Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between use-dependent effects of antiarrhythmic drugs on conduction and Vmax in canine cardiac Purkinje fibers.

The purpose of these experiments was to evaluate the relationship between interval dependent effects of antiarrhythmic drugs on conduction time and Vmax in canine cardiac Purkinje fibers. Standard microelectrode techniques were used to monitor action potential characteristics at two sites along a canine cardiac false tendon and to measure interelectrode conduction time. The maximum rate of voltage rise during phase 0 (Vmax) and conduction time were independent of diastolic interval under control conditions. In the presence of local anesthetic drugs, recovery from drug-induced depression of Vmax and conduction were first order processes with recovery time constants (mean +/- S.D. in seconds) of 0.14 +/- 0.02 (for Vmax) and 0.15 +/- 0.04 (for conduction time) for lidocaine; 0.17 +/- 0.04 and 0.18 +/- 0.05, respectively, for mexiletine; 0.26 +/- 0.05 and 0.27 +/- 0.07 for amitriptyline; and 1.01 +/- 0.31 and 1.00 +/- 0.32 for procainamide. The kinetics of onset of block were studied using a 30-sec pause, followed by a pacing cycle length of 300 msec (for procainamide) or 1 sec (for quinidine). The onset time constants averaged 2.66 +/- 0.53 pulses (for Vmax) and 2.49 +/- 0.42 pulses (for conduction time) in the presence of procainamide; and 4.02 +/- 1.33 pulses (for Vmax) and 3.86 +/- 1.22 pulses (for conduction time) in the presence of quinidine. These experiments show that local anesthetic drugs produce use dependent changes in conduction time in vitro with time constants comparable to simultaneously measured time constants for effects on Vmax. They imply that the use dependence of drug effects on cardiac conduction can be studied quantitatively in vivo by studying the response to changes in activation frequency.
A wavelet view of small-world networks

The human eye is a powerful tool to gain an understanding of the structure of small networks of tens of vertices. However, direct analysis by the eye is hopeless for a network of millions of vertices. The theory of wavelets provides a powerful microscopy to look at large complex networks to answer specific questions about their structure. Wavelet multiresolution representations of networks provide a coarse-to-fine strategy for characterizing and classifying networks by processing the minimum amount of information. In particular, we show that the small-world property of a class of networks can easily be derived from its coarse description in the lowest resolution subspace of the wavelet decomposition.
A fuzzy vessel tracking algorithm for retinal images based on fuzzy clustering

In this paper the authors present a new unsupervised fuzzy algorithm for vessel tracking that is applied to the detection of the ocular fundus vessels. The proposed method overcomes the problems of initialization and vessel profile modeling that are encountered in the literature and automatically tracks fundus vessels using linguistic descriptions like "vessel" and "nonvessel. " The main tool for determining vessel and nonvessel regions along a vessel profile is the fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm that is fed with properly preprocessed data, Additional procedures for checking the validity of the detected vessels and handling junctions and forks are also presented. The application of the proposed algorithm to fundus images and simulated vessels resulted in very good overall performance and consistent estimation of vessel parameters.
The variability of multisensory processes of natural stimuli in human and non-human primates in a detection task

Background Behavioral studies in both human and animals generally converge to the dogma that multisensory integration improves reaction times (RTs) in comparison to unimodal stimulation. These multisensory effects depend on diverse conditions among which the most studied were the spatial and temporal congruences. Further, most of the studies are using relatively simple stimuli while in everyday life, we are confronted to a large variety of complex stimulations constantly changing our attentional focus over time, a modality switch that can impact on stimuli detection. In the present study, we examined the potential sources of the variability in reaction times and multisensory gains with respect to the intrinsic features of a large set of natural stimuli. Methodology/Principle findings Rhesus macaque monkeys and human subjects performed a simple audio-visual stimulus detection task in which a large collection of unimodal and bimodal natural stimuli with semantic specificities was presented at different saliencies. Although we were able to reproduce the well-established redundant signal effect, we failed to reveal a systematic violation of the race model which is considered to demonstrate multisensory integration. In both monkeys and human species, our study revealed a large range of multisensory gains, with negative and positive values. While modality switch has clear effects on reaction times, one of the main causes of the variability of multisensory gains appeared to be linked to the intrinsic physical parameters of the stimuli. Conclusion/Significance Based on the variability of multisensory benefits, our results suggest that the neuronal mechanisms responsible of the redundant effect (interactions vs. integration) are highly dependent on the stimulus complexity suggesting different implications of uni- and multisensory brain regions. Further, in a simple detection task, the semantic values of individual stimuli tend to have no significant impact on task performances, an effect which is probably present in more cognitive tasks.
Platelet moesin interacts with PECAM-1 (CD31)

Platelet activation results in formation of filopodia and cell spreading by extension of lamellae. Moesin is a member of the ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) family of proteins, which localize in cell extensions like filopodia and function as cross-linkers between the actin cytoskeleton and the plasma membrane. Here we investigated whether the adhesion molecule PECAM-1 (CD31) is a membrane-binding partner for moesin in platelets. Our data show that moesin co-immunoprecipitated with PECAM-1 in lysates from thrombin-stimulated, but not resting platelets. Furthermore, PECAM-1 co-localized with moesin at the cell periphery and in filopodia of glass-activated platelets. Our observations suggest that moesin may play a role in platelet adhesion, linking PECAM-1 with the actin cytoskeleton.
Restoration of historic film for digital compression: a case study

With the advent of compressed video standards such as MPEG, film archives around the world are looking at using the medium as a new means of distributing historically significant film material. However, we find that a compression standard such as MPEG, which is optimised for the statistics of modern motion picture film and video, is poorly suited to coding motion pictures recorded with early technologies and suffering from severe age related degradation. Indeed restoration of some historically significant film is necessary, not just so that it may be returned to its former visual quality, but to prevent the film from looking significantly worse after compression. We describe the degradation artifacts encountered-in a historically significant film made in 1906, the strategies employed to improve its compressed quality and the results of these efforts.
Pulse-length dependence of cellular response to intense near-infrared laser pulses in multiphoton microscopes.

The influence of the pulse length, tau , of ultrashort laser pulses at 780 and 920 nm on cell vitality and cellular reproduction has been studied. A total of 2400 nonlabeled cells were exposed to a highly focused scanning beam from a mode-locked 80-MHz Ti:sapphire laser with 60-micros pixel dwell time. For the same pulse energy, destructive effects were more pronounced for shorter pulses. The damage behavior was found to follow approximately a P(2)/tau dependence (P , mean power), indicating that cell destruction is likely based on a two-photon excitation process rather than a one- or a three-photon event. Therefore, femtosecond as well as picosecond pulses provide approximately the same relative optical window for safe two-photon fluorescence microscopy.
Análise de Medidas de Similaridade Semântica na Tarefa de Reconhecimento de Implicação Textual (Analysis of Semantic Similarity Measures in the Recognition of Textual Entailment Task)[In Portuguese]

Neste trabalho, apresentamos uma abordagem baseada no uso de features para a tarefa de RTE (Recognizing Text Entailment) que verifica a similaridade entre duas frases incluindo aspectos sintaticos e semântico. As features selecionadas sao oriundas do trabalho vencedor da tarefa de RTE do workshop ASSIN (Avaliacao de Similaridade Semântica e Inferencia Textual) com algumas alteracoes e adicoes de outra feature semântica por nos. A metodologia de avaliacao consistiu em replicar a tarefa com a base de dados usada no workshop, analisando os resultados com e sem as features semânticas. Alem da abordagem numerica, citamos uma simbolica com suas caracteristicas e limitacoes.
Techniques for Pump-Probe Synchronisation of FSEC Radiation Pulses

The production of ultra-short photon pulses for UV, VUV or X-ray Free-Electron Lasers demands new techniques to measure and control the arrival time of the FEL-pulses. For pump-probe experiments using optical-lasers, the desired synchronization between the pump and the probe pulses is on the order of tens of femtoseconds. This corresponds to the typical duration of the FEL pulses. Since accelerators are large scale facilities with a length of several hundred meters or even kilometers, the problem of synchronization has to be attacked twofold. First, the RF acceleration sections upstream of the magnetic bunch compressors need to be stabilized in amplitude and phase to high precision. Second, the remaining electron beam timing-jitter needs to be determined with femtosecond accuracy for off-line analysis. In this paper, several techniques of measuring the FEL beam arrival-time are presented.
Scaling of measured glomerular filtration rate in kidney donor candidates by anthropometric estimates of body surface area, body water, metabolic rate, or liver size.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES GFR is scaled to body surface area (S), whereas hemodialysis dosage is scaled to total body water (V). Scaling to metabolic rate (M) or liver size (L) has also been proposed. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS In 1551 potential kidney donors (662 men and 889 women) for whom GFR had been estimated from (125)I-iothalamate clearance (iGFR) between the years 1973 and 2005, iGFR scaling was examined. Scaling was to estimates of S, V, M, or L. The study looked at the variation of iGFR by gender, age, S, V, M, and L within the study population. RESULTS In multiple regression analysis, neither gender nor race was significantly associated with iGFR after controlling for height, weight, and age. Raw iGFR averaged 122 +/- 23 ml/min in men and 106 +/- 21 ml/min in women (P < 0.001). In an adjusted analysis, iGFR scaled to S or L was similar for men and women (NS), whereas iGFR scaled to either V or M was substantially different between the genders (P < 0.001). When the patients by gender were divided into five quintiles of V or S, the iGFR-V ratio varied more with body size than iGFR scaled to the other measures. CONCLUSIONS iGFR scaled to S or L was similar in men and women. Scaling to either M or V resulted in a sizeable gender difference, whereas scaling to V led to markedly different values of iGFR across body size.
Ground Plane Detection with a New Local Disparity Texture Descriptor

In this paper, a novel approach is proposed for stereo vision-based ground plane detection at superpixel-level, which is implemented by employing a Disparity Texture Map in a convolution neural network architecture. In particular, the Disparity Texture Map is calculated with a new Local Disparity Texture Descriptor (LDTD). The experimental results demonstrate our superior performance in KITTI dataset. key words: ground plane detection, Local Disparity Texture Descriptor (LDTD), stereo vision, convolution neural network
Gold nanoparticles synthesized using Panax ginseng leaves suppress inflammatory - mediators production via blockade of NF-κB activation in macrophages

Abstract In the present study, we report that Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesized using the leaf extract of Panax ginseng Meyer (P.g AuNPs) exert anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of downstream NF-κB activation in macrophages. We found that P.g AuNPs reduced the expression of the inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PEG2), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was attenuated by P.g AuNPs. Furthermore, P.g AuNPs suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of NF-κB signaling pathway via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, our results suggest that P.g AuNPs can be utilized as a novel therapeutic agent for the prevention and cure of inflammation.
The effects of primers and surface bonding characteristics on the adhesion of polyurethane to two commonly used silicone elastomers.

PURPOSE When restoring facial defects, maxillofacial prosthodontists and anaplastologists are often limited by material deficiencies. Silicone elastomers bonded to a polyurethane liner best satisfy the functional and esthetic requirements necessary for facial prostheses; however, patients using silicone prostheses with polyurethane liners often experience varying degrees of debonding at the polyurethane-silicone interfaces. This may result in failure of such prostheses. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of five primers on bonding between polyurethane and two commonly used silicone elastomers. MATERIAL AND METHODS Six bonding regimens were used to join polyurethane and silicone materials. Each treatment group consisted of 12 specimens. Bonding regimens included (1) a 40:60 mixture of MDX4-4210 and Silastic Medical Adhesive Type A, in conjunction with Dow Corning 1205 primer (Udagama's technique); (2) silicone A-2000 with Dow Corning 1205 primer; (3) silicone A-2000 with A-330-G primer; (4) silicone A-2000 with Mucopren primer; (5) silicone A-2000 with Sofreliner T primer; and (6) silicone A-2000 with Sofreliner MS primer. Following fabrication, specimens were attached to a universal testing machine and separated in tension at a crosshead speed of 25.4 mm/min. One examiner performed the assessment of T-peel strength (N/mm), peak load (N), and peel distance (mm) for all specimens. Mean data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Fisher's protected significant difference multiple comparison of the means (alpha= 0.05). RESULTS A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in T-peel strength was found among specimen groups. Post hoc analysis indicated that Sofreliner MS primer (1.32 +/- 0.13 N/mm) and Sofreliner T primer (1.25 +/- 0.11 N/mm) increased the bond strengths significantly compared to A-330-G primer (0.91 +/- 0.10 N/mm) and Udagama's technique (0.13 +/- 0.02 N/mm). Cohesive failure between silicone A-2000 and polyurethane liner was observed when Sofreliner MS primer and Sofreliner T were used. CONCLUSION Within the limitations of this study, the use of Sofreliner MS primer and Sofreliner T primer produced significant increases in the bond strength of silicone elastomer to polyurethane liner material. Based on T-peel strength, peel distance, and peak load data, the combination of silicone A-2000 and Sofreliner MS primer resulted in the greatest mean bond strength for silicone-to-polyurethane applications.
Verification of the integral charge-control relation for high-speed bipolar transistors at high current densities

Gummel's integral charge-control relation (ICCR) IC= (const/Qp). exp (VBE/VT) is an important basis for developing self-consistent compact transistor models for the high-current region (including quasi-saturation). Such models are required for the simulation of future high-speed IC's with a high integration level. Unfortunately, the simplifying assumptions on which the ICCR is based seem to be doubtful especially for very fast transistors. Therefore, in this paper, the ICCR and its assumptions are checked via numerical simulation of such transistors (fT≈ 7-8 GHz). It is found that the one-dimensional ICCR is a fairly good approximation far into the high-current region. This satisfactory result is mainly due to the partial compensation of the influences of the spatially dependent doping concentration on both the electron mobility µnand the effective intrinsic density niewithin the product µnn2ie. Only in the emitter and in the emitter-base space-charge region there is a strong increase of this product which, in conjunction with the increasing contribution of the hole charge in these regions, was proved to be responsible for the errors observed at high current levels. The ICCR can also be applied to a two-dimensional transistor by additionally taking into account the excess hole charge stored outside the internal transistor for the determination of Qp. Thus the contribution of the minority charges can still be determined experimentally by measuring τf(IC).
Economic Analysis of Post-harvest Losses in Food Grains in India: A Case Study of Karnataka

The post-harvest losses have been estimated at different stages in two major food grains, viz. rice and wheat in India. The time series data from 1982-83 to 2001-02 on area, production and productivity of the selected food grains have been subjected to growth rate analysis. The post-harvest losses have been estimated using the survey data collected from 100 farmers, 20 wholesalers, 20 processors and 20 retailers in each crop in Karnataka for the year 2003-04. Tabular analysis has been used to estimate the post-harvest losses at different stages, and functional analysis has been used to assess the influence of socio-economic factors on postharvest losses at the farm level. The increase in rice production in the study district of Shimoga has been mainly from increased area under rice. The increased rice output at the state level is the result of increased productivity and area, while at the national level it is the rise in productivity. The increased wheat output in the country has been due to increased wheat productivity. The postharvest losses at the farm level have been estimated to be 3.82 kg/ q for rice and 3.28 kg/q for wheat. The losses have been highest during storage in both the crops. The factors that influence the post-harvest losses significantly at the farm level have been identified and some policy implications have been highlighted.
Robust decision making tool for optimal RES-ESS mix of a smart grid-independent research center

This paper presents a robust-based procedure to evaluate the impact of uncertainty on optimal sizing of stochastic Renewable Energy Sources (RES) such as photovoltaic panels (PVs) and small-scale wind power plants (WPPs). The feasibility study of an isolated system in the midterm planning horizon is aimed at determining whether it can adequately satisfy the demand. Accordingly, the objective of the model is to provide a convenient decision making framework for supplying the demand of a typical smart research institute merely by RES such that it would guarantee the minimum investment cost. However, due to RES inherent uncertainty, these generators are often unable to meet demand reliably. Given this, smartly operating Energy Storage Systems (ESS) are being advocated as a solution for increasing the reliability of such intermittent renewable sources. An Iranian smart research center is chosen as a case study to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model.
The epidemiology of outpatient visits for minor head injury: 2005 to 2009.

BACKGROUND The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called for studies detailing the prevalence and burden of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in the outpatient clinical setting. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of outpatient visits for minor head injury and compare the number of outpatient visits for minor head injury with the number of emergency department (ED) visits. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study of outpatient visits for minor head injuries from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). We examined outpatient visits for minor head injury between 2005 and 2009 and compared them with visits in the ED for the same diagnoses using simple survey-weighted descriptive statistics. RESULTS In the 5-year study period, there were 4 146 777 outpatient visits for minor head injury and 6 077 147 ED visits for minor head injury. In the outpatient setting, 14% of office-based visits and 21% of hospital-based visits referred patients for advanced imaging, whereas 63% of minor head injury patients in the ED underwent imaging. A return visit was arranged for 54% of minor head injury patients in office-based practices and 29% of patients in hospital-based clinics, while 67% of minor head injury patients were given instructions to follow-up after an ED visit. CONCLUSION More than 800 000 outpatient visits for minor head injury occur each year. The diagnostics and management associated with these visits differ from those seen in the ED setting.
Resting CD4+ T Lymphocytes but Not Thymocytes Provide a Latent Viral Reservoir in a Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Macaca nemestrina Model of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

ABSTRACT Despite suppression of viremia in patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), human immunodeficiency virus type 1 persists in a latent reservoir in the resting memory CD4+ T lymphocytes and possibly in other reservoirs. To better understand the mechanisms of viral persistence, we established a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-macaque model to mimic the clinical situation of patients on suppressive HAART and developed assays to detect latently infected cells in the SIV-macaque system. In this model, treatment of SIV-infected pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) with the combination of 9-R-(2-phosphonomethoxypropyl)adenine (PMPA; tenofovir) and beta-2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-thia-5-fluorocytidine (FTC) suppressed the levels of plasma virus to below the limit of detection (100 copies of viral RNA per ml). In treated animals, levels of viremia remained close to or below the limit of detection for up to 6 months except for an isolated “blip” of detectable viremia in each animal. Latent virus was measured in blood, spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus by several different methods. Replication-competent virus was recovered after activation of a 99.5% pure population of resting CD4+ T lymphocytes from a lymph node of a treated animal. Integrated SIV DNA was detected in resting CD4+ T cells from spleen, peripheral blood, and various lymph nodes including those draining the gut, the head, and the limbs. In contrast to the wide distribution of latently infected cells in peripheral lymphoid tissues, neither replication-competent virus nor integrated SIV DNA was detected in thymocytes, suggesting that thymocytes are not a major reservoir for virus in pig-tailed macaques. The results provide the first evidence for a latent viral reservoir for SIV in macaques and the most extensive survey of the distribution of latently infected cells in the host.