Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A probabilistic framework for blood glucose control in diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease that frequently requires administration of insulin. The choice of the right amount of insulin is usually done by the patient, but both too large and too small amounts of insulin can have dire and even life threatening effects. Against this background, there is a constant trend in developing systems which help the patient or even completely take over the decision, as the artificial pancreas. Both manual and assisted therapy try to stabilize the blood glucose (BG) value around a given safe target, typically around 100 mg/dl. However, even these systems have to work on the basis of some imprecise information by the patient, in particular on the amount of carbohydrates in the meals. Much work has been done to improve this estimation and to provide better models of the insulin/glucose metabolism in spite of the natural intra-patient variation. Differently from that, this paper proposes a different framework, in which the unavoidable uncertainty is modeled in probabilistic terms and the control goal is defined not in terms of proximity to a specific BG target but as keeping the risk of leaving the euglycemic range under a given threshold. This is achieved by a Markov chain model based on BG regions. The degree of freedom gained by this problem relaxation can be used for other purposes, e.g. the minimization of total insulin intake, as shown in some in silico examples.
The IbeA Invasin of Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli Mediates Interaction with Intestinal Epithelia and Macrophages

ABSTRACT Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) pathogroup isolates are a group of isolates from the intestinal mucosa of Crohn's disease patients that can invade intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) or macrophages and survive and/or replicate within. We have identified the ibeA gene in the genome of AIEC strain NRG857c and report the contribution of IbeA to the interaction of AIEC with IECs and macrophages and colonization of the mouse intestine. An ibeA deletion mutant strain (NRG857cΔibeA) was constructed, and the in vitro effect on AIEC adhesion and invasion of nonpolarized and polarized Caco-2 cells, the adhesion and transcytosis of M-like cells, the intracellular survival in THP-1 macrophages, and the contribution to intestinal colonization of the CD-1 murine model of infection were evaluated. A significant reduction in invasion was observed with the ibeA mutant in Caco-2 and M-like cells, whereas adhesion was not affected. Complementation of the mutant reestablished Caco-2 invasive phenotype to wild-type levels. Reduction in invasion did not significantly affect transcytosis through M-like cells at early time points. The absence of ibeA significantly affected AIEC intramacrophage survival up to 24 h postinfection. No significant changes associated with IbeA were found in AIEC colonization across the murine gastrointestinal tract, but a slight reduction of gamma interferon was observed in the ceca of mice infected with the ibeA mutant. In addition, a decrease in the pathology scores was observed in the ilea and ceca of mice infected with the ibeA mutant. Our data support the function of IbeA in the AIEC invasion process, macrophage survival, and inflammatory response in the murine intestine.
Xbra3 induces mesoderm and neural tissue in Xenopus laevis.

Homologues of the murine Brachyury gene have been shown to be involved in mesoderm formation in several vertebrate species. In frogs, the Xenopus Brachyury homologue, Xbra, is required for normal formation of posterior mesoderm. We report the characterisation of a second Brachyury homologue from Xenopus, Xbra3, which has levels of identity with mouse Brachyury similar to those of Xbra. Xbra3 encodes a nuclear protein expressed in mesoderm in a temporal and spatial manner distinct from that observed for Xbra. Xbra3 expression is induced by mesoderm-inducing factors and overexpression of Xbra3 can induce mesoderm formation in animal caps. In contrast to Xbra, Xbra3 is also able to cause the formation of neural tissue in animal caps. Xbra3 overexpression induces both geminin and Xngnr-1, suggesting that Xbra3 can play a role in the earliest stages of neural induction. Xbra3 induces posterior nervous tissue by an FGF-dependent pathway; a complete switch to anterior neural tissue can be effected by the inhibition of FGF signalling. Neither noggin, chordin, follistatin, nor Xnr3 is induced by Xbra3 to an extent different from their induction by Xbra nor is BMP4 expression differentially affected.
Simulated head related transfer function of the phyllostomid bat Phyllostomus discolor.

UNLABELLED This paper presents a calculation of the head related transfer function (HRTF) for the frontal hemisphere of the phyllostomid bat Phyllostomus discolor using an acoustic field simulation tool based on the boundary element method. From the calculated HRTF results, binaural interaural intensity differences (IIDs) are derived. THE RESULTS Region of highest sensitivity, HRTF patterns, and IID patterns are shown to be in good agreement with earlier experimental measurements on other specimens of the same bat species, i.e., the differences are within the interspecies variability range. Next, it is argued that the proposed simulation method offers distinct advantages over acoustic measurements on real bat specimens. To illustrate this, it is shown how computer manipulation of the virtual morphology model allows a more detailed comprehension of bat spatial hearing by investigating the effects of different head parts on the HRTF. From this analysis it is concluded that for this species the pinna has a significantly larger effect on the HRTF and IID patterns than the head itself. This conclusion argues in favor of a series of recent simulation studies based on pinna morphology only [R. Muller, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 116, 3701-3712 (2004); Muller et al., ibid 119, 4083-4092 (2006)].
Examining the Link Between Religion and Corporate Governance: Insights From Nigeria

This article examines whether the degree of religiosity in an institutional environment can stimulate the emergence of a robust corporate governance system. This study utilizes the Nigerian business environment as its context and embraces a qualitative interpretivist research approach. This approach permitted the engagement of a qualitative content analysis (QCA) methodology to generate insights from interviewees. Findings from the study indicate that despite the high religiosity among Nigerians, religion has not stimulated the desired corporate governance system in Nigeria. The primary explanation for this outcome is the presence of rational ordering over religious preferences thus highlighting the fact that religion, as presently understood and practiced by stakeholders, is inconsistent with the principles underpinning good corporate governance.
A Lower Bound on Blocking Semiovals

A semioval in a projective plane ? is a set S of points such that for every pointP? S, there exists a unique line ? of ? such that? S= { P }. In other words, at every point of S, there exists a unique tangent line. A blocking set in ? is a set B of points such that every line of? contains at least one point of B, but is not entirely contained in B. Combining these notions, we obtain the concept of a blocking semioval, a set of points in a projective plane which is both a semioval and a blocking set. Batten indicated applications of such sets to cryptography, which motivates their study. In this paper, we give some lower bounds on the size of a blocking semioval, and discuss the sharpness of these bounds.
Clinical Response Rates From Interleukin-2 Therapy for Metastatic Melanoma Over 30 Years’ Experience: A Meta-Analysis of 3312 Patients

Interleukin-2 (IL-2), initially used in 1986, can induce clinical regression—complete responses (CR) and partial responses (PR) of metastatic malignant melanoma. IL-2 has been used alone or in combination, and in different dosage schedules, as an immunotherapeutic agent for melanoma treatment. This meta-analysis aimed to document and evaluate the spectrum of reported clinical response rates from the combined experience of almost 30 years of IL-2 clinical usage. Clinical trials using IL-2 for metastatic melanoma therapy that reported: dosage, combinations, study details, definitions and clinical CR, PR, and overall response (OR) rates were included. A meta-analysis was conducted using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. In total, 34 studies met inclusion criteria, with 41 separate treatment arms. For all IL-2 treatment modalities collectively, the CR rate was 4.0% [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.8–5.3], PR 12.5% (95% CI, 10.1–15.0), and OR 19.7% (95% CI, 15.9–23.5). CR pre-1994 was 2.7% versus 6.1% post-1994. High and intermediate-IL-2 dosage showed no CR difference, while low-dose IL-2 showed a nonstatistical trend toward an increased CR rate. The highest CR rate resulted from IL-2 combined with vaccine at 5.0%. The meta-analysis showed that IL-2 immunotherapy for advanced metastatic melanoma delivered a CR rate of 4% (range, 0–23%) across nearly 30 years of clinical studies, with gradual improvement over time. The significance is that, contrary to popular belief, the data demonstrated that CR rates were similar for intermediate versus high-IL-2 dosing.
A Spectroscopic Survey of Substituted Indoles Reveals Consequences of a Stabilized 1Lb Transition

Although tryptophan is a natural probe of protein structure, interpretation of its fluorescence emission spectrum is complicated by the presence of two electronic transitions, 1La and 1Lb. Theoretical calculations show that a point charge adjacent to either ring of the indole can shift the emission maximum. This study explores the effect of pyrrole and benzyl ring substitutions on the transitions' energy via absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, and anisotropy and lifetime measurements. The survey of indole derivatives shows that methyl substitutions on the pyrrole ring effect 1La and 1Lb energies in tandem, whereas benzyl ring substitutions with electrophilic groups lift the 1La/1Lb degeneracy. For 5‐ and 6‐hydroxyindole in cyclohexane, 1La and 1Lb transitions are resolved. This finding provides for 1La origin assignment in the absorption and excitation spectra for indole vapor. The 5‐ and 6‐hydroxyindole excitation spectra show that despite a blue‐shifted emission spectrum, both the 1La and 1Lb transitions contribute to emission. Fluorescence lifetimes of 10 ns for 5‐hydroxyindole are consistent with a charge acceptor‐induced increase in the nonradiative rate (1).
Effects of annealing temperature on current-voltage characteristics of TiO2 thin film by sol-gel process on silicon substrate for biosensor application

TiO2 thin film was deposited on a silicon dioxide substrate using a sol-gel method and the film was annealed at 300, 500 and 700°C. Aluminum interdigitated electrodes were fabricated on the deposited TiO2 thin film via simple lithography method. The influence of thermal annealing towards the morphological and electrical properties were studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that crystalline rutile structure growth at very low temperature whereas field emission electron microscopy (FESEM) exhibits nanoparticles with an average 21 mm in size. The current flows between the fabricated interdigitated electrodes were extremely small at -5 to 5 V applied which were decreased as the annealing temperature increases with average barrier height was 0.8 eV.
Water Processing by High Intensity Pulsed Electric Fields

In this paper, a cap-charger based pulse power supply capable of producing peak voltage of 40 kV at a repetition rate of 300 pps was used in a closed-loop continuous flow water-treatment system under different conditions. The effect of different pulse parameters (pulse width, treatment time and electric field), system parameters (liquid conductivity) and microorganisms' parameters (type, shape and size of microorganisms) on the killing efficiency of pulsed electric field (PEF) was investigated. The results show that the combination of both the pulse magnitude and width is crucial to improve the killing efficiency using PEF. Also, the medium conductivity can significantly reduce the pulse magnitude and width and hence negatively influence the capability of PEF to inactivate microorganisms.
Sex differences in the relationship between aggressiveness and the strength of handedness in humans

Cerebral lateralisation, the partitioning of cognitive functioning into one hemisphere of the brain, was once considered unique to humans; however, recent research in a variety of taxa suggests that lateralisation is an evolutionarily ancient adaptation. Handedness is the most obvious manifestation of cerebral lateralisation in humans. Much of the literature on handedness has focused on the direction, rather than the strength, of this lateralisation. From both genetic and evolutionary perspectives it may be more informative to study degrees of cerebral lateralisation rather than direction. Strong evidence suggests that the strength may be more closely associated with individual differences in behaviour in humans than the direction, and individual variation in the degree of lateralisation has been found to correlate with personality-like characteristics such as aggressiveness in fish. The association between different patterns of lateralisation and personality characteristics may help explain how variation in the strength of lateralisation is evolutionarily stable in natural populations. The present study investigated the relationship between aggression and strength of handedness in humans. We found a significant interaction between sex and lateralisation with respect to aggression. In males, trait aggression was significantly higher in strong-handers than in mixed-handers, while no difference was seen in females. This finding highlights the importance of considering sex as a factor when investigating relationships between cerebral lateralisation and personality characteristics. Potential causes and consequences of the sex interaction as well as future directions for research are discussed.
Prognostic Impact of Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Coexpression with VEGFR-3 and PDGF-B Predicts Poor Survival

Purpose: Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2; basic fibroblast growth factor, b-FGF) and its main receptor FGFR-1 are important in both hemangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Murine studies have indicated a close interplay between both FGF2 and platelet-derived growth factor–B (PDGF-B) as well as FGF2 and vascular endothelial growth factor-3 (VEGFR-3). This study investigates the prognostic impact of FGF2 and FGFR-1 in tumor cells and tumor stroma of resected non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) and explores the importance of their coexpression with VEGFR-3 or PDGF-B. Methods: Tumor tissue samples from 335 resected patients with stage I to IIIA NSCLC were obtained and tissue microarrays were constructed from duplicate cores of tumor cells and tumor-related stroma from each specimen. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression of the molecular markers FGF2, FGFR-1, VEGFR-3, and PDGF-B. Results: In univariate analyses, high tumor cell FGF2 expression (p = 0.015) was a negative prognostic indicator for disease-specific survival. In tumor stroma, high FGF2 (p = 0.024) expression correlated with good prognosis. In multivariate analyses, high expression of FGF2 in tumor cells (p = 0.038) was an independent negative prognostic factor whereas increased FGF2 in stroma (p = 0.015) was a positive prognosticator. Tumor cell coexpressions of FGF2/VEGFR-3 (p < 0.001) and FGFR-1/PDGF-B (p = 0.002) were significant indicators of poor prognosis. Conclusions: Expression of FGF2 in tumor cells is an independent negative prognostic factor, and the coexpressions of FGF2/VEGFR-3 and FGFR-1/PDGF-B are strongly associated with poor survival in NSCLC patients.
Tumor and Stem Cell Biology Dissecting the Oncogenic and Tumorigenic Potential of Differentiated Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Pluripotent stem cells, both human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), can give rise to multiple cell types and hence have tremendous potential for regenerative therapies. However, the tumorigenic potential of these cells remains a great concern, as reflected in the formation of teratomas by transplanted pluripotent cells. In clinical practice, most pluripotent cells will be differentiated into useful therapeutic cell types such as neuronal, cardiac, or endothelial cells prior to human transplantation, drastically reducing their tumorigenic potential. Our work investigated the extent to which these differentiated stem cell derivatives are truly devoid of oncogenic potential. In this study, we analyzed the gene expression patterns from three sets of hiPSCand hESC-derivatives and the corresponding primary cells, and compared their transcriptomes with those of five different types of cancer. Our analysis revealed a significant gene expression overlap of the hiPSCand hESC-derivatives with cancer, whereas the corresponding primary cells showed minimum overlap. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis of a set of cancer-related genes (selected on the basis of rigorous functional and pathway analyses) confirmed our results. Overall, our findings suggested that pluripotent stem cell derivatives may still bear oncogenic properties even after differentiation, and additional stringent functional assays to purify these cells should be done before they can be used for regenerative therapy. Cancer Res; 71(14); 1–10. 2011 AACR.
Engaging audiences: an analysis of social media usage in advertising

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The inspiration for this research emerged from the opportunity to live in New York City during the summer of 2009 and intern at a premier digital agency. I would like to thank my committee chair and boss, Dr. Lance Porter, who helped me realize this opportunity and nurture my research interests into a thesis project. His guidance and encouragement over the past two years have helped me in my attempts to decipher my future and achieve success. I would also like to express appreciation to my committee members: Dr. Anne Osborne for her insight into instrumentally combining my research into a seamless product and Dr. Felicia Song for her thorough contribution and dedication to this project. Finally, thanks to my parents who have always supported me in everything I do. ABSTRACT The growing usage of social media indicates a potentially effective new platform for advertisers. However, little academic research examines how advertisers use these platforms for marketing and communications. This study sought to provide an analysis of current commercial social media usage by conducting interviews at a digital creative agency and full-service agency, in addition to conducting a statewide online survey of advertising professionals. Results indicated that advertisers use social media differently than they do traditional forms of advertising media. In the current digital media environment, advertisers must provide value or an added benefit to the consumer to gain their attention. Furthermore, companies should view social media platforms as long-term investments and, in doing so, invest time and resources to developing and sustaining them. Finally, whether or not a brand chooses to participate in social media, every company should understand these networks and use them for their researching capabilities. The results of this study not only provide background on social media usage in advertising, but also provide valuable insight for current practitioners and help reduce the academician-practitioner gap. With advances in technology and the growth in digital media usage (Cheong and Morrison, 2008), advertisers are seeking new ways to reach consumers. Numerous studies indicate an increase in social network usage (Goldsborough, 2009). While teenagers were primarily the first users of social networks, a growing population of 25 to 34-year-olds and white-collar professionals now also use them (Kim, 2008). The growth of these demographics more generally demonstrates the growing applicability of social networks to everyday life. Cooke and Buckley (2008) predicted Web 2.0 and the Internet would be the …
Field effectiveness of combination antiretroviral prophylaxis for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission in rural Zambia

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of maternal combination antiretroviral prophylaxis for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) in a program setting. Design:Prospective cohort study. Setting:Nine primary care clinics in rural Zambia. Participants:Two hundred and eighty-four HIV-infected pregnant women at at least 28 weeks gestation initiating PMTCT services between April 2009 and January 2011 and their newborn infants. Intervention:In four ‘intervention’ sites, PMTCT comprised universal combination antiretroviral prophylaxis (i.e. irrespective of CD4 cell count) from pregnancy until the cessation of breastfeeding. In five ‘control’ sites, women received antenatal zidovudine and peripartum nevirapine, the standard of care at the time. Prophylaxis during breastfeeding was not available in control sites. Main outcome measure:Cumulative infant HIV infection and death at 12 months postpartum. Results:At 12 month postpartum, one of 104 (1.0%) infants born to mothers at the intervention sites were HIV-infected, compared with 14 of 116 (12.1%) receiving care in the control sites [relative risk (RR): 12.6, 95% CI: 2.2–73.1; P = 0.005]. When we considered the composite outcome of HIV infection or death, similar trends were observed in the overall study population (RR: 3.4, 95% CI: 1.6–7.6; P = 0.002) and in a sub-analysis of women with CD4 cell count more than 350 cells/&mgr;l (RR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.1–9.6; P = 0.04). Conclusion:When compared with PMTCT services based on antenatal zidovudine and peripartum nevirapine, the provision of maternal combination prophylaxis imparted measurable health benefits to HIV-exposed infants. Implementation research is needed to further tailor and optimize these strategies for similar field settings.