Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Repetitive administration of acetylcholine receptor agonist rescues brain inflammation and brain damage after hypoxia-ischemia in newborn rat

Abstract Objective: We examined the effect of repetitive administration of acetylcholine receptor agonist (carbachol) on brain damage and microglial accumulation in three brain regions after hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in newborn rat. Study Design: Seven-day-old Wistar rats were divided into two groups, one receiving a 0.1 mg/kg dose of carbachol on days 7, 8 and 9 to examine the attenuating effect on brain damage with decreasing accumulation of microglia, and the other group receiving saline as a control. Rats were subjected to left carotid artery ligation followed by hypoxia. We evaluated brain damage and the number of microglias in three regions on days 10 and 14. Results: Brain tissue was better preserved in the carbachol group on days 10 and 14. Microglial accumulation in the cortex was strong and persisted from day 10s to 14 in the control. Conversely, the accumulation of microglias was attenuated in the hippocampus and white matter on day 14. Carbachol significantly reduced the number of microglias in the hippocampus and white matter on day 10 and in the cortex on days 10 and 14. Conclusion: The main area of late inflammation was the cortex. Repetitive administration of carbachol reduces early and late inflammation after HI in the developing brain.
Experimental Study of the Slider-Lube/Disk Contact State and Its Effect on Head-Disk Interface Stability

As head-disk clearance has been reduced to nearly 1 nm, and a partial lube-contact head-disk interface (HDI) may even be necessary to meet future magnetic spacing needs, precise characterization of the slider-lube/disk contact state (or depth) becomes increasingly important. The currently used thermal fly-height control (TFC) sliders require a slight touchdown (or contact) to determine the reference position of the clearance, and accurate measurement and control of the penetration depth into the disk lubricant are essential to achieve a stable HDI for future lube-contact recording. In this paper, multiple techniques (e.g., acoustic emission technology, lubricant distribution mapping, slider wear detection, and slider dynamics measurement) are implemented to characterize the contact state/depth and HDI stability at different TFC actuation levels. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of these methods and suggest that the clearance reference position determined through the acoustic emission technology is at the lubricant-air interface. Moreover, two dynamically stable contact states-light slider-lube contact and deep slider-disk contact-are found, but the latter causes slider wear and thereby is not practical for realizing a reliable lube-contact HDI.
Visual backlog in agile management tools for rapid software development

Rapid software development demand in software engineering is increasing with passage of time in all fields of life and in all domains of computer. Agile methodology is result of this rapid software demand and it is focusing on how to balance the ratio of developed software according to user demands. This research paper enlightens the agile methodologies and their conversion into the agile project management tools for ease as well as for rapid software development. This versatile use of agile project management tools systems has also posed new ways for analysis, planning and communication in software development. We reviewed current agile management tools on a set of parameters and compared to analyze systems merits and deficiencies. Based on our analysis, we have provided recommendations for error free rapid development. To support our recommendation we added a visual backlog in agile management tools which in return lessen the communication gap between developer and client. As our own future research work, we intend to study agile management tools from human computer interaction perspective.
Role of interleukin 10 in the B lymphocyte hyperactivity and autoantibody production of human systemic lupus erythematosus

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is produced at a high level by B lymphocytes and monocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In the present work, we analyzed whether this increased production of IL-10 contributed to the abnormal production of immunoglobulins (Ig) and of autoantibodies in SLE. The role of IL-10 was compared with that of IL- 6, another cytokine suspected to play a role in these abnormalities. The spontaneous in vitro production of IgM, IgG, and IgA by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from SLE patients was weakly increased by recombinant IL (rIL)-6, but strongly by rIL-10. This production was not significantly affected by an anti-IL-6 mAb but was decreased by an anti- IL-10 mAb. We then tested the in vivo effect of these antibodies in severe combined immunodeficiency mice injected with PBMC from SLE patients. The anti-IL-6 mAb did not significantly affect the serum concentration of total human IgG and of anti-double-stranded DNA IgG in the mice. In contrast, the anti-IL-10 mAb strongly inhibited the production of autoantibodies, and, to a lesser extent, that of total human IgG. These results indicate that the Ig production by SLE B lymphocytes is largely IL-10 dependent, and that the increased production of IL-10 by SLE B lymphocytes and monocytes may represent a critical mechanism in the emergence of the autoimmune manifestations of the disease.
About Segmentation Step in Content-based Image Retrieval Systems

Despite of the hope arised a few years ago, Content Based Image Retrieval CBIR systems has not reached the initial goal, ie to manage and search images in database: we are unable to link the semantic sens of an image to numerical values. However, some members of the community have begun the necessary introspection. The analyze of each step of the feature extraction will allow us to overcome actual problematics and to take the right path in the future. In this context, we propose in this paper to discuss about a low-level tool frequently used: the segmentation step. In the general context of scene images, we evaluate the stability of some classical algorithms using a basic protocol. The quite inefficiency of all approaches let us conclude to the necessity to use meta-data and any other collected informations during this first segmentation step.
Language functions in right-hemisphere damage and schizophrenia: apparently similar pragmatic deficits may hide profound differences.

Sir, In a recent article discussing the cognitive roots of schizophrenic communicative behaviour, Mitchell and Crow (2005) emphasized the importance of full access to right hemisphere language functions to ensure successful social communication. Based on the literature describing communicative deficits among right-hemisphere-damaged (RHD) patients, as well as on the literature reporting functional neuroimaging studies of healthy individuals, these authors suggested that ‘the core deficit in psychosis is a failure of segregation of right from left hemisphere functions’ (p. 963). In other words, Mitchell and Crow (2005) argue for a reduction of the language lateralization in schizophrenia (SZ). The role of so-called ‘RH functions’ in the pathophysiology of SZ proposed by Mitchell and Crow (2005) could prove crucial to an understanding of SZ from a neurobiological point of view; this proposal may also account for the presence of social communication deficits in SZ. However, the apparent similarities noted by Mitchell and Crow (2005) between the pragmatic deficits following RH damage and those present in patients with SZ seem to be only at the surface level. Indeed, the underlying cognitive dysfunctions appear to be quite different in these two populations. As Mitchell and Crow (2005) rightly remind us in their article, language requires more than the classical syntax, phonology and …
The Fusiform Face Area Is Engaged in Holistic, Not Parts-Based, Representation of Faces

Numerous studies with functional magnetic resonance imaging have shown that the fusiform face area (FFA) in the human brain plays a key role in face perception. Recent studies have found that both the featural information of faces (e.g., eyes, nose, and mouth) and the configural information of faces (i.e., spatial relation among features) are encoded in the FFA. However, little is known about whether the featural information is encoded independent of or combined with the configural information in the FFA. Here we used multi-voxel pattern analysis to examine holistic representation of faces in the FFA by correlating spatial patterns of activation with behavioral performance in discriminating face parts with face configurations either present or absent. Behaviorally, the absence of face configurations (versus presence) impaired discrimination of face parts, suggesting a holistic representation in the brain. Neurally, spatial patterns of activation in the FFA were more similar among correct than incorrect trials only when face parts were presented in a veridical face configuration. In contrast, spatial patterns of activation in the occipital face area, as well as the object-selective lateral occipital complex, were more similar among correct than incorrect trials regardless of the presence of veridical face configurations. This finding suggests that in the FFA faces are represented not on the basis of individual parts but in terms of the whole that emerges from the parts.
Spectral partitioning, eigenvalue bounds, and circle packings for graphs of bounded genus

In this paper, we address two longstanding questions about finding good separators in graphs of bounded genus and degree: 1. It is a classical result of Gilbert, Hutchinson, and Tarjan [12] that one can find asymptotically optimal separators on these graphs if he is given both the graph and an embedding of it onto a low genus surface. Does there exist a simple, efficient algorithm to find these separators given only the graph and not the embedding? 2. In practice, spectral partitioning heuristics work extremely well on these graphs. Is there a theoretical reason why this should be the case.We resolve these two questions by showing that a simple spectral algorithm finds separators of cut ratio O(√g/n) and vertex bisectors of size O(√gn) in these graphs, both of which are optimal. As our main technical lemma, we prove an O(g/n) bound on the second smallest eigenvalue of the Laplacian of such graphs and show that this is tight, thereby resolving a conjecture of Spielman and Teng. While this lemma is essentially combinatorial in nature, its proof comes from continuous mathematics, drawing on the theory of circle packings and the geometry of compact Riemann surfaces.
Mechanisms of action of intrauterine devices.

The major effect of all intrauterine devices (IUD) is to induce a local inflammatory reaction in the endometrium whose cellular and humoral components are released into the uterine cavity. This inflammatory reaction has a variable effect on the reproductive strategy of the species studied. For example, this foreign body reaction can be localized within the uterus of rodents; and in farm animals it can have striking extrauterine effects. Thus, the action of IUDs in humans cannot be discerned from animals. In humans, copper ions released from Cu-IUDs enhance the inflammatory response and reach concentrations in the luminal fluids of the genital tract that are toxic for spermatozoa and embryos. In women using the IUD, the entire genital tract seems affected, at least in part, because of luminal transmission of the fluids that accumulates in the uterine lumen. This affects the function or viability of gametes, decreasing the rate of fertilization and lowering the chances of survival of any embryo that may be formed, even before it reaches the uterus. Studies on the recovery of eggs from women using IUDs and from women not using contraception show that embryos are formed in the tubes of IUD users at a much lower rate compared with nonusers. This is believed to be the major action of IUDs. Therefore, the common belief that the major mechanism of action of IUDs in women is through destruction of embryos in the uterus (i.e., abortion) is not supported by the available evidence. In Cu-IUD users, it is likely that few spermatozoa reach the distal segment of the fallopian tube, those that encounter an egg may be in poor condition. Thus, the few eggs that are fertilized have little chance for development and their possibility for survival in the altered tubal milieu become worse as they approach the uterine cavity.
On the Preciseness of Subtyping in Session Types

Subtyping in concurrency has been extensively studied since early 1990s as one of the most interesting issues in type theory. The correctness of subtyping relations has been usually provided as the soundness for type safety. The converse direction, the completeness, has been largely ignored in spite of its usefulness to define the greatest subtyping relation ensuring type safety. This paper formalises preciseness (i.e. both soundness and completeness) of subtyping for mobile processes and studies it for the synchronous and the asynchronous session calculi. We first prove that the well-known session subtyping, the branching-selection subtyping, is sound and complete for the synchronous calculus. Next we show that in the asynchronous calculus, this subtyping is incomplete for type-safety: that is, there exist session types T and S such that T can safely be considered as a subtype of S, but T ≤ S is not derivable by the subtyping. We then propose an asynchronous subtyping system which is sound and complete for the asynchronous calculus. The method gives a general guidance to design rigorous channel-based subtypings respecting desired safety properties.
The Role of the Glucocorticoids in Developing Resilience to Stress and Addiction

There is emerging evidence that individuals have the capacity to learn to be resilient by developing protective mechanisms that prevent them from the maladaptive effects of stress that can contribute to addiction. The emerging field of the neuroscience of resilience is beginning to uncover the circuits and molecules that protect against stress-related neuropsychiatric diseases, such as addiction. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are important regulators of basal and stress-related homeostasis in all higher organisms and influence a wide array of genes in almost every organ and tissue. GCs, therefore, are ideally situated to either promote or prevent adaptation to stress. In this review, we will focus on the role of GCs in the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenocortical axis and extra-hypothalamic regions in regulating basal and chronic stress responses. GCs interact with a large number of neurotransmitter and neuropeptide systems that are associated with the development of addiction. Additionally, the review will focus on the orexinergic and cholinergic pathways and highlight their role in stress and addiction. GCs play a key role in promoting the development of resilience or susceptibility and represent important pharmacotherapeutic targets that can reduce the impact of a maladapted stress system for the treatment of stress-induced addiction.
Prevalence of hot flushes and night sweats around the world: a systematic review

Objective Many studies have evaluated the relationships between ethnicity and culture, prevalence of menopausal symptoms, and attitudes toward them, but few have assessed menopausal symptoms across cultures world-wide. This paper aims to systematically review the prevalence of hot flushes and night sweats, two prevalent symptoms of menopause, across the menopausal stages in different cultures and considers potential explanations for differences in prevalence rates. Design Sixty-six papers formed the basis for this review. Studies were organized by geographic region, and results are presented for North America, Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, Latin America, South Asia, Middle East, and Africa. Studies were included if they provided quantitative information on the occurrence of hot flushes. This report focuses on hot flushes and night sweats, the most common menopausal symptoms reported in epidemiologic studies. Results Studies reviewed indicate that vasomotor symptoms are highly prevalent in most societies. The prevalence of these symptoms varies widely and may be influenced by a range of factors, including climate, diet, lifestyle, women's roles, and attitudes regarding the end of reproductive life and aging. Patterns in hot flush prevalence were apparent for menopausal stages and, to a lesser degree, for regional variation. Conclusions Caregivers should recognize that variations exist and ask patients specific questions about symptoms and their impact on usual functioning.
Cryopreservation of sperm: indications, methods and results.

PURPOSE We review the history of the cryopreservation of human sperm. The current methods of cryopreservation and indications are highlighted, and the success rates of the various uses of cryopreserved sperm are reviewed. Potential adverse sequelae of human cryopreservation are also discussed. MATERIALS AND METHODS Indications for cryopreservation include several applications, namely homologous and donor insemination, cryopreservation prior to surgical infertility treatment, intraoperative cryopreservation, postoperative cryopreservation, cryopreservation prior to treatment for malignancies and nonmalignant diseases, as well as premortem and postmortem cryopreservation. RESULTS With the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection, open microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration and testicular sperm extraction with cryopreserved sperm in men with obstructive azoospermia yields pregnancy rates similar to those using fresh sperm. Intraoperative cryopreservation is recommended for complex reconstructive cases with lower patency rates, including vasoepididymostomy and vasoepididymostomy to the efferent ductule. In addition, sperm banking is strongly recommended for all patients with malignant disease who may wish to have children, since a small but significant percent of these men later use their banked semen. Although there is concern about the transfer of genetically damaged sperm after cryopreservation, no proven increase in genetic or phenotypic abnormalities in offspring has been identified. CONCLUSIONS Sperm cryopreservation has revolutionized the field of assisted reproduction. Cryopreserving sperm avoids the need for additional surgery in couples undergoing repeated in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. Moreover, it provides hope for men undergoing chemotherapy, radiation or radical surgery who once had no chance for future fertility.
Assessing the contributions of conservation agriculture to building resilience to drought, Conservation Agriculture Literature Review

This literature review summarises theory and evidence of the contribution of conservation agriculture (CA) to resilience in the event of drought. A resilient agricultural system is able to continue to function and provide essential ecosystem services, such as food provisioning, following an external shock. If drought occurs, a more resilient system should offer higher productivity and food security. The review asks whether CA improves productivity and food security when rainfall is poor, and what aspects of CA contribute most to these benefits. The review will guide the design of a field study on the impacts of CA after the 2015/16 El Nino drought in southern Africa. Conservation agriculture combines three basic sets of technologies or practices: i) minimum or reduced tillage, ii) maintenance of soil surface cover using crop residues, and iii) crop diversification using rotations. CA has been identified as a climate smart agricultural practice because it improves crop productivity, improves resilience of cropping systems to climate change, and mitigates greenhouse gases. In Southern Africa two forms of CA have recently been promoted: a manual version based on digging planting basins, and a mechanised practice based on the use of soil rippers and direct seeders or jab planters. Due, in part, to inaccessibility of CA equipment, most smallholder farmers in the region are practising manual CA techniques.
Self-financed wagering mechanisms for forecasting

We examine a class of wagering mechanisms designed to elicit truthful predictions from a group of people without requiring any outside subsidy. We propose a number of desirable properties for wagering mechanisms, identifying one mechanism - weighted-score wagering - that satisfies all of the properties. Moreover, we show that a single-parameter generalization of weighted-score wagering is the only mechanism that satisfies these properties. We explore some variants of the core mechanism based on practical considerations.
Performance Analysis of Polling based TDMA MAC Protocols with Sleep and Wakeup Cycles

In sensor networks, MAC protocols based on time division multiple access (TDMA) with wakeup and sleep periods have attracted considerable interest because of their low power consumption and collision free operation. In this paper, we develop analytic models to evaluate the performance of such protocols. The model presented in this paper characterizes the queueing delays associated with the MAC layer as well as the energy consumed at MAC layer, by modeling the system as a queue with general service time distribution with both polling and vacations. The analysis is validated by comparison with simulation results using the NS-2 simulator. Our results show that polling based TDMA with sleep and wakeup cycles has lower delays and lower energy consumption as compared to SMAC.
THE CYTOTOXIC AND APOPTOTIC-NECROTIC EFFECTS OF WHITENING MATERIALS ON HUMAN GINGIVAL FIBROBLASTS

Background and Aim: Carbamide peroxide (CP) and low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) have been used as bleaching agents for discolored vital teeth. Long-term exposure to these whitening materials (WMs) may cause irritation and ulceration of the gingiva and other oral soft tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate cytotoxicity and mechanisms of the cytotoxic effects of these WMs on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). Materials and Methods: HGFs were exposed to whitening materials with various dosages ranging from 0.001 to 10 mmol/L and then they were processed for analyzing MTT and DNA fragmentation. In addition, possible mechanism of the whitening-material-mediated cytotoxicity was investigated through flow cytometric analysis. Results: The exposure of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) to H 2 O 2 and CP in vitro inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.001 and p<0.001 at 24hours (h), respectively). Cytotoxicity was found to occur due to H 2 O 2 -induced chelation of calcium as shown by control experiments with the calcium chelator (p<0.001). Addition of a competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase modulated H 2 O 2 -induced cytotoxicity (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that these WMs show toxic effects on HGFs, in vitro. Apoptosis was the main form of cell death due to these WMs and their effects were evaluated via several mechanisms. The direct bleaching procedure that cures these materials in situ should be used cautiously.