Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oxidative Status and Lipofuscin Accumulation in Urothelial Cells of Bladder in Aging Mice

Age-related changes in various tissues have been associated with the onset of a number of age-related diseases, including inflammation and cancer. Bladder cancer, for instance, is a disease that mainly afflicts middle-aged or elderly people and is mostly of urothelial origin. Although research on age-related changes of long-lived post-mitotic cells such as neurons is rapidly progressing, nothing is known about age-related changes in the urothelium of the urinary bladder, despite all the evidence confirming the important role of oxidative stress in urinary bladder pathology. The purpose of this study was thus to investigate the oxidative status and age-related changes in urothelial cells of the urinary bladder of young (2 months) and aging (20 months) mice by means of various methods. Our results demonstrated that healthy young urothelium possesses a powerful antioxidant defence system that functions as a strong defence barrier against reactive species. In contrast, urothelial cells of aging bladder show significantly decreased total antioxidant capacity and significantly increased levels of lipid peroxides (MDA) and iNOS, markers of oxidative stress. Our study demonstrates for the first time that ultrastructural alterations in mitochondria and accumulation of lipofuscin, known to be one of the aging pigments, can clearly be found in superficial urothelial cells of the urinary bladder in aging mice. Since the presence of lipofuscin in the urothelium has not yet been reported, we applied various methods to confirm our finding. Our results reveal changes in the oxidative status and structural alterations to superficial urothelial cells similar to those of other long-lived post-mitotic cells.
Presence of neuroglobin in cultured astrocytes

Neuroglobin (Ngb), a recently discovered intracellular respiratory globin in neurons, may play a crucial role in oxygen homeostasis in the brain. We report preliminary findings indicating the presence of functional neuroglobin in primary cultures of cerebral cortical astrocytes. Reverse transcription real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RRT–PCR) and immunostaining confirmed such presence in cultured astrocytes isolated from newborn mouse brain. Ngb antisense treatment increased apoptosis in ischemic astrocytes. The discovery of Ngb in astrocytes may provide some insight into how oxygen homeostasis is regulated in the brain. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change

Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance. Academy of Sciences and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project. The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I. Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine. in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine.
Identifying supply chain management and e-commerce opportunities at PaperCo Australia

Established supply chain management techniques such as Quick Response (QR) or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) have proven the potential benefits of reorganizing an organization’s processes to take advantage of the characteristics of electronic information exchange. As the Internet and other proprietary networks expand, however, organizations have the opportunity to use this enabling infrastructure to exchange other, more varied types of information than traditional electronic data interchange (EDI) messages. This is especially true of companies with global operations and interests, which lead to a more diverse set of trading activities. This case presents the experiences of a large Australian paper products manufacturer in implementing an electronic document exchange strategy for supply chain management, including the drivers for change which spurred their actions, and describes the issues associated with trying to support existing and future requirements for document exchange across a wide variety of trading partners. The experiences of PaperCo will be relevant to organizations with diverse trading partners, especially small to medium enterprises (SMEs).
Bootstrapping the Linked Data Web

Most knowledge sources on the Data Web were extracted from structured or semi-structured data. Thus, they encompass solely a small fraction of the information available on the document-oriented Web. In this paper, we present BOA, an iterative bootstrapping strategy for extracting RDF from unstructured data. The idea behind BOA is to use the Data Web as background knowledge for the extraction of natural language patterns that represent predicates found on the Data Web. These patterns are used to extract instance knowledge from natu-ral language text. This knowledge is (cid:28)nally fed back into the Data Web, therewith closing the loop. We evaluate our approach on two data sets using DBpedia as background knowledge. Our results show that we can extract several thousand new facts in one iteration with very high accuracy. Moreover, we provide the (cid:28)rst repository of natural language representations of predicates found on the Data Web.
Resilient Data Collection in Smart Grid

Sensors and measurement devices are widely deployed in Smart Grid (SG) to monitor the health of the system. However, these devices are subject to damage and attack so that they cannot deliver sensing data to the control center. In treebased data collection schemes, a relay failure can further lead to unresponsiveness of all the devices in its sub-tree. In this paper, we study the resiliency issue in collecting data from SG measurement devices. We first design a protocol that guarantees successful data collection from all non-faulty devices in a backupenabled tree structure. Then, we formulate the tree construction problem to optimize data collection time. Since the formulated problem is NP-hard, we propose a heuristic algorithm to solve it. We evaluate our algorithm using a real utility network topology. The experiment results show that our algorithm performs well in large scale networks.
Learning Item Trees for Probabilistic Modelling of Implicit Feedback

User preferences for items can be inferred from either explicit feedback, such as item ratings, or implicit feedback, such as rental histories. Research in collaborative filtering has concentrated on explicit feedback, resulting in the development of accurate and scalable models. However, since explicit feedback is often difficult to collect it is important to develop effective models that take advantage of the more widely available implicit feedback. We introduce a probabilistic approach to collaborative filtering with implicit feedback based on modelling the user's item selection process. In the interests of scalability, we restrict our attention to tree-structured distributions over items and develop a principled and efficient algorithm for learning item trees from data. We also identify a problem with a widely used protocol for evaluating implicit feedback models and propose a way of addressing it using a small quantity of explicit feedback data.
Viscoelastic Properties of Hyaluronan in Physiological Conditions

Hyaluronan (HA) is a high molecular weight glycosaminoglycan of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is particularly abundant in soft connective tissues. Solutions of HA can be highly viscous with non-Newtonian flow properties. These properties affect the movement of HA-containing fluid layers within and underlying the deep fascia. Changes in the concentration, molecular weight, or even covalent modification of HA in inflammatory conditions, as well as changes in binding interactions with other macromolecules, can have dramatic effects on the sliding movement of fascia. The high molecular weight and the semi-flexible chain of HA are key factors leading to the high viscosity of dilute solutions, and real HA solutions show additional nonideality and greatly increased viscosity due to mutual macromolecular crowding. The shear rate dependence of the viscosity, and the viscoelasticity of HA solutions, depend on the relaxation time of the molecule, which in turn depends on the HA concentration and molecular weight. Temperature can also have an effect on these properties. High viscosity can additionally affect the lubricating function of HA solutions. Immobility can increase the concentration of HA, increase the viscosity, and reduce lubrication and gliding of the layers of connective tissue and muscle. Over time, these changes can alter both muscle structure and function. Inflammation can further increase the viscosity of HA-containing fluids if the HA is modified via covalent attachment of heavy chains derived from Inter-α-Inhibitor. Hyaluronidase hydrolyzes HA, thus reducing its molecular weight, lowering the viscosity of the extracellular matrix fluid and making outflow easier. It can also disrupt any aggregates or gel-like structures that result from HA being modified. Hyaluronidase is used medically primarily as a dispersion agent, but may also be useful in conditions where altered viscosity of the fascia is desired, such as in the treatment of muscle stiffness.
A Study on the Production and Emission of Marine-Derived Volatile

This study consists of four subprojects: (1) Observations of marine-derived halocarbons in the atmosphere; (2) Shipboard observations of halocarbons in oceanic seawater; (3) Halocarbon distribution during the spring bloom in the western North Pacific; and (4) Elucidation of the mechanism of methyl halide emission from marine phytoplankton: enzymatic and genetic analyses of key enzymes catalyzing the formation of methyl iodide (CH3I).
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and IGF binding protein-1 and -3 in the follicular fluid of infertile patients with endometriosis.

BACKGROUND Endometriosis is associated with pituitary-ovarian axis dysfunction. The study of the follicular fluid in patients with endometriosis is important to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanism of this disease. The objective of this present paper was to analyse the dosages of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF binding protein-1 and 3 (IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3) in the follicular fluid environment of infertile patients with endometriosis. METHODS A total of 41 infertile patients undergoing IVF between January 1999 and January 2000 participated in the cross-sectional prospective study. Patients were divided into three groups: group I, minimal/mild endometriosis (n = 12); group II, moderate/severe endometriosis (n = 10); and group III, tubal obstruction (n = 19). The ultra-short protocol was used in association with recombinant FSH for ovulation induction. Follicular fluid analysis was performed using radioimmunoassay with specific kits. RESULTS Follicular fluid IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were not significantly different among the groups; however, follicular fluid IGFBP-1 levels were lower in those patients with moderate/severe endometriosis (P < 0.05). Comparison of ovulation induction time, number of recombinant FSH units, number of follicles, oocytes and embryos, and fertilization and gestation/cycle rates showed non-significant differences. CONCLUSION Infertile patients with moderate/severe endometriosis, which is associated with ovulatory dysfunction, presented lower levels of IGFBP-1 in the follicular fluid when undergoing IVF.
Assessing Structural Vars

This paper analyzes the quality of VAR-based procedures for estimating the response of the economy to a shock. We focus on two key issues. First, do VAR-based confidence intervals accurately reflect the actual degree of sampling uncertainty associated with impulse response functions? Second, what is the size of bias relative to confidence intervals, and how do coverage rates of confidence intervals compare with their nominal size? We address these questions using data generated from a series of estimated dynamic, stochastic general equilibrium models. We organize most of our analysis around a particular question that has attracted a great deal of attention in the literature: How do hours worked respond to an identified shock? In all of our examples, as long as the variance in hours worked due to a given shock is above the remarkably low number of 1 percent, structural VARs perform well. This finding is true regardless of whether identification is based on short-run or long-run restrictions. Confidence intervals are wider in the case of long-run restrictions. Even so, long-run identified VARs can be useful for discriminating among competing economic models.
Classification of Wheeze Sounds Using Wavelets and Neural Networks

Wheezes are one of the most important adventitious sounds in pulmonary system. They are observed in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchitis. The purpose of this research is to analyze wheeze sounds and classify them as monophonic and polyphonic types. Data is acquired in normal hospital conditions by a typical stethoscope. Various statistical features are extracted from coefficients of 7 different wavelets. Then according to ROC curves, groups of more powerful features are selected. We use multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network as a classifier. The experimental results show that using a set of 15 selected features and a 15-45-2 MLP network, wheeze sounds could be classified with 89.28% accuracy.
Potassium Requirements of Pulse Crops

In India, pulses are grown mostly on marginal and sub-marginal lands without proper inputs. Potassium (K) is rarely applied to these crops despite larger K requirements of pulses and continued mining of soil K. Many field experiments on various pulse crops show yield benefits from K application. Improved K supply also enhances biological nitrogen (N) fixation and protein content of pulse grains.
Comparison of Air-Water and Oil-Water Multi-Phase Flow Experiments in Glass Bead Packs

1 Department of Geosciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331; 2 Environment and Resources, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby; 3 Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556; 4 Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7431; 5 Consortium for Advanced Radiation Sources and Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago
POTENTIAL APPLICATION OF DEEP EUTECTIC SOLVENTS IN HEAT TRANSFER APPLICATION

Glycol based conventional fluids are generally used as coolants and antifreezing agents in industrial applications. Thus, this paper explores the possibility of utilizing DES as a heat transfer fluid due to their enhanced thermal stability compared to conventional fluids. Thermal conductivity of four types of DES comprising of methyl triphenyl-phosphonium-bromide (MTPB) and choline chloride (ChCl) as salts, and ethylene glycol (EG) and triethylene glycol (TEG) as the hydrogen bond donor (HBD), are measured from 25°C to 50°C using KD2 Pro thermal properties analyser. The obtained results show that the presence of salt lowers the thermal conductivity of the pure organic fluids. As the temperature increases, the thermal conductivity of the DESs increase compared to the thermal conductivity of pure organic solvents that does not change with temperaure. At higher temperature (50°C), the thermal conductivity decreased by 9.9% for MTPB:EG-DES, 5.4% for MTPB:TEGDES and 5.4% for ChCl:EG-DESs. In addition to the thermal conductivity, the viscosity of the DES was also measured and found to be higher than the pure organic solvents. DES synthesized from MTPB salt shows higher viscosity as compared to ChCl due to higher hydrogen bonding between the salt and HBD. As the temperature increases, the viscosity of the DES converges closer to the viscosity of the pure organic fluids. Therefore, DES at high temperature will pose negligible increase in pumping power. With the addition of salt, the DES has lower freezing point compared to the pure EG and TEG due to the highly energetic hydrogen bonding.
Expression of hsp70, hsp90 and hsf1 in the reef coral Acropora digitifera under prospective acidified conditions over the next several decades

Summary Ocean acidification is an ongoing threat for marine organisms due to the increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration. Seawater acidification has a serious impact on physiologic processes in marine organisms at all life stages. On the other hand, potential tolerance to external pH changes has been reported in coral larvae. Information about the possible mechanisms underlying such tolerance responses, however, is scarce. In the present study, we examined the effects of acidified seawater on the larvae of Acropora digitifera at the molecular level. We targeted two heat shock proteins, Hsp70 and Hsp90, and a heat shock transcription factor, Hsf1, because of their importance in stress responses and in early life developmental stages. Coral larvae were maintained under the ambient and elevated CO2 conditions that are expected to occur within next 100 years, and then we evaluated the expression of hsps and hsf1 by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Expression levels of these molecules significantly differed among target genes, but they did not change significantly between CO2 conditions. These findings indicate that the expression of hsps is not changed due to external pH changes, and suggest that tolerance to acidified seawater in coral larvae may not be related to hsp expression.
Prevalence of Cryptococcal Antigenemia and Cost-Effectiveness of a Cryptococcal Antigen Screening Program – Vietnam

Background An estimated 120,000 HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis (CM) cases occur each year in South and Southeast Asia; early treatment may improve outcomes. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently recommended screening HIV-infected adults with CD4<100 cells/mm3 for serum cryptococcal antigen (CrAg), a marker of early cryptococcal infection, in areas of high CrAg prevalence. We evaluated CrAg prevalence and cost-effectiveness of this screening strategy in HIV-infected adults in northern and southern Vietnam. Methods Serum samples were collected and stored during 2009–2012 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from HIV-infected, ART-naïve patients presenting to care in 12 clinics. All specimens from patients with CD4<100 cells/mm3 were tested using the CrAg lateral flow assay. We obtained cost estimates from laboratory staff, clinicians and hospital administrators in Vietnam, and evaluated cost-effectiveness using WHO guidelines. Results Sera from 226 patients [104 (46%) from North Vietnam and 122 (54%) from the South] with CD4<100 cells/mm3 were available for CrAg testing. Median CD4 count was 40 (range 0–99) cells/mm3. Nine (4%; 95% CI 2–7%) specimens were CrAg-positive. CrAg prevalence was higher in South Vietnam (6%; 95% CI 3–11%) than in North Vietnam (2%; 95% CI 0–6%) (p = 0.18). Cost per life-year gained under a screening scenario was $190, $137, and $119 at CrAg prevalences of 2%, 4% and 6%, respectively. Conclusion CrAg prevalence was higher in southern compared with northern Vietnam; however, CrAg screening would be considered cost-effective by WHO criteria in both regions. Public health officials in Vietnam should consider adding cryptococcal screening to existing national guidelines for HIV/AIDS care.
Compensation strategy of switching dead-time effect based on frequency domain model

The problem of current waveform distortion because of dead-time inserted in power electronic applications is analyzed and researched in this paper, and the equivalent voltage source model is set up in to analyze the low frequency harmonic voltage because of dead-time effect. The control strategy of harmonic injection is proposed to compensate the current distortion due to dead-time effect. Firstly, obtains the application output current amplitude and phase of mainly harmonic current by Fourier transform, then calculates the compensation instructive voltage according to the connected inductor and dc voltage. Based on H-bridges cascaded static synchronous compensator (STATCOM), the experiment on a STATCOM based on digital signal processor (DSP) and (Field Programmable Gate Array) FPGA is implemented. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed method is feasible and efficient to compensate the current distortion.
Brief announcement: gracefully degrading consensus and k-set agreement under dynamic link failures

We present a k-set agreement algorithm for synchronous dynamic distributed systems with unidirectional links controlled by an omniscient adversary. Our algorithm automatically adapts to the actual network properties: If the network is sufficiently well-connected, it solves consensus, while degrading gracefully to general k-set agreement in less well-behaved runs. The algorithm is oblivious to the maximum number of system-wide decision values k, which is bounded by the number of certain strongly connected components occurring in the dynamically changing network in a run. Related impossibility results reveal that this bound is close to the solvability border for k-set agreement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first consensus algorithm that degrades in a graceful way in a dynamic network.