Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changes in 5α-Pregnane Steroids and Neurosteroidogenic Enzyme Expression in Fetal Sheep with Umbilicoplacental Embolization

Pregnane steroids have sedative and neuroprotective effects on the brain, due to interactions with the steroid-binding site of the GABAA receptor. In the adult brain, synthesis of the pregnane steroids is increased in response to stress. Therefore, we have used umbilicoplacental embolization to mimic chronic placental insufficiency during late gestation in sheep, to investigate the expression of the steroidogenic enzymes P450scc, 5α-reductase type I (5αRI), 5α-reductase type II (5αRII), and allopregnanolone (AP) content in the fetal brain. Umbilicoplacental embolization was induced from 114 d gestation (term ∼147 d) by daily injection of inert microspheres into the umbilical artery and continued for 17–23 d. Fetal arterial oxygen saturation was reduced to ∼60% of the preembolization value in each fetus, with a significant reduction in blood arterial Po2, pH, and plasma glucose concentrations (p < 0.05) and a significant increase in blood arterial Pco2 and plasma lactate concentrations (p < 0.05). At postmortem at 131–137 d gestation, embolized fetuses were growth-restricted (2.10 ± 0.14 kg, n = 5) compared with age-matched controls (4.43 ± 0.56 kg, n = 7, p < 0.05). Umbilicoplacental embolized fetuses showed increased P450scc expression in the primary motor cortex; 5αRI expression was not changed in any of the regions examined, whereas 5αRII expression was markedly increased in all brain regions. Brain AP content did not significantly change, whereas plasma concentrations were increased. These findings suggest that the increased expression of P450scc and 5αRII may be a response that maintains AP concentration in the fetal brain after compromised placental function and/or intrauterine stress.
Distributed Data Aggregation Scheduling in Wireless Sensor Networks

Data aggregation is an essential operation in wireless sensor network applications. This paper focuses on the data aggregation scheduling problem. Based on maximal independent sets, a distributed algorithm to generate a collision-free schedule for data aggregation in wireless sensor networks is proposed. The time latency of the aggregation schedule generated by the proposed algorithm is minimized using a greedy strategy. The latency bound of the schedule is 24D + 6 Delta + 16, where D is the network diameter and Delta is the maximum node degree. The previous data aggregation algorithm with least latency has the latency bound (Delta- Delta 1)R, where R is the network radius. Thus in our algorithm Delta contributes to an additive factor instead of a multiplicative factor, which is a significant improvement. To the best of our knowledge, the proposed algorithm is the first distributed algorithm for data aggregation scheduling. This paper also proposes an adaptive strategy for updating the schedule when nodes fail or new nodes join in a network. The analysis and simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms other aggregation scheduling algorithms.
Mineralogy of Lamprophyres and Mafic Enclaves Associated with the Paleoproterozoic Cara Suja Syenite, Northeast Brazil

The Paleoproterozoic Cara Suja Syenite in northeastern Brazil is composed mainly of coarse-grained silica-saturated syenites with minor mafic rocks, such as syenitic autoliths and mafic micro-granular enclaves. Lamprophyric and hybrid dikes occur in this massif and crosscut the volcano-sedimentary country rocks. Syenitic autoliths are medium-grained syenites associated with mafic mineral segregations in the host syenites. Mafic microgranular enclaves are elliptic or rounded, finegrained mesocratic syenites. Lamprophyric dikes are porphyritic rocks with large biotite phenocrysts and amphibole agglomerations in a fine-grained groundmass consisting mostly of alkali-feldspar. Hybrid dikes contain abundant feldspar xenocrysts. Petrographic and field relations indicate mingling of syenitic and mafic magmas. Lamprophyres, autoliths, and mafic microgranular enclaves, as well as the host syenites, have an alkaline potassic-ultrapotassic affinity and a trace-element signature of magmas produced by the partial melting of a subduction-modified mantle. Mineral chemistry data show preserved clinopyroxene compositions only in syenitic autoliths. They are Al2O3- and TiO2-poor diopsides with slight variation in wollastonite contents (44 to 50 wt%), generally rimmed by late- or post-magmatic actinolite. The amphibole of lamprophyres and mafic microgranular enclaves is Mg-hornblende, characterized by high Si (6.95 to 7.49 atoms per formula), high F (up to 1.13 wt%) and low TiO2 (0.22 to 0.50 wt%). Micas are Mg-biotite and phlogopite with large amounts of opaque oxides and titanite inclusions. Phlogopite of lamprophyres, of mafic microgranular enclaves, and of autoliths has very similar compositions, with Si values around 5.9 atoms per formula, Mg/(Mg+Fe+2) ratio ranging from 0.65 to 0.70, and with low TiO2 (below 1.1 wt%) and high F (2.1 to 4.2 wt%) contents. The general overlap and compositional similarities of mafic minerals from lamprophyres and mafic microgranular enclaves indicate that they are co-magmatic and evolved under similar conditions. The textural features and composition of Mg-hornblende and phlogopite in these rocks suggest that they are primary phases re-equilibrated under crustal conditions during magma ascent.
Role of Porphyromonas gingivalis Phosphoserine Phosphatase Enzyme SerB in Inflammation, Immune Response, and Induction of Alveolar Bone Resorption in Rats

ABSTRACT Porphyromonas gingivalis secretes a serine phosphatase enzyme, SerB, upon contact with gingival epithelial cells in vitro. The SerB protein plays a critical role in internalization and survival of the organism in epithelial cells. SerB is also responsible for the inhibition of interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion from gingival epithelial cells infected with P. gingivalis. This study examined the ability of a P. gingivalis SerB mutant to colonize the oral cavity and induce gingival inflammation, immune responses, and alveolar bone resorption in a rat model of periodontal disease. Both P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 and an isogenic ΔSerB mutant colonized the oral cavities of rats during the 12-week experimental period. Both of the strains induced significant (P < 0.05) systemic levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and isotypes IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b, indicating the involvement of both T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 responses to infection. Both strains induced significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of alveolar bone resorption in infected rats than in sham-infected control rats. However, horizontal and interproximal alveolar bone resorption induced by the SerB mutant was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that induced by the parental strain. Rats infected with the ΔSerB mutant exhibited significantly higher levels of apical migration of the junctional epithelium (P < 0.01) and polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) recruitment (P < 0.001) into the gingival tissues than rats infected with the wild type. In conclusion, in a rat model of periodontal disease, the SerB phosphatase of P. gingivalis is required for maximal alveolar bone resorption, and in the absence of SerB, more PMNs are recruited into the gingival tissues.
Distributions of Demmel and Related Condition Numbers

Consider a random matrix $\mathbf{A}\in\mathbb{C}^{m\times n}$ ($m \geq n$) containing independent complex Gaussian entries with zero mean and unit variance, and let $0<\lambda_1\leq \lambda_{2}\leq \cdots\leq \lambda_n<\infty$ denote the eigenvalues of $\mathbf{A}^{*}\mathbf{A}$, where $(\cdot)^*$ represents conjugate-transpose. This paper investigates the distribution of the random variables $\frac{\sum_{j=1}^n \lambda_j}{\lambda_k}$ for $k = 1$ and $k = 2$. These two variables are related to certain condition number metrics, including the so-called Demmel condition number, which have been shown to arise in a variety of applications. For both cases, we derive new exact expressions for the probability densities and establish the asymptotic behavior as the matrix dimensions grow large. In particular, it is shown that as $n$ and $m$ tend to infinity with their difference fixed, both densities scale on the order of $n^3$. After suitable transformations, we establish exact expressions for the asymptotic dens.
Outer Bounds for Multiple-Access Channels With Feedback Using Dependence Balance

We use the idea of dependence balance to obtain a new outer bound for the capacity region of the discrete memoryless multiple-access channel with noiseless feedback (MAC-FB). We consider a binary additive noisy MAC-FB whose feedback capacity is not known. The binary additive noisy MAC considered in this paper can be viewed as the discrete counterpart of the Gaussian MAC-FB. Ozarow established that the capacity region of the two-user Gaussian MAC-FB is given by the cut-set bound. Our result shows that for the discrete version of the channel considered by Ozarow, this is not the case. Direct evaluation of our outer bound is intractable due to an involved auxiliary random variable whose large cardinality prohibits an exhaustive search. We overcome this difficulty by using a composite function and its properties to explicitly evaluate our outer bound. Our outer bound is strictly less than the cut-set bound at all points on the capacity region where feedback increases capacity. In addition, we explicitly evaluate the Cover-Leung achievable rate region for the binary additive noisy MAC-FB in consideration. Furthermore, using the tools developed for the evaluation of our outer bound, we also explicitly characterize the boundary of the feedback capacity region of the binary erasure MAC, for which the Cover-Leung achievable rate region is known to be tight. This last result confirms that the feedback strategies developed by Kramer for the binary erasure MAC are capacity achieving.
Self-employment : a microeconometric approach

espanolEsta tesis ofrece un exhaustivo analisis empirico tanto de la decision de convertirse en autoempleado como del exito en este estado en toda la UE-15. Asi, a traves de modelos de eleccion discreta, analizamos las transaciones al autoempleo, distinguiendo desempleados y empleados asalariados dentro del estado inicial, y empleadores y trabajadores autonomos dentro del estado final. Por otra parte, este trabajo estudia la decision de convertirse en empleador, partiendo de la situacion del trabajador autonomo, que interpretamos como la consecuencia del propio exito del negocio. Ademas, utilizamos modelos de duracion en tiempo discreto para analizar la supervivencia en el autoempleo. Por ultimo, llevamos a cabo dos estimaciones complementarias en las que analizamos separadamente la duracion en su estado de los trabajadores autonomos y de los empleadores. Este trabajo, ademas de presentar los trabajos empiricos que conforman su nucleo, ofrece un marco conceptual para el analisis y una revision y evaluacion de las fuentes de informacion disponibles para el estudio del presente topico EnglishThis dissertation provides an exhaustive empirical analysis of the decision to become an entrepreneur and success in self-employment across the EU-15. We start by analyzing the decision to become self-employment with and without employees from unemployment and paid-employment using discrete choice models. Furthermore, this work studies the decision of becoming self-employed with employees from own-account work, which can be seen as the result of business growth and success. On the other hand, discrete hazard rate models are used to measure self-employment stability. Finally, two complementary duration analyses are performed where we distinguish those own-account workers from employers as starting status. In addition, and before presenting the empirical works forming the core of this dissertation, this thesis tries to clarify a conceptual framework for the existing definitions and taxonomies of the entrepreneurship concept, and is complemented by an analysis and evaluation of some of the existing databases to study this topic.
Prevalence of Coronal Pulp Stones and Its Relation with Systemic Disorders in Northern Indian Central Punjabi Population

Aim. To estimate the prevalence of coronal pulp stones in the molar teeth of dental outpatients of Sunam, Sangrur district, Punjab, India, to report any association between occurrence of pulp stones with age, gender, dental arch, side, and dental status and to find out correlation between pulp stones with dental and systemic diseases. Materials and Methods. 500 routine dental outpatients within age group of 18–67 years were involved in the study. Molar bitewing of left and right side of each patient was taken with XCP bitewing instrument and size 2 film. The presence or absence of pulp stones was recorded. Chi-square analysis was used to record the prevalence of pulp stones and to compare it with demographic and systemic factors. Results. Overall prevalence of pulp stones was 41.8%. Pulp stones were significantly higher in maxilla (11.59%) than mandible (6.54%), left side than right side, and first molar than other molars. Higher numbers of pulp stones were recorded in patients with cardiovascular disease (38.89%) than with cholelithiasis and renal lithiasis. Conclusion. Pulp stones were higher in maxillary arch than mandibular arch and in females than males. Cardiovascular patients had higher number of pulp stones than other groups.
The October 1999 Mt Adams rock avalanche and subsequent landslide dam‐break flood and effects in Poerua river, Westland, New Zealand

Abstract On 6 October 1999 a very large (c. 10–15 million m3) rock avalanche from Mt Adams blocked the Poerua River 11 km upstream from the SH6 road bridge on the West Coast of the South Island. The 120 m high rock debris dam impounded a lake with a volume of 5–7 million m3before it overtopped on 7 October. The short survival time of landslide dams in rivers in Westland and around the world suggested a high probability of rapid dam failure and flooding downstream. This was confirmed when the dam breached 6 days later on 12 October 1999, during the first significant rain after the landslide occurred. The resulting dam‐break flood deposited considerable coarse gravel from the landslide in the valley downstream of the dam, and (mostly fines) on the alluvial fan below the Poerua gorge exit. The flow inundated farmland in the upper Poerua valley, but otherwise was largely confined to the river channel and did little damage at the time, mainly because of significant flow attenuation (c. 50% or greater) and sediment deposition on the alluvial fan below the gorge exit. Subsequently the remnant lake has been infilled, and c. 75% of the dam material has been transported downstream during floods. About 1.7 million m3 of alluvium has been deposited in the river channel and across farmland between the gorge exit and the SH6 bridge, changing the river's course and causing lateral erosion of older terraces. These effects are continuing and will cause ongoing problems in the future. The rock avalanche and landslide dam failure in the Poerua valley were significant events which have had a profound local geomorphic impact. The landslide and subsequent downstream effects are typical landscape‐forming events. These events and the resulting community response to them have provided valuable information on the hazards, effects, and management of future landslide‐dam failures in Westland. Increased resources within local authorities for hazard assessments and response planning during such events would reduce the risk from dam‐break floods in the future, especially following the next Alpine Fault earthquake, when further landslide dam failures are expected.
Fusion of Radar and Optical Data for Land Cover Mapping

Abstract This study examined the complementarity of radar and optical data for feature identification. Spaceborne radar and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM ) multispectral data sets were assessed independently and in combination to classify a site near Wad Medani, Sudan. Radar processing procedures included speckle reduction, texture extraction and post‐processing smoothing. Relative accuracy of the resultant classifications was established by comparison to ground truth information derived from field visitation. Neither speckle filtering nor post‐classification smoothing were improvements over the poor results obtained with the unfiltered, original radar data. Texture measures were significant improvements over the original data (20 percent overall accuracy increase) and several, but not all, individual classes had excellent results. Landsat TM had good overall results (80 percent correct) but considerable spectral confusion between urban and bare soil. Combination of radar with Landsat TM greatly improved results, achieving near perfect classification of all individual classes. The systematic strategy of this study, determination of the best individual method before introducing the next procedure, was effective in managing a complex set of analysis possibilities.
Peripheral Muscle Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Variables are Altered Early in Septic Shock

Background: Noninvasive evaluation of muscle perfusion using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) coupled with a vascular occlusion test (VOT) may provide an early and simple marker of altered perfusion and microcirculatory function in sepsis. Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the time-course of NIRS-derived variables with systemic measures of perfusion in an experimental model of peritonitis. Methods: Peritonitis was induced in eight anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, adult sheep (24–34 kg), by injecting autologous feces into the peritoneal cavity. Animals were followed until death or for a maximum of 30 h. Muscle tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) was determined using NIRS on the right posterior leg and arterial VOTs were performed by intermittent intra-aortic balloon inflation. Microdialysis was used to measure muscle lactate and pyruvate levels. Results: Muscle StO2 was significantly lower than baseline values from 8 h after sepsis induction, but with considerable intersubject variability. The NIRS VOT ascending (Asc) slope decreased to values <120%/min in most animals from 12 h after sepsis induction. Muscle lactate/pyruvate ratios were higher than baseline from 16 h after sepsis induction. Mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) decreased to <70% and blood lactate levels increased to >2 mmol/L in most of the animals only 24 and 28 h after sepsis induction, respectively. Muscle NIRS StO2 correlated strongly with femoral venous oxygen saturation (r = 0.820) and moderately with SvO2 (r = 0.436). Conclusions: The muscle NIRS Asc slope after a VOT is altered earlier than global markers of tissue hypoperfusion during sepsis. This simple noninvasive test can detect early changes in peripheral perfusion in sepsis.
Brainstem epidermoid cyst: An update

The incidence of epidermoid tumors is between 1% and 2% of all intracranial tumors. The usual locations of epidermoid tumor are the parasellar region and cerebellopontine angle, and it is less commonly located in sylvian fissure, suprasellar region, cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres, and lateral and fourth ventricles. Epidermoid cysts located in the posterior fossa usually arise in the lateral subarachnoid cisterns, and those located in the brain stem are rare. These epidermoids contain cheesy and flaky white soft putty like contents. Epidermoid cysts are very slow growing tumors having a similar growth pattern of the epidermal cells of the skin and develop from remnants of epidermal elements during closure of the neural groove and disjunction of the surface ectoderm with neural ectoderm between the third and fifth weeks of embryonic life. We are presenting an interesting case of intrinsic brainstem epidermoid cyst containing milky white liquefied material with flakes in a 5-year-old girl. Diffusion-weighted imaging is definitive for the diagnosis. Ideal treatment of choice is removal of cystic components with complete resection of capsule. Although radical resection will prevent recurrence, in view of very thin firmly adherent capsule to brainstem, it is not always possible to do complete resection of capsule without any neurological deficits.
Genetic Algorithms, Tournament Selection, and the Effects of Noise

Abstr act . Tournament select ion is a useful and rob ust select ion mechanism commonly used by genet ic algorithms (GAs). The selecti on pr essure of to urnament select ion direc tly varies wit h the tournam en t size-the more compe t it ors , t he higher the resulting select ion pr essur e. This pap er develops a model, based on order stat ist ics, that can be used to quantita tively predict th e resul ting select ion pr essure of a tournament of a given size. T his mo del is used to pr edict the convergence ra tes of GAs utili zing tournament selection. While to urnament selection is often used in conjunct ion wit h noisy (imperfect) fitness fun cti ons, lit tl e is understood abo ut how the noise affect s the resul ting select ion pr essur e. The model is extended to quantit atively pred ict t he select ion pressure for tournam ent select ion utili zing noisy fitn ess functions . Given the to urnament size and noise level of a noisy fitness fun ct ion , the exte nded mod el is used to pr ed ict t he resu lt ing select ion pr essure of to urnament select ion . T he accuracy of the mod el is verified using a simple test domain, t he onemax (bit-count ing) domain . T he model is shown to accurately predict t he convergence ra te of a GA using tournament select ion in the onemax domain for a wide range of t ournament sizes and noise levels. T he model develop ed in this paper has a number of immediat e pra cti cal uses as well as a number of longer term rami fica tions. Immediately, t he mod el may be used for determ ining appropria te ra nges of cont rol para meters , for est imat ing stopping times to achieve a spec ified level of solution qua lity , and for approximating convergence t imes in impor tant classes offunction evaluatio ns that utilize sampling . Longer term, the approach of this st udy may be applied to bet ter underst an d