Filetype
The purpose of the present study is to introduce a point process model for characterizing the pattern of atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes. A variant of the bivariate Hawkes process is proposed, accounting for clustered episodes. The model parameters are inferred by the maximum likelihood method. The goodness-of-fit analysis show that model fits the data in most of the recordings (27 out of 32). T
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify serum microRNAs providing a link between male subfertility and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and validate their diagnostic potential. Methods: Sera were analyzed for fertility and MetS-related parameters in subfertile men (n = 79) and controls (n = 38). Literature review identified miR-155-5p, miR-122-5p, miR-200a-3p, and miR-200c-3p which previously w
Inference of antibody gene repertoires using transcriptome data has emerged as an alternative approach to the complex process of sequencing of adaptive immune receptor germline gene loci. The diversity introduced during rearrangement of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable (IGHV), diversity, and joining genes has however been identified as potentially affecting inference specificity. In this study,
The problem of adversarial CNN attacks is considered, with an emphasis on attacks that are trivial to perform but difficult to defend. A framework for the study of such attacks is proposed, using real world object manipulations. Unlike most works in the past, this framework supports the design of attacks based on both small and large image perturbations, implemented by camera shake and pose variat
In the present paper, the effectiveness of a vibration isolation mat for a railway slab track system is studied using a finite element model of the railway track. The finite elements are formulated in a moving frame of reference following the moving load at a particular speed. The rails are modeled using Bernoulli beams, whereas the track slab and an underlying supporting plate are modeled using K
The presence of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) in pancreatic endocrine cells is well established. Nevertheless, recent advances are only now unraveling the signaling network involving 5-HT that partly regulates the release of hormones emanating from the islets of Langerhans. It is widely accepted that failure of the pancreatic β-cell to release sufficient amounts of insulin is the main cul
INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and colorectal cancer (CRC) share some risk factors, including lifestyle and metabolic disturbances. We aimed to provide in-depth information on the association of CRC risk, especially early-onset CRC, with DM, family history of CRC, and age at DM diagnosis. METHODS: A nationwide cohort study was conducted using Swedish family cancer data sets, inpatient, and o
Jupiter's core is generally assumed to have formed beyond the snow line. Here we consider an alternative scenario that Jupiter's core may have accumulated in the innermost part of the protoplanetary disc. A growing body of research suggests that small particles ('pebbles') continually drift inward through the disc. If a fraction of drifting pebbles is trapped at the inner edge of the disc, several
Rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes have a decreased rate of sciatic nerve regeneration. We studied the effects on this defect of treatment with the aldose reductase inhibitor, ponalrestat (25 mg/kg per day via an endogastric tube). The nerves of diabetic rats were crush-injured at 5 weeks of diabetes and regeneration evaluated 7 days later with the pinch-reflex test. Ponalrestat treatment w
The Wnt signaling pathway is essential in regulating various cellular processes. Different mechanisms of inhibition for Wnt signaling have been proposed. Besides β-catenin degradation through the proteasome, nemo-like kinase (NLK) is another molecule that is known to negatively regulate Wnt signaling. However, the mechanism by which NLK mediates the inhibition of Wnt signaling was not known. In th
Background: Cadmium bioaccumulates in the body and causes several adverse health effects. Understanding the primary sources of exposure is critical in order to implement effective prevention measures. Methods: We included 454 adults enrolled in the Florence cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) during 1992–98. At enrolment, information was collected on d
Increased tissue stiffness is a classic characteristic of solid tumors. One of the major contributing factors is increased density of collagen fibers in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, we investigate how cancer cells biomechanically interact with and respond to the stiffness of the ECM. Probing the adaptability of cancer cells to altered ECM stiffness using optical tweezers based micro-rheol
Subtilisin isoinhibitors (SI) were isolated from jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis L) and broad bean (Vicia faba L) seeds. Jack beans contain three isoinhibitors (pI 6.6, 6.3 and 6.0) that constitute 0.021 g per 100 g of dry seeds, while the two active proteins from broad beans (pI 5.7 and 5.1) represent 0.028%. The molecular weight, determined by gel filtration, is around 8000 D in both legumes. L
The complement system resembles a double-edged sword since its activation can either benefit or harm the host. Thus, regulation of this system is of utmost importance and performed by several circulating and membrane-bound complement inhibitors. The pool of well-established regulators has recently been enriched with proteins that either share structural homology to known complement inhibitors such
The molecular weight distribution and the viscosity of water‐soluble dietary fibre polysaccharides isolated from green beans, Brussels sprouts and green peas were investigated following boiling, microwave treatment and canning. Blanching was used as a reference process. In green beans and Brussels sprouts microwave treatment had minor effects, while there generally was a small decrease of neutral
The caecal content of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA; acetic, propionic and butyric acid), caecal pH, fermentability and dry matter digestibility (DMD) were examined through balance experiments in rats fed 11 various indigestible carbohydrates. The following carbohydrate sources were incorporated into test diets: cellulose, oat husk, wheat bran, oat bran, pea fibre, linseed fibre, low methoxylated
A semi-stochastic, statistical reduction method for chemical kinetic schemes based on the ant colony optimization method, is developed for atmospheric chemistry simulations. The prime application is coupled dynamic and chemistry models for simulation of the dispersion and reactivity of chemical species on street scale, i.e. the modelling of urban air pollution in street canyons. The method is desi
Since the discovery of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) a new area has emerged in the field of biomarkers. NcRNAs are RNA molecules of different sizes that are transcribed as independent genes or as part of protein coding genes and are not translated, therefore they do not produce proteins. They have been classified accord-ing to their size and function and include micro RNAs (miRNAs), piwiRNAs (piRNAs),
