Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age estimation of living Indian individuals based on aspartic acid racemization from tooth biopsy specimen

Background: Age estimation in living individuals is imperative to amicably settle civil and criminal disputes. A biochemical method based on amino acid racemization was evaluated for age estimation of living Indian individuals. Design: Caries-free maxillary/mandibular premolar teeth (n = 90) were collected from participants with age proof documents and divided into predefined nine age groups. Materials and Methods: Dentine biopsy from the labial aspect of the tooth crown was taken with an indigenously developed microtrephine. The samples were processed and subjected to gas chromatography. Dextrorotatory:levorotatory ratios were calculated, and a regression equation was formulated. Results: Across all age groups, an error of 0 ± 4 years between protein racemization age and chronological age was observed. Conclusion: Aspartic acid racemization from dentine biopsy samples could be a viable and accurate technique for age estimation of living individuals who have attained a state of skeletal maturity.
Extractant Immobilization in Alginate Capsules (Matrix- and Mononuclear-Type): Application to Pb(II) Sorption from HCl Solutions

The decontamination of dilute industrial effluents is a critical challenge for decreasing the environmental impact of mining and metallurgical activities. As an alternative to conventional processes, new extractant impregnated resins (EIRs) have been synthesized by the immobilization of Cyanex 301 and Cyanex 302 in alginate capsules using two different procedures (matrix-type immobilization vs. mononuclear encapsulation). These materials have been tested for Pb(II) sorption from acidic solutions. The Langmuir equation fitted well the sorption isotherms and the maximum sorption capacities vary between 24 and 80 mg·g−1 at pH 1, depending on the type and loading of the extractant in the EIR. Uptake kinetics were controlled by the resistance to intraparticle diffusion; though both the Crank equation (intraparticle diffusion) and pseudo-second order rate equation equally fitted uptake profiles. The amount of extractant immobilized in mononuclear capsules is lower than in matrix-type beads; this leads to lower sorption capacities but slightly better mass transfer properties. The balance between the advantages and drawbacks of the different systems makes more promising matrix-type capsules. The desorption of Pb(II) is possible using 1 M HNO3 solutions: metal ions were completely desorbed. However, the probable oxidation of the extractants (conversion to oxidized forms more sensitive to pH) reduces the sorption efficiency when they are re-used.
Disease burden due to biomass cooking-fuel-related household air pollution among women in India

Background Household air pollution (HAP) due to biomass cooking fuel use is an important risk factor for a range of diseases, especially among adult women who are primary cooks, in India. About 80% of rural households in India use biomass fuel for cooking. The aim of this study is to estimate the attributable cases (AC) for four major diseases/conditions associated with biomass cooking fuel use among adult Indian women. Methods We used the population attributable fraction (PAF) method to calculate the AC of chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis (TB), cataract, and stillbirths due to exposure to biomass cooking fuel. A number of data sources were accessed to obtain population totals and disease prevalence rates. A meta-analysis was conducted to obtain adjusted pooled odds ratios (ORs) for strength of association. Using this, PAF and AC were calculated using a standard formula. Results were presented as number of AC and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results The fixed effects pooled OR obtained from the meta-analysis were 2.37 (95% CI: 1.59, 3.54) for chronic bronchitis, 2.33 (1.65, 3.28) for TB, 2.16 (1.42, 3.26) for cataract, and 1.26 (1.12, 1.43) for stillbirths. PAF varied across conditions being maximum (53%) for chronic bronchitis in rural areas and least (1%) for cataract in older age and urban areas. About 2.4 (95% CI: 1.4, 3.1) of 5.6 m cases of chronic bronchitis, 0.3 (0.2, 0.4) of 0.76 m cases of TB, 5.0 (2.8, 6.7) of 51.4 m cases of cataract among adult Indian women and 0.02 (0.01, 0.03) of 0.15 m stillbirths across India are attributable to HAP due to biomass cooking fuel. These estimates should be cautiously interpreted in the light of limitations discussed which relate to exposure assessment, exposure characterization, and age-specific prevalence of disease. Conclusions HAP due to biomass fuel has diverse and major impacts on women's health in India. Although challenging, incorporating the agenda of universal clean fuel access or cleaner technology within the broader framework of rural development will go a long way in reducing disease burden.
Adding Enzymes to Improve Beef Tenderness

Importance of Beef Tenderness Beef palatability is affected by many factors and tenderness is cited as one of the most important. Consumers are willing to pay a premium for a guaranteed tender product with the potential to increase the value of the middle meats over $60 per carcass (Miller et al., 2001). Consequently, the meat industry is in a continual search for methods to improve the tenderness of the middle meats and upgrade other cuts and muscles to steak quality. This search for tender product not only adds value to the industry but can help to supply a more consistent and uniform product to consumers while increasing overall beef satisfaction.
Role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in carotid plaque instability in diabetic patients

In order to define the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in atherosclerotic plaque rupture in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), we evaluated the amount of this system, of the main inflammatory cells, of the collagen content and some indexes indicative of oxidative stress in the carotid plaques of both diabetic and non-diabetic asymptomatic patients. Plaques were obtained from 31 type 2 diabetic and 27 non-diabetic patients undergoing endoterectomy. Both were examined for macrophages, T-lymphocytes, ubiquitin/proteasome 20S activity, NFkB, IkB-b, nitrotyrosine, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and collagen. Diabetic plaques had more macrophages, T-lymphocytes, inflammatory cells (HLA-DR), ubiquitin/proteasome, NFkB, nitrotyrosine, MMP-9 and lower collagen content and IkB-b levels, in comparison with non-diabetic plaques. These findings indicate that in diabetic patients, ubiquitin/proteasome overactivity is associated with enhanced inflammatory activity induced by diabetic oxidative stress. This induces the NFkB release into the nucleus which, in turn, is responsible for the expression of inflammatory cytokines causing plaque rupture.
Content-Aware Playout and Packet Scheduling for Video Streaming Over Wireless Links

Media streaming over wireless links is a challenging problem due to both the unreliable, time-varying nature of the wireless channel and the stringent delivery requirements of media traffic. In this paper, we use joint control of packet scheduling at the transmitter and content-aware playout at the receiver, so as to maximize the quality of media streaming over a wireless link. Our contributions are twofold. First, we formulate and study the problem of joint scheduling and playout control in the framework of Markov decision processes. Second, we propose a novel content-aware adaptive playout control, that takes into account the content of a video sequence, and in particular the motion characteristics of different scenes. We find that the joint scheduling and playout control can significantly improve the quality of the received video, at the expense of only a small amount of playout slowdown. Furthermore, the content-aware adaptive playout places the slowdown preferentially in the low-motion scenes, where its perceived effect is lower.
Factors Affecting the Online Shopping Behavior: An Empirical Investigation in Vietnam

Online shopping has become new type of retail shopping. It has now been adopted all over the world including Vietnam. This shopping method is still not as well known or accepted as in many other countries, and though the knowledge of online shopping in Vietnam is now beginning to increase rapidly, to know the factors influencing online shopping behavior of Vietnam consumers there are several articles written. The main objective of this study is to analyze factors affecting on online shopping behavior of consumers that might be one of the most important issues of e-commerce and marketing field. However, there is very limited knowledge about online consumer behavior because it is a complicated socio-technical phenomenon and involves too many factors. The model was assessed based on the data collected from 238 participants using a survey questionnaire. Finally regression analysis was used on data in order to test hypothesizes of study. This study can be considered as an applied research from purpose perspective and descriptive-survey with regard to the nature and method.
A New Rhynchocephalian from the Late Jurassic of Germany with a Dentition That Is Unique amongst Tetrapods

Background Rhynchocephalians, the sister group of squamates (lizards and snakes), are only represented by the single genus Sphenodon today. This taxon is often considered to represent a very conservative lineage. However, rhynchocephalians were common during the late Triassic to latest Jurassic periods, but rapidly declined afterwards, which is generally attributed to their supposedly adaptive inferiority to squamates and/or Mesozoic mammals, which radiated at that time. New finds of Mesozoic rhynchocephalians can thus provide important new information on the evolutionary history of the group. Principle Findings A new fossil relative of Sphenodon from the latest Jurassic of southern Germany, Oenosaurus muehlheimensis gen. et sp. nov., presents a dentition that is unique amongst tetrapods. The dentition of this taxon consists of massive, continuously growing tooth plates, probably indicating a crushing dentition, thus representing a previously unknown trophic adaptation in rhynchocephalians. Conclusions/Significance The evolution of the extraordinary dentition of Oenosaurus from the already highly specialized Zahnanlage generally present in derived rhynchocephalians demonstrates an unexpected evolutionary plasticity of these animals. Together with other lines of evidence, this seriously casts doubts on the assumption that rhynchocephalians are a conservative and adaptively inferior lineage. Furthermore, the new taxon underlines the high morphological and ecological diversity of rhynchocephalians in the latest Jurassic of Europe, just before the decline of this lineage on this continent. Thus, selection pressure by radiating squamates or Mesozoic mammals alone might not be sufficient to explain the demise of the clade in the Late Mesozoic, and climate change in the course of the fragmentation of the supercontinent of Pangaea might have played a major role.
Theoretical underpinnings of computing education research: what is the evidence?

We analyze the Computing Education Research (CER) literature to discover what theories, conceptual models and frameworks recent CER builds on. This gives rise to a broad understanding of the theoretical basis of CER that is useful for researchers working in that area, and has the potential to help CER develop its own identity as an independent field of study. Our analysis takes in seven years of publications (2005-2011, 308 papers) in three venues that publish long research papers in computing education: the journals ACM Transactions of Computing Education (TOCE) and Computer Science Education (CSEd), and the conference International Computing Education Research Workshop (ICER). We looked at the theoretical background works that are used or extended in the papers, not just referred to when describing related work. These background works include theories, conceptual models and frameworks. For each background work we tried to identify the discipline from which it originates, to gain an understanding of how CER relates to its neighboring fields. We also identified theoretical works originating within CER itself, showing that the field is building on its own theoretical works. Our main findings are that there is a great richness of work on which recent CER papers build; there are no prevailing theoretical or technical works that are broadly applied across CER; about half the analyzed papers build on no previous theoretical work, but a considerable share of these are building their own theoretical constructions. We discuss the significance of these findings for the whole field and conclude with some recommendations.
MMPI-2-RF Characteristics of Custody Evaluation Litigants

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2–Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) is a 338-item objective self-report measure drawn from the 567 items of the MMPI-2. Although there is a substantial MMPI-2 literature regarding child custody litigants, there has been only one previously published study using MMPI-2-RF data in this population that focused on Validity scales L-r and K-r. The current study evaluated the MMPI-2-RF results of 344 child custody litigants and showed substantial consistency between T-score elevations typically found on MMPI-2 Validity scales L and K, and comparable elevations for MMPI-2-RF validity scales L-r and K-r. Mean T-scores well within normal limits characterized results for clinical scales on both instruments. The RC scale intercorrelation patterns, and alpha coefficient values found for MMPI-2-RF scales in a custody population, were also found to be very similar to those reported for other populations. Directions for future research are presented.
Defective lymphokine-activated killer cell generation and activity in acute leukemia patients with active disease.

In 26 myeloid and lymphoid acute leukemia patients at presentation the capacity to generate interleukin-2 (IL-2)-induced lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells effective against the natural killer (NK)-resistant Raji cell line, as well as the susceptibility of the blasts to normal peripheral blood (PB) LAK cells and to autologous LAK effectors was analyzed. The overall PB LAK activity against Raji cells was significantly lower in acute leukemia patients compared with normal controls (mean, 1,473 +/- 971 SD LU/10(8) LAK effectors v 3,340 +/- 1,862; P less than . 001). The sensitivity of the blasts to autologous LAK cells was also significantly lower than to normal LAK effectors (517 +/- 593 LU/10(8) LAK effectors v 1,304 +/- 1,066; P less than . 01). When the data were analyzed independently, four patterns of behavior could be recognized. The relatively largest group (9 of 26) included patients in whom effective LAK cells could be generated against the Raji line, but in whom the blasts were resistant to autologous PB-LAK effectors while being susceptible to normal LAK cells (defective specific LAK activity). In 5 of 26 cases, an incapacity to generate LAK activity against both allogeneic and autologous target cells was observed (defective LAK generation). In six further cases, the blasts were resistant to both allogeneic and autologous LAK populations, though the latter were effective against the Raji line (resistant blasts). The same defects could also be shown with bone marrow-derived LAK cells. Only in six cases did the leukemic blasts appear susceptible to autologous and allogeneic LAK cells. In four patients the analysis could be repeated at remission, and in three a restoration of the LAK function against the primary blasts was recorded. In the 10 cases studied at relapse, the blasts were resistant to autologous LAK effectors in nine and to normal LAK in seven. These data demonstrate that in most acute leukemia patients with active disease, a defect of the LAK machinery, either a deficient generation of LAK cells or the resistance of the blasts to LAK effectors, may be documented, pointing therefore to a possible contributory role of the LAK system in the control of leukemic cell growth. In view of the frequent normalization of the autologous LAK activity at the time of remission, immunotherapy with IL-2/LAK cells should be primarily aimed to patients with minimal residual disease.
Numerical analysis of local strain measurements in fluid-saturated rock samples submitted to forced oscillations

The forced oscillation method is used to experimentally study the viscoelastic behavior of fluid-saturated rocks at seismic frequencies by measuring their dynamic stress-strain response. The strain on a sample can be measured locally with strain gauges or on the entire sample, here referred to as bulk strain, with a displacement transducer. The local response can vary greatly from the bulk because of heterogeneities in the rock, which can be structural in nature, for example, fractures, or they can arise from partial fluid saturation. Comparing the results from experimental setups that measure strains by different methods can therefore become problematic, and setups that exclusively measure local strains can be inadequate for performing certain experiments. To better understand these limitations, we numerically simulate forced oscillation tests on models representative of laboratory samples, using Biot’s quasistatic equations for poroelastic media. The main objective is to analyze the discrepancies that can arise between local and bulk measurements, with a specific focus on the frequency-dependent attenuation and the Young’s modulus dispersion. We find that, for a fully water-saturated sample having a single fracture and for a partially saturated sample, the local responses deviate significantly from the bulk responses. In addition, the average of three local measurements along a sample allows for approximating the bulk response for the case of a partially water-saturated sample having a homogeneous solid frame. Such an average is not sufficient for the fractured sample. In summary, the averaging of local strain measurements can provide a partial solution to accurately characterize the dynamic stress-strain response of the sample in certain cases, but in other cases, it can lead to results that strongly deviate from the bulk measurements. We advocate for experimental setups to be built to measure the bulk strain on rock samples or modified to include this measurement in addition to local ones.
Preoperative CT diagnosis of mesial temporal sclerosis for surgical treatment of epilepsy

A computerized tomographic (CT) scanning technique has been devised by which the anatomy of the mesial temporal lobe can be examined in epileptics who are being considered for temporal lobectomy. Among 25 patients examined with this technique, 17 have had the anatomy of their mesial temporal lobe verified at craniotomy, showing close correlation between surgical findings and the high‐resolution cerebrospinal fluid–enhanced CT scans. Atrophy was present in 4 patients, whereas chronic herniation of the mesial temporal structures over the free edge of the tentorium was present in 12; in 1 patient the structures were normal. The correlation of anatomical lesion with an electroencephalographically (EEG) defined epileptogenic focus will improve the outcome of surgery for epilepsy. This CT technique aids in identifying the epileptogenic temporal lobe for patients in whom the focus is ambiguous by EEG criteria alone.
The N-terminal Domains of Talin Cooperate with the Phosphotyrosine Binding-like Domain to Activate β1 and β3 Integrins*

The activation of integrin adhesion receptors from low to high affinity in response to intracellular cues controls cell adhesion and signaling. Binding of the cytoskeletal protein talin to the β3 integrin cytoplasmic tail is required for β3 activation, and the integrin-binding PTB-like F3 domain of talin is sufficient to activate β3 integrins. Here we report that, whereas the conserved talin-integrin interaction is also required for β1 activation, and talin F3 binds β1 and β3 integrins with comparable affinity, expression of the talin F3 domain is not sufficient to activate β1 integrins. β1 integrin activation could, however, be detected following expression of larger talin fragments that included the N-terminal and F1 domains, and mutagenesis indicates that these domains cooperate with talin F3 to mediate β1 activation. This effect is not due to increased affinity for the integrin β tail and we hypothesize that the N-terminal domains function by targeting or orienting talin in such a way as to optimize the interaction with the integrin tail. Analysis of β3 integrin activation indicates that inclusion of the N-terminal and F1 domains also enhances F3-mediated β3 activation. Our results therefore reveal a role for the N-terminal and F1 domains of talin during integrin activation and highlight differences in talin-mediated activation of β1 and β3 integrins.
The X-linked intellectual disability protein IL1RAPL1 regulates excitatory synapse formation by binding PTPδ and RhoGAP2

Mutations of the Interleukin-1-receptor accessory protein like 1 (IL1RAPL1) gene are associated with cognitive impairment ranging from non-syndromic X-linked mental retardation to autism. IL1RAPL1 belongs to a novel family of IL1/Toll receptors, which is localized at excitatory synapses and interacts with PSD-95. We previously showed that IL1RAPL1 regulates the synaptic localization of PSD-95 by controlling c-Jun N-terminal kinase activity and PSD-95 phosphorylation. Here, we show that the IgG-like extracellular domains of IL1RAPL1 induce excitatory pre-synapse formation by interacting with protein tyrosine phosphatase delta (PTPδ). We also found that IL1RAPL1 TIR domains interact with RhoGAP2, which is localized at the excitatory post-synaptic density. More interestingly, the IL1RAPL1/PTPδ complex recruits RhoGAP2 at excitatory synapses to induce dendritic spine formation. We also found that the IL1RAPL1 paralog, IL1RAPL2, interacts with PTPδ and induces excitatory synapse and dendritic spine formation. The interaction of the IL1RAPL1 family of proteins with PTPδ and RhoGAP2 reveals a pathophysiological mechanism of cognitive impairment associated with a novel type of trans-synaptic signaling that regulates excitatory synapse and dendritic spine formation.