Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PVA-based hybrid composites with luminescent properties for drug delivery

The aim of this study was to synthesize and characterize new poly(vinyl alcohol)s (PVAs) hybrid composites with or without a basic drug content, e.g., 2-[4-(2-methylpropyl)phenyl]propanoic acid (ibuprofen), obtained at different pH values. Through sol-gel approach of chloropropyltriethoxysilane with a PVA precursor containing a fluorescent dye (lissamine rhodamine-B sulfonyl chloride), new hybrid materials with porous structures were obtained. Due to encapsulation in a porous network, the influence of rhodamine H-dimers on fluorescence quenching was negligible and the presence of free dye was exploited as a mechanism for anchoring the ibuprofen molecules through hydrogen bonding onto pore surfaces.
Coverage Performance of MIMO-MRC in Heterogeneous Networks: A Stochastic Geometry Perspective

We study the coverage performance of multi-antenna (MIMO) communications with maximum ratio combining (MRC) at the receiver in heterogeneous networks (HetNets). Our main interest in on multi-stream communications when BSs do not have access to channel state information. Adopting stochastic geometry we evaluate the network-wise coverage performance of MIMO-MRC assuming maximum signal- to-interference ratio (SIR) cell association rule. Coverage analysis in MIMO-MRC HetNets is challenging due to inter-stream interference and statistical dependencies among streams' SIR values in each communication link. Using the results of stochastic geometry we then investigate this problem and obtain tractable analytical approximations for the coverage performance. We then show that our results are adequately accurate and easily computable. Our analysis sheds light on the impacts of important system parameters on the coverage performance, and provides quantitative insight on the densification in conjunction with high multiplexing gains in MIMO HetNets. We further observe that increasing multiplexing gain in high- power tier can cost a huge coverage reduction unless it is practiced with densification in femto-cell tier.
Ccm1, a regulatory gene controlling the induction of a carbon-concentrating mechanism in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by sensing CO2 availability

Aquatic photosynthetic organisms, including the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, induce a set of genes for a carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM) to acclimate to CO2-limiting conditions. This acclimation is modulated by some mechanisms in the cell to sense CO2 availability. Previously, a high-CO2-requiring mutant C16 defective in an induction of the CCM was isolated from C. reinhardtii by gene tagging. By using this pleiotropic mutant, we isolated a nuclear regulatory gene, Ccm1, encoding a 699-aa hydrophilic protein with a putative zinc-finger motif in its N-terminal region and a Gln repeat characteristic of transcriptional activators. Introduction of Ccm1 into this mutant restored an active carbon transport through the CCM, development of a pyrenoid structure in the chloroplast, and induction of a set of CCM-related genes. That a 5,128-base Ccm1 transcript and also the translation product of 76 kDa were detected in both high- and low-CO2 conditions suggests that CCM1 might be modified posttranslationally. These data indicate that Ccm1 is essential to control the induction of CCM by sensing CO2 availability in Chlamydomonas cells. In addition, complementation assay and identification of the mutation site of another pleiotropic mutant, cia5, revealed that His-54 within the putative zinc-finger motif of the CCM1 is crucial to its regulatory function.
Respiratory symptoms and smoking behaviour in Swiss conscripts.

AIM Smoking is a major health hazard in young adults. Reducing smoking is the only well established effective primary prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We undertook a prospective cross sectional study to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, smoking behaviour and willingness to participate in a smoking cessation program in Swiss conscripts. METHODS Conscripts completed a standardized questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, asthma and smoking behaviour and underwent spirometry measurement. RESULTS 2604 conscripts were included. 1252 (48%) were current smokers, 144 (6%) were former smokers, 111 (4%) were recent beginners or low intensity smokers and 1097 (42%) were never smokers. Respiratory symptoms were significantly higher in smokers compared to never smokers (wheezing 16% vs. 7%, wheezing without cold 9% vs. 4%, exercise dyspnoea 15% vs. 10%, regular cough 35% vs. 10% and regular phlegm 15% vs. 2%). The mean score of the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependency (FTND) was 2.6 (+/-2.1). According to the transtheoretical model of stage of change 50% were in the precontemplation, 34% in the contemplation, 5% in the preparation, 5% in the action and 6% in the maintenance stage. Amongst the current smokers 33% were willing to participate in a smoking cessation program. Those willing to participate in a smoking cessation program included 17% precontemplators and 53% contemplators. CONCLUSION There is a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms in young current smokers. The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence score in conscripts is low thus favouring a potentially successful outcome of a smoking cessation intervention. Using motivational stages to tailor smoking cessation aids might preclude adequate interventions in individuals belonging to the precontemplation stage.
Polarization-Independent Backscattering Enhancement of Cylinders Based on Conformal Gradient Metasurfaces

The electromagnetic backscattering enhancement of both elliptic and circular conducting cylinders is investigated in this paper through the design of conformal and polarization-independent gradient metasurfaces. The presented metasurface designs employ varying phase gradient along the circumferential direction of the involved cylinder so that effective retroreflection can be achieved through redirecting the scattering dispersed by the conducting cylinder back to the direction from which the plane electromagnetic wave is coming. Supported by a grounded thin substrate with a relatively high dielectric constant, a modified loop array with compact unit cell is used to implement the nonuniformly or uniformly sampled phase gradient of the metasurface. It is observed that the metasurface-coated elliptic and circular cylinders can generate backscattering very close to that by corresponding flat conducting plates with their main planes perpendicular to the incident wave vector, for both transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) polarizations. Compared with the conducting cylinders without coating, the backscattering is thus effectively enhanced by the conformal gradient metasurfaces. Good agreement between simulated and measured backscattering results validates the observations.
A study on the computer supported communication work in virtual product design

The purpose of this study is to research the thoughts transmitted from five senses experience and to communicate from this computer supported collaborative work. The research structure is based on a virtual production as the research subject. We will analyze the visual production examples that are able to provide new thinking for designers who engage in material related industries - which comes in the form of “the visual telling of stories” and focus on “user-centered design” forms. Virtual product designs are not just to show the material of production, but to draw closer to people's demands physiologically and psychologically through interactive designs so as to achieve cognition between people and their environment of the computer supported collaborative work. We are also able to regard it as a kind of material, and an activity of story expression, allowing the interactive design's spirit, product material, and experience ideas to be transmitted to the target tribal group in a design communication and image performance method. It is a far more confident and innovative attempt, and meanwhile, able to achieve entertainment, joy, and other such fundamental interactive transmissions. Therefore, this study takes “user-centered design” thinking as a basis to establish a set of virtual designs with interactive experience material and to assist designers to examine the five sensual feelings of interactive demands in order to initiate a new value in the design industry.
Neural coding of tactile texture: comparison of spatial and temporal mechanisms for roughness perception

A previous study showed that roughness perception may depend on either temporal or spatial variations in firing rate among cutaneous mechanoreceptive afferents. The present study was designed to distinguish between these hypotheses. Plastic surfaces embossed with patterns of dots designed to produce predictable alterations in temporal and spatial firing rate variation were used as stimuli in psychophysical and neurophysiological experiments. Subjective roughness magnitudes obtained from psychophysical experiments fitted the predictions of the spatial but not the temporal hypothesis. In the neurophysiological experiments, the stimuli were scanned across the receptive fields of cutaneous mechanoreceptive afferents. Firing rate variation in the neural responses was measured using a range of temporal and spatial filters. Temporal variation was not correlated with roughness magnitude. Spatial variation, on a scale of 1–2 mm (one to two receptor spacings), was closely correlated with roughness.
Dentate total molecular layer interneurons mediate cannabinoid-sensitive inhibition

Activity of the dentate gyrus, which gates information flow to the hippocampus, is under tight inhibitory regulation by interneurons with distinctive axonal projections, intrinsic and synaptic characteristics and neurochemical identities. Total molecular layer cells (TML‐Cs), a class of morphologically distinct GABAergic neurons with axonal projections across the molecular layer, are among the most frequent interneuronal type in the dentate subgranular region. However, little is known about their synaptic and neurochemical properties. We demonstrate that synapses from morphologically identified TML‐Cs to dentate interneurons are characterized by low release probability, facilitating short‐term dynamics and asynchronous release. TML‐Cs consistently show somatic and axonal labeling for the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) yet fail to express cholecystokinin (CCK) indicating their distinctive neurochemical identity. In paired recordings, the release probability at synapses between TML‐Cs was increased by the CB1R antagonist AM251, demonstrating baseline endocannabinoid regulation of TML‐C synapses. Apart from defining the synaptic and neurochemical features of TML‐Cs, our findings reveal the morphological identity of a class of dentate CB1R‐positive neurons that do not express CCK. Our findings indicate that TML‐Cs can mediate cannabinoid sensitive feed‐forward and feedback inhibition of dentate perforant path inputs. © 2015 The Authors Hippocampus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Inference and Categorization

In the general framework of natural language sentence understanding, categorization appears as useful for two main purposes: (1) categories are needed in order to account for the ability to cope with a virtually infinite set of sentences, (2) understanding implies the ability to infer; now, drawing the appropriate conclusions cannot be derived on a case-by-case basis but on the basis of
Dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors in the treatment of type 2 diabetes: a comparative review

The dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)‐4 inhibitors are a new class of antihyperglycaemic agents which were developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes by rational drug design, based on an understanding of the underlying mechanism of action and knowledge of the structure of the target enzyme. Although they differ in terms of their chemistry, they are all small molecules which are orally available. There are some differences between them in terms of their absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination, as well as in their potency and duration of action, but their efficacy, both in terms of inhibiting plasma DPP‐4 activity and as antidiabetic agents, appears to be similar. They improve glycaemic control, reducing both fasting and postprandial glucose levels to lower HbA1c levels, without weight gain and with an apparently benign adverse event profile. At present, there seems to be little to distinguish between the different inhibitors in terms of their efficacy as antidiabetic agents and their safety. Long‐term accumulated clinical experience will reveal whether compound‐related characteristics lead to any clinically relevant differences.
Modelling of microstructure formation in solidification processes

AbstractModelling of heat flow has become a standard practice in many solidification processes. Effort is currently being made to couple heat flow calculations to related macroscopic phenomena such as mould filling, fluid flow, macrosegregation, or thermal stresses. If these macroscopic aspects are important in predicting formation of macroscopic defects or optimising process conditions, then microstructural features such as phase appearance, morphology, grain size, spacings, or microdefects are certainly no less important in determining the ultimate mechanical properties of the solidified product. The aim of the present paper is to introduce the basic concepts of macroscopic and microscopic phenomena which enter normally into any solidification process. At the macroscopic level, i.e. at the scale of the whole process (casting, weldment, … ), the latest developments in numerical techniques which are used to solve the continuity equations are briefly presented together with the advantages and inconvenience.
Sensor Fault-Resilient Control of Interior Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor Drives

In a conventional ac motor drive using field-oriented control, a dc-link voltage, speed, and at least two current sensors are required. Hence, in the event of sensor failure, the performance of the drive system can be severely compromised. This paper presents a sensor fault-tolerant control strategy for interior permanent-magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) drives. Three independent observers are proposed to estimate the speed, dc-link voltage, and currents of the machine. If a sensor fault is detected, the drive system isolates the faulty sensor while retaining the remaining functional ones. The signal is then acquired from the corresponding observer in order to maintain the operation of the drive system. The experimental results provided verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Is the New Immigration Really so Bad?

This paper reviews the recent evidence on U.S. immigration, focusing on two key questions: (1) Does immigration reduce the labor market opportunities of less-skilled natives? (2) Have immigrants who arrived after the 1965 Immigration Reform Act successfully assimilated? Looking across major cities, differential immigrant inflows are strongly correlated with the relative supply of high school dropouts. Nevertheless, data from the 2000 Census shows that relative wages of native dropouts are uncorrelated with the relative supply of less-educated workers, as they were in earlier years. At the aggregate level, the wage gap between dropouts and high school graduates has remained nearly constant since 1980, despite supply pressure from immigration and the rise of other education-related wage gaps. Overall, evidence that immigrants have harmed the opportunities of less educated natives is scant. On the question of assimilation, the success of the U.S.-born children of immigrants is a key yardstick. By this metric, post-1965 immigrants are doing reasonably well: second generation sons and daughters have higher education and wages than the children of natives. Even children of the least educated immigrant origin groups have closed most of the education gap with the children of natives.
Astaxanthin Attenuates Early Acute Kidney Injury Following Severe Burns in Rats by Ameliorating Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial-Related Apoptosis

Early acute kidney injury (AKI) is a devastating complication in critical burn patients, and it is associated with severe morbidity and mortality. The mechanism of AKI is multifactorial. Astaxanthin (ATX) is a natural compound that is widely distributed in marine organisms; it is a strong antioxidant and exhibits other biological effects that have been well studied in various traumatic injuries and diseases. Hence, we attempted to explore the potential protection of ATX against early post burn AKI and its possible mechanisms of action. The classic severe burn rat model was utilized for the histological and biochemical assessments of the therapeutic value and mechanisms of action of ATX. Upon ATX treatment, renal tubular injury and the levels of serum creatinine and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin were improved. Furthermore, relief of oxidative stress and tubular apoptosis in rat kidneys post burn was also observed. Additionally, ATX administration increased Akt and Bad phosphorylation and further down-regulated the expression of other downstream pro-apoptotic proteins (cytochrome c and caspase-3/9); these effects were reversed by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Moreover, the protective effect of ATX presents a dose-dependent enhancement. The data above suggested that ATX protects against early AKI following severe burns in rats, which was attributed to its ability to ameliorate oxidative stress and inhibit apoptosis by modulating the mitochondrial-apoptotic pathway, regarded as the Akt/Bad/Caspases signalling cascade.
Methodology in Biological Game Theory

Game theory has a prominent role in evolutionary biology, in particular in the ecological study of various phenomena ranging from conflict behaviour to altruism to signalling and beyond. The two central methodological tools in biological game theory are the concepts of Nash equilibrium and evolutionarily stable strategy. While both were inspired by a dynamic conception of evolution, these concepts are essentially static—they only show that a population is uninvadable, but not that a population is likely to evolve. In this article, we argue that a static methodology can lead to misleading views about dynamic evolutionary processes. We advocate, instead, a more pluralistic methodology, which includes both static and dynamic game theoretic tools. Such an approach provides a more complete picture of the evolution of strategic behaviour. 1 Introduction 2 The Equilibrium Methodology 3 Common Interest Signalling 3.1 Lewis’s signalling game 3.2 Static analysis 3.3 Dynamic analysis 4 The Sir Philip Sidney Game 4.1 Static analysis 4.2 Other equilibria 4.3 Dynamic analysis 5 Related Literature 6 Static and Dynamic Approaches 1 Introduction 2 The Equilibrium Methodology 3 Common Interest Signalling 3.1 Lewis’s signalling game 3.2 Static analysis 3.3 Dynamic analysis 3.1 Lewis’s signalling game 3.2 Static analysis 3.3 Dynamic analysis 4 The Sir Philip Sidney Game 4.1 Static analysis 4.2 Other equilibria 4.3 Dynamic analysis 4.1 Static analysis 4.2 Other equilibria 4.3 Dynamic analysis 5 Related Literature 6 Static and Dynamic Approaches
Rationality and the speed of decision-making

We consider agents who choose by proceeding through an ordered list of criteria and give the lower bound on the number of criteria that are needed for an agent to make decisions that obey a given set of preference rankings. Agents with rational preferences can always use lists with the lower-bound number of criteria while any agent with nonrational preferences must on some domains use strictly more criteria. We preview some of the results in Mandler (2009) and explain in more detail the order-theoretic link between rationality and rapid decision-making.
Robust object tracking using kernel-based weighted fragments

In this paper we propose a novel kernel-based tracking approach using weighted fragments. We represent the target with multiple fragments and define the weight of each fragment using the proportion of object and background distributions. We invoke an independent mean shift tracker for each fragment and then combine the tracking results of all the fragments in a linear weighting scheme. The proposed algorithm is computationally efficient enough to be executed in real time. Experimental results verify that the proposed algorithm better handles the problems of partial occlusions and pose changes.
Eligibility Assessment for Intravenous Thrombolytic Therapy in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients; Evaluating Barriers for Implementation

Background: Intravenous thrombolysis is an approved treatment method for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and is recommended by multiple guidelines. However, it seems that it is less frequently used in the developing countries compared to the developed countries. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate the percentage of patients with AIS, eligible for intravenous thrombolytic therapy, at the main referral center in Northwest Iran and to determine the main barriers for implementation of this method. Patients and Methods: Over one year, 647 patients who were admitted to the emergency department and met the Cincinnati Stroke Scale were enrolled into the study. The center to which patients were admitted, is a tertiary university hospital that has the required infrastructure for thrombolytic therapy in AIS. Factors recorded were neurological examinations and time between onset of symptoms and hospital arrival, hospital arrival and performance of brain computed tomography (CT) scanning, and hospital arrival to complete the investigations. Patients eligible for intravenous thrombolytic therapy were identified according to the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. Results: Mean time interval between hospital arrival and completion of brain CT scanning was 91 minutes (range: 20–378 minutes) and mean time from hospital arrival to completion of investigations was 150 minutes (range: 30–540 minutes). A total of 159 (31.3%) patients arrived at hospital within 3 hours of the onset of symptoms (early enough for intravenous thrombolytic therapy). However, 81.7% (130/159) of these patients missed thrombolytic therapy due to delayed performance of brain CT scanning and laboratory tests and 38.3% (61/159) had contraindications. The remaining 16 patients (10% of those who arrived within 3 hours and 3.1% of all cases) were eligible for thrombolytic therapy. Conclusions: The major barriers for thrombolytic therapy for patients with AIS in this setting were delays in the provision of in-hospital services, like initial patient assessment, CT scans or laboratory studies. These results were in contrast with previous reports.
Adhesion between high strength and high modulus polyethylene fibers by use of polyethylene gel as an adhesive

The use of polyethylene gels to adhere high strength and high modulus polyethylene fibers together has been investigated. It was found that the joint strength obtained using high density polyethylene (HDPE) gel in decalin or tetralin depended on the heating temperature and time of the gel. When heated at 100°C for 30 min, the gel showed such a high joint strength that polyethylene fibers were torn, and this should be enough for practical uses. The results of the present study demonstrate that utilization of the polyethylene gel as an adhesive is an extremely effective method when polyethylene fibers are used in composite materials.