Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vascular Endothelial Injury and Apoptosis in Rats with Severe Acute Pancreatitis

We explored mechanisms of vascular endothelial injury that lead to systemic multiple organ failure by detecting the soluble endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR), von Willebrand factor (vWF), serum nitric oxide (NO), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and Bcl-2 mRNA and Bax mRNA expression in a severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) rat model. Compared to controls, the levels of TNF-α, vWF, and sEPCR were significantly increased in the experimental group at 12 hours and 24 hours and the NO level was significantly decreased. After 12 hours, the aortic endothelial apoptosis index and Bax mRNA expression in aortic endothelial cells had increased in the experimental group, but Bcl-2 mRNA levels had decreased. All these changes appeared at both 12 h and 24 hours. The results indicated that vascular endothelial injury and apoptosis markers were elevated in SAP. Endothelial injury and increased apoptosis in the experimental group were related to the increased expression of TNF-α.
Implementation of Directional Sources Inwave Field Synthesis

Wave field synthesis (WFS) is a spatial audio reproduction technique aiming at physically synthesizing a desired sound field. Typically, virtual sound sources are rendered as emitting spherical or plane waves. In this paper we present an approach to the implementation of sources with arbitrary directivity. The approach is based on the description of the directional properties of a source by a set of circular harmonics. A time domain expression of the loudspeaker driving signals is derived allowing an efficient implementation. Consequences of sampling and truncation of the secondary source distribution as occurring in typical installations of WFS systems are discussed and simulated reproduction results are shown.
Lamellar Granule Secretion Starts before the Establishment of Tight Junction Barrier for Paracellular Tracers in Mammalian Epidermis

Defects in epidermal barrier function and/or vesicular transport underlie severe skin diseases including ichthyosis and atopic dermatitis. Tight junctions (TJs) form a single layered network in simple epithelia. TJs are important for both barrier functions and vesicular transport. Epidermis is stratified epithelia and lamellar granules (LGs) are secreted from the stratum granulosum (SG) in a sequential manner. Previously, continuous TJs and paracellular permeability barriers were found in the second layer (SG2) of SG in mice, but their fate and correlation with LG secretion have been poorly understood. We studied epidermal TJ-related structures in humans and in mice and found occludin/ZO-1 immunoreactive multilayered networks spanning the first layer of SG (SG1) and SG2. Paracellular penetration tracer passed through some TJs in SG2, but not in SG1. LG secretion into the paracellular tracer positive spaces started below the level of TJs of SG1. Our study suggests that LG-secretion starts before the establishment of TJ barrier in the mammalian epidermis.
Gene ranking: An entropy & decision tree based approach

The Cancer disease involves abnormal cell growth and has the potential to spread to other parts of the body. Today, technology has provided us with many methods to study the pattern of thousands of cancer gene expressions simultaneously. Often microarray gene expression data comprises of a huge number of genes and a very small number of samples or observations. Our task is to identify those genes that are most significant in the expression of a particular disease, in this case, cancer. In order to achieve that, it is useful to rank the genes. In this article, we propose a novel method for ranking genes using Relative Entropy and Decision Trees. Relative Entropy has been used to reduce the dimensionality of the microarray dataset and rank the genes. The final reduced set of genes is then used for classification using decision trees with 10 folds cross-validation. The proposed method has been applied on eight benchmark datasets, and results show that it can reach 70-100 % classification accuracy with a very few dominant genes.
A Predictive Approach to Help-Desk Response Generation

We are developing a corpus-based approach for the prediction of help-desk responses from features in customers' emails, where responses are represented at two levels of granularity: document and sentence. We present an automatic and human-based evaluation of our system's responses. The automatic evaluation involves textual comparisons between generated responses and responses composed by help-desk operators. Our results showthat both levels of granularity produce good responses, addressing inquiries of different kinds. The human-based evaluation measures response informativeness, and confirms our conclusion that both levels of granularity produce useful responses.
Docetaxel and its potential in the treatment of refractory esophagogastric adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and stomach are a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. For patients with advanced disease, first-line chemotherapy with platinum–fluoropyrimidine combinations prolongs survival, but inevitably the disease progresses with a median progression-free survival of approximately 6 months. At the time of progression, approximately 40–50% of patients remain fit and eligible for second-line treatment. Docetaxel has been extensively studied in this chemorefractory setting, mostly in small single arm studies, either as a single agent or in combination with platinum agents, fluoropyrimidines or anthracyclines. However, two randomized controlled trials published since 2012 have convincingly shown that treatment with docetaxel modestly prolongs survival compared with best supportive care alone. Moreover, treatment with docetaxel is associated with relief from cancer-related constitutional and gastrointestinal symptoms with manageable, predominantly haematological, toxicity. Therefore, it represents a valuable treatment option for patients with relapsed esophagogastric cancer. Nevertheless, in view of the short survival time for the majority of these patients, further research is necessary to identify, on the one hand, combinations with targeted agents that will further improve outcomes and, on the other, biomarkers that will allow selection of those patients most likely to benefit.
Clinical and Biochemical Determinants of Bone Metabolism and Bone Mass in Adolescent Female Patients with Anorexia Nervosa

Among pathologies prevalent in western societies, anorexia nervosa has increased over the last decade. Its effects on bone mass need to be defined, and prognostic factors, either clinical or biochemical, could aid clinicians in individual patient management. To determine which clinical and/or biochemical parameters could be related to bone mass status in adolescent female anorexia nervosa patients, 73 female patients were classified according to different stages of their illness and studied in terms of clinical and biochemical parameters and bone densitometric mineral content at lumbar spine. Patients (age 17.2 ± 1.7 y, mean ± SD) with Tanner pubertal stage 5, regular menstruation for more than 3 mo before the onset of secondary amenorrhea, and diagnosed with anorexia nervosa were consecutively studied and classified in three clinical situations:I) active phase (34 patients): undernourished and amenorrheic;II) weight recovered but still amenorrheic (20 patients);III) fully recovered (19 patients). Clinical data were recorded at the time of bone density measurement, concomitant with blood sample extraction for study of IGF-I, IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), IGFBP-1, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, prealbumin, amino-terminal propeptide of procollagen III, osteocalcin, bone alkaline phosphatase, carboxy-terminal propeptide of procollagen I, amino-terminal propeptide of procollagen I, carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen I, 25-OH-vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D, and parathormone. In addition, a 24-h urine collection was made for cortisol, GH, deoxypyridinoline, amino-terminal telopeptide of collagen I, and calcium and creatinine content analysis. IGF-I, estradiol, and biochemical bone formation markers were higher and IGFBP-1, sex hormone-binding globulin, and biochemical bone resorption markers were lower in the weight-recovered stages (stages II and III) compared with the active phase (stage I). Bone formation markers correlated positively with body mass index SD score and IGF-I, whereas bone resorption markers correlated negatively with body mass index SD score and estradiol. Although no statistically significant differences regarding lumbar spine bone mineral density SD score values were recorded among the three stages of the illness, the proportion of osteopenic patients was clearly lower among stage III patients. The actual bone mineral density was inversely related to the duration of amenorrhea and directly related to duration of postmenarcheal menses before amenorrhea. In addition, a subset of osteopenic patients (five of 19) in the fully clinically recovered group with accelerated bone turnover was identified. Normal circulating estrogen level exposure time predicts actual bone mineral density at lumbar spine in young adolescent anorexia nervosa patients. In addition to psychiatric and nutritional interventions, estrogen-deprivation periods must be shortened to less than 20 mo. Patients remaining osteopenic at full clinical recovery require additional follow-up studies.
Urban Growth in Developing Countries: A Review of Projections and Predictions. Croissance urbaine dans les pays en voie de developpement: recapitulation des previsions et predictions. El crecimiento urbano en los paises en desarrollo: examen de las proyecciones y predicciones

BECAUSE THE YEAR 2000 figures prominently in urban population projections , it is timely to assess whether the United Nations' earliest projections of urban population growth in developing countries, made in the 1970s, have been reasonably accurate, and if not, why. Despite being accompanied by advice to interpret urban population projections with caution and not as forecasts (United Nations 1980), these early projections of rapid growth fueled common perceptions of an impending " urban population explosion " in poor countries (Bairoch 1988; Schiffer 1989), while providing many governments with a pretext for concentrating economic resources and focusing population control efforts, such as restrictions on in-migration , in big cities (Badshah 1996; United Nations 1981). The recent availability of data from the 1990-round censuses makes it equally opportune to examine whether influential predictive models of urban and city growth in developing countries, published around 1980, have remained robust over time. The most prominent of these models were pessimistic in assessing the prospects for modifying rapid urban growth through direct interventions in cities and against urban in-migration. Economists concluded that pricing policies biased in favor of cities, as well as national development strategies and global economic conditions that spurred manufacturing rather than agricultural productivity, made rapid urban growth until the year 2000 likely (Kelley and Williamson 1984b: Table 6.6). Meanwhile , demographers linked city growth rates closely with national population growth rates, implying that municipal authorities and planners were virtually powerless in controlling the future sizes of their cities (United Nations 1980: 43). These empirical studies supported Lipton's (1976) thesis of " urban bias, " which contends that economic development policies of governments in low-income countries favor cities to such an extent as to un
Morphometric and Histopathological Study of Gastric Epithelial Lesions with special reference to proliferative activity

Disorders of the gastric epithelium are frequent cause of clinical disease with inflammatory and neoplastic lesions being particularly common. Adenocarcinoma is the commonest gastric malignancy, commonly arising from the antrum or lesser curvature. Morphometry and immuno staining help in classifying different lesions of stomach, specially when there is dilemma in concluding a lesion either benign, premalignant or malignant particularly in small biopsy specimens. The aim is to assess the role of morphometry and proliferative markers in diagnosis of gastric epithelial lesions. In this study, total 100 gastric biopsy specimens from 100 patients were included and analysed by H&E stained sections using morphometric parameters as well as proliferative markers like Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Statistically significant differences found in between the gastric premalignant and malignant epithelial lesions in terms of morphometric parameters and in expression of proliferative markers. Morphometry and immunohistochemistry help in the proper diagnosis of different gastric epithelial lesions particularly those lying in the grey zone on routine histopathological sections.
Comparison of Monocanalicular Stenting and Balloon Dacryoplasty in Secondary Treatment of Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction After Failed Primary Probing

Purpose: To determine the success of monocanalicular stenting and balloon dacryoplasty as secondary treatment options for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction after failed probing surgery. Methods: An interventional case series of consecutive secondary balloon dacryoplasty and monocanalicular stenting for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction was reviewed. These secondary treatments were used in cases in which a bicanalicular stent would have been used in the past. Seventy-seven nasolacrimal systems in children with epiphora after probing and irrigation surgery were treated with a monocanalicular stent or balloon dacryoplasty. The patients were then evaluated at least 3 months after surgery or after stent removal by using a dye disappearance test. Cases in which there was no significant dye at 5 minutes were considered a success. Cases with residual dye or history of persistent tearing were considered failures. Results: The monocanalicular stent was used in 35 nasolacrimal systems, whereas balloon dacryoplasty was used in 42 nasolacrimal ducts. The mean age of treatment was 25.2 months for the monocanalicular stent group and 25.8 months for the balloon group. Overall, 32 of 35 (91%) nasolacrimal ducts responded to monocanalicular stenting, whereas 36 of 42 (86%) responded to balloon treatment. When the patient group was further stratified by age, the monocanalicular stenting was 94% successful in children younger than age 2 years and 89% successful for children older than 2 years. The balloon treatment had a success rate of 91% in the younger group and 79% in the older group. Chi-square statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the two treatments or on the basis of age stratification within each treatment group. Conclusions: Monocanalicular stenting and balloon dacryoplasty are excellent secondary therapies for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction after initial probing and irrigation surgery has failed. These two treatment options are now our procedures of choice for secondary surgery.
Peripheral Vision

How to address empirically the calculative character of markets without dissolving it? In our paper, we propose a theoretical framework that helps to deal with markets without suspending their calculative properties. In the first section, we construct a broad definition of calculation, grounded on the anthropology of science and techniques. In the next sections, we apply this definition to three constitutive elements of markets: economic goods, economic agents and economic exchanges. First, we examine the question of the calculability of goods: in order to be calculated, goods must be calculable. In the following section, we introduce the notion of calculative distributed agencies to understand how these calculable goods are actually calculated. Thirdly, we consider the rules and material devices that organize the encounter between (and aggregation of) individual supplies and demands, i.e. the specific organizations that allow for a calculated exchange and a market output. Those three elements define concrete markets as collective organized devices that calculate compromises on the values of goods. In each, we encounter different versions of our broad definition of calculation, which we illustrate with examples, mainly taken from the fields of financial markets and mass retail.
Modeling the Individual Determinants of Research Utilization

Despite more than two decades of investigation, our accumulated knowledge about what influences nurses’use of research is underdeveloped. This study’s objectives were to develop and test a series of structural equation models that included individual factors believed to influence research utilization. Estimates of the models were obtained using maximum likelihood estimation. Model fit was assessed by examining chi-square, the adjusted goodness of fit index, and the standardized residuals. Within a simple model that permitted only direct effects and controlled for instrumental, conceptual, and persuasive research utilization, 3 of 26 concepts exerted significant effects on research utilization. These were a positive attitude toward research, belief suspension, and in-services attended. These results support the assertion that our descriptive body of research on the determinants of research utilization is underdeveloped, limiting our ability to design and test effective strategies to increase the use of research findings in nursing practice.
English Relativization and Learners' Problems.

The present study aims at investigating the learning strategies on which Thai EFL learners rely in learning English relative clauses (ERCs). Not only do these strategies facilitate their ERC acquisition, but they are also found to lead them to certain kinds of problems. Such problems related to the learning strategies are first language transfer, transfer of training, avoidance, and overgeneralization. Thai learners seem to transfer a lack of some relative clause types in their native language to learning L2 ERCs. They also avoid the RC constructions, e.g. the object-of-preposition relative and the genitive relative, as well as the relativizers whose and whom, which they probably consider too complex or unfamiliar. In addition, the previous ERC instruction apparently has a negative effect on their subsequent ERC learning, making the learners overproduce the relative marker that. Furthermore, they even extend the use of that to nonrestrictive RCs, which is grammatically incorrect in English.
Cross-layer solutions to performance problems in VoIP over WLANs

The design of WLANs was meant to extend Ethernet LANs in the most transparent way, but no particular mechanism was deployed in order to support real-time applications natively. At present VoIP calls are becoming customary, and IEEE802.11 WLANs must face the provision of guaranteed quality of service. In practice, QoS should be provided somehow a posteriori on top of the existing standard. In this paper, we address some concerns on the efficiency of WLANs for VoIP provision already remarked in literature and analyze possible solutions to increase the voice capacity of DCF IEEE802.11 WLANs. We consider two candidate solutions, the VA [1] and the M-M [2] cross-layer schemes. The efficiency of such mechanisms is evaluated in order to assess the performance gain compared to existing solutions. We provide extensive simulation results, proving that the advantage is significant, while requiring minor changes compared to the current IEEE802.11 standard.
Noncontact Multiple Heartbeats Detection and Subject Localization Using UWB Impulse Doppler Radar

In this letter, a phase-based algorithm based on a logarithmic method, applicable to UWB radars and suitable to real-time monitoring, is proposed to detect the phase variations of reflected pulses caused by the tiny cardiac motions. Compared with conventional FFT vital signs detection method, this algorithm demonstrates advantage in respiration harmonics suppression and avoidance of intermodulation between respiration and heartbeat signals. Furthermore, it is experimentally shown that UWB Doppler radar is capable of multiple heartbeats detection and subject identification/localization.
Two‐Stage Designs for Gene–Disease Association Studies

Summary. The goal of this article is to describe a two‐stage design that maximizes the power to detect gene‐disease associations when the principal design constraint is the total cost, represented by the total number of gene evaluations rather than the total number of individuals. In the first stage, all genes of interest are evaluated on a subset of individuals. The most promising genes are then evaluated on additional subjects in the second stage. This will eliminate wastage of resources on genes unlikely to be associated with disease based on the results of the first stage. We consider the case where the genes are correlated and the case where the genes are independent. Using simulation results, it is shown that, as a general guideline when the genes are independent or when the correlation is small, utilizing 75% of the resources in stage 1 to screen all the markers and evaluating the most promising 10% of the markers with the remaining resources provides near‐optimal power for a broad range of parametric configurations. This translates to screening all the markers on approximately one quarter of the required sample size in stage 1.
An Infrastructureless Approach to Estimate Vehicular Density in Urban Environments

In Vehicular Networks, communication success usually depends on the density of vehicles, since a higher density allows having shorter and more reliable wireless links. Thus, knowing the density of vehicles in a vehicular communications environment is important, as better opportunities for wireless communication can show up. However, vehicle density is highly variable in time and space. This paper deals with the importance of predicting the density of vehicles in vehicular environments to take decisions for enhancing the dissemination of warning messages between vehicles. We propose a novel mechanism to estimate the vehicular density in urban environments. Our mechanism uses as input parameters the number of beacons received per vehicle, and the topological characteristics of the environment where the vehicles are located. Simulation results indicate that, unlike previous proposals solely based on the number of beacons received, our approach is able to accurately estimate the vehicular density, and therefore it could support more efficient dissemination protocols for vehicular environments, as well as improve previously proposed schemes.