Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peer-to-Peer versus Federated Search: Towards more Interoperable Learning Object Repositories

The invention refers to a class of new compounds as well as a new process for making these compounds. The new compounds correspond to the general formula WHEREIN A1 represents a heterocyclic ring system which (a) contains at least one five-membered to six-membered heterocyclic ring having at least one ring oxygen atom and/or one ring sulphur atom, (b) is free of ring nitrogen atoms and of hydrogen atoms which are replaceable by alkali metal, and (c) is bonded by a ring carbon atom to a ring carbon atom of B1, or has two adjacent ring carbon atoms in common with two adjacent ring carbon atoms of B1, and wherein furthermore (a) B1 denotes a benzene ring or a heterocyclic ring of aromatic character containing five to six ring members, with these rings being permitted to contain further condensed-on aromatic, heterocyclic or hydroaromatic five-membered to six-membered rings, but preferably only one such ring, and (b) v denotes an integer from 1 to 2, and (c) wherein m denotes an integer from 1 to 4 in the case of a single bond between A1 and B1, and denotes the numbers 1 or 2 in the case of rings A1 and B1 being condensed with one another, and wherein E1 represents an aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic rings system containing five to six ring members, which may contain further condensed-on aromatic or hydroaromatic ring system of carbocyclic or heterocyclic nature, and may contain aromatic, araliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aliphatic or other non-chromophoric substituents, with the exception of methyl groups, which are capable of carbanion formation in the presence of alkali metal ions.
Scalable appearance filtering for complex lighting effects

Realistic rendering with materials that exhibit high-frequency spatial variation remains a challenge, as eliminating spatial and temporal aliasing requires prohibitively high sampling rates. Recent work has made the problem more tractable, however existing methods remain prohibitively expensive when using large environmental lights and/or (correctly filtered) global illumination. We present an appearance model with explicit high-frequency micro-normal variation, and a filtering approach that scales to multi-dimensional shading integrals. By combining a novel and compact half-vector histogram scheme with a directional basis expansion, we accurately compute the integral of filtered high-frequency reflectance over large lights with angularly varying emission. Our approach is scalable, rendering images indistinguishable from ground truth at over 10× the speed of the state-of-the-art and with only 15% the memory footprint. When filtering appearance with global illumination, we outperform the state-of-the-art by ~30×.
The effect of the averaging filter on the cycle slipping of NDA feedforward carrier synchronizers for MPSK

The authors deal with the cycle slipping of a non-decision-aided (NDA) feedforward carrier synchronizer for multiple phase shift keying (MPSK). As an averaging filter, they consider both a block window accumulator (BWA) and a gliding window accumulator (GWA). Approximations for both low and high signal to noise power ratios (E/sub s//N/sub 0/) are derived for the cycle slip probability and compared with computer simulations. For the BWA, the asymptotic (high E/sub s//N/sub 0/) expression is accurate for moderate and large E/sub s//N/sub 0/, where the asymptotic expression is valid, the GWA yields a larger cycle slip probability than the BWA, although the exponential cycle slip behavior is the same for both averaging filters. For low E/sub s//N/sub 0/, the cycle slip probability is larger for the BWA than for the GWA. <<ETX>>
INTEGRASI TEKNOLOGI DIGITAL DALAM PEMBELAJARAN DI ERA INDUSTRI 4.0

The recent study intends to describe the roles and the principles of integrating digital technology in education at the 4th Industrial Era. The integrartion is studied from mathematics education perspective. It is concluded that the basic principle of integrating digital technology in mathematics education is that the technology does not diminish students’ conceptual understanding or replace students’ intuitions in doing mathematics. Conversely, the technology is utilized to boost students’ conceptual understanding and maximize the development of students’ intuition in doing mathematics. It is identified that there are three didactical functions of digital technology in mathematics education, such as: (1) Technology for doing mathematics, that is the technology is incorporated as alternative learning media in doing mathematical activities; (2) Technology for practicing skills, that is the technology is utilized as a learning environment to master particular mathematical skills; (3) Technology for developing conceptual understanding, that is the technology is integrated as a learning environment to develop students’ conceptual understanding of specific mathematical concepts. This last didactical function is the most expected of integrating digital technology in mathematics education.
BOLD fMRI effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in patients with chronic tinnitus

Objective Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a neuromodulation method used for treatment of epilepsy and depression. Transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) has been gaining popularity as a noninvasive alternative to VNS. Previous tVNS neuroimaging studies revealed brain (de)activation patterns that involved multiple areas implicated in tinnitus generation and perception. In this study, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to explore the effects of tVNS on brain activity in patients with tinnitus. Methods Thirty-six patients with chronic tinnitus received tVNS to the inner tragus, cymba conchae, and earlobe (sham stimulation). Results The locus coeruleus and nucleus of the solitary tract in the brainstem were activated in response to stimulation of both locations compared with the sham stimulation. The cochlear nuclei were also activated, which was not observed in healthy subjects with normal hearing. Multiple auditory and limbic structures, as well as other brain areas associated with generation and perception of tinnitus, were deactivated by tVNS, particularly the parahippocampal gyrus, which was recently speculated to cause tinnitus in hearing-impaired patients. Conclusions tVNS via the inner tragus or cymba conchae suppressed neural activity in the auditory, limbic, and other tinnitus-related non-auditory areas through auditory and vagal ascending pathways in tinnitus patients. The results from this study are discussed in the context of several existing models of tinnitus. They indicate that the mechanism of action of tVNS might be involved in multiple brain areas responsible for the generation of tinnitus, tinnitus-related emotional annoyance, and their mutual reinforcement.
Frequency of EGFR Mutation and EML4-ALK fusion gene in Arab Patients with Adenocarcinoma of the Lung

Abstract Introduction: Improvement in the clinical outcome of lung cancer is likely to be achieved by identification of the molecular events that underlie its pathogenesis. The frequency of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations is ethnicity-dependent, with a higher proportion in Asian populations than in whites, while the incidence of EML4-ALK (echinoderm microtubule-associated-protein like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase) fusion gene ranged from 1.6% to 16.4% in patients with NSCLC and these individuals were distinct from those harbouring mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of EGFR mutation and EML4-ALK fusion gene in our population and to determine the effect of different clinicopathological features on the expression of those mutations in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Results: EGFR mutations were detected in approximately 33% of our patients in this series; the most frequently detected mutation was exon 19 deletion. EML4-ALK fusion gene was detected in 7.3% of patients. Conclusion: Our population exhibited the incidence of EGFR mutation approximately similar to that reported in East Asia and Japanese patients, higher than that recorded in USA, and Australia. However, more studies with larger patients’ numbers are needed to verify this finding.
Classification of Nigerian Foods: A Review

The range of various tropical climates supports a wide variety of foods throughout the West African region, and indeed all of sub-Saharan Africa. The ability of people in this region to feed themselves depends to a large extent on the adequacy of moisture or water supply. Where the water supply can support plant growth, it is possible to raise as many as three crops a year. For example, in Nigeria, which is the most thickly populated country in this region, the driest northernmost regions are capable of supporting the cultivation of livestock and cereals, such as wheat, rice, maize, millet, and guinea-corn The wetter middle-belt regions support the cultivation of legumes and livestock, and the southern, typically tropical regions of the country support the cultivation of tree crops as well as tubers and roots but relatively little livestock production. Throughout Africa, food choices are restricted not only by climate but also by serious problems of communication, transportation, and storage. Within these limitations, the ultimate choice of food by the consumer is a very personal one. In a country like Nigeria, where the consumer’s knowledge of nutrition and food and the resources for making a wise choice of the latter are all rather limited, it is instructive to set out guidelines to aid consumers to make nutritionally advantageous choices. A number of guidelines have already been developed, among which are the recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) and the “basic four food groups” (BFFG). The object of this paper is to discuss the characteristics and purposes of some major food classification systems as they have developed historically and to develop a system that is appropriate to the socio-economic, geographic, and cultural conditions that obtain in sub-Saharan African countries. The RDAs, which represent nutritional standards for planning and assessing dietary intake, have been defined by the Food and Nutrition Board of the American National Research Council as the “level of intake of the essential nutrients considered to be adequate to meet the nutritional needs of practically all healthy persons” (6). The BFFG system, on the other hand, constitutes a food grouping or classification used to translate nutritional needs as established by the RDAs into practical guidelines for actual food intake (4). This food grouping is determined, first and foremost, by the nutrient content; the BFFG system reflects the availability of food, food patterns, and local nutritional problems (4, 23). Thus, the grouping together of foods with similar nutrient density and nutrient content makes it possible to choose from a wide variety of alternatives if certain seasonal foods become scarce or money is short (23).
Antipyretic and analgesic activities of aqueous extract of Acacia nilotica root

This study was designed to investigate the scientific basis for the use of Acacia nilotica root extract for treatment of fever and pain in traditional medical practice. Anti-Pyretic study was carried out using Brewerʼs yeast suspension to induce pyrexia. The hot plate, tail immersion and acetic acid-induced writhing tests were the nociceptive models used for analgesic study. Anti-pyretic and analgesic activity of the extract was compared with acetaminophen that was used as control drug. Five groups comprising five animals per group were used for each study. Group 1 was administered 10 ml/kg body weight of distilled water, Group 2 was administered 150 mg/kg body weight of acetaminophen while groups 3, 4 and 5 were administered 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of extract respectively as single oral dose. The extract produced significant dose-dependent reduction in rectal temperature of rats at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight. Significant analgesic activities were also observed in the hot plate, tail immersion and acetic acid induced writhing, after administration of 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w of extract which is comparable to the control drug, acetaminophen. The results from this study showed that aqueous extract of Acacia nilotica root at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight possess significant antipyretic and analgesic activities. This provides scientific support for its traditional medical use in the treatment of fever and pain. Keywords : Antipyrexia, Analgesia, Acacia nilotica, Brewerʼs yeast.
PARENTAL PERCEPTIONS OF THE RHODE ISLAND EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM

Childhood obesity in the United States has more than doubled over the last thirty years. As of 2012 in the United States, the percentage of obese children and adolescents ages 2 – 19 years remains alarmingly high at 16.9%. Childhood obesity is a major public health concern as obesity is associated with multiple health complications and increased mortality and morbidity. The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) targets low-income households and provides knowledge and skills to improve nutritional well-being. The goal of this project was to explore: 1) participant satisfaction with regards to the current Rhode Island Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (RI-EFNEP) curriculum, 2) the perceived cultural appropriateness of the curriculum , 3) parents’ perceptions of how certain obesity-related behaviors are discussed, and 4) participants’ current parenting practices related to raising healthy children. Sixty minute semi-structured interviews were conducted in local community centers throughout Rhode Island with participants (n=22) who had completed the RI-EFNEP program. A translator was present for individuals communicating in Spanish. Participants were 18 or older and had a young child between ages 2 – 8 years. All interviews were transcribed. Content analysis was utilized to analyze themes coded in Microsoft NVivo 10 QSR. Approximately 73% of participants identified as Hispanic/Latino and all participants were low-income. Results indicate that parents increased nutritional knowledge and reported changed behaviors (e.g. greater fruit and vegetable intake, whole grain intake). They stated that they had an excellent experience and felt respected and empowered. Additionally, they had suggestions for improving the curriculum (e.g. budgeting, label reading, media literacy, food demonstrations, parenting skills, portion control, and recipes). Participants reported that the paraprofessionals incorporated culture into the curriculum. Parents reported learning about obesity-related behaviors (e.g. sugarsweetened beverages, eating outside the home, and fast-food consumption). Parents utilized routines and strategies at home for raising healthy children, but did identify skills and ideas they thought would help them. These findings can be used to tailor the curriculum for parents to ensure discussion on all obesity-related behaviors and can incorporate parenting skills education to further enhance the health of their families. Since EFNEP reaches a high-risk population, prevention of overweight and obesity should be promoted among these parents.
A comparison of cervical smear adequacy using either the cytobrush or the Ayre spatula: a practice audit

Abstract Background To obtain an adequate cervical (Papanicolaou) smear, the transformation zone, including the squamo-columnar junction, should be sampled as carcinoma develops preferentially in this transformation zone. The Ayre spatula has been widely used but is not very effective. Other sampling devices have been developed to improve efficiency, including the cytobrush. The purpose of this study was to compare the adequacy of cervical smears taken with the Ayre spatula as opposed to the cytobrush. Methods This was a retrospective analytical study. One sampler, an experienced general practitioner, took the smears in the period 1990 to 2004. Initially, the Ayre spatula was used to consecutively sample the cervix and thereafter, a cytobrush alone was used. Two groups were thus formed for comparison. The presence of endocervical cells was accepted as an indicator of an adequate smear. A Cusco speculum was used to visualize the cervix. The sample was smeared onto a slide and fixated with an alcohol aerosol spray. Results A total of 4561 smears were taken and 247 had no endocervical cells. A further 34 smears were classified as unsatisfactory due to the presence of degeneration (19), insufficient squamous cells (7), inflammatory exudate (4), excess blood (3) and/or a thick slide (1). The cytobrush group was similar demographically to the Ayre spatula group: 1981 (99%) and 2490 (98%) respectively were non pregnant; 67 (3%) and 110 (4%) were nulliparous, 1008 (50%) and 1370 (54%) were para 1–5, and 931 (46%) and 1075 (42%) were para 6 or more; 0 (0%) and 2 (0.1%) were aged between 10–19 years, 1496 (75%) and 2012 (78%) between 20–49, and 510 (25%) and 541 (21%) were aged 50 years or more. Of 2006 smears taken with a cytobrush, 1955 (97.5%) contained endocervical cells compared with 2325 (91%) of 2555 smears taken with an Ayre spatula. The difference was significant with an Odds Ratio of 4.56 (95% Confidence Interval 3.42–6.42). Conclusion The cytobrush is significantly more efficacious than the Ayre spatula in obtaining adequate cervical smears. Use of the cytobrush will ensure less repeat smears with a consequent reduction in workload for samplers and laboratories. Although very few smears lacked sufficient squamous cells (an indicator of adequate ectocervical sampling), current best practice is that the cytobrush be used together with a wooden spatula to ensure adequate sampling of both the endocervical and ectocervical components of the transformation zone.
Association of vascular epiphytes with landscape units and phorophytes in humid lowland forests of Colombian Amazonia

Abstract: The species composition of vascular epiphytes and phorophytes (trees and lianas) was studied in ten 0.1-ha forest plots distributed over three landscape units (floodplains, swamps and well-drained uplands) in Colombian Amazonia. The aim was to analyse how host-preferences contributed to the patterns in epiphyte assemblages among the landscape units. In the plots 82 species (3310 plants) were holo-epiphytes, 11 species were primary hemi-epiphytes (179 plants) and 61 were secondary hemi-epiphytes (2337 plants). A total of 411 species of tree and liana were recorded as phorophytes. Detrended Correspondence Analysis and Mantel tests showed that the species composition of holo-epiphytes and secondary hemi-epiphytes differed among the landscape units. For both groups the effect of landscape unit on species composition strongly decreased after controlling for the phorophyte composition in the plots. The phorophyte composition significantly explained epiphyte composition and this effect was not removed after accounting for the effect of landscape unit. At the level of individual species, randomization tests yielded only few significant epiphyte–phorophyte associations. For 84% of the epiphyte species the average indicator of patchiness was below 1.5 demonstrating that most epiphyte individuals occurred scattered over different phorophytes. This probably hampered the analyses of host preferences for individual epiphyte species.
Targeting the arginine metabolic brake enhances immunotherapy for leukaemia

Therapeutic approaches which aim to target Acute Myeloid Leukaemia through enhancement of patients’ immune responses have demonstrated limited efficacy to date, despite encouraging preclinical data. Examination of AML patients treated with azacitidine (AZA) and vorinostat (VOR) in a Phase II trial, demonstrated an increase in the expression of Cancer‐Testis Antigens (MAGE, RAGE, LAGE, SSX2 and TRAG3) on blasts and that these can be recognised by circulating antigen‐specific T cells. Although the T cells have the potential to be activated by these unmasked antigens, the low arginine microenvironment created by AML blast Arginase II activity acts a metabolic brake leading to T cell exhaustion. T cells exhibit impaired proliferation, reduced IFN‐γ release and PD‐1 up‐regulation in response to antigen stimulation under low arginine conditions. Inhibition of arginine metabolism enhanced the proliferation and cytotoxicity of anti‐NY‐ESO T cells against AZA/VOR treated AML blasts, and can boost anti‐CD33 Chimeric Antigen Receptor‐T cell cytotoxicity. Therefore, measurement of plasma arginine concentrations in combination with therapeutic targeting of arginase activity in AML blasts could be a key adjunct to immunotherapy.
Defined astrocytic expression of human amyloid precursor protein in Tg2576 mouse brain

Transgenic Tg2576 mice expressing human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) with the Swedish mutation are among the most frequently used animal models to study the amyloid pathology related to Alzheimer's disease (AD). The transgene expression in this model is considered to be neuron‐specific. Using a novel hAPP‐specific antibody in combination with cell type‐specific markers for double immunofluorescent labelings and laser scanning microscopy, we here report that—in addition to neurons throughout the brain—astrocytes in the corpus callosum and to a lesser extent in neocortex express hAPP. This astrocytic hAPP expression is already detectable in young Tg2576 mice before the onset of amyloid pathology and still present in aged Tg2576 mice with robust amyloid pathology in neocortex, hippocampus, and corpus callosum. Surprisingly, hAPP immunoreactivity in cortex is restricted to resting astrocytes distant from amyloid plaques but absent from reactive astrocytes in close proximity to amyloid plaques. In contrast, neither microglial cells nor oligodendrocytes of young or aged Tg2576 mice display hAPP labeling. The astrocytic expression of hAPP is substantiated by the analyses of hAPP mRNA and protein expression in primary cultures derived from Tg2576 offspring. We conclude that astrocytes, in particular in corpus callosum, may contribute to amyloid pathology in Tg2576 mice and thus mimic this aspect of AD pathology.