Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recovery and regeneration after spinal cord injury: a review and summary of recent literature.

INTRODUCTION Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in significant neurologic dysfunction and disability. An annual incidence of 15 to 40 traumatic SCI cases per million population has been reported worldwide, and a conservative estimate for Singapore would be 23 cases per million. With continued improvements in medical care, an increasing prevalence of SCI patients is expected, with corresponding need for comprehensive rehabilitation services led by specialist rehabilitation physicians. METHODS A literature search, review, and summary of findings of recent studies relating to factors associated with recovery, as well as interventions for rehabilitation and promotion of healing of the injured spinal cord was performed. CONCLUSIONS Many SCI patients show improvements in motoric and neurologic level, but those with complete injuries have poor chance of improving American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores. SCI of violent aetiology tends to be more neurologic complete, and those without sacral sparing less likely to improve. Older patients generally do well in activities of daily living. Women have better motor score improvement, although men have better Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores generally. Electrodiagnostic tests such as somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) can help with prognostication, as can imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Immediate surgery for spinal decompression may improve recovery, but whether routine surgery after SCI improves function remains unclear, as does the timing. Methylprednisolone and similar agents appear to help limit secondary injury processes. Rehabilitation interventions such as functional electrical stimulation (FES) and body-weight supported treadmill ambulation training may be effective, as may neural-controlled prostheses and devices. Substances that promote repair and regeneration of the injured spinal cord such as GM-1, 4-AP, BDNG, GDNF, Nogo and MAG-inhibitors, have been studied. Transplanted tissues and cells, such as blood macrophages, bone marrow transplant with GM-CSF, olfactory ensheathing cells, fetal tissues, stem or progenitor cells, have been reported to produce neurological improvements.
A Study on Security and Privacy Issues of Cloud Eco-System

Cloud computing is an Internet-based model for enabling appropriate on demand network gateway to the pooled setup of computing resources and related infrastructure on sharing basis. Cloud computing offers four broad categories of services namely, IaaS, PaaS, DSaaS and SaaS. In these cloud services, individuals and organizations usually face security, privacy and trust challenges. Most of the R & D centers and researchers across the world are working towards resolving these security issues and achieving the trust among each other. In this paper we present a framework for unified security design which may help to resolve privacy, trust and security challenges that are faced in cloudbased networks. We also expect that this would help us to understand existing security challenges, while trying to achieve common standards for secure cloud services, design secure cloud transmission protocol, and devise an algorithm in this regard.
Cloud-Scale Genomic Signals Processing for Robust Large-Scale Cancer Genomic Microarray Data Analysis

As microarray data available to scientists continues to increase in size and complexity, it has become overwhelmingly important to find multiple ways to bring forth oncological inference to the bioinformatics community through the analysis of large-scale cancer genomic (LSCG) DNA and mRNA microarray data that is useful to scientists. Though there have been many attempts to elucidate the issue of bringing forth biological interpretation by means of wavelet preprocessing and classification, there has not been a research effort that focuses on a cloud-scale distributed parallel (CSDP) separable 1-D wavelet decomposition technique for denoising through differential expression thresholding and classification of LSCG microarray data. This research presents a novel methodology that utilizes a CSDP separable 1-D method for wavelet-based transformation in order to initialize a threshold which will retain significantly expressed genes through the denoising process for robust classification of cancer patients. Additionally, the overall study was implemented and encompassed within CSDP environment. The utilization of cloud computing and wavelet-based thresholding for denoising was used for the classification of samples within the Global Cancer Map, Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, and The Cancer Genome Atlas. The results proved that separable 1-D parallel distributed wavelet denoising in the cloud and differential expression thresholding increased the computational performance and enabled the generation of higher quality LSCG microarray datasets, which led to more accurate classification results.
Preventable causative factors leading to hospital admission with decompensated heart failure

Objective To determine the distribution and importance of various factors, especially the preventable ones, that contribute to cardiac decompensation and subsequent hospital admission for heart failure. Methods During a one year period patients were prospectively recruited and evaluated during their hospital stay by means of a structured personal interview by trained medical staff and through clinical examination and laboratory investigation. Setting The cardiological department at a teaching affiliated general community hospital in Berlin, Germany. Patients Consecutive sample of 179 patients admitted to hospital with acute decompensation of pre-existing heart failure. Main outcome measures Proportional distribution of causative factors leading to hospital admission for heart failure; relative importance of preventable factors; details of patient compliance with diet and medication, and knowledge about medication. Results Mean (SD) age was 75.4 (9.9) years. Potential causative factors for decompensated heart failure were identified in 85.5% of patients. Lack of adherence to the medical regimen was the most commonly identified factor and was regarded as the cause of the cardiac decompensation in 41.9% of cases. Non-compliance with drugs was found in 23.5% of patients. Other factors related to hospital admission were coronary ischaemia (13.4%), cardiac arrhythmias (6.1%), uncontrolled hypertension (5.6%), and inadequate preadmission treatment (12.3%). In all, 54.2% of admissions could be regarded as preventable. Conclusions Many hospital admissions for decompensation of chronic heart failure in patients at a district hospital in Berlin are preventable. Measures are necessary to improve this situation and evaluation of programmes that include patient education, patient follow up, and physician training is needed.
Conditional independence and its representations

Institute of Mathematics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic provides access to digitized documents strictly for personal use. Each copy of any part of this document must contain these Terms of use. This paper has been digitized, optimized for electronic delivery and stamped with digital signature within the project DML-CZ: The Czech Digital Mathematics Library This paper summarizes recent investigations into the nature of informational dependencies and their representations. Axiomatic and graphical representations are presented which are both sound and complete for specialized types of independence statements.
Cellular distribution and subcellular localization of molecular components of vesicular transmitter release in horizontal cells of rabbit retina

The mechanism underlying transmitter release from retinal horizontal cells is poorly understood. We investigated the possibility of vesicular transmitter release from mammalian horizontal cells by examining the expression of synaptic proteins that participate in vesicular transmitter release at chemical synapses. Using immunocytochemistry, we evaluated the cellular and subcellular distribution of complexin I/II, syntaxin‐1, and synapsin I in rabbit retina. Strong labeling for complexin I/II, proteins that regulate a late step in vesicular transmitter release, was found in both synaptic layers of the retina, and in somata of A‐ and B‐type horizontal cells, of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐ and glycinergic amacrine cells, and of ganglion cells. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated the presence of complexin I/II in horizontal cell processes postsynaptic to rod and cone ribbon synapses. Syntaxin‐1, a core protein of the soluble N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive‐factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex known to bind to complexin, and synapsin I, a synaptic vesicle‐associated protein involved in the Ca2+‐dependent recruitment of synaptic vesicles for transmitter release, were also present in the horizontal cells and their processes at photoreceptor synapses. Photoreceptors and bipolar cells did not express any of these proteins at their axon terminals. The presence of complexin I/II, syntaxin‐1, and synapsin I in rabbit horizontal cell processes and tips suggests that a vesicular mechanism may underlie transmitter release from mammalian horizontal cells. J. Comp. Neurol. 488:70–81, 2005. Published 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Regulation of the energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase by antigen receptor and Ca2+ in T lymphocytes

The adenosine monophosphate (AMP)–activated protein kinase (AMPK) has a crucial role in maintaining cellular energy homeostasis. This study shows that human and mouse T lymphocytes express AMPKα1 and that this is rapidly activated in response to triggering of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR). TCR stimulation of AMPK was dependent on the adaptors LAT and SLP76 and could be mimicked by the elevation of intracellular Ca2+ with Ca2+ ionophores or thapsigargin. AMPK activation was also induced by energy stress and depletion of cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP). However, TCR and Ca2+ stimulation of AMPK required the activity of Ca2+–calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinases (CaMKKs), whereas AMPK activation induced by increased AMP/ATP ratios did not. These experiments reveal two distinct pathways for the regulation of AMPK in T lymphocytes. The role of AMPK is to promote ATP conservation and production. The rapid activation of AMPK in response to Ca2+ signaling in T lymphocytes thus reveals that TCR triggering is linked to an evolutionally conserved serine kinase that regulates energy metabolism. Moreover, AMPK does not just react to cellular energy depletion but also anticipates it.
Maritime communications – Identifying current and future satellite requirements & technologies

It is tricky to predict the future, especially in the maritime communications market – what are the future demands? Which technologies will be available? How will the regulatory bodies think in the future? Within this paper, the recent development towards future satellite requirements and technologies will be spotlighted. Four use case scenarios are in the focus here, namely: e-navigation, Arctic communications, autonomous ships, and evolution of GMDSS.
Monocyte Siglec-14 expression is upregulated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and correlates with lupus disease activity

Abstract Objective. Siglecs are sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins expressed on the surface of immune cells, which participate in the discrimination of self and non-self. We investigated myeloid CD33-related Siglec expression in a cohort of patients with SLE. Methods. Cell surface expression of Siglec-5/14, Siglec-9 and Siglec-10 on peripheral myeloid subsets were analysed from 39 SLE patients using flow cytometry. Genotyping of the Siglec-5/14 locus was also performed. Clinical markers of SLE disease activity, including SLEDAI, serum complement concentrations and serum autoantibodies, were assessed and correlated with Siglec levels. Results. Siglec-14 expression on SLE monocytes (median = 518, interquartile range: 411) was significantly higher when compared with healthy controls (median = 427, interquartile range: 289.3; P < 0.05) and correlated positively with SLEDAI scoring and anti-Sm and anti-SSB autoantibodies (P < 0.05). A negative correlation was determined with patient serum C3 concentrations (P < 0.005). Genotyping of the Siglec-5/14 locus revealed a high frequency of the Siglec-14 null allele across both groups, reflecting the incidence in Asian populations. Conclusion. Our data suggest that the Siglec immunomodulatory molecules, in particular Siglec-14 expression on monocytes, may play an important role in the inflammatory events of SLE. No bias was found with regard to SIGLEC14 genotype in our patient group compared with healthy controls. Larger comparisons of mixed ethnicity might, however, reveal an important role for Siglecs in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease.
The selective mGluR5 agonist CHPG protects against traumatic brain injury in vitro and in vivo via ERK and Akt pathway

Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of central nervous system injury, but the role of mGluR5 in traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective potency of (R,S)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG), a selective mGluR5 agonist, for protecting against TBI in both in vitro and in vivo models. Primary cortical neurons were treated with 1 mM CHPG in an in vitro preparation 30 min before TBI, and 250 nM CHPG was injected into the right lateral ventricle of rats 30 min before TBI was induced in in vivo studies. The results showed that CHPG significantly attenuated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and neuronal apoptosis and reduced lesion volume. Compared to the control or vehicle group, the phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt were increased in the presence of CHPG, even following the induction of TBI. Furthermore, treatment with either the ERK inhibitor PD98059 or Akt inhibitor LY294002 partially reversed the CHPG's neuroprotective effects. These data suggest that CHPG minimizes brain damage after induction of TBI both in vitro and in vivo, and that these protective effects were possibly mediated by activation of the ERK and Akt signaling pathways. Thus, potentiating mGluR5 activity with selective agonists such as CHPG may be useful for the treatment of traumatic brain injury.
Care Needs and Clinical Outcomes of Older People with Dementia: A Population-Based Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study

Objective To explore the healthcare resource utilization, psychotropic drug use and mortality of older people with dementia. Design A nationwide propensity score-matched cohort study. Setting National Health Insurance Research database. Participants A total of 32,649 elderly people with dementia and their propensity-score matched controls (n=32,649). Measurements Outpatient visits, inpatient care, psychotropic drug use, in-hospital mortality and all-cause mortality at 90 and 365 days. Results Compared to the non-dementia group, a higher proportion of patients with dementia used inpatient services (1 year after index date: 20.91% vs. 9.55%), and the dementia group had more outpatient visits (median [standard deviation]: 7.00 [8.87] vs. 3.00 [8.30]). Furthermore, dementia cases with acute admission had the highest psychotropic drug utilization both at baseline and at the post-index dates (difference-in-differences: all <0.001). Dementia was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (90 days, Odds ratio (OR)=1.85 [95%CI 1.67-2.05], p<0.001; 365 days, OR=1.59 [1.50-1.69], p<0.001) and in-hospital mortality (90 days, OR=1.97 [1.71-2.27], p<0.001; 365 days, OR=1.82 [1.61-2.05], p<0.001) compared to matched controls. Conclusions When older people with dementia are admitted for acute illnesses, they may increase their use of psychotropic agents and their risk of death, particularly in-hospital mortality.
Genes with Relevance for Early to Late Progression of Colon Carcinoma Based on Combined Genomic and Transcriptomic Information from the Same Patients

Background Genetic and epigenetic alterations in colorectal cancer are numerous. However, it is difficult to judge whether such changes are primary or secondary to the appearance and progression of tumors. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify altered DNA regions with significant covariation to transcription alterations along colon cancer progression. Methods Tumor and normal colon tissue were obtained at primary operations from 24 patients selected by chance. DNA, RNA and microRNAs were extracted from the same biopsy material in all individuals and analyzed by oligo-nucleotide array-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), mRNA- and microRNA oligo-arrays. Statistical analyses were performed to assess statistical interactions (correlations, co-variations) between DNA copy number changes and significant alterations in gene and microRNA expression using appropriate parametric and non-parametric statistics. Results Main DNA alterations were located on chromosome 7, 8, 13 and 20. Tumor DNA copy number gain increased with tumor progression, significantly related to increased gene expression. Copy number loss was not observed in Dukes A tumors. There was no significant relationship between expressed genes and tumor progression across Dukes A–D tumors; and no relationship between tumor stage and the number of microRNAs with significantly altered expression. Interaction analyses identified overall 41 genes, which discriminated early Dukes A plus B tumors from late Dukes C plus D tumor; 28 of these genes remained with correlations between genomic and transcriptomic alterations in Dukes C plus D tumors and 17 in Dukes D. One microRNA (microR-663) showed interactions with DNA alterations in all Dukes A-D tumors. Conclusions Our modeling confirms that colon cancer progression is related to genomic instability and altered gene expression. However, early invasive tumor growth seemed rather related to transcriptomic alterations, where changes in microRNA may be an early phenomenon, and less to DNA copy number changes.
OSIRIS-SR: A Safety Ring for self-healing distributed composite service execution

The advent of service-oriented architectures has strongly facilitated the development and deployment of large-scale distributed applications. The middleware for orchestrating applications that consist of several distributed services has to be inherently distributed as well, in order to provide a high degree of scalability and to avoid any single point of failure. Self-healing execution of composite services requires replicated control metadata and instance data in a way that does not affect adaptivity and elasticity of the middleware. In this paper, we present OSIRIS-SR, a decentralized approach to self-healing composite service execution in a distributed environment. OSIRIS-SR exploits dedicated node monitors, organized in a self-organizing Safety Ring, for the replication of control data. Moreover, OSIRIS-SR leverages virtual stable storage for managing composite service instance data in a robust way. We present the architecture of OSIRIS-SR's Safety Ring and discuss how it provides self-healing composite service execution. The performance evaluation shows that the additional gain in robustness has only marginal effects on the scalability characteristics of the system.
Estimating direct-to-reverberant ratio mapped from power spectral density using deep neural network

A new attempt for estimating the direct-to-reverberant ratio (DRR) by mapping the power spectral density (PSD) of the direct sound and reverberation using the deep neural network is reported. The method finds the correct DRR from the PSD estimated with an algorithm using a microphone array. The experimental results using a recording of a reverberant speech signal, which included various environmental noise, reveal that the proposed method is effective in improving the accuracy of DRR estimation and robust against various noise.
Tractable cases of (*,2)-bounded parsimony haplotyping

Parsimony haplotyping is the problem of finding a set of haplotypes of minimum cardinality that explains a given set of genotypes, where a genotype is explained by two haplotypes if it can be obtained as a combination of the two. This problem is NP-complete in the general case, but polynomially solvable for (k, l)-bounded instances for certain k and l. Here, k denotes the maximum number of ambiguous sites in any genotype, and l is the maximum number of genotypes that are ambiguous at the same site. Only the complexity of the (*, 2)-bounded problem is still unknown, where * denotes no restriction. It has been proved that (*, 2)-bounded instances have compatibility graphs that can be constructed from cliques and circuits by pasting along an edge. In this paper, we give a constructive proof of the fact that (*, 2)-bounded instances are polynomially solvable if the compatibility graph is constructed by pasting cliques, trees and circuits along a bounded number of edges. We obtain this proof by solving a slightly generalized problem on circuits, trees and cliques respectively, and arguing that all possible combinations of optimal solutions for these graphs that are pasted along a bounded number of edges can be enumerated efficiently.
Sounding-derived parameters and their ability to forecastindividual severe weather threats for the region of centralEurope.

Study is devoted to the analysis of more than 35 environmental parameters (indices) and their ability to discriminate between the intensity categories of individual severe weather types (hail, wind gusts, excessive precipitation). Intensity categories were delineated as non-severe, severe and extremely severe while severity for each of the events was assigned using the ESWD data. Environmental parameters (indices) have been processed from 1962 proximity soundings acquired for 4 years of thunderstorm activity (2008-2011) in the region of central Europe. Ability of parameters to discriminate between the intensity categories has been determined via non-parametric statistical tests (using p-values and test score values). One of the primary findings is that the discriminatory ability of a certain parameter is often very different for individual severe weather types, another being that even parameters with the best scores exhibit at least some overlap between the values of individual intensity categories. Statistical results showed that the best discriminatory skills were found for the hail events, worst for the excessive precipitation. Moreover, we found that it is easier to discriminate non-severe and severe events than severe and extremely severe ones. Severe hail environments were well predicted using the buoyancy-related parameters, while severe wind gust environments were more sensitive to the vertical wind shear. Simple combinations of buoyancy and wind shear proved as the best predictors for both severe weather types. In case of the excessive precipitation, results were different with a tendency for severe events to occur in the environments favoring high precipitation rates / efficiency. Also, tornado environments were examined with the finding that even in the favorable range of parameters, non-tornadic cases dominate. Generally speaking, primary goal is an assessment of the severe weather predictability using simple, sounding derived parameters and the outline of main limitations that stem from using them, especially regarding the parameter “threshold” values.