Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Indikation zur Therapie der Trikuspidalklappe bei rechts- und/oder linksventrikulären Erkrankungen

Zusammenfassung Während die Trikuspidalklappenstenose eine Rarität darstellt, ist die Trikuspidalklappeninsuffizienz (TI) eine häufige Herzklappenerkrankung und trägt signifikant zur Morbidität und Mortalität der Bevölkerung bei. Die sekundäre TI ist die häufigste Form und steht in einem komplexen Zusammenspiel zwischen Links- und Rechtsherzfunktion, den pulmonalen Druckverhältnissen, dem Volumenstatus und der Größe des rechten Vorhofs. Der Goldstandard zur Diagnose der TI ist die Echokardiografie. Der Rechtsherzkatheteruntersuchung kommt wegen der verlässlichen Bestimmung der prä- und postkapillären pulmonalen Druckverhältnisse und ihrer ätiologischen Klärung eine wichtige Bedeutung zu. Die aktuellen Leitlinien liefern Empfehlungen für die chirurgische Therapie der Trikuspidalklappe auf dem Boden von Expertenmeinungen. Insbesondere die Operation der sekundären TI wird nur dann empfohlen, wenn gleichzeitig eine linkskardiale Operationsindikation besteht. Die Ergebnisse der chirurgischen Therapie der isolierten TI in Bezug auf intrahospitale Mortalität und Dauerhaftigkeit des Operationsergebnisses sind problematisch. Interventionelle Ansätze auf Transkatheterbasis – aktuell noch in der frühen klinischen Erprobung und mit der ersten CE-Zulassung 2018 des Edwards Cardiobandes zeigen erste vielversprechende Ergebnisse und eröffnen die Perspektive, Morbidität und Mortalität dieses komplex erkrankten Patientenkollektivs positiv zu beeinflussen.
Homogenization of forward‐backward parabolic equations

We study the homogenization of the equation R(e −1 x) ∂ue ∂t − ∆ue = f , where R is a periodic function which may vanish or change sign, with appropriate initial/final conditions. The main tool is a compactness result for sequences of functions which have bounded norms in the spaces associated to the problems.
Real options approach for optimal investment decision timing

Summary form only given. In this paper, we developed a model deciding the optimal investment decision time: invest now or wait more? Using the real options approach and considering the opportunity costs due to delay, the model derived the optimal deferring time until a decision is made. The model decides how long the decision has to be deferred when it is not desirable to invest now. The model would be very useful for overcoming the problem of the net present value (NPV) rule. With this approach, contingent decisions can be made based on the observation of uncertainty resolutions. Also, it minimizes the number of re-evaluations for the investment cost and the value of the opportunity, which enables us to save much time and cost. Moreover, it is applicable to the development of a new product or service case where there are no current market transactions. We believe that this model would be very useful in overcoming the problem of NPV decision criterion. With this approach, we can make contingent decisions based on the observation of uncertainty resolutions, and improve business performance.
Exploring the Challenges of Financing Iran’s Construction Projects from China and Providing Improvement Solutions

In recent years, the tense regional conditions of the Middle East and international sanctions against Iran have led to Iran's construction projects being financed by foreign sources of complexity and limited to certain countries such as China. In spite of China's desire and signing several agreements, the opportunity and capacity of these packages are not optimized. In an effort to improve the situation, the present study focuses on the financing challenges based on the reality of a sensitive issue on Iran-China relations by presenting a common interface between the pillars of the project. The results of this study is highly likely to increase the efficiency of the financing system of the Iranian construction projects, which are to be financed by China. The statistical population of this research includes the contractors, agent, employer, foreign financer, financial consultant, and contractor of the central headquarters. Three construction projects, with non-existent conditions capable of aggregating their deep and varied data were selected as case studies according to the experts' opinion. Then out of a 25-long list of challenges, 5 challenges were chosen based on the weight as the main challenges, including domestic and foreign challenges, with some appropriate improvement solutions being presented. Based on the results of this research, a closer look at the relationships, the significance of impact and the arrangement of the strategies, produces the conceptual model.
Where Did Central and Eastern European Emigrants Go and Why

This paper analyses migration flows from 9 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries after the fall of the "Iron Curtain", 1990-2000. Contrary to most of the previous literature, I analyze migration determinants on actual migration flows from the CEE countries into a number of destination countries. Besides economic differences between sending and receiving countries, I include a number of other variables, e.g. language preferences, education, social security pulls and other factors that help to explain migration behavior. My analyses reveal that the economic push/pulls factors play an important role in international migration from those countries. The disaggregated results show that there are large differences between the CEE countries with respect to emigration patterns. The lagged stock of immigrants, which may reflect networks has a strong and positive effect for immigrants from Central European countries, and Romania and Bulgaria, while immigrants from the Baltic countries seem to rely much less on networks. Income gaps have a positive effect on migration flows, particularly from the Southeastern countries, while employment opportunities in destination countries are main determinants of the migration flows from the Baltic and Central European countries.
The utilization of image subtraction and wavelet decomposition-reconstruction for improving FCM based segmentation of radiographic weld defect

Automatic weld defect segmentation is an important step in radiographic weld defect identification system. Fuzzy C Means (FCM) clustering, which had been proven capable and applied for many images segmentation applications, was utilized as the segmentation basis of weld defect object. In this study, a method using Laplacian sharpening of image subtraction and 2-D wavelet decomposition-reconstruction is utilized for improving the result of FCM-based weld defect segmentation. Image subtraction was applied by subtracting the background image, which was estimated by 30×60 average filtering, with the origin image and followed by image sharpening operation using Laplacian filtering to reduce the background intensity and to enhance the foreground area. Two level decomposition of 2D db4 wavelet was employed to produce wavelet coefficients, then 2 levels wavelet reconstruction was performed only using approximation coefficient to synthesize a new image. In the last step, reconstructed image was segmented by FCM clustering to obtain a weld defect image. The proposed method was tested on five different weld defect types sample and it was evaluated using mutual overlap approach. The evaluation result showed that this method increase the mutual overlap metric which obtained 57.46%.
Carcass yield, organoleptic and serum biochemistry of broiler chickens fed activated charcoal

Two hundred and twenty five (225) unsexed Marshal Broiler chicks were used to investigate the carcass yield, organoleptic and serum biochemistry of broilers fed activated charcoal. The broiler chicks were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments, supplemented with activated charcoal at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% and designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. Each treatment was grouped in three replicate with 15 birds per replicate. At the end of 8 weeks experimental period, a total of 15 broiler chickens were used for both carcass and blood analysis with three birds per treatment. Data was collected on carcass characteristics, sensory evaluation, and blood serum cholesterol. There were significant (P 0.05) different. The result of the sensory evaluation were significant in all the parameters measured, while the serum biochemical analysis showed that SGOT (serum glutamine oxaloacetic transminase, SGPT (serum glutamine phosphates transminase), albumin, cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly (P < 0.05) different except alkaline phosphates and SGPT that were not significantly different. However, activated charcoal would serve as a good source of growth promoter for broiler birds to improve feed efficiency and their health. It is therefore concluded that at 0.5% activated charcoal supplementation increased relative organ weights, reduced cholesterol level of the broiler meat as a result or efficient mineral intake and nutrient utilization due to the absorptive effect of the activated charcoal.
Nutrient Metabolism Tissue Lycopene Concentrations and Isomer Patterns Are Affected by Androgen Status and Dietary Lycopene Concentration in Male F 344 Rats 1

Diets rich in lycopene from tomato products as well as greater concentrations of blood lycopene have been associated with a decreased risk for prostate cancer in epidemiologic studies. However, little is known about factors modulating lycopene absorption, metabolism and tissue distribution in humans and animal models of prostate cancer. A 2 3 4 factorial design was used to measure the effects of androgen status (castrated vs. intact), dietary lycopene concentration (0.00–5.00 g/kg lycopene) and their interaction on tissue lycopene accumulation and isomer patterns in male F344 rats. Male F344 rats ( 14 wk old; 44 castrated, 44 intact) were randomly assigned to one of four diets containing total lycopene concentrations of 0.00, 0.05, 0.50 or 5.00 g/kg as beadlets and fed for 8 wk. Tissue total lycopene and cis/trans lycopene profiles were determined by HPLC. Tissue and serum lycopene concentrations increased significantly (P , 0.01) as dietary lycopene levels increased between 0.00 and 0.50 g/kg. No further increases in serum or tissue concentrations were seen in rats fed dietary lycopene between 0.50 and 5.00 g/kg. As dietary lycopene increased, so did the percentage of cis lycopene in the liver (P , 0.05), due primarily to an increase in the 5-cis isomer. Castrated rats accumulated twice (P , 0.01) the liver lycopene as compared to intact controls, with no effect of castration on serum lycopene or adrenal, kidney, adipose, or lung tissue concentration. Livers from castrated rats had a greater proportion of cis-lycopene than those of intact rats (P , 0.05). A significant interaction between dietary lycopene concentration and androgen status was seen for liver lycopene concentration (P , 0.01). We conclude that serum and tissue lycopene reaches a plateau between 0.05 and 0.50 g/kg dietary lycopene, the tissue cis/trans lycopene ratio increases with greater dietary lycopene and androgens modulate hepatic lycopene metabolism. J. Nutr. 130: 1613–1618, 2000.
Kyotorphin analogues – transport and enzymatic stability studies with computational methods

Peptide exhibiting a biological effect once inside the body undergoes multiple biotransformations leading to their inactivation and degradation. An effective way for its use is the introduction into the body simultaneously with peptidase inhibitors. Another viable approach is the development of peptide mimetics that exhibit the same or increased biological effect, but increased stability. Here we present the docking studies of kyotorphin analogues with already known in vivo biological effect regarding aminopeptidases and oligopeptide transporters. The objective was to determine whether these analogues exert their pronged effect due to their stability to the peptidases action and also whether they can be transported by the transmembrane transporters which also influence their effects. The docking results showed that kyotorphin analogues can not be hydrolyzed by aminopeptidase N and only three of them can be transported through the cell membrane. From these studies it was concluded that the tested analogues are effective, stable, and do not affect overall metabolism, which makes them suitable for the treatment of pain.
Vif target mRNA 5 '-GCUAAGGACUGGUUUUAUAGACAUCAC-3 ' 3 ,-CGAUUCCUGACCA AAUAUCUGUAGUG-5 ' A C IJ G Anti-Vifrirxwme

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the etiological agent of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) poses a worldwide threat to public health. The ability of HIV to adapt to current antiviral drug therapy places some importance on other means to inhibit viral replication. Ribozymes may offer a promising avenue of research in the battle against HIV. Hammerhead ribozymes are RNA molecules that act as enzymes, catalyzing the substrate-specific cleavage of target RNAs. Ribozyme targeting of HIV RNAs essential to replication have been shown to reduce or inhibit viral replication. Among the genes most commonly targeted are tat and rev, which regulate viral transcription and post-transcriptional modification, respectively. In this paper we describe the design, synthesis, and cloning of a hammerhead ribozyme targeted to HIV-1 v//(Virion Infectivity Factor). This gene encodes a protein that enhances viral infectivity by blocking a host antiviral defense pathway, which relies on the host protein APOBEC3G Vifs ability to inhibit this cellular defense mechanism makes it a potentially advantageous target for ribozyme-mediated down-regulation of HIV. INTRODUCTION The identification of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus as the causative agent of AIDS in 1983 was accompanied by a tremendous research effort directed at limiting or preventing the spread of this virus into susceptible populations. While these measures have temporarily succeeded in reducing the number of HIV infected individuals who progress to AIDS, they are not curative. To this end, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimated in late 2003 that about 40 million people worldwide were infected with HIV, and in that year alone, approximately 5 million new HIV infections and 3 million AIDS-related deaths occurred (NIAID, 2004). The rapid adaptation of HIV-1 to antiviral drugs (Freeman and Herron, 2001) gives some urgency to investigating other means to inhibit viral replication. One such area of investigation involves the use of catalytic RNAs, or ribozymes, to target and cleave viral mRNAs. Ribozymes are RNA molecules that act as enzymes, catalyzing the substrate-specific cleavage of substrate RNAs (Cech, 1989). Ribozyme targeting of HIV mRNAs could potentially inhibit viral replication by reducing HIV gene expression and limiting assembly of viral progeny. One class of catalytic RNA was found to exist naturally in the satellite RNA of tobacco ringspot virus (sTobRV) (Prody et al., 1986). Forster and Symons (1987)
Low-energy plasmonic structure in CaC6

The low-energy dielectric properties of CaC6—a representative graphite intercalated compound (GIC)—were investigated by ab initio time-dependent density functional theory calculations with full inclusion of local field effects. The calculations predict the existence of several kinds of plasmons in CaC6 with energy below 10 eV. The mode with the largest energy is a conventional “πp” mode strongly dispersing in the hexagonal basal plane and almost nondispersing in the perpendicular direction. In the 2.3–3 eV energy range, we find a long-lived intraband plasmon with negative (positive) dispersion with momentum transfer in (perpendicular to) the basal plane. In the 0–1.5 eV energy range, a mode with linear soundlike dispersion along all three high-symmetry directions is observed. All the three modes present strong anisotropy originated from the band structure. The physical origin of these excitation modes is discussed in terms of intra- and interband transitions. The crucial role of local field effects in the propagation of the two lowest-energy modes at large momentum transfers and in the determination of its dispersion over extended momentum-transfer region is analyzed.
Photocuring epoxy with quantum dots for 3D printing

3D printing is the future of manufacturing, limited by material development. Stereolithography is an ideal 3D printing process as it is energy efficient, accurate, fast and capable of forming composite materials. The photocuring of polymers used in this process is integral to society via more applications such as dentistry, coating, and printed circuit boards. However, those photosensitive materials are unstable in daylight during end use limiting their viability for making functional parts in many applications, motivating our work. The ultimate goal is to photocure only with light outside of the solar spectrum on Earth in stereolithography 3D printing, which motivates this work, to produce photostable parts. While semiconducting nanoparticles have previously been shown to photocure acrylic resins via a free radical mechanism, here we demonstrate, for the first time, that semiconducting nanoparticles are capable of photocuring epoxy cationically. This result is critical because with that achieved, the quantized effect can be used to increase the band gap energy of the nanoparticles to only be sensitive to light outside of the solar spectrum on Earth. We study both bulk and quantized nanoparticles, propose a reaction mechanism supported by experimental observations, and explore the effects of process variables on the kinetics of the reaction. The intertwining of the engineering of the application, the chemistry of the reactions and the physics of quantum dots makes this thesis a truly rich, interdisciplinary study.
Estimation de modèles de mélanges finis par un algorithme EM crédibiliste

Dans cet article, l'estimation d'un modele de melange fini est abordee dans le cadre du Modele des Croyances Transferables (MCT). Ce modele constitue le socle d'un formalisme non probabiliste pour la representation d'informations imprecises et incertaines par des fonctions de croyances. Dans ce contexte, un algorithme EM credibiliste, une extension de l'algorithme EM aux fonctions de croyance, est introduit pour l'apprentissage des parametres du modele de melange fini. Nous montrons comment cet algorithme peut etre applique dans plusieurs contextes ou l'information sur le modele de generation des donnees n'est que partiellement disponible. Cette information est representee, dans le probleme d'apprentissage, par des fonctions de croyance qui permettent de modeliser la connaissance disponible sur la composante ayant servie a generer chaque observation de maniere la plus fine possible. Plusieurs simulations mettent en evidence des situations ou le modele de generation des donnees n'est connu que de maniere imprecise (apprentissage partiellement supervise) et ou l'on ne possede auncune information sur la composante d'appartenance de chaque observation (apprentissage non supervise). Des jeux de donnees synthetiques permettent de demontrer les bonnes performances de l'approche proposee en terme d'estimation mais egalement en terme d'apprentissage sur des modeles de melanges gaussiens.
Characterization of the bioactive constituents of Nymphaea alba rhizomes and evaluation of anti-biofilm as well as antioxidant and cytotoxic properties

Anti-biofilm represents an urge to face drug resistance. Nymphaea alba L. flowers and rhizomes have been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for dyspepsia, enteritis, diarrhea and as an antiseptic. This study was designed to identify the main constituents of Nymphaea alba L. rhizomes and their anti-biofilm activity. 70% aqueous ethanolic extract (AEE) of N. alba rhizomes was analyzed by liquid chromatography, high resolution, mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) for its phytoconstituents in the positive and negative modes in addition to column chromatographic separation. Sixty-four phenolic compounds were identified for the first time in N. alba rhizomes. Hydrolysable tannins represent the majority with identification of galloyl hexoside derivative, hexahydroxydiphenic (HHDP) derivatives, glycosylated phenolic acids and glycosylated flavonoids. Five phenolics have been isolated and identified as gallic acid and its methyl and ethyl ester in addition to ellagic acid and pentagalloyl glucose. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and anti-biofilm activity for the extract and the major isolated compounds were determined. Radical scavenging activity using 2.2Di (4-tert-octylphenyl)-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay as well as cytotoxic activity using 3-(4, 5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay have also been evaluated. MIC of N. alba rhizomes against Staphylococcus aureus was 0.25 mg/mL compared with 0.1 mg/mL for methyl gallate. The best reduction in biofilm formation (84.9%) as well as the best radical scavenging (IC50 3 µg/mL) and cytotoxic (IC50 9.61 ± 0.3 µg/mL) activities were observed with methyl gallate. This is the first study for in-depth characterization of phenolic compounds in N. alba rhizomes revealing it as a valuable source of phenolic compounds and promising anti-biofilm forming agent of natural origin. Key words: Hydrolysable tannins, Nymphaeaceae, LC-HRMS.
Urban Resources as Educators.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework by which educators can recognize, affitm, and enhance the potential to learning of a vast array of urban resources unconnected to schools. Working definitions of the major terms "educators," "resources," and "urban" are provided as a reference base for the conceptual framewuk. Elements of the various constituents of the learning encounter are itemized in order to assist professionals in analyzing the interaction between learner and situation. Features of the participants, the context and the learning process are included. A review of selected literature which touches on the issue of learnihg from urban resources is also provided. Writings that describe three different kinds of resources (museums, settlement houses, and the city as a built environment) are identified. It is suggested that educators could apply the urban resource framework to 'these works, in order to use the literature more creatively and systematically in their thinking about urban education. The challenge. for educators, it is held, is to understand how people can learn from the city's non-school resources, and to create ways of enhancing that process. (Author/EB) ***********************************************************************. * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ***********************************************************************
2 CONSTRUCTING AND USING CONTRIBUTIONS : A THEORETICAL APPROACH 2 . 1 Constructing Contributions in the Literature

In this paper, we examine how contributions are established in interpretive case studies. By focusing on the introductory sections of articles, previous research in the organizational literature has recently shed light on how theorists construct opportunities for making contributions. Our theoretical approach is broader in scope, examining both the construction and use of contributions in all sections of an article. We use this approach to explore how a well-ited IS interpretive case study makes contributions. With respect to constructing contributions, our findings confirm previous strategies suggested by earlier research, and uncover the use of plural strategies. Our analysis of the use of contributions is more unexpected. For example, key theoretical and conceptual contributions that were central to the case study were rarely drawn on and incorporated by later texts. Rather, multiple audiences took up the softer, and simpler, conceptual contributions. Furthermore, our findings categorize a number of different types of referencing used by later texts in incorporating and using contributions, namely mistaken referencing, ambiguous referencing, incorporating into a new term, and related work referencing. We conclude by providing some suggestions as to how IS researchers can make better contributions from interpretive case studies