Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms for enhanced endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor-mediated responses in microvessels in mice.

BACKGROUND Endothelium-derived relaxing factors play an important role in cardiovascular homeostasis. Among them, endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) is important especially in microcirculation. It has previously been demonstrated that endothelium-derived hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is an EDHF in animals and humans and that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays diverse roles as a nitric oxide (NO) generating system in conduit arteries and as an EDHF/H(2)O(2) generating system in microvessels. As compared with NO-mediated responses, those by EDHF are resistant to atherosclerosis, contributing to the maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis. The aim of this study is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms for enhanced EDHF-mediated responses in microvessels. METHODS AND RESULTS This study used male wild-type mice and caveolin-1-deficient mice (caveolin-1(-/-) mice). In the endothelium, eNOS was functionally suppressed in mesenteric arteries (microvessels) compared with the aorta (conduit arteries), for which Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ) and caveolin-1 are involved, as EDHF-mediated responses were inhibited by STO-609 (an inhibitor of CaMKKβ) and in caveolin-1(-/-) mice, respectively. In vascular smooth muscle, relaxation responses to H(2)O(2) were enhanced through a protein kinase G1α (PKG1α)-mediated mechanism in mesenteric arteries compared with the aorta, as they were inhibited by Rp-8-Br-cGMPS (an inhibitor of PKG1α). CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that CaMKKβ, caveolin-1, and PKG1α are substantially involved in the mechanisms for the enhanced EDHF-mediated responses in microvessels in mice.
Time-Domain Analysis of RF Structures by Means of TLM and System Identification Methods

Distributed microwave circuits are analyzed in time domain using the Transmission Line Matrix (TLM) method. Prony's model-based Spectral Analysis (SA) methods are used to compute S- -parameters from truncated TLM signals. The model extraction can be performed in parallel with the running TLM simulation. As soon as the deviation of the transient responses computed form the extracted models falls below a given threshold TLM simulation is discontinued. By this way the computation time can be reduced up to 50% without loss of accuracy. The methods are applied to the modeling of micromachined millimeter wave circuits.
An Optimization Model for Mapping Organization and Consumer Preferences for Internet Information Channels

The evolution of information technology has resulted in increasingly fragmented digital media and multiple information channels. Organizations can develop comprehensive insights into consumer behavior and preferences by evaluating customers' perceptions of the various Internet channels that are available. Such insights can be used to identify which information channels can be employed to effectively reach and communicate with a target market and, thus, to optimize marketing strategies. This paper commences with a comprehensive literature review of existing research on consumer information search patterns and strategies, with a particular focus on Internet channels. The literature review is employed to develop a set of criterion by which consumer search preferences can be better understood. This criterion is subsequently used to develop a optimization model for organization that can effectively align marketing practices with customers' search processes and preferences during their pre-purchase information search.
End-to-End Transfer Rate Adjustment Mechanism for VANET

In Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET), the route between a source node and a destination node is intermittently broken. It is difficult to provide the reliable data transfer based on TCP because TCP is not adaptable to such networks such as VANET. Therefore, this paper proposes an end-to-end transfer rate adjustment mechanism in the application layer for VANET. The proposed mechanism consists of three functions: the transfer rate adjustment, the retransmission control, and the user priority decision. In order to realize the proposed mechanism, we introduce the improved AODV as a routing layer and UDP as a transport layer. Then, we confirmed that the proposed three functions work well in the conditions that the route breaks occur intermittently through simulation experiments. As a result, it is shown that the proposed mechanism is effective for VANET because of three functions with respect to the intermittent disconnection.
[The influences of genetic and environmental factors on plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels in patients with essential hypertension].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the influence of a 4G/5G polymorphism in the PAI-1 gene promoter and environmental factors on plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1) levels in subjects with essential hypertension. METHODS A total of 240 patients with essential hypertension(males 120, females 120, aged 33-89 years, mean 65 years) were randomly enrolled in this study. Plasma PAI-1 antigen was measured by ELISA. The 4G/5G polymorphism was analyzed by the allele specific oligonucleotide hybridization method. RESULTS Plasma PAI-1 levels were significantly associated with 4G/5G polymorphism with the highest levels occurring in subjects with 4G/4G genotype, the intermediate levels in 4G/5G subjects and the lowest levels in 5G/5G subjects. 4G/5G polymorphism, diabetes mellitus and triglyceride(TG) were three independent predictors of plasma PAI-1 levels in a stepwise multiple regression model. Furthermore, the relationship between plasma PAI-1 levels and TG was genotype dependent. CONCLUSION Plasma PAI-1 levels are not only under genetic control, but also influenced by several environmental factors. There is an interaction between genetic and environmental factors.
Earth Tides Can Trigger Shallow Thrust Fault Earthquakes

We show a correlation between the occurrence of shallow thrust earthquakes and the occurrence of the strongest tides. The rate of earthquakes varies from the background rate by a factor of 3 with the tidal stress. The highest correlation is found when we assume a coefficient of friction of μ = 0.4 for the crust, although we see good correlation for μ between 0.2 and 0.6. Our results quantify the effect of applied stress on earthquake triggering, a key factor in understanding earthquake nucleation and cascades whereby one earthquake triggers others.
Fault Diagnostic of Rotating Machines Based on Artificial Intelligence: Case Studies of the Centrais Elétricas do Norte do Brazil S/A – Eletrobras-Eletronorte

The efficiency of the maintenance techniques applied in energy generation power plants is improved when expert diagnosis systems are used to analysis information provided by the continuous monitoring systems used in these installations. There are a large number of equipments available in the power plants of the Centrais Eletricas do Norte do Brazil S/A ELETROBRAS-ELETRONORTE (known as ELETRONORTE). These equipments operate continuously because are indispensable for the correct functioning of the generation and transmission systems of the company. Anomalies in the operation of these devices can be detected with the use of intelligent diagnosis tools which analysis the information of the continuous monitoring systems and, based in a set of qualitative rules, indicate the best procedures to avoid the fail of the equipments.
A Survey of Computer Vision and Soft Computing Techniques for Ripeness Grading of Fruits

Now a 'days agriculture is one field where automated systems for classification and grading of fruits can be very useful not only for farmers but at experts in taking fast and accurate decisions. Over some recent year’s customers and buyers lifestyles and needs have increased and there have been many changes. Such lifestyle and changes have proved to be a challenge for the farmers and experts in the field of agriculture. Because of this with the help of technology a well-defined automated system need to be present in the market which would grade and analyze the agricultural products with minimum error. Thus giving the farmers best product to sell and make the customers feel happy for the money they have spent. This survey paper presents the literature review of various related systems and earlier studies done in the field grading of fruits on the basis of their ripeness. Then the comparative study of different computational techniques for ripeness grading has been done. KeywordsComputer Vision, Fuzzy logic, Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Ripeness.
Brief aphasia evaluation (minimum verbal performance): Concurrent and conceptual validity study in patients with unilateral cerebral lesions

Introduction: Aphasia tests validated according to the brain injury side are necessary, especially for Spanish instruments. Objectives: To study the concurrent validity of this Brief Aphasia Evaluation (BAE) to differentiate patients with left cerebral lesions (LC) from patients with right cerebral lesions (RC) as well as LC from healthy participants (HP). To study, through an unrestricted-sub-test-factor analysis, the BAE conceptual and content validity to generate a verbal homogeneous construct. Materials and methods: Data were obtained from a sample of 109 right-handed volunteers: 37 LC, 34 RC and 38 HP. The three groups were matched according to gender, age and education. Results: Both groups of patients were similar in type and site of lesion, time since onset of condition, risk factors, presence of hemianopsia and hemiparesis and number of hospital visits. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient indicated an internal consistency of 0.99 for the total score and 0.88 or above for any of the sub-tests. All sub-tests (with loadings of 0.65 or above) grouped in one factor which explained 78% of the variance. The BAE showed a sensitivity and specificity of 0.84 or above to identify the LC (median as cut-off point). Conclusions: This test of free distribution demonstrated a satisfactory validity.
An Unbiased Linkage Approach Reveals That the p53 Pathway Is Coupled to NK Cell Maturation

Natural killer cells constitute potent innate lymphoid cells that play a major role in both tumor immunosurveillance and viral clearance via their effector functions. A four-stage model of NK cell functional maturation has been established according to the expression of CD11b and CD27, separating mature NK (mNK) cells into distinct populations that exhibit specific phenotypic and functional properties. To identify genetic factors involved in the regulation of NK cell functional maturation, we performed a linkage analysis on F2 (B6.Rag1−/− × NOD.Rag1−/− intercross) mice. We identified six loci on chromosomes 2, 4, 7, 10, 11, and 18 that were linked to one or more mNK cell subsets. Subsequently, we performed an in silico analysis exploiting mNK cell subset microarray data, highlighting various genes and microRNAs as potential regulators of the functional maturation of NK cells. Together, the combination of our unbiased genetic linkage study and the in silico analysis positions genes known to affect NK cell biology along the specific stages of NK cell functional maturation. Moreover, this approach allowed us to uncover a novel candidate gene in the regulation of NK cell maturation, namely Trp53. Using mice deficient for Trp53, we confirm that this tumor suppressor regulates NK cell functional maturation. Additional candidate genes revealed in this study may eventually serve as targets for the modulation of NK cell functional maturation to potentiate both tumor immunosurveillance and viral clearance.
Separation of Hazardous Brominated Plastics from Waste Plastics by Froth Flotation after Surface Modification with Mild Heat-Treatment

— This study evaluated to facilitate separation of ABS plastics from other waste plastics by froth flotation after surface hydrophilization of ABS with heat treatment. The mild heat treatment at 100 o C for 60s could selectively increase the hydrophilicity of the ABS plastics surface (i.e., ABS contact angle decreased from 79 o to 65.8 o ) among other plastics mixture. The SEM and XPS results of plastic samples sufficiently supported the increase in hydrophilic functional groups and decrease contact angle on ABS surface, after heat treatment. As a result of the froth flotation (at mixing speed 150 rpm and airflow rate 0.3 L/min) after heat treatment, about 85% of ABS was selectively separated from other heavy plastics with 100% of purity. The effect of optimum treatment condition and detailed mechanism onto separation efficiency in the froth floatation was also investigated. This research is successful in giving a simple, effective, and inexpensive method for ABS separation from waste plastics. methods [25] maybe have secondary pollution problem by wastewater. On the other hand, these methods usually take a long time to modify plastic surfaces. Using flame treatment [26] or ozonation [27] can modify the plastic surface by reaction or exposure to the generated corona discharge but need high-energy sources or special, expensive facilities. In this study, an effective or economic modification method was developed for selective separation of hazardous brominated plastic such as ABS with BFRs from plastic wastes. The combination of mild heat treatment and froth flotation techniques can to create surface rearrangement of ABS. It makes a different degree of hydrophilic moieties on ABS surfaces from other plastics to selectively separate ABS from heavy plastics. The influence of mixing speed and airflow rate on flotation behavior of plastics was investigated.
Deembedding Accuracy for Device Scale and Interconnection Line Parasitics

In this letter, we investigate the deembedding accuracy of open-short (OS) and pad-open-short (POS) deembedding for transistor measurement and modeling. It is found that all of the transistor intrinsic element values except for the gate-resistance, Rg , are independent of the deembedding procedure. Furthermore, the difference in Rg is dependent on the device size. To analyze the origin of the deembedding difference, the equivalent circuits of the PADs and interconnection lines are constructed from the measured data by varying the values of parasitic parameters.
Pre-consonantal /s/-retraction

In pre-consonantal position historical /s/ has changed to post-alveolar /ʃ/ in several different languages. This paper explores whether such cases of /s/>/ʃ/ might share a common phonetic origin. We test whether /s/ is more retracted before /t/ in production and in perception. Production data show that word-medial /s/ has a lower first spectral moment (henceforth, M1) before /t/ than before vowels. Perception results show a bias towards retraction in pre-consonantal position.
Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus

The efficiency of sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important issue for haemophilic patients, their families and those involved in their health care. Chronic HCV infection is the most prevalent chronic viral infection in patients with haemophilia, and is seen in a large number of patients who escaped HIV infection, including those with mild haemophilia who may only be infrequent visitors to their haemophilia centre. If sexual transmission is a significant problem, there is an obligation to counsel these patients and to give advice about minimizing the risk to their partners; specifically, one would have to advise long-term use of the condom. Inevitably, this will cause great and long-lasting anxiety to some patients and their families. Unfortunately, definite advice cannot be given at present. Although non-A non-B hepatitis was described over 20 years ago, and the causative virus, HCV was characterized by 1989, the means of transmission in a surprisingly high proportion of cases is still unknown. The epidemiological study by Alter et al. [ l ] defined the incidence of non-A non-B hepatitis in four sentinel counties in the USA between October 1981 and September 1988, and the majority of the patients were subsequently shown to have HCV infection. In the last years of the study 6% of cases were due to blood transfusion, 42% to the use of intravenous drugs, 6% to heterosexual exposure, and 3% to household exposure. However, in 40%, no source of infection was reported. It would seem that there are unidentified, yet important means of transmission for HCV and these could be much more efficient than sexual transmission. This needs to be taken into account when accounting for infection in sexual partners of HCV-infected patients. This is particularly true of studies from parts of the world where HCV infection is prevalent in the blood donor (and presumably therefore the normal) population and where HCV-related liver disease is especially common, such as parts of south Europe and the Far East. The seroprevalence of antibodies to HCV does seem to be higher amongst sexually active people, and in partners of HCV-infected patients when these groups are compared with the local blood donor populations (Tables 1 and 2). Quantification of the risk, however, is difficult as Table 1. Anti-hepatitis C virus seroprevalence in patients attending STD clinics, homosexuals and prostitutes (figures in parentheses are reference numbers).
Legume Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation byβ-Proteobacteria Is Widespread inNature

ABSTRACT Following the initial discovery of two legume-nodulating Burkholderia strains (L. Moulin, A. Munive, B. Dreyfus, and C. Boivin-Masson, Nature 411:948-950, 2001), we identified as nitrogen-fixing legume symbionts at least 50 different strains of Burkholderia caribensis and Ralstoniataiwanensis, all belonging to the β-subclass of proteobacteria, thus extending the phylogenetic diversity of the rhizobia. R. taiwanensis was found to represent 93% of the Mimosa isolates in Taiwan, indicating thatβ -proteobacteria can be the specific symbionts of a legume. The nod genes of rhizobial β-proteobacteria (β-rhizobia) are very similar to those of rhizobia from theα -subclass (α-rhizobia), strongly supporting the hypothesis of the unique origin of common nod genes. Theβ -rhizobial nod genes are located on a 0.5-Mb plasmid, together with the nifH gene, in R. taiwanensis and Burkholderia phymatum. Phylogenetic analysis of available nodA gene sequences clustered β-rhizobial sequences in two nodA lineages intertwined with α-rhizobial sequences. On the other hand, theβ -rhizobia were grouped with free-living nitrogen-fixingβ -proteobacteria on the basis of the nifH phylogenetic tree. These findings suggest that β-rhizobia evolved from diazotrophs through multiple lateral nod gene transfers.
Rapid GC analysis of cellular fatty acids for characterizing Lactobacillus sake and Lact. curvatus strains of meat origin

A rapid procedure based on the gas chromatographic analysis of cellular fatty acids was used to differentiate between strains of Lactobacillus sake and Lact. curvatus isolated from dry salami. All strains had very similar fatty acid profiles except four of them which lacked C19 cycl acid, but neither this feature nor other differences in single fatty acid contents could be successfully correlated with the biochemical discrimination of Lact. sake from Lact. curvatus. When, however, strains were compared on the basis of the total content of fatty acids with 18 carbon atoms divided by that with 16 carbon atoms, a very good correlation with strain characterization by classical methods was achieved. It was concluded that selected cellular fatty acid ratios might be useful for characterizing phylogenetically related strains of lactic acid bacteria.
On dynamic control of finger sliding and object motion in manipulation with multifingered hands

Dynamic control of a three-fingered robot hand manipulating an object in 3D space, while allowing one of the three fingers to slide in order to change its grasp location on the object surface, is formulated. The static and dynamic friction between the sliding finger and the object surface are explicitly considered and their effects regarding the behavior of the finger and object are discussed. Motion equations of the whole system are derived and a dynamic control law for realizing the desired object motion, as well as the desired finger sliding and the desired grasping force, is proposed. The realizability of the given trajectories under the constraints of maximal static friction and dynamic friction at the grasp points, and of joint driving torque, are also discussed. A simulation example to demonstrate the use of the proposed control law is given. The results of this work will have useful application to a multifingered robot hand in performing certain tasks involving the re-grasping and re-orientation of an object without interrupting the grasp.
Sustained release of PEG-g-chitosan complexed DNA from poly(lactide-co-glycolide)

Chitosan and its derivatives have emerged as promising gene-delivery vehicles because of their capability to form polyplexes with plasmid DNA and enhance its transport across cellular membranes through endocytosis. Evidently, polyplexes of chitosan and DNA significantly improve transfection efficiency; however, these polyplexes are not capable of sustained DNA release and, thus, prolong gene transfer. In order to achieve prolonged delivery of DNA/chitosan polyplexes, we have formulated microspheres by physically combining poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted chitosan (PEG-g-CHN) with poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) using a modified conventional in-emulsion solvent evaporation method. Electrophoretic analysis of materials released from these microspheres suggests the presence of PEG-g-CHN complexed DNA and these microspheres are capable of sustained release of DNA/PEG-g-CHN for at least 9 weeks. The rate of DNA release can be modulated by varying the amount of PEG-g-CHN. The release products from these microspheres are bioactive and show enhanced transfection in vitro over DNA released from conventional PLGA microspheres containing no PEG-g-CHN. In vivo experiments also show that these microspheres are capable of achieving gene transfer in a rat hind limb muscle model.
Class-based weighted fair queuing scheduling on quad-priority Delta Networks

Contemporary networks support multiple priorities, aiming to differentiate the quality of service (QoS) levels offered to individual traffic classes. Support for multiple priorities necessitates the introduction of a scheduling algorithm, to select each time the next packet to transmit over the data link. Class-based weighted fair queuing (CBWFQ) scheduling and its variations are widely used as a scheduling technique since it is easy to implement and prevent the low-priority queues from starvation, i.e. receiving no service during periods of high-priority traffic. CBWFQ effectively thus offers low-priority queues, the opportunity to transmit packets even though the high-priority queues are not empty. In this paper, we present the modelling and performance evaluation of a single-buffered, four-priority multistage interconnection network (MIN) operating under the CBWFQ scheduling policy. Performance evaluation is conducted through simulation, and the performance metrics obtained can be used by MIN designers to set the appropriate queue weights according to the expected traffic and the desired QoS levels for each priority class, delivering efficient thus systems.
REGULATION OF RHOGEF ACTIVITY BY INTRAMOLECULAR AND INTERMOLECULAR SH 3 INTERACTIONS

INTERMOLECULAR SH3 INTERACTIONS Martin R. Schiller, Kausik Chakrabarti, Glenn F. King, Noraisha I. Schiller, Betty A. Eipper, and Mark W. Maciejewski From the University of Connecticut Health Center, Departments of Neuroscience, Molecular, Microbial, and Structural Biology, and Center for Structural Biology Running Title: Regulation of GEF activity by SH3 domains Address correspondence to Martin R. Schiller, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 060194301, Tel. (860)679-4610, FAX. (860)679-1726, E-mail. schiller@nso.uchc. edu