Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The pharmacokinetics of ilaprazole for gastro-esophageal reflux treatment

Introduction: Approximately 20% of the Western population is affected by gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). To date, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) represent the mainstay of GERD medical treatment. However, despite their undoubted benefit, about 40% of GERD patients display an inadequate response to these drugs. Recently, a new PPI, ilaprazole, at oral doses of 10 mg has shown higher suppression of gastric acid secretion, more prolonged plasma half-life, and similar safety compared to 20 mg omeprazole. Areas covered: This review provides an update on the following points: pharmacokinetic profile and metabolism of ilaprazole in relation to its pharmacodynamic properties; comparative data on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ilaprazole with currently available PPIs; and implications for studies on the therapeutic efficacy of ilaprazole in GERD. Expert opinion: Different studies show that ilaprazole, a benzimidazole derivative, has an extended plasma half-life in comparison with all other approved PPIs. In addition, ilaprazole metabolism is not significantly influenced by CYP2C19, compared to the available PPIs. Furthermore, the pharmacological characteristics of ilaprazole confer theoretical advantages that are expected to translate into an improved acid control, particularly at night time. However, studies comparing the clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ilaprazole with those of second-generation PPIs are insufficient. Moreover, further investigations assessing the efficacy of ilaprazole in the management of GERD are required. In healthy volunteers, as well as in patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers, ilaprazole has not shown clinically relevant changes in hematology and biochemistry testing, nor significant treatment-related adverse symptoms.
UP-REGULATED THROMBOXANE PRODUCTION IN THE RAT LIVER WITH BILIARY OBSTRUCTION DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE TO PROMOTE HEPATIC INJURY

This study sought to determine whether in vivo inhibition of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) action contribute to attenuate hepatic damage after bile duct ligation (BDL). Male Wistar rats were assigned to sham operation or BDL. At the time of operation, infusion pump with saline, ozagrel natrium (TXA2 synthase inhibitor), or SQ29548 (TXA2 receptor antagonists) was implanted in the abdominal cavity. Plasma alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, hyaluronic acid, and total bilirubin levels were measured at 4 days after the operation. The levels of plasma TXB2, a stable metabolite of TXA2, were significantly increased after BDL. Gene expression of TXA2 synthase was also significantly up-regulated in the liver. Nonetheless, either an inhibition of TXA2 synthesis by ozagrel natrium or a blockade of TXA2 receptor by SQ29548 has no effect in every measured parameter related to hepatic function. These results indicated that despite a highly increased production in the liver, TXA2 is not directly related to the hepatic injury in BDL rats.
Hexose phosphorylation and the putative calcium channel component Mid1p are required for the hexose‐induced transient elevation of cytosolic calcium response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae responds to environ‐mental stimuli such as an exposure to pheromone or to hexoses after carbon source limitation with a transient elevation of cytosolic calcium (TECC) response. In this study, we examined whether hexose transport and phosphorylation are necessary for the TECC response. We found that a mutant strain lacking most of the known hexose transporters was unable to carry out the TECC response when exposed to glucose. A mutant strain that lacked the ability to phosphorylate glucose was unable to respond to glucose addition, but displayed a normal TECC response after the addition of galactose. These results indicate that hexose uptake and phosphorylation are required to trigger the hexose‐induced TECC response. We also found that the TECC response was significantly smaller than normal when the level of environmental calcium was reduced, and was abolished in a mid1 mutant that lacked a subunit of the high‐affinity calcium channel of the yeast plasma membrane. These results indicate that most or all of the TECC response is mediated by an influx of calcium from the extracellular space. Our results indicate that this transient increase in plasma membrane calcium permeability may be linked to the accumulation of Glc‐1‐P (or a related glucose metabolite) in yeast.
Recursive factorization method for the paraperspective model based on the perspective projection

The factorization method, which allows us to reconstruct the motion of the camera and shape of the object simultaneously from multiple images, provides high stability in numerical computations and satisfactory results. To apply this method to real-time processing, the recursive factorization method has been proposed. However, the factorization method based on the affine projection has a limitation in reconstruction accuracy, and to achieve accurate reconstruction, the motion should be restricted. To overcome this problem, we present a recursive factorization method for the paraperspective model based on the perspective projection. The present method is far superior to other ones, in that it not only achieves accurate Euclidean reconstruction in a short time but also provides high stability in numerical computations. Moreover, the method produces stable reconstruction in almost all cases even if some images contain errors because all images are treated as uniformly as possible.
Pan-Genome Plasticity and Virulence Factors: A Natural Treasure Trove for Acinetobacter baumannii

Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative pathogen responsible for a variety of community- and hospital-acquired infections. It is recognized as a life-threatening pathogen among hospitalized individuals and, in particular, immunocompromised patients in many countries. A. baumannii, as a member of the ESKAPE group, encompasses high genomic plasticity and simultaneously is predisposed to receive and exchange the mobile genetic elements (MGEs) through horizontal genetic transfer (HGT). Indeed, A. baumannii is a treasure trove that contains a high number of virulence factors. In accordance with these unique pathogenic characteristics of A. baumannii, the authors aim to discuss the natural treasure trove of pan-genome and virulence factors pertaining to this bacterial monster and try to highlight the reasons why this bacterium is a great concern in the global public health system.
Personalized Food Recommendation

In this paper a food recommender system giving general and personalized advice is described. The system is based on semi-formal knowledge of personal nutrition gained in a previous project (Food4Me). This project implements a manual expert knowledge based approach using a decision tree for recommending optimal adaptions to the individual nutrition behavior. The system was evaluated in a Proof-of-Principle study whose results lead to the current two research projects. The first project aims at an automated recommender system based on formalized expert knowledge building on the insights from Food4Me. This recommendation system is then extended by including it into an application which provides continuous feedback on the participant’s nutritional behavior. Also individual preferences are integrated using approaches from critique basedand persuasive recommender systems. The second system uses an adapted collaborative filtering approach to recommend food based on healthiness and taste ratings of other users augmented by a rating based recommender system for sports. This recommender system is further extended by social support groups and game interaction in view of social motivation. In the future both projects might be used in combination to provide optimal health support.
Discriminative MCE-based speaker adaptation of acoustic models for a spoken lecture processing task

This paper investigates the use of minimum classification error (MCE) training in conjunction with speaker adaptation for the large vocabulary speech recognition task of lecture transcription. Emphasis is placed on the case of supervised adaptation, though an examination of the unsupervised case is also conducted. This work builds upon our previous work using MCE training to construct speaker independent acoustic models. In this work we explore strategies for incorporating MCE training into a model interpolation adaptation scheme in the spirit of traditional maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) adaptation. Experiments show relative error rate reductions between 3% and 7% over a baseline system which uses standard ML estimation instead of MCE training during the adaptation phase. Index Terms: acoustic modeling, MCE training, speaker adaptation.
Single and Coexpression of CXCR4 and CXCR5 Identifies CD4 T Helper Cells in Distinct Lymph Node Niches during Influenza Virus Infection

ABSTRACT Influenza virus infection results in strong, mainly T-dependent, extrafollicular and germinal center B cell responses, which provide lifelong humoral immunity against the homotypic virus strain. Follicular T helper cells (TFH) are key regulators of humoral immunity. Questions remain regarding the presence, identity, and function of TFH subsets regulating early extrafollicular and later germinal center B cell responses. This study demonstrates that ICOS but not CXCR5 marks T cells with B helper activity induced by influenza virus infection and identifies germinal center T cells (TGC) as lymph node-resident CD4+ ICOS+ CXCR4+ CXCR5+ PSGL-1lo PD-1hi cells. The CXCR4 expression intensity further distinguished their germinal center light and dark zone locations. This population emerged strongly in regional lymph nodes and with kinetics similar to those of germinal center B cells and were the only TFH subsets missing in influenza virus-infected, germinal center-deficient SAP−/− mice, mice which were shown previously to lack protective memory responses after a secondary influenza virus challenge, thus indicting the nonredundant functions of CXCR4- and CXCR5-coexpressing CD4 helper cells in antiviral B cell immunity. CXCR4-single-positive T cells, present in B cell-mediated autoimmunity and regarded as “extrafollicular” helper T cells, were rare throughout the response, despite prominent extrafollicular B cell responses, revealing fundamental differences in autoimmune- and infection-induced T-dependent B cell responses. While all ICOS+ subsets induced similar antibody levels in vitro, CXCR5-single-positive T cells were superior in inducing B cell proliferation. The regulation of T cell localization, marked by the single and coexpression of CXCR4 and CXCR5, might be an important determinant of TFH function.
Increasing the Efficiency of Image Results through Improved Image retrieval by using Image Mining in Search Engines

With the growth of Internet and advances in storage technologies, spread and acquisition of images has become imperative. Despite unprecedented advances in data mining, search engines return results of image queries by mining the written text associated with the images rather than mining the images to provide suitable results as per the image query. Image mining isn't merely an extension of data mining to image domain. It is an interdisciplinary attempt that draws upon expertise in various fields of Computer Science, ranging from computer vision, image processing and image retrieval to data mining, machine learning, database, and artificial intelligence. In this paper, we will suggest how image mining can be successfully implemented and will also suggest possible future research in the said discipline.
p16INK4a methylation in serum as a follow-up marker for recurrence of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND p16(INK4a) methylation present in the tumors of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients can be detected in their serum using quantitative methylation-specific PCR (Q-MSP). To investigate the possibility that this technique could be applied to the monitoring for cancer recurrence in CRC patients, p16(INK4a) methylation in the serum of CRC patients during their follow-up period was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using Q-MSP on serum samples from 21 CRC patients undergoing surgery for primary CRC, the p16INK4a methylation score (p16(INK4a) MS) was evaluated one day before surgery and during the follow-up period. RESULTS In the serum samples collected before primary resection, p16(INK4a) methylation was detected in 8 out of the 13 patients with same methylation in the tumor. The p16(INK4a) MS decreased within 2 weeks after surgery. Only two patients, who had the potential for recurrence, exhibited p16(INK4a) methylation in their serum. One month after surgery, in the patients with recurrence of tumor, a dramatic increase in p16(INK4a) MS was observed, while in the disease-free patients no methylation was seen continuously. CONCLUSION p16(INK4a) MS could sensitively reflect the recurrence status and may be useful for identifying the presence of recurrence during the follow-up of CRC patients.
The effects of running a 308 km ultra-marathon on cardiac markers

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of cardiac strain and damage in 18 male marathoners with average age of 52.8±5.0 years running at a 308 km ultra-marathon. Blood samples were collected at pre-race, 100 km, 200 km and 308 km check points for the analysis of cardiac muscle injury markers, creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase–myocardial band (CK–MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and cardiac muscle strain marker, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). The CK levels increased 1127.2±507.9 IU/L, 5133.8±2492.7 IU/L and 4958.4±2087.9 IU/L at 100 km, 200 km and 308 km, respectively, compared to the pre-race levels. The CK–MB levels increased 20.2±11.2 ng/mL, 73.3±35.6 ng/mL and 68.6±42.6 ng/mL at 100, 200 and 308 km, respectively, compared to the pre-race levels. The CK–MB/CK ratio showed that the CK–MB mass index was within the normal range (<2.5%) at 100 km, 200 km and 308 km. The cTnI levels showed no significant difference in all check points. The NT-proBNP levels increased 146.55±92.7 pg/mL, 167.95±111.9 pg/mL and 241.23±121.2 pg/mL at 100, 200 and 308 km, respectively, compared to the pre-race levels. The normal CK–MB mass index (<5.0 ng/mL) and the absence of an increase in the cTnI levels during the 308 km ultra-marathon suggested that no myocardial injury despite an elevation in CK–MB. The increase in NT-proBNP levels probably resulted from continuous hemodynamic cardiac stress and represents a transient physiological myocardial protective response.
Space-dependent color gamut mapping: a variational approach

Gamut mapping deals with the need to adjust a color image to fit into the constrained color gamut of a given rendering medium. A typical use for this tool is the reproduction of a color image prior to its printing, such that it exploits best the given printer/medium color gamut, namely the colors the printer can produce on the given medium. Most of the classical gamut mapping methods involve a pixel-by-pixel mapping and ignore the spatial color configuration. Recently proposed spatial-dependent approaches for gamut mapping are either based on heuristic assumptions or involve a high computational cost. In this paper, we present a new variational approach for space-dependent gamut mapping. Our treatment starts with the presentation of a new measure for the problem, closely related to a recent measure proposed for Retinex. We also link our method to recent measures that attempt to couple spectral and spatial perceptual measures. It is shown that the gamut mapping problem leads to a quadratic programming formulation, guaranteed to have a unique solution if the gamut of the target device is convex. An efficient numerical solution is proposed with promising results.
Case Report: Frequency of Laboratory Test Utilization in the Intensive Care Unit and Its Implications for Large-Scale Data Collection Efforts

Mapping of local use names to standardized naming schemas such as LOINC" micro is a time consuming and difficult task when done retrospectively or during the configuration of new information systems. We found that a relatively small number of tests and profiles (106 to 205) represent 99% of all testing done in 3 ICUs studied. In addition, all of the lab studies needed for the most commonly used ICU scoring systems fell into the top 23 lab studies and profiles performed in each ICU studied. We have identified a subset of the LOINC database which, because of their frequency of use, should be the focus of efforts to bring naming uniformity to ICU information systems.
Optimization of channel capacity in magnetic communication systems subjected to total power constraint

This paper considers formulation and optimization of channel capacity of magnetic communication systems through various types of mediums, subjected to an overall power constraint. Following a parametric investigation of the induced electromotive force, the optimal operating frequency is derived. Maximization of channel capacity is obtained by a modified “Water filling” algorithm with upper-frequency limit, which provides the optimized power allocation along the spectrum. The results are compared to constant power spectral densities with optimized bandwidth, symmetric or asymmetric around the optimal frequency. It is shown that for a given system, the bandwidth and its spectral location, are the dominant parameters which determine the channel capacity, whereas the exact shape of the power distribution within the bandwidth is less significant. Also, an upper-frequency limit is required to prevent overestimation of capacity in dielectric media conditions and short range. Resonance circuits are compared to circuits without capacitors, showing similar results regarding capacity but with narrower bandwidth for the resonance circuits.
H2O Induced Hump Phenomenon in Capacitance–Voltage Measurements of a-IGZO Thin-Film Transistors

Through employing capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements, the stability of a-IGZO TFTs after applying negative bias stress in different ambient atmospheres was investigated. The hump phenomenon in C-V curve, different from that in the vacuum, was observed after applying negative bias stress in the air, which was concerned with H2O. In addition, results in the oxygen atmosphere slightly changed under negative bias stress. Compared with traditional I-V curves, C-V measurements helped to better understand the degradation of a-IGZO TFTs. A two-conductive-way model was built to explain the mechanism of instability.
Pathogenesis of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

: Based on histopathology, electron microscopic corrosion cast studies, optic nerve blood flow studies, and clinical data, the pathogenesis of idiopathic nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy includes the following features: (1) structurally crowded optic discs are predisposed; (2) laminar and retrolaminar regions are the most common locations for infarction; (3) there is flow impairment in the prelaminar optic disc during the acute phase; (4) lack of consistent choroidal flow impairment and the retrolaminar location of infarcts suggest vasculopathy within or distal to the paraoptic branches of the posterior choroidal arteries; (5) diabetes is the most consistently identified vasculopathic risk factor; (6) impaired autoregulation of the disc circulation by atherosclerosis, with a possible contribution from serotonin and endothelin-mediated vasospasm, may play a role; and (7) progression may be caused by secondary cell death after the initial ischemic insult or compression from cavernous degeneration and mechanical axonal distortion.
Pattern Detection Using a New Haralick Quaternion Color Extraction Model and Support Vector Machine Classifier

There are many applications in image analysis where it is important to detect accurately patterns that include color and texture, e.g., plastic or concrete traffic barriers. This paper proposes a new method and extends a general machine vision approach for on-line pattern detection using color and textural information. Our proposed method includes the following steps: division of each image into sub-images, use of the Haralick and Binary Quaternion-Moment-Preserving methods to extract texture and color features, support vector machines for classification, and a post processing stage using clustering. The method was tested in two databases. The first one with three pattern types and the results yielded a detection rate of 96.4% with 14 false positives. The second database has nine pattern types and the results yielded a detection rate of 98.4% with 9 false positives. The results were compared advantageously with Haralick and BQMP methods separately.
Research on Co-occurrence Regularity of Semantic Relations in Objective Knowledge System

Based on WordNet, we do some research on the co-occurrence phenomena of semantic relations in objective knowledge system. According to the structural characteristics of semantic relations in objective knowledge system, a co-occurrence degree function for pairs of semantic relations was proposed. We calculate co-occurrence degree from the data obtained by making statistical tests. Some useful conclusions and co-occurrence regularity has been summarized from the analysis of co-occurrence degree test results. The research will lay a good foundation for the next step of research on the compositional validity and relativity between semantic relations in objective knowledge system.
A Method for Identifying Unobvious Requirements in Globally Distributed Software Projects

We present a method and an assisting toolset to identify unobvious requirements in globally distributed projects. We demonstrate use of social software principles and technologies in distributed and collaborative requirements elicitation with a purpose to detect unobvious requirements. In our experience, stakeholders are rarely clear on their requirements. During requirements elicitation workshops (that involve face-to-face communications), they are not able to visualize all the pertinent scenarios. They can typically articulate ‘first-order’ scenarios resulting out of direct interactions (among stakeholders and between stakeholders and proposed systems), but they find ‘second-order’ scenarios that result out of multiple stimuli hard to detect a-priori. We refer to such ‘hard to detect’ requirements as the ‘unobvious’ ones. In globally distributed situations, this challenge becomes even more pronounced due to lack of frequent and informal communications that allow iterative refinements of stakeholder inputs. We describe an approach that addresses this problem. Our approach includes identification of representative roles and construction of method chunks that include a step-by-step guidance for roles to practice the method chunks relevant to them. Towards this purpose, we have developed a web 2.0 based toolset that presents the method chunks to appropriate roles, synchronizes activities performed by the roles by providing relevant notifications and automates some of the activities recommended in the method. Web2.0 has been chosen as a platform to deliver our method in the light of architecture of participation that it offers. The identification of unobvious requirements has been demonstrated through the results of a case study in Insurance domain.
The MIT AgeLab n-back: a multi-modal android application implementation

This paper briefly describes the background of the MIT AgeLab implementation of a delayed digit recall or n-back task, and the capabilities of an android application developed to implement a multi-modal version. The MIT AgeLab n-back task is a well-established methodology for inducing graded levels of cognitive workload. It has been adopted for broad use as a multi-modal surrogate demand and calibration task, and recently introduced as a driver and pedestrian distraction education tool.