Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Ethanol and Acetaldehyde Toxicity in Rat Astrocytes in Primary Culture

Comparison of Ethanol and Acetaldehyde Toxicity in Rat Astrocytes in Primary Culture This study compared the effects of toxicity of ethanol and its first metabolite acetaldehyde in rat astrocytes through cell viability and cell proliferation. The cells were treated with different concentrations of ethanol in the presence or absence of a catalase inhibitor 2-amino-1,2,4 triazole (AMT) or with different concentrations of acetaldehyde. Cell viability was assessed using the trypan blue test. Cell proliferation was assessed after 24 hours and after seven days of exposure to either ethanol or acetaldehyde. We showed that both ethanol and acetaldehyde decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. In proliferation studies, after seven days of exposure to either ethanol or acetaldehyde, we observed a significant dose-dependent decrease in cell number. The protein content study showed biphasic dose-response curves, after 24 hours and seven days of exposure to either ethanol or acetaldehyde. Co-incubation in the presence of AMT significantly reduced the inhibitory effect of ethanol on cell proliferation. We concluded that long-term exposure of astrocytes to ethanol is more toxic than acute exposure. Acetaldehyde is a much more potent toxin than ethanol, and at least a part of ethanol toxicity is due to ethanol's first metabolite acetaldehyde. Primerjava toksičnosti etanola in acetaldehida za podganje astrocite v primarni kulturi V študiji smo primerjali toksičnost etanola in njegovega prvega metabolita acetaldehida za podganje astrocite z določitvijo celične viabilnosti in proliferacije. Celične kulture smo tretirali z različnimi koncentracijami etanola, etanola v prisotnosti inhibitorja katalaze 2-amino-1,2,4 triazol-a (AMT) ali z različnimi koncentracijami acetaldehida. Celično viabilnost smo vrednotili s pomočjo testa s tripanskim modrilom, celično proliferacijo pa s štetjem celic in določitvijo koncentracije proteinov po 24-urni, kot tudi 7-dnevni izpostavljenosti. S študijo smo pokazali, da tako etanol kot tudi acetaldehid v odvisnosti od njune koncentracije zmanjšata celično viabilnost. V študiji proliferacije sta etanol in acetaldehid, v odvisnosti od njunih koncentracij, značilno zmanjšala število celic po 7-dnevni izpostavljenosti. Pri ugotavljanju vsebnosti proteinov smo dobili bifazno krivuljo tako po 24-urni, kot tudi po 7-dnevni izpostavljenosti različnim koncentracijam etanola oziroma acetaldehida. Prisotnost AMT je signifikantno zmanjšala učinek etanola na celično proliferacijo. Zaključimo lahko, da je dolgotrajna izpostavljenost astrocitov etanolu bolj toksična kot akutna. Acetaldehid je močnejši toksin kot etanol in vsaj del toksičnosti etanola je posledica delovanja njegovega prvega metabolita, acetaldehida.
Dysautonomia Due to Reduced Cholinergic Neurotransmission Causes Cardiac Remodeling and Heart Failure

ABSTRACT Overwhelming evidence supports the importance of the sympathetic nervous system in heart failure. In contrast, much less is known about the role of failing cholinergic neurotransmission in cardiac disease. By using a unique genetically modified mouse line with reduced expression of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) and consequently decreased release of acetylcholine, we investigated the consequences of altered cholinergic tone for cardiac function. M-mode echocardiography, hemodynamic experiments, analysis of isolated perfused hearts, and measurements of cardiomyocyte contraction indicated that VAChT mutant mice have decreased left ventricle function associated with altered calcium handling. Gene expression was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and Western blotting, and the results indicated that VAChT mutant mice have profound cardiac remodeling and reactivation of the fetal gene program. This phenotype was attributable to reduced cholinergic tone, since administration of the cholinesterase inhibitor pyridostigmine for 2 weeks reversed the cardiac phenotype in mutant mice. Our findings provide direct evidence that decreased cholinergic neurotransmission and underlying autonomic imbalance cause plastic alterations that contribute to heart dysfunction.
On the Creation of Modern Teacher's Personality

Teacher's personality is a strength which is indispensable and irreplaceable.The creation of perfect teacher's personality is a requirement of the time.Modern teacher's personality is characterized by humanity education,demonstration,perfection and development.Absence of teacher's morality because of moral conflict,loss of charm due to authority challenge,and emotion loss because of apathy lead to the weakening role of present teacher's personality.The creation of modern teacher's personality can be realized by means of the improvement of social environment,educational practice and teacher's self-fulfilment.
Wage-Price Dynamics: Are They Consistent with Cost Push?

The “cost-push” view of the inflation process implies that higher wage growth leads to higher future inflation, notwithstanding the nature of Federal Reserve policy and the inflation regime. I test this implication using wage-price data over the sample period 1952Q1–1999Q2, during which both inflation and Fed policy vary considerably. Although wage growth does help predict inflation over the full sample period, this result is due to the high inflation subperiod 1966–1983. Wage growth does not help predict inflation during low inflation subperiods 1952–1965 and 1984–1999, suggesting wage growth has not been an independent source of inflation in the United States.
Pragmatism, Mandarin and political culture in Singapore: recent reprises of an ideology

Abstract Mandarin in Singapore has recently undergone the process of linguistic commodification, thus generating fundamental cracks in the ideological premises of the country’s much-touted bilingual policy: the pragmatic function is now ascribed to both English and Mandarin, and no longer exclusively to English only. This article argues that the complications wrought by the commodification of Mandarin on the bilingual policy have been shaped almost single-handedly by the ideology of pragmatism. Thus, the article seeks to answer this question: What does the commodification of Mandarin tell us about Singapore and Singaporeans’ recent (re)articulations and (re)enactments of the ideology of pragmatism? It transcends issues of language and permeates the very core of Singaporean political culture. It is not a simple case of commodifying a language; it is more a case of reinscribing government in the political culture of the country.
Inhaled formoterol during one year in asthma: a comparison with salbutamol.

Eighteen patients, who had previously taken part in a 2 wk cross-over comparison between formoterol and salbutamol, now took part in a one year double-blind study comparing salbutamol 200 micrograms b.i. d. with formoterol 12 micrograms b.i. d. Additional doses were taken when needed and were recorded. Ten patients were started on formoterol and eight on salbutamol. After one month, the patients were allowed to shift to the alternative drug. Two patients withdrew from the study. At the end of the study, 13 of 16 patients were on formoterol, thus showing a long-lasting preference for this drug. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) dose-response curves for inhaled salbutamol were repeatedly recorded during the study, and no tachyphylaxis was found. One patient stopped taking inhaled steroids but continued taking formoterol and theophylline. He deteriorated with a decreased response to salbutamol. After re-introduction of inhaled steroids his condition improved. This case indicates that effective bronchodilator therapy may mask the deterioration of asthma.
Evolution of Electronic Catalogs to Customer Process Portals ) A Structured Approach at ETA S.A

First-generation E-commerce applications, such as corporate web sites or electronic catalogs have often been developed from a technological or marketing perspective. Technological features do not fit the customer’s requirements or marketing does not conceive E-commerce as part of their customer relationship program. Disappointing transaction figures or business cases for E-commerce are the most common result. We argue that process thinking needs to be introduced in Evolution of Electronic Catalogs to Customer Process Portals – A Structured Approach. 193 E-commerce projects in order to match customer and internal processes. A structured approach to identify and decompose customer processes in portal elements has been developed together with ETA SA, a subsidiary of ‘The Swatch Group’. In this process ETA’s existing E-commerce system will evolve to become a customer process portal.
Design and Methods for a Pilot Study of a Phone-Delivered, Mindfulness-Based Intervention in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Background. Meditation practices are associated with a reduction in adrenergic activity that may benefit patients with severe cardiac arrhythmias. This paper describes the design and methods of a pilot study testing the feasibility of a phone-delivered mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for treatment of anxiety in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Design and Methods. Consecutive, clinically stable outpatients (n = 52) will be screened for study eligibility within a month of an ICD-related procedure or ICD shock and will be randomly assigned to MBI or to usual care. MBI patients will receive eight weekly individual phone sessions based on two mindfulness practices (awareness of breath and body scan) plus home practice with a CD for 20 minutes daily. Patients assigned to usual care will be offered the standard care planned by the hospital. Assessments will occur at baseline and at the completion of the intervention (between 9 and 12 weeks after randomization). The primary study outcome is feasibility; secondary outcomes include anxiety, mindfulness, and number of administered shocks during the intervention period. Conclusions. If proven feasible and effective, phone-delivered mindfulness-based interventions could improve psychological distress in ICD outpatients with serious cardiovascular conditions.
An Empirical Study on the Individual Innovative Performance of Knowledge-oriented Staff Under the Achievement Motivation Theory Perspective: Data Collected From the Sci-Tech Organizations

Knowledge workers or 'the creative class' are viewed as core to the competitiveness of a firm in a knowledge-based economy.Achievement motivation theory describes goal orientations as motivational orientations that capture how individuals regulate attention and effort when approaching,interpreting,and responding to achievement situations.With the help of the structural equation modeling and based on the 264 samples,this paper studies the crucial influencing factors and its relationship from four aspects,respectively,innovation avoidance,innovative personality,learning goal orientation,performance-prove goal orientation,and hope to do some contributions to the improvement of the individual innovative performance in sci-tech organizations.
Countermeasures to Enhance Cyber-physical System Security and Safety

An application of two Cyber-Physical System (CPS) security countermeasures - Intelligent Checker (IC) and Cross-correlator - for enhancing CPS safety and achieving required CPS safety integrity level is presented. ICs are smart sensors aimed at detecting attacks in CPS and alerting the human operators. Cross-correlator is an anomaly detection technique for detecting deception attacks. We show how ICs could be implemented at three different CPS safety protection layers to maintain CPS in a safe state. In addition, we combine ICs with the cross-correlator technique to assure high probability of failure detection. Performance simulations show that a combination of these two security countermeasures is effective in detecting and mitigating CPS failures, including catastrophic failures.
Prostaglandin E2 Suppressed IL-15-Mediated Human NK Cell Function Through Down-Regulation of Common γ-Chain1

NK cell function is regulated by cytokines and certain biochemical mediators in a positive or negative manner. This study was performed to investigate the suppressive effects of PGE2 on IL-15-activated human NK cell function. Purified NK cells were cultured with 200 ng/ml IL-15 for 2 days in the presence or absence of 10–200 ng/ml PGE2. PGE2 significantly suppressed NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and IFN-γ production at the secretional and the transcriptional levels. We also evaluated the effect of PGE2 on the IL-15R complex that consists of IL-2Rβ, common γ-chain (γc-chain), and a specific chain IL-15Rα. Percentage of positive cells and number of binding sites for γc-chain were significantly increased after IL-15 treatment; however, a substantial decrease was observed with PGE2 cotreatment. In contrast, constitutive expression of IL-2Rβ was significantly decreased after IL-15 treatment, with no change detected in the presence of PGE2. At the transcriptional level, neither IL-15 nor PGE2 had significant effects on the expression of β- or γc-chains. There was a 3-fold increase in the expression of IL-15Rα at the transcriptional level that peaked at 8 h after IL-15 treatment; however, PGE2 had no significant effect. Suppression of NK function by PGE2 was not due to the endogenous production of IL-4, IL-10, or TGF-β1 by NK cells. These results suggest that down-regulation of surface expression of γc-chain on NK cells may be one mechanism through which PGE2 mediates suppression of IL-15-activated NK cell function.
A Scalable Elimination-based Exchange Channel

We present a new nonblocking implementation of the exchange channel, a concurrent data structure in which 2N participants form N pairs and each participant exchanges data with its partner. Our new implementation combines techniques from our previous work in dual stacks and from the elimination-based stack of Hendler et al. to yield very high concurrency. We assess the performance of our exchange channel using experimental results from a 16-processor SunFire 6800. We compare our implementation to that of the Java SE 5.0 class java.util. concurrent.Exchanger using both a synthetic microbenchmark and a real-world application that finds an approximate solution to the traveling salesman problem using genetic recombination. Our algorithm outperforms the Java SE 5.0 Exchanger in the microbenchmark by a factor of two at two threads up to a factor of 50 at 10; similarly, it outperforms the Java SE 5.0 Exchanger by a factor of five in the traveling salesman problem at ten threads. Our exchanger has been adopted for inclusion in Java 6.
An ECN-Based Congestion Control Algorithm for TCP Enhancement in WLAN

In Wireless LAN connected with Internet, the anomaly of wireless channel and the greedy nature of closed loop control in TCP lead to the congestion problem and significant unfair bandwidth distribution between TCP flows. In this paper, an ECN-based access point congestion control algorithm called APCC (AP congestion control) is proposed. The main properties of APCC are: (1) Using both wireless channel load and buffer queue length as congestion indicators, APC Censures low packet loss rate, low queue delay, and high goodput; (2)APCC guarantees the up/down TCP fairness by marking the ECN bit in TCP DATA and ACK packets; (3) Taking into account the wireless channel rate of each TCP flow, APCC sets different ECN marking probability for each flow to achieve the time fairness and high network efficiency.
Supplemental data : Functional Conservation of an Insect Odorant Receptor Gene Family Member Across 250 Million Years of Evolution

Humans tend to respond differently between each other to rewards being dished out unfairly in different social groups, yet little is known about the potential for such variation in other species. A new study has examined responses to such inequity in several groups of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). The study, by Sarah Brosnan, Hillary Schiff and Frans de Waal, at the Yerkes National Primate Center at Emory University, Atlanta, in the Proceedings of the Royal Society series B (published online), demonstrates that chimpanzees show a response to inequity that depends to considerable extent on the social context that the rewards are given. The researchers used an experimental procedure whereby animals were given a token, in this case a piece of white PVC pipe, which they then had to give back to the researcher to receive a food reward. Food rewards were placed in identical buckets on the floor in front of the chimpanzees so that all animals in the experiment could see what was in the buckets, but none knew what reward they would receive until they had successfully returned the token. The rewards were chosen on the basis of previous preference tests in which grapes were most highly prized by the animals and cucumber and celery, the least sought. The researchers found that the animals were averse to any inequity but only in subjects that lived in pairs or in a relatively newly established social group. In a far older group, with a tightly knit social structure characterised by intense integration and social reciprocity, inequity caused barely a ripple from the animals disappointingly receiving a cucumber or celery reward. This finding may reflect human responses in close relationships, and inequity may be tolerated more as apes develop the mutual dependencies and bonds that serve a wide range of benefits derived from sociality. “If so, tolerance of inequity may increase with social closeness between partners, such as friends and family, in a wide variety of species, a hypothesis that deserves further testing in humans and non-human primates,” the authors say. Such tolerance may not marry with the experience of some humans, but its apparent existence in our closest cousins is intriguing.
Lagrangian Trajectory Simulation of Rotating Regular Shaped Ice Particles

This paper focuses on the numerical simulation of the motion of regular shaped ice particles under the forces and torques generated by aerodynamic loading. Ice particles can occur during landing and take-off of aircraft at ground level up to the lower bound of the stratosphere at cruising altitude. It may be expected that the particle Reynolds number is high because the flow around the aircraft is in certain regions characterized by strong acceleration and deceleration of the flow. In combination with this flow pattern, the rotation of particles becomes important. Applicable translational and rotational equations of motion combined with a drag correlation taking into account rotation will be derived for a Lagrangian type particle tracking. Orientation is described with quaternions to prevent the singularities associated with the description by Euler angles. The influence of regular shaped particles on collection efficiencies is investigated. Test cases are the flow past a cylinder, a NACA0012 airfoil and a NHLP L1/T2 three element airfoil. Due to the increased computational effort compared to the purely translational approach, observed trajectory simulation times are reported.
An unreleased mm-wave Resonant Body Transistor

In this work, we present the first fully unreleased Micro-Electro-Mechanical (MEM) resonator. The 1st harmonic longitudinal resonance of a silicon FinFET fully clad in SiO2 is demonstrated. The device exhibits two resonances at 39 and 41 GHz, corresponding well with simulation results. The quality factor (Q) of 129 at 39 GHz is ∼4x lower than that of its released counterpart. Methods to improve Q and reduce spurious modes are introduced. This first demonstration of unreleased resonators in a hybrid MEMS-CMOS technology can provide RF and microwave CMOS circuit designers with active high-Q devices monolithically integrated in Front-End-of-Line (FEOL) processing without the need for post-processing or special packaging.
Automatic measurement and analysis of the child verbal communication using classroom acoustics within a child care center

Understanding the language environment of early learners is a challenging task for both human and machine, and it is critical in facilitating effective language development among young children. This papers presents a new application for the existing diarization systems and investigates the language environment of young children using a turn taking strategy employing an i-vector based baseline that captures adult-to-child or child-to-child conversational turns across different classrooms in a child care center. Detecting speaker turns is necessary before more in depth subsequent analysis of audio such as word count, speech recognition, and keyword spotting which can contribute to the design of future learning spaces speciﬁcally designed for typically developing children, or those at-risk with communication limitations. Experimental results using naturalistic child-teacher classroom settings indicate the proposed rapid child-adult speech turn taking scheme is highly effective under noisy classroom conditions and results in 27.3% relative error rate reduction compared to the baseline results produced by the LIUM diarization toolkit.
A framework for low complexitgy static learning

In this paper, we present a new data structure for a complete implication graph and two techniques for low complexity static learning. We show that using static indirect &Lgr-implications and super gate extraction some hard-to-detect static and dynamic indirect implications are easily derived during static and dynamic learning as well as branch and bound search. Experimental results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed data structure and learning techniques.
Blind Separation of TMJ Sounds by Incorporating Fractional Delay Estimation

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds are generated from the two joints holding the lower jaw and the temporal bone (the skull) in patients suffering from temporomandibular disorder (TMD). In this study, we shall show how the inherent fractional delay between a pair of TMJ sources can be estimated by time localised sparse component analysis. In effect, the active periods of one of the sources will assist us in estimating the delay by employing modified versions of either the maximum likelihood (MLE) delay estimator or the mixed modulated Lagrange explicit time delay estimator (MMLETDE). Thereafter, we consider a strategy based on delaying the mixtures to solve the blind source separation of the TMJ sources. Simulation studies confirm the efficacy of the proposed scheme.
VCAT-LCAS in a clamshell

Virtual concatenation (VCAT) is a standardized layer 1 inverse multiplexing technique that can be applied to the optical transport network (OTN), synchronous optical network (SONET), synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH), and plesiochronous digital hierarchy (PDH) component signals. By inverse multiplexing, it combines multiple links at a particular layer into aggregate links to achieve a commensurate increase in available bandwidth on the aggregate link. While any inverse multiplexing scheme is about "more bandwidth", the VCAT/LCAS is a general technique that can enable a fairly broad range of network features such as (1) right sizing bandwidth for data applications, (2) bandwidth extraction from a mesh network, (3), bandwidth on demand and IP traffic engineering, and (4) provides new forms of protection-restoration and graceful degradation. In this paper, the authors have given a quick overview of VCAT/LCAS technology and just a few examples of its applications