Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of cholesterol-7alpha-hydroxylase in murine macrophages prevents cholesterol loading by acetyl-LDL.

Unlike macrophages, the hepatic parenchymal cells express cholesterol-7 alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) which regulates the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids, the major quantitative pathway maintaining cholesterol homeostasis. We examined if CYP7A1 expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages could prevent the accumulation of cholesterol when they were incubated with acetyl-LDL. A single cell clone (designated as 7 alphaRAW cells) that stably expresses rat CYP7A1 displayed similar rates of growth as non-transfected RAW cells. The CYP7A1 enzymatic activity expressed by microsomes obtained from 7 alphaRAW cells was similar to that expressed by microsomes obtained from mouse liver. Incubating non-transfected RAW with increasing amounts of acetyl-LDL caused a parallel accumulation of cholesterol, whereas 7 alphaRAW cells displayed a complete resistance to cholesterol accumulation. 7 alphaRAW cells displayed increased expression of both ABCA1 mRNA (3.1-fold, P < 0.001) and ABCG1 mRNA (2.2-fold, P < 0.01), whereas the expression of scavenger receptor class A mRNA was unchanged. 7 alphaRAW cells also displayed small but significant increases in the rate of efflux of [(3)H]cholesterol to both delipidated apolipoprotein A1 and to HDL.Thus, CYP7A1 expression in RAW cultured macrophages prevented the accumulation of cholesterol from acetyl-LDL via both increased metabolism and efflux of cholesterol.
A numerical study of power loss factors in resonant magnetic coupling

We numerically studied the affect of power loss factors in a wireless power transfer system using resonant magnetic coupling. Resonant magnetic coupling is regarded as one of the most promising methods for mid-range wireless charging systems. To make this method practical, it is important to accurately estimate power transfer efficiency and effect of each loss factor in the device-designing stage. We conducted a numerical simulation using an equivalent circuit model and electromagnetic analysis for a mobile-device model. Resonance at 7 MHz between the transmitting and receiving coils was achieved using lumped capacitors attached at the coil ends. In addition to the skin effect, we consider various loss factors such as proximity effect, loss tangent of lumped capacitors, and so on. The results show that the proximity effect significantly decreases the power transfer efficiency of the system, and the loss tangent of lamped capacitor also decreases it by a few percentage points.
Automated construction system for the fine lattice shape structure using alginate gel fiber

The 3D tissue construction is one of the important issues for regenerative medicine. Recently, several studies have been reported, related to realize small size of 3D tissue like cells based structure in vitro. However, large size functional 3D tissue has not been achieved due to the size causing difficulties. In large size cells based structure, supplying oxygen and nutrients into the center part of the structure is prevented. In this case, cells at center part will die. In this paper, we propose an automated fine lattice shape structure construction system based on hydrogel fiber to produce active 3D tissues like structure. Several preliminary experiments were done to generate the suitable hydrogel fibers for our system. With respect to the experimental results, to evaluate the proposed system, the fine lattice structure was constructed as an example of 3D tissue form. Through the experiments of fine lattice shape structure construction, we observed the cell growth in the constructed lattice form, which proves the functionality of the structure. Furthermore, we designed the gel fiber discharge nozzle using laminar flow. Then, we confirmed that it is possible to form a thinner fiber in our system.
The osmotic stress response and virulence in pyelonephritis isolates of Escherichia coli: contributions of RpoS, ProP, ProU and other systems.

Trehalose synthesis (RpoS-dependent) and betaine uptake mediated by transporters ProP and ProU contribute to the osmotolerance of Escherichia coli K-12. Pyelonephritis isolates CFT073 and HU734 were similar and diminished in osmotolerance, respectively, compared to E. coli K-12. The roles of RpoS, ProP and ProU in osmoregulation and urovirulence were assessed for these isolates. Strain HU734 expressed an RpoS variant which had low activity and a C-terminal extension. This bacterium accumulated very little trehalose and had poor stationary-phase thermotolerance. For E. coli CFT073, introduction of an rpoS deletion impaired trehalose accumulation, osmotolerance and stationary-phase thermotolerance. The rpoS defects accounted for the difference in osmotolerance between these strains in minimal medium of very high osmolality (1.4 mol kg(-1)) but not in medium of lower osmolality (0.4 mol kg(-1)). The slow growth of both pyelonephritis isolates in high-osmolality medium was stimulated by glycine betaine (GB) and deletion of proP and/or proU impaired GB uptake. An HU734 derivative lacking both proP and proU retained osmoprotective GB uptake activity that could be attributed to system BetU, which is not present in strain K-12 or CFT073. BetU transported GB (K(m), 22 microM) and proline betaine. High-osmolality human urine (0.92 mol kg(-1)) included membrane-permeant osmolyte urea (0.44 M) plus other constituents which contributed an osmolality of only approximately 0.4 mol kg(-1). Strains HU734 and CFT073 showed correspondingly low GB uptake activities after cultivation in this urine. Deletion of proP and proU slowed the growth of E. coli HU734 in this high-osmolality human urine (which contains betaines) but had little impact on its colonization of the murine urinary tract after transurethral inoculation. By contrast, deletion of rpoS, proP and proU had no effect on the very rapid growth of CFT073 in high-osmolality urine or on its experimental colonization of the murine urinary tract. RpoS-dependent gene expression is not essential for growth in human urine or colonization of the murine urinary tract. Additional osmoregulatory systems, some not present in E. coli K-12 (e.g. BetU), may facilitate growth of pyelonephritis isolates in human urine and colonization of mammalian urinary tracts. The contributions of systems ProP and ProU to urinary tract colonization cannot be definitively assessed until all such systems are identified.
NOW-Sort : A Scalable , Commodity-Workstation Sort

We have implemented and measured the performance of various sorting implementations on a Network of Workstations (NOW). In our preliminary study, we find that NOWs are competitive to the large-scale SMPs that are usually dominant in the sorting arena. Fast communication based on active messages is key in making the parallel versions of sorting scale, as is the distribution of disks across the cluster. We have also evaluated operating system support for managing memory and interacting with the file system, finding that most of the necessary support is in place.
Evaluation of HIV/AIDS clinical care quality: the case of a referral hospital in North West Ethiopia

Objective To assess the quality of clinical care provided to patients with HIV in Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital. Approach and design Normative evaluation based on Donabedian's structure–process–outcome model of health care quality. Cross-sectional study design was employed to gather data in September 2007. Setting Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital is a government hospital in North West Ethiopia. The hospital is providing clinical care for patients infected with HIV free of patient charge since 2005. Measures The evaluation used 10 process and 5 outcome indicators of quality measured by reviewing 351 randomly selected patient records and interview with 368 patients. Resource inventory was conducted to assess the availability of trained staff, laboratory facilities and drugs required for provision of HIV care. Results All resources recommended by the national antiretroviral therapy (ART) Implementation Guideline including trained staff, laboratory facilities and drugs were continuously available, except for a shortage of cotrimoxazole. Despite this, important components of care and treatment recommended by national treatment guidelines were not delivered for significant portion of patients. The study showed that only 45.9% of patients eligible for cotrimoxazole prophylactic therapy (CPT) and 76.8% of patients eligible for ART were actually taking CPT and ART, respectively. Compliance with national guidelines to monitor patients was also found to be a major problem. Conclusion Availability of resources alone does not ensure the quality of HIV care and treatment. The study results indicate a need for regular monitoring and improvement of processes and outcomes of care in the Ethiopian Health System.
Role of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin-1, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor, and dexamethasone in regulation of LPS-binding protein expression in normal hepatocytes and hepatocytes from LPS-treated rats

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP) has been reported to be an acute-phase protein. LBP binds to LPS with a high affinity; LPS-LBP complexes then interact with the receptor CD14, resulting in increased expression of LPS-inducible genes. Hepatocytes represent a major source of LBP, but little is known about the regulation of rodent hepatocyte LBP synthesis. In these studies, undertaken to characterize hepatocyte LBP expression, we show that greater-than-20-fold increases in LBP mRNA levels in hepatocytes occurred following injection of LPS or turpentine in rats. In primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, the addition of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and LPS led to 4.5- and 3.2-fold stimulation in LBP mRNA levels, respectively. The induction of LBP by IL-6 or LPS was attenuated by dexamethasone. In contrast to IL-6 and LPS, in the presence of 10(-6) M dexamethasone, IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) led to maximal LBP mRNA induction levels, 4.7- and 3.8-fold, respectively, suggesting that IL-6 and LPS stimulate LBP expression by mechanisms different from those of IL-1 and TNF. Similar induction levels of LBP mRNA were seen in rat H35 hepatoma cells for all four stimuli, and dexamethasone inhibited these responses. Dexamethasone alone increased the spontaneous induction in primary hepatocytes at early time points but suppressed induction at later time points. Furthermore, hepatocytes from rats treated with LPS in vivo exhibited a > 10-fold increase in mRNA expression in response to LPS and enhanced responses to TNF and IL-1. As with the normal hepatocytes, dexamethasone inhibited the LPS-dependent induction in the LPS-treated rat hepatocytes. These data suggest that LBP synthesis by hepatocytes is under the control of LPS, IL-1, TNF, IL-6, and glucocorticoids and that the LPS treatment primes hepatocytes for subsequent responses to LPS, TNF, and IL-1 for LBP synthesis.
Tracking Students to Identify 'At Risk' Attitudes and Appropriate Engagement Practices

University funding, together with increasing competition and attrition rates have become issues of primary concern. Consequently, the identification of students “at risk” and the implementation of strategies to enhance student learning experiences as a means of reducing attrition rates has gained greater relevance for teachers, administrators and students. The aim of this study was to identify factors that may contribute to placing “students at risk” and to identify strategies to minimise the impact of risk factors with the view to improving student retention. The study investigates “students at risk” from the subject level perspective and how more engaging teaching practices may prevent non-completion of courses. The study identifies four components, namely, confident attitudes, at risk attitudes; student centred approaches and stressed attitudes, which may contribute to non-completion. Approaches that engage and build relationships with students early in the semester may assist in raising student confidence levels and reduce drop out risks.
Ranking Retrieval Systems without Relevance Assessments: Revisited

We re-examine the problem of ranking retrieval systems without relevance assessments in the context of collaborative evaluation forums such as TREC and NTCIR. The problem was ﬁrst tackled by Soboroﬀ, Nicholas and Cahan in 2001, using data from TRECs 3-8 [16]. Our long-term goal is to semi-automate repeated evaluation of search engines; our short-term goal is to provide NTCIR participants with a “system ranking forecast” prior to conducting manual relevance assessments, thereby reducing researchers’ idle time and accelerating research. Our extensive experiments using graded-relevance test collections from TREC and NTCIR compare several existing methods for ranking systems without relevance assessments. We show that (a) The simplest method of forming “pseudo-qrels” based on how many systems returned each pooled document performs as well as any other existing method; and that (b) the NTCIR system rankings tend to be easier to predict than the TREC robust track system rankings, and moreover, the NTCIR pseudo-qrels yield fewer false alarms than the TREC pseudo-qrels do in statistical signiﬁcance testing. These diﬀerences between TREC and NTCIR may be because TREC sorts pooled documents by document IDs before relevance assessments, while NTCIR sorts them primarily by the number of systems that returned the document. However, we show that, even for the TREC robust data, documents returned by many systems are indeed more likely to be relevant than those returned by fewer systems.
Resistance Spot Welding Characteristic of Ferrite-Martensite DP600 Dual Phase Advanced High Strength Steel-Part II: Failure Mode

Failure mode is a qualitative measure of resistance spot weld performance. To ensure reliability of resistance spot welds during vehicle lifetime, process parameters should be adjusted so that the pullout failure mode is guaranteed. Dual phase (DP) steel resistance spot welds are prone to interfacial failure mode. In this paper the failure mode of DP600 dual phase steel resistance spot welds during quasi-static is investigated. It was found that the failure mode was altered from interfacial to pullout failure mode by increasing welding current. Results should that the conventional recommendation of 4t ( t is sheet thickness) for weld sizing is 0.5 not sufficient to obtain pullout failure mode during the tensile-shear test of DP resistance spot welds. The minimum required fusion zone size to obtain pullout failure mode is estimated using an analytical mode.
A comparative study on critical success factors (CSFS) of ERP systems implementation among SMEs and large firms in developing countries

The main goal of this research is to explore the difference between the critical success factors (CSFs) of enterprise resource planning (ERP) system implementation in large firms with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. Understanding this subject can help the implementers and users of ERP systems to notice the CSFs of their particular enterprises and to improve the success rate of these systems. The number of seventeen resources of studies evaluating the CSFs of ERP in SMEs and equal numbers of resources were used for the large enterprises. Following an evaluation of each category was conducted to elicit similarities and diversities in CSFs of these two groups. This research shows that there are some significant differences among the CSFs of ERP implementation in SMEs and large firm of developing countries. There was lacking of studies that have been focused on large firm and SMEs separately. The study explored the need for more research that is focused on CSFs studies with regard of distinct separated size of enterprises. By recognizing the differences of CSFs for large organization with SMEs, stakeholders can better develop and use suitable and useful implementation models / frameworks to improve the successful of ERP implementations in enterprises with any sizes. This paper appears to be one of the first studies to focus on comparing of CSFs in implementation of ERP in SMEs with large enterprise in developing countries.
Visual cortical areas of the mouse: comparison of parcellation and network structure with primates

Brains have evolved to optimize sensory processing. In primates, complex cognitive tasks must be executed and evolution led to the development of large brains with many cortical areas. Rodents do not accomplish cognitive tasks of the same level of complexity as primates and remain with small brains both in relative and absolute terms. But is a small brain necessarily a simple brain? In this review, several aspects of the visual cortical networks have been compared between rodents and primates. The visual system has been used as a model to evaluate the level of complexity of the cortical circuits at the anatomical and functional levels. The evolutionary constraints are first presented in order to appreciate the rules for the development of the brain and its underlying circuits. The organization of sensory pathways, with their parallel and cross-modal circuits, is also examined. Other features of brain networks, often considered as imposing constraints on the development of underlying circuitry, are also discussed and their effect on the complexity of the mouse and primate brain are inspected. In this review, we discuss the common features of cortical circuits in mice and primates and see how these can be useful in understanding visual processing in these animals.
An Observability Metric for Underwater Vehicle Localization Using Range Measurements

The paper addresses observability issues related to the general problem of single and multiple Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) localization using only range measurements. While an AUV is submerged, localization devices, such as Global Navigation Satellite Systems, are ineffective, due to the attenuation of electromagnetic waves. AUV localization based on dead reckoning techniques and the use of affordable motion sensor units is also not practical, due to divergence caused by sensor bias and drift. For these reasons, localization systems often build on trilateration algorithms that rely on the measurements of the ranges between an AUV and a set of fixed transponders using acoustic devices. Still, such solutions are often expensive, require cumbersome calibration procedures and only allow for AUV localization in an area that is defined by the geometrical arrangement of the transponders. A viable alternative for AUV localization that has recently come to the fore exploits the use of complementary information on the distance from the AUV to a single transponder, together with information provided by on-board resident motion sensors, such as, for example, depth, velocity and acceleration measurements. This concept can be extended to address the problem of relative localization between two AUVs equipped with acoustic sensors for inter-vehicle range measurements. Motivated by these developments, in this paper, we show that both the problems of absolute localization of a single vehicle and the relative localization of multiple vehicles can be treated using the same mathematical framework, and tailoring concepts of observability derived for nonlinear systems, we analyze how the performance in localization depends on the types of motion imparted to the AUVs. For this effect, we propose a well-defined observability metric and validate its usefulness, both in simulation and by carrying out experimental tests with a real marine vehicle during which the performance of an Extended Kalman Filter state observer is shown to depend on the types of motion imparted to the vehicle.
Plan-execution health repair in a multi-agent system

This paper presents an algorithm for plan health repairin multi-agent plan execution. Plan-execution health repair aims at avoiding conflicts that might arise due to disruptions in the execution of a plan. This can be achieved by adjusting the executions of tasks instead of replanning the tasks. For this purpose, established methods from the domains of planning, discrete event systems, model-based diagnosis, and constraint satisfaction problems have been combined.
Early and intermediate prognosis of intravenous thrombolytic therapy in acute ischemic stroke subtypes according to the causative classification of stroke system

Objectives: Intravenous thrombolytic therapy has established acceptable results in treating ischemic stroke. However, there is little information on treatment outcome especially in different subtypes. The aim of current study was to evaluate early and intermediate prognosis in intravenous thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke subtypes. Methodology: Forty eligible patients (57.5% male with mean age of 63.18±13.49 years) with definite ischemic stroke who were admitted to emergency department of Imam Reza University Hospital, in the first 180 minutes after occurrence received recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. All investigation findings were recorded and stroke subtypes were determined according to the Causative Classification of Stroke System. Stroke severity forms including modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were recorded for all patients in first, seven and 90 days after stroke and disease outcome was evaluated. Results: The etiology of stroke was large artery atherosclerosis in 20%, cardio-aortic embolism in 45%, small artery occlusion in 17.5% and undetermined causes in 17.5%. NIHSS and mRS scores were significantly improved during time (P < 0.001 in both cases). Three months mortality rate was 25%. Among the etiologies, patients with small artery occlusion and then cardio-aortic embolism had lower NIHSS score at arrival (P = 0.04). Caplan-meier analysis showed that age, sex and symptom to needle time could predict disease outcome. Conclusion: Intravenous thrombolytic therapy is accompanied by good early and intermediate outcome in most patients with ischemic stroke. Small artery occlusion subtype had less disease severity and higher improvement.
Leishmania donovani Develops Resistance to Drug Combinations

Drug combinations for the treatment of leishmaniasis represent a promising and challenging chemotherapeutic strategy that has recently been implemented in different endemic areas. However, the vast majority of studies undertaken to date have ignored the potential risk that Leishmania parasites could develop resistance to the different drugs used in such combinations. As a result, this study was designed to elucidate the ability of Leishmania donovani to develop experimental resistance to anti-leishmanial drug combinations. The induction of resistance to amphotericin B/miltefosine, amphotericin B/paromomycin, amphotericin B/SbIII, miltefosine/paromomycin, and SbIII/paromomycin was determined using a step-wise adaptation process to increasing drug concentrations. Intracellular amastigotes resistant to these drug combinations were obtained from resistant L. donovani promastigote forms, and the thiol and ATP levels and the mitochondrial membrane potential of the resistant lines were analysed. Resistance to drug combinations was obtained after 10 weeks and remained in the intracellular amastigotes. Additionally, this resistance proved to be unstable. More importantly, we observed that promastigotes/amastigotes resistant to one drug combination showed a marked cross-resistant profile to other anti-leishmanial drugs. Additionally, the thiol levels increased in resistant lines that remained protected against the drug-induced loss of ATP and mitochondrial membrane potential. We have therefore demonstrated that different resistance patterns can be obtained in L. donovani depending upon the drug combinations used. Resistance to the combinations miltefosine/paromomycin and SbIII/paromomycin is easily obtained experimentally. These results have been validated in intracellular amastigotes, and have important relevance for ensuring the long-term efficacy of drug combinations.