Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust Visual Tracking for Retinal Mapping in Computer-Assisted Slit-Lamp Imaging

The slit lamp device is a very popular equipment for inspecting the human retina due to its magnification, stereoscopy and easy control. In this context, computer assistance can provide information overlay to surgeons, improving navigation, accuracy and safety in procedures where the slit-lamp is used. Toward this goal, we describe a robust method for tracking and mapping the human retina using slit-lamp images. Inspired in [1], the proposed method is essentially a direct visual tracking method using local illumination compensation, as well as an efficient pixel selection scheme for achieving fast tracking speeds. In this paper, we describe a novel forward-backward strategy for achieving superior tracking resilience. Experiments conducted on several human patients confirm the practical value of the system.
A flagella specific bacteriophage for caulobacter.

Summary A bacteriophage containing DNA and which is active on Caulobacter vibrioides CV6 has been shown to attach to the flagellum of the motile cell type. Attachment to the flagellum appears to be a necessary preliminary step to irreversible attachment to the cell wall at the base of the flagellum. The possible use of such a phage in the study of cellular differentiation in this diphasic bacterium is suggested.
Cutting Edge: Generation of Colitogenic Th17 CD4 T Cells Is Enhanced by IL-17+ γδ T Cells

Th 17 cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of colitis; however, a cellular mechanism by which colitogenic Th17 immunity arises in vivo remains unclear. In this study, we report that a subset of IL-17+ γδ T cells plays a crucial role in enhancing in vivo Th17 differentiation and T cell-mediated colitis. TCRβ−/− mice were highly susceptible to T cell-mediated colitis, whereas TCRβδ−/− mice were resistant to the disease. Importantly, cotransfer of IL-17+ but not of IL-17− γδ T cells with CD4 T cells was sufficient to enhance Th17 differentiation and induce full-blown colitis in TCRβδ−/− recipients. Collectively, our results provide a novel function of IL-17+ γδ T cell subsets in supporting in vivo Th17 differentiation and possibly in fostering the development of intestinal inflammation.
Classification system for malformations of cortical development

The many recent discoveries concerning the molecular biologic bases of malformations of cortical development and the discovery of new such malformations have rendered previous classifications out of date. A revised classification of malformations of cortical development is proposed, based on the stage of development (cell proliferation, neuronal migration, cortical organization) at which cortical development was first affected. The categories have been created based on known developmental steps, known pathologic features, known genetics (when possible), and, when necessary, neuroimaging features. In many cases, the precise developmental and genetic features are uncertain, so classification was made based on known relationships among the genetics, pathologic features, and neuroimaging features. A major change since the prior classification has been the elimination of the separation between diffuse and focal/multifocal malformations, based on the recognition that the processes involved in these processes are not fundamentally different; the difference may merely reflect mosaicism, X inactivation, the influence of modifying genes, or suboptimal imaging. Another change is the listing of fewer specific disorders to reduce the need for revisions; more detail is added in other smaller tables that list specific malformations and malformation syndromes. This classification is useful to the practicing physician in that its framework allows a better conceptual understanding of the disorders, while the component of neuroimaging characteristics allows it to be applied to all patients without necessitating brain biopsy, as in pathology-based classifications.
Molecular dynamics study of calbindin D9k in the apo and singly and doubly calcium‐loaded states

Molecular dynamics simulations based on detailed atomic models are used to examine the structure and dynamics of calbindin D9k, a protein possessing a pair of EF‐hands able to bind two calcium ions in a cooperative fashion. Trajectories for the apo and singly (in the C‐terminal binding site) and doubly loaded structures are generated and analyzed. Each system is solvated in a 27 Å radius sphere of 2,285 explicit water molecules. The influence of the remaining bulk is incorporated through a stochastic boundary potential including a solvent reaction field. Long‐range electrostatic interactions are treated with a special method and are not truncated. The average structural and dynamic properties upon calcium binding are studied at the atomic level to gain insight into the cooperative interactions between the two binding sites. Results from the trajectories are compared with data from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. NMR 15N and 13Cα backbone relaxation order parameters and crystallographic B‐factors are calculated. Generally, there is a good qualitative agreement between calculated and observed properties. Results confirm that the doubly loaded state is closer, both structurally and dynamically, to the singly loaded state than either of these is to the apo state. It is observed that both hydrogen bonding and the packing of nonpolar side chains contribute to the coupling between the calcium binding sites. Two backbone‐to‐backbone hydrogen bonds linking the calcium‐binding EF‐hands (Leu23‐O · · · HN‐Val61 and Val61‐O · · · HN‐Leu23) are sensitive to the state of occupancy. Residues Leu23 and Val61 exhibit the smallest rms fluctuations of the entire protein in the D state. In addition, the van der Waals interaction of Val61 with the rest of the protein varies with the calcium‐binding state. Proteins 33:265–284, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Three Design Principles of Language: The Search for Parsimony in Redundancy

In this paper we present three design principles of language – experience, heterogeneity and redundancy – and present recent developments in a family of models incorporating them, namely Data-Oriented Parsing/Unsupervised Data-Oriented Parsing. Although the idea of some form of redundant storage has become part and parcel of parsing technologies and usage-based linguistic approaches alike, the question how much of it is cognitively realistic and/or computationally optimally efficient is an open one. We argue that a segmentation-based approach (Bayesian Model Merging) combined with an all-subtrees approach reduces the number of rules needed to achieve an optimal performance, thus making the parser more efficient. At the same time, starting from unsegmented wholes comes closer to the acquisitional situation of a language learner, and thus adds to the cognitive plausibility of the model.
The reliability of the CODA motion analysis system for lumbar spine analysis: a pilot study

Background: Low bock pain (LBP)is 0 very common musculoskeletal disorder. Lumbar range of motion (ROM) and posture are parameters which are commonly assessed in LBP research. Reliable methods of measuring lumbar spine ROM and posture are needed. The CODA motion analysis system has several potential advantages over other motion analysis systems; however its reliability for lumbar spine analysis has not been examined. This study investigated the reliability of the CODA system for measuring lumbar spine sagittal plane ROM and posture. Methods: Twelve participants were tested by two investigators on two occasions. Ten trials of lumbar ROM and usual sitting posture were performed. The reliability of upper lumbar, lower lumbar, and pelvic sagittal plane motion was assessed using intra-closs correlation coefficients (ICC) and Blond and Altman methods, including evaluation of the mean diHerence and limits of agreement. Results: Levels of association were very good for ROM, for both intra-rater and inter-rater measurements (all ICC >0.7). However, agreement was more variable, with some lower lumbar and pelvic regions displaying large mean differences and wide limits of agreement. Overall, greater reliability was obtained for the upper lumbar region angles, and for intra-rater comparisons. Conclusion: Reliability of the CODA system varied from very good to fair, depending on the parameters assessed. While good association was found between most parameters, the level of agreement was only fair to moderate. Recommendations are mode to improve the protocol used to assess spinal motion, which may improve reliability.
Effect of a lignan (HPMF) on RNA synthesis in the rat uterus.

Summary. HPMF, at doses of 0\m=. \01\p=n-\1mg/kg, had no effect on uterine RNA synthesis over a period of 24 h. It significantly depressed oestrogen-stimulated RNA synthesis if administered 22 h before oestradiol but not if given 10 h before or together with the hormone.
miR‐27 impairs the adipogenic lineage commitment via targeting lysyl oxidase

The recruitment and commitment of mesenchymal stem cells and their terminal differentiation into adipocytes are the main pathways for increasing adipocyte cell numbers during obesity. Our previous studies have shown that lysyl oxidase (Lox) is upregulated and functions as an essential factor during bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) ‐induced C3H10T1/2 cell adipocytic lineage commitment. However, the mechanism of Lox regulation during adipogenic lineage commitment has remained largely unestablished.
Consumer Valuation of Network Convenience: Evidence from the Banking Industry

This paper develops a structural demand model for US retail banking services in which consumers have preference over the geographical convenience of their banks' networks. The model accounts for the fact that (i) consumers spend time in both home and workplace and may need to access their bank's services at any time of the day, and (ii) consumers do not consider services provided by different bank networks as perfect substitutes, therefore prefer to use branches of their own banks. I estimate the model using a detailed nationwide worker flow dataset that tracks consumers by residence and workplace. My results confirm that consumers value bank networks for their proximity to multiple locations. I conduct a counterfactual experiment to quantify the effect of this demand motive on bank deposits. After breaking the compatibility of services among branches within the same network, choosing a multi-branch bank no longer necessarily reduces consumers' expected travel distance, which takes away the potential gain from larger networks. For the average city and bank in the sample, each additional branch implies an increase of 0.1 percentage points in the extra market share generated from the network effect, which amounts to roughly one million dollars in deposits. These results on firm performance, along with the corresponding consumer welfare analysis, provide valuable insights to anti-trust regulators in evaluating within-market horizontal mergers in the presence of spatial network competition.
The implementation of free software in firms, an empirical analysis

This article presents the findings of a research aimed at characterizing open source migration initiatives. Thirty experiences have been considered in total, ninety of them are Public Administrations and the rest are private firms, operating different industries in eight different countries. Open source migration projects have become a recent research topic, especially from the managerial perspective. To overcome the lack of theoretical models, an empirical approach relying on grounded theory has been adopted. This inductive approach allows theory building and hypothesis formulation. According to the results, migrating from proprietary into open source is dependent on contextual and organizational factors, as for example, the need of the change itself, the political support for the change, the access to IT resources, the organizational climate, the motivation of the human resources, and the leadership style for the project or the firm complexity. Besides, migration efforts imply strategic and organizational consequences that the organization must properly evaluate beforehand.
Apelin Expression in Human Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Role in Angiogenesis and Prognosis

Introduction: The recently discovered bioactive peptide, apelin, has been demonstrated to stimulate angiogenesis in various experimental systems. However, its clinical significance and role in tumor vascularization have not yet been investigated in a human malignancy. Therefore, our aim was to study whether apelin expression is associated with angiogenesis and/or tumor growth/behavior in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A total of 94 patients with stage I–IIIA NSCLC and complete follow-up information were included. Apelin expression in human NSCLC samples and cell lines was measured by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistochemistry. Effects of exogenous apelin and apelin transfection were studied on NSCLC cell lines in vitro. In vivo growth of tumors expressing apelin or control vectors were also assessed. Morphometric variables of human and mouse tumor capillaries were determined by anti-CD31 labeling. Results: Apelin was expressed in all of the six investigated NSCLC cell lines both at the mRNA and protein levels. Although apelin overexpression or apelin treatments did not increase NSCLC cell proliferation in vitro, increasing apelin levels by gene transfer to NSCLC cells significantly stimulated tumor growth and microvessel densities and perimeters in vivo. Apelin mRNA levels were significantly increased in human NSCLC samples compared with normal lung tissue, and high apelin protein levels were associated with elevated microvessel densities and poor overall survival. Conclusions: This study reveals apelin as a novel angiogenic factor in human NSCLC. Moreover, it also provides the first evidence for a direct association of apelin expression with clinical outcome in a human cancer.
An efficient protocol for reducing channel interference and access delay in CRNs

The evolution of various wireless devices had made a significant impact of the wireless communication in which the spectrum usage is crowded and then the Cognitive radio Networks (CRNs) is one of the approach to use the unused spectrum for the secondary users (SUs) without disturbing the access of the primary users (PUS). In this regard the routing in CRNs plays a vital role in which the energy needs to save in routing and reduce the channel interference when the primary user interrupts the access needs to be allowed in this case the spectrum holes become useful in case of the secondary or unlicensed users. The best available spectrum hole is to be detected and is to be utilized by the secondary user. The sudden appearance of the primary user may lead to the necessity of an alternate path, resulting in delay in routing or in some cases leads to link failure and requires re-routing. The proposed system undertakes the routing process based on the overall delay and the load maintained at each node as the metric. An effective routing algorithm for a multi-hop cognitive radio network is proposed based on energy detective sensing and routing decision is being made based on the channel quality indicator.
Synthesis and Evaluation of 2′-Deoxy-2′-Spirodiflurocyclopropyl Nucleoside Analogs

ABSTRACT The preparation of 2′-deoxy-2′-siprodifluorocyclopropany-lnucleoside analogs has been achieved from α-d-glucose in several steps. The key step in the synthesis was the introduction of the difluorocyclopropane through a difluorocarbene type reaction at the 2′-position. Then, a series of novel 2′-deoxy-2′-spirodifluorocyclopropanyl nucleoside analogs were synthesized using the Vorbrüggen method. All the synthesized nucleosides were characterized and subsequently evaluated against hepatitis C and influenza A virus strains in vitro.
Clinical Results of the Mayo Total Ankle Arthroplasty*

Two hundred and four primary Mayo total ankle arthroplasties were performed in 179 patients at the Mayo Clinic from 1974 through 1988. We evaluated the clinical result after 160 arthroplasties in 143 patients who had been followed for two years or more (mean, nine years; range, two to seventeen years). The result was good for thirty-one ankles (19 per cent), fair for fifty-five (34 per cent), and poor for seventeen (11 per cent); fifty-seven arthroplasties (36 per cent) were considered to be a failure (defined as removal of the implant). Adequate preoperative and follow-up radiographs were available for 101 ankles (eighty-nine patients). There was radiographic evidence of loosening of eight tibial components (8 per cent) and fifty-eight talar components (57 per cent), but we found no association between the clinical and radiographic results. Complications occurred after nineteen (12 per cent) of the 160 arthroplasties, and ninety-four additional reoperations were necessary after sixty-six (41 per cent). On the basis of these findings, we do not recommend ankle arthroplasty with a constrained Mayo implant for rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthrosis of the ankle.
Role of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein in cellular differentiation

The retinoblastoma protein (pRb105) is a true tumor suppressor as deregulation of the Rb pathway by either mutation of pRb105 itself or other proteins in the pathway, such as p16INK4a, occur in most cancers. This prototypical family member, along with the related p107 and p130, are involved in the control of cell cycle regulation, but pRb105 has also been shown to be involved in tissue development and differentiation. This prospective will discuss the increasing evidence for a role of pRb105 in cellular differentiation and the fact that various cancers, which contain mutant pRb105, or mutations in proteins in the pRb105 pathway, are perhaps a result of deregulation of differentiation. J. Cell. Biochem. 94: 870–879, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Measuring working memory load effects on electrophysiological markers of attention orienting during a simulated drive

Abstract Intersection accidents result in a significant proportion of road fatalities, and attention allocation likely plays a role. Attention allocation may depend on (limited) working memory (WM) capacity. Driving is often combined with tasks increasing WM load, consequently impairing attention orienting. This study (n = 22) investigated WM load effects on event-related potentials (ERPs) related to attention orienting. A simulated driving environment allowed continuous lane-keeping measurement. Participants were asked to orient attention covertly towards the side indicated by an arrow, and to respond only to moving cars appearing on the attended side by pressing a button. WM load was manipulated using a concurrent memory task. ERPs showed typical attentional modulation (cue: contralateral negativity, LDAP; car: N1, P1, SN and P3) under low and high load conditions. With increased WM load, lane-keeping performance improved, while dual task performance degraded (memory task: increased error rate; orienting task: increased false alarms, smaller P3). Practitioner Summary: Intersection driver-support systems aim to improve traffic safety and flow. However, in-vehicle systems induce WM load, increasing the tendency to yield. Traffic flow reduces if drivers stop at inappropriate times, reducing the effectiveness of systems. Consequently, driver-support systems could include WM load measurement during driving in the development phase.
Forelimb muscle activity during equine locomotion

SUMMARY Few quantitative data exist to describe the activity of the distal muscles of the equine forelimb during locomotion, and there is an incomplete understanding of the functional roles of the majority of the forelimb muscles. Based on morphology alone it would appear that the larger proximal muscles perform the majority of work in the forelimb, whereas the smaller distal muscles fulfil supplementary roles such as stabilizing the joints and positioning the limb for impact with the ground. We measured the timing and amplitude of the electromyographic activity of the intrinsic muscles of the forelimb in relation to the phase of gait (stance versus swing) and the torque demand placed on each joint during walking, trotting and cantering. We found that all forelimb muscles, except the extensor carpi radialis (ECR), were activated just prior to hoof-strike and deactivated during stance. Only the ECR was activated during swing. The amplitudes of muscle activation typically increased as gait speed increased. However, the amplitudes of muscle activation were not proportional to the net joint torques, indicating that passive structures may also contribute significantly to torque generation. Our results suggest that the smaller distal muscles help to stabilize the forelimb in early stance, in preparation for the passive structures (tendons and ligaments) to be stretched. The distal forelimb muscles remain active throughout stance only during canter, when the net torques acting about the distal forelimb joints are highest. The larger proximal muscles activate in a complex coordination to position and stabilize the shoulder and elbow joints during ground contact.
Mutations in CNGA3 impair trafficking or function of cone cyclic nucleotide‐gated channels, resulting in achromatopsia

CNGA3 encodes the A‐subunit of the cone photoreceptor cyclic nucleotide‐gated (CNG) channel, which is a crucial component of the phototransduction cascade in cone outer segments. Mutations in the CNGA3 gene have been associated with complete and incomplete forms of achromatopsia (ACHR), a congenital, autosomal recessively inherited retinal disorder characterized by lack of color discrimination, reduced visual acuity, nystagmus, and photophobia. Here we report the identification of three novel CNGA3 missense mutations in ACHR patients: c.682G>A (p.E228 K), c.1315C>T (p.R439W), and c.1405G>A (p.A469 T), and the detailed functional analyses of these new as well as five previously reported mutations (R283Q, T291R, F547L, G557R, and E590 K), in conjunction with clinical data of patients carrying these mutations, to establish genotype–phenotype correlations. The functional characterization of mutant CNGA3 channels was performed with calcium imaging and patch clamp recordings in a heterologous HEK293 cell expression system. Results were corroborated by immunostaining and colocalization experiments of the channel protein with the plasma membrane. Several mutations evoked pronounced alterations of the apparent cGMP sensitivity of mutant channels. These functional defects were fully or partially compensated by coexpressing the mutant CNGA3 subunit with the wild‐type CNGB3 subunit for channels with the mutations R439W, A469 T, F547L, and E590 K. We could show that several mutant channels with agonist dose–response relationships similar to the wild‐type exhibited severely impaired membrane targeting. In addition, this study presents the positive effect of reduced cell culture temperature on surface expression and functional performance of mutant CNG channels with protein folding or trafficking defects. Hum Mutat 0,1–9;, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.