Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In-vivo effects of endothelin-1 and ETA receptor blockade on arterial, venous and capillary functions in skeletal muscle.

Results from in vitro studies have indicated that endothelin-1 is a main candidate for endothelium-derived contracting factors. The aim of this in vivo study was to describe in quantitative terms the effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1), and of ETA receptor blockade, on vascular tone (resistance) in large-bore arterial resistance vessels (> 25 microns), small arterioles (< 25 microns) and the veins, as well as on capillary pressure and fluid exchange in cat gastrocnemius muscle. Endothelin-1 (100-1600 ng kg-1 min-1, i.a.) elicited, after an initial transient dilation, a strong dose-dependent constrictor response in all three consecutive vascular sections, yet with a preferential action on the small arterioles and the veins. The vasoconstriction developed very slowly over about 1 h and was also long-lasting after cessation of the infusion. Our main quantitative analysis refers to effects elicited by 20 min long i.a. infusions of ET-1 at a dose of 400 ng kg-1 min-1. At the end of this period, the peptide caused, on average, a three-fold increase in total regional vascular resistance, in turn explained by a 70% increase in large-bore arterial resistance, a 280% increase in arteriolar resistance and a 220% increase in venous resistance. The latter effect was also manifested as a pronounced capacitance response, and as a decrease in the pre- to post-capillary resistance ratio leading regularly to a rise in capillary pressure, net transcapillary fluid filtration and oedema formation which is unusual for a vasoconstrictor. The new specific competitive ETA receptor antagonist FR 139317 was found to be fully effective in vivo, insofar as it abolished the constrictor response to endothelin-1. ETA receptor blockade, or administration of phosphoramidon, an inhibitor of ET-1 production, did not influence the level of basal vascular tone, indicating no significant endogenous release of ET-1 under resting conditions. This contrasts to the established pronounced endogenous release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide. Finally, vascular myogenic regulation was found not to be mediated by ET-1. The results, taken together, suggest a possible role of ET-1 in long-term, rather than short-term, regulation of vascular tone in vivo, perhaps especially during pathophysiological conditions.
Revisiting the visit:: understanding how technology can shape the museum visit

This paper reports findings from a study of how a guidebook was used by pairs of visitors touring a historic house. We describe how the guidebook was incorporated into their visit in four ways: shared listening, independent use, following one another, and checking in on each other. We discuss how individual and groupware features were adopted in support of different visiting experiences, and illustrate how that adoption was influenced by social relationships, the nature of the current visit, and any museum visiting strategies that the couples had. Finally, we describe how the guidebook facilitated awareness between couples, and how awareness of non-guidebook users (strangers) influenced use.
Edge Detection in Optical Flow Fields

Optical flow is potentially valuable as a source of spatial information. Current techniques provide flow fields which are noisy and sparse, making the recovery of spatial properties difficult at best. This paper describes a technique for locating discontinuities in optical flow, which typically correspond to object boundaries. A simple blurring interpolator is used to smooth out noise and produce denser fields. Discontinuities are found by locating the vector field equivalent of zero crossings in the Laplacian of a scalar field. The technique is illustrated by applying it to realistic vector fields which are both noisy and sparse.
Design of an Adaptive Controller of a Satellite using Thruster Actuator

this paper, an attitude control algorithm for a satellite is developed based on adaptive control using thruster actuators. For this purpose a twelve-thruster arrangement has been considered and the control torque for each thruster has been calculated. Then a Pulse Width-Pulse Frequency (PWPF) modulator is used for converting continuous controller signals into equivalent discrete one. Then, uncertainties in the moment of inertia matrix and disturbances torque has been considered and adaptive attitude control using feedback linearization controller with self-tuning regulator (Least Square Estimator With Bounded Gain Factor) is used. Finally, the performance of the designed attitude controller is investigated by simulations. KeywordsControl; Adaptive control; Satellite; Reaction
Stock Index Pricing with Random Walk and Agent-based Models

The objective of this work is to empirically test the EMH and compare its results to those of a viable competitor using computational simulation. Specifically, the individual-agent approach has been gaining momentum recently as the appropriate numerical tools are now widely available (Bonaneau 2002; CioffiRevilla 2002; Diks et al. 2007; Gilbert, Bankes 2002; Inchiosa, Parker 2002; Tesfatsion 2002). This fact, coupled with intensifying doubts concerning the validity of efficient-markets theory, has led to intensive use of the agent-based approach with computational agent-based modeling (ABM) of financial markets (Bonabeau 2002). Although multiple theories currently compete with the EMH to varying degrees, we focus explicitly on the use of ABM to generate results consistent with Hang Seng and Nikkei 225 price
Steam Turbine Materials and Corrosion

Ultra-supercritical (USC) power plants offer the promise of higher efficiencies and lower emissions. Current goals of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Power Systems Initiatives include power generation from coal at 60% efficiency, which would require steam temperatures of up to 760°C. This project examines the steamside oxidation of candidate alloys for use in USC systems, with emphasis placed on applications in high- and intermediate-pressure turbines. As part of this research a concern has arisen about the possibility of high chromia evaporation rates of protective scales in the turbine. A model to calculate chromia evaporation rates is presented.
Durability of cracked fibre reinforced concrete structures exposed to chlorides

Durability studies are carried out by subjecting FRC-beams to combined mechanical and environmental load. Mechanical load is obtained by exposing beams to 4-point bending until a predefined crack width is reached, using a newly developed test setup. Exposure to a concentrated chloride solution is used as environmental load. The chloride penetration is characterized both qualitatively (UV-test) quantitatively (chloride profile) and by microscopy. The test programme involves three different concrete qualities. Both steel fibres and polypropylene fibres are used in the concrete beams as well as main reinforcement. The effect of the cracks, the fibres and the concrete quality on the chloride penetration is studied.
Recent progresses in high-energy-density all pseudocapacitive-electrode-materials-based asymmetric supercapacitors

Recently, asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs) have attracted extensive research interest worldwide for their potential application in emerging energy-related fields. The smart integration of high overall cell operating voltage and large capacitance can be realized in all-pseudocapacitive-electrode-materials-based ASCs. This innovative all-pseudocapacitive-asymmetric design provides a fascinating way to obtain high-energy-density devices with high power rates and also holds huge potential to bridge the gap between dielectric capacitors and rechargeable batteries. In the present review, we mainly summarized the latest contributions and progress in aqueous/non-aqueous faradaic electrode materials including conductive polymers and/or transition metal oxides/sulfides/nitrides/carbides, the operating principles, system design/engineering, and the rational optimization of all-pseudocapacitive ASCs. The intrinsic advantages and disadvantages of these unique ASCs have been elaborately discussed and comparatively evaluated. Finally, some future trends, prospects, and challenges, especially in rate capability and cycling stability, have been presented for advanced next-generation ASCs.
A high frequency 3D LiDAR with enhanced measurement density via Papoulis-Gerchberg

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) devices are gaining more importance for obtaining sensory information in mobile robot applications. However, existing solutions in literature yield low frequency outputs with huge measurement delay to obtain 3D range image of the environment. This paper introduces the design and construction of a 3D range sensor based on rotating a 2D LiDAR around its pitch axis. Different than previous approaches, we adjust our scan frequency to 5 Hz to support its application on mobile robot platforms. However, increasing scan frequency drastically reduces the measurement density in 3D range images. Therefore, we propose two post-processing algorithms to increase measurement density while keeping the 3D scan frequency at an acceptable level. To this end, we use an extended version of the Papoulis-Gerchberg algorithm to achieve super-resolution on 3D range data by estimating the unmeasured samples in the environment. In addition, we propose a probabilistic obstacle reconstruction algorithm to consider the probabilities of the estimated (virtual) points and to obtain a very fast prediction about the existence and shape of the obstacles.
Aequorin: Design of a system for reduction of the user's stress in one day

This paper describes the design of aequorin which is the system for measurement and reduction of the user's stress for a day. This system consists of a wearable device which is composed of a pulse sensor, MCU (Micro Control Unit) board and iPodTouch and also a rocking chair with biofeedback function embedded with LED lights and a display for stress reduction experience. After the user comes back home, the user experiences the stress reduction with the log data measured for the day through the wearable device. The system adopts two approaches for stress reduction; one is an indirect presentation of the stress information as biofeedback in which the system illuminates the LED lights with 1/f noise according to the amount of stress, and the other is a direct presentation of the stress information composed of stress values and their time codes as biofeedback to the display. After introducing the design and implementation of stress reduction, this paper describes about a hearing to validate these approaches, and introduces the limitations of this system.
Development of decellularized intervertebral disc scaffold for tissue engineering

INTRODUCTION: One of the aims of tissue engineering is the production of functional cell-scaffold composites for the replacement of diseased or damaged tissues. A composite which closely mimics the native extracellular matrix (ECM) would facilitate cell interaction with the composite, thereby promote the maintenance of the cell phenotype [1-2]. Even though current studies using 3D culture methods which include alginate beads, agarose, collagen sponge and chitosan have reported some success in maintaining cell phenotypes and proliferation, they do not provide a 3D pattern that can be perfectly suited to the specific types of cultured cells [3]. A way to circumvent the problems is the development of a scaffold that allows for disc cells to be cultured in a physiological 3D microenvironment. Decellularization is a process that removes the cellular contents from a tissue or an organ whilst minimizing adverse effects on the composition, biological activity and mechanical integrity of the ECM. Biological scaffolds derived from decellularized tissues and organs have been commonly and successfully used in both animal studies and in human clinical applications [4]. We hypothesize that a proper combination of physical and chemical methods can be effective in removing the cellular content in bovine IVDs whilst maintaining the ECM structure. This study aims to develop a decellularized disc scaffold with preserved ECM content for the culture of disc cells by using bovine IVD as a model.
A cross-species bi-clustering approach to identifying conserved co-regulated genes

Motivation: A growing number of studies have explored the process of pre-implantation embryonic development of multiple mammalian species. However, the conservation and variation among different species in their developmental programming are poorly defined due to the lack of effective computational methods for detecting co-regularized genes that are conserved across species. The most sophisticated method to date for identifying conserved co-regulated genes is a two-step approach. This approach first identifies gene clusters for each species by a cluster analysis of gene expression data, and subsequently computes the overlaps of clusters identified from different species to reveal common subgroups. This approach is ineffective to deal with the noise in the expression data introduced by the complicated procedures in quantifying gene expression. Furthermore, due to the sequential nature of the approach, the gene clusters identified in the first step may have little overlap among different species in the second step, thus difficult to detect conserved co-regulated genes. Results: We propose a cross-species bi-clustering approach which first denoises the gene expression data of each species into a data matrix. The rows of the data matrices of different species represent the same set of genes that are characterized by their expression patterns over the developmental stages of each species as columns. A novel bi-clustering method is then developed to cluster genes into subgroups by a joint sparse rank-one factorization of all the data matrices. This method decomposes a data matrix into a product of a column vector and a row vector where the column vector is a consistent indicator across the matrices (species) to identify the same gene cluster and the row vector specifies for each species the developmental stages that the clustered genes co-regulate. Efficient optimization algorithm has been developed with convergence analysis. This approach was first validated on synthetic data and compared to the two-step method and several recent joint clustering methods. We then applied this approach to two real world datasets of gene expression during the pre-implantation embryonic development of the human and mouse. Co-regulated genes consistent between the human and mouse were identified, offering insights into conserved functions, as well as similarities and differences in genome activation timing between the human and mouse embryos. Availability and Implementation: The R package containing the implementation of the proposed method in C ++ is available at: https://github.com/JavonSun/mvbc.git and also at the R platform https://www.r-project.org/. Contact: jinbo@engr.uconn. edu
Specification of motoneuron fate in Drosophila: integration of positive and negative transcription factor inputs by a minimal eve enhancer.

We are interested in the mechanisms that generate neuronal diversity within the Drosophila central nervous system (CNS), and in particular in the development of a single identified motoneuron called RP2. Expression of the homeodomain transcription factor Even-skipped (Eve) is required for RP2 to establish proper connectivity with its muscle target. Here we investigate the mechanisms by which eve is specifically expressed within the RP2 motoneuron lineage. Within the NB4-2 lineage, expression of eve first occurs in the precursor of RP2, called GMC4-2a. We identify a small 500 base pair eve enhancer that mediates eve expression in GMC4-2a. We show that four different transcription factors (Prospero, Huckebein, Fushi tarazu, and Pdm1) are all expressed in GMC4-2a, and are required to activate eve via this minimal enhancer, and that one transcription factor (Klumpfuss) represses eve expression via this element. All four positively acting transcription factors act independently, regulating eve but not each other. Thus, the eve enhancer integrates multiple positive and negative transcription factor inputs to restrict eve expression to a single precursor cell (GMC4-2a) and its RP2 motoneuron progeny.
Multiple interpretations for multi-source multi-destination wireless relay network coded systems

Multi-source multi-destination wireless relay network coded systems are investigated in this paper. To achieve multiple interpretations at different receivers, we employ nested codes in our proposed system. Besides, an opportunistic scheduling (OS) technique is adopted at the relay to maximize the system capacity. The proposed system model combines the merits of both nested codes and OS. First, we present the detailed coding process of the proposed scheme. Then, we derive the upper bounds on the bit error probability of the schemes with and without OS. Finally, we investigate good codes for our system and carry out simulations to validate the theoretical analysis.
Gender Differences in Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients

&NA; Gender differences in anxiety, self‐efficacy, activity tolerance, and adherence were assessed in 101 patients (80 males, 21 females) with coronary artery disease consecutively admitted to three phase II cardiac rehabilitation centers. The percentage of women in rehabilitation is 20% lower than anticipated based on coronary morbidity data. On admission to rehabilitation, men were significantly better able to tolerate physical activity, were less anxious, and perceived themselves as having greater efficacy in enduring exercise and activities of daily living than women. During the first month of rehabilitation, 24% of males and 33% of females missed 1 week or more of scheduled sessions. There were no significant differences in demographic or diagnostic characteristics between sexes.
Interoperability and Customisation of Annotation Schemata in Argo

The process of annotating text corpora involves establishing annotation schemata which define the scope and depth of an annotation task at hand. We demonstrate this activity in Argo, a Web-based workbench for the analysis of textual resources, which facilitates both automatic and manual annotation. Annotation tasks in the workbench are defined by building workflows consisting of a selection of available elementary analytics developed in compliance with the Unstructured Information Management Architecture specification. The architecture accommodates complex annotation types that may define primitive as well as referential attributes. Argo aids the development of custom annotation schemata and supports their interoperability by featuring a schema editor and specialised analytics for schemata alignment. The schema editor is a self-contained graphical user interface for defining annotation types. Multiple heterogeneous schemata can be aligned by including one of two type mapping analytics currently offered in Argo. One is based on a simple mapping syntax and, although limited in functionality, covers most common use cases. The other utilises a well established graph query language, SPARQL, and is superior to other state-of-the-art solutions in terms of expressiveness. We argue that the customisation of annotation schemata does not need to compromise their interoperability.
Formal modeling and analysis of wireless sensor network algorithms in Real-Time Maude

Advanced wireless sensor network algorithms pose challenges to their formal modeling and analysis, such as modeling probabilistic and real-time behaviors and novel forms of communication, and analyzing both correctness and performance. In this paper, we propose using Real-Time Maude to formally model, simulate, and further analyze such algorithms. The Real-Time Maude formalism is expressive yet intuitive, and the tool provides a spectrum of analysis methods, including simulation, reachability analysis, and temporal logic model checking. We have used Real-Time Maude to formally model and analyze the sophisticated OGDC algorithm. We could perform all the analyses performed by the OGDC developers using the simulation tool ns-2, as well as further analyses which are beyond the capabilities of simulation tools. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a formal tool has been applied to such a complex wireless sensor network algorithm
Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of stereotactic body radiation therapy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has been an emerging non-invasive treatment modality for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) when surgical treatment cannot be applied. The CyberKnife® is a SBRT system that allows for real-time tracking of the tumor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors for ICC patients receiving this treatment. Twenty-eight patients with ICC were enrolled in the present study. The median prescription dose was 45 Gy (range, 36-54 Gy), fractionated 3 to 5 times with a 70% to 92% isodose line. Local control, overall survival, progression-free survival and toxicity were studied. The median follow-up time was 16 months (3-42 months). Based on modified Response Evaluation and Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST), response rate and disease control rate of SBRT in ICC were 46.4% (13/28) and 89.3% (25/28), respectively. Median overall survival was 15 months (95% CI, 7.22-22.78). 1- and 2-years survival rates were 57.1% and 32.1%, and 1- and 2- years Progression-free Survival rates were 50.0 % and 21.4 %. Multivariate analysis revealed that number of lesions (solitary vs. multiple nodules), CA19-9 levels (≤37 U/mL vs. 37-600/>600) and TNM stage (AJCC stage) were independent prognostic factors for ICC patients treated with SBRT. Toxicity was mostly transient and tolerable. No greater than grade 3 toxicity was observed. These results suggested that CyberKnife SBRT might be a good alternative treatment for unresectable ICC.
Signal transduction pathways participating in homeostasis and malignant transformation of the intestinal tissue Minireview

Intestinal homeostasis is a complex and tightly regulated process governed by a variety of signalling pathways that balance cell proliferation and differentiation. As revealed by extensive use of defined mouse models, perturbations within the signalling circuitry trigger initial expansion of premalignant cells. In this review, we attempt to summarise recent advances in the knowledge of the cellular signalling mechanisms that drive tumorigenesis in the human and mouse intestine.
Transgenerational changes in the genome stability and methylation in pathogen-infected plants

Previously, we reported the generation of a virus-induced systemic signal that increased the somatic and meiotic recombination rates in tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-infected tobacco plants. Here, we analyzed the progeny of plants that received the signal and found that these plants also have a higher frequency of rearrangements in the loci carrying the homology to LRR region of the gene of resistance to TMV (N-gene). Analysis of the stability of repetitive elements from Nicotiana tabacum loci and 5.8S ribosomal RNA loci did not show any changes. Further analysis of the changes in the progeny of infected plants revealed that they had substantially hypermethylated genomes. At the same time, loci-specific methylation analysis showed: (1) profound hypomethylation in several LRR-containing loci; (2) substantial hypermethylation of actin loci and (3) no change in methylation in the loci of repetitive elements from N. tabacum or 5.8S ribosomal RNA. Global genome hypermethylation of the progeny is believed to be part of a general protection mechanism against stress, whereas locus-specific hypomethylation is associated with a higher frequency of rearrangements. Increased recombination events combined with the specific methylation pattern induced by pathogen attack could be a sign of an adaptive response by plants.