Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of the Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter 1 (ENT1) in Transport and Metabolism of Ribavirin by Human and Wild-Type or Ent1(-/-) Mouse Erythrocytes

The polar nucleoside drug ribavirin is front-line treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus infection. The human equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT) 1 transports ribavirin into erythrocytes where it is phosphorylated. These phosphorylated metabolites accumulate in the erythrocytes and produce dose-limiting hemolytic anemia. Here, we examined the in vitro and ex vivo transport and metabolism of ribavirin by erythrocytes isolated from humans and Ent1-null mice. Ribavirin (2.4 μM) uptake was significantly higher (1044 ± 255 amol/μg/10 s) into erythrocytes from Ent1(+/+) mice compared with that from Ent1(-/-) mice (76.48 ± 11.20 amol/μg/10 s). Our results showed a saturable (Km of 382 ± 75.1 μM) transport of [3H]ribavirin into erythrocytes from Ent1(+/+) mice. We found that ribavirin concentration rapidly (within 60 s) reached equilibrium in erythrocytes using a time course of [3H]ribavirin transport (2.5 μM) and metabolism in mouse and human erythrocytes for 8 h. However, total radioactivity of ribavirin was predominantly attributed to the phosphorylated metabolites ribavirin monophosphate and ribavirin triphosphate. Our findings allow us to estimate ribavirin transport, diffusion, and metabolic clearance and to predict in vivo accumulation of ribavirin phosphates in erythrocytes of both mice and humans. Our modeling of ribavirin in erythrocytes on long-term administration of ribavirin suggests that the accumulation of ribavirin inside the cells is dependent on ENT1/Ent1 transport and the rates of intracellular phosphorylation and the degradation of the phosphorylated metabolites. We predict that Ent1(+/+) and Ent1(-/-) mice will serve as excellent models to investigate the contribution of Ent1 to the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of ribavirin in vivo.
Prevalence of cavum septum pellucidum detected by MRI in patients with bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia

Synopsis The incidence of cavum septum pellucidum (CSP), which has been widely regarded as a developmental anomaly of little clinical importance in neuropathology, was examined in 113 patients with affective disorders (69 with bipolar disorder and 44 with major depression), 40 schizophrenic patients, and 92 control subjects by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Significantly higher incidence of Grade 3–4 CSP (moderate to large) compared with the controls was found only in the schizophrenics. When a broader interpretation of CSP, including indeterminant (Grade 1) and small (Grade 2) CSP was used, three additional patients with bipolar disorder were found to have Grade 1–2 CSP, and the total prevalence of Grade 1–4 CSP in the patients with bipolar disorder was significantly higher than that in the control subjects but slightly lower than that in the schizophrenic patients. CSP was not observed in any patient with major depression. There were no differences between the patients with and without CSP in age, sex, education, or the duration of illness. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that neurodevelopmental abnormality may be present in schizophrenia, and such an abnormality may also be present in some patients with bipolar disorder.
A Multiobjective and Evolutionary Clustering Method for Dynamic Networks

The discovery of evolving communities in dynamic networks is an important research topic that poses challenging tasks. Previous evolutionary based clustering methods try to maximize cluster accuracy, with respect to incoming data of the current time step, and minimize clustering drift from one time step to the successive one. In order to optimize both these two competing objectives, an input parameter that controls the preference degree of a user towards either the snapshot quality or the temporal quality is needed. In this paper the detection of communities with temporal smoothness is formulated as a multiobjective problem and a method based on genetic algorithms is proposed. The main advantage of the algorithm is that it automatically provides a solution representing the best trade-off between the accuracy of the clustering obtained, and the deviation from one time step to the successive. Experiments on synthetic data sets show the very good performance of the method compared to state-of-the-art approaches.
Microscale Diffusion Measurements and Simulation of a Scaffold with a Permeable Strut

Electrospun nanofibrous structures provide good performance to scaffolds in tissue engineering. We measured the local diffusion coefficients of 3-kDa FITC-dextran in line patterns of electrospun nanofibrous structures fabricated by the direct-write electrospinning (DWES) technique using the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) method. No significant differences were detected between DWES line patterns fabricated with polymer supplied at flow rates of 0.1 and 0.5 mL/h. The oxygen diffusion coefficients of samples were estimated to be ~92%–94% of the oxygen diffusion coefficient in water based on the measured diffusion coefficient of 3-kDa FITC-dextran. We also simulated cell growth and distribution within spatially patterned scaffolds with struts consisting of either oxygen-permeable or non-permeable material. The permeable strut scaffolds exhibited enhanced cell growth. Saturated depths at which cells could grow to confluence were 15% deeper for the permeable strut scaffolds than for the non-permeable strut scaffold.
Tetanus Toxin C-Fragment: The Courier and the Cure?

In many neurological disorders strategies for a specific delivery of a biological activity from the periphery to the central nervous system (CNS) remains a considerable challenge for successful therapy. Reporter assays have established that the non-toxic C-fragment of tetanus toxin (TTC), provided either as protein or encoded by non-viral naked DNA plasmid, binds pre-synaptic motor neuron terminals and can facilitate the retrograde axonal transport of desired therapeutic molecules to the CNS. Alleviated symptoms in animal models of neurological diseases upon delivery of therapeutic molecules offer a hopeful prospect for TTC therapy. This review focuses on what has been learned on TTC-mediated neuronal targeting, and discusses the recent discovery that, instead of being merely a carrier molecule, TTC itself may well harbor neuroprotective properties.
Distinguishing and Combining Risks for Sexual and Violent Recidivism

Abstract: A two‐dimensional risk assessment system for sexual offenders was created that can classify them for risk of sexual recidivism, risk of nonsexual violent recidivism, and the composite risk of reconviction for sexual or nonsexual assaults. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses of separate follow‐up samples were used for cross‐validation. The system is easier to score than Static‐99, and substantially easier to score than the VRAG or SORAG, while yielding comparable predictive accuracy in cross‐validation samples with follow‐ups from 2 years to 19 years. ROC AUC coefficients between . 74 and . 81 were found for the different scales and samples.
Combination of Lyapunov and Density Functions for Stability of Rotational Motion

Lyapunov methods and density functions provide dual characterizations of the solutions of a nonlinear dynamic system. This work exploits the idea of combining both techniques, to yield stability results that are valid for almost all the solutions of the system. Based on the combination of Lyapunov and density functions, analysis methods are proposed for the derivation of almost input-to-state stability, and of almost global stability in nonlinear systems. The techniques are illustrated for an inertial attitude observer, where angular velocity readings are corrupted by non-idealities.
The TViews Table Role-Playing Game

JVRB, 5(2008), no. 8. - The TViews Table Role-Playing Game (TTRPG) is a digital tabletop role-playing game that runs on the TViews table, bridging the separate worlds of traditional role-playing games with the growing area of massively multiplayer online role-playing games. The TViews table is an interactive tabletop media platform that can track the location of multiple tagged objects in real-time as they are moved around its surface, providing a simultaneous and coincident graphical display. In this paper we present the implementation of the first version of TTRPG, with a content set based on the traditional Dungeons & Dragons rule-set. We also discuss the results of a user study that used TTRPG to explore the possible social context of digital tabletop role-playing games.
Robust multisensor fault tolerant model-following MPC design for constrained systems

Robust multisensor fault tolerant model-following MPC design for constrained systems In this paper, a robust fault-tolerant control strategy for constrained multisensor linear systems, subject to sensor faults and in the presence of bounded state and output disturbances, is proposed. The scheme verifies that, for each sensors-estimator combination, suitable residual variables lie inside pre-computed sets and selects a more appropriate combination based on a chosen criterion. An active fault tolerant output feedback controller yields an MPC-based control law and, by means of the notion of a "tube" of trajectories, we ensure robust closed-loop exponential stability and good performance in the fault-free case and under the occurrence of abrupt sensor faults.
Laboratory larvicidal efficacy of etofenprox ( Trebon ) against four species of mosquitoes of public health importance

A laboratory evaluation was conducted on the efficacy of Trebon against four species of mosquito larvae viz., Aedes aegypii, Anopheles dirur, Culex quinquefmcioiur and Monsonio uniformis. Results indicated that Trebon was most effective against M . uniformis ( L D ~ = 1.92 pg/i), followed by A. aegypii (LC,,, = 3.51 pg/i). C. quinquefacioiur (LCSo= 7.59 pg/l) and A . dirur (LG,,, =21.05 pg/l). The effectiveness of Trebon when comparing to other insecticidal larvicides is discussed.
Study on the optimized design of nanowire tunneling transistors including quantum effects

To reduce short-channel effects in modern nanoscale MOS devices alternative device concepts like the tunneling field effect transistor have been suggested. Since the complete current is sustained by tunneling processes, these devices obey different design rules than MOSFETs. Similarly, the use of multigate structures is an interesting approach to cope with undesired short-channel effects. A very promising idea is the combination of these two concepts. Using physical device simulation, we investigate the functionality and performance of such nanowire tunneling transistors. Special attention is focussed on the possibility to improve the device performance by considering alternative materials for the gate-stack and the source region.
Optimal transform in perceptually uniform color space and its application in image retrieval

To find an appropriate color transform is necessary and helpful for the applications of color images to extract color features or to reduce the data redundancy. In this paper, we proposed a new scheme to find color transforms close to the optimal transform and agree with human vision system for comparison. We first apply the perceptually uniform color space transform to all the hundreds color test images to convert RGB values into uniform CIE LAB components and then use principal component analysis (PCA) in the uniform space to find the image-dependent optimal color transforms (KLT). In our experiments, we have obtained a new color space: an approximate but fixed transform in CIE LAB space, namely LAR space, which is just the LAB rotated and has an elegant and simple form. The proposed LAR transform performs better than RGB, YCbCr, YUV, HSV and LAB in color-based image retrieval.
Provisioning of medical quality of services for HSDPA and mobile WiMAX in healthcare applications

Mobile healthcare, or m-health, is an evolutionary concept that provides both mobility and an ‘always connected’ healthcare functionality. The development of this concept depends on how best the available bandwidth in (HSDPA/HSUPA) and emerging (Mobile WiMAX) networks can be correlated with the relevant medical quality of services issues. In this paper we address and discuss some of these issues and challenges. We also provide an example of a bandwidth demanding application to verify such provision mechanisms.
Supporting Multiple Access Paths to Objects in Information Hierarchies : Faceted Classification , Faceted Search , and Symbolic Links

We present three fundamental, interrelated approaches to support multiple access paths to each terminal object in information hierarchies: faceted classification, faceted search, and web directories with embedded symbolic links. This survey aims to demonstrate how each approach supports users who seek information from multiple perspectives. We achieve this by exploring each approach, the relationships between these approaches, including tradeoffs, and how they can be used in concert, while focusing on a core set of hypermedia elements common to all. This approach provides a foundation from which to study, understand, and synthesize applications which employ these techniques. This survey does not aim to be comprehensive, but rather focuses on thematic issues.
Deep models, normative reasoning and legal expert systems

This paper discusses the role of deep models and deontic logic in legal expert systems. Whilst much research work insists on the importance of both these features, legal expert systems are being built using shallow models and no more propositional logic, and are claimed to be successful in use. There is then a prima facie conflict between findings of research and commercial practice, which this paper explores, and attempts to explain.
Effects of Psychosocial Day Care Programme on Quality of Life in Patients Affected with Schizophrenia - a Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND The basic aim of this prospective research was to establish the effect of psychosocial day care programme on the therapy outcomes in patients with schizophrenia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS While 115 patients with schizophrenia were invited to participate, 100 of them completed the study and were subdivided into two groups. In addition to pharmacotherapy, the experimental group only (N=50) was integrated into a day-hospital-based psychosocial day care programme. The instruments were applied in three phases: the first measurement for experimental group subjects took place on the first day of psychosocial day-care programme, while for the control group subjects the same was performed on the last day of inpatient care. The second measurement for the experimental group was performed in the end of psychosocial day-care programme, while for the control group patients it occurred four months after inpatient treatment. The third measurement was carried out six months after the second one. The following instruments were applied: General Demographic Questionnaire at the first measurement, Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life-MANSA both at the first and third measurement, and Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale-PANSS at all three measurements. RESULTS Experimental group patients showed a statistically significant increase in quality of life outcomes as well as statistically significant decrease in positive symptoms and general psychopathology at all three measurements and with regard to the control group. As to the negative symptoms, only the third measurement revealed a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION The results obtained indicate that the adjuvant treatment of psychosocial day care programme has a positive effect on treatment outcomes: on the increase of the patients' quality of life, and, to some extent, on the decrease of symptom intensity in positive symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum. However, the effect of psychosocial day-care programme on the negative symptoms was proved to be considerably smaller.
On automated model-based extraction and analysis of gait

We develop a new model-based extraction process guided by biomechanical analysis for walking people, and analyse its data for recognition capability. Hierarchies of shape and motion yield relatively modest computational demands, while anatomical data is used to generate shape models consistent with normal human body proportions. Mean gait data is used to create prototype gait motion models, which are adapted to fit individual subjects. Our approach is evaluated on a large gait database, comprising 4824 sequences from 115 subjects, demonstrating gait extraction and description capability in laboratory and real-world capture conditions. Recognition capability is illustrated by an 84% CCR in laboratory conditions, which is reduced for real-world (outdoor) data. Preliminary results from a statistical analysis of the extracted gait parameters, suggest that recognition capability is primarily gained from cadence and from static shape parameters, although gait is the cue by which these are derived.
Design parameters optimization of a permanent magnet synchronous wind generator

Provided with the reduction of the cogging torque by skewing slots and simultaneously the decent output performance, an analysis of a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the best skewing angle with the lowest cogging torque is found and validated with the finite element method (FEM) software, ANSYS/Maxwell. To overcome the repellence of the cogging torque and back electromotive force (EMF), Taguchi methods and Grey theory are inserted in sequence for reaching the optimization of the multiple quality characteristics to satisfy our design goal.
Static hand gesture recognition based on finger root-center-angle and length weighted Mahalanobis distance

Static hand gesture recognition (HGR) has drawn increasing attention in computer vision and human-computer interaction (HCI) recently because of its great potential. However, HGR is a challenging problem due to the variations of gestures. In this paper, we present a new framework for static hand gesture recognition. Firstly, the key joints of the hand, including the palm center, the fingertips and finger roots, are located. Secondly, we propose novel and discriminative features called root-center-angles to alleviate the influence of the variations of gestures. Thirdly, we design a distance metric called finger length weighted Mahalanobis distance (FLWMD) to measure the dissimilarity of the hand gestures. Experiments demonstrate the accuracy, efficiency and robustness of our proposed HGR framework.
FPGA implementation of cellular automata based encryption algorithm for internet communications

This paper presents a cryptographic system based on cellular automata (CA) theory. The entire encryption system is implemented in reconfigurable hardware (FPGA) and it is used to protect data sent over the internet. It is shown how a series of simple elements called “cells” interact between each other using certain rules and topologies to form a larger system further used to encrypt/decrypt data. The complexity analysis of the specific security system has been discussed in support of the fact that simple, modular hardware oriented design of CA based security is ideally suited for network communications. An experimental hardware platform based on a reconfigurable FPGA of type Spartan 3E Starter Board - XC3S500E was used in order to verify the proposed encryption algorithm.
Effects of Nutrients on Mosquitoes and an Emergent Macrophyte, Schoenoplectus maritimus, for use in Treatment Wetlands

ABSTRACT: Schoenoplectus maritimus (alkali bulrush) has desirable attributes, such as a short growth habit (height of mature stands < 1.5 m) and annual senescence, for a potential alternative to tall (height > 3 m) emergent macrophytes in shallow constructed treatment wetlands treating ammonium-dominated wastewater. The effects of different ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N) levels on alkali bulrush growth and its ability to take up nutrients from the wastewater, as well as on mosquito production, across the range of NH4-N found in constructed wetlands of southern California are unknown. We evaluated the effects of enrichment with NH4-N on mosquito production and on the nutrient uptake and growth of alkali bulrush in two studies. Overall, significantly greater numbers (> 50%) of immature mosquitoes (mainly Culex tarsalis) were found in mesocosms enriched with NH4-N than in mesocosms receiving ambient (<0.3 mg/liter) NH4-N. High NH4-N enrichment (up to 60 mg/liter) did not adversely impact the height and stem density of S. maritimus, although a significant decrease in biomass was observed at the highest enrichment level. Nitrogen uptake by alkali bulrush increased directly with NH4-N enrichment, whereas carbon was conserved in the above-ground biomass across the enrichment gradient. Alkali bulrush is recommended for use as part of integrated mosquito management programs for moderately enriched, multipurpose, constructed treatment wetlands that improve water quality as well as provide wetland habitat for waterfowl.
Leveraging Domain-Independent Information in Semantic Parsing

Semantic parsing is a domain-dependent process by nature, as its output is defined over a set of domain symbols. Motivated by the observation that interpretation can be decomposed into domain-dependent and independent components, we suggest a novel interpretation model, which augments a domain dependent model with abstract information that can be shared by multiple domains. Our experiments show that this type of information is useful and can reduce the annotation effort significantly when moving between domains.
Pirates in Historical Fiction and Nonfiction: A Twin-Text Unit of Study.

In this article we outline an interdisciplinary unit of study using quality children’s literature, and we describe several instructional strate gies and activities for reading and responding to historical fiction and informational texts.1 The focus of this fourth-grade unit is on one of the Time, ConTinuiTy and Change.2 This “piratical study” integrates social studies and the language arts. Several social studies topics emerge during the lessons: (a) the economic impact pirates and privateers had on American colonies; (b) the roles that pirates and privateers played in the wars between England and Spain, the American Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812; (c) the absolute and relative location of major landforms, bodies of water, and ports of call in the early Americas; and (d) the emergence of some democratic practi ces among some pirates: Pirate’s Code-The Articles of Agreement.
REDUCING STRESS AND INCREASING HOPE AMONG TYPHOON YOLANDA SURVIVORS

iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v LIST OF TABLES ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Problem Statement 1 Purpose of the Study 3 Focusing on the Children 4 A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach 5 Significance of the Project for Social Work 7 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW Introduction 9 Effects of Disasters on Children 10 Effect on Stress 13 Effect on Hope 13 Correlation Between Stress and Hope 14 Theories Guiding Conceptualization 14 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach to Disaster Mental Health . 16 Effect on Stress 18 Effect on Hope 19 Cultural Considerations 19 Methodological Limitations and Conflicting Findings 22 Conclusion 23