Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quercetin Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers-based Gel for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Formulation, Characterization and in vivo Evaluation

Present research work describes the development of potential topical treatment containing nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Quercetin (QCT) is a renowned flavonol useful as model drug for carriers. QCT loaded NLCs were prepared and evaluated for particle size distribution, polydispersity index, zeta potential analysis, in vitro drug release study. Ex vivo study was carried out to evaluate the effect of NLCs on cell proliferation (HIG-82 cell line) and inflammation (TNF-α induction in RAW264.7 cells). The QCT-NLCs showed mean particle size of 155.6 ± 1.8 nm and polydispersity index (PDI) was 0.236 ± 0.4, entrapment efficiency of 95.63 ± 0.14 % and zeta potential of -27 ± 1.2 mV. For the ease of application, NLCs were incorporated into the gel base and final formulation was evaluated for rheological study, texture profile, drug release and antiarthritic activity. QCTNLC gel showed pseudo plastic flow behavior with excellent texture profile parameters. In vitro drug release studies showed that, QCT-NLC gel has more prominent permeation profile as compared with QCT-loaded gel. In vivo activity was carried out using Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritic model. Evaluation of the severity of rheumatoid arthritis was done by measurements of hind paw volume, arthritis score and haematological parameters such as rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and hemoglobin (Hb). Edema and erythema were not observed after administration of QCT-NLCgel on the rat skin. In conclusion, the results of in vitro and ex vivo studies, QCTNLC gel appears a viable formulation system for topical delivery of QCT in the treatment of RA.
Model Uncertainty and Term Premia on Nominal Bonds †

This paper studies how model uncertainty with respect to monetary policy affects the term premium on nominal bond yields. The model uses a multiple-prior continuous-time economy. The ambiguity averse agent faces model uncertainty (Knightian uncertainty) with respect to monetary policy. Our term structure model shows that ambiguity affects the risk factor sensitivity (factor loadings) of the bond yields. Further, we decompose the term premium into its risk contribution and its ambiguity contribution. In the empirical section we take U.S. government bond data and estimate our structural bond model. The resulting model implied term premium on the ten year bond varies between 9.6 and 450.9 basis points. We apply the proposed decomposition for the term premium and find that the expected risk contribution to the term premium fluctuates in a tent shape manner over the business cycle, taking values between 21.2 and 275.7 basis points. The expected ambiguity contribution to the term premium is fluctuating around zero basis points with a sample average of 0.9 basis points. Although its sample average is close to zero it varies between -152 to 403.7 basis points over the business cycle. The time-periods of highest fluctuations in the ambiguity compensation are the periods of the late 1970’s to early 1980’s, and the early 2000’s, both periods of high monetary policy uncertainty. The empirical analysis further suggests that the overall positive slope of the yield curve is due to the pure risk compensation of investors, whereas the strong and volatile fluctuations of the term premium over time are mainly based upon agents’ model uncertainty with respect to monetary policy.
Ultra-Compact NLU: Neuronal Network Binarization as Regularization

This paper describes an approach for intent classiﬁcation and tagging on embedded devices, such as smart watches. We describe a technique to train neuronal networks where the ﬁnal neuronal network weights are binary. This enables memory bandwidth optimized inference and efﬁcient computation even on constrained/embedded platforms. The ﬂow of the approach is as follows: tf-idf word selection method reduces the number of overall weights. Bag-of-Words features are used with a feedforward and recurrent neuronal network for intent classiﬁcation and tagging, respectively. A novel double Gaussian based regularization term is used to train the network. Finally, the weights are almost clipped lossless to − 1 or 1 which results in a tiny binary neuronal network for intent classiﬁcation and tagging. Our technique is evaluated using a text corpus of transcribed and annotated voice queries. The test domain is ”lights control”. We compare the intent and tagging accuracy of the ultra-compact binary neuronal network with our baseline system. The novel approach yields comparable accuracy but reduces the model size by a factor of 16: from 160kB to 10kB.
ScienceDirect International Conference on Magnetic Materials and Applications , MagMA 2013 Effect of calcination temperature on La 0 . 7 Sr 0 . 3 MnO 3 nanoparticles synthesized with modified sol-gel route

We report a modified route to synthesize La0.7Sr0. 3MnO3 nanoparticle with oxalic acid as chelating agent and oleic acid as surfactant at different calcination temperatures. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using XRD, SEM, FTIR and VSM. XRD confirms the formation of phase pure perovskite structure with particle size of about 20 nm. SEM and HRSEM reveal a well refined structure with respect to calcination temperature. FTIR confirms the formation of perovskite with broad peak around 520 cm–1. Magnetic study reveals that these nanoparticle with irregular structure exhibit ferromagnetic nature with different value of magnetization except for 500 °C, which shows paramagnetic nature. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati.
Mixed Robust / Average Submodular Partitioning : Fast Algorithms , Guarantees , and Applications to Parallel Machine Learning and Multi-Label Image Segmentation

We study two mixed robust/average-case submodular partitioning problems that we collectively call Submodular Partitioning. These problems generalize both purely robust instances of the problem (namely max-min submodular fair allocation (SFA) Golovin (2005) and min-max submodular load balancing (SLB) Svitkina and Fleischer (2008)) and also generalize average-case instances (that is the submodular welfare problem (SWP) Vondrák (2008) and submodular multiway partition (SMP) Chekuri and Ene (2011a)). While the robust versions have been studied in the theory community Goemans et al. (2009); Golovin (2005); Khot and Ponnuswami (2007); Svitkina and Fleischer (2008); Vondrák (2008), existing work has focused on tight approximation guarantees, and the resultant algorithms are not, in general, scalable to very large real-world applications. This is in contrast to the average case, where most of the algorithms are scalable. In the present paper, we bridge this gap, by proposing several new algorithms (including those based on greedy, majorization-minimization, minorization-maximization, and relaxation algorithms) that not only scale to large sizes but that also achieve theoretical approximation guarantees close to the state-of-the-art, and in some cases achieve new tight bounds. We also provide new scalable algorithms that apply to additive combinations of the robust and average-case extreme objectives. We show that these problems have many applications in machine learning (ML). This includes: 1) data 1 ar X iv :1 51 0. 08 86 5v 2 [ cs . D S] 1 6 A ug 2 01 6 Wei, Iyer, Wang, Bai, Bilmes partitioning and load balancing for distributed machine algorithms on parallel machines; 2) data clustering; and 3) multi-label image segmentation with (only) Boolean submodular functions via pixel partitioning. We empirically demonstrate the efficacy of our algorithms on real-world problems involving data partitioning for distributed optimization of standard machine learning objectives (including both convex and deep neural network objectives), and also on purely unsupervised (i.e., no supervised or semi-supervised learning, and no interactive segmentation) image segmentation.
T 2 Mapping issues of the knee articular cartilage at 3 Tesla *

Background: Early identification of Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) is important to improve clinical decision making. MRI T2 mapping sequences were used to detect biochemical changes which happen in early stage of OA. This study was aims to compare the mean T2 relaxation time values, Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast between spin echo family sequences used in the evaluation of the knee articular cartilage. Materials and Methods: Thirty one subjects underwent a femoral-tibial articular knee cartilage exam at 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). We compared mean T2 Values, SNR and contrast between Single Echo Spin Echo (SESE), Multi Echo Spin Echo (MESE) and Fast Spin Echo (FSE) sequences. Results: The results showed a T2 average values equal to 46.6 ± 15.6% for the SEME, 40.5 ± 13.3% for SESE and 42.9± 13.8% for FSE. The SESE had the best fitting factor with R 2 min = 0.999 followed by the FSE with R 2 min = 0.995 and MESE with R 2 min = 0.962. Regarding SNR, MESE and FSE showed higher SNR in most regions compared to the SESE. MESE gave the best cartilage and bone contrast followed by the FSE and SESE. The comparison of the reference SESE sequence with other sequences using the Pearson test showed significant difference in most regions (p <0.05). Conclusions: We conclude there is a variation of mean T2 values, fitting, contrast and signal to noise ratio between sequences. Difference between sequences types and parameters lead to variation of T2 relaxation time. Care must be taken when performing T2 mapping and interpreting results.
Economic growth regimes in Brazil : empirical evidence and policy implications

this article investigates the growth regime prevailing in the Brazilian economy from 2001 to 2009 by presenting a theoretical model that underpins the empirical research concerning the Brazilian economy. the results show that, internally, the growth regime of the Brazilian economy is wage-led, but when considering the external sector it can be characterized as profit-led. this has important implications for a conventional analysis of the effects of a depreciation of the exchange rate on domestic production. More specifically, depreciation in the exchange rate tends to have expansionary effects on domestic production. KEywords: Growth regimes, Brazilian economy, Exchange rate policy. Eliane Araújo is an assistant-professor at the state University of Maringá (UEM) and has a Phd in Economics from the Federal University of rio de Janeiro (UFrJ). @ – elianedearaujo@yahoo.com. br Paulo Gala is a professor at the school of Economics of são Paulo (FGV/EEsP). @ – pgala@uol.com br received on 7 May 2012 and accepted on 21 June 2012.
A single center experience of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios ( NRL ) in determining the prognosis of nasopharyngeal cancer

Purpose: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NRL) is an immunological parameter which indicates inflammatory response, as well as anti-tumor immunity and solid tumor recurrence. The most significant results of the NLR ratio related prognostic state of the patients were found in colorectal, and renal cancers. Our study will investigate whether this ratio could be a useful marker of progression free survival and prognosis in nasopharyngeal cancer patients (NPC). Materials and Methods: The study including 133 patients with valid samples diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were evaluated retrospectively. We included only the patients diagnosed pathologically with non-metastatic, locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma who were treated with induction chemotheraphy. Blood parameters and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios (NLR) were taken into account for interpretation. Results: The results indicated that the mean neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was 2.78, showing high variance within the cohort. (0.5-30.5 confidence interval). Among this group, the distribution of the patients falling into each percentile of the NLR (which are <2.1, 2.12.77, 2.77-3.85 and >3.86 was found to be as follows: 24.8%, 25.6%, 24.8% and 24.8%.). PFS and OS rates were not istatistically significiant in each percentile of the NLR (p:0.86 and p:0.54). Conclusion: According to literature NLR was found not only an independent prognostic factor, also a predictor of response to chemoradiotherapy. Opposite to this, in our study NLR seems not to be a parameter to predict progression free survival and prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
A G protein – coupled , IP 3 / protein kinase C pathway controlling the synthesis of phosphaturic hormone FGF 23

Dysregulated actions of bone-derived phosphaturic hormone fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) result in several inherited diseases, such as X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), and contribute substantially to the mortality in kidney failure. Mechanisms governing FGF23 production are poorly defined. We herein found that ablation of the Gq/11a–like, extralarge Ga subunit (XLas), a product of GNAS, exhibits FGF23 deficiency and hyperphosphatemia in early postnatal mice (XLKO). FGF23 elevation in response to parathyroid hormone, a stimulator of FGF23 production via cAMP, was intact in XLKO mice, while skeletal levels of protein kinase C isoforms a and d (PKCa and PKCd) were diminished. XLas ablation in osteocyte-like Ocy454 cells suppressed the levels of FGF23 mRNA, inositol 1,4,5trisphosphate (IP3), and PKCa/PKCd proteins. PKC activation in vivo via injecting phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or by constitutively active Gqa-Q209L in osteocytes and osteoblasts promoted FGF23 production. Molecular studies showed that the PKC activation–induced FGF23 elevation was dependent on MAPK signaling. The baseline PKC activity was elevated in bones of Hyp mice, a model of XLH. XLas ablation significantly, but modestly, reduced serum FGF23 and elevated serum phosphate in Hyp mice. These findings reveal a potentially hitherto-unknown mechanism of FGF23 synthesis involving a G protein–coupled IP3/PKC pathway, which may be targeted to fine-tune FGF23 levels. Research Article Endocrinology Nephrology
The Role of Internal Marketing in Job Satisfaction of Employees in the National Bank of Egypt

1Abstract The concept of `internal marketing' has received considerable coverage in the literature, but even its most ardent supporters have noted problems in translating the concept into reality. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of internal marketing on job satisfaction of the employees of the National Bank of Egypt. The independent variables are internal marketing factors which are represented by training and development, organizational support, incentives and motivation, and retention policy. The dependent variable is represented by job satisfaction. A structured questionnaire has been developed and was distributed to a sample of 300 bankers representing all the employees in the National bank of Egypt A total of 119 Employees have responded and returned the completed questionnaire. This study used the multiple regression analysis to show the impact of internal marketing on job satisfaction. The research findings showed that internal marketing (training and development, organizational support, incentives and motivation, and retention policy) had a positive effect on the National bank of Egypt employees' job satisfaction. This research will make a positive contribution in the direction of internal marketing factors and its impact on bankers' job satisfaction in Egypt
Education and Rural-urban Migration : The Role of Zhaosheng in China

Because of hukou registration system, people in China lost the freedom of migration. This paper focuses on one of the formal channels to migrate to cities: zhaosheng. To better capture the reality, we also consider the migration of rural workers, or nongmingong, to cities. A general equilibrium model with endogenous education migration decision is employed. The framework is calibrated to data from China and then counterfactual experiments are conducted. In particular, the abolishment of government job assignment for college graduates in 1994 is examined in this paper. We nd that if rural-urban migration is completely debarred, urban output would be 15.89 percent lower than that in the benchmark model and total output would be 7.75 percent lower during 1981-2007. We also nd a complementarity between college graduates and nongmingong in production and migration via zhaosheng contributes to more of the increase in total output. Our counterfactual experiments indicate that (1) If the policy of government job assignment had been continued, total output would only increase by 0.72 percent during 1995-2007; (2) If China had adopted a more relaxing policy on rural migrant workers, total output would increase by 2.58 percent in 1981-2007; (3) If China had not loosened its control on rural migrant workers in the 1990s, total output would decrease by 1.51 percent in 1995-2007; (4) If the technology in urban production is improved by 5 percent, urban output would increase by 1.91 percent throughout 1981-2007. JEL Classi cation: O15, O53, R23, R28.
ON THE ORDER OF APPROXIMATION IN THE RANDOM CENTRAL LIMIT THEOREM FOR m-DEPENDENT RANDOM VARIABLES

Abstract: We consider a random number Nn of m-dependent random variables Xk with a common distribution and the partial sums SNn = ∑Nn j=1 Xj , where the random variableNn is independent of the sequence of random variables {Xk, k ≥ 1} for every n ≥ 1. Under certain conditions on the random variables Xk andNn, we obtain the limit distribution of the sequence SNn and the corresponding rate of convergence after suitable normalization.
Performance of feedlot Bunaji bulls supplemented varying levels of an agricultural industrial by-products based diet .

A 90 day growth performance study was carried out to evaluate the effect of feeding varying levels of an agricultural industrial byproducts based diet on performance of feedlot Bunaji bulls. A total of six bulls, aged two years and weighing 118 kg on the average were allotted to three treatments (T1, T2 and T3) and fed the experimental diet at one, two and three percent of body weight daily while forages of elephant grass and water were fed ad libitum. The experimental diet was formulated using palm kernel cake, brewers dried grain, maize offal bone ash and table salt. Results obtained at the end of the study for supplement intake, forage intake, total feed intake, daily water intake and feed conversion ratio for T1,T2 and T3 were: 1.36, 1.48 and 2.62 kg; 17.15, 17.02 and 16.81 kg; 18.51, 18.51 and 19.43 kg; 0.83, 0.90 and 1.06 kg; 10.63, 11.17 and 11.16 kg, and 22.30, 20.11 and 18.33 respectively. There were significant differences (P<0.01) in the daily body weight gain, daily supplement intake, water intake and feed conversion ratio while the daily forage intake and total feed intake showed no significant differences (P>0.01). It was concluded that feeding the supplemental diet at the varying levels enhanced performance of the feedlot Bunaji bulls.
Field trial evaluation of povidone iodine as an effective disinfectant for different stages of returning spawners salmon

Reaching with the fertilized gametes to the production stage is a critical process for the success of aquaculture and restoration of wild fish programs worldwide. Iodophors are routinely used to disinfect both broodstocks and fertilized eggs to control vertical as well as horizontal transmission of fish pathogens. During three successive spawning cycles, the specific fish pathogens Aeromonas salmonicida and Renibacterium salmoninarum associated with typical clinical picture have been isolated from examined salmon before gamete collection. The prevalence approximately reached 51% and 79% for A. salmonicida and R. salmoninarum respectively. On the other hand, the R. salmoninarum was isolated from the collected eggs of the broadstocks used for spawning in the above mentioned cycles. Average prevalence of infection in tested eggs was 15%. At the pre-rinsing cycles, the bacterial load was determined as 1.2 × 10 and 0.6 × 10 CFU/plate for A. salmonicida and R. salmoninarum in spawners respectively. On the level of fertilized eggs, the load was determined as 0.2 × 103 CFU/plate and 0.1 × 103 for A. salmonicida and R. salmoninarum respectively. In the following spawning cycle, the efficacy of povidone iodine as surface disinfectant for returning spawners and fertilized eggs of Chinook salmon were tested. Concentrations of 60 mg/L povidone iodine for 30 minutes as initial dose followed by a maintenance dose of 70 mg/L for 10 minutes were applied as rinsing solutions for ♂ and ♀ Chinook salmon spawners. Eggs were shell-hardened in 80 mg /L povidone iodine for 30 minutes. Isolation trials from equal number of post rinsing spawner Chinook salmon and fertilized eggs indicated a sharp decline in bacterial colonies number per plate for spawners and eggs. The achieved post-rinsing results are highly indicative for the efficacy of povidone iodine as efficient disinfectant for both fish and eggs. Ultimately, the current study will ensure the production of fish populations with less bacterial load and consequent potent health status. [Life Science Journal. 2007; 4(3): 87 – 93 ] (ISSN: 1097 – 8135).
L2 Speech Rhythm and Language Experience in New Immigrants

This study is a longitudinal investigation of second language (L2) speech rhythm in Cantonese-firstlanguage (L1) immigrants. Seven Hong Kong students were recorded five times throughout a twoyear period while they were living abroad in Englishspeaking countries. The speech rhythm of the read utterances in these recordings was then measured using several durational variability metrics. In addition, the participants were surveyed on their use of L1 and L2 speech during their time abroad. The results suggest that significant increases in durational variability and speech rate occurred during the first year abroad. Additionally, there seems to be inverse correlation between the use of L1 Cantonese and rhythmic changes in the expected direction. These findings were further supported by ratings of accentedness, comprehensibility and intelligibility of their speech production by a group of native English speakers.
Statistical properites of quantum dots

In this seminar we will first present how quantum dots are manufactured and how their properties are measured. Their statistical properties can be described by random matrix theory, which deals with distributions and correlations of random matrix eigenvalues. Energy levels of closed quantum dots are studied. Most of the experiments are done on open dots, studying transport properties. We will check how random matrix theory describes conductance distribution, universal conductance fluctuations and weak localization.
A discourse Perspective on Evaluation 1

This paper explores issues and implications of evaluation considered from a discourse perspective. Five topics are discussed: questions, description, authority, criteria, and positioning. In each case, issues are identified that tend to be overlooked, ignored, or not visible from an evaluationas-methods perspective. The paper concludes with an appeal for increased openness and diversity in our understandings and practices of evaluation.