Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fiber Orientation in the Canine Left Ventricle during Diastole and Systole

Fiber orientation across the left ventricular myocardial wall has been studied. Specimens were obtained from 18 dog hearts rapidly fixed in situ in systole, in diastole, and in dilated diastole. Fiber orientation was determined across the free wall at eight sites from a T-shaped specimen by measurements with light microscopy in serial paraffin sections. Results indicate: (1) The wall has a well-ordered distribution of fiber angles varying from about 60° (from the circumferential direction) at the inner surface to about –60° on the outer surface. The greatest change in angle with respect to wall thickness occurs at the two surfaces (endocardial and epicardial). (2) Fiber angles did not change significantly during the transition from diastole to systole, despite a 28% increase in wall thickness (except in the papillary muscle root region). (3) The proportion of fibers lying in the sector of fiber angles oriented circumferentially (0±22.5°) to those oriented longitudinally (67.5 to 90° and –67.5 to –90°) is approximately 10:1. This ratio increases toward the base and diminishes toward the apex of the left ventricle. (4) All fiber angles in the lateral wall of hearts in systole increased through the wall by approximately 7° near the base and 19° near the apex relative to their counterparts in diastole, indicating bending or torsion of the left ventricle during contraction.
Model equations for the kinetics of covalent irreversible enzyme inhibition and spontaneous reactivation: Esterases and organophosphorus compounds

Type B carboxylesterases (acetylcholinesterases, neuropathy target esterase, serine peptidases), catalyse the hydrolysis of carboxyl-ester substrates by formation of a covalent acyl-enzyme intermediate and subsequent cleavage and release of the acyl group. Organophosphorus compounds, carbamates, and others exert their mechanism of neurotoxicity by permanent covalent organophosphorylation or carbamylation at the catalytic site of carboxylesterases. Classical kinetic studies converted the exponential kinetic equation to a logarithmic equation for graphic analysis. This process, however, does not allow analysing complex situations. In this paper, kinetic model equations are reviewed and strategies developed for the following cases: (a) single enzyme, with classical linear equation; (b) multi-enzymatic system—discriminating several inhibitor-sensitive and inhibitor-resistant components; (c) ‘ongoing inhibition’—high sensitive enzymes can be significantly inhibited during the substrate reaction time, the model equations need a correction; (d) spontaneous reactivation (de-phosphorylation)—one or several components can be simultaneously inhibited and spontaneously reactivated; (e) spontaneous reactivation from starting time with the enzyme being partly or totally inhibited; (f) aging—single enzyme can be inhibited, spontaneously reactivated and dealkylating reaction (‘aging’) simultaneously occurs; and (g) aging and spontaneous reactivation from starting time with the enzyme being partly or totally inhibited. Analysis of data using the suggested equations allows the deduction of inhibition kinetic constants and the proportions of each of the enzymatic components. Strategies for practical application of the models and for obtaining consistent kinetic parameters, using multi-steps approaches or 3D fitting, are presented.
Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Status in Children Born Small for Gestational Age: Evidence of Lipid Peroxidation

Children born small for gestational age are known to be at increased risk for adult diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Oxidative stress is a common feature of these pathogenic conditions and can be the key link between size at birth and increased morbidity later in life. The purpose of this study was to analyze the parameters of lipoperoxidation and changes in antioxidant defense system as well as assess their relationship to birth weight. Concentrations of thiobarbituric-acid-reactive-substances and F2-isoprostanes, total antioxidant status, and the activity of both superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were measured in 65 children (33 boys, 32 girls; ages 8–13 y). Thiobarbituric-acid-reactive-substances and F2-isoprostane levels were significantly elevated in children born small for gestational age. Nevertheless, superoxide dismutase activity was significantly elevated in these children and the levels of both glutathione peroxidase activity and total antioxidant status were unchanged. Moreover, we found that systolic blood pressure was positively associated with thiobarbituric-acid-reactive-substances levels in race- and gender-adjusted models but not in a multivariable regression model. In conclusion, the current study revealed that there is evidence of oxidative stress in children born small for gestational age as supported by increased lipid peroxidation.
A randomized phase III study of rubitecan (ORA) vs. best choice (BC) in 409 patients with refractory pancreatic cancer report from a North-American multi-center study.

4013 Background: Rubitecan (Orathecin), an oral topoisomerase I inhibitor, showed promising activity in pancreatic cancer in previous single-center Phase 2 studies in US and Europe. Our objective was to compare ORA with BC (physicians' best choice of treatment or care). Primary end-point: Median survival (MS) . Secondary endpoints: Response rate (RR), progression- free survival (PFS) and safety. METHODS ORA was administered orally at a dose of 1.5 mg/m2 for 5 consecutive days each week for 8 or more weeks. BC consisted of standard regimens of best alternative chemotherapy (89%) or supportive care (11%). CT scans were followed every 8 weeks. RESULTS 198 patients (pts) were randomized to ORA and 211 to BC. More than 90% were resistant to prior chemotherapy and 70% were refractory to 2 or more prior regimens. 49% of BC patients crossed over to rescue therapy with ORA at time of failure. No significant difference was noted in MS time (ORA: 108 days, BC 94 days, p =0.626), whereas a significant survival advantage was observed for BC pts crossed over to ORA vs. BC non-rescue pts, 147 days vs. 60 days (P<0.0001). In pts with measurable disease (59%), there were 12 independently verified ( blinded radiology review) responders for ORA (2 CR and 10 PR) for a RR of 11%, compared to one responder (<1%; 1 CR) for BC (p< 0.001). Stable disease (SD) was also more common on ORA (44 pts vs. 27 pts). On an Intent-To-Treat basis, more than 2-fold more pts on ORA (28% vs. 13%) achieved tumor growth control (CR +PR +SD), a primary objective for palliative treatment in this disease (Heinemann et al., Oncology 60:8-18, 2001). Median PFS was significantly longer for ORA, 58 days vs. 48 days (p =0.003). ORA was well tolerated as <5% discontinued treatment due to toxicity. Grade 3-4 toxicity was more common for ORA (neutropenia 28% vs. 14%; anemia 21% vs. 9%; nausea/vomiting 14% vs. 9%; diarrhea 12% vs. 5%). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study support the notion that rubitecan, a new oral medication with an acceptable risk-benefit ratio, is convenient to use, and can achieve tumor growth control in a disease with few treatment options. [Table: see text].
Among B-Type Cyclins Only CLB5 and CLB6 Promote Premeiotic S Phase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae cyclin Clb5 is required for premeiotic S phase, meiotic recombination, and successful progression through meiosis. Clb5 is not essential for mitotic proliferation because Clb1–Clb4 can support DNA replication in clb5 clb6 mutants. Clb1, Clb3, and Clb4 accumulate in clb5 clb6 cells during meiotic differentiation yet fail to promote premeiotic DNA replication. When expressed under the regulation of the CLB5 promoter, Clb1 and Clb3 accumulate and are active in the early stages of meiotic differentiation but cannot induce premeiotic DNA replication, suggesting that they do not target Cdk1 to the necessary substrates. The Clb5 hydrophobic patch (HP) residues are important for Clb5 function but this motif alone does not provide the specificity required for Clb5 to induce premeiotic S phase. Domain exchange experiments demonstrated that the amino terminus of Clb5 when fused to Clb3 confers upon Clb3 the ability to induce premeiotic S phase. Chimeric cyclins containing smaller regions of the Clb5 amino terminus displayed reduced ability to activate premeiotic DNA replication despite being more abundant and having greater associated histone H1 kinase activity than endogenous Clb5. These observations suggest that Clb5 has a unique ability to trigger premeiotic S phase and that the amino-terminal region of Clb5 contributes to its specificity and regulates the functions performed by the cyclin–Cdk complex.
Involvement of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cascade During Oocyte Maturation and Fertilization in Mammals1

Abstract Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is a family of Ser/Thr protein kinases that are widely distributed in eukaryotic cells. Studies in the last decade revealed that MAPK cascade plays pivotal roles in regulating the meiotic cell cycle progression of oocytes. In mammalian species, activation of MAPK in cumulus cells is necessary for gonadotropin-induced meiotic resumption of oocytes, while MAPK activation is not required for spontaneous meiotic resumption. After germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), MAPK is involved in the regulation of microtubule organization and meiotic spindle assembly. The activation of this kinase is essential for the maintenance of metaphase II arrest, while its inactivation is a prerequisite for pronuclear formation after fertilization or parthenogenetic activation. MAPK cascade interacts extensively with other protein kinases such as maturation-promoting factor, protein kinase A, protein kinase C, and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, as well as with protein phosphatases in oocyte meiotic cell cycle regulation. The cross talk between MAPK cascade and other protein kinases is discussed. The review also addresses unsolved problems and discusses future directions.
A Comparative Study Between Neural Network and Maximum Likelihood in the Satellite Image Classification

In this paper it's showed a comparative study between two techniques of satellite image classification. The studied techniques are the Maximum Likelihood statistical method and an Artificial Intelligence technique based in Neural Networks. The analyzed images were scanned by CBERS 1 satellite and supplied by Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE). These images refer to Province of Rondonia area and were obtained by CBERS 1 IR-MSS sensor.
Neural Stem Cells, Neural Progenitors, and Neurotrophic Factors

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have been proposed as a promising cellular source for the treatment of diseases in nervous systems. NSCs can self-renew and generate major cell types of the mammalian central nervous system throughout adulthood. NSCs exist not only in the embryo, but also in the adult brain neurogenic region: the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle. Embryonic stem (ES) cells acquire NSC identity with a default mechanism. Under the regulations of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and fibroblast growth factors, the NSCs then become neural progenitors. Neurotrophic and differentiation factors that regulate gene expression for controlling neural cell fate and function determine the differentiation of neural progenitors in the developing mammalian brain. For clinical application of NSCs in neurodegenerative disorders and damaged neurons, there are several critical problems that remain to be resolved: 1) how to obtain enough NSCs from reliable sources for autologous transplantation; 2) how to regulate neural plasticity of different adult stem cells; 3) how to control differentiation of NSCs in the adult nervous system. In order to understand the mechanisms that control NSC differentiation and behavior, we review the ontogeny of NSCs and other stem cell plasticity of neuronal differentiation. The role of NSCs and their regulation by neurotrophic factors in CNS development are also reviewed.
Trafﬁc Isolation on Multi-Tenant Data Center Networks

To satisfy demanding clients and o ↵ er features comparable to the competition, infrastructure-as-a-service providers (IaaS) need fast, ﬂexible and easily conﬁgurable local networks. OpenStack is one of the most well known open IaaS platforms. Although OpenStack meets most needs of a IaaS platform, its virtualized network implementation still lacks ﬂexibility to support isolation on a multi-tenant network environment. Inthiswork, we developed an application to provide tra � c isolation on a multi-tenant data center network that works together with OpenStack, o ↵ ering a virtualized network environment that follows the SDN paradigm. VLANs, GRE, and MPLS require extra packet ﬁelds to encapsulate packets and provide tra � c isolation. Moreover, those approaches have a limited network segment space. For instance, VLANs are subject to scalability limitations resulting from space limitations since only 4000 VLANs are allowed. Our approach does not require additional packet ﬁelds neither has small segment space. By applying the Software Deﬁned Networks paradigm, the isolation process through packet header re-writing is utilized without requiring any changes to the virtualized network environment or any special hardware. We evaluate our application in real scenarios measuring latency, bandwidth, isolation. The results validate our application for Multi-Tenant data centers.
Achieving a near‐optimum erasure correction performance with low‐complexity LDPC codes

Low‐density parity‐check (LDPC) codes are shown to tightly approach the performance of idealized maximum distance separable (MDS) codes over memoryless erasure channels, under maximum likelihood (ML) decoding. This is possible down to low error rates and even for small and moderate block sizes. The decoding complexity of ML decoding is kept low thanks to a class of decoding algorithms, which exploit the sparseness of the parity‐check matrix to reduce the complexity of Gaussian elimination. ML decoding of LDPC codes is reviewed at first. A performance comparison among various classes of LDPC codes is then carried out, including a comparison with fixed‐rate Raptor codes for the same parameters. The results confirm that a judicious LDPC code design allows achieving a near‐optimum performance over the erasure channel, with very low error floors. Furthermore, it is shown that LDPC and Raptor codes, under ML decoding, provide almost identical performance in terms of decoding failure probability vs. overhead. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oncologists' perspectives on concurrent palliative care in a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand oncology clinicians' perspectives about the care of advanced cancer patients following the completion of the ENABLE II (Educate, Nurture, Advise, Before Life Ends) randomized clinical trial (RCT) of a concurrent oncology palliative care model. Method: This was a qualitative interview study of 35 oncology clinicians about their approach to patients with advanced cancer and the effect of the ENABLE II RCT. Results: Oncologists believed that integrating palliative care at the time of an advanced cancer diagnosis enhanced patient care and complemented their practice. Self-assessment of their practice with advanced cancer patients comprised four themes: (1) treating the whole patient, (2) focusing on quality versus quantity of life, (3) “some patients just want to fight,” and (4) helping with transitions; timing is everything. Five themes comprised oncologists' views on the complementary role of palliative care: (1) “refer early and often,” (2) referral challenges: “Palliative” equals “hospice”; “Heme patients are different,” (3) palliative care as consultants or co-managers, (4) palliative care “shares the load,” and (5) ENABLE II facilitated palliative care integration. Significance of results: Oncologists described the RCT as holistic and complementary, and as a significant factor in adopting concurrent care as a standard of care.
A Statistical Modelling Approach to Detecting Community in Networks

There has been considerable recent interest in algorithms for finding communities in networks - groups of vertex within which connections are dense (frequent), but between which connections are sparser (rare). Most of the current literature advocates an heuristic approach to the removal of the edges (i.e., removing the links that are less significant using a well-designed function). In this article, we will investigate a technique for uncovering latent communities using a new modelling approach, based on how information spread within a network. It will prove to be easy to use, robust and scalable. It makes supplementary information related to the network/community structure (different communications, consecutive observations) easier to integrate. We will demonstrate the efficiency of our approach by providing some illustrating real-world applications, like the famous Zachary karate club, or the Amazon political books buyers network.
A hybrid approach of feature extraction for content-based recommender system

Recommendation systems have gained popularity in the last decades, having a big impact on business models and consumers. This article describes a hybrid approach on feature extraction on a recommender system for business recommendations using a large scale dataset provided by Yelp, one of the most popular review websites. We extract features from the provided dataset using a hybrid technique and we use content-based models in order to identify future users’ preferences. We evaluate and compare the systems’ performances using Root metrics Mean Squared Error. Keywords-recommendation systems; personalization; content based; feature extraction;
A Software-Defined Network Based Node Selection Algorithm in WSN Localization

Localization technologies in wireless sensor networks have been suffering from great energy consumption problem due to the energy-constrained characteristic of the networks. Existing power allocating solutions are mostly distributed for the lack of global network knowledge. In this paper, we investigate localization algorithm with the support of software-defined network (SDN) technique and propose a localization node selection algorithm based on the cramer-rao lower bound (CRLB). By making use of the global network knowledge provided by the SDN controller, we formulate the issues into a 0-1 programming problem on the premise of energy satisfaction. Simulation results show that significant improvement in localization performance can be achieved with our proposed SDN based algorithm.
How can a Social Robot Affect Children in a Playful Environment: A Study of Non-verbal Sounds

This research describes a design study where a social robot engages with two children, playing together in a game of 3D memory. The children take turns to find pairs of tangible items, hidden under crates. The paper focuses on the di↵erence between use of functional and social sounds, produced by the robot, while trying to engage children to play together. The purpose of this design is to see if di↵erent types of sounds a↵ect the way children perceive interactive play. Unfortunately, our questionnaire construct showed low internal consistency. Therefore we analyzed every question on its own. This made us find a significant lower level usefulness in the functional condition (p =0 .021). Results from a cognitive walkthrough and performance analysis strengthened this finding. However, the overall results still show there is limited evidence of significant variety in perception between the di↵erent sound conditions, or even with the control condition that has no sound at all.
Development of Recombinant Human IgA for Anticardiolipin Antibodies Assay Standardization

Controls and calibrators in autoimmune assays are typically developed from patient sera. However, the use of sera is accompanied by a number of disadvantages, such as lack of monospecificity, lack of assay comparability, and supply limitations. Ideally, the control reagent would be an antigen‐specific human monoclonal antibody preparation that is defined and pure, easy to produce without any supply limitations, and of defined isotype (IgG, IgM, or IgA). The generation of antigen‐specific human monoclonal antibodies has been complicated, but recent advances in development of fully human antibodies by means of in vitro antibody gene library selection has opened a way for the isolation of human antibodies to virtually any antigen, including self‐antigens. Such antibodies can be converted to any isotype by gene cloning. Here we developed a set of human monoclonal IgA antibodies specific for the cardiolipin–β2‐glycoprotein 1 complex, using the HuCAL® technology. We evaluated the IgA variants of those antibodies for their use as standards in IgA anticardiolipin antibody assays and compared these reagents with serum controls. Such recombinant antibodies may ultimately replace patient sera as assay control and calibration reagents.
Transgenic strategies in reproductive endocrinology

The present discussion surveys some of the recently published studies utilizing transgenic strategies to address questions in reproductive endocrinology. Beginning with a brief introduction of the transgenic method itself, the following areas are covered: 1. Sexual development and Müllerian‐inhibiting substance; 2. Hypogonadal mice and hypothalamic GnRH; 3. The GnRH neuron: generation of immortalized rare cell types; 4. Glyco‐protein hormones: immortalized cells, development and evolution; 5. Growth hormone and reproduction; and, 6. Gestation and the insulin‐like growth factors. In each section, the discussion attempts to be integrative with respect to the significance of the results to physiological, cellular and molecular biology. We believe this approach is appropriate, as transgenic science itself is necessarily an integration of all of these levels of investigation and participation from those working at all levels is needed. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The changing face of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

phology remains crucial in these conditions since speedy accurate diagnosis is of considerable importance, permitting rapid institution of appropriate treatment and making long-term survival likely. The FAB group saw their classification as important for clinical trials and as a framework for what became immunophenotyping. The classifications became equally important as a framework for the rapid advances in cytogenetics and later molecular genetics that were to occur, giving haematologists and others a common agreed language for the exchange of knowledge. Not even a good classification suffices for ever. The FAB classification survived for a quarter of a century. By 2007, entering ‘FAB classification leukemia’ into PubMed produced 1137 articles. Nevertheless new techniques are being applied to the classification of the acute leukemias and are yielding clinically relevant information. Immunophenotyping divided acute leukemias into broad groups. Cytogenetic and molecular genetic analysis has produced an increasingly detailed and complex classification but with the parallel development of targeted therapies this is likely to have increasing clinical relevance. The 2008 World Health Organisation (WHO) classification of ‘Tumours of Haemopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues’ is likely to have approaching 40 categories of acute leukemia. Some of these may be purely molecular categories.