Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of gene-expression profiling to identify prognostic subclasses in adult acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND In patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the presence or absence of recurrent cytogenetic aberrations is used to identify the appropriate therapy. However, the current classification system does not fully reflect the molecular heterogeneity of the disease, and treatment stratification is difficult, especially for patients with intermediate-risk AML with a normal karyotype. METHODS We used complementary-DNA microarrays to determine the levels of gene expression in peripheral-blood samples or bone marrow samples from 116 adults with AML (including 45 with a normal karyotype). We used unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis to identify molecular subgroups with distinct gene-expression signatures. Using a training set of samples from 59 patients, we applied a novel supervised learning algorithm to devise a gene-expression-based clinical-outcome predictor, which we then tested using an independent validation group comprising the 57 remaining patients. RESULTS Unsupervised analysis identified new molecular subtypes of AML, including two prognostically relevant subgroups in AML with a normal karyotype. Using the supervised learning algorithm, we constructed an optimal 133-gene clinical-outcome predictor, which accurately predicted overall survival among patients in the independent validation group (P=0.006), including the subgroup of patients with AML with a normal karyotype (P=0.046). In multivariate analysis, the gene-expression predictor was a strong independent prognostic factor (odds ratio, 8.8; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.6 to 29.3; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The use of gene-expression profiling improves the molecular classification of adult AML.
The Structure of Self-Reported Distress in the United States and Japan

本稿は、全国家族調査 (1998) とNational Survey of Families and Households (1987) に共通に含まれるCES-D項目を用いて、ディストレス (distress) 尺度の日米間比較可能性を検討した。 確認的因子分析の結果、うつ感情と身体的症状を別々の因子とみる二因子モデル、両者を一つの因子とみる一因子モデルはともに両国データに適合することが明らかとなった。 文化的差異は、アメリカに比べ、日本におけるうつ感情項目の因子負荷量がやや低い点にみられるにとどまった。 全体的に、両国における尺度構造は驚くほど近似しており、少なくとも両データに含まれるCES-D10項目を用いる限りにおいて、ディストレス尺度は日米間で比較可能であることが示された。
Fruit and vegetable intake: change with age across childhood and adolescence

Abstract Eating fruit and vegetables (FV) offers important health benefits for children and adolescents, but their average intake is low. To explore if negative trends with age exist as children grow, this study modelled differences in FV consumption from childhood to young adulthood. A pseudo-panel was constructed using years 1–4 (combined) of the Rolling Programme of the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) (2008/2009–2011/2012). Intake of FV in the NDNS was recorded using 4-d unweighted food diaries. The data consisted of 2131 observations of individuals aged 2–23 years. Age-year-cohort decomposition regression analyses were used to separate age effects from year and cohort effects in the data. Total energy intake was included to account for age differences in overall energy consumption. Fruit intake started to decrease from the age of 7 years for boys and girls, and reached its lowest level during adolescence. By 17 years, boys were consuming 0·93 (P=0·037) less fruit portions compared with the age of 2 years. By 15 years, girls were consuming 0·8 fruit portions less (P=0·053). Vegetable intake changed little during childhood and adolescence (P=0·0834 and P=0·843 for change between 7 and 12 years, boys and girls, respectively). There was unclear evidence of recovery of FV intakes in early adulthood. Efforts to improve FV intake should consider these trends, and focus attention on the factors influencing intake across childhood and adolescence in order to improve the nutritional quality of diets during these periods.
Evaluation of a Prototype Search and Visualization System for Exploring Scientific Communities

Searches of bibliographic databases generate lists of articles but do little to reveal connections between authors, institutions, and grants. As a result, search results cannot be fully leveraged. To address this problem we developed Sciologer, a prototype search and visualization system. Sciologer presents the results of any PubMed query as an interactive network diagram of the above elements. We conducted a cognitive evaluation with six neuroscience and six obesity researchers. Researchers used the system effectively. They used geographic, color, and shape metaphors to describe community structure and made accurate inferences pertaining to a) collaboration among research groups; b) prominence of individual researchers; and c) differentiation of expertise. The tool confirmed certain beliefs, disconfirmed others, and extended their understanding of their own discipline. The majority indicated the system offered information of value beyond a traditional PubMed search and that they would use the tool if available.
Compact planar inverted-F antenna system for MIMO USB dongle operating in 2.5—2.7 GHz band

This paper presents a design of a compact planar MIMO antenna system for an LTE/WiMAX USB dongle operating in the 2.5-2.7 GHz frequency band. The proposed MIMO antenna system consists of two planar inverted-F antenna elements with high isolation between them. The high isolation is achieved by mirror symmetrical orientation of the developed printed inverted-F antenna elements relative to each other. This provides pattern diversity between the two different antenna elements. The antenna system is realized using the standard FR4 PCB substrate that leads to a low production cost. The occupied antenna area has the dimensions of 21.5 mm × 20 mm that is only a fraction of the operating wavelength (115 mm at 2.6 GHz). The designed MIMO antenna system has the bandwidth of more than 200 MHz at the reflection coefficient level below -8 dB. The isolation between the antenna elements across the radiation bandwidth exceeds 8.5 dB and the envelope correlation coefficient is lower than 0.1. Experimental measurements of the fabricated antenna system confirm the results of electromagnetic simulation.
Data Mining Algorithms to Classify Students

In this paper we compare different data mining methods and techniques for classifying students based on their Moodle usage data and the final marks obtained in their respective courses. We have developed a specific mining tool for making the configuration and execution of data mining techniques easier for instructors. We have used real data from seven Moodle courses with Cordoba University students. We have also applied discretization and rebalance preprocessing techniques on the original numerical data in order to verify if better classifier models are obtained. Finally, we claim that a classifier model appropriate for educational use has to be both accurate and comprehensible for instructors in order to be of use for decision making.
Loss of the N-Linked Glycan at Residue 173 of Human Parainfluenza Virus Type 1 Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase Exposes a Second Receptor-Binding Site

ABSTRACT BCX 2798 (4-azido-5-isobutyrylamino-2,3-didehydro-2,3,4,5-tetradeoxy-d-glycero-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosic acid) effectively inhibited the activities of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) of human parainfluenza viruses (hPIV) in vitro and protected mice from lethal infection with a recombinant Sendai virus whose HN was replaced with that of hPIV-1 (rSeV[hPIV-1HN]) (I. V. Alymova, G. Taylor, T. Takimoto, T. H. Lin., P. Chand, Y. S. Babu, C. Li, X. Xiong, and A. Portner, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 48:1495-1502, 2004). The ability of BCX 2798 to select drug-resistant variants in vivo was examined. A variant with an Asn-to-Ser mutation at residue 173 (N173S) in HN was recovered from mice after a second passage of rSeV(hPIV-1HN) in the presence of BCX 2798 (10 mg/kg of body weight daily). The N173S mutant remained sensitive to BCX 2798 in neuraminidase inhibition assays but was more than 10,000-fold less sensitive to the compound in hemagglutination inhibition tests than rSeV(hPIV-1HN). Its susceptibility to BCX 2798 in plaque reduction assays was reduced fivefold and did not differ from that of rSeV(hPIV-1HN) in mice. The N173S mutant failed to be efficiently eluted from erythrocytes and released from cells. It demonstrated reduced growth in cell culture and superior growth in mice. The results for gel electrophoresis analysis were consistent with the loss of the N-linked glycan at residue 173 in the mutant. Sequence and structural comparisons revealed that residue 173 on hPIV-1 HN is located close to the region of the second receptor-binding site identified in Newcastle disease virus HN. Our study suggests that the N-linked glycan at residue 173 masks a second receptor-binding site on hPIV-1 HN.
Depression of Intestinal Lysosomal β‐Glucuronidase and Acid Phosphatase Activities by Gastrointestinal Microorganisms

We have been studying the significance of the gastrointestinal microflora in the host. We have measured the activities of various enzymes as one of the indicators for elucidating the significance of the gastrointestinal microflora in the host, and have reported (4) that the activities of various enzymes involved in the active transport system, glycolysis, and digestion were strongly depressed by association with the indigenous microorganisms in the duodenal mucosa of rats. The activity of duodenal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of gnotobiotic rats (GB6) associated with six kinds of intestinal bacteria (see Table 1) indigenous to conventional (CV) rats was intermediate between that of germfree (GF) and CV rats (5). However, there was no effect of the bacteria on the ALP activity level in any of the GB1 rats associated individually with each of the six kinds of bacteria used for the GB6 rats, nor was there any depression of the enzyme activity in GF rats administered heat-killed cells of the six kinds of bacteria. These results indicate that the formation of an ecosystem with several kinds of viable microorganisms is important for the depression of mucosal ALP activity in the duodenum of rats. Furthermore, the mucosal ALP is qualitatively influenced by indigenous intestinal microorganisms in the duodenum of rats (6). Recently, in relation to colon cancer, Goldin and Gorbach (2) reported that the levels of nitroreductase,
Correlative Transmission Electron Microscopy Examination of Nondemineralized and Demineralized Resin-Dentin Interfaces Formed by Two Dentin Adhesive Systems

The resin-dentin interface formed by two dentin adhesives, Optibond (OPTI, Kerr) and Scotchbond MultiPurpose (SBMP, 3M), was ultramorphologically examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ultrastructural information from nondemineralized and demineralized sections was correlated. It was hypothesized that the different chemical formulations of the two adhesives would result in a different morphological appearance of the hybrid layer. Ultrastructural TEM examination proved that each of the two dentin adhesive systems was able to establish a micromechanical bond between dentin and resin with the formation of a hybrid layer. However, the interfacial hybridization process that took place to produce this resin-dentin bond appeared to be specifically related to the chemical composition and application modes of both systems. OPTI consistently presented with a hybrid layer with a relatively uniform ultrastructure, electron density, and acid resistance. These three parameters were found to be more variable for the hybrid layer formed by SBMP. Characteristic of SBMP was the identification of an amorphous phase deposited at the outer surface of the hybrid layer. Although both adhesive systems investigated follow a total-etch concept, their specific chemical formulations result in different interfacial ultrastructures that are probably related to different underlying bonding mechanisms. The clinical significance of these morphological findings, however, is still unknown.
Gender and Paganism in Census and Survey Data

Researchers often bemoan the lack of hard data on the size of the Pagan movement. There are, however, some national censuses that collect data on modern Pagans. These include the censuses of four Anglophone countries – Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK. Using figures from the censuses of these four nations as well as from a large survey study, the Pagan Census Revisited, the present paper will discuss the demographic and attitudinal profiles of Pagans, with a focus on the differential distribution of gender. Congruent with prior research, the current study finds that the majority of Pagans are women – though a few traditions tend to be dominated by men. And while we uncovered certain gender-stereotypical differences between male and female Pagans, we also found numerous counter-stereotypical differences.
Adaptive Control of Hydraulic Systems with MML Inferred RBF Networks

In this paper the problem of adaptively controlling a hydraulic system with uncertainties is considered. An adaptive controller is derived to control actuator force with unknown valve flow coefficients and fluid parameters. This is subsequently cascaded into a position controller which uses RBF networks to compensate for the effects of friction in the system. In contrast to conventional adaptive controllers, the controller is augmented with a further layer that adaptively determines the optimal architecture for the RBF networks using the Minimum Message Length costing criterion. This provides an automated method of determining when it is no longer advantageous to increase the network size. Stability results are presented, and simulation demonstrates the ability of the MML criterion to determine when a suitable fit has been achieved.
Pulmonary Gas Exchange and Oxygen Uptake During Exercise in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

In order to investigate pulmonary gas exchange and cardiopulmonary performance in Type 1 diabetes, 36 patients underwent a progressive incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Cardiopulmonary variables were measured, and arterial blood gases determined on samples obtained from an indwelling catheter in the radial artery. The results were compared with those from 40 control subjects. In the patients, the maximum power (Wmax) and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) were lower than in the control subjects (Wmax 186 ± 52 (± SD) vs 233 ± 48 W, p< 0.05; VO2max 2.56 ± 0.71 vs 3.17 + 0.77 I min−1, p < 0.05). At comparable levels of power output, however, no significant abnormality was observed in the difference between alveolar and arterial oxygen pressure (P(A‐a)O2), and the ratio of physiological dead space to tidal volume (VD/VT ratio). These data indicate that in Type 1 diabetic patients, despite their reduced maximum oxygen uptake, gas transfer during exercise is not limited and thus does not contribute to the impairment of exercise capacity.
Differences in the prevalence of growth, endocrine and vitamin D abnormalities among the various thalassaemia syndromes in North America

This study aimed to determine differences in the rates of growth, endocrine‐ and calcium‐related abnormalities in the various thalassemia syndromes in North America treated with current therapies. Medical history, physical examinations and blood and urine collections were obtained from patients with all thalassemia syndromes age 6 years and older in the Thalassemia Clinical Research Network. 361 subjects, 49% male, mean age 23·2 years (range 6·1–75 years) were studied. Approximately 25% of children and adults, regardless of the thalassemia syndrome, had short stature. Overall growth in children was mildly affected. Final height was close to midparental height (z = −0·73 ± 1·24). Patients with beta thalassemia major (TM) had higher rates of hypogonadism, multiple endocrinopathies, worse hyperglycaemia, subclinical hypoparathyroidism and hypercalciuria. Hypogonadism remained the most frequent endocrinopathy and was frequently under‐treated. 12·8% of the subjects had 25 vitamin D concentrations less than 27 nmol/l and 82% less than 75 nmol/l, regardless of the thalassemia syndrome. Adolescents had lower 25 vitamin D levels than children and adults. Compared to patients with other thalassemia syndromes, those with beta TM suffered from higher rates of multiple endocrinopathies, abnormal calcium metabolism and hypercalciuria. Vitamin D abnormalities were high among adolescents.
Joint power control and beamforming for peer-to-peer MIMO relay systems

In this paper, we consider an interference multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) relay system where multiple source nodes communicate with their desired destination nodes with the aid of distributed relay nodes all equipped with multiple antennas. We aim at minimizing the total source and relay transmit power such that a minimum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) threshold is maintained at each receiver. An iterative joint power control and beamforming algorithm is developed to achieve this goal. The proposed algorithm exploits transmit-relay-receive beamforming technique to mitigate the interferences from the unintended sources in conjunction with transmit power control. Numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed iterative algorithm.
Book Review, 'Vienna & Chicago: Friends or Foes? A Tale of Two Schools of Free-Market Economics', by M. Skousen

Mark Skousen’s book is a successful attempt to review this intellectual friendship between Vienna & Chicago, pointing out the main issues that unite or divide them. Chapters 2 and 3 describe the intellectual environment in which each school was born and raised. Skousen points out that both were born out of crisis: the Austrian School emerged as a response to the intellectual crisis of late nineteenth century that was resolved with the marginalist revolution that rescued classical economics from an incipient but increasing socialist/Marxist influence, while the Chicago School emerged as an opponent to the Keynesian proposal to resolve the Great Depression of 1930. Skousen devotes chapters 4 to 7 of the book to explore the four main disagreements: 1) methodology; 2) limitations to the role of government; 3) the monetary system; and 4) macroeconomics and the business cycle. Skousen offers his opinion as to which school has the most convincing argument for each of the disagreements, concluding each of these chapters witheither ‘Advantage: Vienna’ or ‘Advantage: Chicago’.
Distributed Signal Processing for Wireless EEG Sensor Networks

Inspired by ongoing evolutions in the field of wireless body area networks (WBANs), this tutorial paper presents a conceptual and exploratory study of wireless electroencephalography (EEG) sensor networks (WESNs), with an emphasis on distributed signal processing aspects. A WESN is conceived as a modular neuromonitoring platform for high-density EEG recordings, in which each node is equipped with an electrode array, a signal processing unit, and facilities for wireless communication. We first address the advantages of such a modular approach, and we explain how distributed signal processing algorithms make WESNs more power-efficient, in particular by avoiding data centralization. We provide an overview of distributed signal processing algorithms that are potentially applicable in WESNs, and for illustration purposes, we also provide a more detailed case study of a distributed eye blink artifact removal algorithm. Finally, we study the power efficiency of these distributed algorithms in comparison to their centralized counterparts in which all the raw sensor signals are centralized in a near-end or far-end fusion center.
Influence of thymosin on cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in normal and in immunologically deficient mice.

Thymosin, a cell-free, lymphocytopoietic factor prepared from calf thymus, was examined for its influence on cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in normal and immunologically deficient mice. Thymosin was administered to the following groups of mice: a) normal adult; b) neonatally thymectomized; c) adult, lethally irradiated; and d) adult, thymectomized, lethally irradiated animals given syngeneic bone marrow cells. Immune responses of the mice in each group were assessed on the basis of their response to a skin allograft and their capacity to form humoral antibody. Thymosin restored the skin allograft response in neonatally thymectomized mice, thus supporting our conclusion that this thymic function may be endocrine in nature. The capacity to form 19S antibody in neonatally thymectomized or adult thymectomized, lethally irradiated mice was not markedly altered by thymosin treatment, suggesting the lack of a primary function for thymosin in these experimental conditions. Thymosin had no stimulatory effect on the hemolysin response to sheep erythrocytes in normal and x-irradiated mice when given after the initial antigenic challenge. When thymosin was administered prior to antigenic challenge, there was a reduction in hemolysin titers. A hypothesis is presented suggesting that control by the thymus of cell-mediated immunity resides primarily in an endocrine function of the gland, with maturation of peripheral stem cells occurring under the influence of thymosin. In contrast, maturation of cells involved in humoral immune responses may require an in situ thymic locus under the influence of one or more humoral factors and/or interaction with other stem cells, and may be initiated and essentially completed prior to birth.
Application of Beamforming in Wireless Location Estimation

A simple technique to estimate the position of a given mobile source inside a building is based on the received signal strength. For this methodology to have a reasonable accuracy, radio visibility of the mobile by at least three access points is required. To reduce the number of the required access points and therefore simplify the underlying coverage design problem, we propose a novel scheme that takes into account the distribution of RF energy around the receiver. In other words, we assume that the receiver is equipped with a circular array antenna with beamforming capability. In this way, the spatial spectrum of the received power can be measured by electronically rotating the main lobe around the 360-degree field of view. This spatial spectrum can be used by a single receiver as a means for estimating the position of the mobile transmitter. In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of this methodology, and show the improvement achieved in the positioning accuracy.
IVHS/AHS: driving into the future

Intelligent vehicle highway systems (IVHS) involve the systems integration of many emerging technologies to effectively address the needs, both present and future of the nation's roadway complex. An introduction to and brief history of IVHS is presented. Then, a more detailed overview of automated highway systems (AHS), the part of IVHS of most interest to control engineers, is given. One focus is on various control issues that must be confronted before an AHS is deployed. <<ETX>>