Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cellular resistance to oxidative stress is accompanied by resistance to cisplatin: The significance of increased catalase activity and total glutathione in hydrogen peroxide‐resistant fibroblasts

Studies designed to better understand the involvement of cellular resistance to oxidative stress in mechanisms of cellular resistance to cisplatin were undertaken using H2O2‐resistant variants of the HA 1 Chinese hamster fibroblast cell line. H2O2‐resistant cell lines were resistant to clonogenic inactivation mediated by cisplatin with dose modifying factors at 10% survival of 1.5–3.0, relative to HA 1 cells. The most cisplatin resistant of these cell lines (OC5) also demonstrated fewer DNA–DNA crosslinks induced by cisplatin, relative to HA 1. Since H2O2‐resistant cells contained increased catalase activity as well as total glutathione (GSH) content, the involvement of these cellular antioxidants in the resistance to cisplatin toxicity was evaluated. Treatment of HA 1 and H2O2‐resistant cell lines (OC5, OC14) with 9 mM aminotriazole reduced catalase activity by 60–65% but had no effect on the cytotoxicity of cisplatin. In contrast, treatment with 5 mM buthionine sulfoximine reduced total GSH by 90% and sensitized the cells to cisplatin cytotoxicity. Furthermore, extracellular reaction of GSH with cisplatin prior to treating HA 1 cells reduced the toxicity of the compound, indicating that this reaction is capable of participating in the detoxification of cisplatin. These results indicate that cellular adaptation to oxidative stress renders cells resistant to DNA damage as well as to cytotoxicity associated with cisplatin treatment. Furthermore, increases in total GSH content (but not catalase activity) appear to partially account for cisplatin resistance demonstrated by H2O2‐resistant cells. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Risk factors for human hantavirus infection: Franco-Belgian collaborative case-control study during 1995-6 epidemic

Puumala hantavirus is the most common human hantavirus infection in Europe. 1 2 It is transmitted to humans by inhalation or contamination of skin breaches by urine or faeces of infected bank voles. Infection ranges from subclinical to a severe influenza-like illness progressing to acute renal failure.3 We carried out a case-control study in an endemic area in France and Belgium to estimate knowledge of hantavirus and identify possible risk factors for infection. National reference laboratories in each country identified cases for the study. A case was defined as someone with laboratory confirmed IgM positive Puumala hantavirus infection between 1 April 1996 and 31 July 1996 in the French departments Nord, Ardennes, and Aisne and Belgian provinces of Hainaut, Namur, and Luxembourg. Controls were matched by sex, community (village), and age group. They were randomly selected from the telephone book. Interviews were carried out by telephone using a standardised questionnaire covering knowledge …
A review of traceability research at the requirements engineering conferencere@21

Traceability between development artefacts and mainly from and to requirements plays a major role in system lifecycle, supporting activities such as system validation, change impact analysis, and regulation compliance. Many researchers have been working on this topic and have published their work throughout the editions of the Requirements Engineering Conference. This paper aims to analyse the research on traceability published in the past 20 years of this conference and to provide insights into its contribution to the traceability area. We have selected and reviewed 70 papers in the proceedings of the conference and summarised several aspects of traceability that have been addressed and by whom. The paper also discusses the evolution of the topic at the conference, compares the results with those reported in other publications, and proposes aspects on which further research should be conducted.
Representation of U.S. Warm Temperature Extremes in Global Climate Model Ensembles

Extreme temperature events can have considerable negative impacts on sectors such as health, agriculture, and transportation. Observational evidence indicates the severity and frequency of warm extremes are increasing over much of the United States, but there are sizeable challenges both in estimating extreme temperature changes and in quantifying the relevant associated uncertainties. This study provides a simple statistical framework using a block maxima approach to analyze the representation of warm temperature extremes in several recent global climate model ensembles. Uncertainties due to structural model differences, grid resolution, and internal variability are characterized and discussed. Results show that models and ensembles differ greatly in the representation of extreme temperature over the United States, and variability in tail events is dependent on time and anthropogenic warming, which can influence estimates of return periods and distribution parameter estimates using generalized extreme value (GEV) distributions. These effects can considerably influence the uncertainty of model hindcasts and projections of extremes. Several idealized regional applications are highlighted for evaluating ensemble skill and trends, based on quantile analysis and root-mean-square errors in the overall sample and the upper tail. The results are relevant to regional climate assessments that use global model outputs and that are sensitive to extreme warm temperature. Accompanying this manuscript is a simple toolkit using the R statistical programming language for characterizing extreme events in gridded datasets.
Dynamic Bandwidth Request-Allocation Algorithm for Real-Time Services in IEEE 802.16 Broadband Wireless Access Networks

The emerging broadband wireless access (BWA) technology based on IEEE 802.16 is one of the most promising solutions to provide ubiquitous wireless access to the broadband service at low cost. This paper proposes an efficient uplink bandwidth request-allocation algorithm for variable-rate realtime services in IEEE 802.16 BWA networks. In order to minimize bandwidth wastage without degrading quality of service (QoS), we introduce a notion of target delay and propose dual feedback architecture. The proposed algorithm calculates the amount of bandwidth request such that the delay is regulated around the desired level to minimize delay violation and delay jitter for real-time services. Also, it can maximize utilization of wireless channel by making use of dual feedback, where the bandwidth request is adjusted based on the information about the backlogged amount of traffic in the queue and the rate mismatch between packet arrival and service rates. Due to the dual feedback architecture, the proposed scheme responds quickly to the variation of traffic load and is robust to the change of network condition. We analyze the stability of the proposed algorithm from a control-theoretic viewpoint and derive a simple design guideline based on the analysis. By implementing the algorithm in OPNET simulator, we evaluate its performance in terms of queue regulation, optimal bandwidth allocation, delay controllability, and robustness to traffic characteristics.
Expectations, Credibility, and Disinflation in a Small Macroeconomic Model

We use a version of the Fuhrer-Moore model to study the effects of expectations and central bank credibility on the economy's dynamic transition path during a disinflation. Simulations are compared under four different specifications of the model that vary according to the way that expectations are formed (rations versus adaptive) and the degree of central bank credibility (full versus partial). In general, the various specifications exhibit qualitatively similar behavior and can reasonably approximate the trend movements in U.S. macro variables during the Volcker disinflation of the early 1980s. However, the specification with adaptive expectations and partial credibility is the only one to capture the temporary rise in the long-term nominal interest rate observed in U.S. data at the start of the disinflation. Our simulations also show that incremental reductions in the output sacrifice ratio are largest at the low end of the credibility range, suggesting that a central bank may face diminishing returns in its efforts to enhance credibility.
Image-Based Relighting using Room Lighting Basis

We present a novel and practical approach for image-based relighting that employs the lights available in a regular room to acquire the reflectance field of an object. The lighting basis includes diverse light sources such as the house lights and the natural illumination coming from the windows. Once the data is captured, we homogenize the reflectance field to take into account the variety of light source colours to minimise the tone difference in the reflectance field. Additionally, we measure the room dark level corresponding to a small amount of global illumination with all lights switched off and blinds drawn. The dark level, due to some light leakage through the blinds, is removed from the individual local lighting basis conditions and employed as an additional global lighting basis. Finally we optimize the projection of a desired lighting environment on to our room lighting basis to get a close approximation of the environment with our sparse lighting basis. We achieve plausible results for diffuse and glossy objects that are qualitatively similar to results produced with dense sampling of the reflectance field including using a light stage and we demonstrate effective relighting results in two different room configurations. We believe our approach can be applied for practical relighting applications with general studio lighting.
Role of routine repeat computed tomography of brain in patients with mild and moderate traumatic brain injury: A prospective study

Background: Computed tomography (CT) has become the primary investigative modality for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and there are established guidelines for the initial CT (CT-1). There are no specific guidelines for scheduling repeat CT in TBI. This study was carried out to compare the usefulness of unscheduled repeat CT (UCT-2) with scheduled repeat CT (SCT-2) in the presence or absence of neurological deterioration and to identify risk factors associated with radiological worsening (RW). Methods: This prospective study comprised admitted patients with mild and moderate TBI between February and May, 2014 and all patients were subjected to repeat CT brain. Patients with penetrating brain injuries and surgical conditions after CT-1, and age < 5 years were excluded. Positive yield after the second CT (SCT-2 and UCT-2) leading to modification of management were compared between the two groups. Results: In this study, 214 patients (214/222) underwent SCT-2 and 8 underwent UCT-2 (8/222). Surgery was required in 2 (0.9%) from the first group and 7 (87.5%) in the latter. UCT-2 was more likely to show RW warranting surgery as compared to SCT-2 (P < 0.05). In the SCT-2 group, CT-1 had been done within 2 h after trauma in 30 patients and 8 (8/30; 26.7%) showed RW and; after 2 h in the remaining 184 (184/214) with RW seen in 23 (23/184; 12.5%). RW was more common when the CT-1 was within 2 h from trauma (P < 0.05). In our study, the age of the patient and admission Glasgow Coma Scores did not significantly affect the findings in repeat CT. Conclusion: Repeating CT brain is costly besides needing significant logistical support to shift an injured and often unstable patient. SCT-2 is more likely to show RW when CT-1 is done within 2 h after trauma. UCT-2 is more likely to show RW and findings warranting surgery as compared to SCT-2. Hence, a repeat CT may be preferred only in the presence of clinical worsening and when CT-1 is done within 2 h after trauma.
ec 2 00 2 Averaging out Inhomogeneous Newtonian Cosmologies : I . Fluid Mechanics and the Navier-Stokes Equation

The basic concepts and equations of classical fluid mechanics are presented in the form necessary for the formulation of Newtonian cosmology and for derivation and analysis of a system of the averaged Navier-Stokes-Poisson equations. A special attention is paid to the analytic formulation of the definitions and equations of moving fluids and to their physical content.
Accelerating simulated annealing for the permanent and combinatorial counting problems

We present an improved "cooling schedule" for simulated annealing algorithms for combinatorial counting problems. Under our new schedule the rate of cooling accelerates as the temperature decreases. Thus, fewer intermediate temperatures are needed as the simulated annealing algorithm moves from the high temperature (easy region) to the low temperature (difficult region). We present applications of our technique to colorings and the permanent (perfect matchings of bipartite graphs). Moreover, for the permanent, we improve the analysis of the Markov chain underlying the simulated annealing algorithm. This improved analysis, combined with the faster cooling schedule, results in an O(n7 log4 n) time algorithm for approximating the permanent of a 0/1 matrix.
A synthesis of marine sediment core δ 13 C data over the last 150 000 years

Abstract. The isotopic composition of carbon, δ13C, in seawater is used in reconstructions of ocean circulation, marine productivity, air-sea gas exchange, and biosphere carbon storage. Here, a synthesis of δ13C measurements taken from foraminifera in marine sediment cores over the last 150 000 years is presented. The dataset comprises previously published and unpublished data from benthic and planktonic records throughout the global ocean. Data are placed on a common δ18O age scale suitable for examining orbital timescale variability but not millennial events, which are removed by a 10 ka filter. Error estimates account for the resolution and scatter of the original data, and uncertainty in the relationship between δ13C of calcite and of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in seawater. This will assist comparison with δ13C of DIC output from models, which can be further improved using model outputs such as temperature, DIC concentration, and alkalinity to improve estimates of fractionation during calcite formation. High global deep ocean δ13C, indicating isotopically heavy carbon, is obtained during Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 1, 3, 5a, c and e, and low δ13C during MIS 2, 4 and 6, which are temperature minima, with larger amplitude variability in the Atlantic Ocean than the Pacific Ocean. This is likely to result from changes in biosphere carbon storage, modulated by changes in ocean circulation, productivity, and air-sea gas exchange. The North Atlantic vertical δ13C gradient is greater during temperature minima than temperature maxima, attributed to changes in the spatial extent of Atlantic source waters. There are insufficient data from shallower than 2500 m to obtain a coherent pattern in other ocean basins. The data synthesis indicates that basin-scale δ13C during the last interglacial (MIS 5e) is not clearly distinguishable from the Holocene (MIS 1) or from MIS 5a and 5c, despite significant differences in ice volume and atmospheric CO2 concentration during these intervals. Similarly, MIS 6 is only distinguishable from MIS 2 or 4 due to globally lower δ13C values both in benthic and planktonic data. This result is obtained despite individual records showing differences between these intervals, indicating that care must be used in interpreting large scale signals from a small number of records.
A Study on the FPGA Implementation of the Bilateral Control Algorithm Towards Haptic Teleoperation

This paper presents the FPGA implementation of sliding mode control algorithm for bilateral teleoperation, such that, the problem of haptic teleoperation is addressed. The presented study improves haptic fidelity by widening the control bandwidth. For wide control bandwidth, short control periods as well as short sampling periods are required that was achieved by the FPGA. The presented FPGA design methodology applies basic optimization methods in order to meet the required control period as well as the required hardware resource consumption. The circuit specification was performed by the high-level programing language LabVIEW using the fixed-point data type. Hence, short design times for producing the FPGA logic circuit can be achieved. The proposed FPGA-based bilateral teleoperation was validated by master-slave experimental device.
DENTAL CARIES AND TOOTH LOSS IN ADULTS IN A BRAZILIAN SOUTHEASTERN STATE

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze dental caries experience of adults living in the southeastern state of São Paulo, Brazil, according to some socio-demographic conditions of this population. Material and methods: The sample consisted of 1,159 school teachers and workers (35 to 44 years old) from 29 cities of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Results: 92.3% were dentate and the DMFT index (number of decayed, missing and filled teeth) was 21.0 and the mean number of decayed teeth was 1.1, with no significant difference among adults from regions with and without fluoridation. Male subjects presented the highest mean values of "D" (decayed teeth) and "M" (missing teeth) components. The percentage of caries-free subjects was higher among white subjects, as well as the mean number of teeth present in the mouth. The mean values of the "F" component (filled teeth) [9.81] and present teeth [19.3] were higher for adults from fluoridated water regions. Conclusions: In this study, the worse condition observed was the early tooth loss in all groups. In addition, people with worse socio-demographic conditions had worse oral health conditions. It is expected that oral health programs targeted to this population could be established with the goal of improving the oral health conditions of this population and hence the maintenance of the teeth for a longer period in function.
A Visual Vocabulary for Flower Classification

We investigate to what extent ‘bag of visual words’ models can be used to distinguish categories which have significant visual similarity. To this end we develop and optimize a nearest neighbour classifier architecture, which is evaluated on a very challenging database of flower images. The flower categories are chosen to be indistinguishable on colour alone (for example), and have considerable variation in shape, scale, and viewpoint. We demonstrate that by developing a visual vocabulary that explicitly represents the various aspects (colour, shape, and texture) that distinguish one flower from another, we can overcome the ambiguities that exist between flower categories. The novelty lies in the vocabulary used for each aspect, and how these vocabularies are combined into a final classifier. The various stages of the classifier (vocabulary selection and combination) are each optimized on a validation set. Results are presented on a dataset of 1360 images consisting of 17 flower species. It is shown that excellent performance can be achieved, far surpassing standard baseline algorithms using (for example) colour cues alone.
Tipping Points in Macroeconomic Agent-Based Models

The aim of this work is to explore the possible types of phenomena that simple macroeconomic Agent-Based models (ABMs) can reproduce. We propose a methodology, inspired by statistical physics, that characterizes a model through its “phase diagram” in the space of parameters. Our first motivation is to understand the large macro-economic fluctuations observed in the “Mark I” ABM devised by Delli Gatti and collaborators. In this regard, our major finding is the generic existence of a phase transition between a “good economy” where unemployment is low, and a “bad economy” where unemployment is high. We then introduce a simpler framework that allows us to show that this transition is robust against many modifications of the model, and is generically induced by an asymmetry between the rate of hiring and the rate of firing of the firms. The unemployment level remains small until a tipping point, beyond which the economy suddenly collapses. If the parameters are such that the system is close to this transition, any small fluctuation is amplified as the system jumps between the two equilibria. We have explored several natural extensions of the model. One is to introduce a bankruptcy threshold, limiting the firms maximum level of debt-to-sales ratio. This leads to a rich phase diagram with, in particular, a region where acute endogenous crises occur, during which the unemployment rate shoots up before the economy can recover. We also introduce simple wage policies. This leads to inflation (in the “good” phase) or deflation (in the “bad” phase), but leaves the overall phase diagram of the model essentially unchanged. We have also explored the effect of simple monetary policies that attempt to contain rising unemployment and defang crises. We end the paper with general comments on the usefulness of ABMs to model macroeconomic phenomena, in particular in view of the time needed to reach a steady state that raises the issue of ergodicity in these models.
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— Ultrasound super-localization microscopy techniques presented in the last few years enable non-invasive imaging of vascular structures at the capillary level by tracking the flow of ultrasound contrast agents (gas microbubbles). However, these techniques are currently limited by low temporal resolution and long acquisition times. Super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI) is a fluorescence microscopy technique enabling sub-diffraction limit imaging with high temporal resolution by calculating high order statistics of the fluctuating optical signal. The aim of this work is to achieve fast super-resolution acoustic imaging by applying the tools used in SOFI to contrast-enhance ultrasound (CEUS) plane-wave scans. The proposed method was tested using numerical simulations and evaluated using two in-vivo rabbit models: scans of healthy kidneys and VX-2 tumor xenografts. Improved spatial resolution was observed with a reduction of up to 40% in the full width half max of the point spread function. In addition, substantial reduction in the background level was achieved compared to standard mean amplitude persistence images, revealing small vascular structures within tumors. The scan duration required for the proposed method is less than a second while current super-localization techniques require acquisition duration of several minutes. As a result, the proposed technique can be used for obtaining high spatio-temporal resolution scans, facilitating flow-dynamics monitoring. This technique can also be applied during a breath-hold, reducing the sensitivity to motion artifact.
Origin of Chaos in a Two-Dimensional Map Modeling Spiking-bursting Neural Activity

Origin of chaos in a simple two-dimensional map model replicating the spiking and spiking-bursting activity of real biological neurons is studied. The map contains one fast and one slow variable. Individual dynamics of a fast subsystem of the map is characterized by two types of possible attractors: stable fixed point (replicating silence) and superstable limit cycle (replicating spikes). Coupling this subsystem with the slow subsystem leads to the generation of periodic or chaotic spiking-bursting behavior. We study the bifurcation scenarios which reveal the dynamical mechanisms that lead to chaos at alternating silence and spiking phases.