Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE INTERSTITIAL FLUID OF SOLID TUMORS.

Summary The interstitial fluid of a solid tumor, consisting of the liquid phase interposed between the newly formed vascular walls of the tumor and the plasma membrane of the neoplastic cells, has been sampled from a chamber enclosed into the neoplastic mass. The “tension” of the interstitial fluid of normal and neoplastic tissues was sufficient to produce a continuous outflow from the sampling device. In some tumors, but not in all of them, the pressure needed to stop this outflow was twice as large as that required for the normal subcutaneous tissue, and it was similar to that measured in the skin after venous obstruction. The sampling technic has been described in detail. Each sample was compared with the blood serum flowing into and out of the neoplastic mass, with the interstitial fluid obtained by the same technic from the normal subcutaneous tissue, with the peritoneal fluid, and with the lymph of the thoracic duct of normal and tumor-bearing rats. The fluids were first tested for sterility and then analyzed for total protein, nonprotein N, urea, free amino acids, glucose, lactic acid, total sterols, lipid phosphorus, chloride, sodium, and potassium. The main purpose was a better characterization of the milieu in which the neoplastic cells live. The results refer to small tumors (5–10 gm.) of Walker carcinoma 256, Fibrosarcoma 4956, Hepatoma 5123, Hepatoma 7974, and Novikoff hepatoma. The interstitial fluid of the tumor was characterized by a very low content of free glucose and high levels of lactic acid. Data are reported on the passage of glucose from the blood into the interstitial fluid of tumors, and they suggest that this passage occurs by means of a transfer mechanism and not by simple diffusion. A “fermentative type” of interstitial fluid, peculiar to the tumor, was produced also in tissues without any sign of neoplasia being present. The concentration of proteins was about 33 per cent lower in the interstitial fluid than in blood serum of tumors. This reduction was constant for each tumor, persisted during growth, and disappeared only when the sampling device was surrounded by necrotic tissue. The α-globulins were reduced, but the albumin-globulin ratio of the interstitial fluid was equal to that of blood serum. The free amino acid level was generally higher in the tumor fluid than in serum of blood entering or leaving the neoplastic mass, but the behavior was not uniform, and no conclusion could be drawn. The concentration of cholesterol and lipid phosphorus in the interstitial fluid of tumors was about one-fourth of that of blood serum; however, the values in the tumor and in normal subcutaneous fluid were similar. The gross composition of tumor fluid was maintained as constant as that of thoracic lymph, normal peritoneal fluid, or subcutaneous fluid despite the presence of necrotic foci and the known changes in metabolism of the neoplastic cell population.
On learning in the limit and non-uniform (ε,δ)-learning

t\’e compare the two most common types of success crl[erla for Iearnlng processes. The (s A! crlter~on employed In the P.IC model and its many variants and extensloils. auci the Identlficatlon In the Ilmlt crlterlon that is used in Inductive inference models. By applying common techniques from the theory of Probabihty, and a stochastic \arlant of Rlssanen’s MDL pr}nclple, we demonstrate close connections between these two types of learnability notions. We also show that. once computability issues are set aside. stochastic identification In the limit IS Intimately related to the count ahlilty of a concept class.
Using Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron for the Remediation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Contaminated Soil

Abstract The sites contaminated with recalcitrant organic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with multiple benzene rings, are colossal and ubiquitous environmental problems. They are relatively nonbiodegradable and mutagenic, and 16 of them are listed in the U.S. Environment Protection Agency priority pollutants. Thus, the efficient and emerging remediation technologies for removal of PAHs in contaminated sites have to be uncovered urgently. In this decade, the zero-valent iron (ZVI) particles have been used successfully in the laboratory, pilot, and field, such as degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons and remediation of the other pollutants. Nevertheless, as far as we know, little research has investigated for soil remediation; this study used nanoscale ZVI particles to remove pyrene in the soil. The experimental variables were determined, including reaction time, iron particle size, and dosage. From the results, both the micro- and nanoscales of ZVI were capable of removing the target compound in soil, but the higher removal efficiencies were by nanoscale ZVI because of the massive specific surface area. The optimal operating conditions to attain the best removal efficiency of pyrene were obtained while adding nanoscale ZVI 0.1 g/g soil within 60 min and 150 rpm of mixing. Thus, nanoscale ZVI has proved to be a promising remedy for PAH-contaminated soil in this study, as well as an optimistically predictable application for additional pilot and field studies.
Diabetes Risk Calculator

OBJECTIVE—The objective of this study was to develop a simple tool for the U.S. population to calculate the probability that an individual has either undiagnosed diabetes or pre-diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We used data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and two methods (logistic regression and classification tree analysis) to build two models. We selected the classification tree model on the basis of its equivalent accuracy but greater ease of use. RESULTS—The resulting tool, called the Diabetes Risk Calculator, includes questions on age, waist circumference, gestational diabetes, height, race/ethnicity, hypertension, family history, and exercise. Each terminal node specifies an individual's probability of pre-diabetes or of undiagnosed diabetes. Terminal nodes can also be used categorically to designate an individual as having a high risk for 1) undiagnosed diabetes or pre-diabetes, 2) pre-diabetes, or 3) neither undiagnosed diabetes or pre-diabetes. With these classifications, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and receiver operating characteristic area for detecting undiagnosed diabetes are 88%, 75%, 14%, 99.3%, and 0.85, respectively. For pre-diabetes or undiagnosed diabetes, the results are 75%, 65%, 49%, 85%, and 0.75, respectively. We validated the tool using v-fold cross-validation and performed an independent validation against NHANES 1999–2004 data. CONCLUSIONS—The Diabetes Risk Calculator is the only currently available noninvasive screening tool designed and validated to detect both pre-diabetes and undiagnosed diabetes in the U.S. population.
Text Readability in Head-Worn Displays: Color and Style Optimization in Video versus Optical See-Through Devices

Efficient text visualization in head-worn augmented reality (AR) displays is critical because it is sensitive to display technology, text style and color, ambient illumination and so on. The main problem for the developer is to know the optimal text style for the specific display and for applications where color coding must be strictly followed because it is regulated by laws or internal practices. In this work, we experimented the effects on readability of two head-worn devices (optical and video see-through), two backgrounds (light and dark), five colors (white, black, red, green, and blue), and two text styles (plain text and billboarded text). Font type and size were kept constant. We measured the performance of 15 subjects by collecting about 5,000 measurements using a specific test application and followed by qualitative interviews. Readability turned out to be quicker on the optical see-through device. For the video see-through device, background affects readability only in case of text without billboard. Finally, our tests suggest that a good combination for indoor augmented reality applications, regardless of device and background, could be white text and blue billboard, while a mandatory color should be displayed as billboard with a white text message.
QoE Prediction Model and its Application in Video Quality Adaptation Over UMTS Networks

The primary aim of this paper is to present a new content-based, non-intrusive quality of experience (QoE) prediction model for low bitrate and resolution (QCIF) H.264 encoded videos and to illustrate its application in video quality adaptation over Universal Mobile Telecommunication Systems (UMTS) networks. The success of video applications over UMTS networks very much depends on meeting the QoE requirements of users. Thus, it is highly desirable to be able to predict and, if appropriate, to control video quality to meet such QoE requirements. Video quality is affected by distortions caused both by the encoder and the UMTS access network. The impact of these distortions is content dependent, but this feature is not widely used in non-intrusive video quality prediction models. In the new model, we chose four key parameters that can impact video quality and hence the QoE-content type, sender bitrate, block error rate and mean burst length. The video quality was predicted in terms of the mean opinion score (MOS). Subjective quality tests were carried out to develop and evaluate the model. The performance of the model was evaluated with unseen dataset with good prediction accuracy ( ~ 93%). The model also performed well with the LIVE database which was recently made available to the research community. We illustrate the application of the new model in a novel QoE-driven adaptation scheme at the pre-encoding stage in a UMTS network. Simulation results in NS2 demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed adaptation scheme, especially at the UMTS access network which is a bottleneck. An advantage of the model is that it is light weight (and so it can be implemented for real-time monitoring), and it provides a measure of user-perceived quality, but without requiring time-consuming subjective tests. The model has potential applications in several other areas, including QoE control and optimization in network planning and content provisioning for network/service providers.
Active part-decomposition, shape and motion estimation of articulated objects: a physics-based approach

We present a novel, robust, integrated approach to segmentation shape and motion estimation of articulated objects. Initially, we assume the object consists of a single part, and we fit a deformable model to the given data using our physics-based framework. As the object attains new postures, we decide based on certain criteria if and when to replace the initial model with two new models. These criteria are based on the model's state and the given data. We then fit the models to the data using a novel algorithm for assigning forces from the data to the two models, which allows partial overlap between them and determination of joint location. This approach is applied iteratively until all the object's moving parts are identified. Furthermore, we define new global deformations and we demonstrate our technique in a series of experiments, where Kalman filtering is employed to account for noise and occlusion. <<ETX>>
Experimental validation of a thermoelastic model for SMA hybrid composites

This study presents results from experimental validation of a recently developed model for predicting the thermomechanical behavior of shape memory alloy hybrid composite (SMAHC) structures, composite structures with an embedded SMA constituent. The model captures the material nonlinearity of the material system with temperature and is capable of modeling constrained, restrained, or free recovery behavior from experimental measurement of fundamental engineering properties. A brief description of the model and analysis procedures is given, followed by an overview of a parallel effort to fabricate and characterize the material system of SMAHC specimens. Static and dynamic experimental configurations for the SMAHC specimens are described and experimental results for thermal post-buckling and random response are presented. Excellent agreement is achieved between the measured and predicted results, fully validating the theoretical model for constrained recovery behavior of SMAHC structures.
Sexuality and Islam

This paper deals with three major questions: (1) What are the sexual norms defined by the sacred texts (Koran and Sunna)? (2) What are the sexual practices currently observed among Moslems? (3) To which extent are current sexual practices of Moslems dissociated from Islamic sexual norms? Sexual standards in Islam are paradoxical: on the one hand, they allow and actually are an enticement to the exercise of sexuality but, on the other hand, they discriminate between male and female sexuality, between marital and pre- or extramarital sexuality, and between heterosexuality and homosexuality. Men are given more rights with regard to the expression of their sexuality; women are forbidden to have extramarital sex (with their slaves) and both genders to have homosexual relationships. The combination of these paradoxical standards with modernisation leads to the current back and forth swing of sexual practices between repression and openness. Partial modernisation leads to greater sexual tolerance. But restrictive sexual standards have gathered strength and have become idealised as a result of the current radicalisation of Islam. This swing of the pendulum between repression and openness is illustrated by phenomena such as public harassment, premarital sexuality, female pleasure, prostitution, and homosexuality. Currently, Islam is not any more the only reference which provides guidance concerning sexual practices but secularisation of sexual laws is still politically unthinkable today. So the only solution is to achieve reform in the name of Islam, through the reinterpretation of repressive holy texts.
From weak-scale observables to leptogenesis

Thermal leptogenesis is an attractive mechanism for generating the baryon asymmetry of the Universe. However, in supersymmetric models, the parameter space is severely restricted by the gravitino bound on the reheat temperature TRH. For hierarchical light neutrino masses, it is shown that thermal leptogenesis can work when TRH ~ 109 GeV. The low-energy observable consequences of this scenario are BR(? ) ~ 10? 8? 10? 9. For higher TRH, thermal leptogenesis works in a larger area of parameter space, whose observable consequences are more ambiguous. A parametrisation of the seesaw in terms of weak-scale inputs is used, so the results are independent of the texture chosen for the GUT-scale Yukawa matrices.
EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE UVEITIDES: MULTIPLE ANTIGENS, DIVERSE DISEASES

Human autoimmune uveitides are diverse and complex. Animal models have been developed for studying the pathogenesis of uveitis because of the difficulties in obtaining tissues from a patient's inflamed eye for experiments. There are animal models for experimental uveitis that provoke inflammation of different tissues of the eye and represent different forms of uveitis. Since inflammatory cells can infiltrate any part of the uvea and spill over to nonuveal tissues, such as retina, various antigens have been used to induce uveitis. Most of those models that represent autoimmune forms of uveitis are induced with proteins specific for photoreceptor cells (S-antigen, IRBP, rhodopsin, recoverin, phosducin). Nonretinal antigens, including melanin-associated proteins and myelin basic protein, are also good inducers of uveitis in animals.
Augmented Stable Fuzzy Control for Flexible Robotic Arm Using LMI Approach and Neuro-Fuzzy State Space Modeling

Designing the control strategy for a flexible robotic arm has long been considered a complex problem as it requires stabilizing the vibration simultaneously with the primary objective of position control. A stable state-feedback fuzzy controller is proposed here for such a flexible arm. The controller is designed on the basis of a neuro-fuzzy state-space model that is successfully trained using the experimental data acquired from a real robotic arm. The complex problem of solving stability conditions is taken care of by recasting them in the form of linear matrix inequalities and then solving them using a popular interior-point-based method. This asymptotically stable fuzzy controller is further augmented to provide enhanced transient performance along with maintaining the excellent steady-state performance shown by the stable control strategy. The controller hence designed has been successfully implemented for a real robotic arm to operate over a long angular range of 180 with several payload conditions and, for situations where the system is operated for a long range and with a large variation in payload conditions, it could successfully outperform the recently proposed proportional derivative and strain controller.
Channel estimation for the TDS-OFDM-based DMB-T system with phase noise

As an effective technique for combating multipath fading and for high-bit-rate transmission over wireless channels, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is extensively used in modern digital television terrestrial broadcasting (DTTB) systems to support high performance bandwidth-efficient multimedia services. In this paper, a robust channel estimation scheme is proposed for the time domain synchronous OFDM (TDS-OFDM) based Terrestrial Digital Multimedia/Television Broadcasting (DMB-T) system with phase noise. Simulations under different channel situations verify the efficiency of the proposed scheme.1
Observer-based consensus control against actuator faults for linear parameter-varying multi-agent Systems

This paper addresses the robust consensus reliable control protocol design problem against actuator faults for linear parameter-varying multi-agent systems. First, the actuator faults are modeled via a polytopic uncertainty method. Second, a distributed observer is designed for the single agent by sharing the communication network sensors to estimate the state information. Then by these estimated information, a robust consensus reliable control protocol against actuator faults is obtained and desired disturbance rejection performance can be guaranteed by this proposed protocol. Third, the non-convexity conditions of the consensus control protocol can be translated into a LMI optimization problem via simple matrix calculation. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed reliable controller scheme is illustrated by the example.
Charting the Expansion of Strategic Exploratory Behavior During Adolescence

Although models of exploratory decision making implicate a suite of strategies that guide the pursuit of information, the developmental emergence of these strategies remains poorly understood. This study takes an interdisciplinary perspective, merging computational decision making and developmental approaches to characterize age-related shifts in exploratory strategy from adolescence to young adulthood. Participants were 149 12–28-year-olds who completed a computational explore–exploit paradigm that manipulated reward value, information value, and decision horizon (i.e., the utility that information holds for future choices). Strategic directed exploration, defined as information seeking selective for long time horizons, emerged during adolescence and maintained its level through early adulthood. This age difference was partially driven by adolescents valuing immediate reward over new information. Strategic random exploration, defined as stochastic choice behavior selective for long time horizons, was invoked at comparable levels over the age range, and predicted individual differences in attitudes toward risk taking in daily life within the adolescent portion of the sample. Collectively, these findings reveal an expansion of the diversity of strategic exploration over development, implicate distinct mechanisms for directed and random exploratory strategies, and suggest novel mechanisms for adolescent-typical shifts in decision making.
Reduction of fish's learning speed by chaos and randomness in antagonistic relationship of robot and fish

In this paper, we report relative comparison on leaning speed of fish in an antagonistic relation of prey and predator-the prey is a fish and the predator is a robot seeking to catch the fish by a net attached robot's hand through visual servoing. It was confirmed that the fish have found escaping strategy by itself, e.g., staying at corners of a pool where the net is inhibited from closely approaching to the corners to avoid the net clashing to the pool wall. The effectiveness of the conceived escaping strategies by fish have been measured as learning speed that describe decreasing tendency of how many fish could be caught in constant time when the fish caught being released immediately to the same pool. To overcome such fish's ability to conceive new strategies for escape, in this paper, chaos and randomness have been added to the net motion, where some experiments are conducted to examine whether chaos and randomness can decrease the fish's learning speed.
Sequential Histopathological Changes in vivo after Suicide Gene Therapy of Gastric Cancer Induced by N‐Methyl‐N′‐nitro‐N‐nitrosoguanidine in Rats

Gastrointestinal cancer is the most important clinical target of gene therapy. Suicide gene therapy, such as with the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV‐TK) gene, has been shown to exert antitumor efficacy in various cancer models in vitro. We previously reported in situ gene transfer and gene therapy for gastric cancer induced by N‐ethyl‐. N′‐nitro‐. N‐nitrosoguanidine (ENNG) in dogs. Here, we describe the sequential histopathological changes after suicide gene therapy of N‐methyl‐. N′‐nitro‐. N nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)‐induced gastric cancer in rats. Gastric tumors were induced by MNNG in 38/73 (52%) of Wistar strain rats. The suicide gene therapy group (14 rats) was subjected to in situ gene transfer with a recombinant adenovirus vector carrying the HSV‐TK gene driven by CAG promoter (Ad.CAGHSV‐TK) in gastric tumor, followed by the antiviral drug ganciclovir (GCV). To observe the histopathological changes at various tunes after HSV‐TK/GCV gene therapy, groups of animals were sacrificed at 3, 8, and 30 days after gene transfer. Apoptosis in the gastric tumors was detected by the TUNEL method to assess the efficacy of HSV‐TK/GCV gene therapy, and it was marked in the 8‐ and 30‐day treatment groups compared to the sham operation controls (P<0.001). Various histopathological changes, degeneration of cancer tissue and fibrosis after necrosis and apoptosis were significantly greater in the 30‐day treatment group. The HSV‐TK gene was detectable in peripheral blood by PCR until 30 days after gene transfer. These results may be useful in devising a method of suicide gene therapy for humans.