Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The growing relationship between China and Sub-Saharan Africa : macroeconomic, trade, investment, and aid links

Chinas economic ascendance over the past two decades has generated ripple effects in the world economy. Its search for natural resources to satisfy the demands of industrialization has led it to Sub-Saharan Africa. Trade between China and Africa in 2006 totaled more than $50 billion, with Chinese companies importing oil from Angola and Sudan, timber from Central Africa, and copper from Zambia. Demand from China has contributed to an upward swing in prices, particularly for oil and metals from Africa, and has given a boost to real gross domestic product (GDP) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Chinese aid and investment in infrastructure are bringing desperately needed capital to the continent. At the same time, however, strong Chinese demand for oil is contributing to an increase in the import bill for many oil-importing Sub- Saharan African countries, and its exports of low-cost textiles, while benefiting African consumers, is threatening to displace local production. China poses a challenge to good governance and macroeconomic management in Africa because of the potential Dutch disease implications of commodity booms. China presents both an opportunity for Africa to reduce its marginalization from the global economy and a challenge for it to effectively harness the influx of resources to promote poverty-reducing economic development at home.
Regulation of RIG-I Activation by K63-Linked Polyubiquitination

RIG-I is a pattern recognition receptor and recognizes cytoplasmic viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Influenza A virus, hepatitis C virus, and several other pathogenic viruses are mainly recognized by RIG-I, resulting in the activation of the innate immune responses. The protein comprises N-terminal two caspase activation and recruitment domains (2CARDs), an RNA helicase domain, and the C-terminal domain (CTD). The CTD recognizes 5′-triphosphate viral dsRNA. After recognition of viral dsRNA, the protein harbors K63-linked polyubiquitination essential for RIG-I activation. First, it was reported that TRIM25 ubiquitin ligase delivered K63-linked polyubiquitin moiety to the 2CARDs. The polyubiquitin chain stabilizes a structure called the 2CARD tetramer, in which four 2CARDs assemble and make a core that promotes the aggregation of the mitochondrial antiviral-signaling (MAVS) protein on mitochondria. MAVS aggregation then triggers the signal to induce the innate immune responses. However, subsequent studies have reported that Riplet, MEX3C, and TRIM4 ubiquitin ligases are also involved in K63-linked polyubiquitination and the activation of RIG-I. MEX3C and TRIM4 mediate polyubiquitination of the 2CARDs. By contrast, Riplet ubiquitinates the CTD. The physiological significance of each ubiquitin ligases has been shown by knockout and knockdown studies, but there appears to be contradictory to evidence reported in the literature. In this review, we summarize recent findings related to K63-linked polyubiquitination and propose a model that could reconcile current contradictory theories. We also discuss the physiological significance of the ubiquitin ligases in the immune system against viral infection.
SCID Dogs: Similar Transplant Potential but Distinct Intra-Uterine Growth Defects and Premature Replicative Senescence Compared with SCID Mice1

We have previously described DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs) mutations in horses and dogs that result in deficits in V(D)J recombination, DNA repair, and SCID. In this paper, we document substantial developmental growth defects in DNA-PKcs-deficient dogs that are not apparent in SCID mice. Fibroblast cell strains derived from either fetal or adult SCID dogs proliferate poorly in culture and undergo premature replicative senescence, somewhat reminiscent of cells derived from Ku-deficient mice. A limited number of animals have been immune reconstituted (by bone marrow transplantation) so that they can be maintained in a normal environment for long periods. Several of these animals have developed conditions associated with premature ageing at 2–3 years of age, roughly 20% of their expected lifespan. These conditions include intestinal malabsorption and primary neural cell neoplasia. These results suggest that DNA-PKcs deficiency is not tolerated equally in all species, perhaps providing insight into why DNA-PKcs deficiency has not been observed in humans. Finally, this study demonstrates the feasibility of maintaining SCID dogs for extended periods of time and documents their utility for bone marrow transplantation studies and as hosts for the propagation of xenografts. In sum, SCID dogs may present researchers with new possibilities for the development of animal models of human disease.
A wavelet‐Fisz approach to spectrum estimation

Abstract. We propose a new approach to wavelet threshold estimation of spectral densities of stationary time series. Our proposal addresses the problem of heteroscedasticity and non‐normality of the (tapered) periodogram. We estimate thresholds for the empirical wavelet coefficients of the periodogram as appropriate linear combinations of the periodogram values similar to empirical scaling coefficients. Our solution introduces ‘asymptotically noise‐free reconstruction thresholds’ which parallels classical wavelet theory for nonparametric regression with independently and identically distributed Gaussian errors. Our simulations show promising results that clearly improve on existing approaches. In addition, we derive theoretical results on the near‐optimal rate of convergence of the minimax mean‐square risk for a class of spectral densities, including those of low regularity.
Treatment-related outcome of oropharyngeal cancer patients differentiated by HPV dictated risk profile: a tertiary cancer centre series analysis.

BACKGROUND To date, no treatment modality has been identified as more effective for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), and no predictive factors are known to guide treatment decision for this disease. This retrospective study evaluates the differential effects of diverse treatment options for OPC according to patient risk profiles. PATIENTS AND METHODS We considered two series of locally advanced squamous cell OPC patients treated with either surgery followed by radiotherapy (surgical series) or chemoradiation (CRT) with/without induction docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) chemotherapy (CRT series). Smoking habits, tumor p16 expression/human papillomavirus (HPV) status and T and N stage were analyzed to stratify the patients according to Ang's risk profile (low, intermediate and high risk). Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS Globally, 171 patients were considered, 56 in surgical and 115 in CRT series. Patients were stratified in low- (20% of surgical and CRT groups), intermediate- (23% and 41%) and high-risk (57% and 39%) groups. In the surgical series, 5-year OS was 54.5%, 46.9% and 40.0% in low, intermediate and high Ang's risk profiles, respectively, whereas in the CRT series those were 100%, 78.9% and 46.7%, respectively. In the multivariable analyses, adjusting for inhomogeneity between the treatment group, the CRT effect was significantly higher in the low- and intermediate-risk groups (P-value for the interaction treatment risk group = 0.034 in the OS analysis). CONCLUSIONS In this retrospective analysis, low- and intermediate-risk OPC patients had a better survival when treated with CRT compared with open surgery followed by radiation therapy. These data suggest that different treatment approaches might be essential in determining outcome results.
NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF TURBULENT FREE SURFACE FLOW FOR A FAST SHIP MODEL

In this study the experimental and computational results for a fast ship model is presented. The Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) equations and the nonlinear free surface boundary conditions are discretized by means of an overset grid finite volume scheme. The experiments are performed at Istanbul Technical University Towing Tank basin. In the numerical turbulent flow calculations, the relationship between the Boussinesq's hypothesis of turbulence viscosity and the velocities are obtained through the standard k-e turbulence model. Simulations of turbulent free surface flows around the model are performed by using Star CCM+ solver and Volume of Fluid (VOF) model to capture the free surface between air and water. The total resistance of the ship model is compared with the experimental results. Bow and aft wave form developments are also investigated qualitatively. For Froude (Fn) numbers less than 0.25, the computations are found to be well satisfactory, giving efficient and accurate tool to predict curves of resistance. For relatively higher speeds (Fn>0.25) a low Reynolds number turbulence model may be more suitable to predict the resistance.
Windows into Geometric Events: Data Structures for Time-Windowed Querying of Temporal Point Sets

We study geometric data structures for sets of point-based temporal events, answering time-windowed queries, i.e., given a contiguous time interval we answer common geometric queries about the point events with time stamps in this interval. The geometric queries we consider include queries based on the skyline, convex hull, and proximity relations of the point set. We provide space efficient data structures which answer queries in polylogarithmic time.
Delivery of Huge Bladder Stone in a Thirty-Five-Year-Old Man

Introduction: Bladder stone is the most common form of lower urinary tract stones and constitutes 5% of all urinary tract stones. The giant bladder stones are very rare and our report was the first one in Iran and in the world. Case Presentation: The patient was a 35-year-old man who was referred to our urology clinic with the lower urinary tract symptoms. Irritative symptoms were dominant without obstructive symptoms. During a physical examination, hard mass was palpated in suprapubic area. On ultrasonography, a huge stone with 110-mm diameter was revealed in the bladder. Conclusions: A unique point in this patient was the absence of any history or current conditions such as bladder outlet obstruction or foreign body, which might predispose bladder to stone formation. Another unique point was the heavy weight (826 g) of one-piece-stone filling all bladder space. In majority of reported bladder stones, the weight was lower and the stones were in multiple pieces.
E-safety and Web 2.0 for children aged 11-16

Abstract This paper reports findings from a survey and interviews with children aged 11–16 years, teachers and parents on their attitudes to e-safety in relation to social networking and media creation (Web 2.0) and their practices at school and at home. The results showed that 74% of the children surveyed have used social network (SN) sites and that a substantial minority regularly interact socially online with people they have not met face-to-face. Online interaction forms a different, although overlapping, social space to that of face-to-face friendships. Despite a desire from some teachers to explore the benefits of Web 2.0 for creative and social learning, they report being constrained by a need to show a duty of care that avoids worst-case risk to children, to restrict access to SN sites. The respondents also report more direct concerns about Internet bullying and exam cheating. We also report a Policy Delphi process with a panel of 30 people with expertise in Web 2.0 and e-safety. The panel reached a general consensus that schools should move towards allowing access to Web 2.0 sites, with children being educated in responsible and creative learning.
The bio-distribution of the antidepressant clomipramine is modulated by chronic stress in mice: effects on behavior

Major depression (MD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, severely affecting the quality of life of millions of people worldwide. Despite the availability of several classes of antidepressants, treatment efficacy is still very variable and many patients do not respond to the treatment. Clomipramine (CMI), a classical and widely used antidepressant, shows widespread interindividual variability of efficacy, while the environmental factors contributing to such variability remain unclear. We investigated whether chronic stress modulates the bio-distribution of CMI, and as a result the behavioral response to CMI treatment in a mouse model of chronic social defeat stress (CSDS). Our results show that stress exposure increased anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors and altered the stress response. Chronic defeat stress furthermore significantly altered CMI bio-distribution. Interestingly, CMI bio-distribution highly correlated with anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors only under basal conditions. Taken together, we provide first evidence demonstrating that chronic stress exposure modulates CMI bio-distribution and behavioral responses. This may contribute to CMI’s broad interindividual variability, and is especially relevant in clinical practice.
Physiologic concentrations of exogenously infused ghrelin reduces insulin secretion without affecting insulin sensitivity in healthy humans.

BACKGROUND Infusion of ghrelin to supraphysiologic levels inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, reduces insulin sensitivity, and worsens glucose tolerance in humans. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of lower doses of ghrelin on insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in healthy men and women. METHODS Acyl ghrelin (0.2 and 0.6 nmol kg(-1) h(-1)) or saline was infused for 225 minutes in 16 healthy subjects on 3 separate occasions in randomized order. An i.v. glucose tolerance test was performed, and the insulin sensitivity index (SI) was derived from the minimal model. Insulin secretion was measured as the acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg) and the disposition index was computed as AIRg × SI. RESULTS Ghrelin infusions at 0.2 and 0.6 nmol kg(-1) h(-1) raised steady-state plasma total ghrelin levels 2.2- and 6.1-fold above fasting concentrations. Neither dose of ghrelin altered fasting plasma insulin, glucose, or SI, but both doses reduced insulin secretion compared with the saline control, computed either as AIRg (384 ± 75 and 354 ± 65 vs 520 ± 110 pM · min [mean ± SEM], respectively; P < .01 for both low- and high-dose vs saline) or disposition index (2238 ± 421 and 2067 ± 396 vs 3339 ± 705, respectively; P < .02 for both comparisons). The high-dose ghrelin infusion also decreased glucose tolerance. CONCLUSIONS Ghrelin infused to levels occurring in physiologic states such as starvation decreases insulin secretion without affecting insulin sensitivity. These findings are consistent with a role for endogenous ghrelin in the regulation of insulin secretion and suggest that ghrelin antagonism could improve β-cell function.
Effects of NiO loading and pre-calcination temperature on NiO-SDCC composite anode powder for low-Temperature solid oxide fuel cells

The microstructural and thermal characteristics of NiO-samarium-doped ceria carbonate (NiO–DCC) composite powders have been explored in terms of NiO loading and pre-calcination temperature. NiO–SDCC composite powders were intimately mixed via fast ball-milling using different NiO loadings (50 70 wt. %) and subjected to various pre-calcination temperatures (600 800°C). Subsequently, the pre-calcined powders were then used to fabricate composite pellets using a uniaxial press and sintered at a low temperature of 600°C. The crystalline phase, carbonate bonding, microstructure and thermal behaviour of the composite anode powders were investigated. The microstructure, porosity, and hardness of sintered composite pellets were also evaluated. All samples maintained their chemical compatibility and carbonate bonding after various processes. The findings indicated that the pre-calcination factor was more important than NiO loading in terms of powder and pellet morphologies as well as the thermal expansion behaviour. Moreover, the composite pellets prepared with composite powders pre-calcined at increasing temperatures exhibited an increase in porosity, but within an acceptable range (30 40 %). Overall, composite pellets fabricated with 50 wt. % NiO exhibited the optimum hardness values of 21 31 HV and the lowest thermal expansion of 12.2 12.7 × 10-6 K.
Hydrophilic materials as tissue substitutes for diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.

The object of the study is to measure the photon mass attenuation coefficient of hydrophilic materials with the aim of investigating their suitability as tissue equivalent material. Two types of hydrophilic material were tested; the ED4C which has 72% water uptake by weight and the H-40 which has 40% water uptake by weight. Measurements were made for both types in dry and fully hydrated state. The measurements were obtained by using (a) narrow beam geometry and mono-energetic beams with a range of energies between 13.37 and 662 keV; (b) medical x-ray sources, used in diagnostic radiology such as mammography, radiology and CT scans; and (c) medical linear accelerator to generate high energy beams such as 6 and 18 MV beams. The measured mass attenuation coefficients were compared with the mass attenuation coefficient of various body tissues published by ICRU with the use of XCOM computer code. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used to measure T1 and T2 of the hydrophilic material to study the suitability of the material as tissue equivalent for MRI. The physical characteristics of the hydrophilic materials were studied by measuring the uptake rate (amount of water absorbed by the sample in a certain time) versus sample thickness, and generating uptake rate curves for each thickness for both types of material. Mathematical models to fit the uptake rate curves by applying diffusion equations were obtained. The uptake rate (hydration process) and dryness (dehydration process) were conducted at two different water and room temperatures of 23°C and 9°C.
Long term effects of bioactive glass particulates on dental pulp stem cells in vitro

Abstract Bioactive glasses (BG) are known for their ability to induce bone formation by the action of their dissolution products. Glasses can deliver active ions at a sustained rate, determined by their composition and surface area. Nanoporous sol-gel derived BGs can biodegrade rapidly, which can lead to a detrimental burst release of ions and a pHrise. The addition of phosphate into the glass can buffer the pH during dissolution. Here, dissolution of BG with composition 60 mol% SiO2, 28 mol% CaO and 12 mol% P2O5 at 600 μg/ml were investigated. Initially, the dissolution and apatite formation of the BG particulates were examined in simulated body fluid using FTIR and XRD. BG particulates were indirectly exposed to dental pulp stem cells, and the effect of 14 days continuous ion release on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSC) viability and differentiation was evaluated. Alamar blue assay showed that cell proliferation was not inhibited by the continuous release of Ca, P and soluble silica. In fact, hDPSC in the presence of BG particulate displayed a higher density of mineralized nodules than untreated cells, as assessed by Alizarin red. The results will have a great contribution to the in vivo application of this particular BG.
Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry simultaneous determination of vindoline and catharanthine in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

Vinblastine and vincristine, both of which are bisindole alkaloids derived from vindoline and catharanthine, have been used for cancer chemotherapy; their monomeric precursor molecules are vindoline and catharanthine. A simple and selective liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of vindoline and catharanthine in rat plasma was developed. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 (2.1 × 50 mm, 3.5 µm) column with acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid in water as mobile phase with gradient elution. The flow rate was set at 0.4 mL/min. An electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in positive ion mode; selective ion monitoring mode was used for quantification. Mean recoveries were in the range of 87.3-92.6% for vindoline in rat plasma and 88.5-96.5% for catharanthine. Matrix effects for vindoline and catharanthine were measured to be between 95.3 and 104.7%. Coefficients of variation of intra-day and inter-day precision were both <15%. The accuracy of the method ranged from 93.8 to 108.1%. The method was successfully applied in a pharmacokinetic study of vindoline and catharanthine in rats. The bioavailability of vindoline and catharanthine were 5.4 and 4.7%, respectively.
Photorealistic models for pupil light reflex and iridal pattern deformation

We introduce a physiologically-based model for pupil light reflex (PLR) and an image-based model for iridal pattern deformation. Our PLR model expresses the pupil diameter as a function of the lighting of the environment, and is described by a delay-differential equation, naturally adapting the pupil diameter even to abrupt changes in light conditions. Since the parameters of our PLR model were derived from measured data, it correctly simulates the actual behavior of the human pupil. Another contribution of our work is a model for realistic deformation of the iris pattern as a function of pupil dilation and constriction. Our models produce high-fidelity appearance effects and can be used to produce real-time predictive animations of the pupil and iris under variable lighting conditions. We assess the predictability and quality of our simulations through comparisons of modeled results against measured data derived from experiments also described in this work. Combined, our models can bring facial animation to new photorealistic standards.
Reduced glial cell density and neuronal size in the anterior cingulate cortex in major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND Glial cells are more numerous than neurons in the cortex and are crucial to neuronal function. There is evidence for reduced neuronal size in schizophrenia, with suggestive evidence for reduced glial cell density in mood disorders. In this investigation, we have simultaneously assessed glial cell density and neuronal density and size in the anterior cingulate cortex in schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. METHODS We examined tissue from area 24b of the supracallosal anterior cingulate cortex in 60 postmortem brain specimens from 4 groups of 15 subjects, as follows: major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and normal controls. Glial cell density and neuronal size and density were examined in all subjects using the nucleator and the optical disector. RESULTS Glial cell density (22%) (P =.004) and neuronal size (23%) (P =.01) were reduced in layer 6 in major depressive disorder compared with controls. There was some evidence for reduced glial density in layer 6 (20%) (P =.02) in schizophrenia compared with controls, before adjusting for multiple layerwise comparisons, but there were no significant changes in neuronal size. There was no evidence for differences in glial density or neuronal size in bipolar disorder compared with controls. Neuronal density was similar in all groups to that found in controls. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that there is reduced frontal cortical glial cell density and neuronal size in major depressive disorder.