Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correlation receivers using Laguerre filter banks for modelling narrowband ultrasonic echoes and estimating their time-of-flights

A class of baseband correlation receivers is developed for estimating the time-of-flight of a narrowband signal. In contrast to conventional correlation receivers that contain a perfectly known replica of the signal, the signal shape is unknown to the proposed receiver. A parametric model of the signal envelope is therefore built, concurrently with the process of time-of-flight estimation. The identification of the model parameters can be pursued by assuming that a few signal constraints are satisfied at the time instant of signal onset: the constraints concern the value of the signal envelope and of its first time derivative. The correlation receivers perform a series expansion of the signal envelope by a set of Laguerre basis functions; the outputs of the Laguerre filter bank that computes the running Laguerre transform are used to build a parametric model of the unknown envelope and to estimate its time-of-flight. Simple variations of the correlation receivers are proposed, which differ from each other in the use they make of the signal constraints. The correlation receivers are applied to process narrowband echoes from in-air ultrasonic sensors. Potential applications are object identification and surface profiling in the robotic field. Computer simulations and experiments using a simple pulse-echo sensor system are presented.
Efficient Production of a Gene Mutant Cell Line through Integrating TALENs and High-Throughput Cell Cloning

Transcription activator–like effectors (TALEs) are becoming powerful DNA-targeting tools in a variety of mammalian cells and model organisms. However, generating a stable cell line with specific gene mutations in a simple and rapid manner remains a challenging task. Here, we report a new method to efficiently produce monoclonal cells using integrated TALE nuclease technology and a series of high-throughput cell cloning approaches. Following this method, we obtained three mTOR mutant 293T cell lines within 2 months, which included one homozygous mutant line.
Contractile Properties of Single Permeabilized Muscle Fibers from Congenital Cleft Palates and Normal Palates of Spanish Goats

Background: Analysis of the composition of muscle fibers constituent to a cleft palate could provide significant insight into the cause of velopharyngeal inadequacy. The authors hypothesized that levator veli palatini muscle dysfunction inherent to cleft palates could affect the timing and outcome of cleft palate repair. Methods: Single, permeabilized muscle fibers from levator veli palatini muscles of three normal (n = 19 fibers) and three chemically induced congenital cleft palates (n = 21 fibers) of 14-month-old goats were isolated, and contractile properties were evaluated. The maximum isometric force and rate constants of tension redevelopment (ktr) were measured, and the specific force and normalized power were calculated for each fiber. Results: The ktr measures indicate that cleft fibers are predominantly fast-fatigable; normal fibers are slow fatigue-resistant: after a 10-minute isometric contraction, fibers from cleft palates had a loss of force 16 percent greater than that from normal palates (p = 0.0001). The cross-sectional areas of the fibers from cleft palates (2750 ± 209 &mgr;m2) were greater (p = 0.05) than those from normal palates (2226 ± 143 &mgr;m2). Specific forces did not differ between the two groups. Maximum normalized power of fibers from cleft palates (11.05 ± 1.82 W/l) was greater (p = 0.0001) than fibers from normal palates (1.60 ± 0.12 W/l). Conclusions: There are clear physiologic differences in single muscle fibers from cleft palates and normal palates: cleft palate fibers are physiologically fast, have greater fatigability, and have greater power production. Detection of functional and/or fiber type differences in muscles of cleft palates may provide preoperative identification of a patient’s susceptibility to velopharyngeal inadequacy and permit early surgical intervention to correct this clinical condition.
VISÃO DOS ALUNOS E GESTORES DO ENSINO MÉDIO DO PERÍODO NOTURNO SOBRE A DISCIPLINA DE EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA

Esta pesquisa investigou se ha nas unidades escolares do periodo noturno, de ensino medio, aulas de Educacao Fisica, conforme alude a Lei no 10.793, de 1o.12. 2003.Os resultados encontrados condizem com a hipotese inicial que afirma que as escolas de ensino medio noturno nao cumprem a determinacao da lei no 10.793, de 1o.12. 2003. O levantamento dos dados foi realizado atraves de questionarios ( abertos e fechados ) direcionados a 98 alunos e 4 gestores pertencentes a Diretoria de ensino de Santo Anastacio do estado de Sao Paulo. Tabulados os dados, identificamos certa negligencia quanto ao ensino de Educacao Fisica no periodo noturno contemplando as vantagens e contribuicoes desta disciplina na grade curricular. Concluimos conscientizando o leitor da significativa relevância para a escola, o aluno e a sociedade da pratica regular de atividade fisica escolar.
Genomic expansion and clustering of ZAD‐containing C2H2 zinc‐finger genes in Drosophila

C2H2 zinc‐finger proteins (ZFPs) constitute the largest family of nucleic acid binding factors in higher eukaryotes. In silico analysis identified a total of 326 putative ZFP genes in the Drosophila genome, corresponding to ∼2.3% of the annotated genes. Approximately 29% of the Drosophila ZFPs are evolutionary conserved in humans and/or Caenorhabditis elegans. In addition, ∼28% of the ZFPs contain an N‐terminal zinc‐finger‐associated C4DM domain (ZAD) consisting of ∼75 amino acid residues. The ZAD is restricted to ZFPs of dipteran and closely related insects. The evolutionary restriction, an expansion of ZAD‐containing ZFP genes in the Drosophila genome and their clustering at few chromosomal sites are features reminiscent of vertebrate KRAB‐ZFPs. ZADs are likely to represent protein–protein interaction domains. We propose that ZAD‐containing ZFP genes participate in transcriptional regulation either directly or through site‐specific modification and/or regulation of chromatin.
Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome: A Case Study

&NA; Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome includes a spectrum of autoantibody reactions associated with vascular thrombosis, thrombocytopenia and recurrent fetal loss. Neurologic manifestations include strokes, transient ischemic attacks and multi‐infarct dementia. Treatment involves prolonged anticoagulation, and prognosis is poor. A case study of a 21‐year‐old female with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is provided.
Combined hypoxemic and hypotensive insults altered physiological responses and neurofunction in a severity-dependent manner following penetrating ballistic-like brain injury in rats

BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury often occurs with concomitant hypoxemia (HX) and hemorrhagic shock (HS), leading to poor outcomes. This study characterized the acute physiology and subacute behavioral consequences of these additional insults in a model of penetrating ballistic-like brain injury (PBBI). METHODS Rats were randomly assigned into sham control, HX + HS (HH), 5% PBBI alone, 5% PBBI + HH, 10% PBBI alone, and 10% PBBI + HH groups. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate were monitored continuously. In the combined injury groups, animals were subjected to 30-minute HX (Pao2, 30–40 mm Hg) and then 30-min HS (mean arterial pressure, 40 mm Hg) followed by fluid resuscitation with lactated Ringer’s solution after PBBI or sham PBBI. Motor function was assessed using the rotarod task at 7 days and 14 days after injury. Cognitive function was assessed in the Morris water maze task from 13 days to 17 days after injury. RESULTS Combined HH caused acute bradycardia that was reversed by fluid resuscitation. During HX phase, tachypnea was observed in all HH groups. Persistent bradypnea was detected in 10% PBBI + HH group during the resuscitation phase. PBBI produced significant decrements in motor performance (vs. sham and HH groups). Additional insults significantly worsened motor deficits following 5% PBBI but not 10% PBBI. Both 5% PBBI and 10% PBBI produced significant cognitive deficits in the Morris water maze task with worsened deficits evident following the more severe injury (i.e., 10% PBBI). Alternatively, rats subjected to 5% PBBI + HH exhibited cognitive impairment that was significantly worse compared with 5% PBBI alone, whereas this worsening effect was not detected in the 10% PBBI groups. CONCLUSION This study characterized the physiological responses and neurobehavioral profiles following combined PBBI and HH. Ten percent PBBI produces motor and cognitive deficits, which may exceed a sensitivity threshold capacity. In contrast, 5% PBBI produces a lower, albeit significant, magnitude of deficits and thus provides a more sensitive screen for evaluating the cumulative effects of additional insults, which were indeed demonstrated to significantly worsen outcome.
Théories représentationnelles de l'intentionnalité perceptive et Leibhaftigkeit de l'objet dans la perception

Cet article examine un probleme particulier pose par une approche naturaliste et representationnaliste de la perception: lui est-il ou non possible de rendre compte d'une caracteristique que Husserl considerait comme constitutive de la perception, a savoir le fait que l'objet dans la perception est comme donne en personne (leibhaftig). La premiere section donne un bref apercu des motivations qui sont a l'origine de l'interet actuellement suscite dans les sciences cognitives par l'intentionnalite perceptive. La deuxieme section aborde le probleme de la Leibhaftigkeit de l'objet dans la perception et examine les raisons pour lesquelles celle-ci peut paraitre constituer une difficulte pour une approche representationnelle de la perception. La derniere section examine les moyens dont une telle approche dispose pour resoudre ce probleme. This paper examines the problem whether a naturalistic and representational approach to perception can account for a feature that Husserl considers as a fundamental caracteristic of perception, namely the fact that the object in perception appears as if given in person (leibhaftig). The first section briefly sketches the reasons why perceptual intentionality is presently the focus of a lot of attention in cognitive science. The second section is concerned with the problem of the Leibhaftigkeit of the object in perception and with the reasons why this may constitute a difficulty for a representational approach to perception.The last section considers the moves available to such an approach in order to solve the problem.
An Update on Coronary Artery Chronic Total Occlusions

Abstract A coronary artery chronic total occlusion (CTO) represents a coronary artery that has been occluded for a long period of time, typically months. Coronary artery CTOs are common and occur in approximately one-third of patients referred for coronary angiography. Revascularization of CTO is technically challenging and has historically been associated with lower procedural success rates and higher complication rates. Technical success of CTO revascularization has significantly improved given remarkable advances in interventional cardiology over the past 3 decades. However, the decision to perform CTO revascularization remains a dilemma, given the lack of robust clinical evidence to support its use.
Affective forecasts and the Valentine's Day shootings at NIU: People are resilient, but unaware of it

People overestimate the extent to which emotion-producing life events affect subsequent affect. However, research has yet to conclusively demonstrate that this phenomenon occurs following significant trauma affecting entire communities, or whether it applies to predictions of discrete emotions. Exploring such issues, student reports of emotion states were collected both before and after the oncampus Valentine's Day, 2008 shootings at Northern Illinois University (NIU). A separate group of students not on campus when the shootings occurred provided emotion state reports and predictions of the emotions they would expect to experience 2 weeks after a shooting occurred. Examination of these data suggests that: (1) emotion states of NIU students reflected resilience, and (2) students made affective forecasting errors indicating that this resilience was unexpected. These data confirm results of prior affective forecasting studies, extending them to cases of traumatic experiences, and suggest that such studies can expand their focus to explore specific post-event emotions.
A New Threshold Based Penalty Function Embedded MOEA/D

Recently, we proposed a new threshold based penalty function. The threshold dynamically controls the penalty to infeasible solutions. This paper implants the two different forms of the proposed penalty function in the multiobjective evo-lutionary algorithm based on decomposition (MOEA/D) frame-work to solve constrained multiobjective optimization problems. This led to a new algorithm, denoted by CMOEA/D-DE-ATP. The performance of CMOEA/D-DE-ATP is tested on hard CF-series test instances in terms of the values of IGD-metric and SC-metric. The experimental results are compared with the three best performers of CEC 2009 MOEA competition. Experimental results show that the proposed penalty function is very promising, and it works well in the MOEA/D framework.
Optimización de costos en la producción de proteínas en el Genoma Humano

Casi la totalidad de las celulas en nuestro cuerpo contienen una copia de nuestro genoma. Los genes contienen la informacion necesaria para producir todas las proteinas que realizan todas las actividades en la celula. Enfermedades como el cancer o defectos hereditarios pueden resultar de errores en la secuencia de los genes. Hoy a mas de 50 anos del descubrimiento de la estructura del ADN, los investigadores cuentan con la secuencia completa del genoma humano. En contraste, el conocimiento acerca de la organizacion del genoma y la funcion de los genes es muy pobre. Dado que el tamano de la poblacion de las especies de mamiferos es reducida, generalmente se asume que la fuerza de la seleccion natural es relativamente debil. A continuacion se presentan los resultados mas recientes que evaluan esta hipotesis. La comparacion de los niveles de actividad con las caracteristicas fisicas (como su longitud o composicion) de los genes, ha revelado que aquellos genes con mayor actividad tienen caracteristicas peculiares. Estas observaciones se cuentan entre las primeras en mostrar que las secuencias genicas muestran patrones consistentes con la accion de la seleccion natural para aumentar la eficiencia de la sintesis de proteinas
Genotypic resistance testing in routine clinical care

Purpose of reviewGenotypic resistance testing has become part of routine clinical management of HIV-infected patients. Focussing on observational studies, this review looks at recent advances in this area. Recent findingsTranslation of the nucleotide sequence generated by the resistance test into clinically useful information remains a major challenge. A recent key development is the availability of therapy optimization tools to predict regimens that are most likely to achieve virological suppression. Standard genotypic resistance testing only examines protease and part of reverse transcriptase; as drugs are licensed to further targets, it has become necessary to expand the repertoire for testing. Traditionally, genotypic testing has not been attempted at viral loads less than 1000 copies/ml, but recent studies indicate that major mutations are often detected at much lower levels. Similarly, various methods have been developed for the detection of minority variants including allele-specific PCR, single-genome sequencing, and ultra-deep sequencing. SummaryThe technology and interpretation of genotypic resistance tests is in a phase of rapid development. It remains uncertain which of these developments will become part of routine clinical practice.
Identification of functional genetic variants in cyclooxygenase-2 and their association with risk of esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is implicated in many steps of cancer development. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the COX-2 promoter might contribute to differential COX-2 expression and subsequent interindividual variability in susceptibility to cancer. This study sought to identify functional SNPs in the COX-2 promoter and evaluated their effects on the risk of developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS Thirty individual DNA samples were sequenced to search for SNPs, and the function of the SNPs was examined by a set of biochemical assays. Genotypes and haplotypes were analyzed in 1026 patients and 1270 controls, and odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by logistic regression. RESULTS Three SNPs, -1290A-->G, -1195G-->A, and -765G-->C, were identified; the frequencies of variant alleles were 0.04, 0.51, and 0.02, respectively. The -1195G-->A change creates a c-MYB binding site and displays a higher promoter activity. The -1195A-containing haplotypes had significantly increased luciferase expression and COX-2 messenger RNA levels in esophageal tissues compared with the -1195G-containing counterparts. A case-control analysis showed a 1.72-fold (95% CI, 1.35-2.20) and 2.24-fold (95% CI, 1.59-3.16) excess risk of developing ESCC for the -1195AA or -765CC genotype carriers compared with noncarriers. A greater risk of developing ESCC was observed for A(-1195)-C(-765)-containing haplotypes compared with G(-1195)-G(-765)-containing haplotypes, suggesting an interaction between the -1195G-->A and -765G-->C polymorphisms in the context of haplotype. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that genetic variants in COX-2 may play a role in mediating susceptibility to esophageal cancer.
Role of the golgi apparatus in cellular pathology

Abstract The Golgi apparatus response to pathological disorders is predominantly as an intermediary component of membrane biogenesis where it is involved in processing, sorting and secretion of materials via secretory granules, and in the formation of lysosomes. A common initial response of the Golgi apparatus to any stress is an alteration or cessation of secretory activity. In the transformed cell, the Golgi apparatus is altered both morphologically and biochemically, suggesting a shift from a secretory to a membrane‐generating mode of functioning. However, since fewer or less well‐developed Golgi apparatus are frequently found in transformed cells, analytical methods of membrane isolation developed for normal tissues may not always yield equivalent results when applied to tumors. Cell surface alterations characteristic of malignant cells may result from modifications occurring at the level of the Golgi apparatus. Some lysosomal dysfunctions may result from underglycosylation of acid hydrolases by the Golgi apparatus. The use of cell‐free systems between endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus or within Golgi apparatus cisterane is providing a new approach to the elucidation of the role of the Golgi apparatus in normal as well as pathological states.
Disparities, race/ethnicity and access to pediatric kidney transplantation

Purpose of reviewKidney transplantation remains the optimal treatment for children with end-stage renal disease; yet, in the United States, profound differences in access to transplant persist, with black children experiencing significantly reduced access to transplant compared with white children. The reasons for these disparities remain poorly understood. Several recent studies provide new insights into the interplay of socioeconomic status, racial/ethnic disparities and access to pediatric kidney transplantation. Recent findingsNew evidence suggests that disparities are more pronounced in access to living vs. deceased donors. National allocation policies have mitigated racial differences in pediatric deceased donor kidney transplant (DDKT) access after waitlisting. However, disparities in access to DDKT are stark for minority emerging adults, who lose pediatric priority allocation. Although absence of health insurance poses an important barrier to transplant, even after adjustment for insurance status and neighborhood poverty, disparities persist. Differential access to care and unjust social structures are posited as important modifiable barriers to achieving equity in pediatric transplant access. SummaryFuture approaches to overcome disparities in pediatric kidney transplant access must focus on the continuum of the transplant process, including equitable health care access. Public health advocacy efforts to promote national policies that address disparate multilevel socioeconomic factors are essential.
Infertility in 5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR)-Deficient Male Mice Is Partially Alleviated by Lifetime Dietary Betaine Supplementation1

Abstract Metabolism of folate is essential for proper cellular function. Within the folate pathway, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) reduces 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, a methyl donor for remethylation of homocysteine to methionine, the precursor of S-adenosylmethionine. S-adenosylmethionine is the methyl donor for numerous cellular reactions. In adult male mice, MTHFR levels are highest in the testis; this finding, in conjunction with recent clinical evidence, suggest an important role for MTHFR in spermatogenesis. Indeed, we show here that severe MTHFR deficiency in male mice results in abnormal spermatogenesis and infertility. Maternal oral administration of betaine, an alternative methyl donor, throughout pregnancy and nursing, resulted in improved testicular histology in Mthfr−/− offspring at Postnatal Day 6, but not at 8 mo of age. However, when betaine supplementation was maintained postweaning, testicular histology improved, and sperm numbers and fertility increased significantly. We postulate that the adverse effects of MTHFR deficiency on spermatogenesis, may, in part, be mediated by alterations in the transmethylation pathway and suggest that betaine supplementation may provide a means to bypass MTHFR deficiency and its adverse effects on spermatogenesis by maintaining normal methylation levels within male germ cells.
Seasonal variation of blood pressure and its relationship to ambient temperature in an elderly population

Objective: To measure the magnitude and timing of seasonal variation of blood pressure and related factors in the elderly living in the community, and to assess their potential impact on cardiovascular risk. Design: Prospective study; from January 1991 to February 1992 blood pressure and other variables were measured at 2-monthly intervals in each subject in their own homes. Subjects: Ninety-six men and women, age range 65–74 years, recruited from a single group general practice in Cambridge. Main outcome measures: Seasonal variation of blood pressure, seasonal variation of prevalence of hypertension, seasonal variation of ambient temperature and body mass index. Results: Both systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were greatest during the winter across the whole distribution of blood pressure. There was a fourfold increase in the proportion of subjects with blood pressures > 160/90 mmHg in winter compared with in summer. Regression analysis revealed highly significant seasonal differences in both SBP and DBP. After adjustment for confounding seasonal effects, a 1°C decrease in living-room temperature was associated with rises of 1.3 mmHg in SBP and 0.6 mmHg in DBP. Conclusions: Seasonal variation of blood pressure is heightened in older adults and may partly explain the greater cardiovascular disease mortality of elderly subjects during the winter. The blood pressures of elderly people may be inversely related to the ambient temperature. The public health implications of these findings deserve further investigation.