Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Τhe Greek Variant in APP Gene: The Phenotypic Spectrum of APP Mutations

Mutations in the gene encoding amyloid precursor protein (APP) cause autosomal dominant inherited Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We present a case of a 68-year-old female who presented with epileptic seizures, neuropsychiatric symptoms and progressive memory decline and was found to carry a novel APP variant, c.2062T>G pLeu688Val. A comprehensive literature review of all reported cases of AD due to APP mutations was performed in PubMed and Web of Science databases. We reviewed 98 studies with a total of 385 cases. The mean age of disease onset was 51.3 ± 8.3 (31–80 years). Mutations were most often located in exons 17 (80.8%) and 16 (12.2%). The most common symptoms were dementia, visuospatial symptoms, aphasia, epilepsy and psychiatric symptoms. Mutations in the β-amyloid region, and specifically exon 17, were associated with high pathogenicity and a younger age of disease onset. We describe the second reported APP mutation in the Greek population. APP mutations may act variably on disease expression and their phenotype is heterogeneous.
Common-mode inductance and radiation of edge placed differential traces on printed circuited board

With respect to the single-ended trace (track), differential signaling is most advantageous to signal integrity and common-mode radiation level reduction. However, to guarantee the required signal transmission, the two tracks in the differential pair should be perfectly balanced. Edged placement of a differential pair on the PCB causes balance disruption and creates common-mode (CM) currents resulting in an increased electromagnetic interference level. We quantify the CM inductance and radiation from differential tracks with edge placement. The common-mode inductance of an edged-placed differential pair on a PCB is derived. Then the characteristics of the common-mode inductance of a differential pair are studied for different geometries. Finally, the total radiation powers for several geometries due to the edge placement of the differential pair are measured.
Natural wave propagation in subway tunnels at mobile communications frequencies

A measurement campaign has been carried out in the Berlin subway to characterize EM-wave propagation in underground railroad tunnels. The received power levels at 945 MHz, and 1853.4 MHz are used to evaluate the attenuation and the fading characteristics in a curved, arched-shaped tunnel. The measurements are compared to ray-optical modelling results. It is shown that the geometry of a tunnel, especially the cross-sectional shape and the course, is of major impact on the propagation behaviour and thus on the accuracy of the modelling.
Security mechanisms in partially isolated networks

Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto www.aalto. fi Author Philip Ginzboorg Name of the doctoral dissertation Security mechanisms in partially isolated networks Publisher School of Electrical Engineering Unit Department of Communications and Networking Series Aalto University publication series DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS 71/2014 Field of research Security, networking technology Manuscript submitted 28 April 2014 Date of the defence 27 May 2014 Permission to publish granted (date) 6 May 2014 Language English Monograph Article dissertation (summary + original articles)
Evaluation of the Clinical Effects and Frequency of MEFV Gene Mutation in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background The clinical and pathological features of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) are similar. Objective Here, the frequency of Mediterranean Fever (MEFV) gene mutation and its effect on the outcome of IBD were evaluated. Methods DNA sequence analysis detected the variants on the MEFV gene in patients with IBD. The relationship between mutations and the need for steroids, immunomodulators, biologics, and surgery was assessed. Results We evaluated 100 patients with IBD (55 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 45 with Crohn's disease (CD)) and 60 healthy individuals as controls. The frequency of MEFV gene mutation was 26.7% (n = 12) and 14.5% (n = 8) for UC and CD, respectively. No relationship was found between MEFV gene mutation and the need for steroids, immunomodulators, and biologics (p = 0.446; p = 0.708; p > 0.999, resp.); however, in UC, the need for surgery in those with mutation (p = 0.018) and E148Q mutation alone was significant (p = 0.037). Conclusion The rate of MEFV gene mutations was high in patients with UC who required surgery. These patients have frequent and severe attacks, indicating that the mutations are related to disease severity. MEFV mutation as a modifier factor of IBD should be considered.
GYY4137 ameliorates sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy via inhibiting NLRP3 In�ammasome activity and reduction of oxidative stress in the myocardium

BACKGROUND: Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy often leads to bad prognosis of patients, and even death. However, there is no effective therapeutic strategies for sepsis-caused cardiomyopathy. GYY4137 has positive therapeutic effects in many diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism underlying the sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy and investigate the protective role of the hydrogen sul�de (H 2 S) donor GYY4137 in sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Recruitment of patients with clinical sepsis and measurement of serum H2S concentrations. GYY4137 was administrated in mouse model of sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SICM) was generated by LPS and cecum ligation and puncture (CLP), and then plasma levels of hydrogen sul�de and cytokines were measured, and in�ammatory cell in�ltration in myocardial tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry and immuno�uorescence staining. RNA sequencing assay was performed to monitor the RNA expression pro�le. Cardiomyocytes medium was co-cultured with Macrophage, and the protective mechanism of GYY4137 was con�rmed by WB, RT-PCR and immuno�uorescence experiments. Establishment of SICM model using Nlrp3 -/- mice to validate the role of GYY4137. RESULTS: Compared to non-septic patients, septic patients had lower serum hydrogen sul�de concentrations and a negative correlation between hydrogen sul�de concentrations and NT-pro BNP. H 2 S levels were reduced in the serum of sepsis-molded mice, GYY4137 reduced macrophage in�ltration in the sepsis model. GYY4137 reduces in�ammatory cell in�ltration in septic myocardial tissue. GO analysis suggested that GYY4137 involved in in�ammatory regulation. GYY4137 can inhibit NLRP3 in�ammasome activity in macrophages and reduce the secretion of in�ammatory factors, while GYY4137 can reduce the production of reactive oxygen species in cardiomyocytes, thus exerting a protective effect on the myocardium. The protective effect of GYY4137 was disappeared after Nlrp3 knockout. CONCLUSION: GYY4137 can reduce myocardial injury in sepsis by inhibiting the in�ammatory response and reducing the production of myocardial reactive oxygen species via NLRP3 pathway. It can provide new therapeutic ideas for clinical practice.
Finite-length vs. infinite-length MMSE-DFE: the connection

The paper extends a number of results on the infinite-length minimum mean-square-error decision feedback equalizer (MMSE-DFE) reported in Cioffi et al. to the finite-length case. Cholesky factorization and displacement structure theory are demonstrated to be two powerful analytical tools for analyzing the finite-length MMSE-DFE. The objective throughout the paper is to establish finite-length analogs of the well known infinite-length MMSE-DFE results. Similarities and differences between the two cases are examined and delineated. Moreover, convergence of the derived finite-length results to their well-established infinite-length counterparts is shown. Several special cases and variations on the FIR MMSE-DFE structure are also analyzed and discussed. <<ETX>>
Truck Driver Fatigue Detection Based on Video Sequences in Open-Pit Mines

Due to complex background interference and weak space–time connection, traditional driver fatigue detection methods perform poorly for open-pit truck drivers. For these issues, this paper presents a driver fatigue detection method based on Libfacedetection and an LRCN. The method consists of three stages: (1) using a face detection module with a tracking method to quickly extract the ROI of the face; (2) extracting and coding the features; (3) combining the coding model to build a spatiotemporal classification network. The innovation of the method is to utilize the spatiotemporal features of the image sequence to build a spatiotemporal classification model suitable for this task. Meanwhile, a tracking method is added to the face detection stage to reduce time expenditure. As a result, the average speed with the tracking method for face detection on video is increased by 74% in comparison with the one without the tracking method. Our best model adopts a DHLSTM and feature-level frame aggregation, which achieves high accuracy of 99.30% on the self-built dataset.
Retrospective study of rescue intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) as an emergency procedure aimed at salvaging the IVF ET cycle

Background: Rescue Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is an emergency micromanipulation endeavour aimed at salvaging the IVF ET cycle. It is aimed to save the situation in which the ART team and the couple has invested so much. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the option of recue ICSI in cases of Fertilisation Failure (FF) in order to salvage the IVF ET. Material and Methods: This retrospective study was done in a tertiary care Assisted reproductive techniques centre of Armed Forces. Records were assessed to study the cases of fertilization failure. All those cases which had an obvious etiology for probable FF were excluded. Remaining cases where rescue ICSI was done were studied to assess its role. Study design: Retrospective Observational study Study location: A tertiary care ART centre in Armed Forces Hospitals Study duration: Dec 2018 to Dec 2020 Subjects and selection method: All couples going IVF ET for various etiologies were studied for fertilization failure. Only cases with unexplained FF were studied to assess the role of rescue ICSI. Inclusion criteria Male factor infertility in spite of ICSI failed to fertilize in 6 cases. We obtained a fertilization rate of 41% with rescue ICSI and on further growth 56% reached 4 cell stages. Off these 21 had minimal fragmentation. Those embryos which had minimal fragmentation and equal blastomere were allowed to grow and 6 of 73 fertilized oocyte reached 8 cell stage. Conclusion The emergency rescue ICSI, in window of 18-20 hours can help salvage a cycle faced with complete fertilisation failure. It will reduce the physical and financial burden of IVF ET cycle to some extent. We conclude it is a viable option in a perplexing situation of complete fertilisation failure
Miniature MMIC star double balanced mixer using lumped dual balun

The authors present the design and performance of a very compact MMIC star mixer. The mixer is composed of four diodes and two lumped dual baluns which are realised using two high/low-pass out-of-phase power splitters in parallel. The MMIC star mixer shows wide bandwidth, high PldB, high third order intercept (IP3) point and high port-to-port isolations both in the applications of up and down converter. The chip size of this star mixer is much smaller than those of the conventional mixers. To the best of the authors' knowledge, it is the smallest size ever reported for passive mixer operated at S-band.
Monopole slot antenna design for WLAN MIMO application

A monopole slot antenna with compact size designed at WLAN band (2.4–2.484 GHz) is proposed for multiple‐input multiple‐output application. By the concept of electromagnetic shield, the antenna module is formed by an open‐ended monopole slot surrounded by another open‐ended monopole slot on the ground plane. The two identical folded antenna modules located on the both side of the ground plane are separated by an isolated element for increasing isolation more than 17.8 dB within the operating band. To increase antenna's bandwidth, the two open‐ended monopole slot antennas with different lengths are printed to obtain two resonant modes, which are close at around 2.4 GHz. In addition, the proposed antenna occupies a small area of 10.5 × 20 mm2 and can be easily fabricated on an FR4 substrate that is a commonly used circuit board. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1103–1107, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26740
a Multiple-Criteria Decision Methodology for the Make-or-Buy Problem

This paper develops a multiple-criteria decision analysis methodology for the evaluation of make-or-buy strategies. The methodology represents a radical departure from existing frameworks by executing a dynamic, multi-attribute, and multi-objective performance evaluation of make-or-buy alternatives. The methodology contains a model that comprises four objectives: maximization of strategic competitive performance; maximization of managerial performance; minimization of sourcing risks; and maximization of financial performance. The financial objective is measured using the net present value. The attributes for the other objectives are measured using the related concept of net present qualitative/operational flow analysis. These objectives and their attributes are traded-off using composite programming, resulting in a rank ordering of the make-or-buy alternatives. In order to generate the measures of criteria importance, the model applies the analytic hierarchy process. However, since the measures are assume.
Negotiation in distributed production planning environments

Mass customization and global competition push enterprises to adopt proper business models able to capture all the opportunities arising from emerging competition rules. An increasing number of industrial enterprises distribute their production capacity world wide to achieve lower production costs, lower distribution costs (due to the closer proximity to customers), and deeper knowledge of customer needs. As a drawback, coordination of the different production plants and the balance among plants and enterprise goals represent a critical issue in the network management. In this context the paper looks at the production planning problem, adopting a traditional hierarchical time-based perspective in the analysis of the global process and suggesting a decentralized planning approach to deal with the originated subtasks related to different time horizons. In particular, the paper suggests a production planning architecture able to highlight relationships among subtasks’ variables in which mechanisms assure consistency among solutions of different planning levels. Moreover, the paper proposes negotiation frameworks as effective tools to manage production planning subtasks.
Best View Based on Occlusion Points

An algorithm of best view based on occlusion points is proposed for current best vision algorithm. Occlusion area is found through analysis of triangulated depth images, mark diagram and occlusion points direction diagram are set up, and best view is determined according to numbers of occlusion points in mark diagram. Experiment result indicated that the algorithm is feasible and efficient.
Fault diagnosis based on optimized node entropy using lifting wavelet packet transform and genetic algorithms

Abstract The current paper presents a novel scheme for bearing fault diagnosis based on lifting wavelet packet transform (LWPT), sample entropy (SampEn), support vector machines (SVMs), and genetic algorithms (GAs). In the proposed scheme, bearing vibration signals were first decomposed into different frequency sub-bands through a four-level LWPT, resulting in a total of 31 node signal components throughout all layers of the LWPT decomposition tree. The SampEns of all 31 components were then calculated as an original feature pool to characterize the complexity of the bearing vibration signals within the corresponding frequency bands. For selecting the most informative features thus reducing the number of features, a GA was applied to simultaneously pick out the salient features and optimize the parameters of SVMs so as to avoid the curse of dimensionality, alleviate computational burden, and improve the subsequent classification. Experiments were conducted on an induction motor with respect to various bearing faults and a range of fault severities. As an example here, three salient features were selected from the original 31 features, with the dimension of features reduced dramatically. The selected three features were then presented into the optimized SVM to identify various bearing conditions. The scheme was compared with the widely used WPT-Energy method and with a neural network classifier with respect to feature extractions and fault classifications, respectively. The results are in favour of the proposed scheme in terms of the feature dimension, number of support vectors, robustness to the data partition, and classification rate.
Development of a new off-line test procedure for low voltage rotating machines fed by adjustable speed drives (ASD)

Using adjustable speed drives employing fast switching components to supply low voltage asynchronous motors may be detrimental to their reliability in some cases. The premature failures of the insulating materials are often attributed to the existence of partial discharges (PD) in the windings. Nevertheless, a clear evidence of any PD existence in such systems is far from being established. Also, their location may not be in the turn-to-ground or phase-to-phase insulation but in the turn-to-turn insulation due to the voltage waveforms, and as such, the classical AC test is no longer applicable. The aim of this paper is to present an off-line test procedure capable of overcoming this problem. The results of the test carried out on the representative population of different motors are presented.
A meta-analysis of the overall effect of mHealth physical activity interventions for weight loss and the moderating effect of behavioral change theories, techniques, and mobile technologies

Mobile technologies offer the potential for efficacious and cost-effective lifestyle interventions for weight loss. Extant research indicates that mobile health (mHealth) lifestyle interventions are potentially effective and practical methods of weight loss, but it is less known what intervention characteristics are associated with weight loss effects. This meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of mHealth physical activity interventions for weight loss compared with non-technology/usual care interventions and the moderating effects of behavioral change theories, techniques, and mobile technologies. A total of 24 studies were identified based on inclusion criteria. Weight loss was the primary outcome. The results showed a medium significant effect size (d = 0.395; 95% CI = 0.243, 0.546; Z = 5.107, p < 0.001; N = 5146) favoring mHealth interventions. Interventions were significantly more effective when wearable devices were used (QB = 4.102, df = 1, p < 0.05) and when feedback was employed (QB = 4.566, df = 1, p < 0.05). The implications for future mHealth intervention design are discussed.
Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus) : sensory, biochemical and physical meat quality as affected by gender, diet and ageing

In order to alleviate the current food security situation the world is faced with, it is essential to investigate meat sources, which have the potential to be utilised in a sustainable manner. In Africa, malnutrition is a very common occurrence especially with regard to protein intake, therefore increasing protein consumption in developing countries, such as those in Africa, will be beneficial. In Southern Africa, there is an opportunity to utilise the meat of sport hunted wildfowl, with the aim of incorporating it into the commercial market. By expanding the range of meat products available, the Southern African population will be provided with valuable, additional protein sources. However, before the utilisation of wildfowl meat can be realised, there are certain challenges to overcome in order to ensure meat with the best possible quality reaches the consumer. The areas that warrants scientific research ranges from; investigating the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that may have an influence on the ultimate meat quality to, exploring possible techniques of improving the eating quality of wildfowl meat. The insight this may provide surrounding the quality of African wildfowl meat will indirectly increase the commercial viability thereof and thus contribute to food security.
Co-designed substrate-integrated waveguide filters with patch antennas

A new approach to integrate high-quality ( Q )-factor three-dimensional vertical cavity filters with patch antennas into a single unit is presented. This integrated filter/antenna system exhibits small footprint, high efficiency and enhanced bandwidth. The patch antenna is designed to provide an additional transmission pole for the filtering function and works as a highly efficient radiator. In addition, this integrated patch antenna with a filter can achieve a bandwidth larger than that of a standalone patch antenna with the same geometry. A prototype three-pole Chebyshev filter/antenna is demonstrated at X band. The centre frequency and fractional bandwidth of the filter/antenna system are 10.27 GHz and 8.7%, respectively. Owing to the high Q factor ( ~650) of the cavity resonator and near loss-less transition between the antenna and filter, the overall efficiency of the filter/antenna system is simulated to be as high as 91.8%. The reduced footprint, enhanced bandwidth and low-loss performance of these integrated filter/antenna systems make them particularly useful for phased array applications. Prototypes of the filter/antenna systems as well as a filter/antenna array are fabricated and measured. An excellent agreement between the simulated and measured results is observed.
Hydrological behaviour of an ice‐layered snowpack in a non‐mountainous environment

The increased frequency of mild rain‐on‐snow (R.O.S.) events in cold regions associated with climate change is projected to affect snowpack structure and hydrological behaviour. The ice layers that form in a cold snowpack when R.O. S. events occur have been shown to influence flowthrough processes and liquid water retention, with consequences for winter floods, groundwater recharge, and water resources management. This study explores interconnections between meteorological conditions, ice layer formation, and lateral flows during R.O. S. events throughout the 2018–2019 winter in meridional Quebec, Canada. Automated hydro‐meteorological measurements, such as water availability for runoff, snow water equivalent, and snowpit observations, are used to compute water and energy balances, making it possible to characterize a snowpack's internal conditions and flowthrough regimes. For compatibility assessment, water and energy balances‐based flowthrough scenarios are then compared to different hydro‐meteorological variables', such as water table or streamlet water levels. The results show an association between highly variable meteorological conditions, frequent R.O. S. events, and ice layer formation. Lateral flows were mainly observed during the early stage of the ablation period. The hydrologically significant lateral flows observed in the study are associated with winter conditions that are predicted to become more frequent in a changing climate, stressing the need for further evaluation of their potential impact at the watershed scale.