Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Palatable reconstitutable dry suspension of artemether for flexible pediatric dosing using cyclodextrin inclusion complexation

The present research was conducted to investigate the inclusion complexation of artemether (ARM) with beta-cyclodextrin (CD) with the aim of masking the bitterness along with improving the drug release and preparing a stable palatable formulation of ARM especially for pediatrics. A physical mixture and kneaded system were prepared to study the inclusion complexation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to identify the physicochemical interaction between drug and carrier, hence its effect on drug release. Reconstitutable dry suspension was evaluated for angle of repose, sedimentation characterization and pH. In vitro drug release studies for physical mixture and kneaded system were performed at pH, 1.2 and 6.8. Bitterness score was evaluated using gustatory sensation test. The FTIR, DSC and XRPD studies indicated inclusion complexation in physical mixture and kneaded system. In addition, physical mixture and kneaded system exhibited improved drug release at pH, 1.2 and 6.8. To formulate palatable reconstitutable dry suspension of ARM, the 1:20M physical mixture was selected based on bitterness score. Reconstitutable dry suspension prepared using physical mixture (DS4), showed complete bitter taste masking, good flowability and ease of redispersibility. Taste evaluation of reconstitutable dry suspension in human volunteers rated tasteless with a score of 0 to DS4 and 3 to DS5 (reconstitutable dry suspension prepared using pure ARM). This conclusively demonstrated a stable and palatable reconstitutable dry suspension of ARM using CD inclusion complexation for flexible pediatric dosing.
ESP vocabulary and social networking:The case of Twitter

This paper reports on the results of an innovative study that applied a social networking tool to a task explicitly designed to practise specialised vocabulary. The exploratory study, framed within a blended learning approach, examined whether the use of Twitter, a microblogging tool, can help increase students’ confidence in using ESP vocabulary. The research questions addressed the role of Twitter in enhancing vocabulary acquisition, in providing peer and teacher feedback, and promoting communication skills. The paper comes to the conclusion that ESP students do not frequently experience problems using vocabulary specific to their specialised field of study. In terms of peer feedback, often students simply approved their peers’ Tweets, were unable to detect errors, and preferred feedback from their teacher. A significantly positive outcome is the role of Twitter in enhancing student participation. Additionally, regarding communication skills, a particularly important finding was the effectiveness of this blended approach in involving the learners in the classroom and beyond, creating the sense of a learning community
Enhancement of old images and documents by digital image processing techniques

Documents can be a valuable source of information but often they suffer degradation problems, especially in the case of historical documents, such as strains, background of big variations and uneven illumination, ink seepage, etc. Binarization techniques should be applied to remove the noise and improve the quality of the documents. Collections of historical and old document images care commonly provided to public through digital libraries. Specialized processing is required to these document images for removing background noise in order to become more legible. A hybrid binarizatin approach is proposed in this paper for improving the quality for the old documents. Combination of global and local thresholding techniques are used for the same. Initially, a technique named global thresholding is applied to the whole image. The image area that still has background noise are detected and the technique is again re-applied to each area separately. Therefore, a better adaptability is achieved for the algorithm where various kinds of noise re exist in different areas of same image. Advantage of applying global thresholding, is that it avoids the computational and time cost of applying a local thresholding in the entire image. Hence it is indicated that this technique is pretty effective in removing background noise and improving the quality of degraded images.
A Coplanar-Strip Dipole Antenna for Broadband Circular Polarization Operation

Abstract—A coplanar-strip dipole antenna with two enhanced features is presented for broadband circular polarization (CP) operation. The first feature of the proposed antenna is the replacement of a conventional thin dipole by a wide strip, resulting in two degenerated orthogonal modes to make CP operation possible. The second one is the use of two coplanar strips instead of two non-coplanar ones, thereby giving rise to the advantages of easy implement, good impedance matching, and wide axial ratio (AR) bandwidth. Two examples are given, one for the lower band around 1.8 GHz and the other for the ultra-wideband (UWB). For the lower band, the measured −10 dB return loss (RL) bandwidth is 119% (0.74 to 2.93 GHz), and the measured 3 dB AR bandwidth is 50% (1.45 to 2.41 GHz). As for UWB, the measured RL is below −10 dB between 2.1 to 10.1GHz, and the measured AR is below 5 dB between 4.1 to 7.75 GHz.
Finite-time cluster synchronization of complex networks with time-varying delays

In this paper, we study the finite-time cluster synchronization of complex networks with time delays. There are two different types of time-varying delays in the network: the internal time delay and the coupling delay. What's more, we assume that coupling time-varying delays exist only between nodes in different clusters, while no delay happens between nodes in the same cluster, which is more consistent with the real world. Based on the Lyapunov stability theorem, sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee the realization of the finite-time cluster synchronization. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to support the obtained theoretical results.
Characterization of the sec1‐1 and sec1‐11 mutations

Sec1 proteins are implicated in positive and negative regulation of SNARE complex formation. To better understand the function of Sec1 proteins we have identified the nature of the temperature‐sensitive mutations in sec1‐1 and sec1‐11. The sec1‐1 mutation changes a conserved glycine443 to glutamic acid. The sec1‐11 mutation changes a highly conserved arginine432 to proline. Based on homology and the crystal structure of the mammalian nSec1p, the corresponding amino acids localize to the 3b domain of nSec1p. Compared to the wild‐type Sec1p the mutant proteins are less abundant even at the permissive temperature. Thus, the R432P and G443E mutations may cause structural alterations that affect folding and make the mutant proteins more susceptible to degradation. The remaining part is sufficient for growth and protein secretion at 24°C and thus is likely to be properly folded. At 37°C the mutant proteins become non‐functional. In pulse–chase‐type experiments the newly synthesized Sec1‐1 and Sec1‐11 proteins decayed similarly with the wild‐type protein. Thus, the non‐functionality of the mutant proteins cannot be explained by denaturation‐induced degradation only. It is possible that the newly synthesized mutant proteins fold slowly and are susceptible to degradation before they have managed to fold and associate with other proteins. The mutant proteins were unable to interact with the Sec1p‐interacting proteins Mso1p and Sso2p in the two‐hybrid assay, even at the permissive temperature. These results localize sec1‐1 and sec1‐11 mutations to a domain of Sec1p and suggest a mechanism by which sec1‐1 and sec1‐11 cells become temperature‐sensitive. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Classification of 31 Korean Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars Based on the Chemical Compositions

Whole grain wheat flour (WGWF) is the entire grain (bran, endosperm, and germ) milled to make flour. The WGWF of 31 Korean wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars were analyzed for the chemical compositions, and classified into groups by hierarchical cluster analysis (HCL). The average composition values showed a substantial variation among wheat varieties due to different wheat varieties. Wheat cv. Shinmichal1 (waxy wheat) had the highest ash, lipid, and total dietary fiber contents of 1.76, 3.14, and 15.49 g/100 g, respectively. Using HCL efficiently classified wheat cultivars into 7 clusters. Namhae, Sukang, Gobun, and Joeun contained higher protein values (12.88%) and dietary fiber (13.74 %). Regarding multi-trait crop breeding, the variation in chemical compositions found between the clusters might be attributed to wheat genotypes, which was an important factor in accumulating those chemicals in wheat grains. Thus, once wheat cultivars with agronomic characteristics were identified, those properties might be included in the breeding process to develop a new variety of wheat with the trait.
Metabolism of docetaxel by human cytochromes P450: interactions with paclitaxel and other antineoplastic drugs.

The metabolism of docetaxel by human liver microsomes was investigated in vitro and compared with that of paclitaxel. A main docetaxel metabolite was generated by human liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH: retention time in high pressure liquid chromatography and its ion fragmentation in mass spectrometry were identical to those of the authentic derivative hydroxylated at the butyl group of the C13 side chain. Kinetic measurements and chemical and immunological inhibitions demonstrated that CYP3A was implicated in the hydroxylation of docetaxel: Km (2 microM) and Vm values of docetaxel for human liver microsomes were comparable to those calculated for the formation of metabolite p-hydroxy-phenyl C3' paclitaxel (M4). Docetaxel hydroxylation correlated only with the CYP3A content of microsomes and with CYP3A-dependent 6 beta-hydroxylation of testosterone and 16-hydroxylation of dehydroepiandrosterone. The formation of hydroxydocetaxel was strongly reduced by CYP3A inhibitors such as ketoconazole, midazolam, erythromycin, testosterone, orphenadrine, and troleandomycin, whereas quinidine (CYP2D6), hexobarbital, tolbutamide, and mephenytoin (CYP2C) had no or little effect. The hydroxylation of docetaxel exhibited a highly positive correlation with the formation of metabolite M4 of paclitaxel (r = 0.929, P < 0.0001, n = 12), but not with its 6-hydroxylation (r = 0.48, P > 0.15). Docetaxel abolished the hydroxylation of paclitaxel metabolite M4, but was totally inactive on its 6 alpha-hydroxylation. Conversely, paclitaxel reduced significantly the hydroxylation of docetaxel. We examined in vitro the possible interaction among docetaxel, paclitaxel, and drugs which could be associated during chemotherapy. Cisplatin, verapamil, doxorubicin, vinblastine, and vincristine at concentrations usually recommended did not markedly modify taxoid metabolism. Ranitidine and diphenylhydramine had no effect, but 100 microM cimetidine partially inhibited the formation of 6 alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel. Pretreatment of patients with barbiturates strikingly stimulated docetaxel hydroxylation, whereas no acceleration of docetaxel hydroxylation was noticed in a patient receiving steroids.
Audio-visual biometric recognition via joint sparse representations

In this paper we present a novel audio-visual (AV) person identification system based on joint sparse representation. Video features used were vectorized raw pixel values, while i-vectors were used as the audio features. Classification is performed by solving the joint sparsity optimization problem, and fusion is carried out by using the quality (confidence) assigned to each matcher. Our experimental results on the challenging MOBIO database using 100 subjects show that the system based on joint sparse representation outperforms the system based on separate sparse representations for each modality. Furthermore, we show that our newly introduced quality measure improves the system's performance, when compared to conventionally used quality measures for sparse representation - based systems.
Actions of a Phorbol Ester on Factors Regulating Contraction in Rabbit Mesenteric Artery

The effects of 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on isometric tension, unloaded shortening velocity determined using the slack test (Vmax), and phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC20) were investigated in intact and skinned muscle tissues of the rabbit mesenteric artery. In intact muscles exposed to 128 mM K+, the Vmax reached a maximum before the peak of the phasic component of contraction and reduced proportionally with changes in the amplitude of the subsequent tonic-contraction. TPA (0.1 μM) enhanced to a greater extent the amplitude of the tonic than the phasic contraction. During the tonic phase, TPA enhanced the Vmax and amplitude of the contraction more than the phosphorylation of MLC20. In skinned muscles, Ca2+ (0.3−1.0 μM) increased the force, Vmax and MLC20 phosphorylation, in a dose dependent manner. The relation between any two of the above three parameters was always linear. TPA (0.1 μM) with phosphatidylserine (50 μ/ml) time-dependently increased the force and Vmax observed with 0.3–0.5 μM Ca2+. The relation between the force and Vmax shifted in the direction of that observed in the presence of high Ca2+, but in 0.5 μM Ca2+, TPA with phosphatidylserine showed little change in the phosphorylation of MLC20. As estimated from the actions of TPA, protein kinase C may contribute to activation of contractile proteins through MLC20 phosphorylation dependent and other regulatory processes. (Circulation Research 1988;63:893-902)
Untangling the early diversification of eukaryotes: a phylogenomic study of the evolutionary origins of Centrohelida, Haptophyta and Cryptista

Assembling the global eukaryotic tree of life has long been a major effort of Biology. In recent years, pushed by the new availability of genome-scale data for microbial eukaryotes, it has become possible to revisit many evolutionary enigmas. However, some of the most ancient nodes, which are essential for inferring a stable tree, have remained highly controversial. Among other reasons, the lack of adequate genomic datasets for key taxa has prevented the robust reconstruction of early diversification events. In this context, the centrohelid heliozoans are particularly relevant for reconstructing the tree of eukaryotes because they represent one of the last substantial groups that was missing large and diverse genomic data. Here, we filled this gap by sequencing high-quality transcriptomes for four centrohelid lineages, each corresponding to a different family. Combining these new data with a broad eukaryotic sampling, we produced a gene-rich taxon-rich phylogenomic dataset that enabled us to refine the structure of the tree. Specifically, we show that (i) centrohelids relate to haptophytes, confirming Haptista; (ii) Haptista relates to SAR; (iii) Cryptista share strong affinity with Archaeplastida; and (iv) Haptista + SAR is sister to Cryptista + Archaeplastida. The implications of this topology are discussed in the broader context of plastid evolution.
Abstract — Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (ofdm)

systems require the knowledge of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the receiver in order to maximize the system performance. In general, the noise variance is required by the SNR estimator and the knowledge of noise variance also improves the performances of carrier frequency offset (CFO) and channel state estimations. This paper first investigates the maximum likelihood noise variance estimator (ML-NVE) in OFDM systems with imperfect frequency synchronization. Theoretical derivations show that both the mean and the variance of the ML-NVE are functions of the CFO. The mean and the variance of the SNR estimate are then derived by utilizing the derivation results of the ML-NVE. Finally, the validity of the theoretical observations is confirmed by simulation experiments.
An opportunistic-based protocol for bidirectional cooperative networks

In this paper, a new opportunistic source selection (OSS) protocol is studied in bidirectional cooperative networks. Unlike existing protocols, this protocol exploits multiuser nature of the bidirectional cooperative networks and it opportunistically supports two traffic flows based on instantaneous channel conditions. This makes the OSS protocol much more reliable than existing protocols. In order to show the performance improvement, we first derive a lower bound of the outage probability of the OSS protocol. Numerical results demonstrate that this lower bound is extremely tight and it indicates that the OSS protocol achieves full diversity order two in a bidirectional cooperative network with two sources and one relay. Then exact and approximate lower bounds of average bit error rates (BERs) at both sources in the OSS protocol are derived. Those lower bounds are very close to the exact average BERs as shown by numerical results. Lastly, an optimum power allocation scheme is developed for the OSS protocol. This scheme can optimize the outage probability, average BER, and data-rate of the OSS protocol at the same time.
Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of new treatments: efficacy versus effectiveness studies?

The juxtaposition of economic and clinical evaluation raises new issues in the design of clinical trials. Recent pharmacoeconomic guidelines provide some direction, but do not deal with the appropriate timing of economic evaluations in the drug developmental process. Ideally, pharmacoeconomic data should be available at the time of the regulatory and formulary decision making. Current pivotal phase III trials do not provide these data; they are designed to test safety and efficacy (does the drug work under optimal circumstances? ) and not to answer questions about the effectiveness of a drug, the more relevant question for economic analysis (does the drug work in usual care? ). The use of more “naturalistic” designs for some phase III randomised trials has been suggested. These so called “effectiveness trials” more closely reflect routine clinical practice. They use a more flexible dosage regimen, and a “usual care” instead of a placebo comparator. Patients randomised are more representative of actual practice and outcomes include quality of life and utility measures. They are more suited to provide the data needed to estimate the real benefit of the treatment in actual care. When costs are applied and compared with these benefits, you can estimate the efficiency of allocating resources to this new drug. Increasing the use of effectiveness trials in phase III would decrease the need for economic modelling.
Towards a broader view on software architecture analysis of flexibility

Software architecture analysis helps us assess the quality of a software system at an early stage. We describe a case study of software architecture analysis that we have performed to assess the flexibility of a large administrative system. Our analysis was based on scenarios, representing possible changes to the requirements of the system and its environment. Assessing the effect of these scenarios provides insight into the flexibility of the system. One of the problems is to express the effect of a scenario in such a way that it provides insight into the complexity of the necessary changes. Part of our research is directed at developing an instrument for doing just that. This instrument is applied in the analysis presented.
Bringing back the body into the mind: gestures enhance word learning in foreign language

Foreign language education in the twenty-first century still teaches vocabulary mainly through reading and listening activities. This is due to the link between teaching practice and traditional philosophy of language, where language is considered to be an abstract phenomenon of the mind. However, a number of studies have shown that accompanying words or phrases of a foreign language with gestures leads to better memory results. In this paper, I review behavioral research on the positive effects of gestures on memory. Then I move to the factors that have been addressed as contributing to the effect, and I embed the reviewed evidence in the theoretical framework of embodiment. Finally, I argue that gestures accompanying foreign language vocabulary learning create embodied representations of those words. I conclude by advocating the use of gestures in future language education as a learning tool that enhances the mind.
Benefit-based Data Caching in Ad Hoc Networks

Data caching can significantly improve the efficiency of information access in a wireless ad hoc network by reducing the access latency and bandwidth usage. However, designing efficient distributed caching algorithms is non-trivial when network nodes have limited memory. In this article, we consider the cache placement problem of minimizing total data access cost in ad hoc networks with multiple data items and nodes with limited memory capacity. The above optimization problem is known to be NP-hard. Defining benefit as the reduction in total access cost, we present a polynomial-time centralized approximation algorithm that provably delivers a solution whose benefit is at least one-fourth (one-half for uniform-size data items) of the optimal benefit. The approximation algorithm is amenable to localized distributed implementation, which is shown via simulations to perform close to the approximation algorithm. Our distributed algorithm naturally extends to networks with mobile nodes. We simulate our distributed algorithm using a network simulator (ns2), and demonstrate that it significantly outperforms another existing caching technique (by Yin and Cao [30]) in all important performance metrics. The performance differential is particularly large in more challenging scenarios, such as higher access frequency and smaller memory.
Non-Markovian stochastic epidemics in extremely heterogeneous populations

A feature often observed in epidemiological networks is significant heterogeneity in degree. A popular modelling approach to this has been to consider large populations with highly heterogeneous discrete contact rates. This paper defines an individual-level non-Markovian stochastic process that converges on standard ODE models of such populations in the appropriate asymptotic limit. A generalised Sellke construction is derived for this model, and this is then used to consider final outcomes in the case where heterogeneity follows a truncated Zipf distribution.
A Market-Based Approach of Efficient Resource Allocation Mechanisms in Collaborative Peer-to-Peer Systems

Peer-to-peer (P2P) systems enable the selection, sharing and aggregation of geographically distributed heterogeneous resources for solving large-scale problems in engineering or science. The management of resources and trading of services in such open and decentralized systems is still a complex undertaking. We propose an interdisciplinary approach to address the resource allocation problem in P2P systems, thus combining existing theories on market mechanisms from Microeconomics, Game Theory concepts and computational techniques from the domain of Artificial Intelligence. We build the formalization of the resource allocation problem and show which of the market mechanisms from Microeconomics suit best to our setup.
Hypomethylation and hypohydroxymethylation of DNA in hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma

1) Kobuchi H, Moriya K, Ogino T, Fujita H, Inoue K, Shuin T, et al. Mitochondrial localization of ABC transporter ABCG2 and its function in 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated protoporphyrin IX accumulation. PLoS One 2012;7:e50082. 2) Ogino T, Kobuchi H, Munetomo K, Fujita H, Yamamoto M, Utsumi T, et al. Serum-dependent export of protoporphyrin IX by ATP-binding cassette transporter G2 in T24 cells. Mol Cell Biochem 2011;358:297-307.