Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE UNEXPECTED DELTA-V INCREASES DURING THE EARTH GRAVITY ASSISTS OF GALILEO AND NEAR

Unexpected energy increases during Earth flybys of both the Galileo and Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft have drawn evidence of spacecraft trajectory modeling errors, an unknown perturbing force or failure of Newtonian gravity. This paper will investigate the gravity field of Earth as a possible source of these anomalous AVs. Other possible sources of errors have been considered including: the mathematical models representing the perturbing forces acting on the spacecrafts while in the sphere of influence of Earth such as relativistic effects, tidal effects, Earth radiation pressure and atmospheric drag. However, most of these perturbations such as atmospheric drag can be ruled out because the imparted acceleration upon the spacecraft is several orders of magnitude less than observed. Since the oblateness effect is several orders of magnitude greater than the non-gravitational perturbations, errors in the spherical harmonic representation of Earth's gravity field will be examined. Other sources that have already been examined and tentatively dismissed include numerical round-off, integration errors, spacecraft antenna phase center offset and spacecraft antenna switching during encounter.
Evaluation of Antioxidant Capacity and Phenolic Content in Ethanolic Extracts of Leaves and Flowers of Some Asteraceae Species.

BACKGROUND Medicinal plants contain large amount of natural antioxidant compounds, which enable them to neutralize free radicals. Asteraceae family is an important source of phytochemical compounds. OBJECTIVE The objective of this research is to find out the antioxidant potential and radical scavenging from the leaf and flowers of five species (Artemisia absinthium L., Arctium lappa L., Silybum marianum L., Centaurea cyanus L. and Echinops ritro L.) of the Asteraceae family. This research includes recent patents (US20110179530A1) in plant biotechnology. METHODS The plant extract obtained by absolute extraction method was investigated for Total Phenolic Content (TPC), total Flavonoid Content (TFC), Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), and Chain Breaking Activity (CBA). THIOBARBIOTURIC ACID (TBA), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), IC50, nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide (O-) radical scavenging and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) were also measured. RESULTS The results showed the highest values for the TPC, TBA, FRAP and DPPH radical scavenging related to A. absinthium. While, A. lappa extract showed the maximum content for TFC, TAC, CBA and O2 radical scavenging. In addition, our results indicated that E. ritro is a good source of NO2 and H2O2 radical scavenging activity (P<0.05). Our findings suggest that the flower is more successful than the leaf. CONCLUSION Artemisia absinthium, A. lappa and E. ritro can be used as an easily accessible source of natural antioxidants and as a possible food supplement or in pharmaceutical industry.
Transcription factors involved in the regulation of natural killer cell development and function: an update

Natural killer (NK) cells belong to the innate immune system and are key effectors in the immune response against cancer and infection. Recent studies have contributed to the knowledge of events controlling NK cell fate. The use of knockout mice has enabled the discovery of key transcription factors (TFs) essential for NK cell development and function. Yet, unwrapping the downstream targets of these TFs and their influence on NK cells remains a challenge. In this review, we discuss the latest TFs described to be involved in the regulation of NK cell development and maturation.
Intestinal Short Chain Fatty Acids and their Link with Diet and Human Health

The colon is inhabited by a dense population of microorganisms, the so-called “gut microbiota,” able to ferment carbohydrates and proteins that escape absorption in the small intestine during digestion. This microbiota produces a wide range of metabolites, including short chain fatty acids (SCFA). These compounds are absorbed in the large bowel and are defined as 1-6 carbon volatile fatty acids which can present straight or branched-chain conformation. Their production is influenced by the pattern of food intake and diet-mediated changes in the gut microbiota. SCFA have distinct physiological effects: they contribute to shaping the gut environment, influence the physiology of the colon, they can be used as energy sources by host cells and the intestinal microbiota and they also participate in different host-signaling mechanisms. We summarize the current knowledge about the production of SCFA, including bacterial cross-feedings interactions, and the biological properties of these metabolites with impact on the human health.
Riqueza florística y carbono almacenado en tres pisos altitudinales de bosques amazónicos, Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador

Los bosques tropicales poseen alta riqueza floristica y complejas estructuras que con base a su funcionalidad brindan servicios ecosistemicos. Se evaluo la riqueza de especies arboreas, arbustivas, herbaceas y el carbono almacenado en tres pisos altitudinales: Pie montano, Montano bajo y Montano . Se instalaron parcelas de area variable donde se evaluo la riqueza floristica y las especies mas importantes ecologicamente. Tambien se determino la densidad y area basal, y se estimo el carbono almacenado mediante metodos directos y modelos alometricos para bosques tropicales. La mayor riqueza de especies arboreas, densidad y area basal se registro en el piso Pie montano ubicado a menor altitud. El carbono total almacenado fue mayor en el piso Montano bajo, influenciado por la alta cantidad de carbono almacenado en el suelo. El carbono en la biomasa aerea arborea fue mayor en el piso Pie montano a diferencia del Montano, bajo lo cual es influenciado por el area basal que es resultado de mediciones del DAP; este parametro se correlaciono fuertemente con la biomasa. Se concluye que el carbono almacenado se relaciona directamente con la composicion de especies, especialmente las arboreas presentes con mayores o menores valores estructurales tanto en area basal y densidad, en los diferentes pisos altitudinales.
Measurement of Postcryopreservation Viability

Forany tissue, there is a cell viability threshold below which the ability of the tissue to maintain itself and function will eventually be compromised. During cryopre‐servation and subsequent thawing of tissues there are many steps involved, each with attendant potential risks for reduction of viability. To determine the effectiveness of any cryopreservation procedure it is important to select appropriate assays. In this manuscript viability assays, in general, are reviewed from a biological viewpoint prior to review of methods employed for assessment of heart valve viability. Both in situ and in vitro assays of heart valve viability indicate that valve mechanical properties and the majority of fibroblasts, which are responsible for maintenance of the valve connective tissue, are retained after cryopreservation.
Identifying Local Temporal Burstiness Using MACD Histogram

Burstiness has been one of the most important criteria for extracting topics and events from documents posted on social media. Recently, researchers are focusing on extracting geolocal topics and events from such social documents because of the increasing number of geo-annotated documents (e.g., Geo-tagged tweets on Twitter). In our previous work, we developed a method for identifying local temporal burstiness to detect local hot keywords considering the users' location. The previous method is based on Kleinberg's temporal burst detection algorithm, which presupposes that the rate of posting remains constant. However, this leads to a difference in bursty periods depending on public awareness. To address this issue, in this paper, we propose a novel method for identifying local temporal burstiness by using the MACD-histogram-based temporal burst detection algorithm. The MACD-histogram-based temporal burst detection algorithm is based on the trend analysis of stock prices. To compare the proposed method with the previous method, we conducted experiments using actual burst detection in geo-tagged documents. The experiments revealed that the proposed method can identify local temporal burstiness on the basis of public awareness.
On Codes Over $\mathbb{Z}_{p^{s}}$ with the Extended Lee Weight

We consider codes over $\mathbb{Z}_{p^s}$ with the extended Lee weight. We find Singleton bounds with respect to this weight and define MLDS and MLDR codes accordingly. We also consider the kernels of these codes and the notion of independence of vectors in this space. We investigate the linearity and duality of the Gray images of codes over $\mathbb{Z}_{p^s}$.
Synthesis Based on Depth Information and Graph Cuts for 3 DTV

This paper presents a novel method that synthesizes a free-viewpoint based on multiple textures and depth maps in multi-view camera configuration. This method solves the cracks and holes problem due to sampling rate by performing an inverse warping to retrieve texture images. This step allows a simple and accurate resampling of synthetic pixel. To enforce the spatial consistency of color and remove the pixels wrapped incorrectly because of inaccuracy depth maps, we propose some processing steps. The warped depth and warped texture images are used to classify pixels as stable, unstable and disoccluded pixels. The stable pixels are used to create an initial new view by weighted interpolation. To refine the new view, Graph cuts is used to select the best candidates for each unstable pixel. Finally, the remaining disoccluded regions are filled by our inpainting method based on depth information and texture neighboring pixel value. Our experiment on several multi-view data sets is encouraging in both subjective and objective results.
Modeling Maneuverability of Motorized Two-Wheelers during Filtering in Urban Roads

Differences in driving style and static and dynamic attributes of motorized two-wheelers (MTWs) provide MTW riders more flexibility than other traffic in choosing higher speeds, erratic driving patterns, and erratic trajectories. In an attempt to model the unique dynamic movement patterns of MTW riders, the current study investigates the filtering behavior of MTWs, utilizing trajectory data from a six-lane divided urban road. The research work undertaken in this study provides an elaborate investigation of behavioral differences in filtering and following maneuvers, addressing different influential variables that may affect the rider’s decision to perform a filtering maneuver, and describing how this choice is affected by different driver–vehicle characteristics and local traffic conditions. Finally, the multivariate aspects of the riders during filtering are also examined using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. Results of the study show that speed of the MTW, average leading vehicles’ speed, available pore size and number of lateral movements made by the MTW rider in the past trajectory are the critical parameters affecting the rider’s choice of filtering. Further, the SEM analysis indicates that the comfort of MTW riders in filtering is dependent on the speed of MTWs and the presence of a surrounding right-hand vehicle.
Inhibitors of p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase promote neuronal survival in vitro

Mammalian mitogen‐activated protein kinases include the extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase, the c‐Jun amino‐terminal kinase, and the p38 subgroups. Sustained activation of Jun kinase and p38 have been shown to precede apoptosis of PC12 pheochromocytoma cells induced by withdrawal of trophic factors. To investigate the possible role of p38 in neuronal apoptosis, we tested the effect of two selective p38 inhibitors, the pyridinyl imidazole compounds SB203580 and SB202190, on different populations of chick embryonic neurons in vitro. Both substances promoted the in vitro survival of sensory, sympathetic, ciliary and motor neurons in a dose‐dependent fashion. When assayed in nerve growth factor‐stimulated PC12 cells, SB203580 pretreatment inhibited the activation of both ribosomal S6 kinases‐1 and ‐2 with the same IC50 (approximately 30 μM) that inhibited apoptosis in primary neurons. Thus, p38 inhibitor‐sensitive pathways may be involved in apoptosis of neurotrophic factor‐deprived primary neurons, and in activation of ribosomal S6 kinases. J. Neurosci. Res. 52:483–490, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Effect of Shoulder Immobilization on Balance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Purpose:Shoulder immobilization devices are commonly used in the treatment of older adults following proximal humeral fractures. Immobilization of the shoulder may have a negative effect on balance, which could increase risk for falls. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of shoulder immobilization on balance in the community-dwelling older adult population as measured by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Methods:Fifty-three subjects (14 men and 39 women, mean age = 75.4 years) participated in the study. The BBS was administered twice to each participant. Subjects were tested once while wearing a shoulder immobilizer and once without a shoulder immobilizer. The immobilizer positioned the elbow at 90° of flexion and anchored the arm to the trunk. The Wilcoxon signed-ranks test was used to evaluate differences in BBS scores. A 2-tailed test was performed with &agr; set at . 05. Results:Mean (SD) BBS scores were 53 (4.0) without the immobilizer and 52 (4.7) with the immobilizer. BBS change scores (score with immobilizer minus score without immobilizer) ranged from +1 to −7, with a mean change score of −1.02. The Wilcoxon signed-ranks test indicated a significant difference between paired observations (negative ranks = 29, positive ranks = 6, P < .0001). Balance was impaired (significantly lower BBS scores) when subjects wore the device compared with the testing sessions without the device. Conclusions:The results indicate that immobilizing the shoulder may have a negative effect on balance as measured by the BBS. If shoulder immobilization places an individual at greater risk for falls, early balance screening by a physical therapist to determine the appropriateness of a fall prevention program may be indicated
Alkaline Phosphatase, Soluble Extracellular Adenine Nucleotides, and Adenosine Production after Infant Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Rationale Decreased alkaline phosphatase activity after infant cardiac surgery is associated with increased post-operative cardiovascular support requirements. In adults undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, alkaline phosphatase infusion may reduce inflammation. Mechanisms underlying these effects have not been explored but may include decreased conversion of extracellular adenine nucleotides to adenosine. Objectives 1) Evaluate the association between alkaline phosphatase activity and serum conversion of adenosine monophosphate to adenosine after infant cardiac surgery; 2) assess if inhibition/supplementation of serum alkaline phosphatase modulates this conversion. Methods and Research Pre/post-bypass serum samples were obtained from 75 infants <4 months of age. Serum conversion of 13C5-adenosine monophosphate to 13C5-adenosine was assessed with/without selective inhibition of alkaline phosphatase and CD73. Low and high concentration 13C5-adenosine monophosphate (simulating normal/stress concentrations) were used. Effects of alkaline phosphatase supplementation on adenosine monophosphate clearance were also assessed. Changes in serum alkaline phosphatase activity were strongly correlated with changes in 13C5-adenosine production with or without CD73 inhibition (r = 0.83; p<0.0001). Serum with low alkaline phosphatase activity (≤80 U/L) generated significantly less 13C5-adenosine, particularly in the presence of high concentration 13C5-adenosine monophosphate (10.4μmol/L vs 12.9μmol/L; p = 0.0004). Inhibition of alkaline phosphatase led to a marked decrease in 13C5-adenosine production (11.9μmol/L vs 2.7μmol/L; p<0.0001). Supplementation with physiologic dose human tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase or high dose bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase doubled 13C5-adenosine monophosphate conversion to 13C5-adenosine (p<0.0001). Conclusions Alkaline phosphatase represents the primary serum ectonucleotidase after infant cardiac surgery and low post-operative alkaline phosphatase activity leads to impaired capacity to clear adenosine monophosphate. AP supplementation improves serum clearance of adenosine monophosphate to adenosine. These findings represent a potential therapeutic mechanism for alkaline phosphatase infusion during cardiac surgery. New and Noteworthy We identify alkaline phosphatase (AP) as the primary soluble ectonucleotidase in infants undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and show decreased capacity to clear AMP when AP activity decreases post-bypass. Supplementation of AP ex vivo improves this capacity and may represent the beneficial therapeutic mechanism of AP infusion seen in phase 2 studies.
Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine Is a Matrix Scavenger Chaperone

Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) is one of the major non-structural proteins of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in remodeling tissues. The functional significance of SPARC is emphasized by its origin in the first multicellular organisms and its high degree of evolutionary conservation. Although SPARC has been shown to act as a critical modulator of ECM remodeling with profound effects on tissue physiology and architecture, no plausible molecular mechanism of its action has been proposed. In the present study, we demonstrate that SPARC mediates the disassembly and degradation of ECM networks by functioning as a matricellular chaperone. While it has low affinity to its targets inside the cells where the Ca2+ concentrations are low, high extracellular concentrations of Ca2+ activate binding to multiple ECM proteins, including collagens. We demonstrated that in vitro, this leads to the inhibition of collagen I fibrillogenesis and disassembly of pre-formed collagen I fibrils by SPARC at high Ca2+ concentrations. In cell culture, exogenous SPARC was internalized by the fibroblast cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Pulse-chase assay further revealed that internalized SPARC is quickly released outside the cell, demonstrating that SPARC shuttles between the cell and ECM. Fluorescently labeled collagen I, fibronectin, vitronectin, and laminin were co-internalized with SPARC by fibroblasts, and semi-quantitative Western blot showed that SPARC mediates internalization of collagen I. Using a novel 3-dimentional model of fluorescent ECM networks pre-deposited by live fibroblasts, we demonstrated that degradation of ECM depends on the chaperone activity of SPARC. These results indicate that SPARC may represent a new class of scavenger chaperones, which mediate ECM degradation, remodeling and repair by disassembling ECM networks and shuttling ECM proteins into the cell. Further understanding of this mechanism may provide insight into the pathogenesis of matrix-associated disorders and lead to the novel treatment strategies.
Effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors on periprocedural myocardial infarction in patients with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been reported as a risk factor for cardiovascular events. The aim of the present study is to investigate the association between chronic angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) therapy and the rate of periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI) after elective coronary stenting among patients with MetS. METHODS The inclusion criteria were MetS and plan for elective percutaneous coronary intervention. To assess the effect of ACE-I treatment on the incidence of PMI, measurements of cardiac biomarkers (CK-MB mass and troponin I) were performed at baseline and 24 h after the procedure. RESULTS A total of 459 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were recruited to chronic ACE-I treatment and ACE-I naive groups in a 2/1 ratio. Baseline troponin I and CK-MB levels were similar in both treatment groups, whereas they were significantly lower in ACE-I group 24 h after the procedure. Univariate analysis identified body mass index (BMI), LDL cholesterol, nitrate and ACE-I use as significant factors for the development of PMI. Multivariate regression model revealed that body mass index increased and use of nitrate and ACE-I decreased the probability of PMI independent from confounding factors (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.23, p = 0.002 for BMI; OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.14-0.48, p = 0.01 for nitrate use, OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.27-0.93, p = 0.03 for ACE-I use). CONCLUSIONS This prospective observational cohort trial demonstrated that chronic ACE-I therapy was an independent predictor for reduced PMI among patients with MetS who underwent elective coronary intervention.
Detecting human faces in color images

A method is introduced that detects human faces in color images by first separating skin regions from non-skin regions and then locating faces within the skin regions. A chroma chart is prepared via a training process that shows likelihoods of different colors representing the skin. Using the chroma chart, a color image is transformed into a gray-scale image, with the gray value at a pixel showing the likelihood of the pixel representing the skin. By segmenting the gray-scale image, skin regions are separated from non-skin regions. Then, using the luminance component of the color image and by template matching, faces are located within skin regions.
A low-cost and scalable test architecture for multi-core chips

Multi-core architecture has become a mainstream in modern processor and computation-intensive chips. A widely-used multi-core architecture contains identical cores. This paper proposes a low-cost and scalable test architecture for a multi-core chip with identical cores. The test architecture provides test scalability by using a two-dimensional pipelined test access mechanism (TAM). Also, some scan cells of the cores under test are reused as the pipeline registers of the TAM such that the area cost of the proposed test architecture is low. Experimental results show that the proposed test architecture only consumes about 2.6% area for a multi-core chip with 16 Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) cores. Also, the test time for 16 AES cores is only about 1.004 times of that for a single AES core.