Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictive ability of logistic regression, auto-logistic regression and neural network models in empirical land-use change modeling – a case study

The objective of this study is to compare the abilities of logistic, auto-logistic and artificial neural network (ANN) models for quantifying the relationships between land uses and their drivers. In addition, the application of the results obtained by the three techniques is tested in a dynamic land-use change model (CLUE-s) for the Paochiao watershed region in Taiwan. Relative operating characteristic curves (ROCs), kappa statistics, multiple resolution validation and landscape metrics were used to assess the ability of the three techniques in estimating the relationship between driving factors and land use and its subsequent application in land-use change models. The validation results illustrate that for this case study ANNs constitute a powerful alternative for the use of logistic regression in empirical modeling of spatial land-use change processes. ANNs provide in this case a better fit between driving factors and land-use pattern. In addition, auto-logistic regression performs better than logistic regression and nearly as well as ANNs. Auto-logistic regression and ANNs are considered especially useful when the performance of more conventional models is not satisfactory or the underlying data relationships are unknown. The results indicate that an evaluation of alternative techniques to specify relationships between driving factors and land use can improve the performance of land-use change models.
Sampling-based planning, control and verification of hybrid systems

A sampling-based approach to planning, control and verification inspired by robotics motion planning algorithms such as rapidly exploring random trees (RRTs) and probabilistic roadmaps (PRMs) is surveyed. With the focus on RRTs, how to adapt them to solve standard non-linear control problems is demonstrated. RRTs are extended to purely discrete spaces (replacing distance metrics with cost-to-go heuristic estimates and substituting local planners for straight-line connectivity) and computational experiments comparing them to conventional methods, such as A* are provided. Finally, RRTs are extended to the case of hybrid systems and our modifications to LaValle's motion strategy library to allow for hybrid planning and verification are described. The work on the coverage and optimality properties of sampling-based techniques is also reviewed.
Angiotensin-(1–7) and the G Protein-Coupled Receptor Mas Are Key Players in Renal Inflammation

Angiotensin (Ang) II mediates pathophysiologial changes in the kidney. Ang-(1–7) by interacting with the G protein-coupled receptor Mas may also have important biological activities. In this study, renal deficiency for Mas diminished renal damage in models of renal insufficiency as unilateral ureteral obstruction and ischemia/reperfusion injury while the infusion of Ang-(1–7) to wild-type mice pronounced the pathological outcome by aggravating the inflammatory response. Mas deficiency inhibited NF-κB activation and thus the elevation of inflammation-stimulating cytokines, while Ang-(1–7) infusion had proinflammatory properties in experimental models of renal failure as well as under basal conditions. The Ang-(1–7)-mediated NF-κB activation was Mas dependent but did not involve Ang II receptors. Therefore, the blockade of the NF-κB-activating properties of the receptor Mas could be a new strategy in the therapy of failing kidney.
Balmer Line Variations in the Radio-loud Active Galactic Nucleus PG 1512+370

We present spectroscopic observations of the quasar PG 1512+370, covering the Hβ line spectral range and collected at moderate resolution (2-7 Å FWHM) from 1988 to 1996. The observations show that the blue wing of the Hβ broad profile component has changed significantly in flux and shape between 1988 and 1990 and between 1995 and 1996. A displaced blue peak on the Hβ profile, visible in 1988, but not in the 1990-1995 spectra, is revealed again in one of the spectra obtained in 1996. The blue peak (in both the 1988 and 1996 spectra) is centered at Δvr ≈ -3000+ 500−500 km s-1 from the rest frame defined by the narrow component of Hβ, and the [O III] λλ4959, 5007 lines. We discuss several conflicting interpretations of the data. We find that the variability of the Hβ blue wing is consistent with Balmer line emission from regions whose motion is predominantly radial, if variations of the blue wing are a response to continuum changes. Alternatively, we note that observed Hβ line profile variations are consistent with a variable line component as in a "binary black hole" scenario. More frequent observations of Hβ are needed to distinguish among these hypotheses.
Distorting the Hump-backed Plateau of Jets with Dense QCD Matter

The hump-backed plateau of the single inclusive distribution of hadrons inside a jet provides a standard test of the interplay between probabilistic parton splitting and quantum coherence in QCD. The medium-induced modification of this QCD radiation physics is expected to give access to the properties of the dense medium produced in relativistic heavy ion collisions. Here, we introduce a formulation of medium-induced parton energy loss, which treats all leading and subleading parton branchings equally, and which - for showering in the vacuum - accounts for the observed distribution of soft jet fragments. We show that the strong suppression of single inclusive hadron spectra measured in Au-Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) implies a characteristic distortion of the hump-backed plateau; we determine, as a function of jet energy, to what extent the soft jet fragments can be measured above some momentum cut. Our study further indicates that the approximate pT-independence of the measured nuclear modification factor does not exclude a significant Q^2-dependence of parton energy loss.
P-gp and BCRP inhibition induced by some new 1, 4-Dihydropyridine and Dihydropyrimidines

Overexpression of ABC transporters leads to MDR (Multiple Drug Resistance). MDR is considered to be the major contributor to failure of chemotherapy in metastatic cancers. ABC transporters have protective role in normal cells by extruding xenobiotics of cytotoxic compounds from the cell. The development of selective inhibitors of P-gp, MRP1, MRP2, and BCRP has been a major goal of many research groups in the last few years. Previous studies have shown that 1,4-dihydropyridines could inhibit these transporters. In this study, some new 1,4-dihydropyridine and pyrimidine have been developed and their inhibitory effect on the resistant cancer cell lines was examined. In order to elucidate the binding mode of these compounds, a molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation was performed for the protein-ligand complex. Dihydropyridines were more potent than dihydropyrimidines. However, one of the dihydropyrimidine derivatives selectively inhibited BCRP. The binding mode of these compounds showed that methoxy groups and heterocyclic rings could create hydrogen bonds with polar residues at the active sites. These regions were more stable during MD simulation.
Engineered bidirectional communication mediates a consensus in a microbial biofilm consortium

Microbial consortia form when multiple species colocalize and communally generate a function that none is capable of alone. Consortia abound in nature, and their cooperative metabolic activities influence everything from biodiversity in the global food chain to human weight gain. Here, we present an engineered consortium in which the microbial members communicate with each other and exhibit a “consensus” gene expression response. Two colocalized populations of Escherichia coli converse bidirectionally by exchanging acyl-homoserine lactone signals. The consortium generates the gene-expression response if and only if both populations are present at sufficient cell densities. Because neither population can respond without the other's signal, this consensus function can be considered a logical AND gate in which the inputs are cell populations. The microbial consensus consortium operates in diverse growth modes, including in a biofilm, where it sustains its response for several days.
RSM: A small and fast countermeasure for AES, secure against 1st and 2nd-order zero-offset SCAs

Amongst the many existing countermeasures against Side Channel Attacks (SCA) on symmetrical cryptographic algorithms, masking is one of the most widespread, thanks to its relatively low overhead, its low performance loss and its robustness against first-order attacks. However, several articles have recently pinpointed the limitations of this countermeasure when matched with variance-based and other high-order analyses. In this article, we present a new form of Boolean masking for the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) called “RSM”, which shows the same level in performances as the state-of-the-art, while being less area consuming, and secure against Variance-based Power Analysis (VPA) and second-order zero-offset CPA. Our theoretical security evaluation is then validated with simulations as well as real-life CPA and VPA on an AES 256 implemented on FPGA.
Delusions of pregnancy in older women: a case series.

BACKGROUND Delusions of pregnancy have been reported in a wide variety of functional and organic psychiatric conditions but rarely with dementia. Most such delusions arise in women of child-bearing age. We report five cases in older women all of whom had severe constipation that probably precipitated this delusion. CASE REPORTS Of the five women (age 74-89 years), two had dementia, two had delirium and one had both. All patients had borne healthy children. Three women reported that they were in labour, and one was concerned that the baby was not moving. All had severe constipation on examination or imaging, and three had faecal impaction. All were treated with laxatives or enemas, and only one patient required brief antipsychotic therapy. The delusions lasted from a few hours to 5 days. In general, resolution of the delusion occurred in concert with improvement in bowel function, although in one case a large bowel movement was followed by the delusion that a baby had been born. CONCLUSION These cases suggest that misinterpretation of abdominal symptoms due to severe constipation in cognitively impaired women may trigger the delusion of being pregnant and that treatment of constipation often leads to resolution of the delusion.
Adoption of multiple sustainable agricultural practices in rural Ethiopia

The adoption and diffusion of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) has become an important issue in the development-policy agenda for sub-Saharan Africa, especially as a way to tackle land degradation, low agricultural productivity and poverty. However, the adoption rates of SAPs remain below expected levels. This study analyses the factors that facilitate or impede the probability and level of adoption of interrelated SAPs, using recent data from multiple plot-level observations in rural Ethiopia. Multivariate and ordered probit models are applied to the modelling of adoption decisions by farm households facing multiple SAPs, which can be adopted in various combinations. The results show that there is a significant correlation between SAPs, suggesting that adoptions of SAPs are interrelated. The analysis further shows that both the probability and the extent of adoption of SAPs are influenced by many factors: a household’s trust in government support, credit constraints, spouse education, rainfall and plot-level disturbances, household wealth, social capital and networks, labour availability, plot and market access. These results imply that policy-makers and development practitioners should seek to strengthen local institutions and service providers, maintain or increase household asset bases and establish and strengthen social protection schemes in order to improve the adoption of SAPs.
Renal Hemodynamic Effect of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibition in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Background— The primary objective of this mechanistic open-label, stratified clinical trial was to determine the effect of 8 weeks’ sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibition with empagliflozin 25 mg QD on renal hyperfiltration in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). Methods and Results— Inulin (glomerular filtration rate; GFR) and paraaminohippurate (effective renal plasma flow) clearances were measured in individuals stratified based on having hyperfiltration (T1D-H, GFR ≥ 135 mL/min/1.73m2, n=27) or normal GFR (T1D-N, GFR 90–134 mL/min/1.73m2, n=13) at baseline. Renal function and circulating levels of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system mediators and NO were measured under clamped euglycemic (4–6 mmol/L) and hyperglycemic (9–11 mmol/L) conditions at baseline and end of treatment. During clamped euglycemia, hyperfiltration was attenuated by −33 mL/min/1.73m2 with empagliflozin in T1D-H, (GFR 172±23–139±25 mL/min/1.73 m2, P<0.01). This effect was accompanied by declines in plasma NO and effective renal plasma flow and an increase in renal vascular resistance (all P<0.01). Similar significant effects on GFR and renal function parameters were observed during clamped hyperglycemia. In T1D-N, GFR, other renal function parameters, and plasma NO were not altered by empagliflozin. Empagliflozin reduced hemoglobin A1c significantly in both groups, despite lower insulin doses in each group (P⩽0.04). Conclusions— In conclusion, short-term treatment with the sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor empagliflozin attenuated renal hyperfiltration in subjects with T1D, likely by affecting tubular-glomerular feedback mechanisms. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT01392560.
Software Defect Content Estimation: A Bayesian Approach

Software inspection is a method to detect errors in software artefacts early in the development cycle. At the end of the inspection process the inspectors need to make a decision whether the inspected artefact is of sufficient quality or not. Several methods have been proposed to assist in making this decision like capture recapture methods and Bayesian approach. In this study these methods have been analyzed and compared and a new Bayesian approach for software inspection is proposed. All of the estimation models rely on an underlying assumption that the inspectors are independent. However, this assumption of independence is not necessarily true in practical sense, as most of the inspection teams interact with each other and share their findings. We, therefore, studied a new Bayesian model where the inspectors share their findings, for defect estimate and compared it with Bayesian models in the literature, where inspectors examine the artefact independently. The simulations were carried out under realistic software conditions with a small number of difficult defects and a few inspectors. The models were evaluated on the basis of decision accuracy and median relative error and our results suggest that the dependent inspector assumption improves the decision accuracy (DA) over the previous Bayesian model and CR models
The prevalence of asthma and allergies in Singapore; data from two ISAAC surveys seven years apart

Background and Aims: Over the past few decades, the prevalence of asthma has been increasing in the industrialised world. Despite the suggestion of a similar increase in Singapore, the 12 month prevalence of wheeze among schoolchildren in 1994 was 2.5-fold less than that reported in western populations. It was hypothesised that with increasing affluence in Singapore, the asthma prevalence would further increase and approach Western figures. A second ISAAC survey was carried out seven years later to evaluate this hypothesis. Methods: The cross-sectional data from two ISAAC questionnaire based surveys conducted in 1994 (n = 6238) and in 2001 (n = 9363) on two groups of schoolchildren aged 6–7 and 12–15 years were compared. The instruments used were identical and the procedures standardised in both surveys. Results: Comparing data from both studies, the change in the prevalence of current wheeze occurred in opposing directions in both age groups—decreasing in the 6–7 year age group (16.6% to 10.2%) but increasing to a small extent in the 12–15 year age group (9.9% to 11.9%). The 12 month prevalence of rhinitis did not change; there was an increase in the current eczema symptoms in both age groups. Conclusion: The prevalence of current wheeze, a surrogate measure of asthma prevalence, has decreased significantly in the 6–7 year age group. Eczema was the only allergic disease that showed a modest increase in prevalence in both age groups.
The Effect of Processing on Fiber Dispersion, Fiber Length, and Thermal Degradation of Bleached Sulfite Cellulose Fiber Polypropylene Composites

The goal of this study is to examine how the extrusion process affects the dispersion, length, and thermal degradation of cellulose fibers (CF) in polypropylene (PP) composites. Bleached sulfite CF are pelletized and then compounded (20 and 30wt%) in a co-rotating twin screw extruder. The pelletizing process of CF is found to cause extensive fiber breakage. The fiber length is decreased from an initial 1.7 to 0.8 mm. The results show that higher screw speed, higher fiber content, and two extrusions not only increase the shear energy, resulting in improved fiber dispersion but also cause fiber breakage and thermal degradation. The composite's mechanical properties are not improved with better fiber dispersion and the reason for this might be the extensive fiber breakage and thermal degradation. Moreover, it is found that the PP polymer is also slightly degraded during the compounding process.
Choline and Fructooligosaccharide: Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Cardiac Fat Deposition, and Oxidative Stress Markers

This study investigates the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats with choline and fructooligosaccharide (FOS). The healthy control group received standard diet. The other three groups consisted of animals with NAFLD. Group Estr received standard diet; group Echo received standard diet plus choline (3 g/100 g diet); and group Efos received standard diet plus FOS (10 g/100 g diet). Food intake, weight, urinary nitrogen, urinary ammonia, total cholesterol, serum triacylglyceride, liver and heart weights, tissue nitrogen, tissue fat, vitamin E, TBARS, and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in hepatic and heart tissue. Choline and FOS treatments resulted in total mean fat reduction in liver and heart tissue of 0.2 and 1.7 g, respectively. Both treatments were equally effective in reducing hepatic and cardiac steatosis. There were no differences in the TBARS level among experimental and control groups, indicating that the proposed treatments had no added protection against free radicals. While all experimental groups had increased vitamin E and GSH levels, choline treatment led to a significant increase compared to control.
SDF and GABA interact to regulate axophilic migration of GnRH neurons

Summary Stromal derived growth factor (SDF-1) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are two extracellular cues that regulate the rate of neuronal migration during development and may act synergistically. The molecular mechanisms of this interaction are still unclear. Gonadotropin releasing hormone-1 (GnRH) neurons are essential for vertebrate reproduction. During development, these neurons emerge from the nasal placode and migrate through the cribriform plate into the brain. Both SDF-1 and GABA have been shown to regulate the rate of GnRH neuronal migration by accelerating and slowing migration, respectively. As such, this system was used to explore the mechanism by which these molecules act to produce coordinated cell movement during development. In the present study, GABA and SDF-1 are shown to exert opposite effects on the speed of cell movement by activating depolarizing or hyperpolarizing signaling pathways, GABA via changes in chloride and SDF-1 via changes in potassium. GABA and SDF-1 were also found to act synergistically to promote linear rather than random movement. The simultaneous activation of these signaling pathways, therefore, results in tight control of cellular speed and improved directionality along the migratory pathway of GnRH neurons.
Risk Factors for Chronic Disease Among Rural Vietnamese Adults and the Association of These Factors With Sociodemographic Variables: Findings From the WHO STEPS Survey in Rural Vietnam, 2005

Introduction Chronic diseases have emerged as a major health threat to the world's population, particularly in developing countries. We examined the prevalence of selected risk factors for chronic disease and the association of these risk factors with sociodemographic variables in a representative sample of adults in rural Vietnam. Methods In 2005, we selected a representative sample of 2000 adults aged 25 to 64 years using the World Health Organization's STEPwise approach to surveillance of chronic disease risk factors. We measured subjects' blood pressure, calculated their body mass index (BMI), and determined their self-reported smoking status. We then assessed the extent to which hypertension, being overweight (having a BMI ≥25.0), smoking, and various combinations of these risk factors were associated with subjects' education level, occupational category, and economic status. Results Mean blood pressure levels were higher among men than among women and increased progressively with age. The prevalence of hypertension was 23.9% among men and 13.7% among women. Sixty-three percent of men were current smokers, and 58% were current daily smokers; less than 1% of women smoked. Mean body mass index was 19.6 among men and 19.9 among women, and only 3.5% of the population was overweight. Education level was inversely associated with the prevalence of hypertension among both men and women and with the prevalence of smoking among men. People without a stable occupation were more at risk of having hypertension than were farmers and more at risk of being overweight than were farmers or government employees. Hypertension was directly associated with socioeconomic status among men but inversely associated with socioeconomic status among women. Conclusion Rural Vietnam is experiencing an increase in the prevalence of many risk factors for chronic diseases and is in urgent need of interventions to reduce the prevalence of these risk factors and to deal with the chronic diseases to which they contribute.