Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Focal Adhesion Kinase and ROCK Signaling Are Switch-Like Regulators of Human Adipose Stem Cell Differentiation towards Osteogenic and Adipogenic Lineages

Adipose tissue is an attractive stem cell source for soft and bone tissue engineering applications and stem cell therapies. The adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs) have a multilineage differentiation capacity that is regulated through extracellular signals. The cellular events related to cell adhesion and cytoskeleton have been suggested as central regulators of differentiation fate decision. However, the detailed knowledge of these molecular mechanisms in human ASCs remains limited. This study examined the significance of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Rho-Rho-associated protein kinase (Rho-ROCK), and their downstream target extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) on hASCs differentiation towards osteoblasts and adipocytes. Analyses of osteogenic markers RUNX2A, alkaline phosphatase, and matrix mineralization revealed an essential role of active FAK, ROCK, and ERK1/2 signaling for the osteogenesis of hASCs. Inhibition of these kinases with specific small molecule inhibitors diminished osteogenesis, while inhibition of FAK and ROCK activity led to elevation of adipogenic marker genes AP2 and LEP and lipid accumulation implicating adipogenesis. This denotes to a switch-like function of FAK and ROCK signaling in the osteogenic and adipogenic fates of hASCs. On the contrary, inhibition of ERK1/2 kinase activity deceased adipogenic differentiation, indicating that activation of ERK signaling is required for both adipogenic and osteogenic potential. Our findings highlight the reciprocal role of cell adhesion mechanisms and actin dynamics in regulation of hASC lineage commitment. This study enhances the knowledge of molecular mechanisms dictating hASC differentiation and thus opens possibilities for more efficient control of hASC differentiation.
Lifespan Analysis for Redundant Array of Independent Module Based Solid State Drives

Solid state drives (SSD) are usually built using a NAND flash memory array. An SSD controller manages datastreams stripped to multiple flash memory channels. The device could be regarded as a level-0 structure of redundant array of independent disk (RAID), the technical term for a disk array system. This typical SSD controller architecture is called an intrinsic RAID (iRAID). An iRAID-based SSD controller has to execute sophisticated wear-leveling algorithms and dynamically calculate the lifespan of each flash memory chip as well as run error correction coding. redundant array of independent module (RAIM) was proposed to simplify the SSD controller by applying a group of standardized memory modules instead of raw flash memory chips. One of the widely recognized memory modules is the embedded multi-media card (eMMC) module, which is a small component, typically with a ball grid array package, and is found in consumer applications. In the paper, we have described the methods needed to optimize wear-leveling in an array of eMMC modules and deduced a formula to evaluate and optimize the lifespan of an RAIM-based SSD. A silicon SSD controller was implemented to verify the analysis. The positive result revealed that the lifespan of the RAIM-based SSD could be improved in consumer-grade eMMC modules.
Alterations in lipid peroxidation, lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, and hepatic histopathological changes in diabetic rats following the treatment with Salvadora persica

We examined the effects of various partitions of Salvadora persica extract on lipid profile (LP), lipid peroxidation, and insulin sensitivity (IS) of diabetic rats. The rats were divided into normal control, diabetic control (DC), standard, sham, and test groups. The test groups were treated with an oral dose of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg of crude, aqueous, and ethyl acetate partition of S. persica extract. After 21 days of experiment, the fasting blood glucose (FBS), LPs, lipid peroxidation, IS, liver enzymes levels, liver histopathology, and body weight alteration were evaluated. A significant decrease in FBS and lipid profile (except HDL) were observed in rats treated with various dose of extract compared with the DC rats ( P < 0.05). Treating diabetic rats with various extracts of S. persica meaningfully decreased the level of malondialdehyde ( P < 0.05). Animals treated with various dose of aqueous extract showed better results ( P < 0.01). On the basis of used indirect indexes to determine IS, all partitions of extracts showed anti‐insulin resistance effects in diabetic rats. On the basis of our statistical analyzing, treating diabetic rats with all of the three extracts of S. persica decreased the elevated levels of alanine phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine transferase. Also, pathological changes in the liver tissue were reduced following treatment with the S. persica. In conclusion, our results give evidence that the S. persica extract, especially aqueous partition, has a healing effect on diabetes and can be considered as an alternative therapy for this disease.
Guideline-defined futility or patient-reported outcomes to assess treatment success after TAVI: what to use? Results from a prospective cohort study with long-term follow-up

Objective Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) provides a significant symptom relief and mortality reduction in most patients; however, a substantial group of patients does not experience the same beneficial results according to physician-determined outcomes. Methods Single-centre prospective design; the population comprises all consecutive patients undergoing TAVI in 2012–2017. TAVI futility was defined as the combined endpoint of either no symptomatic improvement or mortality at 1 year. We actively gathered telephone follow-up using a predefined questionnaire. Results Guideline defined TAVI futility was present in 212/741 patients. Multivariate regression showed lower albumin and non-transfemoral approach to be predictive for futility. In addition to these, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, atrial fibrillation, low-flow–low-gradient aortic stenosis and lower Body Mass Index were predictive for 1-year mortality. Patients who showed symptomatic benefit estimated the percentage in which their symptoms were remedied higher than patients who did not (80% vs 60%, p<0.001). Guideline-defined TAVI futility occurs frequently, contrasting with patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The vast majority in both groups would again choose for TAVI treatment. Conclusion Lower albumin and non-transfemoral access route were predictors for guideline-defined TAVI futility, defined as mortality within 1 year or no objective symptomatic improvement in New York Heart Association class. Futility according to this definition occurred frequently in this study, contrasting with much more positive PROMs. The majority of patients would undergo a TAVI again, underlining the patients’ experienced value of TAVI and putting the definition of TAVI futility further on debate. In the near future, less-strict criteria for TAVI futility, that is, using a shorter warranted life expectancy and incorporating patients’ perceived outcomes, should be used.
Development of new Coumarin-based profluorescent substrates for human cytochrome P450 enzymes

Abstract Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes constitute an essential xenobiotic metabolizing system that regulates the elimination of lipophilic compounds from the body. Convenient and affordable assays for CYP enzymes are important for assessing these metabolic pathways. In this study, 10 novel profluorescent coumarin derivatives with various substitutions at carbons 3, 6 and 7 were developed. Molecular modeling indicated that 3-phenylcoumarin offers an excellent scaffold for the development of selective substrate compounds for various human CYP forms, as they could be metabolized to fluorescent 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives. Oxidation of profluorescent coumarin derivatives to fluorescent metabolites by 13 important human liver xenobiotic-metabolizing CYP forms was determined by enzyme kinetic assays. Four of the coumarin derivatives were converted to fluorescent metabolites by CYP1 family enzymes, with 6-methoxy-3-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)coumarin being oxidized selectively by CYP1A2 in human liver microsomes. Another set of four compounds were metabolized by CYP2A6 and CYP1 enzymes. 7-Methoxy-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)coumarin was oxidized efficiently by CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 in a non-selective fashion. The advantages of the novel substrates were (1) an excellent signal-to-background ratio, (2) selectivity for CYP1 forms, and (3) convenient multiwell plate measurement, allowing for precise determination of potential inhibitors of important human hepatic forms CYP1A2, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6.
Optimal Offering Strategy of an EV Aggregator in the Frequency-Controlled Normal Operation Reserve Market

Electric vehicles (EVs) are to play an important role in electricity markets, since their energy storage capability can be beneficial to power systems operation. Electric vehicle aggregators will consequently develop adequate offering strategies to participate in energy and reserve markets, accounting for the market rules and operational capabilities of EVs aggregators (e.g., fleet of EVs). In this paper, we propose an offering strategy model for an EV aggregator to participate in the frequency-controlled normal operation reserve service (FCR-N) in Eastern Denmark. The aim is to maximize the expected revenue of the aggregator, accounting for potential penalties for missing the provision of both upward and downward reserves. The methodology has been modeled and tested under the scope of the PARKER project, which considers a case study based on real data from a small fleet of electric vehicles. An important conclusion relates to the availability patterns of the EVs that significantly changes the strategical participation of the EV aggregator in the service.
An Element-Matched Electromechanical  $\Delta\Sigma$  ADC for Ultrasound Imaging

This paper presents a power- and area-efficient approach to digitizing the echo signals received by piezoelectric transducer elements, commonly used for ultrasound imaging. This technique utilizes such elements not only as sensors but also as the loop filter of an element-level <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Delta \Sigma $ </tex-math></inline-formula> analog to digital converter (ADC). The receiver chain is thus greatly simplified, yielding savings in area and power. Every ADC becomes small enough to fit underneath a <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$150\,\,\mu \mathrm {m} \times 150\,\,\mu \mathrm {m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> transducer element, enabling simultaneous acquisition and digitization from all the elements in a 2-D array. This is especially valuable for miniature 3-D probes. Experimental results are reported for a prototype receiver chip with an array of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$5 \times 4$ </tex-math></inline-formula> element-matched ADCs and a transducer array fabricated on top of the chip. Each ADC consumes 800 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \mathrm {W}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> from a 1.8 V supply and achieves a SNR of 47 dB in a 75% bandwidth around a center frequency of 5 MHz.
Remote Detection and Classification of Human Stress Using a Depth Sensing Technique

Stress plays an important role in our daily life. Long-term’s psychological stress will lead to serious health as well as social problems, it is important to detect and monitor the psychological stress in its early stage. Most existing stress detection equipment are contact-type, such as wrist strap. However, in a real application, such as a working environment, a contact-free stress detection system will bring greater convenience. In this paper, we proposed a novel framework for detecting and classifying human stress based on respiratory signals measured remotely by using a Kinect sensor with a detection range of 3 meters. We test the framework on respiratory signals data set from 20 individuals under 3 different tasks (listen relax music, do exercise and do Stroop Color-word test), corresponding to relaxation, physical stress and psychological stress state. Experimental results suggest that the proposed method is a promising way for monitoring human stress and even discriminating psychological stress from the physical stress.
An Advanced Expectation-Maximization Algorithm for Multimicrophone Speech Dereverberation and Noise Reduction

In speech communication scenes, the microphone signals are often weakened by reverberation and ambient noise. Reverberation can be divided into an early part that is comprised of the direct speech and some early ones and a late part. In this paper, an advanced expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm for multimicrophone speech dereverberation and noise reduction, extending EM by taking the noise statistics into account, is proposed. This method aims at estimating the early parts filtered by early transform functions (ETFs). The EM algorithm is executed in two steps. In the E-step, the filtered early speech is calculated. Then, in the M-step, the ETFs, the power spectral density (PSD) of the filtered early speech and the late reverberation, and the spatial coherence matrix of the late reverberation are estimated. This algorithm is evaluated using an open-source room impulse responses (RIRs) database with a reverberation time of 0.36s and 0.61s under different signal-to-noise (SNR) conditions. It is proved an improvement compared with the original EM method.
Dual Preconditioning: A Novel Strategy to Withstand Mesenchymal Stem Cells against Harsh Microenvironments

Purpose: Poor survival rate of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) following their transplantation is one of the major challenges in their therapeutic application. Therefore, it is necessary to augment the viability of the MSCs in order to improve their therapeutic efficacy. Several strategies have been used to overcome this problem. Preconditioning of MSCs with oxidative stresses has gained a lot of attention. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of simultaneous preconditioning of MSCs with hydrogen peroxide and serum deprivation stresses on their survival and resistance to stressful conditions. Methods: MSCs were isolated from human umbilical cord blood. To perform simultaneous preconditioning, the cells were cultured in DMEM medium containing 1, 2.5 and 5 percent FBS and different concentrations of H2O2 (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 80 and 100 µM) for 24 hrs. Then, the cells were cultured in recovery culture medium. Finally, one group of the cells was exposed to a lethal concentration of H2O2 (300µM), and the other cells were cultivated in FBS free DMEM medium as the lethal situation. In addition, the percentage of apoptotic cells was analyzed using Caspase 3 assay kit. Results: Simultaneous preconditioning of the MSCs with 15µM H2O2 plus serum deprivation, 2.5% FBS, significantly increased the resistance of the cells to the toxicity induced following their cultivation in FBS free DMEM medium. It exerted the protective effect on the cells after treating with the lethal dose of H2O2 as well. Conclusion: Simultaneous preconditioning of MSCs with oxidative and serum deprivation stresses enhances their survival against harsh conditions, which might increase the viability and stability of the MSCs following their transplantation.
Adaptive 100% Injection-Based Generator Stator Ground Fault Protection With Real-Time Fault Location Capability

The paper presents a novel adaptive stator ground fault protection scheme with fault location capability for high-impedance grounded synchronous generators. The protection scheme uses already available neutral grounding signals in the existing subharmonic injection protection to obtain a Kalman adaptive filter (KAF) for real-time stator insulation parameter estimation. The KAF estimator yields a method of continuous tracking of stator insulation condition during healthy operations. This information is then used for real-time stator ground fault detection as well as fault location. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified using extensive experiments performed on a lab-scale unit-connected generating station.
Completeness and correctness of acute myocardial infarction diagnoses in a medical quality register and an administrative health register

Aims: Health registers are used for administrative purposes, disease surveillance, quality assessment, and research. The value of the registers is entirely dependent on the quality of their data. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the completeness and correctness of the acute myocardial infarction (AMI) diagnosis in the Norwegian Myocardial Infarction Register and in the Norwegian Patient Register. Methods: All Norwegian patients admitted directly to St Olavs hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital from 1 July to 31 December 2012 and who had plasma levels of cardiac troponin T measured during their hospitalization (n=4835 unique individuals, n=5882 hospitalizations) were identified in the hospital biochemical database. A gold standard for AMI was established by evaluation of maximum troponin T levels and by review of the information in the medical records. Cases of AMI in the registers were classified as true positive, false positive, true negative, and false negative according to the gold standard. We calculated sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), specificity, and negative predictive value (NPV). Results: The Norwegian Myocardial Infarction Register had a sensitivity of 86.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 82.8–89.3%), PPV of 97.9% (96.4–99.3%), and specificity of 99.9% and NPV of 98.9% (98.6-99.2%) (99.8–100%). The corresponding figures for the Norwegian Patient Register were 85.8% (95% CI 82.5–89.1%), 95.1% (92.9–97.2%), and 99.7% (99.5–99.8%) and 98.9% (98.6-99.2%), respectively. Both registers had a sensitivity higher than 95% when compared to hospital discharge diagnoses. The results were similar for men and women and for cases below and above 80 years of age. Conclusions: The Norwegian Myocardial Infarction Register and the Norwegian Patient Register are adequately complete and correct for administrative purposes, disease surveillance, quality assessment, and research.
Web-Logs Prediction with Web Mining

W384 Mining is defined as the use of Data Mining techniques to extract information from web, automatically. Web Mining techniques are widely used to observe user patterns accessing the web server logs. Web logs are the entries of different users accessing different topics on the web and observed by web server. In this paper, the patterns are extracted from educational institute's website and observed by using WEKA tool. The number of visitors and hits and the bandwidth used by the users are all determined with different perspectives. This work is done to analyze user's behavior and their interests that will be used to predict the future patterns of the website.
Cost-Conscious Growth-Promoting Treatment: When Discretion Is the Better Part of Value

Assessing cost-effectiveness of human growth hormone (hGH) treatment to augment height is complicated by uncertainty about how best to measure its therapeutic effect. Cost-conscious growth promotion practice, however, is possible and likely an emerging practical requisite as health care payers increasingly deny the medical necessity of and restrict support for short stature treatment. The increase in denials is not surprising given the expansion and continued high cost of hGH treatment, debate about the value of such treatment, and universal need to restrain burgeoning health care costs. Renunciation of sweeping payer rejection of hGH-for-height treatment is strengthened by cost-conscious practices that (1) recommend no treatment for most short children and restrict treatment to severe, likely disabling short stature; (2) initiate hGH treatment only after evidence-based informed assent; (3) utilize alternative less costly and less invasive options when possible; (4) minimize hGH treatment duration and dosage; and (5) resist enhancement of normal adult stature. A new era of cost-conscious hGH prescribing that prompts thoughtful restraint in hGH use could help preserve hGH approval for children most in need of treatment.
Disentangling the Effects of Arousal and Valence on Memory for Intrinsic Details

Kensinger (2009) and Mather (2007) both argue that intrinsic features of emotional items are remembered better than intrinsic features of non-emotional items. However, Kensinger attributes these effects to negative valence whereas Mather attributes them to arousal. In this paper, we note several reasons why arousal may be the driving factor even when a study reveals more detailed memory for negative items than for positive items. We also reanalyze previous data (Mather & Nesmith, 2008) to show that although both arousal and negative valence were correlated with memory accuracy, enhanced memory accuracy was accounted for by arousal rather than valence.
Support Vector Machine Improvement with Kemel-Based Nonlinear Representor

B334 introducing the idea of optimal feature representation in kernel-based nonlinear representor (KNR), the traditional support vector machine (SVM) is improved in this manuscript to a new version called KNR-SVM. Firstly, the $\boldsymbol{k}$-means unsupervised method is adopted to cluster the input patterns to form $\boldsymbol{k}$-centers. Then, a mapping function, a point of a reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS), is estimated based on the $\boldsymbol{k}$-centers and KNR method, and the input patterns are mapped explicitly into a higher dimensional feature space, using the estimated function. Finally, the traditional SVM is taken as a classifier to classify the mapped patterns. Experimental results on handwritten digital recognition show that the proposed KNR-SVM outperforms the traditional SVM.
GLP‐1 receptor agonist added to insulin versus basal‐plus or basal‐bolus insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Current guidelines recommend that antihyperglycaemic treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes not achieving the HbA1c target on basal insulin should be intensified with a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1RA) or basal‐plus/basal‐bolus (BP/BB) insulin regimen. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to compare the effects of GLP‐1RA/insulin combinations versus BP/BB.
FADS1 and the Timing of Human Adaptation to Agriculture

Variation at the FADS1/FADS2 gene cluster is functionally associated with differences in lipid metabolism and is often hypothesized to reflect adaptation to an agricultural diet. Here, we test the evidence for this relationship using both modern and ancient DNA data. We show that almost all the inhabitants of Europe carried the ancestral allele until the derived allele was introduced approximately 8,500 years ago by Early Neolithic farming populations. However, we also show that it was not under strong selection in these populations. We find that this allele, and other proposed agricultural adaptations at LCT/MCM6 and SLC22A4, were not strongly selected until much later, perhaps as late as the Bronze Age. Similarly, increased copy number variation at the salivary amylase gene AMY1 is not linked to the development of agriculture although, in this case, the putative adaptation precedes the agricultural transition. Our analysis shows that selection at the FADS locus was not tightly linked to the initial introduction of agriculture and the Neolithic transition. Further, it suggests that the strongest signals of recent human adaptation in Europe did not coincide with the Neolithic transition but with more recent changes in environment, diet or efficiency of selection due to increases in effective population size.