Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The status of antioxidants, malondialdehyde and some trace elements in serum of patients with breast cancer

Background: There are studies that indicated dyshomeostasis of oxidant/antioxidant and trace elements in breast cancer patients, but the data regarding the status of these parameters in various stages of breast cancer are limited. The aim of this study was to highlight the status of these biochemical factors in various stages of breast cancer. Methods: Fifty-eight breast cancers patients participated in this study and underwent staging work up for the assessment of disease stage. Serum total antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation were determined spectrophotometically. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were analyzed by ELISA method. The serum level of Cu, Mn and Zn was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Student t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare group means. Results: All the patients included in the study classified as mild (stages I+II) and advanced stages (stages III+IV). Patients in advanced stage had lower serum antioxidant capacity and higher lipid peroxidation levels, but the differences were not statistically differet (P=0.690 and 0.666, respectively). Patients in advanced stage had higher, but not statistically different serum levels of CAT, GPX and SOD levels (p>0.05). Patients in both groups had to some extent similar serum Cu, Mn and Zn levels. Conclusion: There was no evidence of remarkable discrepancy in the status of analyzed factors in various stages of breast cancer. It seems that the severity of oxidative stress in different stages of breast cancer is similar to some extent.
Embedded Traffic Control System Using Wireless Ad Hoc Sensors

This paper deals with designing an embedded traffic control system using wireless ad hoc sensor. In this paper we discuss the details regarding the information about how the ad hoc sensors are used, how they are addressed, where they are located and how it is communicated to the central processing unit. it includes implementation of the central processing unit which is used to collect information on vehicle density from the sensors and open the traffic with respect to the density of the vehicle (traffic).
Contemporary climate change and terrestrial invertebrates: evolutionary versus plastic changes

To forecast the responses of species to future climate change, an understanding of the ability of species to adapt to long‐term shifts in temperature is crucial. We present a review on evolutionary adaptation and phenotypic plasticity of temperature‐related traits in terrestrial invertebrates. The evidence for adaptive evolution in melanization is good, but we caution that genetic determination needs to be tested in each individual species, and complex genetic correlations may exist. For phenological traits allochronic data sets provide powerful means to track climate‐induced changes; however, rarely are responses deconstructed into evolutionary and plastic responses. Laboratory studies suggest climate change responses in these traits will be driven by both. For stress resistance, the evidence for shifts in traits is poor. Studies leaning heavily on Drosophila have demonstrated potential limits to evolutionary responses in desiccation and heat resistance. Quantifying the capacity for these species to respond plastically and extending this work to other taxa will be an important next step. We also note that, although not strictly speaking a species trait, the response of endosymbionts to heat stress requires further study. Finally, while clearly genetic, and possibly adaptive, the anonymous nature of latitudinal shifts in clines of genetic markers in Drosophila prevents further interpretation.
Learning route from beaconing and interest dissemination in vehicular sensor networks

Vehicular sensor networks can be used to collect information for the purpose of driving assistance, environment monitoring and entertainment. However, due to the vehicle movement and lossy feature of wireless channel, providing a reliable multi-hop communication between a sensor node and a sink node is particularly challenging. In this paper, we propose a protocol which learns the optimal route in the exchange of hello messages and interest messages. The proposed protocol uses a fuzzy logic to evaluate a direct wireless link and uses a Q-learning algorithm to learn the best route from a multi-hop perspective. We use computer simulations to show the effectiveness of the proposed protocol.
Assessing the Impact of a Reform on Educational and Labor Outcomes : the Case of Argentina ’ s Ley Federal de Educación *

In the nineties Argentina implemented a large education reform (Ley Federal de Educación – LFE) that mainly implied the extension of compulsory education in two additional years. The timing in the implementation substantially varied across provinces, providing a source of identification for the causal effect of the reform. The estimations from difference-in-difference models suggest that the LFE had an overall positive although mild impact on education and labor outcomes. The impact on the income-deprived youths was small for education outcomes and null for labor outcomes.
An Enhanced Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Multi-Modal Functions

The particle swarm optimization algorithm has been frequently employed to solve various optimization problems. Although the algorithm is performing satisfactorily while tackling unit-modal optimizations, enhancements in dealing with multi-modal functions are indeed desirable. Convergence of particles to the optimum solution is a primary and traditional requirement, however, this is achieved only after all the solutions space has been covered and evaluated. In this work, the focus is directed towards maintaining sufficient divergence of particles in multi-modal problems, by developing an alternative social interaction scheme among the swarm members. Particularly, a multiple-leaders strategy is employed in the new PSO algorithm to prevent pre-mature convergence. Results from benchmark problems are included to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Expressive audio‐visual speech

We aim at the realization of an Embodied Conversational Agent able to interact naturally and emotionally with user. In particular, the agent should behave expressively. Specifying for a given emotion, its corresponding facial expression will not produce the sensation of expressivity. To do so, one needs to specify parameters such as intensity, tension, movement property. Moreover, emotion affects also lip shapes during speech. Simply adding the facial expression of emotion to the lip shape does not produce lip readable movement. In this paper we present a model based on real data from a speaker on which was applied passive markers. The real data covers natural speech as well as emotional speech. We present an algorithm that determines the appropriate viseme and applies coarticulation and correlation rules to consider the vocalic and the consonantal contexts as well as muscular phenomena such as lip compression and lip stretching. Expressive qualifiers are then used to modulate the expressivity of lip movement. Our model of lip movement is applied on a 3D facial model compliant with MPEG‐4 standard. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nonlinear Simulation of Thermo-viscous Fingering in Miscible Displacements in Porous Media

The nonlinear simulation of interfacial instabilities in miscible displacements in porous media often requires sophisticated numerical algorithms as well as very fine spatial and temporal resolutions. In this study, Hartley transform based pseudo-spectral method is used to simulate time evolution of thermoviscous fingers in rectilinear geometry. The problem is formulated using continuity equation, Darcy's law, and volume-averaged forms of convection-diffusion equation for mass and energy balance. The numerical code is validated against established results for isothermal displacements. The effects of exponential dependence of viscosity on concentration and temperature, Lewis number, and porosity on the stability of the thermo-viscous flow are examined. It has been generally observed that at practical values of porosity and Lewis number, the thermal front always lags behind the fluid front and the instability is dominated by the viscosity variation due to concentration.
Empirical Mode Decomposition as a tool for data analysis

The recently introduced Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) is a powerful data analysis tool that can deal with the non-stationary and non-linear characteristics of natural phenomena data. A comparison with two popular data analysis methods, i.e., the discrete Fourier transform and the discrete wavelet transform, has been conducted through simulation experiments. It can be seen that EMD is able to capture distinct features of the non-stationary data that the other methods can not, making EMD a valuable tool that can be applied to signal analysis, modelling and denoising.
Strongly-optimal structure preserving signatures from Type II pairings: synthesis and lower bounds

Recent work on structure-preserving signatures studies optimality of these schemes in terms of the number of group elements needed in the verification key and the signature, and the number of pairing-product equations in the verification algorithm. While the size of keys and signatures is crucial for many applications, another important aspect to consider for performance is the time it takes to verify a given signature. By far, the most expensive operation during verification is the computation of pairings. However, the concrete number of pairings that one needs to compute is not captured by the number of pairing-product equations considered in earlier work.
Validating information security framework for offloading from LTE onto D2D links

D2D communications is one of the key technologies to enable aggressive spatial frequency reuse in future evolution of cellular systems. While the standardization efforts are far from their final stage there is clear understanding that security is one of the major concerns for proximity services. This is especially the case when one or more communicating stations in a logical cluster do not have an active connection to the serving base station. In this paper we propose a solution for secure throughput optimized communications in D2D-assisted cellular system. In order to provide additional throughput, a game-theoretic optimization approach is considered by taking into account social relationships and devices proximity. The proposed solution is agnostic to the chosen D2D communications technology (i.e., WiFi or LTE) and suitable for any possible cluster combination in full and partial cellular coverage. Performance evaluation of the proposed security framework show that social proximity information available at the D2D devices may substantially improves the system performance in term of throughput with respect to the standard security procedures. Finally, for sake of completeness, the effect of mobility for the reference scenario is evaluated.
A Nucleotide Sugar Transporter Involved in Glycosylation of the Toxoplasma Tissue Cyst Wall Is Required for Efficient Persistence of Bradyzoites

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that transitions from acute infection to a chronic infective state in its intermediate host via encystation, which enables the parasite to evade immune detection and clearance. It is widely accepted that the tissue cyst perimeter is highly and specifically decorated with glycan modifications; however, the role of these modifications in the establishment and persistence of chronic infection has not been investigated. Here we identify and biochemically and biologically characterize a Toxoplasma nucleotide-sugar transporter (TgNST1) that is required for cyst wall glycosylation. Toxoplasma strains deleted for the TgNST1 gene (Δnst1) form cyst-like structures in vitro but no longer interact with lectins, suggesting that Δnst1 strains are deficient in the transport and use of sugars for the biosynthesis of cyst-wall structures. In vivo infection experiments demonstrate that the lack of TgNST1 activity does not detectably impact the acute (tachyzoite) stages of an infection or tropism of the parasite for the brain but that Δnst1 parasites are severely defective in persistence during the chronic stages of the infection. These results demonstrate for the first time the critical role of parasite glycoconjugates in the persistence of Toxoplasma tissue cysts.
KEPLER MONITORING OF AN L DWARF. II. CLOUDS WITH MULTI-YEAR LIFETIMES

We present Kepler, Spitzer Space Telescope, Gemini-North, MMT, and Kitt Peak observations of the L1 dwarf WISEP J190648.47+401106.8. We find that the Kepler optical light curve is consistent in phase and amplitude over nearly two years of monitoring, with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 1.4%. Spitzer Infrared Array Camera 3.6 μm observations are in phase with Kepler, with similar light curve shapes and peak-to-peak amplitudes of 1.1%, but at 4.5 μm, the variability has an amplitude of < 0.1 ? > %. Chromospheric Hα emission is variable but not synced with the stable Kepler light curve. A single dark spot can reproduce the light curve but is not a unique solution. An inhomogeneous cloud deck, specifically a region of thick cloud cover, can explain the multi-wavelength data of this ultracool dwarf and need not be coupled with the asynchronous magnetic emission variations. The long life of the cloud is in contrast with weather changes seen in cooler brown dwarfs on the timescale of hours and days.
Building a Textual Entailment System for the RTE3 Competition. Application to a QA System

Textual entailment recognition (RTE) is the task of deciding, when given two text fragments, whether the meaning of one text is entailed (can be inferred) from the other text. Last year, we built our first Textual Entailment (TE) system, with which we participated in the RTE3 competition. The main idea of this system is to transform the hypothesis making use of extensive semantic knowledge from sources like DIRT, WordNet, Wikipedia and acronyms database. Additionally, the system applies complex grammar rules for rephrasing in English and uses the results of a module we built to acquire the extra background knowledge needed. In the first part, we presented the system architecture and the results, whose best run ranked 3rd in RTE3 among 45 participating runs of 26 groups.The second part of the paper presents the manner in which we adapted the TE system in order to include it in a Question Answering (QA) system. The aim of using the TE system as a module in the general architecture of a QA system is to improve the ranking between possible answers for questions in which the answer type is Measure, Person, Location, Date and Organization.
A Fast Method for Real-time Computation of Approximated Global Illumination

We present a fast method for real-time computation of approximated global illumination for fully dynamic scenes under area light sources. To accelerate the computation, we use simplified models to calculate the indirect illumination, while render the direct illumination with original complex models. After direct illumination is computed with convolution soft shadow maps algorithm, color, position and normal textures are generated, from which a Halton quasi-random sampling method is used to produce the pixel lights for the second bounce. Our testing models show that thousands of passes can be rendered with the simplified scenes in one second for the indirect illumination, and it can dramatically improve the frame rate for relatively complex scenes. Final image is generated by blending direct image and all indirect images.
Designing creative activities for children: the importance of collaboration and the threat of losing control

Creative activities for children have drawn great interest in the last years. The advent of programming languages for children (i.e., Scratch) combined with accessible programmable hardware platforms (i.e., Arduino) makes it possible for children to engage in creative development of digital artifact, like robots and interactive installations. However, there are limited studies towards the design and improvement of these activities. The goal of this study is to provide validated knowledge about the trade-off between collaboration and control throughout creative programming activities. To this end, a group of researchers and artists designed and implemented two workshop programs of a total of 51 pupils, exploring their experiences with open source software. The workshops were based on Reggio Emilia philosophy of creative reuse and the open-source software Scratch. Qualitative and quantitative approaches of the research are based on data collected through interviews, surveys and observations. The results of this paper argue that: (a) collaboration among children improves the value of the workshops, (b) however big groups lead children to lose the control over their actions during the workshop, and (c) children's control significantly affects workshop's usefulness.
On utility models for access network selection in wireless heterogeneous networks

ldquoAlways Best Connectedrdquo (ABC) is a fundamental and challenging dimension of the fourth generation heterogeneous wireless networks. In order to enable the ABC, access network selection is obviously the key issue. In this paper, we analyze, adapt and consolidate the utility theory to define an appropriate decision mechanism in the frame of the access network selection. A thorough study of the existing proposed utility models is carried out and the limits of these methods are highlighted. Subsequently, we propose new single-criterion and multi-criteria utility forms to best capture the user satisfaction and sensitivity facing up to a bundle of access network characteristics. Mathematical proofs and numerical analysis confirm the suitability and the effectiveness of our proposed models.
Minimum variance interpolation and spectral analysis

Interpolation and spectral analysis of signals from finite number of samples is considered. When the observed data is of finite length, interpolation and spectral analysis of bandlimited signals using Shanon's framework leads to erroneous results. In spectral analysis this phenomenon is known as the spectral leakage problem. In this paper we address this issue from a minimum variance estimation perspective, and treat the generic case where the signal is not necessarily bandlimited. In contrast to traditional windowing based methods, the minimum variance framework leads to a convolutive transformation of the data, which employs a linear predictor. Simulations indicate a significant improvement in the performance.
Invariant Times

From a broad perspective, this work deals with the question of reduction of ﬁltration, i.e., given a stopping time θ relative to a full model ﬁltration G , when and how to separate the information that comes from θ from a reference ﬁltration in order to simplify the computations. Toward this aim, some kind of local martingale invariance property is required, but under minimal assumptions, so that the model stays as ﬂexible as possible in view of applications (to, in particular, counterparty and credit risk). Speciﬁcally, we deﬁne an invariant time as a stopping time with respect to the full model ﬁltration such that local martingales with respect to a smaller ﬁltration and a possibly changed probability measure, once stopped right before that time, are local martingales with respect to the original model ﬁltration and probability measure. The possibility to change the measure provides an additional degree of freedom with respect to other classes of random times such as Cox times or pseudo-stopping times that are commonly used to model default times. We provide an Az´ema supermartingale characterization of invariant times and we characterize the positivity of the stochastic exponential involved in a tentative measure change. We study the avoidance properties of invariant times and their connections with pseudo-stopping times.
NERF encodes a RING E3 ligase important for drought resistance and enhances the expression of its antisense gene NFYA5 in Arabidopsis

NFYA5 is an important drought-stress inducible transcription factor gene that is targeted by miR169 in Arabidopsis. We show here that the cis-natural antisense transcript gene of NFYA5, NFYA5 Enhancing RING FINGER (NERF), can produce siRNAs from their overlapping region (OR) and affect NFYA5 transcripts by functioning together with miR169. The NERF protein functions as an E3 ligase for ubiquitination. Overexpression of NERF or OR cDNA leads to siRNANERF accumulation, miR169 repression, and NFYA5 transcript enhancement; knock-down of NERF transcripts by an artificial miRNA enhances miR169 abundance and reduces NFYA5 transcripts. Overexpression of NFYA5 does not affect the NERF mRNA level. Deep sequencing of the small RNA library from 35S::OR plants identifies 960 sequences representing 323 unique siRNAs that originate from OR; the sequences of some siRNANERF are similar/complementary to those of miR169. Overexpression of the 195- to 280-bp OR cDNA-containing siRNAs similar/complementary to miR169 also leads to the accumulation of NFYA5 transcripts. Analysis of NERF knock-down plants and NERF overexpression lines showed that, like NFYA5, NERF is important for controlling stomatal aperture and drought resistance. This regulatory model might apply to other natural antisense transcripts with positively correlated expression patterns.
Sildenafil potentiates the antitumor activity of cisplatin by induction of apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation and angiogenesis

Sildenafil is the first phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, recent studies have been suggesting an antitumor effect of sildenafil. The current study assessed the aforementioned activity of sildenafil in vivo and in vitro in solid-tumor-bearing mice and in a human cell line MCF-7, respectively. Moreover, we investigated the impact of sildenafil on cisplatin antitumor activity. The solid tumor was induced by inoculation of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in female mice. The tumor-bearing mice were assigned randomly to control (saline), sildenafil (sildenafil 5 mg/kg/d, PO daily for 15 days), cisplatin (cisplatin 7.5 mg/kg, IP once on the 12th day of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma inoculation), and combination therapy (cisplatin and sildenafil) groups. The tumor volume was measured at the end of the treatment period along with the following parameters: angiogenin, vascular endothelial growth factor, tumor necrosis factor-α, Ki-67, caspase-3, DNA-flow cytometry analysis, and histopathological examination. The study results showed that sildenafil has significantly decreased the tumor volume by 30.4%, angiogenin and tumor necrosis factor-α contents, as well as vascular endothelial growth factor expression. Additionally, caspase-3 level significantly increased with sildenafil treatment, whereas Ki-67 expression failed to show any significant changes. Furthermore, the cell cycle analysis revealed that sildenafil was capable of improving the category of tumor activity from moderate to low proliferative. Sildenafil induced necrosis in the tumor. Moreover, the drug of interest showed cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 in vitro as well as potentiated cisplatin antitumor activity in vivo and in vitro. These findings shed light on the antitumor activity of sildenafil and its possible impact on potentiating the antitumor effect of conventional chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin. These effects might be related to antiangiogenic, antiproliferative, and apoptotic activities of sildenafil.