Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Metabolic and Immunological Follow-Up of Nonimmunosuppressed Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Treated With Microencapsulated Islet Allografts

OBJECTIVE To assess long-term metabolic and immunological follow-up of microencapsulated human islet allografts in nonimmunosuppressed patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Four nonimmunosuppressed patients, with long-standing T1DM, received intraperitoneal transplant (TX) of microencapsulated human islets. Anti-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I–II, GAD65, and islet cell antibodies were measured before and long term after TX. RESULTS All patients turned positive for serum C-peptide response, both in basal and after stimulation, throughout 3 years of posttransplant follow-up. Daily mean blood glucose, as well as HbA1c levels, significantly improved after TX, with daily exogenous insulin consumption declining in all cases and being discontinued, just transiently, only in patient 4. Anti-MHC class I–II and GAD65 antibodies all tested negative at 3 years after TX. CONCLUSIONS The grafts did not elicit any immune response, even in the cases where more than one preparation was transplanted, as a unique finding, compatible with encapsulation-driven “bioinvisibility” of the grafted islets. This result had never been achieved with the recipient’s general immunosuppression.
Constraint Soup

To facilitate mass customization in the building industry, an automated method is needed to check the validity of user-created designs. This check requires that numerous complex building codes and regulations, as well as architects' demands are formalized and captured by non-programming domain experts. This can be done via a natural language interface, as it reduces the required amount of training of users. In this paper we describe an algorithm for interpreting architectural constraints in such a system.
FOCALISATION ON THE TEMPORAL CONTEXT OF COMPLEX SEQUENCES

Studies of the perception of sound sequences indicate the existence of an optimal processing rate [1]: sequences in which sound events occur at rates within this range are processed in more depth than events within faster or slower sequences. But what happens if two sequences occur simultaneously at different rates? We investigate whether or not listeners focus preferentially on (and process in more depth) the sequence which is closest to their optimal rate. We do this by measuring the way listeners hear and synchronise with complex sequences composed of two co-occurring subsequences. In a withinsubjects design, participants completed four tasks, two perceptual and two motor. The results indicate in particular that: 1) irregularity detection was better within the sequences closest to each participant's optimal rate, 2) participants tended to synchronise with the same subsequence, and 3) a strong link between the optimal tempi was observed in all four tasks.
Solvatochromic Dyes as Solvent Polarity Indicators

This review compiles positively and negatively solvatochromic compounds which have been used to establish empirical scales of solvent polarity by means of UV/vis/near-IR spectroscopic measurements in solution-with particular emphasis on the E ~ ( 3 0 ) scale derived from negatively solvatochromic pyridinium N-phenolate betaine dyes. This requires a short discussion of the concept of solvent polarity and how empirical parameters of solvent polarity can be derived and understood in the framework of linear free-energy relationships. The preconditions for the occurrence of solvatochromism, and further requirements of solvatochromic compounds for them to be useful as solvent polarity indicators will be discussed. In addition to spectroscopically based single parameters of solvent polarity, multiparameter treatments of solvent effects by means of solvatochromic parameters will also be mentioned. The mutual interrelation between some of the more important W/vis/near-IR spectroscopically derived solvent scales, and their correlations with solvatochromic multiparameter equations will be exemplarily given.
Efficient Generation of a Hepatitis B Virus Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Epitope Requires the Structural Features of Immunoproteasomes

Interferon (IFN)-γ–induced cells express the proteasome subunits low molecular weight protein (LMP)2, LMP7, and MECL-1 (multicatalytic endopeptidase complex–like 1), leading to the formation of immunoproteasomes. Although these subunits are thought to optimize MHC class I antigen processing, the extent of their role and the mechanistic aspects involved remain unclear. Herein, we study the proteolytic generation of an human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-Aw68–restricted hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope that is recognized by peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with acute self-limited but not chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV). Immunological data suggest that IFN-γ–induced rather than uninduced HeLa cells process and present the HBV CTL epitope upon infection with HBcAg-expressing vaccinia viruses. Analyses of 20S proteasome digests of synthetic polypeptides covering the antigenic HBcAg peptide demonstrate that only immunoproteasomes efficiently perform the cleavages needed for the liberation of this HBV CTL epitope. Although the concerted presence of the three immunosubunits appears essential, we find that both catalytically active LMP7 and inactive LMP7 T1A support CTL epitope generation. We conclude that LMP7 influences the structural features of 20S proteasomes, thereby enhancing the activity of the LMP2 and MECL-1 catalytic sites, which provide cleavage specificity. Thus, LMP7 incorporation is of greater functional importance for the generation of an HBV CTL epitope than cleavage specificity.
The Cosmic-Ray Antiproton Flux between 3 and 49 GeV

We report on a new measurement of the cosmic ray antiproton spectrum. The data were collected by the balloon-borne experiment CAPRICE98, which was flown on 1998 May 28-29 from Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The experiment used the NMSU-WiZard/CAPRICE98 balloon-borne magnet spectrometer equipped with a gas Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detector, a time-of-flight system, a tracking device consisting of drift chambers and a superconducting magnet, and a silicon-tungsten calorimeter. The RICH detector was the first ever flown capable of mass-resolving charge-one particles at energies above 5 GeV. A total of 31 antiprotons with rigidities between 4 and 50 GV at the spectrometer were identified with small backgrounds from other particles. The absolute antiproton energy spectrum was determined in the kinetic energy region at the top of the atmosphere between 3.2 and 49.1 GeV. We found that the observed antiproton spectrum and the antiproton-to-proton ratio are consistent with a pure secondary origin. However, a primary component may not be excluded.
Developing a physical gesture acquisition system for guqin performance

Motion- based musical interfaces are ubiquitous. With the plethora of sensing solutions and the possibility of developing custom designs, it is important that the new musical interface has the capability to perform any number of tasks. This paper presents the theoretical framework for defining, designing, and evaluation process of a physical gesture acquisition for Guqin performance. The framework is based on an iterative design process, and draws upon the knowledge in Guqin performance to develop a system to determine the interaction between a Guqin player and the computer. This paper emphasizes the definition, conception, and evaluation of the acquisition system.
Bayesian model selection for the latent position cluster model for social networks

Abstract The latent position cluster model is a popular model for the statistical analysis of network data. This model assumes that there is an underlying latent space in which the actors follow a finite mixture distribution. Moreover, actors which are close in this latent space are more likely to be tied by an edge. This is an appealing approach since it allows the model to cluster actors which consequently provides the practitioner with useful qualitative information. However, exploring the uncertainty in the number of underlying latent components in the mixture distribution is a complex task. The current state-of-the-art is to use an approximate form of BIC for this purpose, where an approximation of the log-likelihood is used instead of the true log-likelihood which is unavailable. The main contribution of this paper is to show that through the use of conjugate prior distributions, it is possible to analytically integrate out almost all of the model parameters, leaving a posterior distribution which depends on the allocation vector of the mixture model. This enables posterior inference over the number of components in the latent mixture distribution without using trans-dimensional MCMC algorithms such as reversible jump MCMC. Our approach is compared with the state-of-the-art latentnet (Krivitsky & Handcock, 2015) and VBLPCM (Salter-Townshend & Murphy, 2013) packages.
Perceptive communicating capsules for fluid flow measurement and visualisation

SUMMARY A new approach to flow measurement and visualisation in fluid dynamics based on a group of perceptive communicating capsules has been developed. Experiments were carried out with fluid-mobilised and stationary capsules deployed in a fluid flow test rig (raceway pond). Each capsule contains a microcontroller, battery, infra-red and visible LEDs and other electronics. Using optical communications, capsules can record encounters with one another. From the resulting interaction patterns, fluid flow speed and path-frequency measurements were obtained. Additionally, the capsules have shown the capacity for distributed sensing, and their streaklines provide a valuable means of external visualisation.
A promoter element of the human serine esterase granzyme B gene controls specific transcription in activated T cells

The human granzyme B gene encodes a serine protease expressed specifically in cytoplasmic granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, released upon effector‐target cell interaction. Previous studies have shown that granzyme B mRNA was induced in T lymphocytes after antigenic or mitogenic stimulation. To study the regulation of human granzyme B gene expression during lymphocyte activation we analyzed its 5′ flanking region using chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene constructs. We show that a 208‐bp fragment (‐148 to +60) containing an NF‐AT (nuclear factor of activated T cells)‐binding site promotes CAT expression in phytohemagglutinin‐activated T lymphocytes, in immobilized monoclonal anti‐CD3 antibody‐activated Jurkat T cell line while it is inactive in unstimulated PEER and Jurkat T cells lines or B Epstein‐Barr virus‐transformed cell lines.
High serum enalaprilat in chronic renal failure

Background Most angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and their metabolites are excreted renally and doses should hence be reduced in renal insufficiency. We studied whether the dosage of enalapril in daily clinical practice is associated with drug accumulation of enalaprilat in chronic renal failure. Methods Fifty nine out-patients with plasma creatinine >150 µmol/L and chronic antihypertensive treatment with enalapril were investigated, in a cross-sectional design. Results Median glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 23 (range 6—60) ml/minute/1.73 m2. The daily dose of enalapril was 10 (2.5—20) mg and the trough serum concentration of enalaprilat was 31.8 (<2.5—584.7) ng/ml. Ninety percent of the patients had higher serum concentrations of enalaprilat than has been reported in subjects with normal kidney function, and a marked elevation of serum enalaprilat was observed in patients with GFR <30 ml/minute. All but three patients had serum ACE activity below the reference range. The ACE genotype did not influence the results. Additional pharmacokinetic studies were done in nine patients in whom GFR was 23 (10—42) ml/minute/1.73 m 2. The median clearance of enalaprilat was 28 (16—68) ml/minute and correlated linearly with GFR (r=0.86, p=0.003). Intra-subject day-to-day variation in trough concentrations was 19.7%. Conclusion Patients with chronic renal failure given small or moderately high doses of enalapril may thus have markedly elevated levels of serum enalaprilat. Whether this affords extra renoprotection, or on the contrary may inappropriately impair renal function, is not known, and should be investigated in prospective, controlled studies.
Linking emotional distress to unhealthy sleep duration: analysis of the 2009 National Health Interview Survey

Objective The objective of the study was to examine the independent association of emotional distress with unhealthy sleep duration (defined as <7 or >8 hours). Methods Data from the 2009 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a cross-sectional household survey, were analyzed to investigate the associations of emotional distress with unhealthy sleep durations, adjusting for sociodemographic factors, health risks, and chronic diseases through hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis. Participants A total of 27,731 participants (age range 18–85 years) from the NHIS 2009 dataset were interviewed. Measures Unhealthy sleep duration is defined as sleep duration <7 or >8 hours, whereas healthy sleep is defined as sleep duration lasting for 7–8 hours. Emotional distress is based on the Kessler 6 Non-Specific Distress Battery, which assesses the frequency of feeling sad, nervous, restless, hopeless, worthless, and burdened, over a 30-day period. Results Of the sample, 51.7% were female; 83.1% were white and 16.9% were black. Eleven percent experienced emotional distress and 37.6% reported unhealthy sleep. Adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals with emotional distress had 55% greater odds of reporting unhealthy sleep (odds ratio [OR] =1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.42, 1.68, P<0.001). Conclusion Emotional distress, an important proxy for poor psychological health, was a significant predictor of unhealthy sleep, independent of the influences of several factors including demographic (age, education, sex, race/ethnicity, and family income), health risks (alcohol consumption and smoking status), and chronic diseases/conditions (diabetes, obesity, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, and arthritis).
Olfactory Discriminating Ability of Lacustrine Sockeye and Masu Salmon in Various Freshwaters

Abstract In order to study the olfactory discriminating ability of lacustrine sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) and masu salmon (O. masou), the integrated olfactory nerve response to various freshwaters was recorded by electrophysiological techniques. In both species independent of sex and gonadal maturity, each freshwater caused a different olfactory response. Source and effluent waters of the culture pond at Toya Lake Station (the source and culture pond waters) evoked the minimum and maximum response magnitude, respectively. In cross-adaptation experiments, the culture pond water abolished all secondary responses to other freshwaters, and no freshwater abolished the secondary response to the culture pond water. The concentration response study revealed that the minimum concentration (threshold) to induce response to the culture pond water after adaptation to Lake Toya water was between 0.1 and 1.0%. The present study indicates that the olfactory organ of lacustrine salmonids may discriminate different intensities of various freshwater odors.
Dissemination of healthcare technologies: toward a more informed approach?

Healthcare advances have seen the emergence of technologies that are highly effective at improving patient outcomes, yet efficient dissemination of these technologies remains challenging. On the one hand, it is essential to ensure appropriate dissemination to provide equitable access to care. Indeed, many innovations are poorly disseminated leading to inequalities in access to these innovations and potentially contributing to inequalities in health outcomes.1 On the other hand, many novel technologies are also highly specialized and costly; uncoordinated and excessive dissemination of such technologies may result in waste of precious healthcare resources with minimal or no benefit to patients. Article see p 400 Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the prototypical example of such a technology that has undergone rapid, yet questionable, expansion. Multiple trials have established the efficacy of PCI for acute reperfusion in patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and for revascularization in patients with coronary disease, with the evidence well summarized in clinical guidelines.2,3 PCI is now one of the most commonly performed procedures in the United States4 and one of the most costly in terms of overall healthcare expenditure.5 The growth in PCI procedures performed has been paralleled by rapid proliferation of PCI programs, with 1669 (36.2%) of hospitals in the United States having a PCI program in 2006, an estimated 44% increase from 2001.6 However, during this period, timely access to PCI, that is, the proportion of the population living within 1 hour of a PCI facility, increased by 0.9% from 79.0% to 79.9%. 6 This latter observation raises many questions about the efficiency of PCI dissemination that has occurred in the United States for the provision of primary PCI services for STEMI. Specifically, it suggests that many of these new PCI programs were duplicative of existing PCI programs. In …
Study on differential pricing decisions for the product with multiple warranty periods for free replacement policy

Warranty service has an important role in the product transactions. The price is related to length of warranty period of product. Considering the reality, based on the consumer utility theory, assuming free replacement policy and the product failure with Weibull distribution function, this paper studies the differential pricing issues for the product with multiple warranty. This paper analyzes the optimal pricing strategy, and verifies the validity of the model through the numerical analysis and analyzes the difference between differential pricing and single pricing. Then this paper analyzes the impact of the consumer shift flexibility to the benefits of manufacturers.
University ’ s repository of research publications and other research outputs Business networks SMEs and inter-firm collaboration : a review of the research literature with implications for policy Other

The Open University's repository of research publications and other research outputs Business networks SMEs and inter-firm collaboration: a review of the research literature with implications for policy Other How to cite: Blundel, Richard and Smith, David (2001). Business networks SMEs and inter-firm collaboration: a review of the research literature with implications for policy. The Small Business Service, Sheffield. For guidance on citations see FAQs. Copyright and Moral Rights for the articles on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. For more information on Open Research Online's data policy on reuse of materials please consult the policies page. 1. The Department of Trade and Industry's Small Business Service (SBS) is concerned with helping small firms realise their potential, developing business support services that enhance the performance of small firms and promoting enterprise across our society. Consequently, an area of growing interest both for the DTI in general, and the SBS in particular, is to assess the part that business networks play in achieving these policy objectives. 2. The term 'network' is used in a number of ways. As well as business networks one can distinguish physical networks, such as those used by computer systems, and personal and social networks, comprising relatives, friends and acquaintances. They are not normally part of the value chain delivering service/goods to the customer. Business networks are normally directly concerned with the conduct of business. They are inter-organisational. Typically, these organisations include other businesses, trade associations, chambers of commerce, professional bodies and public sector agencies. Their role is often an enabling one that facilitates the operation of the business, for instance in service delivery or new product development. 3. There are many different definitions of the term 'business network', the following being a typical example: A select, persistent and structured set of autonomous firms (as well as non-profit agencies) engaged in creating goods or services based on implicit and open-ended contracts. (Jones, Hesterly and Borgatti 1997) This clearly identifies business networks as involving inter-firm collaboration. However, given the policy context of the SBS, we propose the following, more comprehensive definition: A complex pattern of formal and informal linkages between individuals, businesses and other organisations such as government and voluntary agencies. (Blundel and Smith 2001) 4. It is possible to identify a number of different types of business network. Though there are others, this study distinguishes four types: • Industrial districts/clusters. These comprise …
Solving the Biobjective Minimum Spanning Tree problem using a k-best algorithm

We consider a two-phase method for computing the complete set of efficient solutions of the biobjective minimum spanning tree problem. The first phase computes the extreme efficient solutions by expanding the convex hull of the feasible space. The second phase repeatedly applies a k-best minimum spanning tree algorithm to find all nonextreme efficient solutions. We report results of our computational experiments comparing the performance of this method with another two-phase method, where the second phase is based on a branch-and-bound computation. The “k-best” method performs significantly better in our tests.
Anomaly Detection in the WIPER System Using Markov Modulated Poisson Process

Cell phone call activity records the behavior of individuals , which reflects underlying human activity over time. Therefore this data displays multi-level period icity, such as weekly, daily, hourly, etc. Simple stochastic models that rely on aggregate statistics are not able to differentiate between normal daily variations and legitimate anomalous (and potentially cris is) events. In this paper we describe a framework for unsupervised learning using a Markov modulated Poisson pr cess (MMPP) [15, 6, 13] to model the data and use the posterior distribution to calculate the pro bability of the existence of anomalies over time. This paper focuses on anomaly detection in the WIPER system. WIPER is a system that helps to detect possible emergencies from cell phone data, provides the cor r sponding information to emergency planners and responders, and suggests possible actions to mitigate t he emergency. One of the most important components of the system is the Detection and Alert System (D AS), which detects anomalies (which could be crisis events) from a cell phone data stream.