Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Review of Use of Enantiomers in Homeopathy

This paper reviews publications of laboratory experiments using pairs of enantiomers in homeopathy. Many molecules in nature have geometry which enables them to exist as nonsuperimposable mirror images or enantiomers. Modulation of toxicity of such molecules provides possibility for therapeutics, since they target multiple points in biochemical pathways. It was hypothesized that toxicity of a chemical agent could be counteracted by a homeopathic preparation of the enantiomer of the chemical agent (patents applied for: PCT/AU2003/000219-PCT/AU2008/001611). A diverse body of data, including controlled laboratory studies, supports the conclusion that toxicity of optical isomers may be inhibited by homeopathic enantiomer preparations. These data were obtained with minimal or no pretesting to determine optimal test solutions. Inhibition of the excitotoxic neurotransmitter L-glutamic acid with homeopathic preparations of D-glutamic acid indicates the latter may be of use for amelioration of symptoms of disturbances of mood. Similarly, homeopathic preparation of (+)-nicotine may be of use for inhibition of effects of nicotine in tobacco.
What is a Salient Object? A Dataset and a Baseline Model for Salient Object Detection

Salient object detection or salient region detection models, diverging from fixation prediction models, have traditionally been dealing with locating and segmenting the most salient object or region in a scene. While the notion of most salient object is sensible when multiple objects exist in a scene, current datasets for evaluation of saliency detection approaches often have scenes with only one single object. We introduce three main contributions in this paper. First, we take an in-depth look at the problem of salient object detection by studying the relationship between where people look in scenes and what they choose as the most salient object when they are explicitly asked. Based on the agreement between fixations and saliency judgments, we then suggest that the most salient object is the one that attracts the highest fraction of fixations. Second, we provide two new less biased benchmark data sets containing scenes with multiple objects that challenge existing saliency models. Indeed, we observed a severe drop in performance of eight state-of-the-art models on our data sets (40%-70%). Third, we propose a very simple yet powerful model based on superpixels to be used as a baseline for model evaluation and comparison. While on par with the best models on MSRA-5 K data set, our model wins over other models on our data highlighting a serious drawback of existing models, which is convoluting the processes of locating the most salient object and its segmentation. We also provide a review and statistical analysis of some labeled scene data sets that can be used for evaluating salient object detection models. We believe that our work can greatly help remedy the over-fitting of models to existing biased data sets and opens new venues for future research in this fast-evolving field.
Comparing local and remote motion aftereffects.

A new method, using phase-reversing sinusoidal gratings to cancel perceived motion, was developed to measure the motion aftereffect (MAE). This technique was used to show the existence of a remote MAE, i.e. an MAE in areas that were not directly stimulated during adaptation. In several experiments, this remote MAE was compared to the local MAE. The remote effect was generally weaker and of shorter duration. It showed no directional tuning within the investigated range, as compared to a tuning of +/- 60 deg of the local MAE. There was no adaptation effect to the component gratings of a plaid, indicating that the plaid was treated as a coherent pattern. The local MAE showed clear spatial frequency tuning, whereas the remote MAE varied little with spatial frequency difference, although there was a tendency towards frequencies lower than the adaptation frequency. The possibility is considered that both local and remote MAEs are generated in extrastriate areas.
Bayesian compressive sensing for phonetic classification

In this paper, we introduce a novel bayesian compressive sensing (CS) technique for phonetic classification. CS is often used to characterize a signal from a few support training examples, similar to k-nearest neighbor (kNN) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs). However, unlike SVMs and kNNs, CS allows the number of supports to be adapted to the specific signal being characterized. On the TIMIT phonetic classification task, we find that our CS method outperforms the SVM, kNN and Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) methods. Our CS method achieves an accuracy of 80.01%, one of the best reported result in the literature to date.
Evaluation of ECG Abnormalities in Patients with Asymptomatic Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

INTRODUCTION Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is the most common chronic disease. DM is considered a Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk equivalent. Its macrovascular complications are associated with two-fold increased risk of premature atherosclerotic CVD. Most of the diabetics with cardiovascular involvement are asymptomatic. Electro Cardio Graph (ECG) abnormalities are found to be predictors of silent ischaemia in asymptomatic persons. An abnormal ECG response is associated with statistically significant high risk for cardiac mortality and morbidity. AIM The aim of the study was to evaluate ECG changes in asymptomatic Type 2 DM patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in North India. One hundred diabetics presenting to Medicine OPD/IPD were included in the study who had no symptoms of heart disease and no diabetic complications. Fifty person with age and sex matched controls were included in the study. Relevant history and physical examination findings were recorded in a protocol. The variables studied were: gender, age, smoking, physical activity, and waist circumference, Body Mass Index (BMI) and blood pressure. Resting ECG was recorded. RESULTS Mean age of asymptomatic diabetic patients was 50.3±11.90 years (age range 25-75 years). In this study, none of the control group had ECG abnormality whereas, 26% asymptomatic diabetics had ECG abnormalities. Most of the asymptomatic cases with ECG changes had 5-10 year of duration of diabetes mellitus; 70% patients with ECG changes had poor glycaemic control, increased triglyceride and decreased High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) levels. Most common abnormality observed was ST-T changes, followed by Left Atrial Enlargement (LAE), Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH), Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB) and Right Bundle Branch Block (RBBB). CONCLUSION ECG changes are present in quarter of asymptomatic Type 2 DM patients. However, nonspecific ST-T changes, LVH and LAE are common.
A Study on Course of Infection and Haematological Changes in falciparum-Infected in Comparison with Artemisinin(s)-Treated Mice

To find out the efficacy and effect of artemisinin derivatives on haematological indices, C57BL/6J mice were challenged with Plasmodium falciparum and treated with therapeutic doses of AS, AE, and AL. Course of infection was studied in the infected and treated groups up to day 42. Peak level of parasitaemia (38%) was observed on day 11 in infected group. Haematological indices indicated significant (P < 0.05) decrease in RBC, WBC, haemoglobin, packed cell volume, mean cell volume, and platelet counts in infected mice. But all the parameters were restored to normal values, and significant (P < 0.05) changes were observed in all drug-treated groups. Insignificant changes were observed for MCHC (P > 0.05) in all drug-treated groups. Percent of peak parasitaemia was much reduced in AL- (3.2% on day 3) treated group in comparison with AE- (2.4% on day 4) and AS- (4% on day 2) treated groups. Parasites were completely cleared on day 6 in AS group, day 5 in AE group, and day 4 in AL group. Hence, our results strongly support that combination therapy has high efficacy rates than monotherapy. No adverse effects were observed on haematological parameters when animals were treated with therapeutic dosages.
Limited potential for terrestrial carbon sequestration to offset fossil-fuel emissions in the upper midwestern US.

Many carbon dioxide (CO2) emission-reduction strategies currently under consideration rely on terrestrial carbon (C) sequestration to offset substantial proportions of CO2 emissions. We estimated C sequestration rates and potential land areas for a diverse array of land-cover changes in the Upper Midwest of the US, a “best case” region for this study because of its relatively modest CO2 emissions and the large areas of cropland potentially available for conversion. We then developed scenarios that apply some of the most widespread mitigation strategies to the region: the first, which aimed to offset 29% of regional CO2 emissions, required the unrealistic loss of two-thirds of working cropland; the second, which estimated the emission offset attainable by conversion of 10% of harvested croplands (5.8% of the US total), resulted in <5% CO2 emissions reduction for the region (<1.1% of total US emissions). There is limited capacity for terrestrial C sequestration, so strategies should aim to directly reduce C.
PCSK9 Induces CD36 Degradation and Affects Long-Chain Fatty Acid Uptake and Triglyceride Metabolism in Adipocytes and in Mouse Liver

Objective—Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) promotes the degradation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor thereby elevating plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and the risk of coronary heart disease. Thus, the use of PCSK9 inhibitors holds great promise to prevent heart disease. Previous work found that PCSK9 is involved in triglyceride metabolism, independently of its action on low-density lipoprotein receptor, and that other yet unidentified receptors could mediate this effect. Therefore, we assessed whether PCSK9 enhances the degradation of CD36, a major receptor involved in transport of long-chain fatty acids and triglyceride storage. Approach and Results—Overexpressed or recombinant PCSK9 induced CD36 degradation in cell lines and primary adipocytes and reduced the uptake of the palmitate analog Bodipy FL C16 and oxidized low-density lipoprotein in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and hepatic HepG2 cells, respectively. Surface plasmon resonance, coimmunoprecipitation, confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, and protein degradation pathway inhibitors revealed that PCSK9 directly interacts with CD36 and targets the receptor to lysosomes through a mechanism involving the proteasome. Importantly, the level of CD36 protein was increased by >3-fold upon small interfering RNA knockdown of endogenous PCSK9 in hepatic cells and similarly increased in the liver and visceral adipose tissue of Pcsk9−/− mice. In Pcsk9−/− mice, increased hepatic CD36 was correlated with an amplified uptake of fatty acid and accumulation of triglycerides and lipid droplets. Conclusions—Our results demonstrate an important role of PCSK9 in modulating the function of CD36 and triglyceride metabolism. PCSK9-mediated CD36 degradation may serve to limit fatty acid uptake and triglyceride accumulation in tissues, such as the liver.
SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN MAMMALS

1. Life expectancy and mortality rates from diseases arising in various organs vary with sex because of differential exposure to external hazards and because of essential differences between males and females in aspects not directly connected with reproduction. This review attempts to collate data about the structural and functional dimorphism of mammals exclusive of the genital organs and psychological aspects.
An endogenous Suppressor of Hairy-wing insulator separates regulatory domains in Drosophila

Insulators define independent domains of gene function throughout the genome. The Drosophila gypsy insulator was isolated from the gypsy retrotransposon as a region that contains a cluster of binding sites for the Suppressor of Hairy-wing [Su(Hw)] protein. To study the effects of the gypsy insulator on gene expression within a single genomic domain, targeted gene replacement was used to exchange the endogenous yellow gene, located at cytological location 1A, with a set of gypsy-modified yellow genes. Replaced yellow genes carried a gypsy insulator positioned between the yellow promoter and either the upstream or the downstream tissue-specific enhancers. Whereas the gypsy insulator blocked the function of the upstream enhancers at the endogenous location, the downstream enhancers were not blocked. Investigation of the 1A region revealed two clustered Su(Hw)-binding sites downstream of the yellow gene, named 1A-2, that bind Su(Hw) in vivo and possess enhancer blocking function. We propose that interaction between 1A-2 and the gypsy insulator permits activation of yellow expression by enhancers in the neighboring achaete-scute complex, causing an apparent absence of the block of the downstream yellow enhancers. Based on these data, we suggest that 1A-2 is an endogenous Su(Hw) insulator that separates regulatory domains within the Drosophila genome.
The COPD assessment test correlates well with the computed tomography measurements in COPD patients in China

Background The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assessment test (CAT) is a validated simple instrument to assess health status, and it correlates well with the severity of airway obstruction in COPD patients. However, little is known about the relationships between CAT scores and quantitative computed tomography (CT) measurements of emphysema and airway wall thickness in COPD patients in the People’s Republic of China. Methods One hundred and twelve participants including 63 COPD patients and 49 normal control subjects were recruited. All participants were examined with high-resolution CT to get the measurements of emphysema (percentage of pixels below −950 HU [%LAA–950]) and airway wall thickness (wall area percentage and the ratio of airway wall thickness to total diameter). Meanwhile, they completed the CAT and modified Medical Research Council questionnaire independently. Results Significantly higher CAT scores and CT measurements were found in COPD patients compared with normal control subjects (P<0.05), and there was a tendency of higher CAT scores and CT measurements with increasing disease severity measured by GOLD staging system. Positive correlations were found between CAT scores and CT measurements (P<0.01). Using multiple linear stepwise regression, CAT score =−46.38+0.778× (wall area percentage) +0.203× (%LAA–950) (P<0.001). Meanwhile, CAT scores and CT measurements in COPD patients all positively correlated with the modified Medical Research Council grades and negatively correlated with FEV1% (P<0.01). Conclusion CAT scores correlate well with the quantitative CT measurements in COPD patients, which may provide an imaging evidence that the structural changes of the lungs in this disease are associated with the health status measured by CAT.
Variation of laser induced retinal-damage threshold with retinal image size

The dependence of retinal damage threshold on laser spot size was examined for two pulse width regimes; nanosecond-duration Q-switched pulses from a doubled Nd:Yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser and microsecond-duration pulses from a flashlamp-pumped dye laser. Threshold determinations were conducted for nominal retinal image sizes ranging from 1.5 to 100 mrad of visual field, corresponding to image diameters of ∼22 μm to 1.4 mm on the primate retina. In addition, base line collimated-beam damage thresholds were determined for comparison to the extended source data. Together, this set of retinal damage thresholds reveals the functional dependence of threshold on spot size. The threshold dose was found to vary with the area of the image for larger image sizes. This experimentally determined trend was shown to agree with the predictions of thermal model calculations of laser-induced retinal damage for spot sizes ≳150 μm. The results are compared to previously published extended source damage thresholds and to th.
The continental lithospheric mantle: characteristics and significance as a mantle reservoir

The continental lithospheric mantle (CLM) is a small–volumed (ca. 2.5% of the total mantle), chemically distinct mantle reservoir that has been suggested to play a role in the source of continental and oceanic magmatism. It is our most easily identifiable reservoir for preserving chemical heterogeneity in the mantle. Petrological and geophysical constraints indicate that the maximum depth of the CLM is ca. 250 km. There is a clear secular variation of CLM composition, such that CLM formed in the last 2 Gyr is less depleted and therefore less dynamically stable than ancient CLM formed in the Archean. We present new trace–element data for kimberlite–hosted lithospheric peridotites and metasomites. These data, combined with other data for spinel peridotites from non–cratonic regions, show that neither hydrous nor anhydrous lithospheric mantle xenoliths make suitable sources for continental or oceanic basalts. Addition of a hydrous phase, either amphibole or phlogopite, to depleted peridotite results in positive Nb and Ti anomalies that are the opposite of those predicted for some flood–basalt sources on the basis of their trace–element abundances. Overall, the Sr and Nd isotopic composition of cratonic and non–cratonic CLM is close to bulk Earth, with cratonic CLM showing small numbers of extreme compositions. Thus, while the CLM is certainly ancient in many locations, its average composition is not significantly ‘enriched’ over primitive upper mantle, in terms of either radiogenic isotopes or trace elements. These characteristics, plus a change in lithospheric chemistry with depth, indicate that the elemental and isotopic composition of lithospheric mantle likely to be re–incorporated into convecting mantle via delamination/thermal erosion processes is probably not very distinct from that of the convecting mantle. These observations lead us to question the requirement for CLM participation in the source of oceanic magmas and to promote consideration of a mantle that is chemically heterogeneous on all scales. Hf and Nd isotope compositions identify a distinctive source component in deeply derived alkaline volcanics associated with continents. This component cannot be constrained to the CLM but may originate from a deeper reservoir of ancient, subducted oceanic crust stored in the mantle.
Foreign Exchange Rates Forecasting with Multilayer Perceptrons Neural Network by Bayesian Learning

In order to avoid the over-fitting in the training of neural networks, we apply Bayesian learning to neural networks. We illustrate the advantages of Bayesian learning by concentrating on multilayer perceptrons (MLP) neural networks and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method for computing the integrations. We conduct the experiments on the foreign exchange rate forecasting by using the approach. The experiment results show that Bayesian learning is better at avoiding over-fitting than the traditional parameter optimization method during the training phase of neural networks.
Electronic Rodent Repellent Devices: A Review of Efficacy Test Protocols and Regulatory Actions

A wide variety of soniclultrasonic, electromagnetic, mechanicallvibrational, and electrical barrier devices have been researched, developed, and marketed over the past 30 years. Although there are currently no Environmental Protection Agency' (EPA) registration requirements, human safety and repellent efficacy test data for these devices may be requested whenever they are commercially manufactured, marketed, and retailed. This chapter reviews research reports and data sets for devices operating at selected fkquency ranges, pulse rates, duty cycles, and intensity levels. It also describes examples of laboratory and field test protocols as well as recent EPA and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulatory actions in relation to the compliance requirements of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA), respectively. State regulations may be imposed on manufacturers and retailers of repellent devices when they are carried as stock items through local stores or through mail-order service companies. Controlled efficacy test protocols have indicated only marginal repellency effects with six commercial ultrasonic devices (i.e., 30-50% reduction in movement activity), and rapid habituation (i.e., no significant repellency effects beyond 3 to 7 days of exposure). An analysis follows of research and development attempts to reduce habituation effects, to incorporate and integrate ultrasonic devices into traditional rodent control methods and to improve efficacy.
Initial Experience With a Direct Antithrombin, Hirulog, in Unstable Angina Anticoagulant, Antithrombotic, and Clinical Effects

BackgroundCurrently available antithrombotic therapy for unstable angina is unwieldy and occasionally ineffective. This study was designed to investigate the potential of Hirulog, a new synthetic specific antithrombin agent, for the management of this condition. Methods and ResultsA total of 55 patients in the acute phase of unstable angina received intravenous Hirulog according to one of two protocols. In an acute dose-escalating study, 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mg · kg-1 · h-1', each for 30 minutes, were infused in 15 patients. Prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) (r=.95), fibrinopeptide A inhibition (r=.96), and Hirulog plasma levels (r=.91) correlated closely with the dose infused, with significant changes compared with baseline appearing at doses of 0.25 mg. · kg-1 · h-1 and higher. The purposes of the second protocol were to determine whether the anticoagulant and antithrombotic effects of the drug were sustained during a 72-hour infusion and to assess whether such treatment prevented the complications of unstable angina. Based on the initial study, we planned to give a dose of 0.25 mg. · kg-1 · h-1 to each patient until 2 patients failed therapy, then successively higher doses until a 95% success rate was achieved or adverse effects intervened, increasing the dose after two failures had occurred at each level. Five patients received the 0.25-mg · kg-1 · h-1 dose and 14 the 0.5-mg. · kg-1 · h-1 dose before two failures occurred. Failure was observed in only one of 21 patients at the dose of 1 mg ± kg-1 · h-1. aPIT (±SEM) levels increased to 62±5, 76±2, and 98±3 seconds at the three doses, with minimal intraindividual variation, and Hirulog plasma levels to 1050, 2100, and 4200 mg/mL, respectively. Fibrinopeptide A plasma levels decreased at all doses but more consistently at the dose of 1 mg · kg-1 · h-1. The overall clinical success rate was 87.5%: 60% (3/5) at the low dose, 86% (12/14) at the intermediate dose, and 95% (20/21) at the high dose. No deaths, myocardial infarctions, or bleeding complications occurred. ConclusionsIn unstable angina patients, Hirulog infusions quickly and reproducibly yield stable, dose-dependent anticoagulant and antithrombotic effects with a favorable clinical efficacy profile.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE GROWTH OF 90/10 COPPER/TIN MIXES BASED ON ATOMIZED POWDERS*

Abstract90/10 bronze components are generally manufactured from mixes based on elemental copper and tin powders, which invariably exhibit growth under production sintering conditions. Previous work has shown that many factors affect growth through their influence on the alloying of tin and copper. Experimental work on atomized copper and tin powders has provided quantitative information on the various factors of significance to growth. It was found that growth was most sensitive to: phosphorus content of copper, fineness of tin, synthetic graphite, addition of prealloyed bronze, green density, heating rate, furnace atmosphere, and sintering temperature. Mechanisms for growth are proposed and preferred methods of growth control suggested.