Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long‐term transfusion of polymerized bovine hemoglobin in a Jehovah's Witness following chemotherapy for myeloid leukemia: a case report

A 52‐year‐old female Jehovah's Witness presented with relapsed secondary acute myeloid leukemia. Because of chemotherapy‐induced anemia, she was infused with the bovine hemoglobin (Hb)‐based oxygen carrier HBOC‐201 (Biopure) as the sole means of transfusion support. HBOC‐201 has only been used for management of acute hemorrhage, and its utility in providing longer term transfusion support is unknown. Over a period of 18 days, a total dose of 1230 g of HBOC‐201 was delivered. Although the patient succumbed to the disease after 18 days of treatment, this case documents our experience with the highest dose and duration of HBOC‐201 ever used. Although possible renal toxicity could not be definitively excluded, the homogeneous extraction of oxygen by the brain in the presence of and perhaps from HBOC‐201 was demonstrated.
The Working Poor in the European Union

The aim of this study was an attempt to identify the working population at risk of poverty in the 28 European Union countries. Also, this paper attempts to define the poor population and to subsequently determine its levels and structures. It was noticed that the size and scope of poverty mostly depend on the intensity of work while the responders’ age plays a minor role. As noted in this paper, the greatest risk of poverty affects those who work for up to 20% of their full annual potential working time, as well as representatives of two opposite age brackets: young people aged 15-24 and people over 65. This paper emphasizes the relative nature of the poverty risk, which depends on the location and the socio-economic development level of the country concerned. In EU countries, the distribution of poverty depends on the position held by individuals on the labor market, including the intensity of work. The EU-SILC studies identify five types of work intensity: very low (0.0-0.2), low (0.2-0.45), medium (0.45-0.55), high (0.55-0.85) and very high (0.85-1), depending on the full annual potential working time. The higher is the intensity of work, the lower is the risk of poverty. Empirical materials are based on EU-SILC (European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions) partial studies which provide a reference point for comparing the EU income distribution and social integration statistics.
Integration of Hardware and Software Designs for Object Grasping and Transportation by a Mobile Robot With Navigation Guidance Via a Unique Bearing-Alignment Mechanism

In this paper, we consider the systematic design and implementation of grasping and transportation by a mobile robot with low implementation complexity. The study is mainly divided into three aspects: 1) design of a mechanical gripper and an arm mounted on the robot for grasping; 2) design of the hardware communication configuration (HCC) for transportation guidance that includes a destination beacon and a sensor system on the robot that working together with some designed event-triggered communication mechanisms, among which the unique bearing-alignment mechanism is designed to calibrate the heading direction of the robot, the HCC is low cost in the sense of low energy consumption; and 3) an effective and low-cost heuristic transportation algorithm that is tightly incorporated with the designed HCC in an event-triggered manner. The particular contribution is the tight integration of the heuristic transportation algorithm and the HCC, and the very simple nature of the transportation algorithm dues to this integration, which passes some computational functions to the HCC. Numerical simulations and experiments are presented, showing the effectiveness of the proposed system.
Effects of canola meal source on the standardized ileal digestible amino acids and apparent metabolizable energy contents for broiler chickens*

&NA; Two studies were conducted to determine the effect of canola meal source on the standardized ileal digestible amino acids (AA) and nitrogen‐corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) contents of canola meal (CM) from 6 processing plants in Canada. Two plants provided CM in both mash and pellet forms, while the other 4 provided CM in mash form only, giving a total of 8 samples. In the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) assay, 280 birds were housed 7 per cage and fed a commercial starter diet from 1 to 14 d of age followed by the test diets from 15 to 21 d. Diets were formulated to contain CM as the only source of protein. Chromic oxide was included in all diets as an indigestible marker. Diets were randomly assigned to 5 cages of 7 birds. On d 21, birds were euthanized by CO2 asphyxiation and digesta samples were collected from the terminal ileum for SID of AA. The SID values were calculated using ileal endogenous AA losses determination. In the AMEn assay, 330 birds were housed 6 per cage and fed a commercial starter diet from 1 to 14 d of age followed by the experimental diets from 15 to 19 d. The 8 experimental diets contained 30% of CM and 70% of a corn‐soybean meal‐based diet. There were differences (P < 0.05) among CM samples in the standardized ileal digestible content of all AA. Standardized ileal digestible contents of Arg, Lys, Met, and Thr averaged 2.17, 1.74, 0.53, and 1.03%, respectively. Pelleting reduced (P < 0.05) the standardized ileal digestible content of all AA in CM from one of the plants. There were differences (P<0.05) among CM samples in the AMEn contents with values ranging from 1,590 to 2,041 kcal/kg DM. In conclusion, there was effect of CM source on the standardized ileal digestible AA and AMEn contents. Regression equations for predicting standardized ileal digestible contents of selected AA from a simple measure of acid detergent fiber (ADF) were developed.
Calbindin‐1 association and Parkinson’s disease

Background and purpose: Calcium levels have been proposed to play an important role in the selective vulnerability of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Recently, an association was reported between the calcium buffer, calbindin (rs1805874) and risk of PD in a Japanese patient–control series.
Temperature effect on the bond behaviour of a transversely compressed mechanical anchorage system

This work was supported by FEDER funds through the Operational Program for Competitiveness Factors – COMPETE and National Funds through FCT (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) under the project FRPLongDur POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016900 (FCT PTDC/ECM-EST/1282/2014) and partly financed by the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007633. The first author wish also to acknowledge the grant SFRH/BD/98309/2013 provided by FCT. The second author acknowledges the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte) for the grant Jose Castillejo ref. CAS16/00288. Finally, the authors also like to thank the S&P Clever Reinforcement Iberica Lda. company for providing the materials.
Guitar: An R/Bioconductor Package for Gene Annotation Guided Transcriptomic Analysis of RNA-Related Genomic Features

Biological features, such as genes and transcription factor binding sites, are often denoted with genome-based coordinates as the genomic features. While genome-based representation is usually very effective in correlating various biological features, it can be tedious to examine the relationship between RNA-related genomic features and the landmarks of RNA transcripts with existing tools due to the difficulty in the conversion between genome-based coordinates and RNA-based coordinates. We developed here an open source Guitar R/Bioconductor package for sketching the transcriptomic view of RNA-related biological features represented by genome based coordinates. Internally, Guitar package extracts the standardized RNA coordinates with respect to the landmarks of RNA transcripts, with which hundreds of millions of RNA-related genomic features can then be efficiently analyzed within minutes. We demonstrated the usage of Guitar package in analyzing posttranscriptional RNA modifications (5-methylcytosine and N6-methyladenosine) derived from high-throughput sequencing approaches (MeRIP-Seq and RNA BS-Seq) and show that RNA 5-methylcytosine (m5C) is enriched in 5′UTR. The newly developed Guitar R/Bioconductor package achieves stable performance on the data tested and revealed novel biological insights. It will effectively facilitate the analysis of RNA methylation data and other RNA-related biological features in the future.
Design and implementation of three-phase AC impedance measurement unit (IMU) with series and shunt injection

Electric power systems based on power electronics technology are prone to instability due to the constant power nature of power electronics converters. The impedances defined in synchronous coordinates are useful tools to predict and evaluate three-phase small-signal system stability. This paper presents the design and implementation of an impedance measurement unit used in three-phase systems up to 100kW. It extracts the system impedance online at any specific operating point. The unit utilizes both series and shunt injection modes to perform impedance identification for any load and source conditions, even if the source is very stiff. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the designed unit with both linear and nonlinear loads.
Dissolution and bioavailability enhancement of alpha-asarone by solid dispersions via oral administration

Abstract Alpha (α)-asarone (1-propenyl-2,4,5-methoxybenzol) (ARE) has been extensively used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), bronchial asthma, pneumonia, and epilepsy. Due to its poor solubility and bioavailability, ARE was clinically administered via intravenous injection. However, severe allergies were often reported due to the presence of solublizers in the injection formulation. In our study, we sought to explore the biopharmaceutical classification of ARE, elucidate the mechanisms behind ARE absorption, and to develop a viable formulation to improve the oral bioavailability of ARE. ARE was not a P-glycoprotein substrate, which was absorbed in the passive mode without site specificity in the gastrointestinal tract. Solid dispersions prepared using hydrophilic matrix materials such as Pluronic F68, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) of varying molecular weights (PEG4K, PEG10K, and PEG20K) were proven to significantly improve the dissolution of ARE in vitro and the oral bioavailability of ARE in rats, which represent a promising strategy for the oral administration of ARE and other BCS II compounds.
Global mapping and localization for mobile robots using stereo vision

An autonomous navigation system for a mobile robot is able to build a map and localize in an unknown environment. Through this paper we present our method for mapping and localization of mobile robots using stereo vision. For mapping we used the hybrid card, consisting of nodes and arcs. Construction of a node is composed by extracting SIFT points and calculates their space projections for depth information. Arcs are the connections between the nodes i.e. the distance in the plane between the nodes to each other and they are calculated using odometry. Based on this mapping we used a method based on singular value decomposition for global localization. The results of our experimental test showed the validation of our method on mapping and localization of mobile robots based on stereo vision.
Impact of a policy to permit the return of donors repeat‐reactive to the Abbott PRISM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen assay

BACKGROUND: The expected donor loss from recent implementation of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti‐HBc) testing in Canada was uncertain but potentially significant based on US experience. To reduce donor loss from false‐reactive tests, repeat‐reactive donors without other evidence of infection were eligible to return. The aim was to evaluate the impact of anti‐HBc testing on donor loss and to evaluate the effectiveness of this policy.
A PCR technique based on the Hip1 interspersed repetitive sequence distinguishes cyanobacterial species and strains.

The use of primers based on the Hip1 sequence as a typing technique for cyanobacteria has been investigated. The discovery of short repetitive sequence structures in bacterial DNA during the last decade has led to the development of PCR-based methods for typing, i.e., distinguishing and identifying, bacterial species and strains. An octameric palindromic sequence known as Hip1 has been shown to be present in the chromosomal DNA of many species of cyanobacteria as a highly repetitious interspersed sequence. PCR primers were constructed that extended the Hip1 sequence at the 3' end by two bases. Five of the 16 possible extended primers were tested. Each of the five primers produced a different set of products when used to prime PCR from cyanobacterial genomic DNA. Each primer produced a distinct set of products for each of the 15 cyanobacterial species tested. The ability of Hip1-based PCR to resolve taxonomic differences was assessed by analysis of independent isolates of Anabaena flos-aquae and Nostoc ellipsosporum obtained from the CCAP (Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa, IFE, Cumbria, UK). A PCR-based RFLP analysis of products amplified from the 23S-16S rDNA intergenic region was used to characterize the isolates and to compare with the Hip1 typing data. The RFLP and Hip1 typing yielded similar results and both techniques were able to distinguish different strains. On the basis of these results it is suggested that the Hip1 PCR technique may assist in distinguishing cyanobacterial species and strains.
Challenge with innate and protein antigens induces CCR7 expression by microglia in vitro and in vivo

Since activated microglia are able to phagocytose damaged cells and subsequently express major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC‐II) and co‐stimulatory proteins, they are considered to function as antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the central nervous system. The maturation and migratory potential of professional APCs is associated with the expression of chemokine receptor CCR7. We therefore investigated whether the immunological activation of microglia induces CCR7 expression. We here present that activation of cultured microglia by both the innate antigen lipopolysaccharide and protein antigen ovalbumin rapidly induces CCR7 expression, accompanied by increased MHC‐II expression. Moreover, it is shown that CCR7 expression in IBA‐1 positive cells is induced during the symptom onset and progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a rodent model for multiple sclerosis. These results suggest that microglia express CCR7 under specific inflammatory conditions, corroborating the idea that microglia develop into APCs with migratory potential toward lymphoid chemokines. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
FACTORS IMPACTING TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS INCUBATOR PERFORMANCE

Technology business incubators support economic growth by developing innovative technologies. However, assessing the performance of technology business incubators in Saudi Arabia has not been well recognised. This study provides a conceptual framework for assessing technology business incubators based on knowledge sharing practices and sharing, diffusion of innovation and individual creativity. Partial least squares structural equation modelling, such as (PLS-SEM) path modelling was used to test the model. The results provide empirical insights about the performance of technology business incubators. The findings show knowledge donation and collection has positive effects on technology business incubator. The importance–performance map analysis shows additional findings and conclusions for managerial actions.
A Survey on Software-Defined Wireless Sensor Networks: Challenges and Design Requirements

Software defined networking (SDN) brings about innovation, simplicity in network management, and configuration in network computing. Traditional networks often lack the flexibility to bring into effect instant changes because of the rigidity of the network and also the over dependence on proprietary services. SDN decouples the control plane from the data plane, thus moving the control logic from the node to a central controller. A wireless sensor network (WSN) is a great platform for low-rate wireless personal area networks with little resources and short communication ranges. However, as the scale of WSN expands, it faces several challenges, such as network management and heterogeneous-node networks. The SDN approach to WSNs seeks to alleviate most of the challenges and ultimately foster efficiency and sustainability in WSNs. The fusion of these two models gives rise to a new paradigm: Software defined wireless sensor networks (SDWSN). The SDWSN model is also envisioned to play a critical role in the looming Internet of Things paradigm. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the SDWSN literature. Moreover, it delves into some of the challenges facing this paradigm, as well as the major SDWSN design requirements that need to be considered to address these challenges.
Patients' satisfaction ratings and their desire for care improvement across oncology settings from France, Italy, Poland and Sweden

There has been an increasing interest in patient satisfaction assessment across nations recently. This paper reports on a cross‐cultural comparison of the comprehensive assessment of satisfaction with care (CASC) response scales. We investigated what proportion of patients wanted care improvement for the same level of satisfaction across samples from oncology settings in France, Italy, Poland and Sweden, and whether age, gender, education level and type of items affected the relationships found.
Stress‐mediated signaling in PC12 cells – the role of the small heat shock protein, Hsp27, and Akt in protecting cells from heat stress and nerve growth factor withdrawal

We have investigated the role of stress‐activated signaling pathways and the small heat shock protein, Hsp27, in protecting PC12 cells from heat shock and nerve growth factor (NGF) withdrawal‐induced apoptosis. PC12 cells and a stable cell line overexpressing Hsp27 (HSPC cells) were subjected to heat shock. This resulted in the rapid activation of Akt followed by p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, with phosphorylation and intracellular translocation of Hsp27 also detectable. Hsp27 was found to form an immunoprecipitable complex with Akt and p38 MAPK in both non‐stimulated and heat shocked cells, although after heat shock there was a gradual dissociation of Akt and p38 from the Hsp27. Cells were differentiated with NGF and then subjected to NGF withdrawal, a treatment which results in substantial cell death over 24–72 h. Hsp27 was shown to be protective against this treatment, since HSPC cells which overexpress Hsp27 showed significantly less cell death than the parental PC12 cells. In addition, we observed that phosphorylation of Akt was maintained in HSPC cells subjected to heat shock and NGF withdrawal compared with the parental cells. Taken together, our results suggest that Hsp27 may protect Akt from dephosphorylation and may also act in stabilizing Akt.
A Risk-Based Approach for Transmission Network Expansion Planning Under Deliberate Outages

This paper presents a risk-based approach for the transmission network expansion problem under deliberate outages. Malicious attacks expose network planners to a new challenge: how to expand and reinforce the transmission network so that the vulnerability against intentional attacks is mitigated while meeting budgetary limits. Within this framework network planners face the nonrandom uncertainty of deliberate outages. Unlike in previous approaches, the risk associated with this uncertainty is explicitly addressed in the proposed model. Risk characterization is implemented through the minimax weighted regret paradigm. The resulting mixed-integer nonlinear programming formulation is transformed into an equivalent mixed-integer linear programming problem for which efficient commercial solvers are available. Numerical results illustrate the performance of the proposed methodology. The risk-based expansion plans are compared with those achieved by a previously reported risk-neutral model. An out-of-sample assessment is carried out to show the advantages of the risk-based model over the risk-neutral approach. In addition, the tradeoff between risk mitigation and cost minimization is analyzed.
A semi-automatic lightweight ontology bridging for the semantic integration of cross-domain geospatial information

Semantic integration has gained considerable attention in geographic information system (GIS) interoperability with the goal of conquering semantic heterogeneity. Over the past two decades, ontology engineering has been widely used to resolve semantic integration obstacles. However, most of the previous ontology integration approaches mainly focused on the same type of data with formal ontology. A key challenge is to identify the semantics of cross-domain data generated by different domains from their own perspectives. Given that formal ontology is not always available, this paper proposes a novel semi-automatic approach to determine the semantic relationship of cross-domain concepts based on lightweight ontologies. The semantics of each concept is presented by an extendable and structural definition framework composed of a number of resource description framework triple statements formed by common vocabularies extracted from the free-text definition of the concept. We further propose algorithms to compare the structural definition of concepts and to determine the semantic relationship of concepts between different domains. Finally, the semantic relationship of concepts from different domains is formally presented by the bridge ontology to serve future application needs. The bridge ontology of two GIS-based data, topographic map data and land use data, was developed to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach. The preliminary result shows a faithful and highly automatic semantic integration for cross-domain data.
Inhibition of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin by Rapamycin Causes the Regression of Carcinogen-Induced Skin Tumor Lesions

Purpose: The activation of Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway represents a frequent event in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) progression, thus raising the possibility of using specific mTOR inhibitors for the treatment of SCC patients. In this regard, blockade of mTOR with rapamycin prevents the growth of human head and neck SCC cells when xenotransplanted into immunodeficient mice. However, therapeutic responses in xenograft tumors are not always predictive of clinical anticancer activity. Experimental Design: As genetically defined and chemically induced animal cancer models often reflect better the complexity of the clinical setting, we used here a two-step chemical carcinogenesis model to explore the effectiveness of rapamycin for the treatment of skin SCC. Results: Rapamycin exerted a remarkable anticancer activity in this chemically induced cancer model, decreasing the tumor burden of mice harboring early and advanced tumor lesions, and even recurrent skin SCCs. Immunohistochemical studies on tumor biopsies and clustering analysis revealed that rapamycin causes the rapid decrease in the phosphorylation status of mTOR targets followed by the apoptotic death of cancer cells and the reduction in the growth and metabolic activity of the surviving ones, concomitant with a decrease in the population of cancer cells expressing mutant p53. This approach enabled investigating the relationship among molecular changes caused by mTOR inhibition, thus helping identify relevant biomarkers for monitoring the effectiveness of mTOR inhibition in the clinical setting. Conclusions: Together, these findings provide a strong rationale for the early evaluation of mTOR inhibitors as a molecular targeted approach to treat SCC.