Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Particle swarm optimization with mutation operator

Aiming at the shortcoming of basic PSO algorithm, that is, easily plunging into the local minimum, we propose an advanced PSO algorithm with mutation operator. By adding the mutation operator to the algorithm, the advanced algorithm can not only escape from the local minimum's basin of attraction of the later phase, but also maintain the characteristic of fast speed in the early convergence phase. By the contrast experiments of three multimodal test functions and an example whose problem space is non-convex set, it has been proved that the advanced PSO algorithm can improve the global convergence ability, greatly enhance the rate of convergence and overcome the shortcoming of basic PSO algorithm.
Effects of gesture+verbal treatment for noun and verb retrieval in aphasia

Links between verbs and gesture knowledge suggest that verb retrieval may be particularly amenable to gesture+verbal training (GVT) in aphasia compared to noun retrieval. This study examines effects of GVT for noun and verb retrieval in nine individuals with aphasia subsequent to left hemisphere stroke. Participants presented an array of noun and verb retrieval deficits, including impairments of semantic and/or phonologic processing. In a single-participant experimental design, we investigated effects of GVT for noun and verb retrieval in two counterbalanced treatment phases. Effects were evaluated in spoken naming and gesture production to pictured objects and actions. Spoken naming improvements associated with large effect sizes were noted for trained nouns (5/9) and verbs (5/9); no improvements were evident for untrained words. Gesture production improved for trained nouns (8/9) and verbs (6/9), and for untrained nouns (2/9) and verbs (2/9). No significant differences were evident between nouns and verbs in spoken naming or gesture production. Improvements were evident across individuals with varied sources of word retrieval impairments. GVT has the potential to improve communication by increasing spoken word retrieval of trained nouns and verbs and by promoting use of gesture as a means to communicate when word retrieval fails. (JINS, 2006, 12, 867–882.)
Bending induced electrical response variations in ultra-thin flexible chips and device modeling

Electronics that conform to 3D surfaces are attracting wider attention from both academia and industry. The research in the field has, thus far, focused primarily on showcasing the efficacy of various materials and fabrication methods for electronic/sensing devices on flexible substrates. As the device response changes are bound to change with stresses induced by bending, the next step will be to develop the capacity to predict the response of flexible systems under various bending conditions. This paper comprehensively reviews the effects of bending on the response of devices on ultra-thin chips in terms of variations in electrical parameters such as mobility, threshold voltage, and device performance (static and dynamic). The discussion also includes variations in the device response due to crystal orientation, applied mechanics, band structure, and fabrication processes. Further, strategies for compensating or minimizing these bending-induced variations have been presented. Following the in-depth analysis, this paper proposes new mathematical relations to simulate and predict the device response under various bending conditions. These mathematical relations have also been used to develop new compact models that have been verified by comparing simulation results with the experimental values reported in the recent literature. These advances will enable next generation computer-aided-design tools to meet the future design needs in flexible electronics.
Interleukin‐18 Has Antipermeablity and Antiangiogenic Activities in the Eye: Reciprocal Suppression With VEGF

Interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) is increased along with IL‐1β by activation of the inflammasome and has been implicated in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, but its role in the eye is uncertain. In patients with macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion, intraocular IL‐18 levels increased significantly (P < 0.001) after treatment with ranibizumab particularly in patients with high baseline IL‐18 which correlated with good visual outcome (P < 0.05). In mice with ischemic retinopathy, suppression of VEGF caused an increase in IL18 mRNA due to an increase in IL‐18‐positive myeloid cells. VEGF significantly and specifically inhibited IL‐18 production by myeloid cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (P < 0.001). Intraocular injection of IL‐18 reduced VEGF‐induced leakage and neovascularization, and reversed VEGF‐induced suppression of Claudin5 expression and Claudin 5 labeling of vascular tight junctions. Injection of IL‐18 also increased expression of Thrombospondin 1 and reduced ischemia‐induced retinal neovascularization relevant to diabetic retinopathy and subretinal neovascularization relevant to neovascular age‐related macular degeneration. Thus, VEGF and IL‐18 suppress each other's production and effects on the vasculature suggesting that IL‐18 may provide benefit in multiple retinal/choroidal vascular diseases. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 974–983, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Maturation of the auditory system in clinically normal puppies as reflected by the brain stem auditory-evoked potential wave V latency-intensity curve and rarefaction-condensation differential potentials.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate auditory maturation in puppies. ANIMALS Ten clinically normal Beagle puppies. PROCEDURE Puppies were examined repeatedly from days 11 to 36 after birth (8 measurements). Click-evoked brain stem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEP) were obtained in response to rarefaction and condensation click stimuli from 90 dB normal hearing level to wave V threshold, using steps of 10 dB. Responses were added, providing an equivalent to alternate polarity clicks, and subtracted, providing the rarefaction-condensation differential potential (RCDP). Steps of 5 dB were used to determine thresholds of RCDP and wave V. Slope of the low-intensity segment of the wave V latency-intensity curve was calculated. The intensity range at which RCDP could not be recorded (ie, pre-RCDP range) was calculated by subtracting the threshold of wave V from threshold of RCDP RESULTS: Slope of the wave V latency-intensity curve low-intensity segment evolved with age, changing from (mean +/- SD) -90.8 +/- 41.6 to -27.8 +/- 4.1 micros/dB. Similar results were obtained from days 23 through 36. The pre-RCDP range diminished as puppies became older, decreasing from 40.0 +/- 7.5 to 20.5 +/- 6.4 dB. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Changes in slope of the latency-intensity curve with age suggest enlargement of the audible range of frequencies toward high frequencies up to the third week after birth. Decrease in the pre-RCDP range may indicate an increase of the audible range of frequencies toward low frequencies. Age-related reference values will assist clinicians in detecting hearing loss in puppies.
Extranodal non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head and neck. A clinicopathologic study in the kyoto‐nara area of japan

The clinicopathologic features of 114 Japanese patients with extranodal non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head and neck region were analyzed. The median age was 60.5 years and the male:female ratio was 1.5:1. The most common site of involvement was Waldeyer's ring, followed by the oral cavity, thyroid gland, paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, and larynx. Seventy‐five percent of the patients were in Stage I or Stage II at admission. Histologically, diffuse lymphoma accounted for 94% and follicular lymphoma for 6% of cases. The histologic grade according to the Working Formulation System of the National Cancer Institute was low in 11%, intermediate in 75%, and high in 14% of cases. Immunohistochemical study showed that the majority of the cases were of B‐cell type and only 13 cases (11%) were of the T‐cell type. Peripheral T‐cell lymphomas (eight cases) mainly occurred in the nasopharynx and nasal cavity, whereas four of five thymic T‐cell lymphomas were found in the palatine tonsil. The over‐all 5‐year survival rate was 54%, and the factors affecting survival were sex, histologic grade, T/B phenotype, clinical stage, and the site of initial presentation. Five‐year survival with nasal cavity and Waldeyer's ring lymphoma was 24% and 46%, respectively. The poor prognosis of lymphomas at these sites might result from the predominance of T‐cell lymphoma, the paucity of low grade lymphoma, and the relatively high incidence of cases that were in an advanced stage at presentation. In Stage II, patients treated with combined therapy tended to have a better 5year survival rate than those treated with radiotherapy alone.
Sphingomyelin, glycosphingolipids and ceramide signalling in cells exposed to P‐fimbriated Escherichia coli

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli attach to epithelial cells through P fimbriae that bind Galα1‐4Galβ‐oligosaccharide sequences in cell surface glycosphingolipids. The binding of P‐fimbriated E. coli to uroepithelial cells causes the release of ceramide, activation of the ceramide signalling pathway and a cytokine response in the epithelial cells. The present study examined the molecular source of ceramide in human kidney A498 cells exposed to P‐fimbriated E. coli. Agonists such as TNF‐α and IL‐1β released ceramide from sphingomyelin by the activation of endogenous sphingomyelinases and hydrolysis of sphingomyelin, and triggered an IL‐6 response. P‐fimbriated E. coli caused a slight increase in endogenous sphingomyelinase activity, but there was no associated sphingomyelin hydrolysis. Instead, the concentration of galactose‐containing glycolipids decreased. We propose that P‐fimbriated E. coli differ from other activators of the ceramide pathway, in that release of ceramide is from receptor glycolipids and not from sphingomyelin. Receptor breakdown may be an efficient host defence strategy, as it reduces the concentration of cell surface receptors, releases soluble receptor analogues and activates an inflammatory response.
Dynamically Tunable Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in Graphene-Based Coupled Micro-ring Resonators

A dynamically tunable electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) system consisting of two coupled micro-ring resonators, one of which is embedded with a graphene layer, is proposed and numerically demonstrated. The effective refractive index of the graphene-based micro-ring resonator can be significantly tuned by varying the gate voltage applied on graphene, inducing significant modulation of the resonant wavelength of EIT transparency window over a wide spectral bandwidth. Typical tunability of the EIT resonance is approximately 1.62 nm/V around 1550 nm, which is much better than that based on a nanoelectromechanical EIT system. Such a configuration implies the possibility of constructing various optical devices toward realization of photon pulse trapping, optical modulation, and filtering on a chip.
White matter micro-structural changes in ART-naive and ART-treated children and adolescents infected with HIV in South Africa

Objective:To describe the effect of HIV on white matter integrity and neurocognitive function in children vertically infected with HIV, compared to a HIV-negative healthy control group. Design:Cross-sectional. Methods:We compared 75 HIV-infected children aged 6–16 years, including children on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and those who were ART-naive, with 30 controls on diffusion tensor imaging and a neuropsychological battery sensitive to fronto-striatal pathology. In a secondary analysis, we compared ‘slow progressor’ ART-naive children, children on ART without a diagnosis of encephalopathy and children on ART with HIV encephalopathy. Results:Compared to controls (n = 30), HIV-infected children (n = 75) displayed decreased fractional anisotropy and axial diffusion, and increased mean diffusivity and radial diffusion, indicating damaged neuronal microstructure. HIV-infected children performed poorly on the neuropsychological battery (P = <0.001). Within the HIV-infected group, children with HIV encephalopathy (n = 14) had poor white matter integrity when compared to ART-treated children without encephalopathy (n = 41), and there was significant myelin loss in ART-naive children (n = 20), compared with ART-treated children. ART-treated children had significant axonal damage in the corpus callosum (P = 0.009). Conclusion:Children infected with HIV, irrespective of treatment status, displayed significantly poorer white matter integrity and impaired cognition compared to HIV-negative controls. Our findings suggest that despite immune recovery in children on ART, they remain at risk for developing central nervous system disease, and that initiation of ART as early as possible may reduce the risk of developing white matter damage in ART-naive slow progressors.
Efficacy of vinblastine for treatment of canine mast cell tumors.

BACKGROUND The optimal dosage and clinical efficacy of vinblastine (VBL) for treatment of mast cell tumors (MCTs) in dogs has not been established. HYPOTHESIS Single-agent VBL has antitumor activity against MCTs in dogs. ANIMALS Fifty-one dogs with nonresectable grade II or III cutaneous MCTs. METHODS Prospective, open clinical trial. Dogs were systematically allocated (by hospital record number) to receive IV treatment with VBL at a dosage of 2.0 mg/m2 (weekly for 4 treatments then biweekly for 4 treatments; VBL 2.0) or treatment with VBL at a dosage of 3.5 mg/m2 (biweekly for 5 treatments; VBL 3.5). The primary outcome measure was reduction in tumor size. RESULTS Twenty-five dogs were allocated to the VBL 2.0 group and 26 were allocated to the VBL 3.5 group. In the VBL 2.0 group, 3 (12%) had a partial response (PR) for a median of 77 days (range, 48-229 days). Overall response rate in the VBL 3.5 group was 27%. One dog (4%) had a complete response for 63 days and 6 dogs (23%) had a PR for a median of 28 days (range, 28-78 days). Toxicoses were uncommon in the VBL 2.0 group. Twelve (46%) dogs in the VBL 3.5 group had < 500 neutrophils/microL 7 days after treatment; 2 dogs with neutropenia developed concurrent fevers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE VBL, when used as a single-agent, has activity against MCTs in dogs although the response rate is lower than those reported for VBL-containing combination protocols. Further, findings suggest VBL at a dosage of 3.5 mg/m2 should be considered for use in future phase II/III trials.
Combination conjugate vaccines

Increasingly, more diseases are becoming vaccine preventable, but maintaining community and provider acceptance demands that the number of injections does not increase. Combination conjugate vaccines represent an inevitable and important advance. This paper reviews the efficacy and safety of combination conjugate vaccines, including immunological mechanisms underlying interactions among vaccine epitopes, the role of immunological memory, and correlates of immunity. Specific attention is given to the experience with combination vaccines against each of Haemophilus influenzae type b, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis. The implications of these findings for different communities are discussed, key areas for further research identified and implications for post-licensure monitoring addressed.
Optimization of antinutritional factors from germinated wheat and mungbean by Response Surface Methodology

Cereals and legumes are commonly used as a source of protein and carbohydrates in the human diet in Bangladesh as well as in many other developing countries. Legumes and cereals are also contain antnutritional factors like phytic acid and tannins Phytic acid lowers the utilization of elements like calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron due to its ability to form insoluble salts with their ions. Germination of legume and cereals seeds is an effective processing treatment to reduce anti-nutritional factors and improve the nutritional quality by increasing the level of some amino acids, vitamins and minerals. In the present study was to optimize the effect germination temperature and time on concentration of phytic acid and tannin wheat and mungbean seed. The effect of germination temperature and time on phytic acid and tannin were analyzed by using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM), with a Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD). The germination wheat and mungbean seeds at 30-37oC for 48-72 hours resulted experimental values for phytic acid from 533-380 and tannin from 353-296 mg/100 g in wheat seed and 635-482 and 452-396 mg/100 g in mungbean seed phytic acid and tannin respectively. The optimal values input variables (time and temperature) 33.4oC and 60.6 h for phytic acid, 33.5oC and 60.3 h for tannin respectively. The minimum optimal values from multiple response optimizations were 379.9 and 481.9 mg/100 g phytic acid content for wheat and mungbean seeds, 295.7 and 395.8 tannin content for wheat and mungbean seeds respectively. It was concluded that germination of seeds significantly decreased phytic acid and tannin content in wheat and mungbean. All the derived mathematical models for the various responses were found to be fit significantly to predict the data.
β-Endorphin Production by the Fetal Leydig Cell: Regulation and Implications for Paracrine Control of Sertoli Cell Function*

Immunohistochemical evidence has indicated that β-endorphin (I8EP) is present in the Leydig cells of fetal, neonatal, and adult mice and hamsters. In vivo experiments suggest that hCG and/or testosterone may increase the synthesis and release of the peptide from the Leydig cell compartment. Since cultured fetal Leydig cells have considerable potential for long term studies and elucidation of trophic hormone actions in vitro, we evaluated βEP production in this system. Fetal Leydig cells were maintained in culture for 5 days in medium with 1 μg ovine LH added every third day in the presence or absence of inhibitors of cholesterol (aminoglutethimide) or pregnenolone metabolism (cyanoketone and spironolactone), or known regulators of βEP production [dexamethasone (DEX)]. Media were assayed for testosterone and βEP by RIA methods. 0EP accumulation over 3 and 5 days was markedly increased by inhibitors of steroid biosynthesis (1.5-fold) and reduced by DEX only after treatment for 5 days (by 50%). Acute hCG sti.
A Requirement of STAT 3 DNA Binding Precludes Th1 Immunostimulatory Gene Expression by NFk B in Tumors

Both STAT3 and NF-kB are persistently activated in diverse cancers and promote tumor cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, and metastasis through transcriptional activation of multiple common genes. Paradoxically, STAT3 also suppresses many NF-kB–inducible genes involved in innate and adaptive antitumor immunity in spite of elevated levels of NF-kB in tumors. In this study, we show that expression of many NF-kB downstream target genes in tumors depends on STAT3 DNA binding. When STAT3 is elevated in tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells, persistently activated NF-kB interacts with STAT3 and preferentially binds to genes with STAT3-binding site(s) in promoters. A large number of NF-kB downstream genes associated with oncogenesis and chronic inflammation contain STAT3 DNA-binding site(s). However, in contrast, many genes frequently associated with antitumor immunity lack STAT3 DNA-binding site(s) and can only be activated by NF-kB when STAT3 is inhibited in tumors. The introduction of STAT3 DNA-binding sequences by site-specific mutagenesis in an immunostimulatory gene promoter allows its transcriptional activation by NF-kB in tumor cells. Furthermore, STAT3 facilitates NF-kB binding to genes that are important for tumor growth while inhibiting its binding to Th-1 immunostimulatory genes in growing tumors, including in tumor-infiltrating immune cells. The results of this study provide insight into how some of the oncogenic/inflammatory and Th-1 immunostimulatory genes are differentially regulated in cancer. Cancer Res; 71(11); 1–9. 2011 AACR.
The Impact of Population Growth on Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction in Uganda

The paper examines the link between population and per capita economic growth, and poverty, using the interesting case study of Uganda. Although Uganda has recently experienced excellent economic growth and poverty reduction, it currently has one of the highest population growth rates in the world which, due to the inherent demographic momentum, will persist for some time to come. By combining both a macro and microeconometric approach, using panel data, we are able to consider the impact of population growth on per capita economic growth and poverty. We find both theoretical considerations and strong empirical evidence suggest that the currently high population growth puts a considerable break on per capita growth prospects in Uganda. Moreover, it contributes significantly to low achievement in poverty reduction and is associated with households being persistently poor and moving into poverty. This is therefore likely to make substantial improvements in poverty reduction, and per capita growth, very difficult.
Single Hyaluronate Injection in the Management of Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy in Comparison to Corticosteroid Injections and Non-invasive Conservative Treatments

The Achilles tendon is the strongest and thickest tendon in the body and plays an important role in the biomechanics of the lower extremity. It can withstand high forces during sporting exercises and excessive torsion and stretching. Achilles Tendinopathy (AT) has no pathophysiological theory and no clear understanding of the pathological process. Rest and specific exercises, NSAIDs, steroid injections and surgical treatments are currently used to treat AT. Not one of them has a dominant efficacy for any length of time. Lately, hyaluronate injections have increasingly been used for the treatment of different degenerative processes of joints and soft tissues. The authors reviewed 56 patients with insertional AT treated between 2007 and 2012. All patients were followed up for one year. Patients were divided into three groups: the first group treated by the corticosteroid injection, the second group treated by single hyaluronate injection and the third group treated by rest, splint, NSAIDs, and physiotherapy. Most patients that treated by a single hyaluronate injection showed good to excellent results for a long time in comparison with corticosteroids injections and the conservatively treated patients, according to FADI and VAS scores. In conclusion, it seems that hyaluronate injection
Diversification as a Corporate Strategy and Its Effect on Firm Performance: A Study of Zimbabwean Listed Conglomerates in the Food and Beverages Sector

Normal 0 false false false EN-ZW X-NONE X-NONE Portfolio diversification in capital markets is an accepted investment strategy. On the other hand corporate diversification has drawn many opponents especially the agency theorists who argue that executives must not diversify on behalf of share holders. Diversification is a strategic option used by many managers to improve their firm’s performance. While extensive literature investigates the diversification performance linkage, little agreements exist concerning the nature of this relationship. Both theoretical and empirical disagreements abound as the extensive research has neither reached a consensus nor any interpretable and acceptable findings. This paper looked at diversification as a corporate strategy and its effect on firm performance using Conglomerates in the Food and Beverages Sector listed on the ZSE. The study used a combination of primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected through interviews while secondary data were gathered from financial statements and management accounts. Data was analyzed using SPSS computer package. Three competing models were derived from literature (the linear model, Inverted U model and Intermediate model) and these were empirically assessed and tested.