Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative pharmacokinetics of 14C-sucrose in RG-2 rat gliomas after intravenous and convection-enhanced delivery.

We compared tissue and plasma pharmacokinetics of 14C-sucrose in subcutaneous RG-2 rat gliomas after administration by 3 routes, intravenous bolus (i.v.-B; 50 microCi over 30 s), continuous i.v. infusion (i.v.-C, 50 microCi at a constant rate), and convection-enhanced delivery (CED, 5 microCi infused at a rate of 0.5 microl/min), and for 3 experimental durations, 0.5, 2, and 4 h. Plasma, tumor, and other tissue samples were obtained to measure tissue radioactivity. Plasma radioactivity in the CED group increased exponentially and lagged only slightly behind the IV-C group. After 90 min, plasma values were similar in all. Mean tumor radioactivity was 100 to 500 times higher in the CED group at each time point than in the i.v. -B and i.v. -C groups. Tumor radioactivity was homogeneous in the i.v. groups at 0.5 h and inhomogeneous at 1 and 2 h. In CED, radioactivity distribution was inhomogeneous at all 3 time points; highest concentrations were in tissue around tumor and in necrosis, while viable tumor contained the lowest and sometimes negligible amounts of isotope. Systemic tissue radioactivity values were similar in all groups. Efflux of 14C-sucrose from tumors was evaluated in intracerebral tumors (at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h) and subcutaneous tumors (at 0 to 0.5 h). Less than 5% of 14C activity remained in intracerebral tumors at each time point. The efflux half-time from the subcutaneous tumors was 7.3 +/- 0.7 min. These results indicate rapid efflux of drug from brain tumor and marked heterogeneity of drug distribution within tumor after CED administration, both of which may be potentially limiting factors in drug delivery by this method.
VIETNAMESE CONSUMERS' INTENTION TO ONLINE SHOPPING ADOPTION: A QUALITATIVE APPROACH

The rapid development of shopping websites has become a vital part of consumers’ personal socially life. Many people use them as the only source for information searching, choosing and shopping (Li and Zhang 2002). In Vietnam, consumers are able to buy every type of goods on the Internet; their trust in online shopping, however, is very tenuous. In fact, in the Internet shopping environment, it is impossible for online consumers to gauge the reliability of the e-vendors due to the limited interface of those websites in comparison with the traditional stores. Hence, trust has played a significant role in helping consumers overcome the perceived risk and security in online shopping. Conducting a qualitative research employing focus group interview technique, the main purpose of this paper is to initially explore trust dimensions considered as the foundation of forming Vietnamese consumers’ attitude and behavioral intention for shopping via the Internet. The result of this study pointed out the existence of three aspects of trust affecting Vietnamese consumers’ intention to online shopping adoption, including technology beliefs, consumer beliefs in online shopping and social beliefs as well. The study also recommended the need of further study for confirming and measuring the role of consumers’ trust towards their intention to adopt online shopping as a shopping medium.
Low-complexity echo cancellers for DMT-based asymmetric DSL transceivers

In the past years, a number of researchers have investigated the use of digital echo cancellation systems for transmission technologies based on discrete multi-tone (DMT) modulation, such as that used in asymmetrical digital subscriber lines (ADSL) and the likes. Almost all the existing papers report on equal transmission rate systems, while little attention has been given to the multi-rate case. In fact, the first multi-rate echo canceller structure was developed by Ho et al., and has always been referred since. In this thesis, two sets of simplified techniques are developed. The first one reports on a fast initialization technique of the echo canceller. The method consists of replacing the first least mean square (LMS) iteration of the echo channel estimate by the solution of a system cost function in which circular convolution is assumed. The simplification of the method resides in the fact that no known sequence is used, and thus, no protocol is required. The second simplified technique developed aims to reduce the computational complexity of the multi-rate echo canceller structure at the lower transmit rate side of the link, e.g. the line terminal side in ADSL. In this case, the echo canceller located in the terminal, processes the signals in the entire frequency bandwidth (higher rate). During the processing, the echo channel that is estimated corresponds in fact to the imperfect hybrid channel combined with the lowpass filtering action of the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and the time-domain equalizer(TEQ). In such a situation, the frequency taps representing the estimated echo channel decay rapidly above the cutoff frequency of the DAC filter. In this work, we exploit this specific structure of the echo channel to reduce the computational complexity of the echo cancellation processing by setting a portion of the high frequency echo tap coefficients to zero, and by exploiting certain properties of the inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) algorithm. Experimental simulations for an ADSL-like configuration involving 32 tones on the upstream and 256 tones on the downstream, showed that by employing the new proposed approach, the computational complexity can be reduced by a factor of as much as 53% while at the same time improving the achievable bitrate by 35 kbps. Furthermore, in regards of the initialization technique, the echo channel estimate convergence can be reached after around 6 iterations as compared to 15 for usual LMS algorithm.
Failure modes for stiction in surface-micromachined MEMS

Wafer-level testing of surface-micromachined sensors provides new challenges to the test community. Currently, there is no method available for performing direct measurements to assess faulty micromechanical structures. Most commercial methods use electrical measurements to deduce the physical source of failures in the micromechanical structure. As a result, the process of identifying various failure modes (electrical measurements) and accurately mapping them to the underlying physical failure mechanisms of the mechanical sensor becomes highly complex. Several sources of failures that include particulates and stiction complicate the situation even more. Here, we provide a case study of the Analog Devices ADXL75 Accelerometer. One failure category called stuck/tipped beams is investigated and a methodology is developed to uniquely distinguish failures either caused by stuck or tipped beams. The proposed method is easy to implement and the information obtained can be critical for yield improvement.
Application of the Bispectral analysis in the diagnosis of cage induction motors

The article presents the analysis results and the most important findings and conclusions concerning the usage of Bispectrum Transform in the non-invasive diagnosis of induction motor, operating in a steady state. The authors evaluated the effectiveness of the bispectrum analysis application to assess the machine faults for selected signals: stator current, voltage proportional to the unipolar stream, vibration and acoustic pressure. Particular attention was paid to the following signals: stator current and axial flux. So far, they are rarely used in the Bispectrum Transform analysis. The article contains the most important results of the analysis, referred to the symmetrical motor operating with rated load torque. Measurements and analysis were performed for low-power motor, were was the possibility of implementation of the selected rotor damages. Numerical analyses were performed in Matlab software, using Bispectral Transform functions developed by the authors. The test results for the machine with selected types of rotor damage allowed to determine the suitability of Higher Order Transformation, in distinguishing selected damages in induction motors.
Cooperative communication with asymmetric channel state information: A contract theoretic modeling approach

In relay-assisted cooperative communication, relay nodes help forwarding the information of a source node in case of link failure between the source and a destination. Although user cooperation improves the overall efficiency of the network, it requires incentive to stimulate potential relay nodes to assist the source by forwarding its data to the destination. Moreover, the potential relays are better informed than the source about their channel conditions to destination, which results in asymmetric information between the source and the relays. In this paper, we study the problem of lack of forwarding incentive in cooperative communication when channel state information of relays is private information and not known by the source. To tackle this problem, we apply the principle of contract theory to a cooperative wireless system. Source first designs incentive compatible and individually rational contract, consisting of a set of power-credit pairs. Then it broadcasts contract items to nearby nodes. Once the source node receives reply messages from the volunteer relays, it chooses one or more relays based on its requirements and communication starts. Simulation results show how credit assignment works in order to stimulate relays to cooperate and prevents relays from cheating behavior.
Ontologies for Software Project Management: A Review

Software Project Management is a knowledge intensive process that can benefit substantially from ontology development and ontology engineering. Ontology development could facilitate or improve substantially the software development process through the improvement of knowledge management, the increase of software and artefacts reusability, and the establishment of internal consistency within project management processes of various phases of software life cycle. A large number of ontologies have been developed attempting to address various software engineering aspects, such as requirements engineering, components reuse, domain modelling, etc. In this paper, we present a systematic literature review focusing on software project management ontologies. The literature review, among other, has identified lack of standardization in terminology and concepts, lack of systematic domain modelling and use of ontologies mainly in prototype ontology systems that address rather limited aspects of software project management processes.
MRI/fMRI-compatible robotic system with force feedback for interaction with human motion

This paper presents a robotic system that is compatible with anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as with the more sensitive functional MRI (fMRI), and can safely and smoothly interact with human motion during the imaging. The system takes advantage of the electromagnetic shield that encloses the MR room by placing the interfering or sensitive components outside the shield, in the control room. This eliminates the need for extensive compatibility testing before each use. The concept is based on a conventional actuator placed outside the scanner room and a hydrostatic connection to transmit force and motion to an MR-compatible slave placed next to or inside the MR scanner. A force sensor, based on reflected light intensity measurement over optical fibers, measures interaction forces with the human subject. A robotic interface for wrist motion demonstrates the MR compatibility of this concept and the possibility to interact with various dynamic environments during functional imaging. This technology provides a basis for applications such as assistive devices for interventional MRI and haptic interfaces for neuroscience investigations.
Three‐dimensional fine structural reconstruction of the nose sensory structures of Acrobeles complexus compared to Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematoda: Rhabditida)

Nematode sensory structures can be divided into two classes; cuticular sensillae, with dendrites ending outside the epidermis, and internal receptors, that typically are single dendrites terminating within the body cavity. Fine structure of the former has been described completely in more than a dozen nematode taxa, while the latter were previously only well understood in the microbial feeder Caenorhabditis elegans. The distantly related nematode Acrobeles complexus has a similar ecology and together the two span a clade representing a large proportion of nematode biodiversity. The cuticular sensillae and internal receptors of A. complexus are here shown to be remarkably similar in number, arrangement, and morphology to those of C. elegans. Several key differences are reported that likely relate to function, and suggest that this nematode has a cuticular sensillum morphology that is closer to that of the common ancestor of the two taxa. Internal sensory receptors have more elaborate termini than those of C. elegans. The existence of a novel form of mechanoreceptor in A. complexus and spatial relationships between sensillum dendrites suggest differences between two classes of sensillae in how a touch‐response behavior may be mediated. J. Morphol. , 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Regulation of expression of the ilvB operon in Salmonella typhimurium

The ilvB gene of Salmonella typhimurium encodes the valine-sensitive form of acetohydroxy acid synthase, acetohydroxy acid synthase I, which catalyzes the first step in the parallel biosynthesis of isoleucine and valine. Although nearly all of the other genes involved in this pathway are clustered at minute 83, ilvB was found to lie at minute 80.5. Expression of ilvB was shown to be nearly completely repressed by the end products leucine and valine. Studies in which we used strains with mutations in cya (adenylate cyclase) and crp (cAMP receptor protein) demonstrated that synthesis of acetohydroxy acid synthase I is enhanced by the cAMP-cAMP receptor protein complex. Although no stimulation was achieved by growth on poor carbon sources, introduction of crp on a multicopy plasmid led to markedly increased expression. Strains of S. typhimurium lacking valine-resistant acetohydroxy acid synthase II (ilvG) are like Escherichia coli K-12 in that they are not able to grow in the presence of L-valine owing to a conditional isoleucine auxotrophy. The valine toxicity of these ilvG mutants of S. typhimurium was overcome by increasing the level of acetohydroxy acid synthase I. Enzyme activity could be elevated either by maximally derepressing expression with severe leucine limitation, by introduction of either ilvB or crp on a multicopy plasmid, or by the presence of the ilv-513 mutation. This mutation, which is closely linked to genes encoding the phosphoenol pyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (pts), causes highly elevated expression of ilvB that is refractory to repression by leucine and valine, as is the major ilv operon. The response of ilvB to the cAMP-cAMP receptor protein complex was not affected by this lesion. Data obtained by using this mutant led us to propose that the two modes of regulation act independently. We also present some evidence which suggests that ilvB expression may be affected by the phosphoenol pyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system.
Intelligence and early life mortality: Findings from a longitudinal sample of youth

ABSTRACT The current study examined whether adolescent IQ predicted risk for mortality by the age of 32. Analyses of data from the Add Health revealed that IQ was related to mortality risk, such that respondents with relatively lower IQs were significantly more likely to experience early life mortality when compared to respondents with relatively higher IQs. This association remained statistically significant even after controlling for a host of covariates such as race, gender, involvement in violent behaviors, levels of self-control, and poverty. The average IQ of deceased respondents was approximately 95, whereas the average IQ of living respondents was about 100.
Global /spl kappa/-exponential way-point manoeuvering of ships

This paper considers way-point manoeuvering in three degrees of freedom (surge, sway and yaw). A line-of-sight motivated control law that globally /spl kappa/-exponentially stabilizes an underactuated ship is derived using output redefinition and cascaded systems theory. The control law development is based on a general nonlinear ship model with surge propeller force and rudder moment as control inputs. Simulation results on a full scale model of a supply vessel are presented.
Integration of Plant Responses to Environmentally Activated Phytohormonal Signals

Plants live in fixed locations and survive adversity by integrating growth responses to diverse environmental signals. Here, we show that the nuclear-localized growth-repressing DELLA proteins of Arabidopsis integrate responses to independent hormonal and environmental signals of adverse conditions. The growth restraint conferred by DELLA proteins is beneficial and promotes survival. We propose that DELLAs permit flexible and appropriate modulation of plant growth in response to changes in natural environments.
Effect of Sindbis virus infection on induction of heat shock proteins in Aedes albopictus cells

When Aedes albopictus cells (clone C7) were infected with Sindbis virus, the production of cytopathic effect CPE depended largely on the conditions under which the cells were cultured. We observed marked inhibition of cellular RNA and protein synthesis, as well as a loss of the ability to induce heat shock proteins, e.g., hsp70, under conditions which led to cytopathic effect. Infected cells in which heat shock proteins could no longer be induced contained much lower amounts of hsp70 mRNA after heat shock than did mock-infected cells which were similarly treated. It is suggested that this decreased level of hsp70 mRNA is due to a failure of these cells to synthesize hsp70 mRNA after heat shock.
A compliance framework for business processes based on URN

Compliance with institutional policies, government regulations and applicable legislation is a major concern for any organization when defining its business processes. These regu­ lations are usually complex, hard to understand, and they rarely come with a model or taxonomy. As well, both business processes and regulations are susceptible to change with the potential of introducing non-compliance. This thesis presents a framework that intends to help companies track compliance by leveraging requirements engineering models. Compliance is managed by establishing links between User Requirements Nota­ tion (URN) models of government legislation and organizational business process and tracking how they are affected in a requirements management system. Special attention is paid to maintaining compliance as either the legislation or business processes evolve over time. The framework is evaluated by way of a case study from the healthcare industry. The case study centres on the approval process implemented to control access to a data warehouse at a major Ontario hospital and whether or not this process complies with relevant legislation and hospital guidelines. The relevant legislation in Ontario is the new provincial Personal Health Information Privacy Act (PHIPA). Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. i
Turbulence, magnetic fields, and plasma physics in clusters of galaxies

Observations of galaxy clusters show that the intracluster medium (ICM) is likely to be turbulent and is certainly magnetized. The properties of this magnetized turbulence are determined both by fundamental nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic interactions and by the plasma physics of the ICM, which has very low collisionality. Cluster plasma threaded by weak magnetic fields is subject to firehose and mirror instabilities. These saturate and produce fluctuations at the ion gyroscale, which can scatter particles, increasing the effective collision rate and, therefore, the effective Reynolds number of the ICM. A simple way to model this effect is proposed. The model yields a self-accelerating fluctuation dynamo whereby the field grows explosively fast, reaching the observed, dynamically important, field strength in a fraction of the cluster lifetime independent of the exact strength of the seed field. It is suggested that the saturated state of the cluster turbulence is a combination of the conventional isotropic magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, characterized by folded, direction-reversing magnetic fields and an Alfven-wave cascade at collisionless scales. An argument is proposed to constrain the reversal scale of the folded field. The picture that emerges appears to be in qualitative agreement with observations of magnetic fields in clusters.
Noninvasive Measurement of Potassium Efflux as an Early Indicator of Cell Death in Mouse Embryos1

Abstract Programmed cell death (apoptosis) occurs in nearly all cell types examined, including mammalian oocytes and embryos, where it may underlie some forms of infertility in humans. Although the molecular machinery participating in apoptosis have been intensely investigated, the accompanying physiological changes have not received similar attention. In this study, a novel electrophysiology technique has been employed to monitor real-time perturbations in the physiology of mouse embryos undergoing apoptosis evoked by hydrogen peroxide, diamide, and staurosporine. Despite differences in their mode of action, these agents evoked a similar early change in cellular physiology; namely, a pronounced, transient, potassium efflux through tetraethylammonium-sensitive potassium channels accompanied by cell shrinkage. Mouse zygotes exposed to 200 μM H2O2 exhibited potassium efflux that elevated the potassium concentration of the media surrounding embryos by 1.4 ± 0.1 μM. Pretreatment with tetraethylammonium inhibited this increase (0.2 ± 0.1 μM). Our results indicate that potassium efflux through potassium channels and concurrent cell shrinkage are early indicators of cell death in embryos and that noninvasive measurements of potassium pathophysiology may identify embryos undergoing cell death prior to the manifestation of other morphological or molecular hallmarks of cell death.