Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preliminary Study of Water Repellent Properties of Red Pepper Seed Oil

The water-repellent properties of red pepper seed oil (capsicol) have been studied. The oil was coated on the glass surface by spray technique. Water repellent properties were performed by measuring the contact angle of water droplets. The measurement was conducted by varying the drying time of the oil coating at room temperature. The optimum contact angle of the droplets on the glass with capsicol coating is 46.77°, which can be achieved in 30 min of drying time. It also obtained the smallest diameter of the droplets (0.47 cm). The longer drying time decrease the contact angles and increases the diameter. The results were compared with the bare glass and commercial water repellent. The contact angle of the droplets on the glass surface with capsicol coating is higher than bare glass, but lower than glass with commercial water repellent coating. It means that capsicol has the water-repellent properties.
Analysis of heterologous protein production in defined recombinant Aspergillus awamori strains

A study was carried out to obtain more insight into the parameters that determine the secretion of heterologous proteins from filamentous fungi. A strategy was chosen in which the mRNA levels and protein levels of a number of heterologous genes of different origins were compared. All genes were under control of the Aspergillus awamori 1,4-beta-endoxylanase A (exlA) expression signals and were integrated in a single copy at the A. awamori pyrG locus. A Northern (RNA) analysis showed that large differences occurred in the steady-state mRNA levels obtained with the various genes; those levels varied from high values for genes of fungal origin (A. awamori 1,4-beta-endoxylanase A, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, and Thermomyces lanuginosa lipase) to low values for genes of nonfungal origin (human interleukin 6 and Cyamopsis tetragonoloba [guar] alpha-galactosidase). With the C. tetragonoloba alpha-galactosidase wild-type gene full-length mRNA was even undetectable. Surprisingly, small amounts of full-length mRNA could be detected when a C. tetragonoloba alpha-galactosidase gene with an optimized Saccharomyces cerevisiae codon preference was expressed. In all cases except human interleukin 6, the protein levels corresponded to the amounts expected on basis of the mRNA levels. For human interleukin 6, very low protein levels were observed, whereas relatively high steady-state mRNA levels were obtained. Our data suggest that intracellular protein degradation is the most likely explanation for the low levels of secreted human interleukin 6.
Functional Extinction of Birds Drives Rapid Evolutionary Changes in Seed Size

The Birds and the Seeds When species are lost from ecosystems through local extinction, the pattern of ecological interactions changes. Galetti et al. (p. 1086) show how the loss of large fruit-eating birds from tropical forest fragments in Brazil affects the reduction of seed size in a palm species. A data set was compiled that consisted of >9000 seeds measured in 22 populations over a large area of Atlantic rainforest, including seven areas where large-seed dispersers (toucans, cracids, and large cotingas) were extinct and 15 areas where they are still common. Local extinction of large fruit-eating birds selects for reduction of seed size in a tropical forest palm. Local extinctions have cascading effects on ecosystem functions, yet little is known about the potential for the rapid evolutionary change of species in human-modified scenarios. We show that the functional extinction of large-gape seed dispersers in the Brazilian Atlantic forest is associated with the consistent reduction of the seed size of a keystone palm species. Among 22 palm populations, areas deprived of large avian frugivores for several decades present smaller seeds than nondefaunated forests, with negative consequences for palm regeneration. Coalescence and phenotypic selection models indicate that seed size reduction most likely occurred within the past 100 years, associated with human-driven fragmentation. The fast-paced defaunation of large vertebrates is most likely causing unprecedented changes in the evolutionary trajectories and community composition of tropical forests.
Reliable low-power design in the presence of deep submicron noise (embedded tutorial session)

Scaling of feature size in semiconductor technology has been responsible for increasingly higher computational capacity of silicon. This has been the driver for the revolution in communications and computing. However, questions regarding the limits of scaling (and hence Moore's Law) have arisen in recent years due to the emergence of deep submicron noise. The tutorial describes noise in deep submicron CMOS and their impact on digital as well as analog circuits. In particular, noise-tolerance is proposed as an effective means for achieving energy and performance efficiency in the presence of DSM noise.
Sensing as a Service (S2aaS): Buying and Selling IoT Data

The Internet of Things (IoT) [1] envisions the creation of an environment where everyday objects (e.g. microwaves, fridges, cars, coffee machines, etc.) are connected to the internet and make users' lives more convenient. It will also lead users to consume resources more efficiently.
Review of real-time visual driver distraction detection algorithms

Many incidents and crashes can be attributed to driver distraction, and it is essential to learn how to detect distraction in order to develop efficient countermeasures. A number of distraction detection algorithms have been developed over the years, and the objective of this paper is to summarize available approaches and to describe these algorithms in a unified framework. The review is limited to real-time algorithms that are intended to detect visual distraction.
Localized fields, global impact: Industrial applications of resonant plasmonic materials

From the photoinduced transport of energy that accompanies photosynthesis to the transcontinental transmission of optical data that enable the Internet, our world relies and thrives on optical signals. To highlight the importance of optics to society, the United Nations designated 2015 as “The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies. ” Although conventional optical technologies are limited by diffraction, plasmons—collective oscillations of free electrons in a conductor—allow optical signals to be tailored with nanoscale precision. Following decades of fundamental research, several plasmonic technologies have now emerged on the market, and numerous industrial breakthroughs are imminent. This article highlights recent industrially relevant advances in plasmonics, including plasmonic materials and devices for energy; for medical sensing, imaging, and therapeutics; and for information technology. Some of the most exciting industrial applications include solar-driven water purifiers, cell phone Raman spectrometers, high-density holographic displays, photothermal cancer therapeutics, and nanophotonic integrated circuits. We describe the fundamental scientific concepts behind these and related technologies, as well as the successes and challenges associated with technology transfer.
Reduction in glomerular pore size is not restricted to pregnant women. Evidence for a new syndrome: ‘Shrunken pore syndrome’

Abstract The plasma levels of cystatin C, β2-microglobulin, beta-trace protein, retinol binding protein (RBP) and creatinine were determined in plasma samples from 111 randomly selected patients with eGFRcystatin C ≤ 60% of eGFRcreatinine and from 55 control patients with 0.9eGFRcreatinine ≤ eGFRcystatin C ≤ 1.1eGFRcreatinine (eGFRcystatin C ≈ eGFRcreatinine). The concentration ratios of cystatin C/creatinine, β2-microglobulin/creatinine, beta-trace protein/creatinine and RBP/creatinine were significantly higher in patients with eGFRcystatin C ≤ 60% of eGFRcreatinine than in patients with eGFRcystatin C ≈ eGFRcreatinine. When the patients were divided into three groups with different estimated GFR intervals (≤ 40, 40–60 and ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73m2) the concentration ratios of cystatin C/creatinine, β2-microglobulin/creatinine, and beta-trace protein/creatinine were significantly higher in patients with eGFRcystatin C ≤ 60% of eGFRcreatinine than in patients with eGFRcystatin C ≈ eGFRcreatinine for all GFR intervals. Similar results were obtained when the population without pregnant women was studied as well as the subpopulations of men or of non-pregnant women. Populations of pre-eclamptic women and pregnant women in the third trimester display similar results. Since the production of these four proteins with sizes similar to that of cystatin C is not co-regulated, the most likely explanation for the simultaneous increase of their creatinine-ratios in patients with eGFRcystatin C ≤ 60% of eGFRcreatinine is that their elimination by glomerular filtration is decreased. We suggest that this is due to a reduction in pore diameter of the glomerular membrane and propose the designation ‘Shrunken pore syndrome’ for this pathophysiological state.
Comparison of Effectiveness of Endoxal and Endosal in Removal of Smear Layer from Root Canal Dentine Surface: A SEM Study

Background. During biomechanical root canal preparation, a smear layer, consisting of organic and inorganic parts, appears on the surface of the canal dentine. Dent. Med. Probl. 2016, 53, 4, 483–489 DOI: 10.17219/dmp/63934 © Copyright by Wroclaw Medical University and Polish Dental Society
Retraction: article on estrogen receptor beta in ovarian carcinogenesis.

Upon closer review of our article on estrogen receptor β in ovarian carcinogenesis, published in the [August 15, 2004][1], issue of Cancer Research ([1][2]), we have discovered that some of the data were manipulated. The first author of the article has admitted altering data records. Because these
Reliability of Three-Dimensional Pseudo-Continuous Arterial Spin Labeling MR Imaging for Measuring Visual Cortex Perfusion on Two 3T Scanners

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the human primary visual cortex is correlated with the loss of visual function in neuro-ophthalmological diseases. Advanced three-dimensional pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (3D pCASL), as a non-invasive method to access the CBF, can be a novel measurement to detect the visual cortex. The objective of the study was to assess the intra- and inter-scanner reliability of 3D pCASL of the visual cortex in healthy adults and suggest the selection of different post-labeling delay times (PLDs). For this reason, 3D pCASL was conducted in two 3.0T MR three times with twelve healthy volunteers at an interval of 10–15 days. The 1st and 3rd tests were performed on scanner-1, and the 2nd test was performed on scanner-2. The value of the CBF was abstracted from the visual cortex with two PLDs. The intra- and inter-scanner reliability and reproducibility were evaluated with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots. By estimating the mean value of the CBF in the visual cortex, the intra-scanner results demonstrated the higher reliability (ICC for PLD = 1.5 second presented at 0.743 compared with 0.829 for PLD = 2.5 seconds), and the Bland-Altman plots showed the reproducibility at a longer PLD. We conclude that the calibrated 3D pCASL approach provides a highly reproducible measurement of the CBF of the visual cortex that can serve as a useful quantitative probe for research conducted at multiple centers and for the long-term observation of the clinical effects of neuro-opthalmological diseases.
Glomerular Hyperfiltration in Human Diabetes

The presence of the characteristic early glomerular hyperfiltration seenin diabetes was originally suggested long ago by Cambier (1), indeed a few years before the well-known studies by Kimmelstiel and Wilson (2) that documented the typical glomerular structural lesions in diabetic patients. Brenner (3,4), in his breakthrough glomerular hyperfiltration- hemodynamic theory, also used diabetes as an example and proposed that hyperfiltration was an important factor in the genesis of glomerular damage, and not only in the damage caused by diabetes. This means that the two classic findings (1,2) may well be closely connected, with the former causing the latter.
Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: Final Results of the Multi MERCI Trial

Background and Purpose— Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy may be used during acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel intracranial occlusion. First-generation MERCI devices achieved recanalization rates of 48% and, when coupled with intraarterial thrombolytic drugs, recanalization rates of 60% have been reported. Enhancements in embolectomy device design may improve recanalization rates. Methods— Multi MERCI was an international, multicenter, prospective, single-arm trial of thrombectomy in patients with large vessel stroke treated within 8 hours of symptom onset. Patients with persistent large vessel occlusion after IV tissue plasminogen activator treatment were included. Once the newer generation (L5 Retriever) device became available, investigators were instructed to use the L5 Retriever to open vessels and could subsequently use older generation devices and/or intraarterial tissue plasminogen activator. Primary outcome was recanalization of the target vessel. Results— One hundred sixty-four patients received thrombectomy and 131 were initially treated with the L5 Retriever. Mean age±SD was 68±16 years, and baseline median (interquartile range) National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 19 (15 to 23). Treatment with the L5 Retriever resulted in successful recanalization in 75 of 131 (57.3%) treatable vessels and in 91 of 131 (69.5%) after adjunctive therapy (intraarterial tissue plasminogen activator, mechanical). Overall, favorable clinical outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 0 to 2) occurred in 36% and mortality was 34%; both outcomes were significantly related to vascular recanalization. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in 16 patients (9.8%); 4 (2.4%) of these were parenchymal hematoma type II. Clinically significant procedural complications occurred in 9 (5.5%) patients. Conclusions— Higher rates of recanalization were associated with a newer generation thrombectomy device compared with first-generation devices, but these differences did not achieve statistical significance. Mortality trended lower and the proportion of good clinical outcomes trended higher, consistent with better recanalization.
Significance of pulmonary venous obstruction in total anomalous pulmonary venous return.

BACKGROUND Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) is an uncommon congenital cardiovascular anomaly with poor natural prognosis. It has been detected more frequently in recent year due to the advent of echocardiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations and outcomes in TAPVR patients with or without pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO). METHODS From January 1985 to December 2002, a total of 27 cases with TAPVR at our institution were reviewed. Accurding to the preseace or assence of PVO, patients were divided into PVO group and non-PVO group. Patients' sex, age at diagnosis, types of TAPVR, clinical manifestations, surgical treatment and outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS All of them had received 2-dimensional (2-D) and color Doppler echocardiography examination. Cardiac catheterization was performed in all but 1 patient who died at the first day of birth. In addition, 10 of 27 cases had cardiovascular MRI for further study. The number of cases in PVO group and non-PVO group were 15 (56%) and 12 (44%), respectively. There was no significant difference in sex or pulmonary venous drainage sites between both groups. Cyanosis was more prevalent in the PVO group (80% vs. 30%, p = 0.038). Four (27%) cases PVO group and 3 (25%) cases of the non-PVO group had of the non-isolated cardiac lesions. Pulmonary hypertension was present in 18 (69%) of 26 cases who had received cardiac catheterization. Among them, 10 had PVO and 5 had systemic level of pulmonary arterial pressure. Seven (30%) of 23 patients who had received operation died; in contrast, 3 of 4 patients without operation expired. The remaining 1 did not had surgery because of complex heart disease. There was no significant difference in surgical mortality between PVO and non-PVO groups (33% vs. 27%). CONCLUSIONS Cyanosis is an obvious clinical symptom of obstructed TAPVR. Surgical mortality made no significant difference between obstructed and non-obstructed groups. Early detection and surgical treatment for TAPVR are important. Although cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography is the golden standard for the diagnosis, 2-D and color Doppler echocardiography can also provide quick and accurate diagnostic images of TAPVR.
Artificial Neural Network Based Signature Verification

The human signature is proven to be the most important for access. Signature of the person is proven to be the important biometric attribute of a human being which can be used to authenticate human identity [1]. There are many biometric characteristics by which one can have own identity like face recognition, fingerprint detection, iris inspection and retina scanning [2]. Voice reorganization and signature verification are the upcoming technologies for the human identity.Human signature can be handling as the image and can be recognized by using the computer vision and neural network. With the help of the modern technology there is possibility to develop such algorithm with help of which one can able to recognize and verify the human signature. This paper deals with the off-line signature recognition & verification using neural network in which the human signature is captured and presented in the image format to the system.
Speaker-independent name dialing with out-of-vocabulary rejection

We propose a system for speaker-independent name dialing in which a name enrolled by a user can be used by other members in a family or co-workers in an office. We use speaker-independent sub-word models during enrollment; the recognized sub-word string is later used during recognition. We also present a mechanism for rejecting out-of-vocabulary (OOV) phrases. The best in-vocabulary (IV) correct and OOV rejection performance for other speakers is 90%/60% (IV/OOV) on a database containing eighteen speakers. If the orthography is known, the best performance is 96%/65%.
Improved efficacy of ethyl formate against stored grain insects by combination with carbon dioxide in a 'dynamic' application.

Ethyl formate is being evaluated as a fumigant for stored grain as it is a potential alternative to the ozone-depleting fumigant methyl bromide and to phosphine, which is under pressure owing to the development of strong resistance in stored grain insects. However, use of ethyl formate faces significant challenges, such as poor penetration through grain, significant losses to grain sorption, high concentrations of fumigant required to control insects, and flammability risks, which have limited its further development. In this study it was found that the combination of carbon dioxide (5-20%) with ethyl formate significantly enhanced efficacy of the fumigant against external living stages of the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica F. , and the flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Dynamic application of ethyl formate and carbon dioxide mixture (100 mg litre-1 ethyl formate, 20% CO2) pumped through a model silo containing wheat (50 kg) for one gas exchange was also investigated. A flow rate of 6 litres min-1 gave a relatively even distribution of fumigant throughout the grain column and similar mortality levels among cultures of S. oryzae and T. castaneum placed at three positions, the top, middle and bottom of the column. Mortality of 99.8% of mixed stage cultures of T. castaneum and 95.1% of S. oryzae was achieved in 3 h exposures to 111 and 185 mg ethyl formate h litre-1 respectively applied by the dynamic method. It is concluded that the combination of carbon dioxide with ethyl formate and dynamic application enhances distribution and efficacy of the fumigant against stored grain insects.
Real-life effectiveness of Golimumab in biologic-naïve patients with rheumatoid arthritis - data from the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (Reuma.pt).

OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of subcutaneous Golimumab 50 mg/monthly combined with methotrexate (SC GLM + MTX) over 52 weeks of treatment, in biologic-naïve RA patients, in a multicentre nationwide cohort from the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (Reuma.pt). METHODS Data for this observational study was collected from March 2011 to August 2015. Disease activity (DAS28), functional capacity (HAQ) and Patient Global Disease Assessment (PGDA) were measured at baseline and weeks 12, 24 and 52 of treatment. The primary objective was clinical remission over 52 weeks (1 year) and secondary objectives were: functional response and functional remission over 52 weeks, variation of individual components of DAS over time and treatment persistence at week 52. Comparison between baseline variables of subjects with and without clinical remission was performed. The SC GLM + MTX persistence rate was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cox proportional hazard model approach was used to evaluate predictive factors of persistence, response and remission. RESULTS A total of 109 patients were enrolled in the study: 94 (86.2%) female, mean age 55.5±13.2 years, mean age at diagnosis 45.5±13.5 years, mean age at beginning of treatment with biologic agents 53.1±13.1 years; 78.1% positive for serum rheumatoid factor. All patients were biologic-naïve and had active disease, despite previous treatment with conventional DMARDs. At the time of this analysis, 93 patients had a follow-up time of at least 52 weeks (i.e. started treatment before August 2014). Of this group, 38.3% achieved clinical remission, 91.9% functional response and 35.2% functional remission, over 52 weeks. Treatment persistence was 75.3% at 1 year. Disease activity indices were all statistically significantly lower at 12, 24 and 52 weeks when compared to baseline. Older age at diagnosis was associated to a lower probability of clinical remission (HR= 0.96, p= 0.031) whereas higher C-reactive protein baseline levels were associated with a lower probability of functional response (HR= 0.54; p= 0.026). CONCLUSIONS Golimumab 50 mg + MTX showed effectiveness in the treatment of patients with active RA, in accordance to what previously observed in clinical trials. A consistent and significant decrease in RA disease activity through 52 weeks of treatment and a significant functional improvement were observed, as well as a high persistence on treatment.
Medical Risk Assessment in Patients Referred to Dental Clinics, Mashhad, Iran (2011-2012)

Advances in medical and dental techniques have led to a growing aged population living with complex medical conditions. This study focuses on the detection of medically compromised dental patients by means of a validated patient-administered medical risk-related history questionnaire. Materials and Methods: We used the questionnaire EMRRH (European Risk Related Medical History) in order to study the prevalence as well as the risk assessment of past medical problems in a population who visited dental centers (dental university, dental offices and clinics) for treatment in Mashhad, Iran. Results: A total number of 1,188 patients were registered, 871 of whom had a medical history that was of some interest to us. From the population with medical problems which was 30.6% of the total (N=219), 26.7% of the patients were classified as risk ASA I; 37.3% as ASA II, 16.9% as ASA III; and 19.1% as ASA IV. Among the diverse pathologies, the highest percentage was hypertension (11.6%), followed by allergies to different drugs (8.37%). Conclusion: It seems absolutely essential for dental practitioners to take a detailed medical history prior to any therapeutic procedure, as certain medical conditions, if unnoticed, will lead to unfavorable consequences and/or repercussions.