Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Social Process Model of User-Analyst Relationships

The development of an information system is a social process involving users and systems analysts, carried out in an organizational setting. This paper presents a process model of useranalyst relationships to guide research into the social dynamics of system development. The model identifies antecedent conditions, encounters, episodes, and outcomes over the course of a project. The model asserts that established relationships between analysts and users will persist unless critical encounters change the trajectory of the project. By conceiving of systems development as a series of encounters and episodes, researchers may identify critical encounters and study the connections between preceding events and their consequences. Practitioners may use the model to diagnose problems and to enact critical encounters that move a project in a different direction. The descriptive and predictive capacities of the process model are illustrated with two case studies.
A control flow obfuscation method to discourage malicious tampering of software codes

The paper presents a control flow obfuscation method to discourage reverse engineering and malicious tampering of software codes. Given the original source codes and desired obfuscation criteria, the proposed method works by decomposing the source codes into fragments and then applying various transforms to the code fragments. As the output of our method, the transformed fragments are re-assembled and obfuscated with the designated obfuscation criteria. Moreover, since only control flows are obfuscated with a sequence of transformations that produce equivalent results of the original fragments, the final output can still preserve the same execution results as the original codes. The proposed method can be combined with other security technologies like watermarking or fingerprinting and thus help discouraging software piracy by making watermarked information embedded in software codes difficult to be reverse engineered or tampered.
Recent Advances in Clinical Natural Language Processing in Support of Semantic Analysis

Summary Objectives: We present a review of recent advances in clinical Natural Language Processing (NLP), with a focus on semantic analysis and key subtasks that support such analysis. Methods: We conducted a literature review of clinical NLP research from 2008 to 2014, emphasizing recent publications (2012-2014), based on PubMed and ACL proceedings as well as relevant referenced publications from the included papers. Results: Significant articles published within this time-span were included and are discussed from the perspective of semantic analysis. Three key clinical NLP subtasks that enable such analysis were identified: 1) developing more efficient methods for corpus creation (annotation and de-identification), 2) generating building blocks for extracting meaning (morphological, syntactic, and semantic subtasks), and 3) leveraging NLP for clinical utility (NLP applications and infrastructure for clinical use cases). Finally, we provide a reflection upon most recent developments and potential areas of future NLP development and applications. Conclusions: There has been an increase of advances within key NLP subtasks that support semantic analysis. Performance of NLP semantic analysis is, in many cases, close to that of agreement between humans. The creation and release of corpora annotated with complex semantic information models has greatly supported the development of new tools and approaches. Research on non-English languages is continuously growing. NLP methods have sometimes been successfully employed in real-world clinical tasks. However, there is still a gap between the development of advanced resources and their utilization in clinical settings. A plethora of new clinical use cases are emerging due to established health care initiatives and additional patient-generated sources through the extensive use of social media and other devices.
The Frontier Fields: Survey Design and Initial Results

What are the faintest distant galaxies we can see with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) now, before the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope? This is the challenge taken up by the Frontier Fields, a Director’s discretionary time campaign with HST and the Spitzer Space Telescope to see deeper into the universe than ever before. The Frontier Fields combines the power of HST and Spitzer with the natural gravitational telescopes of massive high-magnification clusters of galaxies to produce the deepest observations of clusters and their lensed galaxies ever obtained. Six clusters—Abell 2744, MACSJ0416.1-2403, MACSJ0717.5+3745, MACSJ1149.5+2223, Abell S1063, and Abell 370—have been targeted by the HST ACS/WFC and WFC3/IR cameras with coordinated parallel fields for over 840 HST orbits. The parallel fields are the second-deepest observations thus far by HST with 5σ point-source depths of ∼29th ABmag. Galaxies behind the clusters experience typical magnification factors of a few, with small regions magnified by factors of 10–100. Therefore, the Frontier Field cluster HST images achieve intrinsic depths of ∼30–33 mag over very small volumes. Spitzer has obtained over 1000 hr of Director’s discretionary imaging of the Frontier Field cluster and parallels in IRAC 3.6 and 4.5 μm bands to 5σ point-source depths of ∼26.5, 26.0 ABmag. We demonstrate the exceptional sensitivity of the HST Frontier Field images to faint high-redshift galaxies, and review the initial results related to the primary science goals.
Pulsewidth Modulations for the Comprehensive Capacitor Voltage Balance of $n$-Level Three-Leg Diode-Clamped Converters

In the previous literature, the introduction of the virtual-space-vector (VV) concept for the three-level, three-leg neutral-point-clamped converter has led to the definition of pulsewidth modulation (PWM) strategies, guaranteeing a dc-link capacitor voltage balance in every switching cycle under any type of load, with the only requirement being that the addition of the three phase currents equals zero. This paper presents the definition of the VVs for the general case of an n-level converter, suggests guidelines for designing VV PWM strategies, and provides the expressions of the leg duty-ratio waveforms corresponding to this family of PWMs for an easy implementation. Modulations defined upon these vectors enable the use of diode-clamped topologies with passive front-ends. The performance of these converters operated with the proposed PWMs is compared to the performance of alternative designs through analysis, simulation, and experiments.
The acute effect of hydrocortisone, deoxycorticosterone and aldosterone upon the excretion of sodium, potassium and acid by the human kidney

It is now generally agreed that an important action of adrenal steroids is to stimulate the reabsorption of sodium by the renal tubules. The mechanism is more debatable; but it is often tacitly assumed that the mineralocorticoid action of different steroids is the same, if the dose is suitably adjusted. The direct renal effects are best studied in acute experiments extending over a few hours, as secondary effects, due to disturbance of total body supplies of electrolytes, are thus minimized. Since cation excretion varies markedly at different times of day, any effect of steroids upon renal cation excretion must be assessed by comparison with control experiments, in order to take account of this diurnal rhythm. In a series of observations in the early afternoon, which have already been briefly reported (Mills, Thomas & Williamson, 1959a), it appeared that hydrocortisone (cortisol) promoted tubular reabsorption of sodium in exchange for potassium, without any increase in output ofhydrion, whereas aldosterone and deoxycorticosterone (DOC) increased the excretion of both hydrion and potassium in exchange for reabsorbed sodium. These observations have now been extended, by measuring the effect of these steroids under three other conditions: in the morning, when excretion of potassium is normally high and of acid low; at night, when the reverse condition prevails (briefly reported by Mills, Thomas & Williamson, 1959b); and in the afternoon after administration of acetazoleamide, which by inhibiting carbonic anhydrase blocks a large fraction of renal tubular acid secretion.
Exploration of optimal dosing regimens of vancomycin in patients infected with methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus by modeling and simulation

Vancomycin is the drug of choice for methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection and shows time‐dependent bacterial killing. The current study evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of vancomycin and explored its optimal dosing regimens by modeling and simulation.
Decidability and Complexity of Web Service Business Protocol Synthesis

Automatic synthesis of web services business protocols (BPs) aims at solving algorithmically the problem of deriving a mediator that realizes a BP of a target service using a set of specifications of available services. This problem, and its variants, gave rise to a large number of fundamental research work over the last decade. However, existing works considered this problem under the restriction that the number of instances of an available service that can be involved in a composition is bounded by a constant k which is fixed a priori. This paper investigates the unbounded variant of this problem using a formal framework in which web service BPs are described by means of finite state machines (FSM). We show that in this context, the protocol synthesis problem can be reduced to that of testing simulation preorder between an FSM and an (infinitely) iterated product of FSMs. Existing results regarding close decision problems in the context of the so-called shuffle languages are rather negative and cannot b.
MRI myocardial tagging

MRI myocardial tagging is now a well‐developed method for evaluation of regional myocardial contraction. A series of progressively more refined imaging strategies, combined with advances in analytic strategies have provided a strong armamentarium of methods. Important insights into normal human physiology of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function have been developed using one‐dimensional, two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional analyses of myocardial deformation. In disease states, improved understanding and detection of early alterations in myocardial function in hypertensive heart disease has been possible. In addition, improved understanding of effects of ischemia and infarction on regional function has been possible. Further, after acute myocardial infarction, clearer definition of the natural history of contractile dysfunction in the infarct region and the zone adjacent to the infarct have been possible. Similarly, effects on regional function of a number of important pharmacologic agents used for treatment, such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, beta blockers and angiotensin receptor blockers have been characterized. In the cardiomyopathies, myocardial tagging has permitted more reliable assessment of heterogeneity of segmental function, especially in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Finally, initial applications of myocardial tagging to assessment of right ventricular regional function in hypertrophied hearts with and without major congenital abnormalities have generated advances in understanding of effects of hypertrophy on right ventricular function.J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;10:609–616. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Microanatomic Analysis of the Round Window Membrane by White Light Interferometry and Microcomputed Tomography for Mechanical Amplification

Objective The round window membrane (RWM) is increasingly becoming a target for amplification using active middle ear implants. However, the current strategy of using available transducer tips may have negative consequences for the RWM. We investigated the microanatomy of the RWM to establish a basis for the design of the transducer tip for the RWM driver. Study Design Using the guinea pig as an animal model, microcomputed tomography (&mgr;CT) and white light interferometry were used to study the topography of the RWM and RW niche (RWN). The curvatures of the RWM surface were calculated using the topography data. Main Outcome Measures The 3-dimensional structure of the scala tympani terminal, saddle-shaped surface topography, and surface curvature were determined. Results The size of the scala terminal was approximated as an ellipse for which the major and minor axes were 1.29 and 0.95 mm. The average minimum and maximum radii of curvature around the center of RWM were −0.44 and +0.70 mm along the minor and major axis. Conclusion The microanatomies of the RWM and RWN have important implications for the design of the transducer tip to maximize energy transfer while minimizing its distortion and permanent disruption. Our results suggest that the size of the transducer tip should be smaller than the minor axis of the scala terminal to avoid collision with the RWN. The driver should be designed to conform to the topography and radius of curvature of the center portion of the RWM, which for a guinea pig is 0.44 mm.
Adapter molecule DOC-2 is differentially expressed in pressure and volume overload hypertrophy and inhibits collagen synthesis in cardiac fibroblasts.

DOC-2 (differentially expressed in ovarian carcinoma) is involved in Ras-, beta-integrin-, PKC-, and transforming growth factor-beta-mediated cell signaling. These pathways are implicated in the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins during progression of hypertrophy to heart failure; however, the role of DOC-2 in cardiac pathophysiology has never been examined. This study was undertaken to 1) analyze DOC-2 expression in primary cultures of cardiac fibroblasts and cardiac myocytes and in the heart following different types of hemodynamic overloads and 2) examine its role in growth factor-mediated ERK activation and collagen production. Pressure overload and volume overload were induced for 10 wk in Sprague-Dawley rats by aortic constriction and by aortocaval shunt, respectively. ANG II (0.3 mg.kg(-1). day(-1)) was infused for 2 wk. Results showed that, compared with myocytes, DOC-2 was found abundantly expressed in cardiac fibroblasts. Treatment of cardiac fibroblasts with ANG II and TPA resulted in increased expression of DOC-2. Overexpression of DOC-2 in cardiac fibroblasts led to inhibition of hypertrophy agonist-stimulated ERK activation and collagen expression. An inverse correlation between collagen and DOC-2 was observed in in vivo models of cardiac hypertrophy; in pressure overload and after ANG II infusion, increased collagen mRNA correlated with reduced DOC-2 levels, whereas in volume overload increased DOC-2 levels were accompanied by unchanged collagen mRNA. These data for the first time describe expression of DOC-2 in the heart and demonstrate its modulation by growth-promoting agents in cultured cardiac fibroblasts and in in vivo models of heart hypertrophy. Results suggest a role of DOC-2 in cardiac remodeling involving collagen expression during chronic hemodynamic overload.
Aggregation behavior of a temperature-and pH-responsive diblock copolymer in aqueous solution

Orthogonally switchable diblock copolymers show rich phase behavior in aqueous solution, in dependence on external stimuli. This behavior can be utilized for the preparation of ’smart’ drug delivery systems, which are tuned to respond in accordance to a specific physiological environment. We investigate the aggregation behavior in water of a dual-stimuli responsive diblock copolymer with a pH-responsive block composed by (diisopropylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DPA), a basic tertiary amine-based monomer, and a temperature-responsive block composed by 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate (MEO2MA), a polyethylene glycol (PEG) analogue monomer, featuring a lower critical solution temperature (LCST). In the present work, the temperatureand pH-responsive PDPA-bPMEO2MA diblock copolymer was successfully synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, as confirmed by H NMR spectroscopy. The cloud-point temperature (Tcp) was determined through turbidimetry for different pH values, and the polymer hydrodynamic radii dependence on pH at room temperature was evaluated by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), and near Tcp by temperature-resolved fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (T-FCS). The characteristic length of the aggregates formed was also assessed below and above Tcp, under acidic and alkaline conditions, by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Below Tcp, our experiments have shown the formation of small aggregates with different densities depending on the pH in solution, mainly attributed to the presence/absence of electrostatic repulsions arising from protonated/deprotonated amine groups and to the increased hydrophilicity of the temperature-responsive block under neutral and alkaline conditions. Additional large aggregates were formed above Tcp, which was found to increase above acidic pH values.
Small area analysis: a review and analysis of the North American literature.

Variations in health service use rates by geographic area have long interested researchers and policymakers. Typically, investigators comparing population-based health care utilization rates among geographic areas have demonstrated substantial variations in use among seemingly similar communities. One method of investigation is "small area analysis. " Numerous areas in North America have been studied extensively using this technique. This research has attempted to document the amount of variation found in health care use rates among areas; determine whether or not there is a pattern to such use in high- versus low-use areas; and identify the variables that are associated with the variation and explain a portion of the variation. Beyond this, many researchers have attempted to ascertain whether such variables are associated with characteristics of the population, whether they reflect differences in access and need, or whether a substantial portion of the variation is associated with differences in the medical care system itself. This review discusses the methods used to define the areas, the dependent variables that have been studied and the patterns found within them, the independent variables that have been tested, the statistical methods and analysis procedures used, the results of each study, and the policy recommendations emanating from the research. More importantly, based on what has been learned, the paper provides researchers in small area analysis with a set of recommendations for both analyzing and reporting results. These recommendations are designed to facilitate the development of a common research methodology, increase the comparability across studies, and enhance the use of this technique in the health policy formulation process.
Spartan gaussian random fields for geostatistical applications: Non-constrained simulations on square lattices and irregular grids

Spartan spatial random fields (SSRF's) are special cases of Gibbs random fields designed for simulating processes with correlated spatial variability. The SSRF's possess a probability distribution that is determined from "interactions" motivated from physical or geometric constraints, as opposed to data-oriented covariance measures. The interactions involve a frugal set of model parameters, which can be estimated from the data at small computational cost. Potential applications of SSRF's include the interpolation and simulation of environmental, health, and geophysical data sets, as well image compression. In this paper we develop methods for simulating Spartan fields without constraints on regular lattices and irregular grids in two space dimensions. We focus on the FGC Spartan model that includes fluctuations of a scalar field, its gradient and its curvature, according to a Gaussian energy functional. The methods described can be extended to more general SSRF models with Gaussian fluctuations.
[Study on effect of emodin on TGF beta 1 expression in pancreatic tissue of rats suffering from acute pancreatitis].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect and mechanism of emodin on pancreatic repairing and remodeling in treating acute pancreatitis by analyzing the change of cytokine transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF beta 1) gene expression, DNA synthesis and protein content in pancreatic tissue. METHODS Acute pancreatitis was induced in rats by intraperitoneal infusion of caerulein, treated or untreated by emodin. The animals were sacrificed at 6, 24, 48, 72 or 96 hrs after treatment separately. The mRNA expression of TGF beta 1, DNA synthesis and total protein content in pancreatic tissue were tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), 3H-thymidin method and Lowry's method respectively. RESULTS Serum amylase level was decreased significantly after emodin treatment. TGF beta 1 mRNA expression was undetectable in the intact pancreas or in 6 hrs after pancreatitis induction in the non-treated group, but revealed at 24 hrs after and reached the peak at 72 hrs later. However, in the emodin treated group, TGF beta 1 mRNA expression was detected at 6 hrs after treatment, with a higher level in 24 hrs and 48 hrs as compared with the non-treated group, and reaching the peak at 48 hrs after treatment. Moreover, the DNA synthesis and total protein content in pancreatic tissue decreased significantly at 72 hrs and 48 hrs after induction respectively, but both parameters increased significantly in the emodin treated group 96 hrs after treatment. CONCLUSION The mechanism of emodin in treating acute pancreatitis might be by way of enhancing cytokine TGF beta 1 gene expression, regulating cell growth and differentiation, stimulating the formation of extracellular matrix components, increasing DNA synthesis and protein content, and to take part in pancreatic repairing and remodeling.
Multivalent glycocluster design through directed evolution.

A vast number of biological processes are mediated by multivalent ligand-receptor interactions, including cell adhesion, host invasion by pathogens, pathogen neutralization by host and numerous cell regulatory signaling pathways. [1] Multivalency is especially important for carbohydrate-receptor interactions: whereas individual glycans[2] may bind with low affinity to a single binding site, the clustering of glycans creates a high-avidity interaction with clustered binding sites. This “carbohydrate cluster effect”[1b] has been demonstrated experimentally with synthetic multivalent carbohydrate ligands which bind well to protein targets. These ligands have included oligo- and polyvalent clusters of glycans on diverse scaffolds, including small molecules, dendrimers, polymers and even viral capsids.
Circulating miR-1, miR-133a, and miR-206 levels are increased after a half-marathon run

Abstract Context: Circulating miRNAs are potential biomarkers that can be important molecules driving cell-to-cell communication. Objective: To investigate circulating muscle-specific miRNAs in recreational athletes. Materials and methods: Three miRNAs from whole plasma before and after a half-marathon were analyzed by qPCR. Results: MiR-1, −133a, and −206 significantly increased after the race. Discussion: Increased levels of miRNAs after exercise point to potential biomarkers and to the possibility of being functional players following endurance training. Conclusion: These miRNAs are potential biomarkers of muscle damage or adaptation to exercise.