Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of telomerase activity in ovarian cystadenomas, low-malignant-potential tumors, and invasive carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE Inappropriate telomerase expression has been reported to be associated with the development and/or progression of malignancies. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to determine and evaluate the levels of telomerase activity in normal ovary, cystadenomas, low-malignant-potential tumors, and carcinomas of the ovary. METHODS In the present study, telomerase activity was examined in frozen tissue specimens of normal ovary (n = 6), ovarian cystadenomas (n = 13), ovarian low-malignant-potential (LMP) tumors (n = 12), and ovarian invasive carcinomas (n = 81). Clinicopathological information including age at diagnosis, histological grade, FIGO stage, presence of distant metastasis at diagnosis, and residual disease was available for all patients with ovarian carcinomas (n = 81). Telomerase activity was assessed by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP). Arbitrary values were assigned to processivity of telomerase activities based on the molecular weights of the telomeric repeat DNA ladders, and were graded as "negative," "moderate" (< or =99 bp), or "high" (>100 bp) activities. The specificity of telomerase activity was determined by the pretreatment of telomerase-positive control or tumor samples with RNase that led to the abolition of the activity. In addition, to determine the possibility of false negativity due to the presence of telomerase inhibitors, TRAP assay was performed on each of the telomerase-negative specimens by mixing them individually with the telomerase-positive control. RESULTS Telomerase activity in the progression of ovarian carcinogenesis was evaluated. In comparison with normal ovary/cystadenoma (32%), a much higher frequency of the moderate activity was observed in LMP tumors (67%) or invasive carcinomas (57%), suggesting a close association between the latter two categories. The results reflect a subpopulation of telomerase-positive LMP tumor cells with the potential to develop invasive carcinomas. None of the specimens of the benign or LMP tumors exhibited high activity. In contrast, 18% of ovarian invasive carcinomas showed high telomerase activity (P = 0.013, Fisher exact test) and further 57%, moderate activity (75% in all). A statistically significant difference was observed in the expression of telomerase activity between normal ovary/benign cystadenomas and ovarian invasive carcinomas (P = 0.001, chi(2) test). CONCLUSIONS The study showed a high prevalence of telomerase activity in LMP tumors or invasive carcinomas, the high levels of telomerase activity being associated exclusively with the invasive ovarian carcinomas. Therefore, the levels of processivity of telomerase activity and evidence of its statistically significant association with ovarian carcinoma suggest its role in the progression of ovarian carcinogenesis.
ANALYZING THE PERFORMANCE OF ISLAMIC BANKING IN INDONESIA AND MALAYSIA: MAQASID INDEX APPROACH

The discourse of the presence of Maqasid Index as an alternative approach to measure the performance of Islamic banking become broadly and extensively discussed among Islamic scholars. It is because the Islamic banking has different concept than the conventional bank both in theory and practice, thus the Islamic banks should have they own benchmark to measure their performance. Therefore, Maqasid Index which more directed at the aims and objectives of sharia , become proper benchmark to measure the performance of Islamic banking. This research would like to measure and to compare the performance of Islamic banking industry in Indonesia and Malaysia using Maqasid Index approach with SAW (Simple Additive the Weighting) method. The context of this research is Islamic banking industry in Indonesia and Malaysia which represented by Bank Syariah Mandiri from Indonesia and Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad from Malaysia. This research also will use secondary data from year 2013-2014. The result found that from the first and third objective ( Education/ Tadlihb al-Fardh ), Islamic bank in Malaysia which represented by BIMB depicted better performance which reached 38.37% while BSM depicted only 5.48%. For the second objective ( Justice/ Al-Adl ), BSM showed better performance which reached 17.33%. For the third objective ( Welfare / Maslahah ), BIMB lead upon BSM which reached 103.25% and 78.89% accordingly. From the calculation of Maqasid Index rank, BIMB take the first place which reached 13.79%. Whilst, BSM take the second place of this Maqasid Index rank which reached 11.14%.
Changes in swimming technique during time to exhaustion at freely chosen and controlled stroke rates

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess technical changes during constrained swimming in time-to-exhaustion tests. Ten swimmers of national standard performed a maximal 400-m front crawl and two sets of exhaustion tests at 95%, 100%, and 110% of mean 400-m speed. In the first set (free), swimmers had to maintain their speeds until exhaustion and mean stroke rate was recorded for each test. In the second set (controlled), the same speed and individual corresponding stroke rate were imposed. The durations of the exhaustion tests, relative durations of the stroke phases, and arm coordination were analysed. For each speed in the “controlled” set, the exhaustion tests were shorter. Moreover, variables were consistent, suggesting a stabilization of stroke technique. Under the free condition, stroke rate increased to compensate for the decrease in stroke length. At the same time, swimmers reduced the relative duration of their non-propulsive phases in favour of the propulsive phases. Thus, swimmers changed their arm coordination, which came close to an opposition mode. These two constraints enable swimmers both to maintain their stroking characteristics and develop compensatory mechanisms to maintain speed. Moreover, stroke rate can be seen as a useful tool for controlling arm technique during paced exercise.
Sparsity-undersampling tradeoff of compressed sensing in the complex domain

In this paper, recently developed ONE-L1 algorithms for compressed sensing are applied to complex-valued signals and sampling matrices. The optimal and iterative solution of ONE-L1 algorithms enables empirical investigation and evaluation of the sparsity-undersampling tradeoff of ℓ1 minimization of complex-valued signals. A remarkable finding is that, not only there exists a sharp phase transition for the complex case determining the behavior of the sparsity-undersampling tradeoff, but also this phase transition is different and superior to that for the real case, providing a significantly improved success phase in the transition plane.
Opera Tions Research Center Working Paper Single Machine Scheduling with Release Dates Single Machine Scheduling with Release Dates

We consider the scheduling problem of minimizing the average weighted completion time of n jobs with release dates on a single machine. We first study two linear programming relax-ations of the problem, one based on a time-indexed formulation, the other on a completion-time formulation. We show their equivalence by proving that a O(n log n) greedy algorithm leads to optimal solutions to both relaxations. The proof relies on the notion of mean busy times of jobs, a concept which enhances our understanding of these LP relaxations. Based on the greedy solution, we describe two simple randomized approximation algorithms, which are guaranteed to deliver feasible schedules with expected objective value within factors of 1.7451 and 1.6853, respectively, of the optimum. They are based on the concept of common and independent a-points, respectively. The analysis implies in particular that the worst-case relative error of the LP relaxations is at most 1.6853, and we provide instances showing that it is at least e/(e-1) 1.5819. Both algorithms may be derandomized, their deterministic versions running in O(n 2) time. The randomized algorithms also apply to the on-line setting, in which jobs arrive dynamically over time and one must decide which job to process without knowledge of jobs that will be released afterwards.
Audio-Tactile Interaction at the Nodes of a Block-Based Physical Sound Synthesis Model

Auditory feedback plays an important role for many educational technologies. This work is part of an on-going study that aims to explore whether the aggregation of sound to visuals on a tabletop may enhance users’ interaction and be beneficial for the learning of abstract science concepts. In this paper, we present findings from our initial study in which a number of sounds were elicited, and their mappings to scientific concepts were explored and verified, both with and without visuals. Issues were raised regarding attributes (like pitch), levels of abstraction, duration and continuity of sounds, as well as connection between sounds and visuals. Author
The Ticket To Retention: A Classroom Assessment Technique Designed To Improve Student Learning

Classroom assessment techniques (CATs) or other closure activities are widely promoted for use in college classrooms. However, research on whether CATs improve student learning are mixed. The authors posit that the results are mixed because CATs were designed to “help teachers find out what students are learning in the classroom and how well students are learning it” (Anglo & Cross, 1993, p.4) rather than to help students learn the material. Thus, in order for CATs to be effective for helping students learn, they should be redesigned to focus on student retention of concepts. The Ticket to Retention 2 (TtR2) is designed to do just that.
Functional antibodies to leukocyte adhesion molecules in antithymocyte globulins1

Background. Polyclonal antithymocyte globulins (ATG) induce T-cell depletion and functional impairment of nondeleted lymphocytes. Interference of ATG with the main leukocyte surface molecules involved in cellular adhesion and leukocyte-endothelium interaction was investigated in the present study. Methods. In three rabbit ATG, the authors measured antibodies to integrins, &bgr;2-integrin ligands, and chemokine receptors by flow cytometry; chemotactic responses; and down-modulation of cell surface expression on lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils. Results. Antibodies to CD11a/CD18 (leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 [LFA-1]) present in ATG induced a dose-dependent down-modulation of cell surface expression of this &bgr;2 integrin on lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils. In contrast, anti–LFA-1 monoclonal antibodies did not induce LFA-1 modulation unless cross-linked by a second antibody. ATG also contained functional antibodies to the &bgr;1 integrin CD49d/CD29 (VLA-4), the &agr;4&bgr;7 integrin, CD50, CD54, and CD102 but not to CD62L. ATG were shown to bind to CXCR4 and CCR7 on lymphocytes, CXCR4, and CCR5 on monocytes; to down-modulate cell surface expression of CCR7; and to decrease monocyte chemotactic response to CCL5 (RANTES) and lymphocyte chemotactic response to CCL19 (MIP-3&bgr;). Conclusion. These results show that ATG may interfere with leukocyte responses to chemotactic signals but mostly inhibit the expression of integrins required for firm cellular adhesion. The latter property of inhibition is not shared by monoclonal antibodies, and it may contribute to decreasing graft cellular infiltration during acute rejection and possibly after postischemic reperfusion.
Automatic localization of cerebral cortical malformations using fractal analysis

Malformations of cortical development (MCDs) encompass a variety of brain disorders affecting the normal development and organization of the brain cortex. The relatively low incidence and the extreme heterogeneity of these disorders hamper the application of classical group level approaches for the detection of lesions. Here, we present a geometrical descriptor for a voxel level analysis based on fractal geometry, then define two similarity measures to detect the lesions at single subject level. The pipeline was applied to 15 normal children and nine pediatric patients affected by MCDs following two criteria, maximum accuracy (WACC) and minimization of false positives (FPR), and proved that our lesion detection algorithm is able to detect and locate abnormalities of the brain cortex with high specificity (WACC = 85%, FPR = 96%), sensitivity (WACC = 83%, FPR = 63%) and accuracy (WACC = 85%, FPR = 90%). The combination of global and local features proves to be effective, making the algorithm suitable for the detection of both focal and diffused malformations. Compared to other existing algorithms, this method shows higher accuracy and sensitivity.
Allogeneic RBC units and PBPC collection with rHuEpo

Background and objectives: Reducing exposure of transplant recipients to hom ol gous blood may be of interest. This may be achieved by procuring d onor-derived RBC units, collecting more PBPC with a combination of G-CSF + rHuEpo and by adminis ter ng rHuEpo posttransplant. Design and methods : Eight ABO-compatible donors were treated with rHu Epo and IV iron to collect 12 RBC units for use in their recipient. PB PC were collected after mobilization with rHuEpo and G-CSF in the same donors. The recipients receiv d G-CSF and rHuEpo posttransplant. A control group of 10 donor/recipient pairs received G-CSF alone for PBPC mobilization and posttransplant. Results: Eighty-six out of 91 planned RBC units were colle cted in the donors without significant Hct decrease because of a 4-fold increase in RBC pr oduction despite functional iron deficiency. After 2 leukaphereses, the cumulative yields of NC and CFU-GM were lower in the study group while those of BFU-E, CFU-Mix and CD34+ cells were similar. However, erythroid recovery was significantly accelerated in the study group. Interpretation and conclusions: (1) Collection of 12 units RBC within 6 weeks is feasible with rHuEpo and IV iron; (2) this strategy allows a dram atic reduction in recipient exposure to homologous blood; (3) rHuEpo has no synergistic eff ect with G-CSF for mobilization of PBPC in normal donors and may even be deleterious; and (4) rHuEpo in the recipient may enhance erythroid engraftment.
Predictions of Daily Milk and Fat Yields, Major Groups of Fatty Acids, and C18:1 cis-9 from Single Milking Data without a Milking Interval

Simple Summary Reducing the frequency of milk recording decreases the costs of official milk recording. However, this approach can negatively affect the accuracy of predicting daily yields. Equations to predict daily yield from morning or evening data were developed in this study for fatty milk components from traits recorded easily by milk recording organizations. The correlation values ranged from 96.4% to 97.6% (96.9% to 98.3%) when the daily yields were estimated from the morning (evening) milkings. The simplicity of the proposed models which do not include the milking interval should facilitate their use by breeding and milk recording organizations. Abstract Reducing the frequency of milk recording would help reduce the costs of official milk recording. However, this approach could also negatively affect the accuracy of predicting daily yields. This problem has been investigated in numerous studies. In addition, published equations take into account milking intervals (MI), and these are often not available and/or are unreliable in practice. The first objective of this study was to propose models in which the MI was replaced by a combination of data easily recorded by dairy farmers. The second objective was to further investigate the fatty acids (FA) present in milk. Equations to predict daily yield from AM or PM data were based on a calibration database containing 79,971 records related to 51 traits [milk yield (expected AM, expected PM, and expected daily); fat content (expected AM, expected PM, and expected daily); fat yield (expected AM, expected PM, and expected daily; g/day); levels of seven different FAs or FA groups (expected AM, expected PM, and expected daily; g/dL milk), and the corresponding FA yields for these seven FA types/groups (expected AM, expected PM, and expected daily; g/day)]. These equations were validated using two distinct external datasets. The results obtained from the proposed models were compared to previously published results for models which included a MI effect. The corresponding correlation values ranged from 96.4% to 97.6% when the daily yields were estimated from the AM milkings and ranged from 96.9% to 98.3% when the daily yields were estimated from the PM milkings. The simplicity of these proposed models should facilitate their use by breeding and milk recording organizations.
Contribution of KATP+ channels to coronary vasomotor tone regulation is enhanced in exercising swine with a recent myocardial infarction.

Previous studies demonstrated a decreased flow reserve in the hypertrophied myocardium early after myocardial infarction (MI). Previously, we reported that exacerbation of hemodynamic abnormalities and neurohumoral activation during exercise caused slight impairment of myocardial O(2) supply in swine with a recent MI. We hypothesized that increased metabolic coronary vasodilation [via ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)(+)) channels and adenosine] may have partially compensated for the increased extravascular compressive forces and increased vasoconstrictor neurohormones, thereby preventing a more severe impairment of myocardial O(2) balance. Chronically instrumented swine were exercised on a treadmill up to 85% of maximum heart rate. Under resting conditions, adenosine receptor blockade [8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT), 5 mg/kg i.v. ] and K(ATP)(+) channel blockade (glibenclamide, 3 mg/kg i.v.) produced similar decreases in myocardial O(2) supply in normal and MI swine. However, while glibenclamide's effect waned in normal swine during exercise (P < 0.05), it was maintained in MI swine. 8-PT's effect was maintained during exercise and was not different between normal and MI swine. Finally, in normal swine combined treatment with 8-PT and glibenclamide produced a vasoconstrictor response that equaled the sum of the responses to blockade of the individual pathways. In contrast, in MI swine the vasoconstrictor response to 8-PT and glibenclamide was similar to that produced by glibenclamide alone. In conclusion, despite significant hemodynamic abnormalities in swine with a recent MI, myocardial O(2) supply and O(2) consumption in remodeled myocardium are still closely matched during exercise. This close matching is supported by increased K(ATP)(+) channel-mediated coronary vasodilation. Although the net vasodilator influence of adenosine was unchanged in remodeled myocardium, it became exclusively dependent on K(ATP)(+) channel opening.
What is the pathogenesis of acne?

Abstract: For a long time, the mantra of acne pathogenesis debates has been that acne vulgaris lesions develop when (supposedly largely androgen‐mediated) increased sebum production, ductal hypercornification, and propionibacteria come together with local inflammatory process in the unlucky affected individual. And yet, the exact sequence, precise interdependence, and choreography of pathogenic events in acne, especially the ‘match that lights the fire’ have remained surprisingly unclear, despite the venerable tradition of acne research over the past century.
Swarm-GAP: A Swarm Based Approximation Algorithm for E-GAP

Coordinating efforts of teams of professionals to search and rescue victims of emergency situations is a key point in disaster management. The disasters scenarios have been modelled as a distributed and large scale Extended Generalized Allocation Problem (E-GAP). We propose a novel algorithm to approximate the solution of E-GAP based on the theoretical division of labor models from colonies of social insects (swarms), called Swarm-GAP. This algorithm uses a probabilistic decision model, based on the social insects tendency of performing certain tasks. Each agent has an individual threshold used together with a stimulus associated with the tasks to compute that tendency. The Swarm-GAP means low communication and uses simple mechanisms. We show that the Swarm-GAP achieves rewards very close to the ones achieved by a greedy centralized approach.
Weather Features Associated with Aircraft Icing Conditions: A Case Study

In the context of aviation weather hazards, the study of aircraft icing is very important because of several accidents attributed to it over recent decades. On February 1, 2012, an unusual meteorological situation caused severe icing of a C-212-200, an aircraft used during winter 2011-2012 to study winter cloud systems in the Guadarrama Mountains of the central Iberian Peninsula. Observations in this case were from a MP-3000A microwave radiometric profiler, which acquired atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles continuously every 2.5 minutes. A Cloud Aerosol and Precipitation Spectrometer (CAPS) was also used to study cloud hydrometeors. Finally, ice nuclei concentration was measured in an isothermal cloud chamber, with the goal of calculating concentrations in the study area. Synoptic and mesoscale meteorological conditions were analysed using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. It was demonstrated that topography influenced generation of a mesolow and gravity waves on the lee side of the orographic barrier, in the region where the aircraft experienced icing. Other factors such as moisture, wind direction, temperature, atmospheric stability, and wind shear were decisive in the appearance of icing. This study indicates that icing conditions may arise locally, even when the synoptic situation does not indicate any risk.
The influence of estradiol and progesterone on the concentrations of uterine oxytocin receptors and plasma PGFM in response to oxytocin in ovariectomized gilts.

Peripubertal gilts (n = 25) were treated with corn oil (CO) or ovarian steroids, one month following an ovariectomy. The first day of treatment was assigned as the first day of the experiment. The gilts received: Group (Gr) I (n = 4)--CO (2 mL x day(-1) from 1st to 12th day), Gr II (n = 4) and Gr III (n = 4)--progesterone (P4; 10 to 100 mg x day(-1) from 1st to 12th day), Gr IV (n = 5)--estradiol benzoate (EB; 400 microg x day(-1) from 1st to 3rd day), Gr V (n = 4) and Gr VI (n = 4)--EB + P4 (EB 400 microg x day(-1) from 1st to 3rd day, 20 microg x day(-1) at 6th and 9th day, 50 microg at 12th day plus P4 10 to 100 mg from 4th to 15th day). All gilts were injected with oxytocin (OT; 20 IU; i.v.) on the following days of the experiment: 13th (Gr I and Gr II), 15th (Gr III and Gr IV), 16th (Gr V) and 18th (Gr VI). Concentrations of the PGF2alpha metabolite--PGFM were determined in blood samples, collected from 30 min before to 120 min after OT injection. Baseline PGFM concentrations (30 min before OT) differed among treatment groups and were the highest in Gr V and Gr VI (P < 0.01 vs. other groups). The magnitude of the PGFM response to OT increased only in four of the five gilts of Gr IV and in three of the four gilts of Gr VI, and it was higher (P = 0.009) in Gr VI than in Gr IV. In the remaining groups, PGFM concentrations did not increase above the baseline in response to OT. The day after OT injection, oxytocin receptors (OTR) were found in the uterine tissues of all animals studied. The lowest OTR concentrations were in Gr I--75.5 +/- 11.2 fmol x mg protein(-1) and the highest in Gr IV--712.9 +/- 86.7 fmol x mg protein(-1); (P < 0.05 vs. other groups). The values of K of OTR differed among groups (P < 0.001) and ranged from 1.62 +/- 0.44 nM in Gr I to 12. 08 +/- 1.9 nM in Gr VI. A positive correlation (r = 0.54; P < 0.01) between plasma E2 and uterine OTR concentrations was observed. In conclusion, E2 and P4 are involved in both PGF2 synthesis/secretion and OTR formation, however, full PGF response to OT does not develop before puberty. Estrogens are evident stimulators of uterine OTR synthesis ingilts.