Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving a Multi-Source Neural Machine Translation Model with Corpus Extension for Low-Resource Languages

In machine translation, we often try to collect resources to improve performance. However, most of the language pairs, such as Korean-Arabic and Korean-Vietnamese, do not have enough resources to train machine translation systems. In this paper, we propose the use of synthetic methods for extending a low-resource corpus and apply it to a multi-source neural machine translation model. We showed the improvement of machine translation performance through corpus extension using the synthetic method. We specifically focused on how to create source sentences that can make better target sentences, including the use of synthetic methods. We found that the corpus extension could also improve the performance of multi-source neural machine translation. We showed the corpus extension and multi-source model to be efficient methods for a low-resource language pair. Furthermore, when both methods were used together, we found better machine translation performance.
Faraday Waves-Based Integrated Ultrasonic Micro-Droplet Generator and Applications

An in-depth review on a new ultrasonic micro-droplet generator which utilizes megahertz (MHz) Faraday waves excited by silicon-based multiple Fourier horn ultrasonic nozzles (MFHUNs) and its potential applications is presented. The new droplet generator has demonstrated capability for producing micro droplets of controllable size and size distribution and desirable throughput at very low electrical drive power. For comparison, the serious deficiencies of current commercial droplet generators (nebulizers) and the other ultrasonic droplet generators explored in recent years are first discussed. The architecture, working principle, simulation, and design of the multiple Fourier horns (MFH) in resonance aimed at the amplified longitudinal vibration amplitude on the end face of nozzle tip, and the fabrication and characterization of the nozzles are then described in detail. Subsequently, a linear theory on the temporal instability of Faraday waves on a liquid layer resting on the planar end face of the MFHUN and the detailed experimental verifications are presented. The linear theory serves to elucidate the dynamics of droplet ejection from the free liquid surface and predict the vibration amplitude onset threshold for droplet ejection and the droplet diameters. A battery-run pocket-size clogging-free integrated micro droplet generator realized using the MFHUN is then described. The subsequent report on the successful nebulization of a variety of commercial pulmonary medicines against common diseases and on the experimental antidote solutions to cyanide poisoning using the new droplet generator serves to support its imminent application to inhalation drug delivery.
Role of IL-1ra and Granzyme B as biomarkers in active Crohn’s disease patients

Abstract Background and aim: Altered gene expression in intestinal mucosa is thought to contribute to inflammatory process in Crohn’s disease (CD). The present study investigated changes in the expression of genes associated with gut inflammation in CD patients by RNA microarray to identify disease biomarkers. Methods: Microarray analysis was carried out in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded intestinal tissue specimens from six CD patients who underwent surgery without prior treatment and from two healthy control subjects. Transcripts overexpressed in CD patients were validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using specimens from 46 CD patients and 60 healthy controls. Results: Among the genes over-expressed with statistical significance, five genes including decay-accelerating factor, interleukin-1 receptor (IL1R) A, tumour necrosis factor receptor 2, (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL) 1, and granzyme (GZM) B proposed to have functional association with CD were selected to validate the expressed transcripts in serum. Serum concentration of IL1RA, CXCL1, and GZMB measured by ELISA were significantly higher in CD patients. Conclusions: We identified that IL1RA, CXCL1, and GZMB are overexpressed in CD patients. Serum IL1RA and GZMB levels were markedly increased in CD patients, suggesting that these markers can serve as biomarkers to identify gut inflammation. Further studies will be required to evaluate this possibility.
Music thumbnailing via neural attention modeling of music emotion

The goal of music thumbnailing is to find a short, continuous segment of a song that represents the whole song. In light of the observation that a main function of music is to communicate emotions, in this short paper we investigate whether a representative part selected by some automatic mechanism for emotion recognition corresponds to the chorus section of music. To address this research question, we introduce a so-called attention layer with long-short term memory cells to a deep convolutional neural network for music emotion classification. The attention layer estimates the importance of each 3-second chunk of a song in predicting the song-level emotion labels of the song. To this end, a collection of 31K songs with emotion labels are used. We then generate a thumbnail for each song based on the importance scores and examine whether the thumbnail corresponds to any chorus section of the song, using another dataset with annotations of chorus sections. Our experiment shows that for 35% of the songs our thumbnails contain a whole chorus section, and that for 80% of the songs the thumbnails overlap 50% in time with a chorus section.1
In vivo Evaluation of an Engineered Cyclotide as Specific CXCR4 Imaging Reagent.

The CXCR4 chemokine receptor plays a key regulatory role in many biological functions, including embryonic development and controlling leukocyte functions during inflammation and immunity. CXCR4 has been also associated with multiple types of cancers where its overexpression/activation promotes metastasis, angiogenesis, and tumor growth and/or survival. Furthermore, CXCR4 is involved in HIV replication, as it is a co-receptor for viral entry into host cells. Altogether, these features make CXCR4 a very attractive target for the development of imaging and therapeutic agents. Here, the in vivo evaluation of the MCoTI-based cyclotide, MCo-CVX-5c, for the development of imaging agents that target CXCR4 is reported. Cyclotide MCo-CVX-5c is a potent CXCR4 antagonist with a remarkable in vivo resistance to biological degradation in serum. A [64 Cu]-DOTA-labeled version of this cyclotide demonstrated high and significant uptake in U87-stb-CXCR4 tumors compared to the control U87 tumors. Furthermore, protracted imaging studies demonstrated radiotracer retention in the U87-stb-CXCR4 tumor at 24 h post injection. Uptake in U87-stb-CXCR4 tumors could be blocked by unlabeled MCo-CVX-5c, showing high in vivo specificity. These results demonstrate the in vivo specificity and retention of a bioactive molecularly targeted cyclotide and highlight the potential of bioactive cyclotides for the development of new imaging agents that target CXCR4.
Polymer and Composite Rheology

Introduction to polymer rheology instruments for shear rheology shear viscosity of melts of flexible chain polymers shear viscosity of polymer solutions normal stress differences in polymers during shear flow dynamic mechanical properties extensional viscosity rigid-rod and liquid-crystal polymer rheology yield stress, wall slip, particle migration, and other observations with multiphase systems solid-in-liquid suspensions short-fibre suspensions emulsions gas-containing melts and foams rheology of powders and granular materials chemorheology and gelation flow through porous media melt fracture.
Feasibility studies for a bionic propulsion system of a blimp based on dielectric elastomers

After having successfully integrated Dielectric Elastomers (DE) in a cross tail for flight control, a novel biologically inspired propulsion system based on DE is envisaged. The basic idea is to mimic a fish body motion by deforming a) the envelope of the rear lifting body and b) flapping an aft-tail. In both cases, planar DEs are used, either fully integrated in the envelope (for a) and/or arranged as an active hinge (for b). In a theoretical study the specifications of a steady-state horizontal indoor flight of 1 m/s were defined. In an experimental work the concept of an active hull element, which consists of a balloon hull material and several layers of DE actuators was verified. The specific boundary conditions of a slightly pressurized elliptical membrane body were simulated in a biaxial test. It could be shown, that the necessary active strains to reach the specified body deformations were reached. In a second study an aero-elastic fin was designed. Based on fluid-dynamic similarity principles the size, shape and stiffness of the fin were determined and tested in preliminary flight test with a three meter long blimp. The main goal of 1 m/s flight velocity could be shown.
Competing endogenous RNA networks in human cancer: hypothesis, validation, and perspectives

Non-coding RNAs represent a majority of the human transcriptome. However, less is known about the functions and regulatory mechanisms of most non-coding species. Moreover, little is known about the potential non-coding functions of coding RNAs. The competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) hypothesis is proposed recently. This hypothesis describes potential communication networks among all transcript RNA species mediated by miRNAs and miRNA-recognizing elements (MREs) within RNA transcripts. Here we review the evolution of the ceRNA hypothesis, summarize the validation experiments and discusses the significance and perspectives of this hypothesis in human cancer.
Hepatic arterial chemoembolization for metastatic neuroendocrine tumors.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY To evaluate the effectiveness of chemoembolization of the liver with doxorubicin and iopamidol emulsified in ethiodized oil for the treatment of metastatic neuroendocrine tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty patients with hepatic islet cell or carcinoid metastases were treated with selected hepatic arterial embolization consisting of an emulsion of doxorubicin and iopamidol emulsified in ethiodol followed by Gelfoam powder embolization. Fifteen patients had failed intravenous chemotherapy. Two of the patients with carcinoid tumors had three embolizations over 4 and one 6 years earlier with gelatin sponge only. RESULTS In 14 patients with hormonally active tumors, hormones secretion decreased 90% (range 69-98%) in 10 days with relief of symptoms in all patients. Average tumor size decrease was 84%. Average hospital stay was 8 days. Six patients are alive and asymptomatic at 14-33 months postembolization. Fourteen patients have died 2-16 months postembolization. Ten patients died 2-37 months postembolization from progressive liver disease. One of these patients was 103 months post-Gelfoam embolization and 13 months postchemoembolization. In 8 patients, the pancreas was the primary site: 5 were nonfunctioning islet cell carcinomas, 1 glucagonoma, 1 gastrinoma and 1 carcinoid. The primary site in 1 patient with carcinoid was the bronchus, and the primary site was unknown in 1 patient with gastrinoma. The remaining 4 patients died with liver disease under control from renal failure, peritonitis, carcinoid heart failure and generalized bone metastases. The response rate was 95% with median duration of response 8.5 months. The median survival was 24 months. CONCLUSION Chemoembolization with doxorubicin and iopamidol emulsified in ethiodized oil is less morbid than embolization with particulate matter alone, is more convenient and less costly, and it is less morbid than the effects of systemic chemotherapy. The median survival, duration and response compare favorably with other reported therapies.
Phyllodes tumours of the breast: radiological presentation, management and follow-up.

OBJECTIVE Phyllodes tumours (PTs) are rare neoplasms accounting for <1% of breast lesions. With increased breast awareness and screening programmes, smaller PTs are being detected. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical, radiological and pathological presentation of PTs and to evaluate the role of imaging follow-up, for which there are no specific guidelines. METHODS A retrospective study of all patients diagnosed with PT in a symptomatic unit between January 2006 and March 2013 was carried out. Patients were identified using breast care and electronic patient record databases. RESULTS 53 patients with 54 lesions were diagnosed as having a PT. The median age was 27.5, 35.0 and 38.5 years for benign, borderline and malignant PT, respectively. Borderline and malignant PTs were larger than benign PTs, with mean sizes of 33 and 42 mm compared with 29 mm. 38% of PTs were labelled by the reporting radiologist as fibroadenomas, including two borderline PTs and one malignant PT. In 24% of cases, the radiologist raised the possibility of PT in the report. 17 patients (40%) developed a new fibroepithelial breast lesion during follow-up of which 4 were recurrent PTs. CONCLUSION Despite adequate surgical management, the development of further fibroepithelial lesions in the ipsilateral breast is common. 3-year clinical surveillance, with the addition of 6-monthly ultrasound is advised for females with initial borderline or malignant PT histology. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE We propose a follow-up protocol with ultrasound based on the grade of the PT diagnosed for 3 years to detect recurrence.
Adeno-associated virus serotype 9 mediated vascular endothelial growth factor gene overexpression in mdx mice

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal neuromuscular disease caused by the absence of dystrophin. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a heparin-binding dimeric glycoprotein and principal angiogenic factor stimulating the migration, proliferation and expression of various genes in endothelial cells. Recently, VEGF was demonstrated to exhibit an antiapoptotic and direct myogenic effect, as well as to enhance muscle force restoration subsequent to traumatic injury. Therefore, the present study attempted to assess the muscle damage of VEGF overexpression in mdx mice. Adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9)-VEGF was administered intravenously to mdx mice. At 4 weeks after injection, VEGF was observed to be upregulated in the tibialis anterior muscle. In addition, the serum creatine kinase levels were significantly reduced and fatigue was slowed down, whereas the limb grip strength and weight of mice were markedly increased compared with the saline-treated mdx mice. Furthermore, significantly reduced inflammation and necrosis areas were observed in the muscle tissues of mice in the AAV9-VEGF group. These results suggested that AAV9-mediated VEGF gene overexpression was able to improve the muscle damage in mdx mice.
Base frame calibration for multi-robot cooperative grinding station by binocular vision

Multi-robot coordination grinding need repetitive calibration of the base frame system, and the robot high-density distribution has brought a certain degree of difficulty for the calibration. This paper proposed a new calibration method based on binocular vision by studying existing non-contact calibration method. Firstly, the calibration of the internal and external parameters of the binocular vision system is carried out, then observing space trajectory of robot end-effectors with binocular vision system. Finally, combined with the coordinate transformation theory, the spatial pose relationship between the two robots' base frame is obtained by the designed algorithm. The spatial pose transformation matrix between two ABB grinding robots of our laboratory was determined with this method. Reverse validation experiment's results show that the accuracy of the calibration can reach 0.12mm in three planes of the coordinate axis, and the calibration result is better than other calibration methods.
Ion channels in nociceptors

Nociceptors are specialized high-threshold sensory afferents from dorsal root ganglion (DRG) or other primary sensory (e.g., trigeminal) neurons that innervate the skin, muscle, joints, and viscera and respond to noxious or potentially damaging stimuli. Nociceptors express a unique repertoire of voltage-gated sodium (Na+) channels (Nav), potassium (K+) and calcium (Ca2+) channels, as well as cation channels of the transient receptor potential (TRP), acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC), and purinergic P2X families. These channels are responsible for the basic properties of nociceptors, including the lack of spontaneous activity and high threshold of activation. Products of inflammation or axonal injury trigger changes in the expression and function of these channels, resulting in increased excitability (reduced threshold of activation) of nociceptors. This process, known as peripheral nociceptor sensitization, manifests with spontaneous nociceptor activity (resulting in spontaneous pain), increased responsiveness and size of receptor fields for noxious stimulation (primary and secondary hyperalgesia), and nociceptor responses to innocuous mechanical or thermal stimuli (allodynia). These features characterize neuropathic and inflammatory pain. The wide variety of chemical signals that elicit nociceptor sensitization act via several types of receptors expressed in nociceptors, including G-protein-coupled receptors and tyrosine kinase receptors, which affect the expression or sensitivity of cation channels, particularly Nav1.7, Nav1.8, Nav1.9, TRP vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), and TRP ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channels. Gain-of-function mutations affecting these channels are linked to familial syndromes characterized by episodic pain sporadic painful small fiber neuropathies (SFN); loss-of function mutations are associated with congenital insensitivity to pain. There are extensive and excellent reviews on all these subjects.1–15
A Sharable Wearable Maker Community IoT Application

If we are to engage a younger generation to become future engineering and science innovators, we need to widen participation and interaction with technology and science. Maker movements have the potential to do this by making tools, materials, and processes more readily available to people in a more informal learning setting who may not initially self-identify as makers. We address a chief limitation of such maker communities, where it can be difficult for participants to develop and continue an application outside the inherent limited time and space of the maker event. We ran a series of 6 maker events aimed at groups of six 14-15 year olds that focused on learning through making the BBC micro:bit device interact as part of an Internet of Things (IoT) application. We report on one event and a challenge to develop a sharable wearable IoT application to address the aim for participants that could sustain interest outside the event. This application was a club badge to send secret messages to members. The evaluation revealed a keen engagement and commitment to social wearable design, as seen through the students building and participating in the successful use of the application through authenticity. This authentic engagement to problem solving at a technical level to motivate personal goals was inspired through a sharable wearable design that participants deemed to be beneficial.
Mcm2, but Not Rpa, Is a Component of the Mammalian Early G1-Phase Prereplication Complex

Previous experiments in Xenopus egg extracts identified what appeared to be two independently assembled prereplication complexes (pre-RCs) for DNA replication: the stepwise assembly of ORC, Cdc6, and Mcm onto chromatin, and the FFA-1–mediated recruitment of RPA into foci on chromatin. We have investigated whether both of these pre-RCs can be detected in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Early- and late-replicating chromosomal domains were pulse-labeled with halogenated nucleotides and prelabeled cells were synchronized at various times during the following G1-phase. The recruitment of Mcm2 and RPA to these domains was examined in relation to the formation of a nuclear envelope, specification of the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) replication origin and entry into S-phase. Mcm2 was loaded gradually and cumulatively onto both early- and late-replicating chromatin from late telophase throughout G1-phase. During S-phase, detectable Mcm2 was rapidly excluded from PCNA-containing active replication forks. By contrast, detergent-resistant RPA foci were undetectable until the onset of S-phase, when RPA joined only the earliest-firing replicons. During S-phase, RPA was present with PCNA specifically at active replication forks. Together, our data are consistent with a role for Mcm proteins, but not RPA, in the formation of mammalian pre-RCs during early G1-phase.
Epidural Infusion of Ropivacaine for Postoperative Analgesia after Major Orthopedic Surgery: Pharmacokinetic Evaluation

Background Changing plasma protein concentrations may affect the protein binding and pharmacokinetics of drugs in the postoperative phase. Therefore, the authors evaluated the pharmacokinetics of ropivacaine, administered by 72-h epidural infusion to provide postoperative analgesia. Methods Twenty-eight patients, scheduled for major orthopedic surgery during combined epidural and general anesthesia received a bolus dose of ropivacaine (50 or 75 mg), followed by constant-rate (10 ml/h) epidural infusion of ropivacaine 2 mg/ml (group 1) or 3 mg/ml (group 2). Total and unbound plasma concentrations of ropivacaine and pipecoloxylidide and plasma concentrations of &agr;1-acid glycoprotein were determined. In addition, the urinary excretion of ropivacaine and major metabolites was measured. Results Total plasma concentrations of ropivacaine increased steadily during the infusion, reaching 2.7 ± 0.7 and 2.9 ± 0.5 mg/l in groups 1 and 2 after 72 h constant-rate infusion. Unbound ropivacaine concentrations reached average steady state levels of approximately 0.06 and 0.07 mg/l. Total and unbound concentrations of pipecoloxylidide increased to 1.0 ± 0.4 and 0.4 ± 0.2 mg/l (group 1) and 1.2 ± 0.4 and 0.5 ± 0.1 mg/l (group 2) after 72 h infusion. &agr;1-Acid glycoprotein concentrations initially decreased, but thereafter increased steadily to approximately twice the baseline values. Conclusions Postoperative increases in plasma &agr;1-acid glycoprotein concentrations enhance the protein binding of ropivacaine and pipecoloxylidide, causing divergence of total and unbound plasma concentrations.
First Occurrence of Plasmablastic Lymphoma in Adenosine Deaminase-Deficient Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease Patient and Review of the Literature

Adenosine deaminase-deficient severe combined immunodeficiency disease (ADA-SCID) is a primary immune deficiency characterized by mutations in the ADA gene resulting in accumulation of toxic compounds affecting multiple districts. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from a matched donor and hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy are the preferred options for definitive treatment. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is used to manage the disease in the short term, while a decreased efficacy is reported in the medium-long term. To date, eight cases of lymphomas have been described in ADA-SCID patients. Here we report the first case of plasmablastic lymphoma occurring in a young adult with ADA-SCID on long-term ERT, which turned out to be Epstein–Barr virus associated. The patient previously received infusions of genetically modified T cells. A cumulative analysis of the eight published cases of lymphoma from 1992 to date, and the case here described, reveals a high mortality (89%). The most common form is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which predominantly occurs in extra nodal sites. Seven cases occurred in patients on ERT and two after haploidentical HSCT. The significant incidence of immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders and poor survival of patients developing this complication highlight the priority in finding a prompt curative treatment for ADA-SCID.