Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age-dependent difference of kidney response to temporary ischaemia in the rat.

1. The response to 60 min ischaemia was studied in male uninephrectomized 30-, 60-and 90-day-old rats in regard to changes of renal cytochrome oxidase activity and the effect on systemic arterial blood pressure. Mortality due to renal failure, changes in plasma urea concentration and in kidney morphology were used as indicators of the renal response. 2. Mortality was lowest in 30-day-old animals (13%) and highest in 60-day-old animals (77%). Renal cytochrome oxidase activity increased by 44% during the same period. The mortality decreased to 34% between the ages of 60 and 90 days without change in renal content of cytochrome oxidase; survival time after renal ischaemia was prolonged from 2 to 4 days. 3. Fifty days after renal ischaemia plasma urea concentration correlated positively with kidney weight. Both variables were increased in rats exposed to ischaemia at the ages of 60 and 90 days. The kidneys of these rats exhibited lesions. No relation was found between the degree of renal damage and blood pressure. 4. It is concluded that (a) the kidney of immature rats is more resistant to temporary ischaemia due to immaturity of renal oxidative metabolism, (b) the ability to survive ischaemic renal damage in less-resistant mature rats increases with age and (c) the postischaemic impairment of renal function does not influence systemic arterial blood pressure.
Automatic patent classification by a three-phase model with document frequency matrix and boosted tree

With the increased volume of patent databases during the past years, it becomes necessary for companies to correctly classify and identify innovative patents in a timely manner though the use of automation. Although many patent classification methods have been proposed, the accuracy remains the most challenging factor for the success of a classification model. This paper presents an empirical study for automatic patent classification systems through the application of a three-phase model. Patent query, text processing, and the classification phases are applied, and a document frequency matrix and boosted tree (BT) classifier are used to classify patents into two classes. Model validation, accuracy and performance are calculated to determine the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Vesicular stomatitis virus with the rabies virus glycoprotein directs retrograde transsynaptic transport among neurons in vivo

Defining the connections among neurons is critical to our understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system. Recombinant viruses engineered to transmit across synapses provide a powerful approach for the dissection of neuronal circuitry in vivo. We recently demonstrated that recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) can be endowed with anterograde or retrograde transsynaptic tracing ability by providing the virus with different glycoproteins. Here we extend the characterization of the transmission and gene expression of recombinant VSV (rVSV) with the rabies virus glycoprotein (RABV-G), and provide examples of its activity relative to the anterograde transsynaptic tracer form of rVSV. rVSV with RABV-G was found to drive strong expression of transgenes and to spread rapidly from neuron to neuron in only a retrograde manner. Depending upon how the RABV-G was delivered, VSV served as a polysynaptic or monosynaptic tracer, or was able to define projections through axonal uptake and retrograde transport. In animals co-infected with rVSV in its anterograde form, rVSV with RABV-G could be used to begin to characterize the similarities and differences in connections to different areas. rVSV with RABV-G provides a flexible, rapid, and versatile tracing tool that complements the previously described VSV-based anterograde transsynaptic tracer.
Using Semi-Distributed Representations to Overcome Catastrophic Forgetting in Connectionist Networks

In connectionist networks, newly-learned information destroys previously-learned information unless the network is continually retrained on the old information. This behavior, known as catastrophic forgetting, is unacceptable both for practical purposes and as a model of mind. This paper advances the claim that catastrophic forgetting is a direct consequence of the overlap of the system’s distributed representations and can be reduced by reducing this overlap. A simple algorithm is presented that allows a standard feedforward backpropagation network to develop semi-distributed representations, thereby significantly reducing the problem of catastrophic forgetting.
Natural resources management in African agriculture: understanding and improving current practices.

This text consists of selected, edited and revised papers from a workshop held at ICRAF in July 2000. It synthesizes existing information on the adoption of natural resource management investments and strategies (such as soil fertility improvements or erosion control) for agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa. It also critically examines analytical methods and generates research and policy recommendations.
18.2 A 1.9TOPS and 564GOPS/W heterogeneous multicore SoC with color-based object classification accelerator for image-recognition applications

Image recognition technologies have gained prominence in a variety of fields, such as automotive and surveillance, with dedicated image-recognition ICs being developed recently [1-2]. Image recognition ICs for an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) have also been proposed [3]. However, future ADAS applications must support greater numbers of real-time recognition processes simultaneously, with higher detection rates and lower false-positive rates. For instance, adaptive cruise control (ACC), an application of ADAS, comprises many image recognition processes, such as pedestrian detection (PD), vehicle detection (VD), general obstacle detection (GOD), lane detection (LD), traffic light recognition (TLR), and traffic sign recognition (TSR). ACC also requires high detection accuracy to prevent unnecessary braking or acceleration. To satisfy these requirements, we have developed an SoC with two 4-core processor clusters and 14 hard-wired accelerators. It is designed to realize the six recognition processes (PD, VD, GOD, LD, TLR, and TSR) for ACC and automatic high beam (AHB) for headlight control. It achieves 1.9TOPS peak performance in 3.37W. This low power consumption enables the SoC to operate with passive cooling in a high-temperature automotive environment.
Aberrant GLI1 Activation in DNA Damage Response, Carcinogenesis and Chemoresistance

The canonical hedgehog (HH) pathway is a multicomponent signaling cascade (HH, protein patched homolog 1 (PTCH1), smoothened (SMO)) that plays a pivotal role during embryonic development through activation of downstream effector molecules, namely glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (GLI1), GLI2 and GLI3. Activation of GLIs must be tightly regulated as they modulate target genes which control tissue patterning, stem cell maintenance, and differentiation during development. However, dysregulation or mutations in HH signaling leads to genomic instability (GI) and various cancers, for example, germline mutation in PTCH1 lead to Gorlin syndrome, a condition where patients develop numerous basal cell carcinomas and rarely rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). Activating mutations in SMO have also been recognized in sporadic cases of medulloblastoma and SMO is overexpressed in many other cancers. Recently, studies in several human cancers have shown that GLI1 expression is independent from HH ligand and canonical intracellular signaling through PTCH and SMO. In fact, this aberrantly regulated GLI1 has been linked to several non-canonical oncogenic growth signals such as Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), avian myelocytomatosis virus oncogene cellular homolog (C-MYC), transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), wingless-type MMTV integration site family (WNT) and β-catenin. Recent studies from our lab and other independent studies demonstrate that aberrantly expressed GLI1 influences the integrity of several DNA damage response and repair signals, and if altered, these networks can contribute to GI and impact tumor response to chemo- and radiation therapies. Furthermore, the ineffectiveness of SMO inhibitors in clinical studies argues for the development of GLI1-specific inhibitors in order to develop effective therapeutic modalities to treat these tumors. In this review, we focus on summarizing current understanding of the molecular, biochemical and cellular basis for aberrant GLI1 expression and discuss GLI1-mediated HH signaling on DNA damage responses, carcinogenesis and chemoresistance.
Concurrency control in collaborative hypertext systems

Traditional concurrency control techniques for database systems (transaction management based on locking protocols) have been successful in many multiuser settings, but these techniques are inadequate in open, extensible and distributed hypertext systems supporting multiple collaborating users. The term "multiple collaborating users" covers a group setting in which two or more users are engaged in a shared task. Group members can work simultaneously in the same computing environment, use the same set of tools and share a network of hypertext objects. Hyperbase (hypertext database) systems must provide special support for collaborative work, requiring adjustments and extensions to normal concurrency control techniques. Based on the experiences of two collaborative hypertext authoring systems, this paper identifies and discusses six concurrency control requirements that distinguish collaborative hypertext systems from multiuser hypertext systems. Approaches to the major issues (locking, notification control and transaction management) are examined from a supporting technologies point of view. Finally, we discuss how existing hyperbase systems fare with respect to the identified set of requirements. Many of the issues discussed in the paper are not limited to hypertext systems and apply to other collaborative systems as well.
Numerical Study of Goos-hänchen Shift on the Surface of Anisotropic Left-Handed Materials

The Goos-Hänchen shift on the surface when an optical beam is obliquely incident from one isotropic right-handed material (RHM) into another biaxial anisotropic left-handed material (BALHM) is numerically studied with the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method based on the Drude dispersive models. The analytical expression of the Goos-Hänchen shift is firstly presented, moreover the condition for the existence and the sign of the Goos-Hänchen shift are also discussed. According to the theoretical analysis, several sets of constitutive parameters of BA-LHM are considered. The simulated results are in agreement with theoretical results, which validate the theoretical analysis.
Central line-associated bloodstream infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus in cancer patients: clinical outcome and management

Abstract Background. There are limited data regarding clinical presentation and management of Staphylococcus aureus central line- associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) in immunocompromised cancer patients. Methods. In this review, we evaluated 299 patients with 304 episodes of S. aureus-CLABSI between 2005 and 2011. Findings. By multivariate analysis, the major predictors of complicated S. aureus-CLABSI were septic shock, catheter site inflammation, presence of peripherally inserted central catheter, anti-cancer chemotherapy within 10 days, and persistent bacteremia beyond 72 hours (P ≤ 0.02). A total of 67% of the cases were defined as complicated. In the subset of patients who were uncomplicated on presentation, patients receiving antimicrobials ≥ 14 days had similar rates of relapse, attributable mortality, and development of complications compared to those receiving shorter-course therapy. By competing risk analysis, removal of the catheter within 3 days of the onset of bacteremia was associated with a lower relapse rate at 90 days (P = 0.024). Interpretation. The majority of S. aureus-CLABSI in cancer patients are complicated and require prolonged course of antimicrobial treatment. Early removal of the catheter within the first 3 days is associated with better course. In patients with prompt removal of the catheter and no evidence of a complicated course, treatment beyond 2 weeks may not be necessary.
Operating phase and frequency selection of low frequency AC transmission system using cycloconverters

This paper describes the characteristics of low frequency ac transmission system using cycloconverters with three configurations. The purpose is to evaluate and choose the most suitable operating frequency and number of phases for this system. The new control scheme is also provided for all operating transmission system. Cable and filter selection are also included in this paper.
Time-Weighted Uncertain Nearest Neighbor Collaborative Filtering Algorithm

To overcome the limitations of the traditional collaborative filtering recommendation algorithm, this paper proposed a Time-Weighted Uncertain Nearest Neighbor Collaborative Filtering Algorithm (TWUNCF). According to the actual application situation of recommendation system, the author weighted the product similarity and user similarity to ensure the data validity firstly, and then calculate the similarities of user and product and choose the trusted neighbor group as the recommended object adaptively based on the weight. Experimental results show that the algorithm can be used to improve data validity according to the time attribute, and balance the impact the different groups on the recommendation result, and avoid the problems which caused by the data sparseness. Theoretical analysis and experimental demonstrations show that the algorithm this paper proposed outperforms existing algorithms in recommendation quality, and improve the system's accuracy and recommendation efficiency.
The strategies of avoiding energy holes in wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks are characterized by multihop network. Some nodes in network are required to forward a disproportionately high amount of traffic and die early, leaving the unmonitored areas in network and leading to the problem of energy hole. This paper investigates a variety of strategies to avoid the energy hole, such as communication power control, data aggregation, nonuniform energy distribution, mobile node auxiliary and clustering. The analysis and comparison of different strategies are given and the advantages and disadvantage of them are discussed in this paper.
Performing Quality Research in an Era of Reforms

Continued advancement of understanding within the natural world has always been driven by the curiosity and intellectual vigor of key characters in history. Our history has been marked with both episodes of fantastic and startling discovery and a multitude of smaller and more intimate moments of insight that couple to advance our knowledge in a steady and seemingly unending progression. The history of medicine has likewise followed this route, where the unquenchable drive to comprehend the seemingly ever more complex human body has been inexorably linked with efforts to develop interventions to ease disease and suffering. No understanding would be possible, however, without the ability to design and perform quality research—research that asks a meaningful question, conducts an investigation in an elegant fashion, and credibly incorporates the outcome into the existing body of knowledge. These tasks are as critical to medicine as performing an exquisite neurological examination or a successful surgery; without such investigative acumen, our knowledge would stagnate and patient interventions would grow old. Part of the continued training of any physician or physician-scientist is the development of a critical mind and an investigative toolset to conduct pertinent research. As part of this training, one must understand how to ask the appropriate question and to recognize the qualities of a well-designed study. Equally important, particularly in our current time, is the ability to adapt our research to the changing world. As developments push health care toward more personalized medicine (PM) and modernization allows many groups to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of interventions, investigators must tailor their questions to the healthcare reforms around them.
BANDANA — Body area network device-to-device authentication using natural gAit

Secure spontaneous authentication between devices worn at arbitrary locations on the same body is a challenging, yet unsolved problem. We propose BANDANA, the first-ever implicit secure device-to-device authentication scheme for devices worn on the same body. Our approach leverages instantaneous variations in acceleration patterns from the user's gait to extract always-fresh secure secrets. It enables secure spontaneous pairing of devices worn on the same body or interacted with. The method is robust against noise in sensor readings and active attackers.
Determinants of spontaneous mutation in the bacterium Escherichia coli as revealed by whole-genome sequencing

Significance Because genetic variation underlies evolution, a complete understanding of evolutionary processes requires identifying and characterizing the forces determining the stability of the genome. Using mutation accumulation and whole-genome sequencing, we found that spontaneous mutation rates in three widely diverged Escherichia coli strains are nearly identical. To determine the importance of DNA damage in driving mutation rates, we investigated 11 strains, each defective for a major DNA repair pathway. The striking result was that only loss of the ability to repair or prevent oxidative DNA damage significantly impacted mutation rates and spectra. These results suggest that, with the exception of those that defend against oxidative damage, DNA repair pathways may exist primarily to defend against DNA damage induced by exogenous agents. A complete understanding of evolutionary processes requires that factors determining spontaneous mutation rates and spectra be identified and characterized. Using mutation accumulation followed by whole-genome sequencing, we found that the mutation rates of three widely diverged commensal Escherichia coli strains differ only by about 50%, suggesting that a rate of 1–2 × 10−3 mutations per generation per genome is common for this bacterium. Four major forces are postulated to contribute to spontaneous mutations: intrinsic DNA polymerase errors, endogenously induced DNA damage, DNA damage caused by exogenous agents, and the activities of error-prone polymerases. To determine the relative importance of these factors, we studied 11 strains, each defective for a major DNA repair pathway. The striking result was that only loss of the ability to prevent or repair oxidative DNA damage significantly impacted mutation rates or spectra. These results suggest that, with the exception of oxidative damage, endogenously induced DNA damage does not perturb the overall accuracy of DNA replication in normally growing cells and that repair pathways may exist primarily to defend against exogenously induced DNA damage. The thousands of mutations caused by oxidative damage recovered across the entire genome revealed strong local-sequence biases of these mutations. Specifically, we found that the identity of the 3′ base can affect the mutability of a purine by oxidative damage by as much as eightfold.
Antioxidant Activity of Red Beet Juices Obtained after Microwave and Thermal Pretreatments

Slavov A. , Karagyozov V. , Denev P., Kratchanova M. , Kratchanov C. (2013): Antioxidant activity of red beet juices obtained after microwave and thermal pretreatments. Czech J. Food Sci., 31: 139–147. Pressed juices and water extracts from untreated, microwave pretreated, and thermally treated red beet were obtained. The highest total betalain content – 606.34 mg/100 g dry matter (DM) was found in pressed juice obtained after microwave pretreatment. The individual betalains in the pressed juice from untreated red beet were tentatively determined by HPLC. The most abundant betalain pigments were betanin (312.47 mg/100 g DM), vulgaxanthin I (104.08 mg/100 g DM), and isobetanin (71.28 mg/100 g DM). The antioxidant activity of the pressed juices and extracts was determined. The highest antioxidant activity – 10832.4 µmol ТЕ/l was found in the pressed juice obtained from microwave pre treated red beet. The possibility of obtaining mixed fruit-vegetable juices on the basis of red beet juice was investigated. Different variants of mixed beverages using chokeberry, blackberry, blueberry, and black currant were obtained in which the concentration of the red beet pressed juice was 25, 50, and 75%. Their polyphenol contents and antioxidant activity were determined. The highest antioxidant activity revealed mixed pressed juice from red beet and chokeberry.
A survey of the SpiNNaker Project : A massively parallel spiking Neural Network Architecture

Scientists have through the decades tried many different approaches to creating true Artificial Intelligence (AI). There are two main goals to this endeavour; First, to create more complex and intelligent machines and software, and second, to further the understanding of the human brain. One line that some has followed is to model the biological structure of the brain – ”hard” AI – instead of modelling the problem solving process – ”soft”AI. This paper is a survey of a ”hard” AI endeavour: the SpiNNaker project, a massively parallel spiking neural network architecture. The SpiNNaker is designed as many smaller specialized chips connected together in a network architecture. The focus is on high message throughput and clever routing algorithms, rather than on the processing power of each individual node. Another big focus is how to manage power consumption in a system consisting of a million processor cores. This paper briefly explains the purpose and the inner workings of the SpiNNaker, and provides a glimpse of what is to come in the Artificial Intelligence field in the near future.
Pathways of diffusion of some plants and animals between Asia and the Mediterranean region

Knowledge of the centres of origin of plants and animals has increasingly improved. However, it is much harder to identify the way through which plants and animals were distributed, by what roads and what means they arrived at one place or another, who brought them and who diffused them. Even for the most important and prestigious ones, many uncertainties persist. We cannot claim to resolve them, but we will present what is known to date about some major plants and animals, particularly the Asian ones that arrived in the Mediterranean region, and the other way, the ones that started in the Mediterranean and were diffused in the Far East.