Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Physical Activity on the Epiphyseal Growth Plates: A Review of the Literature on Normal Physiology and Clinical Implications

Background Children need physical activity and generally do this through the aspect of play. Active play in the form of organized sports can appear to be a concern for parents. Clinicians should have a general physiological background on the effects of exercise on developing epiphyseal growth plates of bone. The purpose of this review is to present an overview of the effects of physical activity on the developing epiphyseal growth plates of children. Methods A National Library of Medicine (Pubmed) search was initiated using the keywords and combinations of keywords "growth plate", "epiphyseal plate", "child", "exercise", and "physical activity. " Discussion Bone is a dynamic tissue with a balance of osteoblast and osteoclast formation. The normal functioning of the epiphyseal growth plate is an important clinical aspect. Much of the physiology of the epiphyseal growth plate in response to exercise includes the important mechanical component. Growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor I, glucocorticoid, thyroid hormone, estrogen, androgen, vitamin D, and leptin are seen as key physiological factors. While there is a need for children to participate in physical activity, clinical consideration needs to be given to how the epiphyseal growth plate functions. Conclusions Mechanical loading of the bone is important for epiphyseal plate physiology. Exercise has a healthy function on the normal growth of this important biomechanical feature. Clinically, over-exertion in the form of increased load bearing on the epiphyseal growth plate creates an ideal injury. There is a paucity of research on inactivity on the epiphyseal growth plate resulting in stress deprivation. Further research should take into consideration what lack of exercise and lessened mechanical load bearing has on the function of the epiphyseal growth plate. Keywords Child; Physical activity; Epiphyseal growth plates; Bone; Exercise; Mechanical loading
What Can Dance Teach Us about Learning ?

Imaging studies of the action observation network (AON) have helped scientists identify a powerful learning system in the brain that links perceived actions and self-generated behavior. These findings are generating excitement in the field of rehabilitation medicine because they suggest new approaches to help train people trying to regain motor function after brain injury from stroke or trauma. Observing others’ actions, the theory goes, might activate still-healthy brain circuits—including the AON—and accelerate recovery. There are two potential limitations, however.
The effects of pneumoperitoneum and controlled ventilation on peritoneal lymphatic bacterial clearance: experimental results in rats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of pneumoperitoneum, both alone and in combination with controlled ventilation, on peritoneal lymphatic bacterial clearance using a rat bacterial peritonitis model. METHOD: A total of 69 male Wistar rats were intraperitoneally inoculated with an Escherichia coli solution (109 colony-forming units (cfu)/mL) and divided into three groups of 23 animals each: A (control group), B (pneumoperitoneum under 5 mmHg of constant pressure), and C (endotracheal intubation, controlled ventilation, and pneumoperitoneum as in Group B). The animals were sacrificed after 30 min under these conditions, and blood, mediastinal ganglia, lungs, peritoneum, liver, and spleen cultures were performed. RESULTS: Statistical analyses comparing the number of cfu/sample in each of the cultures showed that no differences existed between the three groups. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, we concluded that pneumoperitoneum, either alone or in association with mechanical ventilation, did not modify the bacterial clearance through the diaphragmatic lymphatic system of the peritoneal cavity.
GSM based Wireless Sensor Network to Measure Global Warming, Humidity and CO2

This paper discusses GSM based global wireless sensor network to measure increase of global warming & air pollution. Each motes of the wireless sensor network can cover the area wherever GSM network is available. Each mote consists of temperature, humidity & co2 measuring sensors, equipped with low power consuming GSM module, data logging facility & real time stamp. Motes can communicate with each other but most of the time they communicate with the central receiver. Central receiver is capable of receiving calls from modes, display the data in portable TFT LCD screen & also transmit data to computer through USB. To transmit data sensors generate call to receive station. To receive data receiver first verify the caller ID and then it receives the call. Sensors send or receive data through Dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) and will receive commands through DTMF also. Lots of control system has been designed using DTMF but in this project DTMF tones are used to create all characters of an ASCII table. The number of motes can be connected are unlimited and the coverage area is also unlimited in this project. General Terms Wireless Sensor Network, GSM, DTMF, Sensors.
International Differences in Mathematical Achievement : Their Nature , Causes , and Consequences

Every now and then, a spate of popular-press articles reminds us of the poor educational achievement of American children in comparison to their international peers. For many people, concerns about the education of American children likely fade, as these articles are bumped from our memory by a slew of hotter popular-press issues. In this article, the mathematical achievement of American children is first contrasted with that of their cohorts in other industrialized nations, and then sources of these cross-national achievement differences are briefly reviewed. The article closes with a discussion of the potential consequences of the poor mathematical development of American children, conesquences that speak to the importance of the associated educational issues and remind us that our concern for the education of American children must continue unabated, even after the popular press has moved on to other issues.
Selective Killing of Cancer Cells by Ashwagandha Leaf Extract and Its Component Withanone Involves ROS Signaling

Background and Purpose Ashwagandha is a popular Ayurvedic herb used in Indian traditional home medicine. It has been assigned a variety of health-promoting effects of which the mechanisms remain unknown. We previously reported the selective killing of cancer cells by leaf extract of Ashwagandha (i-Extract) and its purified component Withanone. In the present study, we investigated its mechanism by loss-of-function screening (abrogation of i-Extract induced cancer cell killing) of the cellular targets and gene pathways. Methodology/Principal Findings Randomized ribozyme library was introduced into cancer cells prior to the treatment with i-Extract. Ribozymes were recovered from cells that survived the i-Extract treatment. Gene targets of the selected ribozymes (as predicted by database search) were analyzed by bioinformatics and pathway analyses. The targets were validated for their role in i-Extract induced selective killing of cancer cells by biochemical and molecular assays. Fifteen gene-targets were identified and were investigated for their role in specific cancer cell killing activity of i-Extract and its two major components (Withaferin A and Withanone) by undertaking the shRNA-mediated gene silencing approach. Bioinformatics on the selected gene-targets revealed the involvement of p53, apoptosis and insulin/IGF signaling pathways linked to the ROS signaling. We examined the involvement of ROS-signaling components (ROS levels, DNA damage, mitochondrial structure and membrane potential) and demonstrate that the selective killing of cancer cells is mediated by induction of oxidative stress. Conclusion Ashwagandha leaf extract and Withanone cause selective killing of cancer cells by induction of ROS-signaling and hence are potential reagents that could be recruited for ROS-mediated cancer chemotherapy.
Dynamic Message-Oriented Middleware with Open Sound Control and Odot

We present recent work on odot, a system that extends Open Sound Control and facilitates the rapid and dynamic construction of Message-Oriented Middleware providing an in-teroperability layer for communication between applications. Unlike traditional middleware systems, odot, when embedded in a host environment, provides a node where computation can take place, allowing middleware to take shape dynamically as the needs of the system develop.
Hoxa9 transforms primary bone marrow cells through specific collaboration with Meis1a but not Pbx1b

Hoxa9, Meis1 and Pbx1 encode homeodomaincontaining proteins implicated in leukemic transformation in both mice and humans. Hoxa9, Meis1 and Pbx1 proteins have been shown to physically interact with each other, as Hoxa9 cooperatively binds consensus DNA sequences with Meis1 and with Pbx1, while Meis1 and Pbx1 form heterodimers in both the presence and absence of DNA. In this study, we sought to determine if Hoxa9 could transform hemopoietic cells in collaboration with either Pbx1 or Meis1. Primary bone marrow cells, retrovirally engineered to overexpress Hoxa9 and Meis1a simultaneously, induced growth factor‐dependent oligoclonal acute myeloid leukemia in <3 months when transplanted into syngenic mice. In contrast, overexpression of Hoxa9, Meis1a or Pbx1b alone, or the combination of Hoxa9 and Pbx1b failed to transform these cells acutely within 6 months post‐transplantation. Similar results were obtained when FDC‐P1 cells, engineered to overexpress these genes, were transplanted to syngenic recipients. Thus, these studies demonstrate a selective collaboration between a member of the Hox family and one of its DNA‐binding partners in transformation of hemopoietic cells.
A survey of control algorithms for Quadrotor Unmanned Helicopter

Basic structure of Quadrotor Unmanned Helicopter (QUH) and its practical application values are introduced as well as several control algorithms, such as, intelligent PID algorithm, linear quadratic LQR algorithm, H∞ loop-shaping algorithm, sliding mode control algorithm, feedback linearization control algorithm, adaptive control algorithm and backstepping design algorithm and then analyses merits and drawbacks of above control algorithms. At last, our research prospects the major research aspects and development direction on future researches of QUH.
Subjective Memory Complaint and Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults in Portugal

Background. Older adults report subjective memory complaints (SMCs) but whether these are related to depression remains controversial. In this study we investigated the relationship between the SMCs and depression and their predictors in a sample of old adults. Methods. This cross-sectional study enrolled 620 participants aged 55 to 96 years (74.04 ± 10.41). Outcome measures included a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, a SMC scale (QSM), a Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), a Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), and a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Results. The QSM mean total score for the main results suggests that SMCs are higher in old adults with depressed symptoms, comparatively to nondepressed old adults. The GDS scores were positively associated with QSM but negatively associated with education, MMSE, and MoCA. GDS scores predicted almost 63.4% of variance. Scores on QSM and MoCA are significantly predicted by depression symptomatology. Conclusion. Depression symptoms, lower education level, and older age may be crucial to the comprehension of SMCs. The present study suggested that depression might play a role in the SMCs of the older adults and its treatment should be considered.
Transpresentation of interleukin-15 by IL-15/IL-15Rα mRNA-engineered human dendritic cells boosts antitumoral natural killer cell activity

In cancer immunotherapy, the use of dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccination strategies can improve overall survival, but until now durable clinical responses remain scarce. To date, DC vaccines are designed primarily to induce effective T-cell responses, ignoring the antitumor activity potential of natural killer (NK) cells. Aiming to further improve current DC vaccination outcome, we engineered monocyte-derived DC to produce interleukin (IL)-15 and/or IL-15 receptor alpha (IL-15Rα) using mRNA electroporation. The addition of IL-15Rα to the protocol, enabling IL-15 transpresentation to neighboring NK cells, resulted in significantly better NK-cell activation compared to IL-15 alone. Next to upregulation of NK-cell membrane activation markers, IL-15 transpresentation resulted in increased NK-cell secretion of IFN-γ, granzyme B and perforin. Moreover, IL-15-transpresenting DC/NK cell cocultures from both healthy donors and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients in remission showed markedly enhanced cytotoxic activity against NK cell sensitive and resistant tumor cells. Blocking IL-15 transpresentation abrogated NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against tumor cells, pointing to a pivotal role of IL-15 transpresentation by IL-15Rα to exert its NK cell-activating effects. In conclusion, we report an attractive approach to improve antitumoral NK-cell activity in DC-based vaccine strategies through the use of IL-15/IL-15Rα mRNA-engineered designer DC.
Intravascular ultrasound image segmentation: a three-dimensional fast-marching method based on gray level distributions

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a catheter based medical imaging technique particularly useful for studying atherosclerotic disease. It produces cross-sectional images of blood vessels that provide quantitative assessment of the vascular wall, information about the nature of atherosclerotic lesions as well as plaque shape and size. Automatic processing of large IVUS data sets represents an important challenge due to ultrasound speckle, catheter artifacts or calcification shadows. A new three-dimensional (3-D) IVUS segmentation model, that is based on the fast-marching method and uses gray level probability density functions (PDFs) of the vessel wall structures, was developed. The gray level distribution of the whole IVUS pullback was modeled with a mixture of Rayleigh PDFs. With multiple interface fast-marching segmentation, the lumen, intima plus plaque structure, and media layers of the vessel wall were computed simultaneously. The PDF-based fast-marching was applied to 9 in vivo IVUS pullbacks of superficial femoral arteries and to a simulated IVUS pullback. Accurate results were obtained on simulated data with average point to point distances between detected vessel wall borders and ground truth <0.072 mm. On in vivo IVUS, a good overall performance was obtained with average distance between segmentation results and manually traced contours <0.16 mm. Moreover, the worst point to point variation between detected and manually traced contours stayed low with Hausdorff distances <0.40 mm, indicating a good performance in regions lacking information or containing artifacts. In conclusion, segmentation results demonstrated the potential of gray level PDF and fast-marching methods in 3-D IVUS image processing.
CLASSIFICATION OF TWEETS VIA CLUSTERING OF HASHTAGS

We present two techniques to aid in the retrieval of information from Twitter. First we present a technique to cluster hashtags in meaningful topic groups using a combination of co-occurrence frequency, graph clustering and textual similarity. Second, we present a technique to classify a tweet in terms of these topic groups based on their word content using a combination of PCA dimensionality reduction and a variety of multi-class classiﬁcation algorithms. We examine the relationship between the clustering step and the classiﬁcation step to evaluate the performance of each.
The Inverting Pyramid : Pension Systems Facing Demographic Challenges in Europe and Central Asia

Pension systems in Europe and Central Asia are facing unprecedented demographic change. While many of the countries in the region have undertaken reforms when the economy faces difficult times, these reforms are frequently reversed when the economy improves. The demographic challenges that the region faces require a sustained effort toward changing the pension system toward something which provides adequate and sustainable benefits. The book documents the increased generosity of pension systems in Europe from their initial inception, noting that the current expectations of the public are based on the most recent round of generosity. The book seeks to show a nontechnical audience that such generosity is neither based on customary practice nor affordable in the future. The increased generosity in the past was only possible because the demographic pyramid was expanding, but as it inverts with fewer young people and more elderly, that generosity will no longer be affordable. Returning to the pension system of the 1970’s will go a long way toward providing adequate and sustainable benefits in the future. Moving to a more sustainable system will require reforms to labor markets, improvements in savings mechanisms, and may require additional public resources. The extent to which a country can undertake reforms in labor markets, savings, and public finances can influence the extent to which its pension system will have to change, with different solutions possible for different countries. But in all cases, the changes that need to be made have to be widely discussed and publicly accepted to prevent reversals. The book hopes to stimulate widespread public discussion of the issue to help countries make sustainable choices with gradual implementation, before they face such daunting challenges that they have to undertake sudden, harsh measures.
A Spatial Post-Processing Algorithm for Images of Night Scenes

Abstract The standard technique for making images viewed at daytime lighting levels look like images of night scenes is to use a low overall contrast, low overall brightnesses, desaturation, and to give the image a “blue shift. ” This paper introduces two other important effects associated with viewing real night scenes: visible noise, and the loss of acuity with little corresponding perceived blur.
Side Channel Cube Attacks on Block Ciphers

In this paper we formalize the notion of leakage attacks on iterated block ciphers, in which the attacker can find (via physical probing, power measurement, or any other type of side channel) one bit of information about the intermediate state of the encryption after each round. Since bits computed during the early rounds can be typically represented by low degree multivariate polynomials, cube attacks seem to be an ideal generic key recovery technique in these situations. However, the original cube attack requires extremely clean data, whereas the information provided by side channel attacks can be quite noisy. To address this problem, we develop a new variant of cube attack which can tolerate considerable levels of noise (affecting more than 11% of the leaked bits in practical scenarios). Finally, we demonstrate our approach by describing efficient leakage attacks on two of the best known block ciphers, AES (requiring about 2 time for full key recovery) and SERPENT (requiring about 2 time for full key recovery).
Understanding the Adoption of Mobile Data Services: A Value Perspective

Mobile data services (MDS) are wireless value-added pay-per-use services that have attracted increased attention in recent years. In the marketing and information system (IS) disciples, the ability of a service provider to offer a high level of value to its customers is regarded as a success. In this paper, a theoretical framework is proposed to investigate key drivers in wireless pay-per-use services behavior based on a value perspective. This study examines the role of three evaluation values, derived from marketing and IS literature, in adoption decisions. Potential adopters have no experience with MDS; thus, they likely conceive value based primarily on indirect experience with it, such as through advertisements or communication with peers. Most studies of MDS, however, have given little attention to the types of information sources that affect the formation of value that is obtained using MDS. In this study, the influence of members of social networks and secondary sources are regarded as the major sources of information. The proposed model is empirically tested using survey data collected from 287 potential adopters. The analysis results show that the proposed model, based on the aforementioned view of value, provides a significant explanation of the variance in the level of adoption intention toward MDS in individuals. The results of this study show that utilitarian and social values dominate adoption decisions while the impact of hedonic value in MDS acceptance is weaker than other values. Information from relevant others and from mass media play a critical role in forming the perceptions of value obtained from the use of MDS.
Alternative Energy Systems

This project is pursuing the LEED for Homes Mid Rise certification through the USGBC. Many of the prerequisites and voluntary credits this project will pursue will create a residential housing development that will have a positive impact on its ecological and cultural environment. In ensuring the strategies and initiatives found within the LEED for Homes program the project will integrate the owners, builders, architects, tenants, and community stakeholders to contribute a lessened impact on the local environment. These impacts include yet are not limited to; community connectivity, indoor and outdoor air quality, lessened energy consumption, green house gas reduction, reduced material waste and water conservation. The LEED for Homes Certification process provides a thorough diagnostic and verification of residential buildings from design to completion that has become the standard for sustainable building practices.
Distributed Coloring Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks and Its Applications

In this paper, we propose a distributed coloring algorithm that is commonly applicable to many optimization problems to realize wireless sensor networks (WSNs). After describing the algorithm in detail, two applications, namely sensing function allocation and time-slot allocation in the time division multiple access (TDMA) communication, are introduced. The experimental results for the applications show that the proposed algorithm effectively solves the problems in the applications.