Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Imaging of interstitial cryotherapy--an in vitro comparison of ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES To evaluate the imaging capabilities of ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in monitoring interstitial cryotherapy and to compare them with visual control. METHODS An experimental MR-compatible, vacuum-insulated and liquid nitrogen-cooled cryoprobe was inserted under in vitro conditions into a porcine liver, which was kept at a temperature of 37 +/- 1 degrees C, in a water bath with continuous stirring. The freezing procedure was controlled macroscopically, by US (Toshiba Sonolayer, 7.5-MHz linear array transducer), by CT (Siemens Somatom Plus, slice thickness 2-8 mm, 165-210 mA at 120 kV), and by MRI (Philips Gyroscan ACS-NT, FFE TR/TE/FA = 15/5.4/25 degrees, T1-SE 550/20, T2-TSE 1800/100) after the iceball reached its maximum size. RESULTS The maximum iceball diameter around the probe tip was 12.0 mm by visual control, 12.4 mm by US, 12.7 mm by CT, and within 12.8 mm by spin echo sequences and 11 mm by gradient echo sequence. Due to the nearly signal-free appearance of the frozen tissue on MR images, the ice/tissue contrast on T1-weighted and gradient echo images was superior to T2-weighted images and CT images. Sonographically, the ice formation appeared as a hyperechoic sickle with nearly complete acoustic shadowing. CONCLUSION Due to the better ice/tissue contrast, T1-weighted or gradient echo MR images were superior to CT and US in monitoring interstitial cryotherapy. Gradient echo sequences generally underestimated the ice diameter by 15%.
Green approach for synthesis of bioactive Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives based on thiophene moiety via multicomponent reaction

A novel green and efficient one-pot multicomponent reaction of dihydropyridine derivatives was reported as having good to excellent yield. In the presence of the catalyst ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN), different 1,3-diones and same starting materials as 5-bromothiophene-2-carboxaldehyde and ammonium acetate were used at room temperature under solvent-free condition for the Hantzsch pyridine synthesis within a short period of time. All compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity and, interestingly, we found that 5(b–f) show excellent activity compared with Ampicillin, whereas only the 5e compound shows excellent antifungal activity against Candida albicans compared with griseofulvin. The cytotoxicity of all compounds has been assessed against breast tumour cell lines (BT-549), but no activity was found. The X-ray structure of one such compound, 5a, viewed as a colourless block crystal, corresponded accurately to a primitive monoclinic cell.
Get a ligand, get a life: integrins, signaling and cell survival

Programmed cell death is crucial for the development and maintenance of multicellular organisms. The decision to live, or to die, depends, at the cellular level, upon the cell's interaction with extracellular cues that trigger cell signaling pathways promoting survival or death. The extracellular matrix (ECM) influences the execution of the apoptotic program through the actions of adhesion receptors. Among these, integrins initiate a variety of downstream signaling events in response to ECM ligation. Integrins directly activate survival pathways via the PI 3-kinase and MAPK pathways and act as essential cofactors for their stimulation by growth factors. Conversely, elevated integrin expression in the absence of appropriate ligands, or in the presence of natural or synthetic antagonists, can promote apoptosis under otherwise permissive growth conditions. Integrins thus act in a crucial biosensory role, coordinating survival or death responses as a function of ECM composition. This dual function provides an elegant mechanism through which tissue-remodeling events may regulate cell death or survival in a temporal, ECM-governed manner.
Activation of Single Nicotinic Receptor Channels from Caenorhabditis elegans Muscle

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are pentameric neurotransmitter-gated ion channels that mediate synaptic transmission throughout the nervous system in vertebrates and invertebrates. Caenorhabditis elegans is a nonmammalian model for the study of the nervous system and a model of parasitic nematodes. Nematode muscle nAChRs are of considerable interest because they are targets for anthelmintic drugs. We show single-channel activity of C. elegans muscle nAChRs for the first time. Our results reveal that in the L1 larval stage acetylcholine (ACh) activates mainly a levamisole-sensitive nAChR (L-AChR). A single population of 39 pS channels, which are 5-fold more sensitive to levamisole than ACh, is detected. In contrast to mammalian nAChRs, open durations are longer for levamisole than for ACh. Studies in mutant strains reveal that UNC-38, UNC-63, and UNC-29 subunits are assembled into a single L-AChR in the L1 stage and that these subunits are irreplaceable, suggesting that they are vital for receptor function throughout development. Recordings from a strain mutated in the LEV-1 subunit show a main population of channels with lower conductance (26 pS), prolonged open durations, and reduced sensitivity to levamisole. Thus, although LEV-1 is preferentially incorporated into native L-AChRs, receptors lacking this subunit can still function. No single-channel activity from levamisole-insensitive nAChRs is detected. Thus, during neuromuscular transmission in C. elegans, the majority of ACh-activated current flows through L-AChRs. This study contributes to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying functional diversity of the nAChR family and offers an excellent strategy to test novel antiparasitic drugs.
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Annotators ’ Agreement in the Development of Cast 3 LB

M. Civit , A. Ageno , B. Navarro , N. Bufí , M.A. Martí CLiC Centre de Llenguatge i Computació Adolf Florensa s/n (Torre Florensa) 08028 Barcelona {civit, nuria}@clic.fil.ub.es; amarti@fil.ub.es TALP Research Centre (UPC) Jordi Girona no 3 08034 Barcelona ageno@lsi.upc. es Departamento de Lenguajes y Sistemas Informáticos Universidad de Alicante Campus de San Vicente del Raspeig Apartado 99. 03080 Alicante borja@dlsi.ua. es
Diffusion Ordered Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: Principles and Applications

Nomenclature GLOSSARY ALS (computer program) ARK* a priori knowledge BPP* Bipolar Pulse Pairs CONTIN (computer program) CORE COSY-DOSY CTP DECRA DEPT DISCRETE DLS DSTE DOSY* Diffusion Ordered NMR SpectroscopY EXSY FID FIDDLE (computer program) GCSTE GCSTESL GPC-NMR GRAM (computer algorithm) HDL (lipoprotein) HMQC-DOSY HR-DOSY HSQC INEPT ILT (inverse Laplace tranform) LDL (lipoprotein) LED* Longitudinal Eddy current Delay or Longitudinal Encode–Decode MaxEnt MCR (computer algorithm) MOSY* Mobility Ordered NMR SpectroscopY MWD NIPALS (computer program) NLREG (computer program) NOESY-DOSY PFG-NMR PVA (computer algorithm) RDCON SE SPLMOD STE STEP (computer program) VLDL (lipoprotein) VMAX (computer algorithm) CSJ is responsible for LED, DOSY, and MOSY and some of the hyphenated forms containing them. He may have been the first to use the abbreviations BPP and APK. The others are defined in the text. One of the most fruitful ideas in NMR spectroscopy was the introduction of a second frequency dimension [1]. This was made possible through the use of pulse sequences having two independent precession periods. In one class of two-dimensional NMR (2D-NMR) experiments, the Hamiltonian is switched between the evolution period and the detection period. As a consequence of the evolution period, resonances are spread into a second dimension to reveal their origins. Examples of such 2D 'resolved' spectro-scopies include J-resolved where the Hamiltonian is switched through spin decoupling [2] and NMR imaging where magnetic field gradient directions are switched [3]. A logical extension of these ideas is the introduction of additional NMR dimensions that depend on molecular properties such as size, shape, mass, and charge that are not explicitly included in spin Hamil-tonians. These overall molecular properties are not well represented in conventional NMR as spin interactions tend to be quite local. Therefore, dispersion on the basis of such properties can provide new information as well as a means for editing NMR spectra. The problem is to identify ways that molecular properties influence NMR spectra or can be made to affect NMR spectra. Nuclear relaxation times are obvious candidates because they depend on correlation times for molecular motion, and the correlation times in turn depend on molecular sizes and shapes. However, relaxation times can be quite different for different nuclei in the same molecule because of site specific magnetic interactions and because local or segmental motions may obscure overall molecular motions. In the case of longitudinal relaxation, high frequency local segmen-tal motion may provide the dominant relaxation mechanism, leading to T 1 …
The Influence of Different Workload Descriptions on a Heuristic Load Balancing Scheme

A task scheduler based on the concept of a stochastic learning automation, implemented on a network of Unix workstations, is described. Creating an artificial, executable workload, a number of experiments were conducted to determine the effect of different workload descriptions. These workload descriptions characterize the load at one host and determine whether a newly created task is to be executed locally or remotely. Six one-dimensional workload descriptors are examined. Two workload descriptions that are more complex are also considered. It is shown that the best single workload descriptor is the number of tasks in the run queue. The use of the worst workload descriptor, the 1-min load average, resulted in an increase of the mean response time of over 32%, compared to the best descriptor. The two best workload descriptors, the number of tasks in the run queue and the system call rate, are combined to measure a host's load. Experimental results indicate that no performance improvements over the scheduler versions using a one-dimensional workload descriptor can be obtained. >
Languages of Sentiment: Cultural constructions of emotional substrates

1. Introduction: Linguistic Anthropology and Emotional Experience (by Palmer, Gary B.) 2. Pragmatic and Social Constructionist Approaches 3. Language, Primordialism and Sentiment (by Schiffman, Harold) 4. Transforming Laments: Performativity and Rationalization as Linguistic Ideologies (by Wilce, Jr., James M.) 5. Dignity in Tragedy: How Javanese Women Speak of Emotion (by Berman, Laine) 6. Public and Private Voices: Japanese Style Shifting and the Display of Affective Intensity (by Dickel Dunn, Cynthia) 7. Cognitive Approaches 8. From Hiren to Happi-endo: Romantic Expression in the Japanese Love Story (by Shibamoto Smith, Janet S.) 9. Sounds of the Heart and Mind: Mimetics of Emotional States in Japanese (by Occhi, Debra J.) 10. Bursting with Grief, Erupting with Shame: A Conceptual and Grammatical Analysis of Emotion-Tropes in Tagalog (by Palmer, Gary B.) 11. The Convergence of Sociocultural Theory and Cognitive Linguistics: Lexical Semantics and the L2 Acquisition of Love, Fear and Happiness (by Grabois, Howard) 12. Theory 13. Language And Emotion Concepts: What Experientialists and Social Constructionists Have in Common (by Kovecses, Zoltan) 14. Name Index 15. Subject Index
Ratio-Independent Blood Pressure Estimation by Modeling the Oscillometric Waveform Envelope

Oscillometry is the most common measurement method used in electronic blood pressure (BP) monitors. However, most of the existing oscillometric algorithms employ empirical ratios on the oscillometric waveform envelope (OMWE) to determine the systolic pressure (SP) and diastolic pressure (DP). As these algorithms do not consider the cardiovascular system parameters that may vary due to health conditions or age, the pressure estimates are not always reliable. In this paper, we develop a new mathematical model for the OMWE by incorporating an existing model of the cuff-arm-artery system. The unique feature of our developed model is that it explicitly represents the relationship between the OMWE and the SP and DP. Based on our developed model, we propose a new ratio-independent oscillometric BP estimation method. The proposed method is based on minimizing the sum of the squared errors between our model and the OMWE using the trust-region-reflective algorithm. Our proposed method is validated in a pilot study against Omron HEM-790IT and BpTRU BMP-100 BP monitors. It is found that the mean absolute error of the proposed method in estimating SP and DP is 4.60 and 4.53 mmHg, respectively, relative to the Omron monitor, and 3.66 and 2.84 mmHg, respectively, relative to the BpTRU monitor. The proposed model thus shows promise toward developing robust BP estimation methods.
Targeted and Untargeted CD137L Fusion Proteins for the Immunotherapy of Experimental Solid Tumors

Introduction: CD137L is a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily that provides a costimulatory signal to T cells. In this study, two novel CD137L fusion proteins were produced and compared with the CD137 agonist antibody 2A. Materials and Methods: Murine CD137L was linked to the COOH terminus of either the Fc fragment of immunoglobulin (untargeted version) or TNT-3 (targeted version), an antibody that binds to necrotic regions of tumors. Groups of mice bearing established Colon 26 tumors were then treated daily ×5 with each fusion protein or 2A to determine their immunotherapeutic potential. Results: Both fusion proteins retained CD137L activity in vitro and TNT-3/CD137L showed tumor-binding activity by biodistribution analysis in tumor-bearing mice. The fusion proteins also produced similar responses in vivo at the 1 nmol per dose range and showed a 60% (TNT-3/CD137L) or 40% (Fc/CD137L) survival of treated mice at 150 days after tumor implantation, similar to the effects of 2A. Morphologic and immunohistochemical analyses showed massive central necrosis and infiltration of granzyme B–positive cells in necrotic areas and viable peripheral regions of treated tumors. Finally, cell depletion studies showed that CD137L-mediated tumor regression was CD8+ T cell dependent. Conclusions: From these studies, it was determined that both targeted and untargeted CD137L fusion proteins showed effective antitumor activity, but that the targeted version was more potent. Therefore, the use of the natural CD137 ligand is a promising approach to the treatment of solid tumors by virtue of its ability to produce physiologic costimulation within the tumor, limiting side effects often seen with agonist antibody therapies.
Energy-aware competitive link adaptation in small-cell networks

This work proposes a distributed power allocation scheme for maximizing the energy efficiency in the uplink of non-cooperative small-cell networks based on orthogonal frequency-division multiple-access technology. This is achieved by modeling user terminals as rational agents that engage in a non-cooperative game in which every terminal selects the power loading so as to maximize its own utility (the user's throughput per Watt of transmit power) while satisfying minimum rate constraints. In this framework, we prove the existence of a Debreu equilibrium (also known as generalized Nash equilibrium) and we characterize the structure of the corresponding power allocation profile using techniques drawn from fractional programming. To attain the equilibrium in a distributed fashion, we also propose a method based on an iterative water-filling best response process. Numerical simulations are then used to assess the convergence of the proposed algorithm and the performance of its end-state as a function of the system parameters.
A High Performance Switched Capacitor-Based DC-DC Buck Converter Suitable for Embedded Power Management Applications

Here, we propose high performance buck converter architecture suitable for embedded applications. The proposed converter has high power efficiency, high power density, good driving capability, low output ripple, and good line and load regulation. The step down converter is constructed using a simple building block called cross coupled converter. As this block use low swing internal signals to control half of its switches, the required switching loss decreases and these internal control signals enable us to use thin oxide transistor for making switch smaller and reducing power further. In addition, converter uses all the good features of non-overlapping rotational interleaving switching scheme. Switching frequency of the converter is dynamically adjusted based on load current to maintain high power efficiency. Good transient performance is achieved by using dynamic leaker circuit with a marginal increase of static current. The converter is designed in 0.18- m CMOS process to get regulated 1.3-1.6 V output from 3.3 V input supply while output ripple is below 42 mV and provides 86% peak power. For 75% power efficiency, power density of the converter is 0.43 W/mm2 using total 490 pF capacitor.
EthnoQuest, an interactive multimedia simulation for cultural anthropology fieldwork

Preface and Acknowledgments. How to Use this Field Guide and Workbook. FIELD GUIDE. 1. About EthnoQuest(R). Your Research Proposal. Your Budget. Your Annual Calendar for Research in Amopan. 2. About Amopan, Its People, and Its Environs. 3. Playing EthnoQuest(R): Adventures in Amopan. How to Play EthnoQuest(R). The Simulations of EthnoQuest(R). Bronislaw Edmund Radcliffe-Pritchard. How to Interact with the Villagers. A Note about Language. About the Background Music. 4. Reminders and Hints in Playing EthnoQuest(R). The Icons. The Plaza. Colors and their Meanings. Dialogue. Quizzes and Problem-Solving Situations. Field Notes. Access to Additional Information and Clues. Moving about and Exiting the Game. 5. Clues for the Field and for Playing EthnoQuest(R). Some Tips for Taking Good Field Notes. Tips for Successful Fieldwork. Some Useful Nahuatl Phrases and Terms: Nahuatl to English. Some Useful Nahuatl Phrases and Terms: English to Nahuatl. 6. Some Hints for Playing the Simulations. Getting There. First Encounters. Who's Who in Amopan. Working in the Fields. Marketday. The Day of the Dead. A Day in the Life of the Midwife. The Local Elections. A Feud Escalates. Telling Tales, Going Home. 7. Doing Ethnographic Fieldwork: Life in the Field. The Preliminaries. Gaining Entry into the Community. Establishing Your Role. Achieving Rapport and Maintaining Objectivity. Selecting and Rewarding Informants. How to Obtain, Evaluate, and Record Information. Practical Considerations. Ethical Considerations. Exiting the Field. Glossary. Some Useful References. Workbook. Getting There: Answer Form for Completing Questions. First Encounters: Answer Form for Completing Questions. Who's Who in Amopan: Answer Form for Completing Questions. Radcliffe-Pritchard's Census Form. Blank Census Forms. Model for Kinship Diagram. Map of Central Amopan. Working in the Fields: Answer Form for Completing Questions. Table for Entering Cultivation Data. Marketday: Answer Form for Completing Questions. Table for Recording Information about Market Vendors. Diagram of Amopan's Market. The Day of the Dead: Answer Form for Completing Questions. Table for Recording Interview Responses. A Day in the Life of the Midwife: Answer Form for Completing Questions. The Local Elections: Answer Form for Completing Questions. A Feud Escalates: Answer Form for Completing Questions. Telling Tales, Going Home: Answer Form for Completing Questions. Field Notes.
Comparison between New Quantum Approaches for Finding the Minimum or the Maximum of an Unsorted Set of Integers

The change has already begun. It is not a simple change but a revolution in the sense of speed and its impact. In this paper we are going to discuss on quantum computer as a physical system and discuss on its main weakness and then based on our new approach we have solved a problem for finding the minimum or the maximum of a set of integers which has not been solved based on previous quantum computing approach with time complexity about O(1) and then we evaluate and comprise it with another quantum algorithm with time complexity about 0(1+radic(n)) which also is given by us and as a result we show that if the size of quantum resister is low then our first quantum approach which has lower time complexity is satisfactory and if the size of quantum register is high then as the probability of success of our first approach decreases so our second approach is more convenient.
Explaining phenotypic selection on plant attractive characters: male function, gender balance or ecological context?

It is widely agreed that the flowers of hermaphrodite plants evolve in response to selection acting simultaneously through male and female sexual functions, but we know very little about the pattern of gender–specific selection. We review three current hypotheses for gender–specific selection by viewing them within a single phenotypic selection framework. We compile data from phenotypic selection and manipulative studies and evaluate the fit between empirical data and the hypotheses. In this preliminary analysis, we find that neither the male–function hypothesis nor the gender–balance hypothesis is well supported. However, the context–dependence hypothesis is supported by the documented diversity of gender–specific selection and by evidence that selection through female fertility is significantly correlated with pollen limitation of seed production. Future studies contributing to our understanding of selection through male and female function in plants need to quantify and manipulate the ecological context for reproduction, as well as describe male and female fitness responses to fine–scale trait manipulation.
Stein's method and the zero bias transformation with application to simple random sampling

Let W be a random variable with mean zero and variance 2 . The distribution of a variate W , satisfying EWf(W) = 2 Ef 0 (W ) for smooth functions f, exists uniquely and defines the zero bias transformation on the distribution of W. The zero bias transformation shares many interesting properties with the well known size bias transformation for non-negative variables, but is applied to variables taking on both positive and negative values. The transformation can also be defined on more general random objects. The relation between the transformation and the expression wf 0 (w) 2 f 00 (w) which appears in the Stein equation characterizing the mean zero, variance 2 normal Z can be used to obtain bounds on the dierence E{h(W/ ) h(Z)} for smooth functions h by constructing the pair (W,W ) jointly on the same space. When W is a sum of n not necessarily independent variates, under certain conditions which include a vanishing third moment, bounds on this dierence of the order 1 /n for classes of smooth functions h may be obtained. The technique is illustrated by an application to simple random sampling.
Trace-Based Network Emulation

The test environment for sensitive network applications needs to be flexible. This is only possible in a lab setting containing a suitable network emulator. This thesis describes different possibilities for handling network emulation focussing mainly on emulators running on commodity PC’s. It was found that none of the available open source emulators are able to correctly model network dynamics such as long range dependence. The most suitable existing emulator, NIST Net, was chosen and extended with a trace reader, which is able to read packet delays from different pregenerated sources like real network traces, simulation traces or calculus traces. A performance evaluation that proves the correct working and the sufficient speed closes the thesis.