Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Psychostimulant Khat (Catha edulis) Inhibits CYP2D6 Enzyme Activity in Humans

AbstractThe use of khat (Catha edulis) while on medication may alter treatment outcome. In particular, the influence of khat on the metabolic activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes is not known. We performed a comparative 1-way crossover study to evaluate the effect of khat on cytochrome P450 (CYP)2D6 and CYP3A4 enzyme activity. After 1 week of khat abstinence, baseline CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 metabolic activities were determined in 40 Ethiopian male volunteers using 30 mg dextromethorphan (DM) as a probe drug and then repeated after 1 week of daily use of 400 g fresh khat leaves. Urinary concentrations of cathinone and cathine were determined to monitor the subjects' compliance to the study protocol. Genotyping for CYP2D6*3 and CYP2D6*4 was done. Plasma DM, dextrorphan and 3-methoxymorphinan concentrations were quantified. CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 enzyme activities were assessed by comparing plasma log DM/dextrorphan and log DM/methoxymorphinan metabolic ratio (MR) respectively in the presence and absence of khat. Cytochrome 2D6 MR was significantly increased from baseline by concurrent khat use (paired t test, P = 0.003; geometric mean ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.12–1.53). Moreover, the inhibition of CYP2D6 activity by khat was more pronounced in CYP2D6*1/*1 compared with CYP2D6*1/*4 genotypes (P = 0.01). A marginal inhibition of CYP3A4 activity in the presence of khat was observed (P = 0.24). The mean percentage increase of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 MR from baseline by khat use was 46% (95% CI, 20–72) and 31% (95% CI, 8–54), respectively. This is the first report linking khat use with significant inhibition of CYP2D6 metabolic activity in humans.
An Evaluation Model for Systems and Resources Employed in the Correction of Errors in Textual Documents

The wide adoption of Web 2.0 services has resulted in an increase in the amount of information produced. The quantity of errors contained in such information has grown even faster. Indeed, in traditional information production process documents were produced by professionals while in the Web context the content is generated by the users themselves. It is therefore necessary to take into account the errors particularly when such systems need to manage information of variable quality. Our state of the art leads us to identify difficulties in the comparative evaluation of error correction systems. Our proposal consists in an evaluation model for error correction systems and low-level string similarity (and distance) metrics they rely on. This model is implemented in an extensible platform providing a framework to evaluate those systems.
Measurement of Photoplythsmography signal for Heart Rate Variability and comparison of two different age groups

This paper investigates to compare the Photoplythsmography (PPG) signals based on Heart Rate Variability (HRV) criteria for two different age groups. This paper demonstrates the variation of PPG and HRV signals for subjects of age group in the twenties and fifties. The so used Easy Pulse Sensor module making use of the photo sensing technique to collect the amount of infra red light passing through the respective body part (finger tip in this case). After processing this signal through a series of condition stages involving low pass and high pass filter, a noise free PPG signal of adequate level is produced. The shape, frequency components and amplitude of this PPG signal depend upon the physiological condition as well age. This signal is then further processed by using the Arduino based processing board for being interfaced to a PC for display on the Graphical User Interface (GUI). The results are clear indicative of the physical conditions and age groups.
Gender differences in the kinematics of unanticipated cutting in young athletes.

PURPOSE Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur at a greater rate in adolescent females compared with males who participate in the same pivoting and jumping sports. The purpose of this study was to compare knee and ankle joint angles between males and females during an unanticipated cutting maneuver. The hypotheses were that female athletes would display increased knee abduction, increased ankle eversion and decreased knee flexion during the unanticipated cutting maneuver compared with males. METHODS Fifty-four male and 72 adolescent female middle and high school basketball players volunteered to participate in this study. Knee and ankle kinematics were calculated using three-dimensional motion analysis during a jump-stop unanticipated cut (JSUC) maneuver. RESULTS Females exhibited greater knee abduction (valgus) angles compared with males. Gender differences were also found in maximum ankle eversion and maximum inversion during stance phase. No differences were found in knee flexion angles at initial contact or maximum. CONCLUSION Gender differences in knee and ankle kinematics in the frontal plane during cutting may help explain the gender differences in ACL injury rates. Implementation of dynamic neuromuscular training in young athletes with a focus on frontal plane motion may help prevent ACL injuries and their long-term debilitating effects.
Clinical significance of myocardial magnetic resonance abnormalities in patients with sarcoidosis: a 1-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE To assess the follow-up of patients with sarcoidosis and myocardial MRI abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twelve patients with histologically proven sarcoidosis and highly suspected cardiac involvement underwent initial and 12-month follow-up cardiac assessment including cardiac MRI (T2-weighted, functional gradient echo, and T1-weighted gadolinium-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid-enhanced sequences). MRI abnormalities and clinical and MRI progression were scored by two observers. RESULTS Six patients receiving corticosteroid therapy (including three patients with clinical cardiac involvement) were scored as having cleared or improved at MRI follow-up, while others were seen to have worsened or remained stable. The stability, improvement, or clearing of MRI findings were correlated with clinically stable, improved or cleared sarcoidosis, while a worsening at MRI follow-up was correlated with a worsening of sarcoidosis and, in one patient, was predictive of clinical cardiac involvement. CONCLUSION Cardiac MRI is a useful noninvasive method for the early diagnosis and follow-up of cardiac sarcoidosis.
Considerations of Community

In this article, the authors examine the role of community in understanding volunteerism. First, the authors present a model of the volunteer process that identifies three stages (antecedents, experiences, consequences) and three levels of analysis (individual, organization, social system). Next, the authors propose two features of community—community as context for volunteerism and psychological sense of community—and articulate the implications of these features for the processes of volunteerism. Then, empirical evidence from studies of AIDS volunteers and their clients is reviewed that suggests (a) how communities and psychological sense of community encourage people to volunteer and connect with others and (b) how connecting to communities appears to be beneficial for the functioning of people living with HIV. Finally, the authors argue that explicit considerations of community can also contribute to understanding other forms of individual and collective action as well as broader civic and societal participation.
The GriddLeS data replication service

The grid provides infrastructure that allows an arbitrary application to be executed on a range of different computational resources. When input files are very large, or when fault tolerance is important, the data may be replicated. Existing grid data replication middleware suffers from two shortcomings. First, it typically requires modification to existing applications. Second, there is limited support on automatic resource selection and a user usually chooses the replica manually to optimize the performance of the system. In this paper we discuss a middleware layer called the GriddLeS replication service (GRS) that sits above existing replication services, solving both of these shortcomings. Two case studies are presented that illustrate the effectiveness of the approach
Exercise and bone

Osteoclasts. Very little is known about osteoclastic responses to mechanical stimuli, but mechanical strain reduces osteoclast recruitment (Rubin et al., 1999). Osteoblasts. Mechanical stimulation of bone tissue by physical activity stimulates bone formation in normal bone and may attenuate bone loss in osteoporotic patients. Normal bone cells seem to increase proliferation and TGF-b secretion in response to mechanical strain, while osteoporotic cells do not (Neidlinger-Wilke et al., 1995). Osteoblastic cells from different locations in the skeleton react differently to mechanical strain in animal studies. Osteocytes seem to be the primary mechanosensory cells of bone, and the lacunocanalicular network constitutes the structure that mediates mechanosensing. Strain-derived flow of interstitial fluid through this network seems to mechanically activate the osteocytes, as well as ensuring transport of cell signalling molecules and nutrients and waste products. This concept allows an explanation of local bone gain and loss, as well as remodelling in response to fatigue damage. It has been shown that mechanical loading stimulates the transformation of lining cells to osteoblasts (Boppart et al., 1998; Pead et al., 1988).
Learning Algebra by Example in Real-World Classrooms

Abstract Math and science textbook chapters invariably supply students with sets of problems to solve, but this widely used approach is not optimal for learning; instead, more effective learning can be achieved when many problems to solve are replaced with correct and incorrect worked examples for students to study and explain. In the present study, the worked example approach is implemented and rigorously tested in the natural context of a functioning course. In Experiment 1, a randomized controlled study in ethnically diverse Algebra classrooms demonstrates that embedded worked examples can improve student achievement. In Experiment 2, a larger randomized controlled study demonstrated that improvement in posttest scores as a result of the assignments varies based on students’ prior knowledge; students with low prior knowledge tend to improve more than higher knowledge peers.
Pectoral fins aid in navigation of a complex environment by bluegill sunfish under sensory deprivation conditions

SUMMARY Complex structured environments offer fish advantages as places of refuge and areas of greater potential prey densities, but maneuvering through these environments is a navigational challenge. To successfully navigate complex habitats, fish must have sensory input relaying information about the proximity and size of obstacles. We investigated the role of the pectoral fins as mechanosensors in bluegill sunfish swimming through obstacle courses under different sensory deprivation and flow speed conditions. Sensory deprivation was accomplished by filming in the dark to remove visual input and/or temporarily blocking lateral line input via immersion in cobalt chloride. Fish used their pectoral fins to touch obstacles as they swam slowly past them under all conditions. Loss of visual and/or lateral line sensory input resulted in an increased number of fin taps and shorter tap durations while traversing the course. Propulsive pectoral fin strokes were made in open areas between obstacle posts and fish did not use the pectoral fins to push off or change heading. Bending of the flexible pectoral fin rays may initiate an afferent sensory input, which could be an important part of the proprioceptive feedback system needed to navigate complex environments. This behavioral evidence suggests that it is possible for unspecialized pectoral fins to act in both a sensory and a propulsive capacity.
A guide to complexity theory in operations research

It is a well-known fact that there exists an ever increasing number of problems for which, despite the efforts of many inventive and persistent researchers, it seems virtually impossible to find efficient algorithms. In this Situation, the theory of computational complexity may provide helpful insight into how probable the existence of such algorithms is at all. Unluckily, some of its concepts can still be found to be used erroneously, if at all. For instance, it is a common misunderstanding that any problem that generalizes an NP-complete problem is NP-complete or NP-hard itself; indeed any such generalization could as well be exponential in the worst case, i.e. solvable with effort exponentially increasing in the size of the instances attempted. In this work we develop the basic concepts of complexity theory. While doing so, we aim at presenting the material in a way that emphasizes the correspondences between the kind of problems considered in Operations research and the formal problem classes which are studied in complexity theory.
Paradigms to assess the environmental impact of manufactured nanomaterials

Visualize printing all 24 volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannica on the head of a pin. In 1959, Richard Feynman articulated this reality in an insightful address at the annual meeting of the American Physical Society. In what became a prophetic speech, ‘‘There’s plenty of room at the bottom’’ [1], Feynman discussed manipulating and controlling matter on a small scale. Back then, forward thinking conjured images of going to the moon in an era when computers occupied entire floors of buildings. Fifty years later, we no longer have to imagine. We are actively manipulating and controlling materials and devices on the scale of nanometers.
ADVANCES IN PANCREAS TRANSPLANTATION

Despite early obstacles impacting the success of pancreatic transplantation, the introduction of new procedures and new immunosuppressive therapies during the past 2 decades has improved outcomes for pancreatic transplant recipients. For example, the use of bladder drainage and better human leukocyte antigen matching has helped overcome some of the early obstacles of pancreatic transplantation. In addition, the introduction of tacrolimus in 1994 and mycophenolate mofetil in 1996 has helped lower rates of acute rejection and increase graft survival, with less nephrotoxicity than treatment with cyclosporine. Regimens allowing the tapering of corticosteroids have also helped reduce the rates of acute pancreas rejection. To further improve therapeutic options for patients with type 1 diabetes or end-stage renal disease, pancreatic islet transplantation and organ and islet xenotransplantation should be further explored.
MIN-MAX THEOREMS RELATED TO GEOMETRIC REPRESENTATIONS OF GRAPHS AND THEIR SDPS

Lov asz proved a nonlinear identity relating the theta num- ber of a graph to its smallest radius hypersphere embedding where each edge has unit length. We use this identity and its generalizations to establish min-max theorems and to translate results related to one of the graph invariants above to the other. Classical concepts in tensegrity theory allow good interpretations of the dual SDP for the problem of nding an optimal hypersphere embed- ding as above. We generate a spectrum of structured SDPs on which extensions of such interpretations are possible.
Des évaluations des systèmes de vérification du locuteur à la mise en cause des expertises vocales en identification juridique

Parmi les donnees utilisees dans le cadre de l'identification juridique les empreintes digitales et les donnees genetiques semblent presenter un degre de fiabilite eleve. Il est possible d'evaluer les probabilites de confondre deux individus qui auraient les memes points de reperes digitaux ou les memes marqueurs genetiques et de chiffrer les risques de faux rejet. De par leur nature meme, ces donnees ne varient pas (ou tres peu) au cours du temps ; elles ne peuvent pas etre modifiees par un suspect. La terminologie metaphorique erronee d'empreinte vocale donne a croire (et pas uniquement au grand public) que la voix est tout aussi fiable que les cretes papillaires des pulpes des doigts. Il n'en est rien. Un enregistrement de parole n'est ni une trace laissee sur une surface au contact d'une partie du corps d'un individu, ni un prelevement direct opere sur celui-ci. Comme tous les gestes de l'homme, les gestes de parole ne sont pas reproductibles au cours du temps. Les parametres utilises pour decrire la parole montrent bien leur dependance avec la vitesse d'articulation, l'intensite de la hauteur de la voix, l'etat psychologique du locuteur et les conditions de stress. De plus il faut evidemment tenir compte des parametres de transmission et d'enregistrement, la possibilite d'une superposition de plusieurs voix ou de bruit. Dans le cas d'un prelevement effectue a partir d'une ligne telephonique vont entrer en ligne de compte les caracteristiques du microphone, celles de la ligne telephonique et enfin celles de l'enregistreur. Les experts ne peuvent pas souvent disposer de toutes ces donnees. A cela vient evidemment s'ajouter les possibilites d'imitation, de deguisement et l'usage possible de toute une gamme de techniques de deformation de la voix allant du simple equaliseur de spectre, au vocodeur et aux techniques assez recentes de morphing. Le message peut lui-meme avoir ete enregistre par son auteur d
DNA Vaccination with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 SF162ΔV2 Envelope Elicits Immune Responses That Offer Partial Protection from Simian/Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection to CD8+ T-Cell-Depleted Rhesus Macaques

ABSTRACT DNA immunization of macaques with the SF162ΔV2 envelope elicited lymphoproliferative responses and potent neutralizing antibodies. The animals were depleted of their CD8+ T lymphocytes and then challenged intravenously with SHIV162P4. Compared to unvaccinated animals, the vaccinated macaques had lower peak viremia levels, rapidly cleared plasma virus, and showed delayed seroconversion.
Sitting in Your Reader's Chair

This article describes to authors what journal reviewers expect of the scholarly publications they review and how authors can anticipate reviewers' sensemaking processes to increase their chances of being understood and making their contribution clear. Authors are urged to (a) clarify their research question and intended contribution early in the paper; (b) guide readers' understanding of literature relevant to the paper; (c) understand readers' perspective and anticipate their questions; (d) be aware of and explain how terms and figures are used; (e) obtain collegial feedback on a paper before submitting it; (f) use editors' and reviewers' feedback to understand how they made sense of the paper; (g) use feedback to improve the paper in revising; and (h) manage the flow of papers from a project to incorporate sensemaking feedback.
A new algorithm for voice activity detection based on wavelet packets

Speech constitutes much of the communicated information; most other perceived audio signals do not carry nearly as much information. Indeed, much of the non-speech signals maybe classified as dasianoisepsila in human communication. The process of separating conversational speech and noise is termed voice activity detection (VAD). This paper describes a new approach to VAD which is based on the wavelet packet transform (WPT). Our algorithm utilizes the differences between spectral distribution of human speech (voice) and general noise. First, the algorithm performs wavelet transform on the signal resulting in its decomposition into subbands using coefficients of WPT, then it detects the voice within the signal by comparing the subband energy of components between detail and approximation coefficients. Computer simulation results are given to illustrate the effectiveness of our new VAD algorithms.
Sobre el estatuto epistemológico de la Psicología

El presente articulo reflexiona primeramente sobre el modelaje inicial de la psicologia siguiendo las ciencias naturales, y recorre como estas propias ciencias se fueron encontrando con sus limites y condiciones para su transformacion. Ello ha llevado a un paradigma emergente que trae una nueva concepcion de la "objetividad cientifica", y una tambien diferente teoria de la racionalidad, que nos ayuda a superar las antinomias cognoscitivas y pone de relieve el caracter complementario y no contradictorio de las ciencias experimentales y las ciencias humanas. Ello permitira, senala el autor, lograr un todo integrado, coherente y logico.
Miniature dielectric-loaded personal telephone antennas with low SAR

The twisted loop or bifilar helix antenna is designed to minimise the specific absorption rate (SAR). It is basically a loop antenna which is balance fed at the top by a co-axial feed which passes axially through the centre. The lower portion of the antenna is a sleeve balun which creates a transition between single-ended and balanced drive so that the loop antenna can be fed with balanced currents. Currents at the centre conductor feed point of the antenna pass round a 360/spl deg/ path including the rim of the sleeve balun and then back to the outer conductor of the co-axial cable feed.
11 On Design of CIC Decimators

The process of changing sampling rate of a signal is called sampling rate conversion (SRC). Systems that employ multiple sampling rates in the processing of digital signals are called multirate digital signal processing systems. Multirate systems have different applications, such as efficient filtering, subband coding, audio and video signals, analog/digital conversion, software defined radio and communications, among others (Jovanovic Dolecek, 2002). The reduction of a sampling rate is called decimation and consists of two stages: filtering and downsampling. If signal is not properly bandlimited the overlapping of the repeated replicas of the original spectrum occurs. This effect is called aliasing and may destroy the useful information of the decimated signal. That is why we need filtering to avoid this unwanted effect. The most simple decimation filter is comb filter which does not require multipliers. One efficient implementation of this filter is called CIC (Cascaded-Integrator-Comb) filter proposed by Hogenauer (Hogenauer, 1981). Because of the popularity of this structure many authors also call the comb filter as CIC filter. In this chapter we will use term CIC filter. Due to its simplicity, the CIC filter is usually used in the first stage of decimation. However, the filter exhibits a high passband droop and a low attenuation in so called folding bands (bands around the zeros of CIC filter), which can be not acceptable in different applications. During last several years the improvement of the CIC filter characteristics attracted many researchers. Different methods have been proposed to improve the characteristics of the CIC filters, keeping its simplicity. In this chapter we present different proposed methods to improve CIC magnitude characteristics illustrated with examples and MATLAB programs. The rest of the chapter is organized in the following way. Next Section describes the CIC filter. Section 3 introduces the methods for the CIC passband improvement followed by the Section 4 which presents the methods for the CIC stopband improvement. The methods for both, the CIC passband and stopband improvements are described in Section 5.