Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Natural killer cell activities of synbiotic Lactobacillus casei ssp. casei in conjunction with dextran

We have reported previously that Lactobacillus casei ssp. casei, together with specific substrate dextran, exhibited an adjuvant effect of stimulating humoral immune responses against bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model antigen in BALB/c mice. In the present study, among the Lactobacillus species tested, L. casei ssp. casei with dextran significantly elevated the natural killer (NK) cell activites in spleen mononuclear cells from BALB/c mice in comparison to L. casei ssp. casei alone or other Lactobacillus species with or without dextran. Oral administration of L. casei ssp. casei together with dextran also resulted in a significant increase of NK cell activities in healthy human volunteers. Further, L. casei ssp. casei induced significant production of interleukin (IL)‐12 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and IL‐15 mRNA expression in the human intestinal epithelial cell line Caco‐2. L. casei ssp. casei with dextran in food also significantly elevated the survival rate of BALB/c mice bearing Meth‐A cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that dietary synbiotic supplementation which is a combination of the L. casei ssp. casei used as a probiotic together with the dextran, a specific substrate as a prebiotic, efficiently elicits murine and human NK cell activities.
Nef protein of HIV‐1 has B‐cell stimulatory activity

ObjectiveTo examine the B-cell stimulatory properties of the regulatory Nef protein of HIV-1. MethodsThe effect of the HIV-1 regulatory proteins Nef, Tat and Vif, were analyzed for their ability to induce differentiation of normal B lymphocytes into immunoglobulin secreting cells (ISC). ResultsA recombinant Nef protein, but neither Tat or Vif, was able to induce ISC in peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) cultures of HIV-1-seronegative donors. Another recombinant Nef protein, d-Nef, with a truncated amino terminal (deletion of 34 amino acids) failed to induce B-cell differentiation. Pretreatment of the Nef protein with a polyclonal anti-Nef-antibody abrogated its B-cell stimulatory activity. The Nef-induced B-cell differentiation was dependent on cell-to-cell contact. Cell surface molecules leukocyte function-associated molecule (LFA)-1, intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, human lymphocyte antigen-DR and B7 were involved in the T-B-cell interaction because monoclonal antibodies to these molecules abrogated the Nef-induced B-cell differentiation response. The Nef protein was able to induce interleukin (IL)-6 messenger (m)RNA and IL-6 protein secretion in PBL, with monocytes as the primary source. ConclusionsThese findings indicate that regulatory (Nef) proteins of HIV-1 contribute to the intense B-cell activation that occurs in association with HIV-1 infection. T-B-cell contact-dependent interaction and induction of IL-6 by these proteins appear to play major roles in this process.
Application of microbial indices to assess the performance of a sequencing batch reactor and membrane bioreactor treating municipal wastewater

Microbial indexes of filamentous bacterial density were evaluated for their potential to act as indicators of sludge settling characteristics for sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment options. These options were operated using settled sewage over a range of aerated loading rates from 0.05 to 0.4/d and the evolution of protozoan and metazoan populations analysed. A filament density score ranging between 0 and 5, which has previously been applied to conventional activated sludge processes, was shown also to be a useful tool for the SBR and MBR, and was correlated to the settleability of the mixed liquor from both reactors. Due to the hydrodynamics of both systems and the subsequent differences in mixed liquors, optimum performance for each bioreactor was obtained under different operating conditions. Although there was no correlation between the numbers of any given protozoan species and plant operating conditions, there was a clear dependence between operating conditions and protozoan diversity. The highest diversity was found when operating conditions were optimum for both the SBR and MBR.
Stability and Hopf Bifurcation Analysis of Coupled Optoelectronic Feedback Loops

The dynamics of a coupled optoelectronic feedback loops are investigated. Depending on the coupling parameters and the feedback strength, the system exhibits synchronized asymptotically stable equilibrium and Hopf bifurcation. Employing the center manifold theorem and normal form method introduced by Hassard et al. (1981), we give an algorithm for determining the Hopf bifurcation properties.
The Narrative of Evidence Based Management: A Polemic

Evidence based' management is a popular contemporary account of the relationship between research and practice in management studies. This paper critically examines the implications of this account from the perspective of Formalism: a narratological approach to critique that focuses on how narratives are made compelling, and hence powerful. Compelling narratives deploy devices that establish (i) credibility and (ii) defamiliarization. Using this approach the paper identifies and examines different ideological strands in the nascent literature on evidence based management: pragmatism, progress, systematization, technique, accumulation. These are the means by which advocates of evidence based approaches construct a compelling story about the value of this approach. Prior criticism of the evidence based approach has centred on epistemological and technical issues. The aim here is to use an aesthetic mode of criticism to highlight political and moral implications. These are important given the relationship between claims to knowledge and the use of power; and the interaction between management research, and management as practice.
Collaborative filtering algorithm based on denoising auto-encoder and item embedding

An collaborative filtering algorithm based on Denoising Auto-Encoder and item embedding (CDAWE) was proposed to solve the absent analysis of item co-occurrence relation and the cold start of model parameters of the information recommendation algorithm based on Denoising Auto-Encoder. In the proposed information recommendation algorithm, users are viewed as documents and items that users have rated are viewed as terms to form the training corpus firstly. Secondly, corpus are trained by the word embedding model, getting item embeddings that imply context information. Thirdly, the Denoising Auto-Encoder neural network is constructed by using all item embeddings as the initial weight and the model parameters are gained through training. Finally, user ratings are predicted by the model and the top-N recommendation is accomplished. Experimental results on the standard dataset demonstrated that the proposed algorithm has higher recommendation accuracy compared to current mainstream algorithms.
Modelling Conceptual Revolutions

En reponse a l'article precedent de D. Ross («Conceptual revolutions? How not to naturalize the philosophy of science», in «Dialogue», 35, n°1, 1996, pp. 147-154), l'A. souligne l'utilite des modeles computationnels de la science cognitive (ECHO) pour la psychologie cognitive et la philosophie des sciences naturaliste en general, pour une theorie de la coherence explicative et des revolutions conceptuelles en particulier
The surgeon's role in the quality of oncologic care.

Quality should be the right treatment for the right patient at the right time. In response to widely varying patient outcomes, national cancer organizations are emphasizing improvement in the quality of cancer care. The National Quality Forum, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer, for example, have all defined quality measures and performed pilot projects to show how to measure and improve quality. Additionally, recent pay-for-performance initiatives have brought even more attention to quality improvement. Because cancer care is complex and multidisciplinary, surgeons must play an integral role in quality improvement. Providing good quality surgical care is essential and involves several considerations. This commentary discusses 6 of them.
Anaerobic Corrosion of 304 Stainless Steel Caused by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous bacterium capable of forming problematic biofilms in many environments. They cause biocorrosion of medical implants and industrial equipment and infrastructure. Aerobic corrosion of P. aeruginosa against stainless steels has been reported by some researchers while there is a lack of reports on anaerobic P. aeruginosa corrosion in the literature. In this work, the corrosion by a wild-type P. aeruginosa (strain PAO1) biofilm against 304 stainless steel (304 SS) was investigated under strictly anaerobic condition for up to 14 days. The anaerobic corrosion of 304 SS by P. aeruginosa was reported for the first time. Results showed that the average sessile cell counts on 304 SS coupons after 7- and 14-day incubations were 4.8 × 107 and 6.2 × 107 cells/cm2, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy corroborated the sessile cell counts. The X-ray diffraction analysis identified the corrosion product as iron nitride, confirming that the corrosion was caused by the nitrate reducing biofilm. The largest pit depths on 304 SS surfaces after the 7- and 14-day incubations with P. aeruginosa were 3.9 and 7.4 μm, respectively. Electrochemical tests corroborated the pitting data.
Ocular toxicity of fluoroquinolones

The ocular toxicity of fluoroquinolones and the risks of their use in the treatment of ocular infection were reviewed. Systematic identification, selection, review and synthesis of published English‐language studies relating to fluoroquinolone use and safety in animals and humans was conducted. Although not free of complications, fluoroquinolones are generally safe when used to treat ocular infection. Ocular toxicity appears to be dose‐dependent and results from class‐effects and specific fluoroquinolone structures. Phototoxicity and neurotoxicity have been reported, and toxic effects on ocular collagen may be associated with Achilles tendinopathy. Corneal precipitation may provide an advantageous drug depot but delay healing and result in corneal perforation in approximately 10% of cases. Although human toxicity studies are limited, the current recommended dose for intracameral injection of ciprofloxacin is less than 25 μg. Intravitreal injections of ciprofloxacin 100 μg, ofloxacin 50 μg/mL, trovafloxacin 25 μg or less, moxifloxacin 160 μg/0.1 mL or less and pefloxacin 200 μg/0.1 mL are considered safe.
Detection of reduced carbon in basalt using Raman spectroscopy : a signpost to habitat on Mars

In the search for evidence of the environmental history of the Martian surface, and the possibility of life at some stage in the planet’s history, a key component is reduced carbon. Carbon is available to the surface environment through meteoritic infall [1] and erosion of abundant volcanic rocks which contain magmatic carbon [2][3], in addition to the possibility of some biogenic carbonaceous matter. However, reduced carbon has not yet been detected by a range of missions to Mars. Carbonate minerals, containing carbon in inorganic oxidized form, have been recorded [4], which together with carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere and magmatic carbon in Martian meteorites provide evidence for a carbon cycle on Mars [5][6]. The mobility of carbon on Mars is also evident in fracture-bound carbon in the Nakhla meteorite, derived from Martian basalt [7] [8]. Basalts are widespread on Mars, so are readily accessible for sampling and analysis.
Uso da tomografia computadorizada por feixe cônico na endodontia.

O correto diagnostico apresenta-se com um marco inicial para o sucesso em Endodontia. Para tal, sao unidas informacoes provindas da anamnese, exames clinicos e complementares. O exame radiografico, dentre as suas variacoes, possui limitacoes por apresentar uma imagem bidimensional de uma estrutura tridimensional. Atualmente, no campo da Imaginolo-gia, a Tomografia Computadorizada por Feixe Conico (TCFC), tambem conhecida como Cone Beam, evidencia-se como uma possibilidade de obtencao de imagens tridimensionais, o que atribui maior confiabilidade aos diagnosticos e planejamento operatorio. Esta revisao tem por escopo abordar alguns topicos de interesse em Endodontia e sua correlacao com a TCFC.Palavras-chave: Tomografia Computadorizada de Feixe Conico. Endodontia. Diagnostico por Imagem.
Uso de técnicas de recuperação de imagens para o problema de reidentificação de pessoas

Varios sistemas de vigilância baseados no uso de multiplas câmeras tem sido propostos recentemente. No entanto, a identificacao de pessoas em sequencias de videos obtidas por varias câmeras com vistas nao sobrepostas, comumente conhecida como reidentificacao de pessoas, e um problema em aberto. As razoes para que este problema seja considerado desafiador referem-se principalmente as restricoes nas quais o problema deve ser resolvido. Estas restricoes sao definidas a partir das caracteristicas do cenario e dos objetos de interesse (as pessoas): primeiro, as caracteristicas biometricas de pessoas nao podem ser utilizadas como caracteristicas discriminantes; segundo, a aparencia das pessoas muda drasticamente em virtude de variacoes na posicao, iluminacao e parâmetros de câmera. Tais restricoes fazem com que uma mesma pessoa possa ser observada por multiplas câmeras como uma pessoa diferente para cada uma delas. Nesta pesquisa, busca-se investigar alternativas para a criacao de sistemas de vigilância visando a reidentificacao de pessoas. Foram empregadas tecnicas de recuperacao de imagens por conteudo tais como descritores de imagens tradicionais e propostos recentemente, analise multiescala, e tecnicas de rank aggregation. Os experimentos realizados consideram a utilizacao de quatro bases de dados comumente utilizadas na avaliacao de sistemas de reidentificacao de pessoas. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que as tecnicas de recuperacao de imagens por conteudo sao promissoras para a reidentificacao de pessoas, obtendo resultados comparaveis aos metodos do estado da arte. Abstract
Monitoring the education gap in Thailand: trends and differentials in lower and upper secondary schooling.

"Using 1980 census and 1987 survey data on birth cohorts to examine recent primary and secondary school enrollment trends [in Thailand], this study reports that primary enrollment is nearly universal but secondary enrollment is much less prevalent. The study assesses several factors thought to influence enrollment and finds that urban residence, parents' completion of primary school, the mother's positive attitude toward education, and the family's being comfortable economically to be associated with children's enrollment in secondary school. It also indicates that, for moderately well-off families, proximity to schools has a major influence on secondary school attendance. For the wealthiest families, however, distance is not a hindrance to attendance, and for the poorest families, having a school nearby is not sufficient to ensure attendance. "
A few cosmological implications of tensor nonlocalities

We consider nonlocal gravity theories that include tensor nonlocalities. We show that in the cosmological context, the tensor nonlocalities, unlike scalar ones, generically give rise to growing modes. An explicit example with quadratic curvature terms is studied in detail. Possible consequences for recent nonlocal cosmological models proposed in the literature are also discussed.
Entwicklung und Synthese von γ-Sekretase-Modulatoren zur Behandlung von Morbus Alzheimer

Die Alzheirmer-Demenz (AD) ist die meisten verbreitete und bisher irreversible Form der Demenz, welche mit Symptomen wie Gedachtnisverlust, Personlichkeitsveranderungen, getrubte Urteilskraft und Desorientierung einhergeht. Trotz einem grosen Forschungsaufwand die Ursachen der AD zu verstehen besteht noch immer die Herausforderung eine Therapie zu entwickeln. Die Aggregation von dem amyloiden beta-Peptid (Aβ), welche zu einem grosen Anteil in den toxischen amyloiden Plaques vertreten sind, spielt eine grose Rolle fur die neuropathologischen Auswirkungen der AD. Diese Abeta, welche in der Lange von 38 bis 42 Aminosauren variieren, werden durch sequenzielles schneiden des amyloiden Vorlauferproteins (APP) von zwei Aspartylproteasen generiert: der beta- und der gamma-Sekretase. Da die gamma-Sekretase fur die Freisetzung der Abeta-Peptide verantwortlich ist, ist diese ein interessantes Target fur eine Behandlung von AD. Verschiedene gamma-Sekretase-Inhbitoren wurden bereits identifiziert, jedoch traten ungewollte Nebenwirkungen auf, durch Verhinderung des Abbaus von anderen Proteinen welche wichtige Aufgaben fur die neuronale Struktur und Funktion besitzen. Eine viel versprechende Klasse, die gamma-Sekretase-Modulatoren, inhibieren die Funktion der gamma-Sekretase nicht vollstandig; sie Verandern nur die Schnittposition der gamma-Sekretase, um mehr Abeta38 zu generieren, zu ungunsten der toxischen Abeta42-Spezies. Bei dieser Modulation werden die anderen Substrate der gamma-Sekretase noch immer abgebaut. N-alkylierte carbonsauren tragende Carbazol-Derivate sind bereits bekannt als gamma-Sekretase-Modulatoren. Diese tragen zwei essentielle funktionelle Gruppen, welche fur den modulatorischen Eigenschaften notwendig sind: der lipophile Rest und die Carbonsaure in der Seitenkette. In dieser Arbeit wurden diese zwei funktionellen Gruppen hinsichtlich ihrer Eigenschaften und Funktion hin untersucht. Der lipophile Rest scheint mit der Membran zu interagieren und die Carbonsaure scheint mit der Bindungsstelle zu interagieren. Basierend auf diesen zwei erstellten SARs wurde eine Bindungshypothese aufgestellt und bewiesen: Diese gamma-Sekretase-Modulatoren interagieren mit dem Substrat an der Stelle Lysin624. Dabei agiert der lipophole Rest als Membrananker um die Orientierung der Modulatoren sicherzustellen. Dabei verhindert dieser die Interaktion von zwei Substrat-Monomeren zu einem Dimer, was in einer vermehrten Freisetzung der unbedenklichen Abeta38-Spezies fuhrt.
Secondary structure-stretched forms of long intron RNA products from the view point of initiation of chromosome homologs somatic pairing

In different types of chromosome pairing (meiotic, somatic, and sister chromatids pairing) initiation stages are less elucidated. In somatic homolog pairing initiation, the long intron RNA products interference may play the essential role. The strongest somatic pairing in Drosophila melanogaster 28B1-B2 locus and its enrichment by long bi-directional transcripts prone us to analyze the pre-mRNA secondary structures. The comparison of sense (pre-mRNA) and antisense (lncRNA) portions corresponding to the lengthy introns for some others’ genes loci reveals the significant correlation of stretched folding form lengths with the homologue pairing percentage. Also for 28B1-B2 locus, the most significant homologue pairing is justified by the plurality of sense and antisense RNA variants for lengthy introns. The stretched forms of long intron products with multiple stem-loop clusters widely presented for sense and antisense strands may interact by multiple loops during transcription being connected to different chromosomes and hypothetically may serve for the pairing initiation. Stretched rod-like or V-shape-like are dominating forms for the whole intron RNA products or their central portions while predominantly star-like for others intron fragments.
Primary voltage control of a single-phase inverter using linear quadratic regulator with integrator

This paper proposes a linear quadratic regulator with integral action, ensuring fast dynamic response and resisting capability of voltage deviation from instantaneous reference grid voltage, to control the inverter voltage that can also be used in a microgrid. The proposed control strategy is based on a linear quadratic regulator, minimizing the cost function of the system, with integral action used to impede voltage degradation from a reference voltage for outside disturbances of the system, such as abrupt load change. The combined integral term assists to recover the voltage difference between grid and reference grid voltage. The validity of the proposed controller has been tested with linear and non-linear loads under various conditions. In both cases, the effectiveness of the controller has been proved. The result of the proposed controller is good to track the instantaneous reference grid voltage.
Aprendizagem participativa em agrupamento nebuloso de dados

Este trabalho apresenta um algoritmo para agrupamento nebuloso de dados, derivado do paradigma de aprendizagem participativa introduzido por Yager na decada de noventa. O algoritmo de aprendizagem participativa utiliza a distância de Mahalanobis como medida de similaridade e parâmetros de controle para o agrupamento nao supervisionado de dados. O desempenho do algoritmo e verificado em duas circunstâncias. A primeira considera diferentes conjuntos de dados sinteticos e a segunda utiliza o conjunto de dados real, Iris. Em ambos os casos, o algoritmo determina o numero de classes e os respectivos centros com sucesso. O algoritmo tambem se mostra competitivo quando comparado com cinco outros importantes algoritmos de agrupamento nebuloso: algoritmo C-Means Nebuloso (FCM), Gustafson-Kessel (GK), Aprendizagem Competitiva Nebulosa (FCL), Aprendizagem Competitiva Eliptica Nebulosa Sensivel a Frequencia (FFSECL) e K-Means Nebuloso Modificado (MFKM). Abstract
Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Preterm and Full-Term Children at School Entry

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Preterm children, compared with term children, are at increased risk of emotional and behavioral problems (EB-problems). Prevalences of EB-problems seem to vary with degree of prematurity and age at assessment. We therefore assessed individual stability of EB-problems in preterm compared with term children first before school entry and again 1 year after school entry, and variation in stability within the preterm group. METHODS: We used data of 401 early preterm (25–31 weeks’ gestational age), 653 moderately preterm (32–35 weeks’ gestational age), and 389 term children from the Longitudinal Preterm Outcome Project cohort study. We classified EB-problems based on the Child Behavior Checklist at ages 4 and 5; this resulted in 4 categories: consistently normal (2 normal scores), emerging (normal score at age 4 and clinical/subclinical score at age 5), resolving, and persistent EB-problems. RESULTS: All preterm children had higher rates than term children of persistent (7.2% vs 3.6%), emerging (4.3% vs 2.3%), and resolving (7.5% vs 3.6%) EB-problems. Early preterm children had the highest rates of persistent (8.2%) and emerging (5.2%) problems, and moderately preterm children had the highest rates of resolving problems (8.7%). In both preterm and term children, predictive values of normal scores at age 4 for normal scores at age 5 were ∼96%, and of clinical/subclinical scores at age 4 for clinical/subclinical scores at age 5 were ∼50%, except for early preterm children (60%). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with term children, all preterm children are at risk for persistent and changing EB-problems at school entry; individual stability, however, is difficult to predict based solely on the factor of preterm-birth.