Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simulation of dynamic resource allocation in OFDMA systems

Adaptive resource allocation is an active study direction for OFDMA systems, which needs to satisfy both high spectrum utilization and QoS requirements in wireless channel environment. Proportionality fairness resource allocation algorithms were studied to keep user fairness while optimizing system capacity as possible. Simulation results show that under the proportional rate constraints, after the first turn of subcarrier allocation in each OFDM symbol, giving priority to the user with lower data rate to choose its optimal subcarrier can achieve higher system capacity compared with assigning the rest resource to the higher data rate user, or to the user whose data rate will achieve to a higher peak among all users. The discussed algorithms function well to keep proportional fairness with relatively small complexity.
A Missense Mutation in the Rabbit Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Gene is Associated with Finisching Weight in a Meat Rabbit Line

In this study we resequenced 1729 bp of the rabbit melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4 R) gene in 31 rabbits from different breeds/lines and identified ten polymorphisms: one was an indel and 9 were single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The indel and 5 SNPs were in the 5′-flanking region, 3 were synonymous SNPs and one was a missense mutation (c.101G>A; p.G34D), located in a conserved position of the extracellular tail of the MC4 R protein. The missense mutation was analyzed in a panel of 74 rabbits of different breeds and in 516 performance tested rabbits of a commercial paternal line under selection for growth efficiency. Association analysis indicated that rabbits with the less frequent genotype in this population (DD) had a lighter weight at 70 postnatal days than animals with genotype GD (P < 0.10) and animals with genotype GG (P < 0.05). This is the third study on candidate genes, after those on GH1 and IGF2 that reported a marker associated with finishing weight. Therefore, it seems that a candidate gene approach in rabbit based on previous information accumulated in other livestock species could be useful to identify genes explaining a fraction of variability of performance traits with potential application on rabbit breeding and selection.
A genome‐wide study of microsatellite instability in advanced gastric carcinoma

Microsatellite instability (MSI) has been described in many human carcinomas, including gastric carcinomas (GCs). There are inconsistent findings regarding the association of MSI with various subsets of GC with specific clinicopathologic features. The objective of this study was to define MSI in advanced GC at a genome‐wide level and to evaluate the clinical relevance of MSI in these patients.
Exercise habits and physical performance during comprehensive rehabilitation after coronary artery bypass surgery.

The effects of training as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation programme on exercise capacity and habits was studied in 171 male coronary artery bypass surgery patients randomized into a rehabilitation (R) (n = 93) and a reference, hospital-based treatment (H), group (n = 78). The rehabilitation programme started with a 2-day informative course before surgery and continued with a 3-week exercise-based course 2 months after surgery followed by a 2-day refresher 8 months post-operatively. The percentages of subjects having regular exercise were 22% and 10% pre-operatively, 42% and 38% 6 months and 46% and 38% 12 months after surgery in the R and H groups, respectively. The changes in the proportions observed in R and H groups were not significantly different. Total work during a bicycle exercise test increased from 38.9 +/- 24.3 kJ pre-operatively to 64.0 +/- 31.4 kJ 6 months (P less than 0.001) and to 70.0 +/- 35.7 kJ 12 months (P less than 0.001) post-operatively in group R and from 40.8 +/- 25.6 kJ to 57.3 +/- 26.6 kJ (P less than 0.001) and to 60.4 +/- 30.8 kJ (P less than 0.001) in group H, respectively. The increase from the pre-operative value was greater in group R than in group H both 6 (P = 0.03) and 12 months (P = 0.02) after surgery. Respective changes occurred in maximal work load, but the increase was significantly greater in group R than in group H only 12 months post-operatively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome treated by medroxyprogesterone acetate

Abstract The activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis observed during the first month of life is thought to be a significant phase in the maturation of gonads and potentially be important for the development of reproductive functions. The preterm ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (POHS) was first detected at postconception 36–39 weeks in a preterm female newborn with edema developing in the vulva, the hypogastric site, and the upper leg. The pathophysiology of this postnatal hormonal change is obscure. In this paper we would like to present a case developing POHS and to discuss possible pathophyslogical mechanisms.
Temperature Protects Insect Cells from Infection by Cricket Paralysis Virus

ABSTRACT Heat shock is a well-known stress response characterized by a rapid synthesis of a set of proteins which are responsible for protection against stress. We examined the role of temperature on the growth of cricket paralysis virus, a member of the family Dicistroviridae, in insect cells. Heat shock caused an induction of heat shock protein-encoding mRNAs in uninfected cells but not in infected cells. While viral RNA and protein were abundant during heat shock, virion formation was inhibited at higher temperatures. The different susceptibility to pathogens at different temperatures is likely a crucial feature of host-pathogen interaction in cold-blooded animals.
Exocrine granule specific packaging signals are present in the polypeptide moiety of the pancreatic granule membrane protein GP2 and in amylase: implications for protein targeting to secretory granules.

The mechanisms for segregation of secretory and membrane proteins incorporated into storage granules from those transported constitutively have been thought to be conserved in diverse cell types, including exocrine and endocrine cells. However, GP2, the major protein of pancreatic zymogen granule membranes, in its native glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐linked form, is incorporated into secretory granules when expressed in exocrine pancreatic AR42J cells, but not in the endocrine cells such as pituitary AtT20. To determine whether the protein moiety of GP2 contains the cell‐type specific information for packaging into granules, a secretory form of GP2 (GP2‐GPI‐), with the GPI attachment site deleted, was generated and introduced into AR42J and AtT20 cells. Like native GP2, GP2‐GPI‐ localized to the zymogen‐like granules of AR42J cells and underwent regulated secretion. In AtT20 cells expressing GP2‐GPI‐, however, the protein was secreted by the constitutive pathway. Thus, a granule packaging signal is present in the luminal portion of GP2 that is functional only in the exocrine cells. However, this cell‐type dependent sorting process is not limited to GP2 or membrane proteins. Amylase, a major content protein of pancreatic acinar and serous salivary gland granules, was also secreted exclusively by the constitutive pathway when expressed in AtT20 cells. The cell‐type specific targeting of GP2 to granules correlated with its behavior in an in vitro aggregation assay where it co‐aggregated more effectively with content proteins from pancreatic zymogen granules than with those from pituitary granules. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Tor1/2 Regulation of Retrograde Gene Expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Derives Indirectly as a Consequence of Alterations in Ammonia Metabolism*

Retrograde genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encode the enzymes needed to synthesize α-ketoglutarate, required for ammonia assimilation, when mitochondria are damaged or non-functional because of glucose fermentation. Therefore, it is not surprising that a close association exists between control of the retrograde regulon and expression of nitrogen catabolic genes. Expression of these latter genes is nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR)-sensitive, i.e. expression is low with good nitrogen sources (e.g. glutamine) and high when only poor (e.g. proline) or limiting nitrogen sources are available. It has been reported recently that both NCR-sensitive and retrograde gene expression is negatively regulated by glutamine and induced by treating cells with the Tor1/2 inhibitor, rapamycin. These conclusions predict that NCR-sensitive and retrograde gene expression should respond in parallel to nitrogen sources, ranging from those that highly repress NCR-sensitive transcription to those that elicit minimal NCR. Because this prediction did not accommodate earlier observations that CIT2 (a retrograde gene) expression is higher in glutamine than proline containing medium, we investigated retrograde regulation further. We show that (i) retrograde gene expression correlates with intracellular ammonia and α-ketoglutarate generated by a nitrogen source rather than the severity of NCR it elicits, and (ii) in addition to its known regulation by NCR, NAD-glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH2) gene expression is down-regulated by ammonia under conditions where NCR is minimal. Therefore, intracellular ammonia plays a pivotal dual role, regulating the interface of nitrogen and carbon metabolism at the level of ammonia assimilation and production. Our results also indicate the effects of rapamycin treatment on CIT2 transcription, and hence Tor1/2 regulation of retrograde gene expression occur indirectly as a consequence of alterations in ammonia and glutamate metabolism.
Absorption and cleavage of enalapril, a carboxyl ester prodrug, in the rat intestine: in vitro, in situ intestinal perfusion and portal vein cannulation models

In recent years prodrug strategy has been used extensively to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of compounds exhibiting poor bioavailability. Mechanistic understanding of the absorption and the role of intestine and liver in the activation of oral prodrugs is crucial. Enalapril, a carboxyl ester prodrug, is reported to be metabolized by human carboxylesterase‐1 (CES1) but not by carboxylesterase‐2 (CES2) to its active metabolite enalaprilat. Further, it has been reported that the small intestines of both rat and human contain mainly CES2. The objective of this work was to understand whether enalapril remains unchanged as it is absorbed through the intestine into the portal circulation. This was evaluated using different intestinal preparations, an in situ intestinal perfusion experiment and a portal vein cannulated rat model. No turnover of enalapril was seen with commercial rat intestinal S9 and microsomes, but reasonable turnover was observed with freshly prepared rat intestinal and mucosal homogenate and S9. In the intestinal perfusion study, both enalapril and enalaprilat were observed in the mesenteric plasma with the data suggesting 32% hydrolysis of enalapril in the intestine. In the portal vein cannulated rat, about 51% of enalapril absorbed into intestine was converted to enalaprilat. Overall, it was demonstrated that even though enalapril has been shown to be a specific substrate for CES1, it is converted to enalaprilat to a significant extent in the intestine. Such experimental techniques can be applied by other scientific groups who are working on prodrugs to determine the region and extent of activation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Automated Articulated Structure and 3 D Shape Recovery from Point Correspondences Anonymous ICCV submission

In this paper we propose a new method for the simultaneous segmentation and 3D reconstruction of interest point based articulated motion. We decompose a set of point tracks into rigid-bodied overlapping regions which are associated with skeletal links, while joint centres can be derived from the regions of overlap. This allows us to formulate the problem of 3D reconstruction as one of model assignment, where each model corresponds to the motion and shape parameters of an articulated body part. We show how this labelling can be optimised using a combination of pre-existing graph-cut based inference, and robust structure from motion factorization techniques. The strength of our approach comes from viewing both the decomposition into parts, and the 3D reconstruction as the optimisation of a single cost function, namely the image re-projection error. We show results of full 3D shape recovery on challenging real-world sequences with one or more articulated bodies, in the presence of outliers and missing data.
Higher order reconstruction for MRI in the presence of spatiotemporal field perturbations

Despite continuous hardware advances, MRI is frequently subject to field perturbations that are of higher than first order in space and thus violate the traditional k‐space picture of spatial encoding. Sources of higher order perturbations include eddy currents, concomitant fields, thermal drifts, and imperfections of higher order shim systems. In conventional MRI with Fourier reconstruction, they give rise to geometric distortions, blurring, artifacts, and error in quantitative data. This work describes an alternative approach in which the entire field evolution, including higher order effects, is accounted for by viewing image reconstruction as a generic inverse problem. The relevant field evolutions are measured with a third‐order NMR field camera. Algebraic reconstruction is then formulated such as to jointly minimize artifacts and noise in the resulting image. It is solved by an iterative conjugate‐gradient algorithm that uses explicit matrix‐vector multiplication to accommodate arbitrary net encoding. The feasibility and benefits of this approach are demonstrated by examples of diffusion imaging. In a phantom study, it is shown that higher order reconstruction largely overcomes variable image distortions that diffusion gradients induce in EPI data. In vivo experiments then demonstrate that the resulting geometric consistency permits straightforward tensor analysis without coregistration. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Human Protein Kinase Bγ with Regulatory Phosphorylation Sites in the Activation Loop and in the C-terminal Hydrophobic Domain*

We have cloned human protein kinase Bγ (PKBγ) and found that it contains two regulatory phosphorylation sites, Thr305 and Ser472, which correspond to Thr308 and Ser473 of PKBα. Thus it differs significantly from the previously published rat PKBγ. We have also isolated a similar clone from a mouse cDNA library. In human tissues, PKBγ is widely expressed as two transcripts. A mutational analysis of the two regulatory sites of human PKBγ showed that phosphorylation of both sites, occurring in a phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent manner, is required for full activity. Our results suggest that the two phosphorylation sites act in concert to produce full activation of PKBγ, similar to PKBα. This contrasts with rat PKBγ, which is thought to be regulated by 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 alone.
Haemophilia, aging and sexuality

Summary. The older generation of patients with haemophilia still has musculoskeletal problems which limit activities and participation. One important aspect of male aging is the changes in sexuality. Sexual desire can be disturbed by fatigue, low testosterone or pain. Sexual excitement (erection) may be influenced by diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis, hypertension and side effects of antihypertensive and antiviral medication. Sexual response problems can be caused by antidepressant medication. In aging haemophiliacs arthropathy, iliopsoas muscle bleeding, chronic hepatitis C and HIV medications influence sexuality. The haemophilia care professionals should communicate proactively, give information on various practical aspects of sexuality (suggest suitable positions, recommend painkillers, reflect on prescribing erection‐enhancing medication, refer to a sexology expert).
A correlation study between information-theoretic and ethnological classification of spoken languages View project

Recent literature presents evidence that both linguistic (phonemic) and non linguistic (speaker identity, emotional content) information resides at a lower dimensional manifold embedded richly inside the higher-dimensional spectral features like MFCC and PLP. Linguistic or phonetic units of speech can be broken down to a legal inventory of articulatory gestures shared across several phonemes based on their manner of articulation. We intend to discover a subspace rich in gestural information of speech and captures the invariance of similar gestures. In this paper, we investigate unsupervised techniques best suited for learning such a subspace. Main contribution of the paper is an approach to learn gesture-rich representation of speech automatically from data in completely unsupervised manner. This study compares the representations obtained through convolutional autoencoder (ConvAE) and standard unsupervised dimensionality reduction techniques such as manifold learning and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) through the task of phoneme classification. Manifold learning techniques such as Locally Linear Embedding (LLE), Isomap and Laplacian Eigenmaps are evaluated in this study. The representations which best separate different gestures are suitable for discovering subword units in case of low or zero resource speech conditions. Further, we evaluate the representation using Zero Resource Speech Challenge’s ABX discriminability measure. Results indicate that representation obtained through ConvAE and Isomap out-perform baseline MFCC features in the task of phoneme classification as well as ABX measure and induce separation between sounds composed of different set of gestures. We further cluster the representations using Dirichlet Process Gaussian Mixture Model (DPGMM) to automatically learn the cluster distribution of data and show that these clusters correspond to groups of similar manner of articulation. DPGMM distribution is used as apriori to obtain correspondence terms for robust ConvAE training.
Beta-Amylases from Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Roots.

Amylase was found in high activity (193 international units per milligram protein) in the tap root of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Sonora). The activity was separated by gel filtration chromatography into two fractions with molecular weights of 65,700 (heavy amylase) and 41,700 (light amylase). Activity staining of electrophoretic gels indicated the presence of one isozyme in the heavy amylase fraction and two in the light amylase fraction. Three amylase isozymes with electrophoretic mobilities identical to those in the heavy and the light amylase fractions were the only amylases identified in crude root preparations. Both heavy and light amylases hydrolyzed amylopectin, soluble starch, and amylose but did not hydrolyze pullulan or beta-limit dextrin. The ratio of viscosity change to reducing power production during starch hydrolysis was identical for both alfalfa amylase fractions and sweet potato beta-amylase, while that of bacterial alpha-amylase was considerably higher. The identification of maltose and beta-limit dextrin as hydrolytic end-products confirmed that these alfalfa root amylases are all beta-amylases.The pH optimum for both beta-amylase fractions was 6.0. Both light and heavy beta-amylases showed normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with soluble starch as substrate, and had respectively K(m) values of 5.9 and 6.8 milligrams starch per milliliter and V(max) of 640 and 130 international units per milligram protein. Arrhenius plots indicated that the energy of activation for the heavy beta-amylase remained relatively unchanged (12.7 to 13.0 kilocalories per mole) from 0 to 30 degrees C, whereas the energy of activation for the light amylase increased from 12.0 to about 28.0 kilocalories per mole at 8.7 degrees C as temperature was lowered. The light amylase was shown to be inhibited by maltose.
Biochemical analysis of the Xenopus laevis TCR/CD3 complex supports the "stepwise evolution" model

The TCR/CD3 complex of a cold‐blooded vertebrate, the amphibian Xenopus laevis, was biochemically characterized with a cross‐reactive polyclonal antiserum recognizing a conserved epitope in the cytoplasmic domain of CD3ϵ. The specificity and utility of this reagent was validated by Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation of the well‐characterized chicken TCR/CD3 complex. Cross‐reactivity with the X. laevis CD3ϵ protein was demonstrated by specific staining of sorted CD8+ cells. Immunohistology on both tadpoles and adult tissues suggests this antiserum will be instrumental in the localization of Xenopus T cells and most likely NK cells. Double staining of tissue sections with an anti‐CD8 monoclonal antibody confirmed that this staining is specific. The antiserum was also used for the biochemical analyses of X. laevis TCR/CD3 complex. The 75‐kDa α β TCR heterodimer could be separated into a 40‐kDa acidic TCR α chain and a 35‐kDa basic TCR β chain. Two CD3 proteins, both comigrating at approximately 19 kDa, were associated with the TCR heterodimer. Removal of N‐linked carbohydrates yielded CD3 proteins of 19 kDa and 16.5 kDa, most likely representing the CD3ϵ and CD3γ/δ homologues, respectively. An additional band of 110 kDa represents a multimeric complex of the TCR heterodimer covalently linked to a CD3 dimer. These properties of the Xenopus TCR/CD3 complex substantiate a stepwise evolutionary model for the CD3 protein family.
Effects of IL-13 on Mucociliary Differentiation of Pediatric Asthmatic Bronchial Epithelial Cells

Goblet cell hyperplasia (GCH) and decreased ciliated cells are characteristic of asthma. We examined the effects of IL-13 (2 and 20 ng/mL) on in vitro mucociliary differentiation in pediatric bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) of normal PBEC [PBEC(N)] and asthmatic PBEC [PBEC(A)] children. Markers of differentiation, real-time PCR for MUC5AC, MUC5AC ELISA, and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) were assessed. Stimulation with 20 ng/mL IL-13 in PBEC(N) resulted in GCH [20 ng/mL IL-13: mean, 33.8% (SD, 7.2) versus unstimulated: mean, 18.9% (SD, 5.0); p < 0.0001] and decreased ciliated cell number [20 ng/mL IL-13: mean, 8% (SD, 5.6) versus unstimulated: mean, 22.7% (SD,7.6); p < 0.01]. PBEC(N) stimulated with 20 ng/mL IL-13 resulted in >5-fold (SD, 3.2) increase in MUC5AC mRNA expression, p < 0.001, compared with unstimulated PBEC(N). In PBEC(A), GCH was also seen [20 ng/mL IL-13: mean, 44.7% (SD, 16.4) versus unstimulated: mean, 30.4% (SD, 13.9); p < 0.05] with a decreased ciliated cell number [20 ng/mL IL-13: mean, 8.8% (SD, 7.5) versus unstimulated: mean, 16.3% (SD, 4.2); p < 0.001]. We also observed an increase in MUC5AC mRNA expression with 20 ng/mL IL-13 in PBEC(A), p < 0.05. IL-13 drives PBEC(N) toward an asthmatic phenotype and worsens the phenotype in PBEC(A) with reduced ciliated cell numbers and increased goblet cells.
Design considerations for an electrical machine propelling a direct driven turbo compressor for use in active high-lift systems

This paper presents the design approach of a power train used in an advanced high-lift system for future aircraft. Aircraft applications require an ultra-light and integrated design leading to an electrical machine with a high power to weight ratio of 2.82 kW/kg. To achieve additional high lift during take-off and landing, air is blown out at the back flaps of the aircraft wings using a turbo compressor which is directly driven by an inverter-fed electrical machine. The design of the power train and the electrical machine in particular is discussed under different aspects, e.g. the electromagnetic design and the mechanical demands including the selection of a feasible rotor armour. This paper identifies the interfaces between the different factors and describes their dependencies.