Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correlation of nutritional parameters of gallbladder cancer patients

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a highly fatal disease with poor prognosis and 5‐year survival <5%. Weight loss and nutritional deterioration are associated with adverse outcomes in terms of cancer prognosis. Protein‐calorie malnutrition is the single most common secondary diagnosis in a patient with cancer, and is a direct consequence of the anorexia of malignancy and altered host metabolism induced by the tumor. The present study of nutritional assessment is of particular interest for it helps in better understanding the extent of malnutrition in patients of GBC.
Induction of neurosteroid synthesis by NMDA receptors in isolated rat retina: a potential early event in excitotoxicity

Here we investigated the possible regulation of neurosteroidogenesis by N‐methyl‐d‐aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor activation and addressed the hypothesis that neurosteroid synthesis may be involved in acute excitotoxicity. In the isolated retina, exposure to NMDA modified pregnenolone and pregnenolone sulphate formation. This effect was dose and time dependent, the synthesis being increased by relatively moderate NMDA doses (1–100 μm) within 30 min exposure and reduced to its control value by 60 min or by raising drug concentrations. NMDA‐stimulated neurosteroid synthesis was blocked by (+)‐5‐methyl‐10,11‐dihydro‐5H‐dibenzo[a,d]cyclo‐hepten‐5,10‐imine hydrogen maleate (MK‐801) and 3(2‐carboxypiperazine‐4‐yl)propyl‐1‐phosphonic acid (CPP), depended on extracellular calcium and reproduced by glutamate. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and morphological analysis revealed that retinal cell viability was not significantly affected after 30 min exposure to 50 μm NMDA, but severe cell damage occurred by 60 min. When the GABAA (γ‐aminobutyric acid) receptor agonist muscimol (1–1000 μm), known to activate retinal neurosteroidogenesis, was added together with NMDA, no additional increase in neurosteroid synthesis was observed, and NMDA‐induced LDH release remained unchanged. However, exposure to a high concentration of muscimol alone (500 μm) provoked a similar degree of toxicity to NMDA. By contrast, bicuculline abolished the increase in neurosteroidogenesis and LDH release. Similarly, pretreatment with R (+)‐p‐aminoglutethimide (AMG), an inhibitor of cholesterol side‐chain cleavage cytochrome P450, attenuated acute retinal cell damage. The inhibitory nature of AMG on NMDA‐stimulated neurosteroidogenesis was confirmed in the observation that drug treatment reduced pregnenolone content and did not affect the bindings of [3H] MK‐801 and [3H] muscimol. The results demonstrate that NMDA receptors regulate neurosteroidogenesis through a transneuronal mechanism, which implies GABAA receptor activation. The early NMDA‐mediated stimulation of neurosteroid synthesis seems to play a critical role in acute excitotoxicity; consequently, its inhibition is likely to delay neuronal cell death.
A Novel Compact CP Antenna with Wide Axial Ratio Bandwidth for Worldwide UHF RFID Handheld Reader

This study presents a novel compact circularly polarized antenna for universal ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) radio-frequency identification (RFID) handheld reader applications. The antenna is composed of a coplanar waveguide (CPW) L-shaped feedline mounted at the right edge of the square slot at the bottom of the ground plane to realize a circular polarization; a horizontal stub protruded from the right side of the square slot towards the slot centre, and a vertical stub is mounted at the lower left of the square slot. The designed antenna printed on one ground plane layer of a low-cost FR4 substrate with an overall size of 120×120×1.6 mm3. The measurement results show indicate that the fabricated antenna achieves a wide axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of 460 MHz (818–1278 MHz), wide impedance bandwidth of 54.6% (630–1103 MHz), and a measured peak gain of 4.0 dBi. The proposed antenna is a good candidate for compact universal UHF RFID handheld reader applications (840–960 MHz).
Detection of Stator Winding Inter-Turn Short Circuit Faults in Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors and Automatic Classification of Fault Severity via a Pattern Recognition System

In this study, automatic detection of stator winding inter-turn short circuit fault (SWISCFs) in surface-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motors (SPMSMs) and automatic classification of fault severity via a pattern recognition system (PRS) are presented. In the case of a stator short circuit fault, performance losses become an important issue for SPMSMs. To detect stator winding short circuit faults automatically and to estimate the severity of the fault, an artificial neural network (ANN)-based PRS was used. It was found that the amplitude of the third harmonic of the current was the most distinctive characteristic for detecting the short circuit fault ratio of the SPMSM. To validate the proposed method, both simulation results and experimental results are presented.
ECM homeostasis in renal diseases: a genomic approach

Chronic renal disease is in general histologically accompanied by a vast amount of scar tissue, ie glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. Scarring results from excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, a process driven by a plethora of cytokines and growth factors. Studies in experimental renal disease which target these regulators using gene therapy limit or prevent the development of scarring. This review focuses specifically on the role of transforming growth factor‐beta, platelet‐derived growth factor, connective tissue growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, and epidermal growth factor. The results obtained in animal models hold promise for molecular intervention strategies in human renal disease. Microarray technology allows large‐scale gene expression profiling in kidney tissue to identify common molecular pathways in a step towards discovery of new drug targets. Molecular techniques are expected to be used for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in nephrological practice to supplement renal biopsy. Several studies already show that molecular techniques might be of use in routine diagnostic practice. Improvement of diagnosis and prediction of outcome in renal patients might lead to more efficient and earlier therapeutic intervention. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expression of Escherichia coli Glycogen Synthase in the Tubers of Transgenic Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) Results in a Highly Branched Starch

A chimeric gene containing the patatin promoter and the transit-peptide region of the small-subunit carboxylase gene was utilized to direct expression of Escherichia coli glycogen sythase (glgA) to potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber amyloplasts. Expression of the glgA gene product in tuber amyloplasts was between 0.007 and 0.028% of total protein in independent potato lines as determined by immunoblot analysis. Tubers from four transgenic potato lines were found to have a lowered specific gravity, a 30 to 50% reduction in the percentage of starch, and a decreased amylose/amylopectin ratio. Total soluble sugar content in these selected lines was increased by approximately 80%. Analysis of the starch from these potato lines also indicated a reduced phosphorous content. A very high degree of branching of the amylopectin fraction was detected by comparison of high and low molecular weight carbohydrate chains after debranching with isoamylase and corresponding high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the products. Brabender viscoamylograph analysis and differential scanning calorimetry of the starches obtained from these transgenic potato lines also indicate a composition and structure much different from typical potato starch. Brabender analysis yielded very low stable paste viscosity values (about 30% of control values), whereas differential scanning calorimetry values indicated reduced enthalpy and gelatinization properties. The above parameters indicate a novel potato starch based on expression of the glgA E. coli gene product in transgenic potato.
Effects of fire retardants on the fire, thermal and mechanical properties of wood plastic composites using recycled fibers.

Ozet Calismanin amaci: Bu calismada lifsel atiklar ile uretilen odun plastik kompozitlerde bor esasli (Borik asit, boraks ve cinko borat) yangin geciktiriciler ve sinerjik etkili bilesiklerin (antimon trioksit, amonyum fosfat ve magnezyum hidroksit) etkileri arastirildi. Bu calismada, kompozitlerin uretilmesinde orta yogunluklu lif levhalarin (MDF) atiklari ve yuksek yogunluklu polietilen (YYPE) plastik hammadde kullanilmistir. Calisma alani: odun plastik kompozitlerin yangina karsi direncinin gelistirilmesi. Materyal ve Yontem: Odun plastik kompozitlerin uretilmesi icin lifsel atiklar, HDPE ve bor esasli bilesikler kullanildi. Kompozitlerin uretilmesi icin cift vida ekstruder kullanildi.Uretilen kompozitlerin mekanik termal ve yangin ozellikleri arastirildi. Sonuclar: Bu amacla farkli bor esasli maddeler, sinerjik etkili bilesikler ve maleik anhidrit muamele edilmis polietilen (MAPE) ile uretilen kompozitlerin yangin, termal ve mekanik ozelliklerine olan etkisi incelendi. Elde edilen sonuclara gore yangin geciktiricilerin ve MAPE’nin birlikte kullanildigi kompozitlerin egilme ve cekme direnclerinin yani sira kompozitlerin elastikiyet modulleri belirgin sekilde arttigi anlasilmistir. Bor esasli yanma geciktiriciler ve diger sinerjik etkili bilesikler, kompozitlerin yatay yanma hizini dusurdugu ve oksijen endeksi (LOI) ozelliklerini gelistirdigi anlasilmistir. Arastirma vurgulari: Cinko boratin MDF atiklari ile hazirlanmis odun plastik kompozitlerde kullanilmasi, mekanik ve yangin geciktirici ozellikleri acisindan en iyi sonuclari verdigi anlasilmistir.
Cognitive performance during the first year of treatment in first-episode schizophrenia: a case–control study

Background Several questions remain unanswered regarding the magnitude and time course of cognitive improvement in response to antipsychotic treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in cognitive performance in antipsychotic-naive or minimally medicated patients with first-episode schizophrenia during the first 12 months of treatment, in a case–control design. Patients were treated with flupenthixol decanoate depot injection, according to a standard algorithm. The primary outcome measure was change in MATRICS Cognitive Consensus Battery (MCCB) composite score over 12 months. Method The sample comprised 92 patients and 100 healthy controls matched for age, sex, ethnicity and educational status. Cognitive function was assessed by means of the MCCB. Results A mixed-effects model identified a significant group × time effect (p ≤ 0.0001) for the MCCB composite score, with patients showing a greater degree of change than the controls. For the other MCCB domains there were significant group × time effects at adjusted significance level for attention and vigilance (p ≤ 0.0001), visual learning (p ≤ 0.0001), verbal learning (p = 0.005) and working memory (p ≤ 0.0001), but not for reasoning and problem solving (p = 0.04), speed of processing (p = 0.03) and social cognition (p = 0.06). There were moderate correlations between change in MCCB composite score and change in symptomatology as assessed by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale factor analysis-derived domains. Conclusions Substantial improvements in cognitive function were observed over and above a practice effect, and were significantly correlated with improvements in psychopathology and functionality.
A Study on Visualizing Feature Extracted from Deep Restricted Boltzmann Machine using PCA

P300 speller is a system that allows users to input letters using only electroencephalogram (EEG). A component called P300 is used to interpret the EEG in P300 speller. In order to achieve high performance in P300 speller, achieving high performance of P300 detection is essential. However, EEG waveforms are strongly dependent on the conditions of subject and/or environment, so it is not easy to detect P300 precisely. In this study, deep neural network using restricted boltzmann machine, which became famous by its high performance, is used to detect P300. It is expected that it also shows high performance for complex EEG waveforms. The experimental result shows that deep neural network was able to detect P300 better than the existing method (stepwise linear discriminant analysis). Furthermore, this study refers to the learned feature by deep restricted boltzmann machine. We can see that deep restricted boltzmann machine learns the feature extracted from the EEG waveforms correctly to detect P300 which led to the high performance.
Double-pulse laser-induced forward transfer of thin liquid copper jet: Toward 3D nano-manufacturing

Laser-induced forward transfer appears to be one of the key players of additive manufacturing at the micrometer scale. The basic concept of LIFT consists in the backside laser irradiation of a thin donor film, in solid[1], paste[2] or liquid[3] state, coated on a transparent substrate to transfer a small volume of the donor material onto a receiver substrate placed nearby. From investigations on different states of LIFT, researchers point out the pros and cons of LIFT in solid and liquid phase[4]. In summary, the transfer from a solid donor film often leads to the generation of small debris due to its unstable transfer process. In contrary, liquid films allow a stable transfer process. However, high resolution droplets (<15μm) are hardly printed because dewetting process strongly limits the minimal thickness of the donor liquid film.
Efficient MRC-Based Residue to Binary Converters for the New Moduli Sets {22n, 2n -1, 2n+1 -1} and {22n, 2n -1, 2n-1 -1}

In this paper, the new residue number system (RNS) moduli sets {22n, 2n - 1, 2n+1 - 1} and {22n, 2n - 1, 2n-1 - 1} are introduced. These moduli sets have 4n-bit dynamic range and well-formed moduli which can result in high-performance residue to binary converters as well as efficient RNS arithmetic unit. Next, efficient residue to binary converters for the proposed moduli sets based on mixed-radix conversion (MRC) algorithm are presented. The converters are ROM-free and they are realized using carry-save adders and modulo adders. Comparison with the other residue to binary converters for 4n-bit dynamic range moduli sets shown that the presented designs based on new moduli sets {22n, 2n - 1, 2n+1 - 1} and {22n, 2n - 1, 2n-1 - 1} are improved the conversion delay and result in hardware savings. Also, the proposed moduli sets can lead to efficient binary to residue converters, and they can speed-up internal RNS arithmetic processing, compared with the other 4n-bit dynamic range moduli sets.
Impact of Islamic values on HRM practices: an empirical study of Jordanian universities

This study aims to present an in-depth theoretical and practical analysis of HRM practice in light of Islamic values and principles. Besides establishing a theoretical base for the influence of Islam on HRM, it analyses the key characteristics of HRM practices in Islam and investigates the extent to which Islamic values are embedded in that practice. The paper draws on a structured questionnaire distributed to 500 respondents working in four Jordanian universities which sought to elicit the respondents' views. The findings indicate that diffusion of Islamic values into HRM practice varies between the participating organisations and that Islamic values are being practiced explicitly, albeit to a limited extent. Due to insufficient literature addressing the role of spirituality and/or religion in shaping the working of contemporary organisations, this paper assesses the extent of the absorption of religious values into the management of human resources.
Patterning of neural crest derivatives in the avian embryo: in vivo and in vitro studies.

In this article we review recent findings from our laboratory on the developmental fate of the neural crest as studied in the avian embryo using the quail-chick marker system in vivo. Quail-chick chimeric experiments carried out at the late neurula stage have revealed the contribution of the neural crest to the skull vault, i.e., the frontal and parietal bones, previously thought to be mesodermally derived. At early developmental stages, the fate of the cephalic mesoderm (free of neural crest cells) could be analyzed. The striking result was that the mesoderm does not contribute to the head and face dermis except in the occipital and otic areas where the skull is derived from the cephalic and somitic mesoderm. Thus, the neural crest forms the dermis, the membrane and cartilage bones of the skull vault, the skull basis, and the face. The limit of the mesoderm-derived skeleton in the skull basis is located in the sella turcica between the basipre- and the basipostsphenoid and coincides with the tip of the notochord. We thus define a "chordal" and an "achordal" skull, the latter being all derived from the neural crest. These results are discussed in the framework of the "New Head" concept of Gans and Northcutt (1983). The second part of this review deals with the role of the environment in the morphogenesis and diversification of neural crest derivatives. The role of the rostrocaudal heterogeneity of the somites in establishing the metameric pattern of the truncal neural crest derivatives is analyzed. The respective contributions of the "in embryo" and in vitro approaches to our understanding of the neural crest cell differentiating potentialities are reviewed. It is pointed out that the search for survival and proliferation factors acting locally on neural crest derivatives when they are wandering and/or settling in various embryonic locations constitutes the new challenge for further understanding their complex patterning and the highly diversified variety of their phenotypes.
Prevalence of Perkinsus marinus (Dermo), Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX), and QPX in Bivalves of Delaware's Inland Bays and Quantitative, High‐Throughput Diagnosis of Dermo by QPCR

ABSTRACT. Restoration of oyster reef habitat in the Inland Bays of Delaware was accompanied by an effort to detect and determine relative abundance of the bivalve pathogens Perkinsus marinus, Haplosporidium nelsoni, and QPX. Both the oyster Crassostrea virginica and the clam Mercenaria mercenaria were sampled from the bays. In addition, oysters were deployed at eight sites around the bays as sentinels for the three parasites. Perkinsus marinus prevalence was measured with a real‐time, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology that enabled high‐throughput detection of as few as 31 copies of the ribosomal non‐transcribed spacer region in 500 ng oyster DNA. The other pathogens were assayed using PCR with species‐specific primers. Perkinsus marinus was identified in Indian River Bay at moderate prevalence (∼40%) in both an artificial reef and a wild oyster population whereas sentinel oysters were PCR‐negative after 3‐months exposure during summer and early fall. Haplosporidium nelsoni was restricted to one oyster deployed in Little Assawoman Bay. QPX and P. marinus were not detected among wild clams. While oysters in these bays have historically been under the greatest threat by MSX, it is apparent that P. marinus currently poses a greater threat to recovery of oyster aquaculture in Delaware's Inland Bays.
Social Inequality in Height

The height of children may be used to indicate social inequality. The aim of this study was to analyze the difference in height of the socially more and less privileged 10-year-old Helsinki children in 1963 and 1991 and to compare the social gap to the corresponding gap in 1943, 1963 and 1991 in previous studies of Stockholm children. The difference in mean height of the Helsinki boys in 1963 was 4.5 cm (p<0.001) and for girls 4.4 cm (p<0.001). In Stockholm the corresponding differences in 1963 were negligible. Twenty years earlier (in 1943) it was 3.2 cm (p<0.001) in Stockholm. In 1991 the difference was 1.4 cm (p<0.05) for boys and 0.6 cm (n.s.) for girls in Helsinki, equivalent to the findings of the Stockholm children at the same time. The well-off Helsinki children already in 1963 were as tall as the Stockholm children. Thus, the decrease of the social gap in height from 1963 to 1991 in Helsinki seems to be mainly due to an increase in height of the socially less privileged children, exactly what was previously found for the Stockholm children between 1943 and 1963. Would the time for the equalization of height mirror the time for the development of the welfare states in Finland and Sweden respectively?
Instability of a 550-base pair DNA segment and abnormal methylation in fragile X syndrome

The fragile X syndrome, a common cause of inherited mental retardation, is characterized by an unusual mode of inheritance. Phenotypic expression has been linked to abnormal cytosine methylation of a single CpG island, at or very near the fragile site. Probes adjacent to this island detected very localized DNA rearrangements that constituted the fragile X mutations, and whose target was a 550-base pair GC-rich fragment. Normal transmitting males had a 150- to 400-base pair insertion that was inherited by their daughters either unchanged, or with small differences in size. Fragile X-positive individuals in the next generation had much larger fragments that differed among siblings and showed a generally heterogeneous pattern indicating somatic mutation. The mutated allele appeared unmethylated in normal transmitting males, methylated only on the inactive X chromosome in their daughters, and totally methylated in most fragile X males. However, some males had a mosaic pattern. Expression of the fragile X syndrome thus appears to result from a two-step mutation as well as a highly localized methylation. Carriers of the fragile X mutation can easily be detected regardless of sex or phenotypic expression, and rare apparent false negatives may result from genetic heterogeneity or misdiagnosis.
Compression of hyperspectral images using block coordinate descent search and compressed sensing

In this paper, a new lossy compression method for hyperspectral images (HSI) is introduced based on the NonNegative Tucker Decomposition (NTD). HSI are considered as a 3D dataset: two spatial dimensions and one spectral dimension. The NTD algorithm decomposes the original data into a smaller 3D dataset (core tensor) and three matrices. In the proposed method, in order to find the optimal decomposition, the Block Coordinate Descent (BCD) method is used, which is initialized by using Compressed Sensing (CS). The obtained optimal core tensor and matrices are coded by applying arithmetic coding and finally the compressed dataset is transmitted. The proposed method is applied to real datasets. Our experimental results show that, in comparison with state-of-the-art lossy compression methods, the proposed method achieves the highest signal to noise ratio (SNR) at any desired compression ratio (CR) while noise reduction is simultaneously obtained.