). Compared to Sanger sequencing, Snapshot specificity was 98.4% and sensitivity was 100% (positive predictive value, 97.9%; negative predictive value, 100%). The Snapshot assay is a sensitive and easily customized assay for multigene mutation testing in clinical practice.
Bioactive Cembranoids, Sarcocrassocolides P–R, from the Dongsha Atoll Soft Coral Sarcophyton crassocaule

New cembranoids, sarcocrassocolides P–R (1–3) and four known compounds (4–7) were isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule. The structures of the metabolites were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 3–5 and 7 were shown to exhibit cytotoxicity toward a limited panel of cancer cell lines and all compounds 1–7 displayed potent in vitro anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells by inhibiting the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein. Compound 7 also showed significant activity in reducing the accumulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein in the same macrophage cells.
Sympathetic Activation Causes Focal Adhesion Signaling Alteration in Early Compensated Volume Overload Attributable to Isolated Mitral Regurgitation in the Dog

We reported that left ventricular (LV) dilatation after 4 weeks of isolated mitral regurgitation (MR) in the dogs is marked by extracellular matrix loss and an increase in adrenergic drive. Given that extracellular matrix proteins and their receptor integrins influence β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) responses in vitro, we tested whether β1-AR activation modulates focal adhesion (FA) signaling and LV remodeling in these same dogs with isolated MR. Normal dogs were compared with dogs with MR of a 4-week duration and with MR dogs treated with β1-AR blockade (β1-RB) (extended-release metoprolol succinate, 100 mg QD) that was started 24 hours after MR induction. In MR LVs, a decrease in collagen accumulation compared with normal dogs was associated with a decrease in FA kinase tyrosine phosphorylation, along with FA kinase interaction with adapter and cytoskeletal proteins, p130Cas and paxillin, respectively, as determined by immunoprecipitation assays. There was increased phosphorylation of stress related molecules p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Hsp27 and survival signaling kinases extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and AKT, with no evidence of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. β1-RB attenuated FA signaling loss and prevented p38 MAPK, Hsp27, and AKT phosphorylation induced by MR and significantly increased LV epicardial collagen content. However, β1-RB did not improve LV endocardial collagen loss or LV dilatation induced by MR. Isolated myocytes from normal and MR dog hearts treated with β1- or β2-AR agonists demonstrated no difference in FA kinase, p38 MAPK, Hsp27, or AKT phosphorylation. These results showed that chronic stimulation of β1-AR during early compensated MR impairs FA signaling that may affect myocyte/fibroblast–extracellular matrix scaffolding necessary for LV remodeling.
Indica and Japonica Crosses Resulting in Linkage Block and Recombination Suppression on Rice Chromosome 12

Understanding linkage block size and molecular mechanisms of recombination suppression is important for plant breeding. Previously large linkage blocks ranging from 14 megabases to 27 megabases were observed around the rice blast resistance gene Pi-ta in rice cultivars and backcross progeny involving an indica and japonica cross. In the present study, the same linkage block was further examined in 456 random recombinant individuals of rice involving 5 crosses ranging from F2 to F10 generation, with and without Pi-ta containing genomic indica regions with both indica and japonica germplasm. Simple sequence repeat markers spanning the entire chromosome 12 were used to detect recombination break points and to delimit physical size of linkage blocks. Large linkage blocks ranging from 4.1 megabases to 10 megabases were predicted from recombinant individuals involving genomic regions of indica and japonica. However, a significantly reduced block from less than 800 kb to 2.1megabases was identified from crosses of indica with indica rice regardless of the existence of Pi-ta. These findings suggest that crosses of indica and japonica rice have significant recombination suppression near the centromere on chromosome 12.
A simple model of filtration and macromolecule transport through microvascular walls

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disorder that usually appears in adults in their thirties. It has a prevalence that ranges between 2 and 150 per 100 000. Epidemiological studies of MS have provided hints on possible causes for the disease ranging from genetic, environmental and infectious factors to other factors of vascular origin. Despite the tremendous effort spent in the last few years, none of the hypotheses formulated so far has gained wide acceptance and the causes of the disease remain unknown. From a clinical point of view, a high correlation has been recently observed between MS and Chronic Cerebro-Spinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) in a statistically significant number of patients. In this pathological situation CCSVI may induce alterations of blood pressure in brain microvessels, thereby perturbing the exchange of small hydrophilic molecules between the blood and the external cells. In the presence of large pressure alterations it cannot be excluded also the leakage of macromolecules that otherwise would not cross the vessel wall. All these disorders may trigger immune defenses with the destruction of myelin as a side effect. In the present work we investigate the role of perturbed blood pressure in brain microvessels as driving force for an altered exchange of small hydrophilic solutes and leakage of macromolecules into the interstitial fluid. With a simplified, yet realistic, model we obtain closed-form steady-state solutions for fluid flow and solute transport across the microvessel wall. Finally, we use these results (i) to interpret experimental data available in the literature and (ii) to carry out a preliminary analysis of the disorder in the exchange processes triggered by an increase of blood pressure, thereby relating our preliminary results to the hypothesised vascular connection to MS.
Place of sulfonylureas in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in South Asia: A consensus statement

Since their introduction in clinical practice in the 1950's, Sulfonylureas (SUs) have remained the main-stay of pharmacotherapy in the management of type 2 diabetes. Despite their well-established benefits, their place in therapy is inappropriately being overshadowed by newer therapies. Many of the clinical issues associated with the use of SUs are agent-specific, and do not pertain to the class as such. Modern SUs (glimepiride, gliclazide MR) are backed by a large body of evidence, experience, and most importantly, outcome data, which supports their role in managing patients with diabetes. Person-centred care, i.e., careful choice of SU, appropriate dosage, timing of administration, and adequate patient counseling, will ensure that deserving patients are not deprived of the advantages of this well-established class of anti-diabetic agents. Considering their efficacy, safety, pleiotropic benefits, and low cost of therapy, SUs should be considered as recommended therapy for the treatment of diabetes in South Asia. This initiative by SAFES aims to encourage rational, safe and smart prescription of SUs, and includes appropriate medication counseling.
HB tag modules for PCR‐based gene tagging and tandem affinity purification in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have recently developed the HB tag as a useful tool for tandem‐affinity purification under native as well as fully denaturing conditions. The HB tag and its derivatives consist of a hexahistidine tag and a bacterially‐derived in vivo biotinylation signal peptide, which support sequential purification by Ni2+‐chelate chromatography and binding to immobilized streptavidin. To facilitate tagging of budding yeast proteins with HB tags, we have created a series of plasmids with various selectable markers. These plasmids allow single‐step PCR‐based tagging and expression under control of the endogenous promoters or the inducible GAL1 promoter. HB tagging of several budding yeast ORFs demonstrated efficient biotinylation of the HB tag in vivo by endogenous yeast biotin ligases. No adverse effects of the HB tag on protein function were observed. The HB tagging plasmids presented here are related to previously reported epitope‐tagging plasmids, allowing PCR‐based tagging with the same locus‐specific primer sets that are used for other widely used epitope‐tagging strategies. The Sequences for the described plasmids were submitted to GenBank under Accession Numbers
Delphi-Based Evaluation of Mobile Online Translation Tools

Mobile online translation (MOT) is a new form of application of machine translation in the age of mobile learning. Nowadays, there are lots of MOT apps in Android app store. Since the techniques used in MOT apps and their functions are different, their features are also different. In order to objectively evaluate MOT apps for selecting suitable translation tools, we have studied a Delphi-based evaluation method. In this paper, firstly, we describe the basic functions and realization mechanisms of MOT tools, and then we analyze 10 factors which should be considered in the evaluation of MOT tools, on the basis of the analyses, we propose the Delphi-based evaluation method with a relatively complete indicator system, and we also determine the weights of every indicator by using Delphi. The experiment results on 6 MOT apps show that the evaluation method is practical and objective for selecting suitable translation tools.
Splitting Data Objects to Increase Cache Utilization ( Preliminary Version , 9 th October 1998 )

We present a technique to increase data cache utilization of pointer-based programs. These caches are often underutilized when an algorithm accesses certain data-members much more frequently than others. In programs that allocate large numbers of identical objects, this can result in some cache lines becoming very busy, whereas others are left virtually untouched because ÒcoldÓ program data is mapped onto them. Our solution consists of grouping all the frequently accessed data members together and physically separating them from the less frequently accessed ones. Each object gets split into a ÒhotÓ part and zero or more ÒcoldÓ parts of equal size, which are evenly spaced from each other in memory, facilitating simple address calculation. The hot parts of different objects can then be allocated contiguously, evenly tiling the data cache and thereby increasing its utilization. Our technique is fully automatic, based on profiling, and extends earlier work on automated cache-conscious storage layout of dynamically allocated data structures. It is applicable to all type-safe programming languages that completely abstract from physical storage layout; examples of such languages are Java and Oberon.
Feasibility evaluation of the HOLLY program: an ACT-based suicide prevention program for Christian faith-based organisations

ABSTRACT Objective This study is a feasibility evaluation of The HOLLY Program, a suicide prevention gatekeeper training (GKT) program that uses the core processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and is tailored to Christian faith-based organisations (FBOs). Method: Thirteen participants received the program, and nine participants provided post-intervention data. Results Paired samples t-tests corrected for familywise error did not find any significant outcomes. However, there were marginally significant trends for improvements in self-efficacy, prevention behaviors, stigma, and engagement with values, which were supported by the qualitative and descriptive data. Across the sample, high levels of satisfaction with the program’s helpfulness, relevance, and practical content were reported. Qualitative data investigating perceptions of suicide motivation and suicide prevention found that participants recognised the psychological nature of suicide and provided sound, scientific suggestions for prevention. Conclusions While large-scale validation is required, proximate outcomes as presented in this study suggest that The HOLLY Program is viable and promising, and that members of Christian FBOs are willing and suitable recipients of GKT for suicide prevention.
Physiological characterizations of patients with type 1 diabetes

Currently, there are no set physiological classifications of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Physiological groups of patients with T1DM developed using cluster analysis can inform diabetes management technologies and training methods. Using the FDA-approved simulator, we performed simulation runs on in silico adults (n=100) with T1DM and clustered the results based on sensitivity level to meal carbohydrate misestimation, basal insulin resistance, and glucose measurement sensor error. The clustering analysis performed revealed underlying groups of patients with T1DM. Based on the results, we developed an insulin therapy intervention to improve blood glucose outcomes. Glycemic control metrics combined with graphical analysis support the application of the intervention on the cluster with the highest sensitivities. In most cases, the intervention was effective in reducing the average daily risk index and the risk of hypoglycemia for these high-risk patients. In cases where the metrics did not show significant improvement, we found that using the intervention did no harm to the patient. With further research, we believe the clusters and interventions could greatly benefit future T1DM management.
Multiple roles for CCR2 during fracture healing

SUMMARY Bone injury induces an inflammatory response that involves neutrophils, macrophages and other inflammatory cells. The recruitment of inflammatory cells to sites of injury occurs in response to specific signaling pathways. The CC chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2) is crucial for recruiting macrophages, as well as regulating osteoclast function. In this study, we examined fracture healing in Ccr2−/− mice. We first demonstrated that the expression of Ccr2 transcripts and the filtration of macrophages into fracture calluses were most robust during the early phases of fracture healing. We then determined that the number of macrophages at the fracture site was significantly lower in Ccr2−/− mice compared with wild-type controls at 3 days after injury. As a result, impaired vascularization, decreased formation of callus, and delayed maturation of cartilage were observed at 7 days after injury in mutant mice. At day 14, Ccr2−/− mice had less bone in their calluses. At day 21, Ccr2−/− mice had larger calluses and more bone compared with wild-type mice, suggesting a delayed remodeling. In addition, we examined the effect of Ccr2 mutation on osteoclasts. We found that a lack of Ccr2 did not affect the number of osteoclasts within fracture calluses at 21 days after injury. However, Ccr2−/− osteoclasts exhibited a decreased ability to resorb bone compared with wild-type cells, which could contribute to the delayed remodeling of fracture calluses observed in Ccr2−/− mice. Collectively, these results indicate that a deficiency of Ccr2 reduces the infiltration of macrophages and impairs the function of osteoclasts, leading to delayed fracture healing.
Learning Under Ambiguity

This paper considers learning when the distinction between risk and ambiguity matters. It first describes thought experiments, dynamic variants of those provided by Ellsberg, that highlight a sense in which the Bayesian learning model is extreme—it models agents who are implausibly ambitious about what they can learn in complicated environments. The paper then provides a generalization of the Bayesian model that accommodates the intuitive choices in the thought experiments. In particular, the model allows decision-makers' confidence about the environment to change—along with beliefs—as they learn. A portfolio choice application compares the effect of changes in confidence under ambiguity vs. changes in estimation risk under Bayesian learning. The former is shown to induce a trend towards more stock market participation and investment even when the latter does not. Copyright 2007, Wiley-Blackwell.
Universal Switching FIR Filtering

We revisit recently considered universal finite-impulse-response (FIR) filtering problem and devise a scheme that asymptotically attains the expected mean-square error (MSE) of the best switching FIR filters for every underlying bounded, real-valued signal, provided that the switch rate of the best filters are sufficiently slow. As a performance metric, we consider adaptive expected regret, the maximum difference between the expected MSE of our filter and that of the best FIR filter over any contiguous time interval. Our algorithm is shown to have O(log2n) bound on the adaptive expected regret with O(n2) time-complexity, where n is the length of the signal; the bound implies that, regardless of the underlying signal, the expected MSE of our filter universally converges to that of the best switching FIR filters, if the number of switches is o([(n)/(log2n)]) . The experimental results show that our filter outperforms its stationary counterpart particularly when the underlying signal has time-varying characteristics. We also show a heuristic scheme with O(n) time-complexity works well without losing too much of the filtering performance.
Scores for Improved Recognition DEFACING MUSIC SCORES FOR IMPROVED RECOGNITION

The area of Optical Music Recognition (OMR) has long been plagued by an inability to provide a definitive method for locating and identifying musical objects superimposed on musical stave lines. The first step in the process of recognising musical symbols in OMR has previously been to either remove the stave lines, or ignore them. Removing stave lines leads to many problems of fragmented and deformed musical symbols, or in the case of ignoring them, a lowered chance of recognition. Most OMR systems attempt to correct these deficiencies later on in the process through many varied approaches including bounding box analysis, k-nearest-neighbour (k-NN) and neural network (ANN) classification schemes. All of these have a level of success, but none have provided nearly the desired level of accuracy. This paper aims to show that this removal of the stave lines before symbol recognition is not the only first step and may not be the best. Instead of removing stave lines, more should be added! This process is called ‘defacing’ since it adds stave lines to the score at a 1/2 stave line width, and actually overwrites the score apparently complicating the recognition procedure. However, the addition of signal to the image means that subsequent symbol recognition is ‘normalised’ and a musical symbol will look the same whether it was above, below or on a stave line. As a result of this, a classification system trained with double stave lines should provide a higher level of accuracy than the traditional approaches of removing/ignoring the stave lines.
Modeling supermarket refrigeration systems for supervisory control in smart grid

A modular modeling approach of supermarket refrigeration systems (SRS) which is appropriate for smart grid control purposes is presented in this paper. Modeling and identification are performed by just knowing the system configuration and measured data disregarding the physical details. So, this approach is extendable to different configurations with different modules. The focus of the work is on estimating the power consumption of the system while estimating the display case temperatures as well. This model can however be employed as a simulation benchmark to develop control methods for SRS regarding their power/energy consumptions in the future smart grids. Moreover, the developed model is validated by real data collected from a supermarket in Denmark. The utilization of the produced model is also illustrated by a simple simulation example.
A Comparative Study of Hand Recognition Systems

Hand-based recognition represents a key biometric technology with a wide range of potential applications both in industry and government. By far, many different handbased recognition algorithms have been developed. This paper presents a comparative study to evaluate the performance of three state of the art hand-based recognition methods. Using the University of Nevada at Reno (UNR) and the University of Notre Dame (UND) hand databases, we compare a geometricbased method, a component-based approach using Zernike moments, and an algorithm employing 3D finger surface features. Both recognition and authentication experiments have been conducted to investigate the performance and robustness of the three methods. Our experimental results show that Zernike descriptors yield features that are more robust and accurate compared to hand geometric features and 3D finger surface features.