Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AT1 Receptors in the RVLM Mediate Pressor Responses to Emotional Stress in Rabbits

Abstract—In this study, we examined the role of angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in mediating the pressor action of emotional stress in conscious rabbits. Rabbits were chronically instrumented with guide cannulas for bilateral microinjections into the RVLM and an electrode for measuring renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA). Airjet stress evoked increases in arterial pressure, heart rate, and RSNA, which reached a maximum (+9±1 mm Hg, +20±5 beats/min, and +93±17%, respectively) in the first 2 minutes of stress exposure. Then RSNA rapidly returned to prestress values, while arterial pressure and heart rate remained close to the maximal level until the conclusion of the 7-minute airjet exposure. Microinjections of the nonselective angiotensin receptor antagonist sarile (0.5 nmol, n=8) or AT1 receptor antagonists losartan (2 nmol, n=6) or candesartan (0.2 nmol, n=6) into the RVLM did not alter resting cardiovascular parameters. By contrast, the antagonists attenuated the sustained phase (4 to 7 minutes) of the pressor stress response by 55% to 89%. However, only sarile decreased the onset of this response. The antagonists affected neither the stress-induced tachycardia nor the pressor response to glutamate microinjections. Microinfusion of angiotensin II (4 pmol/min, n=8) into the RVLM did not change the pressor response to airjet stress but attenuated tachycardic response by 47%. Microinjections of vehicle did not alter the cardiovascular stress response. Sarile, losartan, and angiotensin II did not affect the sympathoexcitatory response to baroreceptor unloading. These results suggest that AT1 receptors in the RVLM are important in mediating the pressor effects of emotional stress in conscious rabbits.
Cross‐Border and Foreign Affiliate Sales of Services: Evidence from German Microdata

We merge German balance-of-payments and foreign-affiliate-trade statistics to obtain data about trade in commercial services at the firm level. We use these data to study export market participation and the choice of export mode: cross-border versus foreign affiliate sales. We find that for firms in our sample productivity is both a statistically significant and economically important determinant of the export participation and export mode choice. We also identify the role of industry- and country-specific determinants. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Benefits and limitations of nurses taking on aspects of the clinical role of doctors in primary care: integrative literature review.

AIM This paper presents an integrative literature review of studies exploring the benefits and limitations of the recent expansion of the clinical role of nurses working in general practice in the United Kingdom. BACKGROUND Similar clinical outcomes and high levels of satisfaction with consultations undertaken by nurse practitioners compared to general practitioners in primary care have been reported in a Cochrane review [Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2004) vol. 5, p. CD001271]. Since then, nurse consultations have increased considerably as general practitioners have delegated part of their clinical workload to other general practice nurses. However, whether all general practice nurses can fulfil this extended role remains open to question. METHOD An integrative review was performed. Nine electronic databases were searched. UK studies were included if they were published after the previous Cochrane review, i.e. between 2004 and 2009. RESULTS Eight studies were identified, most using qualitative methodology. The evidence suggested that the changes in nurses' role have been predominantly driven by the perceived increase in workload arising from the new general practitioner contract. Delegating work to nurses provided a means of organizing workload within a practice without necessarily allowing patient choice. Patients generally thought that all general practice nurses would be able to deal with simple conditions, but they would prefer to consult with a general practitioner if they thought it necessary. There were concerns about nurses' knowledge base, particularly in diagnostics and therapeutics, and their levels of training and competence in roles formerly undertaken by general practitioners. CONCLUSION There have been few studies in this key area of healthcare policy. There is a need for better training and support for nurses undertaking roles in consultation and for patients' views to be better represented.
Effect of repeated-sprints on the reliability of short-term parasympathetic reactivation

This study determined the reliability of post-exercise heart rate recovery (HRR) and vagal-related HR variability (HRV) after repeated-sprints (RSs), and contrasted it with the smallest worthwhile change (SWC) of these indices. Fourteen healthy male participants performed on four occasions, separated by 7 days, five 30-m sprints interspersed by 25-s of recovery. Post-exercise HR during 10 min of seated rest was measured. HRR during the first 60-s of recovery was computed (HRR60s). HRV indices were calculated in time and frequency domains during the last 5-min of the recovery. Absolute and relative reliability were assessed by typical error of measurement expressed as coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), respectively. Sensitivity was assessed comparing SWC to the typical error of measurement. CV ranged from 3.6% to 13.5% and from 6.3% to 109.2% for the HRR and HRV indices, respectively. ICCs were from 0.78 to 0.96 and from 0.76 to 0.92, respectively. HRR and HRV indices showed large discrepancies reliability. HRR60s and the square root of the mean sum of the squared differences between R-R intervals presented the highest levels of both absolute and relative reliability. However, SWC was lower than the typical error of measurement, indicating insufficient sensitivity to confidently detect small, but meaningful, changes in HRR and HRV indices.
Nanomanipulation using atomic force microscope with drift compensation

This paper proposes an atomic force microscope (AFM) based force controller to push nanoparticles on the substrates since it is tedious for human. A block phase correlation-based algorithm is embedded into the controller for compensating the thermal drift during nanomanipulation. Further, a neural network (NN) is employed to approximate the unknown nanoparticle and substrate contact dynamics including the roughness effects. Using the NN-based adaptive force controller the task of pushing nanoparticles is demonstrated. Finally, using the Lyapunov-based stability analysis, the uniform ultimately boundedness (UUB) of the closed-loop signals is demonstrated
Affective profiles in Italian high school students: life satisfaction, psychological well-being, self-esteem, and optimism

The affective profiles model distinguishes between individuals who are self-fulfilling (high positive affect, low negative affect), high affective (high positive affect, high negative affect), low affective (low positive affect, low negative affect), and self-destructive (low positive affect, high negative affect). The literature shows that the affective profiles model has been used with Swedish people in particular in order to determine differences among profiles in relation to life satisfaction, psychological well-being, self-esteem, and optimism. The present research investigated these differences in Italian high school students. Two studies were conducted: the first with 156 Italian high school students and the second with 148 Italian high school students. The first study analyzed differences among affective profiles with regard to life satisfaction and psychological well-being while the second study analyzed differences among affective profiles with regard to self-esteem and optimism. In the first study, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Meaningful Life Measure were administered to the participants. In the second study, the PANAS, the Self-Esteem Scale, the Life Orientation Test-revised were administered to the participants. The results of the first study showed that, with respect to the other profiles, the self-fulfilling participants had greater life satisfaction and psychological well-being. The results of the second study showed that, with respect to the other profiles, the self-fulfilling participants had higher self-esteem and optimism. These results revealed differences among affective profiles regarding life satisfaction, psychological well-being, self-esteem, and optimism in the Italian context as well thereby offering new possibilities for cross-cultural research and for enhancing self-fulfilling profiles.
Simulation of DVB-H transmission in Gaussian and fading channels

This paper deals with the simulation of the transmission of the DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting to Handhelds) standard in different transmission channel conditions. The results of the DVB-H broadcasting over Gaussian channel, Ricean and Rayleigh fading channels are presented. Application for this simulation was developed in Matlab. Resources for the simulation, transmission and signal processing are included in Matlab in Communication Toolbox functions. Dependences of BER on C/N ratio before and after Viterbi decoding in all tested channel conditions were obtained and compared. Finally, obtained results are evaluated and discussed.
Concept Dissimilarity Based on Tree Edit Distances and Morphological Dilations

A number of similarity measures for comparing description logic concepts have been proposed. Criteria have been developed to evaluate a measure's fitness for an application. These criteria include on the one hand those that ensure compatibility with the semantics, such as equivalence soundness, and on the other hand the properties of a metric, such as the triangle inequality. In this work we present two classes of dissimilarity measures that are at the same time equivalence sound and satisfy the triangle inequality: a simple dissimilarity measure, based on description trees for the lightweight description logic ℇL; and an instantiation of a general framework, presented in our previous work, using dilation operators from mathematical morphology, and which exploits the link between Hausdorff distance and dilations using balls of the ground distance as structuring elements.
International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. LXXXV: Calcium-Activated Chloride Channels

Calcium-activated chloride channels (CaCCs) are widely expressed in various tissues and implicated in physiological processes such as sensory transduction, epithelial secretion, and smooth muscle contraction. Transmembrane proteins with unknown function 16 (TMEM16A) has recently been identified as a major component of CaCCs. Detailed molecular analysis of TMEM16A will be needed to understand its structure-function relationships. The role this channel plays in physiological systems remains to be established and is currently a subject of intense investigation.
Antioxidant Treatment Alters Peripheral Vascular Dysfunction Induced by Postnatal Glucocorticoid Therapy in Rats

Background Postnatal glucocorticoid therapy in premature infants diminishes chronic lung disease, but it also increases the risk of hypertension in adulthood. Since glucocorticoid excess leads to overproduction of free radicals and endothelial dysfunction, this study tested the hypothesis that adverse effects on cardiovascular function of postnatal glucocorticoids are secondary to oxidative stress. Therefore, combined postnatal treatment of glucocorticoids with antioxidants may diminish unwanted effects. Methodology/Principal Findings Male rat pups received a course of dexamethasone (Dex), or Dex with vitamins C and E (DexCE), on postnatal days 1–6 (P1–6). Controls received vehicle (Ctrl) or vehicle with vitamins (CtrlCE). At P21, femoral vascular reactivity was determined via wire myography. Dex, but not DexCE or CtrlCE, increased mortality relative to Ctrl (81.3 versus 96.9 versus 90.6 versus 100% survival, respectively; P<0.05). Constrictor responses to phenylephrine (PE) and thromboxane were enhanced in Dex relative to Ctrl (84.7±4.8 versus 67.5±5.7 and 132.7±4.9 versus 107.0±4.9% Kmax, respectively; P<0.05); effects that were diminished in DexCE (58.3±7.5 and 121.1±4.3% Kmax, respectively; P<0.05). Endothelium-dependent dilatation was depressed in Dex relative to Ctrl (115.3±11.9 versus 216.9±18.9, AUC; P<0.05); however, this effect was not restored in DexCE (68.3±8.3, AUC). Relative to Ctrl, CtrlCE alone diminished PE-induced constriction (43.4±3.7% Kmax) and the endothelium-dependent dilatation (74.7±8.7 AUC; P<0.05). Conclusions/Significance Treatment of newborn rats with dexamethasone has detrimental effects on survival and peripheral vasoconstrictor function. Coadministration of dexamethasone with antioxidant vitamins improves survival and partially restores vascular dysfunction. Antioxidant vitamins alone affect peripheral vascular function.
DDoS defense by offense

This paper presents the design, implementation, analysis, and experimental evaluation of speak-up, a defense against application-level distributed denial-of-service (DDoS), in which attackers cripple a server by sending legitimate-looking requests that consume computational resources (e.g., CPU cycles, disk). With speak-up, a victimized server encourages all clients, resources permitting, to automatically send higher volumes of traffic. We suppose that attackers are already using most of their upload bandwidth so cannot react to the encouragement. Good clients, however, have spare upload bandwidth and will react to the encouragement with drastically higher volumes of traffic. The intended outcome of this traffic inflation is that the good clients crowd out the bad ones, thereby capturing a much larger fraction of the server's resources than before. We experiment under various conditions and find that speak-up causes the server to spend resources on a group of clients in rough proportion to their aggregate upload bandwidth. This result makes the defense viable and effective for a class of real attacks.
Association between PTEN Gene IVS4 Polymorphism and Risk of Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Background Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a well established tumor suppressor gene. Recently, increasing studies investigated the association between PTEN IVS4 polymorphism (rs3830675) and risk of various types of cancer. However, the results from the individual studies were controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to elucidate whether PTEN IVS4 polymorphism was associated with cancer risk. Methods Databases including PubMed, Web of knowledge and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were systematically searched to identify potentially eligible literatures. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to assess the strength of association between PTEN IVS4 polymorphism and cancer risk. Results A total of seven case-control studies were finally included in this meta-analysis. The pooled analysis suggested that individuals with PTEN IVS4 (−/−) genotype were significantly associated with increased risk of cancer (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.19–1.76, P<0.001) and subgroup of digestive tract cancer (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.28–2.18, P<0.001) compared with (+/+) genotype. The allele analysis revealed that (−) allele was significantly associated with increased risk of cancer (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.12–1.50, P = 0.001) and subgroup of digestive tract cancer (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.16–1.74, P = 0.001) compared with (+) allele. No significant association was observed between PTEN IVS4 (+/−) genotype and risk of cancer. Conclusion PTEN IVS4 (−/−) genotype was significantly associated with increased risk of cancer especially for digestive tract cancer compared with (+/+) genotype. The (−) allele of PTEN IVS4 (rs3830675) polymorphism was significantly associated with increased risk of cancer especially for digestive tract cancer compared with (+) allele. The recessive effect model and dominant effect model also demonstrated significant association between PTEN IVS4 (rs3830675) polymorphism and increased cancer risk especially for digestive tract cancer. Further large-scale and well-designed studies regarding different ethnicities are still required to confirm the results of our meta-analysis.
SUPERCAVITATION - PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES

A brief review of some investigations, which were initiated at the IHM, and new research of the hydrodynamic supercavitation are given in this paper. The main applications of the supercavitaion at underwater high-speed body motion with artificial supercavity, supercavitating water jets and noise suppression are presented. The main features of artificial supercavitation as gas leakage and supercavity closure are discussed. Further perspectives of supercavitation method development are analyzed.
Stability Control of Flexible Joint Robot Based T-S Fuzzy Model Using Fuzzy Lyapunov Function

Abstract In this paper, a stability control approach of flexible joint robot (FJR) based T-S fuzzy model using fuzzy Lyapunov function is proposed. First, the Takagi and Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy model is employed to approximate the flexible joint robot, then a fuzzy controller is developed based on parallel distributed compensation principle (PDC). The non-quadratic stability conditions for the flexible joint robot control system are proposed by using fuzzy Lyapunov function combined with linear matrix inequality (LMI). Finally, the simulation example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Natural scenes categorization by hierarchical extraction of typicality patterns

Natural scene categorization of images represents a very useful task for automatic image analysis systems in a wide variety of applications. In the literature, several methods have been proposed facing this issue with excellent results. Typically, features of several types are clustered so as to generate a vocabulary able to efficiently represent the considered image collection. This vocabulary is formed by a discrete set of visual codewords whose co-occurrence or composition allows to classify the scene category. A common drawback of these methods is that features are usually extracted from the whole image, actually disregarding whether they derive from the scene to be classified or other objects, independent from the scene, eventually present in it. As quoted by perceptual studies, features regarding objects present in an image are not useful to scene categorization, indeed bringing an important source of clutter, in dependence of their size. In this paper, a novel, multi- scale, statistical approach for image representation aimed at scene categorization is presented. The method is able to select, at different scales, sets of features that represent exclusively the scene disregarding other non-characteristic, clutter, elements. The proposed procedure, based on a generative model, is then able to produce a robust representation scheme useful for image classification. The obtained results are very convincing and prove the goodness of the approach even by just considering simple features like local color image histograms.
On the complexity of distributed graph coloring

Coloring the nodes of a graph with a small number of colors is one of the most fundamental problems in theoretical computer science. In this paper, we study graph coloring in a distributed setting. Processors of a distributed system are nodes of an undirected graph <i>G</i>. There is an edge between two nodes whenever the corresponding processors can directly communicate with each other. We assume that distributed coloring algorithms start with an initial <i>m</i>-coloring of <i>G</i>. In the paper, we prove new strong lower bounds for two special kinds of coloring algorithms. For algorithms which run for a single communication round---i.e., every node of the network can only send its initial color to all its neighbors---, we show that the number of colors of the computed coloring has to be at least Ω(Δ<sup>2</sup>/log<sup>2</sup> Δ+ log log <i>m</i>). If such one-round algorithms are iteratively applied to reduce the number of colors step-by-step, we prove a time lower bound of Ω(Δ/log<sup>2</sup> Δ+ log*<i>m</i>) to obtain an <i>O</i>(Δ)-coloring. The best previous lower bounds for the two types of algorithms are Ω(log log <i>m</i>) and Ω(log*<i>m</i>), respectively.
Deep Web Mining through Web Services

With the increase in Web-based databases and dynamically-generated Web pages, the concept of the “deep Web” has arisen. The deep Web refers to Web content that, while it may be freely and publicly accessible, is stored, queried, and retrieved through a database and one or more search interfaces, rendering the Web content largely hidden from conventional search and spidering techniques. These methods are adapted to a more static model of the “surface Web”, or series of static, linked Web pages. The amount of deep Web data is truly staggering; a July 2000 study claimed 550 billion documents (Bergman, 2000), while a September 2004 study estimated 450,000 deep Web databases (Chang, He, Li, Patel, & Zhang, 2004). In pursuit of a truly searchable Web, it comes as no surprise that the deep Web is an important and increasingly studied area of research in the field of Web mining. The challenges include issues such as new crawling and Web mining techniques, query translation across multiple target databases, and the integration and discovery of often quite disparate interfaces and database structures (He, Chang, & Han, 2004; He, Zhang, & Chang, 2004; Liddle, Yau, & Embley, 2002; Zhang, He, & Chang, 2004). Similarly, as the Web platform continues to evolve to support applications more complex than the simple transfer of HTML documents over HTTP, there is a strong need for the interoperability of applications and data across a variety of platforms. From the client perspective, there is the need to encapsulate these interactions out of view of the end user (Balke & Wagner, 2004). Web services provide a robust, scalable and increasingly commonplace solution to these needs. As identified in earlier research efforts, due to the inherent nature of the deep Web, dynamic and ad hoc information retrieval becomes a requirement for mining such sources (Chang, He, & Zhang, 2004; Chang, He, Li, Patel, & Zhang, 2004). The platform and program-agnostic nature of Web services, combined with the power and simplicity of HTTP transport, makes Web services an ideal technique for application to the field of deep Web mining. We have identified, and will explore, specific areas in which Web services can offer solutions in the realm of deep Web mining, particularly when serving the need for dynamic, ad-hoc information gathering.