Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
COMPARISON BETWEEN ALPRENOLOL AND CHLORTHALIDONE AS ANTIHYPERTENSIVE AGENTS

A double‐blind cross‐over study comparing alprenolol 100 mg × 4 with chlorthalidone 50 mg × 1 has been performed on 40 subjects. Throughout the study 1.5 g potassium chloride was given daily. In the dosages given both alprenolol and chlorthalidone caused a significant reduction of the BP. Chlorthalidone reduced the BP significantly more than alprenolol. Follow‐up studies showed that the effect of alprenolol on the BP increased when the dosage was doubled. In spite of the potassium substitution chlorthalidone reduced serum potassium significantly, while no change was found with alprenolol. There was a significant increase in serum uric acid with both alprenolol and chlorthalidone, being significantly more pronounced with chlorthalidone. Subjective side‐effects were few and transient both with alprenolol and chlorthalidone.
Presynaptic Calcium Channel Localization and Calcium-Dependent Synaptic Vesicle Exocytosis Regulated by the Fuseless Protein

A systematic forward genetic Drosophila screen for electroretinogram mutants lacking synaptic transients identified the fuseless (fusl) gene, which encodes a predicted eight-pass transmembrane protein in the presynaptic membrane. Null fusl mutants display >75% reduction in evoked synaptic transmission but, conversely, an approximately threefold increase in the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous synaptic vesicle fusion events. These neurotransmission defects are rescued by a wild-type fusl transgene targeted only to the presynaptic cell, demonstrating a strictly presynaptic requirement for Fusl function. Defects in FM dye turnover at the synapse show a severely impaired exo-endo synaptic vesicle cycling pool. Consistently, ultrastructural analyses reveal accumulated vesicles arrested in clustered and docked pools at presynaptic active zones. In the absence of Fusl, calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release is dramatically compromised and there is little enhancement of synaptic efficacy with elevated external Ca2+ concentrations. These defects are causally linked with severe loss of the Cacophony voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, which fail to localize normally at presynaptic active zone domains in the absence of Fusl. These data indicate that Fusl regulates assembly of the presynaptic active zone Ca2+ channel domains required for efficient coupling of the Ca2+ influx and synaptic vesicle exocytosis during neurotransmission.
Decorrelated and liftered filter-bank energies for robust speech recognition

Though Mel frequency cepstral coeÆcients (MFCCs) have been very successful in speech recognition, they have the following two problems: 1) They do not have any physical interpretation, and 2) Liftering of cepstral coef-(cid:12)cients, found to be highly useful in the earlier dynamic warping-based speech recognition systems, has no e(cid:11)ect in the recognition process when used with continuous observation Gaussian density hidden Markov models. In this paper, we propose to use the (cid:12)lter-bank energies (FBEs) as features. The FBEs are physically meaningful quantities andamenablefor applyinghumanauditoryprocessing such as masking. We describe procedures to decorrelate and lifter the FBEs and show that the FBEs perform at least as good as (and sometimes even better than) the MFCCs for robust speech recognition.
Emotional intelligence: a place in public health promotion and education

Researchers have long been interested in traditional forms of intelligence for predicting personal and profession life successes, however such dimensions have not been largely successful as they oftentimes miss the social component of human interaction. To capture this absence, researchers have proposed a new type of intelligence, which has been coined emotional intelligence. The purpose of this article was to provide a brief review how concepts of emotional intelligence have emerged in the previous 30 years, and to discuss the potential application emotional intelligence has in public health research and practice. This article will review three proposed models of emotional intelligence (ability, personality, and mixed), with corresponding measurements. In addition, the current state of research on how emotional intelligence has been related with risk factors related to the most prevalent chronic diseases will be summarized. Suggestions for future research and practice are presented.
The hormetic dose-response model is more common than the threshold model in toxicology.

The threshold dose-response model is widely viewed as the most dominant model in toxicology. The present study was designed to test the validity of the threshold model by assessing the responses of doses below the toxicological NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) in relationship to the control response (i.e., unexposed group). Nearly 1,800 doses below the NOAEL, from 664 dose-response relationships derived from a previously published database that satisfied a priori entry criteria, were evaluated. While the threshold model predicts a 1:1 ratio of responses "greater than" to "less than" the control response (i.e., a random distribution), a 2.5:1 ratio (i.e., 1171:464) was observed, reflecting 31% more responses above the control value than expected (p < 0.0001). The mean response (calculated as % control response) of doses below the NOAEL was 115.0% +/- 1.5 standard error of the mean (SEM). These findings challenge the long-standing belief in the primacy of the threshold model in toxicology (and other areas of biology involving dose-response relationships) and provide strong support for the hormetic-like biphasic dose-response model characterized by a low-dose stimulation and a high-dose inhibition. These findings may affect numerous aspects of toxicological and biological/biomedical research related to dose-response relationships, including study design, risk assessment, as well as chemotherapeutic strategies.
Chlorine- and Fluorine-based dry etching of Germanium-Tin

Cl- and F- based dry etching of Ge<sub>1-x</sub>Sn<sub>x</sub> were presented in this work. High selectivity of Ge<sub>1-x</sub>Sn<sub>x</sub> over Ge can be achieved by F-based dry etching. This is caused by the formation of a thin nonvolatile SnF<sub>x</sub> layer at Ge<sub>1-x</sub>Sn<sub>x</sub> surface. Addition of O<sub>2</sub> to CF<sub>4</sub> can enhance the selectivity of F-based dry etching, but with an increase of surface roughness of Ge<sub>1-x</sub>Sn<sub>x</sub> samples.
Learning grasp affordance densities

We address the issue of learning and representing object grasp affordance models. We model grasp affordances with continuous probability density functions (grasp densities) which link object-relative grasp poses to their success probability. The underlying function representation is nonparametric and relies on kernel density estimation to provide a continuous model. Grasp densities are learned and refined from exploration, by letting a robot “play” with an object in a sequence of grasp-and-drop actions: the robot uses visual cues to generate a set of grasp hypotheses, which it then executes and records their outcomes. When a satisfactory amount of grasp data is available, an importance-sampling algorithm turns it into a grasp density. We evaluate our method in a largely autonomous learning experiment, run on three objects with distinct shapes. The experiment shows how learning increases success rates. It also measures the success rate of grasps chosen to maximize the probability of success, given reaching constraints.
Comparison of two optimized readout chains for low light CIS

We compare the noise performance of two optimized readout chains that are based on 4T pixels and featuring the same bandwidth of 265kHz (enough to read 1Megapixel with 50frame/s). Both chains contain a 4T pixel, a column amplifier and a single slope analog-to-digital converter operating a CDS. In one case, the pixel operates in source follower configuration, and in common source configuration in the other case. Based on analytical noise calculation of both readout chains, an optimization methodology is presented. Analytical results are confirmed by transient simulations using 130nm process. A total input referred noise bellow 0.4 electrons RMS is reached for a simulated conversion gain of 160μV/e−. Both optimized readout chains show the same input referred 1/f noise. The common source based readout chain shows better performance for thermal noise and requires smaller silicon area. We discuss the possible drawbacks of the common source configuration and provide the reader with a comparative table between the two readout chains. The table contains several variants (column amplifier gain, in-pixel transistor sizes and type).
An Empirical Analysis of the Current State of Phishing Attack and Defence

Banks and other organisations deal with fraudulent phishing websites by pressing the hosting service providers to remove the sites from the Internet. Until they are removed, the fraudsters will learn the passwords, personal identication numbers (PINs) and other personal details of the users who are fooled into visiting them. We analyse empirical data on actual phishing website removal times and the number of visitors that the websites attract, and conclude that website removal is part of the answer to phishing, but it is not fast enough to completely mitigate the problem. We also identify a subset of phishing websites (operated by the ‘rock-phish’ gang) which through architectural innovations have extended the average lifetime of their phishing websites.
Systemic Thrombolyis within 24 Hours of Major Cardiac Surgery; When the Risk to Life outweighs the Haemorrhage

Ischaemic stroke after cardiac surgery is well recognised devastating complication. The incidence of stroke usually varies based on patients’ risk factors and peri-operative related factors and can be as high as 6% [1]. Due to the high risk of Intracerebral and systemic haemorrhage, systemic thrombolysis is contraindicated within 14 days after any major surgery including open heart surgery [2]. Given the high risk of bleeding, unsurprisingly there has not been any research articles into the bleeding rate of systemic thrombolysis after major surgery.
Removing Non-Uniform Motion Blur from Images

We propose a method for removing non-uniform motion blur from multiple blurry images. Traditional methods focus on estimating a single motion blur kernel for the entire image. In contrast, we aim to restore images blurred by unknown, spatially varying motion blur kernels caused by different relative motions between the camera and the scene. Our algorithm simultaneously estimates multiple motions, motion blur kernels, and the associated image segments. We formulate the problem as a regularized energy function and solve it using an alternating optimization technique. Real- world experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Detection of Dark Matter Skewness in the VIRMOS-DESCART Survey: Implications for Ω0

Weak gravitational lensing provides a direct statistical measure of dark matter distribution. The variance is easiest to measure, which constrains the degenerate product σ8Ω. The degeneracy is broken by measuring the skewness arising from the fact that densities must remain positive, which is not possible when the initially symmetric perturbations become nonlinear. Skewness measures the nonlinear mass scale, which in combination with the variance measures Ω0 directly. We present the first detection of dark matter skewness from the VIRMOS-DESCART survey. We have measured the full three-point function and its projections onto windowed skewness. We separate the lensing mode and the B-mode. The lensing skewness is detected for a compensated Gaussian on scales of 5. ′37 to be κ̄3 = (1.06 ± 0.06) × 10-6. The B-modes are consistent with zero at this scale. The variance for the same window function is κ̄2 = (5.32 ± 0.62 ± 0.98) × 10-5, resulting in S3 = 375. Comparing with N-body simulations, we find Ω0 < 0.5 at 90% confidence. The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope legacy survey and newer simulations should be able to improve significantly on the constraint.
Distributed optical fiber sensors and their applications

This paper contains the theory behind optical fiber sensing measurement and the latest trends in optical fiber sensing measurement and its applications. Smart structures and materials in which an optical fiber acts as a sensor to measure distributed strain and/or temperature along the fiber have applications in health monitoring functions, such as preventive maintenance, product efficiency improvement, and maintenance cost reduction. Furthermore, optical fiber has the advantage that it is essentially explosion-proof, needs no electric power supply, and is not affected by outside noise, such as lightening or high-voltage electrical power lines. This makes optical fiber suitable for plant and civil applications.
Molluscan Assemblages in Rock Pools on Sandstone Reefs: Local and between Pools Variability

ABSTRACT This study investigated the variability of molluscan assemblages of rock pools according to location and pool size. The study was carried out in three sandstone reefs on the west coast of Ceará in northeast Brazil. The size parameters evaluated were surface area, depth, and volume of pools and pool-ocean distance. The molluscan assemblages were characterized by ecological diversity descriptors (abundance, species richness, diversity, and evenness). A total of 43 species of molluscs belonging to the classes Bivalvia, Gastropoda, and Polyplacophora were identified. The most relevant species for discriminating among the assemblies were Eulithidium affine, Cerithium atratum, Tegula viridula, and Ischnochiton striolatus. Results indicated a clear local difference in the structures of the assemblages; however, they did not differ according to the size of the pools. This indicates that sites may play a more important role in the structure of molluscan assemblages in rock pools than the association with pools.
Metastatic neuroendocrine tumour mimicking endometriosis highlights the importance of excision for tissue diagnosis

Introduction: Endometriosis is a common gynaecological condition, usually presenting with pelvic pain or infertility in women of reproductive age. Diagnosis is made on histopathology of deposits excised during laparoscopy, given diagnosis solely made by macroscopic examination can be challenging for even experienced gynaecological surgeons. Case description: A 45-year-old during laparoscopy for fibroids is found to have peritoneal deposits resembling endometriosis. Histopathology reveals multifocal metastatic grade 1 neuroendocrine tumour of the appendix. Conclusion: This incidental finding highlights the importance of thorough examination of the appendix and abdominal cavity for unexpected pathology during gynaecological laparoscopy. Incidental finding of appendiceal pathology at time of laparoscopy for endometriosis is not uncommon; however, the finding of metastatic malignancy is far rarer. While several case studies have reported severe endometriosis mimicking advanced stage cancer, this is the first documented occurrence of an advanced, metastatic tumour, mimicking endometriosis.
Abstract 34: CYP2J2 Targeting to Endothelial Cells Attenuates Adiposity and Vascular Dysfunction in Mice Fed a High Fat Diet by Reprogramming Adipocyte Phenotype

Obesity is a global epidemic and a common risk factor for endothelial dysfunction, and subsequent development of diabetes and vascular diseases such as hypertension. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are cytochrome P450 (CYP)-derived metabolites of arachidonic acid and significantly contribute to vascular protection via stimulating vasodilation and inhibiting inflammation. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress response protein that plays an important cytoprotective role against oxidative insult in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. We recently demonstrated that crosstalk between EETs and HO-1 can attenuate adipogenesis. In the current study, we examined the hypothesis that adipocyte dysfunction in mice fed a high-fat (HF) diet can be prevented by endothelial-specific targeting of a human epoxygenase, CYP2J2, in transgenic mice. Tie2-CYP2J2 transgenic mice fed HF diets displayed significantly reduced visceral fat, blood glucose, inflammatory markers and blood pressure (from 126±4.1 to 102± 3.2 mmHg, p<0.05), and improved vascular function (maximum relaxation to acetylcholine from 61±7 to 90±6%, p<0.05) when compared to HF diet-fed wild type mice. Likewise, Tie2-CYP2J2 gene targeting restored HF-mediated decreases in vascular HO-1, peNOS, pAKT, and pAMPK protein expression. These changes translated into increased HO-1 and decreased inflammation within adipose tissue (adipose CD68 stained regions were reduced from 4.45±0.97 to 1.47±0.21%, p<0.05), coupled with decreased PPAR, C/EBPα, Mest, and aP2 expression, reflecting the systemic effect of EET overproduction on adipogenesis. We report that increased endothelial EET generation significantly attenuates HF diet-mediated adiposity and vascular dysfunction. Furthermore, our findings implicate crosstalk between EETs and HO-1 as an important cytoprotective mechanism to ameliorate vascular and adipocyte dysfunction resulting from diet-induced obesity.
Concept and First Results of Optical Navigational System

The paper presents a concept of the optical coastal navigational system. The task of the system is to provide information about object position in coastal areas based on optical information. The system is intended for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles that operate in GPS denied environments. In addition to the concept itself, the paper also outlines the first results achieved during the research on the system.
Induction of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 2B15 Gene Expression by the Major Active Metabolites of Tamoxifen, 4-Hydroxytamoxifen and Endoxifen, in Breast Cancer Cells

We previously reported upregulation of UGT2B15 by 17β-estradiol in breast cancer MCF7 cells via binding of the estrogen receptor α (ERα) to an estrogen response unit (ERU) in the proximal UGT2B15 promoter. In the present study, we show that this ERα-mediated upregulation was significantly reduced by two ER antagonists (fulvestrant and raloxifene) but was not affected by a third ER antagonist, 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHTAM), a major active tamoxifen (TAM) metabolite. Furthermore, we found that, similar to 17β-estradiol, 4-OHTAM and endoxifen (another major active TAM metabolite) elevated UGT2B15 mRNA levels, and that this stimulation was significantly abrogated by fulvestrant. Further experiments using 4-OHTAM revealed a critical role for ERα in this regulation. Specifically; knockdown of ERα expression by anti-ERα small interfering RNA reduced the 4-OHTAM–mediated induction of UGT2B15 expression; 4-OHTAM activated the wild-type but not the ERU-mutated UGT2B15 promoter; and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed increased ERα occupancy at the UGT2B15 ERU in MCF7 cells upon exposure to 4-OHTAM. Together, these data indicate that both 17β-estradiol and the antiestrogen 4-OHTAM upregulate UGT2B15 in MCF7 cells via the same ERα-signaling pathway. This is consistent with previous observations that both 17β-estradiol and TAM upregulate a common set of genes in MCF7 cells via the ER-signaling pathway. As 4-OHTAM is a UGT2B15 substrate, the upregulation of UGT2B15 by 4-OHTAM in target breast cancer cells is likely to enhance local metabolism and inactivation of 4-OHTAM within the tumor. This represents a potential mechanism that may reduce TAM therapeutic efficacy or even contribute to the development of acquired TAM resistance.
Is Primary Prevention of Rheumatic Fever the Missing Link in the Control of Rheumatic Heart Disease in Africa?

Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease continue to be major public health problems in the developing world, particularly in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Because of its cost effectiveness, secondary prophylaxis is advocated as the principal means of disease prevention and control. However, in developing countries, valvular damage, due to earlier, unrecognized episodes of rheumatic fever, has already occurred by the time secondary prophylaxis is instituted. Secondary prophylaxis cannot reduce the incidence of new cases of rheumatic fever and has not been shown to alter the natural history of rheumatic valvular disease. Experience from several regions of the world suggests that incorporation of a strategy of primary antibiotic prophylaxis into a comprehensive program for disease control can reduce the incidence of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. In this article, we argue that a strategy of primary antibiotic prophylaxis, with appropriate modifications, can be successfully implemented in resource-poor settings across the world and should be a key component of any rheumatic heart disease control program. This, we believe, is essential for reducing the global burden of rheumatic heart disease.
Crossmodal Integration and McGurk-Effect in Synthetic Audiovisual Speech

This paper presents the results of a study investigating crossmodal processing of audiovisually synthesised speech stimuli. The perception of facial gestures has a great influence on the interpretation of a speech signal. Not only paralinguistic information of the speakers emotional state or motivation can be obtained. Especially if the acoustic signal is unclear, e.g. because of background noise or reverberation, watching the facial gestures can enhance speech intelligibility. On the other hand, visual information that is incongruent to auditory information can also reduce the efficiency of acoustic speech features, even if the acoustic signal is of good quality. The way how two modalities interact with each other constitutes an interdisciplinary research area. Bimodal speech processing is a remarkable example of how one modality (vision) affects the experience of another modality (audition). The present study could show that this effect can also be achieved by synthetic speech. Not only therefore, computerbased audiovisual speech synthesisers and speech visualisation systems provide an interesting tool for investigating bimodal sensory integration.
Blind Calibration of Sparse Arrays for DOA Estimation with Analog and One-bit Measurements

In this paper, the focus is on the gain and phase calibration of sparse sensor arrays to localize more sources than the number of physical sensors. The proposed technique is a blind calibration method as it does not require any calibrator sources. Joint estimation of the gain errors, phase errors, and source directions is a complicated non-convex optimization problem, which is transformed into a convex optimization problem by exploiting the underlying algebraic structure. It is shown that the developed solver is suitable for analog as well as one-bit measurements. Numerical experiments based on sparse rulers are provided to illustrate the developed theory.