Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reversal of Methylprednisolone Effects in Allergen-Exposed Female Balb/c Mice

A high percentage of asthma is associated with aeroallergen exposures. Glucocorticoids such as methylprednisolone represent a major method for managing chronic asthma. However, studies suggested that corticosteroid therapy might have the potential to stimulate rather than inhibit adaptive immune inflammatory reactions, raising concerns about possible adverse reactions due to excessive repeated methylprednisolone treatment. Therefore, a murine model of allergen-induced inflammation was characterized and used to investigate the effects of repeated intraperitoneal (ip) and transnasal treatments with methylprednisolone (0–20 mg/kg body weight) and cyclosporin A (20 mg/kg body weight). Sensitized BALB/c female mice were exposed daily to ovalbumin (OVA) aerosols for up to 5 d with 24-h postexposure analyses for airway responses to methacholine aerosols and inflammatory cell recoveries by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and tissue collagenase dispersion. Although increased tissue neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages reached maximal levels after 2 daily OVA exposures, recoverable eosinophil numbers continued to rise over the 5-d period. Daily ip treatments with a 5-mg/kg body weight dose of methylprednisolone diminished both OVA-induced airway responses to methacholine and inflammatory-cell accumulations to levels comparable to those observed with cyclosporin A. However, treatments with higher doses of methylprednisolone reversed this anti-inflammatory effect, indicated by a return to untreated levels of OVA-induced eosinophil recovery. A similar biphasic response in eosinophil recoveries was observed using daily transnasal methylprednisolone treatments that correlated with a concomitant fall and rise in BAL interleukin-13. These results supported the hypothesis that repeated high-steroid treatments might activate rather than suppress allergen-induced immune responses.
Job Satisfaction and Employee Performance within the Telecommunication Industry in Kenya: A Case of aAirtel Kenya Limited

x Chapter One . 1 1.0. Introduction . 1 1.1 Background of the study . 1 1.2 Problem Statement . 9 1.3 Objectives of the research . 10 1.3. 1 General objective . 10 1.4 Specific objectives . 10 1.5 Research Question . 11 1.6 Significance of the study . 11 1.7 Scope of the study . 12 1.8 Limitation of the study . 12 Chapter Two . 13 2.0 Litereature Review . 13 2.
LEADERSHIP IN THE INFORMATION AGE: HOW CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICERS LEAD INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WORKERS

Patrick D. Pauken, Advisor This dissertation reports the examination of the leadership behaviors of a small sample (23 participants) of CIOs in Fortune 500 companies using a modified version of the Leadership Practices Inventory (Kouzes & Posner, 2001). The aim of this survey research was to identify leadership behaviors that support the effective leadership of information technology (IT) knowledge workers by randomly selecting a representative sample. The literature review discusses the role of IT in the attainment of competitive advantage; the role of the CIO as a leader of IT knowledge workers; transformational, exemplary, and technology leadership models; and a change management model; the characteristics of CIOs were discussed. Of Kouzes and Posner’s leadership behaviors, Challenging the Process and Encouraging the Heart were identified by the participants as the behaviors they exhibit most often, while Enabling Others to Act and Modeling the Way were designated as areas in need of the most development. There was no significant statistical relationship between the CIOs’ reported leadership behaviors and their demographic characteristics (level of education, academic major, gender, length of tenure as a CIO, length of tenure with present organization, number of years in the IT/MIS field, membership in the organization’s top management team, frequency of informal interactions with members of the top management team and with the CEO, and having a close relationship with the CEO).
Fast matching algorithms for points on a polygon

The complete graph induced by a set of 2n points on the boundary of a polygon is considered. The edges are assigned weights equal to the Euclidean distance between their endpoints if the endpoints see each other in the polygon, and + infinity otherwise. An O(n log n)-time algorithm is obtained for finding a minimum-weight perfect matching in this graph if the polygon is convex, and an O(n log/sup 2/n)-time algorithm if the polygon is simple but nonconvex. The assignment problem for a convex polygon is solved in time O(n log n), and O(n alpha (n)) and O(n alpha (n) log n) time bounds are obtained for the verification problem on convex and nonconvex polygons, respectively, where alpha (n) is the functional inverse of the Ackermann function. <<ETX>>
Exploring epistasis in candidate genes for antisocial personality disorder

Objective To identify and characterize high-order gene-to-gene interactions in antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Methods Participants for case–control study were selected from the inmate male population in Bellavista prison from Medellin. The study included 310 individuals with ASPD and 200 with no ASPD. Diagnoses were made according to a best-estimate procedure based on a semistructured interview (diagnostic interview for genetic studies 3.0). We genotyped some single-nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes with main serotonin pathway effects. The gene–gene interaction was examined using the multifactor dimensionality reduction method version 2.0. &agr;. We assessed model sizes of 2 and 3 loci and counted the number of replicates that contained the causal loci in the final best model that was identified using 10-fold cross validation. Results We find epistatic interaction with catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT), tryptophan hydroxylase, and 5-HTR2A (serotonin receptor) with ASPD. This data supports an important role of polymorphism in serotonin receptors and low enzyme activity of COMT for susceptibility to ASPD. Conclusion This study suggests that gene interactions between genetic variants in COMT, 5-HTR2A and tryptophan hydroxylase gene would be associated with ASPD and influence the dopamine rewards pathways and modulate serotonin levels in ASPD.
The impact of monetary policy announcements on stock market: Evidence from China

: In this paper we examine how stock returns in China respond to monetary policy announcements made by PBC in a short term around announcement day. We employ a nonparametric event-study method to investigate such reactions. We arrive at the following conclusions. Firstly, there is information leakage of monetary policy changes, which is veriﬁed by signiﬁcant changes in stock returns before monetary policy announcement and quietness of stock market after announcement. Secondly, ﬁnancially constrained and ﬁnancially unconstrained ﬁrms respond quite similarly to monetary policy shocks, which disobeys credit channel of monetary policy transmission in the short run. Thirdly, reserve ratio changes cause stronger responses than loan interest rate changes, which demonstrate power of reserve ratio as a monetary policy instrument.
Correcting saturated pixels in images based on human visual characteristics

This paper presents a correcting method for saturated images which is operated in the YCbCr color space. The algorithm is based on two human visual characteristics, one is the visual sensitivities to color differences and the other is the Hunt effect. During the process of correcting colors, MacAdam ellipse model mapped to the YCbCr color space is used to search the nearest color. And during the process of the quantification of the YCbCr components for digital implementation, the regions with high luminance are set to have less saturation based on the Hunt effect. Experimental results show that the proposed method is more effective in correcting saturated pixels, especially for the optimization of the region with less luminance and more colorfulness.
Business Market Management: Understanding, Creating, and Delivering Value (Управление бизнес-рынками: понимание, создание и донесение ценности)

Business Market Management explores the process of understanding, creating and delivering value to targeted business markets and customers. Relying upon assessment of value in the marketplace, it provides a means of gaining an equitable return on value delivered and enhancing a supplier firm's present and future profitability. This book reflects the principles and practices of the discipline, and — by conducting and presenting management practice research — strives to advance the field. It brings together venerable past thinking and leading-edge thinking to provide a progressive approach to managing business markets. Рекомендуется для использования в курсах «Промышленный маркетинг» и «В-2-В маркетинг» продвинутого уровня. Готовится к выходу второе издание книги. В книге представлены принципы и практика управления бизнес-рынками, охватывающие вопросы понимания, создания и донесения ценности до целевых бизнес-рынков и бизнес-потребителей.
Evaluation of Androgen Receptor Function in Prostate Cancer Prognosis and Therapeutic Stratification

Abstract : While prostate cancers initially respond to androgen ablation therapy, tumors often become treatment resistant as tumor cells develop mechanisms to evade the treatment. Dysfunction of the androgen receptor frequently observed in castration resistant stages of prostate cancer. We reasoned that early knowledge of androgen receptor dysfunction can predict the course of prostate cancer progression. We proposed an approach for monitoring potential dysfunctions of the androgen receptor by measuring the expression of a panel of genes directly regulated by androgen receptor. We examined human prostate cancer tissues (surgery specimens) at early stages of the disease and matched with longitudinal follow up data. We have completed the evaluation of 140 patients by monitoring mRNA expression levels of ERG, PSA, PMEPA1, ODC1, AMT1 and GAPDH levels. Also, we have completed the evaluation of 80 whole-mounted sections of radical prostatectomy specimens by immunohistochemistry assessing AR, ERG, NKX3.1 and PSA proteins. This study addresses the association of AR function defects (decreased or attenuated expression of AR regulated genes) with unfavorable clinical features, as well as, if expression levels of the androgen regulated gene panel is indicative of biochemical recurrence- and metastasis-free survival. Major findings emerging from our PCRP/CDMRP award revealed that monitoring the levels of AR regulated proteins may support disease progression-associated clinical-pathologic features. In contrast, assessment of AR regulated genes at mRNA levels show promising performance in supporting the prediction of biochemical recurrence --free survival in low grade tumors. In summary, the study results indicate the utility of monitoring the defects of AR function in prostate cancer.
Polish sentence tests for measuring the intelligibility of speech in interfering noise

The aim of this study was to develop Polish sentence tests for accurate measuring of speech intelligibility in masking interfering noise. Two sets of sentence lists have been developed. The first set was composed of 25 lists and was used for sentence intelligibility scoring. The second set was composed of 22 lists and was used for word intelligibility scoring. The lists in each set have been phonemically and statistically balanced. The speech reception threshold (SRT) and slope of the psychometric function at the SRT point (S50) were determined in normal-hearing subjects. It was found that the mean SRT and mean list-specific S50list for the first set were equal to −6.1 dB and 25.5%/dB, respectively. The mean SRT and the mean list-specific S50list for the second set were:−7.5 dB and 20.8%/dB. Due to a relatively steep slope of the psychometric functions, the Polish sentence tests were shown to be accurate materials for speech intelligibility measurements against interfering noise. They are the first sentence speech-in-noise tests developed for Slavonic languages.
ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TRANSIENTS IN DAILY RHYTHMS.

and, in turn, these Green's functions can be derived from a single generating function, the expansion of which produces the field operator products. In the latter form we make contact with previous developments employing the action principle for quantized fields and the device of external sources1 (and subsequent work, largely unpublished). A large variety of equivalent forms can now be devised for the Green's functions, based primarily upon the well-established transformation and representation theory6 for canonical variables of the first and second kind. A discussion of these developments for specific systems will be deferred to another publication, in which the problem of translating quantum electrodynamics into the Euclidean metric is examined. Although we have emphasized the fundamental implications of the Euclidean representation, it will be evident that the Euclidean Green's functions also have practical advantages. Indeed, the utility of introducing a Euclidean metric has frequently been noticed in connection with various specific problems, but an appreciation of the complete generality of the procedure has been lacking.
Binding and Release of Glutamate from Overoxidized Polypyrrole via an Applied Potential for Application as a Molecular Switch

The controlled binding and release of glutamate from overoxidized polypyrrole (PPy) films via a variable potential was investigated. Glutamate-doped PPy films were electrochemically deposited from aqueous sodium glutamate electrolytes containing the pyrrole monomer. The resulting polymer films were found to have a high degree of roughness, which increased with increasing film thickness. This was also found to correspond to an increase in the glutamate content on the PPy film surface. The glutamate content on the film was in the order of 10−8 m/cm2 depending on the film deposition time. Glutamate was then released from the film into the electrolyte through overoxidization of the PPy layer and an applied potential. The amount of glutamate released from the film was greater than that on the surface of the film indicating that glutamate can be released from the PPy film via an applied potential. The switching behaviour of the polymer electrode, i. e. the repeated binding and release of glutamate to/from the polymer film via a variable potential, was investigated. The glutamate content in the samples was detected via liquid scintillation counting techniques performed on samples prepared with tritium (3H)-marked glutamate.
Modeling Social Cascade in the Flickr Social Network

We investigate social cascades, or how information propagation through social links in the online social networks. Based on the analysis of one of the largest available datasets collected from Flickr social network in detail, we shed light on the propagation pattern and cascade characteristic of the photos over the Flickr social network, We also apply a simple conceptual model that mimics the spread and dissemination of information on the Flickr social network, and produces information cascades very similar to those found in real network. With a single threshold parameter, this model can predict whether a photo will flourish or flounder in the network. Some interesting findings of the social linking and information propagation structure are also reported in this paper.
Complete Genome Sequence of Brucella canis BCB018, a Strain Isolated from a Human Patient

ABSTRACT Brucella canis is considered a rare cause of human brucellosis because of difficulties in presumptive diagnosis and underestimation of the incidence. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a Brucella canis isolate, BCB018, isolated from a human patient, providing precious resources for comparative genomics analysis of Brucella field strains.
Extended Kalman filter based pruning algorithms and several aspects of neural network learning

In recent years, more and more researchers have been aware of the e ectiveness of using the extended Kalman lter (EKF) in neural network learning since some information such as the Kalman gain and error covariance matrix can be obtained during the progress of training. It would be interesting to inquire if there is any possibility of using an EKF method together with pruning in order to speed up the learning process, as well as to determine the size of a trained network. In this dissertation, certain extended Kalman lter based pruning algorithms for feedforward neural network (FNN) and recurrent neural network (RNN) are proposed and several aspects of neural network learning are presented. For FNN, a weight importance measure linking up prediction error sensitivity and the by-products obtained from EKF training is derived. Comparison results demonstrate that the proposed measure can better approximate the prediction error sensitivity than using the forgetting recursive least square (FRLS) based pruning measure. Another weight importance measure that links up the a posteriori probability sensitivity and by-products obtained from EKF training is also derived. An adaptive pruning procedure designed for FNN in a non-stationary environment is also presented. Simulation results illustrate that the proposed measure together with the pruning procedure is able to identify redundant weights and remove them. As a result, the computation cost for EKF-based training can also be reduced. Using a similar idea, a weight importance measure linking up the a posteriori probability sensitivity and by-products obtained from EKF training is derived for RNN. Application of such a pruning algorithm together with the EKF-based training in system identi cation and time series prediction are presented. The computational cost required for EKF-based pruning is also analyzed. Several alternative pruning procedures are proposed to compare with EKF-based pruning procedure. Comparative analysis in accordance with computational complexity, network size and generalization ability are presented. No simple conclusion can be drawn from the comparative results. However, these results provide a guideline for practitioners once they want to apply RNN in system modeling. Several new results with regard to neural network learning are also presented in this dissertation. To provide a support for the use of recurrent neural network in system modeling, the approximate realizability of an Elman recurrent neural network is proved. It is also proved that FRLS training can have an e ect identical to weight decay. This provides more evidence showing the advantages of using FRLS in training a neural network. Another theoretical result is the proof of the equivalence between a NARX model and recurrent neural network. Finally, a parallel implementation methodology for FRLS training and pruning on a SIMD machine is presented. iii
Maintenance Strategies in Schizophrenia

A key consideration in the discussion of maintenance treatment in schizophrenia is how to first help bring patients to the point where acute psychopathology is sufficiently controlled, so that we can focus on consolidating the gains achieved and prevent a recurrence of illness. The different phases of treatment and response in schizophrenia include the acute phase, wherein we look for response and resolution; remission, where we control symptoms to levels of mild or less and work toward preventing relapse or any exacerbation of psychopathology; and recovery, meaning the ability to function in the community in the workplace, school, family roles, etc. In preparing patients with schizophrenia for maintenance treatment, clinicians must ensure that they have done everything possible to alleviate the acute signs and symptoms of illness to the extent possible. There are several questions to consider at this stage: How much improvement is enough? When do we change treatments, and why? What about adverse effects and the locus of care? In the context of this process of deciding how to bring about the best possible treatment response, we must consider that, if a patient is not responding, the diagnosis may need to be reevaluated. Adherence must be assessed and blood levels should be done (if feasible) to ensure that patients have an adequate amount of medication in their system. If blood levels are unavailable and adherence is an issue, the use of long-acting injectable medication should be considered. The clinician might decide to alterthe medication dose—to increase it, or perhaps decrease it if significant side effects are impeding therapeutic response. Adjunct medications or a switching strategy may be employed. Non-pharmacologic therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which can be effective at reducing symptoms of schizophrenia, should also be considered.
Exclusive chemoradiotherapy without TURBT for frail and elderly patients with an invasive bladder cancer: Which platin fits better?

279 Background: Frail and elderly patients (pts) with invasive bladder carcinoma (BC) are often unfit for surgery. Whether exclusive concomitant chemoradiotherapy (cCRT) without TURBT could be performed in a curative-intent remains uncertain. METHODS From 1996 to 2007, 68 pts were treated with exclusive cCRT. Median age was 77.5 years (70-91). WHO performance status (PS) at baseline were: PS 0: 27 pts; PS 1: 36 pts; PS 2; 4 pts; PS 3: 1 pt. 31 pts (45.5%) had a Charlson's score ≥ 5. Tumors were staged T1 (5 pts), T2 (44 pts), T3 (13 pts) and T4 (6 pts). 87.5% of the pts were clinically staged N0. Transuretral resection bladder tumor (TURBT) was incomplete and thus done for a diagnostic purpose only. 58 pts had an urothelial tumor (85.29%). External radiotherapy (ERT) was delivered with 1.8-2.0 daily fractions: median total dose of 63Gy [18Gy-69.4Gy] to the bladder and 92% of the pts had a whole pelvic ERT: median dose: 37.2Gy [18Gy-46Gy]. Drug was either cisplatin (CDDP) for 40 pts or carboplatin (CBDCA) for 28 pts. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were evaluated. RESULTS The rate of compliant pts with the full course of cCRT was 77.9% (53 pts). 5 pts stopped cCRT for acute urinary adverse events (AE) whereas 8 pts stopped chemotherapy only for hematological or renal biochemical AE. For late toxicity, 5 pts had a G3/4 toxicity (1 rectal bleeding, 1 urinary bleeding, 1 recto-urinary fistula, 1 urinary incontinence and 1 urinary retention). Median follow-up was 4.6 years [CI95%: 3.43-5.93]. Of the 68 pts, 14 are alive (13 recurrence-free) amongst the 61 evaluable pts and 47 have died (24 recurrence-free). OS rates at 2 and 5 years were 50% (CI95%: [37.45%-61.44%]) and 31% (CI95%: [13.67%-38.43%]). PFS rates at 2 and 5 years were 37.4% [CI95%: 25.89%-48.82%] and 22% [CI95%: 12.25%- 33.61%], respectively. OS and PFS rates were worse for pts treated with CBDCA in comparison with those treated with CDDP (p= 0.01 for OS and p= 0.03 for PFS). Combined 5-FU did not impact either OS or PFS. CONCLUSIONS cCRT for elderly pts with a BC was feasible. For selected pts with a good PS, the adequate drug that should be combined with a conventional full course of ERT remains CDDP. No significant financial relationships to disclose.