Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Achieving singularity in mammalian odorant receptor gene choice.

Odor discrimination requires differential expression of odor detectors. In fact, olfactory input to the brain is organized in units (glomeruli) innervated only by olfactory sensory neurons that express the same odorant receptor (OR). Therefore, discriminatory capacity is maximized if each sensory neuron expresses only one allele of a single OR gene, a postulate sometimes canonized as the "one neuron-one receptor rule. " OR gene choice appears to result from a hierarchy of processes: differential availability of the alleles of each OR gene, zonal exclusion (or selection), OR gene switching during the initiation of OR gene transcription, and OR-dependent feedback to solidify the choice of one OR gene. The mechanisms underlying these processes are poorly understood, though a few elements are known or suspected. For example, the mechanism of activation of OR gene transcription appears to work in part through a few homeobox transcription factors (Emx2, and perhaps Lhx2) and the Ebf family of transcription factors. Further insights will probably come from several directions, but a promising hypothesis is that epigenetic mechanisms contribute to all levels of the hierarchical control of OR gene expression, especially the repressive events that seem to be necessary to achieve the singularity of OR gene choice.
Neighborhood Environment, Access to Places for Activity, and Leisure-Time Physical Activity in a Diverse North Carolina Population

Purpose. To examine associations between perceived neighborhood characteristics, access to places for activity, and leisure-time physical activity. Design. Cross-sectional telephone survey. Setting. Cabarrus, Henderson, Pitt, Robeson, Surry, and Wake counties in North Carolina. Subjects. Population-based sample of 1796 adults at least 18 years of age residing in the six counties. Measures. The 133-item questionnaire assessed self-reported leisure-time physical activity and perceptions of neighborhood characteristics (sidewalks, trails, heavy traffic, streetlights, unattended dogs, and safety from crime) and general access to places for physical activity. Results. Trails, streetlights, and access to places were positively associated with engaging in any leisure activity: unadjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]); 1.62 (1.09–2.41), 1.57 (1.14–2.17), and 2.94 (1.91–4.52), respectively. Trails and access to places were positively associated with engaging in the recommended amount of leisure activity: 1.49 (1.00–2.22), and 2.28 (1.30–4.00), respectively). In multivariable logistic regression modeling including environmental factors and demographics, access to places was associated with any activity (2.23 [1.44–3.44]) and recommended activity (2.15 [1.23–3.77]), and trails were associated with recommended activity (1.51 [1.00–2.28]). Conclusion. Certain neighborhood characteristics, particularly trails, and access to places for physical activity may be associated with leisure activity levels. In this study, perceived neighborhood environmental factors and access to places for physical activity were strongly associated with race, education, and income.
High-Resolution Optical Vector Analysis Based on Symmetric Double-Sideband Modulation

An optical vector analyzer (OVA) based on symmetric optical double-sideband (ODSB) modulation using a phase modulator (PM) and an intensity modulator (IM) is proposed and demonstrated. In the symmetric-ODSB-based OVA, frequency response measurements are implemented by transmitting the phase-modulated and intensity-modulated ODSB signals through an optical device-under-test (DUT), respectively. Then, removing the responses of the two electro-optic modulators and processing the measured responses, accurate frequency responses of the DUT on both sides of the optical carrier are obtained. Comparing with the conventional OVA based on optical single-sideband (OSSB) modulation, the proposed ODSB-based OVA has the doubled measurement range and the simple wavelength-independent configuration. Moreover, the measurement system inherently has large dynamic range and high accuracy, which is difficult to achieve for the OSSB-based OVA due to the restriction of the limited sideband suppression ratio. An experiment for measuring the magnitude and the phase responses of a programmable optical filter is carried out. The responses in a range of 100 GHz are measured with a resolution of 10 MHz by using 50-GHz components.
Development of CGRP-dependent pain and headache related behaviours in a rat model of concussion: Implications for mechanisms of post-traumatic headache

Background and objective Posttraumatic headache (PTH) is one of the most common, debilitating and difficult symptoms to manage after a mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion. However, the mechanisms underlying PTH remain elusive, in part due to the lack of a clinically relevant animal model. Here, we characterized for the first time, headache and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of concussion evoked by a mild closed head injury (mCHI) – the major type of military and civilian related trauma associated with PTH – and tested responses to current and novel headache therapies. Methods Concussion was induced in adult male rats using a weight-drop device. Characterization of headache and pain related behaviours included assessment of cutaneous tactile pain sensitivity, using von Frey monofilaments, and ongoing pain using the conditioned place preference or aversion (CPP/CPA) paradigms. Sensitivity to headache/migraine triggers was tested by exposing rats to low-dose glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). Treatments included acute systemic administration of sumatriptan and chronic systemic administration of a mouse anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody. Results Concussed rats developed cephalic tactile pain hypersensitivity that was resolved by two weeks post-injury and was ameliorated by treatment with sumatriptan or anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody. Sumatriptan also produced CPP seven days post mCHI, but not in sham animals. Following the resolution of the concussion-evoked cephalic hypersensitivity, administration of GTN produced a renewed and pronounced cephalic pain hypersensitivity that was inhibited by sumatriptan or anti-CGRP antibody treatment as well as a CGRP-dependent CPA. GTN had no effect in sham animals. Conclusions Concussion leads to the development of headache and pain-related behaviours, in particular sustained enhanced responses to GTN, that are mediated through a CGRP-dependent mechanism. Treatment with anti-CGRP antibodies may be a useful approach to treat PTH.
Estimating the sentiment strength of a word using word similarity

Identifying the sentiment orientation and strength of a sentence or phrase is one of the crucial issues in opinion mining. A dictionary approach to this problem is to use the sentiment orientations and strengths for the words included in a given document unit. This paper proposes a novel method for estimating the sentiment strength of a word using similarities between a target sentiment word and sentiment words in dictionary. To calculate the word similarity, we introduce the notions of relative similarity and adjusted similarity. The experimental results from the analysis of Facebook text data demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in terms of the root-mean-square-error.
Uniformly resolvable $(C_4, K_{1, 3})$-designs of order v and

In this paper we consider the uniformly resolvable decompositions of the complete graph $2K_v$ into subgraphs where each resolution class contains only blocks isomorphic to the same graph. We completely determine the spectrum for the cases in which all the resolution classes are either $C_4$ or $K_{1,3}$.
Comparative sonographic evaluation of the anteroposterior dimensions of the pancreas in diabetics and nondiabetics.

BACKGROUND The pancreas is an insulin-producing gland and is prone to varying degrees of destruction and change in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Various morphological changes including reduction in the pancreas dimensions have been described in DM. OBJECTIVES To determine pancreatic anteroposterior (AP) dimensions in diabetics by sonography and compare with nondiabetics. To also evaluate the correlation of the AP dimensions with patient's anthropometry, as well as the duration of the disease in comparison with nondiabetics. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a comparative cross-sectional study involving 150 diabetics with 150 sex and age matched healthy normoglycemic group used as controls. Sonographic measurements of the AP dimensions of the pancreatic head, body, and tail of both study groups were performed with the use of 3.5 MHz curvilinear array transducer of a SonoAce X4 ultrasound machine. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 17 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). A statistical test was considered significant at P ≤ 0.05 and 95% confidence interval. RESULTS Pancreas AP dimensions were significantly smaller in diabetics compared to those of the controls. The mean dimensions were 1.91 ± 0.26 cm, 0.95 ± 0.12 cm, and 0.91 ± 0.11 cm for the head, body, and tail, respectively, in diabetics and 2.32 ± 0.22 cm, 1.43 ± 0.19 cm, and 1.34 ± 0.20 cm in the control (P < 0.001 in all cases). The dimensions were also significantly smaller in the Type 1 diabetics compared to Type 2 (P < 0.001 in all cases). The mean duration of illness for the Types 1 and 2 diabetics were 3.09 ± 1.38 and 3.78 ± 3.12 years, respectively. Longer duration of illness was associated with smaller pancreas body and tail dimensions, while pancreas head dimension was not significantly affected by the duration of illness. CONCLUSION Diabetics have smaller pancreas AP dimensions compared to the normal population.
Lipopolysaccharide levels adherent to PM2.5 play an important role in particulate matter induced‐immunosuppressive effects in mouse splenocytes

Epidemiological studies show that exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) is associated with serious adverse health effects, including, but not limited to, those on the respiratory system. In the present study, we investigated the splenic response in mice administered PM of ≤ 2.5 μ m diameter (PM2.5). Male BALB/c mice (7 or 8 weeks old) were intratracheally administered PM2.5 (0.1 mg) four times, at 2 week intervals, and dissected 24 h after the final administration. The effect of six types of PM2.5, collected in Shenyang or Beijing (China) and Kitakyushu (Japan), on splenocytes was examined. Our results revealed a strong correlation between the levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but not that of β‐glucan and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, attached to PM2.5 and the effect of PM2.5 on cell activity. PM2.5 with a low amount of LPS (PM2.5LL) reduced splenocyte mitogen‐induced proliferation and cytokine production compared with that in control mice. The suppressive effects of PM2.5LL on proliferation and interleukin‐2 production in splenocytes were rescued by the antioxidant N‐acetylcysteine. Expression of heme oxygenase‐1 was elevated after PM2.5LL administration, particularly in CD11b + cells, while no elevation was observed in CD4+, CD8+ or B220+ cells. Further, dissociation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 from Kelch‐like ECH‐associating protein 1 was observed in splenocytes of PM2.5LL‐administered mice. These data suggest that LPS attached to PM2.5 modulates the splenocyte immune responses to PM2.5.
Investigation on Generation Performance for Tubular Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Tubular cathode and plate anode were prepared by gel-casting process and coating process, which used mesocarbon microbead(MCMB) as raw materials, then cathode and anode were assembled to prepare single fuel cell. The generation performance for single tubular direct methanol fuel cell was tested under different electrolyte temperatures, methanol concentrations and oxygen flow rates, and the factors that affected the cell performance were discussed. The results showed that temperature and oxygen flow rate were the important factors of the generation performance in tubular direct methanol fuel cell (TDMFC), but the methanol concentration had a relatively smaller impact on the cell performance. The stability test of the cell after working for 100h shows that the tubular MCMB cathode had a perfect stability.
Robust Approximate Message Passing Detection Based on Minimizing Bethe Free Energy for Massive MIMO Systems

Owing to the advantage of low-complexity, message passing algorithms have been extensively studied for massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) detection. Most of message passing algorithms assume that the channel state information (CSI) is completely known by receiver, which is unrealistic in wireless communication. In this paper, we investigate a robust approximate message passing (RAMP) detection algorithm with imperfect CSI based on minimizing Bethe free energy. For given pilot structure and channel estimation methods, the results of channel estimation should be denoted by a probability density function of CSI rather than its estimation values. Based on such observations, the MIMO detection issue in the presence of channel estimation error is formulated as a Bethe free energy minimization subject to appropriately imposed constraints and the given statistical model of CSI. The Lagrange multiplier theory is employed to identify the stationary points of the constrained Bethe free energy, which give us back the fixed-point equations. This results in an iterative algorithm for detection in massive MIMO systems. Numerical experiments corroborate its superiority in terms of SER performance when the CSI is imperfect.
Cholecystokinin in the inhibition of gastric secretion and gastric emptying in humans.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is known to inhibit gastric acid secretion and gastric emptying but its physiological role in the inhibition of gastric functions is not settled. In this study performed on 16 young male subjects, gastric acid secretion and emptying rate were determined after intragastric administration of 8% peptone meal alone or in combination with intravenous infusion of graded doses of CCK-8 (5-80 pmol/kg.h) or with addition of vegetable oil to meal without or with pretreatment with loxiglumide, a specific CCK antagonist. CCK-8 infusion at lower dose (5 pmol/kg.h) was ineffective but at higher doses (20-80 pmol/kg.h) it resulted in a significant reduction in acid output by 39 and 43% and a decrease in gastric emptying from 54% to 40 and 22%, respectively. Pretreatment with loxiglumide abolished almost completely the inhibition of both gastric acid and gastric emptying by CCK-8. Fat added to peptone meal reduced gastric acid secretion by 42-65% and decreased gastric emptying to 24-32%. The pretreatment with loxiglumide tended to reduce fat-induced inhibition of gastric acid secretion and gastric emptying but the difference in the inhibition of gastric functions between the tests without and with loxiglumide was not significant. This study provides evidence that exogenous CCK administered at pharmacological doses is a potent inhibitor of gastric acid secretion and gastric emptying and probably acts via specific CCK receptors. In contrast, fat induces inhibition of gastric acid secretion and gastric emptying that cannot be fully attributed to hormonally acting CCK.
Acceptance of Health-Related ICT among Elderly People Living in the Community: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence

ABSTRACT There are a growing number of seniors and a growing need for health-related ICT (Information and Communication Technology) solutions to allow seniors to live independently in their own homes and communities. We need to have a better understanding of how and why seniors use or do not use health-related ICT in such settings so we can improve our solutions. In order to synthesize existing knowledge, we did a systematic literature review using Scopus and PubMed. We searched for both review articles and primary qualitative studies. Eleven review articles and 31 primary research articles were included in the study. We structured our findings using the UTAUT2 acceptance model developed by Venkatesh et al. Our findings show that seniors want health-related ICT that gives them independence, safety, and security, allows them to socialize and manage their own health, and helps them in their daily activities. They need to easily get help if they have problems using services, get tailored training, and get help during use. Lack of privacy and safety and stigma are some of the reported barriers. Health-related ICT at home is different than both consumer and institutional ICT. We need more research in order to develop a specialized and operationalized acceptance model for health-related ICT use among seniors. Our mapping to UTAUT2 is a step in this direction and suggests a possible specialization of this model.
Detection of Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB) Using a Porous Silicon Optical Biosensor Based on a Multilayered Double Bragg Mirror Structure

We successfully demonstrate a porous silicon (PS) double Bragg mirror by electrochemical etching at room temperature as a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) label-free biosensor for detecting ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). Compared to various other one-dimension photonic crystal configurations of PS, the double Bragg mirror structure is quite easy to prepare and exhibits interesting optical properties. The width of high reflectivity stop band of the PS double Bragg mirror is about 761 nm with a sharp and deep resonance peak at 1328 nm in the reflectance spectrum, which gives a high sensitivity and distinguishability for sensing performance. The detection sensitivity of such a double Bragg mirror structure is illustrated through the investigation of AOB DNA hybridization in the PS pores. The redshifts of the reflectance spectra show a good linear relationship with both complete complementary and partial complementary DNA. The lowest detection limit for complete complementary DNA is 27.1 nM and the detection limit of the biosensor for partial complementary DNA is 35.0 nM, which provides the feasibility and effectiveness for the detection of AOB in a real environment. The PS double Bragg mirror structure is attractive for widespread biosensing applications and provides great potential for the development of optical applications.
Development of S-NPP VIIRS global surface type classification map using support vector machines

ABSTRACT With the launch of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS)/Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite in October 2011, many of the terrestrial remote sensing products generated from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), such as the global land cover map, have been inherited and expanded into the JPSS/S-NPP mission using the new Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) data. In this study, an improved algorithm including the use of a new classifier support vector machines (SVM) classifier was proposed to produce VIIRS surface type maps. In addition to the new classification algorithm, a new post-processing strategy involving the use of new ancillary data to refine the classification output is implemented. As a result, the new global International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) map based on the 2014 VIIRS surface reflectance data was generated with a 78.5 ± 0.6% overall classification accuracy. The new map was compared to a previously delivered VIIRS surface type map, and to the MODIS land cover product. Validation results including the error matrix, overall accuracy, and the user’s and producer’s accuracy suggest the new global surface type map provides similar classification accuracy compared to the old VIIRS surface type map, with higher accuracy achieved in agricultural types.
Bacterial Meningitis and Haemophilus influenzae Type b Conjugate Vaccine, Malawi

A retrospective database review showed that Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine decreased the annual number of cases of H. influenzae type b meningitis in children in Blantyre, Malawi. Among young bacterial meningitis patients, HIV prevalence was high (36.7% during 1997–2009), and pneumococcus was the most common etiologic agent (57% in 2009).
A Multiomics Approach to Identify Genes Associated with Childhood Asthma Risk and Morbidity

Abstract Childhood asthma is a complex disease. In this study, we aim to identify genes associated with childhood asthma through a multiomics “vertical” approach that integrates multiple analytical steps using linear and logistic regression models. In a case‐control study of childhood asthma in Puerto Ricans (n = 1,127), we used adjusted linear or logistic regression models to evaluate associations between several analytical steps of omics data, including genome‐wide (GW) genotype data, GW methylation, GW expression profiling, cytokine levels, asthma‐intermediate phenotypes, and asthma status. At each point, only the top genes/single‐nucleotide polymorphisms/probes/cytokines were carried forward for subsequent analysis. In step 1, asthma modified the gene expression‐protein level association for 1,645 genes; pathway analysis showed an enrichment of these genes in the cytokine signaling system (n = 269 genes). In steps 2‐3, expression levels of 40 genes were associated with intermediate phenotypes (asthma onset age, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, exacerbations, eosinophil counts, and skin test reactivity); of those, methylation of seven genes was also associated with asthma. Of these seven candidate genes, IL5RA was also significant in analytical steps 4‐8. We then measured plasma IL‐5 receptor &agr; levels, which were associated with asthma age of onset and moderate‐severe exacerbations. In addition, in silico database analysis showed that several of our identified IL5RA single‐nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with transcription factors related to asthma and atopy. This approach integrates several analytical steps and is able to identify biologically relevant asthma‐related genes, such as IL5RA. It differs from other methods that rely on complex statistical models with various assumptions.
Robust Optimal Dispatch, Secondary, and Primary Reserve Allocation for Power Systems With Uncertain Load and Generation

Robust optimal dispatch, secondary, and primary reserve for power systems is considered in this paper based on a novel robust formulation of the well-known power flow optimization. The uncertainty of power generation and load at the power system buses is modeled as nominal, expected power supply and demand, uncertain load and generation variations, as well as tunable dispatch, secondary, and primary reserves. The power transmission between the buses is modeled with algebraic, linearized power flow equations. The challenge is how to distribute dispatch as well as secondary and primary reserve at minimal cost, such that the power flow satisfies certain constraints even after unknown but bounded load and generation variations. These constraints reflect among others the maximal steady-state frequency deviation and the loading limits of the individual power lines. The resulting optimization problem is reformulated to different linear programming problems that can be solved efficiently even for very large systems. The applicability is shown for different IEEE test bus systems.