Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metabolic Implications of Surgical Fat Removal: Increase of Adiponectin Plasma Levels After Reduction Mammaplasty and Abdominoplasty

AbstractRecent studies tried to identify new indicators of risk in the development of insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome; recently, breast size has been proposed as a new measure of risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus in women. To understand the role of breast adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue in lipidic and glucose metabolism, we decided to evaluate the variation on levels of adiponectin in plasma and other well-known metabolic markers before and after surgical fat reduction.We formed 2 groups: breast reduction group (M−) and abdominoplasty group (ADD). For all patients enrolled in the study, we recorded anthropometric measurements 1 hour before surgery (that we considered as time zero). At time zero, we always performed a blood sample to observe the assay of glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, CRP, TNF-&agr;, IL-1, IL-6, and adiponectin. The dosage of the above parameters was repeated 40 days after the surgical intervention with the aim of assessing whether they showed a statistically significant change after surgery.Adiponectin levels increased significantly in both groups of patients after surgery: in patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty and abdominoplasty, the mean increase was equal to 1.68 (P = 0.007) and 4.28 (P = 0.019), respectively. The variation in increase was not statistically different between the 2 groups (P = 0.254). Moreover, in the M− group, we observed that HDL levels increased and glycemia decreased significantly.Our study shows that reduction mammaplasty is a surgical procedure associated with a significant improvement in adiponectin level, HDL cholesterol level, and a significant decrease in glycemia level.The effective correlation between the role of breast adipose tissue and appearance of disease is still to be determined.
An Islamic banking perspective on consumers’ perception in Pakistan

Purpose - The aim of this study is to examine the perceptions of consumers on Islamic banking and finance in Pakistan. Islamic finance is an emerging phenomenon, and its survival depends on the availability, affordability and awareness. This paper attempts to fill the gap in the literature by exploring the perceptions of consumers and bankers in an attempt to gain insights so that the availability of products and awareness can be increased. Design/methodology/approach - The study uses a regression model by using perception as a dependent variable and awareness, knowledge and religious motivation as independent variables. Primary data is collected using 150 questionnaires distributed amongst finance students in several universities and employees of Islamic banks in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Province of Pakistan. Findings - The findings reveal that overall consumers’ perception is positive about Islamic banking and finance in Pakistan. Statistical analysis shows that awareness, knowledge and religiosity level have a positive influence on the perception of consumers about Islamic financing products and services in Pakistan. To improve the awareness and understanding, Islamic banks could make better marketing strategies and could increase their presence by mosque visits and conferences. Cooperation between the industry and scholars could help in providing more innovative products to the consumers. Research limitations/implications - There has been a limited amount of work carried out on the perceptions of consumers about Islamic banking in Pakistan. The present study represents the start of a larger context for examining Islamic banking practices in Pakistan. The findings of the study can be used as a reference in future research projects in the areas of perceptions and awareness. Originality/value - Little research has been conducted to study this problem from the perspectives of consumers and Islamic banking employees. Most of the research associated with Islamic banks fails to pay attention to these stakeholder groups in one study.
dl-Asparaginium nitrate

In the title compound, C4H9N2O3 +·NO3 −, alternatively called (1RS)-2-carbamoyl-1-carboxyethanaminium nitrate, the asymmetric unit comprises one asparaginium cation and one nitrate anion. The strongest cation–cation O—H⋯O hydrogen bond in the structure, together with other strong cation–cation N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generates a succession of infinite chains of R 2 2(8) rings along the b axis. Additional cation–cation C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link these chains into two-dimensional layers formed by alternating R 4 4(24) and R 4 2(12) rings. Connections between these layers are provided by the strong cation–anion N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, as well as by one weak C—H⋯O interaction, thus forming a three-dimensional network. Some of the cation–anion N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds are bifurcated of the type D—H⋯(A 1,A 2).
Efficient and robust perceptual hashing using log-polar image representation

Robust image hashing seeks to transform a given input image into a shorter hashed version using a key-dependent non-invertible transform. These hashes find extensive applications in content authentication, image indexing for database search and watermarking. Modern robust hashing algorithms consist of feature extraction, a randomization stage to introduce non-invertibility, followed by quantization and binary encoding to produce a binary hash. This paper describes a novel algorithm for generating an image hash based on Log-Polar transform features. The Log-Polar transform is a part of the Fourier-Mellin transformation, often used in image recognition and registration techniques due to its invariant properties to geometric operations. First, we show that the proposed perceptual hash is resistant to content-preserving operations like compression, noise addition, moderate geometric and filtering. Second, we illustrate the discriminative capability of our hash in order to rapidly distinguish between two perceptually different images. Third, we study the security of our method for image authentication purposes. Finally, we show that the proposed hashing method can provide both excellent security and robustness.
Characterization of thin ferroelectric films for tunable microwave devices - result analysis according to the PLD deposit conditions

Thin film barium strontium titanate (BST) has been investigated for over ten years because of their important dielectric constant which depends on the BST composition (Ba/Sr ratio and Ti composition), the temperature of the device and DC bias voltage applied. We have developed a measurement technique to determine the dielectric constant and the loss tangent of BST thin film at 12 GHz. The deposit conditions by laser ablation (PLD) have been optimized to obtain a good crystallographic and dielectric properties. The objective then is to design reconfigurable microwave devices based on ferroelectric films.
Learning Robust Video Synchronization without Annotations

Aligning video sequences is a fundamental yet still unsolved component for a broad range of applications in computer graphics and vision. Most classical image processing methods cannot be directly applied to related video problems due to the high amount of underlying data and their limit to small changes in appearance. ,,,,,,,, We present a scalable and robust method for computing a non-linear temporal video alignment. The approach autonomously manages its training data for learning a meaningful representation in an iterative procedure each time increasing its own knowledge. It leverages on the nature of the videos themselves to remove the need for manually created labels. While previous alignment methods similarly consider weather conditions, season and illumination, our approach is able to align videos from data recorded months apart.
Design of a Robot Cloud Center

Service-oriented architecture and cloud computing have become the prevalent computing paradigm. In this paradigm, computing resources can be accessed like other utility services available in today's society. In the meantime, robotics applications are joining the trend. More and more robot applications are shifting from manufacture to non-manufacture and service industries. However, for the on-demand supply of the large-scale heterogeneous robots, It is still a problem have not yet been studied, including the fundamental management and efficiency issues in using of these resources. In this paper, we design a framework of "Robot Cloud Center" (RCC) following the general cloud computing paradigm to address the current limitations in capacity and versatility of robotic applications. In this framework, a robot can be provided as a service just like a public utility service so that everyone can access the powerful robotic services easily, efficiently, and cheaply. Based on a given scenario, a robot scheduling algorithm in RCC is proposed to take advantage of the heterogeneous robot resources to meet the end user's requirement with the minimum cost.
International Law’s Empire

Scarcely a day passes without demonstration of the scope, power, and contentiousness of international law. In recent months, countries worldwide have retaliated against the United States for new aluminum and steel tariffs, which they believe violate international trade law. The United States and its allies have launched missile strikes against the Assad regime in Syria for violating international laws that prohibit the use of chemical weapons. And massive flows of migrants into Europe and the United States have prompted debates about the international legal obligations that rich and stable countries have toward individuals who flee poverty and violence in their homelands. These are just a few of the many contemporary examples of international law’s empire. Three new books offer diverse perspectives on the design, use, and development of international law. These books adopt diverse perspectives—rationalist, constructivist, and sociological—to examine the relationship between international law and politics. When viewed collectively, they demonstrate that political scientists have underappreciated the vast expanse of international law’s empire, and they suggest a path forward. First, we must examine the diverse forms of international law. Second, we must analyze the uses of inter-
Social Disadvantage and Education

‘Social disadvantage’ has many dimensions studied in various ways in the economics of education. Studies focus on its measurement, the characteristics of those experiencing it, its consequences and interventions to remedy some of its effects. Those likely to experience persistent disadvantage include lone parents, Indigenous Australians, people with disabilities and people with low educational attainment. It is children from these families whose educational progress we should closely monitor. Interventions can improve outcomes for disadvantaged children, but such programs need to be evaluated more rigorously in the future, and their evaluations released publicly to provide a sounder basis for future policy.
Prediction of in vivo disposition from in vitro systems: clearance of phenytoin and tolbutamide using rat hepatic microsomal and hepatocyte data.

The kinetics of oxidation of phenytoin and tolbutamide were determined in freshly isolated hepatocytes and hepatic microsomes from male Sprague-Dawley rats. Similar enzyme kinetic models are applicable to the data from both in vitro systems; a two-site model for phenytoin with a high affinity (Km = 1-5 microM, based on unbound drug concentration), low capacity site and a low affinity, high capacity site, and a one-site model for tolbutamide. Steady-state infusion studies were performed to characterize the Michaelis-Menten parameters for phenytoin disposition in vivo, these data could also be described by a two-site metabolism model (Km 1.3 microM, intrinsic clearance 62 ml/min for unbound drug for the high affinity site). Comparison of in vivo and in vitro parameters (after scaling the latter parameters for either hepatocyte yield or microsomal recovery) showed excellent prediction of in vivo clearance of unbound drug from hepatocyte data (55 ml/min) but underprediction from microsomal data (17 ml/min). In contrast to phenytoin, the in vivo clearance of tolbutamide (1.5 ml/min for unbound drug) was equally well predicted by both hepatocyte (2.4 ml/min) and microsomal (3.1 ml/min) studies. The difference between the utility of in vitro systems to predict the in vivo clearance of these two drugs, which show similar pharmacrokinetic properties (low clearance restricted to unbound drug concentration in blood), may be a consequence of the particular terminal metabolite formed in each in vitro system. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effect of niacin supplementation on digestibility, nitrogen utilisation and milk and blood variables in lactating dairy cows fed a diet with a negative rumen nitrogen balance

The aim of the present experiment was to determine if a niacin supplementation of 6 g/d to lactating dairy cow diets can compensate negative effects of a rumen nitrogen balance (RNB) deficit. A total of nine ruminally and duodenally fistulated lactating multiparous German Holstein cows were successively assigned to one of three diets consisting of 10 kg maize silage (dry matter [DM] basis) and7 kg DM concentrate: Diet RNB– (n = 6) with energy and utilisable crude protein at the duodenum (uCP) according to the average requirement of the animals but with a negative RNB (–0.41 g N/MJ metabolisable energy [ME]); Diet RNB0 (n = 7) with energy, uCP and a RNB (0.08 g N/MJ ME) according to the average requirement of the animals and, finally, Diet NA (n = 5), which was the same diet as RNB–, but supplemented with 6 g niacin/d. Samples of milk were taken on two consecutive days, blood samples were taken on one day pre- and post-feeding and faeces and urine were collected completely over five consecutive days. The negative RNB reduced milk and blood urea content and apparent total tract digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF). Also N excretion with urine, the total N excreted with urine and faeces and the N balance were reduced when the RNB was negative. Supplementation of niacin elevated plasma glucose concentration after feeding and the N balance increased. Supplementing the diet with a negative RNB with niacin led to a more efficient use of dietary N thereby avoiding the negative effects of the negative RNB on the digestibility of DM, OM and NDF.
Business Ownership Versus Self‐Employment

Using data from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79), we find that 68 percent of jobs classified as selfâ€ employment are not independently reported as selfâ€ owned businesses, while 16 percent of selfâ€ owned businesses are not independently classified as selfâ€ employment. Businesses not regarded as selfâ€ employment are often associated with such signs of entrepreneurship as selfâ€ identification as an entrepreneur, job descriptions that refer to business ownership or a managerial role, and high individual skill/asset levels. Selfâ€ employed jobs that are not independently classified as selfâ€ owned businesses are dominated by contract work and homeâ€ based, singleâ€ person pursuits. Our evidence suggests that selfâ€ employment should not be viewed as a synonym for business ownership.
Entrepreneurship: An Assessment

This article reviews evidence of the impact of entrepreneurship on job creation, gender and race discrimination, university spinoffs, growth, economic geography, finance and the public sector. It defines entrepreneurship, corrects some conventional wisdoms about it and discusses policy implications of the evidence on its determinants and effects. The article suggests that the distinctive nature of entrepreneurship raises theoretical, empirical and policy issues that the existing literature has not even begun to address to date.
LTV equalization of CPM signals over doubly-selective aeronautical channels

In this paper, transmission of continuous phase modulated (CPM) signals over time- and frequency-selective (i.e., doubly-selective) channels is considered. Leveraging on the well-known Laurent representation for a CPM signal, we design a two-stage receiver, composed of a linear time-varying (LTV) equalizer, followed by a detector: the former one aims at mitigating the channel dispersion and it is synthesized under the zero-forcing (ZF) or minimum mean-square error (MMSE) criterion; the latter one recovers the transmitted symbols from the pseudo-symbols of the Laurent representation in a simple recursive manner. Relying on a Basis Expansion Model (BEM) of the doubly-selective channel, we derive frequency-shift (FRESH) versions of the proposed LTV equalizers, discussing also their complexity issues and proposing simplified implementations. Monte Carlo simulation results, carried out in two typical aeronautical scenarios (arrival/takeoff and en-route), show that the proposed approach is able to work satisfactorily also over rapidly time-varying channels.
Is taurine a functional nutrient?

Purpose of reviewTaurine, a free amino acid, is found in millimolar concentrations in most mammalian tissues. Mammals are able to synthesize taurine endogenously, but some species such as humans are more dependent on dietary sources of taurine. A growing body of evidence suggests that taurine plays a preponderant role in many physiological processes, which will be summarized in this review. Recent findingsEvidence for the requirement of taurine in the human diet has been obtained in many studies involving animal models and a few clinical trials. Recent and past studies suggested that taurine might be a pertinent candidate for use as a nutritional supplement to protect against oxidative stress, neurodegenerative diseases or atherosclerosis. Taurine has demonstrated promising actions in vitro, and as a result clinical trials have begun to investigate its effects on various diseases. SummaryTaurine appears to have multiple functions and plays an important role in many physiological processes, such as osmoregulation, immunomodulation and bile salt formation. Taurine analogues/derivatives have recently been reported to have a marked activity on various disorders. Taken together, these observations actualize the old story of taurine.
Multiple origins of sequestrate fungi related to Cortinarius (Cortinariaceae).

The aim of the present study was to investigate the phylogeny and evolution of sequestrate fungi (with gastroid or partially exposed basidiomes) in relation to their gilled relatives from the Cortinariaceae (Basidiomycetes). Phylogenetic analyses of 151 ITS sequences from 77 gilled species and 37 sequestrate taxa were performed using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods. Results show that sequestrate basidiome forms occur in all three major ectomycorrhizal lineages of Cortinariaceae: the clades Cortinarius, Hebeloma/Hymenogaster/Naucoria, and Descolea. However, these forms do not appear within the saprobic outgroup Gymnopilus, indicating multiple origins of sequestrate forms from ectomycorrhizal ancestors. Additionally, within the Cortinarius clade sequestrate forms have multiple origins: emergent Cortinarius spp. , Thaxterogaster, Quadrispora, Protoglossum, and two Hymenogaster spp. (H. remyi, H. sublilacinus) share common ancestors with Cortinarius spp. , but these sequestrate genera are not closely related to each other (with exception of Thaxterogaster and Quadrispora). Hymenogaster sensu stricto, Setchelliogaster, and Descomyces were placed in the two other major clades. Thus, sequestrate taxa evolved independently many times within brown-spored Agaricales. Furthermore, emergent, secotioid, and gastroid forms have evolved independently from each other, and so are not necessarily intermediate forms. After their establishment, these apparently morphologically stable taxa show a tendency to radiate.
Factors associated with long turnaround time for early infant diagnosis of HIV in Myanmar

ABSTRACT Background: A previous review of early infant diagnosis (EID) using polymerase chain reaction technology (PCR) under integrated HIV care (IHC) program in Myanmar revealed a low uptake of timely (within 6 to 8 weeks of babies’ age) EID and a long turnaround time (TAT) of receiving results. Objective: This study aimed to determine the proportion and factors associated with the composite outcome of a long TAT (≥7 weeks; from sample collection to receipt of result by mother) or nonreceipt of result among HIV-exposed babies whose blood samples were collected for PCR at <9 months of age under the IHC program, Myanmar (2013–15). Methods: Cohort study involving record review of routinely collected data. A predictive Poisson regression model with robust variance estimates was fitted for risk factors of long TAT or nonreceipt of result. Results: Blood samples of 1 000 babies were collected; among them, long TAT or nonreceipt of results was seen in 690 (69%), and this was more than 50% across all subgroups. Babies with a mother’s CD4 count of 100–350 cells/mm3 at enrollment [adjusted RR (0.95 confidence intervals, CI): 0.8 (0.7, 0.9)] had a 20% lower risk of long TAT or nonreceipt of results when compared with ≥350 cells/mm3. Distance between ART center and PCR facility ≥105 km [adjusted RR (0.95 CI): 1.2 (1.1, 1.4)], when compared with <105 km, was associated with 20% higher risk of long TAT or nonreceipt of results. Conclusions: The proportion of babies with long TAT or nonreceipt of result by the mother was high. Point-of-care testing for EID may reduce TAT/nonreceipt of results by the mother. Health system, laboratory, and logistic factors such as sample transportation, laboratory procedures, and result dispatching associated with long TAT should be further explored.
Nonpharmacologic group treatment of insomnia: a preliminary study with cancer survivors

This study describes, and examines the initial efficacy of, a sleep therapy programme developed for cancer patients with insomnia. The six‐session group programme included stimulus control therapy, relaxation training, and other strategies aimed at consolidating sleep and reducing cognitive‐emotional arousal. The 12 final participants were patients of a regional cancer centre; mean age was 54.7 years (S.D. 10.4); median time from cancer diagnosis was 33.6 months; all had high performance status. Participants kept sleep diaries and rated their sleep quality, mood and functioning at baseline, week 4 and week 8. Significant improvement over baseline was observed at weeks 4 and 8 in the number of awakenings, time awake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency, sleep quality ratings, and scores on European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ‐C30 role functioning and insomnia. Total sleep time and fatigue were significantly improved at week 8.