Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of human adipose-derived regenerative cells on temporomandibular joint healing in immunodeficient rabbits

Increasing research attention has focused on the use of stem cells (SCs) in regenerative and reparative medicine. Adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) are a relatively cheap and ethical source of SCs. Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) have been reported with rising incidence over recent decades. The main aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of ADRCs application on the healing of both soft and hard temporomandibular joint (TMJ) tissues, and to assess the possible utilization of ADRCs in TMD treatment. We investigated the effects of human ADRCs on the healing of TMJ defects in immunodeficient rabbits. With no prior cultivation, ADRCs were applied to a surgically created defect in the cartilage of a rabbit TMJ. The healing process and inflammatory response were examined. Our results indicated that ADRCs supported repair processes in soft tissues. However, ADRC treatment induced a significant immune response in both soft and hard tissues, with hard tissues showing a higher level of bone remodelling. Non-differentiated ADRCs can be a promising tool for regenerative medicine of TMJ; however, deeper understanding of their effect on the cellular level is needed.
Laryngeal cancer imaging and its extension evaluation: Intelligent analysis of 100 cases diagnosed at Setif Hospital in Algeria

Background: Clinical examination and endoscopic biopsy are often not sufficient in the analysis of the evolution of laryngeal cancers. The imaging extension of laryngeal tumors is based on the helical multiband scanner. Aims: Some deep extensions of the initial tumor pathology are only accessible using imaging. This is decisive in the therapeutic choice. It is the same in the case of ganglionic extensions in the management of lymphocytic tumors. The precise identification of these is necessary in the therapeutic orientation. Materials and Methods: In our study, we give an overview of the imaging techniques used in the follow-up of 100 patients at the University Hospital of Setif in Algeria, and the impact of our imaging results on the prognosis and clinical management of these patients. Results: From the results obtained in imaging of these patients, there are findings relating to volumes, shapes, density, location, and extension. These variations are very complex to analyze using conventional mathematical tools. We propose a system that uses artificial intelligence techniques for their analysis. Conclusion: A fuzzy inference system is proposed. The input variables of the system express the tumor characteristics that are mapped to the output variable that expresses the therapeutic protocol to be adopted.
A 200 GHz active heterodyne receiver MMIC with low sub-harmonic LO power requirements for imaging frontends

This paper presents the design and performance of a 200 GHz, sub-harmonically-pumped, heterodyne receiver MMIC realized in 100nm metamorphic HEMT technology. The lownoise amplifier stage sets the receiver noise figure to 7 dB and, in combination with the resistive down-conversion mixer, allows for an overall conversion gain of 7 dB at 200 GHz RF frequency. The mixer LO port is driven by a frequency doubler and buffer amplifier stage. We use an integrated LO driver amplifier stage with two parallel cascode amplifiers to achieve the operation of the circuit with as low as −13 dBm LO power provided at 100 GHz, thus making the receiver MMIC suitable for multichannel imaging frontends.
Physeter catodon localization by sparse coding

This paper presents a spermwhale' localization architecture using jointly a bag-of-features (BoF) approach and machine learning framework. BoF methods are known, especially in computer vision, to produce from a collection of local features a global representation invariant to principal signal transformations. Our idea is to regress supervisely from these local features two rough estimates of the distance and azimuth thanks to some datasets where both acoustic events and ground-truth position are now available. Furthermore, these estimates can feed a particle filter system in order to obtain a precise spermwhale' position even in mono-hydrophone configuration. Anti-collision system and whale watching are considered applications of this work.
A Physical Zero-Knowledge Proof and Unclonable Sensors for Nuclear Warhead Verification

Future nuclear arms-control agreements may call for reductions of the total number of nuclear weapons and warheads in the world arsenals. Such agreements would require new trusted verification mechanisms to confirm that items presented to inspectors are nuclear warheads and not spoofs. Proliferation and national security concerns require, however, that inspectors gain no warhead design information through this process. To address this paradox, considerable efforts have been directed towards the development of “information barriers. ” These barriers consist of automated measurement systems that process sensitive information but only display the results of internal analysis in a binary valid/invalid manner. These systems are, by their nature, at risk of electronic tampering and snooping – and their trusted implementation has so far proved extremely difficult to realize. This thesis takes radically different directions to address this challenge. It demonstrates new approaches to information protection and trusted instruments for nuclear warhead verification that are based on the cryptographic concepts of zero-knowledge proofs and physically unclonable functions. To the author’s knowledge, this thesis provides the first demonstration of a zeroknowledge physical measurement technique. Using fast neutron differential radiography and superheated emulsion detectors, such a technique can show two objects have identical geometry and opacity to 14–MeV neutrons without revealing what these properties are. This zero-knowledge feature no longer holds when the objects compared are significantly different. Such a technique could form the basis of a template-matching verification system that could confirm the authenticity of nuclear weapons without sharing any secret design information. The thesis then introduces and demonstrates key elements of an optical physical unclonable function sensitive to neutrons and based on superheated emulsions. Such sensors are unique objects that cannot be cloned or simulated. The data they produce iii are a function of both their internal disordered structure and the physical quantity they measure. Due to their sensitivity against any structural variation, including through neutron irradiation, it is possible to show that they – or the data they have recorded – have not been tampered with. Such sensors could be used by adversarial parties in sensitive facilities without the risk of being compromised.
Time dependent supergravity solutions in arbitrary dimensions

By directly solving the equations of motion we obtain the time dependent solutions of supergravities with dilaton and a q-form field strength in arbitrary dimensions. The metrics are assumed to have the symmetries ISO(p+1) × SO(d−p−2,1) and can be regarded as those of the magnetically charged euclidean or space-like branes. When we impose the extremality condition, we find that the magnetic charges of the branes become imaginary and the corresponding real solutions then represent the Ep-branes of type II* theories (for the field-strengths belonging to the RR sector). On the other hand, when the extremality condition is relaxed we find real solutions in type-II theories which resemble the solutions found by Kruczenski-Myers-Peet. In d = 10 they match exactly. We point out the relations between the solutions found in this paper and those of Chen-Gal'tsov-Gutperle in arbitrary dimensions. Although there is no extremal limit for these solutions, we find another class of solutions, which resemble the solutions in the extremal case with imaginary magnetic charges and the corresponding real solutions can be regarded as the non-BPS Ep-brane solutions of type-II* theories (for the field-strengths in RR sector).
Induction of Protective T Cells againstListeria monocytogenes in Mice by Immunization with a Listeriolysin O-Negative Avirulent Strain of Bacteria and Liposome-Encapsulated Listeriolysin O

ABSTRACT Only listeriolysin O (LLO)-producing strains of Listeria monocytogenes generate protective immunity in mice. Based on the findings that endogenous gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production was induced only by such strains and that purified LLO could induce IFN-γ from NK cells, we have postulated that LLO may play a pivotal role in the induction of Th1-type protective T cells, which are highly dependent on IFN-γ. In this study, mice were immunized with L. monocytogenes ATCC 15313, an LLO-nonproducing avirulent strain, along with LLO encapsulated in liposome (LLO-liposome). LLO-liposome was highly potent in the induction of various cytokines, including IFN-γ. Immunization of mice with either LLO-liposome or the viable strain ATCC 15313 alone did not induce protection against challenge infection. In contrast, the combination of LLO-nonproducing bacteria plus LLO-liposome induced a significant level of protective immunity mediated mainly by Th1-type cells capable of producing a large amount of IFN-γ in an antigen-specific manner. The protection afforded by the combination was not dependent on LLO-specific cytotoxic T cells. These results support the idea that the inability of an LLO-nonproducing avirulent strain or killed bacteria to induce the generation of protective T cells is due not to the lack of a central T-cell epitope(s) but to the lack of ability to induce the production of endogenous cytokine during the early stage of immunization; the results also suggest that an appropriate use of LLO at least in an animal model may be effective in the induction of antigen-specific Th1-dependent protective immunity to various kinds of intracellular parasitic bacteria.
Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Adolescents with Recurrent Headaches: A Pilot Feasibility Study

Recurrent headaches cause significant burden for adolescents and their families. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been shown to reduce stress and alter the experience of pain, reduce pain burden, and improve quality of life. Research indicates that MBIs can benefit adults with chronic pain conditions including headaches. A pilot nonrandomized clinical trial was conducted with 20 adolescent females with recurrent headaches. Median class attendance was 7 of 8 total sessions; average class attendance was 6.10 ± 2.6. Adherence to home practice was good, with participants reporting an average of 4.69 (SD = 1.84) of 6 practices per week. Five participants dropped out for reasons not inherent to the group (e.g., extracurricular scheduling); no adverse events were reported. Parents reported improved quality of life and physical functioning for their child. Adolescent participants reported improved depression symptoms and improved ability to accept their pain rather than trying to control it. MBIs appear safe and feasible for adolescents with recurrent headaches. Although participants did not report decreased frequency or severity of headache following treatment, the treatment had a beneficial effect for depression, quality of life, and acceptance of pain and represents a promising adjunct treatment for adolescents with recurrent headaches.
In vivo spectroscopic quantification of the N‐acetyl moiety, creatine, and choline from large volumes of brain gray and white matter: Effects of normal aging

Volumetric proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) was used to generate brain metabolite maps in 15 young and 19 elderly adult volunteers. All subjects also had structural MR scans, and a model, which took into account the underlying structural composition of the brain contributing to each metabolite voxel, was developed and used to estimate the concentration of the N‐acetyl‐moiety (NAc), creatine (Cr), and choline (Cho) in gray matter and white matter. NAc concentration (signal intensity per unit volume of brain) was higher in gray than white matter and did not differ between young and old subjects despite significant gray matter volume deficits in the older subjects. To the extent that NAc is an index of neuronal integrity, the available gray matter appears to be intact in these older healthy adults. Cr concentrations were much higher in gray than white matter and significantly higher in the old than young subjects. Cho concentration in gray matter was also significantly higher in old than young subjects. Independent determination of metabolite values rather than use of ratios is essential for characterizing age‐related changes in brain MRS metabolites. Magn Reson Med 41:276–284, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
HIV p24 as Scaffold for Presenting Conformational HIV Env Antigens

Heterologous protein scaffolds engrafted with structurally defined HIV Env epitopes recognized by broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) represent a promising strategy to elicit broad neutralizing antibodies. In such regards, a protein scaffold based on the HIV p24 CA protein is a highly attractive approach, providing also Gag epitopes for eliciting HIV non-neutralizing protective antibodies and specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses. In the present study, computational techniques were employed to verify the presence of acceptor sites for conformational HIV Env epitopes and, as proof of concept, the analysis of HIV p24 CA-based scaffolds using a complete V3 loop in a MAb-bound conformation is presented. The V3-p24 epitope-scaffold proteins show the formation of capsomers made of hexamers similarly to the p24 wild type protein. Moreover, the conformational V3 loop presented on p24 scaffold is recognized by a panel of anti-V3 MAbs. The results suggest that HIV p24 CA protein has suitable acceptor sites for engrafting foreign epitopes, without disrupting the formation of capsomer hexamer structures, and that the V3 epitope does retain its antibody-bound conformation. This strongly support the feasibility of developing a scaffolding strategy based on p24 CA proteins displaying conformational minimal structural, antigenic HIV Env epitopes.
Efficient Process Mapping in Geo-Distributed Cloud Data Centers

Recently, various applications including data analytics and machine learning have been developed for geo-distributed cloud data centers. For those applications, the ways to map parallel processes to physical nodes (i.e., “process mapping”) could significantly impact the performance of the applications because of non-uniform communication cost in such geo-distributed environments. While process mapping has been widely studied in grid/cluster environments, few of the existing studies have considered the problem in geo-distributed cloud environments. In this paper, we propose a novel model to formulate the geo-distributed process mapping problem and develop a new method to efficiently find the near optimal solution. Our algorithm considers both the network communication performance of geo-distributed data centers as well as the communication matrix of the target application. Evaluation results with real experiments on Amazon EC2 and simulations demonstrate that our proposal achieves significant performance improvement (50% on average) compared to the state-of-the-art algorithms.
A critique of anal glandular infection in the aetiology and treatment of idiopathic anorectal abscesses and fistulas

MUCH controversy has surrounded the mechanism of production of idiopathic anorectal abscesses and fistulas, but perhaps the most popular conception of their aetiology at the present time is the so-called anal glandular or cryptoglandular hypothesis. Some 6-8 epithelial-lined tracks, known as anal glands, are normally present in the wall of the anal canal, extending from the anal crypts into the submucosa and usually through the lower third or half of the internal sphincter to abut on the longicudinal intersphincteric muscle-fibres. According to the anal glandular theory, one of these glands provides the avenue along which contamination extends from the anal canal into the connective tissues of the anal region, leading to the development of an anorectal abscess and possibly ultimately of a fistula. This hypothesis has long enjoyed wide acceptance in North America (Nesselrod, 194g), but it is only in recent years, following the work of Eisenhammer (1956, 1958, 1961) and Parks (1961), that it has secured substantial support in Britain. These two writers have laid stress on the occurrence of an intersphincteric abscess as an essential intermediate phase in the evolution of an ordinary anorectal abscess from infection along an anal gland. This intersphincteric loculus of pus is believed to form around the terminal ramifications of the gland in the intersphincteric space, internal to the longitudinal intersphincteric muscle-fibres (Fig. I). From this site it may extend in several different directions-downwards, still internal to the longitudinal muscle-fibres, to emerge at the anal verge as a perianal abscess; outwards, through the longitudinal muscle and the external sphincter, to enter the ischiorectal space and form an ischiorectal abscess; upwards, in the intersphincteric plane between the internal sphincter (and, at a higher level, the circular muscle coat of the rectal wall) internally, and the longitudinal musclefibres of the anal canal and rectum externally, to form a high intermuscular abscess (Eisenhammer,
Survey of anaemia and Helicobacter pylori infection in adolescent girls in Suihua, China and enhancement of iron intervention effects by H. pylori eradication

In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of anaemia and Fe deficiency anaemia (IDA) and explored the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and IDA in adolescent girls. A total of 1037 adolescent girls from Suihua, China were enrolled. Hb, serum ferritin (SF), serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) and serum IgG antibodies to H. pylori were measured. Participants with IDA and co-existing H. pylori infection (n 80) who had an intake of >25 mg/d of Fe were assigned randomly to the intervention and control groups. Patients in the intervention group were administered a 12-week course of oral EDTA–Na–Fe (60 mg Fe/dose, three times a week) and a 2-week course of colloidal bismuth subcitrate, amoxicillin and metronidazole. Subjects in the control group were administered EDTA–Na–Fe alone. Hb, SF and sTfR were reassessed 3 months after the 12-week regimen ended. Prevalence of anaemia, Fe deficiency (defined as SF < 12·0 μg/l), IDA and H. pylori infection in the population of 1037 was 19·5, 40·4, 17·1 and 31·2 %, respectively. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in the IDA group was 46·9 %, while the non-anaemic group had 28·1 % prevalence. A significant increase in Hb and SF and a decrease in sTfR value were found in the intervention group and the H. pylori-negative group. Findings suggest that IDA is still one of the prominent problems in adolescent girls. There is an association between H. pylori infection and IDA. Treatment of H. pylori infection is associated with a more rapid response to oral Fe therapy.
World Wide Web caching: the application-level view of the Internet

The Internet has fallen prey to its most successful service, the World Wide Web. The networks do not keep up with the demands incurred by the huge amount of Web surfers. Thus, it takes longer and longer to obtain the information one wants to access via the World Wide Web. Many solutions to the problem of network congestion have been developed in distributed systems research in general and distributed file and database systems in particular. The introduction of caching and replication strategies has proven to help in many situations; therefore, these techniques are also applied to the Web. Although most problems and associated solutions are known, some circumstances are different with the Web, forcing the adaptation of known strategies. This article gives an overview of these differences and currently deployed, developed, and evaluated solutions.
Limb and skeletal muscle blood flow measurements at rest and during exercise in human subjects

The aim of the present review is to present techniques used for measuring blood flow in human subjects and advice as to when they may be applicable. Since blood flow is required to estimate substrate fluxes, energy turnover and metabolic rate of skeletal muscle, accurate measurements of blood flow are of extreme importance. Several techniques have therefore been developed to enable estimates to be made of the arterial inflow to, venous outflow from, or local blood flow within the muscle. Regional measurements have been performed using electromagnetic flow meters, plethysmography, indicator methods (e.g. thermodilution and indo-cyanine green dye infusion), ultrasound Doppler, and magnetic resonance velocity imaging. Local estimates have been made using 133Xe clearance, microdialysis, near i.r. spectroscopy, positron emission tomography and laser Doppler. In principle, the aim of the study, the type of interventions and the limitations of each technique determine which method may be most appropriate. Ultrasound Doppler and continuous indo-cyanine green dye infusion gives the most accurate limb blood flow measurements at rest. Moreover, the ultrasound Doppler is unique, as it does not demand a steady-state, and because its high temporal resolution allows detection of normal physiological variations as well as continuous measurements during transitional states such as at onset of and in recovery from exercise. During steady-state exercise thermodilution can be used in addition to indo-cyanine green dye infusion and ultrasound Doppler, where the latter is restricted to exercise modes with a fixed vessel position. Magnetic resonance velocity imaging may in addition be used to determine blood flow within deep single vessels. Positron emission tomography seems to be the most promising tool for local skeletal muscle blood-flow measurements in relation to metabolic activity, although the mode and intensity of exercise will be restricted by the apparatus design.