Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Getting lost in space: Large sample analysis of the resistance distance

The commute distance between two vertices in a graph is the expected time it takes a random walk to travel from the first to the second vertex and back. We study the behavior of the commute distance as the size of the underlying graph increases. We prove that the commute distance converges to an expression that does not take into account the structure of the graph at all and that is completely meaningless as a distance function on the graph. Consequently, the use of the raw commute distance for machine learning purposes is strongly discouraged for large graphs and in high dimensions. As an alternative we introduce the amplified commute distance that corrects for the undesired large sample effects.
Cloning of the homeotic Sex combs reduced gene in Drosophila and in situ localization of its transcripts

We have extended our ‘chromosomal walk’ in the Antennapedia‐complex (ANT‐C) by isolating overlapping DNA sequences spanning the chromosomal segment between Antennapedia (Antp) and Deformed (Dfd). The transcription units, homeoboxes and M‐repeats were mapped within this region. Four transcription units Antp, fushi tarazu (ftz), Sex combs reduced (Scr) and Dfd contain both a homeobox and an M repeat, whereas at least two additional transcription units, x and z, were found to lack these elements. The Scr locus was identified by deletion mapping. It consists of at least two exonic regions separated by a large intron. The homeobox is located in the 3′ exon and is 82% homologous to the one in Antp. Scr encodes a major 3.9‐kb RNA. A corresponding cDNA clone was used as a probe for in situ hybridization to sections of various embryonic stages. At gastrula stages Scr+ transcripts accumulate in the posterior head and the anterior thoracic region of the germ band. At later stages a strong accumulation of transcripts is observed in the suboesophageal and the prothoracic ganglion of the ventral nervous system.
Invariant-oriented verification of HDL-based safety critical systems

Invariant-oriented approach to independent verification and validation of HDL-based projects is presented. Proposed methodology consists in identification and verification of so-called “check relations”, which can have general or specific nature. Invariants of HDL-based designs are based on features and constraints of HDL. The main tasks and stages of invariant-oriented assessment are specified. A brief description of the invariant concept is given. The meaning of invariant calibration procedure is presented.
The patient's journey: rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic disorder of disturbed immunity that affects about 1% of adults in the United Kingdom. It typically develops in middle or late life and is three times more common in women than it is in men. It is characterised by joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, particularly of the small joints of the hands and feet. Its onset varies between gradual and acute. The classic pathological features include inflammation in the synovial lining joints and tendon sheaths. Patients feel sore, especially in the morning. Its natural course is variable, with disease severity changing over time, although in many patients there is increasing joint damage and functional disability. From the perspective of patients, pain, reduced mobility, fatigue, and psychological effects, such as depression, are the dominant concerns. In contrast, clinicians generally focus on measurable disease activity, along with radiographically identifiable progressive joint damage. They aim to achieve remission of the synovitis and to delay or limit functional disability, to minimise the effect on work participation and dependency on family, carers, and the health service. Optimal treatment is now seen to be care provided by a multidisciplinary team and includes education, advice, exercise, drug treatment, and joint surgery in late disease. Treatment options comprise analgesics, non-steroidal inflammatory drugs, disease modifying drugs such as methotrexate, steroids, and the new biologicals (for example, anti-tumour necrosis factor agents). Despite these various treatments, the key features of rheumatoid arthritis are the unpredictability of both the acute flare-ups and of how patients respond to the drugs. This means that control over the illness is often difficult and requires patients and professionals to continuously adapt to the disease state. Over recent years the emergence of the new biological drugs, with their palliative effect on patients' symptoms of pain, limited mobility, and fatigue, has …
Neuropathy of Gastrointestinal Chagas’ Disease: Immune Response to Myelin Antigens

Most reports of autoimmune response during infection with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi have dealt with the cardiomyopathic form of Chagas’ disease, but little is known about the mechanisms of tissue damage involved in the gastrointestinal form, which was studied here. Chronically infected patients with a severe gastrointestinal form of Chagas’ disease present increased antibody production and proliferative responses to peripheral myelin components, such as myelin basic protein (MBP), which is homologous to the P1 protein fraction of peripheral myelin. T lymphocytes preferentially recognize a region on the MBP molecule (1–30), which suggests that the MBP is a potential target on the peripheral nerve for autoimmune reactions in patients with gastrointestinal lesions resulting from Chagas’ disease.
The impact of synchronization on receive beamforming with null steering in OFDM MIMO systems

Receive beamfoming is one of the most prominent techniques to mitigate interference in OFDM MIMO communications systems. This technique is especially important in the uplink reception of cell-edge mobiles which are naturally associated with low signal-to-interference-and-noise-ratio (SINR). In the common case where the interference is more dominant than the thermal noise, classical receive beamforming solutions, such as the minimum Variance distortionless response (MVDR), tend to place spatial nulls on the dominant interferers. It is well known that a receiver with N receive antennas can place up to N - 1 nulls while receiving a single stream desired signal. In this paper we adopt a practical MIMO channel model including delay and angular spread, and consider both synchronized and non synchronized systems. We reveal an intimate relationship between synchronization and null steering. In the case of adequate temporal and frequency synchronization, an OFDM receiver with N receive antennas may mitigate up to N - 1 interfering transmitters. However, in the absence of adequate synchronization, the same OFDM receiver may mitigate up to N - 1 interference paths. Since each transmitter is usually associated with multiple paths, this degradation may be very significant in terms of cell-edge capacity. The results in this paper may be of great practical importance, especially for the deployment of LTE systems, in which inter-cell synchronization is optional, and in comparisons between synchronized and non synchronized systems, such as next generation WiFi.
Fundamental performance limits in image registration

While many algorithms have been developed to solve the problem of image registration, their performance has typically been evaluated only by comparing one method with another often in an ad-hoc manner. We propose a statistical performance measure based on the mean square error (MSE) and explore the performance bounds using the Cramer-Rao inequality. We show how these performance bounds depend on image content under observation. By analyzing these bounds we provide insight into the inherent tradeoff between bias and variance found in all image registration algorithms. Specifically, we derive a functional expression for the bias inherent in the popular class of gradient-based image registration algorithms.
Premature centromere division: A mechanism of non‐disjunction causing X chromosome aneuploidy in somatic cells of man

Apparent acentric fragments which replaced a C-group chromosome in cultured blood lymphocytes from a woman patient were shown by autoradiography, G-banding and C-banding to be complete X chromosomes in which the centromere had divided prematurely in relation to the centromeres of other chromosomes in the same metaphase. Metaphases with multiple 'fragments' suggested that non-disjunction of the 'fragments' had occurred. This anomaly of the X chromosome was associated with increased aneuploidy of a C-group chromosome, presumed to be X. Premature centromere division of the X chromosome (PCD, X) appeared to be a mechanism of non-disjunction which caused significant monosomy and trisomy of the X chromosome in blood cells and skin fibroblasts. The frequency of cells with multiple fragments and the extent of the aneuploidy in 48 hr. blood cultures indicated that this mechanism of non-disjunction operated during mitosis both in vivo and in vitro. Premature centromere division occurred at a lower frequency in normal women donors, and was age-related, being four times more frequent in women 60 years and older than in women under 40. Associated with the higher frequency of PCD, the older women also showed evidence of increased X chromosome aneuploidy. Premature centromere division of the X chromosome is considered to be the mechanism of non-disjunction, causing the well-documented increased number of 45, -C metaphases in ageing women. Premature centromere division was rare in men, but an age effect was again suggested.
Chemokine Levels in the Jugular Venous Blood of Migraine Without Aura Patients During Attacks

Objective. —To investigate changes in the levels of calcitonin gene‐related peptide and its intracellular messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate in serial samples of internal jugular blood taken from migraine patients without aura assessed during attacks, and to assess their relationship with the levels of IL‐8, MCP‐1, and RANTES in the same samples.
Error Analysis on the Generalized Negative Binomial Distribution

The generalized negative binomial distribution characterized by three parameters, has been used to fit data from various fields of study. The distribution can model data for which the variance is larger or smaller than the mean, however, it becomes truncated under certain conditions. This truncation error is investigated via a detailed error analysis that determines the parameter space when the model can be used in place of the truncated generalized negative binomial distribution. The fitting of a generalized negative binomial distribution to a data set of absenteeism among shift-workers in a steel industry is re-analyzed.
A systematic review of the success of sinus floor elevation and survival of implants inserted in combination with sinus floor elevation. Part II: transalveolar technique.

OBJECTIVES The objectives of this systematic review were to assess the survival rate of implants placed in sites with transalveolar sinus floor elevation. MATERIAL AND METHODS An electronic search was conducted to identify prospective and retrospective cohort studies on transalveolar sinus floor elevation, with a mean follow-up time of at least 1 year after functional loading. Failure and complication rates were analyzed using random-effects Poisson regression models to obtain summary estimates/ year proportions. RESULTS The search provided 849 titles. Full-text analysis was performed for 176 articles, resulting in 19 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of these studies indicated an estimated annual failure rate of 2.48% (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.37-4.49%) translating to an estimated survival rate of 92.8% (95% CI): 87.4-96.0%) for implants placed in transalveolarly augmented sinuses, after 3 years in function. Furthermore, subject-based analysis revealed an estimated annual failure of 3.71% (95% CI: 1.21-11.38%), translating to 10.5% (95% CI: 3.6-28.9%) of the subjects experiencing implant loss over 3 years. CONCLUSION Survival rates of implants placed in transalveolar sinus floor augmentation sites are comparable to those in non-augmented sites. This technique is predictable with a low incidence of complications during and post-operatively.
Exertion Games

Advances in human-computer interaction HCI technologies have led to emerging computer game systems that foster physical exertion as part of the interaction; we call them exertion games. These games highlight a body-centric perspective on our interactions with computers, in contrast to traditional mouse, keyboard and gamepad interactions, not just in terms of their physical interface, but also in terms of the experiences that they support. As a result, exertion games show great promise in facilitating not only health benefits, but also novel play experiences. However, to realize this promise, exertion games need to be well designed, not only in terms of technical aspects involving the sensing of the active body, but also in relation to the experiential perspective of an active human body. This article provides an overview of existing work on exertion games, outlines a spectrum of exertion games, and presents an analysis of key enabling technologies. We also position exertion games within a broader HCI context by reviewing and examining different design approaches and frameworks for building exertion games. Finally, the article concludes with directions for future work.
Developmental changes in the spatial organization of neurons in the neocortex of humans and common chimpanzees

In adult humans the prefrontal cortex possesses wider minicolumns and more neuropil space than other cortical regions. These aspects of prefrontal cortex architecture, furthermore, are increased in comparison to chimpanzees and other great apes. In order to determine the developmental appearance of this human cortical specialization, we examined the spatial organization of neurons in four cortical regions (frontal pole [Brodmann's area 10], primary motor [area 4], primary somatosensory [area 3b], and prestriate visual cortex [area 18]) in chimpanzees and humans from birth to approximately the time of adolescence (11 years of age). Horizontal spacing distance (HSD) and gray level ratio (GLR) of layer III neurons were measured in Nissl‐stained sections. In both human and chimpanzee area 10, HSD was significantly higher in the postweaning specimens compared to the preweaning ones. No significant age‐related differences were seen in the other regions in either species. In concert with other recent studies, the current findings suggest that there is a relatively slower maturation of area 10 in both humans and chimpanzees as compared to other cortical regions, and that further refinement of the spatial organization of neurons within this prefrontal area in humans takes place after the postweaning periods included here. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:4249–4259, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Contribution of Health Outcomes to Economic Growth in Pakistan

The present study investigates the impact of health on economic growth. Low economic growth is an important issue for underdeveloped countries. Health conditions are miserable in poor countries. We have estimated that how health related factors influence the economic performance of the Pakistani economy. The secondary source of data covering the time series period 1975 to 2010 is employed. We have used the auto regressive distributed lags method (ARDL) to estimate the economic growth. Different variables are used such as gross fixed capital formation, employed labor force, exchange rate, inflation rate, total number of beds in hospitals, health expenditures, total number of dispensaries and total number of registered doctors. The exchange rate has negative effect on economic growth while all other variables are positively related to economic growth. The study concludes that better health facilities contribute more in economic growth and suggest that government should provide good health facilities by increasing the share of health expenditure in budget.
Transgenic Mice in the Study of ALS: The Role of Neurofilaments

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult‐onset neurological disorder of multiple etiologies that affects primarily motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Abnormal accumulations of neurofilaments (NFs) in motor neurons and a down‐regulation of mRNA for the NF light subunit (NF‐L) are associated with ALS, but it remains unclear to what extent these NF perturbations contribute to human disease. Transgenic mouse studies demonstrated that overexpression of normal and mutant NF proteins can sometimes provoke a motor neuronopathy characterized by the presence of abnormal NF accumulations resembling those found in ALS. Remarkably, the motor neuronopathy in transgenic mice overexpressing human NF heavy (NF‐H) sub‐units was rescued by the co‐ expression of a human NF‐L transgene at levels that restored a correct stoichiometry of NF‐L to NF‐H subunits. Transgenic approaches have also been used to investigate the role of NFs in disease caused by Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mutations, which is responsible for ˜2% cases of ALS. Studies with transgenic mice expressing low levels of a fusion NF‐H/lacZ protein, in which NFs are withheld from the axonal compartment, suggested that axonal NFs are not toxic intermediates required for SOD1 ‐mediated disease. On the contrary, overexpression of human NF‐H proteins was found to confer an effective protection against mutant SOD1 toxicity in transgenic mice, a phenomenon that may be due to the ability of NF proteins to chelate calcium. In conclusion, transgenic studies showed that disorganized NFs can sometimes have noxious effects resulting in neuronopathy. However, in the context of motor neuron disease caused by mutant SOD1, there is emerging evidence that NF proteins rather play a protective role.
Similar arrhythmicity in hypertrophic and fibrotic cardiac cultures caused by distinct substrate-specific mechanisms.

AIMS Cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis are associated with potentially lethal arrhythmias. As these substrates often occur simultaneously in one patient, distinguishing between pro-arrhythmic mechanisms is difficult. This hampers understanding of underlying pro-arrhythmic mechanisms and optimal treatment. This study investigates and compares arrhythmogeneity and underlying pro-arrhythmic mechanisms of either cardiac hypertrophy or fibrosis in in vitro models. METHODS AND RESULTS Fibrosis was mimicked by free myofibroblast (MFB) proliferation in neonatal rat ventricular monolayers. Cultures with inhibited MFB proliferation were used as control or exposed to phenylephrine to induce hypertrophy. At Day 9, cultures were studied with patch-clamp and optical-mapping techniques and assessed for protein expression. In hypertrophic (n = 111) and fibrotic cultures (n = 107), conduction and repolarization were slowed. Triggered activity was commonly found in these substrates and led to high incidences of spontaneous re-entrant arrhythmias [67.5% hypertrophic, 78.5% fibrotic vs. 2.9% in controls (n = 102)] or focal arrhythmias (39.1, 51.7 vs. 8.8%, respectively). Kv4.3 and Cx43 protein expression levels were decreased in hypertrophy but unaffected in fibrosis. Depolarization of cardiomyocytes (CMCs) was only found in fibrotic cultures (-48 ± 7 vs. -66 ± 7 mV in control, P < 0.001). L-type calcium-channel blockade prevented arrhythmias in hypertrophy, but caused conduction block in fibrosis. Targeting heterocellular coupling by low doses of gap-junction uncouplers prevented arrhythmias by accelerating repolarization only in fibrotic cultures. CONCLUSION Cultured hypertrophic or fibrotic myocardial tissues generated similar focal and re-entrant arrhythmias. These models revealed electrical remodelling of CMCs as a pro-arrhythmic mechanism of hypertrophy and MFB-induced depolarization of CMCs as a pro-arrhythmic mechanism of fibrosis. These findings provide novel mechanistic insight into substrate-specific arrhythmicity.
Cytoskeletal Neurofilament Gene Expression in Brain Tissue from Alzheimer's Disease Patients. I. Decrease in NF-L and NF-M Message

The cytoskeletal changes seen in brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease include neurofibrillary tangles, neuritic plaques, Hirano bodies, and granulovacuolar degeneration. Northern and slot blot analyses were used to investigate the expression of the genes coding for actin, tubulin, neurofilaments, and histone in brain tissue from Alzheimer's disease patients and normal aged controls. We found a marked decrease of 94% in the expression of the neurofilament gene coding for the medium size subunit (150 kDa) and a 73% decrease in the expression of the gene coding for the small subunit (68 kDa) in Alzheimer's disease patients as compared to controls. Expression of the other genes, such as actin and histone, did not show any significant difference. Expression of the gene coding for medium size, neurofilament gene was not decreased in other neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. This abnormality in neurofilament gene expression may explain some of the pathologic features found in Alzheimer's disease patients.
Use of Pup Counts in Indexing Population Changes in Pinnipeds

A series of population simulations were used to test the accuracy of estimating the discrete rates of population change (RPC) from annual pup counts. The simulations indicate that pup counts can give a biased estimate of RPC, and that the magnitude and direction of bias depends on which life history parameters are density dependent and on the maximum rate of population change. In general, if pre-census pup survival is density dependent the estimated RPC using pup counts is too low. If post-census pup survival is density dependent, the estimated RPC is too high. If adult survival is density dependent, there is very little bias in the estimate. The results indicate that pup counts can be reliable indicators of population growth, but caution should be used in interpreting the results unless density feedback mechanisms have been identified.
Effects of Conventional Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis (Lasik) on Spherical Aberrations and Contrast Sensitivity in the Myopic Eyes

Background: LASIK is the new surgical procedure for the correction of eye’s refractive error. It helps in reducing the patient’s dependence on glasses &/or contact lenses. But it also increases the spherical aberrations of the eye and reduces contrast sensitivity. Aim: To investigate the changes in spherical aberrations, contrast sensitivity & spherical equivalent of the myopic eyes caused by conventional LASIK. Method: A prospective, observational study was done in patients with treatable myopic refractive error after undergoing conventional LASIK. Total 29 patients with 56 myopic eyes undergoing LASIK were recruited over a period of six months from Jan 2011 to June 2011 and were followed up for a period of 6 months. Results: After LASIK, mean logMAR visual acuity at 1, 3, and 6 was -0.096 which was significantly more as compared to baseline. Pre-operatively mean spherical equivalent was -4.59. There was statistically significant reduction in the mean spherical equivalent post-operatively at 1, 3 & 6 months. Spherical aberration was significantly increased after LASIK (2.71 folds at 1 month, 2.38 fold at 3 months and 2.19 folds at 6 months). Contrast sensitivity (CS) was significantly reduced one month post LASIK for the higher spatial frequencies of 12 and 18 cpd. Conclusion: Conventional LASIK significantly increases the postoperative spherical aberrations at 1, 3, and 6 months. It causes significant reduction in CS values at higher frequencies, which recovers to the preoperative levels at 6 months. After LASIK contrast sensitivity at lower spatial frequencies are not significantly altered.