Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain and Spinal Cord Interaction

Background. In addition to cognitive dysfunction, locomotor deficits are prevalent in traumatic brain injured (TBI) patients; however, it is unclear how a concussive injury can affect spinal cord centers. Moreover, there are no current efficient treatments that can counteract the broad pathology associated with TBI. Objective. The authors have investigated potential molecular basis for the disruptive effects of TBI on spinal cord and hippocampus and the neuroprotection of a curcumin derivative to reduce the effects of experimental TBI. Methods. The authors performed fluid percussion injury (FPI) and then rats were exposed to dietary supplementation of the curcumin derivative (CNB-001; 500 ppm). The curry spice curcumin has protective capacity in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, and the curcumin derivative has enhanced brain absorption and biological activity. Results. The results show that FPI in rats, in addition to reducing learning ability, reduced locomotor performance. Behavioral deficits were accompanied by reductions in molecular systems important for synaptic plasticity underlying behavioral plasticity in the brain and spinal cord. The post-TBI dietary supplementation of the curcumin derivative normalized levels of BDNF, and its downstream effectors on synaptic plasticity (CREB, synapsin I) and neuronal signaling (CaMKII), as well as levels of oxidative stress–related molecules (SOD, Sir2). Conclusions. These studies define a mechanism by which TBI can compromise centers related to cognitive processing and locomotion. The findings also show the influence of the curcumin derivative on synaptic plasticity events in the brain and spinal cord and emphasize the therapeutic potential of this noninvasive dietary intervention for TBI.
PERIOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT : CARDIAC When a checklist is not enough : How to improve them and what else is needed

Methods:A total of 380 consecutive patients underwent complex cardiac surgery over a 24-month period between November 2011 and November 2013 at an academic medical center, out of a total of 529 cardiac cases. Elective isolated aortic valve replacements, mitral valve repairs, and coronary artery bypass graft surgical procedures (N 1⁄4 149) were excluded. A time-out was conducted in a standard fashion in all patients in accordance with the World Health Organization surgical checklist protocol. Adverse events were classified as anything that resulted in an operative delay, nonavailability of equipment, failure of drug administration, or unexpected adverse clinical outcome. These events and their details were collected every week and analyzed using a systemic causal analysis technique using a technique called CAST (causal analysis based on systems theory). This analytic technique evaluated the sociotechnical system to identify the set of causal factors involved in the adverse events and the causal factors explored to identify reasons. Recommendations were made for the improvement of checklists and the use of system design changes that could prevent such events in the future.
Simultaneous shield insertion and net ordering for capacitive and inductive coupling minimization

In this paper, we first show that existing net ordering formulations to minimize noise are no longer valid with presence of inductive noise, and shield insertion is needed to minimize inductive noise. We then formulate two simultaneous shield insertion and net ordering (SINO) problems: the optimal SINO/NF problem to find a min-area SINO solution that is free of capacitive and inductive noise, and the optimal SINO/NB problem to find a min-area SINO solution that is free of capacitive noise and is under the given inductive noise bound. We reveal that both optimal SINO problems are NP-hard, and propose effective approximate algorithms for the two problems. Experiments show that our SINO/NB algorithm uses from 15% to 57% fewer shield wires when compared to separated net ordering and shield insertion procedure. Furthermore, under practical noise bounds, the SINO/NB solutions use from 44% to 67% fewer shield wires when compared to SINO/NF solutions, and use 10% to 40% fewer shield wires when compared to the theoretical lower bound for optimal SINO/NF solutions. Additionally, all our algorithms are extremely efficient to finish all examples in a few seconds. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first work that presents an in-depth study on the simultaneous shield insertion and net ordering problem to minimize both capacitive and inductive noise.
Life-long diseases need life-long treatment: long-term safety of ciclosporin in canine atopic dermatitis

Ciclosporin (Atopica; Novartis Animal Health) has been licensed for canine atopic dermatitis (AD) since 2002. Adverse events (AEs) have been reported in 55 per cent of 759 dogs in 15 clinical trials, but are rare in pharmacovigilance data (71.81 AEs/million capsules sold). Gastrointestinal reactions were most common, but were mild and rarely required intervention. Other AEs were rare (≤1 per cent in clinical trials; <10/million capsules sold). Hirsutism, gingival hyperplasia and hyperplastic dermatitis were rarely significant and resolved on dose reduction. Ciclosporin decreases staphylococcal and Malassezia infections in AD, and at the recommended dose is not a risk factor for other infections, neoplasia, renal failure or hypertension. The impact on glucose and calcium metabolism is not clinically significant for normal dogs. Concomitant treatment with most drugs is safe. Effects on cytochrome P450 and MDR1 P-glycoprotein activity may elevate plasma ciclosporin concentrations, but short-term changes are not clinically significant. Monitoring of complete blood counts, urinalysis or ciclosporin levels is not justified except with higher than recommended doses and/or long-term concurrent immunosuppressive drugs. Ciclosporin is not a contraindication for killed (including rabies) vaccines, but the licensed recommendation is that live vaccination is avoided during treatment. In conclusion, ciclosporin has a positive risk-benefit profile for the long-term management of canine AD.
Isolation and characterization of Candida albicans morphological mutants derepressed for the formation of filamentous hypha-type structures

Several Candida albicans morphological mutants were obtained by a procedure based on a combined treatment with nitrous acid plus UV irradiation and a double-enrichment step to increase the proportion of mutants growing as long filamentous structures. Altered cell morphogenesis in these mutants correlated with an altered colonial phenotype. Two of these mutants, C. albicans NEL102 and NEL103, were selected and characterized. Mutant blastoconidia initiated budding but eventually gave rise to filamentous hypha-type formations. These filaments were long and septate, and they branched very regularly at positions near septa. Calcofluor white (which is known to bind chitin-rich areas) stained septa, branching zones, and filament tips very intensely, as observed under the fluorescence microscope. Wild-type hybrids were obtained by fusing protoplasts of strain NEL102 with B14, another morphological mutant previously described as being permanently pseudomycelial, indicating that genetic determinants responsible for the two altered phenotypes are different. The mutants characterized in this work seemed to sequentially express the morphogenic characteristics of C. albicans, from blastoconidia to hyphae, in the absence of any inducer. Further characterization of these strains could be relevant to gain understanding of the genetic control of dimorphism in this species.
Optimizing Near-ML MIMO Detector for SDR Baseband on Parallel Programmable Architectures

ML and near-ML MIMO detectors have attracted a lot of interest in recent years. However, almost all the reported implementations are delivered in ASICs or FPGAs. Our contribution is optimizing the near-ML MIMO detector for parallel programmable architectures, such as those with ILP and DLP features. In the proposed SSFE (selective spanning with fast enumeration), architecture-friendliness is explicitly introduced from the very beginning of the design flow. Importantly, high level algorithmic transformations make the dataflow pattern and structure fit architecture-characteristics very well. We enable abundant vector-parallelism with highly regular and deterministic dataflow in the SSFE; memory rearrangements, shuffling and non-predictable dynamism are all elaborately excluded. Hence, the SSFE can be easily parallelized and efficiently mapped onto ILP and DLP architectures. Furthermore, to fine-tune the SSFE on parallel architectures, extensive pre-compiler transformations are applied with the help of the application-level information. These optimize not only computation-operations but also address-generations and memory-accesses. Experiments show that the SSFE brings very efficient resource-utilizations on real-life VLIW architectures. Specifically, with the SSFE the percentage of NOPs instructions on VLIW is below 1%, even better than that achieved by the software-pipelined FFT. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported work about comprehensive optimizations of near-ML MIMO detectors for parallel programmable architectures.
Concept Paper 1 ‘ Parabiotic Evolution ’ : From Stochasticity in 2 Geochemical and Subsequent Processes to Genes , 3 Genomes and Modular Cells 4

This article reevaluates the Woesean concept of crossing a ‘Darwinian threshold’ from 8 pre-genomic communality, as prevailing in an ancestral ‘progenote’ state, to vertically stable 9 lineages of autonomous and self-similar cells. This transition from collective trunk-line evolution to 10 Darwinian speciation is dependent on the generation of modular organismal genomes. The same 11 general principle should be valid at subcellular levels, allowing the emergence of 12 semi-autonomous genomic agents, such as viruses and plasmid-carrying endogenous vesicles with 13 organelle-like properties. As compartmentalized agents of endogenous nature could start with 14 smaller genomes than those required for fully autonomous cells, it is conjectured that stable 15 subcellular lineages emerged earlier than their cellular counterparts. Referring to the recent 16 ‘pre-endosymbiont hypothesis’, it is proposed that free-living bacteria (the first ‘prokaryote’ cells) 17 arose by ‘lineage escape’ from plasmid-bearing organelle-like compartments, evolving inside the 18 internally complexifying ‘paracells’ of the progenote community. The double-membrane envelopes 19 of diderm bacteria may have resulted from cell-biological processes facilitating cellular lineage 20 escape. The later emergence of archaeal cells (resembling bacteria in ‘prokaryote’ appearance with 21 unichromosomal genomes) and eukaryotic organisms (with compartmented cells and 22 multichromosal genomes) can also be interpreted in terms of this modified progenote hypothesis. 23 Conceivably, the multichromosomal genomes of eukaryotes were bundled in endogenous nuclear 24 compartments to organize a ‘nuclear-cytoplasmic lineage’, which became vertically stable by 25 perfecting mitosis/meiosis-like divisions and yet retained some intra-species population confluence 26 by sexual division-fusion cycles. 27
The effect of rhGM‐CSF on the proliferation of osteogenic sarcoma cells

Recombinant human granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (rhGM‐CSF) promotes the growth of a variety of hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells, both benign and malignant. There is now evidence that osteoblast‐like cells produce GM‐CSF and their growth is stimulated by this cytokine in vitro. We have studied the effect of rhGM‐CSF on DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in the human osteogenic sarcoma cell lines U‐20S, G‐292, MG‐63, and HOS. RhGM‐CSF stimulated a dose‐dependent increase in radioactive thymidine incorporation in each of the four cell lines in the presence of serum‐free media, and in two cell lines (HOS and U‐20S) in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS). In addition, rhGM‐CSF produced significant increases in cell proliferation in two cell lines (MG‐63 and U‐20S) in the presence of 2% FBS. These results suggest that GM‐CSF may have an important role in the biology of human osteogenic sarcoma cells. The clinical implications of these findings merit further investigation.
A comparison of computational color constancy Algorithms. II. Experiments with image data

We test a number of the leading computational color constancy algorithms using a comprehensive set of images. These were of 33 different scenes under 11 different sources representative of common illumination conditions. The algorithms studied include two gray world methods, a version of the Retinex method, several variants of Forsyth's gamut-mapping method, Cardei et al.'s neural net method, and Finlayson et al.'s Color by Correlation method. We discuss a number of issues in applying color constancy ideas to image data, and study in depth the effect of different preprocessing strategies. We compare the performance of the algorithms on image data with their performance on synthesized data. All data used for this study are available online at http://www.cs. sfu.ca/(tilde)color/data, and implementations for most of the algorithms are also available (http://www.cs.sfu.ca/(tilde)color/code). Experiments with synthesized data (part one of this paper) suggested that the methods which emphasize the use of the input data statistics, specifically color by correlation and the neural net algorithm, are potentially the most effective at estimating the chromaticity of the scene illuminant. Unfortunately, we were unable to realize comparable performance on real images. Here exploiting pixel intensity proved to be more beneficial than exploiting the details of image chromaticity statistics, and the three-dimensional (3-D) gamut-mapping algorithms gave the best performance.
Language modeling for soft keyboards

Language models predict the probability of letter sequences. Soft keyboards are images of keyboards on a touch screen for input on Personal Digital Assistants. When a soft keyboard user hits a key near the boundary of a key position, the language model and key press model are combined to select the most probable key sequence. This leads to an overall error rate reduction by a factor of 1.67 to 1.87. An extended version of this paper [4] is available.
Perceptual Image Fusion Using Wavelets

A perceptual image fusion method is proposed that employs explicit luminance and contrast masking models. These models are combined to give the perceptual importance of each coefficient produced by the dual-tree complex wavelet transform of each input image. This combined model of perceptual importance is used to select which coefficients are retained and furthermore to determine how to present the retained information in the most effective way. This paper is the first to give a principled approach to image fusion from a perceptual perspective. Furthermore, the proposed method is shown to give improved quantitative and qualitative results compared with previously developed methods.
From Local to Global Dilemmas in Social Networks

Social networks affect in such a fundamental way the dynamics of the population they support that the global, population-wide behavior that one observes often bears no relation to the individual processes it stems from. Up to now, linking the global networked dynamics to such individual mechanisms has remained elusive. Here we study the evolution of cooperation in networked populations and let individuals interact via a 2-person Prisoner's Dilemma – a characteristic defection dominant social dilemma of cooperation. We show how homogeneous networks transform a Prisoner's Dilemma into a population-wide evolutionary dynamics that promotes the coexistence between cooperators and defectors, while heterogeneous networks promote their coordination. To this end, we define a dynamic variable that allows us to track the self-organization of cooperators when co-evolving with defectors in networked populations. Using the same variable, we show how the global dynamics — and effective dilemma — co-evolves with the motifs of cooperators in the population, the overall emergence of cooperation depending sensitively on this co-evolution.
Brucellosis in Endangered Hector’s Dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori)

Brucella spp infections of marine mammals are often asymptomatic but have been associated with reproductive losses and deaths. Zoonotic infections originating from marine isolates have also been described. Hector’s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori) are an endangered species with a declining population, and the role of infectious disease in population dynamics is not fully understood. In this study, 27 Hector’s dolphins found dead around the New Zealand coastline between November 2006 and October 2010 were evaluated for lesions previously associated with cetacean brucellosis. Tissues were examined using histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]) techniques. Seven of 27 dolphins (26%) had at least 1 tissue that was positive on PCR for Brucella spp. Lesions consistent with brucellosis were present in 10 of 27 (37%) dolphins, but in 8 of these dolphins Brucella infection could not be demonstrated in lesional tissues. Two dolphins (7%) were diagnosed with active brucellosis: 1 female with placentitis and metritis, and 1 stillborn male fetus. Brucella identified in these 2 dolphins had genetic similarity (99%) to Brucella pinnipedialis. The omp2a gene amplicon from the uterus of the female had 100% homology with ST27 genotype isolates from a human in New Zealand and a bottlenose dolphin of Pacific origin. The remaining 5 PCR-positive dolphins were assessed as having asymptomatic or latent infection. While most Brucella infections identified in this study appeared to be subclinical, the finding of 2 dolphins with reproductive disease due to Brucella infection suggests that this disease has the potential to affect reproductive success in this species.
The protected working capacity envelope concept: an alternate paradigm for automated service provisioning

At present we see only one basic approach being considered by implementors and standards organizations for provisioning of dynamic protected lightpath services that make efficient use of shared protection capacity. This is the paradigm of a primary working path protected end-to-end by a disjoint backup path using shared spare capacity. Sharing is arranged among the backup paths associated with other primary paths that are failure-disjoint from the current primary path. This approach called shared backup path protection (SBPP) has many advantages but also provides a great deal of network state information to be available and current in every node. It also makes the arrangement of protection a per-connection task, rather than user-selectable service option supported by the network itself. We propose an alternative paradigm for consideration, partly summed up as provisioning over protected capacity rather than provisioning protection. Under a given distribution of spare capacity, locally acting protection or restoration schemes create an "envelope" of protected working channels. Dynamic provisioning within this envelope is simplified to a shortest path routing problem and (depending on the mode of operation) requires little or no dissemination of state changes on a per-connection basis. We explain how existing "static" capacity design methods can be adopted to the dimensioning of such a working capacity envelope and the envelope dimensions further adapted online to track evolution of the overall pattern of random demand. An important property is that nothing needs to be done to arrange protection for services on the per-connection timescale other than routing the service itself. Arbitrarily fast-paced demand arrivals and departures can be accommodated within a static distribution of spare capacity. Adjustments to the envelope itself are required only on the timescale on which the statistical parameters of the random demand changes. This may provide an inherently more scalable, less database-dependent, and higher-availability alternative than SBPP, or at least an additional service modality that can be offered to customers.
Effect of Semisolid Formulation of Persea Americana Mill (Avocado) Oil on Wound Healing in Rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the wound-healing activity of a semisolid formulation of avocado oil, SSFAO 50%, or avocado oil in natura, on incisional and excisional cutaneous wound models in Wistar rats. An additional objective was to quantify the fatty acids present in avocado oil. On the 14th day, a significant increase was observed in percentage wound contraction and reepithelialization in the groups treated with 50% SSFAO or avocado oil compared to the petroleum jelly control. Anti-inflammatory activity, increase in density of collagen, and tensile strength were observed inSSFAO 50% or avocado oil groups, when compared to control groups. The analysis of the components of avocado oil by gas chromatography detected the majority presence of oleic fatty acid (47.20%), followed by palmitic (23.66%), linoleic (13.46%) docosadienoic (8.88%), palmitoleic (3.58%), linolenic (1.60%), eicosenoic (1.29%), and myristic acids (0.33%). Our results show that avocado oil is a rich source of oleic acid and contains essential fatty acids. When used in natura or in pharmaceutical formulations for topical use, avocado oil can promote increased collagen synthesis and decreased numbers of inflammatory cells during the wound-healing process and may thus be considered a new option for treating skin wounds.
Modeling Expectations in cognitive agents

A crucial feature of intelligent agents is their being proactive not only reactive, their anticipatory representations i.e., their ability to deal with the future by mental representations or specific forms of learning. For guiding and orienting the action a representation of the future and more precisely a representation of future effects and of intermediate results of the action is needed. Have a mind means to have anticipatory representations, i.e., predictions and goals; not just perception, beliefs, memory. The aim of this work is to provide a precise characterization of anticipatory mental states (i.e. Expectations), to analyze their role in the generation of Surprise, Relief and Disappointment and to discuss their function in the definition of Social Trust.
Koopman mode analysis of power systems oscillations

This paper deals with the application of a mathematical technique named Koopman Mode Analysis in electrical power systems to decompose its swing dynamics into modes of oscillations. A practical data-driven algorithm of the Koopman Mode Analysis is proposed to extract frequencies growth rates and norms of identified modes. The computed Koopman modes are ranked based on their growth rates. The Koopman analysis is applied to a two-area four-machine power system. The choice of the number of KM to be computed is discussed. A comparison of Koopman modes is carried out with linear modes identified by the conventional small-signal stability analysis. This comparison reveals the less damped dynamics which may or not be the linear modes. Such information is particularly useful for power system control in post severe disturbances.