Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interferences in the Optimization of the MTT Assay for Viability Estimation of Proteus mirabilis

Background: The chromogenic assay based on MTT bioreduction was adapted to Proteus mirabilis viability estimations. We primarily intended to use the assay for the evaluation of novel antimicrobial compounds, including structures with possible permeabilizing activity. Therefore, the influence of basic permeabilizing agents like Triton X-100 and EDTA upon the MTT assay was studied. Methods: 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) was used as a substrate for the whole-cell dehydrogenase activity estimations. The amount of formazan product was evaluated in the end-point reactions terminated with acidic isopropanol or in the continuous reactions run in the presence of low detergent concentrations. Results: The generally established procedure of the end product dissolution with acidic isopropanol caused absorbance instability which strongly affected the results accuracy. The disadvantage was especially pronounced when the assay was conducted in Mueller-Hinton Broth. PBS with 0.01% Triton X-100 used as the reaction medium allowed to omit the formazan dissolution step and follow the microbial MTT reduction in a continuous mode. It was observed that in Proteus mirabilis with a compromised outer membrane the assay score was artificially increased above the untreated control. Conclusion: The dependence of the assay results on the cell integrity might be a major drawback of the MTT assay application for the evaluation of novel antimicrobials against Gram-negative microorganisms. On the other hand, the MTT reduction could be conveniently used to assay the permeabilization degree in biotechnological protocols.
Effect of DHA supplementation on digestible starch utilization by rainbow trout

Rainbow trout has a limited ability to utilize digestible carbohydrates efficiently. Trout feeds generally contain high levels of DHA, a fatty acid known to inhibit a number of glycolytic and lipogenic enzymes in animals. A study was conducted to determine whether carbohydrate utilization by rainbow trout might be affected by dietary DHA level. Two low-carbohydrate (<4% digestible carbohydrate) basal diets were formulated to contain 1 (adequate) or 4 (excess)g/100g DHA diet respectively. The two basal diets were diluted with increasing levels of digestible starch (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%, respectively) to produce eight diets. These diets were fed to fish for 12 weeks at 15°C according to a pair-fed protocol that consisted of feeding the same amount of basal diet but different amounts of starch. Live weight, N and lipid gains, hepatic glycogen and plasma glucose values significantly increased, whereas feed efficiency (gain:feed) significantly decreased, with increasing starch intake (P<0·05). The retention efficiency of N (N gain/digestible N intake) improved with starch supplementation but was not affected by DHA level (P>0·05). Starch increased the activity of glucokinase, pyruvate kinase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and fatty acid synthase (P<0·05) but did not affect hexokinase and malic enzyme activity. DHA had no effect on growth but increased plasma glucose and reduced carcass lipid and liver glycogen contents (P<0·05). Glycolytic and lipogenic enzymes were not affected by DHA level, except for pyruvate kinase, which was reduced by increasing DHA level. These results suggest only a marginal effect of dietary DHA on the ability of fish to utilize carbohydrate.
Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease mimicking variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

BACKGROUND The determination of the form of prion disease and early diagnosis are important for prognostic, public health, and epidemiologic reasons. OBJECTIVE To describe a patient with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) who had a clinical history and initial electroencephalogram and magnetic resonance imaging findings consistent with variant CJD (vCJD). RESULTS Results of a repeated electroencephalogram were suggestive of sCJD, and a subsequent brain biopsy confirmed this diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS This case cautions against relying solely on T2- and diffusion-weighted pulvinar hyperintensity and clinical features to differentiate between vCJD and sCJD, and further supports established diagnostic criteria for vCJD.
Genetic signatures in the highly virulent subtype B HIV-1 conferring immune escape to V1/V2 and V3 broadly neutralizing antibodies

HIV-1 is considered to become less susceptible to existing neutralizing antibodies over time. Our study on the virulent B (VB) HIV-1 identified genetic signatures responsible for immune escape from broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) targeting V1/V2 and V3 glycan epitopes. We found that the absence of N295 and N332 glycans in the high mannose patch, which are crucial for neutralization by V3 glycan bNAbs and are typically conserved in subtype B HIV-1, is a notable feature in more than half of the VB variants. Neutralization assays confirmed that the loss of these two glycans in VB HIV-1 leads to escape from V3 glycan bNAbs. Additionally, all VB variants we investigated have an insertion in V2, contributing to immune escape from V1/V2 bNAbs PG9 and PG16. These findings suggest potential co-evolution of HIV-1 virulence and antigenicity, underscoring the need to monitor both the pathogenicity and neutralization susceptibility of newly emerged HIV-1 strains.
Prelexical and lexical processing in listening

This chapter presents a meta-analysis of hemodynamic studies on passive auditory language processing. We assess the overlap of hemodynamic activation areas and activation maxima reported in experiments involving the presentation of sentences, words, pseudowords, or sublexical or nonlinguistic auditory stimuli. Areas that have been reliably replicated are identified. The results of the meta-analysis are compared with electrophysiological, magnetoencephalographic, and clinical findings. We conclude that auditory language input is processed in a left posterior frontal and bilateral temporal cortical network. Within this network, no processing level is related to a single cortical area. The temporal lobes seem to differ with respect to their involvement in postlexical processing, in that the left temporal lobe has greater involvement than the right, and also in the degree of anatomical specialization for phonological, lexical, and sentence-level processing, with greater overlap on the right contrasting with a higher degree of differentiation on the left.
ON THE ROLE OF WIENER FILTERING IN QUANTIZATION AND DPCM

The additive noise model of a scalar quantizer facilitates the use of a Wiener-type receiver/reconstruction filter performing signal estimation and quantization noise attenuation. We contrast the two important cases of fixed-rate pdf-optimized quantization, and uniform quantization followed by entropy coding. Assuming a stationary input signal with known second-order statistics, it is shown that the Wiener filter response is unity in the pdf-optimized case, but is a nontrivial filter in the uniform quantization case. The theory is then extended to the DPCM case, where we consider a closed-loop structure with both types of quantizers. We derive Wiener filter responses and theoretical coding gain expressions covering both cases. Simulation results confirm that a coding gain is obtained for the uniform quantization case by introducing a Wiener synthesis filter instead of the ordinary inverse filter used in DPCM, most significantly at low rates and for highly correlated input signals.
Effects of task ambiguity and other contextual factors on majority and minority influence

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of task ambiguity on majority and minority influence. Twenty pairs of fourperson majority and two-person minority groups were asked to solve simultaneously a rule induction task under one of two conditions of task ambiguity: 1) no error in experimental results, 2) forty percent error in experimental results. The task used was Wason's 2-4-6 task, with the added dimensions of color and number, in which subjects propose triples and are told whether or not each conforms to a rule. The two groups exchanged triples and hypotheses after every three trials. Actual majority and minority influence was observed after each exchange. Perceived influence was also assessed in a post-task questionnaire. Results indicate, an interaction between error condition and group membership for perceived influence only (F(I,109) = 3.422 (p=.067)). Majority groups were perceived to be more influential under conditions of low task ambiguity, whereas minority groups were perceived to be more influential under conditions of high task ambiguity. No relationship existed between error and group for measures of actual influence. These results partially support the hypothesis that task ambiguity effects influence. Other contextual factors explored include group cohesion, task relevance, and confidence in one's hypothesis.
Implementation of a Peer-to-Peer Multiplayer Game with Realtime Requirements

Massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) have become increasingly popular in the recent years, particularly in the form of online role-playing games (MMORPGs). These games support up to several ten thousand players interacting in a virtual game world. The current commercially successful games are client-server based, which is feasible for relatively slow role-playing games. Those have modest bandwidth and latency requirements and are paid for by their customers. For MMOGs with higher realtime requirements and/or a smaller number of customers willing to pay, peer-to-peer networking seems to be a serious alternative. This work analyzes the implementation of both a client-server and a peer-to-peer networking model for the prototype shooter game Planet π4. Initially, a survey introduces recent academic approaches to peer-to-peer systems specifically designed for games. Of those, one system is selected for implementation with Planet π4. Planet π4 is improved in several aspects for the purpose of analyzing various network implementations. First, its architecture is restructured and cleaned to allow for an easy replacement of the networking component. Second, its core is modified to work in a completely event-based mode, supporting the execution of the game in an discrete-event-based network simulator. Third, a simple artificial intelligence player is developed for workload generation in large (and possibly simulated) networks. Furthermore, the newly developed transport protocol CUSP is applied for the network implementation, thus the game is the first real application using CUSP. Finally the game Planet π4 is integrated with the CUSP network simulator, allowing to run the whole game in a simulated network without the need for modification of its core components.
A Longitudinal Study of Corneal Astigmatism and Total Astigmatism

Abstract Cross‐sectional studies indicate that mean total astigmatism changes with age; varying from as much as 0.62 D with‐the‐rule during youth to as much as 0.37 D against‐the‐rule in samples of elderly patients. The present study involves the examination of adult patients who were seen regularly for a period of at least 40 years. Data are analyzed to determine whether the change in corneal astigmatism accounts for the total astigmatic change, and the magnitude of change with age at each of the principal corneal meridians. Results indicate that steepening of the cornea in the horizontal meridian accounts for a major portion of the increase in against‐the‐rule total astigmatism among older patients.
Combination of calcium sulfate and simvastatin-controlled release microspheres enhances bone repair in critical-sized rat calvarial bone defects

Most allogenic bone graft substitutes have only osteoconductive properties. Developing new strategies to improve the osteoinductive activity of bone graft substitutes is both critical and practical for clinical application. Previously, we developed novel simvastatin-encapsulating poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres (SIM/PLGA) that slowly release simvastatin and enhance fracture healing. In this study, we combined SIM/PLGA with a rapidly absorbable calcium sulfate (CS) bone substitute and studied the effect on bone healing in critical-sized calvarial bone defects in a rat model. The cytotoxicity and cytocompatibility of this combination was tested in vitro using lactate dehydrogenase leakage and a cell attachment assay, respectively. Combination treatment with SIM/PLGA and the CS bone substitute had no cytotoxic effect on bone marrow stem cells. Compared with the control, cell adhesion was substantially enhanced following combination treatment with SIM/PLGA and the CS bone substitute. In vivo, implantation of the combination bone substitute promoted healing of critical-sized calvarial bone defects in rats; furthermore, production of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and neovascularization were enhanced in the area of the defect. In summary, the combination of SIM/PLGA and a CS bone substitute has osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties, indicating that it could be used for regeneration of bone in the clinical setting.
The Effect of Mammogram Preprocessing on Microcalcification Detection with Convolutional Neural Networks

Microcalcifications are an early mammographic indicator of breast cancer. To assist screening radiologists in reading mammograms, machine learning techniques have been developed for the automated detection of microcalcifications. In the last few years, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have achieved state-of-the-art performance in many computer vision and medical image analysis applications. A key step in CNN-based detection is image preprocessing, including brightness and contrast variations. In this work, we investigate the influence of preprocessing of digital mammograms on the microcalcification detection performance of two CNNs inspired by the popular AlexNet and VGGnet. We tested two preprocessing methods commonly applied to unprocessed raw digital mammograms: (i) the logarithmic transformation adopted by different manufacturers for the presentation of the image to the radiologists; and (ii) the square-root of image intensity that stabilizes the intensity-dependent noise present in the mammogram. Experiments were performed on 1,066 mammograms acquired with GE Senographe systems. Both preprocessing methods yielded statistically significantly better microcalcification detection performance. Results of the square-root transform were superior to those obtained with the log transform.
To Speech for Bangla Language using Festival

In this paper, we present a Text to Speech (TTS) synthesis system for Bangla language using the opensource Festival TTS engine. Festival is a complete TTS synthesis system, with components supporting front-end processing of the input text, language modeling, and speech synthesis using its signal processing module. The Bangla TTS system proposed here, creates the voice data for festival, and additionally extends festival using its embedded scheme scripting interface to incorporate Bangla language support. Festival is a concatenative TTS system using diphone or other unit selection speech units. Our TTS implementation uses two different kinds of these concatenative methods supported in Festival: unit selection and multisyn unit selection. The modules of such a TTS system are described in this paper, followed by an evaluation of the quality of synthesized speech for acceptability and intelligibility.
Heavy metal whole-cell biosensors using eukaryotic microorganisms: an updated critical review

This review analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of using eukaryotic microorganisms to design whole-cell biosensors (WCBs) for monitoring environmental heavy metal pollution in soil or aquatic habitats. Basic considerations for designing a eukaryotic WCB are also shown. A comparative analysis of the promoter genes used to design WCBs is carried out, and the sensitivity and reproducibility of the main reporter genes used is also reviewed. Three main eukaryotic taxonomic groups are considered: yeasts, microalgae, and ciliated protozoa. Models that have been widely analyzed as potential WCBs are the Saccharomyces cerevisiae model among yeasts, the Tetrahymena thermophila model for ciliates and Chlamydomonas model for microalgae. The advantages and disadvantages of each microbial group are discussed, and a ranking of sensitivity to the same type of metal pollutant from reported eukaryotic WCBs is also shown. General conclusions and possible future developments of eukaryotic WCBs are reported.
Immune phagocytosis in murine malaria

Spleen macrophages from Plasmodium berghei-infected mice are more efficient in the ingestion of parasitized reticulocytes than spleen macrophages obtained from normal animals. Other indications of spleen macrophage activation detected during malarial infection are enhanced macrophage spreading and increased phagocytosis of opsonized and nonopsonized sheep erythrocytes (E). Peritoneal macrophages are not activated to a significant degree. The appearance of antibodies directed against Forssman antigen, but not to other erythrocyte antigens, is also a feature of this infection and explains the ingestion of unsensitized E by spleen macrophages of the diseased animals. The recognition and ingestion of parasitized reticulocytes by infected mice in mediated by cold-agglutinin type immunoglobulins that appear during P. berghei infection and can be blocked by the Fc-binding protein A from Staphylococcus aureus. In advanced stages of the disease, the serum of infected animals inhibits phagocytosis, probably because of the high level of circulating immune complexes. Thus, the clearance of malaria parasites is regulated by several elements of the immune system, in addition to levels of specific antimerozoite antibodies, including the amount of antibodies bound to reticulocytes, the presence of circulating immune complexes, and the degree of macrophage stimulation.
Supporting Environment Configuration with Generic Role Assignment

Due to the fact that distant objects are often less relevant to an application than objects in the proximity, middleware systems for pervasive computing typically exploit locality to improve efficiency. To do this, they configure the environment by introducing logical boundaries that reduce the number of interacting devices. Yet, in cases where applications require the interaction with distant objects, the boundaries become an artificial barrier that must be overcome by supplemental mechanisms. In this paper, we show how this problem can be avoided by using role assignment as a generic mechanism for environment configuration. To do this, we first derive the requirements for configuring a pervasive computing environment. We discuss how these requirements can be met by means of role assignment. To evaluate the approach, we present a prototypical implementation which we use to quantify the resulting overheads. The results indicate that role assignment enables a more flexible definition of boundaries at a low cost.
Near optimal thresholding estimation of a Poisson intensity on the real line

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the intensity of a Poisson process N by using thresholding rules. In this paper, the intensity, defined as the derivative of the mean measure of N with respect to ndx where n is a fixed parameter, is assumed to be non-compactly supported. The estimator ˜ fn,γ based on random thresholds is proved to achieve the same performance as the oracle estimator up to a possible logarithmic term. Then, minimax properties of ˜ fn,γ on Besov spaces B α p,q are established. Under mild assumptions, we prove that
A NNOTATION A PPROACH FOR D OCUMENT WITH RECOMMENDATION

An enormous number of organizations generate and share textual descriptions of their products, facilities, and activities. Such collections of textual data comprise a significant amount of controlled information, which residues buried in the unstructured text. Whereas information extraction systems simplify the extraction of structured associations, they are frequently expensive and incorrect, particularly when working on top of text that does not comprise any examples of the targeted structured data. Projected an alternative methodology that simplifies the structured metadata generation by recognizing documents that are possible to contain information of awareness and this data will be beneficial for querying the database. Moreover, we intend algorithms to extract attribute-value pairs, and similarly devise new mechanisms to map such pairs to manually created schemes. We apply clustering technique to the item content information to complement the user rating information, which improves the correctness of collaborative similarity, and solves the cold start problem.
A distributed non-uniform pricing approach for power optimization in spectrum-sharing femtocell network

This paper presents a power optimization strategy based on pricing for femtocell-deployed networks. Assuming that the central Macrocell Base Station (MBS) considered as a leader sells transmission power quota to femtocells, a Stackelberg game is formulated and constraints to avoid unnecessary high transmission power are designed. The Stackelberg Equilibrium (SE) is studied and a Distributed Non-uniform Pricing (DNP)scheme where femtocells are self-organized is proposed, which needs only a little interactions. The simulation results verify the performances of DNP. It is shown that the proposed scheme performs well in terms of power optimization and interference mitigation. It also guarantees the fairness and Quality of Service (QoS) at the same time.
Screening badgers (Meles meles) for Mycobacterium bovis infection by using multiple applications of an ELISA

The current indirect ELISA used to evaluate whether live badgers are infected with Mycobacterium bovis has a low sensitivity (40.7 per cent), but a relatively high specificity (94.3 per cent). The low sensitivity of the test makes the diagnosis unreliable, but its sensitivity can be increased by using multiple tests. Two multiple testing procedures (involving up to three sequential tests) were investigated. A procedure in which two positive results were required from three tests before an animal was declared positive resulted in a lower sensitivity, but a higher specificity than the single test (38 and 98 per cent respectively). A more rigorous procedure, in which only one positive result was required from three tests, resulted in a marked increase in sensitivity but a slight reduction in specificity (79.5 and 83.1 per cent respectively) when compared to the single test.
Intelligenza emotiva e mobbing: un focus su un campione di vittime di azioni vessatorie

Emotional intelligence and workplace bullying: a focus on victims of negative acts - The following research aims to analyze the emergent relation between workplace bullying and emotional intelligence. Data were collected on a sample of 412 employees within four Italian organizations. Employees compiled the Bar-On EQi: S and the NAQ-R Italian version. The findings showed that emotional intelligence correlates with personal bullying. There was a significative difference among bullying victims and non-victims as far as the emotional intelligence factor mood concerned. Furthermore, bullying victims appeared to be divided into custers using emotional intelligence as a criteria. Particularly, lower emotional intelligence people have perceived more frequent and persistent acts than higher emotional intelligence people. Keywords: emotional intelligence, workplace bullying, individual differences