Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Active Networks that Maximize the Amount of Information Transmission

This work clarifies the relationship between network circuit (topology) and behavior (information transmission and synchronization) in active networks, e.g. neural networks. As an application, we show how to determine a network topology that is optimal for information transmission. By optimal, we mean that the network is able to transmit a large amount of information, it possesses a large number of communication channels, and it is robust under large variations of the network coupling configuration. This theoretical approach is general and does not depend on the particular dynamic of the elements forming the network, since the network topology can be determined by finding a Laplacian matrix (the matrix that describes the connections and the coupling strengths among the elements) whose eigenvalues satisfy some special conditions. To illustrate our ideas and theoretical approaches, we use neural networks of electrically connected chaotic Hindmarsh–Rose neurons.
How effective is albedo modification (solar radiation management geoengineering) in preventing sea-level rise from the Greenland Ice Sheet?

Albedo modification (AM) is sometimes characterized as a potential means of avoiding climate threshold responses, including large-scale ice sheet mass loss. Previous work has investigated the effects of AM on total sea-level rise over the present century, as well as AM’s ability to reduce long-term (≫103 yr) contributions to sea-level rise from the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS). These studies have broken new ground, but neglect important feedbacks in the GIS system, or are silent on AM’s effectiveness over the short time scales that may be most relevant for decision-making (<103 yr). Here, we assess AM’s ability to reduce GIS sea-level contributions over decades to centuries, using a simplified ice sheet model. We drive this model using a business-as-usual base temperature forcing scenario, as well as scenarios that reflect AM-induced temperature stabilization or temperature drawdown. Our model results suggest that (i) AM produces substantial near-term reductions in the rate of GIS-driven sea-level rise. However, (ii) sea-level rise contributions from the GIS continue after AM begins. These continued sea level rise contributions persist for decades to centuries after temperature stabilization and temperature drawdown begin, unless AM begins in the next few decades. Moreover, (iii) any regrowth of the GIS is delayed by decades or centuries after temperature drawdown begins, and is slow compared to pre-AM rates of mass loss. Combined with recent work that suggests AM would not prevent mass loss from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, our results provide a nuanced picture of AM’s possible effects on future sea-level rise.
Emerging MEK inhibitors

Importance of the field: The Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway is often activated by genetic alterations in upstream signaling molecules. Integral components of this pathway such as Ras and B-Raf are also activated by mutation. The Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway has profound effects on proliferative, apoptotic and differentiation pathways. This pathway can often be effectively silenced by MEK inhibitors. Areas covered by this review: This review will discuss targeting of MEK which could lead to novel methods to control abnormal proliferation which arises in cancer and other proliferative diseases. This review will cover the scientific literature from 1980 to present and is a follow on from a review which focused on Emerging Raf Inhibitors published in this same review series. What the reader will gain: By reading this review the reader will understand the important roles that genetics play in the response of patients to MEK inhibitors, the potential of combining MEK inhibitors with other types of therapy, the prevention of cellular aging and the development of cancer stem cells. Take home message: Targeting MEK has been shown to be effective in suppressing many important pathways involved in cell growth and the prevention of apoptosis. MEK inhibitors have many potential therapeutic uses in the suppression of cancer, proliferative diseases and aging.
Combination chemotherapy with carmustine and cisplatin followed by procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine for adult high-grade astrocytoma.

BACKGROUND We have reported that carmustine (BCNU) and cisplatin administered before, during, and after radiotherapy did not improve the survival of patients with high-grade astrocytomas and were associated with more serious toxicities than radiotherapy plus BCNU. In an attempt to improve survival, we studied a combination regimen procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (PCV) after radiotherapy in addition to BCNU and cisplatin during radiotherapy. METHODS From 1994 through 1998, 42 patients were enrolled in the study. Of these, 20 had glioblastoma multiforme and 22 had anaplastic astrocytoma. The patients had a median age of 48.5 years. All patients had subtotal or total resection, or biopsy as the initial procedure. Then, all patients were treated with BCNU and cisplatin concurrently during radiotherapy followed by PCV after radiotherapy. RESULTS The median time to follow up for survivors was 13.8 months (range, 1.7-108.2 months). The median time to tumor progression was 7.2 months (range, 0-88.7 months) and median survival time was 13.3 months (range, 1.7-88.7 months). The only factor that had a conventionally significant effect on the overall survival was resectability. Patients who had received subtotal/total resection had a longer median survival compared with patients who had received biopsy only (18.0 vs. 9.5 months). This combined modality treatment program was associated with reversible grade 3 to 4 hematological toxicity in 10 patients, with grade 3 ototoxicity in one patient and grade 2 neurotoxicity in one patient. CONCLUSION A combination of BCNU and cisplatin with cranial irradiation followed by PCV was moderately toxic and appeared to offer no obvious survival advantages compared with radiotherapy plus BCNU and cisplatin alone.
Modified Clotting Properties of Fibrinogen in the Presence of Acetylsalicylic Acid in a Purified System

Abstract: To assess how treatment with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) alters the fibrin network structure, clotting was initiated in purified fibrinogen incubated with ASA by adding thrombin. Clotting time and maximum absorbance of the fibrin aggregation curve were used to demonstrate the potential of fibrin generation. The results showed that the clotting properties of fibrinogen decreased and that the affinity of plasminogen to fibrin or thrombin inhibition by antithrombin increased if plasminogen or antithrombin, respectively, were present in the reaction system. The effect of ASA varied in a dose dependent manner. It was concluded that ASA may directly or indirectly confer positive or negative effects on the stability of the fibrin clot and that the balance between these effects may be regulated by the ASA dose.
Folic Acid Effects on S-Adenosylmethionine, S-Adenosylhomocysteine, and DNA Methylation in Patients with Intermediate Hyperhomocysteinemia

Objective: Folic acid (FA) supplementation decreases homocysteine (tHcy) levels. However, little is known about the effects of FA treatment on DNA methylation or plasma S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) concentrations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of FA supplementation on AdoMet, AdoHcy, and genomic DNA methylation in hyperhomocysteinemic subjects without end-stage renal disease. Methods: To evaluate the effects of 5 mg FA/d for 8 weeks, we recruited 7 hyperhomocysteinemic MTHFR677TT patients (tHcy >30 μmol/L) with normal renal function. Results: FA supplementation induced a decrease in tHcy (from 51.1 ± 21 at baseline to 26.1 ± 27 μmol/L after folate supplementation; p < 0.01). A parallel increase was seen in plasma AdoMet concentrations and the AdoMet/AdoHcy ratio (p < 0.05). However, FA supplementation had no effect on global DNA methylation levels in the present study. Conclusions: Supraphysiologic FA supplementation can modulate biochemical markers in one-carbon metabolism such as tHcy, AdoMet, and the AdoMet/AdoHcy ratio in hyperhomocysteinemic subjects. However, the reduction in homocysteinemia and the increased availability of methyl compounds provided by vitamin supplementation may not be sufficient to affect genomic DNA methylation.
Calcium Sulfoaluminate, Geopolymeric, and Cementitious Mortars for Structural Applications

This paper deals with the study of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) and geopolymeric (GEO) binders as alternatives to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) for the production of more environmentally-friendly construction materials. For this reason, three types of mortar with the same mechanical strength class (R3 ≥ 25 MPa, according to EN 1504-3) were tested and compared; they were based on CSA cement, an alkaline activated coal fly ash, and OPC. Firstly, binder pastes were prepared and their hydration was studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential thermal-thermogravimetric (DT-TG) analyses. Afterwards, mortars were compared in terms of workability, dynamic modulus of elasticity, adhesion to red clay bricks, free and restrained drying shrinkage, water vapor permeability, capillary water absorption, and resistance to sulfate attack. DT-TG and XRD analyses evidenced the main reactive phases of the investigated binders involved in the hydration reactions. Moreover, the sulfoaluminate mortar showed the smallest free shrinkage and the highest restrained shrinkage, mainly due to its high dynamic modulus of elasticity. The pore size distribution of geopolymeric mortar was responsible for the lowest capillary water absorption at short times and for the highest permeability to water vapor and the greatest resistance to sulfate attack.
Glioblastoma Microenvironment: From an Inviolable Defense to a Therapeutic Chance

Glioblastoma is an aggressive tumor and is associated with a dismal prognosis. The availability of few active treatments as well as the inexorable recurrence after surgery are important hallmarks of the disease. The biological behavior of glioblastoma tumor cells reveals a very complex pattern of genomic alterations and is partially responsible for the clinical aggressiveness of this tumor. It has been observed that glioblastoma cells can recruit, manipulate and use other cells including neurons, glial cells, immune cells, and endothelial/stromal cells. The final result of this process is a very tangled net of interactions promoting glioblastoma growth and progression. Nonetheless, recent data are suggesting that the microenvironment can also be a niche in which glioblastoma cells can differentiate into glial cells losing their tumoral phenotype. Here we summarize the known interactions between micro-environment and glioblastoma cells highlighting possible therapeutic implications.
Schumpeterian Banks: Credit Reallocation and Capital Structure

Capital reallocation from unprofitable to profitable firms is a key source of productivity gain in an innovative economy. We present a model of credit reallocation and focus on the role of banks: Weakly capitalized banks hesitate to write off non-performing loans to avoid a violation of regulatory requirements or even insolvency. Such behavior blocks credit reallocation to expanding industries and results in a distorted investment process and low aggregate productivity. Reducing the cost of bank equity, tightening capital requirements, and improving insolvency laws relaxes constraints and mitigates distortions.
Chemical composition, nutritional value and in vitro starch digestibility of roasted chickpeas.

BACKGROUND Chickpea is considered a wholesome and nutritious food due to its nutritional properties and glycemic response. Such properties can be influenced by the thermal treatment used to cook this legume and produce a snack named leblebi. From the consumers' point of view, it is desirable to improve texture and palatability of the chickpea by the processing steps used to make leblebi. However, consumers are increasingly concerned with the nutritional value of snack foods. RESULTS Nutritional components and digestibility properties of single and double heat-treated chickpea, single and double roasted leblebi and white leblebi were studied. High sodium, starch damage and soluble dietary fiber content were observed in white leblebi; while the other samples showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher insoluble dietary fiber content. Heat treatment and processing significantly (P < 0.05) altered the viscosity and starch properties of the samples. High resistant starch content (28.28% to 30.20%) and low estimated glycemic index (38.67 to 41.28) in heat-treated chickpeas and roasted leblebi were observed. CONCLUSION The results indicate that heat-treated chickpea and roasted leblebi have good nutritional quality and low glycemic response. White leblebi had relatively high sodium content and glycemic response. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
Recommended for you: The Netflix Prize and the production of algorithmic culture

How does algorithmic information processing affect the meaning of the word culture, and, by extension, cultural practice? We address this question by focusing on the Netflix Prize (2006–2009), a contest offering US$1m to the first individual or team to boost the accuracy of the company’s existing movie recommendation system by 10%. Although billed as a technical challenge intended for engineers, we argue that the Netflix Prize was equally an effort to reinterpret the meaning of culture in ways that overlapped with, but also diverged in important respects from, the three dominant senses of the term assayed by Raymond Williams. Thus, this essay explores the conceptual and semantic work required to render algorithmic information processing systems legible as forms of cultural decision making. It also then represents an effort to add depth and dimension to the concept of “algorithmic culture. ”
Wider neck circumference is related to severe asthma in children

Obesity is an established risk factor for asthma in children. Measures of central obesity are reported to be more associated with the severity of asthma in adults. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between fat distribution, which is determined by anthropometric measures including neck circumference (NC) and asthma severity in children.
The Rules and Regulationsof the Customer Orientation in Higher Education: Case Study

Background and Objectives: The rules and regulations related to educational and research services, especially those offered through universities and higher education institutions, are considered to be the most important service areas in each community that should be evaluated in the course of their final customers. This study was aimed to assess the status of customer-orientation from students‟ point of view through a case study of Sari Paramedical Faculty. Method: This study used a descriptive-survey methodology. The statistical population consisted of students of Sari Paramedical Faculty in the academic year of 2016-2017, from whom a sample of 217 students was selected using stratified random sampling method. The tool for gathering data was a customer-oriented questionnaire in higher education with 34 items whose reliability coefficient was obtained using Cronbach's alpha formula (0.82). The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by the experts. Data were analyzed in two levels of descriptive (frequency, percentage, and mean) and inferential (binomial test, normality test, ANOVA, Leven test). Findings: According to the results, the customer-orientation rules and structure in higher education, which includes feelings, reliability, content, attitude, and method of transfer, has been at a desirable level. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed between students' viewpoints by their field of study. Conclusion: Competition in the educational services system, especially higher education rules and regulations, has led to the improvement and strengthening of the customer-oriented regulations process at the Paramedical Medical Faculty.
The Effect of ADR & GDR Listing on Shareholder’s Wealth: Evidence from India

During the period January 2000 to December 2007, seventy nine companies raised capital through the ADR/GDR issues 99 times. This paper looks at the impact of ADR/GDR listing on shareholders wealth. Using an event study methodology and for the sample consisting of 13 ADR and 86 GDR listings the present study finds that ADR/GDR listing negatively effects shareholders wealth. The present study indicates that the potential drawbacks outweigh the benefits in international listing in Indian markets in the short run.
Colony variation of Helicobacter pylori: pathogenic potential is correlated to cell wall lipid composition.

BACKGROUND Differences in expression of disease after infection with Helicobacter pylori have so far been connected with host factors and bacterial interstrain variation. In this study, spontaneous and ecology-mediated intrastrain variation was examined. METHODS Four clinical isolates of H. pylori were shown to give rise to two colony forms. Bacterial morphology was examined by electron microscopy. Bacterial fractions were examined for proteins using ion exchange chromatography and SDS-PAGE; for lipids using thin-layer chromatography, lipid anion-exchange chromatography, column chromatography on silica gel, 31P-NMR, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Bacterial in vitro invasiveness and adhesiveness were examined in two different systems, and urease and VacA toxin were assayed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS H. pylori was shown to give rise to two colony forms: at normal pH the population was dominated by L colonies. One strain was chosen for further studies. Bacteria from L colonies retained VacA toxin and urease, did not invade or adhere to epithelial cells, and contained normal quantities of phosphatidylethanolamine. In a small frequency, spontaneous S colonies were formed. Bacteria from these colonies released VacA and urease, adhered to and invaded epithelial cells and contained increased amounts of lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl serine. After addition of HCl to the culture medium (pH6), almost only S colonies were formed. The results demonstrate that environmental factors, such as HCl, can change the bacterial cell wall, and thereby enhance expression of virulence factors of H. pylori in vitro. A similar in vivo variation would have implications for our understanding of the interaction between HCl secretion in the gastric mucosa and H. pylori in the development of peptic ulcer disease.
On secrecy performance of industrial Internet of things

Physical layer security has been shown to hold promise as a new paradigm for securing wireless links. This paper provides secrecy performance analysis for industrial Internet of things, where a set of industrial devices communicates in the presence of eavesdropper under a Weibull fading environment. We derive a closed‐form expression for secrecy outage probability and evaluate the secrecy performance for the device selection scheme. This scheme is then compared with a benchmark technique, namely, a uniform selection scheme to quantify the performance improvements. In order to investigate the impact of Weibull shape parameter on secrecy performance, the derived expressions are used to perform a generalized diversity order analysis for both schemes. Finally, secrecy analysis conditioned on successful transmission of message is provided and analytical expression is derived. Extensive simulations are performed to validate the accuracy of the derived analytical expressions.
The need for a Men's Health Initiative.

N the majority of cases, women have been excluded from or underincluded in studies. The exception to this is hormone replacement, where after the ill-fated estrogen replacement studies in men (1), women’s hormone replacement has been studied in detail, while much less attention has been given to testosterone replacement in men (2,3). At present the National Institutes of Health have asked
When being out of school can be bad for the school: a case for conditional cash transfers

We develop a theoretical model to analyze how the lack of full enrollment affects the quality of public education chosen by majority voting. In our model, the households choose whether to enrol their child at school or not. Poor households do not send their children to school because there is an opportunity cost related to education. We show that if preferences for public education quality are decreasing in income, an ends against the middle equilibrium may arise with low levels of expenditures. In this setting, the introduction of a conditional cash transfer program may increase the educational budget chosen by majority voting. Indeed, by raising school enrollment, it increases the political support for educational expenditures.
Estimation of the rice yield in the Mekong Delta using SAR dual polarisation data

Food security has currently become a key global issue due to rapid population growth in many parts of Asia, as well as the effects of climate change. For this reason, there is a need to develop a spatio-temporal monitoring system that can accurately assess rice area planted and rice production. Changes in rice cultivation systems have been observed in various countries of the world, especially in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The changes in cultural practices have impacts on remote sensing methods developed for rice monitoring, in particular, methods using new generation radar data. The objective of the study was to estimate the rice yield using time-series Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. Field data collection and in situ measurement of rice crop parameters were conducted in An Giang province, Mekong Delta in 2010. The average values of the radar backscattering coefficients that corresponded to the sampling fields were extracted from the TerraSAR-X StripMap (TSX SM) images taken during a crop season. The temporal rice backscatter behaviour was analysed for HH (Horizontal transmit and Horizontal receive), VV (Vertical transmit and Vertical receive), and polarisation ratio data. For rice yield estimation, the predictive model based on multiple linear regression analysis (Lam-Dao, N. et al., 2009a) between in situ measured yields and polarisation ratios attained good correlation and thus proved to be a potential tool for estimating rice production in the study area.
Comparison of helium dilution and nitrogen washout measurements of functional residual capacity in infants and very young children

In infants and very young children, functional residual capacity (FRC) is the lung volume most frequently measured and gas dilution techniques are most frequently used to measure FRC. We compared measurements of FRC by helium dilution (FRCHe) and nitrogen washout (FRC N 2 ) in a lung model of known volumes (20,40,60,80 mL), in 8 normal infants (NL), 8 infants with acute respiratory illness (ARI), and 7 infants with chronic lung disease (CLD). In the model lung, measurements of FRCHe had a significantly greater coefficient of variation compared to FRC N 2 (6.5 vs 1.5%, P < 0.02), but there was no such difference in the results from all infants combined (6.5 vs 6.2%). In the model lung, the difference between known volumes and the measured values was significantly different from zero only for FRCHe at 20 mL (−4.4 mL, P 0.02). For both FRCHe and FRC N 2 , the slopes of the regression equations were 0.99 and the intercepts not significantly different from zero. We conclude that techniques for measuring FRCHe and FRC N 2 yield accurate, reproducible, and comparable results in normal, healthy infants and very young children, and in those with respiratory disease. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.