Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systematic verification of embedded components with re-usable properties

Formal verification has become very useful and popular in last decade in area of embedded systems design and in analysis of critical systems. It can reveal common errors like deadlocks, starvation, check system invariants, but also verify more complex properties defined by LTL formulas whose writing may be very error prone for non expert users. To reduce the time-to-market for embedded systems and assist designers in the complexity of verification step at design time, we advocate the pre-development of re-usable behavioral properties for each family of embedded components to be verified. The proposed approach is to pre-define the re-usable properties by specifying them as logics on standard input/output signals and standard data values. Obtaining this re-usable form enables them to be used for every new component in the product line, hence without the need to spend additional time to redo the verification setup every time a new component is used to create a new design. We have successfully pre-defined LTL re-usable properties for widely used industrial embedded components families such as fifos and buses, and have performed generic verification using SPIN tool.
Value of the Internet in Achieving and Sustaining Quality

“Value of the Internet in Achieving and Sustaining Quality” is the first in a series of articles that will support JNCQ’s new and exciting column Nursing Informatics—Tools for Performance Improvement. Relevant articles will address the use of software and technological strategies in the pursuit of improved patient safety and quality care. This column is coordinated by Lenard L. Parisi, RN, MA, CPHQ, who is the Director of Nursing Professional Practice and Quality Management at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
Pharmacokinetics of gabapentin in cats.

OBJECTIVE To determine the pharmacokinetics of gabapentin in cats after IV and oral administration. ANIMALS 6 healthy female adult domestic shorthair cats. PROCEDURES Gabapentin was administered IV (4 mg/kg) or orally (10 mg/kg) in a crossover randomized design. Blood samples were obtained immediately before gabapentin administration and at various times up to 960 minutes after IV administration or up to 1,440 minutes after oral administration. Blood samples were immediately transferred to tubes that contained EDTA and were centrifuged at 4 degrees C. Plasma was harvested and stored at -20 degrees C until analysis. Plasma concentrations of gabapentin were determined by use of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Gabapentin concentration-time data were fit to compartment models. RESULTS A 3-compartment model with elimination from the central compartment best described the disposition of gabapentin administered IV to cats, but a 1-compartment model best described the disposition of gabapentin administered orally to cats. After IV administration, the mean +/- SEM apparent volume of the central compartment, apparent volume of distribution at steady state, and clearance and the harmonic mean +/- jackknife pseudo-SD for terminal half-life were 90.4 +/- 11.3 mL/kg, 650 +/- 14 mL/kg, 3 +/- 0.2 mL/min/kg, and 170 +/- 21 minutes, respectively. Mean +/- SD systemic availability and harmonic mean +/- jackknife pseudo-SD terminal half-life after oral administration were 88.7 +/- 11.1% and 177 +/- 25 minutes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The disposition of gabapentin in cats was characterized by a small volume of distribution and a low clearance.
The quality of life during and after menopause among rural women.

INTRODUCTION The overall health and well-being of middle-aged women has become a major public health concern around the world. More than 80% of the women experience physical or psychological symptoms in the years when they approach menopause, with various distresses and disturbances in their lives, leading to a decrease in the quality of life. The aim of our study was to assess the quality of life and the impact of hormonal changes in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women and to correlate the prevalence of the symptoms with their duration since menopause. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross- sectional study was done at Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry, from January 2012 to April 2012. Five hundred women who were in the age group of 40-65 years, who came from rural areas to our hospital, were included in the study. The women who were receiving hormonal treatment and those who refused to participate in the study were excluded. The data such as the socio-demographic information and the menstruation status, which were based on the reported length of time since the last menstrual period and the experience of the symptoms, as were tested in the Menopause Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire, were collected from each patient. The women who were included in the study were divided into three groups as the menopause transition, early postmenopausal and the late postmenopausal groups. All the data which were gathered were analyzed by using SAS 9.2. The Chi square test and the relative risk and the confidence interval calculations were applied to compare the frequencies of the symptoms among the women with different menopausal statuses. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS Mean menopausal age in the study group was 45 years. The most common symptom within study subjects were low back ache (79%) and muscle-joint pain (77.2%). The least frequent symptoms were increase in facial hair (15%) and feeling of dryness during intimacy (10.8%). Scores of vasomotor domain were significantly more in menopause transition group. Scores of physical domain were significantly more in late postmenopausal group. CONCLUSION The menopause related symptoms had a negative effect on the quality of life of the perimenopausal and the postmenopausal women. Such regional studies can help in creating awareness and in educating women on the early identification of the common menopausal symptoms.
Attention and Automaticity in the Processing of Self-Relevant Information

A neglected aspect of the study of social cognition has been the way in which people select information for further processing from the vast amount available in social environments. A major contemporary model of attention holds that there are two separate types of processes that operate concurrently: a flexible but resource-limited control process that regulates the contents of conscious awareness, and a relatively inflexible automatic process that can attract attention to stimuli without conscious intent. Passive automatic processes, can either facilitate or inhibit active attentional processing, necessitating either less or more attentional effort, depending on the characteristics of the information that is currently present. On a dichotic listening task in which subjects attended to or ignored self-relevant stimuli, it was found that self-relevant information required less attentional resources when presented to the attended channel, but more when presented to the rejected channel, relative to neutral words. This differential capacity allocation occurred despite subjects' lack of awareness of the contents of the rejected channel. The results supported the existence and interaction of the two processes of attention in social information processing.
Further studies on the transmissibility of BSE to pigs

Vacuolation, spongiosis, spongiform change or micro-cavitation are synonymous terms used to describe the light microscopic appearance of pathological optically empty spaces in histological sections of the central nervous system. Similar changes can be produced in histological preparations by autolysis and tissue processing artefacts (Wells and Wells, 1989). The occurrence of neuronal vacuolation, that is vacuoles within neuronal perikarya in certain neuroanatomical locations, as an incidental finding at post-mortem examination in the brains of domesticated animals, has been recorded previously and reviewed in relation to its potential to confound the histopathological diagnosis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) (Wells and McGill, 1992; GavierWiden et al., 2001). Although such occasional strictly localised neuronal vacuolation, especially in the dorsal nucleus of the vagus nerve, has been noted in pigs as an incidental finding in diagnostic submissions in the past (G. A. H. Wells, unpublished), a naturally occurring transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) has not been described in the pig. The observations of apparently incidental vacuolar changes also in neuropil (particularly that of the rostral colliculi) of the brains of exposed and control pigs in studies of the parenteral (project SE1816) and oral (project MO3004/SE1817) transmissibility of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) (Ryder et al., 2000; Wells et al., 2003) was therefore of interest in this context and because it does not seem to have been recorded previously in the pig or in other species.
Expression of fractalkine (CX3CL1) and its receptor, CX3CR1, during acute and chronic inflammation in the rodent CNS

In this study, we investigate the expression of fractalkine (CX3CL1) and the fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1) in the naive rat and mouse central nervous system (CNS). We determine if the expression of this chemokine and its receptor are altered during chronic or acute inflammation in the CNS. In addition, we determine if CX3CL1, which has been reported to be chemoattractant to leukocytes in vitro, is capable of acting as a chemoattractant in the CNS in vivo. Immunohistochemistry was performed using primary antibodies recognizing soluble and membrane‐bound CX3CL1 and the N‐terminus of the CX3CR1. We found that neurons in the naive rodent brain are immunoreactive for CX3CL1 and CX3CR1, both showing a perinuclear staining pattern. Resident microglia associated with the parenchyma and macrophages in the meninges and choroid plexus constituitively express CX3CR1. In a prion model of chronic neurodegeneration and inflammation, CX3CL1 immunoreactivity is upregulated in astrocytes and CX3CR1 expression is elevated on microglia. In surviving neurons, expression of CX3CL1 appears unaltered relative to normal neurons. There is a decrease in neuronal CX3CR1 expression. Acute inflammatory responses in the CNS, induced by stereotaxic injections of lipopolysaccharide or kainic acid, results in activation of microglia and astrocytes but no detectable changes in the glial expression of CX3CL1 or CX3CR1. The expression of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 by glial cells during inflammation in the CNS may be influenced by the surrounding cytokine milieu, which has been shown to differ in acute and chronic neuroinflammation. GLIA 37:314–327, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Allelic association between the NRAMP1 gene and susceptibility to tuberculosis in Guinea–Conakry

Forty four families from Guinea–Conakry were analysed to test for association between NRAMP1 (Natural Resistance Associated Macrophage Protein 1) polymorphisms and tuberculosis. Each family included at least one affected sib and one parent. Healthy sibs were also analysed and on average the families included four members. A total of 160 individuals were included in the final dataset. The analysis of association was performed using an extended TDT test, TRANSMIT, to allow for missing information in the parental genotypes. Three polymorphisms in the NRAMP1 gene were typed: a microsatellite (CA) repeat, a 4 bp deletion in the 3′ untranslated region and a single nucleotide change in intron 4. The single base change in intron 4 was significantly associated (p= 0.036) with tuberculosis. Our results therefore confirm, using a family‐based approach on a newly studied population, the previously reported association between this polymorphism and tuberculosis in a population‐based study of West Africans.
ACAT 1 deletion in murine macrophages associated with cytotoxicity and decreased expression of collagen type 3 A 1

In contrast to some published studies of murine macrophages, we previously showed that ACAT inhibitors appeared to be antiatherogenic in primary human macrophages in that they decreased foam cell formation without inducing cytotoxicity. Herein, we examined foam cell formation and cytotoxicity in murine ACAT1 knockout (KO) macrophages in an attempt to resolve the discrepancies. Elicited peritoneal macrophages from normal C57BL6 and ACAT1 KO mice were incubated with DMEM containing acetylated LDL (acLDL, 100 lg protein/ml) for 48 h. Cells became cholesterol enriched and there were no differences in the total cholesterol mass. Esterified cholesterol mass was lower in ACAT1 KO foam cells compared to normal macrophages (p < 0.04). Cytotoxicity, as measured by the cellular release of [C]adenine from macrophages, was approximately 2-fold greater in ACAT1 KO macrophages as compared to normal macrophages (p < 0.0001), and this was independent of cholesterol enrichment. cDNA microarray analysis showed that ACAT1 KO macrophages expressed substantially less collagen type 3A1 (26-fold), which was confirmed by RT-PCR. Total collagen content was also significantly reduced (57%) in lung homogenates isolated from ACAT1 KO mice (p < 0.02). Thus, ACAT1 KO macrophages show biochemical changes consistent with increased cytotoxicity and also a novel association with decreased expression of collagen type 3A1. 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
AMPA receptor protein expression and function in astrocytes cultured from hippocampus

Glutamate receptors guide the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of glial cells. Here, we characterize AMPA (α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole‐propionic acid) and NMDA receptor protein expression and function and mRNA expression in hippocampal glial cultures. By immunocytochemistry, GluR2 (the subunit that limits the Ca2+ permeability of AMPA receptors) exhibited prominent labeling in hippocampal glial cultures. Double‐labeling of GluR2 with GFAP and with A2B5 revealed GluR2 subunit expression on type‐1 and type‐2 astrocyte lineage cells. GluR1 subunit expression was more prominent in type‐1 than in type‐2 astrocytes. To characterize functional properties of glutamate receptors expressed in cultured hippocampal astrocytes, we performed whole‐cell patch clamp recording. Application of L‐glutamate, AMPA, and kainate, but not NMDA, to small, rounded cells (morphologically identified as type‐2 astrocytes) elicited inward currents which were blocked by the AMPA/kainate antagonist 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX). Cyclothiazide potentiated AMPA‐ and kainate‐elicited currents, indicative of AMPA‐preferring receptors. Current voltage analysis indicated that type‐2 astrocyte AMPA receptors were electrically linear, indicative of GluR2‐containing, Ca2+‐impermeable AMPA receptors. By Northern blot analysis, GluR1 mRNA was highest in astrocyte cultures from cerebellum and hippocampus and moderate in astrocyte cultures from neocortex and striatum. GluR3 mRNA was detectable in astrocyte cultures from cerebellum and neocortex. GluR2 and NR1 mRNA expression were not detected in astrocytes cultured from any brain region examined. In situ hybridization studies showed wide expression of GluR1 mRNA in cultured astrocytes; GluR2 and GluR3 mRNAs were near background levels. Thus, cultured type‐2 astrocytes express functional AMPA receptors in a cell‐specific and region‐specific manner, consistent with their role in neuronal‐glial communication. J. Neurosci. Res. 57:557–571, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neural network diagnosis of heart disease

Mortality rate increases all over the world on a daily basis. The reason for this could be largely adduced to the increase in the number of patients with cardiovascular diseases. To worsen the case, many physicians have been known for misdiagnosis of patients reporting heart related ailment. In this paper, an intelligent system has been design which will help in effective diagnosis of the patient to avoid misdiagnosis. The dataset of UCI statlog heart disease has been used in this experiment. The dataset is comprises thirteen features which are vital in diagnosis of heart diseases. The system is model on a multilayer neural network trained with backpropagation and simulated on feedforward neural network. The recognition of 85% was obtained from testing of the network.
Estimating Disease Onset Distribution Functions from Censored Mixture Data

We consider nonparametric estimation of disease onset distribution functions in multiple populations using censored data with unknown population identifiers. The problem is motivated from studies aiming at estimating the disease risk distribution in deleterious mutation carriers for the purpose of genetic counseling and design of therapeutic intervention trials to modify disease onset progression. In these studies, the distribution of disease risk in subjects assumes a mixture form. Although the population identifiers are missing, design and scientific knowledge allow easy calculation of the probability of an observation belonging to each population. We propose a general family of simple weighted least squares estimators and show that the existing consistent nonparametric methods belong to this family. We further show that this family also includes a class of imputation estimators that is not known in the literature for this type of problems. We identify a computationally effortless estimator in the family, study its asymptotic properties, and show its significant efficiency gain comparing to the existing estimators in the literature. The application to a large genetic epidemiological study of Huntington’s disease reveals information on the age-at-onset distribution of HD not previously available in the clinical literature which may generate new clinical hypothesis.
Relationships between Felt Age and Perceived Disability, Satisfaction with Recovery, Self-efficacy Beliefs and Coping Strategies

Subjective age is related to health and to life satisfaction, and adaptation to stressful life events is associated with self-efficacy beliefs and coping. The present study on cancer survivors addressed two objectives: the relationship between felt age and perceived disability and satisfaction with recovery, and the feeding back of felt age on general self-efficacy beliefs and coping strategies. Data were collected one and six months after surgery. Individuals with younger age identities reported lower levels of perceived disability and avoidance-oriented coping and higher levels of satisfaction with recovery, self-efficacy and meaning-focused coping than individuals with older age identities. Individuals with decreased or stable felt age indicated increased meaning-focused coping or avoidance-oriented coping, respectively. Explanations for these associations are discussed.
Relationship between serum uric acid and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients treated with peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND Although serum uric acid level appears to be associated with mortality in individuals treated with hemodialysis, the relationship between serum uric acid level and death is uncertain in patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD). STUDY DESIGN Cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 985 patients from a single PD center in South China followed up for a median of 25.3 months. PREDICTOR Serum uric acid level. OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS The association of baseline sex-specific uric acid level with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was evaluated. Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, comorbidity score, residual kidney function, total Kt/V, allopurinol and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker use, and laboratory test results, including hemoglobin, serum albumin, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. RESULTS Mean age was 48.3±15.4 (SD) years, and 23% had diabetes. Mean uric acid level was 7.0±1.3 (range, 3.8-19.8) mg/dL. During follow-up, 144 deaths were recorded, of which 64 were due to cardiovascular events. In multivariable models, the highest sex-specific tertile of uric acid level was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.27-2.93; P=0.004) and cardiovascular mortality (HR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.70-6.41; P<0.001) compared to the lowest tertile. Adjusted Cox regression models showed that the HRs per 1-mg/dL higher uric acid level for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were 1.33 (95% CI, 1.14-1.56; P<0.001) and 1.44 (95% CI, 1.17-1.77; P=0.001) for men and 1.03 (95% CI, 0.86-1.24; P=0.8) and 1.16 (95% CI, 0.97-1.38; P=0.1) for women, respectively. A formal test for interaction indicated that the association of uric acid level with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality differed by sex (β = -0.06 [P=0.02] and β = -0.10 [P=0.02], respectively). LIMITATIONS Single measurement of uric acid at baseline. Cause of death determined by death certificates and expert consensus. CONCLUSIONS Elevated serum uric acid level is an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in men treated with PD.
Introgression between divergent corn borer species in a region of sympatry: Implications on the evolution and adaptation of pest arthropods

The Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis, and European corn borer, O. nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), cause damage to cultivated maize in spatially distinct geographies and have evolved divergent hydrocarbons as the basis of sexual communication. The Yili area of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China represents the only known region where O. furnacalis has invaded a native O. nubilalis range, and these two corn borer species have made secondary contact. Genetic differentiation was estimated between Ostrinia larvae collected from maize plants at 11 locations in Xinjiang and genotyped using high‐throughput SNP and microsatellite markers. Maternal lineages were assessed by direct sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and II haplotypes, and a high degree of genotypic diversity was demonstrated between lineages based on SNP genotypes. Furthermore, historical introgression was predicted among SNP genotypes only at sympatric locations in the Yili area, whereas in Xinjiang populations only O. furnacalis haplotypes were detected and no analogous introgressed genotypes were predicted. Our detection of putative hybrids and historical evidence of introgression defines Yili area as a hybrid zone between the species in normal ecological interactions and furthermore, might indicate that adaptive traits could spread even between seemingly divergent species through horizontal transmission. Results of this study indicate there may be a continuum in the degree of reproductive isolation between Ostrinia species and that the elegance of distinct and complete speciation based on modifications to the pheromone communication might need to be reconsidered.