Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chemotherapy-induced mucosal barrier dysfunction: an updated review on the role of intestinal tight junctions

Purpose of reviewGut toxicity, or mucositis, is a major dose-limiting side effect of chemotherapy that until recently received very little attention. Despite significant research, the mechanisms that underpin chemotherapy-induced gut toxicity (CIGT) remain unclear. Recently however, there has been renewed interest in the role tight junctions play in the pathogenesis of CIGT and associated diarrhea. Thus, this review will cover the role of tight junctions in maintaining gastrointestinal homeostasis and touch on recently proposed mechanisms of how tight junctions may contribute to the development of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea. Recent findingsThere is a wealth of anecdotal evidence regarding the role of tight junctions in the pathogenesis of gut toxicity. However, few studies have quantified or assessed the molecular changes in tight junctions in response to chemotherapy. This review will highlight the major findings of these studies and discuss the potential mechanisms by which tight junction disruption and mucosal barrier dysfunction may contribute to diarrhea. SummaryThe significant clinical and economic impact associated with CIGT and diarrhea has only recently been appreciated. This has prompted significant research efforts in an attempt to reveal the pathophysiology of this debilitating complication. Renewed interest has been shown regarding the role of tight junctions in not only maintaining gastrointestinal health, but also contributing to mucosal barrier injury and diarrhea development. More detailed research into the effect chemotherapy has on the molecular characteristics of tight junctions will lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of CIGT and may uncover the therapeutic potential of tight junctions in treating diarrhea.
The Unfulfilled Promise of Cultural Capital Theory.

Bourdieu's ideas about the role of cultural capital in schools enjoy great currency, but this acceptance proceeds without due scrutiny of the related empirical research. A review of this research indicates that (1) defined in terms of exclusionary class-related practices and dispositions, cultural capital does not substantially account for the relationship between social privilege and academic success, and (2) too many conceptually distinct variables have been labeled cultural capital, creating a distorted sense of what accounts for academic success
Effect of a single dose of montelukast sodium on methacholine chloride PC20.

BACKGROUND It is currently recommended that leukotriene modifiers (receptor antagonists and synthesis inhibitors) be withheld for a minimum of 24 h before direct bronchoprovocation testing, but there is little evidence to support this recommendation. OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of a single oral dose of montelukast sodium 10 mg on airway response to methacholine chloride-induced bronchoconstriction. METHODS A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover trial was performed in 12 subjects with asthma whose methacholine chloride concentration causing a 20% decrease in the forced expiratory volume during the first second of exhalation (PC20) was 8 mg/mL or lower and a baseline forced expiratory volume during the first second of exhalation of 70% predicted or greater. Two-minute tidal breathing methacholine chloride inhalation challenges were performed 1 h and 25 h after both 10 mg montelukast sodium and identical-appearing placebo. RESULTS There were no significant differences in the methacholine chloride PC20 between active treatment and placebo at 1 h post-10 mg montelukast sodium (1.0 mg/mL versus 1.3 mg/mL; n=12; P=0.17, respectively) or at 25 h post-10 mg montelukast sodium (1.4 mg/mL versus 1.9 mg/mL; n=11; P=0.15, respectively). CONCLUSION A single dose of montelukast sodium did not affect methacholine chloride-induced bronchoconstriction measured after 1 h and 25 h.
On the use of a fuzzy classifier to speed up the Sp_ToBI labeling of the Glissando Spanish corpus

In this paper, we present the application of a novel automatic prosodic labeling methodology for speeding up the manual labeling of the Glissando corpus (Spanish read news items). The methodology is based on the use of soft classification techniques. The output of the automatic system consists on a set of label candidates per word. The number of predicted candidates depends on the degree of certainty assigned by the classifier to each of the predictions. The manual transcriber checks the sets of predictions to select the correct one. We describe the fundamentals of the fuzzy classification tool and its training with a corpus labeled with Sp TOBI labels. Results show a clear coherence between the most confused labels in the output of the automatic classifier and the most confused labels detected in inter-transcriber consistency tests. More importantly, in a preliminary test, the real time ratio of the labeling process was 1:66 when the template of predictions is used and 1:80 when it is not.
General introduction to altitude adaptation and mountain sickness

The key elements in acclimatization aim at securing the oxygen supply to tissues and organs of the body with an optimal oxygen tension of the arterial blood. In acute exposure, ventilation and heart rate are elevated with a minimum reduction in stroke volume. In addition, plasma volume is reduced over 24–48 h to improve the oxygen‐carrying capacity of the blood, and is further improved during a prolonged sojourn at altitude through an enhanced erythropoiesis and larger Hb mass, allowing for a partial or full restoration of the blood volume and arterial oxygen content. Most of these adaptations are observed from quite low altitudes [∼1000 m above sea level (m a.s.l.)] and become prominent from 2000 m a.s. l. At these higher altitudes additional adaptations occur, one being a reduction in the maximal heart rate response and consequently a lower peak cardiac output. Thus, in spite of a normalization of the arterial oxygen content after 4 or more weeks at altitude, the peak oxygen uptake reached after a long acclimatization period is essentially unaltered compared with acute exposure. What is gained is a more complete oxygenation of the blood in the lungs, i.e. SaO2 is increased. The alteration at the muscle level at altitude is minor and so is the effect on the metabolism, although it is debated whether a possible reduction in blood lactate accumulation occurs during exercise at altitude. Transient acute mountain sickness (headache, anorexia, and nausea) is present in 10–30% of subjects at altitudes between 2500 and 3000 m a.s. l. Pulmonary edema is rarely seen below 3000 m a.s. l. and brain edema is not seen below 4000 m a.s. l. It is possible to travel to altitudes of 2500–3000 m a.s. l. , wait for 2 days, and then gradually start to train. At higher altitudes, one should consider a staged ascent (average ascent rate 300 m/day above 2000 m a.s.l.), primarily in order to sleep and feel well, and minimize the risk of mountain sickness. A new classification of altitude levels based on the effects on performance and well‐being is proposed and an overview given over the various modalities using hypoxia and altitude for improvement of performance.
Opponent Modeling in Machiavelli

Opponent modeling is a technique in computer game-playing which attempts to create a model of an opponent’s strategy. This model can then be used to predict the opponent’s future actions. This paper attempts to apply opponent modeling to the commercial card game Machiavelli, a game containing imperfect information. Neural networks are used to build the models. These neural networks are trained using both the backpropagation algorithm and genetic algorithms. To test this approach, neural network opponent models are trained on a number of bot strategies. Some promising results are obtained. However, both methods of training are currently unfit for use in practical applications.
Anti‐Diabetic Properties of Rice‐Based Herbal Porridges in Diabetic Wistar Rats

The present study aims to investigate anti‐hyperglycaemic, anti‐hyperlipidaemic and toxic effects of long‐term consumption of selected green leafy porridges in a streptozotocin‐induced diabetic Wistar rat model. Porridges made with Asparagus racemosus Willd. (AR), Hemidesmus indicus (L) R. Br. W. T. Aiton (HI), Scoparia dulcis L. (SD) and coconut milk porridge (CM) were incorporated into diets of diabetic Wistar rats. Diabetic control (DM) and normal control groups (NC) were provided with standard rat diet. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c, C reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol (TC), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), liver enzymes and creatinine were measured. Feed and water intake among diabetic groups were significantly high when compared with those of NC (p < 0.05). All rats in SD (mean = 39 ± 19 g) and NC (mean = 114 ± 7 g) groups gained weight, whereas most rats in other diabetic groups lost weight. Among the diabetic groups, SD group had the lowest mean FBG, FBG increment percentage (45%) and HbA1c (5.8 ± 2.1). FBG increment percentage and HbA1c of SD group were not significantly different to those of NC (38%; 4.7 ± 0.7) (p > 0.05). Among the diabetic groups, lowest TC (119 ± 20.6 mg/dL) and highest HDL‐C (33 ± 6.3 mg/dL) were also detected in SD group. Alanine transaminase and creatinine were not significantly different (p > 0.05) among diabetic groups but significant when compared with those of NC. When compared with those of NC, aspartate transaminase levels were significantly (p < 0.05) high in SD, CM and DM groups. Body weight : liver weight and body weight : pancreas weight ratios and CRP were not significantly different among all groups. The study proved that SD porridge reduced weight loss, elicited hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic properties, and caused no toxicity in diabetes‐induced Wistar rats. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Is Internet Use Associated With Reporting Fewer Problems in Collaboration?

In the developing world, many advocate the benefits of collaboration as the primary driver of research productivity. One of the crucial conditions that support, and help overcome problems in, distributed work is consistent access and use of Internet technologies. But it is argued that the collaborative benefits of Internet technologies are not symmetrically distributed worldwide, perhaps a result of neo-dependency relationships between the South and the North. To evaluate this, in this article, the authors consider the association between “e-mail use and diversity,” “reported problems in web surfing,” and “problems in research collaboration” for a population of scientists outside the mainstream, in the South American nation of Chile. They surveyed 337 scientists over three regions asking them to report on their collaborative behavior, Internet use, and research challenges. While they find that Chileans on the whole report fewer problems compared with other less developed nations studied in this way, they do report problems when reporting more collaborators and when their professional network is geographically heterogeneous. E-mail use, though, has no association with less frequent reports of research challenges, while reporting that “the Internet has made them more connected” and reporting (more intensely) “problems encountered while surfing the web” are significantly associated with reporting more problems in research, when controlling for background, professional activities, institutional and field context, and the number and location of collaborators.
Genetics of dizziness: cerebellar and vestibular disorders.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Recent advances in next generation sequencing techniques (NGS) are increasing the number of novel genes associated with cerebellar and vestibular disorders. We have summarized clinical and molecular genetics findings in neuro-otolology during the last 2 years. RECENT FINDINGS Whole-exome and targeted sequencing have defined the genetic basis of dizziness including new genes causing ataxia: GBA2, TGM6, ANO10 and SYT14. Novel mutations in KCNA1 and CACNA1A genes are associated with episodic ataxia type 1 and type 2, respectively. Moreover, new variants in genes such as COCH, MYO7A and POU4F3 are associated with nonsyndromic deafness and vestibular dysfunction. Several susceptibility loci have been linked to familial vestibular migraine, suggesting genetic heterogeneity, but no specific gene has been identified. Finally, loci for complex and heterogeneous diseases such as bilateral vestibular hypofunction or familial Ménière disease have not been identified yet, despite their strong familial aggregation. SUMMARY Cerebellar and vestibular disorders leading to dizziness or episodic vertigo may show overlapping clinical features. A deep phenotyping including a complete familial history is a key step in performing a reliable molecular genetic diagnosis using NGS. Personalized molecular medicine will be essential to understand disease mechanisms as well as to improve their diagnosis and treatment.
Distributed DBP: A (m,k)-firm based distributed approach for QoS provision in IEEE 802.15.4 networks

IEEE 802.15. 4/Zigbee is one of the most widespread Wireless Sensor Network technologies. It may work either in beacon-enabled mode or in beaconless mode. When operating in beacon-enabled mode, it divides the superframe in sixteen equally-sized time slots, where the request for slot allocation is achieved through a CSMA/CA approach. This allocation method does not allow the provision of any service differentiation scheme, which is required for the transfer of time constrained messages. This paper proposes a QoS provision approach with minimal changes to existing protocols. Our approach improves the CSMA/CA algorithm by assigning decentralized priorities based on the (m,k)-firm task model. In this paper, a set of experimental results is presented and compared with the traditional approach currently offered by the standard. This set of experiments highlight the promising behavior of the proposed approach, when dealing with high network load scenarios.
Providing A Basis For Verifying Android Applications In JML

Android applications are often hard and time consuming to verify. This is in part due to the fact that currently available tools and specification languages are not sufficient for the verification of Android applications. Validation of applications, however, is important to ensure reliability and correctness. This paper provides a basis for the development of a Java Modelling Language extension to assist in specifying and verifying Android applications. Java Modelling Language is a specification language which tools can use to verify Java code. The specification and verification works by annotating every method with requirement assertions which should be true when the method is called and assertions which the method body should ensure become true after a method has been executed. This paper proposes supporting Android validation by developing a JML extension designed for Android code and provides a basis for such an extension.
Modeling Perceived Emotion With Continuous Musical Features

The relationship between musical features and perceived emotion was investigated by using continuous response methodology and time-series analysis. Sixty-seven participants responded to four pieces of Romantic music expressing different emotions. Responses were sampled once per second on a two-dimensional emotion space (happy-sad valence and aroused-sleepy). Musical feature variables of loudness, tempo, melodic contour, texture, and spectral centroid (related to perceived timbral sharpness) were coded. Musical feature variables were differenced and used as predictors in two univariate linear regression models of valence and arousal for each of the four pieces. Further adjustments were made to the models to correct for serial correlation. The models explained from 33% to 73% of variation in univariate perceived emotion. Changes in loudness and tempo were associated positively with changes in arousal, but loudness was dominant. Melodic contour varied positively with valence, though this finding was not conclusive. Texture and spectral centroid did not produce consistent predictions. This methodology facilitates a more ecologically valid investigation of emotion in music and, importantly in the present study, enabled the approximate identification of the lag between musical features and perceived emotion. Responses were made 1 to 3 s after a change in the causal musical event, with sudden changes in loudness producing response lags from zero (nearly instantaneous) to 1 s. Other findings, interactions, and ramifications of the methodology are also discussed.
A Variable Phase Shifter Using a Movable Waffle Iron Metal Plate and Its Applications to Phased Array Antennas

A variable phase shifter using a movable waffle iron metal plate comprised of iron rods a quarter-wavelength in length is proposed. A study of the waffle iron structure was carried out and the design method for creating a structure that would achieve large phase changes, small loss, and good isolation between adjacent phase shifters is discussed. Experiments on 1-port and 2-port phase shifters operating in the 5GHz band show that they not only have low loss characteristics but also wide phase changes. Furthermore, the application to phased array antennas using the proposed phase shifter and its principle are demonstrated.
Multiple confidence intervals for selected parameters adjusted for the false coverage rate in monotone dose–response microarray experiments

Benjamini and Yekutieli ( ) introduced the concept of the false coverage‐statement rate (FCR) to account for selection when the confidence intervals (CIs) are constructed only for the selected parameters. Dose–response analysis in dose–response microarray experiments is conducted only for genes having monotone dose–response relationship, which is a selection problem. In this paper, we consider multiple CIs for the mean gene expression difference between the highest dose and control in monotone dose–response microarray experiments for selected parameters adjusted for the FCR. A simulation study is conducted to study the performance of the method proposed. The method is applied to a real dose–response microarray experiment with 16, 998 genes for illustration.
Zyxin is a novel target for beta‐amyloid peptide: characterization of its role in Alzheimer's pathogenesis

Zyxin is an adaptor protein recently identified as a novel regulator of the homeodomain‐interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2)‐p53 signaling in response to DNA damage. We recently reported an altered conformational state of p53 in tissues from patients with Alzheimer ‘s disease (AD), because of a deregulation of HIPK2 activity, leading to an impaired and dysfunctional response to stressors. Here, we examined the molecular mechanisms underlying the deregulation of HIPK2 activity in two cellular models, HEK‐293 cells and SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells differentiated with retinoic acid over‐expressing the amyloid precursor protein, focusing on the evidence that zyxin expression is important to maintain HIPK2 protein stability. We demonstrated that both beta‐amyloid (Aβ) 1‐40 and 1‐42 induce zyxin deregulation, thus affecting the transcriptional repressor activity of HIPK2 onto its target promoter, metallothionein 2A, which is in turn responsible for the induction of an altered conformational state of p53. We demonstrate for the first time that zyxin is a novel target of Aβ activities in AD. These results may help the studies on the pathogenesis of AD, through the fine dissection of events related to beta‐amyloid activities.
A High-Throughput Screen for Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway Modulators in Human iPSC-Derived Neural Progenitors

Wnt/β-catenin signaling has emerged as a central player in pathways implicated in the pathophysiology and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. To identify potential novel therapeutics for these disorders, high-throughput screening (HTS) assays reporting on Wnt/β-catenin signaling in disease-relevant contexts are needed. The use of human patient–derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models provides ideal disease-relevant context if these stem cell cultures can be adapted for HTS-compatible formats. Here, we describe a sensitive, HTS-compatible Wnt/β-catenin signaling reporter system generated in homogeneous, expandable neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from human iPSCs. We validated this system by demonstrating dose-responsive stimulation by several known Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway modulators, including Wnt3a, a glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) inhibitor, and the bipolar disorder therapeutic lithium. These responses were robust and reproducible over time across many repeated assays. We then conducted a screen of ~1500 compounds from a library of Food and Drug Administration–approved drugs and known bioactives and confirmed the HTS hits, revealing multiple chemical and biological classes of novel small-molecule probes of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Generating these type of pathway-selective, cell-based phenotypic assays in human iPSC-derived neural cells will advance the field of human experimental neurobiology toward the goal of identifying and validating targets for neuropsychiatric disorders.
The Hipparcos HR diagram of nearby stars in the metallicity range -1.0 < [Fe/H] < 0.3

From an initial sample of a few hundred stars selected for an Hipparcos program, a subsample of 33 objects with direct determination of their effective temperature, bolometric magnitude and [Fe/H] has been derived. An accurate observational (logTeff, Mbol) HR diagram has been obtained, and compared to theoretical isochrones. Attention has been concentrated on the cool part of the HR diagram, for which evolutionary effects are negligible. Whereas solar metallicity stars show a reasonable agreement with theoretical expectation, a clear discrepancy occurs for stars more metal-poor than [Fe/H] = -0.5. This discrepancy is reduced to practically zero, if corrections to LTE abundances are taken into account for Fe, and if sedimentation effects are included in stellar evolution computations.
RS-LDPC Concatenated Coding for the Modern Tape Storage Channel

In modern tape storage, user data are recorded and retrieved along multiple tracks of rapidly moving, flexible magnetic medium that give rise to a variety of channel impediments including occasional long erasures, more frequent amplitude fades as well as a large amount of random errors. This work considers reliable recovery of data from such tape channels using a novel concatenation of an inner Reed-Solomon (RS) code and an outer nonbinary low-density parity-check (LDPC) code. This particular concatenation scheme and a highly tailored iterative decoding algorithm are chosen to efficiently handle the assortment of the tape channel impediments while meeting the stringent target error rate constraint as well as key practical requirements of the mass tape storage system. Despite the use of a nonbinary LDPC code, the proposed scheme allows excellent performance-complexity tradeoffs. In stark contrast to any existing coding schemes that involve LDPC codes, the proposed concatenation strategy allows semianalytic error rate performance evaluation at rates below what is possible using modern computers, thus providing an ability to ensure satisfactory low-error-rate performance.