Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microdialysis of large molecules

Microdialysis has been used in many tissues, including skin, brain, adipose tissue, muscle, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract, to recover low-molecular mass endogenous mediators, metabolites, and xenobiotics from the interstitial space. Recently, molecules of larger molecular mass, such as plasma proteins, cytokines, growth factors, and neuropeptides, have also been recovered successfully using largerpore membranes. Microdialysis recovery of large molecules offers the opportunity to identify patterns of protein expression in a variety of tissue spaces and to evaluate clinically useful biomarkers of disease. From this may develop a better understanding of the disease process and its diagnosis and more targeted approaches to therapy.
Comparison of sparse adaptive filters for underwater acoustic channel equalization/Estimation

High-rate underwater acoustic (UWA) channels often demonstrate long, time-varying and sparse impulse responses. Classical and most used adaptive algorithms such as the recursive least-squares (RLS) algorithm and the normalized least-mean-square (NLMS) algorithm do not take sparseness into account when they try to match the channel. Thus, performance improvement of these algorithms is possible. Sparse adaptive algorithms developed for acoustic echo cancellation, such as the improved proportionate normalized least-mean-square (IPNLMS) algorithm and the improved proportionate affine projection algorithm (IPAPA), have shown better performance than the NLMS algorithm without any essential cost in computational complexity. In this work, we apply IPNLMS, IPAPA, RLS and NLMS in both channel estimation and decision feedback equalization (DFE) of a short-range, shallow water acoustic link. Our results confirm the superior performance of the sparse algorithms (IPAPA being the best) when the channel becomes sparse. In addition, it is shown that both IPAPA and IPNLMS have robust performance (similar to RLS) when the channel is non-sparse.
Fourier transform ir spectroscopy of collagen and gelatin solutions: Deconvolution of the amide I band for conformational studies

The ir spectra of lathyritic rat skin collagen and calf skin gelatin solutions at a variety of temperatures were obtained using Fourier transform ir spectroscopy and a 9‐reflection, 2‐pass ZnSe prism sample cell. The spectra were then deconvolved (based on Kauppinnen's method) and the behavior of the amide I band at ∼ 1650 cm−1 observed in detail. Throughout the temperature range studied (4–50°C), three component absorption peaks within the amide I band (at 1633, 1643, and 1660 cm−1) are common to the spectra irrespective of the degree of triple helix content of the sample. Changes in the relative intensities of these component peaks are, however, conformationally dependent. During denaturation of the triple helix, the dominant 1660‐cm−1 component in the native collagen spectrum diminishes and the 1633‐cm−1 peak becomes relatively intensified. The inherently strong basicity of the carbonyl group of the proline residues together with the frequent occurrence of this imino acid in the X position of the Gly‐X‐Y triplet of collagen largely accounts for the −30‐cm−1 shift of the amide I band during denaturation. Temperature and conformationally dependent changes in the fine structure of the amide I band from dilute solutions of collagen can be monitored in a reproducible and quantitative fashion.
Multifactorial Likelihood Assessment of BRCA1 and BRCA2 Missense Variants Confirms That BRCA1:c.122A>G(p.His41Arg) Is a Pathogenic Mutation

Rare exonic, non-truncating variants in known cancer susceptibility genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 are problematic for genetic counseling and clinical management of relevant families. This study used multifactorial likelihood analysis and/or bioinformatically-directed mRNA assays to assess pathogenicity of 19 BRCA1 or BRCA2 variants identified following patient referral to clinical genetic services. Two variants were considered to be pathogenic (Class 5). BRCA1:c.4484G> C(p.Arg1495Thr) was shown to result in aberrant mRNA transcripts predicted to encode truncated proteins. The BRCA1:c.122A>G(p.His41Arg) RING-domain variant was found from multifactorial likelihood analysis to have a posterior probability of pathogenicity of 0.995, a result consistent with existing protein functional assay data indicating lost BARD1 binding and ubiquitin ligase activity. Of the remaining variants, seven were determined to be not clinically significant (Class 1), nine were likely not pathogenic (Class 2), and one was uncertain (Class 3). These results have implications for genetic counseling and medical management of families carrying these specific variants. They also provide additional multifactorial likelihood variant classifications as reference to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of bioinformatic prediction tools and/or functional assay data in future studies.
4K Real-Time and Parallel Software Video Decoder for Multilayer HEVC Extensions

Two High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) extensions, namely, the scalable HEVC (SHVC) extension and multiview HEVC (MV-HEVC) extension, have been finalized in July 2014 by the Moving Picture Experts Group and Video Coding Experts Group. These two extensions enable additional features not covered in the first version of the HEVC standard such as spatial, fidelity, bitdepth, and color gamut scalability, as well as stereoscopic and multiview representations. In this paper, we propose a software parallel decoder architecture for the HEVC standard and its multilayer extensions, including SHVC and MV-HEVC extensions. The decoder consists of multiple instances of the OpenHEVC decoder, one instance to decode each layer with a communication between dependent layers to perform inter-layer predictions. The proposed multilayer HEVC decoder is parallel friendly and supports both wavefront parallelism to simultaneously process adjacent rows of the frame and frame-based parallelism to decode a set of temporal and spatial frames in parallel. Moreover, the most time-consuming operation introduced in the SHVC extension, namely, the resampling of the inter-layer reference picture in spatial scalability, is optimized in single instruction multiple data for x86 platform. We assess the complexity of the multilayer HEVC decoder with respect to the simulcast configuration. The multilayer decoder decoding two SHVC layers introduces in average 40%-71% additional complexity compared with the single layer HEVC decoder. Moreover, the low level optimizations with a hybrid parallel processing solution enable a real-time decoding of 4Kp60 enhancement layer on a 6-core Intel i7 processor running at 3.4 GHz.
Optimal Reduced-Set Vectors for Support Vector Machines with a Quadratic Kernel

To reduce computational cost, the discriminant function of a support vector machine (SVM) should be represented using as few vectors as possible. This problem has been tackled in different ways. In this article, we develop an explicit solution in the case of a general quadratic kernel k(x, x) = (C + Dxx)2. For a given number of vectors, this solution provides the best possible approximation and can even recover the discriminant function if the number of used vectors is large enough. The key idea is to express the inhomogeneous kernel as a homogeneous kernel on a space having one dimension more than the original one and to follow the approach of Burges (1996).
Fast optimization of Multithreshold Entropy Linear Classifier

Multithreshold Entropy Linear Classifier (MELC) is a density based model which searches for a linear projection maximizing the Cauchy-Schwarz Divergence of dataset kernel density estimation. Despite its good empirical results, one of its drawbacks is the optimization speed. In this paper we analyze how one can speed it up through solving an approximate problem. We analyze two methods, both similar to the approximate solutions of the Kernel Density Estimation querying and provide adaptive schemes for selecting a crucial parameters based on user-specified acceptable error. Furthermore we show how one can exploit well known conjugate gradients and L-BFGS optimizers despite the fact that the original optimization problem should be solved on the sphere. All above methods and modifications are tested on 10 real life datasets from UCI repository to confirm their practical usability.
The Supply Side of Co2 with Country Heterogeneity

Several recent articles have analyzed climate policy giving explicit attention to the non-renewable character of carbon resources. In most of this literature the economy is treated as a single unit, which in the context of climate policy seems reasonable to interpret as the whole world. However, carbon taxes and other climate policies differ substantially across countries. With such heterogeneity, the effects on emission paths of changes in taxes, costs and subsidies may be very different from what one finds for a hypothetical world of identical countries.
A Website System for Communicating Psychological Science

The peer review and journal system have shortcomings, and both computers and the Internet have made complementary or alternative systems attractive. In this article, I recommend that we implement a new platform for open communication of psychological science on a dedicated website to complement the current review and journal system, with reader reviews of the articles and with all behavioral scientists being eligible to publish and review articles. The judged merit of articles would be based on the citations and the ratings of the work by the whole scientific community. This online journal will be quicker, more democratic, and more informative than the current system. Although the details of the system should be debated and formulated by a committee of scientists, adding this online journal to the existing publications of a society such as the Association for Psychological Science has few risks and many possible gains. An online journal deserves to be tried and assessed.
Direct manipulation and the third dimension: co-planar dragging on 3d displays

Recent advances in touch and display technologies are supporting a wide-spread use of touch-based direct manipulation techniques as well as 3D displays that give a perspectively correct view. Both techniques have consistency constraints including the following: With direct manipulation, a dragged object should stick to the finger tip. With viewer centered projection, head movement should update the scene's projection to preserve a sound 3D impression, e.g., leaning around a house should reveal its backyard. Unfortunately, these two contradict each other, making a combination, e.g., moving the head while touching or dragging an object, non-trivial. We introduce a design space of perspectively adjusted methods for direct manipulation to cope with this limitation, select nine different strategies from it, and evaluate six of them in depth. Participants dragged a box through a 3D maze with multiple, partially occluded levels. We identified one method to be among the fastest while yielding up to 32% less collisions than the other fast methods.
A Multiscale Finite Element Method for Numerical Homogenization

This paper is concerned with a multiscale finite element method for numerically solving second-order scalar elliptic boundary value problems with highly oscillating coefficients. In the spirit of previous other works, our method is based on the coupling of a coarse global mesh and a fine local mesh, the latter being used for computing independently an adapted finite element basis for the coarse mesh. The main idea is the introduction of a composition rule, or change of variables, for the construction of this finite element basis. In particular, this allows for a simple treatment of high-order finite element methods. We provide optimal error estimates in the case of periodically oscillating coefficients. We illustrate our method in various examples.
VLSI Implementation of Cortical Visual Motion Detection Using an Analog Neural Computer

Two dimensional image motion detection neural networks have been implemented using a general purpose analog neural computer. The neural circuits perform spatiotemporal feature extraction based on the cortical motion detection model of Adelson and Bergen. The neural computer provides the neurons, synapses and synaptic time-constants required to realize the model in VLSI hardware. Results show that visual motion estimation can be implemented with simple sum-and-threshold neural hardware with temporal computational capabilities. The neural circuits compute general 20 visual motion in real-time.
Effects of Job and Task Placement on Parallel Scientific Applications Performance

This paper studies the influence that task placement may have on the performance of applications, mainly due to the relationship between communication locality and overhead. This impact is studied for torus and fat-tree topologies. A simulation-based performance study is carried out, using traces of applications and application kernels, to measure the time taken to complete one or several concurrent instances of a given workload. As the purpose of the paper is not to offer a miraculous task placement strategy, but to measure the impact that placement have on performance, we selected simple strategies, including random placement. The quantitative results of these experiments show that different workloads present different degrees of responsiveness to placement. Furthermore, both the number of concurrent parallel jobs sharing a machine and the size of its network has a clear impact on the time to complete a given workload. We conclude that the efficient exploitation of a parallel computer requires the utilization of scheduling policies aware of application behavior and network topology.
DEEP, WIDE-FIELD CCD PHOTOMETRY FOR THE OPEN CLUSTER NGC 3532

We present the results of a deep, wide-field CCD survey for the open cluster NGC 3532. Our new BV(RI)c photometry effectively covers a one square degree area and reaches an unprecedented depth of V ∼ 21 to reveal that NGC 3532 is a rich open cluster that harbors a large number of faint, low-mass stars. We employ a number of methods to reduce the impact of field star contamination in the cluster color–magnitude diagrams (CMDs), including supplementing our photometry with JHKs data from the 2MASS catalog. These efforts allow us to define a robust sample of candidate main-sequence stars suitable for a purely empirical determination of the cluster's parameters by comparing them to the well-established Hyades main sequence. Our results confirm previous findings that NGC 3532 lies fairly near to the Sun [(m − M)0 = 8.46 ± 0.05; 492+12−11 pc] and has an extremely low reddening for its location near the Galactic plane [E(B − V) = 0.028 ± 0.006]. Moreover, an age of ∼300 Myr has been derived for the cluster by fitting a set of overshooting isochrones to the well-populated upper main sequence. This new photometry also extends faint enough to reach the cluster white dwarf sequence, as confirmed by our photometric recovery of eight spectroscopically identified members of the cluster. Using the location of these eight members, along with the latest theoretical cooling tracks, we have identified ∼30 additional white dwarf stars in the [V, (B − V)] CMD that have a high probability of belonging to NGC 3532. Reassuringly, the age we derive from fitting white dwarf isochrones to the locus of these stars, 300 ± 100 Myr, is consistent with the age derived from the turnoff. Our analysis of the photometry also includes an estimation of the binary star fraction as well as a determination of the cluster's luminosity and mass functions.
Efficient collision detection for spherical blend skinning

Recently, two algorithms improving the real-time simulation of articulated models in virtual environments have been published: 1) fast collision detection for linear blend skinning and 2) spherical blend skinning. Both linear and spherical blending solve the skinning problem of a skeletally controlled 3D model (e.g., an avatar), but only spherical blending avoids artifacts such as the candy-wrapper. However, to date, fast collision detection has been limited to linear blending. This paper describes how to perform collision detection for models skinned with the more sophisticated spherical method. As a result, both high-quality skinning and fast and exact collision detection can be achieved - there is no longer any need for a trade-off. The generalization from linear to spherical blending involves the construction of rotation bounds, derived using a quaternion representation. The resulting algorithm is simple to implement and fast enough for real-time virtual reality applications.
Homoeologous Chromosome Sorting and Progression of Meiotic Recombination in Brassica napus: Ploidy Does Matter![W]

Comparisons of meiosis in near-isogenic allohaploid and euploid lines of B. napus reveal that the mechanism that promotes efficient chromosome sorting in euploids is adjusted to promote crossover formation between homoeologs in allohaploids. This suggests that, in contrast to other polyploid species, in B. napus, chromosome sorting depends on context. Meiotic recombination is the fundamental process that produces balanced gametes and generates diversity within species. For successful meiosis, crossovers must form between homologous chromosomes. This condition is more difficult to fulfill in allopolyploid species, which have more than two sets of related chromosomes (homoeologs). Here, we investigated the formation, progression, and completion of several key hallmarks of meiosis in Brassica napus (AACC), a young polyphyletic allotetraploid crop species with closely related homoeologous chromosomes. Altogether, our results demonstrate a precocious and efficient sorting of homologous versus homoeologous chromosomes during early prophase I in two representative B. napus accessions that otherwise show a genotypic difference in the progression of homologous recombination. More strikingly, our detailed comparison of meiosis in near isogenic allohaploid and euploid plants showed that the mechanism(s) promoting efficient chromosome sorting in euploids is adjusted to promote crossover formation between homoeologs in allohaploids. This suggests that, in contrast to other polyploid species, chromosome sorting is context dependent in B. napus.
Meta-analysis of genome-wide linkage scans for renal function traits.

BACKGROUND Several genome scans have explored the linkage of chronic kidney disease phenotypes to chromosomic regions with disparate results. Genome scan meta-analysis (GSMA) is a quantitative method to synthesize linkage results from independent studies and assess their concordance. METHODS We searched PubMed to identify genome linkage analyses of renal function traits in humans, such as estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR), albuminuria, serum creatinine concentration and creatinine clearance. We contacted authors for numerical data and extracted information from individual studies. We applied the GSMA nonparametric approach to combine results across 14 linkage studies for GFR, 11 linkage studies for albumin creatinine ratio, 11 linkage studies for serum creatinine and 4 linkage studies for creatinine clearance. RESULTS No chromosomal region reached genome-wide statistical significance in the main analysis which included all scans under each phenotype; however, regions on Chromosomes 7, 10 and 16 reached suggestive significance for linkage to two or more phenotypes. Subgroup analyses by disease status or ethnicity did not yield additional information. CONCLUSIONS While heterogeneity across populations, methodologies and study designs likely explain this lack of agreement, it is possible that linkage scan methodologies lack the resolution for investigating complex traits. Combining family-based linkage studies with genome-wide association studies may be a powerful approach to detect private mutations contributing to complex renal phenotypes.
Periodicity based Cyclostationary Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio Networks

The last decade has witnessed a growing demand for wireless radio spectrum due to the rapid deployment of new wireless devices and applications. Spectrum is a precious resource and thus underutilization of a large part of allocated spectrum is not acceptable. Cognitive radio (CR) is proposed as a promising solution for increasing spectrum utilization and thereby helping to mitigate spectrum scarcity. CR is capable of sensing the unused spectrum bands and adapt to operate in the vacant bands. Once cognitive radios detect the presence of a primary user in their operating band, they must vacate the band immediately. Hence, accurate spectrum sensing is an essential feature of CR systems. In this paper, a cyclostationary spectrum sensing method for identifying the presence of primary user is introduced which uses the concept of periodicity in OFDM signals. In existing method,the periodicity of pilot signals in the OFDM symbols is used to detect the signals. The proposed scheme is robust to the detection of primary user signal with guard interval insertion in the OFDM signals which use the concept of periodicity. The power spectral density of average and true method which defines the spectrum power is compared and the simulation results are given in this paper. It is observed from the results that true power spectral density method is well suitable for CR which enables perfect sensing over primary users.
Isoflurane-induced postconditioning via mitochondrial calcium-activated potassium channels.

PURPOSE Activation of the mitochondrial calcium-activated potassium (mKCa) channel reportedly confers resistance to myocardial ischemic stress. However, the role of the mKCa channel in postconditioning induced by volatile anesthetic remains unclear. METHODS Male Japanese white rabbits underwent coronary artery occlusion for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 3 h. Volatile anesthetic, isoflurane, was administered at 3 min prior to reperfusion for 5 min. Rabbits were injected with the mKCa channel blocker, iberiotoxin, or the mKCa channel opener, NS1619, at 8 min prior to reperfusion. Myocardial infarct size and the area at risk (AAR) were measured at the end of the experiment. RESULTS Isoflurane significantly reduced infarct size (23.0 ± 9.8% of the AAR, P<0.05) compared with the control (44.0 ± 9.1%). Iberiotoxin abolished the cardioprotective impact of isoflurane (43.0 ± 11.6%), while iberiotoxin alone exerted no effect on infarct size (45.0 ± 9.5%). NS1619 and isoflurane/NS1619 both significantly reduced infarct size (21.0 ± 10.3% and 19.0 ± 8.8%, respectively, P<0.05 vs control group), but isoflurane/NS1619 showed no additional benefits compared with isoflurane alone. CONCLUSION These results indicate that activation of the mKCa channel contribute isoflurane-induced postconditioning.
Telehealth: Increasing Access to High Quality Care by Expanding the Role of Technology in Correctional Medicine

The United States (US) has a large correctional population. However, many incarcerated persons lack access to evidence-based, up-to-date medical care, particularly by subspecialty providers, due to limitations of geography, travel, cost and other resources. The use of telehealth technologies can remove these barriers, increasing access to high quality, multidisciplinary care. Studies have shown that, with telemedicine, timely triage and medical management can be provided across many disciplines, which may lead to improved clinical outcomes and significant cost savings.