Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apport de la modélisation et de la simulation à l'analyse des risques et la prévention des accidents d'un site de stockage de GPL

En vue d’eviter ou de diminuer l’importance des degâts causes par les accidents majeurs, il convient de modeliser les fonctions et les relations entre les composants d’un systeme industriel. Pour cela, dans cette these, on utilise la demarche de modelisation par la methode STAMP (Systems-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes) pour representer la structure hiearchique du systeme, ainsi que les mecanismes de controle necessaire pour preserver la securite d’un processus industriel. Afin de traiter les problematiques liees aux controles de la securite industrielle, on propose l’utilisation de l’outil de simulation Anylogic. Cet outil, permet modeliser et de simuler le comportement du systeme en fonction du temps en mode normal et en mode degrade.L’objectif de ces travaux est donc de proposer une demarche basee a la fois sur la modelisation et la simulation pour analyser les risques et prevenir les accidents d’un site de stockage et distribution de GPL (Gaz Petrole liquefie).
Deletion at chromosome band 20p12.1 in colorectal cancer revealed by high resolution array comparative genomic hybridization

Array comparative genomic hybridization (Array CGH) with tiling path resolution for a ∼4.61 Mb region of chromosome band 20p12.1 has been used to investigate copy number loss in 48 colorectal cancer cell lines and 37 primary colorectal cancers. A recurrent deletion was detected in 55% of cell lines and 23% of primary cancers and the consensus minimum region of loss was identified as a ∼190kb section from 14.85 Mb to 15.04 Mb of chromosome 20. Two noncoding RNA genes located in the region, BA318C17.1 and DJ974N19.1, were investigated by mutation analysis and real‐time PCR in colorectal cancer cell lines. Sequence changes in BA318C17.1 and reduced expression of both genes was detected, suggesting that the abrogation of these genes may play a role in colorectal tumorigenesis. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Wideband and Dual-Band Design of a Printed Dipole Antenna

A wideband and dual-band dipole antenna with an integrated balun feed is given. First, the antenna structure is optimized and a 41.5% bandwidth is obtained where voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) is less than 2. In order to further get a larger bandwidth and dual-band capabilities of this antenna, some rectangle apertures are etched onto the antenna surface, and a better dipole antenna is fabricated. Through investigating rectangle aperture with different sizes, a 47.8% bandwidth is obtained at L-band, and a 15.1% bandwidth comes true at S-band. Agreement between calculations and measurements is very good. The result indicates that the novel design not only may obtain better wideband characteristic but also can let the dipole antenna work at L- and S-bands.
Chronotropic response following direct electrical stimulation of the isolated sinoatrial node: a pharmacologic evaluation.

Hyperpolarization, retardation of rate and secondary acceleration of rate are observed, following direct electrical stimulation of the isolated rabbit sinoatrial node. The hyperpolarization and negative chronotropic effect are blocked by atropine or hemicholinium, and enhanced by physostigmine. The positive chronotropic effect is blocked by guanethidine, bretylium, dichloroisoproterenol and pretreatment with reserpine. Pyrogallol and cocaine augment the intensity and duration of the positive chronotropic response. The application of nicotine to the node causes a mild inhibition and acceleration of rate. In the presence of hexamethonium the action is depressed. It is proposed that direct electrical stimulation of the sinoatrial node simulates stimulation of the adrenergic and cholinergic nerves to the heart. The stimulation procedure induces the release of acetylcholine and norepinephrine which elicit the chronotropic phenomenon.
Left Ventricular Function After Prolonged Exercise in Equine Endurance Athletes

Background Prolonged exercise in human athletes is associated with transient impairment of left ventricular (LV) function, known as cardiac fatigue. Cardiac effects of prolonged exercise in horses remain unknown. Objectives To investigate the effects of prolonged exercise on LV systolic and diastolic function in horses. Animals Twenty‐six horses competing in 120–160 km endurance rides. Methods Cross‐sectional field study. Echocardiography was performed before and after rides, and the following morning, and included two‐dimensional echocardiography, anatomical M‐mode, pulsed‐wave tissue Doppler imaging, and two‐dimensional speckle tracking. Correlation between echocardiographic variables and cardiac troponin I was evaluated. Results Early diastolic myocardial velocities decreased significantly in longitudinal (baseline: −17.4 ± 2.4cm/s; end of ride: −15.8 ± 3.2cm/s (P = .013); morning after: −15.4 ± 3.0cm/s (P = .0033)) and radial directions (−32.8 ± 3.4cm/s; −28.1 ± 5.8cm/s (P < .001); −26.4 ± 5.5cm/s (P < .001)). Early diastolic strain rates decreased significantly in longitudinal (1.58 ± 0.27s−1; 1.45 ± 0.26s−1 (P = .036); 1.41 ± 0.25s−1 (P = .013)) and circumferential directions (2.43 ± 0.29s−1; 1.96 ± 0.46s−1 (P < .001); 2.11 ± 0.32s−1 (P < .001)). Systolic variables showed ambiguous results. No correlations with serum cardiac troponin I concentrations were evident. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Prolonged exercise in horses is associated with impaired LV diastolic function. Reduced ventricular filling persisted for 7–21 hours despite normalization of biochemical indicators of hydration status, indicating that the observed changes were not entirely related to altered preload conditions. The clinical relevance of cardiac fatigue in horses remains uncertain.
AMEE 2010 symposium: Medical student education in the twenty-first century – A new Flexnerian era?

As we mark the 100th anniversary of the Flexner report which revolutionized the process of medical education, there is again concern that we face a critical need for change in the process of medical education in order to meet the needs of learners, teachers, and patients. In this symposium, panelists shared perspectives on medical education reform from throughout the world, including The Future of Medical Education in Canada, the role of regulators in contributing to reform, the evolution of accreditation standards, the current state of medical education in Southeast Asia, and the perspectives of a medical student on medical education reform. In the “Audience discussion” section, themes emerged surrounding medical education as a social good, the need for governmental support of medical education, the cost of medical education and the rise of for-profit medical schools, and embracing a broader view of health professional education. There remain remarkable parallels in calls for reform in medical education at the turn of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries but education which is patient-centered and actively involves the voices of our patients and our students is likely to be a hallmark.
Equation of state of the one-component plasma derived from precision Monte Carlo calculations.

Analytical fits to the one-component plasma (OCP) equation of state have been derived for internal energies that have reduced all {ital N}-dependent effects to within the statistical uncertainties introduced by the Monte Carlo computational process, which themselves are very small. Values of {ital N}{approx gt}500 adequately represent the thermodynamic limit. Using the fluid internal energies for only {ital N}=686, various analytical fits are generated, compared, and discussed. The thermal energy is accurately represented by a simple power-series fit with the leading term given by {Gamma}{sup 1/3}, but also requires a small correction to the bcc Madelung term that brings that coefficient down to nearly {minus}0.9, the value derived for hypernetted-chain theory. The fluid thermal energy data are reproduced to better than 0.2% over all {Gamma} by our fit(s). The solid phase requires {ital both} anharmonic terms to be included in the fit, implying that the previous justification for dropping the first anharmonic correction is unwarranted. The location of the fluid-solid phase transition utilizing these new fits yields {Gamma}{sub bcc}=178 and {Gamma}{sub fcc}=192.
Assisting Speech Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders with an Augmented Reality Application

Graphics based systems of Augmented and Alternative Communication are widely used to promote communication of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders. However, studies indicate the inability of some of these people in understanding the used symbols. This study discusses an integration of Augmented Reality in communication interventions, by relating elements of Augmented and Alternative Communication and Applied Behaviour Analysis strategies. An Augmented Reality based interactive system to support interventions is discussed, and the report of its usage in interventions with children suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorders is presented.
Open peer review: A randomised controlled trial

Background Most scientific journals practise anonymous peer review. There is no evidence, however, that this is any better than an open system. Aims To evaluate the feasibility of an open peer review system. Method Reviewers for the British Journal of Psychiatry were asked whether they would agree to have their name revealed to the authors whose papers they review; 408 manuscripts assigned to reviewers who agreed were randomised to signed or unsigned groups. We measured review quality, tone, recommendation for publication and time taken to complete each review. Results A total of 245 reviewers (76%) agreed to sign. Signed reviews were of higher quality, were more courteous and took longer to complete than unsigned reviews. Reviewers who signed were more likely to recommend publication. Conclusions This study supports the feasibility of an open peer review system and identifies such a system's potential drawbacks.
A gallic acid derivative and polysaccharides with antioxidative activity from rose (Rosa rugosa) flowers

In this study, the major antioxidant components of rose flower were identified. An aqueous extract of rose flowers was chromatographed on CM‐cellulose in ammonium acetate buffer (10 mm, pH 4.5) to yield three un‐adsorbed peaks F1, F2 and F3. Each of these peaks was subjected to gel filtration on Sephadex G75. F1 yielded two peaks, whereas both F2 and F3 gave rise to only a single peak. Spectroscopic studies using NMR and FTIR revealed that F3 is a gallic acid derivative. It exhibited the highest antioxidative potency. F1‐a derived from F1 by gel filtration is mainly a polysaccharide‐peptide complex with less potent antioxidative activity. F2 is a polysaccharide also with reduced antioxidant activity. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the presence of both gallic acid derivatives and polysaccharides as major antioxidant principles of the aqueous extract of rose flowers.
Heart Failure The Polyphenols Resveratrol and S 17834 Prevent the Structural and Functional Sequelae of Diet-Induced Metabolic Heart Disease in Mice

Background—Diet-induced obesity is associated with metabolic heart disease characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. Polyphenols such as resveratrol and the synthetic flavonoid derivative S17834 exert beneficial systemic and cardiovascular effects in a variety of settings including diabetes mellitus and chronic hemodynamic overload. Methods and Results—We characterized the structural and functional features of a mouse model of diet-induced metabolic syndrome and used the model to test the hypothesis that the polyphenols prevent myocardial hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet or a diet high in fat and sugar (HFHS) with or without concomitant treatment with S17834 or resveratrol for up to 8 months. HFHS diet–fed mice developed progressive left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction with preservation of systolic function in association with myocyte hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis. In HFHS diet–fed mice, there was increased myocardial oxidative stress with evidence of oxidant-mediated protein modification via tyrosine nitration and 4-OH-2-nonenol adduction. HFHS diet–fed mice also exhibited increases in plasma fasting glucose, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance indicative of insulin resistance. Treatment with S17834 or resveratrol prevented left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. For S17834, these beneficial effects were associated with decreases in oxidant-mediated protein modifications and hyperinsulinemia and increased plasma adiponectin. Conclusions—Resveratrol and S17834 administered concurrently with a HFHS diet prevent the development of left ventricular hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and diastolic dysfunction. Multiple mechanisms may contribute to the beneficial effects of the polyphenols, including a reduction in myocardial oxidative stress and related protein modifications, amelioration of insulin resistance, and increased plasma adiponectin. The polyphenols resveratrol and S17834 may be of value in the prevention of diet-induced metabolic heart disease. (Circulation. 2012;125:1757-1764.)
Characterizing dynamic textures with space-time lacunarity analysis

This paper addresses the challenge of reliably capturing the temporal characteristics of local space-time patterns in dynamic texture (DT). A powerful DT descriptor is proposed, which enjoys strong robustness to viewpoint changes, illumination changes, and video deformation. Observing that local DT patterns are spatial-temporally distributed with stationary irregularities, we proposed to characterize the distributions of local binarized DT patterns along both the temporal and the spatial axes via lacunarity analysis. We also observed such irregularities are similar on the DT slices along the same axis but distinct between axes. Thus, the resulting lacunarity based features are averaged along each axis and concatenated as the final DT descriptor. We applied the proposed DT descriptor to DT classification and evaluated its performance on several benchmark datasets. The experimental results have demonstrated the power of the proposed descriptor in comparison with existing ones.
Research of unsupervised image change detection algorithm based on clustering characteristic of 2-D histogram

Change detection in images of a given scene acquired at different times is one of the most interesting topics of remote image processing, which finds important applications in many fields. In this paper, a novel image change detection algorithm was proposed based on the clustering characteristic of 2-D histogram. First, the best segmentation direction of 2-D histogram formed by pixel gray levels and the local average gray levels was ascertained by using LSM. Secondly, a kind of new 2-D entropy was defined to search the best threshold line and segment the 2-D histogram into unchanged and change region. Then the change area was detected based on the change region of 2-D histogram. Finally, the proposed algorithm was compared to traditional change detection algorithm by carrying out an experiment on a synthetic data set generated artificially. Theoretical analysis and experiment result show that the proposed algorithm is more accurate on detection precision, and faster on detection speed.
Spontaneous food allergy in Was−/− mice occurs independent of FcεRI‐mediated mast cell activation

Food allergies are a growing health problem, and the development of therapies that prevent disease onset is limited by the lack of adjuvant‐free experimental animal models. We compared allergic sensitization in patients with food allergy or Wiskott‐Aldrich syndrome (WAS) and defined whether spontaneous disease in Was−/− mice recapitulates the pathology of a conventional disease model and/or human food allergy.
Genetic polymorphism of cytochrome P450 2C9 in a Caucasian and a black African population.

AIMS CYP2C9 is a major enzyme in human drug metabolism and the polymorphism observed in the corresponding gene may affect the therapeutic outcome during treatment with several drugs. The distribution of variant CYP2C9 alleles was therefore investigated in an Italian and an Ethiopian population. METHODS Allele-specific PCR analysis was carried out in order to determine the frequencies of the two most common variant alleles, CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3 in genomic DNA isolated from 157 Italians and 150 Ethiopians. RESULTS The frequencies of CYP2C9*1 (80%), CYP2C9*2 (11%) and CYP2C9*3 (9%) found in the Italian population were similar to other Caucasian groups. However in the Ethiopian population CYP2C9*1, CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3 were present at a frequency of 94, 4 and 2% respectively. The 95% confidence intervals in CYP2C9*1, CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3 between Italians and Ethiopians were 0.098, 0.176, 0.040, 0.098 and 0.040, 0.098, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that the Ethiopian population has a unique relative distribution of the CYP2C9 alleles, which is not similar to any other ethnic group hitherto described.
On Properties of Magneto-dielectric Composites in the Effective Medium Approximation

The development of ultra-broadband composite absorbers of electromagnetic waves depends largely on optimal combination of the medium characteristics that determine their absorption capacity and conditions for impedance matching and destructive interference. It is possible to achieve a higher absorption level in a wider frequency band by combining a variety of mechanisms enhancing the loss of electromagnetic field energy, for example, by combining specific constituents in a composite matrix. The analysis of various mixing models for constituent parameters is carried out in the effective medium approximation for ferritedielectric composites. It appears that the standard mixing rules do not explain the increase in the effective permittivity of ferrite composites in comparison with that of bulk ferrites. The proposed mechanism of such increase is based on the conductive properties of the ferrite granules and the equivalent capacitance effect. The developed model of permittivity calculation is based on the equivalent capacitor circuits and gives a satisfactory agreement with the experimental data.
Pragmatic enrichment: beyond Gricean rational reconstruction – a response to Mandy Simons

Abstract It has been claimed that pragmatic effects that arise in embedded clauses pose a problem for the Gricean reasoning procedure. I maintain, however, that the real issue these phenomena raise for Grice, as he himself acknowledged, is their violation of his saying/implicating distinction. While these effects can be accounted for by Gricean reasoning, which Mandy Simons clearly demonstrates, there is no way round this latter problem other than a major revision of Grice’s notion of ‘saying’ and hence of the saying/implicating distinction.
Organizational Communication Efficiency Assessment Scale for Senior College Students : A Factor Analysis

The study developed a scale that will measure the organizational communication efficiency of senior college students. It sought to determine what the composition is and how valid and reliable the organizational communication efficiency assessment scale is in its form. The instrument was face-validated, and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was applied to the data gathered from 400 respondents through SPSS, with principal components extracted and rotated using Varimax. Using de Vaus' standard metric of r=0.30 for item-analysis correlation, findings revealed that 11 out of 19 items show a stronger correlation with others under subscale Interactive Communication (IC); 22 out of 31 for Confidence and Assertiveness (CA) and 11 out of 20 for Technological Awareness (TA). The reliability coefficient index also showed Cronbach's α values of . 724, . 872 and . 833 for IC, CA and TA respectively, with internal data consistencies described as Acceptable, Good and Good. The scale is valid and reliable in its form.
Perceiving Listener-directed Speech: Effects of Authenticity and Lexical Neighborhood Density

Numerous studies have examined the properties of “clear” speech—speech produced in the context of real or imagined communicative difficulties. In general, clear speech is characterized by hyperarticulation. However, the effect of clear speech on coarticulation varies: simulated clear speech contexts have less nasal coarticulation while speech directed toward a real listener has more. Additionally, both hyperarticulation and nasal coarticulation vary based on neighborhood density (ND): words from dense phonological neighborhoods have a greater degree of both, relative to words from sparse neighborhoods. This study examines what consequences these effects in production have for perception by means of a lexical decision task with speech from two different “clear” conditions. The findings indicate that real listener directed speech is perceived faster than simulated clear speech. Further, Hi ND words (with hyperarticulation and increased coarticulation, as in real listener directed speech) were faster than Lo ND words.
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of natalizumab for relapsing multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND Natalizumab is the first alpha4 integrin antagonist in a new class of selective adhesion-molecule inhibitors. We report the results of a two-year phase 3 trial of natalizumab in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. METHODS Of a total of 942 patients, 627 were randomly assigned to receive natalizumab (at a dose of 300 mg) and 315 to receive placebo by intravenous infusion every four weeks for more than two years. The primary end points were the rate of clinical relapse at one year and the rate of sustained progression of disability, as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale, at two years. RESULTS Natalizumab reduced the risk of sustained progression of disability by 42 percent over two years (hazard ratio, 0.58; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.43 to 0.77; P<0.001). The cumulative probability of progression (on the basis of Kaplan-Meier analysis) was 17 percent in the natalizumab group and 29 percent in the placebo group. Natalizumab reduced the rate of clinical relapse at one year by 68 percent (P<0.001) and led to an 83 percent reduction in the accumulation of new or enlarging hyperintense lesions, as detected by T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), over two years (mean numbers of lesions, 1.9 with natalizumab and 11.0 with placebo; P<0.001). There were 92 percent fewer lesions (as detected by gadolinium-enhanced MRI) in the natalizumab group than in the placebo group at both one and two years (P<0.001). The adverse events that were significantly more frequent in the natalizumab group than in the placebo group were fatigue (27 percent vs. 21 percent, P=0.048) and allergic reaction (9 percent vs. 4 percent, P=0.012). Hypersensitivity reactions of any kind occurred in 25 patients receiving natalizumab (4 percent), and serious hypersensitivity reactions occurred in 8 patients (1 percent). CONCLUSIONS Natalizumab reduced the risk of the sustained progression of disability and the rate of clinical relapse in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. Adhesion-molecule inhibitors hold promise as an effective treatment for relapsing multiple sclerosis. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00027300.).