Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LIVER FAILURE AND LIVER DISEASE

Bacterial DNA (bactDNA) is present in blood and ascitic fluid (AF) in a third of patients with cirrhosis and ascites, but whether this phenomenon represents episodes of bacterial translocation (BT), strictly considered when culture of mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) are positive, remains unknown. This study assessed the relationship between bactDNA detection in biological fluids and MLNs and went on to investigate the local and systemic inflammatory status according to its presence. Cirrhosis was induced in rats by ingestion of CCL4. A subgroup of five animals with cirrhosis received norfloxacin (5 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. MLNs and ascitic and pleural fluids were collected at laparotomy and cultured; samples were collected for identification of bactDNA and measurement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO). BactDNA was detected in MLNs in 12 of 19 animals (63.1%), corresponding in seven cases to culture-positive MLNs, and in five to culture-negative MLNs. BactDNA was detected in biological fluids in 11 of 19 animals (57.9%), and in all cases the same bacteria spp. detected in samples was present in MLNs. BactDNA was not detected in any biological sample from animals receiving norfloxacin. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), IL-6, and NO were similar in culture-positive and culture-negative/bactDNA-positive samples, and significantly higher than those observed in animals with culture-negative/bactDNA-negative MLNs, animals with cirrhosis that were receiving norfloxacin, and controls. In conclusion, the presence of bactDNA in biological fluids in rats with cirrhosis constitutes a marker of BT, and it is associated with a marked inflammatory response, independent of the result of the culture. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;44:633-639.)
Path optimization for multiple objectives in directed graphs using genetic algorithms

This paper presents a genetic algorithmic approach for finding efficient paths in directed graphs when optimizing multiple objectives. Its aim is to provide solutions for the game of Animat where an agent must evolve paths to achieve the greatest amount of bombs in the fewest moves as possible. The nature of this problem suggests agents with memory abilities to choose different edges from a vertex v such that each time v is reached, the agent can avoid cycles and be encouraged to keep searching for bombs all over the directed graph. This approach was tested on several random scenarios and also on specially designed ones with very encouraging results. The multi-objective genetic algorithm chosen to evolve paths was SPEA2 using one-point crossover and low mutation to allow genetic diversity of the population and an enhanced convergence rate. Results are compared with an implementation for the same game using ant colony optimization.
A Robust Method to Count and Locate Audio Sources in a Stereophonic Linear Anechoic Mixture

We propose a new method, called DEMIX anechoic, to estimate the mixing conditions, i.e. number of audio sources plus attenuation and time delay of each sources, in an underdetermined anechoic mixture. The method relies on the assumption that in the neighborhood of some time-frequency points, only one source contributes to the mixture. Such time-frequency points, located with a local confidence measure, provide estimates of the attenuation, as well as the phase difference at some frequency, of the corresponding source. The time delay parameters are estimated, by a method similar to GCC-PHAT, on points having close attenuations. As opposed to DUET like methods, our method can estimate time-delay higher than only one sample. Experiments show that DEMIX anechoic estimates, in more than 65% of the cases, the number of directions until 6 sources and outperforms DUET in the accuracy of the estimation by a factor of 10.
Emotional Arousal Can Impair Feature Binding in Working Memory

To investigate whether emotional arousal affects memorial feature binding, we had participants complete a short-term source-monitoring taskremembering the locations of four different pictures over a brief delay. On each trial, the four pictures were all either high arousal, medium arousal, or low arousal. Memory for picture-location conjunctions decreased as arousal increased. In addition, source memory for the location of negative pictures was worse among participants with higher depression scores. Two subsequent functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments showed that relative to low-arousal trials, high- and medium-arousal trials resulted in greater activity in areas associated with visual processing (fusiform gyrus, middle temporal gyrus/middle occipital gyrus, lingual gyrus) and less activity in superior precentral gyrus and the precentral-superior temporal intersect. These findings suggest that arousal (and perhaps negative valence for depressed people) recruits attention to items thereby disrupting working memory processes that help bind features together.
A Decision Making Framework for Robot Companion Systems Usable by Non-Experts

In the course of becoming an increasingly important part of society, robots have also found their way into private households. For now, most robots are designed to solve only one or a few specific tasks. In the (near) future, however, robots are supposed to become companions assisting humans in their everyday life. A serious problem lies in the fact that requirements made upon robots as well as their fields of duty are largely dependent on the individual demands of the user. Due to this reason, the behaviour and the possible applications of a robot companion need to be customizable. The aim of this thesis is to develop a decision making framework for robot companions which offers solutions for the previously described challenges in the creation of robot companion systems. First of all, a suitable decision making algorithm that is applicable for variant tasks without a multitude of parameters having to be adjusted manually is created. This is important in order to give users without programming skills or technical expertise the possibility of enhancing the capabilities of their robot to a certain extent. The developed algorithm then is evaluated in a simulation in which human decisions are compared to decisions made by the algorithm. In addition to the evaluation made in a simulation, the decision making algorithm is implemented on the humanoid NAO robot. A modular software architecture is used in order to ensure that enhancements/modifications can be implemented without huge effort. Furthermore, the implementation provides interfaces making it possible to create new applications without programming by an XML configuration file. Based on these interfaces a tool assisting users without technical expertise in the creation of new applications is developed. Moreover, a usability study is conducted to reveal how the tool can be enhanced. Finally, the whole approach is evaluated via two human-robot interaction studies. Those studies aim at investigating how the participants perceive the robot’s decision making behaviour and if they can imagine using such a robot at home.
Pharmacological profile of dopamine receptor agonists as studied by brain dialysis in behaving rats.

Using the technique of brain dialysis in freely moving rats we have investigated the effect of various dopamine (DA) receptor agonists on the release and metabolism of DA in two terminal dopaminergic areas, the nucleus accumbens and the dorsal caudate. Low doses of various DA receptor agonists such as apomorphine (12-100 micrograms/kg s.c.), LY 171555 (5-50 micrograms/kg s.c.), pergolide (5-25 micrograms/kg s.c.), (+)-3PPP (0.5-2.5 mg/kg s.c.) and BHT 920 (10-250 micrograms/kg s.c.) reduce DA release and elicit hypomotility. The potency of the drugs and their effectiveness is similar in the two areas. Inhibition of DA release appears related to the ability of the various agonists to stimulate D-2 rather than D-1 receptors. Thus, the reportedly selective D-1 agonist, SKF 38393, was inactive on DA release and metabolism even at doses fully active in eliciting D-1-mediated effects (grooming); on the other hand apomorphine, a D-1/D-2 agonist, and pergolide, a D-2 agonist with rather weak D-1 activity, reduced DA release in a manner which was related to their agonist activity at D-2 receptors; finally LY 171555, (+)-3PPP and BHT 920, which selectively stimulate D-2 receptors, were fully active at reducing DA release in vivo. Apomorphine, pergolide, LY 171555 and (+)-3PPP given at higher doses elicited behavioral stimulation. In contrast, BHT 920 failed to do so. In further contrast (-)-3PPP (0.1-10 mg/kg s.c.), which failed to reduce DA release at low doses, actually stimulated it at high doses (10 mg/kg s.c.) and elicited hypomotility, thus resembling DA receptor antagonists. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Technique for Mapping Mathematics Content to Game Design

Research has shown that games can be valuable tools for learning mathematics. In this paper, we explain how we tackled the challenge of mapping mathematics content to games in the design of mathematics learning games. We present a unique technique for mapping mathematics content to game design. The technique can be used to improve the game design process by guiding the designer through one of the more challenging stages of the design process, namely, that of incorporating mathematics content into a game. The technique is based on several factors such as mathematics learning pedagogy, game type categorization, the mathematics curriculum, and past research experience. The technique is unique since it focuses on guiding the game designer through the process of mapping the mathematics content to the game idea. Additionally, the technique incorporates several important game design principles. A preliminary evaluation of the technique was conducted with several amateur game designers. Although there are several limitations of the technique, the evaluation shows that it was useful in helping the game designers to design suitable mathematics learning games.
Incomplete reporting of experimental studies and items associated with risk of bias in veterinary research

In in vivo research, the reporting of core items of study design is persistently poor, limiting assessment of study quality and study reproducibility. This observational cohort study evaluated reporting levels in the veterinary literature across a range of species, journals and research fields. Four items (randomisation, sample size estimation, blinding and data exclusion) were assessed as well as availability of study data in publicly accessible repositories. From five general and five subject-specific journals, 120 consecutively published papers (12 per journal) describing in vivo experimental studies were selected. Item reporting was scored using a published scale (items ranked as fully, partially or not reported) according to completeness of reporting. Papers in subject-specific journals had higher median reporting levels (50.0 per cent vs 33.3 per cent, P=0.007). In subject-specific journals, randomisation (75.0 per cent vs 41.7 per cent, P=0.0002) and sample size estimation (35.0 per cent vs 16.7 per cent, P=0.025) reporting was approximately double that of general journals. Blinding (general 48.3 per cent, subject-specific 50.0 per cent, P=0.86) and data exclusion (general 53.3 per cent, subject-specific 63.3 per cent, P=0.27) were similarly reported. A single paper made study data readily accessible. Incomplete reporting remains prevalent in the veterinary literature irrespective of journal type, research subject or species. This impedes evaluation of study quality and reproducibility, raising concerns regarding wasted financial and animal resources.
Awareness and use of the Heart Symbol by Finnish consumers

Abstract Objective To study the awareness of the Heart Symbol in different age and educational groups, and changes in the awareness over a 9-year period. In addition, the reported use of products with the symbol was examined. Design A series of annual cross-sectional postal surveys on Health Behaviour and Health among the Finnish Adult Population. Setting A random sample (n 5000 per annum) from the Finnish population aged 15–64 years, drawn from the National Population Register, received a questionnaire. Subjects Men and women (n 29 378) participating in the surveys in 2000–2009. Results At the early 2000s, 48 % of men and 73 % of women reported to be familiar with the symbol. The corresponding rates were 66 % for men and 91 % for women in 2009. The reported use of products with the symbol increased from 29 % to 52 % in men and from 40 % to 72 % in women. In men, the awareness did not vary by age, whereas older women (45–64 years) were less likely to be aware of the symbol compared with younger women (25–34 years). Men and women with the highest education were best aware of the symbol and more likely to use the products in the early 2000s. The educational differences diminished or disappeared during the study period. Conclusions The majority of Finnish adults are familiar with the Heart Symbol, and the reported use of such products increased in all age and educational groups, especially among the less educated. The symbol may work as an effective measure to diminish nutrition-related health inequalities.
A 15‐year review of our MOAHLFA index

to be rare and information concerning the clinical and histopathological features of palladium-induced contact dermatitis is extremely limited (1, 2). The clinical and histological characteristics observed in this case were similar to those described for so-called dermal allergic contact dermatitis, which is reported to be commonly induced by gold allergy (3, 4). In dermal contact dermatitis due to gold, gold appears to accumulate in dermal macrophages, leading to a persistent inflammatory reaction (4). We suspect in this case that palladium liberated from dental alloys was absorbed and then retained in the dermis, resulting in dermal allergic contact dermatitis.
Multicenter phase II study of Nordic fluorouracil and folinic acid bolus schedule combined with oxaliplatin as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE This Nordic multicenter phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of oxaliplatin combined with the Nordic bolus schedule of fluorouracil (FU) and folinic acid (FA) as first-line treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eighty-five patients were treated with oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) as a 2-hour infusion on day 1, followed by a 3-minute bolus injection with FU 500 mg/m(2) and, 30 minutes later, by a bolus injection with FA 60 mg/m(2) every second week. The same doses of FU and FA were also given on day 2. RESULTS Fifty-one of 82 assessable patients achieved a complete (n = 4) or partial (n = 47) response, leading to a response rate of 62% (95% CI, 52% to 72%). Nineteen patients showed stable disease, and 12 patients had progressive disease. Thirty-eight of the 51 responses were radiologically confirmed 8 weeks later (confirmed response rate, 46%; 95% CI, 36% to 58%). The estimated median time to progression was 7.0 months (95% CI, 6.3 to 7.7 months), and the median overall survival was 16.1 months (95% CI, 12.7 to 19.6 months) in the intent-to-treat population. Neutropenia was the main adverse event, with grade 3 to 4 toxicity in 58% of patients. Febrile neutropenia developed in seven patients. Nonhematologic toxicity consisted mainly of neuropathy (grade 3 in 11 patients and grade 2 in another 27 patients). CONCLUSION Oxaliplatin combined with the bolus Nordic schedule of FU+FA (Nordic FLOX) is a well-tolerated, effective, and feasible bolus schedule as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer that yields comparable results compared with more complex schedules.
Intra-Ocular Pressure Measurement in a Patient with a Thin, Thick or Abnormal Cornea

Accurate measurement of intra-ocular pressure is a fundamental component of the ocular examination. The most common method of measuring IOP is by Goldmann applanation tonometry, the accuracy of which is influenced by the thickness and biomechanical properties of the cornea. Algorithms devised to correct for corneal thickness to estimate IOP oversimplify the effects of corneal biomechanics. The viscous and elastic properties of the cornea influence IOP measurements in unpredictable ways, a finding borne out in studies of patients with inherently abnormal and surgically altered corneal biomechanics. Dynamic contour tonometry, rebound tonometry and the ocular response analyzer provide useful alternatives to GAT in patients with abnormal corneas, such as those who have undergone laser vision correction or keratoplasty. This article reviews the various methods of intra-ocular pressure measurement available to the clinician and the ways in which their utility is influenced by variations in corneal thickness and biomechanics.
An analysis of 214 cases of rib fractures

INTRODUCTION: Rib fractures are the most common type of injury associated with trauma to the thorax. In this study, we investigated whether morbidity and mortality rates increased in correlation with the number of fractured ribs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 214 patients with rib fractures who applied or were referred to our clinic between January 2007 and December 2008 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were allocated into three groups according to the number of fractures: 1) patients with an isolated rib fracture (RF1) (n = 50, 23.4%), 2) patients with two rib fractures (RF2) (n = 53, 24.8%), and 3) patients with more than two rib fractures (RF3) (n = 111, 51.9%). The patients were evaluated and compared according to the number of rib fractures, mean age, associated chest injuries (hemothorax, pneumothorax, and/or pulmonary contusion), and co-existing injuries to other systems. FINDINGS: The mean age of the patients was 51.5 years. The distribution of associated chest injuries was 30% in group RF1, 24.6% in group RF2, and 75.6% in group RF3 (p<0.05). Co-existing injuries to other systems were 24% in group RF1, 23.2% in group RF2, and 52.6% in group RF3 (p<0.05). Two patients (4%) in group RF1, 2 patients (3.8%) in group RF2, and 5 patients (4.5%) in group RF3 (total n = 9; 4.2%) died. CONCLUSION: Patients with any number of rib fractures should be carefully screened for co-existing injuries in other body systems and hospitalized to receive proper treatment.
Development of recombinant matrix metalloproteinase-3 based sandwich ELISA for sero-diagnosis of canine mammary carcinomas

ABSTRACT Matrix metalloproteinase-3 is invariably upregulated in cancerous condition. So we aimed to determine serum level of MMP-3 in canine mammary tumors. The gene was expressed in E. coli system as ~43kDa recombinant protein, which was refolded, purified, and confirmed. Hyperimmune serum was raised against the expressed protein in rabbits and mice to standardize sandwich ELISA. ROC analysis revealed largest area under the curve of 0.998 with sensitivity (100%) and specificity (95%) for a cut-off value of 0.363 with respect to histopathological staining. The finding of the present study indicates that MMP-3 can act as a potential molecular marker for serodiagnosis of canine mammary carcinomas.
Numerical and Experimental Evaluation of Terrestrial LiDAR for Parameterizing Centimeter-Scale Sea Ice Surface Roughness

Terrestrial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) offers significant advantages over conventional techniques for measuring the centimeter-scale surface roughness of natural surfaces, such as sea ice. However, the laser scanning technique is inherently limited, principally by the following: 1) the high inclination scanning angle of the sensor with respect to nadir; 2) the precision of the laser ranging estimate; and 3) the beam divergence of the laser. In this paper, we introduce a numerical model that has been designed to simulate the acquisition of LiDAR data over a regular rough surface. Results from the model compare well (r2 = 0.97) with LiDAR observations collected over two experimental surfaces of known roughness that were constructed from medium-density fibreboard using a computer numerical control three-axis router. The model demonstrates that surface roughness parameters are not sensitive to minor variations in the LiDAR sensor's range and laser beam divergence, but are slightly sensitive to the precision of the ranging estimate. The model also demonstrates that surface roughness parameters are particularly sensitive to the inclination angle of the LiDAR sensor. The surface RMS height is underestimated, and the correlation length is overestimated as either the inclination angle of the sensor or the true roughness of the surface increases. An isotropic surface is also increasingly observed as an anisotropic surface as either the inclination angle or the true surface roughness increases. Based on the model results, we propose a set of calibration functions that can be used to correct in situ LiDAR measurements of surface roughness.
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor stimulates the transcriptional and neuroprotective activity of myocyte‐enhancer factor 2C through an ERK1/2‐RSK2 signaling cascade

Neurotrophin activation of myocyte‐enhancer factor (MEF) 2C is one of the strongest pro‐survival signaling pathways in developing neurons. To date, neurotrophin stimulation of MEF2C has been largely attributed to its direct phosphorylation by extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) 5. Because MEF2C is not directly phosphorylated by ERK1/2 in vitro, it is generally assumed that the ERK1/2 signaling cascade does not regulate MEF2C. Surprisingly, we discovered that ERK1/2 are required for both the transcriptional and neuroprotective activity of MEF2C in cortical neurons stimulated by brain‐derived neurotrophic factor. ERK1/2 stimulation of MEF2C is mediated by p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2), a Ser/Thr protein kinase downstream of ERK1/2. RSK2 strongly phosphorylates purified recombinant MEF2C protein in vitro. Furthermore, RSK2 can directly phosphorylate MEF2C on S192, a consensus RSK2‐phosphorylation site located in the transactivation domain of MEF2C. Substitution of S192 with a non‐phosphorylatable alanine diminishes both the transcriptional and neuroprotective activity of MEF2C to an extent similar to mutation on S387, an established activating phosphorylation site. Together, our data identifies ERK1/2‐RSK2 signaling as a novel mechanism by which neurotrophins activate MEF2C and promote neuronal survival.
Improvement of electric field-induced strain and energy storage density properties in lead-free BNKT-based ceramics modified by BFT doping

In this research, the effects of Ba(Fe0.5Ta0.5)O3 (BFT) additive on the phase evolution, the dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, electric field-induced strain responses, and energy storage density of the Bi0.5(Na0.80K0.20)0.5TiO3–0.03(Ba0.70Sr0.03)TiO3 (BNKT–0.03BSrT) ceramics have been systematically investigated. The ceramics have been prepared by a solid-state reaction method accompanied by two calcination steps. X-ray diffraction indicates that all ceramics coexist between rhombohedral and tetragonal phases, where the tetragonal phase becomes dominant at higher BFT contents. The addition of BFT also promotes the diffuse phase transition in this system. A significant enhancement of electric field-induced strain response (Smax = 0.42% and = 840 pm V−1) is noted for the x = 0.01 ceramic. Furthermore, the giant electrostrictive coefficient (Q33 = 0.0404 m4 C−2) with a giant normalized electrostrictive coefficient (Q33/E = 8.08 × 10−9 m5 C−2 V−1) are also observed for this composition (x = 0.01). In addition, the x = 0.03 ceramic shows good energy storage properties, i.e. it has a high energy storage density (W = 0.65 J cm−3 @ 120 °C) with very high normalized storage energy density (W/E = 0.13 μC mm−2), and good energy storage efficiency (η = 90.4% @ 120 °C). Overall, these results indicate that these ceramics are one of the promising candidate piezoelectric materials for further development for actuator and high electric power pulse energy storage applications.