Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Architectural requirements as basis to quality of software engineering environments

In the last years, a proliferation of tools and software engineering environments (SEEs) can be noticed, impacting positively in software production. Although the reuse is focus of research in software development, tools and SEEs have been sometimes individually build, without attention in reusing development efforts. Besides that, the architectures of these tools and environments, as well as the establishment of reference architectures, have not been broadly investigated. This fact can make difficult integrating and evolving these environments. Thus, this paper aims at presenting a set of architectural requirements of SEEs. These requirements were the basis to establishment of a reference architecture of SEEs. Partial results have showed the viability of this architecture providing basis to incremental development of evolvable SEEs.
Weight Rich-Club Analysis in the White Matter Network of Late-Life Depression with Memory Deficits

Patients with late-life depression (LLD) have a higher incident of developing dementia, especially individuals with memory deficits. However, little is known about the white matter characteristics of LLD with memory deficits (LLD-MD) in the human connectome, especially for the rich-club coefficient, which is an indicator that describes the organization pattern of hub in the network. To address this question, diffusion tensor imaging of 69 participants [15 LLD-MD patients; 24 patients with LLD with intact memory (LLD-IM); and 30 healthy controls (HC)] was applied to construct a brain network for each individual. A full-scale battery of neuropsychological tests were used for grouping, and evaluating executive function, processing speed and memory. Rich-club analysis and global network properties were utilized to describe the topological features in each group. Network-based statistics (NBS) were calculated to identify the impaired subnetwork in the LLD-MD group relative to that in the LLD-IM group. We found that compared with HC participants, patients with LLD (LLD-MD and LLD-IM) had relatively impaired rich-club organizations and rich-club connectivity. In addition, LLD-MD group exhibited lower feeder and local connective average strength than LLD-IM group. Furthermore, global network properties, such as the shortest path length, connective strength, efficiency and fault tolerant efficiency, were significantly decreased in the LLD-MD group relative to those in the LLD-IM and HC groups. According to NBS analysis, a subnetwork, including right cognitive control network (CCN) and corticostriatal circuits, were disrupted in LLD-MD patients. In conclusion, the disease effects of LLD were prevalent in rich-club organization. Feeder and local connections, especially in the subnetwork including right CCN and corticostriatal circuits, were further impaired in those with memory deficits. Global network properties were disrupted in LLD-MD patients relative to those in LLD-IM patients.
Modulation of neutrophil motility by curcumin: Implications for inflammatory bowel disease

Background: Neutrophils (PMN) are the first cells recruited at the site of inflammation. They play a key role in the innate immune response by recognizing, ingesting, and eliminating pathogens and participate in the orientation of the adaptive immune responses. However, in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) transepithelial neutrophil migration leads to an impaired epithelial barrier function, perpetuation of inflammation, and tissue destruction via oxidative and proteolytic damage. Curcumin (diferulolylmethane) displays a protective role in mouse models of IBD and in human ulcerative colitis, a phenomenon consistently accompanied by a reduced mucosal neutrophil infiltration. Methods: We investigated the effect of curcumin on mouse and human neutrophil polarization and motility in vitro and in vivo. Results: Curcumin attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated expression and secretion of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)‐2, interleukin (IL)‐1β, keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC), and MIP‐1α in colonic epithelial cells (CECs) and in macrophages. Curcumin significantly inhibited PMN chemotaxis against MIP‐2, KC, or against conditioned media from LPS‐treated macrophages or CEC, a well as the IL‐8‐mediated chemotaxis of human neutrophils. At nontoxic concentrations, curcumin inhibited random neutrophil migration, suggesting a direct effect on neutrophil chemokinesis. Curcumin‐mediated inhibition of PMN motility could be attributed to a downregulation of PI3K activity, AKT phosphorylation, and F‐actin polymerization at the leading edge. The inhibitory effect of curcumin on neutrophil motility was further demonstrated in vivo in a model of aseptic peritonitis. Conclusions: Our results indicate that curcumin interferes with colonic inflammation partly through inhibition of the chemokine expression and through direct inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis and chemokinesis. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011
Dynamic hierarchy specification and visualization

This paper describes concepts that underlie the design and implementation of an information exploration system that allows users to impose arbitrary hierarchical organizations on their data. Such hierarchies allow a user to embed important semantic information into the hierarchy definition. Our goal is to recognize the significance of this implicit information and to utilize it in the hierarchy visualization. The innovative features of our system include the dynamic modification of the hierarchy definitions and the definition and implementation of a set of layout algorithms that utilize semantic information implicit in the tree construction.
GABA‐mediated Ca2+ signalling in developing rat cerebellar Purkinje neurones

1 Cellular responses to GABAA receptor activation were studied in developing cerebellar Purkinje neurones (PNs) in brain slices obtained from 2‐ to 22‐day‐old rats. Two‐photon fluorescence imaging of fura‐2‐loaded cells and perforated‐patch recordings were used to monitor intracellular Ca2+ transients and to estimate the reversal potential of GABA‐induced currents, respectively. 2 During the 1st postnatal week, focal application of GABA or the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol evoked transient increases in [Ca2+]i in immature PNs. These Ca2+ transients were reversibly abolished by the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline and by Ni2+, a blocker of voltage‐activated Ca2+ channels. 3 Perforated‐patch recordings were used to measure the reversal potential of GABA‐evoked currents (EGABA) at different stages of development. It was found that EGABA was about −44 mV at postnatal day 3 (P3), it shifted to gradually more negative values during the 1st week and finally equilibrated at −87 mV at around the end of the 2nd postnatal week. This transition was well described by a sigmoidal function. The largest change in EGABA was −7 mV day−1, which occurred at around P6. 4 The transition in GABA‐mediated signalling occurs during a period in which striking changes in PN morphology and synaptic connectivity are known to take place. Since such changes were shown to be Ca2+ dependent, we propose that GABA‐evoked Ca2+ signalling is one of the critical determinants for the normal development of cerebellar PNs.
Epoetin requirements predict mortality in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND Anemia is a frequent complication of end-stage renal disease. Poor responsiveness to epoetin therapy hampers the management of anemia. Escalating epoetin doses often are used to overcome epoetin resistance. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between epoetin dose requirements and mortality. METHODS Using United States Renal Data System administrative claims data, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of 94,569 prevalent hemodialysis patients in 2000 and 2001. A Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, adjusted for baseline variables, and a 5-knot cubic regression spline were used to model the dose-response relationship between epoetin and all-cause mortality. RESULTS Significant interpatient variation exists in epoetin dose requirements to attain defined hematocrit levels. For every hematocrit cohort studied, patients administered higher doses of epoetin had significantly lower hematocrit values and greater mortality rates. Using the cubic spline function, a significant nonlinear relationship between increased epoetin dose and mortality was found regardless of hematocrit (P < 0.0001), with the steepest increase in relative risk for death found after the 72.5th dose percentile. CONCLUSION Epoetin dose requirement is an independent predictor of total mortality in hemodialysis patients after adjustment for hematocrit. Poor responders who continue to have low hematocrit values despite the administration of high epoetin doses may not necessarily benefit from more epoetin, but perhaps should be considered for other adjunctive therapies. In contrast to conventional wisdom, this study suggests that epoetin dosing requirements could provide important prognostic information beyond that predicted by hematocrit alone.
Concurrent Temozolomide and Radiation, a Reasonable Option for Elderly Patients With Glioblastoma Multiforme?

Objectives:There is no accepted standard of care for patients over age 70 with glioblastoma (GBM). We began this study to describe our results and toxicities in the over 70 population treated with concurrent temozolomide and radiation for GBM, and to describe our outcomes treating elderly patients with GBM regardless of therapy. Methods:We reviewed the records of all patients aged 70 or older who were diagnosed with glioblastoma since 2002 at the University of North Carolina to determine age at diagnosis, performance status, neurologic status, recursive partitioning analysis class, treatment received, and toxicity. Median survival was calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the Log-rank test. Results:Thirty-one patients were identified with a median age of 76 years and a median survival of 20.6 weeks. Thirteen patients received best supportive care, 4 patients were treated with radiation alone, and 14 with radiation and concurrent temozolomide. The median survival for each group was 8.4, 28.2, and 50.5 weeks, respectively. Grade 1/2 toxicity was seen in 20% of patients, whereas only 1 patient had grade 3 toxicity. Neurologic status (P = 0.0028), performance status (P = 0.0096), and recursive partitioning analysis class (P = 0.0033) retained their prognostic significance. Conclusions:Concomitant daily temozolomide and radiation followed by adjuvant temozolomide is a tolerable and reasonable treatment option and has a good performance status for elderly patients diagnosed with glioblastoma.
Electronic state characterization of SiOx thin films prepared by evaporation

SiOx thin films with different stoichiometries from SiO1.3 to SiO1.8 have been prepared by evaporation of silicon monoxide in vacuum or under well-controlled partial pressures of oxygen (P<10−6Torr). These thin films have been characterized by x-ray photoemission and x-ray-absorption spectroscopies, this latter at the Si K and L2,3 absorption edges. It has been found that the films prepared in vacuum consists of a mixture of Si3+ and Si+ species that progressively convert into Si4+ as the partial pressure of oxygen during preparation increases. From this spectroscopic analysis, information has been gained about the energy distribution of both the full and empty states of, respectively, the valence and conduction bands of SiOx as a function of the O∕Si ratio. The characterization of these films by reflection electron energy-loss spectroscopy (REELS) has provided further evidences about their electronic structure (band gap and electronic states) as a function of the oxygen content. The determination of the .
A Physiological and Subjective Evaluation of Meditation, Hypnosis, and Relaxation

&NA; Ss were monitored for respiratory rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, skin resistance, EEG activity, and muscle activity. They were monitored during the alert state, meditation (TM or simple word type), hypnosis (relaxation and task types), and relaxation. Ss gave a verbal comparative evaluation of each state. The results showed significantly better relaxation responses for the relaxation states (relaxation, relaxation‐hypnosis, meditation) than for the alert state. There were no significant differences between the relaxation states except for the measure “muscle activity” in which meditation was significantly better than the other relaxation states. Overall, there were significant differences between task‐hypnosis and relaxation‐hypnosis. No significant differences were found between TM and simple word meditation. For the subjective measures, relaxation‐hypnosis and meditation were significantly better than relaxation, but no significant differences were found between meditation and relaxation‐hypnosis.
Amyloid-β Peptide Oligomers Disrupt Axonal Transport through an NMDA Receptor-Dependent Mechanism That Is Mediated by Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β in Primary Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Disruption of axonal transport is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Even though defective transport is considered an early pathologic event, the mechanisms by which neurodegenerative insults impact transport are poorly understood. We show that soluble oligomers of the amyloid-β peptide (AβOs), increasingly recognized as the proximal neurotoxins in AD pathology, induce disruption of organelle transport in primary hippocampal neurons in culture. Live imaging of fluorescent protein-tagged organelles revealed a marked decrease in axonal trafficking of dense-core vesicles and mitochondria in the presence of 0.5 μm AβOs. NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonists, including d-AP5, MK-801, and memantine, prevented the disruption of trafficking, thereby identifying signals for AβO action at the cell membrane. Significantly, both pharmacological inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and transfection of neurons with a kinase-dead form of GSK-3β prevented the transport defect. Finally, we demonstrate by biochemical and immunocytochemical means that AβOs do not affect microtubule stability, indicating that disruption of transport involves a more subtle mechanism than microtubule destabilization, likely the dysregulation of intracellular signaling cascades. Results demonstrate that AβOs negatively impact axonal transport by a mechanism that is initiated by NMDARs and mediated by GSK-3β and establish a new connection between toxic Aβ oligomers and AD pathology.
On the available diversity gain from different dual-polarized antennas

Dual-polarized antennas are traditionally characterized in terms of port-to-port isolation and co- and cross-polar radiation patterns. For base station antennas in a mobile communications system, the critical parameter is instead the far-field coupling between the two channels. In a mobile communication system, base station antennas with a nominal /spl plusmn/45/spl deg/ to vertical linear polarization are commonly used. Such antennas are difficult to design with constant polarization characteristics in azimuth. We calculate the antenna output power correlation and diversity gain under Rayleigh fading conditions and different values of the environment cross-polar discrimination. Two different antennas are compared: a dual-polarized aperture coupled patch and a slanted dipole configuration, both over an infinite groundplane. We show that the aperture coupled patch provides lower output correlation and higher diversity gain than the slanted dipoles in all investigated cases.
Medullary sources of projections to the kinesthetic thalamus in raccoons: External and basal cuneate nuclei and cell groups x and z

In raccoons and other mammals, a pathway for kinesthetic sensation (from muscles, fascia, tendons, and joints) reaches the anterodorsal cap of the ventrobasal thalamus and the anteriormost part of the somatic sensory cerebral cortex. To find the medullary component of this kinesthetic pathway in raccoons, small injections of horseradish peroxidase were made in the thalamus under guidance of simultaneous electrophysiological recording from kinesthetic projections. As determined by retrograde labeling following these injections, kinesthetic thalamic subregions receive projections as follows: caudomedial from cells in the external cuneate nucleus and its medial tongue, rostromedial from cells in basal cuneate nucleus, and rostrolateral from cells in cell group z and the reticular division of cell group x. Electro‐physiological recording showed kinesthetic representations in each of these medullary regions. Labeled cells were also observed in the infratrigeminal subnucleus of the lateral reticular nucleus. Cats have kinesthetic projections to the thalamus from the basal cuneate and cell group z; raccoons (and monkeys) have these plus projections from the external cuneate and cell group x. This suggests that the kinesthetic projection system in raccoons and monkeys is expanded in correlation with their more dextrous use of the hand.
Effects of marital status on survival of hepatocellular carcinoma by race/ethnicity and gender

Purpose It is well demonstrated that being married is associated with a better prognosis in multiple types of cancer. However, whether the protective effect of marital status varied across race/ethnicity and gender in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the roles of race/ethnicity and gender in this relationship. Patients and methods We identified eligible patients from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database during 2004–2012. Overall and cancer-specific survival differences across marital status were compared by Kaplan–Meier curves. We also estimated crude hazard ratios (CHRs) and adjusted hazard ratios (AHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for marital status associated with survival by race/ethnicity and gender in Cox proportional hazard models. Results A total of 12,168 eligible patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma were included. We observed that married status was an independent protective prognostic factor for overall and cancer-specific survival. In stratified analyses by race/ethnicity, the AHR of overall mortality (unmarried vs married) was highest for Hispanic (AHR =1.25, 95% CI, 1.13–1.39; P<0.001) and lowest for Asian or Pacific Islander (AHR =1.13; 95% CI, 1.00–1.28; P=0.042). Stratified by gender, the AHR was higher in males (AHR =1.27; 95% CI, 1.20–1.33; P<0.001). Conclusion: We demonstrated that married patients obtained better survival advantages. Race/ethnicity and gender could influence the magnitude of associations between marital status and risk of mortality.
Adenosine 3´:5´-cyclic monophosphate in relation to motility and senescence of spermatozoa

Spermatozoa of the ram, bull, boar, stallion and cock contain 37 to 177 pmol cyclic AMP/109 cells. Slow cooling of spermatozoa followed by storage causes only a minor decrease but cold shock leads to a rapid and nearly total loss of cyclic AMP, some of which passes into the external medium. Fructose prevents the loss of cyclic AMP in anaerobically incubated spermatozoa. Motility and synthesis of cyclic AMP are abolished by fluoride, but both are restored after removal of fluoride by washing. Determinations of cyclic AMP represent a sensitive indicator of the onset of senescence changes in spermatozoa.
THE IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES IN EGYPTIAN MANUFACTURING FIRMS : AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

A manufacturing company, whether in developed or less developed countries, that operates within today’s dynamic and hostile environment (i.e., globalization) is vulnerable. The different functional areas within a company need to be mobilized to confront the threat. Production and operations management, as one of the very fundamental functions within a factory, is required to answer an important question: how do firms keep pace? Identification of global factors critical to the anticipated changes in production/operations activities represents the critical concern for the manufacturers. The study proposes that anticipated changes in production/operations activities can be explained by the following global factors: uncertainty, marketing and technology. The propositions were empirically tested by using Logit analysis regression. A mail questionnaire was used to collect data from Egyptian manufacturing firms. This study has provided important insights into the impact of globalization on the anticipated changes in production/operations activities in Egypt as a developing country. Implications for practitioners and directions for further research are provided.
Adenosine Receptors and Wound Healing

Recent studies have demonstrated that application of topical adenosine A2A receptor agonists promotes more rapid wound closure and clinical studies are currently underway to determine the utility of topical A2A adenosine receptor agonists in the therapy of diabetic foot ulcers. The effects of adenosine A2A receptors on the cells and tissues of healing wounds have only recently been explored. We review here the known effects of adenosine A2A receptor occupancy on the cells involved in wound healing.
Palatability in sheep and in vitro nutritional value of dried and ensiled sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), and chicory (Cichorium intybus)

Abstract Three temperate forages, sainfoin, birdsfoot trefoil, and chicory, characterized by elevated contents of plant secondary compounds, were compared to a ryegrass-clover mixture (control) in dried (Experiment 1) and ensiled form (Experiment 2) in their palatability and nutritional value. Palatability was measured in adult wethers (n = 6) allowed to choose between the familiar control forage and one of the three test plants. Palatability index was calculated from differences in intake of control and test plants measured after given times. Generally at first contact, palatability of the unfamiliar plants was low. Lag time until palatability index approached or exceeded a value of 100 was 2 – 5 d, but could not be related to the content of condensed tannins. Sainfoin had a high palatability, the highest content of condensed tannins (77.4 ± 10.23 g/kg DM), a high content of duodenally utilisable crude protein (94.7 ± 16.87 g/100 g CP), and a high content of metabolizable energy (9.5 ± 0.38 MJ ME/kg DM), making this plant most promising for various purposes including anthelmintic action.
Neuromuscular transmission in arterioles of guinea‐pig submucosa.

1. Intracellular recordings were made from arterioles lying in the submucosa of guinea‐pig small intestine. 2. Low frequency perivascular nerve stimulation evoked subthreshold excitatory junction potentials which facilitated. 3. Higher frequency stimulation caused summation of excitatory junction potentials and the initiation of muscle action potentials. 4. Arteriolar constriction was only observed following the initiation of a muscle action potential.
In-situ TEM tensile test of 90nm-thick 〈110〉 SCS beam using MEMS chip

In-situ tensile testing in TEM (transmission electron microscopy) is a useful tool for studying mechanical properties of nano-structures because it can provide quantitative information on sample deformation at atomic scale. This paper reports an in-situ tensile testing on a 90 nm-thick <110> SCS nanobeam in TEM JOEL 2010 by using a self-made TEM holder and an MEMS tensile-testing chip. A suspended SCS nanobeam, a comb drive actuator, a force sensor beam, and an electron beam window were integrated into the chip, which is fabricated by means of Si bulk micromachining and wafer bonding techniques. The in-situ tensile tests on the 90 nm-thick SCS nanobeam demonstrated its strain-stress relationship, and indicated that the Youngpsilas modulus as 167 Gpa, which doesnpsilat present obvious size effect.