Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel technologies for antiangiogenic drug delivery in the brain

Antiangiogenic therapies aimed at inhibiting the formation of tumor vasculature hold great promise for cancer therapy, with multiple compounds currently undergoing clinical trials. As with many forms of chemotherapy, antiangiogenic drugs face numerous hurdles in their translation to clinical use. Many such promising agents exhibit a short half-life, low solubility, poor bioavailability, and multiple toxic side effects. Furthermore, when targeting malignant brain tumors the blood-brain barrier represents a formidable obstacle, preventing drugs from penetrating into the central nervous system (CNS). In this review, we discuss several pre-clinical antiangiogenic therapies and describe issues related to the unique conditions in the brain with regard to cancer treatment and neurotoxicity. We focus on the limitations of antiangiogenic drugs in the brain, along with numerous solutions that involve novel biomaterials and nanotechnological approaches. We also discuss an example in which modifying the properties of an antiangiogenic compound enhanced its clinical efficacy in treating tumors while simultaneously mitigating undesirable neurological side-effects.
Speech Emotion Recognition Based on Sparse Transfer Learning Method

In traditional speech emotion recognition systems, when the training and testing utterances are obtained from different corpora, the recognition rates will decrease dramatically. To tackle this problem, in this letter, inspired from the recent developments of sparse coding and transfer learning, a novel sparse transfer learning method is presented for speech emotion recognition. Firstly, a sparse coding algorithm is employed to learn a robust sparse representation of emotional features. Then, a novel sparse transfer learning approach is presented, where the distance between the feature distributions of source and target datasets is considered and used to regularize the objective function of sparse coding. The experimental results demonstrate that, compared with the automatic recognition approach, the proposed method achieves promising improvements on recognition rates and significantly outperforms the classic dimension reduction based transfer learning approach. key words: speech emotion recognition, sparse coding, transfer learning
Acute and Chronic Effects of Aminoglycosides on Cochlear Hair Cells

ABSTRACT: The first detectable effect on the auditory system after a single high‐dose injection of an aminoglycosidic antibiotic (AA) like gentamicin (GM) is the reversible blockade of medial efferent function, probably via blockade of calcium channels at the base of the outer hair cells (OHC). The kinetics of this effect are compatible with that of the molecule in perilymph. In the course of chronic treatment with lower doses, however, ototoxicity develops only after several days of treatment. Still GM can be observed inside the OHCs as soon as 24 hours after the first injection, and will be still present in some OHCs as long as 11 months after a chronic, nonototoxic 6‐day treatment.
Generating Relations from Natural Language Using REXTOR

The Problem: Everyone wants to be able to find information rapidly and conveniently. Ideally, we would like to have a system with the understanding of a human being and the perfect memory of a computer. A user should be able to pose a question in plain English—for example, “what do frogs eat”—and get a sensible answer, such as “Adult frogs eat mainly insects and other small animals, including earthworms, minnows, and spiders. ”
Toward a Technology of “Nonaversive” Behavioral Support

Nonaversive behavior management is an approach to supporting people with undesirable behaviors that integrates technology and values. Although this approach has attracted numerous proponents, more adequate definition and empirical documentation are still needed. This article presents an introduction to the nonaversive approach. Important definitions are suggested, and three fundamental elements are presented: (a) an emerging set of procedures for supporting people with severe challenging behavior; (b) social validation criteria emphasizing personal dignity; and (c) a recommendation for prohibition or restriction of certain strategies. These elements are defined in hopes of stimulating further discussion and empirical analyses of positive behavioral support.
Improvement in ejection fraction by nocturnal haemodialysis in end-stage renal failure patients with coexisting heart failure.

BACKGROUND Congestive heart failure (CHF) is an independent risk factor for mortality in the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population. Nocturnal haemodialysis (NHD), a novel mode of renal replacement therapy, may be more effective than conventional haemodialysis in reducing intravascular volume or in removing uraemic toxins with vasoconstrictor or myocardial depressant actions, and may, therefore, improve the left ventricular (LV) systolic function of patients with coexisting cardiac and renal failure. METHODS To test this hypothesis, we determined, in six patients (mean age+/-SD: 49.5+/-9 years), blood pressure (BP), ejection fraction (EF: radionucleotide angiography), left ventricular mass index (LVMI: echocardiography), LV fractional shortening (FS), and extracellular fluid volume (ECFV: bioelectrical impedance): before and after a mean of 3.2+/-2.1 years following conversion from conventional dialysis (3 days/week x 4 h) to NHD (6 nights/week x 8-10 h). RESULTS There were significant reductions in systolic and mean arterial BP (138+/-10 to 120+/-9 mmHg, P=0.04; 99+/-6 to 86+/-7 mmHg, P=0.01). There was a significant increase in EF (28+/-12 to 41+/-18%, P=0.01) and a trend to greater LV FS (20+/-10 to 38+/-17%, P=0.06). Post-dialysis ECFV was not affected by dialysis mode (18.5+/-5.1 vs 18.2+/-3.5 l, P=0.76). The number of prescribed cardiovascular medications was reduced (2.2-0.7, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS In ESRD patients with systolic dysfunction, NHD leads to a sustained increase of EF and a reduction in the requirement for vasoactive medications in the absence of any reduction in post-dialysis ECFV.
Expression of WAVEs, the WASP (Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein) family of verprolin homologous proteins in human wound tissues and the biological influence on human keratinocytes

WAVEs (Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein family verprolin homologs) regulate actin polymerization and influence cellular motility. Here, we investigated the pattern of expression of WAVE‐1, WAVE‐2, and WAVE‐3, in a cohort of human wound tissues together with normal skins and evaluated the role of these molecules in the reepithelialization and migration of keratinocytes. It was shown that there was a significant reduction of the WAVE‐3 transcripts in chronic wound tissues, when compared with normal skin and acute wound tissue (p=0.002). Marginal reduction of the WAVE‐1 and WAVE‐2 transcripts in chronic wounds were also seen. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a significant reduction of all three WAVE proteins in chronic wound tissues in comparison with the acute. We created in vitro cell models using keratinocytes in which we overexpressed WAVE‐2, and knocked down the expression of WAVE‐1 and WAVE‐3. Using ECIS assay, it was shown that knocking down WAVE‐3 had a significant effect on the migration and reepithelialization of keratinocytes and that overexpression of WAVE‐2 also increased the migration of keratinocytes. We further demonstrated that the impact of WAVE on cell migration was independent upon the PLCg and ERK pathways, but in the downstream requires PI3K pathway and ROCK pathways. In conclusion, the WAVE family proteins are essential for the reepithelialization of keratinocytes. Aberrant expression of WAVEs is linked to the healing process of clinical wounds and loss of WAVE‐3 is a particular indicator of an abnormally healing wound. The WAVE proteins have a significant predicative and therapeutic value in wound healing.
Outdoor autonomous landing on a moving platform for quadrotors using an omnidirectional camera

This paper proposes a vision-based target following and landing system for a quadrotor vehicle on a moving platform. The system is consisted with vision-based landing site detection and locating algorithm using an omnidirectional lens. Latest smartphone was attached on the UAV and served as an on-board image acquisition and process unit. Measurements from the omnidirectional camera are combined with a proper dynamic model in order to estimate position and velocity of the moving platform. An adaptive control scheme was implemented on the flight computer to deal with unknown disturbances in outdoor environment. The system was validated on a quadrotor UAV and the vehicle successfully landed on the moving platform in outdoor flight tests1.
Use of doxycycline-controlled gene expression to reversibly alter milk-protein composition in transgenic mice.

A reverse tetracycline transactivator-encoding cDNA under the control of the mammary specific beta-lactoglobulin promoter was linked to a bovine alpha-lactalbumin transcription unit driven by a reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator/doxycycline-inducible human cytomegalovirus promoter. The construct was microinjected into eggs from alpha-lactalbumin-deficient mice. These mice produce a highly viscous lactose-free milk and have a shortened lactation period. Mice from three out of the nine transgenic lines investigated expressed reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator mRNA in their lactating mammary glands at levels detectable by Northern analysis. Following doxycycline addition to the drinking water, lactation was fully restored in animals from the three lines. Doxycycline removal resulted in a reversal of phenotype. The observed mammary-specific and high expression of the doxycycline inducible reporter gene (up to 5.2 mg of recombinant alpha-lactalbumin.mL-1 of milk, i.e. up to 13-fold induction) opens up exciting prospects to use the tetracycline system to study the development and functioning of the mammary gland, and to control the production level of active pharmaceutical proteins in the milk of transgenic animals.
Convergence of Asynchronous Distributed Gradient Methods Over Stochastic Networks

We consider distributed optimization problems in which a number of agents are to seek the global optimum of a sum of cost functions through only local information sharing. In this paper, we are particularly interested in scenarios, where agents are operating asynchronously over stochastic networks subject to random failures. Most existing algorithms require coordinated and decaying stepsizes to ensure zero gap between the estimated value of each agent and the exact optimum, restricting it from asynchronous implementation and resulting in slower convergence results. To deal with this issue, we develop a new asynchronous distributed gradient method (AsynDGM) based on consensus theory. The proposed algorithm not only allows for asynchronous implementation in a completely distributed manner but also, most importantly, is able to seek the exact optimum even with constant stepsizes. We will show that the assumption of boundedness of gradients, which is widely used in the literature, can be dropped by instead imposing the standard Lipschitz continuity condition on gradients. Moreover, we derive an upper bound of stepsize within which the proposed AsynDGM can achieve a linear convergence rate for strongly convex functions with Lipschitz gradients. A canonical example of sensor fusion problems is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Morphology of the retina in the freshwater fish Metynnis roosevelti Eigenmann (Characidae, Serrasalminae) and the effects of monochromatic red light

The retina of Metynnis roosevelti Eigenmann, 1915, a very active freshwater fish, was investigated by light and electron microscopy and was found to have a complex neuronal structure that allows rapid responses of visual stimuli. Retina photoreceptors are double cones, single long cones, single short cones and rods. Cone inner segments are arranged as mosaics. The outer nuclear layer contains small nuclei of twin cones, long and wide nuclei of long single cones, spherical large nuclei of short cones, and small dense nuclei of rods. Horizontal, amacrine, bipolar and ganglion neurones are responsible for connections and integration between photoreceptor cells and afferent neurones. The pigmented epithelium comprises a single layer of cylindrical cells each with elongated nuclei, mitochondria at the basal region, and melanin grains that can migrate inside long cell processes, depending on light intensity. In darkness, pigment is concentrated in the basal region of the cells and in daylight it is concentrated in the processes, surrounding and protecting the outer segments of photoreceptors. When exposed experimentally to monochromatic red light, expansion of melanin pigments was provoked at the beginning of light period, followed by their withdrawal after exposure to long wave lengths. No active movements of cones or rods were observed. Considerable renewal of photoreceptor membrane discs occurred after one week in red light, caused by higher level of activation of rods to allow the fish to see in relative darkness. Metynnis roosevelti is a native fish from Brazilian tropical and sub-tropical regions. More recently trials were made to use it in fish cultures in different regions of the countiy. Its capacity to adjust to different photic environments facilitates for rearing in varied environments.
An audio aided smart vision system for visually impaired

With help of Image processing foundation, Optical Character Recognition can be handled to distinguish the content in a picture. This would be useful for visually impaired individuals by giving a sound indication to them. This work will be accomplished by utilizing Intel Edison and the application in the framework is composed in python with libraries of OpenCV. At the point when outwardly weakened individuals see the scene through webcam UVC module, which is associated with Intel Edison catch the picture. Captured picture will be handled by yocto module which based open source inside Intel Edison. At the point when the framework process an image, Yocto module would give relating directions to recognize message in a caught picture from the video stream, the framework would call the Bluez module and Alsa sound module to change the guidelines to voice through remote earphones.
N‐acetylaspartate: Usefulness as an indicator of viable neuronal tissue

Martin and colleagues reported a case study of a child with “developmental delay,” studied with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). According to the authors, shortecho MRS data acquired using 6ml voxels in occipital gray matter, parieto-occipital white matter, and basal ganglia demonstrated “complete absence of NAA (Nacetylaspartate),” which was “even more obvious in the longecho spectrum. ” From these remarkable data, the authors conclude “the concentration of NAA, as determined by in vivo 1H-MRS, can no longer be taken as an indicator of viable neuronal tissue, and that the functional role of NAA in the brain must be reevaluated in order to correctly interpret neurospectroscopic results in a clinical setting. ” This conclusion would perhaps be warranted if two critical statements had truly reflected the data presented. First, the claim “no neurologic deficits were noted” discounts the severe cognitive and motor deficits described, specifically, that a 3.5-year-old boy is able only to sit unaided, walk a few broad-based steps, and express meaningless sounds. Characterization of the child as having “developmental delay” suggests that he might ultimately achieve full development, an assumption that currently cannot be substantiated. Second, the claim “all spectra obtained on both occasions demonstrate absence of NAA in all examined brain regions” is not supported by examination of the four spectra presented, all of which reveal measurable peaks at 2.02ppm. These strikingly low NAA levels are actually consistent with the severe functional deficits observed clinically, deficits that would likely be stratified as profound if subjected to quantitative neuropsychological assessment. Even if the child truly had no NAA in his brain, this does not mean that NAA is not necessary for normal brain function. By analogy, individuals can be born without a corpus callosum and still have interhemisphere communication. Does this mean that the corpus callosum is not the major pathway for connecting the cerebral hemispheres? If “viable” means “capable of living,” the perhaps glib characterization of NAA as “a marker of neuronal viability” may indeed be an overstatement of which we and others are guilty. However, given the two mischaracterizations of the data, a conclusion opposite that of the authors could be reached—this child has very low levels of brain NAA and profound neuropsychological deficits. Perhaps a better term than “viable” would be “integrity,” meaning “an unimpaired condition,” with the amount of spectroscopically visible NAA considered “a reflection of neuronal integrity. ” Certainly the report of Martin and colleagues would support this nomenclature.
Trajectory ontology inference over domain and temporal rules Inference complexity analyzing

Capture devices rise a large scale trajectory data about moving object’s movements. These devices use different technologies like global navigation satellite system (GNSS), wireless communication, radio-frequency identification (RFID), and other sensors. Huge trajectory data are available. In this article, we are interested in these data, so we use an ontological data modeling approach to build a trajectory ontology. This ontology contains temporal concepts, so we map it to a temporal ontology. We present an implementation framework for declarative and imperative parts of ontology rules in a semantic data store. An inference mechanism is computed over these semantic data. The running time and memory of the inference increases very rapidly as a function of the data size. For this reason, we propose a two-tier inference filters on data. The primary filter analyzes the trajectory data considering all the possible domain constraints. The data analyzed are considered as the first knowledge base. These data is passed to the secondary filter. Then the latter computes the inference over the filtered trajectory data. The secondary filter results yield the final knowledge base where the user can query.
Development of a Facebook Addiction Scale

The Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS), initially a pool of 18 items, three reflecting each of the six core elements of addiction (salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse), was constructed and administered to 423 students together with several other standardized self-report scales (Addictive Tendencies Scale, Online Sociability Scale, Facebook Attitude Scale, NEO–FFI, BIS/BAS scales, and Sleep questions). That item within each of the six addiction elements with the highest corrected item-total correlation was retained in the final scale. The factor structure of the scale was good (RMSEA = .046, CFI = .99) and coefficient alpha was . 83. The 3-week test-retest reliability coefficient was . 82. The scores converged with scores for other scales of Facebook activity. Also, they were positively related to Neuroticism and Extraversion, and negatively related to Conscientiousness. High scores on the new scale were associated with delayed bedtimes and rising times.
Posttraumatic Stress and Depressive Symptomatology in a Sample of Battered Women from South Africa

This study investigated the incidence of depression, posttraumatic stress symptomatology, anger, and guilt in a sample of 40 battered women in a shelter. Analysis indicated that 63% of the 40 scored moderate to severe on depression, 59% manifested high posttraumatic stress symptoms, while 38.4% and 54.5% reported problems with anger and guilt, respectively. Frequency and severity of physical abuse were not correlated with depressive or posttraumatic stress symptomatology.
Opportunistic Scheduling with Partial CQRI Feedback in OFSDMA Systems

In this paper, we propose a novel and efficient OS scheme with partial CQRI feedback. The average system capacity of the proposed OS scheme with partial CQRI feedback is analyzed as well as those of the conventional OS schemes with full and partial CQI feedbacks. Analysis and simulation results show that the proposed scheme improves system performance in terms of the average system capacity, especially when the amount of feedback per user is restricted to be small. It is shown that when the number of users is 100, the proposed scheme achieves 90% capacity of the full CQI feedback scheme, requiring only 4% and 60% feedback rate of the conventional full and partial CQI feedback schemes, respectively.
Fonctions élémentaires : algorithmes et implémentations efficaces pour l'arrondi correct en double précision. (Elementary functions : algorithms and efficient implementation for correct rounding for the double precision)

Le codage et le comportement de l'arithmetique a virgule flottante disponible dans les ordinateurs sont specifies par la norme IEEE-754. Cette norme impose au systeme de rendre comme resultat de l'une des quatre operations (+, *, /, sqrt), l'arrondi du resultat exact. Cette propriete que l'on appelle , permet de garantir la qualite du resultat. Elle permet egalement la construction de preuves d'algorithmes, quelles que soient les machines sur lesquelles l'operation est executee. Toutefois cette norme presente des limites, puisque les fonctions elementaires (sinus, cosinus, exponentielle.) en sont absentes. Cette abscence est liee au : il est, contrairement aux operations de base, difficile de connaitre la precision necessaire pour garantir l'arrondi correct des fonctions elementaires. Cependant, si l'on fixe le format de representation, il est alors possible par une recherche exhaustive de determiner cette borne; ce fut le travail de these de Lefevre pour la double precision. L'objectif de ce memoire est d'exploiter les bornes associees a chaque fonction, pour certifier l'arrondi correct des fonctions elementaires en double precision pour les quatre modes d'arrondi. A cet effet, nous avons implemente les evaluations en deux etapes : l'une rapide et juste la plupart du temps, basee sur les proprietes de l'arithmetique IEEE double precision, et l'autre juste tout le temps, compose d'operateurs multiprecision. Pour cette deuxieme phase, nous avons developpe une bibliotheque d'operateurs multiprecision optimises pour les precisions donnees par ces bornes et les caracteristiques des processeurs en 2003.
Repositório ISCTE-IUL

Latent Segments Models (LSM) are commonly used as an approach for market segmentation. When using LSM, several criteria are available to determine the number of segments. However, it is not established which criteria are more adequate when dealing with a specific application. Since most market segmentation problems involve the simultaneous use of categorical and continuous base variables, it is particularly useful to select the best criteria when dealing with LSM with mixed type base variables. We first present an empirical test, which provides the ranking of several information criteria for model selection based on ten mixed data sets. As a result, the ICL-BIC, BIC, CAIC and L criteria are selected as the best performing criteria in the estimation of mixed mixture models. We then present an application concerning a retail chain clients’ segmentation. The best information criteria yield two segments: Preferential Clients and Occasional Clients .