Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sigma-1 receptor concentration in plasma of patients with late-life depression: a preliminary study

Background Recently, the sigma-1 receptor has been shown to play a significant role in the neural transmission of mood by regulating N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Additionally, the sigma-1 receptor has been reported to influence cognitive functions including learning and memory. In this study, we measured plasma sigma-1 receptor concentrations before and after antidepressant treatment in patients with late-life major depressive disorder (MDD) and explored whether changes in depressive status are related to sigma-1 receptor concentrations. Methods The study participants were 12 subjects with late-life MDD diagnosed according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. All of the participants were over 60 years old. Immediately prior to and 8 weeks after the start of treatment, sigma-1 receptor concentration and mental status, including depressive symptoms (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; HAM-D), were measured. Treatment for depression was performed according to a developed algorithm based on the choice of treatments. We examined the association between changes in sigma-1 receptor concentration and HAM-D scores during antidepressant treatment. For the measurement of plasma sigma-1 receptor concentration, blood plasma samples were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Western blots were performed using a specific antibody that acts against the sigma-1 receptor, and the net densities of each band were quantified. Results All participants showed improvement in depressive symptoms, which was indicated by a significant decrease in the HAM-D scores. The mean plasma sigma-1 receptor concentration also increased significantly following antidepressant treatment. However, no significant correlations were found between changes in plasma sigma-1 receptor concentration and changes in HAM-D scores. Conclusion In this preliminary study, we demonstrated that the sigma-1 receptor concentration in plasma increases following antidepressant treatment in patients with late-life MDD. Further studies are warranted to confirm this finding with a larger number of patients.
Direction of Arrival Estimation for Multiple Speakers Using Time-Frequency Orthogonal Signal Separation

This paper presents a new approach for multiple speaker DOA estimation using an array of microphones. The method relies on the fact that multiple independent speakers have a small overlap in the time-frequency domain, i.e. the individual signals are almost W-disjoint orthogonal. By introducing a time-frequency mask and by continuously tracking the set of time-frequency points corresponding to each individual speech signal, a single source DOA estimation algorithm is used to find the DOA for each separated signal. This approach does not limit the solution to cases where the number of sensors exceeds the number of sources. Real room recordings are used to evaluate the performance of the method where source movements are also included
Motility of the oesophagus and small bowel in adults treated for Hirschsprung’s disease during early childhood

Background Dysmotility of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract has been reported in children with Hirschsprung’s disease (HD). In the present study, motility of the oesophagus and the small bowel was studied in adults treated for HD during early childhood to elucidate whether there are alterations in motility of the upper GI tract in this patient group. [Correction added after online publication 15 Sep: The preceding sentence has been rephrased for better clarity. ]
Bel–Debever criteria for the classification of the Weyl tensor in higher dimensions

An extension to higher dimensions of the Bel–Debever characterization of the Weyl tensor is considered. This provides algebraic conditions that uniquely determine the multiplicity of a Weyl aligned null direction (WAND), and thus the principal Weyl type, in a frame-independent way. The specification of several ‘subtypes’ is also encompassed by the criteria. We further comment on a Cartan-like geometrical interpretation of WANDs in terms of their invariance properties under parallel transport around infinitesimal loops. As a result, restrictions on the algebraic types permitted in spacetimes that admit a recurrent/covariantly constant vector field are outlined.
The lightweight genetic search algorithm: an efficient genetic algorithm for small search range problems

In this paper, the effectiveness of the genetic operations of the common genetic algorithms, such as crossover and mutation, are analyzed for small search range situations. As expected, the thus-obtained efficiency/performance of the genetic operations is quite different from that of their large search range counterparts. To fill this gap, a lightweight genetic search algorithm is presented to provide an efficient way for generating near-optimal solutions for these kinds of applications.
Stereoselective conjugation of prostaglandin A2 and prostaglandin J2 with glutathione, catalyzed by the human glutathione S-transferases A1-1, A2-2, M1a-1a, and P1-1.

Prostaglandins containing an alpha,beta-unsaturated keto group, such as prostaglandin A2 (PGA2) and prostaglandin J2 (PGJ2), inhibit cell proliferation. These cyclopentenone prostaglandins may be conjugated with GSH chemically or enzymatically via glutathione S-transferases, and this has been suggested to result in inhibition of the antiproliferative mode of action. In the present study, the role of the major human GSTs in the conjugation of PGA2 and PGJ2 with GSH was investigated with purified enzymes, i.e., the Alpha-class enzymes GST A1-1 and GST A2-2, the Mu-class enzyme GST M1a-1a, and the Pi-class enzyme GST P1-1. The GSH conjugates were separated from the parent compound by HPLC and identified by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and 1H-NMR. Two GSH conjugates were found for both PGA2 and PGJ2, the R- and S-GSH conjugates of both prostaglandins. Incubation experiments with PGA2 and PGJ2 (70-600 microM) clearly showed the role of individual GSTs in the conjugation of PGA2 and PGJ2. Compared to the chemical reaction, enzyme activities towards PGA2 were up to 5.4 times as high (GSTA1-1) at the lowest concentration (70 microM), while at the highest concentration (600 microM) enzyme activities were up to 3.0 times as high (GST P1-1). For PGJ2, enzyme activities were up to 4.3 (GSTM1a-1a, 70 microM) and up to 3.1 (GSTM1a-1a, 600 microM) times as high. As expected, similar amounts of the R- and S-conjugates of both prostaglandins were found in the chemical reaction. Striking stereoselectivities in conjugating activities were observed for GST A1-1 and GST P1-1. GST A1-1 favors the formation of the R-GSH conjugates of both prostaglandins. GST P1-1 showed a clear selectivity with regard to the formation of the S-GSH conjugate of PGA2. However, this selectivity was not found for the formation of the S-GSH conjugate of PGJ2. GSTM1a-1a showed no stereoselectivity with regard to the GSH conjugation of both PGA2 and PGJ2. GSTA2-2 only showed some minor formation of the R-GSH conjugate of PGJ2. The possible implications of the observed stereoselectivity on the effects of PGA2 and PGJ2 are discussed.
Regenerating gene (REG) product and its potential clinical usage

ABSTRACT Introduction: The regenerating gene (Reg) was identified in regenerating islets and its related genes were revealed to constitute the Reg gene family. Reg family proteins act as growth factors for several cells. Recently, autoimmunity against the Reg family proteins has been reported in several diseases. In addition, the Reg family genes were found to be expressed in a large number of cancers and to influence prognosis. Areas covered: The historical background and current view of the structure, function, and expression of Reg family genes/proteins and their physiological/pathological significance in several diseases are described. Based on the findings, the diagnostic/therapeutic potential of Reg family genes/proteins is also discussed. Expert opinion: Autoimmunity against Reg family proteins may be a new diagnostic marker and/or therapeutic target for immune-mediated diseases. Treatment aimed at the expansion of the β-cell mass by the Reg genes/proteins, combined with the abrogation of autoimmunity, constitutes a potential approach for the treatment of diabetes. Conversely, some cancer cells have gained the ability to overexpress the Reg genes/proteins, thereby enhancing their proliferative capacities, resulting in these cells having a considerable growth advantage. Thus, the Reg genes/proteins are expected to be a new prognostic marker in cancer and/or a future therapeutic target.
Robot Odor Localization: A Taxonomy and Survey

Robotic odor localization has become a prominent research area in recent years. It promises many valuable practical applications, and contributes to the knowledge of biological odor localization, which has in many cases been the source of inspiration. There have been a diversity of approaches, implemented in both simulated and practical experiments, with a wide variety of platforms, and in a number of environments. This article presents a survey of the existing methods, which have been organized into taxonomic classifications. This provides a framework in which to evaluate the methods, view how they relate to each other, and make qualitative comparisons. The methods are grouped at the highest level by environmental conditions, and then by the localization method which in most cases is closely associated with the type of sensors used.
A generic implementation model for the formal verification of networks-on-chips

Formal verification often means the proof of a formal relation between abstract specification models and concrete implementation models. For microprocessor designs, commutative diagrams derived from these models and relations have been very successful. In the context of communication modules, no such diagram exists. The generic network-on-chip model (GeNoC) has been recently proposed as a generic specification model to validate high-level descriptions of networks-on-chips. We report on work in progress towards the definition of a generic verification diagram based on GeNoC. We present a generic model for implementations. Following the GeNoC approach, our new model is generic in the sense that it characterizes a large family of designs and that the validation of a concrete implementation consists in proving it a valid instance of the generic model. In the paper, we detail the implementation of packet and circuit switching techniques. We report on other instances which support the generic character of our model.
Bayesian color image segmentation using reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo

This paper deals with the problem of unsupervised image segmentation. Our goal is to propose a method which is able to segment a color image without any human intervention. The only input is the observed image, all other parameters are estimated during the segmentation process. Our method is model-based, we use a first order Markov random field (MRF) model (also known as the Potts model) where the singleton energies derive from a multivariate Gaussian distribution and second order potentials favor similar classes in neighboring pixels. The most difficult part is the estimation of the number of pixel classes or in other words, the estimation of the number of Gaussian mixture components. Reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) is used to solve this problem. These jumps enable the possible splitting and merging of classes. The algorithm finds the most likely number of classes, their associated model parameters and generates a segmentation of the image by classifying the pixels into these classes. The estimation is done according to the Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) criteria. Experimental results are promising, we have obtained accurate results on a variety of real color images.
Multimodal fusion for cued Speech language recognition

In this paper, a novel method for Cued Speech language recognition is proposed. A multimodal processing framework is developed for the efficient fusion of the modalities under consideration. The robust feature extraction from the audio, lip shape and gesture modalities is also discussed. Moreover, the inherent correlation among the signals is modelled using a modified Coupled Hidden Markov Model. The contribution of each modality to the fused decision is modified by assessing its reliability and assigning a weighting factor to improve the accuracy of the recognized words. The method is experimentally evaluated and is shown to outperform methods that rely only on the perceivable information to infer the transmitted messages.
Towards Update Relevance Checks in a Context Aware Mobile Information System

In order to reduce transmission cost mobile information system clients often cache data retrieved in a context aware manner. In the case of updates it may happen that this data becomes outdated. So, the caches must be invalidated. In this paper we discuss how to check the relevancy of updates regarding the server database as well as the client contexts.
Combustion parameters estimation and control using vibration signal : Application to the Diesel HCCI engine

This paper proposes a method to estimate and to control the combustion timing of a diesel homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine without cylinder pressure transducers. The principle of the proposed controller is to correct the start of injection (SoI) in order to compensate the effects of the air path errors or injection system perturbation. The controller takes as inputs the middle of combustion estimated from the vibration trace recorded with a knock sensor fitted at the surface of the engine block. The estimated combustion parameters are computed in real-time and sent to the engine control system in a cycle to cycle manner. The contribution of this paper is combustion state estimator and controller that allows to maintain the desired combustion timings. Tests are performed on a test bench to compare the estimated and measured combustion timing. The closed-loop controller is validated in steady engine conditions and the obtained results demonstrate the potential of this approach.
Bridging the Semantic Gap using Human Vision System Inspired Features

The Self-Organizing Map (SOM) is a neural network algorithm, which uses a competitive learning technique to train itself in an unsupervised manner. SOMs are different from other artificial neural networks in the sense that they use a neighborhood function to preserve the topological properties of the input space and they have been used to create an ordered representation of multi-dimensional data which simplifies complexity and reveals meaningful relationships. Prof. T. Kohonen in the early 1980s first established the relevant theory and explored possible applications of SOMs. Since then, a number of theoretical and practical applications of SOMs have been reported including clustering, prediction, data representation, classification, visualization
PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO EM MEDICINA VETERINÁRIA ÁREA DE CONCENTRAÇÃO EM HIGIENE VETERINÁRIA E PROCESSAMENTO TECNOLÓGICO DE PRODUTOS DE ORIGEM ANIMAL

The new consumer lifestyles is searching for read-to-eat products, like shredded cooked chicken breast fillet. However this products shelf life are relatively low. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of the shelf life of this commercial product packaged in modified atmosphere (MAP) with different concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), through the aerobic heterotrophic mesophyll bacteria (AHMB) count, psychotropic (AHPB), Enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and pH. Correlate bacterial growth with CO2 concentration and formation of biogenic amines (BA) and, verify if BA quantification can be used to indicate the quality index of samples. 6,3 kg of the sample was divided into seven groups with different packaging conditions: aerobiosis, vacuum and 10, 30, 50, 70 and 90% CO2 completed with N2. All samples were stored at 4±2°C for 28 days. The bacteriological growth parameters studied were adjusted through the Baranyi regression equation. The pH of the aerobic packages increased during storage, but the other treatments presented an opposite trend, where the pH values decreased during storage. CO2 concentration decreased over the first 24 hours, but after this period, the values remained constant. A gradual increase of AHMB, AHPB, Enterobacteriaceae and LAB was observed during storage which was faster in the package under aerobiosis than in the other treatments. Treatments with CO2 concentration above 10% showed smaller Enterobacteriaceae growth, while LAB growth was discrete in all the treated samples, independent of CO2 concentration. The shelf life of the samples packed with 90% CO2 (28 days), determined based on AHMB count, was three times higher than that of the samples packed under aerobiosis (9 days). The levels of putrescine and cadaverine gradually increased during storage, increasing CO2 concentration caused a slower production of those amines. It was concluded that increasing carbon dioxide concentration causes a reduction of the growth of putrescine and cadaverine producing bacteria. Amine quantification proved to be an adequate parameter to evaluate the quality index of shredded cooked chicken breast fillet. keywords: chicken meat, quality, preservation method, modified atmosphere, bioactive amines, liquid chromatography.
Draft Genome Sequence of Oenococcus oeni Strain X2L (CRL1947), Isolated from Red Wine of Northwest Argentina

ABSTRACT We report the draft genome sequence of Oenococcus oeni strain X2L, a potential starter culture of malolactic fermentation, isolated from Malbec wine of Argentina. Genes encoding for enzymes involved in the metabolism of malate, citrate, and nitrogen compounds, as well as aroma compounds, were found in this genome, showing its ability to improve the sensorial characteristics of wines.
STAR: an algorithm to Search for Tandem Approximate Repeats

MOTIVATION Tandem repeats consist in approximate and adjacent repetitions of a DNA motif. Such repeats account for large portions of eukaryotic genomes and have also been found in other life kingdoms. Owing to their polymorphism, tandem repeats have proven useful in genome cartography, forensic and population studies, etc. Nevertheless, they are not systematically detected nor annotated in genome projects. Partially because of this lack of data, their evolution is still poorly understood. RESULTS In this work, we design an exact algorithm to locate approximate tandem repeats (ATR) of a motif in a DNA sequence. Given a motif and a DNA sequence, our method named STAR, identifies all segments of the sequence that correspond to significant approximate tandem repetitions of the motif. In our model, an Exact Tandem Repeat (ETR) comes from the tandem duplication of the motif and an ATR derives from an ETR by a series of point mutations. An ATR can then be encoded as a number of duplications of the motif together with a list of mutations. Consequently, any sequence that is not an ATR cannot be encoded efficiently by this description, while a true ATR can. Our method uses the minimum description length criterion to identify which sequence segments are ATR. Our optimization procedure guarantees that STAR finds a combination of ATR that minimizes this criterion. AVAILABILITY for use at http://atgc.lirmm. fr/star
Team model: Advocating for the optimal method of care delivery in the intensive care unit

Objective:To review published data on the team model of intensive care unit (ICU) care delivery. Design:Nonexhaustive, selective literature search. Setting:Review of literature published in the English language. Patients/Subjects:Humans cared for in ICUs. Interventions:None. Results:The team model for delivery of ICU care reduces mortality, ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay, and cost of care. Convincing data suggest that merely having daily rounds led by an intensivist enhances patient care significantly. Further improvements can be obtained by maintaining a nurse-to-patient ratio of no greater than 1:2, adding critical care pharmacists, and providing dedicated respiratory therapists to the ICU team. Conclusion:Current and looming shortages of all ICU healthcare providers is a barrier to universal implementation of the team model. Advocating for the ICU team model for critical care delivery requires local, regional, national, and international activities for success.
Regulation by Na+ and Ca2+ of renal epithelial Na+ channels reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers

Purified bovine renal epithelial Na+ channels when reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers displayed a specific orientation when the membrane was clamped to -40 mV (cis-side) during incorporation. The trans-facing portion of the channel was extracellular (i.e., amiloride- sensitive), whereas the cis-facing side was intracellular (i.e., protein kinase A-sensitive). Single channels had a main state unitary conductance of 40 pS and displayed two subconductive states each of 12- 13 pS, or one of 12-13 pS and the second of 24-26 pS. Elevation of the [Na+] gradient from the trans-side increased single-channel open probability (Po) only when the cis-side was bathed with a solution containing low [Na+] (< 30 mM) and 10-100 microM [Ca2+]. Under these conditions, Po saturated with increasing [Na+]trans. Buffering of the cis compartment [Ca2+] to nearly zero (< 1 nM) with 10 mM EGTA increased the initial level of channel activity (Po = 0.12 +/- 0.02 vs 0.02 +/- 0.01 in control), but markedly reduced the influence of both cis- and trans-[Na+] on Po. Elevating [Ca2+]cis at constant [Na+] resulted in inhibition of channel activity with an apparent [KiCa2+] of 10-100 microM. Protein kinase C-induced phosphorylation shifted the dependence of channel Po on [Ca2+]cis to 1-3 microM at stationary [Na+]. The direct modulation of single-channel Po by Na+ and Ca2+ demonstrates that the gating of amiloride-sensitive Na2+ channels is indeed dependent upon the specific ionic environment surrounding the channels.
Estrogen promotes cutaneous wound healing via estrogen receptor β independent of its antiinflammatory activities

Post-menopausal women have an increased risk of developing a number of degenerative pathological conditions, linked by the common theme of excessive inflammation. Systemic estrogen replacement (in the form of hormone replacement therapy) is able to accelerate healing of acute cutaneous wounds in elderly females, linked to its potent antiinflammatory activity. However, in contrast to many other age-associated pathologies, the detailed mechanisms through which estrogen modulates skin repair, particularly the cell type–specific role of the two estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ, has yet to be determined. Here, we use pharmacological activation and genetic deletion to investigate the role of both ERα and ERβ in cutaneous tissue repair. Unexpectedly, we report that exogenous estrogen replacement to ovariectomised mice in the absence of ERβ actually delayed wound healing. Moreover, healing in epidermal-specific ERβ null mice (K14-cre/ERβL2/L2) largely resembled that in global ERβ null mice. Thus, the beneficial effects of estrogen on skin wound healing are mediated by epidermal ERβ, in marked contrast to most other tissues in the body where ERα is predominant. Surprisingly, agonists to both ERα and ERβ are potently antiinflammatory during skin repair, indicating clear uncoupling of inflammation and overall efficiency of repair. Thus, estrogen-mediated antiinflammatory activity is not the principal factor in accelerated wound healing.