Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diabetes, the Metabolic Syndrome, and Ischemic Stroke

Stroke affects more than 700,000 individuals each year; it is the third largest cause of death and the largest cause of adult disability in the U.S. Diabetes is a major risk factor for the development of stroke, yet this risk is not realized or understood by patients with diabetes. This likely reflects a lack of understanding within the medical community of how diabetes confers this risk. We will explore the potential underlying mechanisms that lead to increased incidence of stroke among diabetic patients. Beyond diabetes itself, the metabolic syndrome and its components will also be discussed. The impact of diabetes and hyperglycemia on stroke outcomes and a discussion of current approaches to reduce stroke in this high-risk population are included. Because type 2 diabetes affects the vast majority of those diagnosed with diabetes, it will be the primary focus of this discussion. It has been well documented that diabetes confers a significantly increased risk of stroke, as well as increased mortality following stroke (1–7). Stroke is a preventable disease with high personal and societal cost. While great progress has been made in understanding the link between diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD), the literature on diabetes and stroke has been less enlightening. CHD is a larger problem that accounts for 40–50% of mortality in diabetes. Because of the overwhelming impact of CHD, the impact of stroke has been relatively underappreciated. Thus, physicians, diabetes educators, and nurses are less equipped to educate patients. We therefore review the relationship between diabetes and stroke. Given that more than one million people are diagnosed with diabetes yearly, a figure that is expected to rise, the impact of diabetes on the incidence of stroke is of increasing importance. Diabetic patients compose roughly 6.3% of the U.S. population but account for 15–27% of all …
Measured nanosecond laser damage probabilities of niobia-silica and zirconia-silica mixtures coatings

Mixed metal oxide coatings of ZrO2 / SiO2 , and Nb2 O5 / SiO2 as well as films of pure SiO2 , ZrO2 and Nb2 O5 have been prepared by the Ion Beam Sputtering (IBS) technique and characterized on their physical properties. The Laser-Induced Damage Thresholds (LIDT) of these samples have been measured at 1064 nm with the 1-on-1 mode in the nanosecond regime. The optical resistance results obtained from laser damage probability curves indicate a decrease of the LIDT in both sets of the mixtures when the content of the high index material is increased. By comparing the LIDT to the bandgap values (Eg) that have been measured, a dependence of LIDT to Eg is evidenced. Following these results, comparisons are made with the case of 500fs LIDT that have been measured on the same samples. It is found that the same behavior is observed on both cases (ie LIDT dependence with Eg). Discussions are then conducted on the possible physical mechanisms to explain the results and it is found that in the case of the nanosecond regime, the LIDT dependence on Eg can be explained by a critical temperature reached during the laser damage process that exhibit a dependence on the band-gap of the material. The influence of the film thermal conductivity on the values of the critical temperature is studied.
State-space approach to steady-state analysis of adaptive IIR notch filters

In this paper we propose a novel state-space approach to steady-state analysis of a gradient algorithm (GA) for a second-order adaptive infinite impulse response (IIR) notch filter. A general expression for the sinusoid frequency estimation mean square error (MSE) in terms of state-space matrices of a third-order complex-coefficient system is presented. A closed form expression is then derived from the general expression and computer simulation results are included to confirm its accuracy.
Gene Expressions Induced by Calcium Phosphate Ceramics after Implantation into the Muscle of Rat

The osteoinductivity of calcium phosphate ceramics has been studied extensively, but the mechanism is still unclear and few reports about the molecular mechanism in the osteoinductive process. In this study the osteoblast related gene expressions induced by biomaterials were investigated by isolating the RNA from the tissue grown in porous hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate (HA/TCP) ceramics implanted in rat femur muscle on day 7, 15, 30, 60, 90,120, and analyzed by RT-PCR technique. RNA extracted from muscle without implant was used as control at the same time. The results showed that osteopontin and osteocalcin genes, the important osteoblastic markers, expressed in early stage, on day 7 after implantation, and were detected at any period. Collagen type I gene expressed on day 60, 90 and 120. It revealed that osteoblast differentiation occurred very early before collagen type I expression after implanting HA/TCP ceramics in vivo.
"Lupinosis"-like lesions in mice caused by ustiloxin, produced by Ustilaginoieda virens: a morphological study.

A crude toxin, obtained by methanol-extraction of a water extract of false smut balls (INA-KOUJI in Japanese) caused by Ustilaginoidea virens on rice panicles, was injected into mice intraperitoneally. Single injection of 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract was not lethal but caused acute, occasional necrosis of hepatocytes and renal tubular cells, followed by increased number of mitotic figures with occasional multinuclear giant cells. Erosions and ulceration of the forestomach and atrophy of the thymus were observed a week later. Repeated intraperitoneal injection of the crude toxin at the levels of 12 and 25 mg/kg body weight induced more severe necrosis of the liver and kidneys, with delayed occurrence of mitosis. Forestomach erosion also occurred. Serial injection for 10-12 days of either 3 or 6 mg/kg of the crude extract or 400 micrograms/kg of ustiloxin A, using the purified crystals, caused relatively mild but definite liver and kidney lesions similar to those described above. The lesions in the liver and kidney were quite similar to those observed in lupinosis caused by phomopsin A, a mycotoxin produced by Phomopsis leptostromiformis. Isolation of the toxic substance indicates that the contaminated rice panicles may cause toxicosis of cattle, although no field outbreaks have occurred yet.
Cytotoxicity of root canal sealers: a study using HeLa cells and fibroblasts.

Summary. The relative cytotoxicity of five root canal sealers was measured by adding various concentrations of freshly mixed and set sealers to cultures of either HeLa or human fibroblast cells. The toxicity was determined by cell survival, which was measured by subsequent incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into the nucleic acid components of each cell type used. The results showed that all sealers are cytotoxic in both fresh and set states. The ranking of toxicity of sealers on HeLa cells was similar to the one obtained for fibroblasts. Comparison of the results of this study with those of previous investigations questions the value of ranking sealers based only upon their effects in vitro.
The use of chemokine receptor agonists in stem cell mobilization

Introduction: Pharmacological mobilization has been exploited as a means to obtain hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs) for hematopoietic reconstitution. HSPCs mobilized from bone marrow into peripheral blood (PB) are a preferred source of stem cells for transplantation, because they are easily accessible and evidence indicates that they engraft faster after transplantation than HSPCs directly harvested from bone marrow (BM) or umbilical cord blood (UCB). Areas covered: Since chemokine–chemokine receptor axes are involved in retention of HSPCs in the BM microenvironment, chemokine receptor agonists have been proposed as therapeutics to facilitate the mobilization process. These compounds include agonists of the CXCR4 receptor expressed on HSPCs (CTCE-0021 and ATI-2341) or chemokines binding to chemokine receptors expressed on granuclocytes and monocytes (e.g., CXCL2, also known as the growth-related oncogene protein-beta (Gro-β); CCL3, also known as macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α); or CXCL8, also known as IL-8) could be employed alone or in combination with other mobilizing agents (e.g., G-CSF or Plerixafor (AMD3100)). We discuss the current state of knowledge about chemokine receptor agonists and the rationale for their application in mobilization protocols. Expert opinion: Evidence is accumulating that CXCR4 receptor agonists could be employed alone or with other agents as mobilizing drugs. In particular they may provide an alternative for patients that are poor mobilizers.
Fault-tolerance in the Borealis distributed stream processing system

We present a replication-based approach to fault-tolerant distributed stream processing in the face of node failures, network failures, and network partitions. Our approach aims to reduce the degree of inconsistency in the system while guaranteeing that available inputs capable of being processed are processed within a specified time threshold. This threshold allows a user to trade availability for consistency: a larger time threshold decreases availability but limits inconsistency, while a smaller threshold increases availability but produces more inconsistent results based on partial data. In addition, when failures heal, our scheme corrects previously produced results, ensuring eventual consistency.Our scheme uses a data-serializing operator to ensure that all replicas process data in the same order, and thus remain consistent in the absence of failures. To regain consistency after a failure heals, we experimentally compare approaches based on checkpoint/redo and undo/redo techniques and illustrate the performance trade-offs between these schemes.
Neuroimaging of Natalizumab Complications in Multiple Sclerosis: PML and Other Associated Entities

Natalizumab (Tysabri) is a monoclonal antibody (α4 integrin antagonist) approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis, both for patients who fail therapy with other disease modifying agents and for patients with aggressive disease. Natalizumab is highly effective, resulting in significant decreases in rates of both relapse and disability accumulation, as well as marked decrease in MRI evidence of disease activity. As such, utilization of natalizumab is increasing, and the presentation of its associated complications is increasing accordingly. This review focuses on the clinical and neuroimaging features of the major complications associated with natalizumab therapy, focusing on the rare but devastating progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Associated entities including PML associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (PML-IRIS) and the emerging phenomenon of rebound of MS disease activity after natalizumab discontinuation are also discussed. Early recognition of neuroimaging features associated with these processes is critical in order to facilitate prompt diagnosis, treatment, and/or modification of therapies to improve patient outcomes.
A 45nm Low-Standby-Power Embedded SRAM with Improved Immunity Against Process and Temperature Variations

A 512kb SRAM module is implemented in a 45nm low-standby-power CMOS with variation-tolerant assist circuits against process and temperature. A passive resistance is introduced to the read assist circuit and a divided VDD line is adopted in the memory array to assist the write. Two SRAM cells with areas of 0.245mum2 and 0.327mum2 are fabricated. Measurements show that the SNM exceeds 120mV and the write margin improves by 15% in the worst PVT condition.
UbiKiMa: ubiquitous authentication using a smartphone, migrating from passwords to strong cryptography

Passwords are the only ubiquitous form of authentication currently available on the web. Unfortunately, passwords are insecure. In this paper we therefore propose the use of strong cryptography, using the fact that users increasingly own a smartphone that can perform the required cryptographic operations on their behalf. This is not as trivial as it sounds. Services will not migrate to new forms of authentication if few users have the means to use it. Similarly, users will not acquire the means if there are few services that accept them. Moreover, enabling one's smartphone to seamlessly sign in at a website when browsing on an arbitrary PC is non-trivial. We propose a system, based on a smartphone app, that can be used to sign in with username and password to arbitrary websites using an arbitrary PC or laptop. We describe the protocol and implementation to achieve this without the need for typing usernames and passwords. Furthermore, we propose an authentication protocol based on public key cryptography, integrated in the same smartphone app. This allows websites to seamlessly migrate towards a much more secure authentication method on the web, independently of each other. A prototype of our system has been developed.
omparative Effects of Antiplatelet , nticoagulant , or Combined Therapy in Patients ith Valvular and Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

OBJECTIVES This trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of the combination of antiplatelet and moderateintensity anticoagulation therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation associated with recognized risk factors or mitral stenosis. BACKGROUND Warfarin was more effective than aspirin in preventing stroke in these patients; combined therapy with low anticoagulant intensity was ineffective. Mitral stenosis patients were not investigated. METHODS We performed a multicenter randomized trial in 1,209 patients at risk. The intermediate-risk group included patients with risk factors or age 60 years: 242 received the cyclooxygenase inhibitor triflusal, 237 received acenocumarol, and 235 received a combination of both. The high-risk group included patients with prior embolism or mitral stenosis: 259 received anticoagulants and 236 received the combined therapy. Median follow-up was 2.76 years. Primary outcome was a composite of vascular death and nonfatal stroke or systemic embolism. RESULTS Primary outcome was lower in the combined therapy than in the anticoagulant arm in both the intermediate(hazard ratio [HR] 0.33 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.12 to 0.91]; p 0.02) and the high-risk group (HR 0.51 [95% CI 0.27 to 0.96]; p 0.03). Primary outcome plus severe bleeding was lower with combined therapy in the intermediate-risk group. Nonvalvular and mitral stenosis patients had similar embolic event rates during anticoagulant therapy. CONCLUSIONS The combined antiplatelet plus moderate-intensity anticoagulation therapy significantly decreased the vascular events compared with anticoagulation alone and proved to be safe in atrial fibrillation patients. (J Am Coll Cardiol 2004;44:1557–66) © 2004 by the American ublished by Elsevier Inc. doi:10.1016/j.jacc. 2004.05. 084
Efficient Fluid Simulation on the Surface of a Sphere

For the purposes of computer graphics, we have developed a simulation tool to model fluid flow on the surface of a sphere with the inclusion of control parameters for the benefit of art directability. Difficulties associated with the use of spherical coordinates were surmounted by the use of locally modified consistent equations that result from an analysis of the singular equations in the neighborhood of the poles. The resulting system was solved efficiently for only a small additional cost when compared to a two-dimensional planar simulation.
Fabrication of High-Aspect-Ratio 3D Hydrogel Microstructures Using Optically Induced Electrokinetics

We present a rapid hydrogel polymerization and prototyping microfabrication technique using an optically induced electrokinetics (OEK) chip, which is based on a non-UV hydrogel curing principle. Using this technique, micro-scale high-aspect-ratio three-dimensional polymer features with different geometric sizes can be fabricated within 1–10 min by projecting pre-defined visible light image patterns onto the OEK chip. This method eliminates the need for traditional photolithography masks used for patterning and fabricating polymer microstructures and simplifies the fabrication processes. This technique uses cross-link hydrogels, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-diacrylate (PEGDA), as fabrication materials. We demonstrated that hydrogel micropillar arrays rapidly fabricated using this technique can be used as molds to create micron-scale cavities in PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) substrates. Furthermore, hollow, circular tubes with controllable wall thicknesses and high-aspect ratios can also be fabricated. These results show the potential of this technique to become a rapid prototyping technology for producing microfluidic devices. In addition, we show that rapid prototyping of three-dimensional suspended polymer structures is possible without any sacrificial etching process.
Semantic Caching for Spatial Mobile Applications

Mobile location-based applications rely heavily on network connections. When the mobile devices are offline, such applications become less accessible to users. A semantic cachebased method is proposed to improve the offline accessibility for mobile location-based applications. The central idea is that when users are browsing information, the client program stores this information for later retrieval. In order to accomplish this on a continuous space, the map projection must be discretized restricting the space to a finite number of windows. On a map window query call, the continuous window is translated into a series of discretized windows which either need to be retrieved from the server or are already stored in the cache. By doing the discretization and caching on the client, no changes must be made to the server allowing it to be easily implemented into most existing applications. An extension of semantic caching allows for prediction based upon past user behavior. The usability of the technique is demonstrated by prototyping it on top the NewsStand system so that the query window is constantly changing as users pan and zoom around the world using a gesturing interface, among others. Evaluation shows the prototype to be effective while decreasing the response time.
ADVANCED HEAT EXCHANGERS USING TUNABLE NANOSCALE-MOLECULAR ASSEMBLY

Steam condensation heat transfer on smooth horizontal tubes and enhanced tubes (TURBO-CDI and TURBO-CSL) along with nanoscale hydrophobic coated tubes was studied experimentally. Hydrophobic coatings have been created through self-assembled mono layers (SAMs) on copper alloy (99.9% Cu, 0.1% P) surfaces to enhance steam condensation through dropwise condensation. In general, a SAM system with a long-chain, hydrophobic group is nano-resistant, meaning that such a system forms a protective hydrophobic layer with negligible heat transfer resistance but a much stronger bond. When compared to complete filmwise condensation, the SAM coating on a plain tube increased the condensation heat transfer rate by a factor of 3 for copper alloy surfaces, under vacuum pressure (33.86 kPa) and by a factor of about 8 times when operated at atmospheric pressure (101 kPa). Lifetime of maintaining dropwise condensation is greatly dependent on the processing conditions.
An Immune-Based Node Localization Algorithm for WSN

Node localization technology is the premise and foundation of all applications in wireless sensor network. An improved DV-Hop algorithm was proposed aimed at the low-power requirement of wireless sensor networks. The distances between nodes and anchor nodes were used to calculate the node location in DV-Hop algorithm, and the immune algorithm was used to optimize the estimated location in the third stage of DV-Hop algorithm. The improved algorithm does not require additional hardware devices, and has smaller additional amount of communication and computation.
The flow of two zinc oxide-eugenol-based endodontic sealers

Background/Aim. Endodontic sealers (ES) for obturation are usually prepared with a slight variation of their components both on purpose or unintentionally. Considering that fact, as well as a frequent use of compaction techniques with the applied force to gutta-percha and ES of 1–3 kg, the aim of this study was to investigate the flow of two zinc-oxide eugenol ES in regard to the applied force and a variation of sealer’s components. Methods. The experimental group samples of both ES were prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions, applied between pair of glass slabs and loaded by weights of 1 and 2 kg, respectively (American National Standard, Specification No. 57). Some samples of one ES were prepared as thick consistency with 10% more powder and some as thin mixture with 10% less powder than the standard prescription. These semples had been exposed to the load of 2 kg. The control group included samples of both ES prepared as standard prescription but exposed to the weight of one glass slab only. The spread ES appeared as a regular circle 10 min upon mixing and weighting. Measuring of the circle diameter was done by an orthodontic ruler. The flow of the used ES was considered the function of its spread diameter. Results. Application of 1 vs 2 kg load for both regularly mixed sealers in the scope of disk diameter (flow) was statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). This means that the stated null hypothesis that there would be no significant difference in flow rate among the regularly mixed sealers at the level of = 0.05 is accepted. The findings about difference in the disk diameter in regard to mixing variation of Endomethasone indicate that the null hypothesis that there would be no significant difference in flow rate between the regular and thick mixed mass at the level of = 0.05 is accepted. In the comparison of regular and thin mix a significant difference was noted and the null hypotesis is rejected (p < 0.01). The control group results displayed Roth 801 as less viscous than Endomethasone sealer (p < 0.01). Conclusion. Application of 1 or 2 kg pressure on the samples of both exposed sealers does not significantly affect the flow values as well as comparison of the regular to thick consistency of Endomethasone while comparison of its regular to thin mass shows a significant difference.
Automatic and portable cloud deployment for scientific simulations

In this paper, we present CLOUDRUNNER, a framework that extracts arbitrary programs from a source code repository (e.g. GitHub), wraps them in a web service and tasking system, and deploys them over disparate cloud infrastructures and local clusters, automating their portability. In particular, CLOUDRUNNER automatically creates and configures virtual machines so that they can execute the applications, provides a web UI with which users parameterize their applications, deploys instances of the program as background tasks, and collects the results for easy access via a browser. CLOUDRUNNER is an ideal framework for deploying scientific simulation applications portably and as such, we use it to implement StochSS - Stochastic Simulation as-a-service (now available at http://www.stochss.org). We use StochSS to evaluate CLOUDRUNNER overheads and find that they are small, consistent, and amortized for even short running applications.