Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of lumbar spine muscle forces

This work aimed to evaluate lumbar spine muscle forces under optimal posture. For this purpose, a parametric nonlinear finite element model of the lumbar spine with ten parameters is used. L1- L5 data were obtained from computed tomography (CT) (at 1mm wide increment) of the lumbar spine of a 30- year-old man. The advantage of parametric model is that it can be used for everyone with changing the parameters. A sagittally symmetric muscle architecture with 46 local muscles are used. The concept of optimal posture is explored by minimizing the segmental sagittal moments required for the equilibrium of the passive lumbar spine under a total of 2800 N axial compression while varying the lumbar lordosis. For the optimal posture, muscle forces are evaluated by an iteration method between lumbar spine FEM and an optimization technique. Some flattening in the lumbar spine substantially reduces the required moments and internal passive shear forces. Small muscle forces are calculated for this optimal posture. Furthermore, sensitivity of muscle forces to parameters of optimization is considered and desired optimization method which resulting to activation of more muscles, is selected.
Raf-independent Deregulation of p38 and JNK Mitogen-activated Protein Kinases Are Critical for Ras Transformation*

Activated Ras, but not Raf, causes transformation of RIE-1 epithelial cells, supporting the importance of Raf-independent pathways in mediating Ras transformation. The p38 and JNK mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades are activated by Ras via Raf-independent effector function. Therefore, we determined whether p38 and JNK activation are involved in Ras transformation of RIE-1 epithelial cells. Rather surprisingly, we found that pharmacologic inhibition of p38, together with Raf activation of ERK, was sufficient to mimic the morphologic and growth transformation caused by oncogenic Ras. p38 inhibition together with ERK activation also caused the same alterations in cyclin D1 and p21CIP1 expression caused by Ras and induced an autocrine growth factor loop important for transformation. Finally, in contrast to p38, we found that JNK activation promoted Ras transformation, and that Ras deregulation of p38 and JNK was not mediated by activation of the Rac small GTPase. We conclude that a key action of Raf-independent effector pathways important for Ras transformation may involve inhibition of p38 and activation of JNK.
Semaphorin-3A and Semaphorin-3F Work Together to Repel Endothelial Cells and to Inhibit Their Survival by Induction of Apoptosis*

Semaphorin-3A (sema3A) is a neuropilin-1 (np1) agonist. It inhibits the binding of the 165-amino acid form of VEGF (VEGF165) to np1 and was reported to inhibit angiogenesis as a result. However, we find that sema3A concentrations that inhibit the mitogenic effects of VEGF165 do not inhibit VEGF165-induced phosphorylation of VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). Furthermore, sema3A inhibits the biological effects of VEGF121, a VEGF form that does not bind to neuropilins and basic fibroblast growth factor, a growth factor whose activity, unlike that of VEGF, is not inhibited by small interfering RNA directed against np1. Therefore, the mechanism by which sema3A inhibits VEGF165 activity does not depend on competition with VEGF165 for binding to np1. Sema3A induced rapid disappearance of focal contacts followed by collapse of the actin cytoskeleton in human umbilical vein-derived endothelial cells. HEK293 cells expressing sema3A repel human endothelial cells and at high concentrations induce their death by apoptosis. Furthermore, sema3A inhibited the formation of tubes from endothelial cells in an in vitro angiogenesis assay. Similar effects are induced by the neuropilin-2 (np2) agonist sema3F. These inhibitory effects are abrogated by small interfering RNAs directed against np1 or np2, respectively. The anti-proliferative effects of sema3A and sema3F are additive when the semaphorins are added as pure proteins. However, when sema3A and sema3F were co-expressed in HEK293 cells their pro-apoptotic and cell repellant activities appeared to be synergistic. These observations suggest that combinations of sema3A and sema3F may be able to inhibit tumor angiogenesis more effectively than single semaphorins.
A novel locally active learning method for SAR image classification

In this paper, we present a novel locally active learning method for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image classification. This method aims at reducing the labeling acquisition cost but at the same time retaining the classification accuracy. Based on active learning framework, the most informative samples are selected so that the required number of samples can be reduced greatly. At each iteration, we use local area as the candidates for choosing the training samples so that the ground survey is easy to take and thus the time and cost for labeling could be further reduced. The experiments on TerraSAR-X SAR images show that the proposed method obtains a promising performance for SAR image classification.
Assessment of medication adherence among type 2 diabetic patients in Quetta city, Pakistan

ABSTRACT Objectives: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a growing burden among all countries including Pakistan, with medication adherence very important to improve care. However, little is known about medication adherence in Pakistan and potential predictors among T2DM patients to provide future guidance. This needs to be addressed. Consequently, the present study sought to assess medication adherence among type 2 diabetic patients in Quetta city, Pakistan. Methods: Questionnaire based, descriptive study among 300 Pakistani patients attending public and private hospitals aged 18 years and above, having a confirmed diagnosis of T2DM, without additional co-morbidities were targeted. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic and disease characteristics. The association between socio-demographic data and study variables was compared through the Mann Whitney/Kruskal Wallis test (where applicable). The factors that were significantly associated with medication adherence were further assessed by logistic regression analysis. Results: 55.6% of patients had high adherence although overall patients reported moderate adherence. Age, gender, education, diabetes-related knowledge and treatment satisfaction were significantly associated with medication adherence. Older males with only primary education and with poor diabetes-related knowledge had the lowest adherence. Conclusions: This study presents a model that is associated with medication adherence among T2DM patients, with disease-related knowledge as a significant predictor of likely adherence. Results of the current study revealed that improved diabetes related knowledge plays a significant role in improving medication adherence. Healthcare practitioners and the system should formalize and acknowledge patient education as a key component to treat patients with T2DM. This should include a greater role for pharmacists and other professionals.
Effect of Antenna Polarization Diversity on MIMO System Capacity

The effect of circular polarization diversity on the capacity of a multiple-input-multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) system is investigated based on channel measurements. In this letter, polarization reconfigurable U-slot antennas are incorporated in a 22 MIMO-OFDM demonstrator, and the channel measurements are conducted in both line-of-sight (LOS) and non-LoS (NLOS) indoor environments. Measured results show that transmit/receive antennas radiating different polarizations are able to improve the system capacity significantly compared to antennas with the same polarization in a LOS scenario, while the extent of the improvement is reduced in a NLOS scenario. Furthermore, the factors that can affect the system capacity in both scenarios are analyzed.
Developing a new experimental model of abdominal compartment syndrome

Objective: To describe an experimental, unprecedented model that mimics the abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). Methods: twenty rats were randomly divided into four groups. To simulate ACS intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) was induced by inserting cotton surgical dressing (Zobec®), 15x15cm (intra-abdominal pressure constant and equal to 12mmHg) associated with hypovolemia induced by withdrawing blood, keeping mean arterial pressure (MAP) around 60mmHg (HYPO). To dissociate the effects of those IAH-induced hypovolemia per se, two other groups were analyzed: one with only with IAH and another with only hypovolemia. The simulation group (sham) underwent the same surgical procedure performed earlier, however, the levels of intra-abdominal pressure and MAP were kept in 3mmHg and 90mmHg, respectively. Results: By analyzing the impact of IAH on the small intestine, we observed necrosis of the villi, congestion, and neutrophilic infiltration. Hypovolemia induced only inflammation and edema of the villi. However, the association of IAH and HYPO led to hemorrhagic infarction, besides worsening of the aforementioned parameters. Conclusion: This model was effective in inducing ACS expressed by the effects found in the small
Studies in the Metabolism of Progesterone.

THE classical observations of Fraenkel,' Loeb2 and Bouin and Ancel3 during the period 1903 to 1910 established the corpus luteum as an endocrine gland whose chief function is to prepare the uterus for implantation of the fertilized ovum. Progesterone, the active hormone of the gland, was isolated and chemically characterized in 1934. Within a short time the organic chemist was able to develop synthetic methods which have made available sufficient crystalline progesterone to enable extensive studies to be made of the physiological and pharmacological properties of this hormone under a variety of experimental conditions. Now that the exact physiological role of the corpus luteum has been established we are concerned with still another problem which has as its object the elucidation of the chemical changes undergone by the progestational hormone in the course of its inactivation and excretion by the animal body. An understanding of such changes has already resulted in the development of a valuable laboratory method for the study of luteal function and, it is to be hoped, will provide information regarding "the chemical mechanisms involved when these hormones produce their physiological effects in the organs and tissues upon which they act' . It is the purpose of the present communication to review briefly past studies of the intermediary metabolism of progesterone and to describe the progress of such studies which are under investigation in these laboratories in collaboration with Drs. J. S. L. Browne and R. D. H. Heard. Previous studies designed to follow the metabolism of the corpus luteum hormone by the estimation of progesterone-like material in blood and urine by methods of bio-assay have been singularly unsuccessful. Extracts prepared from as much as 10 litres of urine from various sources failed to exhibit progestational activity.5' 6, 7 Loewe and Voss,8 however, did succeed
Experimental design applied to photo-Fenton treatment of highly methomyl-concentrated water.

This work is focused on the study of the suitability of the photo-Fenton process as a pretreatment for water highly contaminated with a methomyl commercial formulation in Advanced Greenhouses devices. Initial concentrations of reagents and pesticide were evaluated according to a central composite experimental design, with methomyl depletion and biocompatibility of the final effluent as response functions. A triad of optimal operation conditions could be determined, [Met. ](0)=50 mg L(-1), [H(2)O(2)](0)=254 mg L(-1) and [Fe(2+)](0)=77 mg L(-1) for the best elimination yield and an acceptable BOD(5)/COD value, and initial concentration of methomyl can be established as the most important parameter for the performance of the treatment due to the limitations that impose on the hydrogen peroxide doses in the presence of the excipients of the commercial formulation.
Tyrosine Phosphorylation of c-Maf Enhances the Expression of IL-4 Gene

Maf proteins are involved in a variety of biological processes, such as oncogenesis, lens development, and differentiation. In immune system, c-Maf transactivates IL-4 promoter, and ectopic expression of c-Maf skews primary T cell response toward the Th2 pathway. Numerous transcription factors are subjected to posttranslational modification. In this study, to our knowledge, we show for the first time that c-Maf is subjective to tyrosine phosphorylation in Th cells and that the level of its tyrosine phosphorylation positively correlates with IL-4 expression by peripheral Th cells, but is negatively associated with the severity of disease in NOD mice. c-Maf undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation at Tyr21, Tyr92, and Tyr131 residues in Th2 cells. Furthermore, tyrosine phosphorylation at these three residues is critical for the recruitment of c-Maf to IL-4 promoter and IL-4 production in Th cells. Taken together, this study sheds new light on the role of posttranslational modification of c-Maf in IL-4 production and Th cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.
A highly efficient inverse transform architecture for multi-standard HDTV decoder

This paper presents a VLSI implementation for inverse transforms of H.264/AVC, AVS and MPEG1/2/4. Based on distributed arithmetic, the inverse transforms of the three video coding standards share the unique architecture, which achieves less hardware cost and better decoding efficiency than separate designs. The core element of the distributed arithmetic is implemented with pipelined architecture, where only table accessing, shift and accumulation are needed. To optimize the efficiency of inverse transformation, a zero pre-detecting scheme is used in the proposed architecture. The distributed arithmetic tables are organized as differential code to reduce almost half of the ROM size. With our dedicated modularization, the proposed architecture is suitable for multi-standard HDTV applications.1
Progression of interleukin-2 (IL-2)-dependent rat T cell lymphoma lines to IL-2-independent growth following activation of a gene (Gfi-1) encoding a novel zinc finger protein

During progression of Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV)-induced rat T cell lymphomas, growth selection results in the expansion of cell clones carrying increasing numbers of integrated proviruses. These new provirus insertions reproducibly contribute to enhanced growth, allowing the emergence of cell clones from the initially heterogeneous population of tumor cells. The Mo-MuLV-induced rat T cell lymphoma lines 2780d and 5675d, which are dependent on interleukin-2 (IL-2) for growth in culture (IL-2d), were placed in IL-2-free medium to select for IL-2-independent (IL-2i) mutants. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA from these mutants, which was hybridized to a Mo-MuLV long terminal repeat probe, revealed that all mutants carried new provirus insertions (from one to four new proviruses per cell line). A locus of integration identified through cloning of the single new provirus detected in one of the IL-2i mutants, 2780i.5, was found to be the target of provirus insertion in 1 additional IL-2i cell line of 24 tested. A full-length cDNA of a gene (growth factor independence-1 [Gfi-1]) activated by promoter insertion in the 2780i.5 cells was cloned and shown to encode a novel zinc finger protein. Gfi-1 is expressed at low levels in IL-2d cell lines cultured in IL-2-containing medium and at high levels in most IL-2i cell lines, including the two harboring a provirus at this locus. Gfi-1 expression in adult animals is restricted to the thymus, spleen, and testis. In mitogen-stimulated splenocytes, Gfi-1 expression begins to rise at 12 h after stimulation and reaches very high levels after 50 h, suggesting that it may be functionally involved in events occurring after the interaction of IL-2 with its receptor, perhaps during the transition from the G1 to the S phase of the cell cycle. In agreement with this, Gfi-1 does not induce the expression of IL-2. Expression of Gfi-1 in 2780d cells following transfer of a Gfi-1/LXSN retrovirus construct contributes to the emergence of the IL-2i phenotype.
Enteral Nutrition During Multimodality Therapy in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate long-term enteral nutrition support in postoperative cancer patients. BackgroundMultimodality therapy of surgical patients with upper gastrointestinal malignancies may improve survival, but often results in substantial malnutrition, immunosuppression, and morbidity. The benefits of combined inpatient and outpatient enteral feeding with standard diets or diets supplemented with arginine, RNA + ω-3 fatty acids are unclear. MethodsSixty adult patients with esophageal (22), gastric (16), and pancreatic (22) lesions were stratified by disease site and percent usual weight and randomized to receive supplemental or standard diet via jejunostomy beginning on the first postoperative day (goal = 25 kcal/kg/day) until hospital discharge. Patients also were randomized to receive (n = 37) or not receive (n = 23) enteral jejunostomy feedings (1000 kcal/day overnight) for the 12− to 16-week recovery and radiation/chemotherapy periods. Plasma and peripheral white blood cells were obtained for fatty acid levels and PGE2 production measurements. ResultsMean plasma and cellular ω3/ω6 fatty acid levels (percent composition) increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the arginine + ω-3 fatty acid group by postoperative day 7 (0.30 vs. 0.13) and (0.29 vs. 0.14) and continued to increase over time. Mean PGE2 production decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from 2760 to 1600 ng/106 cells/mL at day 7 in the arginine + ω-3 fatty acid group, whereas no significant change over time was noted in the standard group. Infectious/wound complications occurred in 10% of the supplemented group compared with 43% of the standard group (p < 0.05); mean length of hospital stay was 16 vs. 22 (p < 0.05) days, respectively. Of the patients who received postoperative chemoradation therapy, only 1 (6%) of the 18 patients randomized to receive tube feeding did not continue, whereas 8 (61%) of the 13 patients not randomized to tube feedings required crossover to jejunostomy nutritional support. ConclusionsSupplemental enteral feeding significantly increased plasma and peripheral white blood cell ω3/ω6 ratios and significantly decreased PGE2 production and postoperative infectious/wound
A comprehensive survey of multi-objective genetic and fuzzy approaches in rule mining problem of knowledge discovery in databases

In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey on the multi-objective genetic-fuzzy approaches used in rule mining. While making this rigorous survey, we reveal that classification, association, and associative classification (integration of classification and association) rule mining are popularly used rule mining techniques in knowledge discovery in databases (KDD) for harvesting knowledge in the form of rule. The classical rule mining techniques based on crisp sets have bad experiences of ‘sharp boundary problems’ while mining rule from numerical data. Fuzzy rule mining approaches eliminate these problems and generate more human understandable rules. Several quality measures are used in quantifying the quality of these discovered rules. However, most of these objectives/criteria are in conflict with each other. Thus, fuzzy rule mining problems are modelled as multi-objective optimisation problem rather than single objective. Due to the ability of finding diverse trade-off solutions for several objectives in a single run, multi-objective genetic algorithms are popularly employed in rule mining. Additionally, our survey highlights some popular state-of-the-art application areas of these approaches. Some future researches are given with an extensive list of relevant reference to make this area vibrant and active.
Activation of JAK2-V617F by Components of Heterodimeric Cytokine Receptors*

The JAK2-V617F mutation is an important etiologic factor for the development of myeloproliferative neoplasms. The mechanism by which this mutated tyrosine kinase initiates deregulated signals in cells is not completely understood. It is believed that JAK2-V617F requires interactions with homodimeric cytokine receptors to elicit its transforming signal. In this study, we demonstrate that components of heterodimeric cytokine receptors can also activate JAK2-V617F. Expression of IL27Ra, a heterodimeric receptor component, enhanced the activation of JAK2-V617F and subsequent downstream signaling to activation of STAT5 and ERK. In addition, expression of components of the interleukin-3 receptor, IL3Ra and the common β chain, activated JAK2-V617F as well as STAT5 and ERK. Importantly, expression of IL27Ra functionally replaced the requirement of a homodimeric cytokine receptor to promote the activation and transforming activity of JAK2-V617F in BaF3 cells. Tyrosine phosphorylation of IL27Ra was not required to induce activation of JAK2-V617F or STAT5, or to enhance the transforming activity of JAK2-V617F. Expression of IL3Ra or the common β chain in BaF3 cells also enhanced the ability of JAK2-V617F to transform these hematopoietic cells. However, the heterodimeric receptor component IL12RB1 did not enhance the activation or transforming signals of JAK2-V617F in BaF3 cells. IL27Ra also activated the K539L and R683G JAK2 mutants. Together our data demonstrate that in addition to homodimeric receptors, some heterodimeric receptor components can support the activation and transforming signals of JAK2-V617F and other JAK2 mutants. Therefore, heterodimeric receptors may play unappreciated roles in JAK2 activation in the development of hematopoietic diseases including myeloproliferative neoplasms.
The effect of emotion on conditional reasoning

Book synopsis: This volume features the complete text of the material presented at the Twenty-Fifth Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. As in previous years, the symposium included an interesting mixture of papers on many topics from researchers with diverse backgrounds and different goals, presenting a multifaceted view of cognitive science. This volume includes all papers, posters, and summaries of symposia presented at the leading conference that brings cognitive scientists together. The theme of this year's conference was the social, cultural, and contextual elements of cognition, including topics on collaboration, cultural learning, distributed cognition, and interaction.
Model-based underwater inspection via viewpoint planning using octomap

During the last years, the underwater inspection of industrial assets, archaeological shipwrecks or geological/biological structures has become an area of interest. Nowadays, these inspections are done by divers or remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). This paper presents a preliminary solution for planning automatic underwater inspections for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) assuming an a priori known environment. The proposed algorithm computes the viewpoints that an AUV has to reach in order to completely scan the region/structure of interest. Then, two optimization steps are taken into account: the number of viewpoints to cover the object and the order and path to reach them. Despite the algorithm uses a brute force approach, the utilization of octree based structures to represent the environment allows to obtain satisfactory results in a short time. The proposed method is evaluated in simulation using Gazebo and the Girona 500 AUV.
Science as text, science as history: Galen on metaphor.

: This paper addresses three related questions: (1) What is Galen's theory of metaphor, and why is metaphor so important to him? (2) What is the place of metaphor in Galen's general theory of the language of science? (3) What is the relation of his theory of metaphor to his views on the historical dimension of language and to the historicity of science?