Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Central zone of myocardial infarction: a neglected target area for heart cell therapy

The purpose of this study was to investigate the fate of transplanted cells in the central zone of myocardial infarction (MI), and to clarify the relationship between the injection‐site impact and the efficacy of cell therapy. MI was created by coronary ligation in female rats. Three weeks later, 3‐million labelled male bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were directly injected into the border (BZC group) or central zone (CZC group) of MI area. As a control, culture medium was injected into the same sites. Cell survival was evaluated by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction, and apoptosis was assayed with TUNEL and caspase‐3 staining. Four weeks after transplantation, heart function and cardiac morphometry were evaluated by echocardiography and Masson’s Trichrome staining, respectively. Angiogenesis and myogenesis were detected by immunofluorescence staining. After cell transplantation into the border or central zone, there was no cell migration between the different zones of MI. BMSCs in the CZC group exhibited no difference in apoptotic percentage, in the long‐term survival, when compared with those in the BZC group. However, they did effectively promote angiogenesis and cellular myogenic differentiation. Although cell delivery in the central zone of MI had no effect on the recovery of heart function compared with the BZC group, the retained BMSCs could still increase the scar thickness, and subsequently exhibit a trend in the reverse remodelling of ventricular dilation. Hence, we concluded that the central zone of MI should not be ignored during cell‐based therapy. Multiple site injection (border+central zone) is strongly recommended during the procedure of cell transplantation.
Low-Temperature Magnetic Properties of Hematite Nanorods

Low-temperature magnetic properties of hematite nanorods, prepared by both iron−water vapor reactions (sample 1) and hydrothermal methods (sample 2), were studied by superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry. The Morin transition temperature was found to be 122 K in hematite nanorod sample 1, and an unexpected phenomenon was found under an applied field of 10 Oe. These nanorods (sample 1) show an abrupt decrease of the magnetic susceptibility at ca. 122 K, contrary to the abrupt increase normally attributed to the Morin transition in bulk hematite. The origin of this phenomenon can be traced to the probable coherence of the one-dimensional shape anisotropy with the magnetocrystalline anisotropy. In contrast, no obvious Morin transition was found in hematite nanorod sample 2.
Dynamics of sleep-wake transitions during sleep

We study the dynamics of the awakening during the night for healthy subjects and find that the wake and the sleep periods exhibit completely different behavior: the durations of wake periods are characterized by a scale-free power law distribution, while the durations of sleep periods have an exponential distribution with a characteristic time scale. We find that the characteristic time scale of sleep periods changes throughout the night. In contrast, there is no measurable variation in the power law behavior for the durations of wake periods. We develop a stochastic model which agrees with the data and suggests that the difference in the dynamics of sleep and wake states arises from the constraints on the number of microstates in the sleep-wake system.
Comparative study of multicast authentication schemes with application to wide-area measurement system

Multicasting refers to the transmission of a message to multiple receivers at the same time. To enable authentication of sporadic multicast messages, a conventional digital signature scheme is appropriate. To enable authentication of a multicast data stream, however, an authenticated multicast or multicast authentication (MA) scheme is necessary. An MA scheme can be constructed from a conventional digital signature scheme or a multiple-time signature (MTS) scheme. A number of MTS-based MA schemes have been proposed over the years. Here, we formally analyze four MA schemes, namely BiBa, TV-HORS, SCU+ and TSV+. Among these MA schemes, SCU+ is an MA scheme we constructed from an MTS scheme designed for secure code update, and TSV+ is our patched version of TSV, an MA scheme which we show to be vulnerable. Based on our simulation-validated analysis, which complements and at places rectifies or improves existing analyses, we compare the schemes' computational and communication efficiencies relative to their security levels. For numerical comparison of the schemes, we use parameters relevant for a smart (power) grid component called wide-area measurement system. Our comparison shows that TV-HORS, while algorithmically unsophisticated and not the best performer in all categories, is the most balanced performer. SCU+, TSV+ and by implication the schemes from which they are extended do not offer clear advantages over BiBa, the oldest among the schemes.
Efficient answering of set containment queries for skewed item distributions

In this paper we address the problem of efficiently evaluating containment (i.e., subset, equality, and superset) queries over set-valued data. We propose a novel indexing scheme, the Ordered Inverted File (OIF) which, differently from the state-of-the-art, indexes set-valued attributes in an ordered fashion. We introduce query processing algorithms that practically treat containment queries as range queries over the ordered postings lists of OIF and exploit this ordering to quickly prune unnecessary page accesses. OIF is simple to implement and our experiments on both real and synthetic data show that it greatly outperforms the current state-of-the-art methods for all three classes of containment queries.
Simulation aided, self-adapting knowledge based control of material handling systems

Knowledge based methods have recently been applied to the control of material handling systems, specifically using simulation as a source of knowledge. Little research has been done however on ensuring a consistently high quality of the data generated by the simulation, especially under changing circumstances such as differing load patterns in the system. We propose a self-adapting control that is able to automatically generate knowledge according to current circumstances using a parametrized simulation model, which uses observed system parameters as input. The control automatically triggers generation when necessary, detects changes in the system and also proactively anticipates them, resulting in consistently high performance. For the problem of knowledge generation (determining an optimal control action to a given situation), we present a look ahead simulation method that considers uncertainties. We validated our approach in a real world material handling system, developed by Lödige Industries GmbH.
Whole-Cell Fluorescent Biosensors for Bioavailability and Biodegradation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Whole-cell microbial biosensors are one of the newest molecular tools used in environmental monitoring. Such biosensors are constructed through fusing a reporter gene such as lux, gfp or lacZ, to a responsive promoter. There have been many reports of the applications of biosensors, particularly their use in assaying pollutant toxicity and bioavailability. This paper reviews the basic concepts behind the construction of whole-cell microbial biosensors for pollutant monitoring, and describes the applications of two such biosensors for detecting the bioavailability and biodegradation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs).
REUL Is a Novel E3 Ubiquitin Ligase and Stimulator of Retinoic-Acid-Inducible Gene-I

RIG-I and MDA5 are cytoplasmic sensors that recognize different species of viral RNAs, leads to activation of the transcription factors IRF3 and NF-κB, which collaborate to induce type I interferons. In this study, we identified REUL, a RING-finger protein, as a specific RIG-I-interacting protein. REUL was associated with RIG-I, but not MDA5, through its PRY and SPRY domains. Overexpression of REUL potently potentiated RIG-I-, but not MDA5-mediated downstream signalling and antiviral activity. In contrast, the RING domain deletion mutant of REUL suppressed Sendai virus (SV)-induced, but not cytoplasmic polyI:C-induced activation of IFN-β promoter. Knockdown of endogenous REUL by RNAi inhibited SV-triggered IFN-β expression, and also increased VSV replication. Full-length RIG-I, but not the CARD domain deletion mutant of RIG-I, underwent ubiquitination induced by REUL. The Lys 154, 164, and 172 residues of the RIG-I CARD domain were critical for efficient REUL-mediated ubiquitination, as well as the ability of RIG-I to induce activation of IFN-β promoter. These findings suggest that REUL is an E3 ubiquitin ligase of RIG-I and specifically stimulates RIG-I-mediated innate antiviral activity.
A new bone‐inducing biodegradable porous β‐tricalcium phosphate

A new type of degradable biomaterial with bone-inducing capacity was made by combining porous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) with a delivery system for recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). The BMP delivery system consisted of a block copolymer composed of poly-D,L-lactic acid with random insertion of p-dioxanone and polyethylene glycol (PLA-DX-PEG), a known biocompatible and biodegradable material. The efficacy of this biomaterial in terms of its bone-inducing capacity was examined by ectopic bone formation in the dorsal muscles of the mouse. In the β-TCP implants coated with the PLA-DX-PEG polymer containing more than 0.0025% (w/w) of rhBMP-2, new ectopic bone tissues with marrow were consistently found on the surface of implants. The radiographic density of β-TCP was diminished in a time-dependent manner. On histological examination, numerous multinucleated osteoclasts with positive tartrate-resistant acid-phosphatase (TRAP) staining were noted on the surface of the β-TCP. These experimental results indicate that β-TCP implants coated with synthetic rhBMP-2 delivery system might provide effective artificial bone-graft substitutes with osteoinductive capacity and biodegradable properties. In addition, this type of biomaterial may require less rhBMP-2 to induce significant new bone mass. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 70A: 450–458, 2004
Fundamental Aspects of XPS and the Development of XPS Imaging

Our common introduction to the laws of chemistry is rooted in the bulk, steady-state phenomena of solution and gas chemistries. This eases the introduction of the mathematical structure required to explain our macroscopic measurements. We come to understand that chemical change is driven by local gradients in the bulk and that gradients are steepest where properties change most rapidly. This is exactly what happens at material interfaces, where the mathematics get complicated, chasing infinities, and approximations often have to suffice. This confirms what we intuitively knew from everyday observation, that chemical dynamics take place at the interfaces between materials. The interfaces are where the action is.
Sunspot number time series prediction using neural networks with quantum gate nodes

Sunspot is one of the most basic and obvious activity occurred in the solar photosphere, the number of sunspot have great influence on the production and life as well as climate change. Therefore, studying and predicting of sunspots have important meaning. Aiming at the problem of highly nonlinear in sunspot number and the conventional methods are difficult to convergence, a new prediction method based on neural network with quantum gate is proposed to improve the accuracy of the forecast for Sunspot number time series. The input data is expressed by the qubit, which rotated by the rotation gate, as the control qubits control the hidden layer qubits reverse. In the same way, the hidden layer qubits control the output layer. At last, the probability amplitude of state |1> is regarded as the network output. This proposed method has such advantages as high precision and strong generalization ability, and it is a new promising approach for solving time series prediction problem of sunspot number.
PR ] 3 O ct 2 00 2 A Remark on Unified Error Exponents : Hypothesis Testing , Data Compression & Measure Concentration

Let A be finite set equipped with a probability distribution P , and let M be a “mass” function on A. A characterization is given for the most efficient way in which An can be covered using spheres of a fixed radius. A covering is a subset Cn of A n with the property that most of the elements of An are within some fixed distance from at least one element of Cn, and “most of the elements” means a set whose probability is exponentially close to one (with respect to the product distribution P n). An efficient covering is one with small mass Mn(Cn). With different choices for the geometry on A, this characterization gives various corollaries as special cases, including Marton’s error-exponents theorem in lossy data compression, Hoeffding’s optimal hypothesis testing exponents, and a new sharp converse to some measure concentration inequalities on discrete spaces. Let A be finite set equipped with a probability distribution P , and let M be a “mass” function on A. A characterization is given for the most efficient way in which A can be covered using spheres of a fixed radius. A covering is a subset Cn of A n with the property that most of the elements of A are within some fixed distance from at least one element of Cn, and “most of the elements” means a set whose probability is exponentially close to one (with respect to the product distribution P). An efficient covering is one with small mass M(Cn). With different choices for the geometry on A, this characterization gives various corollaries as special cases, including Marton’s error-exponents theorem in lossy data compression, Hoeffding’s optimal hypothesis testing exponents, and a new sharp converse to some measure concentration inequalities on discrete spaces. Received by the editors December 2, 2002. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 62B10; Secondary 60F10.
CSAF - a community-sourcing annotation framework

This paper presents a community-sourcing annotation framework, which is designed to implement a "marketplace model" of annotation tasks and annotators, with an emphasis on efficient management of community of potential annotators. As a position paper, it explains the motivation and the design concept of the framework, with a prototype implementation.
Functional mitral regurgitation and transcatheter mitral annuloplasty: the Carillon Mitral Annuloplasty Device European Union Study in perspective.

In this issue, Schofer and colleagues present findings from the Carillon Mitral Annuloplasty Device European Union Study (AMADEUS), an uncontrolled multicenter trial in which percutaneous placement of a cinching device in the coronary sinus is used to treat functional mitral regurgitation (MR) of ischemic and nonischemic etiologies.1 Of 48 patients enrolled, the device was successfully implanted in 30. Major adverse events occurred in 6 (13%) of 46 patients based on intent-to-treat. The severity of MR, based on 4 echocardiography/Doppler measures, decreased between 22% and 32%. There was substantial functional improvement (assessed by New York Heart Association functional class, 6-minute walk test, and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire) at 1-month and 6-month follow-up. The study is at once exciting and provocative; it is the extrapolation of its results to clinical practice that may be controversial. Article see p 326 Implications of Functional MR Functional MR occurs as a result of malcoaptation of anatomically normal mitral leaflets caused by restricted systolic motion in the setting of dilation and/or geometric distortion of the left ventricle (LV), with or without mitral annular dilation. Its causes and outcomes are inherently different from organic MR that occurs as a result of anatomic abnormalities of the mitral apparatus. Functional MR has been associated with an adverse prognosis among patients with dilated 2 and ischemic cardiomyopathy,3 with increased risks of heart failure and death. Surgical intervention has been associated with improved symptoms of heart failure and LV reverse remodeling.4,5 However, intervention for functional MR has not been shown to improve survival.6 The reasons for this may be complex, but possibilities include a true absence of survival benefit associated with intervention; inadequate reduction of MR or recurrence of MR with the use of existing techniques; or an inability to detect a potentially small survival benefit in patients with confounding risks of coronary artery disease and LV systolic dysfunction in studies limited to relatively few patients and relatively short follow-up duration. At present, the absence of data supporting mortality benefit leads to strong opinions but no consensus as to whether, and in whom, functional MR should be addressed.
Retailer Resources and the Use of Infomediaries

Information about prospective customers (prospects) is an important input into the sales process. Specialized online sites know as infomediaries provide organizations with the opportunity to purchase prospect information directly. In this research, we examine the role of firms’ resources in driving both the investment in prospect information and the sales resulting from these investments. Specifically, we identify information management resources (i.e., an information system for managing leads), electronic commerce resources, and dedicated human resources as important in influencing both the level of investment and resulting sales. We test our model using a detailed survey of auto retailers conducted by a leading market research organization.
Synthesis and Characterization of Porous Polyaniline Conductive Polymers

Polyaniline conductive polymers exhibit great potential for linear actuator applications. Many recent studies report methods to develop polyaniline-based materials with increased mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, and faster response time during actuation. In this study, porous blends of poly(methylmethacrylate) and polyaniline are processed using a two phase batch foaming setup. The effect of materials, processing, and system parameters on the physical properties of the resulting cellular structure are investigated. Hence, the effect of density and cell morphology on the electrical conductivity is elucidated.
Latex Allergy: An Update

The rate of latex sensitization has been increasing since its first recognition in 1979, and anesthesiologists encounter patients with a diagnosis of latex allergy more and more often (1). Latex is a ubiquitous material that is found in balloons, condoms, and many surgical and nonsurgical products. Anesthesiologists, like many other types of physicians who often wear latex gloves, may also become sensitized to latex (2,3), and there are cases of disability of health care professionals because of latex allergy (4,5). Latex anaphylaxis may lead to significant morbidity, and deaths have been reported (4,5). It is essential to recognize which patients and colleagues are sensitized to latex to provide appropriate treatment and to establish adequate prevention. The purpose of this article is to review recent findings and developments on latex allergy. This article reviews the general concepts of latex allergy in the perioperative setting and specifically addresses natural rubber latex (NRL) proteins, reactions associated with NRL, and high-risk groups for developing latex allergy. In addition, we discuss the diagnosis, management, and prevention of latex allergy and conclude with a discussion of future therapies. The literature was searched using Medline from 1966 until July 2002. A literature search with the key words anesthesia, anesthesiology, operating room (OR) or surgery, and latex, latex allergy, or latex hypersensitivity produced 80 articles. The references of these manuscripts were reviewed to identify other relevant articles. Finally, additional references were identified from reviews and abstracts on latex allergy from the allergy and clinical immunology literature from the last 5 yr. NRL: Description, Proteins, and
Odorant-Binding Proteins of the Malaria Mosquito Anopheles funestus sensu stricto

Background The mosquito Anopheles funestus is one of the major malaria vector species in sub-Saharan Africa. Olfaction is essential in guiding mosquito behaviors. Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are highly expressed in insect olfactory tissues and involved in the first step of odorant reception. An improved understanding of the function of malaria mosquito OBPs may contribute to identifying new attractants/repellents and assist in the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly mosquito controlling strategies. Methodology In this study, a large screening of over 50 ecologically significant odorant compounds led to the identification of 12 ligands that elicit significant electroantennographic (EAG) responses from An. funestus female antennae. To compare the absolute efficiency/potency of these chemicals, corrections were made for differences in volatility by determining the exact amount in a stimulus puff. Fourteen AfunOBP genes were cloned and their expression patterns were analyzed. AfunOBP1, 3, 7, 20 and 66 showed olfactory tissue specificity by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that among olfactory-specific OBPs, AfunOBP1 and 3 are the most enriched OBPs in female antennae. Binding assay experiments showed that at pH 7, AfunOBP1 significantly binds to 2-undecanone, nonyl acetate, octyl acetate and 1-octen-3-ol but AfunOBP3, which shares 68% identify with AfunOBP1 at amino acid level, showed nearly no binding activity to the selected 12 EAG-active odorant compounds. Conclusion This work presents for the first time a study on the odorants and OBPs of the malaria vector mosquito An. funestus, which may provide insight into the An. funestus olfactory research, assist in a comparative study between major malaria mosquitoes An. gambiae and An. funestus olfactory system, and help developing new mosquito control strategies to reduce malaria transmission.
Some considerations on the Mac Dowell-Mansouri action

A precise relation is established between the Stelle-West formulation of the Mac Dowell-Mansouri approach to a gauge theory of gravity and the approach based on a gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten term. In particular, it is shown that a consistent truncation of the latter correspond to the former. A brief review of the Lovelock-Chern-Simons motivation behind the gauged WZW ones is also done.
Archetypal source code searches: a survey of software developers and maintainers

We have conducted a survey to generate archetypes of source code searching by programmers across maintenance tasks. Using a questionnaire on a web page, we obtained 69 responses from readers of 7 newsgroups. Respondents were asked about their source code searching habits: what tools they used, why they searched, and what they searched for. The four most common search targets were function definitions, all uses of a function, variable definitions, and all uses of a variable. The most common search motivations were defect repair, code reuse, program understanding, feature addition, and impact analysis. Eleven archetypes were generated from the anecdotes and results. The implications and practical applications of these findings and method are discussed.