Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synergistic protection against acute flurothyl‐induced seizures by adjuvant treatment of the ketogenic diet with the type 2 diabetes drug pioglitazone

We have previously found that the transcription factor peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) contributes to the mechanism of action of the ketogenic diet (KD), an established treatment for pediatric refractory epilepsy. We have found that the KD increases brain PPARγ and that inhibition or genetic loss of PPARγ prevents the antiseizure effects of the KD on (1) acutely induced seizures in nonepileptic mice and (2) spontaneous recurrent seizures in epileptic mice. Here, we tested the hypothesis that adjuvant treatment of KD‐treated mice with a PPARγ agonist, pioglitazone, would result in an additive effect.
Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors involved in cyclic‐stretch‐induced reorientation of vascular endothelial cells

Cyclic stretch is an artificial model of mechanical force loading, which induces the reorientation of vascular endothelial cells and their stress fibers in a direction perpendicular to the stretch axis. Rho family GTPases are crucial for cyclic‐stretch‐induced endothelial cell reorientation; however, the mechanism underlying stretch‐induced activation of Rho family GTPases is unknown. A screen of short hairpin RNAs targeting 63 Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (Rho‐GEFs) revealed that at least 11 Rho‐GEFs – Abr, alsin, ARHGEF10, Bcr, GEF‐H1 (also known as ARHGEF2), LARG (also known as ARHGEF12), p190RhoGEF (also known as ARHGEF28), PLEKHG1, P‐REX2, Solo (also known as ARHGEF40) and &agr;‐PIX (also known as ARHGEF6) – which specifically or broadly target RhoA, Rac1 and/or Cdc42, are involved in cyclic‐stretch‐induced perpendicular reorientation of endothelial cells. Overexpression of Solo induced RhoA activation and F‐actin accumulation at cell–cell and cell–substrate adhesion sites. Knockdown of Solo suppressed cyclic‐stretch‐ or tensile‐force‐induced RhoA activation. Moreover, knockdown of Solo significantly reduced cyclic‐stretch‐induced perpendicular reorientation of endothelial cells when cells were cultured at high density, but not when they were cultured at low density or pretreated with EGTA or VE‐cadherin‐targeting small interfering RNAs. These results suggest that Solo is involved in cell–cell‐adhesion‐mediated mechanical signal transduction during cyclic‐stretch‐induced endothelial cell reorientation.
A game-theoretic approach for adaptive action selection in close proximity human-robot-collaboration

With the integration of Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) in industrial assembly scenarios, robot systems face numerous challenges. In contrast to classic robot systems which follow a pre-programmed and fixed sequence of actions, an interaction scenario with humans in the loop requires mutual adaptation. In this paper a framework based on game theory is presented that allows robots to choose appropriate actions with respect to the action of human coworkers when collaborating in close proximity. The proposed framework models HRC scenarios as iterative games and selects action-strategies for the Human-Robot Team (HRT) by finding the Nash-Equilibria (NEs) of these games. In contrast to most common approaches, our proposed HRC-game treats the decision-making behavior equally for all agents involved. Therefore, the concept of game theory is applied to evaluate the mutual interference of all actions on the HRT to obtain pareto-optimal NEs, i.e. team-optimal action-allocations. The general framework of the proposed HRC-game is realized on an interactive pick-and-place scenario in close proximity. This exemplary HRC-game is tested in a human subject experiment of a KUKA LWR 4+ robot and a human coworker assembling toy-bricks in close proximity. The experimental measurements and statistically significant improvements in the subjective feedback hold as a proof-of-concept of the proposed HRC-game model.
Comparison of bayesian regularization and Optimal Brain Damage methods in optimization of neural estimators for two-mass drive system

In this paper an implementation of optimized neural networks for state variable estimation of the drive system with elastic joints is presented. The signals estimated by neural networks are used in the control structure with state-space controller and additional feedbacks from the shaft torque and the load speed. High quality of estimation is very important for correct operation of the closed loop system. The precision of state variables estimation depends on generalization properties of neural networks. Short review of optimization methods of neural networks is presented. Two techniques typical for regularization and pruning method are described and tested in details: Bayesian regularization and Optimal Brain Damage. Simulation results show good precision of both optimized neural estimators for a wide range of changes of the load speed and load torque, not only for nominal but also changed parameters of the drive system. The experimental results are also shown and a high quality of estimation is obtained in a laboratory set-up.
Functional verification of system on chips - practices, issues and challenges

Summary form only given. In a complex SoC design flow functional verification is very important; any behavioral or functional bug escaping this phase will not be detected in the subsequent implementation phases and will surface only after the first silicon is integrated into the target system, resulting in costly design and silicon iterations. A number of academic and industrial research laboratories have been carrying out research on functional verification of SoCs based on different approaches. Many of the issues relate to intrinsic limitations of some of the approaches taken; while others have to do with the quality of the design information, by way of design descriptions, design documentations and design specifications, from which the overall verification objectives are derived. SoCs have brought to focus the need to carry out design and verification concurrently. For the design and verification task to proceed concurrently there is a need to capture formally, design information and implementation details at various levels of abstraction. As designs become more complex, functional verification will have to be carried out using the divide and conquer approach. We discuss several approaches based on compositional verification.
Environmental influence on behaviour of various structure used in dentistry

The aim of the present paper is to put in evidence the environmental influence on behaviour of various structure in dentistry being based on the necessity to be conform to the concept of health & environment. The structures of studied materials are both hard and soft, natural and synthetic and the environment simulated factors are mainly heavy metals and fluoride ions. The used techniques in the paper are related to investigation of composition, structure, morphology, electrochemical properties, and hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance at interface with environment. With these methods one intend to establish new properties for some dental biomaterials and propose original correlations between the influences of some environmental factors and dental health, as well as some measures and some prophylactic products recommended in the affected areas.
Presence of Phospholipid‐N‐Methyltransferases and Base‐Exchange Enzymes in Rat Central Nervous System Axolemma‐Enriched Fractions

Abstract: Rat CNS myelinated axons were fractionated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation with a zonal rotor. Fraction VI, obtained at 28–30% sucrose, appeared, on the basis of the presence of related marker enzymes, to be enriched in axolemma. Phospholipid‐N‐methyltransferases (PMTs) and base‐exchange enzymes were associated with fraction VI. PMT activity was significantly stimulated by the addition of either phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine or phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine but the PMT activity of the homogenate or the myelinated axons was unresponsive. Recoveries of the ethanolamine, serine, and choline base‐exchange activities were 14.4%, 13.8%, and 3.4%, respectively, of that present in the myelinated axons. The myelin‐rich fraction obtained simultaneously seems contaminated with other membrane fractions.
How the FBI Learned to Catch Bad Guys One Iteration at a Time

Because the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) never stops evolving, High Performance Technologies, Inc. (HPTi) found itself struggling to keep up with the changes while maintaining its CMMI III certification. Developers were complaining, clients were getting anxious, software releases were slipping. But what was the problem? Was it CMMI? Was it the environment? Was it HPTi? Through a disciplined approach to agile development, HPTi was able to successfully deliver above expectations. This experience report outlines HPTi’s successful journey through a CMMI III certification on an FBI software development project and the even more successful transition into agile development.
Effects of anaemia and stepwise-induced polycythaemia on maximal aerobic power in individuals with high and low haemoglobin concentrations.

Increasing the haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) improves the oxygen transport capacity but it also increases the viscosity of the blood. The influence of changes in [Hb] and viscosity on submaximal exercise capacity and maximal aerobic power was investigated in eight healthy males in varying states of training and with a normal resting [Hb] ([Hb]r), ranging from 123 to 178 g l-1. The subjects were venesected five times (450 ml per unit) and exercise tests were performed in the anaemic state. After 5-7 weeks, when [Hb] had returned to the 'normal' value, a stepwise re-transfusion of three to five units of blood was performed with exercise tests after each transfusion. The [Hb]r was 137 +/- 15 g l-1 in the anaemic state (A) and 170 +/- 16 g l-1 after the last re-transfusion (LT). The VO2max rose from 3.94 +/- 0.35 in A to 4.68 +/- 0.30 l min-1 after LT. Individual regression lines for [Hb] and VO2max revealed a mean increase in VO2max of 19 +/- 6 ml min-1 per g l-1 change in [Hb]. This value did not differ between individuals with high and low normal [Hb]. Furthermore, in intra-individual comparisons the relationship between [Hb] and VO2max in high and low individual [Hb] ranges was not found to be statistically different despite a 40% increase in the in vitro viscosity from the anaemic to the polycythaemic state. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The ischemic penumbra: operationally defined by diffusion and perfusion MRI.

BACKGROUND Identifying tissue at risk for infarction is important in deciding which patients would benefit most from potentially harmful therapies and provides a way to evaluate newer therapies with regard to the amount of ischemic tissue salvaged. OBJECTIVE To operationally define and characterize cerebral tissue at risk for stroke progression. METHODS We retrospectively selected 25 patients with an acute onset of a hemispheric stroke from our database who had undergone a combination of two diffusion-weighted MRI studies and a perfusion-weighted MRI study. We applied a logistic regression model using maps of the relative mean transit time and relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) as well as three different maps of the relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) to predict an operationally defined penumbra (region of mismatch between the diffusion lesion on day 1 and its extension 24 to 72 hours later). RESULTS Maps of the rCBF and initial rCBV were significant predictors for identifying penumbral tissue. Our operationally defined penumbral region was characterized by a reduction in the initial rCBV (47% of contralateral control region [CCR]), an increase (163% of CCR) in the total rCBV, and a reduction (37% of CCR) in the rCBF, whereas the operationally defined ischemic core showed a more severe reduction in the rCBF (12% of CCR) and in the initial rCBV (19% of CCR). CONCLUSION These MR indexes may allow the identification and quantification of viable but ischemically threatened cerebral tissue amenable to therapeutic interventions in the hyperacute care of stroke patients.
Initial response to glucocorticoids

Known prognostic variables in patients with primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSL) include age, Karnofsky performance status, involvement of deep regions of the brain, intensity of blood–brain barrier disruption, and treatment with radiation and chemotherapy. PCNSL often responds transiently to glucocorticoids administered to control neurologic symptoms before radiation or chemotherapy. This retrospective chart review was designed to estimate the prognostic significance of a clinical or radiologic response to initial glucocorticoid therapy.
Renovräkt! : Hyresvärdars makt(spel) och hur du tar striden

Renovrakningar, kraftiga hyreshojningar i samband renoveringar som tvingar boende att flytta, blir allt vanligare i Sverige. Men de drabbades egna erfarenheter saknas i den allmanna debatten.I hand .
The Promising Effect of a Green Food Label in the New Online Market

Although public interest in sustainable and safer products have steadily risen worldwide, research has shown a difference between consumer’s willingness to purchase, and actual purchasing behavior, for which two main explanations exist, including a lack of accessibility and a poor knowledge of related attributes. Fortunately, the emergence of online food markets may improve this situation through convenient accessibility to sustainable food and detailed description about sustainability labels. This research uses a hedonic price analysis to compare the price premiums for the sustainability attribute in Chinese online and offline markets, using edible oil as a case. The specific objective is to test the different values of a sustainable attribute, a green food label, in two types of markets. Results show that the green food attribute could gain a price premium in the online market but not in the offline market, indicating the importance of the online channel for sustainable food sale in China. A big price mechanism difference between online and offline markets is also found, with regard to attributes of production method, variety, place of origin, packaging, and discount. These results provide a guide for firms’ pricing strategies in online and offline markets.
The effect of copper tripeptide and tretinoin on growth factor production in a serum-free fibroblast model.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of copper tripeptide and tretinoin on normal and keloid-producing dermal fibroblasts in a serum-free in vitro model. The cellular response was described in terms of viability and secretion of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). METHODS Primary cell lines were established from patient facial skin samples obtained during surgery and plated in serum-free media. At 0 hour, copper tripeptide (1 x 10 (-9) mol/L), tretinoin (1 x 10 (-5) mol/L), or appropriate control vehicle was added. Cell counts and viability were established at 24, 72, and 120 hours. Supernatants were collected at the same intervals and were assessed for bFGF and TGF-beta1 concentrations using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. RESULTS Cell lines showed viability between 86% and 96% (mean, 92%) throughout the experiment. Tretinoin-treated normal fibroblasts secreted more bFGF than did controls at 24 hours (P<.05). Tretinoin-treated keloid-producing fibroblasts secreted more TGF-beta1 than did controls at 120 hours (P<.05). Keloid-producing fibroblasts treated with copper tripeptide secreted less TGF-beta1 than did controls at 24 hours (P<.05); a similar trend was observed in normal fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS Normal fibroblasts treated with tretinoin produced more bFGF than did controls, and this might partially explain the clinically observed tightening effects of tretinoin. Normal and keloid-producing dermal fibroblasts treated with copper tripeptide secreted less TGF-beta1 than did controls, suggesting a possible clinical use for decreasing excessive scar formation.
Glucose-receptor MR imaging of tumors: study in mice with PEGylated paramagnetic niosomes.

PURPOSE To evaluate a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent for tumor detection based on paramagnetic nonionic vesicles (niosomes) bearing polyethylene glycol (PEG) and glucose conjugates for the targeting of overexpressed glucose receptors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four gadobenate dimeglumine-loaded niosome preparations including nonconjugated niosomes, niosomes bearing glucose conjugates (N-palmitoyl glucosamine [NPG]), niosomes bearing PEG 4400, and niosomes bearing both PEG and NPG were tested. In vitro cellular uptake was measured at electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) after incubation with human prostate carcinoma, PC3, cells. In vivo distribution was studied at MR imaging 6, 12, and 24 hours after injection, with assessment of tumor, brain, liver, and muscle signal intensity (SI) in 49 mice bearing PC3 cells. Efficiency of targeted contrast agents was assessed with tumor-to-muscle contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Testing for differences was performed with analysis of variance followed by a posteriori Fisher test. RESULTS In vitro, gadolinium could be detected at EPR only in cell pellets incubated with niosomes bearing glucose conjugates or niosomes bearing both glucose conjugates and PEG (4.9. 10(-15) and 4.5. 10(-15) mol gadolinium per PC3 cell). In vivo, marked predominant tumor enhancement was demonstrated 24 hours after injection of glycosylated PEG niosomes (P <.01); no significant differences were observed following injection of nonconjugated niosomes, glycosylated niosomes, or PEG 4400 niosomes. Twenty-four hours after injection, sole presence of NPG or PEG 4400 on the surface of the niosome led to higher tumor-to-muscle CNR than that observed after injection of nonconjugated niosomes (CNR of 3.3 +/- 0.7 [SD], 3.4 +/- 2.2, and 0 +/- 1.9). Combination of NPG and PEG led to even higher tumor-to-muscle CNR (6.3 +/- 2.2). CONCLUSION Combination of PEG and glucose conjugates on the surface of niosomes significantly improved tumor targeting of an encapsulated paramagnetic agent assessed with MR imaging in a human carcinoma xenograft model.
Corruption in Tax and Taxing the Corruption

Most of the countries in the world face corruption and struggling against to it in many aspects. Due to various loopholes and institutional inefficiencies it continues to be pressing issues which affects public in various dimensions. The long existence of corruption around the world made an illusion to the policy makers and public as it is unavoidable and adjustable. This creates an intuition to esquire into what makes the corruption market successful all over the world for many centuries and what Economic theory is operate behind it. In this paper an inquiry is made into how the corruption market works effectively without any intervention. It also explore the possibility of the Ronald Coase theory’s to control the corruption and justifies what intervention is needed to achieve optimal amount of corruption. It concludes that to achieve the optimal amount of corruption in the society all farms of corruptions has to be internalized by introducing a permit and tax for corruption.
Does Remittance Stimulate Import? Empirical Evidence from Nepal

This study uses various econometric tools to establish relationship between import, remittance and export in Nepalese economy. The estimation shows a stable, positive and significant relationship. Particularly the estimation of import function produced a marginal propensity to import nearly 0.96. Its implication is that inflow of additional amount of remittance from the foreign country say, a rupee in Nepalese economy equivalent to its part would be spent on goods import. One co-integrating equation obtained from the finding of Johansen cointegration test is a self-proven fact on the existence of long run relationship between import, remittance and export. Estimation of Vector Error Correction Model reports that both short and long run equilibrium exists to correct previous level disequilibrium. But the rate of convergence towards equilibrium is very slow. It will take longer time to correct disequilibrium in Nepalese economy. For instance, the statistically significant coefficient of error correction term is 0.011, 0.029 and 0.003 for dependent variable import, remittance and export respectively. Self-proven results confirm that the long run causality is running from import to export and remittance, remittance to export and export and export to remittance and import.
A portfolio-choice model to analyze the recent gross capital flows between Canada and the US

We calibrate a two-country New Keynesian model with endogenous portfolio choice and valuation effects to discuss the determinants of the increase in Canadian Net Foreign Assets with the US observed after 2012. Furthermore, we discuss the shocks that may explain the “reversed two-way” capital flows pattern recently characterizing the Canada-US asset trading: Canada has a negative position on bond holdings owned by US investors while a positive balance emerges on its equity holdings from US firms. The combination of a global technology shock, the US fiscal contraction, an adverse wage-push shock in the US and the greater monetary stimulus in the US than in Canada (QE) provide insights to describe the recent capital flows between Canada and the US. Both the QE and the negative wage-push shock in the US play a crucial role as explanatory factors through substantial valuation effects.
Identification of Nonadherent Mononuclear Cells in Human Cord Blood That Differentiate Into Macrophages

We describe a population of nonadherent cells in neonatal cord blood that, upon in vitro cultivation, develop into monocyte‐macrophages. These cells initially are negative for nonspecific esterase cytoplasmic activity, lack the monocyte marker MO.2, fall into smaller, nonmonocytic cell size areas, as determined by fluorescence‐activated cell sorter (FACS)‐assisted size analysis, and differentiate into macrophages under nonstimulatory culture conditions (in the absence of exogenous colony stimulating factors, <0.1 ng/ml endotoxin, and growth in suspension). In contrast to the adherent, committed macrophage precursors in cord blood, which differentiate into macrophages after 2‐3 days of culture, the nonadherent precursor does not acquire monocyte‐macrophage characteristics until day 14 of culture. Earlier induction is achieved by adding the monocyte‐activating agents lipopolysaccharide or 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 to cultures.
Disposal of Metal Treated Salvinia Biomass in Soil and its Effect on Growth and Photosynthetic Efficiency of Wheat

Phytoremediation technologies generate huge quantities of biomass, the disposal of which is a serious concern. Wastewater samples collected from electroplating industries were treated with Salvinia biomass. The effect of application of metal loaded Salvinia plant biomass in soil on growth and physiological indices of 10-day-old seedlings of Triticum aestivum was evaluated. Controls (A) consisted of soil supplemented with untreated plant biomass. Seed germination, seedling height, total chlorophyll, glucose and protein levels, photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm), photochemical quenching (qP), non-photochemical quenching (qn), quantum yield (Y), and electron transport rate (ETR) were not significantly affected in seedlings raised in soils supplemented with metal loaded biomass from most of the samples (B–F) in comparison to control. However, significant decline was noted in total chlorophyll, glucose, and quantum yield in plants grown in soil supplemented with biomass from sample E. Among elemental levels, C(%) remained largely unaffected, N(%) showed slight enhancement but a decrease in H(%) was noted in plants grown in soil supplemented with biomass from sample E. Our results, therefore, suggest that metal accumulated Salvinia biomass obtained after phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated wastewater can be supplemented in soil. Further studies are required to assess long-term effects of disposal of metal loaded Salvinia plant biomass in soil.