LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Peripheral Microvascular Vasodilatory Response to Estradiol and Genistein in Women with Insulin Resistance.

OBJECTIVE
E2 enhances vasodilation in healthy women, but vascular effects of the phytoestrogen GEN are still under investigation. IR compromises microvascular function. We therefore examined the interaction of E2 , GEN, and IR on microvascular vasodilatory responsiveness.


METHODS
We hypothesized that E2 and GEN increase microvascular vasodilation in healthy women (control, n = 8, 23 ± 2 year, BMI: 25.9 ± 2.9 kg/m2) but not in women with IR (n = 7, 20 ± 1 year, BMI: 27.3 ± 3.0 kg/m2). We used the cutaneous circulation as a model of microvascular vasodilatory function. We determined CVC with laser Doppler flowmetry and beat-to-beat blood pressure during local cutaneous heating (42 °C) with E2 or GEN microdialysis perfusions. Because heat-induced vasodilation is primarily an NO-mediated response, we examined microvascular vasodilation with and without L-NMMA.


RESULTS
In C, E2 enhanced CVC (94.4 ± 2.6% vs. saline 81.6 ± 4.2% CVCmax , p < 0.05), which was reversed with L-NMMA (80.9 ± 7.8% CVCmax , p < 0.05), but GEN did not affect vasodilation. Neither E2 nor GEN altered CVC in IR, although L-NMMA attenuated CVC during GEN.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study does not support improved microvascular responsiveness during GEN exposure in healthy young women, and demonstrates that neither E2 nor GEN improves microvascular vasodilatory responsiveness in women with IR.
The effect of hot extrusion on the microstructure and anti-corrosion performance of LDHs conversion coating on AZ91D magnesium alloy

Abstract In this study, the effect of hot extrusion on the microstructure and anti-corrosion performance of LDHs (layered double hydroxides) conversion coating on AZ91D magnesium alloy was investigated by means of microscopic observation and electrochemical measurement. After hot extrusion, the refinement and rearrangement of the β-Mg 17 Al 12 phase promotes the microgalvanic effect in the formation process, and the increase of dislocation density, twin, grain boundary and texture accelerates the dissolution rate of the Mg matrix. Due to microstructural differences, the electrochemical activity of various specimens in the formation process can be ranked as the increasing series: as-cast
Efficacy of sustained release theophylline given at three different evening intake times in addition to a baseline medication.

In this randomized crossover study of 26 outpatients with bronchial asthma the efficacy of a new once-daily theophylline formulation given in addition to a baseline medication was investigated; moreover, under steady state conditions, the effect of three evening intake times (6, 8 and 10 p.m.) on 24 h pharmacokinetics and peak-expiratory flow profiles was evaluated. The theophylline dose had been individually titrated. The pharmacodynamic results show a marked improvement of 24 h peak expiratory flow values after adding theophylline to a drug therapy including inhalative beta 2-agonists and corticosteroids in nearly all and inhalative anticholinergics in 50% of the treated outpatients. No significant differences between the pharmacokinetic characteristics and the 24 hr averages (mesors) of peak expiratory flow at the three different intake times 6, 8 and 10 p.m. were found; however, intake at 10 p.m. resulted in the highest nocturnal excess of serum theophylline concentrations and the highest peak expiratory flow during the early morning hours between 2 and 6 a.m.
KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION AND CYBER SICKNESS : A COMPARISON OF VR DEVICES IN VIRTUAL TOURS

SCIENCE JOURNAL 2015 | JUNE | SCIENCE JOURNAL | 613
Key Abstractions for IoT-Oriented Software Engineering

Despite the progress in Internet of Things (IoT) research, a general software engineering approach for systematic development of IoT systems and applications is still missing. A synthesis of the state of the art in the area can help frame the key abstractions related to such development. Such a framework could be the basis for guidelines for IoT-oriented software engineering.
Food , Industrial , Nutraceutical , and Pharmaceutical Uses of Sesame Genetic Resources

INTRODUCTION Sesame (Sesamum indicum L., Pedaliaceae) is a very old cultivated crop and thought to have originated in Africa (Ram et al. 1990). However, Oplinger et al. (1990) have indicated it to be a highly prized oil crop of Babylon and Assyria about 4,000 years ago. The Chinese burned sesame oil for light and to make soot for their ink blocks. African slaves brought sesame seeds, which they called benne seeds to America where sesame became a popular ingredient in Southern recipes. The English term sesame traces back to the Arabic simsim, Coptic semsem, and early Egyptian semsent (Home Cooking 1998). Sesame is an annual self pollinating plant with an erect, pubescent, branching stem, and 0.60 to 1.20 m tall. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate or oblong while the lower leaves are trilobed and sometimes ternate and the upper leaves are undivided, irregularly serrate and pointed (Felter and Lloyd 1898). The older cultivars have smooth and flat leaves while the nonshattering cultivars have cupped leaves with leaflike outgrowths on their lower side. Some cultivars have many branches, while others are relatively unbranched (Kinman and Martin 1954). The flowers are tubular, pendulant, bell shaped, and two lipped with a pale purple or rose to white color and 1.9–2.5 cm (0.75–1") long (Martin and Leonard 1967). In addition, the flowers are borne on short glandular pedicels (Felter and Lloyd 1898). One flower is produced at each leaf axil and the lower flowers usually bloom 2 to 3 months after planting with continuous blooming until the uppermost flowers are open (Martin and Leonard 1967). The fruit is an oblong, mucronate, pubescent capsule containing numerous small, oval, and yellow, white, red, brown, or black seeds (Felter and Lloyd 1898; McCormick Sesame Seed 2001). Japan uses sesame seed as a health food and leads the world in sesame seed imports followed by Europe and the US. About 70% of the world’s sesame seed is processed into oil and meal. White sesame seed is imported from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador while black sesame seed comes from China and Thailand. Total annual consumption is about 65% for oil extraction and 35% for food. The food segment includes about 42% roasted sesame, 12% ground sesame, 36% washed sesame, and 10% roasted sesame seed with salt. People generally consume more than twice as much white sesame as black sesame (International Trade Center 1993). Sesame oil is also referred to as teel oil or benne oil and is a pale yellow, oily liquid, and almost odorless with a bland taste. The oil consists of glycerides with about 43% oleic and linoleic each, 9% palmitic, and 4% stearic fatty acids. Sesame genetic resources conserved at the USDA, ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit represents 869 available accessions from countries worldwide (Table 1).
Design of Chipless RFID Tags Based on Characteristic Mode Theory (CMT)

The induced currents and consequently the scattered fields from chipless RFID tags can be analyzed in different ways. In singularity expansion method (SEM), the currents on the tag are expanded by a series of the complex natural resonances (CNRs) and frequency-independent natural currents and an entire-domain function including the early-time response. On the other hand, in eigen-mode expansion method (EEM), the currents are expanded versus the frequency-dependent eigen-modes of the structure, which can be obtained by solving the homogeneous differential equation governing the structure under consideration. In this paper, the theory of characteristic modes as a generalized eigen-mode expansion approach is efficiently employed for the analysis and design of the chipless RFID tags. Three important parameters usually considered in the design of multibit tags are the quality factors, resonant frequencies of the resonators (as a signature of the tag) and the radar cross-section (RCS) of the tag. A slotted-wavelength resonator is considered as a tag prototype in this paper. After a short theoretical description of SEM and CMT, the resonant and radiation modes of the tag are accurately investigated versus some design parameters. By studying the effects of various structural parameters of the tag on the aforementioned factors, some design rules are extracted which can be useful in the design and implementation of the tag and additionally the identification process.
Assessment of the Incremental Conductance Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithm

An efficient, cost-effective maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm is required to improve the energy utilization efficiency of low power photovoltaic (PV) systems. This paper presents an experimental evaluation of the incremental conductance MPPT algorithm when employed by a standalone PV pumping system, using an experimental installation comprised of a 1080-Wp photovoltaic array connected to a 1-kW permanent magnet dc motor-centrifugal pump set. Particular focus is given to the evaluation of the two commonly utilized implementation techniques: reference voltage perturbation and direct duty ratio perturbation. The influence of algorithm parameters on system behavior is investigated and the energy utilization efficiency is calculated for different weather conditions. The performance of the incremental conductance algorithm is compared to that of the commonly used perturb and observe MPPT algorithm and the various advantages and drawbacks of each technique are identified.
A phase II study of oportuzumab monatox: an immunotoxin therapy for patients with noninvasive urothelial carcinoma in situ previously treated with bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

PURPOSE
A phase II study was performed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of intravesical oportuzumab monatox in patients with urothelial carcinoma in situ of the bladder. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin treatment had previously failed in all patients.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 46 patients received 1 induction cycle of 6 (cohort 1) or 12 (cohort 2) weekly intravesical oportuzumab monatox (VB4-845) instillations of 30 mg, followed by up to 3 maintenance cycles of 3 weekly administrations every 3 months.


RESULTS
A complete response to oportuzumab monatox was seen in 9 of 22 patients (41%) in cohort 1 and 9 of 23 (39%) in cohort 2 at the 3-month evaluation. A total of 20 patients (44%) achieved a complete response. Two other patients without carcinoma in situ who achieved a complete response were not included in the study due to the development of noninvasive papillary (Ta) disease. Median time to recurrence in patients who achieved a complete response was 274 and 408 days in cohorts 1 and 2, respectively. Overall 7 patients (16%) remained disease-free. Post-study assessment demonstrated that these patients were still disease-free at last followup (18 to 25 months). The most common adverse events were mild to moderate reversible bladder symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Oportuzumab monatox was effective and well tolerated in patients with bacillus Calmette-Guérin refractory carcinoma in situ of the bladder. These results demonstrate the clinical benefit of oportuzumab monatox and support its continued development for the second line treatment of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer.
Calculating stack distances efficiently

This paper1 describes our experience using the stack processing algorithm [6] for estimating the number of cache misses in scientific programs. By using a new data structure and various optimization techniques we obtain instrumented run-times within 50 to 100 times the original optimized run-times of our benchmarks.
The contribution of clinical breast examination to the accuracy of breast screening.

BACKGROUND
There is controversy about whether adding clinical breast examination (CBE) to mammography improves the accuracy of breast screening. We compared the accuracy of screening among centers that offered CBE in addition to mammography with that among centers that offered only mammography.


METHODS
The cohort included 290 230 women aged 50-69 years who were screened at regional cancer centers or affiliated centers within the Ontario Breast Screening Program between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2003, and were followed up for 12 months. The regional cancer centers offer screening mammography and CBE performed by a nurse. All affiliated centers provide mammography but not all provide CBE. Performance measures for 232 515 women who were screened by mammography and CBE at the nine regional cancer centers or 59 affiliated centers that provided CBE were compared with those for 57 715 women who were screened by mammography alone at 34 affiliated centers that did not provide CBE.


RESULTS
Sensitivity of referrals was higher for women who were screened at regional cancer centers or affiliated centers that offered CBE in addition to mammography than for women screened at affiliated centers that did not offer CBE (initial screen: 94.9% and 94.6%, respectively, vs 88.6%; subsequent screen: 94.9% and 91.7%, respectively, vs 85.3%). Mammography sensitivity was similar between centers that offered CBE and those that did not. However, women without cancer who were screened at regional cancer centers or affiliated centers that offered CBE had a higher false-positive rate than women screened at affiliated centers that offered only mammography (initial screen: 12.5% and 12.4%, respectively, vs 7.4%; subsequent screen: 6.3% and 8.3%, respectively, vs 5.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Women should be informed of the benefits and risks of having a CBE in addition to mammography for breast screening.
Fatigue therapy in multiple sclerosis: results of a double-blind, randomized, parallel trial of amantadine, pemoline, and placebo.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the relative efficacy of amantadine, pemoline, and placebo in treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS)-related fatigue.


BACKGROUND
Fatigue is a complication of MS. Both pemoline and amantadine have been used to treat MS fatigue, but their relative efficacy is not known.


METHODS
Amantadine, pemoline, and placebo were compared in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study using a parallel-group design. Ninety-three ambulatory MS patients completed the study. Primary outcome measures were the fatigue severity scale (FSS); the MS-specific fatigue scale (MS-FS); and subjective response determined by verbal self-report. Secondary outcome measures consisted of assessments of sleep, depression, and vitality. Repeated-measures analysis of variance with planned post-hoc contrasts and Fisher's exact test were used to compare treatment response.


RESULTS
Amantadine-treated patients showed a significantly greater reduction in fatigue, as measured by the MS-FS, than did patients treated with placebo (p = 0.04). By verbal report at the end of the study, 79% of patients treated with amantadine versus 52% treated with placebo and 32% treated with pemoline preferred drug therapy compared with no treatment (p = 0.03). No significant differences in any primary outcome measures were noted between pemoline and placebo. Neither amantadine nor pemoline affected sleep or depression relative to placebo.


CONCLUSION
Amantadine was significantly better than placebo in treating fatigue in MS patients, whereas pemoline was not. The benefit of amantadine was not due to changes in sleep, depression, or neurologic disability.
Smoking in Ontario schools: does policy make a difference?

OBJECTIVE
Studies in other countries have shown that school tobacco control policy has potential to prevent smoking uptake in adolescents. Since no Canadian research has studied this association, we assessed the statistical link between school tobacco policy and smoking status in Ontario elementary and secondary schools.


METHODS
We conducted secondary analysis of data collected using the School Smoking Profile, a cross-sectional, self-report questionnaire. School policy variables were formed from five survey items concerning students' perceptions of school tobacco control policy. Smoking status was determined through self-report measures which had been validated by carbon monoxide testing. Logistic regression models used school policy variables to explain smoking status in elementary and secondary schools, controlling for school location, school size, and student's grade level.


RESULTS
The smoking policy variables, rules and enforcement, explained smoking status after controlling for other variables. In elementary schools, perceptions of stronger enforcement reduced the odds of being a smoker (OR = 0.39, CI99 = 0.34-0.44). In secondary schools, enforcement lost its protective effect (OR = 1.05, CI99 = 1.00-1.10). In addition, student perceptions that rules were strong were indicative of increased smoking in secondary schools (OR = 1.32, CI99 = 1.27-1.37).


DISCUSSION
Strong enforcement of school tobacco control policy appears to be effective in elementary schools but is not as helpful in secondary schools. Secondary school policymakers should consider modifying their sanctions to avoid alienating smokers.
Biochemical Studies on The Hepatoprotective Effects of Pomegranate and Guava Ethanol Extracts

The hepatoprotective effect of pomegranate and guava against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxic in rats liver was evaluated. The hepatoprotective period, rats treated with pomegranate peel and guava leaves ethanolic extracts or silymarin for 21 consecutive days could significantly decrease in the liver weight when compared with CCl4-treated group. In the curative period, rats treated with pomegranate peel and guava leaves ethanolic extracts or silymarin completely restored the increase of liver weight and no significant difference when compared with normal group. In the hepatoprotective period, rats treated with pomegranate peel ethanolic extracts or silymarin during CCl4 administration significantly increased in the serum total protein content and albumin when compared with CCl4-treated group. No significant effects were observed on the serum globulin contents compared with normal control. In the curative groups, the highest increase in serum total protein content and globulin were noticed in the rats treated with pomegranate peel ethanolic extracts. In the hepatoprotective and curative periods, rats treated with pomegranate peel and guava leaves ethanolic extracts or silymarin significantly decreased in the activities of ALT, AST, GGT, lysosomal enzymes (ACP, β-GAL and βNAG) and lipid peroxidation when compared with CCl4-treated group. Significantly increases were found in the activities of SOD and CAT enzymes when compared with CCl4-treated group. The content of reduced glutathione and GST in all treatments generally decreased as compared with normal group except treatment rats with guava leaves ethanolic extracts. In the hepatoprotective and curative period, the highest damages in liver tissue were found in the order carbon tetrachloride > guava leaf ethanolic extract > silymarin > pomegranate peel ethanolic extract > normal control. This clearly explained the reason for the antioxidant activity of guava leaves, pomegranate peel and silymarin. [Mohieldin Osman, Mahgoub Ahmed, Sanaa Mahfouz and Shahinda Elaby. Biochemical Studies On The Hepatoprotective Effects Of Pomegranate And Guava Ethanol Extracts. New York Science Journal 2011;4(3):27-39]. (ISSN: 1554-0200). http://www.sciencepub.net/newyork.
How to exploit twitter for public health monitoring?

OBJECTIVES
Detecting hints to public health threats as early as possible is crucial to prevent harm from the population. However, many disease surveillance strategies rely upon data whose collection requires explicit reporting (data transmitted from hospitals, laboratories or physicians). Collecting reports takes time so that the reaction time grows. Moreover, context information on individual cases is often lost in the collection process. This paper describes a system that tries to address these limitations by processing social media for identifying information on public health threats. The primary objective is to study the usefulness of the approach for supporting the monitoring of a population's health status.


METHODS
The developed system works in three main steps: Data from Twitter, blogs, and forums as well as from TV and radio channels are continuously collected and filtered by means of keyword lists. Sentences of relevant texts are classified relevant or irrelevant using a binary classifier based on support vector machines. By means of statistical methods known from biosurveillance, the relevant sentences are further analyzed and signals are generated automatically when unexpected behavior is detected. From the generated signals a subset is selected for presentation to a user by matching with user queries or profiles. In a set of evaluation experiments, public health experts assessed the generated signals with respect to correctness and relevancy. In particular, it was assessed how many relevant and irrelevant signals are generated during a specific time period.


RESULTS
The experiments show that the system provides information on health events identified in social media. Signals are mainly generated from Twitter messages posted by news agencies. Personal tweets, i.e. tweets from persons observing some symptoms, only play a minor role for signal generation given a limited volume of relevant messages. Relevant signals referring to real world outbreaks were generated by the system and monitored by epidemiologists for example during the European football championship. But, the number of relevant signals among generated signals is still very small: The different experiments yielded a proportion between 5 and 20% of signals regarded as "relevant" by the users. Vaccination or education campaigns communicated via Twitter as well as use of medical terms in other contexts than for outbreak reporting led to the generation of irrelevant signals.


CONCLUSIONS
The aggregation of information into signals results in a reduction of monitoring effort compared to other existing systems. Against expectations, only few messages are of personal nature, reporting on personal symptoms. Instead, media reports are distributed over social media channels. Despite the high percentage of irrelevant signals generated by the system, the users reported that the effort in monitoring aggregated information in form of signals is less demanding than monitoring huge social-media data streams manually. It remains for the future to develop strategies for reducing false alarms.