Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carcinogenic Effects of Benzene: Cesare Maltoni's Contributions

Abstract: Cesare Maltoni's contributions to understanding, identifying, and characterizing widely used commercial chemicals in experimental animals are among the most important methods developed in the history of toxicology and serve to protect working men and women, the general population, and our environment from hazardous substances. Maltoni developed experimental methods that have reached the “platinum standard” for protection of public health. Benzene was among the 400 or more chemicals that Maltoni and his associates tested for carcinogenicity. In 1976, Maltoni reported that benzene is a potent experimental carcinogen. Maltoni's experiments clearly demonstrated that benzene is carcinogenic in Sprague‐Dawley rats, Wistar rats, Swiss mice, and RF/J mice when administered by inhalation or ingestion. Benzene caused carcinomas of the Zymbal gland, oral cavity, nasal cavities; cancers of the skin, forestomach, mammary glands, and lungs; angiosarcomas and hepatomas of the liver; and hemolymphoreticular cancers. Thus, benzene was shown to be a multipotential carcinogen that produced cancers in several species of animals by various routes of administration. On November 2, 1977, Chemical Week reported that Maltoni provided a “bombshell” when he demonstrated the “first direct link” between benzene and cancer. In this paper, I shall summarize early experiments and human studies and reports; Maltoni's experimental contribution to understanding the carcinogenicity of benzene in humans and animals; earlier knowledge concerning benzene toxicity; and benzene standards and permissible exposure levels.
Observation and polarization measurement of B0→a1(1260)+a1(1260)- decay

We present measurements of the branching fraction B and longitudinal polarization fraction fL for B0→a1(1260)+a1(1260)- decays, with a1(1260)±→π-π+π±. The data sample, collected with the BABAR detector at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, represents 465×106 produced BB pairs. We measure B(B0→a1(1260)+a1(1260)-)×[B(a1(1260)+→π-π+π+)]2= (11.8±2.6±1.6)×10-6 and fL=0.31±0.22±0.10, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The decay mode is measured with a significance of 5.0 standard deviations including systematic uncertainties.
The perception of the role of IS in an emerging country: The case of Botswana

This exploratory study examined the perceptions of employers and employees of the IS industry in Botswana regarding the role of the educational offering as it pertains to the skills demand in the local job market. Using secondary data from an IS graduate tracer study, organisational survey and literature on national and international programme offerings, a comparative analysis of the perceptions of the role of IS was undertaken. The findings show that there exists a misalignment between the educational offering and the local IS industry needs. Also, there is a lack of clear distinctions between computing disciplines. The result is that both the employers and employees perceive computing disciplines (IT/CS/IS) to be one and the same thing and in so doing missing out on the benefits of distinctive and specialized training of the three categories of computing practitioners. It is recommended that future research is carried out to ascertain the peculiarities of the local IS industry.
Arguments and contexts

The concept of context was ̄rst discussed in AI by McCarthy, and ever since it has found many applications in knowledge representation and defeasible reasoning. Argument-based systems have evolved into powerful formalisms for performing defeasible reasoning. In this respect, the MTDR framework (Simari & Loui, 1992) has come to be most successful. However, dialectical considerations imposed a rather procedural approach, which causes the protocol for making inferences to be tightly interlocked with the system's underlying logic. Protocols are an important issue in argument-based frameworks, since they determine the perfomance and behavior of the system. This paper presents an alternative formalization for MTDR, in which protocol issues may be kept apart from the logic for defeasible argumentation itself. The ability to perform inference will be captured using debate contexts. This work was partially supported by the Secretar¶3a de Ciencia y T¶ecnica de la Univ. Nacional del Sur 2Fellow of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient¶3 ̄cas y T¶ecnicas (CONICET), Rep¶ ublica
Multiuser diversity with quantized feedback

In this paper, we propose an optimal discrete rate switch-based multiuser diversity system (DSMUDiv) that reduces the feedback load while preserving the essential of the scheme's performance in some cases. We examine the DSMUDiv scheme using two scheduling criteria depending on the distribution of the mobile users in the cell: (i) absolute signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)-based scheduling in the case of independent and identical distributed (i.i.d.) users, and (ii) normalized SNR-based scheduling in the case of non-i.i. d. users. The paper includes the derivation of closed-form expressions of the feedback load in the case of absolute and normalized SNR-based scheduling and the spectral efficiency in the case of absolute SNR-based scheduling. Computer simulation is used to evaluate the spectral efficiency in the case of normalized SNR-based scheduling. Under slow Rayleigh fading assumption, we compare our scheme with the optimal (full feedback load) selective diversity scheme
Beneficial Effects of Chronic Pharmacological Manipulation of &bgr;-Adrenoreceptor Subtype Signaling in Rodent Dilated Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Background—Studies in isolated cardiac myocytes have demonstrated that signaling via specific &bgr;1-adrenergic receptor subtypes (&bgr;1ARs) promotes but that signaling via &bgr;2ARs protects from cell death. We hypothesized that prolonged &bgr;2AR stimulation or &bgr;1AR blockade would each protect myocytes from death and thereby ameliorate cardiac remodeling in chronic heart failure. Methods and Results—A large myocardial infarction (MI) induced in rats by coronary artery ligation resulted in a dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) characterized by infarct expansion and a progressive increase in left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume, accompanied by a reduction in ejection fraction (EF), as assessed by repeated echocardiography. Pressure-volume analysis at 8 weeks after ligation showed that diastolic stiffness (Eed) and arterial elastance (Ea) were increased, end-systolic elastance (Ees) was decreased, and arterioventricular (AV) coupling (Ea/Ees) had deteriorated. Apoptosis was present in both peri-infarct and remote myocardium. Chronic (6-week) administration of the &bgr;2AR agonists fenoterol or zinterol, starting at 2 weeks after MI, reduced the extent of LV dilation, infarct expansion, and EF decline. The &bgr;1AR blocker metoprolol did not affect the former and preserved EF to a lesser extent than did the &bgr;2AR agonists. At 8 weeks after ligation, apoptosis was reduced by all drugs but to a greater extent by &bgr;2AR agonists than by the &bgr;1AR blocker. Both &bgr;2AR agonists and the &bgr;1AR blocker improved AV coupling, the former mainly by reducing Ea and the latter mainly by increasing Ees. Only the &bgr;2AR agonists reduced the Eed and the MI size by reducing infarct expansion. Conclusions—These results provide proof of concept for the efficacy of chronic &bgr;2AR stimulation in this DCM model.
Update on Reactive Oxygen Species Activation of Ca 2 1 Channels Reactive Oxygen Species Activation of Plant Ca 2 1 Channels . A Signaling Mechanism in Polar Growth , Hormone Transduction , Stress Signaling , and Hypothetically Mechanotransduction 1

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive reduced oxygen molecules. Recent studies have shown that production of ROS occurs in response to many physiological stimuli in plant cells, including pathogen attack, hormone signaling, polar growth, and gravitropism. Evidence is emerging that ROS can function as cellular second messengers that are likely to modulate many different proteins leading to a variety of responses. One target of ROS signal transduction is the activation of Ca-permeable channels in plant membranes. ROS activation of Ca channels may be a central step in many ROS-mediated processes, such as stress and hormone signaling, polar growth, development, and possibly during mechanotransduction.
The relationship between 1,2-dimethylhydrazine dose and the induction of colon tumours: tumour development in female SWR mice does not require a K-ras mutational event.

In this study we have investigated the relationship between the dose of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and the yield (and location) of tumours in a mouse strain susceptible to colon tumour induction. Female SWR mice were injected with 6.8 mg/kg DMH i.p. once a week for 1, 5, 10 and 20 weeks and the animals were followed for almost 2 years. Administration of increasing doses of DMH resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in survival time. Colon tumours developed in 26, 76 and 87% of mice given a total dose of 34, 68 and 136 mg/kg DMH, respectively: no tumours were detected in animals treated with a total dose of 6.8 mg/kg. Most colon tumours (79%) were located in the distal colon with the remainder being found in the mid colon and none were detected in either the proximal colon or small intestine. As mutations in the K-ras gene are thought to be key events in the pathogenesis of human and rodent colon tumours, we determined the frequency of codon 12 and 13 K-ras mutations in these tumours by restriction site mutation analysis and/or DNA sequencing. A total of 50 colon tumour samples were analysed for codon 12 mutations and of these 29 were also screened for codon 13 mutations. No mutations were detected in either of these codons. The mutational activation of the K-ras gene is not an essential step in the development of DMH-induced colon tumours in female SWR mice and if similar considerations apply to humans, then the aetiological role of alkylating agents may be underestimated from the prevalence of K-ras GC-->AT transitions in human tumours.
Testosterone and metabolic syndrome: The link

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) or “Syndrome X” which is a constellation of insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hypertension, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and increased very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels. It is one of the main threats for public health in the 21st century with its associated risk of cardiovascular disease. This condition affects a major chunk of mankind. International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimated that around 20-25% of the adult population of the world has MetS. Several definitions have been put forward by different expert bodies leading to confusion. To overcome this, joint new statement of many expert group have been issued. Serum testosterone (T) has been shown to be associated with MetS. Several studies have shown a higher prevalence of MetS in subjects with low testosterone. There are also several studies showing a significant difference in serum T between those with MetS and those without. Serum T has also been shown to be associated with components of MetS and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) improves various metabolic and anthropometric parameters in MetS. Patients with androgen deprivation for treatment of various cancers have also been reported to have higher prevalence of MetS. But the evidence of association is not sufficient evidence for the causation of MetS by low testosterone and long-term studies are needed to confirm whether T deficiency is the cause or is a feature of MetS.
An 11‐channel radio frequency phased array coil for magnetic resonance guided high‐intensity focused ultrasound of the breast

In this study, a radio frequency phased array coil was built to image the breast in conjunction with a magnetic resonance guided high‐intensity focused ultrasound (MRgHIFU) device designed specifically to treat the breast in a treatment cylinder with reduced water volume. The MRgHIFU breast coil was comprised of a 10‐channel phased array coil placed around an MRgHIFU treatment cylinder where nearest‐neighbor decoupling was achieved with capacitive decoupling in a shared leg. In addition a single loop coil was placed at the chest wall making a total of 11 channels. The radio frequency coil array design presented in this work was chosen based on ease of implementation, increased visualization into the treatment cylinder, image reconstruction speed, temporal resolution, and resulting signal‐to‐noise ratio profiles. This work presents a dedicated 11‐channel coil for imaging of the breast tissue in the MRgHIFU setup without obstruction of the ultrasound beam and, specifically, compares its performance in signal‐to‐noise, overall imaging time, and temperature measurement accuracy to that of the standard single chest‐loop coil typically used in breast MRgHIFU. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Grid Monitoring: Bounds on Performances of Sensor Placement Algorithms

—The objective of this paper is to ﬁnd numerical bounds on the performances of algorithms for the placements of phasor measurement units (PMUs) in the power grid. Given noisy measurements and knowledge of the state correlation matrix, we use a linear minimum mean squared error estimator as the state estimator to formulate the PMU placement problem as an integer programming problem. Finding the optimal placements of a ﬁxed number of PMUs in a large network is prohibitively complex, forcing us to look for suboptimal algorithms and bounds on the optimal performance. In this paper, we present a sequence of nested bounds using matrix pencils and generalized eigenvalues, that upper bound the optimal performance. Finally, we numerically compare the performances of the suboptimal solutions with the upper bounds using the IEEE 30- and 57-bus test systems, showing that the proposed bounds provide a valid basis for determining the quality of di ﬀ erent suboptimal solutions.
Hierarchically distributed PCE for backup strategies on an optical network

The application of path computation elements (PCEs) has been widely discussed to reduce route calculation burden from GMPLS nodes. Current PCE proposals, however, have not yet covered path backup schemes, which is prerequisite for providing tremendous capacity such as core optical networks. We already presented a hierarchically distributed path computation element (HDPCE) architecture to improve existing PCE techniques. In this paper, we describe detailed path backup methods performed by HDPCEs to demonstrate the promising potential of HDPCE architecture. The key idea is the interdomain HDPCE, which manages the bridging optical domains, stores shared risk link group (SRLG) information, and discovers accurate disjointed SRLG backups. The proposed technique is sufficiently flexible to allow three variants of path backup methods that are commonly required in commercial networks. We analyze the features and performance of three types of path-backup methods. We also show the superiority of the proposed HDPCE-based backup methods compared to legacy OSPF-based backup methods in terms of path accommodation and processing time.
Connective tissue graft associated or not with low laser therapy to treat gingival recession: randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND To evaluate the treatment of gingival recession with a connective tissue graft (CTG) alone or in combination with low-level laser therapy (CTG + L). METHODS Forty patients presenting 40 Miller Class I and II gingival recessions were included. The defects were randomly assigned to receive either CTG (n = 20) or CTG + L (n = 20). A diode laser (660 nm) was applied to the test sites immediately after surgery and every other day for 7 days (eight applications). RESULTS The mean percentage of root coverage was 91.9% for the test group and 89.48% for the control group after 6 months (p > 0.05). The test group presented more complete root coverage (n = 13, 65%) than the control group (n = 7, 35%) (p = 0.04). Dentine sensitivity decreased significantly after 6 months in both groups (p < 0.001). The two groups showed improvement in aesthetics at the end of treatment. CONCLUSIONS Low-level laser therapy may increase the percentage of complete root coverage when associated with CTG.
Quantitative analysis of sulci in the human cerebral cortex: Development, regional heterogeneity, gender difference, asymmetry, intersubject variability and cortical architecture

The degree of cortical folding (GI) and the relation between sulci and borders of cyto‐ and receptorarchitectonically defined areas were analyzed in postmortem human brains. The GI reaches adult levels (with highest values in the association cortices) around birth and does not decrease during aging. It shows a sex‐dependent left‐over‐right asymmetry. Sulci and borders of architectonical areas coincide only in a few examples; thus, sulci are not generally valid landmarks of the microstructural organization of the cortex.
A 0.63ps resolution, 11b pipeline TDC in 0.13µm CMOS

This paper presents the first pipeline TDC based on time-domain 1.5b MDAC stages with a digital-domain residue calibration and a time amplifier gain calibration. The proposed architecture is implemented with an 11b TDC using a 0. 13µm CMOS. The TDC achieves the finest 1b resolution of 0.63ps ever reported in a conversion range of 1.3ns, DNL of ±0.5LSB, and INL of ±2LSB.
Evaluation of an Automatic Text Abstraction System

Information overload has been a serious problem to scholars, researchers, and students in academia. There is too much to read and too little time. A good abstract would reduce readers reading time by providing gist of the source. By reading the abstract, readers can decide if it is worthwhile to read the original. Therefore, time could be saved. Since most journal articles do not observe guidelines published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on writing abstracts, they need to be modified by professional abstractors. The huge volume of journals has brought pressure on professional abstractors in various bibliographic abstracting services. A text abstraction system was developed to produce abstracts that meet the ANSI standards. To evaluate the system performance, this study compared its output to two other abstracts: the abstract written by the original author and the manual modification of the abstract system output. All three abstracts are derived from the same source paper. The evaluation results indicated that the author abstract differed significantly from the manually edited system output in terms of meeting the ANSI standards. The abstract was also significantly different from the system output both before and after manual editing in fluency. All three were not significantly different in understandability. No significant difference was identified between the system output and its manual edited version in any of the three dependent variables. Therefore, it is possible to use the system output directly without manual modification. This would, subsequently, save time and resources.
Predictors and sequelae of trajectories of physical aggression in school-age boys and girls

Abstract Teacher-rated trajectories of physical aggression in boys and girls from first through sixth grade were examined using data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. In separate analyses, four trajectories were identified in boys and three in girls. Higher levels of aggression in both boys and girls were related to greater sociodemographic risk and higher maternal harshness in the preschool years; lower levels of observed maternal sensitivity during early childhood also predicted higher trajectories of aggression among girls. Trajectory groups also differed on a range of social and academic adjustment outcomes in sixth grade, with the most aggressive children and even moderately aggressive children evidencing some difficulties in adjustment. Patterns and levels of aggression in boys and girls are discussed as are their predictors and consequences.
A Hybrid Preference-based Recommender System Based on Fuzzy Concordance / Discordance Principle

The invention relates to epoxy molding compositions consisting of diglycidyl ethers of bisphenols, anhydride hardeners and reinforcing fillers. At least half the total amount of filler consists of wollastonite. These molding compositions have greater resistance to cracking, which is particularly advantageous in encasing metal parts.
Coffee Worker's Allergy

Workers in the coffeee industry were investigated. Study I comprised 50 selected cases of whom 25 had work‐related symptoms and 25 had not. Prick tests and RAST investigations with different factory dust extracts were performed. Study II was a cross‐sectional study comprising 129 workers who were prick‐tested with one factory dust extract and with castor bean (CB). More than 40% described occupationally related asthma, rhintis, and in about half of these cases sensitization with one or two allergens found. One allergen comes from coffee beans and is found in the factory dust, mainly where the raw coffee is handled. This allergen is destroyed in the roast other allergen is identical with the allergen from castor bean and is presumed to enter the plant via the sacks. Predisposing factors to developing sensitization were atopic status, degree and length of exposure, and smoking habits.
Possible Role of Coryneform Bacteria in Age Gelation of Ultrahigh-Temperature-Processed Milk

Two strains of psychrotrophic, gram-positive, proteolytic bacteria isolated from raw milk were identified as Arthrobacter or closely related coryneform species. We inoculated raw-milk samples with the strains (one strain per sample) and compared rates of gelation after ultrahigh-temperature processing with that of ultrahigh-temperature-processed controls. The trial indicated that either organism could play a role in age gelation of ultrahigh-temperature-processed milk.
Effects of an agonist of gonadotropin-releasing hormone on ovarian follicles in cattle.

Three experiments were conducted to examine effects of Buserelin, a potent agonist of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, on characteristics of ovarian follicles in cycling cows and heifers. In experiment 1, heifers were injected once with 10 micrograms Buserelin on Day 11, 12, or 13 of the estrous cycle (estrus = Day 0), or once with 20 micrograms of Buserelin on Day 12. Additionally, two groups were injected with a luteolytic dose of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) on Day 13 preceded with or without a Buserelin injection (10 micrograms) on Day 12. A control group did not receive a Buserelin injection. Ovaries were recovered and weighed after animals were slaughtered on Day 15. Follicle diameters were measured with calipers. Follicles for all experiments were classified as small (class 1: 3-5 mm diameter), medium (class 2: 6-9 mm), or large (class 3: greater than 9 mm). Heifers receiving only Buserelin had an increased number of medium-sized follicles compared to controls. Buserelin injection administered 24 h before PGF2 alpha reduced the decline in the average weight of the ovaries containing the corpus luteum (7.8 g for Buserelin before PGF2 alpha vs. 6.7 g for no Buserelin before PGF2 alpha). Buserelin pretreatment appeared to delay or prevent complete luteolysis by the injected PGF2 alpha. In experiment 2, 0, or 10 micrograms Buserelin was injected on Day 12 and follicle development was monitored by ultrasonography in situ from Day 12 to estrus. Follicles also were classified as clear or cloudy; cloudy was associated with flocculent material in the follicular fluid or with an indistinct follicular wall. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)