Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Border Corruption in the Conflict Regions in Georgia and Moldova

Corruption is perceived as one of the worst factors inhibiting the statebuilding process. It, however, poses a significant threat to young democracies. Some theorists argue that, under certain circumstances, corruption might bring some benefits that can even overweigh its costs. For example, minorities denied certain services that might profit from corruption by bribing their way through. This can contribute to lessening tensions between groups. This article examines two cases of frozen conflicts and the role corruption might have played in the conflict resolution process over the last decade: South Ossetia in Georgia and Transnistria in Moldova. After analyzing the "soft approach" of the Moldovan state and the "hard power" of the Georgian state towards corruption and smuggling on the borders with the secessionist regions, we argue that the costs young democracies pay for their unwillingness to combat corruption is significantly higher than the modest benefits they can derive from handling these challenges with caution 2 .
Task-aware deep bottleneck features for spoken language identification

Recently, deep bottleneck features (DBF) extracted from a deep neural network (DNN) containing a narrow bottleneck layer, have been applied for language identification (LID), and yield significant performance improvement over state-of-the-art methods on NIST LRE 2009. However, the DNN is trained using a large corpus of specific language which is not directly related to the LID task. More recently, lattice based discriminative training methods for extracting more targeted DBF were proposed for ASR. Inspired by this, this paper proposes to tune the post-trained DNN parameters using an LID-specific training corpus, which may make the resulting DBF, termed a Discriminative DBF (D2BF), more discriminative and task-aware. Specifically, the maximum mutual information (MMI) criterion, with gradient descent, is applied to update the DNN parameters of the bottleneck layer in an iterative fashion. We evaluate the performance of the proposed D2BF using different back-end models, including GMM-MMI and ivector, over the most confused 6-languages selected from NIST LRE 2009. The results show that the proposed D2BF is more appropriate and effective than the original DBF. Index Terms: language identification, deep bottleneck feature, deep neural network, discriminative training, Gaussian mixture model, maximum mutual information
Quantification and Potential Functions of Endogenous Agonists of Transient Receptor Potential Channels in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

BACKGROUND & AIMS In mice, activation of the transient receptor potential cation channels (TRP) TRPV1, TRPV4, and TRPA1 causes visceral hypersensitivity. These receptors and their agonists might be involved in development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We investigated whether polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolites, which activate TRPs, are present in colon tissues from patients with IBS and act as endogenous agonists to induce hypersensitivity. METHODS We analyzed colon biopsy samples from 40 patients with IBS (IBS biopsies) and 11 healthy individuals undergoing colorectal cancer screening (controls), collected during colonoscopy at the University of Bologna, Italy. Levels of the PUFA metabolites that activate TRPV1 (12-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, and leukotriene B4), TRPV4 (5,6-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid [EET] and 8,9-EET), and TRPA1 (PGA1, 8-iso-prostaglandin A2, and 15-deoxy-Δ-prostaglandin J2) were measured in biopsies and their supernatants using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry; we also measured levels of the PUFA metabolites prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and resolvins. C57Bl6 mice were given intrathecal injections of small interfering RNAs to reduce levels of TRPV4, or control small interfering RNAs, along with colonic injections of biopsy supernatants; visceral hypersensitivity was measured based on response to colorectal distension. Mouse sensory neurons were cultured and incubated with biopsy supernatants and lipids extracted from biopsies or colons of mice. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect TRPV4 in human dorsal root ganglia samples (from the National Disease Research Interchange). RESULTS Levels of the TRPV4 agonist 5,6-EET, but not levels of TRPV1 or TRPA1 agonists, were increased in IBS biopsies compared with controls; increases correlated with pain and bloating scores. Supernatants from IBS biopsies, but not from controls, induced visceral hypersensitivity in mice. Small interfering RNA knockdown of TRPV4 in mouse primary afferent neurons inhibited the hypersensitivity caused by supernatants from IBS biopsies. Levels of 5,6-EET and 15-HETE were increased in colons of mice with, but not without, visceral hypersensitivity. PUFA metabolites extracted from IBS biopsies or colons of mice with visceral hypersensitivity activated mouse sensory neurons in vitro, by activating TRPV4. Mouse sensory neurons exposed to supernatants from IBS biopsies produced 5,6-EET via a mechanism that involved the proteinase-activated receptor-2 and cytochrome epoxygenase. In human dorsal root ganglia, TPV4 was expressed by 35% of neurons. CONCLUSIONS Colon tissues from patients with IBS have increased levels of specific PUFA metabolites. These stimulate sensory neurons from mice and generate visceral hypersensitivity via activation of TRPV4.
Conducting polymer nanofibers for gas sensor

Nanostructured conducting polymers have been synthesized by dilute chemical polymerization method to obtain nanofibers of polyaniline (PANI). The aqueous solution of nanofibers shows a stable colloid dispersion, which is spread into an interdigitated electrode resulting a porous film for DC test; the film is also embed into a cavity element for RF analyzer. In the presence of specific chemical reagents, the conducting polymer materials will undergo conductivity changes to several orders of magnitude, which finally induce the change of film resistance and RF conductivity for sensing. The sensor response is strongly dependent upon the film morphology, porosity and humidity. The devices show a quick response (i.e., less than 60 s in 100 ppm concentration) and significant sensitive to various chemical gases (e.g., HCl and NH3) at the concentrations of 10 - 1000 ppm. Such novel emerging chemoresistive RF technology will be opened the challenge for the remote wireless detection of explosives and other chemical agents.
Extrahepatic implications of metabolic syndrome

1. Weight gain is extremely common after transplantation, and obesity (body mass index > 30 kg/m) affects up to 40% of liver transplant recipients. 2. Obesity is a major feature of metabolic syndrome. Thus, weight gain has long-term consequences related to complications of metabolic syndrome. 3. Metabolic syndrome after liver transplantation occurs in up to 50% of transplant recipients and increases the risk for cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and cancer among other complications. 4. The prevention of weight gain is the first measure in the management of obesity and metabolic syndrome after liver transplantation.
ABVD compared with BEACOPP compared with CEC for the initial treatment of patients with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma: results from the HD2000 Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio dei Linfomi Trial.

PURPOSE To compare doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine (ABVD) versus bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (BEACOPP) versus cyclophosphamide, lomustine, vindesine, melphalan, prednisone, epidoxirubicin, vincristine, procarbazine, vinblastine, and bleomycin (COPPEBVCAD; CEC) for advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). PATIENTS AND METHODS Three hundred seven patients with advanced HL (stage IIB, III, and IV) were randomly assigned to receive six courses of ABVD, four escalated plus two standard courses of BEACOPP, or six courses of CEC, plus a limited radiation therapy program. RESULTS After a median follow-up of 41 months, BEACOPP resulted in a superior progression-free survival (PFS), with a significant reduction in risk of progression (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.50) compared with ABVD. No differences between BEACOPP and CEC, or CEC and ABVD were observed. The 5-year PFS was 68% (95% CI, 56% to 78%), 81% (95% CI, 70% to 89%), and 78% (95% CI, 68% to 86%), for ABVD, BEACOPP, and CEC, respectively (BEACOPP v ABVD, P = .038; CEC v ABVD and BEACOPP v CEC, P = not significant [NS]). The 5-year overall survival was 84% (95% CI, 69% to 92%), 92% (95% CI, 84% to 96%), and 91% (95% CI, 81% to 96%) for ABVD, BEACOPP, and CEC, respectively (P = NS). BEACOPP and CEC resulted in higher rates of grade 3-4 neutropenia than ABVD (P = .016); BEACOPP was associated with higher rates of severe infections than ABVD and CEC (P = .003). CONCLUSION As adopted in this study BEACOPP is associated with a significantly improved PFS compared with ABVD, with a predictable higher acute toxicity.
Randomized, controlled trial on the effect of a 20% mannitol solution and a 7.5% saline/6% dextran solution on increased intracranial pressure after brain injury*

Objective:The aim of this pilot study was to compare the effects of equimolar doses of hypertonic saline and dextran solution (HSD, Rescueflow) with 20% mannitol solution for reduction of increased intracranial pressure. Design:Prospective, randomized, controlled, crossover trial in the intensive care unit of a large teaching hospital. Setting:Academic hospital and tertiary referral center for neuroscience. Patients:Nine patients with an intracranial pressure of >20 mm Hg were recruited and received two treatments of each, HSD and 20% mannitol, in a randomized order. Intervention:Equimolar, rapid intravenous infusions of either 200 mL of 20% mannitol or 100 mL of 7.5% saline and 6% dextran-70 solution (HSD) over 5 mins. Measurements:Intracranial pressure, blood pressure, serum and urine sodium and osmolality, and urine output. Main Results:Treatments reduced intracranial pressure with both mannitol (median decrease, 7.5 mm Hg, 95% confidence interval, 5.8–11.8) and HSD (median decrease, 13 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval, 11.5–17.3). HSD caused a significantly greater decrease in intracranial pressure than mannitol (p = .044). HSD had a longer duration of effect than mannitol (p = .044). Conclusion:When given in an equimolar, rapid, intravenous infusion, HSD reduces intracranial pressure more effectively than mannitol.
M3-muscarinic receptor promotes insulin release via receptor phosphorylation/arrestin-dependent activation of protein kinase D1

The activity of G protein-coupled receptors is regulated via hyper-phosphorylation following agonist stimulation. Despite the universal nature of this regulatory process, the physiological impact of receptor phosphorylation remains poorly studied. To address this question, we have generated a knock-in mouse strain that expresses a phosphorylation-deficient mutant of the M3-muscarinic receptor, a prototypical Gq/11-coupled receptor. This mutant mouse strain was used here to investigate the role of M3-muscarinic receptor phosphorylation in the regulation of insulin secretion from pancreatic islets. Importantly, the phosphorylation deficient receptor coupled to Gq/11-signaling pathways but was uncoupled from phosphorylation-dependent processes, such as receptor internalization and β-arrestin recruitment. The knock-in mice showed impaired glucose tolerance and insulin secretion, indicating that M3-muscarinic receptors expressed on pancreatic islets regulate glucose homeostasis via receptor phosphorylation-/arrestin-dependent signaling. The mechanism centers on the activation of protein kinase D1, which operates downstream of the recruitment of β-arrestin to the phosphorylated M3-muscarinic receptor. In conclusion, our findings support the unique concept that M3-muscarinic receptor-mediated augmentation of sustained insulin release is largely independent of G protein-coupling but involves phosphorylation-/arrestin-dependent coupling of the receptor to protein kinase D1.
Power Electronics in Small Scale Wind Turbine Systems

Although fossil fuel is the main energy supplier of the worldwide economy, due to its ad‐ verse effects on environment, the scientists look for alternative resources in power genera‐ tion. Electricity generation using renewable energy has been well recognized as environmentally friendly, socially beneficial, and economically competitive for many appli‐ cations. Wind turbines, photovoltaic systems, full cells and PATs are main resources for dis‐ tributed generation systems [1]. Compared with other renewable energy, wind power is more suitable for some applications with relatively low cost [2,3]. Wind turbine system (WTS) technology is still the most suitable renewable energy technology. While most large companies are focusing on large wind turbines of the utility scale, small wind turbines as distributed power generators have attracted a growing interest from the general public, small farms and remote communities [4]. In recent years, the level of interest in small-scale wind turbine generators has been increasing due to growing concerns over the impact of fossil-fuel based electricity generation [5]. According to the American Wind Energy Associa‐ tion (AWEA) annual wind industry report, the U.S. market for small wind turbines (<100kW) grew 78% in 2008 adding 17.3 MW of installed capacity. Over 10,000 small wind turbines were sold in the U.S. in 2008 [6]. UK based consultants Gerrad Hassan also predicts that small wind turbine sales have the potential to increase to well over US$750 million by 2005 [4]. Small-scale wind turbines are particularly advantageous for power generation at a household level [5]. A small-scale wind turbine consists of a generator, a power electronic converter, and a control system. Among different types of small-size wind turbine, perma‐ nent magnet (PM) generator is widely used because of its high reliability and simple struc‐ ture [1,2]. The power electronic converter topology used depends on the required output power and cost of the system. Control systems are used to control the rotational speed of
Expression Pattern of Matrix Metalloproteinase 20 (MMP20) in Human Tumors.

BACKGROUND/AIM Matrix metalloproteinase 20 (MMP20) is a member of the family of matrix metalloproteinases. Under normal conditions the expression of MMP20 is restricted to ameloblasts and odontoblasts. In order to identify a possible expression of MMP20 under pathological conditions, we investigated three major human tumor entities, i.e. colon, breast and lung tumors, on the mRNA and protein level. MATERIALS AND METHODS Real-time RT-PCR and immunocytochemical analyses of established human tumor cell lines were employed for our study; immunohistochemical analysis was performed on both primary tumors and normal control tissues. RESULTS MMP20 was identified on both the mRNA and the protein level in breast MCF-7, colon HT-29, and lung A549 cell lines. MMP20 was also detected in primary tumor tissue by immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION MMP20 is a new potential candidate for tumor diagnosis or therapy.
Analysis of Low Power Submicron Circuits

With the advent of the integrated circuits, greater emphasis was given on performance and miniaturization. But with the increasing prominence of portable and battery operated appliances the key factor that requires attention is power consumption. The feature size is shrinking due to the advancement in fabrication technology which causes integration of more transistors in the integrated circuit. As a result, the magnitude of power per unit area is growing and the accompanying problem of heat removal and cooling is worsening. To maintain the chip temperature at an acceptable level the dissipated heat must be removed effectively, the cost of heat removal and cooling becomes a significant factor in these circuits. The reliability of the chip will be greatly degraded with high power dissipation due to silicon failure mechanism such as electro migration. The linear scaling of supply voltage with the features size was started from halfmicron technology. But the power supply scaling affects the speed of the circuit. The need of the time is to put efforts in designing low power and high speed circuits. In this paper, we investigate and analyse the causes and solutions of power dissipation and delay in different topologies.
Redirecting T cells.

The pursuit of tumor-reactive T cells as a cancer therapy has continued unabated since the discovery of the graft-versus-leukemia effect in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.1 Some successes have been noted: the adoptive transfer of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)–specific T cells can prevent and treat post-transplantation lymphomas,2 and the adoptive transfer of in vitro activated and expanded autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes after systemic depletion of lymphocytes induces durable complete remissions in some heavily pretreated patients with metastatic melanoma.3 Therapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes is difficult and expensive, and it has benefited only patients with melanoma. Redirecting T cells by gene transfer of .
Evidence for Excitatory Amino Acid Neurotransmitters in Forward and Feedback Corticocortical Pathways within Rat Visual Cortex

It is a commonly accepted notion that cells which make projections between the multiple cortical areas found in the mammalian visual system are excitatory, but there is little direct evidence that this is the case. Here we demonstrate using retrograde tracing with D‐[3H]aspartate that connections in the rat which project from lower to higher visual areas (i.e. forward) and those which project from higher to lower areas (i.e. feedback) may use excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters. Following injection into the primary visual cortex, clusters of retrogradely labelled cells were found in several extrastriate areas within the cytoarchitectonic subdivisions 18a (‘areas’ LM, AL, PX, FLX, RL, AX) and 18b (‘area’ MX), and in the retrosplenial cortex. In all of these areas D‐[3H]aspartate‐labelled cells were surrounded by diffuse label which may represent anterograde labelling of axon terminals. This suggests that both legs of reciprocal intracortical circuits have similar chemospecificity. To directly demonstrate excitatory amino acid localization in forward projections, D‐[3H]aspartate was injected into extrastriate area LM. As expected, the results revealed retrogradely labelled neurons within area 17. Outside area 17, LM injections labelled neurons in AL, PX, FLX, RL, AX and MX. Taken in the context of the hierarchy of areas in rat cerebral cortex (Coogan and Burkhalter, J. Neurosci., 13, 3749–3772, 1993), these results show that D‐[3H]aspartate labels: (1) forward connections from area 17 to LM, AL, PX, RL, AX and MX, (2) feedback connections from LM, AL, FLX, PX, RL, AX and MX to area 17, (3) feedback connections from AL, PX, RL, AX and MX to LM, and (4) lateral connections between FLX and LM. These findings strongly indicate that both forward and feedback connections as well as lateral connections at several different levels of the cortical hierarchy use excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters.
Should a Lumbar MRI for back pain routinely include the sacro-iliac joint?

BACKGROUND Back pain is a common problem and has been shown to affect approximately 85% of the adult population at any one time. The source of this pain can be difficult to identify and the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) has been proposed as a possible pain source. Its percentage contribution to lower back pain is controversial. Clinical provocative tests for SIJ pathology have been developed but these have high intra and inter-observer variability and the significant of positive findings is unclear. This study proposes that the SIJ should not be imaged as part of a routine MRI lumbar spine series. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the images of 353 patients who had MRI lumbar spine scans. 130 had the SIJ imaged. We recorded the clinical findings and diagnosis at referral. We reviewed the images and documented the radiological findings. RESULTS SI joint pathology was most frequently identified when clinical suspected. Overall SIJ pathology found on MRI in only 0.02% of patients. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that routinely imaging the SIJ in MRI lumbar spine series is not cost-effective or a useful use of resources. The SIJ should be imaged only if significant clinical findings are demonstrated.
Spatial Ecology of the Endangered Iguana, Cyclura lewisi, in a Disturbed Setting on Grand Cayman

Abstract West Indian rock iguanas (genus Cyclura: Iguanidae) are among the most endangered lizards in the world, and many species will need to occupy human-modified and -occupied habitats to escape extinction. The Grand Cayman Blue Iguana, Cyclura lewisi, is critically endangered with fewer than 25 wild iguanas remaining. To aid the conservation of this and other iguanas, we investigated the spatial ecology of a captive-bred, released population of C. lewisi occupying a botanic park on Grand Cayman. Iguanas were monitored using transect walks and radio telemetry during the summer and fall of 2002. Males used larger areas and had greater movement distances than females during tracking periods in the summer but not in the fall. Overall home ranges for both seasons combined were larger in males than in females. Some home-range estimates were greater than any previously reported in Cyclura. Several iguanas, especially males during the breeding season, used areas outside the park where they are vulnerable to increased predation, death by vehicle, and hunting or collection by humans. This, combined with the large average home-range sizes for this species, indicate that future reserves for C. lewisi should be large and surrounded by buffer zones or fences.
Low Band‐Gap Conjugated Polymers with Strong Interchain Aggregation and Very High Hole Mobility Towards Highly Efficient Thick‐Film Polymer Solar Cells

Absorption spectra of polymer FBT-Th4 (1,4) (M n = 46.4 Kg/mol, E g = 1.62 eV, and HOMO = -5.36 eV) indicate strong interchain aggregation ability. High hole mobilities up to 1.92 cm(2) (V s)(-1) are demonstrated in OFETs fabricated under mild conditions. Inverted solar cells with active layer thicknesses ranging from 100 to 440 nm display PCEs exceeding 6.5%, with the highest efficiency of 7.64% achieved with a 230 nm thick active layer.