Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
L.0: a parallel executable temporal logic language

The purpose of this paper is to present the subset of temporal logic, that has been found useful and accessible to programmers of communications software, and to present the additional assumptions and structuring operators which had to be ad’ded to make this subset into a viable programming language. The resulting language is called L.0’. The fact that enhancements to temporal logic are necessary to make it a viable programming language should not be surprising, since a standard criticism of temporal logic is that it is: “global, non-modular, and noncompositional’~‘l.
Processing the v-KNN Queries inWireless Sensor Networks

Recently there have been growing interests in the applications of wireless sensor networks. Given a query point, which is a value, find a set of K nodes whose values are nearest to this point. We call this query the value-based KNN (v-KNN) query. v-KNN is a challenging query in wireless sensor networks because the network is highly distributed and global knowledge of the values are needed before the result set could be constructed. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm called KVC (v-KNN queries based on value clustering ) to process the v-KNN queries in wireless sensor networks in an energy efficient way. KVC takes advantage of the rich resources in the base station to do some optimizations to filter the irrelevant nodes and push down the v-KNN query into the network. The aim of KVC is to reduce the total communication cost as much as possible while processing the v-KNN queries correctly and efficiently. Simulation results on both realistic and synthetical data sets show that KVC outperforms the central processing in both average and hotspot energy consumption in wireless sensor networks.
Farquharson and Fenno: Sophisticated Voting and Home Style

This article is aimed at integrating two kinds of analysis of legislators' calculations of advantage. We assume that legislators operate in two arenas, in the legislative arena itself, where their calculations of advantage concern simply their effectiveness in voting (Farquharson), and in the electoral arena, where their calculations concern the rewards for their position-taking as well as their effectiveness (Fenno). Our analysis is introduced by an interpretation of voting on the Powell amendment, 1956, when some legislators apparently voted strategically and others, equally able to do so, still did not. We then develop an expected utility model of voting that accounts for such divergent choices in terms of legislators' individual beliefs about the distribution of opinions in the legislature (Farquharson) and in their constituencies (Fenno). We conclude with an analysis of the Nash equilibria of choices to vote strategically or nonstrategically.
Histone Deacetylase 3 and 4 Complex Stimulates the Transcriptional Activity of the Mineralocorticoid Receptor

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) act as corepressors in gene transcription by altering the acetylation of histones, resulting in epigenetic gene silencing. We previously reported that HDAC3 acts as a coactivator of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). Although HDAC3 forms complexes with class II HDACs, their potential role in the transcriptional activity of MR is unclear. We hypothesized that HDAC4 of the class II family stimulates the transcriptional activity of MR. The expression of MR target genes was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. MR and RNA polymerase II recruitment to promoters of MR target genes was analyzed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. The association of MR with HDACs was investigated by co-immunoprecipitation. MR acetylation was determined with an anti-acetyl-lysine antibody after immunoprecipitation with an anti-MR antibody. Among the class II HDACs, HDAC4 interacted with both MR and HDAC3 after aldosterone stimulation. The nuclear translocation of HDAC4 was mediated by protein kinase A (PKA) and protein phosphatases (PP). The transcriptional activity of MR was significantly decreased by inhibitors of PKA (H89), PP1/2 (calyculin A), class I HDACs (MS-275), but not class II HDACs (MC1568). MR acetylation was increased by H89, calyculin A, and MS-275, but not by MC1568. Interaction between MR and HDAC3 was significantly decreased by H89, calyculin A, and HDAC4 siRNA. A non-genomic effect of MR via PKA and PP1/2 induced nuclear translocation of HDAC4 to facilitate the interaction between MR and HDAC3. Thus, we have uncovered a crucial role for a class II HDAC in the activation of MR-dependent transcription.
A holonic extension of the i∗ framework

Facing complex systems, i* needs mechanism of managing complexity and granularity. This paper proposes a holonic architecture to address this weakness of i*. Our solution is based on the business unit, business services and business goal as basic granules that encapsulates the intentional units, intentions, goals of the organization. The architecture is based on three conceptual levels which are the business view, process view and task view. for each level of conceptualization a model of dependence between intentional units and a rational model. So our solution preserves the socio-intentional aspect of i*.
A Shepherd for the Naïve

Intellectuals of the 20th century bore witness to society’s injustices. They viewed and commented on erosion of rights and humankind’s callousness to itself. For example, Huxley’s Brave New World and Brave New World Revisited illustrate with contempt a society that had renounced personal individuality and rejected freedom, choosing a drugged totalitarian state set adrift from any sense of morality. Huxley’s work is a familiar touchstone, in that it presupposed a world that seems increasingly real to us, even though a faithful portrayal of the future was hardly Huxley’s intent. Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 soberly reminded the world of the wages of intolerance to divergent ideas, in envisioning a government solidifying its hold on power by banishing the spectrum of human emotion in literature and mass media. Forster’s ambitious short story “The Machine Stops” countered the naiveté of a positive equal utopia, with a world cruel in its homogenization and dependent on a deified machine for all facets of its existence. In each instance, government is an ominous, questionable character. Technology, in these texts and in today’s world, is a foundational element with muddled aims—a rich virtual society on one hand, but frightening levels of assimilation, control, and loss of interpersonal communication and privacy in the crumbling arena of the real on the other. In this article, a future technology-led existence is examined through the lenses of these fictional works.
Air pollution exposure in early pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a register-based cohort study

Objectives Our aim was to study the possible associations between exposure to elevated levels of air pollution, ozone (O3) and vehicle exhaust (NOx), during early gestation, and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, preterm birth and small for gestational age. Design Prospective register-based cohort study. Setting The Swedish Medical Birth Register includes data on all deliveries during 1998 to 2006 in Greater Stockholm, Sweden. The national Patient Register and the Prescribed Drug Register were used to collect information on maternal asthma. Participants All singleton pregnancies, conceived at the earliest in August 1997 and at the latest in February 2006, were included, n=120 755. Outcome measures We studied preterm birth, small for gestational age and pre-eclampsia. Results 4.4% of pregnancies resulted in a preterm birth. The prevalence of pre-eclampsia was 2.7%. We observed an association between first trimester O3 and preterm birth (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.08) as well as an association with pre-eclampsia (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.08), per 10 µg/m3 increase in O3. We observed no association between first trimester NOx and adverse pregnancy outcomes. No associations were observed between any of the air pollutants and small for gestational age. Conclusions Increased levels of O3 during the first trimester increased the risk of pre-eclampsia and preterm birth. Air pollutants did not exhibit any effects on fetal growth restriction. We estimated 1 in every 20 cases of pre-eclampsia to be associated with O3 exposure.
Facebook as an Online Teaching Tool: Effects on Student Participation, Learning, and Overall Course Performance

ABSTRACT Online discussions are widely viewed as a valuable tool for encouraging student engagement and promoting interaction with course material outside of the traditional classroom. Strategies for conducting online discussions vary and are not confined to traditional, university-sponsored learning management systems (LMS). Social media platforms such as Facebook, which provide a variety of social benefits to students, might also represent a viable mechanism for educational information exchange and learning. Our study tested this proposition by comparing the effects of a Facebook-based and LMS-based online discussion forum on students' participation, achievement of learning goals, and overall course performance. Our findings suggest that different forums can affect classroom dynamics and student learning in different ways. While Facebook may be better at fostering student participation and encouraging peer-to-peer dialogue, the university-sponsored LMS may be a more effective tool for encouraging students to develop coherent arguments and apply course content in other contexts. Since this study shows that platform of an online discussion assignment matters, college instructors should consider the benefits and drawbacks of each platform before developing an online discussion assignment. Instructor choice of platform should depend on course content, instructor's teaching preferences, and online discussion assignment goals.
Amphetamine, past and present – a pharmacological and clinical perspective

Amphetamine was discovered over 100 years ago. Since then, it has transformed from a drug that was freely available without prescription as a panacea for a broad range of disorders into a highly restricted Controlled Drug with therapeutic applications restricted to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. This review describes the relationship between chemical structure and pharmacology of amphetamine and its congeners. Amphetamine’s diverse pharmacological actions translate not only into therapeutic efficacy, but also into the production of adverse events and liability for recreational abuse. Accordingly, the balance of benefit/risk is the key challenge for its clinical use. The review charts advances in pharmaceutical development from the introduction of once-daily formulations of amphetamine through to lisdexamfetamine, which is the first d-amphetamine prodrug approved for the management of ADHD in children, adolescents and adults. The unusual metabolic route for lisdexamfetamine to deliver d-amphetamine makes an important contribution to its pharmacology. How lisdexamfetamine’s distinctive pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile translates into sustained efficacy as a treatment for ADHD and its reduced potential for recreational abuse is also discussed.
Cytological Aspects on the Effects of a Nasal Spray Consisting of Standardized Extract of Citrus Lemon and Essential Oils in Allergic Rhinopathy

In this paper, a new formulation of nasal spray was set up based on the extract of lemon pulp, obtained by using a new solid-liquid technology of extraction, added to pure Aloe juice, soluble propoli, and essential oils of Ravensara and Niaouly. It was tested in a clinical study in which 100 subjects were recruited for a period of one month. Nasal scraping was used for collecting samples and after the application of the May-Grünwald Giemsa standard technique, glass slides were analysed by using optical microscope with a 1000x oil immersion. A control group constituted of ten people was recruited as control and this group was administered with physiological solution (saline solution). The comparison of results obtained before and after the application of nasal spray showed a total reduction of eosinophils granulocytes and mast cells; clinical data were confirmed by improvement of clinical pictures of patients. The lemon-based nasal spray was a good alternative to conventional medicine for the treatment of perennial and seasonal allergic and vasomotor rhinopathy.
ADAPTIVE EIGENVALUE COMPUTATION FOR ELLIPTIC OPERATORS

We present recent developments of adaptive wavelet solvers for elliptic eigenvalue problems. We describe the underlying abstract iteration scheme of the preconditioned perturbed iteration. We apply the iteration to a simple model problem in order to identify the main ideas which a numerical realization of the abstract scheme is based upon. This indicates how these concepts carry over to wavelet discretizations. Finally we present numerical results for the Poisson eigenvalue problem on an L-shaped domain.
Vasopressin micro‐injections into the nucleus tractus solitarii decrease heart rate and blood pressure in anaesthetized rats

Bilateral micro-injections of arginine vasopressin into the nucleus tractus solitarii caused a dose-dependent (1–100 pg) decrease in blood pressure and heart rate in anaesthetized rats. Higher doses (1–20 ng) caused an increase in both parameters. Subcutaneous injection of an antagonist [d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)-arginine vasopressin] failed to block these effects. Micro-injections of the antagonist (0.1–100 pg) into the nucleus tractus solitarii decreased blood pressure and the heart rate similarly to arginine vasopressin. The effect of the antagonist disappeared after about 30 min. At that time administration of arginine vasopressin into the nucleus tractus solitarii was ineffective in inducing changes in blood pressure and the heart rate. When a low-dose (0.1 or 1 pg) antagonist was used the effect of 100 pg arginine vasopressin was partially inhibited. We conclude that administration of arginine vasopressin into the nucleus tractus solitarii is effective at low doses, and may be involved in inhibitory cardiovascular control at the level of nucleus tractus solitarii.
Immuno-PCR for detection of antigen to Angiostrongylus cantonensis circulating fifth-stage worms.

BACKGROUND Definitive diagnosis of infestation with Angiostrongylus cantonensis is difficult because the parasitic nematode is undetectable in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of one-half of afflicted patients and the diagnostic sensitivity of ELISA for circulating worm antigens in patient sera is low. We studied immuno-PCR as a diagnostic tool. METHODS We studied 30 controls and 60 afflicted patients (30 confirmed by parasitologic analysis of CSF). We used a monoclonal antibody to capture circulating A. cantonensis antigens in serum samples. A DNA label generated by PCR amplification with biotinylated primer was bound by use of streptavidin to a biotinylated third antibody. Circulating antigens sandwiched by monoclonal antibody were detected by PCR amplification of the DNA label. RESULTS The detection limit of the ELISA was 100-1000 times higher than that of the immuno-PCR. The concentrations of circulating antigens in patients were markedly higher than those in controls (Wilcoxon rank-sum test, P <0.001). At a cutoff of 0.1 ng/L, sensitivity and specificity for immunodiagnosis of patients with angiostrongyliasis by immuno-PCR were 98% (95% confidence interval, 91-99%) and 100% (93-100%), respectively. The test was positive in all parasitologically confirmed cases. CONCLUSIONS Immuno-PCR is a promising technique for diagnosis of A. cantonensis infestation.
Journeys From Grief to Hope: Visual and Verbal Voices of Post-Yolanda Youth

Despite media reports on the damage caused by supertyphoon Yolanda, which ravaged the islands of Central Philippines in 2013, there is limited information on how the victims, specifically the youth, lived their post-Yolanda lives. This study explored the post- Yolanda experiences of 10 purposively selected students from a secondary school near Tacloban City. Using photovoice, this study delved into the participants’ experiences, how they dealt with their grief over their loss, and what changes they wanted to initiate. The results showed that despite the participants’ tragic experiences, they were able to transcend their grief to hope. They also proposed changes for self, for the school community, and for the society at large.
Optimal Manipulation of Voting Rules

Complexity of voting manipulation is a prominent research topic in computational social choice. The voting manipulation literature usually assumes that the manipulator is only concerned with improving the outcome of the election from her perspective. However, in practice, the manipulator may also be reluctant to lie, i.e., she may have a preference for submitting a vote that does not deviate too much from her true ranking of the candidates. In this paper, we study the complexity of finding a manipulative vote that achieves the manipulator's goal yet is as close as possible to her true preference order. We analyze this problem for three natural notions of closeness, namely, swap distance, footrule distance, and maximum displacement distance, and a variety of voting rules, such as scoring rules, Bucklin, Copeland, and Maximin. For all three distances, we obtain polynomial-time algorithms for all scoring rules and Bucklin and hardness results for Copeland and Maximin.
BIM in facilities management applications: a case study of a large university complex

Purpose – Building information modelling (BIM) in facilities management (FM) applications is an emerging area of research based on the theoretical proposition that BIM information, generated and captured during the lifecycle of a facility, can improve its management. Using this proposition as a starting point, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the value of BIM and the challenges affecting its adoption in FM applications. Design/methodology/approach – Two inter-related research methods are utilised. The literature is utilised to identify the application areas, value and challenges of BIM in FM. Due to the lack of case studies identified in the literature review, and to provide empirical evidence of the value and challenges of BIM in FM, a case study of Northumbria University’s city campus, is used to empirically explore the value and challenges of BIM in FM. Findings – The results demonstrated that BIM value in FM stems from improvement to current manual processes of information handover; improve.
Switching p53-dependent growth arrest to apoptosis via the inhibition of DNA damage-activated kinases

Cisplatin and doxorubicin are widely used anticancer drugs that cause DNA damage, which activates the ATM-Chk2-p53 pathway in cancer cells. This activation leads to cell cycle block or apoptosis, depending on the nature of the DNA damage. In an attempt to enhance the effects of these agents, we inhibited ATM/ATR and Chk2, which are known upstream regulators of p53. The cancer cell lines A2780 and ARN8, bearing the wild-type p53 protein, were used to study changes in p53 activation and trans-activation. Our results suggest that the G1-checkpoint, normally activated by DNA damage, is functionally overcome by the action of kinase inhibitors that sensitize cells to apoptosis. Both inhibitors show these effects, albeit with variable intensity in different cell lines, which is promising for other studies and theoretically for use in clinical practice.
Adhesive Bonding of Various Materials to Hard Tooth Tissues XVIII: Synthesis of a Polyfunctional Surface-active Comonomer

An oligomeric diglycidyl ether was allowed to react first with one mole of acrylic acid and then with one half mole of lithium o-aminobenzoate. The nature of the complex product was estimated by probability statistics. This appears to be the best method, so far, for synthesis of a PolySAC (polyfunctional surface-active comonomer).
Relationship between major depressive disorder and associated painful physical symptoms: analysis of data from two pooled placebo-controlled, randomized studies of duloxetine

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between painful physical symptoms (PPS) and outcomes in major depressive disorder (MDD). Post-hoc analysis of two identically designed 8-week trials compared the efficacy of 60 mg/day duloxetine (N=523) with that of placebo (N=532) in treating PPS associated with MDD. The Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score, the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) average pain score, and the Sheehan Disability Scale global functional impairment score assessed depression symptoms, pain, and functioning, respectively. Remission was defined as a MADRS score of 10 or less, and the BPI response subgroup was defined as a 50% or greater reduction from baseline. Path analyses assessed relationships among variables. Duloxetine-treated patients who had a 50% or greater reduction in BPI score at endpoint had higher rates of remission. Path analysis indicated that 16% of likelihood of remission in depression symptoms was because of the direct effect of treatment, 41% because of pain reduction, and 43% because of functional improvement. Path analysis also indicated that 51% of improvement in functioning was attributed to pain improvement and 43% to mood improvement. Results demonstrate that improvement in pain and mood contributes to functional improvement, and pain reduction and functional improvement increase the likelihood of remission of depressive symptoms with duloxetine treatment in patients with both MDD and PPS at baseline.
Effective chemotherapy for esophageal cancer with methotrexate, bleomycin, and cis‐diamminedichloroplatinum II

Ten patients with squamous cancer of the esophagus were treated with an outpatient regimen combining cis‐diamminedichloroplatinum (II), methotrexate and bleomycin. Nine of these had metastatic disease or recurrence after radiotherapy. Objective responses were noted in 50%, regardless of performance status or metastatic site. None of three patients with prior radiation therapy responded, however. Median duration of response was six months. Responders survived a median of eight months versus five months for nonresponders. Three patients had severe hematologic toxicity. A single patient with massive disease confined to the esophagus had an excellent response to six weeks of chemotherapy before radical irradiation. He is disease‐free after two years but is paraplegic from radiation myelitis. This chemotherapy program is an effective palliative therapy for metastatic esophageal cancer. Its safety and efficacy as part of the initial treatment of local disease should be further investigated.
The Inhibitory Effect of Apigenin on the Agonist-Induced Regulation of Vascular Contractility via Calcium Desensitization-Related Pathways

Apigenin, a natural flavonoid found in a variety of vegetables and fruits, has been shown to possess many biological functions. The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of apigenin on vascular smooth muscle contractility and to determine the mechanism involved. Denuded aortic rings from male rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded and combined with molecular experiments. Apigenin significantly relaxed fluoride-, thromboxane A2 mimetic- or phorbol ester-induced vascular contraction, which suggests that apigenin could be an anti-hypertensive that reduces agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis. Furthermore, apigenin significantly inhibited fluoride-induced increases in pMYPT1 levels and phorbol ester-induced increases in pERK1/2 levels, which suggests the mechanism involving the inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activity and the subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1 and ERK1/2. This study provides evidence regarding the mechanism underlying the relaxation effect of apigenin on agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial function.