Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aging induces cardiac diastolic dysfunction, oxidative stress, accumulation of advanced glycation endproducts and protein modification

Evidence suggests that aging, per se, is a major risk factor for cardiac dysfunction. Oxidative modification of cardiac proteins by non‐enzymatic glycation, i.e. advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), has been implicated as a causal factor in the aging process. This study was designed to examine the role of aging on cardiomyocyte contractile function, cardiac protein oxidation and oxidative modification. Mechanical properties were evaluated in ventricular myocytes from young (2‐month) and aged (24–26‐month) mice using a MyoCam® system. The mechanical indices evaluated were peak shortening (PS), time‐to‐PS (TPS), time‐to‐90% relengthening (TR90) and maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening (± dL/dt). Oxidative stress and protein damage were evaluated by glutathione and glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG) ratio and protein carbonyl content, respectively. Activation of NAD(P)H oxidase was determined by immunoblotting. Aged myocytes displayed a larger cell cross‐sectional area, prolonged TR90, and normal PS, ± dL/dt and TPS compared with young myocytes. Aged myocytes were less tolerant of high stimulus frequency (from 0.1 to 5 Hz) compared with young myocytes. Oxidative stress and protein oxidative damage were both elevated in the aging group associated with significantly enhanced p47phox but not gp91phox expression. In addition, level of cardiac AGEs was ∼2.5‐fold higher in aged hearts than young ones determined by AGEs‐ELISA. A group of proteins with a molecular range between 50 and 75 kDa with pI of 4–7 was distinctively modified in aged heart using one‐ or two‐dimension SDS gel electrophoresis analysis. These data demonstrate cardiac diastolic dysfunction and reduced stress tolerance in aged cardiac myocytes, which may be associated with enhanced cardiac oxidative damage, level of AGEs and protein modification by AGEs.
Self-induced transparency coherent mode-locking in lasers

Coherent mode-locking (CML) is based on intracavity self-induced transparency phenomena and allows generating single-cycle laser pulses. We propose a new technique based on McCall and Hahn Area theorem, allowing to predict the main features of CML regimes, study theoretically the possibility of single-cycle optical pulse generation and provide experimental study of mode-locked regimes in laser with a coherent absorber.
Semi-supervised Category-specific Review Tagging on Indonesian E-Commerce Product Reviews

Product reviews are a huge source of natural language data in e-commerce applications. Several millions of customers write reviews regarding a variety of topics. We categorize these topics into two groups as either “category-specific” topics or as “generic” topics that span multiple product categories. While we can use a supervised learning approach to tag review text for generic topics, it is impossible to use supervised approaches to tag category-specific topics due to the sheer number of possible topics for each category. In this paper, we present an approach to tag each review with several product category-specific tags on Indonesian language product reviews using a semi-supervised approach. We show that our proposed method can work at scale on real product reviews at Tokopedia, a major e-commerce platform in Indonesia. Manual evaluation shows that the proposed method can efficiently generate category-specific product tags.
The Forward-Backward Stochastic Heat Equation: Numerical Analysis and Simulation

We prove strong convergence with optimal rates for a spatial discretization of the backward stochastic heat equation, and the forward-backward stochastic heat equation from stochastic optimal control. A full discretization based on the implicit Euler method for a temporal discretization and a least squares Monte Carlo method in combination with the new stochastic gradient method are then proposed, and simulation results are reported.
Efficacy and Safety of an Oral Somatostatin DNA Vaccine without Antibiotic Resistance Gene in Promoting Growth of Piglets

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an oral DNA vaccine against somatostatin (SS) (pGS/2SS‐asd, encoding two copies of somatostatin genes) mediated by attenuated Salmonella choleraesuis C500 without antibiotic resistance gene on piglets growth. A total of 50 piglets were uniformly divided into five groups. The animals in the first three groups were orally given vaccine in dose of either 5 × 1010, 5 × 109 or 5 × 108 colony‐forming units (CFU). The remaining two groups were orally administered with either bacteria C500 (containing pVAX‐asd plasmid without somatostatin gene) or phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) as controls. The results indicated that the vaccine induced SS‐specific antibodies in a dose‐dependent pattern. Compared with the PBS control, animals in the high‐dose group showed lower SS levels and higher growth hormone (GH) levels in sera. Average daily gain of animals in the high‐dose group was increased by 32.88% and 26.46% during 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. Anti‐SS antibodies were positively correlated with either GH levels or average daily gain at week 8 after primary immunization (P < 0.05). Faecal, soil and water samples originating from immunized piglets and surrounding environment were collected. The target gene (the fusion gene GS/2SS) of C500 (pGS/2SS‐asd) was not detected by PCR amplification in these samples, indicating that the surrounding environment was not contaminated by residual recombinant bacteria. In conclusion, the vaccine without antibiotic resistance gene is attributable to improve growth performance of piglets through an influence on GH secretion. Moreover, the immunization did not contaminate the surrounding environment of animals.
Orbital Exenteration: Results of an Individualized Approach

Purpose The authors report and evaluate their experience with an individualized approach to orbital exenteration. Methods Retrospective chart review was performed on a consecutive series of 25 orbital exenteration patients at a tertiary care center. The cases were classified into two groups for the retrospective analysis: Total exenteration procedures involved the removal of the entire orbital contents including the periorbita (13 cases), and subtotal procedures preserved at least a quadrant of the orbit or the orbital tissues posterior to the globe (12 cases). Results The total exenteration group had a lower rate of clear surgical margins and a higher rate of systemic metastasis, whereas patients in the subtotal exenteration group had fewer surgical complications and better functional and aesthetic results. Conclusions The surgical planning for orbital exenteration should take into account the location, extent, and biological behavior of the orbital disease process and the reconstructive and prosthetic options for the exenterated socket. When an individualized approach to orbital exenteration is used, subtotal procedures can offer improved functional and aesthetic results while still maximizing the chances for a surgical cure.
The Effect of Business strategy on Innovation capability, Absorptive capacity and Performance of SMEs in Pakistan

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in the development of the economy of any country. In Pakistan SMEs hold about 90 percent of the total businesses.The performance of SMEs depends upon many factors.The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between Innovation Capability, Absorptive Capacity and Performance of SMEs in Pakistan.This conceptual paper also extends to the vague revelation on Business Strategy in which act as a moderator between Innovation Capability, Absorptive Capacity and Performance of SMEs.Conclusively, this study proposes a new research directions and hypotheses development to examine the relationship among the variables in the context of SMEs in Pakistan.
Temperature mapping using the water proton chemical shift: Self‐referenced method with echo‐planar spectroscopic imaging

Respiration effects and cardiac pulsatility can induce signal modulations in functional MR image time series that increase noise and degrade the statistical significance of activation signals. A simple image-based correction method is described that does not have the limitations of k-space methods that preclude high spatial frequency correction. Low-order Fourier series are fit to the image data based on time of each image acquisition relative to the phase of the cardiac and respiratory cycles, monitored using a photoplethysmograph and pneumatic belt, respectively. The RETROICOR method is demonstrated using resting-state experiments on three subjects and compared with the k-space method. The method is found to perform well for both respirationand cardiac-induced noise without imposing spatial filtering on the correction. Magn Reson Med 44:162–167, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Ex vivo liver resection followed by autotransplantation for end‐stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis

Background For patients with end‐stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE), in vivo resection of the involved parts of the liver is usually very difficult, therefore, allogenic liver transplantation is indicated. However, we hypothesize that for selected patents, ex vivo liver resection for thorough elimination of the involved tissues and liver autotransplantation may offer a chance for clinical cure. Methods We presented a 24‐year‐old women with a giant hepatic AE lesion who was treated with hepatectomy, ex vivo resection of the involved tissue and hepatic autotransplantation. The patient had moderate jaundice and advanced hepatic AE lesion which involved segments I, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and retrohepatic inferior vena cava. The lateral segments (II and III) of the left liver remained normal with over 1000 ml in its volume. No extrahepatic metastases (such as to the lung or brain) could be found. As the first step of treatment, X‐ray guided percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD) was performed twice for bile drainage in segment III and II separately until her serum total bilirubin decreased gradually from 236 to 88 &mgr;mol/L. Total liver resection was then performed, followed by extended right hepatic trisegmentectomy and the entire retrohepatic vena cava was surgically removed en bloc while her hemodynamics parameters were stable. Neither veino‐veinous bypass nor temporary intracorporeal cavo‐caval or porto‐caval shunt was used during the 5.7‐hour anhepatic phase. The remained AE‐free lateral segments of the left liver were re‐implanted in situ. The left hepatic vein was directly anastomosed end‐to‐end to the suprahepatic inferior vena cava due to the lack of the retrohepatic inferior vena cava with AE total infiltration. Because compensatory retroperitoneal porto‐caval collateral circulation developed, we enclosed remained infrahepatic inferior vena cava at renal vein level without any haemodynamics problems. Results During a 60‐day following‐up after operation, the patient had a good recovery except for a mildly elevated serum total bilirubin. Conclusions As a radical approach, ex vivo liver resection and liver autotransplantation in a case has shown a optimal potential for treatment of the end‐stage hepatic AE. Strict compliance with its indications, evaluation of vessels of patients pre‐operatively, and precise surgical techniques are the keys to improve the prognosis of patients.
From sharecroppers to "flying farmers": New forms of tourism entrepreneurship in rural areas

The purpose of this study is to challenge the view of the rural environment as a static environment and the view of farmers as conservative actors. The focus is on mobile innovative practices by rural entrepreneurs who bring to life some of the features of the experience economy. An exploratory study concerning an association of rural entrepreneurs in the Italian region of Marche and a specific project of this association is conducted. The findings suggest that sociality and sense of belonging embedded in local rural communities can become a tool for promoting rural tourism through entrepreneurial mobile practices.
The Reliability of Linear Feature Extractors

This paper introduces the concepts of capacity and reliability of a linear feature extractor. The relationship between the capacity introduced here and the channel capacity in information theory is discussed in some detail. The reliability is associated with the least favorable distributions and gives us a measure of the effectiveness for the worst possible case. It is of particular importance in pattern recognition problems because we have no control over the distributions of the patterns. It is shown that for the family of probability distributions with covariance matrix S, the most reliable (i.e., minimax) feature extractor is the Karhunan-Loève expansion. The concept of reliability is extended to the two-class pattern recognition problem and is discussed in terms of the Bhattacharyya distance.
Serum Lipid Concentrations in Obsessive—Compulsive Disorder Patients with and without Panic Attacks

Objective: To examine serum lipid levels in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and to test whether panic symptoms affect lipid concentrations in OCD patients. Methods: We assessed 33 OCD patients and 33 healthy control subjects matched for sex and age. Results: OCD patients had higher low-density lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoprotein, and tryglyceride levels, but lower high-density lipoprotein levels, than normal control subjects. We also found that only OCD patients with panic attacks had higher serum lipid concentrations, compared with normal control subjects. Serum lipid levels of pure OCD patients did not differ from control values. Conclusion: These findings suggest that high serum lipid concentrations are related to panic anxiety rather than other symptoms of the illness.
Characterization of a factor required for the differentiation of myeloid and lymphoid cells in vitro.

The properties of a factor which is secreted by a cloned tumor cell line (JLS-V5) have been examined. The factor has been assayed in two culture systems. The factor induced the formation of colonies containing granulocytes and macrophages from mouse bone marrow cells cultured in a semi-solid agar medium. The factor also stimulated a normal primary immune response against erythrocyte antigens in immunologically unresponsive mouse spleen cultures. These spleen cultures were prepared from unimmunized mice in medium containing a deficient fetal bovine serum. The factor has been purified 500-fold from the serum-free culture supernatants of JLS-V5 cells. When the factor was treated with a variety of chemical and enzymatic reagents and then fractionated by gel filtration, the biologic activity for each culture assay resulted from the same molecular weight fractions. Acrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates the factor has a m.w. of 70,000 to 80,000.
Cancer‐ and endotoxin‐induced cachexia require intact glucocorticoid signaling in skeletal muscle

Cachexia is a wasting condition defined by skeletal muscle atrophy in the setting of systemic inflammation. To explore the site at which inflammatory mediators act to produce atrophy in vivo, we utilized mice with a conditional deletion of the inflammatory adaptor protein myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88). Although whole‐body MyD88‐knockout (wbMyD88KO) mice resist skeletal muscle atrophy in response to LPS, muscle‐specific deletion of MyD88 is not protective. Furthermore, selective reexpression of MyD88 in the muscle of wbMyD88KO mice via electroporation fails to restore atrophy gene induction by LPS. To evaluate the role of glucocorticoids as the inflammation‐induced mediator of atrophy in vivo, we generated mice with targeted deletion of the glucocorticoid receptor in muscle (mGRKO mice). Muscle‐specific deletion of the glucocorticoid receptor affords a 71% protection against LPS‐induced atrophy compared to control animals. Furthermore, mGRKO mice exhibit 77% less skeletal muscle atrophy than control animals in response to tumor growth. These data demonstrate that glucocorticoids are a major determinant of inflammation‐induced atrophy in vivo and play a critical role in the pathogenesis of endotoxemic and cancer cachexia. —Braun, T. P., Grossberg, A. J., Krasnow, S. M. , Levasseur, P. R. , Szumowski, M. , Zhu, X. X. , Maxson, J. E. , Knoll, J. G. , Barnes, A. P., and Marks, D. L. , Cancer‐ and endotoxin‐induced cachexia require intact glucocorticoid signaling in skeletal muscle. FASEB J. 27, 3572–3582 (2013). www.fasebj. org
Investigating the Efficiencies of World Cup Teams via DEA Approach

It is crucial to analyze football teams since football has increasingly become a significant industry within the economy. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) has been applied to many branches and especially to football. This paper investigates the technical efficiency levels of national teams participating in World Cup 2014 to shed light on the sport performance. Input oriented CCR/BCC model and super efficiency analyses have been used to investigate the football efficiencies. In this study, passes completed, attempts on target and possession are used as input while the only output is goal scored. The results have illustrated that World Cup winner Germany is found as efficient on both CCR and BCC model. On the other hand, only four teams are technically efficient within 32 teams while nine teams have demonstrated pure efficiency. Colombia is the most efficient team for both CCR and BCC super efficiency model. In this regard, we may conclude that efficiency would be a viable instrument in analyzing the football teams.
Size of Suspended Bacterial Cells and Association of Heterotrophic Activity with Size Fractions of Particles in Estuarine and Coastal Waters

The size of bacteria and the size distribution of heterotrophic activity were examined in estuarine, neritic, and coastal waters. The data indicated the small size of suspended marine bacteria and the predominance of free-living cells in numerical abundance and in the incorporation of dissolved amino acids. The average per-cell volume of suspended marine bacteria in all environments was less than 0.1 μm3. Cell volume ranged from 0.072 to 0.096 μm3 at salinities of 0 to 34.3‰ in the Newport River estuary, N.C. , and from 0.078 to 0.096 μm3 in diverse areas of the Gulf of Mexico. Thus, the free-living bacteria were too small to be susceptible to predation by copepods. In the Newport River estuary, ca. 93 to 99% of the total number of cells and 75 to 97% of incorporated tritium (from 3H-labeled mixed amino acids) retained by a 0.2-μm-pore-size filter passed through a 3.0-μm-pore-size filter. Although the amino acid turnover rate per cell was higher for the bacteria in the >3.0-μm size fraction than in the <3.0-μm size fraction, the small number of bacteria associated with the >3.0-μm size particles resulted in the low relative contribution of attached bacteria to total heterotrophic activity in the estuary. For coastal and neritic samples, collected off the coast of Georgia and northeast Florida and in the plume of the Mississippi River, 56 to 98% of incorporated label passed through a 3.0-μm-pore-size filter. The greatest activity in the >3.0-μm fraction in the Georgia Bight was at nearshore stations and in the bottom samples. Our data were consistent with the hypothesis that resuspension of bottom material is an important factor in influencing the proportion of heterotrophic activity attributable to particle-associated bacteria.
Genetic and Environmental Predictors of Alcohol Use in Asian American Young Adults.

OBJECTIVE Among Asian American young adults, variations in alcohol-metabolizing genes (i.e., aldehyde dehydrogenase [ALDH2] and alcohol dehydrogenase [ADH1B]) are protective, whereas Korean ethnicity, family history of alcohol problems (FH), and acculturation represent risk factors for alcohol misuse. This study aims to integrate these genetic and environmental factors in a sample of Asian Americans expressing a wide range of alcohol use behaviors and problems. METHOD Participants were 97 Asian American young adults (42% female) recruited as heavy and light drinkers (n = 49 and 48, respectively). Participants completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Timeline Followback, Vancouver Acculturation Index, and Family Tree Questionnaire. All participants provided buccal cell samples for DNA analysis. RESULTS Family history-positive (FH+) subjects reported greater alcohol use than family history-negative (FH-) subjects. A FH × ALDH2 interaction was observed such that FH- subjects demonstrated no ALDH2 effect, yet in FH+ subjects, the ALDH2*2 genotype was associated with increased alcohol use. A significant main effect of acculturation was also moderated by FH such that the positive association between acculturation and alcohol use was greater among FH+ subjects and, in particular, among FH+ men. CONCLUSIONS Although preliminary, these results suggest that the potential protective effects conferred by ALDH2 and ADH1B are moderated by FH, such that a positive FH appeared to abolish the protective effect of these genes. Further, acculturation was associated with greater alcohol use in FH+ subjects only. If replicated in larger samples, these data suggest that alcohol-metabolism genes may not be protective in the context of high environmental risk.
Recommending Sources in News Recommender Systems

Recommender systems aim to deliver the most suitable item to the user without the manual effort of the user. It is possible to see the applications of recommender systems in a lot of different domains like music, movies, shopping and news. Recommender system development have many challenges. But the dynamic and diverse environment of news domain makes news recommender systems a little bit more challenging than other domains. During the recommendation process of news articles, personalization and analysis of news content plays an important role. But beyond recommending the articles itself, we think that where the news come from is also very important. Different news sources have their own style, view and way of expression and they may give the user a complete, balanced and wide perspective of news stories. In this paper we explain the need for including news sources in news recommendation and propose a news source recommendation method by finding out the implicit relations and similarities between news sources by using semantics and association
Dynamic online collaborative information sharing in semantic multicast

Semantic multicast defines a large scale shared interaction infrastructure which provides a seamless environment for collecting, indexing, and disseminating the information produced in collaborative sessions to the correct users in the right amount of detail using IP multicast as the underlying data communication mechanism. A semantic multicast graph is discovered and constructed to organize user requests into a hierarchy of group requests that represents an increasingly specialized range and quality of semantic topics as one goes down the hierarchy. It establishes a logical flow of collaboration stream between interest groups. A semantic multicast graph is mapped onto a hierarchy of cooperating network content agents that gather information streams and incrementally enrich, archive and filter the streams for the semantic coverage of specific interest groups in the graph. Through this mechanism, the semantic multicast framework amortizes processing on information streams by automatically moving common operations on information streams needed to satisfy multiple user requests to content agents providing the services.