Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ProCPU Is Expressed by (Primary) Human Monocytes and Macrophages and Expression Differs between States of Differentiation and Activation

Carboxypeptidase U (CPU, TAFIa, CPB2) is a potent attenuator of fibrinolysis that is mainly synthesized by the liver as its inactive precursor proCPU. Aside from its antifibrinolytic properties, evidence exists that CPU can modulate inflammation, thereby regulating communication between coagulation and inflammation. Monocytes and macrophages play a central role in inflammation and interact with coagulation mechanisms resulting in thrombus formation. The involvement of CPU and monocytes/macrophages in inflammation and thrombus formation, and a recent hypothesis that proCPU is expressed in monocytes/macrophages, prompted us to investigate human monocytes and macrophages as a potential source of proCPU. CPB2 mRNA expression and the presence of proCPU/CPU protein were studied in THP-1, PMA-stimulated THP-1 cells and primary human monocytes, M-CSF-, IFN-γ/LPS-, and IL-4-stimulated-macrophages by RT-qPCR, Western blotting, enzyme activity measurements, and immunocytochemistry. CPB2 mRNA and proCPU protein were detected in THP-1 and PMA-stimulated THP-1 cells as well as in primary monocytes and macrophages. Moreover, CPU was detected in the cell medium of all investigated cell types and it was demonstrated that proCPU can be activated into functionally active CPU in the in vitro cell culture environment. Comparison of CPB2 mRNA expression and proCPU concentrations in the cell medium between the different cell types provided evidence that CPB2 mRNA expression and proCPU secretion in monocytes and macrophages is related to the degree to which these cells are differentiated. Our results indicate that primary monocytes and macrophages express proCPU. This sheds new light on monocytes and macrophages as local proCPU sources.
Pengaruh Iklan Tiktok, Kualitas Produk Dan Harga Terhadap Minat Beli Produk Scarlett Whitening Pada Mahasiswa Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara

This study aims to examine the effect of advertising, product quality and price on buying interest in students of the State Islamic University of North Sumatra, either partially or simultaneously. This study used a quantitative method with data collection using the Likert scale method. The subjects used in this study were 100 students of the State Islamic University of North Sumatra and were taken using purposive sampling. Data analysis techniques through the IBM SPSS statistics 22 program. The results of this study indicate that first, advertising has a positive and significant effect on purchase intention with a significant value of 0.027 <0.05. Second, Product Quality has a positive and significant effect on Purchase Intention with a significant value of 0.000 <0.05. Third, price has a positive and significant effect on buying interest with a significant value of 0.035 <0.05. Advertising, Product Quality and Price simultaneously have a positive and significant effect on Purchase Intention with a significant value of 0.000 <0.05.
Experiment and simulation of the bidirectional pedestrian flow model with overtaking and herding behavior

In order to effectively depict the characteristics of bidirectional pedestrian flow, a novel pedestrian flow model is proposed based on cellular automata. At first, according to direction gain, velocity gain and herding gain, the calculation formula of target position is defined, and the walking rules by combining overtaking behavior and herding behavior are given in the model. Meanwhile, the actual channel is used for experiments, where the self-organizing effect formed by pedestrian flow is observed. The simulation platform is established to study the key factors influencing pedestrian flow characteristics. The numerical analysis results showed that when the pedestrian density in the channel reached to the critical degree, the overtaking behavior can easily produce jamming. Moreover, pedestrians' rational choice is good for relieving jamming.
Development and validation of nomograms to predict early death for elderly lung cancer patients

Background Due to the aging of society, the average age of LC (lung cancer) patients has increased in recent years. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors and develop nomograms to predict the probability of early death (dead in three months) for elderly (≥ 75 years old) LC patients. Methods Data of elderly LC patients were obtained from the SEER database by using the SEER stat software. All patients were randomly divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort in a ratio of 7:3. The risk factors of all-cause early and cancer-specific early death were identified by univariate logistic regression and backward stepwise multivariable logistic regression in the training cohort. Then, risk factors were used to construct nomograms. The performance of nomograms was validated by receiver operating curves (ROC), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) in the training cohort and validation cohort. Results A total of 15,057 elderly LC patients in the SEER database were included in this research and randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 10,541) and a validation cohort (n = 4516). The multivariable logistic regression models found that there were 12 independent risk factors for the all-cause early death and 11 independent risk factors for the cancer-specific early death of the elderly LC patients, which were then integrated into the nomograms. The ROC indicated that the nomograms exhibited high discriminative ability in predicting all-cause early (AUC in training cohort = 0.817, AUC in validation cohort = 0.821) and cancer-specific early death (AUC in training cohort = 0.824, AUC in validation cohort = 0.827). The calibration plots of the nomograms were close to the diagonal line revealing that there was good concordance between the predicted and practical early death probability in the training and validation cohort. Moreover, the results of DCA analysis indicated that the nomograms had good clinical utility in predicting early death probability. Conclusion The nomograms were constructed and validated to predict the early death probability of elderly LC patients based on the SEER database. The nomograms were expected to have high predictive ability and good clinical utility, which may help oncologists develop better treatment strategies.
Deep Learning-Powered System for Real-Time Digital Meter Reading on Edge Devices

The ongoing reading process of digital meters is time-consuming and prone to errors, as operators capture images and manually update the system with the new readings. This work proposes to automate this operation through a deep learning-powered solution for universal controllers and flow meters that can be seamlessly incorporated into operators’ existing workflow. Firstly, the digital display area of the equipment is extracted with a screen detection module, and a perspective correction step is performed. Subsequently, the text regions are identified with a fine-tuned EAST text detector, and the important readings are selected through template matching based on the expected graphical structure. Finally, a fine-tuned convolutional recurrent neural network model recognizes the text and registers it. Evaluation experiments confirm the robustness and potential for workload reduction of the proposed system, which correctly extracts 55.47% and 63.70% of the values for reading in universal controllers, and 73.08% of the values from flow meters. Furthermore, this pipeline performs in real time in a low-end mobile device, with an average execution time in preview of under 250 ms for screen detection and on an acquired photo of 1500 ms for the entire pipeline.
Modification of dynamic characteristics of FGM plates with integrated piezoelectric layers using first‐ and second‐order approximations

This paper proposes a method for calculating the required changes in the physical properties of plates made of functionally graded materials (FGM) in order to achieve the desired eigenfrequency shifts in the structure. A finite element formulation based on the classical laminated plate theory (CLPT) is presented for an FGM plate with integrated piezoelectric layers. Using this formulation, an efficient method based on the first‐order and second‐order approximations in Taylor expansion is expressed to calculate the corresponding changes in the plate modal properties due to changes in parameters which characterize the structure's dynamic behaviour. An initial sensitivity analysis is carried out to identify the regions within the structure where modifications are most effective on the structure's dynamic characteristics. The proposed algorithm is applied to a case study with two different boundary conditions and the results are validated against exact solutions. The influence of structural modifications on dynamic response of the plate is also studied using the Newmark‐β method. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dinos and GoPros: Children’s exploratory behaviors in a museum and their reflections on their learning

Research in both laboratory and museum settings suggests that children’s exploration and caregiver–child interaction relate to children’s learning and engagement. Most of this work, however, takes a third-person perspective on children’s exploration of a single activity or exhibit, and does not consider children’s perspectives on their own exploration. In contrast, the current study recruited 6-to 10-year-olds (N = 52) to wear GoPro cameras, which recorded their first-person perspectives as they explored a dinosaur exhibition in a natural history museum. During a 10-min period, children were allowed to interact with 34 different exhibits, their caregivers and families, and museum staff however they wished. Following their exploration, children were asked to reflect on their exploration while watching the video they created and to report on whether they had learned anything. Children were rated as more engaged when they explored collaboratively with their caregivers. Children were more likely to report that they learned something when they were more engaged, and when they spent more time at exhibits that presented information didactically rather than being interactive. These results suggest that static exhibits have an important role to play in fostering learning experiences in museums, potentially because such exhibits allow for more caregiver–child interaction.
HEAT TRANSFER IN MICROCHANNELS

In this article an attempt has been made to review the literature regarding heat transfer and pressure drop in one- and two-phase flow in microchannels. The emphasis has been on reports presented during the last few years. For single-phase flow, channels with hydraulic diameters less than 1 mm have been considered. For two-phase flow, very little information is available for such small channels. Also, for two-phase flow, deviations from largetube behavior start at diameters of a few millimeters. For these reasons a slightly larger diameter range has been considered in this case. As a conclusion, it can be stated that the understanding of flow in microchannels is increasing steadily, but that there are still many questions to be answered concerning the reasons for deviations from classical theory developed for larger channels.
Anti-Atherogenic Actions of the Lab4b Consortium of Probiotics In Vitro

Probiotic bacteria have many protective effects against inflammatory disorders, though the mechanisms underlying their actions are poorly understood. The Lab4b consortium of probiotics contains four strains of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria that are reflective of the gut of newborn babies and infants. The effect of Lab4b on atherosclerosis, an inflammatory disorder of the vasculature, has not yet been determined and was investigated on key processes associated with this disease in human monocytes/macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. The Lab4b conditioned medium (CM) attenuated chemokine-driven monocytic migration, monocyte/macrophage proliferation, uptake of modified LDL and macropinocytosis in macrophages together with the proliferation and platelet-derived growth factor-induced migration of vascular smooth muscle cells. The Lab4b CM also induced phagocytosis in macrophages and cholesterol efflux from macrophage-derived foam cells. The effect of Lab4b CM on macrophage foam cell formation was associated with a decrease in the expression of several key genes implicated in the uptake of modified LDL and induced expression of those involved in cholesterol efflux. These studies reveal, for the first time, several anti-atherogenic actions of Lab4b and strongly implicate further studies in mouse models of the disease in vivo and in clinical trials.
Evaluating the Distinction between Cool and Hot Executive Function during Childhood

This article assesses the cool–hot executive function (EF) framework during childhood. First, conceptual analyses suggest that cool EF (cEF) is generally distinguished from hot EF (hEF). Second, both EFs can be loaded into different factors using confirmatory factor analyses. Third, the cognitive complexity of EF is similar across cEF tasks, and the cognitive complexity of cEF is similar to hEF tasks. Finally, neuroimaging analysis suggests that children activate the lateral prefrontal regions during all EF tasks. Taken together, we propose that the cool–hot framework is a useful, though not definitive way of characterizing differences in EF.
Validation of methods for identifying discontinuation of treatment from prescription data

Summary. Prescription databases are increasingly used in epidemiological studies concerning the use and the effects of drugs. However, this source of data does not provide direct observations of the time of initiation and discontinuation of drug treatment, and these time points therefore need to be estimated. The paper investigates the validity of methods that are used in the literature to identify discontinuation of treatment from prescription data, and we consider the example of post‐menopausal hormone therapy. Validation is investigated in terms of a simulation study based on a multistate model for the relationship between episodes of treatment with hormone therapy and occurrence of prescription refills. The multistate model that is introduced is estimated from joint observations of a prescription registry and a cross‐sectional survey, involving techniques from the analysis of backward recurrence times. We demonstrate that estimated time points of discontinuation of treatment are highly uncertain, and this may influence studies concerning the immediate effect of discontinuation of treatment. Despite this limitation, we find that a valid assessment of current treatment status (never, current or previous drug use) can be obtained from prescription data.
BOUNDS FOR THE DEVIATION OF A FUNCTION FROM THE CHORD GENERATED BY ITS EXTREMITIES

Sharp bounds for the deviation of a real-valued function f defined on a compact interval [ a , b ] to the chord generated by its end points ( a , f ( a )) and ( b , f ( b )) under various assumptions for f and f ′ , including absolute continuity, convexity, bounded variation, and monotonicity, are given. Some applications for weighted means and f -divergence measures in information theory are also provided.
Algorithms for the detection of chewing behavior in dietary monitoring applications

The detection of food consumption is key to the implementation of successful behavior modification in support of dietary monitoring and therapy, for example, during the course of controlling obesity, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease. Since the vast majority of humans consume food via mastication (chewing), we have designed an algorithm that automatically detects chewing behaviors in surveillance video of a person eating. Our algorithm first detects the mouth region, then computes the spatiotemporal frequency spectrum of a small perioral region (including the mouth). Spectral data are analyzed to determine the presence of periodic motion that characterizes chewing. A classifier is then applied to discriminate different types of chewing behaviors. Our algorithm was tested on seven volunteers, whose behaviors included chewing with mouth open, chewing with mouth closed, talking, static face presentation (control case), and moving face presentation. Early test results show that the chewing behaviors induce a temporal frequency peak at 0.5Hz to 2.5Hz, which is readily detected using a distance-based classifier. Computational cost is analyzed for implementation on embedded processing nodes, for example, in a healthcare sensor network. Complexity analysis emphasizes the relationship between the work and space estimates of the algorithm, and its estimated error. It is shown that chewing detection is possible within a computationally efficient, accurate, and subject-independent framework.
Transcriptional Reprogramming of Autographa Californica Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus Chitinase and Cathepsin Genes Enhances Virulence

The baculoviral chitinase (CHIA) and cathepsin (V-CATH) enzymes promote terminal insect host liquefaction, which aids viral progeny dissemination. Recombinant Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV)-derived viruses were previously generated with reprogrammed chiA transcription by replacing the native promoter with the AcMNPV polyhedrin (polh) or core protein (p6.9) promoter sequences, but of both these chiA-reprogrammed viruses lacked v-cath transcription and V-CATH enzymatic activity. Here, we report that dual p6.9/polh promoter reprogramming of the adjacent chiA/v-cath genes resulted in modulated temporal transcription of both genes without impacting infectious budded virus production. These promoter changes increased CHIA and V-CATH enzyme activities in infected Spodoptera frugiperda-derived cultured cells and Trichoplusia ni larvae. In addition, larvae infected with the dual reprogrammed virus had earlier mortalities and liquefaction. This recombinant baculovirus, lacking exogenous genomic elements and increased chiA/v-cath expression levels, may be desirable for and amenable to producing enhanced baculovirus-based biopesticides.
Static Output Feedback Control Synthesis for Discrete-time T-S Fuzzy Systems

This paper considers the problem of designing static output feedback controllers for nonlinear systems represented by Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy models. Based on linear matrix inequality technique, a new method is developed for designing fuzzy stabilizing controllers via static output feedback. Furthermore, the result is also extended to H∞ control. Examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Case Report: Curative effect of OA-PICA protected bypass in severe PICA-complicated vertebral artery stenosis treatment: Results in 3 cases

Objectives We aimed to explore the results of OA-PICA-protected bypass grafting in patients with severe stenosis of the vertebral artery combined with PICA. Methods Three patients with vertebral artery stenosis involving the posterior inferior cerebellar artery, treated by the Department of Neurosurgery of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021, were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients underwent Occipital Artery–Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (OA-PICA) bypass surgery followed by elective vertebral artery stenting. Intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICGA) showed patency of the bridge-vessel anastomosis. Postoperatively, the ANSYS software was used to assess the flow pressure changes and vascular shear in combination with the reviewed DSA angiogram. CTA or DSA was reviewed 1–2 years postoperatively, and the prognosis was evaluated by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) one year postoperatively. Results OA-PICA bypass surgery was completed in all patients, with intraoperative ICGA showing a patent bridge anastomosis, followed by stenting of the vertebral artery, and a review of the DSA angiogram. We also employed ANSYS software evaluation of the bypass vessel, which showed stable pressure and low turnover angle, suggesting a low rate of long-term occlusion of the vessel. All patients had no procedure-related complications during their hospitalization, and were followed up for a mean of 24 months postoperatively, with a good prognosis (mRS score of 1) at 1 year postoperatively. Conclusion OA-PICA-protected bypass grafting is an effective treatment for patients with severe stenosis of the vertebral artery combined with PICA.
Tomography of a stellar X-ray corona: alpha Coronae Borealis

We interpret the X-ray light curve obtained by XMM-Newton during a total X-ray eclipse in the nearby binary star α Coronae Borealis. This system consists of a G5 V main-sequence star orbiting an X-ray dark A0 star. The secondary G star is a young, active solar analog with an age of a few 100 Myr. As the primary A star eclipses active regions on the X-ray bright companion, the light curve drops in consecutive steps to zero; as individual active regions reappear during egress, the flux rises in similar steps. The ingress and egress light curves are combined to reconstruct the 2D distribution of X-ray brightness on and around the G star. Three different methods are applied, and variations due to statistical noise and uncertainties in the binary system parameters are discussed. Although the solutions are non-unique, all reconstructions reveal a similar distribution of X-ray bright regions and large areas with little flux. We present plausible estimates of (lower limits to) the electron densities in the bright regions, obtaining characteristic values between 10 9 -3 × 10 10 cm −3 .
Mesoscale Spiral Vortex Embedded within a Lake Michigan Snow Squall Band: High Resolution Satellite Observations and Numerical Model Simulations

Abstract It is known that Great Lakes snow squall convection occurs in a variety of different modes on various factors such as air-water temperature contrast, boundary layer wind shear and geostrophic wind direction. An exceptional and often neglected source of data for mesoscale cloud studies is the ultrahigh resolution multispectral data produced by Landsat satellites. On 19 0ctober 1972, a clearly defined spiral vortex was noted in a Landsat-1 image near the southern end of Lake Michigan during an exceptionally early cold air outbreak over a still very warm lake. In a numerical simulation using a 3-D Eulerian hydrostatic equation mesoscale model (8 km grid, 36 × 46 × 11), with an initially uniform wind field, a definite analog to the observed vortex was generated. This suggests that intense surface heating can be a principal cause in the development of a low-level mesoscale vortex.
Study of B0→ρ+ρ- decays and constraints on the CKM angle α

We present results from an analysis of B0→ρ+ρ- decays using (383.6±4.2)×106 BB pairs collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory at SLAC. The measurements of the B0→ρ+ρ- branching fraction, longitudinal polarization fraction fL, and the CP-violating parameters Slong and Clong are as follows: B(B0→ρ+ρ-)=(25.5±2.1(stat)-3.9+3.6(syst))×10-6, fL=0.992±0.024(stat)-0.013+0.026(syst), Slong=-0.17±0.20(stat)-0. 06+0.05(syst), Clong=0.01±0.15(stat)±0.06(syst). We determine the unitarity triangle angle α, using an isospin analysis of B→ρρ decays. One of the two solutions, α=[73.1,117.0]° at 68% confidence level, is compatible with standard model-based fits of existing data. Constraints on the unitarity triangle are also evaluated using an SU(3) symmetry-based approach. © 2007 The American Physical Society.