Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ethanol enhances retinoic acid metabolism into polar metabolites in rat liver via induction of cytochrome P4502E1.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Long-term and excessive ethanol intake results in decreased plasma and hepatic levels of retinoic acid (RA), the most active derivative of vitamin A. The decrease of RA by ethanol treatment has been proposed to be a cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYP)-dependent process. However, the role of the major ethanol-induced CYP, CYP2E1, in the metabolism of RA has not been defined. METHODS In vitro incubations of RA with microsomal fractions of liver tissue containing CYPs from either ethanol-exposed or non-ethanol-exposed rats were carried out using chemical inhibitors and antibodies against various CYPs. In vivo, both ethanol-exposed and non-ethanol-exposed rats were treated with or without chlormethiazole, a specific CYP2E1 inhibitor, for 1 month. RA and its catabolic metabolites were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and spectral analysis. RESULTS Incubation of RA with the liver microsomal fraction from ethanol-exposed rats resulted in greater disappearance of RA and increased appearance of 18-hydroxy-RA and 4-oxo-RA compared with control rat liver microsomal fractions. The enhancement of RA catabolism by ethanol was inhibited by both CYP2E1 antibody and specific inhibitors (allyl sulfide and chlormethiazole) in a dose-dependent fashion, whereas the metabolism of RA into polar metabolites was abolished completely by nonspecific CYP inhibitors (disulfiram and liarozole). Furthermore, treatment with chlormethiazole in ethanol-fed rats in vivo restored both hepatic and plasma RA concentrations to normal levels. CONCLUSIONS Ethanol-induced CYP2E1 plays a major role in the degradation of RA, which may provide a possible biochemical mechanism for chronic and excessive ethanol intake as a risk for both hepatic and extrahepatic cell proliferation and carcinogenesis.
Abstract—corporate Social Responsibility (csr) Viewpoint Have

challenged the traditional perception to understand corporations position. Production-and managerial-centred views are expanding towards reference group-centred policies. Consequently, the significance of new kind of knowledge has emerged. In addition to management of the organisation, the idea of CSR emphasises the importance to recognise the value-expectations of operational environment. It is know that management is often well-aware of corporate social responsibilities, but it is less clear how well these high level goals are understood in practical product design and development work. In this study, the apprehension above proved to be real to some degree. While management was very aware of CSR it was less familiar to designers. The outcome shows that it is essential to raise ethical values and issues higher in corporate communication, if it is wished that they materialize also in products.
Intragraft Toll-like receptor profiling in acute renal allograft rejection.

BACKGROUND Experimental studies have shown potential for Toll-like receptor (TLR) profiling in renal allograft in predicting renal outcome after transplantation. Our goal was to determine if profiling of TLR1-10 and TLR-related genes could be used as a prognostic value for renal function and late clinical outcome after transplantation. METHODS TLR1-10, CD14, MD-2 and negative regulators Toll-interacting protein (TOLLIP) and single immunoglobulin domain IL-1R-related receptor were analysed in 36 biopsies from renal transplant recipients with acute rejection (AR) and in 14 biopsies from renal transplant recipients without rejection (NR). Analysis was performed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. TLR (-related) genes were correlated to Banff'07 classification, cellular influx, response to conventional anti-rejection therapy, renal function 12 and 24 months after rejection and graft loss. RESULTS mRNA levels of most TLRs were significantly higher in acute rejection while TOLLIP mRNA level was decreased. mRNA levels of TLR1/2/4/7/8 were highly accurate in distinguishing AR from NR. TLR mRNA levels correlated to inflammatory parameters according to the Banff'07 classification and to cellular influx. Elevated mRNA level of TLR3 in acute rejection was independent from infiltrating leukocytes. TLR (-related) genes were not correlated with response to conventional anti-rejection therapy. Splice variant TLR4r3 was associated with poor renal function 24 months after transplantation, and TLR1 appeared to be associated with graft loss. CONCLUSION The elevated mRNA levels of several TLRs in association with reduced mRNA levels of TOLLIP in renal transplant biopsies of patients with acute rejection indicate a pro-inflammatory state, which may contribute to uncontrolled inflammation.
Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) mass; its relationship to LCAT activity and cholesterol esterification rate.

The relationship between plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase mass and enzyme activity and between mass and plasma cholesterol esterification rate was determined in 25 adult volunteers without overt disease (14 normolipidemic and 11 hyperlipidemic). Furthermore, the relationship of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase mass and cholesterol esterification rate to lipids, apoproteins, age, and ideal body weight was assessed. Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase mass determined by radioimmunoassay was highly correlated with enzyme activity assayed using a heated plasma substrate (r = 0.636) and with the molar cholesterol esterification rate determined either by radioassay (r = 0.809) or by measurement of the decrease of unesterified cholesterol (r = 0.621). Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase mass was also positively correlated with total cholesterol (r = 0.608), unesterified cholesterol (r = 0.562), age (r = 0.544), and percent ideal body weight (r = 0.619), but was not significantly correlated with log triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, or apolipoproteins A-I, A-II, or D. Plasma cholesterol esterification rate by both methods was highly positively correlated with total cholesterol, unesterified cholesterol, log triglyceride, and age, but was inversely correlated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Upon partial correlation analysis with lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase mass kept constant the cholesterol esterification rate remained significantly positively related to total cholesterol, unesterified cholesterol, and log triglyceride and inversely related to high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Two subjects had normal lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase but approximately half normal molar cholesterol esterification rate. Measurement of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase mass and activity along with plasma cholesterol esterification rate will permit differentiation of abnormalities of enzyme from qualitative or quantitative substrate or cofactor abnormalities. Also, the finding that the regression line between LCAT mass and the plasma esterification rate by direct determination of unesterified cholesterol passes through the origin suggests that all immunodetectable LCAT in plasma is active in normal subjects. -Albers, J. J., C-H. Chen, and J. L. Adolphson. Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) mass; its relationship to LCAT activity and cholesterol esterification rate.
The social fMRI: measuring, understanding, and designing social mechanisms in the real world

A key challenge of data-driven social science is the gathering of high quality multi-dimensional datasets. A second challenge relates to design and execution of structured experimental interventions in-situ, in a way comparable to the reliability and intentionality of ex-situ laboratory experiments. In this paper we introduce the Friends and Family study, in which a young-family residential community is transformed into a living laboratory. We employ a ubiquitous computing approach that combines extremely rich data collection in terms of signals, dimensionality, and throughput, together with the ability to conduct targeted experimental interventions with study populations. We present our mobile-phone-based social and behavioral sensing system, which has been deployed for over a year now. Finally, we describe a novel tailored intervention aimed at increasing physical activity in the subject population. Results demonstrate the value of social factors for motivation and adherence, and allow us to quantify the contribution of different incentive mechanisms.
The Histologic and Epidemiologic Bases for Prognostic Considerations in Canine Melanocytic Neoplasia

The laboratory records from 384 dogs with a diagnosis of either melanoma or melanocytoma were selected for study. Significant negative determinants of patient survival for melanocytic tumors were: 1) metastasis, 2) mitotic index (MI), 3) nuclear atypia, 4) tumor score, 5) increasing size/volume, 6) the presence of deep inflammation, and/or 7) intralesional necrosis. In addition to these attributes, age was a significant determinant for tumors of the skin. For the feet and lips, 8) age and 9) junction activity negatively impacted survival. Mathematic models were constructed based on these significant determinants to predict the postsurgical outcome of melanocytic neoplasia. Melanocytic oral neoplasms comprised 19% (73/384) of the neoplasms; 92% of these were classified as malignant in the biopsy report, but malignant behavior (i.e., metastasis or recurrence) was observed in only 59% of cases. The prognostic model for oral tumors based on nuclear atypia provided the most accurate (89%) prediction of overall behavior. Melanocytic tumors of the feet and lips were also 19% (73/384) of the total population. Seventy-four percent were reported malignant, whereas only 38% actually demonstrated malignant behavior. The prognostic models based on both MI or nuclear atypia had an overall correct behavioral classification of 81%. Melanocytic tumors in the skin comprised 59% (227/384) of study specimens. Although 39% were reported as malignant, only 12% exhibited malignant behavior. A satisfactory predictive model that employed MI could not be constructed, but one using nuclear atypia gave an overall correct classification in 93.3% of the cases.
Comparison of E-Test and Broth Microdilution Methods for Antifungal Drug Susceptibility Testing of Molds

ABSTRACT We compared the E test with a broth microdilution method, performed according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards document M27-A guidelines, for determining the in vitro susceptibilities of 90 isolates of pathogenic molds (10 Absidia corymbifera, 10 Aspergillus flavus, 10Aspergillus fumigatus, 10 Aspergillus niger, 10Aspergillus terreus, 10 Exophiala dermatitidis, 10 Fusarium solani, 10 Scedosporium apiospermum, 5 Scedosporium prolificans, and 5Scopulariopsis brevicaulis). Overall, there was 71% agreement between the results of the two methods for amphotericin B (E-test MICs within ±2 log2 dilutions of broth microdilution MICs) and 88% agreement with the results for itraconazole. The overall levels of agreement (within ±2 log2 dilutions) were ≥80% for 5 of the 10 species tested against amphotericin B and 8 of the 10 species tested against itraconazole. The best agreement between the results was seen withA. fumigatus and A. terreus (100% of results for both agents within ±2 log2 dilutions). The poorest agreement was seen with S. apiospermum, S. prolificans, and S. brevicaulis tested against amphotericin B (20% of results within ±2 log2 dilutions). In every instance, this low level of agreement was due to isolates for which the broth microdilution MICs were low but for which the E-test MICs were much higher. The E test appears to be a suitable alternative procedure for testing the susceptibility of Aspergillusspp. and some other molds to amphotericin B or itraconazole.
Meta Algorithms for Portfolio Selection Meta Algorithms for Portfolio Selection Meta Algorithms for Portfolio Selection

We consider the problem of sequential portfolio selection in the stock market. There are theoretically well grounded algorithms for the problem, such as Universal Portfolio (UP), Exponentiated Gradient (EG) and Online Newton Step (ONS). Such algorithms enjoy the property of being universal, i.e., having low regret with the best constant rebalanced portfolio. However, the practical performance of such popular algorithms is sobering compared to heuristics such as Anticor, which have no theoretical guarantees but perform surprisingly well in practice. Motivated by such discrepancies, in this paper we focus on designing meta algorithms for portfolio selection which can leverage the best of both worlds. Such algorithms work with a pool of base algorithms and use online learning to redistribute wealth among the base algorithms. We develop two meta-algorithms: MAEG which uses online gradient descent following EG and MAONS which uses online Newton step following ONS. If one of the base algorithms is universal, it follows that the meta-algorithm is universal. Through extensive experiments on two real stock market datasets, we show that the meta-algorithms are competitive and often better than the best base algorithm, including heuristics, while maintaining the guarantee of being an universal algorithm.
Interactive Object Annotation for Construction of Video Information System

In this paper, an interactive object annotation approach for video database will be proposed. The same semantic objects such as characters, backgrounds, and the main subjects in keyframes of each video shots can be queried and annotated based on the similarity of low-level features such as the color, area, and position of each region. An adaptive image enhancement algorithm is used for handling the lighting changes, and a region-based fuzzy feature matching approach is used for addressing the typical feature representation impreciseness. The content provider can then select relevant keyframes interactively from the results to annotate matched objects in them according to the descriptions that are added into the model. Based on this approach, a video information system is proposed for supporting video content generation. Furthermore, a novel practical application is constructed by using this support system and implemented to show the practicability of it
Sum-MSE performance gain of DFT-based channel estimator over frequency-domain LS one in full-duplex OFDM systems with colored interference

In this paper, we make an investigation on the sum-mean-square-error (sum-MSE) performance gain achieved by DFT-based least-square (LS) channel estimator over frequency-domain LS one in full-duplex OFDM system in the presence of colored interference and noise. The closed-form expression of the sum-MSE performance gain is given. Its simple upper and lower bounds are derived by using inequalities of matrix eigen-values. By simulation and analysis, the upper lower bound is shown to be close to the exact value of MSE gain as the ratio of the number N of total subcarriers to the cyclic prefix length L grows and the correlation factor of colored interference increases. More importantly, we also find that the MSE gain varies from one to N/L as the correlation among colored interferences decreases gradually. According to theoretical analysis, we also find the MSE gain has very simple forms in two extreme scenarios. In the first extreme case that the colored interferences over all subchannels are fully correlated, i.e., their covariance matrix is a matrix of all-ones, the sum-MSE gain reduces to 1. In other words, there is no performance gain. In the second extreme case that the colored-interference covariance matrix is an identity matrix, i.e, they are mutually independent, the achievable sum-MSE performance gain is N/L. A large ratio N/L will achieve a significant sum-MSE gain.
Detection of visual bearing defect using integrated artificial neural network

The characteristics of bearing vibration can be used to detect common bearing defect, like noise defect etc. This method unfortunately can not detect the visual defects on the inner and outer ring bearing surface. A pattern recognition is implemented in this paper to solve the problem. A backpropagation neural network architecture is used to recognize the visual defect pattern. This architecture is integrated in a digital image processing chain. Recognition rate of good bearing is obtained at 92.93 %, meanwhile for defected bearing is obtained at 75 % respectively. This rate shows integrated artificial neural network with digital image processing can be implemented to detect the presence of visual bearing defect.
Using nonnegative matrix factorization and concept lattice reduction to visualizing data

The large volume of data from the large-scale computing platforms for high-fidelity design and simulations, and instrumentation for gathering scientific as well as business data, and huge information in the web, give us some problems if we want to compute all concepts from huge incidence matrix. In some cases, we do not need to compute all concepts, but only some of them. In this paper, we proposed minimizing incidence matrix by using non-negative matrix factorization (NMF), because non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) is an emerging technique with a wide spectrum of potential applications in biomedical data analysis. Modified matrix has lower dimensions and acts as an input for some known algorithms for lattice construction.
Needs and Strengths of Australian Para-Athletes: Identifying Their Subjective Psychological,Social, and Physical Health and Well-Being

The well-being needs and strengths of para-athletes in a global and sport-specific context were investigated across subjective psychological, social, and physical health and well-being dimensions. Data were drawn from (a) semistructured interviews with Australian para-athletes (n = 23), (b) a focus group with the Australian Paralympic Committee (n = 9), and (c) a confirmatory para-athlete focus group (n = 8). The well-being needs and strengths of para-athletes differed across gender, sport, level of competition, and nature of impairment. Well-being needs were an interaction between physical pain, emotional regulation, lacking purpose outside of sport, and a lack of self-acceptance, especially for athletes with acquired impairments. Well-being strengths were perceived to increase as athletes increased their level of competition, and included personal growth, optimism, strong social support networks, and contributing to multiple communities. The importance of well-being as a multidimensional concept within .
NTNU: Domain Semi-Independent Short Message Sentiment Classification

The paper describes experiments using grid searches over various combinations of machine learning algorithms, features and preprocessing strategies in order to produce the optimal systems for sentiment classification of microblog messages. The approach is fairly domain independent, as demonstrated by the systems achieving quite competitive results when applied to short text message data, i.e., input they were not originally trained on.
The RDF Schema Specification Revisited

In this paper, we will discuss the proposed recommendation (March 1999) for an RDF Schema Specification and compare the approach taken in this specification to conventional meta data models. We will point out several pecularities in the RDF schema specification compared to more conventional approaches, which are basically due to the dual role of properties such as subclass and domain both as primitive constructs used in the definition of the RDF schema specification and as specific instances of RDF properties. We then discuss an approach for specifying RDF schemas, which distinguishes between a set of specific properties, which are needed in the RDF meta model itself, and conventional properties. Finally we show how we use this modified RDF meta model in a structured hypertext system (the KBS Hyperbook System), which uses RDF annotations not only for informational purposes, but also for structuring hypertext according to the semantic relationships recorded by these RDF annotations.
An Examination of one Group of Failing Single Honours Students in one University

MSOR Connections Aug 2003 Vol 3 No 3 W draw on data from an ESRC study: Students’ Experiences of Undergraduate Mathematics (R000238564). The aim of the study is to understand better the reasons why students experience undergraduate mathematics courses in different ways and why some maintain or develop more positive attitudes than others to the subject. Here, we focus on one group of second year students who were ‘at risk’ of failure. By comparing the ‘failing’ students with the rest of the cohort and with each other, we try to see if they could have been identified earlier. We also suggest ways in which the mathematics department might better support these struggling students.
A comparison of a group ABA (GABA) verbal behaviour model of early intensive behavioral intervention and pivotal response treatment for children with autism

The autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by a triad of impairments in social interaction, communication, and behavior. Once considered untreatable, research has identified comprehensive behavioral intervention as the most well established treatment option. To date, the UCLA method of early intensive behavioral intervention has received the most large-scale research attention and empirical support. However, alternative behavioral methods have also emerged, including the Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) and the Verbal Behavior (VB) methods. This study compared the outcomes of 14 children with autism participating in a community-based program based on the VB method to the outcomes for 14 children participating in a community-based program based on the PRT method, over a 12month period. Assessments were conducted to measure cognitive, receptive and expressive language, and adaptive behavior skills, as well as problem behavior and parenting stress. Independent t-tests confirmed the groups were well matched for both baseline cognitive ability and chronological age. A 2 x 2 mixed model analysis of variance showed statistically significant changes over 12 months in IQ scores, receptive and expressive language age equivalents, and problem behavior scores. Significant findings were not found for either adaptive behavior scores or parenting stress scores. Changes in cognitive and adaptive behavior scores were similar to those reported in published UCLA-based studies of similar intensity. Study limitations and recommendations for future research are provided. Although additional research is needed to examine the long-term effectiveness of the programs examined in this study, it appears that they both hold promise as effective autism early intervention approaches that are relatively cost-effective.