Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The use of amniotic membrane in the repair of duodenal wounds in Wistar rats.

PURPOSE In the search of a new material to repair duodenal wounds, a trial was conducted to assess the behavior of human amniotic membrane in the repair of the duodenal wall in rats. METHODS Fifty Wistar rats weighing between 250 and 350g, male, were submitted to duodenotomy and randomly distributed into two groups. Group A (n=8) had no treatment and was used as the control group. In Group B (n=42) the duodenal wound was treated with a patch of human amniotic membrane. RESULTS All animals in Group A died. In Group B no changes were observed with regards to death or the formation of duodenal fistula. All animals presented peritoneal adherences in the region on the duodenal wall repair and intestinal obstruction was observed in two animals. Healing of the duodenal wall in the region of the patch took place progressively as the post-operatory period increased, with regeneration of the mucosa and of the smooth muscle layer. CONCLUSION From the clinical standpoint, the amniotic membrane proved to be a biological tissue which served as a temporary seal and allowed the wound to heal by second-intention, with re-establishment of the duodenal wall structure.
Modeling Asphaltene Precipitation by n-Alkanes from Heavy Oils and Bitumens Using Cubic-Plus-Association Equation of State

We apply a cubic-plus-association equation of state to study the asphaltene precipitation from n-alkane diluted model solutions (asphaltene+toluene), and heavy oils and bitumens. Heavy oils and bitumens are characterized in terms of saturates, aromatics/resins, and asphaltenes; n-alkanes are treated independently. The asphaltene precipitation is modeled as liquid−liquid phase equilibrium. The self-association between asphaltene molecules and the cross-association between asphaltene and aromatics/resins (or toluene) molecules are explicitly taken into account. There is no self-association between aromatics/resins (or toluene) molecules. Our model contains only one adjustable parameter, the cross-association energy between asphaltene and aromatics/resins (or toluene) molecules, which depends on the types of asphaltene and n-alkane, and possibly temperature but is independent of pressure and concentration. We successfully predict the amount of asphaltene precipitation over a broad range of compositions, temp.
Heritability and genetic correlation of measurements derived from acoustic resonance frequency analysis; a novel method of determining eggshell quality in domestic hens

1. Cracked eggshells result in economic loss and provide a route for pathogenic organisms to enter the egg. Genetic factors that contribute to shell strength are likely to decrease the risk that an egg will crack when subject to insult. 2. A novel measurement, the dynamic stiffness of the eggshell (K dyn) was examined to determine if it might be used in the genetic selection of hens with improved eggshell characteristics. The measurement is determined from acoustic resonance frequency analysis. 3. The estimates of heritability for the novel measurement of K dyn were moderately high and ranged from 0·33 to 0·53 depending on the model used for the estimation. 4. The estimates of genetic correlation of K dyn with eggshell breaking strength (0·49) and static stiffness (0·57) were positive and relatively large as expected. There was a small negative genetic correlation between K dyn and egg production from 26 to 50 weeks of age (−0·19) and a moderate one from 58 to 74 weeks of age (−0·36). 5. The moderate heritability and relative independence of K dyn indicates that this measurement could be used successfully in a breeding programme to improve shell quality and to reduce the incidence of cracks.
Large deviations for the largest eigenvalue of rank one deformations of Gaussian ensembles

We establish a large deviation principle for the largest eigenvalue of a rank one deformation of a matrix from the GUE or GOE. As a corollary, we get another proof of the phenomenon, well-known in learning theory and finance, that the largest eigenvalue separates from the bulk when the perturbation is large enough. A large part of the paper is devoted to an auxiliary result on the continuity of spherical integrals in the case when one of the matrix is of rank one, as studied in one of our previous works.
DMGroup at EmoInt-2017: Emotion Intensity Using Ensemble Method

In this paper, we present a novel ensemble learning architecture for emotion intensity analysis, particularly a novel framework of ensemble method. The ensemble method has two stages and each stage includes several single machine learning models. In stage1, we employ both linear and nonlinear regression models to obtain a more diverse emotion intensity representation. In stage2, we use two regression models including linear regression and XGBoost. The result of stage1 serves as the input of stage2, so the two different type models (linear and non-linear) in stage2 can describe the input in two opposite aspects. We also added a method for analyzing and splitting multi-words hashtags and appending them to the emotion intensity corpus before feeding it to our model. Our model achieves 0.571 Pearson-measure for the average of four emotions.
High sampling rate thermistor string observations at the slope of Great Meteor Seamount

Abstract. A high sampling rate (1 Hz) thermistor string has been built to accommodate the scientific need to accurately monitor high-frequency and vigorous internal wave and overturning processes in the ocean. The thermistors and their custom designed electronics can register temperature at an estimated precision of about 0.001° C with a response time faster than 0.25 s down to depths of 6000 m. With a quick in situ calibration using SBE 911 CTD an absolute accuracy of 0.005° C is obtained. The present string holds 128 sensors at 0.5 m intervals, which are all read-out within 0.5 s. When sampling at 1 Hz, the batteries and the memory capacity of the recorder allow for deployments of up to 2 weeks. In this paper, the instrument is described in some detail. Its performance is illustrated with examples from the first moored observations, which show Kelvin-Helmholtz overturning and very high-frequency (Doppler-shifted) internal waves besides occasionally large turbulent bores moving up the sloping side of Great Meteor Seamount, Canary Basin, North-Atlantic Ocean.
Covariance systems

We introduce new deﬁnitions of states and of representations of covariance systems. The GNS-construction is generalized to this context. It associates a representation with each state of the covariance system. Next, states are extended to states of an appropriate covariance algebra. Two applications are given. We describe a nonrelativistic quantum particle, and we give a simple description of the quantum spacetime model introduced by Doplicher et al [10, 11].
On the challenges in usable security lab studies: lessons learned from replicating a study on SSL warnings

We replicated and extended a 2008 study conducted at CMU that investigated the effectiveness of SSL warnings. We adjusted the experimental design to mitigate some of the limitations of that prior study; adjustments include allowing participants to use their web browser of choice and recruiting a more representative user sample. However, during our study we observed a strong disparity between our participants actions during the laboratory tasks and their self-reported "would be" actions during similar tasks in everyday computer practices. Our participants attributed this disparity to the laboratory environment and the security it offered. In this paper we discuss our results and how the introduced changes to the initial study design may have affected them. Also, we discuss the challenges of observing natural behavior in a study environment, as well as the challenges of replicating previous studies given the rapid changes in web technology. We also propose alternatives to traditional laboratory study methodologies that can be considered by the usable security research community when investigating research questions involving sensitive data where trust may influence behavior.
Quantitative Nucleotide Level Analysis of Regulation of Translation in Response to Depolarization of Cultured Neural Cells

Studies on regulation of gene expression have contributed substantially to understanding mechanisms for the long-term activity-dependent alterations in neural connectivity that are thought to mediate learning and memory. Most of these studies, however, have focused on the regulation of mRNA transcription. Here, we utilized high-throughput sequencing coupled with ribosome footprinting to globally characterize the regulation of translation in primary mixed neuronal-glial cultures in response to sustained depolarization. We identified substantial and complex regulation of translation, with many transcripts demonstrating changes in ribosomal occupancy independent of transcriptional changes. We also examined sequence-based mechanisms that might regulate changes in translation in response to depolarization. We found that these are partially mediated by features in the mRNA sequence—notably upstream open reading frames and secondary structure in the 5′ untranslated region—both of which predict downregulation in response to depolarization. Translationally regulated transcripts are also more likely to be targets of FMRP and include genes implicated in autism in humans. Our findings support the idea that control of mRNA translation plays an important role in response to neural activity across the genome.
Abnormal expression of retinoic acid receptors and keratin 19 by human oral and epidermal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

We have analyzed the expression of the three retinoic acid receptor (RAR) (alpha, beta, gamma) mRNAs and the intermediate filament protein keratin 19 (K19) mRNA in cell lines cultured from oral and epidermal human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and from benign, hyperplastic, and hyperkeratotic (leukoplakia) lesions arising in various regions of the oral cavity. Seven of the SCC lines were derived from tumors arising in regions of the oral cavity in which the normal epithelial cells (keratinocytes) express RAR beta transcripts. Seven of the nine SCC lines tested did not exhibit detectable RAR beta mRNA levels, even in response to addition of retinoic acid (RA). The RAR beta gene did not appear to be rearranged or deleted in the five nonexpressing SCC lines examined by Southern analysis. The steady-state RAR gamma mRNA levels were 2- to 4-fold lower in 6 of the 9 SCC lines than in their normal counterparts, whereas the RAR alpha message levels in SCC lines were similar to those of the normal cell strains. The expression of keratin 19 message, which is RA inducible in normal keratinocytes, was also abnormal in many of the SCC cell lines. Some SCC lines, e.g., those derived form tumors of the soft palate epithelium, did not express high levels of K19 message even though normal soft palate keratinocytes expressed high levels of K19 mRNA. Two of the nine SCC lines expressed higher than normal levels of K19 mRNA, and this expression was RA independent. Cells cultured from four oral leukoplakia lesions were also examined and found to express RAR beta mRNA at relatively normal levels, but they expressed RAR gamma message at half the level of epithelial cells cultured from normal tissue. These results show that the correlation between RAR beta gene expression and K19 gene expression that we have observed in the various normal keratinocyte subtypes of the oral cavity (D.L. Crowe et al., manuscript in preparation) is not present in transformed keratinocytes (SCC cells). The lack of apparent RA regulation of the K19 gene in SCC lines may be associated with other aberrations in differentiation which have been identified in SCC cells. Abnormally low expression of the RAR beta receptor may contribute to neoplastic progression in stratified squamous epithelia. It may also determine whether a tumor is responsive to RA as a chemotherapeutic agent.
The isthmuses of the mesial root of mandibular molars: a micro-computed tomographic study.

AIM To investigate the prevalence of root canal isthmuses in the apical 5 mm of the mesial root of mandibular molars by means of micro-computed tomography (MCT) and to describe the morphology of the isthmuses. METHODOLOGY Twenty extracted mandibular first molars that had fully formed roots were selected. The mesial roots were sectioned from the distal roots and subjected to MCT. The number of sections showing isthmuses in each of the apical 5 mm of the root canals was recorded. In each one of the apical 5 mm of the 20 roots examined, 40 sections were observed, giving a total of 800 sections observed in each group. Data were analysed as a contingency table using the chi-square statistic to test the null hypothesis that location of the sections in each of the apical 5 mm and presence of the isthmus were independent. RESULTS Isthmuses were found to be present at all levels with prevalence figures between 17.25 and 50.25%. The chi-square test indicated a significant difference in the distribution of isthmuses with section (P = 0.001). It was found that sections in the first millimetre from the apex had fewer isthmuses than expected and that sections in the third millimetre from the apex had more isthmuses than expected under the null hypothesis. Calcifications were found to be present in most isthmuses, occasionally lateral canals originated from the central part of the isthmuses. CONCLUSIONS Isthmuses were present in the vast majority of roots observed. The third millimetre from the apex showed more isthmuses than expected. The results of clinical and surgical endodontic procedures performed in the mesial root of mandibular molars may be affected by this aspect of the root canal anatomy.
Plane wave perfusion ultrasound imaging without contrast

Perfusion imaging with conventional Doppler ultrasound is difficult due to frame rate and tissue clutter limitations. Consequently, conventional methods are only sensitive to velocities above 5-10mm/s for typical clinical imaging frequencies. To overcome this limitation and simultaneously address the frame rate and tissue clutter problems, we propose a technique that uses plane wave sequencing and an adaptive tissue clutter frequency and amplitude demodulation scheme. Suppression of tissue clutter due to sonographer hand motion was tested using phantoms and showed potential for increased Doppler sensitivity to at least as low as 1.17mm/s. Additionally, feasibility of the method is demonstrated in vivo using muscle contractions of a human calf, which resulted in 2.54dB and 0.12dB dynamic ranges of blood flow through slow-time for the proposed and conventional methods, respectively.
Expression of Neutrophil Collagenase (Matrix Metalloproteinase-8) in Human Atheroma: A Novel Collagenolytic Pathway Suggested by Transcriptional Profiling

Background—Loss of interstitial collagen, particularly type I collagen, the major load-bearing molecule of atherosclerotic plaques, renders atheroma prone to rupture. Initiation of collagen breakdown requires interstitial collagenases, a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) subfamily consisting of MMP-1, MMP-8, and MMP-13. Previous work demonstrated the overexpression of MMP-1 and MMP-13 in human atheroma. However, no study has yet evaluated the expression of MMP-8, known as “neutrophil collagenase,” the enzyme that preferentially degrades type I collagen, because granulocytes do not localize in plaques. Methods and Results—Transcriptional profiling and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed inducible expression of MMP-8 transcripts in CD40 ligand–stimulated mononuclear phagocytes. Western blot analysis demonstrated that 3 atheroma-associated cell types, namely, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and mononuclear phagocytes, expressed MMP-8 in vitro upon stimulation with proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1&bgr;, tumor necrosis factor-&agr;, or CD40 ligand. MMP-8 protein elaborated from these atheroma-associated cell types migrated as 2 immunoreactive bands, corresponding to the molecular weights of the zymogen and the active molecule. Extracts from atherosclerotic, but not nondiseased arterial tissue, contained similar immunoreactive bands. Moreover, all 3 cell types expressed MMP-8 mRNA and protein in human atheroma in situ. Notably, MMP-8 colocalized with cleaved but not intact type I collagen within the shoulder region of the plaque, a frequent site of rupture. Conclusions—These data point to MMP-8 as a previously unsuspected participant in collagen breakdown, an important determinant of the vulnerability of human atheroma.
The Computation of Visible-Surface Representations

A computational theory of visible-surface representations is developed. The visible-surface reconstruction process that computes these quantitative representations unifies formal solutions to the key problems of: (1) integrating multiscale constraints on surface depth and orientation from multiple-visual sources; (2) interpolating dense, piecewise-smooth surfaces from these constraints; (3) detecting surface depth and orientation discontinuities to apply boundary conditions on interpolation; and (4) structuring large-scale, distributed-surface representations to achieve computational efficiency. Visible-surface reconstruction is an inverse problem. A well-posed variational formulation results from the use of a controlled-continuity surface model. Discontinuity detection amounts to the identification of this generic model's distributed parameters from the data. Finite-element shape primitives yield a local discretization of the variational principle. The result is an efficient algorithm for visible-surface reconstruction. >
The Association of C-Reactive Protein and CRP Genotype with Coronary Heart Disease: Findings from Five Studies with 4,610 Cases amongst 18,637 Participants

Background It is unclear whether C-reactive protein (CRP) is causally related to coronary heart disease (CHD). Genetic variants that are known to be associated with CRP levels can be used to provide causal inference of the effect of CRP on CHD. Our objective was to examine the association between CRP genetic variant +1444C>T (rs1130864) and CHD risk in the largest study to date of this association. Methods and Results We estimated the association of CRP genetic variant +1444C>T (rs1130864) with CRP levels and with CHD in five studies and then pooled these analyses (N = 18,637 participants amongst whom there were 4,610 cases). CRP was associated with potential confounding factors (socioeconomic position, physical activity, smoking and body mass) whereas genotype (rs1130864) was not associated with these confounders. The pooled odds ratio of CHD per doubling of circulating CRP level after adjustment for age and sex was 1.13 (95%CI: 1.06, 1.21), and after further adjustment for confounding factors it was 1.07 (95%CI: 1.02, 1.13). Genotype (rs1130864) was associated with circulating CRP; the pooled ratio of geometric means of CRP level among individuals with the TT genotype compared to those with the CT/CC genotype was 1.21 (95%CI: 1.15, 1.28) and the pooled ratio of geometric means of CRP level per additional T allele was 1.14 (95%CI: 1.11, 1.18), with no strong evidence in either analyses of between study heterogeneity (I2 = 0%, p>0.9 for both analyses). There was no association of genotype (rs1130864) with CHD: pooled odds ratio 1.01 (95%CI: 0.88, 1.16) comparing individuals with TT genotype to those with CT/CC genotype and 0.96 (95%CI: 0.90, 1.03) per additional T allele (I2<7.5%, p>0.6 for both meta-analyses). An instrumental variables analysis (in which the proportion of CRP levels explained by rs1130864 was related to CHD) suggested that circulating CRP was not associated with CHD: the odds ratio for a doubling of CRP level was 1.04 (95%CI: 0.61, 1.80). Conclusions We found no association of a genetic variant, which is known to be related to CRP levels, (rs1130864) and having CHD. These findings do not support a causal association between circulating CRP and CHD risk, but very large, extended, genetic association studies would be required to rule this out.
Analytical method for predicting the air-gap flux density of Dual-Rotor Permanent-Magnet (DRPM) Machine

In this paper an analytical method for designing DRPM machine is presented. As well known, DRPM machine has high efficiency, high torque density and can be used as Electric Vehicle Drive and so on, thus developing a simple and accurate analytical method is necessary. The aim of this paper is to calculate the air-gap flux density taking into account the harmonics of the winding current, the winding type and the influence of radial and parallel magnetized magnets. A magnetic equivalent circuit of DRPM machine is developed, and both inner and outer magnet circuits are analyzed separately. Compared with finite-element method (FEM), the analytical method gets an accurate result.
Expression of XB130 in human ductal breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES XB130 is involved in gene regulation, cell proliferation, cell survival, cell migration, and tumorigenesis. In the present study, we first evaluated the expression of the XB130 and its prognostic significance in breast cancer. Then we evaluated whether XB130 could be a target for therapy in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the level of XB130 protein in surgically resected, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast cancer specimens. Associations between XB130 and the postoperative prognosis of patients with breast cancer were evaluated. We evaluated the effect of XB130 inhibited by RNA interference on proliferation, invasion and apoptosis in vitro in a metastatic subclone of MCF-7 breast cancer cell line (LM-MCF-7). The effect of XB130 silencing alone or in combination with gemcitabine on LM-MCF-7 cells apoptosis was also investigated. RESULTS XB130 protein was present in the cytoplasm of malignant cells, and not in the normal breast tissues. There was correlation between the presence of XB130 in tumour cells and lymph node status, tumor classification and clinical stage. XB130 expression level was significantly associated with recurrence-free and overall survival. Furthermore, multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that positive XB130 was an independent risk factor for overall survival and recurrence free survival. XB130 silencing alone inhibits tumor growth and induces apoptosis in the LM-MCF-7 cells. Depletion of the XB130 in combination with gemcitabine resulted in marked apoptotic and necrotic cell death in LM-MCF-7 cells. CONCLUSIONS XB130 could be useful as a prognostic marker of recurrence-free and overall survival in invasive breast cancer, as well as for the response to chemotherapy.
Running Head: CALLOUS-UNEMOTIONAL TRAITS AND VIOLENCE Violence Exposure Mediates the Relation between Callous-Unemotional Traits and Offending Patterns in Adolescents Running Head: CALLOUS-UNEMOTIONAL TRAITS AND VIOLENCE

The link between callous-unemotional (CU) traits in youth and delinquent, aggressive and violent behavior has been well-replicated in the literature. However, the mediating effects of violence exposure on this relationship are unclear. The current study addresses this important gap in the literature with a sample of 88 detained, primarily ethnic minority adolescent males (M age = 15.57; SD = 1.28). Results indicate that a history of violence exposure, and specifically witnessed violence, significantly mediates the association between CU traits and violent delinquency. Furthermore, exposure to violence—both direct victimization and witnessed violence—fully mediates the association between CU traits and drug delinquency. These findings suggest that (a) the well-established link between CU traits and violence may be attributed to high rates of witnessed violence among this subpopulation, and (b) specific types of violence exposure may be important for predicting the offending patterns of youth high on CU traits. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.