Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth Factor-Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 During Endotoxemia Is Downregulated by Transforming

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 generates CO, a gas with vasodilatory properties, during heme metabolism. HO-1 is expressed highly in vascular tissue after endotoxin stimulation, and generation of CO through the HO-1 pathway contributes to the hemodynamic compromise of endotoxic shock. Shock related to endotoxemia is an immune-mediated process that involves the generation of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 b. Because transforming growth factor (TGF)b1 is a modulator of immune-mediated inflammatory responses and it blocks the hypotension of endotoxic shock, we determined whether TGFb1 could be used to reduce expression of HO-1 in vascular tissue and smooth muscle cells. In a rat model of endotoxic shock, lipopolysaccharide-induced HO-1 mRNA and protein expression was reduced by TGFb1 in highly vascularized tissue, such as heart and lung, by Northern and Western analysis. Furthermore, TGFb1 downregulated HO-1 mRNA after its induction by IL-1 b in vascular smooth muscle cells in culture. TGFb1 also decreased HO-1 but not HO-2 protein expression in these cells. TGFb1 decreased HO enzyme activity induced in IL-1 b–treated vascular smooth muscle cells to a level not different from that in vehicle-treated cells. These studies suggest that this downregulation of HO-1 mRNA and protein expression and decrease in IL-1 b–induced HO enzyme activity may contribute to the beneficial effect of TGFb1 on endotoxic shock. (Circ Res. 1998;83:396-403.)
Market Failures in Health and Education Investment for the Young, Mexico 2000

Mincerian econometric estimates including health (indicated by stature), schooling and experience show adult human capital has increasing returns in Mexico. These may result from recent pro-market reforms. In addition, probit estimates show that childhood nutrition and health (also indicated by stature), as well as parental education, have substantial and possibly increasing returns in the acquisition of education, as measured by school permanence. Thus the poor are less able to invest in human capital, and constituent elements for a low human capital trap, or for a prolonged transition in intergenerational human capital accumulation, are present in Mexico, affecting 90% of the population. Further, a transition matrix analysis supports the presence of a barrier to education at 9 years of schooling. A numerical policy experiment shows that a 5 cm average increase in stature (which South Korea achieved in one generation) would overcome this barrier and lead to higher levels of education. Thus, to produce effective results pro-market reforms raising returns to human capital must be accompanied with policies supporting nutrition, health and early child development, as well as education, so as to overcome market failures in human capital investment. Policies for long-term growth must address the intergenerational dynamics of human capital accumulation.
Scalable Distributed Processing of K Nearest Neighbor Queries over Moving Objects

Central to many applications involving moving objects is the task of processing k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) queries. Most of the existing approaches to this problem are designed for the centralized setting where query processing takes place on a single server; it is difficult, if not impossible, for them to scale to a distributed setting to handle the vast volume of data and concurrent queries that are increasingly common in those applications. To address this problem, we propose a suite of solutions that can support scalable distributed processing of k-NN queries. We first present a new index structure called Dynamic Strip Index (DSI), which can better adapt to different data distributions than exiting grid indexes. Moreover, it can be naturally distributed across the cluster, therefore lending itself well to distributed processing. We further propose a distributed k-NN search (DKNN) algorithm based on DSI. DKNN avoids having an uncertain number of potentially expensive iterations, and is thus more efficient and more predictable than existing approaches. DSI and DKNN are implemented on Apache S4, an open-source platform for distributed stream processing. We perform extensive experiments to study the characteristics of DSI and DKNN, and compare them with three baseline methods. Experimental results show that our proposal scales well and significantly outperforms the alternative methods.
Optimum receiver evaluation of ultra wideband impulse radio based on measurements data

Ultra wideband impulse radio (UWB-IR) technology is an ideal candidate for wireless UWB that can be utilized for short-range, high-speed, low power, and low cost indoor applications. The transmission gain of the free space propagation loss is usually estimated by using Friis' transmission formula. The Friis formula, it is not directly applicable to ultra wideband impulse radio network transmission systems, in particular the single band impulse radio, as the formula is expressed as a function of the frequency. Moreover, the waveform may be distorted due to the frequency characteristics of the antenna, and the comparison between Tx and Rx waveforms is not straightforward. This paper discusses the free space link budget evaluation of UWB antenna with template receiver based on the extended Friis' transmission formula. The template is considered at the receiver side to maximize the SNR for evaluation. An experimental evaluation of the complex transfer function needs the three-antenna method for the calibration of reference antenna. The technique gives very accurate results and is very useful for design and evaluation of UWB transmission performance, especially for the evaluation of waveform distortion effects.
Systemic Risk and Financial Consolidation: Are They Related?

The creation of a number of very large and sometimes increasingly complex financial institutions, resulting in part from the on-going consolidation of the financial system, has raised concerns that the degree of systemic risk in the financial system may have increased. We argue that firm interdependencies, as measured by correlations of stock returns, provide an indicator of systemic risk potential. We analyze the dynamics of the stock return correlations of a sample of U.S. large and complex banking organizations (LCBOs) over 1988-1999, and find a significant positive trend in stock return correlations. In addition, we relate firms' return correlations to their consolidation activity. Consolidation at the sample LCBOs appears to have contributed to LCBOs interdependencies. However, consolidation elasticities of correlation exhibit substantial time variation, and likely declined in the latter part of the decade. Thus, factors other than consolidation have also been responsible for the upward trend in return correlations.
Analysis of Usage Trends of Social Media and Self-Esteem by the Rosenberg Scale.

The spread of SNS has changed communications between people to a great extent. For them it is a place their hearts can rely on and where they can hang out, a place for self-approval, for self-expression and a place where the other person listens to their dissatisfaction and discontent. At the beginning people are interested in knowing what everyone is doing, so they check SNS every day. However, they feel gradually tired. Immediate response syndrome refers to the feeling of having to check SNS sites and being is a state of psychological imbalance. Some have a loss of self-esteem in the SNS communication. So I analyzed the relationship of social media use and the self-esteem. As a results, the high self-efficacy group prefers both Facebook and LINE while the low self-efficacy group tends to use Twitter.
A Novel LR-QPSO Algorithm for Profit Maximization of GENCOs in Deregulated Power System

The electric power industry need changes in various power system operation, control and planning activities. Generation companies (GENCOs) schedule their generators with an objective to maximize their own profit rather than compromising on social benefit. Power and reserve prices become important factors in decision process. GENCOs decision to commit generating units is associated with financial risks. This paper presents a hybrid model between Lagrangian Relaxation (LR) and Quantum inspired Particle Swarm Optimization (QPSO), to solve the profit-based unit commitment problem. The proposed approach is investigated on three unit and ten unit test systems and numerical results are tabulated. Simulation results shows that this approach effectively maximize the GENCO’s profit when compared with existing methods.
Optic Flow Providing External Force for Active Contours in Visually Tracking Dense Cell Population

Intense current research requires quantitative analysis of cell behaviours in dense cell populations. The low contrast cellular image quality, diversity of cell shapes, frequent cell interactions, and complex cell motions all pose significant problems to the efficient and robust cell tracking in phase contrast cellular images. We have proposed an automated cell tracking system based on active contours for tracking cell deformation and movement. The pyramidal optic flow scheme is exploited for providing external motion force to guide active contour evolution, and thus helps to address the particular difficulty in tracking relatively fast moving cells in dense cell population. We have evaluated the proposed framework on one real cellular dataset and proved an 80.2% tracking accuracy.
Impact of dental care in the prevention of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw: a single-center clinical experience.

BACKGROUND Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is associated with bisphosphonate (BP) therapy and invasive dental care. An Interdisciplinary Care Group (ICG) was created to evaluate dental risk factors and the efficacy of a preventive restorative dental care in the reduction of ONJ risk. PATIENTS AND METHODS This prospective single-center study included patients with bone metastases from solid tumors. Patients who received at least one BP infusion between October 2005 and 31 August 2009 underwent one or more ICG evaluation and regular dental examinations. We also retrospectively evaluated patients with bone metastases from solid tumors who did not undergo dental preventive measures. RESULTS Of 269 patients, 211 had received at least one infusion of BP therapy: 62% were BP naive and 38% had previous BP exposure. Of these 211 patients followed for 47 months, 6 patients developed ONJ (2.8%). Of 200 patients included in the retrospective analysis, 11 patients developed ONJ (5.5%). CONCLUSIONS In comparison with published ONJ rates and those extrapolated from the retrospective analysis, the observed ONJ rate in the prospective group was lower, suggesting that implementation of a preventive dental program may reduce the risk of ONJ in metastatic patients treated with i.v. BP therapy.
Evolving social network analysis: A case study on mobile phone data

Mobile phone data can provide rich information on human activities and their social relationships which are dynamic in nature. Analysis of such social networks emerging from phone calls of mobile users can be useful in many aspects. In this paper we report the methods and results from a case study on the analysis of a social network from mobile phone data. The analysis involves tracking the dynamics of the network, identifying key individuals and their close associates, and identifying individuals having communication pattern similar to the key individuals. We introduce novel measures to quantify, the evolution in the network, significance of an individual, and social association of an individual. In order to group individuals having similar communication pattern, we applied recently proposed online clustering approach called eClustering (evolving clustering) due to its adaptive nature and low computational overhead. The results show the pertinence of the proposed quantification measures to analysis of evolving social network.
The Approximate Capacity Region of the Symmetric  $K$ -User Gaussian Interference Channel With Strong Interference

The symmetric K-user interference channel (IC) is studied with the goal of characterizing its capacity region in the strong interference regime within a constant gap. The achievable rate region of a scheme combining rate splitting at the transmitters and interference alignment and successive decoding/computation at the receivers is derived. Next, it is shown that this scheme achieves the so-called greedy-max corner points of the capacity region within a constant gap. By combining this result with previous results by Ordentlich et al. on the sum-capacity of the symmetric IC, a constant gap characterization of the capacity region for the strong interference regime is obtained. This leads to the first approximate characterization of the capacity region of the symmetric K-user IC. Furthermore, a new scheme that achieves the sum-capacity of the channel in the strong interference regime within a constant gap is also proposed, and the corresponding gap is calculated. The advantage of the new scheme is that it leads to a characterization within a constant gap without leaving an outage set contrary to the scheme by Ordentlich et al.
The impact of attachment anxiety on susceptibility to false memories

Previous research shows that people’s attachment styles predict memory functioning. For example, people with relatively insecure attachment styles tend to forget relationship-relevant information, as well as negatively bias their emotional evaluations of interpersonal experiences over time. An emerging body of research has also begun to suggest that attachment anxiety in particular relates to people’s propensity to experience false memories. The present dissertation describes two randomized experiments which attempted to examine a causal link between attachment anxiety and false memories. Furthermore, the present studies attempted to isolate whether attachment anxiety causes false memories during memory maintenance or retrieval processes. Participants were primed with either (1) high attachment anxiety, (2) low attachment anxiety, or (3) were not primed prior to retrieval (Study 1) or during maintenance (Study 2). The experimental primes had no main effects on false memories in either study. This may indicate that attachment anxiety does not cause false memories during maintenance or reconstruction. However, future research should explore whether attachment anxiety might cause false memories during encoding processes. Alternatively, it may be the case that the priming paradigms used failed to appropriately manipulate participants’ attachment security, which would render the present findings ambiguous. Current procedures for priming attachment security and future directions for studying links between attachment anxiety and false memories are discussed.
Redefining the components of central CO2 chemosensitivity – towards a better understanding of mechanism

Abstract The field of CO2 chemosensitivity has developed considerably in recent years. There has been a mounting number of competing nuclei proposed as chemosensitive along with an ever increasing list of potential chemosensory transducing molecules. Is it really possible that all of these areas and candidate molecules are involved in the detection of chemosensory stimuli? How do we discriminate rigorously between molecules that are chemosensory transducers at the head of a physiological reflex versus those that just happen to display sensitivity to a chemosensory stimulus? Equally, how do we differentiate between nuclei that have a primary chemosensory function, versus those that are relays in the pathway? We have approached these questions by proposing rigorous definitions for the different components of the chemosensory reflex, going from the salient molecules and ions, through the components of transduction to the identity of chemosensitive cells and chemosensitive nuclei. Our definitions include practical and rigorous experimental tests that can be used to establish the identity of these components. We begin by describing the need for central CO2 chemosensitivity and the problems that the field has faced. By comparing chemosensory mechanisms to those in the visual system we suggest stricter definitions for the components of the chemosensory pathway. We then, considering these definitions, re‐evaluate current knowledge of chemosensory transduction, and propose the ‘multiple salient signal hypothesis’ as a framework for understanding the multiplicity of transduction mechanisms and brain areas seemingly involved in chemosensitivity.
Bidirectional genetic and environmental influences on mother and child behavior: The family system as the unit of analyses

Abstract Family systems theory proposes that an individual's functioning depends on interactive processes within the self and within the context of dyadic family subsystems. Previous research on these processes has focused largely on behavioral, cognitive, and psychophysiological properties of the individual and the dyad. The goals of this study were to explore genetic and environmental interactions within the family system by examining how the dopamine receptor D2 gene (DRD2) A1+ polymorphism in mothers and children relates to maternal sensitivity, how maternal and child characteristics might mediate those effects, and whether maternal sensitivity moderates the association between DRD2 A1+ and child affective problems. Evidence is found for an evocative effect of child polymorphism on parenting behavior, and for a moderating effect of child polymorphism on the association between maternal sensitivity and later child affective problems. Findings are discussed from a family systems perspective, highlighting the role of the family as a context for gene expression in both mothers and children.
Extracellular matrix allows PC12 neurite elongation in the absence of microtubules

Several groups have shown that PC12 will extend microtubule-containing neurites on extracellular matrix (ECM) with no lag period in the absence of nerve growth factor. This is in contrast to nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth that occurs with a lag period of several days. During this lag period, increased synthesis or activation of assembly-promoting microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) occurs and is apparently required for neurite extension. We investigated the growth and microtubule (MT) content of PC12 neurites grown on ECM in the presence or absence of inhibitors of neurite outgrowth. On ECM, neurites of cells with or without prior exposure to NGF contain a normal density of MTs, but frequently contain unusual loops of MTs in their termini that may indicate increased MT assembly. On ECM, neurites extend from PC12 cells in the presence of 10 microM LiCl at significantly higher frequency than on polylysine. On other substrates, LiCl inhibits neurite outgrowth, apparently by inhibiting phosphorylation of particular MAPs (Burstein, D. E., P. J. Seeley, and L. A. Greene. 1985. J. Cell Biol. 101:862-870). Although 35-45% of 60 Li(+)-neurites examined were found to contain a normal array of MTs, 25- 30% were found to have a MT density approximately 15% of normal. The remaining 30% of these neurites were found to be nearly devoid of MTs, containing only occasional, ambiguous, short tubular elements. We also found that neurites would extend on ECM in the presence of the microtubule depolymerizing drug, nocodazole. At 0.1 micrograms/ml nocodazole, cells on ECM produce neurites that contain a normal density of MTs. This is in contrast to the lack of neurite outgrowth and retraction of extant neurites that this dose produces in cells grown on polylysine. At 0.2 microgram/ml nocodazole, neurites again grew out in substantial number and four of five neurites examined ultrastructurally were found to be completely devoid of microtubules. We interpret these results by postulating that growth on ECM relieves the need for MTs to serve as compressive supports for neurite tension (Dennerll, T. J., H. C. Joshi, U. L. Steel, R. E. Buxbaum, and S. R. Heidemann. 1988. J. Cell Biol. 107:665). Because compression destabilizes MTs and favors disassembly, this would tend to increase MT assembly relative to other conditions, as we found. Additionally, if MTs are not needed as compressive supports, neurites could grow out in their absence, as we also observed.
Agreement among Healthcare Professionals in Ten European Countries in Diagnosing Case-Vignettes of Surgical-Site Infections

Objective Although surgical-site infection (SSI) rates are advocated as a major evaluation criterion, the reproducibility of SSI diagnosis is unknown. We assessed agreement in diagnosing SSI among specialists involved in SSI surveillance in Europe. Methods Twelve case-vignettes based on suspected SSI were submitted to 100 infection-control physicians (ICPs) and 86 surgeons in 10 European countries. Each participant scored eight randomly-assigned case-vignettes on a secure online relational database. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess agreement for SSI diagnosis on a 7-point Likert scale and the kappa coefficient to assess agreement for SSI depth on a three-point scale. Results Intra-specialty agreement for SSI diagnosis ranged across countries and specialties from 0.00 (95%CI, 0.00–0.35) to 0.65 (0.45–0.82). Inter-specialty agreement varied from 0.04 (0.00–0.62) in to 0.55 (0.37–0.74) in Germany. For all countries pooled, intra-specialty agreement was poor for surgeons (0.24, 0.14–0.42) and good for ICPs (0.41, 0.28–0.61). Reading SSI definitions improved agreement among ICPs (0.57) but not surgeons (0.09). Intra-specialty agreement for SSI depth ranged across countries and specialties from 0.05 (0.00–0.10) to 0.50 (0.45–0.55) and was not improved by reading SSI definition. Conclusion Among ICPs and surgeons evaluating case-vignettes of suspected SSI, considerable disagreement occurred regarding the diagnosis, with variations across specialties and countries.