Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adrenomedullin: A Protective Factor for Blood Vessels

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a vasodilator peptide having a wide range of biological actions such as reduction of oxidative stress and inhibition of endothelial cell apoptosis. The AM gene is expressed in vascular walls, and AM was found to be secreted from cultured vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and adventitial fibroblasts. Plasma AM levels in patients with arteriosclerotic vascular diseases are elevated in possible association with the severity of the disease. When administered over a relatively short period, AM dilates blood vessels via an endothelium-dependent or independent mechanism. Experiments in vitro have shown that AM exerts multiple actions on cultured vascular cells, which are mostly protective or inhibitory against vascular damage and progression of arteriosclerosis. Either prolonged infusion or overexpression of AM suppressed intimal thickening, fatty streak formation, and perivascular hyperplasia in rodent models for vascular remodeling or atherosclerosis. Intimal thickening induced by periarterial cuff was more severe in AM gene-knockout mice than their littermates, suggesting a protective role for endogenous AM. Moreover, AM has recently been suggested to possess angiogenetic properties. Collectively, a body of evidence suggests that AM participates in the mechanism against progression of vascular damage and remodeling, thereby alleviating the ischemia of tissues and organs.
Framework of cellular automaton on sphere

Traditionally, CA is a discrete dynamical system. Our study usually focused on the rule-making and initial conditions, without discussing about its different topologies structure of cellular space or its neighborhood. Therefore, our study mainly concerns about the dividing and comparison of cellular space and we extend it to the sphere and construct the spherical hexagon CA's framework. Specifically, in this work we construct the visualization prototype of hexagonal CA, which may be especially useful for data analysis and simulation at the global scale.
Using large eddy simulation to study particle motions in a room.

UNLABELLED As people spend most of their time in an indoor environment, it is important to predict indoor pollutant level in order to assess health risks. As particles are an important pollutant indoors, it is of great interest to study the airflow pattern and particle dispersion in buildings. This study uses large eddy simulation (LES) to predict three-dimensional and transient turbulent flows and a Lagrangian model to compute particle trajectories in a room. The motion of three different types of solid particles in a decaying homogeneous isotropic turbulent airflow is calculated. By comparing the computed results with the experimental data from the literature, the computational method used in this investigation is found to be successful in predicting the airflow and particle trajectories in terms of the second-order statistics, such as the mean-square displacement and turbulent intensity. This Lagrangian model is then applied to the study of particles' dispersion in a ventilated cavity with a simplified geometry for two ventilation scenarios. It is shown that light particles follow the airflow in the room and many particles are exhausted, while heavier particles deposit to the floor or/and are exhausted. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS The results of this paper can be used to study dispersion of infectious diseases in enclosed spaces in which virus or bacteria are often attached to particles and transported to different rooms in a building through ventilation systems. In most of studies, the virus or bacteria have been considered to be gaseous phase so there is no slip between virus/bacteria and air. The results in this paper show that heavier particles are submitted to gravity and are sensitive to the ventilation strategy.
Case study: How analysis of customer found defects can be used by system test to improve quality

In the context of long-term, large-scale, industrial software development, process improvement and measurement to support process improvement is a necessity. Our software projects face the ongoing challenge, “How can we reduce the number of customer found defects in a cost-effective manner? ” This paper describes how the system test team of a large telecommunications company approached this challenge. Customer found defects were analyzed in a systematic way to provide information that system testers could turn into actionable activities in a test lab. Our findings indicated that most defects found by customers were associated with existing feature usage in various configurations while our test focus had primarily been on new feature operation. We categorized the information from our analysis using a technique called Minimum Conditions. Then, these data, together with an Exploratory Test method, were used to supplement existing test processes. The effort resulted in a $750,000 savings over two product releases.
Therapeutic Effect of Microcurrent Therapy in Children With In-toeing Gait Caused by Increased Femoral Anteversion: A Pilot Study

Objective To investigate the efficacy of portable microcurrent therapy device (PMTD) of the hip internal rotators in the treatment of in-toeing gait caused by increased femoral anteversion in children over 8 years of age. Methods Eleven children (22 legs; 4 boys and 7 girls; mean age, 10.4±1.6 years) with in-toeing gait caused by increased femoral anteversion were included in the present study. All children received 60 minutes of PMTD (intensity, 25 µA; frequency, 8 Hz) applied to the hip internal rotators daily for 4 weeks. Hip internal rotation (IR) angle, external rotation (ER) angle, and midmalleolar-second toe angle (MSTA) measurement during stance phase at transverse plane and Family Satisfaction Questionnaire, frequency of tripping and fatigue like pains about the PMTD were performed before treatment and at 4 weeks after initial PMTD treatment. Paired t-test and Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis. Results Hip IR/ER/MSTA was 70.3°±5.4°/20.1°±5.5°/–11.4°±2.7°, and 55.7°±7.8°/33.6°±8.2°/–2.6°±3.8° before treatment and at 4 weeks after initial PMTD treatment, respectively (p<0.01). Ten of 11 (91%) children's family stated that they were generally satisfied with the PMTD treatment. The frequency of tripping and fatigue like pains was significantly lower at 4 weeks after PMTD treatment (p<0.05). Excellent inter-rater and intra-rater reliability was observed for repeated MSTA measurements between the examiners (k=0.91–0.96 and k=0.93–0.99), respectively. Conclusion PMTD of the hip internal rotators can be effective in improving the gait pattern of children with in-toeing gait caused by increased femoral anteversion.
Asymptotic Evaluation of Delay in the SRPT Scheduler

In this note, the shortest remaining processing time (SRPT) scheduler is considered. We focus on the SRPT scheduling policy for a discrete-time queueing system that is accessed by a large number of flows (a many flows regime). In such an asymptotic regime (large capacity and large number of flows), we derive the expression for the delay rate function, which describes the complete delay distribution, for batch arrival processes, and with bounded job sizes. Based on these results, we compare the delay rate function (i.e., for any finite delay, and asymptotic in the number of flows) of the SRPT scheduler with that of a first-in-first-out (FIFO) scheduler, when there is a mix of job sizes. Our analysis holds for any finite mix of job sizes and for truncated heavy-tailed arrival processes. We apply the result to a system accessed by jobs which are one of two sizes: 1 or M. We investigate the unfairness of SRPT by comparing the delay rate function of size M jobs for SRPT and FIFO. We show that the difference in the delay rate function between SRPT and FIFO for size M jobs decay as O(1/M gamma) for some gamma that satisfies 0<gamma<1 and for M sufficiently large. In other words, the delay distributions under FIFO and SRPT becomes increasingly similar for increasingly larger jobs. On the other hand, for size 1 jobs, the delay rate function under SRPT is invariant with M. However, for FIFO, the delay rate function decays as O(1/Mgamma) for some 0<gamma<1 and M large. Thus, for size 1 jobs, SRPT performs increasingly better compared to FIFO as the range in job size increases. These results indicate that SRPT is a good policy to implement for web-servers, where empirical evidence suggests a large variability in job sizes
What Does Climate Change Mean for Agriculture in Developing Countries

Mendelsohn and Dinar review much of the important work on the implications of climate change for agriculture, focusing particularly on developing countries. Their message is that efficient economic adaptation significantly reduces the estimated effects of climate change. Few dispute that some amount of adaptation is likely and that its potential contribution to reducing the negative impacts of global warming is large. One such study (Darwin and others 1995), which analyzed the global impacts using an ecozone (land class) methodology, found that without adaptation, average cereal production yields fell roughly 20 to 30 percent in four different climate scenarios. Through various channels of adaptation (modifying crops and techniques on existing farmland, shifting crops to new land, and responding to changing market prices), these losses were reversed, resulting in small increases in production worldwide (0 to 1 percent) even before considering the positive effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) fertilization (tab.
1.6 GHz VLBI observations of SN 1979C: almost-free expansion (Research Note)

We report on 1.6 GHz Very-Long-Baseline-Interferometry (VLBI) observations of supernova SN 1979C made on 18 November 2002. We derive a model-dependent supernova size. We also present a reanalysis of VLBI observations made by us on June 1999 and by other authors on February 2005. We conclude that, contrary to our earlier claim of strong deceleration in the expansion, SN 1979C has been undergoing almost-free expansion (m = 0.91± 0.09; R∝ t m ) for over 25 years.
COMPONENT-BASED HETEROGENEOUS SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE RELIABILITY (COHAR) MODELING

In this paper, we propose an analytical model for component-based heterogeneous software architecture reliability and a method to find the solution for finding the optimal reliability of the overall software system according to the reliability of each component, the operational profile, and the architecture of software. Our approach is based on Markov chain properties and architecture perspectives to state view transformation in order to compute the reliability on heterogeneous software architecture consisting of various styles.
Chromatin Heterogeneity and Distribution of Regulatory Elements in the Late-Replicating Intercalary Heterochromatin Domains of Drosophila melanogaster Chromosomes

Late-replicating domains (intercalary heterochromatin) in the Drosophila genome display a number of features suggesting their organization is quite unique. Typically, they are quite large and encompass clusters of functionally unrelated tissue-specific genes. They correspond to the topologically associating domains and conserved microsynteny blocks. Our study aims at exploring further details of molecular organization of intercalary heterochromatin and has uncovered surprising heterogeneity of chromatin composition in these regions. Using the 4HMM model developed in our group earlier, intercalary heterochromatin regions were found to host chromatin fragments with a particular epigenetic profile. Aquamarine chromatin fragments (spanning 0.67% of late-replicating regions) are characterized as a class of sequences that appear heterogeneous in terms of their decompactization. These fragments are enriched with enhancer sequences and binding sites for insulator proteins. They likely mark the chromatin state that is related to the binding of cis-regulatory proteins. Malachite chromatin fragments (11% of late-replicating regions) appear to function as universal transitional regions between two contrasting chromatin states. Namely, they invariably delimit intercalary heterochromatin regions from the adjacent active chromatin of interbands. Malachite fragments also flank aquamarine fragments embedded in the repressed chromatin of late-replicating regions. Significant enrichment of insulator proteins CP190, SU(HW), and MOD2.2 was observed in malachite chromatin. Neither aquamarine nor malachite chromatin types appear to correlate with the positions of highly conserved non-coding elements (HCNE) that are typically replete in intercalary heterochromatin. Malachite chromatin found on the flanks of intercalary heterochromatin regions tends to replicate earlier than the malachite chromatin embedded in intercalary heterochromatin. In other words, there exists a gradient of replication progressing from the flanks of intercalary heterochromatin regions center-wise. The peculiar organization and features of replication in large late-replicating regions are discussed as possible factors shaping the evolutionary stability of intercalary heterochromatin.
Visual discrimination after anterior temporal lobectomy in humans

Objective: To determine whether right anterior temporal lobectomy (RTL) results in perceptual deficits, and whether the perception of particular stimulus features (i.e., shape, motion, color) is affected differentially. Background: RTL results in abnormal visual discrimination, recognition, and recall of pictorial material that cannot be easily specified verbally, such as designs and faces. It is unclear whether stimuli must be conceptually meaningful to elicit perceptual deficits. Methods: Tests were constructed to assess a wide spectrum of basic visual discrimination abilities with simple, meaningless stimuli. The performance of nine patients who underwent left temporal lobectomy (LTL) and nine patients who underwent RTL were compared with that of normal control individuals. The mean excision size along lateral cortex was 3.7 cm for the LTL group and 5.6 cm for the RTL group; mean mesial excision size was 5.2 cm for LTL and 4.6 cm for RTL. Results: Basic visual discrimination capacities were demonstrated to be essentially intact after LTL and RTL, except for a mild loss of blue color discrimination after RTL. Conclusions: There is little evidence that RTL produces perceptual impairments limited to the domain of pattern perception, or generalizable to nonmeaningful stimuli. The perceptual loss after RTL may be largely restricted to extraction of meaning, and related to the disruption of the circuits that connect the outcome of visual analysis to previously stored semantic information.
The Relationship between Time and Happiness:Based on the Comparison between Their Relationships with Money and Happiness

Time and money,with both similarities and differences,are a key part of individual happiness.In case of low income,money,as a scarce resource,is positively correlated with the extent of happiness while in case of income above a certain level,money is scarcely or never correlated with happiness.Time affluence,however,is positively related with happiness.Compared with money-spending ways to maximize happiness,several time-spending methods are employed to maximize happiness.As priming stimuli,time and money affect happiness,yet by different pathways.Money priming helps to alleviate suffering,but it also impairs individual happiness.However,time priming always helps to improve happiness.Putting aprice on time will weaken individual's happiness.Differences between subjects investigated and mental mechanism require further investigation.
Cellular retinol‐binding protein I is essential for vitamin A homeostasis

The gene encoding cellular retinol (ROL, vitA)‐binding protein type I (CRBPI) has been inactivated. Mutant mice fed a vitA‐enriched diet are healthy and fertile. They do not present any of the congenital abnormalities related to retinoic acid (RA) deficiency, indicating that CRBPI is not indispensable for RA synthesis. However, CRBPI deficiency results in an ∼50% reduction of retinyl ester (RE) accumulation in hepatic stellate cells. This reduction is due to a decreased synthesis and a 6‐fold faster turnover, which are not related to changes in the levels of RE metabolizing enzymes, but probably reflect an impaired delivery of ROL to lecithin:retinol acyltransferase. CRBPI‐null mice fed a vitA‐deficient diet for 5 months fully exhaust their RE stores. Thus, CRBPI is indispensable for efficient RE synthesis and storage, and its absence results in a waste of ROL that is asymptomatic in vitA‐sufficient animals, but leads to a severe syndrome of vitA deficiency in animals fed a vitA‐deficient diet.
Results on two-bit gate design for quantum computers

We present numerical results which show how two-bit logic gates can be used in the design of a quantum computer. We show that the Toffoli gate, which is the universal gate for all classical reversible computation, can be implemented using a particular sequence of exactly five two-bit gates. An arbitrary three-bit unitary gate, which can be used to build up any arbitrary quantum computation, can be implemented exactly with six two-bit gates. The ease of implementation of any particular quantum operation is dependent upon a very nonclassical feature of the operation, its exact quantum phase factor. <<ETX>>
A multi-legged biomimetic stair climbing robot with human foot trajectory

This paper aims to develop a multi-legged stair climbing robot with the capability to steadily climb stairs with consistent human foot trajectory. The leg design is based on the eight-bar Jansen mechanism but a new set of leg configuration is numerically identified based on the optimal design method with the aim to mimic the human foot trajectory when climbing stairs. The kinematic analysis of the leg mechanism based on loop closure equation has been derived in order to identify the leg trajectories for various designs. The targeted foot trajectory is experimentally measured. The weighted sum and simplex methods are used to solve the multi-objective function in the optimal design process. The proposed design is an eight-leg robot; its dynamic performance and trajectories of the multibody motion when climbing stairs have been numerically verified by using the commercial CAE package, RecurDyn. The prototype of the biomimetic robot has been developed to proof the concept design. The experimental results show the multi-legged robot can step up and down stairs with steady human foot trajectory.
17β-estradiol has no effect on reproduction success of calanoid copepod, Acartia omorii

The natural estrogen 17 -estradiol (E2) is responsible for the endocrine disruption and also has potential effect on the reproduction of vertebrate. However, its effect on invertebrate reproduction has scarcely been studied. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of E2 on survival, egg production and egg hatch of calanoid copepod, Acartia omorii under bath administration. Survival was observed every 24h for 10 days. Each 10 individuals of adult female were incubated at different concentration of E2 (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 g/L) with food (Isochrysis sp.+Tetraselmis sp., ratio 1:1). Egg production was observed through the incubation of single gravid female with above same conditions. Egg hatching success was examined for each 100 eggs at different concentration of E2, which were obtained from preexposed female at the same concentration. More than 80% of survival was obtained in 100 g/L level after 96h exposure periods. Egg production was slightly increased in 100 g/L but not significant. No significant (P<0.05) effect of E2 was observed in hatching rate up to 100 g/L level. Result suggests that there is no effect of E2 on the reproduction success of the calanoid copepod, A. omorii in the coastal and marine environment.
Application of the Concurrent Versions System ( CVS ) in the Design and Implementation of an Embedded Multichannel Data Acquisition and Analysis System for Gastrointestinal Signals

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Calgary, requires all graduating fourth year students to complete a team design project. The fourth year Team Design Project Course spans two semesters, and requires students to work in teams of four, under the supervision of a faculty member, to design, implement, and test a system to meet a customer’s requirements. The customers come from industry, other university departments, and Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty members, with projects ranging from robots to components of micro-satellites. In parallel with the design work, students are introduced to the theory and practice of project management.
Demonstration of Differentially Degenerated Corpus Callosam in Patients With Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury: With a Premise of Cortical-callosal Relationship

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been shown to predominantly affect the corpus callosum (CC). In light of the anatomical organization of cortico-callosal connections, we hypothesized that injury to the different cortical lobes may specifically affect their corresponding subdivisional fibers in the CC. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate lesion-related Wallerian degeneration across the subdivisions of the CC in patients with moderate TBI. Patients and Methods: Diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) was performed between 14 days and 6 months after trauma in 18 patients with moderate TBI, and 11 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects. Based on conventional magnetic resonance imaging findings, patients were classified into 3 groups: A) frontal lobe injury; B) occipito-temporal lobe injury; and C) fronto-parieto-temporal lobe injury. The CC was divided into seven subdivisions based on Witelson’s classifications. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values from the seven segments were compared among patient groups and controls. Results: Compared to controls, Group A showed significantly reduced FA in the rostrum, genu, splenium, and CC. Group B showed significantly reduced FA in the isthmus and whole CC relative to that in the controls. In Group C, FA significantly decreased across the entire CC compared to that in the controls. Conclusions: In our study, subdivisional fibers of the CC showed secondary microstructural changes resulting from primary injury in the corresponding cortical areas. We conclude that DTT-derived measures may act as an indicator of ongoing Wallerian degeneration. By extension, this study may improve our understanding of variable neuropsychological outcomes in clinically similar patients with TBI.
Shape-Sensitive Surface Reconstruction for Low-Resolution Point-Cloud Models

To increase the efficiency of surface reconstruction, the surface-reconstruction step was performed following an object-simplification step. However, point simplification often destroys the point distribution and increases the difficulty of surface reconstruction. To reconstruct a low-resolution point-cloud model, this study presents a novel shape-sensitive point sampling approach for modifying a sampling region adaptively. The proposed method extends the projection-based reconstruction method proposed by Gopi. Therefore, our method inherits the high performance of the other method. Generally, a surface reconstruction method only works when the point distribution in a point-cloud model is dense, but the point distribution on feature surfaces is often nonuniform. To overcome this limitation, we adopt the discrete shape operator (DSO) to quantify model features and determine sampling regions to reconstruct surfaces. Experimental results show the DSO efficiently extracts features of a 3D model, and the sampling regions determined by the DSO provide sufficient reconstruction information, thereby avoiding generation of undesired holes.