Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pioglitazone: an antidiabetic drug with cardiovascular therapeutic effects

The antidiabetic compound pioglitazone, an activator of the intracellular peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, and decreases metabolic and vascular insulin resistance. The drug is well tolerated, and its metabolic effects include improvements in blood glucose and lipid control. Vascular effects consist of improvements in endothelial function and hypertension, and a reduction in surrogate markers of artherosclerosis. In a large, placebo-controlled, outcome study in secondary prevention, PROactive study, the use of pioglitazone in addition to an existing optimized macrovascular risk management resulted in a significant reduction of macrovascular endpoints within a short observation period that was comparable to the effect of statins and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in other trials. These results underline the value of pioglitazone for managing the increased cardiovascular risk of patients with a metabolic syndrome or Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Stoichiometry of Complexes between Mannose-binding Protein and Its Associated Serine Proteases

Serum mannose-binding protein (MBP) initiates the lectin branch of the complement cascade by binding to sugars on the surfaces of microorganisms and activating two MBP-associated serine proteases (MASP-1 and MASP-2). Rat serum MBP consists of oligomers containing up to four copies of a subunit that is composed of three identical polypeptide chains. Biophysical analysis of intact and truncated MASPs indicates that each MASP is a homodimer that is stabilized through interactions involving an N-terminal CUB domain. The binding sites for MBP are formed from the three N-terminal MASP domains, in which two CUB modules interact with MBP. Each MASP dimer contains binding sites for two MBP subunits. Both sites must be occupied by subunits from a single MBP oligomer to form a stable complex. Thus, the smallest functional unit for complement activation consists of MBP dimers bound to MASP-1 or MASP-2 homodimers. Trimers and tetramers of MBP form complexes containing up to two MASPs. The results reveal how MASP-1 and MASP-2 can function independently to activate the complement cascade.
New Public Integrity Auditing Scheme for Cloud Data Storage Using Mac And Symmetric Key Cryptographic Algorithms

Abstract In recent days, the cloud data storage becomes a rising trend that promotes the secure remote data auditing. The existing works consider the problem secure and efficient public integrity auditing for shared dynamic data storage. But, it is not secure against the collusion of cloud data and it revokes the group of users during the user revocation in cloud system. Thus, this paper proposed a new public integrity auditing mechanism with the help of Message Authentication Code (MAC) generation and symmetric cryptographic techniques. The main intention of this paper is to design a secure and an efficient cloud data storage system to reduce the bandwidth and to improve the data integrity. The proposed system supports an effective user revocation and public checking processes. Moreover, it supports some properties such as, confidentiality, countability, efficiency and traceability for secure data storage. The experimental results are analyzed and evaluated in terms of computation time, block size, key size, number of rounds and cycles per block.
Towards Robust Full-speed FPGA-based Stereo-matching on the GIMME Platform

This paper presents GIMME (General Image Multiview Manipulation Engine), a highly flexible reconfigurable standalone mobile two-camera vision platform with stereo-vision capability. GIMME relies on reconfigurable hardware (FPGA) to perform application-specific low to medium-level imageprocessing at video-rate. A high-speed stereo-matching approach combining segmentation and 1D SAD for high accuracy and unlimited disparity range at minimal resource utilization is presented. Thanks to its compact design, low power consumption and standardized interfaces (power and communication), GIMME is an ideal vision platform for autonomous and mobile robot applications.
Performance Evaluation of an Enhanced GDCF under Normal Traffic Condition

IEEE 802.11 is one of the most interesting technology in wireless local area networks. In this paper, we investigate performance of IEEE 802.11 DCF (distributed coordination function) and an enhanced GDCF (gentle DCF) in terms of throughput and MAC delay under normal traffic condition. We also present an analytical model for the enhanced GDCF MAC delay under saturation condition. From the results, the performance of the enhanced GDCF is nearly same as that of conventional DCF for light traffic load, but the enhanced GDCF yields better performance than the conventional DCF for heavy traffic load.
Ultra wideband system outage studies in a square cell with partial Rake receiver and lognormal fading

Ultra wideband (UWB) spread spectrum system performance is analysed in a square-shaped cell with centralised and distributed topologies. Cochannel interference induced outage probability is used as a performance measure. The probability of outage varies depending on the spatial distribution of users (link distances), propagation parameters, user activities, and receiver timing errors. Power sums of multiple lognormal signal components are approximated by a Fenton-Wilkinson method. Differences between centralised and distributed topologies are outlined. Numerical results show the strong dependence of outage probability of the link distances and path losses.
Environmental Hazards: Evidence for Effects on Child Health

The human fetus, child, and adult may experience adverse health outcomes from parental or childhood exposures to environmental toxicants. The fetus and infant are especially vulnerable to toxicants that disrupt developmental processes during relatively narrow time windows. This review summarizes knowledge of associations between child health and development outcomes and environmental exposures, including lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins and related polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs), certain pesticides, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), aeroallergens, ambient air toxicants (especially particulate matter [PM] and ozone), chlorination disinfection by-products (DBPs), sunlight, power-frequency magnetic fields, radiofrequency (RF) radiation, residential proximity to hazardous waste disposal sites, and solvents. The adverse health effects linked to such exposures include fetal death, birth defects, being small for gestational age (SGA), preterm birth, clinically overt cognitive, neurologic, and behavioral abnormalities, subtle neuropsychologic deficits, childhood cancer, asthma, other respiratory diseases, and acute poisoning. Some environmental toxicants, notably lead, ionizing radiation, ETS, and certain ambient air toxicants, produce adverse health effects at relatively low exposure levels during fetal or child developmental time windows. For the many associations supported by limited or inadequate epidemiologic evidence, major sources of uncertainty include the limited number of studies conducted on specific exposure–outcome relationships and methodologic limitations. The latter include (1) crude exposure indices, (2) limited range of exposure levels, (3) small sample sizes, and (4) limited knowledge and control of potential confounders. Important knowledge gaps include the role of preconceptual paternal exposures, a topic much less studied than maternal or childhood exposures. Large longitudinal studies beginning before or during early pregnancy are urgently needed to accurately measure and assess the relative importance of parental and childhood exposures and evaluate relatively subtle health outcomes such as neuropsychologic and other functional deficits. Large case-control studies are also needed to assess the role of environmental exposures and their interactions with genetic factors in relatively uncommon outcomes such as specific types of birth defects and childhood cancers. There is also an urgent need to accelerate development and use of biomarkers of exposure and genetic susceptibility in epidemiologic studies. This review supports the priority assigned by international agencies to relationships between child health and air quality (indoor and outdoor), lead, pesticides, water contaminants, and ETS. To adequately address such priorities, governments and agencies must strengthen environmental health research capacities and adopt policies to reduce parental and childhood exposures to proven and emerging environmental threats.
Towards Interactive Object-Oriented Programming

To represent interactive objects, we propose a choice-disjunctive declaration statement of the form S⊔R where S,R are the (procedure or field) declaration statements within a class. This statement has the following semantics: request the user to choose one between S and R when an object of this class is created. This statement is useful for representing interactive objects that require interactions with the user. key words: interactions, object-oriented, computability logic.
Dietary Supplementation of Betaine (Betafin®) and Response to High Temperature Stress in Male Broiler Chickens

The effects of supplemental betaine (Betafin®) in the drinking water (50 g/kg) (WB) or feed (100 g/kg) (FB) were investigated on male broiler chickens (CobbxCobb) exposed to 4 h episodes of heat stress at 34±1°C on day (d) 35 and 36±1°C from d 36 to 41. Prior to (d 1 to 34) and following heat exposure (d 35 to 41), betaine supplementation had no significant effect on body weight, total feed intake and cumulative feed conversion ratios of broilers. The total water intake of WB chicks was lower compared to controls. Prior to heat exposure, there was no difference in percentage of mortality among the three dietary groups. Following the heat challenge period, although higher percentage of control chicks succumbed to the heat challenge as compared to those of WB, it was not significantly different. The WB and FB chicks were less hyperthermic than controls in response to the heat challenge. Irrespective of treatment groups, the heat treatment resulted in a marked elevation in heterophil/lymphocyte ratios (HLR). The WB birds however, had smaller increase in HLR than those of controls during heat exposure. Antibody production against Newcastle disease vaccine on day 35 was not affected by betaine supplementation. On d 42, WB birds had higher antibody production than those of FB. It is concluded that the WB treatment, as measured by HLR, antibody production and mortality rate, has advantages over the FB group under heat stress conditions.
Substance P and its receptor neurokinin 1 expression in asthmatic airways.

BACKGROUND Neural mechanisms have been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic asthma. The expression of neuropeptides such as substance P may be regulated by infectious pathogens, including Mycoplasma species. In contrast to substance P, the substance P receptor neurokinin 1 has not been examined at the protein level in asthmatic airways. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated substance P and neurokinin 1 protein expression and mucus content in endobronchial biopsy specimens from normal control subjects and asthmatic subjects. Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae was performed in both biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage specimens. METHODS Biopsy specimens were collected from 10 normal control subjects and 18 asthmatic subjects before and after a 6-week treatment with a macrolide antibiotic (n = 11) or placebo (n = 7) and were stained for substance P, neurokinin 1, and mucus. M pneumoniae was evaluated by PCR. RESULTS At baseline, compared with normal control subjects, asthmatic subjects demonstrated increased expression of substance P and neurokinin 1 and mucus content in the airway epithelium. Epithelial mucus content correlated with epithelial substance P expression (r (s) = 0.45, P =. 04) and FEV(1) percent predicted (r (s) = -0.51, P =. 019). After antibiotic treatment, both epithelial substance P and neurokinin 1 expression were significantly reduced in asthmatic subjects. M pneumoniae was found in 8 of 18 asthmatic subjects. Asthmatic subjects with M pneumoniae, compared with those without M pneumoniae, showed higher baseline epithelial neurokinin 1 expression, which was significantly reduced after antibiotic treatment (P =.02). CONCLUSION Our data suggest that abnormalities in neural mechanisms may exist in the epithelium of asthmatic airways, and M pneumoniae is possibly involved in this process. Antibiotic intervention may be effective in the treatment of asthma partly through the downregulation of the neurogenic process.
FOXM 1 Is a Downstream Target of Gli 1 in Basal Cell Carcinomas 1

Forkhead box (FOX) proteins have been shown to play important roles in regulating the expression of genes involved in cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, longevity, and transformation. The functional importance of this gene family in normal human skin physiology and disease processes is not well understood. Activation of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling plays a key role in the development of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) of the skin in humans. Recent studies have established that some FOX genes are downstream targets of Shh signaling. We have investigated the role of FOX proteins in transducing Shh effects in human skin by using degenerate PCR to identify FOX genes differentially expressed in BCCs. All three known FOXM1 isoforms (a, b, and c) were detected in human skin and cultured keratinocytes, and the transcriptionally active FOXM1b isoform was found to be up-regulated in BCCs. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR showed that the increase in FOXM1 mRNA levels was specific for BCCs and not a reflection of increased cell proliferation in that no up-regulation was seen in squamous cell carcinomas or proliferating primary human keratinocyte cultures. Immunostaining studies showed intense nuclear and cytoplasmic staining throughout BCC tumor islands and not confined to the periphery regions of the tumor where proliferating Ki-67-immunopositive cells are predominantly localized. Expression of the Shh target glioma transcription factor-1 (Gli1) in primary keratinocytes and other cell lines caused a significant elevation of FOXM1 mRNA level and transcriptional activity, indicating that FOXM1 is a downstream target of Gli1. Our data provide the first evidence that activation of Shh signaling via Gli1 is an important determinant of FOXM1 expression in mammalian cells. Given the role of FOXM1 in cell proliferation, the up-regulation of FOXM1 in BCCs may be one of the mechanisms whereby Shh signaling exerts its mitogenic effect on basal keratinocytes, leading to the development of this common human cancer.
Leap Motion Gesture Control With OsiriX in the Operating Room to Control Imaging

Dear Editor, We would like to present our first experiences with the use of an innovative system to control the imaging in the operation room, the Leap Motion gesture control and OsiriX. Touch-free systems are useful where the contact between the surgeon and computer is disadvantageous; in the operating room a touch-less system is an ideal solution. These solutions reduce surgery time, minimize the risk of infections (in some hospitals, PC monitors are located on the wall and the surgeon must leave the operating table to go there). During surgery, changing gloves each time the computer system has to be operated interrupts the workflow and can result in longer surgery times with higher risk for the patient and higher costs. A Swiss group presented a good prototype: they use Orisix and Microsoft Kinect to perform the touch-free control in the operation room and during autopsy. This solution, in our opinion, can neither be placed on the market nor in operation rooms. The vocal control had several limitations, the Kinect is quite expensive, intraoperative 3-dimensional (3D) imaging was difficult to control, and the working distance of ~1.2 m required a screen of appropriate size. They concluded by suggesting that using more advanced methods, such as recognition of finger gestures, could solve these problems.
Effect of Perception Towards Service Failure Seriousness By Social Commerce Companies and Service Providers on Repurchase Intention and Revisit Intention

This study was intended to examine the effect that the quality of service delivered by social commercial companies and service providers and perception towards seriousness of service failure would have on the intention of repurchase and revisit. 10 hypotheses were derived from literature review. excluding the questionnaires that contained many missing values or inconsistent or insincere answers. The results of this study can be summarized from 3 aspects. First, it was found that the quality of service delivered by social commerce companies had a statistically significant effect on social commerce companies' service failure(Hypothesis 1) and social commerce company repurchase intention(Hypothesis 3) in connection with the effect that the quality of service delivered by social commerce companies and service providers would have. The quality of service delivered by service providers was found to have a statistically significant effect on service providers' service failure(Hypothesis 2) and service provider revisit intention(Hypothesis 4). Second, the perception towards seriousness of service failure by social commerce companies and service providers was found to have the following effect: The service failure by social commerce companies(Hypothesis 5) was found to have a statistically significant effect on service provider revisit intention(Hypothesis 8), but did not have a statistically significant effect on social commerce company repurchase intention (Hypothesis 6). The service failure by service providers was found to be statistically significant for service provider revisit intention(Hypothesis 7) and social commerce companies purchase intention(Hypothesis 9). Finally, service provider revisit intention was found to be statistically significant for social commerce company repurchase intention(Hypothesis 10).
Pathogenesis and molecular biology of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, the JC virus-induced demyelinating disease of the human brain

Studies of the pathogenesis and molecular biology of JC virus infection over the last two decades have significantly changed our understanding of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, which can be described as a subacute viral infection of neuroglial cells that probably follows reactivation of latent infection rather than being the consequence of prolonged JC virus replication in the brain. There is now sufficient evidence to suggest that JC virus latency occurs in kidney and B cells. However, JC virus isolates from brain or kidney differ in the regulatory regions of their viral genomes which are controlled by host cell factors for viral gene expression and replication. DNA sequences of noncoding regions of the viral genome display a certain heterogeneity among isolates from brain and kidney. These data suggest that an archetypal strain of JC virus exists whose sequence is altered during replication in different cell types. The JC virus regulatory region likely plays a significant role in establishing viral latency and must be acted upon for reactivation of the virus. A developing hypothesis is that reactivation takes place from latently infected B lymphocytes that are activated as a result of immune suppression. JC virus enters the brain in the activated B cell. Evidence for this mechanism is the detection of JC virus DNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes and infected B cells in the brains of patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Once virus enters the brain, astrocytes as well as oligodendrocytes support JC virus multiplication. Therefore, JC virus infection of neuroglial cells may impair other neuroglial functions besides the production and maintenance of myelin. Consequently our increased understanding of the pathogenesis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy suggests new ways to intervene in JC virus infection with immunomodulation therapies. Perhaps along with trials of nucleoside analogs or interferon administration, this fatal disease, for which no consensus of antiviral therapy exists, may yield to innovative treatment protocols.
The treatment, management and prevention of oesophageal cancer

The combination of a rising incidence and a poor survival rate makes oesophageal cancer a major health issue. Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus is associated with one of the commonest pre-malignant lesions recognised, Barrett’s metaplasia. This provides a focus for early detection and intervention. The subjects of acid suppression, bile reflux, COX-2 inhibition and ablation therapy will be discussed herewith. Established carcinoma is now rarely treated by surgery alone and this review discusses the benefits of multimodality therapy combined with more accurate staging techniques. Finally an emerging understanding of the molecular events that characterise the transition to carcinoma may provide novel targets in cancer therapy such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and TNF-α. This review will focus on some of the future developments in the treatment of oesophageal cancer.
Extended Anisotropic Layer Theory for Electrical Machines

The Anisotropic Layer Theory (ALT) has been extensively used for electric machine analysis, due to its ability to take finite iron permeability into account globally. However, the effect of the slot openings, which are often present in slotted electrical machines, is neglected. In this work, an extension of the ALT to account for slot openings is proposed. The classical ALT is combined with the Harmonic Modeling Technique (HMT) for slotted structures by assuming infinitely permeable tooth tips. A semi-analytical solution is described for the classical and the extended ALT model. The results of the semi-analytical models are compared to Finite Element Analysis (FEA) results.
Metodologias para seleção de fornecedores: uma revisão da literatura

Driven by the increasing supplier's involvement in the overall performance of the purchaser, companies have become more demanding in their choices, which led to the incorporation of a variety of evaluation criteria in the decision making process. The importance and complexity of the hiring decision, in turn, have encouraged the search for new tools and techniques for vendor selection. The present study conducted a literature review of works related to the topic, where articles published between 1998 and 2011 were analyzed. This review has identified trends and gaps of the recent literature, offering insights to interested parties for further application and/or improvements.
Neural mobilization promotes nerve regeneration by nerve growth factor and myelin protein zero increased after sciatic nerve injury

Abstract Neurotrophins are crucial in relation to axonal regrowth and remyelination following injury; and neural mobilization (NM) is a noninvasive therapy that clinically is effective in neuropathic pain treatment, but its mechanisms remains unclear. We examined the effects of NM on the regeneration of sciatic nerve after chronic constriction injury (CCI) in rats. The CCI was performed on adult male rats, submitted to 10 sessions of NM, starting 14 days after CCI. Then, the nerves were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy and western blot for neural growth factor (NGF) and myelin protein zero (MPZ). We observed an increase of NGF and MPZ after CCI and NM. Electron microscopy revealed that CCI-NM samples had high numbers of axons possessing myelin sheaths of normal thickness and less inter-axonal fibrosis than the CCI. These data suggest that NM is effective in facilitating nerve regeneration and NGF and MPZ are involved in this effect.