Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hands-On Pattern Recognition: Challenges in Machine Learning, volume 1

Recently organized competitions have been instrumental in pushing the state-of-the-art in machine learning, establishing benchmarks to fairly evaluate methods, and identifying techniques that really work. This volume in the Challenges in Machine Learning series harvests three years of effort of hundreds of researchers who have participated in three competitions organized around five datasets from various application domains, designed to explore issues of data representation, model selection, and performance prediction.
Regulatory Function of Hexokinase 2 in Glucose Signaling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

First, the possibility is highlighted that Hxk2 constitutes an intracellular glucose sensor, which operates in response to glucose levels via the conformational change that is associated with the open/close induced fit domain movement of the enzyme to control its recruitment to the SUC2 repressor complex. The authors do not, however, provide direct evidence proving such a mode of action. In particular, the hypothesis that xylose could induce an open conformation mimicking low glucose conditions is presented without support by structural data. By contrast, it seems rather likely that due to similar binding modes xylose and glucose may stabilize a closed hexokinase conformation (2).
The Human RecQ Helicases, BLM and RECQ1, Display Distinct DNA Substrate Specificities*

RecQ helicases maintain chromosome stability by resolving a number of highly specific DNA structures that would otherwise impede the correct transmission of genetic information. Previous studies have shown that two human RecQ helicases, BLM and WRN, have very similar substrate specificities and preferentially unwind noncanonical DNA structures, such as synthetic Holliday junctions and G-quadruplex DNA. Here, we extend this analysis of BLM to include new substrates and have compared the substrate specificity of BLM with that of another human RecQ helicase, RECQ1. Our findings show that RECQ1 has a distinct substrate specificity compared with BLM. In particular, RECQ1 cannot unwind G-quadruplexes or RNA-DNA hybrid structures, even in the presence of the single-stranded binding protein, human replication protein A, that stimulates its DNA helicase activity. Moreover, RECQ1 cannot substitute for BLM in the regression of a model replication fork and is very inefficient in displacing plasmid D-loops lacking a 3′-tail. Conversely, RECQ1, but not BLM, is able to resolve immobile Holliday junction structures lacking an homologous core, even in the absence of human replication protein A. Mutagenesis studies show that the N-terminal region (residues 1–56) of RECQ1 is necessary both for protein oligomerization and for this Holliday junction disruption activity. These results suggest that the N-terminal domain or the higher order oligomer formation promoted by the N terminus is essential for the ability of RECQ1 to disrupt Holliday junctions. Collectively, our findings highlight several differences between the substrate specificities of RECQ1 and BLM (and by inference WRN) and suggest that these enzymes play nonoverlapping functions in cells.
Neural circuit involved in idiopathic infantile nystagmus syndrome based on FMRI.

PURPOSE To identify the neural circuitry of idiopathic infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS), characterized by an early onset alternating series of slow and rapid eye movements that can manifest in different waveforms and genetic lines. The neural circuitry of INS is currently unknown. METHODS A novel functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) method, referred to as the null zone fMRI technique, was used to identify the neural circuitry for INS. In the null zone fMRI technique, a gaze position with minimal nystagmus within the null zone was linked to the fMRI "off" condition and a gaze position with robust nystagmus outside of the null zone was linked to the fMRI "on" condition. Eye movements were monitored with an fMRI compatible eye tracker and observed in real time to ensure subject compliance in "on" and "off" states. Subjects with INS (n = 4) included three family members (a mother and two daughters) with presumed autosomal dominant INS, as well as age- and gender-matched normal controls (n = 3). RESULTS Three of four subjects with INS demonstrated significant increased activation of the declive of the cerebellum, whereas no normal subjects under identical conditions showed activation of the declive of the cerebellum. Both groups showed significant activation in the occipital lobe (Brodmann areas 17, 18, 19, and cuneus). CONCLUSION A novel fMRI method demonstrated that the declive of the cerebellum is actively involved in INS. These are the first results to identify the cerebellum, and specifically the declive, as a possible site involved in the ocular motor dysfunction known as INS.
When Semantics Meets Phonetics: Acoustical Studies of Second-Occurrence Focus

A second-occurrence (SO) focus is the semantic focus of a focus-sensitive operator (e.g. only), but is a repeat of anearlier focused occurrence. We report onthe first systematic productionan d perception experiments to show that SO foci occurring after a nuclear accent are, as Rooth (1996b) has claimed, prosodically marked. We find that (i) there is no mean pitch rise on SO foci, (ii) SO foci are marked by longer duration and greater energy, and (iii) listeners are able to detect the difference between SO foci and nonfoci. On the basis of these results, we argue that SO focus is compatible with theories of focus interpretationthat it has beenclaimed to contradict.
Enforcing Role-Based Access Control for Secure Data Storage in the Cloud

In recent times, there has been increasing interest in storing data securely in the cloud environment. To provide owners of data stored in the cloud with flexible control over access to their data by other users, we propose a role-based encryption (RBE) scheme for secure cloud storage. Our scheme allows the owner of data to store it in an encrypted form in the cloud and to grant access to that data for users with specific roles. The scheme specifies a set of roles to which the users are assigned, with each role having a set of permissions. The data owner can encrypt the data and store it in the cloud in such a way that only users with specific roles can decrypt the data. Anyone else, including the cloud providers themselves, will not be able to decrypt the data. We describe such an RBE scheme using a broadcast encryption algorithm. The paper describes the security analysis of the proposed scheme and gives proofs showing that the proposed scheme is secure against attacks. We also analyse the efficiency and performance of our scheme and show that it has superior characteristics compared with other previously published schemes.
HISTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF SUCCINIC DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY IN TISSUE SECTIONS BY A MODIFIED TECHNIQUE

A method for the histochemical demonstration of succinic dehydrogenase was first described by Seigman and Rutenburg in 1951 (7). Their technique utilized ditetrazolium chloride (BT) as an indicator dye, and the detection of reduced BT as diformazan constituted a positive test for succinic dehydrogenase activity. This initial report has been followed by two subsequent papers describing the distribution of succinic dehydrogenase in various tissues and organs of several mammals (5, 7). Two modifications of the original method have been employed in these later studies; the use of Al , Ca , and HCO3activating ions and of anaerobic conditions (nitrogen bubbling, etc.) have been found to be beneficial and more critical in demonstrating sites of low succinic dehydrogenase activity. Of further interest is the paper of Shelton and Schneider showing that among several of the tetrazoles used, neotetrazolium was the most efficacious as an indicator of dehydrogenase activity (9). The latter is in accord with the findings of Padykula (5), Malone (4) and the present workers. As a result of the difference of opinion regarding the choice of the most critical indicator dye and the consequent lack of agreement in the qualitative detection of succinic dehydrogenase activity in a number of tissues and organs previously described as having questionable or a low degree of activity, the present study was undertaken in an effort to: (1) critically evaluate the existing differences regarding this technique, and, (2) outline a method which is simple, direct, and efficient in demonstrating succinic dehydrogenase activity in many tissues preP viously described as negative for this test. Various tissues were removed from albino rats and frozen immediately on a block of dry ice. Tissues in this frozen state may be stored for long periods of time without any noticeable loss of enzyme activity. In preparation for the sectioning procedure, the tissues were trimmed and mounted by freezing to the stage of a carbon dioxide freezing microtome. Fresh frozen sections were cut at 10 to 20 and mounted upon slides by drying in air at room temperature for a short period of time (5 to 10 minutes). Pending the sectioning of other tissues, the mounted sections were stored at 4#{176}C. in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer contain-
On the state of the art of adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer.

Our colleagues from GERCOR (French Oncology Research Group [Groupe Coopérateur Multidisciplinaire en Oncologie]), whose MOSAIC trial (The Multicenter International Study of Oxaliplatin, Fluorouracil, Leucovorin in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer) validated the use of oxaliplatin in adjuvant therapy and represented the most important recent advance in the adjuvant therapy of colon cancer, have written a very thorough and thoughtful review of the state of the art of adjuvant therapy for this issue of Gastrointestinal Cancer Research. Several points raised in the article piqued our interest. These include the issues of (1) decision-making for patients with stage II disease, (2) the use of newer prognostic and putative predictive markers for decision-making, and (3) the use of adjuvant capecitabine in lieu of 5fluorouracil (5-FU).
HUMAN ALPHA-1-GLYCOPROTEIN AND ITS INTERACTIONS WITH DRUGS†,‡

For about half a century, the binding of drugs to plasma albumin, the “silent receptor,” has been recognized as one of the major determinants of drug action, distribution, and disposition. In the last decade, the binding of drugs, especially but not exclusively basic entities, to another plasma protein, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AAG), has increasingly become important in this regard. The present review points out that hundreds of drugs with diverse structures bind to this glycoprotein. Although plasma concentration of AAG is much lower than that of albumin, AAG can become the major drug binding macromolecule in plasma with significant clinical implications. Also, briefly reviewed are the physiological, pathological, and genetic factors that influence binding, the role of AAG in drug-drug interactions, especially the displacement of drugs and endogenous substances from AAG binding sites, and pharmacokinetic and clinical consequences of such interactions. It can be predicted that in the fulture, rapid automatic methods to measure binding to albumin and/or AAG will routinely be used in drug development and in clinical practice to predict and/or guide therapy.
Extracellular polymeric substances production kinetics of 13 sludge isolates using wastewater sludge as raw material and its flocculation potential

The kinetics of batch fermentation of 13 extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) producing bacterial strains (9 Bacillus, 2 Serratia and 2 Yersinia) were carried out using sterilized sludge as a raw material. The most of Bacillus (µmax: 0.11–0.27 h−1), Serratia (µmax: 0.23–0.27 h−1) and Yersinia (µmax: 0.18–0.19 h−1) strains had capability to grow and produce EPS (1.36–2.12 g/L) in the sterilized sludge. In general, EPS production was mixed growth associated for all the bacterial strains cultivated independently. Bacillus sp. 7, Serratia sp. 2 and Yersinia sp. 2 produced higher concentration (1.95–2.12 g/L) of EPS than the other remaining bacterial strains. Protein and carbohydrate contents of EPS remained constant during fermentation. Broth EPS (B-EPS) exhibited high kaolin flocculation activity (≥75%) in most of the cases except Bacillus sp. 1, Bacillus sp. 5 and Bacillus sp. 9, respectively. In general, high flocculation activities (FAs) (≥75%), were attained using 1.31–1.70 mg B-EPS/g kaolin, 0.45–0.97 mg protein/g kaolin and 0.11–0.21 mg carbohydrates/g kaolin. The study suggests that further systematic exploration is required for optimizing the process of EPS production. EPS produced in the sludge can potentially be used for different water and wastewater treatments.
PET/CT Dual Time Point Scanning in Evaluation of Malignant Lymphoma

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the value of dual-time-point F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging in malignant lymphoma (ML) to differentiate between benign lesions and residual or relapsing malignant lesions. Patients and methods: This prospective study included 252 lymph nodes in 60 patients. F-18 FDG PET/CT scan was performed at 50 min (early scan) and at 100 min (delayed scan) after the injection. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) of each lesion was calculated at early and delayed scans. We estimated the difference between early and delayed SUV max (D-SUV max) and the retention index (RI-SUV max) to evaluate the change of tracers handling in the lesions. Also, the early lesion/liver ratio and delayed lesion/liver ratio were calculated. Then their cut-off values were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Correlations of these cutoff values with different clinico-pathological parameters were done. Results: The cut-off value in Early-SUV max was 4.05, Delayed-SUV max were 4.45, D-SUV max was 0.45, RISUV max was 0.155, Early lesion/liver ratio was 1.25 and in Delayed lesion/liver ratio was 1.35. The delayed-SUV max had the highest sensitivity and specificity of 85.3% and 92.6% respectively. The overall result of DTP PET/CT showed sensitivity of 95.3%, specificity of 76.4%, accuracy of 86.1%, and positive predictive value of 80.9% and negative predictive value of 94% respectively. Based on a total of true and false results in early and delayed PET/CT imaging, there was significant improvement in specificity in the delayed PET/CT imaging compared to the early PET/CT imaging. Correlation of DTP cut off value with the different clinico-pathological parameters showed that nodular sclerosis and lymphocytic predominance pathological subtypes had the highest sensitivity of 100%, while mixed cellularity showed the lowest sensitivity of 64.3%. In Hodgkin lymphoma lesions, cervical sites showed the lowest sensitivity and specificity 90.2% & 61.4% respectively.Conclusions: The dual time point FDG PET/CT scan is useful to differentiate between post-therapy changes as benign lesions and residual or relapsing malignant lesions in malignant lymphoma.
Augmentative and alternative communication practices: a descriptive study of the perceptions of South African speech-language therapists

Abstract Speech-language therapists (SLTs) have direct contact with a wide variety of individuals who require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and they are therefore considered to have a primary role in the assessment, selection, and implementation of AAC symbols, techniques, aids, and strategies. Limited information is available with regard to SLTs’ practices in the field of AAC, and there is a particular paucity of information about developing country contexts such as South Africa. The aim of this study was to determine how South African SLTs perceive their current AAC practices. Specifically, the study aimed to investigate SLTs’ assessment and intervention practices, their choice and use of graphic symbols, and display layouts for aided AAC systems. An online survey was developed, using the Qualtrics Research Suite™ online survey software. The survey included open-ended questions (analyzed using thematic analysis) and closed questions (analyzed using descriptive statistics). The responses indicated that SLTs in South Africa currently use a limited variety of assessment and intervention approaches. The data suggest that current practices are informed by previous experience with various technologies and AAC systems and that the primary caseloads of SLTs do not appear to inform specific approaches to assessment and AAC implementation.
Stopped-flow Kinetic Analysis of eIF4E and Phosphorylated eIF4E Binding to Cap Analogs and Capped Oligoribonucleotides

Recruitment of eukaryotic mRNA to the 48 S initiation complex is rate-limiting for protein synthesis under normal conditions. Binding of the 5′ -terminal cap structure of mRNA to eIF4E is a critical event during this process. Mammalian eIF4E is phosphorylated at Ser-209 by Mnk1 and Mnk2 kinases. We investigated the interaction of both eIF4E and phosphorylated eIF4E (eIF4E(P)) with cap analogs and capped oligoribonucleotides by stopped-flow kinetics. For m7GpppG, the rate constant of association, kon, was dependent on ionic strength, decreasing progressively up to 350 mm KCl, but the rate constant of dissociation, koff, was independent of ionic strength. Phosphorylation of eIF4E decreased kon by 2.1-2.3-fold at 50-100 mm KCl but had progressively less effect at higher ionic strengths, being negligible at 350 mm. Contrary to published evidence, eIF4E phosphorylation had no effect on koff. Several observations supported a simple one-step binding mechanism, in contrast to published reports of a two-step mechanism. The kinetic function that best fit the data changed from single- to double-exponential as the eIF4E concentration was increased. However, measuring koff for dissociation of a pre-formed eIF4E·m7GpppG complex suggested that the double-exponential kinetics were caused by dissociation of eIF4E dimers, not a two-step mechanism. Addition of a 12-nucleotide chain to the cap structure increased affinity at high ionic strength for both eIF4E (24-fold) and eIF4E(P) (7-fold), primarily due to a decrease in koff. This suggests that additional stabilizing interactions between capped oligoribonucleotides and eIF4E, which do not occur with cap analogs alone, act to slow dissociation.
A Histomorphological Pattern Analysis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Lung Autopsy and Surgically Resected Specimens

Background. Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Many cases are diagnosed on autopsy and a subset of patients may require surgical intervention either due to the complication or sequelae of TB. Materials and Methods. 40 cases of resected lung specimens following surgery or autopsy in which a diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis was made were included. Histopathological pattern analysis of pulmonary tuberculosis along with associated nonneoplastic changes and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli was done. Results. The mean age of diagnosis was 41 years with male predominance (92.5%). Tuberculosis was suspected in only 12.1% of cases before death. Seven cases were operated upon due to associated complications or suspicion of malignancy. Tubercular consolidation was the most frequent pattern followed by miliary tuberculosis. The presence of necrotizing granulomas was seen in 33 cases (82.5%). Acid fast bacilli were seen in 57.5% cases on Ziehl-Neelsen stain. Conclusion. Histopathology remains one of the most important methods for diagnosing tuberculosis, especially in TB prevalent areas. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all respiratory diseases because of its varied clinical presentations and manifestations.
Attachment style and anxiety in carers of people with Alzheimer's disease: results from the LASER-AD study

ABSTRACT Background: Preliminary evidence indicates that the quality of the carer-care recipient relationship predicts those carers most at risk from anxiety. Attachment style is related to higher carer burden, psychological morbidity and increased care recipient institutionalization. We tested, for the first time, the hypothesis that carer burden and the coping strategies used mediate a relationship between attachment style and anxiety. Methods: We interviewed 83 people with Alzheimer's disease and their family carers, originally recruited for a larger community study. Carers filled in a validated measure about their attachment style, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the COPE to measure coping strategies, and the Zarit-Burden interview. Results: More avoidant attachment (β = 0.28) and less secure attachment (β = −0.32) predicted anxiety. After adding coping strategies to the equation, the relationship with avoidant attachment (β = 0.15) was no longer significant, and that with less secure attachment was reduced (β = −0.23). A well-fitting structural equation model supported our finding that dysfunctional coping mediated the relationship between attachment style and anxiety. Conclusion: Carers who were less secure or more avoidantly attached reported higher anxiety. Interventions that aim to modify coping strategies have shown promise in reducing carer anxiety. Our finding that coping strategies also appear partially to explain the excess of anxiety among less securely attached carers suggests they are likely to benefit from such interventions.
Improvement of the nutritional value of soybean [Glycine max (L) Merr.] seed with alteration in protein subunits of glycinin (11S globulin) and β-conglycinin (7S globulin)

Protein quality in soybean seeds is strongly influenced by nutritional conditions. Glycinin (11S globulin) and b-conglycinin (7S globulin) are the 2 main proteins in soybean seeds. Protein quality of glycinin (11S) is higher than that of b-conglycinin (7S), due to the presence of higher amounts of s-containing amino acids (methionine and cysteine) in glycinin than b-conglycinin. Of the amino acids in glycinin, 3%-4.5% are methionine and cysteine but these important amino acids are not found in b-conglycinin (especially b-subunit). Pot studies were conducted with soybean [Glycine max (L) Merr. ] grown under various levels of KCl and CaHPO4 and the effects of salts (fertilizers) on glycinin and b-conglycinin subunits were evaluated. Abundance of glycinin subunits (high quality) and b-conglycinin (poor quality) was determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Quantitative changes in total protein (cytosolic protein) were determined by the Lowry test. Some significant differences were recognized between the measured factors and various treatments. The highest amount of total protein (%) and acidic subunit of glycinin containing more methionine and cysteine was observed in seeds of plants grown in the soil treated with 30 g of KCl and 0.02 g of CaHPO4 per 100 kg of soil. A lower amount of protein was observed when no fertilizer (0 P and 0 K) was applied in the growth medium. The current study showed that improvement of soybean nutritional value can be achieved by increasing the content of 11S proteins and decreasing 7S proteins.