Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In Vitro Characterization of Chitosan Gels for Buccal Delivery of Celecoxib: Influence of a Penetration Enhancer

Celecoxib (Cx) shows high efficacy in the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as a result of its high specificity for COX-2, without gastrolesivity or interference with platelet function at therapeutic concentrations. Besides of anti-inflammatory effects, Cx also has a potential role for oral cancer chemoprevention. For these conditions, oral administration in long-term treatment is a concern due to its systemic side effects. However, local application at the site of injury (e.g., buccal inflammation conditions or chemoprevention of oral cancer) is a promising way to reduce its toxicity. In this study, the in vitro characterization of mucoadhesive chitosan (CHT) gels associated to Azone® was assessed to explore the potential buccal mucosal administration of Cx in this tissue. Rheological properties of gels were analyzed by a rheometer with cone-plate geometry. In vitro Cx release and permeability studies used artificial membranes and pig cheek mucosa, respectively. Mucoadhesion were measured with a universal test machine. CHT gels (3.0%) containing 2.0% or 3.0% Az showed more appropriate characteristics compared to the others: pH values, rheology, higher amount of Cx retained in the mucosa, and minimal permeation through mucosa, besides the highest mucoadhesion values, ideal for buccal application. Moreover, the flux (J) and amounts of drug released decreased with increased CHT and Az concentrations. CHT gels (3.0%) associated with 2.0% or 3.0% Az may be considered potential delivery systems for buccal administration of Cx.
Claw Lesions Causing Clinical Lameness in Lactating Holstein Frisian Crossbred Cows

The objective of this study was to identify claw lesions causing clinical lameness in lactating Holstein Frisian (HF) crossbred cows in dairy cattle. Seventy dairy farmers were interviewed at the monthly meetings of Progressive Dairy Farmers Association of Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Ten dairy farms were randomly selected as per probability proportional to size and a total of 450 lactating HF crossbred cows were taken into the study. All the lactating cows were scored for locomotion and rear leg view index. Trimming was done in all the clinically lame animals (animals with locomotion scores 2 and 3) and equal number of animals selected randomly from those with locomotion scores 0 and 1. Various claw lesions were evaluated in both the groups. There was a significant relationship between locomotion score and rear leg view index to identify lameness. Sole ulcers and white line fissures were the lesions responsible for clinical lameness. Other lesions did not cause clinical lameness but increased the asymmetry in lactating HF crossbred cows. Both locomotion score and rear leg view index could be reliably used to identify clinical lameness in lactating cattle.
Implementing a reflective fault-tolerant CORBA system

The use of reflection is becoming popular today for the implementation of non-functional mechanisms such as fault tolerance. The main benefits of reflection are separation of concerns between the application and the mechanisms and transparency from the application programmer point of view. Unfortunately, metaobject protocols (MOPs) available today are not satisfactory with respect to necessary features needed for implementing fault tolerance mechanisms. Previously, we proposed a specialised MOP based on Corba, well adapted for such mechanisms (M.-O. Killijian and J.C. Fabre, 1998). We deliberately focus on the implementation of this metaobject protocol using compile-time reflection and its use for implementing distributed fault tolerance. We present the design and the implementation of a fault-tolerant Corba system using this metaobject together with some preliminary experimental results. From the lessons learnt from this work, we briefly address the benefits of reflection in other layers of a system for dependability issues.
Embryonic ionizing radiation exposure results in expression alterations of genes associated with cardiovascular and neurological development, function, and disease and modified cardiovascular function in zebrafish

The relationship between ionizing radiation (IR) and carcinogenesis is long established, but recently the association between IR and other diseases is starting to be recognized. Currently, there is limited information on the genetic mechanisms governing the role of IR in non-cancer related adverse health effects and in regards to an early developmental exposure. In this study, zebrafish embryos were exposed to a range of IR doses (0, 1, 2, 5, 10 Gy) at 26 h post fertilization (hpf). No significant increase in mortality or hatching rate was observed, but a significant decrease in total larval length, head length, and eye diameter was observed in the 10 Gy dose. Transcriptomic analysis was conducted at 120 hpf to compare gene expression profiles between the control and highest IR dose at which no significant differences were observed in morphological measurements (5 Gy). 253 genes with well-established function or orthology to human genes were significantly altered. Gene ontology and molecular network analysis revealed enrichment of genes associated with cardiovascular and neurological development, function, and disease. Expression of a subset of genetic targets with an emphasis on those associated with the cardiovascular system was assessed using Quantitative PCR (qPCR) to confirm altered expression at 5 Gy and then to investigate alterations at lower doses (1 and 2 Gy). Strong correlation between microarray and qPCR expression values was observed, but zebrafish exposed to 1 or 2 Gy resulted in a significant expression alteration in only one of these genes (LIN7B). Moreover, heart rate was analyzed through 120 hpf following IR dosing at 26 hpf. A significant decrease in heart rate was observed at 10 Gy, while a significant increase in heart rate was observed at 1, 2, and 5 Gy. Overall these findings indicate IR exposure at doses below those that induce gross morphological changes alters heart rate and expression of genes associated with cardiovascular and neurological functions.
Analysis of Goal Scored on Russia World Cup 2018

The aim of the research was to analyze the goals scored in Russia World Cup 2018.The sample of this research was composed of 64 games played and 169 goals scored in the 2018 Russia World Cup. No goals were scored only in one competition. Because of 12 goals scored were own goals, 157 goals scored were analyzed on eleven different ways. The research data were collected e-analysis soccer programme. Frequency, average, standard deviation which were descriptive statistics were used for analysis of the research data.Consequently it was observed that 61,14% of goals were scored in the 2nd half of the matches and most of goals in the last 15 minutes of the matches, 63,69% of goals were scored after organized attack (open play), 38,59% of goals were scored from penalty, 78,98% of goals were scored with foot shot, 72,61% of goals were scored with one touch, 84,71% of the goals were scored through the penalty zone and 60,50% of the goals were scored in 3rd zone which was determined in the penalty zone. Moreover, of the teams that scored first results showed that they won 71,42% of the matches. Scorer’s playing position was 32,48% striker. Asist player’s playing position was 44,03% midfielder. 11,92% of asist were passed from 9th zone which was determined outside the penalty zone.The work guided the coaches to design real competition-like trainings and tailor the game style to the match situation. Coaches can also use this information to set goals for players and teams that specifically refer to offense and defense games. It is advisable to coach to use the 3rd zone set in the penalty zone for more goals and to use the 3rd zone in the penalty zone for more effective defense for fewer goals.
A Unified Model of Calcium Dependent Synaptic Plasticity

2 Synapses in the brain are bidirectionally modifiable, but the routes of induction are diverse. In various experimental paradigms, NMDA receptor-dependent long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP) have been induced selectively by varying (1) the membrane potential of the postsynaptic neurons during synaptic stimulation of a constant frequency, (2) the rate of synaptic stimulation, and (3) the timing of pre-and postsynaptic action potentials. To date, there is no theory to account for these seemingly different forms of synaptic plasticity. In this paper we present a novel mathematical embodiment of bidirectional synaptic plasticity that is able to explain diverse induction protocols with a fixed set of parameters. The key assumptions and consequences of the model can be tested experimentally; further, it provides the foundation for a unified theory of NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity.
Conventional and advanced district energy systems

District energy systems have the potential to decrease the CO2 emissions linked to energy services (heating, hot water, cooling and electricity), thanks to the implementation of large polygeneration energy conversion technologies, connected to a group of buildings over a network. To transfer the energy from the large polygeneration energy conversion technologies to the users, conventional district energy systems use water as energy transfer medium with often two independent supply and return piping systems for heat and cold. However, sharing energy or interacting with decentralized heat pump units often results in relatively large heat transfer exergy losses due to the large temperature differences that are economically required from the water network. Using refrigerants as a district heating or cooling fluid at an intermediate temperature could alleviate some of these drawbacks. Because of the environmental concerns about conventional refrigerants, CO2, which is a natural refrigerant, used under its critical point, could be an interesting candidate. Pipe sizing of a multiservices superstructure, based on a two pipe CO2 network at 18°C is compared with a standard 4 pipes water network for heating and cooling.
High-intensity versus low-intensity non-invasive ventilation in patients with stable hypercapnic COPD: a randomised crossover trial

Rationale The conventional approach of low-intensity non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) produces only minimal physiological and clinical benefits in patients with stable hypercapnic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objectives To determine whether the novel approach of high-intensity NPPV is superior to low-intensity NPPV in controlling nocturnal hypoventilation. Methods A randomised controlled crossover trial comparing 6 weeks of high-intensity NPPV (using controlled ventilation with mean inspiratory pressures of 28.6±1.9 mbar) with low-intensity NPPV (using assisted ventilation with mean inspiratory pressures of 14.6±0.8 mbar) was performed in 17 patients with severe stable hypercapnic COPD. Results Two patients refused low-intensity NPPV and two patients dropped out while on low-intensity NPPV. Thirteen patients (mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 0.76±0.29 l) completed the trial. High-intensity NPPV produced higher pneumotachographically-measured expiratory volumes, with a mean treatment effect of 96 ml (95% CI 23 to 169) (p=0.015). This resulted in a mean treatment effect on nocturnal arterial carbon dioxide tension (Paco2) of −9.2 mm Hg (95% CI −13.7 to −4.6) (p=0.001) in favour of high-intensity NPPV. Daily use of NPPV was increased in high-intensity NPPV compared with low-intensity NPPV, with a mean difference of 3.6 h/day (95% CI 0.6 to 6.7) (p=0.024). In addition, compared with baseline, only high-intensity NPPV resulted in significant improvements in exercise-related dyspnoea, daytime Paco2, FEV1, vital capacity and the Severe Respiratory Insufficiency Questionnaire Summary Score. Conclusions High-intensity NPPV is better tolerated by patients with severe chronic hypercapnic COPD and has been shown to be superior to the conventional and widely-used form of low-intensity NPPV in controlling nocturnal hypoventilation. High-intensity NPPV therefore offers a new promising therapeutic option for these patients.
Reversible Formation of a Bose-Einstein Condensate

We present a method of adiabatically changing the local phase-space density of an ultracold gas, using a combination of magnetic and optical forces. Applying this method, we observe phase-space density increases in a gas of sodium atoms by as much as 50-fold. The transition to Bose-Einstein condensation was crossed reversibly, attaining condensate fractions of up to 30%. Measurements of the condensate fraction reveal its reduction due to interactions.
Distributed-queueing request update multiple access (DQRUMA) for wireless packet (ATM) networks

In a wireless packet (ATM) network that supports an integrated mix of multimedia traffic, the channel access protocol needs to be designed such that mobiles share the limited communications bandwidth in an efficient manner: maximizing the utilization of the frequency spectrum and minimizing the delay experienced by mobiles. In this paper, we propose and study an efficient demand assignment channel access protocol, which we call distributed-queueing request update multiple access (DQRUMA). The protocol can be used for a wide range of applications and geographic distances. Mobiles need to send requests to the base station only for packets that arrive to an empty buffer. For packets that arrive to a non-empty buffer transmission requests are placed collision-free by piggybacking the requests with packet transmissions. The simulation results show that even with the "worst possible" traffic characteristics, the delay-throughput performance of DQRUMA is close to the best possible with any access protocol. In addition, explicit slot-by-slot announcement of the "transmit permissions" gives the base station a lot of control over the order in which mobiles transmit their packets.
Entrepreneurial Shareholder Activism: Hedge Funds and Other Private Investors

We examine recent confrontational activism campaigns by hedge funds and other private investors. The main parallels between the groups are a significantly positive market reaction for the target firm around the initial Schedule 13D filing date, significantly positive returns over the subsequent year, and the activist's high success rate in achieving its original objective. Further, both activists frequently gain board representation through real or threatened proxy solicitations. Two major differences are that hedge funds target more profitable firms than other activists, and hedge funds address cash flow agency costs whereas other private investors change the target's investment strategies. Copyright (c) 2009 The American Finance Association.
Turbulence effects in planetesimal formation

The formation of planetesimals is investigated by studying the transport of dust particles in a local three- dimensionalsimulationofaccretiondiscturbulence.Heavypar- ticlesfallrapidlytowardsthemidplane,whereaslighterparticles are strongly advected by the flow. For light particles the turbu- lence leads to a rapid redistribution of particles such that their density per unit mass is approximately constant with height. There is no pronounced concentration of particles in vortices or anticyclones, as was suggested previously. This is partly be- cause of the adverse effect of keplerian shear and also because in our simulation vortices are only short lived. However, if we assume the gas velocity to be frozen in time, there is a concen- tration of dust in ring-like structures after a few orbits. This is caused mainly by a convergence of the gas flow in those loca- tions, rather than the presence of vortices or anticyclones.
Segmentation of the Cingulum Bundle in the Human Brain: A New Perspective Based on DSI Tractography and Fiber Dissection Study

The cingulum bundle (CB) is a critical white matter fiber tract in the brain, which forms connections between the frontal lobe, parietal lobe and temporal lobe. In non-human primates, the CB is actually divided into distinct subcomponents on the basis of corticocortical connections. However, at present, no study has verified similar distinct subdivisions in the human brain. In this study, we reconstructed these distinct subdivisions in the human brain, and determined their exact cortical connections using high definition fiber tracking (HDFT) technique on 10 healthy adults and a 488-subject template from the Human Connectome Project (HCP-488). Fiber dissections were performed to verify tractography results. Five CB segments were identified. CB-I ran from the subrostral areas to the precuneus and splenium, encircling the corpus callosum (CC). CB-II arched around the splenium and extended anteriorly above the CC to the medial aspect of the superior frontal gyrus (SFG). CB-III connected the superior parietal lobule (SPL) and precuneus with the medial aspect of the SFG. CB-IV was a relatively minor subcomponent from the SPL and precuneus to the frontal region. CB-V, the para-hippocampal cingulum, stemmed from the medial temporal lobe and fanned out to the occipital lobes. Our findings not only provide a more accurate and detailed description on the associated architecture of the subcomponents within the CB, but also offer new insights into the functional role of the CB in the human brain.
Optimizing Anti-EGFR Therapy in Colorectal Cancer

Treatment with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies has been successfully integrated in the continuum of care for metastatic colorectal cancer. The major challenge is the identification of patients who would benefit from treatment. Currently, the best predictor of efficacy is the absence of mutations in KRAS and NRAS genes. Clin Cancer Res; 21(24); 5415–6. ©2015 AACR. See related article by Peeters et al., p. 5469
TORC1-regulated protein kinase Npr1 phosphorylates Orm to stimulate complex sphingolipid synthesis

Sphingolipids are membrane components and signaling molecules. Nutrient-sensitive TORC1 inhibition stimulates the kinase Npr1 to phosphorylate Orm proteins and thereby up-regulate complex sphingolipid synthesis. This appears to be a physiological response to starvation to up-regulate the nutrient-scavenging permease Gap1.
Consumer Loss Aversion and the Intensity of Competition

Consider a differentiated product market in which all consumers are fully informed about match value and price at the time they make their purchasing decision. Initially, consumers become informed about the prices of all products in the market but do not know the match values. Some consumers have reference-dependent utilitiesâ€”i.e., they form a reference-point distribution with respect to match value and price that will make them realize gains or losses if their eventually chosen product performs better or, respectively, worse than their reference point in both dimensions. Loss aversion in the match-value dimension leads to a less competitive outcome, while loss aversion in the price dimension leads to a more competitive equilibrium than a market in which consumers are not subject to reference dependence. Depending on the weights consumers attach to the price and the match-value dimension, a market with loss-averse consumers may be more or less competitive than a market with consumers that do not have reference-dependent utilities. We also show that consumer loss aversion tends to lead to higher prices if the market accommodates a larger number of ? rms.
The impact of social capital on youth substance use

Substance use is a threat to the health and well- being of the youth, their families, and society as well. Government supports and implements several programs to protect youth from substance use. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of social capital on youth behavior and to suggest evidence-based policy interventions. Social capital refers to individual embeddedness in web of social relations and their behaviors guided by social structure. Social interactions of adolescents with their peers, parents, and community were investigated. Moreover, the study also examined the impacts of mediating factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, income level, and mobility on youth substance use. The study contributes to the social capital literature by integrating different perspectives in social capital and substance use literature. It successfully demonstrates how social capital can be utilized as a policy and ntervention tool.
Omura’s whales (Balaenoptera omurai) off northwest Madagascar: ecology, behaviour and conservation needs

The Omura’s whale (Balaenoptera omurai) was described as a new species in 2003 and then soon after as an ancient lineage basal to a Bryde’s/sei whale clade. Currently known only from whaling and stranding specimens primarily from the western Pacific and eastern Indian Oceans, there exist no confirmed field observations or ecological/behavioural data. Here we present, to our knowledge, the first genetically confirmed documentation of living Omura’s whales including descriptions of basic ecology and behaviour from northwestern Madagascar. Species identification was confirmed through molecular phylogenetic analyses of biopsies collected from 18 adult animals. All individuals shared a single haplotype in a 402 bp sequence of mtDNA control region, suggesting low diversity and a potentially small population. Sightings of 44 groups indicated preference for shallow-water shelf habitat with sea surface temperature between 27.4°C and 30.2°C. Frequent observations were made of lunge feeding, possibly on zooplankton. Observations of four mothers with young calves, and recordings of a song-like vocalization probably indicate reproductive behaviour. Social organization consisted of loose aggregations of predominantly unassociated single individuals spatially and temporally clustered. Photographic recapture of a female re-sighted the following year with a young calf suggests site fidelity or a resident population. Our results demonstrate that the species is a tropical whale without segregation of feeding and breeding habitat, and is probably non-migratory; our data extend the range of this poorly studied whale into the western Indian Ocean. Exclusive range restriction to tropical waters is rare among baleen whale species, except for the various forms of Bryde’s whales and Omura’s whales. Thus, the discovery of a tractable population of Omura’s whales in the tropics presents an opportunity for understanding the ecological factors driving potential convergence of life-history patterns with the distantly related Bryde’s whales.
Potential Role of Protein Kinase B in Insulin-induced Glucose Transport, Glycogen Synthesis, and Protein Synthesis*

Various biological responses stimulated by insulin have been thought to be regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, including glucose transport, glycogen synthesis, and protein synthesis. However, the molecular link between phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and these biological responses has been poorly understood. Recently, it has been shown that protein kinase B (PKB/c-Akt/Rac) lies immediately downstream from phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Here, we show that expression of a constitutively active form of PKB induced glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis, and protein synthesis in L6 myotubes downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and independent of Ras and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Introduction of constitutively active PKB induced glucose uptake and protein synthesis but not glycogen synthesis in 3T3L-1 adipocytes, which lack expression of glycogen synthase kinase 3 different from L6 myotubes. Furthermore, we show that deactivation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 and activation of rapamycin-sensitive serine/threonine kinase by PKB in L6 myotubes might be involved in the enhancement of glycogen synthesis and protein synthesis, respectively. These results suggest that PKB acts as a key enzyme linking phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation to multiple biological functions of insulin through regulation of downstream kinases in skeletal muscle, a major target tissue of insulin.