Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gemcitabine and Doxorubicin Combination Enhance the Cytotoxic Effect to Pancreatic Cancer Cells BxPC3 and PANC1 through UMP/CMP Kinase 1

Background: Gemcitabine is a deoxycytidine analog, which is used as first-line agent for pancreatic cancer therapy, and its efficacy relied on its intracellular conversion to active triphosphate form. However, administration with gemcitabine still has limited effect on the overall survival of patients with pancreatic cancer. Objective: We aimed to study the combination effect of gemcitabine and doxorubicin to pancreatic cancer cells BxPC3 and PANC1, and unveil the mechanism. Methods: The study was performed in pancreatic cancer cells PANC1 and BxPC3, the contribution of UMP/CMP kinase 1 (CMPK1) to gemcitabine in PANC1 and BxPC3 cells was measured by transfection of CMPK1 plasmid or CMPK1 siRNA treatment to adjust the expression of CMPK1 in the cells; then analyzed the cell vitality and migration after treated with 1% IC50 of doxorubicin and gemcitabine or only with gemcitabine; the activity of CMPK1 and the effect of doxorubicin to the reaction was measured by HPLC assay in vitro; at last, docking analysis by computer was used to calculate the possible interaction sites of CMPK1 to DOX. Results: The sensitivity of PANC1 and BxPC3 cells to gemcitabine was improved when increasing the expression of CMPK1, and decreased when knockout CMPK1 by CMPK1 siRNA in BxPC3 cells; when combined with doxorubicin, the sensitivity of PANC1 and BxPC3 cells to gemcitabine also increased, and the cells migration reduced; we further found out that by adding 10 μM doxorubicin, the catalyzing activity of CMPK1 elevated about 2 times in vitro; the docking result showed that the association of CMPK1 to DOX was mainly by hydrogen bond and ionic interaction. Conclusion: CMPK1 can catalyze gemcitabine to its active form within the cells so that the sensitivity of the cells to gemcitabine elevated, and doxorubicin may enhance the cytotoxic effect to pancreatic cancer by up-regulate the activity of CMPK1, the combination of these deoxycytidine analogs with DOX might exert better efficacy.
Positive Affective Framing of Information Reduces Risk Perceptions and Increases Acceptance of Recycled Water

ABSTRACT Despite the growing need to address water security through sourcing alternative supplies, public resistance remains a key barrier to the implementation of recycled water schemes in some parts of the world. We describe an experiment that varied the affective framing of recycled water information and assessed the effects on an Australian community sample (N = 208). Results showed that participants in the positive affective framing condition reported more positive and less negative affect toward recycled water compared to a control condition and less negative affect than participants in the negative affective framing condition. Importantly, results demonstrated that risk perceptions were lower and acceptance was higher in the positive affective framing condition than the negative affective framing condition or the control condition. Moreover, the effect of negative affect on acceptance was mediated through risk perceptions. Implications of the results for communication about recycled water are discussed.
Perbedaan Glukosa Serum dan Plasma NaF Dengan Penundaan 12 Jam Pada Pasien Diabetes Melitus

Diabetes Melitus merupakan penyakit degeneratif, dengan ciri hiperglikemia akibat kelainan sekresi insulin, kerja insulin atau kedua-duanya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui perbedaan glukosa serum dan plasma NaF dengan penundaan 12 jam pada pasien diabetes melitus. Metode yang digunakan cross-sectional , dengan jumlah sampel sebanyak 60 responden, diambil secara purposive sampling . Kadar glukosa serum dan plasma NaF dengan penundaan 12 jam diperiksa dengan metode GOP-PAP dan sebagai pembanding adalah glukosa serum segera diperiksa. Darah dimasukkan dalam 3 tabung berbeda, darah segera diperiksa, glukosa serum dan plasma NaF dengan penundaan 12 jam. Hasil penelitian ditemukan perbedaan glukosa serum dan plasma NaF dengan penundaan 12 jam pada pasien diabetes melitus p > 0,05(p = 0,000 dan 0,118). Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini ditemukan perbedaan bermakna antara glukosa serum dan plasma NaF dengan penundaan 12 jam pada pasien diabetes melitus.
Applications of Chatbots in Marketing: Use Cases, Impacts, Challenges and Drivers

Recent advancements in Machine learning has contributed in the improvements of Artificial Intelligence and gave rebirth to chatbots. Due to the advent of technologies like natural language processing (NLP) and voice-controlled technology, AI chatbots are quickly becoming very popular amongst businesses. Use of Chatbots helps businesses save time and money, gain information, aids business processes, provide personal assistance, save time, increase revenue, and improve user experience. There is a dearth of literature in marketing in this area hence this study was done to understand the application of chatbots in marketing, by studying Use Cases, Impacts, Challenges and Drivers of these applications
Technology in Music Education: A Survey of Computer Usage in Teaching Music in Selected Colleges of Education in Ghana

The study sought to find out the role of computer technology in music education in Colleges of Education in the Volta Region of Ghana. It aimed at surveying the use of computer technology for teaching music and exploring the instructional prospects for computer technology usage in music in Colleges of Education. The study employed Rogers’ Diffusion Innovation theory and descriptive survey research method. Data was collected from the respondents using questionnaire, interview, and observation. The study revealed that even though about 90% of the music tutors have good academic qualification and over five years teaching experience, lack of competence in handling computer technology in teaching music among some music tutors and incoherent ICT initiatives hindered proper application of computer technology in the field of music education. It is however envisaged that increasing access and coherent computer technology initiatives will be paramount for the teaching of music in the Colleges of Education. Keywords: COE DOI : 10.7176/JEP/11-3-15 Publication date: January 31 st 2020
NODAL FRAGILITY OF INTRACRANIAL EEG NETWORKS: TOWARDS AN EEG FINGERPRINT FOR THE EPILEPTOGENIC ZONE

Epilepsy is a global epidemic and 30% of the 60 million patients do not respond to medication treatment. The only treatment options for patients with medically refractory epilepsy are surgical removal or electrical stimulation of the epileptogenic zone (EZ) i.e. the source of their seizures. Despite extensive evaluations with neuroimaging, visual EEG analysis and clinical testing, surgical success rates vary between 30-70%. Currently, no computational methods have been translated into the clinic to assist in localizing the EZ. Here, we applied a dynamical network model that quantifies the fragility of nodes within a patient’s intracranial EEG (iEEG) brain network. Fragility is quantified as the minimal amount of perturbation that must to be applied to a node’s influence on a "balanced" network to cause imbalance. Here, a balanced network is one in which the connectivity between excitatory and inhibitory nodes render a stable system, and an imbalanced network is unstable and hence can generate seizures. Using iEEG data from 91 patients treated across 5 epilepsy centers (44 successes, 47 failures), we demonstrated that nodal fragility is greater in electrodes within the EZ. In addition, we compared fragility of iEEG nodes to 7 frequency-based and 14 graph theoretic features of the EZ in both seizure (n=91) and non-seizure data (n=54). We calculated a confidence statistic, defined as the ratio of the value of a given feature averaged across electrodes in the clinically annotated seizure onset zone to its average across all other electrodes. Fragility has a significantly greater effect size difference between surgical outcomes when compared to other features. This novel feature, outperformed the most popular iEEG features when comparing across surgical outcomes, possibly defining a superior network-based EEG fingerprint for the EZ. Also reachable at adam2392 at gmail dot com. For more information, visit the NCSL website: https://sarmalab.icm. jhu.edu/. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218 A PREPRINT DECEMBER 3, 2019
Design of a compact circular polarized implantable ring slot antenna for biomedical applications

ABSTRACT In this paper the design of a simple rectangular ring slot, co-planar waveguide (CPW) fed, implantable antenna is proposed. By corner perturbation and the introduction of metallic patterns on the superstrate of the antenna, circular polarization (CP) has been achieved. The 10 mm × 10 mm × 0.4 mm dimensions have made the antenna compact and suitable for implantable biomedical application around 2.45 GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band. Measurement setup comprising of pork slab has been established and the in-vitro analysis of the antenna prototype is carried out by inserting the prototype into it. An axial ratio bandwidth of 10.6% has been achieved for the proposed simple implantable CP antenna.
Model simulation of seasonal growth of Fucus vesiculosus in its benthic community

Numerical models are a suitable tool to quantify impacts of predicted climate change on complex ecosystems but are rarely used to study effects on benthic macroalgal communities. Fucus vesiculosus L. is a habitat‐forming macroalga in the Baltic Sea and alarming shifts from the perennial Fucus community to annual filamentous algae are reported. We developed a box model able to simulate the seasonal growth of the Baltic Fucus–grazer–epiphyte system. This required the implementation of two state variables for Fucus biomass in units of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Model equations describe relevant physiological and ecological processes, such as storage of C and N assimilates by Fucus, shading effects of epiphytes or grazing by herbivores on both Fucus and epiphytes, but with species‐specific rates and preferences. Parametrizations of the model equations and required initial conditions were based on measured parameters and process rates in the near‐natural Kiel Outdoor Benthocosm (KOB) experiments during the Biological Impacts of Ocean Acidification project. To validate the model, we compared simulation results with observations in the KOB experiment that lasted from April 2013 until March 2014 under ambient and climate‐change scenarios, that is, increased atmospheric temperature and partial pressure of carbon dioxide. The model reproduced the magnitude and seasonal cycles of Fucus growth and other processes in the KOBs over 1 yr under different scenarios. Now having established the Fucus model, it will be possible to better highlight the actual threat of climate change to the Fucus community in the shallow nearshore waters of the Baltic Sea.
Examining the Role of Technology Anxiety and Health Anxiety on Elderly Users' Continuance Intention for Mobile Health Services Use

Mobile health (mHealth) is considered to be an important means of releasing the aging population problem. The efficiency of mHealth service can be increased by incorporating more elderly users and guaranteeing their continued use. However, limited attention has been directed toward investigating elderly users’ continuance intention for mHealth service use. Drawing upon the trust theory, we investigated elderly users’ characteristics, i.e. health anxiety and technology anxiety, to explain continuance intention. Survey data were collected comprising 261 valid responses to validate the research model and hypotheses. The results revealed that both cognitive and affective trust enhance continuance intention of mHealth services use. Health anxiety strengthens the effect of cognitive trust, but weakens the effect of affective trust, on the continuance intention. Furthermore, technology anxiety strengthens the effect of affective trust, but not that of cognitive trust, on the continuance intention. The limitations of our study and the theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Empirical Evaluation of High-speed Cost-effective Ro-FSO System by Incorporating OCDMA-PDM Scheme under the Presence of Fog

Radio over free space optics (Ro-FSO) innovation saddles the vast limit of optical fiber and the portability from local to remote systems. To enhance the capacity of Ro-FSO systems without compromising the bandwidth, this work incorporates use of hybrid polarization division multiplexing (PDM) with optical code division multiplexing (OCDMA) schemes. Due to low deployment time and support cost, the vast majority of the current optical network application systems adopts free space optics (FSO) as the elective answer for suitably supplanting fiber optical cable. This study has incorporated PDM and OCDMA schemes to design a 50 Gbps Ro-FSO link. Ten channels, each with 5 Gbps of data, are transported via FSO link of 3500 m. In addition, the proposed PDM-OCDMA-Ro-FSO link is evaluated under various atmospheric commotions.
Evaluation of VANET standards and protocols for distributed licence plate detection and reporting

Evaluation of VANET standards and protocols for distributed licence plate detection and reporting J.C. Truter Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa. Thesis: MEng (Electronic) December 2019 Implementation and evaluation of existing VANET standards and protocols for suitability of distributed licence plate detection and reporting in an urban scenario was the problem this project set out to investigate. Simulation was used to approach the problem since large scale deployment of commercially available VANET hardware was not feasible. A simulation environment providing realistic wireless networking and vehicular tra c patterns with which to evaluate VANET standards and protocols was successfully realised. An open source, Linux-based hardware solution (VANET OBU fully implementing IEEE 802.11p and AODV was created. Core aspects of the network simulation environment was successfully veri ed and calibrated by means of experimentation with the hardware solution. A distributed licence plate detection application was implemented in the veri ed and calibrated simulation environment, and analysis of large scale simulations resulted in the conclusion that IEEE 802.11p and AODV is suitable for distributed license plate detection and reporting as per its implementation in this project. ii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
Second-harmonic generation with metal/dielectric/metal hybridized nanoantennas: enhanced efficiency, reduced mode volume and ideal magnetic/electric dipole scattering

Although nonlinear optical responses with high refractive index dielectric nanostructures benefit from the large mode volume of the Mie resonances, it is an obstacle to achieve ultra-compact devices compared with plasmonic nanostructures. Besides that, the nonlinear emissions for dielectric nanoparticles often possess complex multipolar contributions, which is not favorable for nonlinear far-field manipulating such as beam steering. This study numerically demonstrates that with the formation of mode-matching condition, the efficiency of second-harmonic generation with an Au/AlGaAs/Au hybridized sandwich nanodisk can be enhanced by two orders compared with a same size AlGaAs nanoparticle, and the mode volume is reduced by about two orders at the same time. What is more interesting is that the nonlinear sources and far-field scattering are tailored by the hybridized resonances, where an ideal magnetic (or electric) dipole scattering around a broadband spectral range is observed for the second-harmonic generation, which provides a reliable way to generate pure magnetic light and to manipulate the nonlinear far-field emissions. The realization of enhanced nonlinear efficiency, the reduced mode volume, the background-free responses, and the ideal magnetic/electric dipole scattering make the sandwich hybridized nanoparticle a promising platform for nonlinear nanophotonics.
Short-term versus 6-week prednisone in the treatment of subacute thyroiditis: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Moderate-to-severe subacute thyroiditis is commonly treated with 6-8 weeks glucocorticoids; however, no studies have described short-term prednisone treatment for subacute thyroiditis. We evaluated the efficacy of this treatment for subacute thyroiditis. Methods: This was a 24-week, prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled study. Patients aged 18-70 years with subacute thyroiditis were hospitalized from August 2013 to December 2014. Patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms were randomized to receive either 30 mg/d prednisone for 1 week and then switched to 1 week of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or 6 weeks of prednisone. The primary endpoints were the differences in efficacy at the end of treatment between two groups. Secondary endpoints included differences between the two groups in parameters of side effects at withdrawal and thyroid function at weeks 6, 12, 24. Results: Of 96 patients screened, 52 subjects were randomized and 50 completed the study. Efficacy and recurrence rates were not significantly different at withdrawal in both groups (P=0.65). Parathyroid hormone (28.8 vs 38.9 pg/ml, p=0.011) and mean systolic blood pressure (113.9 vs 122.4 mmHg, p=0.023) were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group at discontinuation. No significant differences were observed in other secondary endpoints at withdrawal and in thyroid function at the 6th, 12th and 24th week during the follow-up time between the two groups. Conclusions: Fewer side effects of glucocorticoids and similar efficacy and recurrence rates were observed with short-term prednisone compared with those with 6-week treatment for subacute thyroiditis. Short-term prednisone with a better safety profile may be as one alternative strategy for ameliorating moderate-to-severe symptoms of subacute thyroiditis.
Toward self-detection of cyber-physical attacks in control systems

Un Systeme Controle en Reseau (SCR en francais, NCS (Networked Control System) en anglais) est un systeme de controle/commande distribue dans lequel les informations sont echangees en temps reel via un reseau reliant capteurs, actionneurs, controleurs, …) Ces SCR sont presents dans de nombreuses applications industrielles tels que les systemes de production, les systemes controles a distance, les vehicules autonomes, la teleoperation, …. Les principaux avantages de ces systemes sont la flexibilite de leur architecture et la reduction des couts d'installation et de maintenance, le principal inconvenient est les effets dus au reseau tels que les retards de transmission, qui influencent les performances et la stabilite de la boucle de regulation, ces systemes sont egalement vulnerables aux cyber – attaques.Cette these apporte quelques contributions sur la detection des cyber attaques ainsi que le developpement d'un controleur capable de traiter les effets des retards temporels.Pour atteindre cet objectif, la methode proposee est d'adapter une commande sans modele et d'ameliorer son utilisation dans les Systemes Controles en Reseau. L'idee principale est basee sur le benefice mutuel d'un predicteur de Smith et du modele de base de la commande sans modele. Ensuite, la structure intelligente de la commande sans modele est appliquee avec une commande predictive generalisee (GPC Generalized Predictive Control) de maniere a obtenir une commande predictive generalisee intelligente, qui est une amelioration du controleur generalise standard. Ce controleur est concu selon deux methodes differentes pour detecter les cyber attaques.Parallelement, un nouveau mecanisme de securite base sur une reponse trompeuse pour les cyber attaques dans les Systemes Controles en Reseau est propose. Le mecanisme propose peut permettre d'arreter une cyber-attaque en apportant une derniere ligne de defense lorsque l'attaquant a un acces a l'installation distante.Enfin, deux detecteurs d'attaque de piratage de commande sont introduits. L'objectif est de pouvoir detecter une attaque tel que le cas Stuxnet ou le controleur a ete detourne par reprogrammation. L'avantage des detecteurs proposes est qu'il ne necessite pas d'avoir a priori un modele mathematique du controleur.
Application of functional near-infrared spectroscopy in psychiatry and physical activity studies

Objectives. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is one of the fastest developing neuroimaging modalities. Features, such as non-invasiveness, simplicity of application and resistance to motion artefacts, allow to take measurements and to create scientific experiments imitating real life conditions. In this review, we want to focus on the potential of fNIRS in the fields of psychiatry, neurorehabilitation and physical exercise. Additionally, we present the advantages of fNIRS over other neuroimaging techniques like fMRI, PET and EEG/EMG. We also consider potential directions of development and challenges which emerge in front of the fNIRS society. Literature review. The main application in the discipline of neurorehabilitation is to monitor and to observe the repair mechanism of neurons after brain traumas. The non-invasiveness of infra-red light permits to investigate patients of both adult and child psychiatry. The utility of fNIRS as a diagnostic tool and a predictor is proven. Researchers are looking for functional abnormalities within the prefrontal cortex. fNIRS creates new possibilities in terms of exploration of the physical exercise. Recent articles consider which type of effort has the best effect on the hemodynamic response in the cortex. It seems that investigating the impact of the physical activity in group of psychiatric patients is an interesting direction. Conclusions. Currently, we are at the breakthrough in the fNIRS technology. The number of new studies, more precise methods of data analysis, and availability of good quality systems help us to better understand how to design scientific experiments properly and reliably measure the activity of the cerebral cortex.
Experimental determination of turbulence models applicability limits for the fluid dynamic computation in rotary divergent flow

Such fundamental scientific problem arises in much industrial application. The turbulent fluid dynamic characteristics were analyzed experimentally in a rotary-divergent flow. The laser Doppler anemometry was used for turbulent mass transfer diagnostics. The verification of numerical calculations by computational hydrodynamics has been carried out according to the results of experimental studies. Verification has shown that turbulent models describe the rotational-divergent flow well only until generation of flow gaps and formation of recirculation zones.
Large-scale environment of FR 0 radio galaxies

We explore the properties of the large-scale environment of the sources in the Faranoff-Riley class 0 catalog (FR0CAT). This sample includes 104 compact radio sources that are associated with nearby (z < 0.05) early-type galaxies. Using various estimators, we find that FR 0s are located in regions with higher than the average number of galaxies. The average galaxies density around FR 0s is a factor two lower with respect to FR I radio galaxies. This latter difference is driven by the large fraction (63%) of FR 0s that are located in groups formed by fewer than 15 galaxies. FR Is rarely (17%) inhabit an environment like this. In addition to the lack of substantial extended radio emission that defines the FR 0 class, this is the first significant difference between the properties of these two populations of low-power radio galaxies. We interpret the differences in environment between FR 0s and FR Is as due to an evolutionary link between local galaxies density, black hole spin, jet power, and extended radio emission.