Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gastroprotective Activity and Mechanisms of Action of Bauhinia purpurea Linn (Leguminoseae) Leaf Methanol Extract

Purpose: To determine the gastroprotective activity and mechanisms of protection of the methanol extract of Bauhinia purpurea leaves (MEBP) using ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 6) were administered orally with 10 % DMSO, 100 mg/kg ranitidine or MEBP (50, 250 and 500 mg / kg) daily for 7 consecutive days prior to subjection to the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer assay. The mechanisms of gastroprotection were determined based on: i) antisecretory activity via pylorus ligation assay; ii) the role of nitric oxide (NO) and sulfhydryl group via pre-treatment of MEBP-treated rats with the respective N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or carbenoxolone (CBX) followed by the ethanol-induced assay; and iii) antioxidant activity using superoxide anion radical scavenging assay and, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. Ranitidine (100 mg / kg) was used as the reference drug. Results: MEBP exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent gastroprotective activity against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer with ulcer formation ranging between 0 and 74 % (indicated by decrease in ulcer area from 21.3 to 5.5 mm 2 ). The macroscopic observation was in line with the microscopic findings and further supported by the histological scores suggesting the antiulcer potential of MEBP. MEBP also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced volume gastric juice, as well as its free and total acidity wh ile increasing its pH. Moreover, this activity was significantly (p < 0.05) modulated in the presence of sulfhydryl group, but not NO. The extract also exhibited significant (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity. Conclusion: MEBP exerts gastroprotective activity partly via its antisecretory and antioxidant activities, as well as by modulation of sulfhydryl group, but not NO action.
Micropower IR TagA New Technology for Ad-Hoc Interconnections between Hand-Held Terminals and Smart Objects

We have developed a communication system for ad-hoc interconnections between smart objects and user terminals. The communication system is based on infrared (IR) technology and enables an ultra-low power operation, a very low price and a small size of smart objects; the power consumption needed for the communication being only a few microwatts in typical applications. The target requirements, the technical implementation principles and evaluation results by a macroprototype of the communication system are described in this paper. According to the evaluation, the communication system is feasible and the target requirements are attainable.
Distributed Representation, LDA Topic Modelling and Deep Learning for Emerging Named Entity Recognition from Social Media

This paper reports our participation in the W-NUT 2017 shared task on emerging and rare entity recognition from user generated noisy text such as tweets, online reviews and forum discussions. To accomplish this challenging task, we explore an approach that combines LDA topic modelling with deep learning on word level and character level embeddings. The LDA topic modelling generates topic representation for each tweet which is used as a feature for each word in the tweet. The deep learning component consists of two-layer bidirectional LSTM and a CRF output layer. Our submitted result performed at 39.98 (F1) on entity and 37.77 on surface forms. Our new experiments after submission reached a best performance of 41.81 on entity and 40.57 on surface forms.
Structured semi-blind interference rejection in dispersive multichannel systems

The impact of interference is one of the most capacity limiting factors in cellular networks today. In order to host more users in existing systems and maximize the capacity of future networks, the use of interference suppression techniques are instrumental. We propose a structured semi-blind parameter estimation procedure to support rejection of unknown cochannel interference (CCI) in systems facing multipath channels with non-negligible delay spread. Employing spatio-temporal processing, the proposed scheme exploits the temporal correlation present in the output signal from an antenna array and the training data of a desired user in order to find parameter estimates that fit the range space of a structured CCI model to the signal subspace of the interfering signals. Simulation results illustrating the behavior of a spatio-temporal receiver using the proposed scheme with respect to both signal-to-noise and signal-to-interference ratios (SNRs and SIRs) are presented. In addition, results highlighting the impact of the training sequence length as well as the impact of the channel model order of the CCI users are also included.
A new in vitro method for the estimation of digestibility using the intestinal fluid of the pig

1. A new in vitro method using the intestinal fluid of the pig for predicting the digestibility of diets was proposed. 2. A 0.5 g sample of pig diet was placed in a 100 ml Erlenmeyer flask, 20 mg pepsin (EC 3.4.4.1) in 10 ml 0.75 M-hydrochloric acid was added, and the mixture was incubated for 4 h at 37°. Then, after neutralization with 0.2 M-sodium hydroxide, 10 ml of intestinal fluid was added and incubated for an additional 4 h at 37°. This fluid was obtained from a pig fitted with a simple cannula in the upper jejunum. After the two-stage incubations, the contents of the flask was centrifuged for 10 min at 1250 g and the residue transferred to preweighed filter paper for dry matter (DM) and crude protein (nitrogen × 6.25; CP) determinations. The in vitro DM and CP digestibility was calculated on the basis of the original DM and CP content of the diet respectively. 3. The intestinal fluid could be stored at ∓ 20° for 60 d without losing its activity on DM and CP digestion. 4. A high correlation was found between this in vitro method and the standard in vivo procedures, for seven diets commonly used for growing or adult pigs, when diets were ground to pass through a 1 mm screen for the in vitro experiment, but there was an obvious dissimilarity between the two methods, especially in the case of CP: DM, Y = 1.04X +0.0806 (r 0.98, P < 0.001); CP, Y = 1.70X − 0.6092 (r 0.98, P < 0.001), where Y and X are in vivo and in vitro digestibility respectively. 5. This method is rapid and reproducible and particularly suited for the evaluation of a large number of samples. Since this method assesses only stomach and small intestinal digestion, it therefore may require further modification when used for diets which include large amounts of crude fibre. Also, depending on the needs of the investigator, the addition of a correction factor for endogenous faecal nitrogen loss may be required.
Mindfulness and Coping Skills as Predictors of Competitive Anxiety amongst Athletes in Indonesia

Competitive anxiety is one of the psychological factors which greatly affect athletes' performances. Competitive anxiety is divided into somatic anxiety and cognitive anxiety. This study was conducted to look at mindfulness and coping skills as predictors of competitive anxiety. Through purposive sampling techniques, some (N = 159) senior athletes, representatives of various sports from various provinces in Indonesia, with an age range of 18-40 years were included in this study. This non-experimental research method design used three questionnaires, consisting of AAQ-II (mindfulness), ACSI (coping skills), and CSAI-2R (competitive anxiety) as measurement tools. Statistical analysis, using multiple regression, showed that mindfulness and coping skills simultaneously have a linear relationship to competitive anxiety, and significantly predict a competitive anxiety level of 29%. This means that mindfulness and coping skills can decrease competitive anxiety in athletes. Further analysis found that mindfulness plays a greater role in reducing competitive anxiety than coping skills.
Induction of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE)-Oxidizing Activity in Mycobacterium vaccae JOB5 by MTBE

ABSTRACT Alkane-grown cells of Mycobacterium vaccae JOB5 cometabolically degrade the gasoline oxygenate methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) through the activities of an alkane-inducible monooxygenase and other enzymes in the alkane oxidation pathway. In this study we examined the effects of MTBE on the MTBE-oxidizing activity of M. vaccae JOB5 grown on diverse nonalkane substrates. Carbon-limited cultures were grown on glycerol, lactate, several sugars, and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, both in the presence and absence of MTBE. In all MTBE-containing cultures, MTBE consumption occurred and tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) and tertiary butyl formate accumulated in the culture medium. Acetylene, a specific inactivator of alkane- and MTBE-oxidizing activities, fully inhibited MTBE consumption and product accumulation but had no other apparent effects on culture growth. The MTBE-dependent stimulation of MTBE-oxidizing activity in fructose- and glycerol-grown cells was saturable with respect to MTBE concentration (50% saturation level = 2.4 to 2.75 mM), and the onset of MTBE oxidation in glycerol-grown cells was inhibited by both rifampin and chloramphenicol. Other oxygenates (TBA and tertiary amyl methyl ether) also induced the enzyme activity required for their own degradation in glycerol-grown cells. Presence of MTBE also promoted MTBE oxidation in cells grown on organic acids, compounds that are often found in anaerobic, gasoline-contaminated environments. Experiments with acid-grown cells suggested induction of MTBE-oxidizing activity by MTBE is subject to catabolite repression. The results of this study are discussed in terms of their potential implications towards our understanding of the role of cometabolism in MTBE and TBA biodegradation in gasoline-contaminated environments.
Identification de paramètres et séparation de sources thermiques à dynamiques différentes dans le bâtiment en utilisant la variation totale

Les procedures d’audit actuelles ne parviennent pas a predire les consommations reelles des bâtiments existants. Cet ecart entre les predictions et les mesures s’explique par les grandes incertitudes presentes dans les donnees d’entree des logiciels de simulation thermique des bâtiments. Parmi les incertitudes, on trouve les parametres physiques du bâtiment, ainsi que les conditions d’usage et les donnees meteo. Nous proposons une methode d’audit qui identifie la donnee meteo de la temperature du ciel, la conductivite des parois, et les gains internes a partir de seulement trois capteurs de temperature. De plus, nous demontrons la possibilite de separer deux composantes constitutives d’une source (les gains internes) lorsque celles-ci possedent des dynamiques differentes.
Cell biology of neuronal endocytosis

Endocytosis is the process by which cells take in fluid and components of the plasma membrane. In this way cells obtain nutrients and trophic factors, retrieve membrane proteins for degradation, and sample their environment. In neuronal cells endocytosis is essential for the recycling of membrane after neurotransmitter release and plays a critical role during early developmental stages. Moreover, alterations of the endocytic pathway have been attributed a crucial role in the pathophysiology of certain neurological diseases. Although well characterized at the ultrastructural level, little is known of the dynamics and molecular organization of the neuronal endocytic pathways. In this respect most of our knowledge comes from studies of non‐neuronal cells. In this review we will examine the endocytic pathways in neurons from a cell biological viewpoint by making comparisons with non‐neuronal cells and in particular with another polarized cell, the epithelial cell. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mianserin and Maprotiline as compared to Amitriptyline in Schevere Endogenous Depression. A New Methodological Approach to the Clinical Evaluation of the Efficacy of Antidepressants*

Present methodological problems in assessing the clinical efficacy of putative antidepressants require testing of various new strategies. The approach presented by the authors allows "natural" clinical treatments to be evaluated scientifically; double-blind conditions are replaced by other measures of bias control. In this paper, the clinical effectiveness of mianserin in homogenous groups of inpatients with severe endogenous depression is compared with that of maprotiline and amitriptyline. The frequency of change of the respective antidepressant by the physicians in charge as well as patients' self-evaluations based on v. Zerssen's Mood Scale served as outcome criteria. No difference in efficacy was found between maprotiline and amitriptyline, whereas mianserin was significantly less effective. The number of patients complaining of side effects from the two tetracyclic compounds was no less than in the case of amitriptyline. There were, however, qualitative differences; with maprotiline, myoclonic jerks were observed in some cases. The hypothesis that mianserin may possess sedative-anxiolytic rather than antidepressive properties is discussed in conjunction with methodological and theoretical implications.
Parallel weighted semantic fusion for cross-media retrieval

Efficiency and effectiveness of image retrieval IR system are based on the good interpretation and integration of multimodal information. Research results in the recent years show that combining the two modalities text based and content based even with simple fusion strategies alleviates the image retrieval results and also reduces the semantic gap. In this paper, we deploy parallel computing in weighted semantic similarity technique for IR using both text and content. This technique gives the weightage to the annotations associated with the query image based upon their semantic similarity with user's query and then establishes the semantics with database images. The semantic similarity has been measured using WordNet. For content matching, colour feature is extracted and is represented using fuzzy colour histogram FCH. Furthermore, to fuse the two modalities, image reordering with late fusion strategy is used. Parallel processing is done at data level using the single program multiple data SPMD programming model that focuses on parallel execution of semantic similarity matching computations. The proposed approach shows that the parallel computing largely reduces the response time of the system. Whereas, semantics learned at an early stage helps in reducing the semantic gap. Experiments performed on two standard datasets reveal the good efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Climate change curricula for adult audiences in agriculture and forestry: A review

Agricultural and forestry advisers and other technical service providers play an important role in supporting farmers and foresters to adapt to climate change. However, not all agricultural and forestry advisers are comfortable talking about climate change with land managers. While there is a demonstrated interest related to climate-related professional development, few examples of curricula developed with the express purpose of serving this audience and a systematic review of these curricula has not been conducted. To address this gap, we reviewed 12 curricula which were developed and implemented between 2001 and 2017. The goal of this review is to apply the lessons learned from a range of climate change-focused curricula to new, regionally or sector-specific educational programs targeting both agricultural advisers and innovative farmers. Our findings suggest that developers of future educational programs consider the following: (a) the specific needs of their audience, including topical interests and learning needs; (b) the use of interdisciplinary teams for curricula development; (c) trade-offs associated with inclusivity and depth of course content; and (d) the advantages of project-based education approaches suited for adult learning audiences. By applying these concepts to future curricula, these curricula are likely to have the greatest level of impact.
Monotypic Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Genotypes across the Uterine Cervix and in Blood Suggest Proliferation of Cells with Provirus

ABSTRACT Understanding the dynamics and spread of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) within the body, including within the female genital tract with its central role in heterosexual and peripartum transmission, has important implications for treatment and vaccine development. To study HIV-1 populations within tissues, we compared viruses from across the cervix to those in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) during effective and failing antiretroviral therapy (ART) and in patients not receiving ART. Single-genome sequences of the C2-V5 region of HIV-1 env were derived from PBMC and three cervical biopsies per subject. Maximum-likelihood phylogenies were evaluated for differences in genetic diversity and compartmentalization within and between cervical biopsies and PBMC. All subjects had one or more clades with genetically identical HIV-1 env sequences derived from single-genome sequencing. These sequences were from noncontiguous cervical biopsies or from the cervix and circulating PBMC in seven of eight subjects. Compartmentalization of virus between genital tract and blood was observed by statistical methods and tree topologies in six of eight subjects, and potential genital lineages were observed in two of eight subjects. The detection of monotypic sequences across the cervix and blood, especially during effective ART, suggests that cells with provirus undergo clonal expansion. Compartmentalization of viruses within the cervix appears in part due to viruses homing to and/or expanding within the cervix and is rarely due to unique viruses evolving within the genital tract. Further studies are warranted to investigate mechanisms producing monotypic viruses across tissues and, importantly, to determine whether the proliferation of cells with provirus sustain HIV-1 persistence in spite of effective ART.
Delirium and sleep disturbances in the intensive care unit: can we do better?

Purpose of review Delirium in the ICU affects as many as 60–80% of mechanically ventilated patients and a smaller but substantial percentage of other critically ill patients. Poor sleep quality has been consistently observed in critically ill patients. These problems are associated with worse ICU outcomes and, in many cases, delirium and poor sleep quality may be related. This review will summarize the recent literature relevant to both the problems and provide a potential pathway toward improvement. Recent findings Many cases of delirium and the poor sleep experienced by ICU patients may be iatrogenic. How critical care practitioners prescribe sedatives and analgesics and, perhaps more broadly, how all medications are administered to critically ill patients, may be at the root of some of these problems. Reducing the administration of some commonly used ICU medications, especially some sedatives and anticholinergic medications, and keeping patients more awake and actively engaged in their care during the day may lead to better outcomes. Summary It is our responsibility to apply the best available, evidence-based medicine to our practice. Adherence to new guidelines for the treatment of pain, agitation, and delirium may be the best pathway toward reducing delirium, improving sleep quality, and improving related outcomes.
Off-Label Use of Pharmaceuticals: Trends and Drivers

We identify the rate of off-label use of prescription drugs in the United States during 1993-2008. We apply Detection Controlled Estimation to a comprehensive crosssection of prescriptions and find that rates of off-label use rise from 30.2% to 39.1% during this period. This coincides with a surge in settlements of Department of Justice lawsuits for off-label marketing. Additionally, physicians are more likely to prescribe off-label when there are fewer FDA-approved alternatives and when a patient’s insurance has less restrictive formularies and lower copayments. These substitution patterns are consistent with off-label prescribing by physicians that enhances the welfare of patients. JEL Code: L51, I10, I18, I13, K23
Chromium (III) Removal by Supported Liquid Membranes: A Comparison Among D2HEPA, DNNSA, and a Novel Extractant as Carriers

A facilitated transport study in supported liquid membranes (SLM) using the extraction reagents di‐2‐ethylexilfosphoric acid (D2HEPA), dinonylnaftalene sulfuric acid (DNNSA), and a novel complexing agent, trimethyl cis,cis‐1,3,5‐tripropyl‐1,3,5 cyclohexenetricarboxilic acid (TTCHTCA) as carriers has been carried out. Organic solvents with different dielectric constants as diluents have been used to obtain the highest extraction and transport values. The results obtained have shown that, by using different organic phases (carrier and/or diluent), SLMs with different ion flux and transport ability can be obtained. The carrier concentration in the membrane and the chromium (III) [Cr(III)] ions concentration in aqueous phase have been varied to see the effect on transport of Cr(III) ions across the membrane. For the carriers D2HEPA and TTCHTCA, the transport of Cr(III), both in batch and in recirculation operation mode, has been studied. Very good results in terms of flux and transport have been obtained using TTCHTCA.
A Pilot Study of the Physiological and Behavioural Effects of Snoezelen in Dementia

Recent interest in the use of Snoezelen as an intervention for agitated behaviour in patients with dementia remains supported by limited evidence of efficacy. This pilot study aimed to develop an approach for assessing the effects of Snoezelen on agitated behaviour in patients with dementia and its comparability with an existing control intervention. Ten patients with dementia were randomised to receive a 4-week course of either Snoezelen or reminiscence therapy. The therapeutic effects were assessed using the Agitation Behaviour Mapping Instrument (ABMI) and the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) and by heart rate recording. Differences in dementia severity between the two groups hindered direct comparison of outcomes. Both interventions were well tolerated and the majority of both Snoezelen and reminiscence sessions were rated positively. The ABMI ratings suggested that Snoezelen might have reduced agitated behaviour during and immediately after the session but that this effect was short-lived. The CMAI scores indicated reduced agitated behaviour during the intervention period. Heart rate data showed both decreases and increases during the sessions for different participants. With minor modifications, the measures used will be appropriate for a full-scale comparative trial. Both interventions may have helpful short-term effects and while for some patients the sessions are primarily relaxing, for others they may have a more stimulating effect.