Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Solving the air pollution control puzzle.

Air quality in a given area is based on the emission characteristics and geographic locations of pollution sources, on the meteorological factors affecting pollutant transport, and on emission control strategies imposed by regulatory agencies. In regions containing many sources, the systematic examination of proposed abatement strategies can be aided by computer modeling systems. Such systems require a large data input and contain several separate models. Development of a methodology for analysis of regional air pollution abatement should be guided by several key requirements: The method must apply to a wide range of environments with different pollution sources, fuel use and cost structures, meteorology, and different abatement objectives. The method must be generalized to accommodate abatement analysis of several different pollutants. 0 The method must be useful immediately with present data and become increasingly more powerful as research provides more and better data concerning air pollution. 0 The method must be useful at the federal, state, and local levels for examining the cost-effectiveness relationships implied by a given abatement policy, for judging the efficacy of competing incentives for abatement, and for indicating productive avenues of research in pollution control. Given the large number of individual emission sources in most regions, the scale of any multiple-source abatement analysis is combinatorially so great that computerassisted simulation is the only analytical method available which can practically meet the above requirements.
RLS with optimum multiple adaptive forgetting factors for SoC and SoH estimation of Li-Ion battery

Recursive least square (RLS) with a single forgetting factor has been commonly used for parameter and state estimation of dynamical systems. In many applications such as robotics, electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and smart-grid, accurate battery state of charge (SOC) and state of health (SOH) estimation is essential for the safe and efficient operation. To this end, the challenge lies in identifying and parameterization the temporal behavior of Lithium-Ion batteries, because their response is nonlinear and time-varying. This paper proposes a new RLS algorithm with optimum multiple adaptive forgetting factors (MAFFs) for SOC and SOH estimation of Li-ion batteries. Particle swarm intelligence is employed for identifying the system parameters. The performance of the optimum MAFF-RLS algorithm is compared to RLS with multiple fixed forgetting factors (MFFFs). Performance evaluation is carried out using the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS). The simulation results indicate the better performance of MAFF-RLS algorithm compared to MFFF-RLS algorithm in terms of mean square error of SOC and internal resistance.
Light field coding based on flexible view ordering for unfocused plenoptic camera images

Plenoptic cameras are devices designed for sampling the light field entering their main lens. The raw information captured by the sensor can then be processed for rendering views at different focal distance or from different perspective. A plenoptic camera generates images with high resolution and high redundant information if compared with a conventional camera having resolution equal to that of a light field rendered view. A light field compression architecture designed for coding views obtained from unfocused plenoptic images is proposed in this paper. The intent of this proposal is to provide a lossy compression tool enabling access to group of light field views. The experimental analysis aims at exploring the performance of the proposed method. The obtained results show that the proposed flexible ordering approach can provide advanced control to the user device in selecting the set of views that are effectively required for a given rendering application.
Some research projects on clusters of personal computers

Clusters of personal computers are becoming a viable, low-cost, alternative to traditional high-performance computing platforms as well as to more expensive networks of workstations. This is due in part to the better performance/cost ratio that characterizes personal computer hardware and in part to the outcome of various research projects aimed at producing high-speed communication systems out of off-the-shelf local area network technology. PC clusters are starting to be used for commercial applications as well as in research environments. The paper discusses some international research projects on PC clusters.
Detection of Human T-Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) tax Sequences in New York City Blood Donors Seronegative for HTLV Types 1 and 2

ABSTRACT A potential public health concern is the reported detection of the human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) tax gene in the lymphocytes of up to 11% of a low-risk group of New York City blood donors (NYBD). This study aimed to independently confirm the prevalence of HTLV tax sequences in 293 NYBD. All NYBD tested negative for antibodies to HTLV types 1 and 2 and HTLV Tax. HTLV tax sequences were not detected in the NYBD lymphocytes. These data demonstrate the lack of HTLV-1 tax in this group of NYBD at low risk for HTLV infection.
Nonparametric Estimation of Demand Elasticities Using Panel Data

In this paper, we propose and implement an estimator for price elasticities in demand models that makes use of Panel data. Our underlying demand model is nonparametric, and accommodates general distributions of product-specific unobservables which can lead to endogeneity of price. Our approach allows these unobservables to vary over time while, at the same time, not requiring the availability of instruments which are orthogonal to these unobservables. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that our estimator works remarkably well, even with modest sample sizes. We provide an illustrative application to estimating the cross-price elasticity matrix for carbonated soft drinks.
Extracellular matrix determinants and the regulation of cancer cell invasion stratagems

During development, wound repair and disease‐related processes, such as cancer, normal, or neoplastic cell types traffic through the extracellular matrix (ECM), the complex composite of collagens, elastin, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans that dictate tissue architecture. Current evidence suggests that tissue‐invasive processes may proceed by protease‐dependent or protease‐independent strategies whose selection is not only governed by the characteristics of the motile cell population, but also by the structural properties of the intervening ECM. Herein, we review the mechanisms by which ECM dimensionality, elasticity, crosslinking, and pore size impact patterns of cell invasion. This summary should prove useful when designing new experimental approaches for interrogating invasion programs as well as identifying potential cellular targets for next‐generation therapeutics.
Does Quadriceps-sparing Total Knee Arthroplasty Increase the Risk of Lower Limb and Component Malalignment? A Minimum 5-year Follow-up Study

IntRoductIon The conventional total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the most successful surgical procedure for relieving pain and improving poor function in patients with advanced arthritis. However, postoperative pain and delayed rehabilitation are the greatest complaints for the conventional approach. Recently, various minimally invasive surgery (MIS) TKA‐techniques have been developed to address the concern. MIS‐TKAs have shown less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery after surgery.
Design of mode scramblers for step-index and graded-index plastic optical fibers

We analyze the internal evolution of light power angular distribution in typical mode scrambling configurations by comparing the resultant far fields, obtained either experimentally or computationally, with the experimental equilibrium mode distribution (EMD) far field for the plastic optical fibers (POF) considered, so as to provide an insight that helps to adapt existing scramblers to new types of POF that are coming onto the market.
Age of onset evidence for anticipation in familial non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma

Anticipation, a phenomenon in which an inherited disease is diagnosed at an earlier age in each successive generation of a family, has been demonstrated in certain neurological and haematological disorders. This study was conducted to determine whether anticipation occurs in familial non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Eleven published reports of multigenerational familial NHL were analysed for evidence of anticipation, together with 18 previously unreported families with familial NHL. Differences in disease‐free survival between generations were determined. The difference between age at onset for each affected parent–child pair was tested against the null hypothesis that there was no difference in age at onset. These analyses were also performed separately using only parent–child pairs with age of onset > 25 years to avoid ascertainment bias. In addition, the age at onset distribution of the studied cases was compared with that of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program using data for 1973–98. The median ages at onset in the child and parent generations of all families (48.5 and 71.3 years respectively) and in the selected pairs (52.5 and 71.5 years respectively) were significantly different (P < 0.000002 and P < 0.000001 respectively). The null hypothesis was rejected for all (P < 0.000001) as well as selected pairs (P < 0.000003). A significant difference was observed between the ages of onset of the child generation and the SEER population (P < 0.009), but not between the parent generation and the SEER population. Anticipation occurs in familial NHL, which suggests a genetic basis for it.
Chelation for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

BACKGROUND It has been suggested that the severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms is positively correlated with the level of circulating or stored toxic metals, and that excretion of these heavy metals, brought about by the use of pharmaceutical chelating agents, results in improved symptoms. OBJECTIVES To assess the potential benefits and adverse effects of pharmaceutical chelating agents (referred to as chelation therapy throughout this review) for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms. SEARCH METHODS We searched the following databases on 6 November 2014: CENTRAL, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process, Embase,PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and 15 other databases, including three trials registers. In addition we checked references lists and contacted experts. SELECTION CRITERIA All randomised controlled trials of pharmaceutical chelating agents compared with placebo in individuals with ASD. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently selected studies, assessed them for risk of bias and extracted relevant data. We did not conduct a meta-analysis, as only one study was included. MAIN RESULTS We excluded nine studies because they were non-randomised trials or were withdrawn before enrolment.We included one study, which was conducted in two phases. During the first phase of the study, 77 children with ASD were randomly assigned to receive seven days of glutathione lotion or placebo lotion, followed by three days of oral dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). Forty-nine children who were found to be high excreters of heavy metals during phase one continued on to phase two to receive three days of oral DMSA or placebo followed by 11 days off, with the cycle repeated up to six times. The second phase thus assessed the effectiveness of multiple doses of oral DMSA compared with placebo in children who were high excreters of heavy metals and who received a three-day course of oral DMSA. Overall, no evidence suggests that multiple rounds of oral DMSA had an effect on ASD symptoms. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS This review included data from only one study, which had methodological limitations. As such, no clinical trial evidence was found to suggest that pharmaceutical chelation is an effective intervention for ASD. Given prior reports of serious adverse events, such as hypocalcaemia, renal impairment and reported death, the risks of using chelation for ASD currently outweigh proven benefits. Before further trials are conducted, evidence that supports a causal link between heavy metals and autism and methods that ensure the safety of participants are needed.
Histological and Histochemical Changes on Gonads of Sea Bass Fish as Consequence of Water Pollution

Lake Manzalah is the most important lake in Egypt as it provides about 30% of domestic fish supply, but is affected by drainage water. Lake Bardawil is the least polluted wetland in Egypt as is considered protected area. So, it is selected as the control lake in the study. Water and fish samples were taken at the same time (winter, 2012), from the two lakes. Lake Manzalah water have higher concentration levels (ppm) of studied heavy metals: Chromium, Lead and Cadmium and their levels exceeded the recorded safety limits in the two Egyptians environmental laws; No. 48/1982 and No. 4/1994. Histologically, Lake Manzalah fish testes showed a delaying in process of spermatogenesis, disruption of spermatogenic cells and reduction in spermatids. Lake Manzalah fish ovaries affected by heavy metal pollutions as atresia, deformed zona radiata, necrotic oocytes and broken tunica albuginea were presented. Histochemically, testicular and ovarian tissues of Lake Manzalah fish samples showed decreasing in total polysaccharide, protein and DNA and RNA contents due to severe affection of toxicant heavy metals. The collagen fibers increased in Lake Manzalah testicular samples as intersetial cells collapsed sperm nests, but the collagen fiber in ovarian tunica albuginea composition was weak and broken. The present study showed accumulated toxic heavy metals in Lake Manzalah water which implied on fish gonads and impair their reproduction. We recommended for improving water
Algebraic structure of the minimal support codewords set of some linear codes

It has been widely known that complete decoding for binary linear codes can be regarded as a linear integer programming problem with binary arithmetic conditions. Conti and Traverso [9] have proposed an algorithm which uses Grobner bases to solve integer programming with ordinary integer arithmetic conditions. Ikegami and Kaji [12] extended the Conti-Traverso algorithm to solve integer programming with modulo arithmetic conditions. It is natural to consider for those problems the Graver basis associated to them which turns out to be the minimal cycles of the matroid associated to the code, i.e. minimal support codewords in the binary case and its geometry. This provides us a universal test set for the programs considered.
UDCA slows down intestinal cell proliferation by inducing high and sustained ERK phosphorylation

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) attenuates colon carcinogenesis in humans and in animal models by an unknown mechanism. We investigated UDCA effects on normal intestinal epithelium in vivo and in vitro to identify the potential chemopreventive mechanism. Feeding of mice with 0.4% UDCA reduced cell proliferation to 50% and suppressed several potential proproliferatory genes including insulin receptor substrate 1 (Irs‐1). A similar transcriptional response was observed in the rat intestinal cell line IEC‐6 which was then used as an in vitro model. UDCA slowed down the proliferation of IEC‐6 cells and induced sustained hyperphosphorylation of ERK1/ERK2 kinases which completely inhibited the proproliferatory effects of EGF and IGF‐1. The hyperphosphorylation of ERK1 led to a transcriptional suppression of the Irs‐1 gene. Both, the hyperphosphorylation of ERK as well as the suppression of Irs‐1 were sufficient to inhibit proliferation of IEC‐6 cells. ERK1/ERK2 inhibition in vitro or ERK1 elimination in vitro or in vivo abrogated the antiproliferatory effects of UDCA. We show that UDCA inhibits proliferation of nontransformed intestinal epithelial cells by inducing a sustained hyperphosphorylation of ERK1 kinase which slows down the cell cycle and reduces expression of Irs‐1 protein. These data extend our understanding of the physiological and potentially chemopreventive effects of UDCA and identify new targets for chemoprevention.
Presence of antimicrobial resistance in coliform bacteria from hatching broiler eggs with emphasis on ESBL/AmpC-producing bacteria

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial resistance is recognized as one of the most important global health challenges. Broilers are an important reservoir of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in general and, more particularly, extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)/AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Since contamination of 1-day-old chicks is a potential risk factor for the introduction of antimicrobial resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the broiler production chain, the presence of antimicrobial resistant coliform bacteria in broiler hatching eggs was explored in the present study. Samples from 186 hatching eggs, collected from 11 broiler breeder farms, were inoculated on MacConkey agar with or without ceftiofur and investigated for the presence of antimicrobial resistant lactose-positive Enterobacteriaceae, particularly, ESBL/AmpC-producers. Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae were obtained from the eggshells in 10 out of 11 (10/11) sampled farms. The majority of the isolates were recovered from crushed eggshells after external decontamination suggesting that these bacteria are concealed from the disinfectants in the egg shell pores. Antimicrobial resistance testing revealed that approximately 30% of the isolates showed resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, trimethoprim and sulphonamides, while the majority of isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, nitrofurantoin, aminoglycosides, florfenicol, neomycin and apramycin. Resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins was detected in eight Enterobacteriaceae isolates from five different broiler breeder farms. The ESBL phenotype was confirmed by the double disk synergy test and blaSHV–12, blaTEM–52 and blaACT–39 resistance genes were detected by PCR. This report is the first to present broiler hatching eggs as carriers and a potential source of ESBL/AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae for broiler chicks.
Relational FastSLAM: an improved Rao-Blackwellized particle filtering framework using particle swarm characteristics

SUMMARY This paper presents an improved Rao-Blackwellized particle filtering framework with consideration of the particle swarm characteristics in FastSLAM, called Relational FastSLAM or R-FastSLAM. The R-FastSLAM seeks to cope with the inherent problems of FastSLAM, i.e., a particle depletion problem and an error accumulation problem in large environments. The R-FastSLAM uses the particle swarm characteristics in calculating the importance weight and maintaining a particle formation. We assign more accurate weights to particles by clustering them using the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm according to an adaptive weight compensation scheme. In addition, particles constitute an adaptive triangular mesh formation to maintain multiple data association hypotheses without any resampling step. Its outstanding accomplishments are verified on simulations and a test using the Victoria Park dataset by comparing the standard FastSLAM 2.0 with the particle swarm optimization based FastSLAM.
Modulation of apoptosis and signalling in cancer cells after treatment with epigenetic modulators

Krebs wurde lange Zeit als eine genetische Erkrankung angesehen. Inzwischen ist jedoch klar, dass auch epigenetische Veranderungen an der Krebsentstehung beteiligt sind. Eine wichtige epigenetische Modifikation ist die Histon-Acetylierung, deren Fehlregulierung das Krebswachstum stimulieren kann. Mit den Histondeacetylase-Inhibitoren (HDACi) lasst sich hier korrigierend eingreifen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden Mechanismen untersucht, mit denen HDACi als Monosubstanzen oder in Kombination mit anderen Wirkstoffen gegen Krebszellen wirken. HDACi konnen einen Zellzyklus-Arrest in der G2/M-Phase induzieren. In der Untersuchung des zugrunde liegenden Mechanismus stellten wir fest, dass HDACi die Phosphorylierung von H2AX, einem Marker fur DNA-Schadigung, und ATM, einem Schlusselenzym in der zellularen Reaktion auf DNA-Schaden, bewirkten. In der weiteren Analyse der Faktoren, die an der Regulierung des Zellzyklus beteiligt sind, i. e. dem Proteasom, NF-κB und p53, beobachten wir, dass der Proteasom-Hemmstoff Bortezomib, NF-κB-Inhibitoren und der p53-Aktivator Nutlin-3 den G2/M-Arrest deutlich modulierten. Zudem fuhrten diese Analysen eine kooperative antineoplastische Wirkung von HDACi und Nutlin-3 zu Tage. Nutlin-3 wird als ein aussichtsreicher Wirkstoff zur Behandlung von Tumoren mit Wildtyp-p53 (wt-p53) angesehen. In der Untersuchung der Kombination von Nutlin-3 und HDACi beobachteten wir, dass diese Kombination in wt-p53-Zellen, aber nicht in p53-Null-Zellen, synergistisch den Zelltod ausloste. Die Analysen zum Mechanismus des Nutlin-3/HDACi-Synergismus zeigten, dass HDACi die p53-Acetylierung induzierten und die Genexpression der p53-Inhibitor-Proteine MDM2 und MDM4 deutlich reduzierten. Das Ewing-Sarkom ist der zweithaufigste Knochenkrebs bei Kindern. Da Ewing-Sarkome in nur zehn Prozent der Falle p53-Mutationen aufweisen, sollten 90 % auf p53-gerichtete Behandlungen ansprechen konnen. Wir uberpruften darum die Wirksamkeit von Nutlin-3 in Ewing-Sarkom-Zelllinien und beobachteten, dass Nutlin-3 in wt-p53-Zellen p53 stabilisierte, die Expression von p53-regulierten Genen (MDM2, p21, PUMA) induzierte und die Apoptose ausloste. Unsere Befunde legen nahe, dass Nutlin-3 ein effektiver Wirkstoff zur Behandlung von Ewing-Sarkomen sein konnte.
Evaluation of the hypoglycemic and anti-oxidant activities of Morinda officinalis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

AIM OF STUDY The aim was to investigate the hypoglycemic and anti-oxidant activities of the dried roots of Morinda officinalis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. METHODOLOGY An ethanolic extract of the dried roots of Morinda officinalis and its three fractions (ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water) were obtained. We evaluated the hypoglycemic effects of three different single doses of the crude extract and its fractions in normal and diabetic rats for three hours after administration. Administration of the extract at 150 mg/kg twice daily for 10 days to the diabetic rats was also carried out. The effects of the 10-day treatment on the fasting serum glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, body weight, food intake, fluid intake, hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, reduced glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and renal TBARS levels were monitored. RESULTS In the three-hour dose response study, the crude ethanolic extract reduced the fasting serum glucose levels of the diabetic rats significantly at 150 mg/kg but increased those of the normal rats significantly at 600 mg/kg only. The water fraction demonstrated a dose dependent hypoglycemic effect in the diabetic rats whereas the n-butanol fraction increased the fasting serum glucose levels of the diabetic rats significantly at 50 mg/kg only within three hours after administration. The 10-day oral administration of the extract reduced the fasting serum glucose, hepatic and renal TBARS level and significantly increased the hepatic SOD and CAT activities as well as GSH levels. CONCLUSION The results indicate that the dried roots of Morinda officinalis possess hypoglycemic, hyperglycemic and anti-oxidant properties.