Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chemotherapeutic efficacy of an ethanolic Moringa oleifera leaf extract against chromium‐induced testicular toxicity in rats

This study was conducted to determine the mechanism underlying the chemotherapeutic efficacy of an ethanolic Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOLEE) against chromium‐induced impairments of rat testes using biochemical methods. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of five animals each. Group I (control), group II injected potassium dichromate (8 mg kg−1) i.p., group III gastrogavaged MOLEE (500 mg kg−1) p.o. and group IV received (potassium dichromate plus MOLEE) by the same doses for 60 days. After the blood samples were collected, the animals were sacrificed to determine the testicular antioxidant status and sperm parameters. The chromium‐treated group exhibited a significant decrease in testicular antioxidant enzymatic activities, local immunity and sperm parameters as well as an increase in inflammatory markers when compared with the control and MOLEE‐treated group. However, concurrent administration of chromium and MOLEE significantly ameliorated the chromium effects on the sperm parameters, local immunity, inflammatory markers and antioxidant enzymatic activities compared with rats exposed to chromium alone. This study concludes that chronic exposure to chromium produces clear testicular toxicity, which can either be prevented or at least decreased by concomitant administration of MOLEE. Interestingly, the metal ion chelation could attribute partly the antioxidant activities of MOLEE.
High-Efficient and High-Gain Superstrate Antenna for 60-GHz Indoor Communication

A high-efficient and high-gain aperture coupled patch antenna with superstrate at 60 GHz is studied and presented. It is noted that adding superstrate will result in a significant effect on the antenna performances, and the size of the superstrate is critical for the optimum performance. The maximum measured gain of a single antenna with superstrate is 14.6 dBi, which is higher than that of a classical 2 x 2 array. It is found that the gain measured of a single antenna with superstrate increases nearly 9 dB at 60 GHz over its basic patch antenna. This superstrate antenna gives a very high estimated efficiency of 76%. The 2:1 measured VSWR bandwidth with superstrate is 6.8%. The radiation patterns are found to be broadside all over the frequency band. Also, this letter explains a comparison to another source of parasitic patch superstrate antenna with normal microstrip coupling. It is found that aperture coupling is better for high-gain antenna applications.
[Cerebral hemodynamics of post-ischemic delayed hypoperfusion (PDH) and the effects of nicardipine on the PDH].

Post-ischemic delayed cerebral hypoperfusion (PDH) is considered to be one of the most critical factors limiting brain recovery after cerebral ischemia. This experiment was designed to determine the characteristics of PDH and the effects of nicardipine on the PDH. Twenty-four dogs underwent complete cerebral ischemia for 15 min using aortic clamping method with aorto-atrial bypass formation, and cerebral cortical blood flow (c-CBF), brain stem blood flow (s-CBF), intracranial pressure (ICP), and perfusion pressure (PP) were measured for 48h. Eight dogs (1 microgram group) received nicardipine 1 microgram.kg-1.min-1 for 4 h following 10 micrograms bolus iv injection 5 min after declamping of aorta. Another 8 dogs (2 micrograms group) received 10 micrograms + 2 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 nicardipine in the same manner as in group 1. The remaining 8 served as controls. In the control group c-CBF and s-CBF decreased to 60% and 55% of pre-ischemic values, respectively 1 hour after declamping of aorta, and returned to pre-ischemic values 10 and 6 h later, respectively, in spite of no significant changes in PP's. 1 microgram group and 2 micrograms group maintained pre-ischemic CBF value throughout the experimental period, and the values were significantly higher than in control group between 1st and 5th h post-ischemia. There were no significant differences in ICP's among the 3 groups throughout the experiment. In conclusion, PDH appears to be a phenomenon always accompanying transient complete cerebral ischemia, and it is assumed to be caused by constriction of cerebral vessels. Nicardipine improved PDH, indicating that the underlying mechanism of PDH must be related to a disorder in Ca2+ metabolism of cerebral vessels after ischemia.
Study of a polarimetric model for diffuse scattering in urban environment

This work focuses on the polarimetric properties of radio waves scattered off building walls. Two measurement campaigns, the first in a street canyon scenario and the second in a campus scenario, are used to validate an ad-hoc polarimetric diffuse scattering model, suitable to be embedded in Ray-Tracing (RT) prediction tools. The polarization part of the model relies on a single parameter, Kxpol, that sets the polarization coupling between the original polarization and the orthogonal one, caused by a scattering interaction. Results show that between 20% and 30% of the incident field intensity is depolarized, depending on the scenario, in accordance with what found in the experimental parametrization of the model.
Purine nucleoside analogs: emerging roles in indolent lymphoproliferative disorders.

R ECENTLY, a great deal of interest has been generated in three new purine nucleoside analogs because of their remarkable activity in a variety of incurable malignant lymphoproliferative disorders. 2-Fluoro-ara-AMP (fludarabine), 2-deoxycoformycin (ZDCF, pentostatin), and 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA) are all structurally similar analogs of adenosine, but they differ in their interaction with adenosine deaminase (ADA) (Fig 1). This enzyme normally regulates intracellular adenosine levels through the irreversible deamination of adenosine to inosine and thereby serves to degrade purine and deoxypurine nucleotides. The development of these drugs resulted from the systematic search for compounds that could interfere with ADA activity. This enzyme became a specific target because of the observation that approximately 30% of children with severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome (SCIDS) are congenitally deficient in ADA. ',' This deficiency leads to the accumulation of deoxypurine nucleotides, which accounts for the abnormal lymphocyte development present in such patients. Therefore, it was logical to suggest that increasing deoxynucleotide levels in lymphocytes by deliberately interfering with the activity of ADA might prove useful in diseases with abnormal lymphocyte proliferation.3 The development of three novel drugs that are active against common and generally incurable malignancies is a luxury not often afforded the clinical hematologist/oncologist. Furthermore, each has now been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for clinical use. Therefore, it is timely to review the mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and available clinical data and address the issues of potential cross-resistance. Finally, we suggest future directions to exploit these agents in a variety of neoplastic disorders.
Brown-Sequard-Plus syndrome with features of Autonomic Dysreflexia and Horner ’ s syndrome caused by blunt trauma

Results • An accurate, time efficient, and inexpensive prognostic indicator is needed to reduce cost and assist with clinical decision making for cancer management. • The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), which is derived from common serum testing, has been explored in a variety of cancers. • We sought to determine its prognostic value in gastrointestinal cancers by performing a metaanalysis of pertinent published literature. • We analyzed 144 studies comprising 45,905 patients; 2/3 were published after 2014. • The mean, median, and mode cutoffs for NLR reporting OS from multivariate models were 3.4, 3.0, and 5.0, respectively. • Overall, NLR greater than the cutoff was associated with a HR for OS of 1.63. • This association was observed in all subgroups based on tumor site, stage, and geographic region.
Relationship of empathy to appraisal, depression, life satisfaction, and physical health in informal caregivers of older adults.

The relationship between empathy and caregiving appraisal and outcomes was examined among 140 informal caregivers of older adults. Caregivers with high cognitive empathy appraised the caregiving situation as less stressful and less threatening, were less depressed, and reported higher life satisfaction than did caregivers with low cognitive empathy. The caregivers' appraisal, along with educational levels and total household income, significantly predicted individual differences in caregiver depression, life satisfaction, and perceived physical health. Emotional empathy was negatively related to life satisfaction. There appeared to be distinct roles for emotional and cognitive empathy in informal caregiving outcomes. The study supported the important role of caregiving appraisal and resources in caregiving outcomes.
Bacterial nutrients in drinking water

Regrowth of coliform bacteria in distribution systems has been a problem for a number of water utilities. Efforts to solve the regrowth problem have not been totally successful. The current project, which was conducted at the New Jersey American Water Co.-Swimming River Treatment Plant, showed that the occurrence of coliform bacteria in the distribution system could be associated with rainfall, water temperatures greater than 15 degrees C, total organic carbon levels greater than 2.4 mg/liter, and assimilable organic carbon levels greater than 50 micrograms of acetate carbon equivalents per liter. A multiple linear regression model based on free chlorine residuals present in dead-end sections of the distribution system and temperature predicted 83.8% of the heterotrophic plate count bacterial variation. To limit the growth of coliform bacteria in drinking water, the study concludes that assimilable organic carbon levels should be reduced to less than 50 micrograms/liter.
Thermotolerance of IVM‐derived bovine oocytes and embryos after short‐term heat shock

A series of experiments were designed to study the effect of elevated temperatures on developmental competence of bovine oocytes and embryos produced in vitro. In experiment 1, the effect of heat shock (HS) by a mild elevated temperature (40.5°C) for 0, 30, or 60 min on the viability of in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes was tested following in vitro fertilization (IVF) and culture. No significant difference was observed between the control (39°C) and the heat‐treated groups in cleavage, blastocyst formation, or hatching (P > 0.05). In experiment 2, when the HS temperature was increased to 41.5°C, neither the cleavage rate nor blastocyst development was affected by treatment. However, the rate of blastocyst hatching appeared lower in the HS groups (13% in control group vs. 3.9% and 5.6% in 30 min and 60 min, respectively; P < 0.05). When IVM oocytes were treated at 43°C prior to IVF (experiment 3), no difference was detected in blastocyst and expanded blastocyst development following heat treatment for 0, 15, or 30 min, but heat treatment of oocytes for 45 or 60 min significantly reduced blastocyst and expanded blastocyst formation (P < 0.05). In experiment 4, the thermotolerance of day 3 and day 4 bovine IVF embryos were compared. When embryos were pre‐treated with a mild elevated temperature (40.5°C) for 1 hr, and then with a higher temperature (43°C) for 1 hr, no improvement in thermotolerance of the embryos was observed as compared to those treated at 43°C alone. However, a higher thermotolerance was observed in day 4 than day 3 embryos. In conclusion, treatment at 43°C, but not 40.5°C or 41.5°C significantly reduced oocyte developmental competence. An increase in thermotolerance was observed from day 3 to day 4 of in vitro embryonic development, which corresponds to the maternal to zygotic transition of gene expression in bovine embryos. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 53:336–340, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dietary Palmitic and Linoleic Acids and Reproduction of Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Abstract An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of two diets containing 3% of either palmitic acid (Diet P) or linoleic acid (Diet L) on the sensitivity of the reproductive performance, fatty acid composition of plasma and yolk lipids, and total plasma phosphorus of Japanese quail. A 9-wk production period was divided into three phases of 3 wk each: 1) 7 to 10 wk, 2) 10 to 13 wk, and 3) 13 to 16 wk of age. Eighty male plus female pairs of quail were used. The response to dietary treatments appeared not to be influenced by diet fed in the preceding phase. When data were pooled by diet fed in each phase, feed consumption in Phases 2 and 3 was higher (P
The Insect Salivary Protein, Prolixin-S, Inhibits Factor IXa Generation and Xase Complex Formation in the Blood Coagulation Pathway*

Prolixin-S is a salivary anticoagulant of the blood-sucking insect, Rhodnius prolixus, and known as an inhibitor of the intrinsic Xase. We report here its inhibitory mechanisms with additional important anticoagu- lation activities. We found prolixin-S specifically bound to factor IX/IXa in the presence of Ca2+ ions. Light scattering and surface plasmon resonance studies showed that prolixin-S interfered with factor IX/IXa binding to the phospholipid membrane, indicating that prolixin-S inhibit Xase activity of factor IXa by interference with its Xase complex formation. Furthermore, reconstitution experiments showed that prolixin-S binding to factor IX strongly inhibited factor IXa generation by factor XIa. We also found that prolixin-S inhibited factor IXa generation by factor VIIa-tissue factor complex and factor IXα generation by factor Xa. These results suggest that prolixin-S inhibits both intrinsic and extrinsic coagulations by sequential inhibition of all coagulation pathways in which factor IX participates. It was also suggested that prolixin-S may bind to factor IX/IXa by recognizing conformational change of the Gla domain induced by Ca2+ binding.
Information Retrieval System in Bahasa Indonesia Using Latent Semantic Indexing and Semi-Discrete Matrix Decomposition

The focus of this paper is exploring the use of Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) and Semi-Discrete Matrix Decomposition (SDD) in Bahasa Indonesia Information Retrieval System. The method is to take advantage of implicit higher-order structure in association of terms with document (" semantic structure ") in order to improve the detection of relevant document on the basis of terms found in queries in Indonesian Language. LSI is a promising enhancement to the Vector Scale Model of Information Retrieval and uses statistically derived relationship between documents instead of individual words for retrieval. The particular technique used is Semi-Discrete Matrix Decomposition (SDD) based on Kolda Research [5] – in which requires significantly less storage and is faster at query processing than Singular Value Decomposition (SVD). Using Kolda and O-Leary's SDDPACK software [7], an Implementation of SDD LSI is built in Visual Basic 6.0, Matlab 6.5 and Visual C++ and tested in the collection of student research documents at Computer Science Department of IPB. The results will be compared between the SDD performance using stemming terms and non-stemming terms.
Simultaneous optical label erasure and insertion in a single wavelength conversion stage of combined FSK/IM modulated signals

We report on optical label swapping of combined frequency-shift keying/intensity modulation (FSK/IM) modulated signals by using a single wavelength conversion stage based on a semiconductor optical amplifier Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Simultaneous FSK label erasure and insertion at a bit rate of 156 Mb/s is successfully achieved for a 10-Gb/s IM payload with transmission over two spans of 40-km standard single-mode fiber.
A Projected Alternating Least square Approach for Computation of Nonnegative Matrix Factorization

Nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) is a common method in data mining that have been used in different applications as a dimension reduction, classification or clustering method. Methods in alternating least square (ALS) approach usually used to solve this non-convex minimization problem. At each step of ALS algorithms two convex least square problems should be solved, which causes high computational cost. In this paper, based on the properties of norms and orthogonal transformations we propose a framework to project NMF’s convex sub-problems to smaller problems. This projection reduces the time of finding NMF factors. Also every method on ALS class can be used with our proposed framework.
Dynamic stability analysis of autonomous medium-voltage mixed-source microgrid

In an autonomous microgrid without connection to the interconnected grid to support the frequency and voltage, it is more complex to control and manage. Thus in order to investigate the dynamic stability of the medium-voltage (MV) microgrid in Dongao Island, a detailed small-signal state-space model of the autonomous MV mixed-source microgrid containing diesel generator set (DGS), grid-supporting battery energy storage system (BESS), squirrel cage induction generator (SCIG) wind turbine and network is developed. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to reveal the dynamic stability margin of the MV microgrid and identify the permissible variations range of the droop coefficients. Finally, the theoretical analysis is verified with time-domain simulation and experimental results.
Zero-Ripple-Resonant Converters - A New Class in Resonant Power Conversion

The main advantage of the resonant power conversion technique is its ability to eliminate turn on or turn off loss on semiconductor power devices, so that the converter can operate efficiently at multi-MHz switching frequency and yield higher power density compared to the pulse-width-modulated (PWM) technique. However, the main disadvantage of most resonant power conversion techniques is lack of ability to remove the technical conflict of high voltage and current stresses. Moreover, the resonant converter with multiphase configuration for low voltage and high current application poses severe technical challenges. In this paper, the zero-ripple resonant converters - a new class in resonant power conversion is proposed. The advantages of the zero-ripple-resonant technique such as minimum voltage stress, `zero'-ripple input and output currents and its ability to achieve new multiphase architecture are presented. The simulation results and key operation waveforms are given to support this new concept
Reduction of quantum content during neuromuscular transmission

Failure of muscular contraction during repetitive stimulation of motor nerves has been attributed to transmission block of neuromuscular junctions rather than to inexcitability of nerves or muscles (Waller, 1885; Wedensky, 1884, 1891). Such neuromuscular 'fatigue' is known to occur during prolonged stimulation at frequencies above 40/sec (Rosenblueth, 1950). Rapid stimulation and resultant failure, however, may be unrelated to natural activity because motor nerve fibres discharge during brief reflexes for only fractions of a minute at rates approximating 50/sec. During sustained contractions motor units discharge at rates between 5 and 25/sec (Adrian & Bronk, 1929). At these frequencies some form of presynaptic block may occur: repetitive stiniulation of muscles perfused with Locke's solution at 5-15/sec for several minutes leads to neuromuscular failure and cessation of transmitter release (Dale, Feldberg & Vogt, 1936). This result has been attributed to depletion of acetylcholine (ACh) content of motor nerve terminals (Rosenblueth, Lissak & Lanari, 1939), but failure may have been due to anoxia since muscles perfused with blood maintain their ability to contract (Emmelin & MacIntosh, 1956). Although depletion of ACh content is unlikely, evidence for reduction of ACh release per volley has been produced by del Castillo & Katz (1954b) for frog nerve-muscle preparations stimulated at 2-5/sec. It was suggested that this might forestall exhaustion ofACh content (del Castillo & Katz, 1956). The present experiments were designed to test ifACh release is similarly depressed during stimulation of mammalian nerve-muscle preparations at the moderate rates occurring during natural contractions. It will be shown that stimulation at rates up to 20/sec may cause reduction of ACh release per volley, but that this peripheral event is probably not a major rate limiting factor. A preliminary report of some of the findings has already appeared (Thies, 1960).
Cause and analysis of stator and rotor failures in 3-phase squirrel cage induction motors

The authors attempt to identify the various causes of stator and rotor failures in three-phase squirrel cage induction motors. A specific methodology is proposed to facilitate an accurate analysis of these failures. It is noted that, due to the destructive nature of most failures, it is not easy, and is sometimes impossible, to determine the primary cause of failure. By a process of elimination, one can usually be assured of properly identifying the most likely cause of the failure. It is pointed out that the key point in going through this process of elimination is to use the basic steps of analyzing the failure class and pattern, noting the general motor appearance, identifying the operating condition at the time of failure, and gaining knowledge of the past history of the motor and application. <<ETX>>
Perfluorinated compounds in some terrestrial and aquatic wildlife species from Poland

Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) at 1.6–39 ng/g ww and 4.8–200 pg/mL, respectively, perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) at 0.06–0.28 ng/g ww and < 0.05–1.8 pg/mL, and perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) at 0.13–0.57 ng/g ww and 0.05–1.8 pg/mL, were detected in all specimens of European Beaver's (Castor fiber) liver as well as in whole blood of Cod (Gadus morhua), Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca), Eider Duck (Sommateria mollisima), Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis), Razorbill (Alca torda), Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata) sampled in Poland. At smaller concentrations and at less frequency was perfluorononanoate (PFNA) at 0.05–1.4 ng/g ww and < 0.2–2 pg/mL, perfluorohexanoate (PFHxA) at 0.03–0.23 ng/g ww and < 0.05–0.69 pg/mL, while perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) at 0.05–4.3 pg/mL and perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetate (PFOSA) at 0.1–13 pg/mL were also found in Cod as well as in molluscivorous diving-ducks and fish-eating birds but not in Beaver, while perfluoroheptanoate (PFHpA) at < 0.05–0.74 pg/mL was found only in Cod.
Statistical methods applied in microbiology and epidemiology

Those who work in any area of public health are exposed to large amounts of data and processed information. Some acquaintance with statistical methods can make that exposure more profitable. The objectives of this paper are to describe a suitable framework for governing scientific investigations which involve applied statistics, and to set down guidelines for research workers preparing material for publication. Final sections suggest further reading and give a brief description of some of the statistical software available to assist analysis.
Exploring Erdős-Rényi random graphs with IONTW

In this module 1 we explore in detail the distribution of the sizes of connected components of Erd˝os-R´enyi random graphs and discover the reasons for the similarities and diﬀerences between disease transmission on Erd˝os-R´enyi networks and complete graphs that were observed in the explorations of Module 6 of [2]
From Anchovies to Sardines and Back: Multidecadal Change in the Pacific Ocean

In the Pacific Ocean, air and ocean temperatures, atmospheric carbon dioxide, landings of anchovies and sardines, and the productivity of coastal and open ocean ecosystems have varied over periods of about 50 years. In the mid-1970s, the Pacific changed from a cool “anchovy regime” to a warm “sardine regime. ” A shift back to an anchovy regime occurred in the middle to late 1990s. These large-scale, naturally occurring variations must be taken into account when considering human-induced climate change and the management of ocean living resources.