Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF RESVERATROL ON NUMBER AND ACTIVITY OF ENDOTHELIAL PROGENITOR CELLS FROM HUMAN PERIPHERAL BLOOD

1 It has been well established that oestrogens can increase the number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) by anti‐apoptotic effects. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic phytoalexin extracted from grapes and wine, has been reported to act as an oestrogen receptor agonist. We hypothesize that putative phyto‐oestrogen may promote EPC proliferation and survival in vitro. 2 Endothelial progenitor cells were isolated from human peripheral blood and identified immunocytochemically. Endothelial progenitor cells were incubated with resveratrol (1, 10, 25 and 50 mmol/L) or control for specified times. Cell proliferation, migration and in vitro vasculogenesis were assayed using the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetra‐zolium bromide (MTT) assay, modified Boyden chamber assay and in vitro vasculogenesis detection, respectively. 3 Resveratrol increased the number of EPC and promoted EPC proliferation, adhesion and migration in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. Cell number peaked at 50 mmol/L resveratrol after incubation for 24 h compared with vehicle control (61.3 ± 5.8 vs 112.8 ± 7.2, respectively; P < 0.01). 4 Furthermore, cell cycle analysis showed that 50 mmol/L resveratrol significantly increased the S phase and decreased the G0/G1 phase of EPC. In addition, resveratrol increased vascular endothelial growth factor production and further induced vasculogenesis in vitro. 5 In conclusion, resveratrol significantly induces EPC proliferation, migration and further promotes angiogenesis in vitro.
Modelling the economic value of cross- and sustained-protection in vaccines against cervical cancer

Objective: Two human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are on the market. Based on expected differences in sustained- and cross-protection between the two vaccines, their long-term economic value is modelled and compared for France, Ireland and Italy. Methods: A Markov cohort model reproducing the natural history of HPV infections, screening and vaccination, is adapted to country-specific data. Two hypothetical HPV vaccines (VA and VB) are compared. At baseline VA provides lifetime protection against HPV‐16 and 10-year protection against HPV‐18 before waning. VB is the same as VA with a 10-year protection against HPV‐6 and 11. Sustained- and cross-protection is varied over wide ranges in VA to define the levels that could make VA cost-effective or dominant compared with VB. Results: Under baseline conditions VB dominates VA. VA becomes cost-effective when the difference in cross-protection alone reaches 13–15% (undiscounted), and 22–44% (discounted). A combination of sustained- and cross-protection is required for VA to dominate VB (discounted). The results are dependent upon country, the base-case value and the discount applied. Conclusion: Realistic additional sustained- and cross-protection in one HPV vaccine may confer benefits that offset the economic value of protection against low-risk HPV in the other. The results are country specific.
A Distributed and Collaborative vSLAM Framework for Real-Time Localisation in Huge Environments for Mobile Devices

This poster proposes a collaborative vSLAM system for mobile Augmented Reality applications in huge environments. The system combines the efﬁciency of local vSLAM methods with the accuracy of large-scale mapping techniques. In order to overcome the efﬁciency problems of large-scale algorithms,a distributed architecture in the Cloud that keeps the consistency of the map is proposed. To achieve it, the data coming from multi-user local vSLAM algorithms is fused with the large-scale map stored in the Cloud
The structure‐function relationships in Drosophila neurotactin show that cholinesterasic domains may have adhesive properties.

Neurotactin (Nrt), a Drosophila transmembrane glycoprotein which is expressed in neuronal and epithelial tissues during embryonic and larval stages, exhibits heterophilic adhesive properties. The extracellular domain is composed of a catalytically inactive cholinesterase‐like domain. A three‐dimensional model deduced from the crystal structure of Torpedo acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been constructed for Nrt and suggests that its extracellular domain is composed of two sub‐domains organized around a gorge: an N‐terminal region, whose three‐dimensional structure is almost identical to that of Torpedo AChE, and a less conserved C‐terminal region. By using truncated Nrt molecules and a homotypic cell aggregation assay which involves a soluble ligand activity, it has been possible to show that the adhesive function is localized in the N‐terminal region of the extracellular domain comprised between His347 and His482. The C‐terminal region of the protein can be removed without impairing Nrt adhesive properties, suggesting that the two sub‐domains are structurally independent. Chimeric molecules in which the Nrt cholinesterase‐like domain has been replaced by homologous domains from Drosophila AChE, Torpedo AChE or Drosophila glutactin (Glt), share similar adhesive properties. These properties may require the presence of Nrt cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains since authentic Drosophila AChE does not behave as an adhesive molecule when transfected in S2 cells.
Supporting Scalable Multimedia Streaming over Converged DVB-H and DTMB Networks

This paper studies an efficient solution for transporting scalable video over multi-standard integrated multimedia broadcasting networks, namely DVB-H and DTMB. A novel approach, called network-aware stream adaptation (NASA) framework, is developed within this context to deliver the scalable video streams to the end users over the underlying heterogeneous broadcasting standards. Simulation results prove that the proposed scheme significantly improves the channel utilization and achieves better video quality. An efficient dynamic stream adaptation (DSA) mechanism is then foreseen to perform the most appropriate stream adaptation in response to the current reception conditions, network resources, and channel variations, offering progressive perceived visual display quality and fine-granularity QoS performance.
Gastric Ulcers in Swine. 4. Effects of Dietary Particle Size and Crude Fiber Contents on Ulceration

The effects of various nutritional factors on the development of gastric ulcers were studied in 3 experiments including 92 pigs. Coarsely ground soybean meal (10%) in the diet gave better protection than did finely ground soybean meal. Isolated soybean protein had no protective action. A watery extract of soybean meal offered some protection in 1 experiment, but had no effect in another. Coarsely ground barley straw included in the diet at 5 or 10% gave almost full protection against ulceration, whereas 2.5% gave only partial protection. Finely ground straw as 2.5% of the diet gave no protection. With increasing severity of the gastric lesions the gastric content became significantly more fluid.
STEAP : Towards Online Estimation and Replanning

In this work, we present simultaneous trajectory estimation and planning (STEAP) a unified approach to solving continuous-time trajectory estimation and planning problems. Although, these problems are usually considered separately, within our framework we show how estimation and planning can benefit from each other and remove redundancy during computation. Each time-step the robot is tasked with finding the full continuous-time trajectory from start to goal, such that the history of the trajectory signifies the solution to the estimation problem, while the future of the trajectory signifies a solution to the planning problem. Building on recent work we employ incremental inference on probabilistic graphical models to solve this problem, and provide an approach that can contend with high-degree-of-freedom (DOF) trajectory space, uncertainty due to limited sensing capabilities, model inaccuracy, the stochastic effect of executing actions and can find a solution in real time. We evaluate our approach empirically on a mobile manipulator.
Calibration of iRobot create using UMBmark

The article deals with the calibration and simulation of the odometry based on iRobot Create. The mathematical model of robot was built and analysed. In order to calibrate the odometry and modify the parameter in the programme, we carried out UMBmark test. The accumulation of errors was simulated through Kalman filter theory.
Power Output Estimation in Vertical Jump Performed by Young Male Soccer Players

Quagliarella, L, Sasanelli, N, Belgiovine, G, Moretti, L, and Moretti, B. Power output estimation in vertical jump performed by young male soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 25(6): 1638-1646, 2011—The purpose of the study was (a) to assess the accuracy of the regression equations available in the literature to estimate the actual peak power (PPac) of the countermovement jump (CMJ) executed by young male soccer players, (b) to develop new regression equations from this population, and (c) to verify whether regression equations obtained from age-based subgroups could increase the accuracy of the estimation (PPes) of PPac. In all, 117 young players (age: 13.6 ± 2.4 years) were enrolled in the study. Each subject performed 5 CMJs on a force platform. The new regression equations were obtained from the entire experimental sample (G1) and 3 age-based subsamples (G2 = prepubertal, G3 = peripubertal, G4 = postpubertal) using 2 different approaches: the best jump and the mean values achieved by each subject. All the equations in the literature underestimated the peak power (p < 0.00005) in all the groups. The approach based on the mean values was more accurate (adjusted R2 = 0.925, SEE = 302.9 W) than the one based on the best jump (adjusted R2 = 0.892; SEE = 360.8 W). Moreover, calculating the regression equations from the 3 age-based subsamples, SEE resulted improved (15.5% in G2, 5.6% in G3 and 0.9% in G4). Regression equations must be derived from homogeneous populations, in terms of gender, sports practice, and age. The approach based on the mean values for each subject was more accurate than the approach used in the literature up to now. In practical applications, regression equation estimates cannot be used to assess the performance of a single subject, because errors may exceed 50%, whereas they may be useful for group comparisons.
Induction of complement resistance in cloned pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica

The lytic effect of complement activated through the alternative pathway (AP) was studied on pathogenic and nonpathogenic Entamoeba histolytica recently isolated from stool samples. Recent nonpathogenic isolates were nearly unaffected by exposure to AP whereas recent pathogenic stool isolates were highly susceptible to AP dependent complement‐mediated lysis. Complement susceptible pathogenic stool isolates developed complement resistance in vivo during hamster liver passage and in vitro during cultivation in the presence of increasing concentrations of normal human serum (NHS). Since a clone of pathogenic HM‐l.IMSS which initially was highly susceptible also acquired complement resistance during cultivation in the presence of NHS, it is concluded that complement resistance was caused by induction rather than by selection alone. Because cultivation in the presence of heat‐inactivated NHS did not affect complement susceptibility of the cloned HM‐l.IMSS, complement activation itself might induce complement resistance in pathogenic E. histolytica.
Multiple platelet defects identified by flow cytometry at diagnosis in acute myeloid leukaemia

Previous findings of megakaryocytic hypogranulation and dysmegakaryocytopoietic features in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) strongly indicate defects in platelet production. The bleeding tendency of these patients may result from dysregulated platelet production, resulting in thrombocytopenia as well as qualitative platelet defects. The present study examined platelet function at diagnosis in 50 AML patients by whole blood flow cytometry. Following in vitro platelet agonist stimulation, platelet activation markers were analysed and compared with 20 healthy individuals. To detect recent in vivo platelet activation, plasma soluble P‐selectin (sP‐selectin) was measured. Flow cytometric analysis of platelet activation markers demonstrated reduced CD62P [35·6 vs. 118·5 × 103 molecules of equivalent soluble fluorochrome (MESF); P < 0·0001], CD63 (11·3 vs. 50·7 × 103 MESF; P < 0·0001), and PAC‐1 (41·5 vs. 90·5%; P = 0·0001) while reductions in CD42b were abnormal (45·6 vs. 70%; P < 0·0001). sP‐selectin levels were similar in patients and healthy controls (0·04 vs. 0·27 fg/platelet; P = 0·84). The presented data indicate that AML pathogenesis may result in multiple platelet defects, involving adhesion, aggregation, and secretion and demonstrate that flow cytometry is a feasible method for platelet function analysis in patients with thrombocytopenia.
Cost Efficiency of Banks in Croatia

Abstract Foreign and larger banks in Croatia are generally considered to be more cost efficient compared with domestic and smaller banks. However, those views are often based on data from financial statements that can be misleading due to simultaneous consolidation process on the market and the existence of economies of scale. To contribute to the Croatian banking efficiency literature, we construct a panel of individual bank data for 1994-2014 period and conduct a frontier analysis to calculate bank specific X-efficiency. Our results suggest that efficiency scores depend on the cost definition as domestic and smaller banks are more efficient in managing administrative costs compared with foreign and larger banks but equally efficient in managing total costs. Results indicate that average bank relative efficiency increased on two occasions: one in the late 90s in the period of banking crisis and subsequent “market cleansing” and to a lesser extent in the period marked with financial crisis. Although the differences between bank cost efficiencies seem small, we conclude that the area is worth further research as significant gains in bank earnings could be achieved by increasing efficiency.
Crestal bone changes at nonsubmerged implants (Camlog) with different machined collar lengths: a histomorphometric pilot study in dogs.

PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to histomorphometrically investigate crestal bone changes at nonsubmerged implants (Camlog) with different machined collar lengths in a dog model. MATERIALS AND METHODS One-stage insertion of sandblasted acid-etched screw-type implants with machined neck sizes of 1.6 mm (CAM) and 0.4 mm (CAM+) was performed in the mandibles of 4 beagle dogs. Both types of implants were inserted so that the implant shoulder (IC) exceeded the alveolar crest for 0.4 mm. Placement was followed by the connection of standard abutments. The animals were sacrificed after 2 and 12 weeks. Dissected blocks were processed for histomorphometric analysis (eg, distance between IC and the coronal extension of bone-implant contact [CBI], the distance between IC and the apical extension of the inflammatory cell infiltrate, and the percentage of bone-implant contact). RESULTS Histomorphometric analysis revealed significantly increased mean IC-CBI (CAM: 2.4 +/- 0.3 mm; CAM+: 1.6 +/- 0.1 mm) and BIC (CAM: 77%; CAM+: 80%) values in both groups at 12 weeks. However, mean IC-CBI values were significantly higher in the CAM group (P < .01). An inflammatory cell infiltrate was localized to the implant-abutment interface of both CAM and CAM+ implants, and BC was clearly separated from alCT by a subepithelial connective tissue zone. CONCLUSIONS Within the limits of the present study, it was concluded that (1) rough-surfaced implant necks reduced crestal bone level changes after 12 weeks of healing, and (2) microbial leakage apparently did not contribute to the marginal bone resorption in either group.
Temperature‐related development of the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis as forensic indicator

Abstract. Development times of the forensically significant parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) from oviposition to pupation, and from oviposition to adult emergence, were studied in the laboratory at temperatures of 15–35°C using host pupae of the blowfly Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau‐Desvoidy) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Total developmental time of N. vitripennis from oviposition to adult emergence (mean ± SD) was 43.5 ± 2.4, 22.5 ± 1.1, 14.8 ± 1.7 and 11.3 ± 0.9 days when reared at 15, 20, 25 and 30°C, respectively. At 35°C, N. vitripennis did not develop successfully. The rate of total immature development (1/days) increased with temperature. From linear regression of development rates, it was determined that the minimum threshold (tL) for total immature development was 9.8°C (∼10°C). Above this threshold, the overall thermal constant (K) for N. vitripennis was found to be 224.3 ± 1.7 degree‐days.
The Impact of the PSP on Software Quality: Eliminating the Learning Effect Threat through a Controlled Experiment

Data from the Personal Software Process (PSP) courses indicate that the PSP improves the quality of the developed programs. However, since the programs (exercises of the course) are in the same application domain, the improvement could be due to programming repetition. In this research we try to eliminate this threat to validity in order to confirm that the quality improvement is due to the PSP. In a previous study we designed and performed a controlled experiment with software engineering undergraduate students at the Universidad de la Republica. The students performed the same exercises of the PSP course but without applying the PSP techniques. Here we present a replication of this experiment. The results indicate that the PSP and not programming repetition is the most plausible cause of the important software quality improvements.
Islamic symmetric pattern generation based on group theory

The art of Islamic symmetrical patterns (ISP) has proven to be an elegant method for the study of symmetry. These patterns offer a rich source for exploitation by artists and are also of interest to mathematicians, crystallographers, architects, archaeologists and others. This paper discusses, studies and analyzes the evolution of the Islamic symmetrical repeat pattern design by exploring ways in which the patterns can be created algorithmically based on the properties of group theory. The use of both isometrics and fold type symmetric concepts to create and perfectly color such symmetric patterns are also discussed. Experimental results demonstrate the approach with a variety of Islamic symmetrical pattern designs.
Cause by Omission and Norm: Not Watering Plants

ABSTRACT People generally accept that there is causation by omission—that the omission of some events cause some related events. But this acceptance elicits the selection problem, or the difficulty of explaining the selection of a particular omissive cause or class of causes from the causal conditions. Some theorists contend that dependence theories of causation cannot resolve this problem. In this paper, we argue that the appeal to norms adequately resolves the selection problem for dependence theories, and we provide novel experimental evidence for it.
Are Aspects of a Motivational Interview Related to Subsequent Changes in Physical Activity and Regulatory Style? Examining Relationships among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objectives: To determine whether the integrity of motivational interviewing (MI) delivery relates to short-term changes in physical activity (PA) and regulatory style within a sample of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and to examine whether therapist proficiency in MI improves over time. Methods: During a randomized controlled trial to promote PA, 27 patients received a MI from one of three trained physical therapists, which was coded with the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity scales (MITI). Pearson correlations examined associations between MITI scores and changes in PA and regulatory style. Linear regression examined therapist proficiency over time. Results: MIs with greater reflection-to-question ratios and higher MI proficiency scores were related to increases in PA. MIs higher in global spirit and with a greater percentage of MI-adherent behaviors were associated with decreases in introjected regulation. Therapist proficiency in MI delivery tended to improve over time. Conclusions: Characteristics of motivational interviews are related to favorable shifts in regulatory style and PA behavior. Although MI proficiency increases over time and with feedback, a 15-hour training course seems insufficient for physical therapists to obtain basic MI proficiency . Practice Implications: Providing feedback to therapists new to delivering MI seems to improve MI proficiency and should help therapists to avoid using MI-non-adherent techniques.
Macrocytic Anemia and Liver Inflammation Induced by Eucalyptus Oil

The toxic effects of a toxicant result in histo-pathological and hematological variations that may lead to hepatic inflammation. Plant extracts and essential oils have long been used in medicines and food additives despite of their detrimental effects. Eucalyptus oil (EO) is commonly used in pharmaceutical industry for its high contents of menthol. The current study was planned to study the hepatotoxicity and hemotoxicity in Wistar rats. A dose dependent study was executed with T1= 1.25ml/kg, T2 = 2.5ml/kg and T3 = 5ml/kg (kg of body weight) of oral administration of EO. The three experimental groups were compared with control. The animals were dissected and blood extracted by direct heart puncture. Liver was excised and formalin fixed for H&E staining. A statistically significant increase was observed in MCV, percentage RDW and HCT that arguments for macrocytic anemia. With conserved morphology, the hepatic lobules have shown recruitment of inflammatory cells in perivascular areas with lower degree of hepatocytic necrosis. Taken together these results we can conclude that EO can cause sterile inflammation to the liver with macrocytic anemia.
Superparamagnetic iron oxide MION as a contrast agent for sodium MRI in myocardial infarction

An intravascular iron‐based contrast agent was used as a sodium (23Na) MRI T2 relaxant in an effort to suppress the blood signal from the ventricular cavities in normal and infarcted canine myocardium in vivo. 23Na MRI signal decreases in blood were attributed to decreases in the fast (T2f) and slow (T2s) transverse relaxation components, which were quantified as a function of dose and MRI echo time (TE). In vivo 23Na MRI signal decreases up to 65% were noted in ventricular blood when imaging under dose and TE conditions of 10 mg/kg body weight and 5 ms, respectively. Contrast injection followed by subsequent 23Na MRI in canine myocardial infarction led to a clear delineation of the location of the injured tissue, as identified by postmortem triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, and to an improvement in the contrast‐to‐noise ratio between the blood in the ventricular chamber and the infarcted tissue that was as high as 3.3‐fold in the postcontrast images in comparison to the precontrast images. Magn Reson Med 46:1164–1168, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Feature Descriptor by Difference of Polynomials

In this paper, we propose a novel local image descriptor DoP which is termed as the difference of images represented by polynomials in different degrees. Once an interest point/region is extracted by a common image detec- tor such as Harris corner, our DoP descriptor is able to characterize the interest point/region with high distinctiveness, compactness, and robustness to viewpoint change, image blur, and illumination variation. To efficiently build DoP descriptor, we propose to numerically reduce the computational cost by jumping over the repeatedly calculating poly- nomial representation. Our experimental results demonstrate a better performance compared to several state-of-art candidates.