Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TERASE: Template para Especificação de Requisitos de Ambiente em Sistemas Embarcados

This paper presents a template for environmental requirements specification in embedded systems, called TERASE. There is a lack of requirements specification templates that address the particularities of the embedded systems development. With TERASE embedded system engineers can improve their environmental requirements specification, as well as the communication process between hardware and software engineers. An empirical study was conducted to evaluate the template proposed. The goal of the empirical study was to apply and evaluate the results obtained with TERASE, from the point of view of the embedded system practitioner. The embedded system analyzed during the experiment was a datalogger used to capture and store temperature reading. It was adopted “in-vitro” modality for the experiment.
High-performance and linear thin-film lithium niobate Mach-Zehnder modulators on silicon up to 50  GHz.

Compact electro-optical modulators are demonstrated on thin films of lithium niobate on silicon operating up to 50 GHz. The half-wave voltage length product of the high-performance devices is 3.1 V.cm at DC and less than 6.5 V.cm up to 50 GHz. The 3 dB electrical bandwidth is 33 GHz, with an 18 dB extinction ratio. The third-order intermodulation distortion spurious free dynamic range is 97.3 dBHz2/3 at 1 GHz and 92.6 dBHz2/3 at 10 GHz. The performance demonstrated by the thin-film modulators is on par with conventional lithium niobate modulators but with lower drive voltages, smaller device footprints, and potential compatibility for integration with large-scale silicon photonics.
EFFECTS OF DIVALENT-CATIONS AND ATP ON THE KINETIC-PROPERTIES OF THE SULFHYDRYL-GROUPS OF SARCOPLASMIC-RETICULUM MEMBRANES AND PURIFIED CA-ATPASE

The modification of SR membranes and purified Ca-ATPase with 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-l,3-diazole (NBD-C1) reveals about 11 mol of SH-groups per mol enzyme. The sulfhydril groups of both preparations are divided into two classes (kinetic sets). These classes of SH-groups of SR membranes display pseudo-first-order rate constants (k) of 0.16 and 0.015 min"' (25 °C, pH 7.0, 0.75 mmol/1 NBD-C1). The corresponding values of k for modification of these sulfhydryl groups of purified Ca-ATPase are 0.11 and 0.027 min"', respectively. In the presence of Mg 2+ (EMg-state of enzyme) all fast sulfhydryl groups of SR membranes are modified with k 0,09 min"'. Under these conditions, however, there are but little changes in the reactivity of fast SH-groups of the purified enzyme. Binding of Ca 2+ to SR membranes (ECa-state) results in an enhancement of the fast SH-groups number by 1, and all fast SH-groups are modified with k 0.34 min"'. In the presence of this ion the number of fast SH-groups of purified Ca-ATPase is decreased by 2, and their modification constant is increased to 0.17 min-'. The addition of ATP to both preparations results in similar effects. At low ATP concentration (30 umol/1, EATP-state) the number of fast SH-groups is decreased by 1 in both preparations, modification constants of these groups being of 0.12 and 0,09 min"1 for SR membranes and purified Ca-ATPase, respectively. In the presence of high ATP concentration (3 mmol/1, EATP-state) the number of the fast SH-groups is decreased more: by 2 for SR membranes and by 1 for purified Ca-ATPase. Ca-ATPase activity of SR membranes and the purified enzyme is lost as a result of NBD-C1 modification. The pseudo-first-order constants of modifica­ tion exceed by the factor of 4 the values of k for modification of fast SH-groups. In the presence of high ATP concentrations, the value of k for Ca-ATPase inactiva- tion in SR membranes is decreased to 0.07 min"1, that is equal to the modification constant of the fast SH-groups. The rate of the Ca-ATPase inactivation in the purified enzyme does not change virtually in the presence of ATP.
NONPARAMETRIC IDENTIFIABILITY OF FINITE MIXTURES

Finite mixture models are useful in applied econometrics. They can be used to model unobserved heterogeneity, which plays major roles in labor economics, industrial organization and other fields. Mixtures are also convenient in dealing with contaminated sampling models and models with multiple equilibria. Most of the currently available estimation methods for mixtures are entirely parametric; or, at least they usually employ parametric “type-specific” likelihood functions. This paper develops nonparametric/semiparametric treatments of these models. First, it presents some new nonparametric identification results. It is shown that finite mixture models are identified under weak assumptions that are plausible in economic applications. Next, it shows how to carry out semiparametric maximum likelihood estimation for these models. A practical EM-type algorithm is proposed.
Effect of oxidized LDL on the expression of connexins in cultured human umbilical‐vein endothelial cells

The role of connexins in atherogenesis has attracted increasing attention in recent years; however, whether oxidized LDL (low density lipoprotein) is one of the pro‐atherosclerotic factors that can influence the expression of endothelial connexins remains unclear. To investigate the effect of oxidized LDL on the gene expression of the gap junction proteins connexin37, connexin40 and connexin43 in cultured HUVEC (human umbilical‐vein endothelial cells) in vitro, HUVEC were cultured and divided into groups before being stimulated with various concentrations of oxidized LDL for different times. mRNA expression of connexin37, connexin40 and connexin43 in each group were determined semi‐quantitatively by RT—PCR (reverse transcription—PCR), while protein expression of the three connexins was investigated by immunocytochemical staining. Various concentrations of oxidized LDL down‐regulated mRNA and protein expression of connexin37, and up‐regulated the expression of connexin40 and connexin43. Time‐dependent dynamic alterations of the mRNA expression levels of connexin37, connexin40 and connexin43 were also found in HUVEC stimulated by oxidized LDL. We conclude that oxidized LDL can change the expression of connexin genes in cultured HUVEC within a short period, and thus may be involved in the pro‐atherosclerotic effect of oxidized LDL.
Resolution enhancement of ROI from surveillance video using Bernstein interpolation

In visual surveillance system, a small region-of-interest (ROI) is in most cases set for the target to detect, track, and recognize. In this paper, we propose novel image restoration algorithm using stochastic data regularization (i.e. Bernstein interpolation) in real world surveillance video. We firstly demonstrate the capability of Bernstein function for image enhancement technique such as denoising or deblurring. In addition, a promising approach for Super Resolution algorithm via Bernstein interpolation is also proposed. Representative experimental results prove the effectiveness of the proposed method for ROI from synthetic and real image sequences.
Epitope analysis of senile plaque components in the hippocampus of patients with Parkinson's disease

We conducted an epitope analysis of senile plaque (SP) proteins on hippocampal SPs in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), using a library of antibodies to proteins implicated in the genesis of hippocampal SPs in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The library included antibodies to the β-amyloid protein (β-AP), domains outside the β-AP in β-amyloid precursor proteins (β-APPs), ubiquitin, diverse neuronal cytoskeletal proteins, and polypeptides located mainly in axon terminals. We obtained samples of hippocampus at autopsy from 14 PD patients, 10 of whom were demented. As in the AD hippocampus, the SPs detected by conventional stains in five of the 10 demented subjects contained the β-AP and flanking domains in β-APPs as well as epitopes in T, neurofilament proteins, and synaptophysin. Further, with the exception of the β-AP, epitopes in the other proteins were confined to the coronas of SPs, while clathrin light chain, microtubule-associated protein 5, and neural cell adhesion molecules were almost undetectable or absent in the neuropil occupied by SPs. The same group of antibodies rarely labeled SPs in the other five demented PD subjects or in the four nondemented PD subjects, and conventional stains for amyloid and neurofibrillary pathology revealed rare SPs in these cases. Hence, when conventional stains reveal lesions diagnostic of AD in PD patients, the molecular features of the hippocampal SPs in these patients are the same as those in SPs of the AD hippocampus.
[Determination of in vitro synergy by a checkerboard method when 3 core antimicrobial agents of the retreatment new scheme combined against MDR-MTB and XDR-MTB].

OBJECTIVE In order to detect the in vitro synergistic effect of 4 drugs-pasiniazid (PA), moxifloxacin, rifabutin and rifapentini on multidrug-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-MTB) and extensively drug-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis(XDR-MTB), which were core drugs of"The program of retreatment research of tuberculosis". METHOD The checkerboard method was used to detect the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antituberculosis drug combination schemes (moxifloxacin-PA, moxifloxacin-PA-rifabutin and moxifloxacin-PA-rifapentini) to 40 strains of clinical drug resistant MTB(20 strains of MDR-MTB and 20 XDR-MTB) and the standard strain H37Rv, by calculating the fractional inhibitory concentration index of joint action in vitro to judge the combined effect, with fractional inhibitory concentration index(FICI)≤0.5 and FICI≤0.75 as the basis of 2 drugs and 3 drugs showing synergy. RESULTS The FICI of moxifloxacin-PA scheme for DR-MTB was 0.125 to 1.000, only 5 strains with a FICI ≤0.5, showing synergistic effect. The FICI of moxifloxacin-Pa-rifabutin scheme with 20 strains of MDR-MTB ranged from 0.310 to 1.260, 10 strains with a FICI≤0.75, showing synergistic effect. The FICI of moxifloxacin-PA-rifabutin scheme with 20 strains of XDR-MTB ranged from 0.215 to 1.250, 11 strains with a FICI≤0.75, showing synergistic effect. The FICI of moxifloxacin-PA-rifapentini scheme with 20 strains of MDR-MTB ranged from 0.150 to 0.780, 19 strains with a FICI≤0.75, showing synergistic effect. The FICI of moxifloxacin-PA-rifapentini scheme with 20 strains of XDR-MTB ranged from 0.200 to 1.280, 16 strains with a FICI≤0.75, showing synergistic effect. CONCLUSIONS The synergistic effect of moxifloxacin-PA scheme was poor, but showing better synergy when further combined with rifabutin or rifapentini. Rifabutin showed better effect than rifapentini, but the synergistic effect of moxifloxacin-PA-rifabutin combination scheme was poor than that of moxifloxacin-PA-rifapentini combination scheme.
Comparison of two methods of tear sampling for protein quantification by Bradford method

by the Bradford method. Results were analyzed by Student’s t test. The average protein concentration and standard deviation from tears collected with microcapillary tube were 4.45mg/mL ±0.35 and 4,52mg/mL ±0.29 for right and left eyes respectively. The average protein concentration and standard deviation from tears collected with Schirmer Tear Test (STT) strip were and 54.5mg/mL ±0.63 and 54.15mg/mL ±0.65 to right and left eyes respectively. Statistically significant differences (p<0.001) were found between the methods. In the conditions in which this study was conducted, the average protein concentration obtained with the Bradford test from tear samples obtained by Schirmer Tear Test (STT) strip showed values higher than those obtained with microcapillary tube. It is important that concentration of tear protein pattern values should be analyzed according the method used to collect tear samples.
Circulating coupling factor 6 in human hypertension: role of reactive oxygen species

Objective Coupling factor 6 is an endogenous inhibitor of prostacyclin synthesis and might function as an endogenous vasoconstrictor in the fashion of a circulating hormone in rats. We investigated the role of coupling factor 6 in human hypertension. Methods and results The patients with essential hypertension (EH) (n = 30) received a series of normal salt diet (12 g salt/day) for 3 days, low salt diet (2 g salt/day) for 7 days, and high salt diet (20–23 g salt/day) for 7 days. Normotensive control subjects (n = 27) received normal and low salt diets. The plasma level of coupling factor 6, measured by radioimmunoassay, during normal salt diet was higher in patients with EH than in normotensive subjects (17.6 ± 1.7 versus 12.8 ± 0.5 ng/ml, P < 0.01). Whereas the plasma level of coupling factor 6 was unchanged after salt restriction in normotensive subjects, it was decreased after salt restriction (from 12 g/day to 2 g/day) and was increased after salt loading (from 2 g/day to 20–23 g/day) in patients with EH. This increase in plasma level of coupling factor 6 was abolished by oral administration of ascorbic acid, but the level of blood pressure was unaffected. The percentage changes in plasma coupling factor 6 level after salt restriction and loading were positively correlated with those in mean blood pressure (r = 0.57, P < 0.01), and negatively correlated with those in plasma nitric oxide level (r = –0.51, P < 0.05). Conclusion These indicate that circulating coupling factor 6 is elevated in human hypertension and modulated by salt intake presumably via reactive oxygen species.
Very low density lipoproteins in type II diabetes mellitus and risk of atherosclerosis.

Rapidly accumulation data suggest a close relation between defects in the metabolism of VLDL in type II diabetic subjects and atherogenesis in these patients. Increased concentrations of VLDL seem to be primarily due to an increased secretion of these particles. In addition, defective clearance of VLDL may be involved (e.g. impaired lipoprotein-lipase activity or an altered apolipoprotein composition of triglyceride-rich particles). VLDL and their degradation products may contribute to cholesteryl ester and triglyceride accumulation in macrophages and may affect the normal cholesterol transfer between the different lipoprotein particles or the revers cholesterol transport from peripheral cells to the liver.
Preparation, Characterization and Anti-tumor Activity of Epirubicin Loaded Xyloglucan Nanoparticles for Nasal Delivery

The main objective of this study was to develop a polymeric drug delivery system for epirubicin, intended to be administered nasally, capable of improving the therapeutic index of the drug and devoid of the adverse effects of drug. To achieve this goal epirubicin loaded polymeric nanoparticles were prepare by the high-pressure homogenization method. Our results demonstrate that the methodology of preparation allowed the formation of nanometric (<200 nm), homogeneous and negatively charged particles which are suitable for nasal administration. The in vitro anti-tumor activity of xyloglucan-based nanoparticles developed in this work was assessed by using KBcells and compared to the in vitro anti-tumoral activity of the drug alone. These results demonstrate that incorporation of epirubicin in nanoparticles strongly enhances the cytotoxic effect of the drug.
Systematic review: tuberculous peritonitis – presenting features, diagnostic strategies and treatment

The peritoneum is one of the most common extrapulmonary sites of tuberculous infection. Peritoneal tuberculosis remains a significant problem in parts of the world where tuberculosis is prevalent. Increasing population migration, usage of more potent immunosuppressant therapy and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic has contributed to a resurgence of this disease in regions where it had previously been largely controlled. Tuberculous peritonitis frequently complicates patients with underlying end‐stage renal or liver disease that further adds to the diagnostic difficulty.
Secondary Injuries in Brain Trauma: Effects of Hypothermia

Hypothermia has been shown to be cerebroprotective in traumatized brains. Although a large number of traumatic brain injury (TBI) studies in animals have shown that hypothermia is effective in suppressing a variety of damaging mechanisms, clinical investigations have shown less consistent results. The complexity of damaging mechanisms in human TBI may contribute to these discrepancies. In particular, secondary injuries such as hypotension and hypoxemia may promote poor outcome. However, few experimental TBI studies have employed complex models that included such secondary injuries to clarify the efficacy of hypothermia. This review discusses the effects of hypothermia in various TBI models addressing primary and acute secondary injuries. Included are recently published clinical data using hypothermia as a therapeutic tool for preventing or reducing the detrimental posttraumatic secondary injuries and neurobehavioral deficits. Also discussed are recent successful applications of hypothermia from outside the TBI realm. Based on all available data, some general considerations for the application of hypothermia in TBI patients are given.
Analytical Model of Connection Establishment Duration Calculation in Wireless Networks

It is important to provide possibility of so called “handover” for the mobile subscriber from GSM network to Wi-Fi network and back. To solve specified problem it is necessary to estimate connection time between base station and wireless access point. Difficulty to estimate this parameter is that it doesn’t described in specifications of the standard and, hence, no recommended value is given. In this paper, the analytical model is presented that allows the estimating connection time between base station and IEEE 802.11 access point. Keywords—Access point, connection procedure, Wi-Fi network.
Underuse of Medications for Chronic Diseases in the Oldest of Community‐Dwelling Older Frail Japanese

OBJECTIVES: To test the following hypotheses: (1) the rate of polypharmacy, defined as six or more prescribing medications, is lower in the oldest old (≥85) than in younger older people (65–84); (2) beneficial medication use is lower in the oldest old; (3) the underuse of these medications in the oldest old is associated with physical or cognitive impairment or comorbid conditions.
miR-155在低氧环境中对间充质干细胞免疫因子表达的调控及其机制研究

目的 探讨miR-155在低氧条件下对间充质干细胞（MSC）免疫因子表达的调控以及作用机制。 方法 通过Lipofectamine™ 2000转染试剂将miR-155模拟物转染至MSC中，构建miR-155高表达的MSC细胞。 在水合氯化钴（CoCl2·6H2O）模拟的化学低氧环境中，用脂多糖（LPS）刺激MSC的免疫作用，采用实时荧光定量PCR方法鉴定其转染效果，并检测IL-6、IL-8、诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）、TGF-β、低氧诱导因子1α（HIF-1α）mRNA的表达。 用流式细胞术检测细胞表面抗原，ELISA法检测上清中IL-6、IL-8、TGF-β及SDF-1α的表达水平，Western blot法检测iNOS、HIF-1α蛋白的表达。 结果 较阴性对照组，miR-155转染组的IL-6、IL-8表达上调（24.201±1.536对1. 802±0.058，P<0.01；24.406±4.611对7. 407±1.553，P<0.01），iNOS mRNA表达下调（0.151±0. 035对32. 925±1.632，P<0.01）。 同时，HIF-1α在低氧环境下高表达（45.093±3.371对2. 210±0.498，P<0.01），且低氧miR-155转染组较低氧对照组上调更为显著（102.965±4. 449对45.093±3.371，P<0.01）。 低氧miR-155转染组IL-6、IL-8上调较miR-155转染组更加显著（65.670±10. 613对24.201±1.536，P<0.01; 35.537±2. 285对24.406±4.611，P< 0.01）；miR-155下调iNOS表达（0.235±0.003对0. 612±0.043，P<0.01），低氧条件下更为显著（0.087± 0.002对0.235±0.003，P<0.01）。 低miR-155组SDF-1α、TGF-β mRNA表达均上调（5.690±1. 655对0. 841±0.194，P<0.01; 6.982±1. 353对0. 632±0.184，P<0.01），上清中细胞因子SDF-1α表达水平为24. 609±2. 584对25. 359±2.455（P=0.760）；、TGF-β表达水平为0. 568±0.019对0. 345±0.037（P=0.002）。 结论 低氧条件下，通过上调HIF-1α的表达，从而下调iNOS基因及蛋白，由此促进miR-155正向调控MSC免疫因子的表达。
Determination of the mutation spectrum of the EXT1/EXT2 genes in British Caucasian patients with multiple osteochondromas, and exclusion of six candidate genes in EXT negative cases

We describe here the spectrum and distribution of mutations in the EXT1 and EXT2 genes in the largest reported British Caucasian multiple osteochondromas (MO) population. Furthermore, we report for the first time the screening of the EXT1 and EXT2 promoters, 5′UTRs, and 3′UTRs, and exclude six potential MO candidate genes in individuals without a detectable mutation within the coding region of EXT1 and EXT2. The coding exons of EXT1 and EXT2 were screened in 72 unrelated probands affected with MO. Forty‐six different mutations were identified in 56 probands, of which 29 were novel. Mutation in the EXT1 and EXT2 genes each accounted for 50% of the mutations identified. Of the 72 probands, 42 were of British Caucasian descent, which when added to the 41 British Caucasian families previously reported from our total cohort, gave a total of 83 families. This cohort's proportional frequency for EXT1/EXT2 mutation was 53%/47%. We also validated the technique of high‐resolution melting analysis in a blind study using 27 unique EXT1 or EXT2 mutations. This technique was found to be sensitive with a detection rate of 100% regarding heterozygote detection for EXT mutation scanning. Furthermore, this technique has a very high throughput and is very cost‐effective. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Uso de lenguajes específicos del dominio en enseñanza de programación

En la actualidad existen numerosos problemas, que si bien pueden ser solucionados con herramientas de propósito general, es más apropiado abordarlos con aplicaciones específicas para ese dominio. En este contexto se encuentran los Lenguajes Específicos del Dominio. Un Lenguaje Específico del Dominio (LED) es un conjunto reducido de construcciones y operaciones que brindan una mayor expresividad y optimización para un dominio particular. Un área de especial aplicación para los LED es en el ámbito de la enseñanza en programación, ya que posibilitan abstraerse de los problemas particulares de los Lenguajes de Propósito General (LPG) para centrarse en el tema particular que se desea enseñar. En este artículo se presenta una línea de investigación que tiene por objetivo descubrir y proponer mejoras en la enseñanza de programación a través del uso de LED.
Prevention of malware propagation in AMI

Malware can disrupt the operation of services in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), which is at risk due to connectivity with the global Internet. In motion, malware may hide within the data payloads of legitimate AMI control traffic, implying the need for deep packet inspection. Some of the inspections one may make look for consistency with respect to data available only at the application layer, requiring one to position the analysis high in the protocol stack. Towards this end we propose a policy engine that examines both ingress and egress traffic to the AMI application layer. Policy engine rules may refer to the structure and behavior of the AMI protocol, and may also perform multi-stage analysis of data payloads looking for evidence that executable code is carried, rather than data. Our experimental results demonstrate that the policy engine is able to accurately distinguish between legitimate traffic and malware bearing traffic.
Optimization of regional cerebral blood flow measurements with PET.

implies that CBF at a 120-sec scan time in gray matter is equivalent to (13.6/10.2)2 equaling 1.8-fold trials of those by a 40-sec scan time, that is, the 120-sec scan time corresponds to an 80% gain in the number of trials as compared to the 40-sec scan time. In conclusion, the optimal scan time of PET using the H250 method is between90 and 120sec.The gain of the 120-sec scan time over the 40-sec scan time corresponded to an 80% increase in the number of stimulation trials needed to provide the same statistical significance.
The Changing Virtual Machine Environment: Interfaces to Real Hardware, Virtual Hardware, and Other Virtual Machines

This paper is a survey of changes to virtual machine interfaces, implementation, architecture, and simulation techniques as they affect IBM System/370 and 303X (3031, 3032, 3033) processors, the system control program to which virtual machines interface, and other virtual machines executing on the same real computing system or elsewhere. The paper seeks to summarize such changes and provide a perspective on the virtual machine environment. New uses of virtual machine subsystems are discussed as they relate to inter-virtual-machine communication.