Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A framework of spatio-temporal trajectory simplification methods

ABSTRACT We present an extensible, generic, spatio-temporal trajectory simplification framework that modularises trajectory simplification into the stages of normalising, ranking, and reduction. We combine a range of ranking strategies and scoring heuristics – some from the literature and some new – into our framework modules and create a variety of spatio-temporal trajectory simplification methods. These trajectory simplification methods are experimented upon using real world and synthetic datasets, measuring running time, geometric displacement, and region-of-interest visitation. The results indicate that our proposed framework creates a number of efficient and effective spatio-temporal trajectory simplification methods.
Obligatory Broca's area modulation associated with passive speech perception

Broca's area is crucial for speech production. Several recent studies have suggested that it has an additional role in visual speech perception. This conclusion remains tenuous, as earlier studies used tasks requiring active processing of visual speech movements, which may have elicited conscious subvocalizations. To study whether Broca's area is modulated during passive viewing of speech movements, we conducted a functional MRI experiment where participants detected rare and brief visual targets that were briefly superimposed on two task irrelevant conditions: passive viewing of silent speech versus nonspeech (gurning) facial movements. Comparison revealed Broca's area to be more active when observing speech. These findings provide further support for Broca's area in speech perception and have clear implications for rehabilitation of aphasia.
Spontaneous baroreflex modulation of heart rate and heart rate variability during orthostatic stress in tetraplegics and healthy subjects

Objective This study was addressed to investigate the contribution of vagal and sympathetic mechanisms to the genesis of low-frequency (LF) oscillations of RR-interval. Design To this aim, we utilized the pathophysiological model of tetraplegics, who have intact vagal afferent and efferent pathways of the baroreceptor reflex arc but interrupted medullary-spinal sympathetic pathways. Methods We studied nine complete, traumatic, tetraplegics (C4–C7, TET) and 10 normally healthy subjects (NR) at rest and during physiological baroreceptors unloading induced by 70 ° head-up tilt. Autoregressive power spectral analysis was used to investigate RR-interval and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) variabilities. Baroreflex modulation of sinus node was assessed by the spontaneous baroreflex sequences method. Results Both at-rest and during-tilt LF and high frequency (HF) components were detected in RR-interval of NR, whereas in TET only the HF component was observed in both conditions (with one exception). Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) did not significantly differ between TET and NR at rest, and underwent a significant and similar decrease during tilt in both groups, being accompanied in NR by a significant increase in LF relative power. Spectral analysis of SAP provided results similar to RR-interval. Tilt also slowed the centre frequency of the LF components of RR-interval and SAP. Conclusions During unperturbed physiological conditions, a change in efferent vagal activity to the heart from baroreflex stimulation by spontaneous arterial pressure changes, is unlikely to contribute on its own to the genesis of LF heart period oscillations in humans who lack the ability to modulate sympathetic nerve traffic to the heart. However, the possibility that a baroreflex modulation of LF oscillations require an intact sympathetic control should be carefully considered.
Nucleotide sequence and transcription of the right early region of bacteriophage PRD1

We have sequenced the rightmost 1,700 base pairs of bacteriophage PRD1. This region encompasses the right early region and completes the sequence of all PRD1 early functions. We have also mapped the 5' initiation site of right early transcripts in vivo and in vitro. This has allowed us to assign gene XII to an open reading frame and suggests that another open reading frame may also be expressed. Gene XII, which has been implicated in the replication process and the regulation of gene expression, is predicted to encode a protein with a molecular mass of 16.7 kilodaltons. Data base searches have revealed no significant homology between the product of this gene and other proteins. Transcription mapping studies have revealed that right early transcripts elongate from right to left and have enabled us to identify the right early promoter. This promoter behaves identically in vivo and in vitro. We also demonstrate that this promoter directs the transcription of two RNAs of different sizes in vitro.
Furcation defect healing after GTR with and without Emdogain ® application

V arious therapeutic procedures have been designed to promote new attachment and regeneration of periodontal tissues lost in periodontal disease. New attachment may be defined as the formation of a new cementum with inserting extrinsic collagen fibres occurring on a root surface deprived of its periodontal ligament, whether or not this has occurred because of periodontal disease or by mechanical means [1]. Periodontal regeneration may be defined as “regeneration of the tooth s supporting tissues, including alveolar bone, periodontal ligament and cementum” [2]. The term regeneration, however, implies restoration of the original morphology and function of a lost tissue. Thus, periodontal regeneration is better defined as new attachment occurring in combination with the formation of new bone and periodontal ligament which fully restore the morphology and function of the original tissues. Likewise, the term periodontal repair may be defined as the formation of a periodontal tissue which differs from the original tissue in terms of morphology and/or function. The evidence that exists regarding the potential of various procedures used in periodontal therapy to promote new attachment and periodontal regeneration was recently reviewed [2–6]. It was generally agreed that periodontal regeneration in humans is possible following surgical procedures that include the use of bone grafts or barrier membranes (guided tissue regeneration; GTR). The findings from the clinical studies reviewed in the publications cited above which evaluated the outcome of GTR were corroborated by histological evidence from animal experiments using different models [7–17]. Thus, the findings indicate that (i) new attachment or bone regrowth may occur on or adjacent to an instrumented root surface and may extend up to 3 mm in the apical-coronal Furcation defect healing after GTR with and without Emdogain® application
5' Nuclease assays for the loci CCR5-+/Delta32, CCR2-V64I, and SDF1-G801A related to pathogenesis of AIDS.

BACKGROUND Variations within the human genome play important roles in human disease. To study variations related to susceptibility to AIDS, we have developed 5' nuclease assays that eliminate post-PCR molecular biology steps. METHODS TaqMan assays based on the 5' nuclease activity of Taq polymerase and fluorescent resonance energy transfer were developed to score alleles at the biallelic loci CCR5-+/Delta32, CCR2-V64I and SDF1-G801A. For each assay, 72 samples were analyzed. Data collection and analysis were performed on the Prism 7700 Sequence Detection System. For comparison with gel electrophoresis methods, each locus was also scored on a subset of 24 samples, using restriction enzymes or single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP). RESULTS Clear allelic discrimination was obtained on each of the 72 samples for all three TaqMan assays. The TaqMan scores for the subset of 24 samples were concordant with the restriction enzyme and SSCP scores. CONCLUSIONS Because of its simplicity, speed, and potential for automation and miniaturization, TaqMan is an excellent candidate for investigation of genetic variation in clinical, research, and forensic settings.
Basis exchange and learning algorithms for extracting collinear patterns

ABSTRACT Understanding large data sets is one of the most important and challenging problem in modern days. Exploration of genetic data sets composed of high-dimensional feature vectors can be treated as a leading example in this context. A better understanding of large, multivariate data sets can be achieved through exploration and extraction of their structure. Collinear patterns can be an important part of a given data set structure. Collinear (flat) patterns exist in a given set of feature vectors when many of these vectors are located on (or near) some planes in the feature space. Discovered flat patterns can reflect various types of interaction in an explored data set. The presented paper compares basis exchange algorithms with learning algorithms in the task of flat patterns extraction.
Reestablishment of Energy Balance in a Male Mouse Model With POMC Neuron Deletion of BMPR1A

The regulation of energy balance involves complex processes in the brain, including coordination by hypothalamic neurons that contain pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). We previously demonstrated that central bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 7 reduced appetite. Now we show that a type 1 BMP receptor, BMPR1A, is colocalized with POMC neurons and that POMC-BMPR1A-knockout (KO) mice are hyperphagic, revealing physiological involvement of BMP signaling in anorectic POMC neurons in the regulation of appetite. Surprisingly, the hyperphagic POMC-BMPR1A-KO mice exhibited a lack of obesity, even on a 45% high-fat diet. This is because the brown adipose tissue (BAT) of KO animals exhibited increased sympathetic activation and greater thermogenic capacity owing to a reestablishment of energy balance, most likely stemming from a compensatory increase of BMPR1A in the whole hypothalamus of KO mice. Indeed, control animals given central BMP7 displayed increased energy expenditure and a specific increase in sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in BAT. In these animals, pharmacological blockade of BMPR1A-SMAD signaling blunted the ability of BMP7 to increase energy expenditure or BAT SNA. Together, we demonstrated an important role for hypothalamic BMP signaling in the regulation of energy balance, including BMPR1A-mediated appetite regulation in POMC neurons as well as hypothalamic BMP-SMAD regulation of the sympathetic drive to BAT for thermogenesis.
Twelve Versus Six Months of Clopidogrel to Reduce Major Cardiac Events in Patients Undergoing &ggr;-Radiation Therapy for In-Stent Restenosis: Washington Radiation for In-Stent restenosis Trial (WRIST) 12 Versus WRIST PLUS

Background—Intracoronary &ggr;-radiation reduces recurrent in-stent restenosis (ISR). Late thrombosis was attenuated with 6 months of aspirin and clopidogrel. We aimed to find out whether 12 months of aspirin plus clopidogrel is superior to a strategy of 6 months after radiation therapy for patients with ISR. Methods and Results—One hundred twenty consecutive patients with diffuse ISR in native coronaries and vein grafts with lesions <80 mm in length underwent PTCA, laser ablation, or rotational atherectomy. Additional stents were placed in 39 patients (33%). After the intervention, a ribbon with different trains of radioactive 192Ir seeds was positioned to cover the treated site, and a dose of 14 Gy to 2 mm was prescribed. Patients were discharged with clopidogrel and aspirin for 12 months and followed up clinically. The cardiac clinical event rates at 15 months were compared with the &ggr;-treated (n=120) patients of the WRIST PLUS study (only 6 months of antiplatelet therapy). Whereas the late thrombosis rates were similar (3.3% for the group given 12 months of antiplatelet therapy versus 4.2% for the group given 6 months, P =0.72), the group treated with 12 months of antiplatelet therapy had a rate of 21% for major adverse cardiac events and 20% for target-lesion revascularization compared with 36% (P =0.01) and 35% (P =0.009), respectively, in patients who were treated with only 6 months of clopidogrel. Conclusions—Twelve months of clopidogrel is superior to 6 months in reducing overall major cardiac events and revascularization rates at 15 months for patients with ISR treated with &ggr;-radiation. At least 12 months of clopidogrel therapy should be recommended for patients undergoing radiation therapy for ISR.
Cost-effectiveness of a day-camp weight-loss intervention programme for children: Results based on a randomised controlled trial with one-year follow-up

Aims: The aim was to analyse the cost-effectiveness of an intensive weight-loss intervention for children compared with a low-intensity intervention. Methods: One hundred and fifteen overweight children (mean age 12.0 ± 0.4) were randomised to either the camp group (CG) (N=59) or the standard group (SG) (N=56). Participants in the CG were offered a six-week day-camp weight-loss programme followed by a family-based supportive programme containing four meetings during the succeeding 46 weeks. Participants in the SG were offered a weekly two-hour exercise session for six weeks. Changes in body mass index (BMI) and BMI z-score 12 months after inclusion were used to compare the effects of the two interventions. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) were estimated from the perspective of a Danish municipality. To achieve the required number of participants, an additional intervention was initiated one year later. Results: In comparison with the SG, the CG changed their mean BMI by −1.2 (95% CI −1.8 to −0.5). Compared with the SG children, the CG children changed their BMI z-score by −0.20 (95% CI −0.35 to −0.05). The ICER per decreased BMI point in the CG compared with the SG was DDK 24,928. Conclusions: Compared with the SG, the CG showed favourable effects after 12 months. However, the CG was more costly. The results observed in the present study may be helpful in guiding decision makers to take more informed decisions when choosing different types of intervention.
Metabolic time-course response after resistance exercise: A metabolomics approach

ABSTRACT This study analysed the time course of the global metabolic acute response after resistance exercise (RE), with the use of proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. Ten young healthy males performed 4 sets of 10 repetitions at 70% of one-repetition maximum in the leg press and knee extension exercises and had the serum metabolome assessed at 5, 15, 30 and 60 min post-RE. Measurements were also performed 1 h earlier and immediately before the exercises, as an attempt to characterise each participant’s serum metabolome at rest. One-way ANOVA was applied and the significance level was set at P ≤ 0.05. RE promoted an increase in 2-hydroxybutyrate, 2-oxoisocaproate, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate, alanine, hypoxanthine, lactate, pyruvate and succinate concentrations. However, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, ornithine and valine had their concentrations decreased post-RE compared with at rest. This is the first study to show significant changes in serum concentration of metabolites such as 2-oxoisocaproate, 2-hydroxybutyrate, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate, lysine, hypoxanthine and pyruvate post-RE, attesting metabolomics as an interesting approach to advance in the understanding of global RE-induced metabolic changes. Moreover, the present data could influence the time point of blood collection in the future studies that aims to investigate metabolism and exercise.
Identification of random auditory waveforms. III. Effect of interference.

The identification of specific random waveforms, imbedded within random interference, was examined. Backward interference (interference after the specific waveform) was more effective than forward interference (interference before the specific waveforms). The accuracy of identification with combined interference (interference before and after the specific waveforms) is approximated by an independence model of interference. Under the present test conditions, interference with the identification of specific random waveforms is interpreted to be more nearly related to the interruption of auditory processing than to the masking of signal audibility.Subject Classification: [43]65.58, [43]65.75, [43]65.52.
N-Terminal Acetylation-Targeted N-End Rule Proteolytic System: The Ac/N-End Rule Pathway

Although Nα-terminal acetylation (Nt-acetylation) is a pervasive protein modification in eukaryotes, its general functions in a majority of proteins are poorly understood. In 2010, it was discovered that Nt-acetylation creates a specific protein degradation signal that is targeted by a new class of the N-end rule proteolytic system, called the Ac/N-end rule pathway. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of the mechanism and biological functions of the Ac/N-end rule pathway, and its crosstalk with the Arg/N-end rule pathway (the classical N-end rule pathway).
Gram‐positive bacterial superantigen outside‐in signaling causes toxic shock syndrome

Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococci) are Gram‐positive pathogens capable of producing a variety of bacterial exotoxins known as superantigens. Superantigens interact with antigen‐presenting cells (APCs) and T cells to induce T cell proliferation and massive cytokine production, which leads to fever, rash, capillary leak and subsequent hypotension, the major symptoms of toxic shock syndrome. Both S. aureus and group A streptococci colonize mucosal surfaces, including the anterior nares and vagina for S. aureus, and the oropharynx and less commonly the vagina for group A streptococci. However, due to their abilities to secrete a variety of virulence factors, the organisms can also cause illnesses from the mucosa. This review provides an updated discussion of the biochemical and structural features of one group of secreted virulence factors, the staphylococcal and group A streptococcal superantigens, and their abilities to cause toxic shock syndrome from a mucosal surface. The main focus of this review, however, is the abilities of superantigens to induce cytokines and chemokines from epithelial cells, which has been linked to a dodecapeptide region that is relatively conserved among all superantigens and is distinct from the binding sites required for interactions with APCs and T cells. This phenomenon, termed outside‐in signaling, acts to recruit adaptive immune cells to the submucosa, where the superantigens can then interact with those cells to initiate the final cytokine cascades that lead to toxic shock syndrome.
M-1/M-2 Macrophages and the Th1/Th2 Paradigm1

Evidence is provided that macrophages can make M-1 or M-2 responses. The concept of M-1/M-2 fomented from observations that macrophages from prototypical Th1 strains (C57BL/6, B10D2) are more easily activated to produce NO with either IFN-γ or LPS than macrophages from Th2 strains (BALB/c, DBA/2). In marked contrast, LPS stimulates Th2, but not Th1, macrophages to increase arginine metabolism to ornithine. Thus, M-1/M-2 does not simply describe activated or unactivated macrophages, but cells expressing distinct metabolic programs. Because NO inhibits cell division, while ornithine can stimulate cell division (via polyamines), these results also indicate that M-1 and M-2 responses can influence inflammatory reactions in opposite ways. Macrophage TGF-β1, which inhibits inducible NO synthase and stimulates arginase, appears to play an important role in regulating the balance between M-1 and M-2. M-1/M-2 phenotypes are independent of T or B lymphocytes because C57BL/6 and BALB/c NUDE or SCID macrophages also exhibit M-1/M-2. Indeed, M-1/M-2 proclivities are magnified in NUDE and SCID mice. Finally, C57BL/6 SCID macrophages cause CB6F1 lymphocytes to increase IFN-γ production, while BALB/c SCID macrophages increase TGF-β production. Together, the results indicate that M-1- or M-2-dominant macrophage responses can influence whether Th1/Th2 or other types of inflammatory responses occur.
Molecular Characterization of the Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor Pore-forming Segment*

Specific residues in the putative pore helix, selectivity filter, and S6 transmembrane helix of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor were mutated in order to examine their effects on channel function. Mutation of 5 of 8 highly conserved residues in the pore helix/selectivity filter region inactivated the channel (C2533A, G2541A, G2545A, G2546A, and G2547A). Of the remaining three mutants, C2527A and R2543A were partially active and G2549A behaved like wild type receptor. Mutation of a putative glycine hinge residue in the S6 helix (G2586A) or a putative gating residue at the cytosolic end of S6 helix (F2592A) had minimal effects on function, although channel function was inactivated by G2586P and F2592D mutations. The mutagenesis data are interpreted in the context of a structural homology model of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor.
Analysis of Scanning Policies for Reducing Disk Seek Times

A number of recent studies have examined techniques for sequencing disk accesses to minimize or reduce seek times. The principal methods proposed have been called scanning policies. In this paper we formulate and analyze simple mathematical models of head motion in disk systems in which two different scanning policies are implemented. Expressions for response times are derived, and the properties they imply are discussed.
A comparison of hospice and hospital care for people who die: views of the surviving spouse

To compare the quality of inpatient care for dying people in St Christopher's Hospice, London and nearby hospitals in 1994 and make comparisons with earlier studies of the same setting, interviews were undertaken with spouses of people who had died from cancer in these settings, matched by age and sex. The subjects comprised 66 people who had died in 1994, 33 of whom had died in the hospice, 33 in local hospitals. The mean age was 70.2, 61 % were male. The hospice group were more likely to know that they were dying and less likely to be admitted as emergencies. Treatment for pain, breathlessness and nausea from both sources provided relief in almost all cases. Most information about the illness was given by hospital doctors before hospice care occurred. Where it occurred, communication by hospice staff was judged better than that by hospital doctors. Staff in hospitals were more likely to be judged 'very busy'. Hospice respondents were less likely to want improvements, and more likely to judge the institution as being 'like a family'. Earlier studies had shown a trend for symptom control to have improved in hospitals but for difference in the psychosocial climate to favour the hospice. By 1994, this latter difference was still obtained. We stress the role of hospital staff and general practitioners in helping patients accept a terminal prognosis, so that better-planned care can proceed. The busy public atmosphere of some hospital wards may not be conducive to the good care of dying people.
A novel polyglot data mapper for an E-Commerce business model

In the current scenario E-Commerce sites are replete with content. However, they are facing major challenges in areas of scalability and availability. Entity-attribute data designs are very complex and provide less flexibility to the data layer of the application. Relational databases are better for transactions and ACID guarantees but they prove to be a limiting factor in providing linear scalability for large volumes of data. Schema less No SQL stores are better when scalability is a requirement. Every No SQL data store has its own pros and cons; hence simply replacing legacy RDBMS systems with a single No SQL does not suffice. Rather, one needs to have a combination of different data stores for different modules of a business model. However, addition of multiple data stores in the application brings new challenges and increases complexity of maintaining the application. In this paper, we present a hybrid data store architecture using a polyglot data mapper for E-Commerce aiming to achieve better scalability whilst ensuring simplistic maintenance of the application infrastructure.