Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Colorectal cancer screening in patients with ulcerative and crohn's colitis with use of colonoscopy, chromoendoscopy and confocal endomicroscopy

Background Patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's colitis have increased risk of colorectal cancer. Current screening endoscopy protocols based on white light endoscopy (WLE) and random biopsies are laborious and of uncertain sensitivity. Novel endoscopic techniques include chromoendoscopy (CE) and confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE). Aim The aim was to compare WLE and CE for the detection of intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN). Furthermore, we analysed the sensitivity and specificity of CE and CLE for the diagnosis of IEN. Methods The cohort consisted of 30 patients examined by WLE, CE with 0.4% indigocarmine, and by a CLE system Pentax EC-3870CIFK during one examination. Additional 15 patients were examined by conventional protocol only. Random biopsies and biopsies from all suspicious lesions were taken. We compared the number of IENs detected by WLE and CE and analysed the predictive values of CE and CLE for the histology diagnosis. Results There were 1584 random biopsies (35.2 per patient) taken. There were 78 targeted biopsies (1.7 per patient) taken in 24 of 45 patients examined by WLE and an additional 36 biopsies in 16 of 30 patients examined by CE (1.17 additional per patient). There were no IENs found on random biopsies versus six low-grade or high-grade IENs in four patients (two detected by WLE, four additional by CE) from targeted biopsies, P=0.02. A total of 100 suspicious lesions were detected and analysed by CE and histology. CLE could not examine 32 of 100 lesions (two of 30 flat vs. 30 of 70 pedunculated lesions, P=0.0002, odds ratio 10.5). The sensitivity of CE/CLE for low-grade or high-grade IEN was 100/100%, the specificity 96.8/98.4%, positive predictive value was 62.5/66.7% and negative predictive value was 100/100%. Conclusion Targeted biopsies are superior to random biopsies in the screening of IEN in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. CE increases the diagnostic yield of WLE. In our study CLE did not provide additional clinical benefits.
Acoustic absorption of porous materials produced by additive manufacturing with varying geometrics

This paper investigates the sound absorption capability of porous materials produced by additive manufacturing (sometimes known as 3D printing) with different geometrical parameters, where the porosity Φ, hole diameter d0, specimen thickness h and aspect ratio d0 /h are chosen for parametric study. The sound absorption coefficient of the specimens is experimentally measured by using a two-microphone impedance tube and the results indicate that the frequency of the peak absorption coefficient varies with porosity and the peak value is insensitive to the diameter of the holes but strongly correlated to the aspect ratio. Finally, the selection criterion of geometric parameters of 3D printed porous materials is established for achieving maximum sound absorption at a certain frequency.
Joint Power / Rate Optimization for CDMA-Based Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we address the problem of minimizing energy consumption in a CDMA wireless sensor network (WSN), where multiple sensor nodes transmit data simultaneously to a common remote sink. A comprehensive energy consumption model is proposed, which accounts for both the transmit and circuit energy. Energy consumption is minimized by jointly optimizing the transmit power and transmission time (or equivalently, the rate) for each active node in the network. The optimization problem is formulated as a non-convex optimization. Numerical as well as closed-form approximate analytical solutions are provided. For the numerical solution, we show that the formulation can be transformed into a convex geometric programming (GP), for which fast algorithms, such as Interior Point Method, can be applied. For the analytical solution, we prove that the joint power/time optimization can be decoupled into two sequential sub-problems: optimization of transmit power with transmission time serving as a parameter, and then optimization of the transmission time. We show that the first sub-problem is a linear programming while the second one can be well approximated as a convex programming problem. Accordingly, closed-form solutions are found for both sub-problems, and hence for the original formulation. Our results are verified through numerical examples and simulations.
Probing the Depths of Informant Discrepancies: Contextual Influences on Divergence and Convergence

This study examined how a contextual approach to child assessment can clarify the meaning of informant discrepancies by focusing on children's social experiences and their if…then reactions to them. In a sample of 123 children (M age = 13.30) referred to a summer program for children with behavior problems, parent–teacher agreement for syndromal measures of aggression and withdrawal was modest. Agreement remained low when informants assessed children's reactions to specific peer and adult events. The similarity of these events increased consistency within informants but had no effect on agreement between parents and teachers. In contrast, similarity in the pattern of social events children encountered at home and school predicted informant agreement for syndromal aggression and for aggression to aversive events. Our results underscore the robustness of informant discrepancies and illustrate how they can be studied as part of the larger mosaic of person–environment interactions.
Techno-economic evaluation for the improvement of MSW collection in Somaliland and Puntland

This paper is based on a study, which aim is to provide an overview of the current MSW management in the main cities in Somaliland and Puntland and to identify strategies to improve the present situation. In particular, this article illustrates assessments concerning waste collection and technical solutions identified for its improvement, whereas waste treatment and disposal phases will be discussed in a further paper. The survey, which has been carried out in close collaboration with local administrators and technicians, has shown that MSW management is very lacking and needs both structural and operational actions. Waste collection in the surveyed cities covers 65% of population at its best, whereas it is substantially absent in Gardo and Sheik. The extension of waste collection service to the entire population of each city would need investment costs varying between 17,500 USD for Sheik and 200,000 USD for Galkayo, whereas total operational costs would vary between 1.17 USD/ inh/y in Boroma and 5.73 USD/inh/y in Garowe. Anyway, technical interventions are necessary to provide a larger number of citizens with a regular waste collection service and they should be preceded and accompanied by public awareness campaigns on environmental protection and capacity building services addressed to local administrators and technicians.
Habituation in a protozoan Vorticella convallaria.

The response of Vorticella convallaria to electrical and mechanical stimuli was investigated. It was shown that: (I) V. convallaria becomes habituatcd independently to both mechanical and electrical stimuli if these are repeated at I0 sec. intervals. (2) The habituation is more rapid to lower intensities of stimuli. (3) The form of the response curve is similar for both types of stimulus. (4) No habituation was obtained when the animals were stimulated while in deionized water. No response was obtained while they were placed in a solution of CaCl2 but continuous contraction was induced in a solution of KOH. Other potassium and sodium salts in deionized water gave response curves similar to those obtained under normal conditions.
Resistance Training-Induced Changes in Human Muscle Protein Synthesis and Fibre Morphology

Muscle proteim are in a continuous state of recycling. This process involves a balance between synthesis and breakdown. These opposing processes dictate muscle protein gains and losses. Musck hypertrophy occurs when synthesis exceeds breakdown. In order for the accretion of new muscle proteins, a chronic state of net positive muscle protein balance (synthesis> breakdown) is required. Resistance exerdse is a potent stimulus of protein turnover and the combined effects of exercise and feeding have shown to be necessary for net protein anabolism. Resistance training has been reported to increase muscle strength and induce changes in skeletal muscle morphology. These positive strength adaptations include muscle fibre hypertrophy and a shift in fibre type from IJX to IIA. Previous investigations of resistance training-induced changes in muscle protein synthesis and fibre morphology have utilized cross-sectional or longitudinal, bilateral training designs. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a progressive eight week unilateral leg resistance training program on skeletal muscle morphology, and resting and exercise-stimulated mixed muscle protein fractional synthesis rate (FSR). Eight young men performed two training sessions each week, and each session consisted of four sets of knee extension (KE) and four sets of leg press (LP) at 80% 1 repetition maximum (1 RM). Needle biopsies from the vastus lateralis muscle of the trained (T) leg were taken before and after training and analyzed for fibre composition, cross­ sectional area (CSA), and myosin heavy chain (MHC) content. Muscle protein FSR was determined using a primed constant stable isotope infusion of [C6]-phenylalanine in both
Targeted Deletion of CASK-Interacting Nucleosome Assembly Protein Causes Higher Locomotor and Exploratory Activities

CASK-interacting nucleosome assembly protein (CINAP) has been shown to interact with the calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine kinase (CASK) and the T-box transcription factor T-brain-1 (Tbr1) thus modulating the expression of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor subunit 2b (NMDAR2b) in cultured hippocampal neurons. To explore the physiological significance of CINAP in vivo, CINAP knockout mice were generated and subjected to biochemical, anatomical, and behavioral analyses. Unexpectedly, CINAP deletion did not impact NMDAR2b expression, and these CINAP knockout mice were consistently comparable to wild-type littermates in terms of immediate memory (assessed with the Y maze) and associative memory (evaluated by conditioned taste aversion and contextual and auditory fear conditioning). Although CINAP deletion did not obviously influence learning and memory behaviors, CINAP knockout mice exhibited higher locomotor and exploratory activities. Compared with wild-type littermates, the horizontal and vertical movements of the CINAP knockout mice were higher in a novel environment; in home cages, rearing, sniffing, and jumping also occurred more frequently in CINAP knockout mice. These observations suggest that although CINAP deletion in mice does not influence learning and memory behaviors, CINAP is required for restriction of locomotor and exploratory activities.
SERCA2 Regulates Non-CF and CF Airway Epithelial Cell Response to Ozone

Calcium mobilization can regulate a wide range of essential functions of respiratory epithelium, including ion transport, ciliary beat frequency, and secretion of mucus, all of which are modified in cystic fibrosis (CF). SERCA2, an important controller of calcium signaling, is deficient in CF epithelium. We conducted this study to determine whether SERCA2 deficiency can modulate airway epithelial responses to environmental oxidants such as ozone. This could contribute to the pathogenesis of pulmonary exacerbations, which are important and frequent clinical events in CF. To address this, we used air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures of non-CF and CF cell lines, as well as differentiated cultures of cells derived from non-CF and CF patients. We found that ozone exposure caused enhanced membrane damage, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptotic cell death in CF airway epithelial cell lines relative to non-CF. Ozone exposure caused increased proinflammatory cytokine production in CF airway epithelial cell lines. Elevated proinflammatory cytokine production also was observed in shRNA-mediated SERCA2 knockdown cells. Overexpression of SERCA2 reversed ozone-induced proinflammatory cytokine production. Ozone-induced proinflammatory cytokine production was NF-κB- dependent. In a stable NF-κB reporter cell line, SERCA2 inhibition and knockdown both upregulated cytomix-induced NF-κB activity, indicating importance of SERCA2 in modulating NF-κB activity. In this system, increased NF-κB activity was also accompanied by increased IL-8 production. Ozone also induced NF-κB activity and IL-8 release, an effect that was greater in SERCA2-silenced NF-κB-reporter cells. SERCA2 overexpression reversed cytomix-induced increased IL-8 release and total nuclear p65 in CFTR-deficient (16HBE-AS) cells. These studies suggest that SERCA2 is an important regulator of the proinflammatory response of airway epithelial cells and could be a potential therapeutic target.
Inheritance of Telomere Length in a Bird

Telomere dynamics are intensively studied in human ageing research and epidemiology, with many correlations reported between telomere length and age-related diseases, cancer and death. While telomere length is influenced by environmental factors there is also good evidence for a strong heritable component. In human, the mode of telomere length inheritance appears to be paternal and telomere length differs between sexes, with females having longer telomeres than males. Genetic factors, e.g. sex chromosomal inactivation, and non-genetic factors, e.g. antioxidant properties of oestrogen, have been suggested as possible explanations for these sex-specific telomere inheritance and telomere length differences. To test the influence of sex chromosomes on telomere length, we investigated inheritance and sex-specificity of telomere length in a bird species, the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), in which females are the heterogametic sex (ZW) and males are the homogametic (ZZ) sex. We found that, contrary to findings in humans, telomere length was maternally inherited and also longer in males. These results argue against an effect of sex hormones on telomere length and suggest that factors associated with heterogamy may play a role in telomere inheritance and sex-specific differences in telomere length.
The Feasibility and Acceptability of LISTEN for Loneliness

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the initial feasibility and acceptability of LISTEN (Loneliness Intervention using Story Theory to Enhance Nursing-sensitive outcomes), a new intervention for loneliness. Loneliness is a significant stressor and known contributor to multiple chronic health conditions in varied populations. In addition, loneliness is reported as predictive of functional decline and mortality in large samples of older adults from multiple cultures. Currently, there are no standard therapies recommended as effective treatments for loneliness. The paucity of interventions has limited the ability of healthcare providers to translate what we know about the problem of loneliness to active planning of clinical care that results in diminished loneliness. LISTEN was developed using the process for complex intervention development suggested by the Medical Research Council (MRC) [1] [2]. Methods Feasibility and acceptability of LISTEN were evaluated as the first objective of a longitudinal randomized trial which was set in a university based family medicine center in a rural southeastern community in Appalachia. Twenty-seven older adults [(24 women and 3 men, mean age: 75 (SD 7.50)] who were lonely, community-dwelling, and experiencing chronic illness, participated. Feasibility was evaluated by tracking recruitment efforts, enrollment, attendance to intervention sessions, attrition, and with feedback evaluations from study personnel. Acceptability was assessed using quantitative and qualitative evaluation data from participants. Results LISTEN was evaluated as feasible to deliver with no attrition and near perfect attendance. Participants ranked LISTEN as highly acceptable for diminishing loneliness with participants requesting a continuation of the program or development of additional sessions. Conclusions LISTEN is feasible to deliver in a primary healthcare setting and has the potential to diminish loneliness which could result in improvement of the long-term negative known sequelae of loneliness such as hypertension, depression, functional decline, and mortality. Feedback from study participants is being used to inform future trials of LISTEN with consideration for developing additional sessions. Longitudinal randomized trials are needed in varied populations to assess long-term health and healthcare system benefits of diminishing loneliness, and to assess the potential scalability of LISTEN as a reimbursable treatment for loneliness.
Sunflower-based Feedstocks in Nonfood Applications: Perspectives from Olefin Metathesis

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) oil remains under-utilised albeit one of the major seed oils produced world-wide. Moreover, the high oleic sunflower varieties make the oil attractive for applications requiring high temperature processes and those targeting the C=C double bond functionality. Herein an overview of the recent developments in olefin metathesis of sunflower-based feedstocks is presented. The improved performance of olefin metathesis catalysts leading to high turnover numbers, high selectivity and catalyst recyclability, opens new opportunities for tailoring sunflower-based feedstocks into products required for possible new niche market applications. Promising results in biofuel, biopolymers, fragrances and fine chemicals applications have been reported.
Fast protein folding on downhill energy landscape

Proteins fold in a time range of microseconds to minutes despite the large amount of possible conformers. Molecular dynamics simulations of a three‐stranded antiparallel β‐sheet peptide (for a total of 12.6 μsec and 72 folding events) show that at the melting temperature the unfolded state ensemble contains many more conformers than those sampled during a folding event.
Blind opportunistic interference alignment in cognitive radio systems

In this paper a new Opportunistic Interference Alignment (OIA) technique is presented that can be applied in a blind manner to Cognitive Radio systems. The proposed technique aims at relaxing the strong assumptions made in existing approaches where it is assumed that the Secondary User (SU) has knowledge of Channel State Information (CSI) concerning the Primary User's (PU) transmissions, although this may not be possible, in general. First, the OIA technique of [1] is extended so that the required CSI can be blindly estimated from the second order statistics of the received symbols. More specifically, the Secondary Receiver post-coding matrix is re-designed in order to null-out completely the interference generated by the PU's transmissions, in contrast to the original work where an interference reduction approach was adopted. Then, a novel estimation mechanism is proposed that enables the SU to apply the new OIA technique in a blind manner. The performance of the proposed technique is evaluated both theoretically as well as via simulations, under perfect and imperfect CSI.
Daisyworld is Darwinian: constraints on adaptation are important for planetary self-regulation.

The Daisyworld model demonstrates that self-regulation of the global environment can emerge from competition amongst types of life altering their local environment in different ways. Robertson & Robinson (1998. J. theor. Biol.195, 129-134) presented what they describe as a "Darwinian Daisyworld" in which the ability of organisms to adapt their internal physiology in response to environmental change undermines their ability to regulate their environment. They assume that there are no bounds on the environmental conditions that organisms can adapt to and that equal growth rates can potentially be achieved under any conditions. If adaptation could respond sufficiently rapidly to changes in the environment, this would eliminate any need for the environment to be regulated in the first place, because all possible states of the environment would be equally tolerable to life. However, the thermodynamics, chemistry and structure of living organisms set bounds on the range of environmental conditions that can be adapted to. As these bounds are approached, environmental conditions limit growth rate, and adaptations necessary for survival can also cost energy. Here we take account of such constraints and find that environmental regulation is recovered in the Daisyworld model. Hence, we suggest that constraints are an important part of a self-regulating planetary system.
A New Method for Determining Acute Toxicity in Animal Models

Background: The intake of pharmacological substances by man has solely increased and this may be in the form of food, medicines and beverages, other industrial and household products. These substances are capable of eliciting chronic and acute toxicity, which may be mild or severe, depending upon their nature. Acute toxicity is defined as the unwanted effect(s) that occurs either immediately or at a short time interval after a single or multiple administration of such substance within 24 hours. The principal aim of this paper is to introduce a new method for testing toxicity, which if adopted, should produce more accurate and reproducible results using few animals. Materials and Methods: The proposed method is divided into three stages, with the outcome of each stage determining whether to terminate testing of proceed to the next stage. A confirmatory (confidence) test is used to validate the final test result. The method shows enormous advantages, which include the use of few animals, exploration of a wide range of doses, it is simple and inexpensive. Conclusion: Furthermore, accurate and reproducible result can be gotten through this method. We therefore recommend that the method should be considered for endorsement for the testing of acute toxicity by the regulatory bodies.
Collective Elaboration of a Coreference Annotated Corpus for Portuguese Texts

This paper describes the collaborative creation of a corpus with coreference annotation for Portuguese. The annotation was performed using the coreference annotation CORP, and the editing tool CorrefVisual. The texts were automatically annotated and manually revised by Portuguese speakers. As a result a new corpus for coreference studies was produced for Portuguese.
Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease with deep learning

The accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) plays a significant role in patient care, especially at the early stage, because the consciousness of the severity and the progression risks allows the patients to take prevention measures before irreversible brain damages are shaped. Although many studies have applied machine learning methods for computer-aided-diagnosis (CAD) of AD recently, a bottleneck of the diagnosis performance was shown in most of the existing researches, mainly due to the congenital limitations of the chosen learning models. In this study, we design a deep learning architecture, which contains stacked auto-encoders and a softmax output layer, to overcome the bottleneck and aid the diagnosis of AD and its prodromal stage, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Compared to the previous workflows, our method is capable of analyzing multiple classes in one setting, and requires less labeled training samples and minimal domain prior knowledge. A significant performance gain on classification of all diagnosis groups was achieved in our experiments.