Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy Promotes Functional Recovery of Contused Rat Spinal Cord through Enhancement of Endogenous Cell Proliferation and Oligogenesis

Numerous studies have shown the benefits of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the repair of spinal cord injury (SCI) model and on behavioral improvement, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, to investigate possible mechanisms by which MSCs contribute to the alleviation of neurologic deficits, we examined the potential effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs) on the endogenous cell proliferation and oligogenesis after SCI. SCI was injured by contusion using a weight-drop impactor and hUCB-MSCs were transplanted into the boundary zone of the injured site. Animals received a daily injection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) for 7 days after treatment to identity newly synthesized cells of ependymal and periependymal cells that immunohistochemically resembled stem/progenitor cells was evident. Behavior analysis revealed that locomotor functions of hUCB-MSCs group were restored significantly and the cavity volume was smaller in the MSCs-transplanted rats compared to the control group. In MSCs-transplanted group, TUNEL-positive cells were decreased and BrdU-positive cells were significantly increased rats compared with control group. In addition, more of BrdU-positive cells expressed neural stem/progenitor cell nestin and oligo-lineage cell such as NG2, CNPase, MBP and glial fibrillary acidic protein typical of astrocytes in the MSC-transplanted rats. Thus, endogenous cell proliferation and oligogenesis contribute to MSC-promoted functional recovery following SCI.
Cigarette Smoking Is Associated with Prolongation of the QTc Interval Duration in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Aims. Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of smoking on autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and QTc interval duration in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods. A total of 70 patients with T2DM (35 chronic smokers, 35 nonsmokers) treated with oral antidiabetic medications underwent continuous ECG Holter monitoring for 24 hours and analysis of time- and frequency-domain measures of heart rate variability (HRV). HRV over short time was also assessed using the deep breathing test. In addition, baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was evaluated using the spontaneous sequence method. The mean QTc interval was measured from the 24-hour ECG recordings. Results. Smokers had lower body mass index (BMI) and exhibited higher 24-hour mean heart rate. There was no difference regarding all measures of ANS activity between the two groups. Smokers showed increased mean QTc duration during the 24 hours (439.25 ± 26.95 versus 425.05 ± 23.03 ms, P = 0.021) as well as in both day (439.14 ± 24.31 ms, P = 0.042) and night periods (440.91 ± 32.30 versus 425.51 ± 24.98 ms, P = 0.033). The association between smoking status and mean QTc interval persisted after adjusting for BMI. Conclusions. Cigarette smoking is associated with prolongation of the QTc interval in patients with T2DM by a mechanism independent of ANS dysfunction.
Cross-national comparison of humor categories: France and Germany

The present study examines the cross-national stability of a factor-analytically derived taxonomy ofjokes and cartoons. The comparison is based on a humor lest aimed at measuring funniness and aversiveness of incongruityresolution, nonsense, and sexual humor. Funniness anddegree ofcontroversiality of these humor categories were compared in France and Germany, and it was determined whether conservatism and intolerance of ambiguity are potent predictors of appreciation of these humor categories in France, äs they have been in prior German studies. A sample of 69 male and 70 female French, students responded to French translations of the humor fest (Test 3 W D [3 Humor-Dimension], Ruch and Hehl 1985) äs well äs to two questionnaires measuring conservatism and intolerance of ambiguity. Their results were compared with those of a German sample of 59 male and 56 female students. The results showed that the taxonomy derivedfrom German andAustrian samples can be applied to French samples äs well; the factor structures were very similar both at the level ofthefactors themselves andat the level of individuell jokes and cartoons. Furthermore, comparable rank Orders of funniness ofjokes and cartoons were obtainedfor both samples. However, only the sexual humor category yielded stähle controversiality across the two samples. Finally, the personality traits of conservatism and intolerance of ambiguity were predictive of appreciation of the humor categories in France, äs they were in prior studies in Germany and Austria. Humor 4-3/4 (1991), 391-414. 0933-1719/91/0004-0391 $2.00 © Walter de Gruyter
A Review of Wireless Body Area Networks for Medical Applications

Recent advances in Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology, integrated circuits, and wireless communication have allowed the realization of Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs). WBANs promise unobtrusive ambulatory health monitoring for a long period of time, and provide real-time updates of the patient’s status to the physician. They are widely used for ubiquitous healthcare, entertainment, and military applications. This paper reviews the key aspects of WBANs for numerous applications. We present a WBAN infrastructure that provides solutions to on-demand, emergency, and normal traffic. We further discuss in-body antenna design and low-power MAC protocol for a WBAN. In addition, we briefly outline some of the WBAN applications with examples. Our discussion realizes a need for new power-efficient solu-tions towards in-body and on-body sensor networks.
IP 3-dependent , post-tetanic calcium transients induced by electrostimulation of adult skeletal muscle fibers

Ca is a ubiquitous intracellular signal that controls an impressive number of cellular processes; this versa­ tility of Ca as a second messenger is possible because intracellular Ca signals are both spatially and tempo­ rally segregated. In skeletal muscle cells, membrane depolarization induces a conformational change in Cav1.1 dihydropyri­ dine receptors (DHPRs) that is transmitted to the rya­ nodine receptor (RyR1), causing it to release Ca from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Besides the canonical calcium transient associated with excitation–contraction cou­ pling, calcium waves unrelated to Ca spikes involved in excitation–contraction coupling have long been described in chick and rodent myotubes (Flucher and Andrews, 1993; Powell et al., 1996). Our laboratory has reported the presence of a complex pattern of calcium transients induced by depolarization, related to both excitation–contraction and excitation– transcription signaling in cultured muscle cells. In addi­ tion to the fast calcium transient mediated by the RyR
SOLID PROPELLANT MICROTHRUSTER: THEORY OF OPERATION AND MODELLING STRATEGY

A modelling strategy for a microthruster array based on solid fuel is presented. We review the theory of operation of the microthruster that includes an electrothermal process, ignition, sustained combustion, membrane rupture and gas dynamics. The recommended level of theory is chosen to answer practical engineering questions, so as to make the recommended models feasible to develop and optimize. Special attention is paid to transferring the resulting models to existing software for electrical circuit simulation to permit the development of intelligent electrical driving circuits. The methods of automatic model reduction are presented and the most appropriate method for a microthruster array is chosen.
Semantic Network based Classifier of Holy Quran

Automated Text Categorization (ATC) is a useful technology to build such software tool that can categorize a document to one of many predefined categories. Unfortunately there is no as such classifier for Holy Quran, one of the most important documents of the universe. This is because Holy Quran is written in Arabic and Arabic language processing is yet not that mature that language processing can be done. This paper aims on building a software tool that can categorize any verse of Holy Quran to one of predefined categories and if it is not falling in one of predefined categories it can automatically define a new category. New category will be added to database for future categorization process. Moreover, this categorization is not just based upon word count rather it is based upon word as well as meaning of the words in the verse and there correspondence in semantic network. The semantic network for this task is created and used in this classification. This tool will help those people who want to know the theme of a verse of Holy Quran. General Terms Automatic Text Categorization, Semantic Networks
Assessment of Heart Rate Variability during an Endurance Mountain Trail Race by Multi-Scale Entropy Analysis

The aim of the study was to analyze heart rate variability (HRV) response to high-intensity exercise during a 35-km mountain trail race and to ascertain whether fitness level could influence autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation. Time-domain, frequency-domain, and multi-scale entropy (MSE) indexes were calculated for eleven mountain-trail runners who completed the race. Many changes were observed, mostly related to exercise load and fatigue. These changes were characterized by increased mean values and standard deviations of the normal-to-normal intervals associated with sympathetic activity, and by decreased differences between successive intervals related to parasympathetic activity. Normalized low frequency (LF) power suggested that ANS modulation varied greatly during the race and between individuals. Normalized high frequency (HF) power, associated with parasympathetic activity, varied considerably over the race, and tended to decrease at the final stages, whereas changes in the LF/HF ratio corresponded to intervals with varying exercise load. MSE indexes, related to system complexity, indicated the existence of many interactions between the heart and its neurological control mechanism. The time-domain, frequency-domain, and MSE indexes were also able to discriminate faster from slower runners, mainly in the more difficult and in the final stages of the race. These findings suggest the use of HRV analysis to study cardiac function mechanisms in endurance sports.
Imaginative writing of deaf children

This thesis explores the issue of imaginative writing of deaf children. Thirty deaf children aged 9-11 years were recruited form Hearing Impaired Units and mainstream schools. Thirty hearing children were matched on academic performance (according to teachers) and chronological age and recruited from the same classes as the deaf children. Three sets of imaginative stories were collected from the above groups at three points during one academic year. A mixed methodology was employed in order to investigate imaginative writing of deaf children. For the evaluation of children’s stories an “Imagination Story Scale” was developed based both on the literature review and on the in-depth analyses of four children’s imaginative stories. The scale consists of four categorised divisions (story structure, story plot, linguistic imagination, originality) and one additional division (overall assessment). Assessments of both deaf and hearing children’s stories using the scale revealed little variation between deaf and hearing children’s scores in the scale, indicating that deaf children do have imagination and are able to express it in writing. However, differences were observed between the scores for the different topics (for both groups of children) suggesting that the topic of the stories influenced their scores. Imaginative writing of deaf children was not predicted by: age, gender, degree of hearing loss, type of communication used at home, or use of activities to promote children’s imagination either in the classroom or at home. Teachers’ opinions of deaf children’s imagination were explored through interviews. The Teachers of the Deaf tended to under-estimate deaf children’s ability to demonstrate imagination in their writing by comparison with the stories that the deaf children produced.
Coevolutionary networks of reinforcement-learning agents

This paper presents a model of network formation in repeated games where the players adapt their strategies and network ties simultaneously using a simple reinforcement-learning scheme. It is demonstrated that the coevolutionary dynamics of such systems can be described via coupled replicator equations. We provide a comprehensive analysis for three-player two-action games, which is the minimum system size with nontrivial structural dynamics. In particular, we characterize the Nash equilibria (NE) in such games and examine the local stability of the rest points corresponding to those equilibria. We also study general n-player networks via both simulations and analytical methods and find that, in the absence of exploration, the stable equilibria consist of star motifs as the main building blocks of the network. Furthermore, in all stable equilibria the agents play pure strategies, even when the game allows mixed NE. Finally, we study the impact of exploration on learning outcomes and observe that there is a critical exploration rate above which the symmetric and uniformly connected network topology becomes stable.
On the Shape of the General Error Locator Polynomial for Cyclic Codes

General error locator polynomials were introduced in 2005 as an alternative decoding for cyclic codes. We now present a conjecture on their sparsity, which would imply polynomial-time decoding for all cyclic codes. A general result on the explicit form of the general error locator polynomial for all cyclic codes is given, along with several results for specific code families, providing evidence to our conjecture. From these, a theoretical justification of the sparsity of general error locator polynomials is obtained for all binary cyclic codes with <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$t\leq 2$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$n<105$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, as well as for <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$t=3$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$n<63$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, except for some cases where the conjectured sparsity is proved by a computer check. Moreover, we summarize all related results, previously published, and we show how they provide further evidence to our conjecture. Finally, we discuss the link between our conjecture and the complexity of bounded-distance decoding of the cyclic codes.
Using domain-specific languages to describe the development viewpoint of software architectures

The developers of a system are accepted as one of the most important stakeholders of an Architecture Description. The Development Viewpoint is suggested to satisfy the needs of the developers throughout the development process via codeline organization descriptions, programming models, etc. However, the available models for such purposes, if any, barely cross informal natural language descriptions and checklists. This paper introduces the idea of enhancing the description of the Development viewpoint using lightweight Domain-Specific Languages and presents the application of such languages in two industrial case studies. This language enables the architect to provide the necessary guidelines that constrains the implementers during the development process and it is also used as a means to discover the deviation of the code from the architecture as the development goes on.
A novel microstrip antenna using EBG structure for mobile and ISM band

In this paper a novel microstrip antenna is proposed using electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structure for mobile and wireless applications. It covers two mobile bands ranging from (2.20-2.29) GHz and (2.29-2.30) GHz. An extremely compact size EBG structure is applied in a square shape. After applying EBG structure to the proposed design, performance characteristics such as percentage bandwidth and return loss enhance by 5.1% and 5% respectively. Also by changing the feed and shorting pole (via) position, the same structure is used for ISM (2.45 ± 0.05) GHz band with resonant frequency 2.45 GHz. The measured and simulated results show very good agreement. The design structure is fabricated using FR4 substrate with dielectric constant 4.4, loss tangent 0.02 and thickness 1.6 mm.
The Transcriptional Repressor, MtrR, of the mtrCDE Efflux Pump Operon of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Can Also Serve as an Activator of “off Target” Gene (glnE) Expression

MtrR is a well-characterized repressor of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae mtrCDE efflux pump operon. However, results from a previous transcriptional profiling study suggested that MtrR also represses or activates expression of at least sixty genes outside of the mtr locus. Evidence that MtrR can directly repress so-called “off target” genes has previously been reported; in particular, MtrR was shown to directly repress glnA, which encodes glutamine synthetase. In contrast, evidence for the ability of MtrR to directly activate expression of gonococcal genes has been lacking; herein, we provide such evidence. We now report that MtrR has the ability to directly activate expression of glnE, which encodes the dual functional adenyltransferase/deadenylase enzyme GlnE that modifies GlnA resulting in regulation of its role in glutamine biosynthesis. With its capacity to repress expression of glnA, the results presented herein emphasize the diverse and often opposing regulatory properties of MtrR that likely contributes to the overall physiology and metabolism of N. gonorrhoeae.
A Classifier for Interval Symbolic Data Based on A Multi-Class Probit Model

This paper introduces a new classifier based on the multi-class probit regressiton model for interval symbolic data. Each pattern of the learning set is described by a vector o features. Each feature is represented by an interval. Two versions of this classifier are considered. The first version fits a multi-class probit regression model conjointly on the lower and upper bounds of the interval values assumed by the variables in the learning set. The second version fits a multi-class probit model on the lower and upper bounds of the intervals separately. Allocation of new examples is accomplished by computing the posterior probabilities for each class. To show the usefulness of this method, experiments are made on two synthetic symbolic data sets, both with different degrees of orverlapping classes. The assessment of the proposed classification method is based on estimation of average behavior of error rate.
In vitro antifungal and fungicidal spectra of a new pradimicin derivative, BMS-181184

A new pradimicin derivative, BMS-181184, was compared with amphotericin B and fluconazole against 249 strains from 35 fungal species to determine its antifungal spectrum. Antifungal testing was performed by the broth macrodilution reference method recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (document M27-P, 1992). BMS-181184 MICs for 97% of the 167 strains of Candida spp. , Cryptococcus neoformans, Torulopsis glabrata, and Rhodotorula spp. tested were < or = 8 micrograms/ml, with a majority of MICs being 2 to 8 micrograms/ml. Similarly, for Aspergillus fumigatus and 89% of the 26 dermatophytes tested BMS-181184 MICs were < or = 8 micrograms/ml. BMS-181184 was fungicidal for the yeasts, dermatophytes, and most strains of A. fumigatus, although the reduction in cell counts was less for A. fumigatus than for the yeasts. BMS-181184 was active against Sporothrix schenckii, dematiaceous fungi, and some members of the non-Aspergillus hyaline hyphomycetes. BMS-181184, however, was not fungicidal against members of the family Dematiaceae. BMS-181184 lacked activity or had poorer activity (MICs, > or = 16 micrograms/ml) against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Malassezia furfur, Fusarium spp. , Pseudallescheria boydii, Alternaria spp. , Curvularia spp. , Exserohilum mcginnisii, and the zygomycetes than against yeasts. The activity of BMS-181184 was minimally (twofold or less) affected by changes in testing conditions (pH, inoculum size, temperature, the presence of serum), testing methods (agar versus broth macrodilution), or test media (RPMI 1640, yeast morphology agar, high resolution test medium). Overall, our results indicate that BMS-181184 has a broad antifungal spectrum and that it is fungicidal to yeasts and, to a lesser extent, to filamentous fungi.
Assessment of Suboptimal Effort Using the CVLT-II Recognition Foils: A Known-Groups Comparison

The present study sought to generate an embedded effort index within the CVLTII yes/no recognition trial using a known-groups design. Four types of recognition foils—i.e., novel/semantically unrelated (UN), novel/semantically related (PR), list B/semantically unrelated (BN), and list B/semantically related (BS)—as well as two composites—i.e., easy to reject foils (ETR) and difficult to reject foils (DTR)—were evaluated on their ability to distinguish between a group of 82 outpatients with moderatesevere traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and a group of 31 litigants meeting Slick et al. (1999) criteria for malingered neurocognitive dysfunction (MND). Separate multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. The full model based on the 4 foils correctly classified 88.5% of cases (61.3% sensitivity/98.8% specificity). The full model based on the composites correctly classified 81.4% of cases (45.2% sensitivity/95.1% specificity). With respect to univariate predictors, UN correctly classified 51.6-64.5% of MND cases and 90.2-100% of TBI cases depending on the diagnostic cut-off used. ETR also showed good classification accuracy (25.8-51.6% sensitivity/90.2-100% specificity). Three different ratios were generated from the original analyses—UN/PR, UN/(PR+BN+BS), and ETR/DTR. All three ratios yielded good to excellent diagnostic accuracy (87% sensitivity/98.4% specificity, 70.4% sensitivity/97% specificity, and 38.5% sensitivity/95.5% specificity, respectively). In addition, UN, ETR, and the multivariate equations were cross-validated with a group of 19 patients with complicated mild TBI supplying adequate effort (MTBI) and a group of 23 patients with complicated mild TBI performing poorly on effort measures (SE), resulting in high specificity values depending on the cut-offs used. Finally, previous research using the CVLT and CVLT-II CVLT-II and suboptimal effort output v (Coleman et al., 1998; Curtis et al., 2006; Millis et al., 1995; Millis et al., 2007; Sweet et al., 2000) was replicated. Overall, the UN variable, the ETR composite, both multivariate equations, and all three ratios derived from the foils of the CVLT-II yes/no recognition trial show considerable merit as embedded effort indices. Positive and negative predictive power values are provided for all predictors at various diagnostic cut-offs across 5 hypothetical base rates in order to facilitate generalization of findings to different settings. Clinical and forensic implications are discussed with a focus on differential diagnoses. CVLT-II and suboptimal effort output vi
Pose Regulation of Robot Manipulators with Dynamic Friction Compensation

The regulation of end–effector pose of manipulators is addressed in this paper. We present a solution to the operational space pose regulation considering dynamic friction at the robot joints. It is assumed the exact knowledge of the dynamic and kinematic parameters of the robot, including those of the friction. The controller proposed for the pose regulation problem is based on the resolved acceleration control scheme. Experimental results on a two degrees–of–freedom direct–drive arm support the accuracy of the proposed method.