Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic Endothelin Antagonism Restores Cerebrovascular Function in Diabetes

OBJECTIVEDiabetes profoundly alters vascular function and is a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease. Diabetes increases myogenic tone and decreases responsiveness to adenosine triphosphatase (ATP)-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel openers and endothelium-dependent vasodilators. The mechanism(s) by which diabetes impairs cerebrovascular function remain obscure. In the present study, the effects of the potent vasoactive peptide endothelin-1 on myogenic tone and endothelium-dependent and potassium channel-mediated vasodilation in middle cerebral arteries from diabetic and nondiabetic rats were investigated. METHODSTwenty-eight Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups (n = 7 per group): control (C), control treated with bosentan (an endothelin A/B receptor antagonist) (CB), diabetic (D), and diabetic bosentan-treated (DB). Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (D and DB groups), after which chronic bosentan treatment was initiated (CB and DB groups). Middle cerebral arteries were mounted in a pressure myograph, and myogenic responses were recorded. In addition, endothelium-dependent and -independent responses and the effects of the KATP channel opener pinacidil were examined. RESULTSCerebral arteries from the diabetic and nondiabetic rats constricted in response to graded pressure increases. Maximum myogenic responses (percent constriction at 60 mm Hg) were significantly greater in the D group (38 ± 3% versus 25 ± 3% in C;P < 0.02). The enhanced myogenic tone in the D group was completely prevented by bosentan treatment (DB, 23 ± 5% versus D;P < 0.003) without an effect on the CB group. In addition, bosentan treatment improved endothelium-dependent vasomotion and improved KATP-mediated vasodilation in the DB group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONThese data describe, for the first time, the interaction between endothelin-1, myogenic tone, and endothelial function in diabetes. Chronic endothelin antagonism restores cerebrovascular function in this model of diabetes and has global implications for the management of cerebrovascular disease in diabetes.
The Continuum of Maternal Sepsis Severity: Incidence and Risk Factors in a Population-Based Cohort Study

Objective To investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with uncomplicated maternal sepsis and progression to severe sepsis in a large population-based birth cohort. Methods This retrospective cohort study used linked hospital discharge and vital statistics records data for 1,622,474 live births in California during 2005–2007. Demographic and clinical factors were adjusted using multivariable logistic regression with robust standard errors. Results 1598 mothers developed sepsis; incidence of all sepsis was 10 per 10,000 live births (95% CI = 9.4–10.3). Women had significantly increased adjusted odds (aOR) of developing sepsis if they were older (25–34 years: aOR = 1.29; ≥35 years: aOR = 1.41), had ≤high-school education (aOR = 1.63), public/no-insurance (aOR = 1.22) or a cesarean section (primary: aOR = 1.99; repeat: aOR = 1.25). 791 women progressed to severe sepsis; incidence of severe sepsis was 4.9 per 10,000 live births (95% CI = 4.5–5.2). Women had significantly increased adjusted odds of progressing to severe sepsis if they were Black (aOR = 2.09), Asian (aOR = 1.59), Hispanic (aOR = 1.42), had public/no-insurance (aOR = 1.52), delivered in hospitals with <1,000 births/year (aOR = 1.93), were primiparous (aOR = 2.03), had a multiple birth (aOR = 3.5), diabetes (aOR = 1.47), or chronic hypertension (aOR = 8.51). Preeclampsia and postpartum hemorrhage were also significantly associated with progression to severe sepsis (aOR = 3.72; aOR = 4.18). For every cumulative factor, risk of uncomplicated sepsis increased by 25% (95% CI = 17.4–32.3) and risk of progression to severe sepsis/septic shock increased by 57% (95% CI = 40.8–74.4). Conclusions The rate of severe sepsis was approximately twice the 1991–2003 national estimate. Risk factors identified are relevant to obstetric practice given their cumulative risk effect and the apparent increase in severe sepsis incidence.
Fuzzy Wavelet Neural Network Models for Prediction and Identification of Dynamical Systems

This paper presents fuzzy wavelet neural network (FWNN) models for prediction and identification of nonlinear dynamical systems. The proposed FWNN models are obtained from the traditional Takagi-Sugeno-Kang fuzzy system by replacing the THEN part of fuzzy rules with wavelet basis functions that have the ability to localize both in time and frequency domains. The first and last model use summation and multiplication of dilated and translated versions of single-dimensional wavelet basis functions, respectively, and in the second model, THEN parts of the rules consist of radial function of wavelets. Gaussian type of activation functions are used in IF part of the fuzzy rules. A fast gradient-based training algorithm, i.e., the Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno method, is used to find the optimal values for unknown parameters of the FWNN models. Simulation examples are also given to compare the effectiveness of the models with the other known methods in the literature. According to simulation results, we see that the proposed FWNN models have impressive generalization ability.
A Throughput Optimizing Routing Protocol for Wireless Mesh Networks

Wireless mesh networks (WMNs) have emerged as a key technology for next generation wireless networks showing rapid progress and inspiring numerous applications. The persistence driving force in the development of WMNs comes from their envisioned advantages including extended coverage, robustness, self-configuration, easy maintenance, and low cost. However, to support real-time applications, WMNs must be equipped with a robust, reliable and efficient routing protocol so that packets can be routed through them with minimum delay. In this paper, we identify some critical factors in designing a routing protocol for WMNs, and propose an efficient and reliable routing protocol. The protocol is based on a reliable estimation of wireless link quality and the available bandwidth on a routing path. It also minimizes control overhead by effectively controlling broadcast messages in the network. Simulations carried out on the protocol demonstrate that it is more efficient than some of the current routing protocols.
ADAMS: Asymmetric differential STT-RAM cell structure for reliable and high-performance applications

Spin-transfer torque random access memory (STT-RAM) is an emerging non-volatile memory technology offering many attractive characteristics like high integration density, nanosecond access time, and good CMOS compatibility. However, the performance and reliability of STT-RAM cells are greatly affected by process variations and intrinsic device operation randomness. In this work, we proposed a novel STT-RAM cell structure named ADAMS which can be dynamically configured between the high-reliable (HR) mode and the high-capacity (HC) mode upon the real-time system requirement: For the performance and reliability critical applications, ADAMS switches to HR mode. The novel connection scheme of magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) devices and programming/sensing circuits substantially improve the read and write performance of the ADAMS cell and enhance its resilience to operation errors; For the capacity critical applications, ADAMS switches to HC mode. The ADAMS cell is broken into two “1T1J” cells that can work independently, offering the similar performance and reliability to conventional STT-RAM design. Simulation results show that compared to convectional 1T1J cell structure, ADAMS offers the same write latency, smaller cell area, and 12× lower write error rate. The read latency is also improved by 44.2% with 1935.8× reduction on combined read error rate.
Equal Value of the Right to Work With Multi-Implications

The value of the right to work involves adversary and unification of the value of survival, development, freedom, equality and order. Gene, identity and labor contracts, as important factors influencing the right to work as well as important standards to judge whether equal value lies in the right to work, influence the definition of the labor main body and the interpretation of the concept of labor. By connecting the equality of the start, the process and the result of the right to work, these factors lie throughout the whole process of obtaining the right to work.
Antigenic drift in influenza virus H3 hemagglutinin from 1968 to 1980: multiple evolutionary pathways and sequential amino acid changes at key antigenic sites

Surveys of the antigenic properties of a wide range of variants of the H3N2 (Hong Kong) influenza virus subtype have revealed complex patterns of variants cocirculating during each of the main epidemic eras of the subtype. We determined hemagglutinin (HA) gene sequences for 14 isolates chosen to give the wildest possible spread of variant types. The addition of these data to existing HA gene sequence information for other variants provides a comprehensive picture of HA gene evolution during antigenic drift among H3N2 subtype viruses. The data reveal the existence of multiple evolutionary pathways during at least one period of development of the subtype and strikingly demonstrate that amino acid changes are limited to a small number of locations on the HA molecule during antigenic drift. The occurrence of sequential amino acid changes at key positions within these variable regions suggests that the HA structure has remained constant during subtype evolution so that only limited possibilities remain for further antigenic drift among H3N2 viruses.
Lyapunov-based friction compensation for accurate positioning of a hydraulic actuator

A Lyapunov-based discontinuous friction compensation technique is developed for the position regulation of a hydraulic actuator. The control scheme is capable of asymptotic position regulation with no steady-state error despite friction effects. Although, no knowledge of actuator friction, servovalve dynamics, or hydraulic parameters is required for control action, stability and effectiveness of the control scheme considering hydraulic nonlinearities, servovalve dynamics, and realistic friction model is verified both analytically and experimentally. Due to the discontinuity of the control law and the friction model, the control system is nonsmooth. Therefore, existence, continuation and uniqueness of the Filippov's solution are, first, proven using Filippov's solution theories. The extension of LaSalle's invariance principle to nonsmooth systems is then employed to prove the asymptotic convergence of the system trajectories to the equilibria. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed controller in counteracting frictional effects and asymptotic convergence of the system to the desired position with no steady state error.
Integrating Data on Ethnicity, Geography, and Conflict

This article introduces the new Family of Ethnic Power Relations (EPR) data sets, version 2014, which is the latest in a series of data sets on ethnicity that have stimulated civil war research in the past decade. The EPR Family provides data on ethnic groups’ access to state power, their settlement patterns, links to rebel organizations, transborder ethnic kin relations, and intraethnic cleavages. The new 2014 version does not only extend the data set’s temporal coverage from 2009 to 2013, but it also offers several new features, such as a new measure of regional autonomy that is independent of national-level executive power and a new data set component coding intraethnic identities and cleavages. Moreover, for the first time, detailed documentation of the EPR data is provided through the EPR Atlas. This article presents these novelties in detail and compares the EPR Family 2014 to the most relevant alternative data sets on ethnicity.
Linguistic Annotation : from Links to Cross-Layer Lexicons

Lexicons have always been part of linguistic studies, the more in the era of computational linguistics. Complex linguistic annotation has emerged as an important research phenomenon relatively recently. Even though various annotation schemes ([10], [13], [15], [16], [17]) have been developed containing some sort of explicit or implicit reference to a “lexicon”, none has presented a coherent and formal merge of structured linguistic annotation of a running text and lexicons. We believe that an explicitly described relation between lexicons and corpus annotation is necessary to facilitate both the analysis and generation of natural language sentences (when learned from the corpora) as well as a checking tool for annotation consistency. 1
Studies on the mechanism of toxicity of acetaminophen. Synthesis and reactions of N-acetyl-2,6-dimethyl- and N-acetyl-3,5-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone imines.

N-Acetyl-2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone imine and N-acetyl-3,5-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone imine were prepared from 2,6-dimethylacetaminophen and 3,5-dimethylacetaminophen by oxidation with lead tetraacetate. Reaction of N-acetyl-2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone imine with hydrochloric acid gave 3'-chloro-2',6'-dimethyl-4'-hydroxyacetanilide, whereas ethanethiol, aniline, and ethanol gave tetrahedral adducts resulting from addition to the imine carbon. Water gave 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone. With N-acetyl-3,5-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone imine, water and aniline gave substitution on the imine carbon, yielding 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone and 3,5-dimethyl-N-phenyl-p-benzoquinone imine, respectively. Ethanethiol gave 3'. 5'-dimethyl-2'-(ethylthio)-4'-hydroxyacetanilide. The toxicity of 2,6-dimethylacetaminophen and 3,5-dimethylacetaminophen was examined histologically in mice and rats. 3,5-Dimethylacetaminophen was slightly more nephrotoxic but showed a similar hepatotoxicity to acetaminophen. 2,6-Dimethylacetaminophen, like N-methylacetaminophen, showed very little tissue damage.
Fully Resilient Traitor Tracing Scheme using Key Update

This paper proposes fully resilient traitor tracing schemes which have no restriction about the number of traitors. By using the concept of key update, the schemes can make the pirate decoders useless within some time-period, which will be called life-time of the decoder. There is a trade-off between the size of ciphertext and life-time of pirate decoders.
The link between personality, aggressive driving, and risky driving outcomes – testing a theoretical model

This study tested a theoretical model of the relationship between the Big Five Personality Factors, aggressive driving and ‘risky driving outcomes’ (accidents, traffic tickets, and license suspension). It also tested the mediation effect of aggressive driving in the relationship between the five factor personality model and risky driving outcomes. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the 293 participants’ responses. Bivariate correlations showed that aggressive driving was negatively related to emotional stability, agreeableness, and conscientiousness and positively related to risky driving outcomes. Agreeableness was negatively related to accidents, tickets, and license suspension. Conscientiousness was negatively related to tickets. The structural model was supported by data in which agreeableness predicted risky driving outcomes. Emotional stability, agreeableness, and conscientiousness predicted aggressive driving, which in turn predicted risky driving outcomes. Aggressive driving was shown to be a mediator in the relationship between agreeableness and risky driving outcomes.
Extracellular Matrix Turnover: a Balance between MMPs and their Inhibitors

To the Editor, We read with great interest the article by Santos et al1, entitled "Early Change of Extracellular Matrix and Diastolic Parameters in Metabolic Syndrome", which was published in october of Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia. The authors1 aimed to compare diastolic function, biomarkers representing extracellular matrix activity (MMP9 and TIMP1), inflammation and cardiac hemodynamic stress in patients with the metabolic syndrome and healthy controls. We thank authors for their excellent data and valuable study but some comments may be of beneficial. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play major roles in tissue development, matrix collagen turnover, repair and remodeling2-5. The TIMPs are usually secreted together with variable amounts of their MMPs and regulate MMPs' proteolytic activities by binding tightly to their catalytic sites2. Extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover is largely modulated by the interaction between MMPs and their TIMPs.2-5A correlation and reciprocal influences between MMP and their TIMP determines the combined effect on ECM turnover4,5. Expression patterns of MMP9 andTIMP1 (a specific inhibitor of MMP9), are closely correlated with physiological, pathological and micro-environmental processes characterized by the degradation and accumulation of the ECm3. A balance between MMP9 and TIMP1 is a major parameter in regulating both the enzyme activation and functionality in the tissue3-5. Consequently, MMP9/TIMP1 ratio could be viewed as a more reliable, useful and determinative marker in the evaluation of their potential prognostic capacities compared with MMP9 and TIMP1 separately. Determining the changes in the ECM balance and activity with a more appropriate method could give a chance to observe the influences on the results more precisely.
Mobbing at work and the development of post-traumatic stress disorders.

Abstract Psychosocial research on mobbing is currently being carried out in a number of countries, mainly in Europe. Mobbing is defined as an extreme social stressor at workplaces. In this article, its serious mental and psychosomatic health consequences are demonstrated and discussed. A factor analysis of symptom statistics collected through answers from a study representative of the entire Swedish workforce showed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the plausible diagnosis. In addition, 64 patients subjected to mobbing at their work places are diagnosed with the co-operation of a rehabilitation clinic specializing in the treatment of chrome PTSD. The statistical analysis of these 64 diagnoses shows a severe degree of PTSD, with mental effects fully comparable with PTSD from war or prison camp experiences.
Entertainment and Politics Revisited: How Non-Escapist Forms of Entertainment Can Stimulate Political Interest and Information Seeking

This article revisits the controversial relationship of entertainment and political communication. On the basis of a theoretical integration of entertainment theory with theories of motivated information processing, we suggest that entertainment consumption can either be driven by hedonic, escapist motivations that are associated with a superficial mode of information processing, or by eudaimonic, truth-seeking motivations that prompt more elaborate forms of information processing. Results of two experiments indicate that eudaimonic forms of emotional involvement (characterized by negative valence, moderate arousal, and feeling moved) stimulated reflective thoughts about politically relevant content, issue interest, and information seeking. This pattern was consistent across two types of entertainment stimuli (fictional films and soft news) and two types of affect manipulations (moving film music and moving exemplars).
Etoile: a Class-based Logic with Reenement

R esum e: Dans ce papier, nous nous int eressons a une m ethode de raanement pour un formalisme de sp eciications alg ebrique orient ees objets, appel e etoile-sp eciications. Les etoile-sp eciications etendent les techniques de sp eciications alg ebriques classiques a la sp eciications de syst emes d'objets concurrents (actifs). Le comportement dynamique des syt emes d'objets d epend d' etats implicites utilis es pour modiier la s emantique des fonction-nalit es (ou m ethodes). Bien que la plupart des gens aarme que les objets preservent les \bonnes propri et es" de la modularit e, nous montrons que la correction globale d'un syst eme ne peut pas ^ etre etablie a partir de la correction locale de chaque objet qui le compose. Ceci est du a la concurrence entre objets. Pour contourner ce comportement non modulaire des objets, nous proposons une th eorie du raanement (implantation abstraite) qui permet de retrouver l'incr ementatlit e et etablir la correction. Nous prouvons que les r esultats usuels concernant la r eutilisation d'implantation sont etendus aux etoile-sp eciications. Abstract: In this paper, we focus on a reenement method for an object oriented algebraic formalism, called etoile-speciications. etoile-speciications extend algebraic speciication techniques to deal with concurrent (active) object systems. The dynamic behavior of object systems rely on implicit states used as modiiers of semantics of functionalities (or methods). Although most people aarm that objects preserve the \good properties" of modularity, we show that the global correctness of a system cannot be established from the local correct-ness of each object. This is due to the concurrency between objects. To circumvent this non modular behavior of objects, we propose a reenement theory (abstract implementation) which allows to retrieve incrementality to establish correctness. We prove that usual results concerning reuse of implementations are extended to etoile-speciications.
Mathematical Skills in Ninth-graders: Relationship with visuo-spatial abilities and working memory

In the present study, the relationship between working memory (WM ) capacity, particularly visuo-spatial working memory (VSW M), the ability to mentally rotate three-dimensional objects and mathematical skills was investigated. In Experiment 1, the two VSW M components, viz. static visuo-spatial storage component and dynamic visuo-spatial storage component, were examined separately. The ability to retain gradually increasing square patterns (static VSW M capacity), the ability to retain movement sequences (dynamic VSWM capacity) and the ability to mentally rotate abstract figures were related to mathematical skills (n = 0.44 - 0.57). In Experiment 2, the contribution of other W M components to mathematical skills was examined. The results suggest that performances in the static visuo-spatial task (visual matrix pattern task) and in the mental rotation task are related to a mathematics test score (n = 0.42 - 0.58). Other WM components, viz. the central executive and phonological WM , did not relate to mathematical skills in the present study.
Disturbi del Comportamento Alimentare e Dissociazione: uno studio caso-controllo

Eating disorders are a class of axis I mental disorders, characterized by abnormal eating behaviour. Many researches highlight the presence of dissociative experiences in several mental disorders and their role in patients’ outcome. In particular, scientific literature detect higher dissociative levels in patients with eating disorders than in general population. The aim of this study is evaluating dissociation in a sample of out-patients, comparing it to the one of healthy controls. The results are unexpected, because there are not any statistic differences between the two groups.