Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SUPERLINEAR SPEED‐UP AND THE HALTING PROBLEM

This paper describes a technique for refuting the claim that ‘new’ algorithms on parallel processing systems with n processors will yield a speed‐up of more than n. The technique uses a round‐robin service approach which is borrowed from that used in automata theory. It is shown that a sequential processor with this service technique can yield a speed‐up of 1/n times that claimed for a parallel processor.
Effect of Freeze-Drying Conditions on Antioxidant Compounds of Broccoli

The effect freeze-drying conditions, i.e. particle size, use of infrared radiation, and drying air temperature in Atmospheric Freeze-Drying (AFD) or freezing rate in vacuum Freeze-Drying (VFD) on the total selenium content, total polyphenols content and anti-radical power of broccoli was investigated. Two factorial designs were used, with three factors in two levels each one, for each type of freeze-drying. In AFD, the experimental factors were drying air temperature (5°C or 15°C), particle size (1.0 or 1.5 cm equivalent diameter), and use of infrared radiation (IR; yes or no). In VFD, the factors were freezing rate (high: by immersion in liquid nitrogen, low: in a household freezer at -30°C during 24 h), particle size and IR use, in the same levels as for AFD. In AFD, all experimental factors significantly affected the antioxidant properties of broccoli, while in VFD only the total polyphenols content was affected by freezing rate. Both AFD and VFD impaired antioxidant properties of the processed vegetable to different extents; however the content of total polyphenols and Se were considerably higher in broccoli subjected to AFD. Then AFD is an attractive alternative for broccoli preservation since it allows keeping some healthy properties of the vegetable. Finally, this technology seems promising in the functional food industry considering broccoli as raw material for this use.
Spinal Mechanisms of Pain

Pain is defined as the perception of an adverse or unpleasant sensation that can be localized to a specific body location. Pain is a normal response of the somatosensory nervous system to noxious stimuli and serves a protective function against severe injury and disease. Under normal conditions, pain subsides after the recovery from disease or injury. However, after the injury or disease, a pathologic condition may occur in which pain does not subside. This condition is characterized by the presence of one or more pain sensations: spontaneous pain (pain in the absence of noxious stimulus), hyperpathia (increased duration of pain following a brief noxious stimulus), hyperalgesia (an increased response or overreaction to a noxious stimulus), secondary hyperalgesia (spreading of pain to uninjured tissue), and allodynia (pain resulting from a non-noxious stimulus). Our understanding of the role played by the peripheral and central nervous system in the initiation and maintenance of these pathologic sensations has come a long way but their causal mechanisms are still unresolved. What has occurred over the last decade is the realization that all areas of the nervous system play a role in the initiation and/or maintenance of the pain state, and that the peripheral and central mechanisms are not mutually exclusive.
Immunocytochemical localization of proteins utilized in the formation of outer dense fibers and fibrous sheath in rat spermatids: An electron microscope study

Affinity purified antibodies prepared against proteins isolated from fibrous sheath (FS) and outer dense fibers (ODF) were utilized in an immunocytochemical study of spermatids at various steps of spermiogenesis. This study, using the immunogold technique, was performed on sections of Epon or Lowicryl embedded tissues examined with the electron microscope. In the case of FS antibodies there was a selective immunoreactivity of the FS itself from step 10 onwards, but no reactivity over the plasma membrane associated FS anlagen. In addition there was a diffuse immunoreaction over the cytoplasmic matrix from step 9 until step 18 of spermiogenesis but no reactivity over the various types of dense bodies (e.g., granulated bodies, reticulated body, etc.) seen in the cytoplasm of these spermatids. In the case of ODF antibodies the ODF were immunolabeled throughout their development from step 11 onward. In addition to a diffuse immunoreactivity of the cytoplasmic matrix of spermatids from step 9 until step 18 of spermiogenesis, there was an immunolabeling of “granulated bodies. ” These bodies appeared in relation to ER cisternae during steps 10–14, increased in number and size during steps 15–17 and decreased in number thereafter leaving only a few coarsely granulated bodies in the residual cytoplasm which detached from late step 19 spermatids. No other cytoplasmic structures were labeled with the ODF antibody‐gold complexes. Thus the granulated bodies appeared to serve as a transitory storage site for some proteins destined to form ODF, a major cytoskeletal element of the tail of rat spermatozoa.
Histological and molecular characterization of the femoral attachment of the human ligamentum capitis femoris

The ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) has increased in clinical significance through the development of hip arthroscopy. The histological pathologies and molecular composition of the femoral attachment of the LCF and the degeneration caused by LCF disruption were investigated in the human hip joint. Twenty‐four LCFs were retrieved at surgery for femoral neck fracture (age range: 63–87 years). In the “intact” (i.e., intact throughout its length, n = 12) group, the attachment consisted of rich fibrocartilage. Fibrocartilage cells were present in the midsubstance. In contrast, the construction of the attachment in the “disrupted” (i.e., ligament no longer attached to the femoral head, n = 12) group had disappeared. The attachment in the disrupted group was not labeled for type II collagen or aggrecan, while that in the intact group was labeled for types I, II and III collagen, chondroitin 4‐sulfate, chondroitin 6‐sulfate, aggrecan, and versican. The percentage of single‐stranded DNA‐positive chondrocytes was significantly higher in the disrupted group than in the intact group. We conclude that the femoral attachment of the LCF has a characteristic fibrocartilaginous structure that is likely to adjust to the mechanical load, and suggest that its degeneration is advanced by disruption and should be regarded as a clinical pathology.
A design & implementation of a single axis solar tracker with diffuse reflector

The consumption of Conventional energy & environmental pollution is increasing with the modernization of world. To minimize the pressure on conventional energy source & the environmental pollution, solar energy can play an important role as an alternative energy or renewable energy. In this article, a mobile prototype of single-axis solar tracking system with the light follower robot based on PIC microcontroller has been proposed. Here we build a light tracking or following robot that moves to the direction of the highest intensity of sun light. In addition, an individual automatic solar tracking system is also mounted. To improve the power efficiency, a simple white reflector is used in this system. This automatic mobile tracking system with reflector is not complicated and less cost, and easily applies to the solar power system. In Conclusion, three sets of data in different condition has been provided and a comparison of efficiency has been analyzed between them. An improved performance has been justified with the addition of reflector.
Contrôle d'accès mandataire pour Windows 7

Cet article presente une implementation novatrice pour le ren- forcement des fonctions de controle d'acces de Windows 7. Basee sur le Type Enforcement, cette approche propose de mettre en place un controle d'acces de type mandataire supportant l'application de proprietes de se- curite avancees. De facon similaire a LSM pour le noyau Linux, notre implementation offre un controle d'acces a grain fin reposant sur le de- tournement des appels systeme. L'ajout d'une labellisation du systeme de fichiers offre une correspondance precise entre la ressource et son contexte de securite. De plus, dans le but de faciliter l'ecriture d'une politique de securite, nous avons mis en place un mecanisme d'apprentissage qui se base sur les evenements observes par notre solution pour les transfor- mer en regles de controle d'acces. Ainsi, cette implementation assure le controle des flux d'information directs, que ce soit entre un sujet et un objet ou entre deux sujets, offrant ainsi protection ou confinement contre les attaques de type 0-day. Cet article propose egalement une preuve de concept developpee pour Windows 7, portable sur les autres systemes d'exploitation de la famille Windows. Nous avons pu tester l'impact de notre implementation sur les performances du systeme.
A novel single-phase soft-switched rectifier with unity power factor and minimal component count

A novel, single-phase soft-switched boost AC-DC rectifier that operates with power-factor correction is proposed in this paper. The rectifier is a modified boost voltage-doubler converter well suited for low-line-input applications. It operates with fewer conduction losses and half the switch voltage stresses found in a standard boost converter. Soft switching in the converter is achieved using a zero-current-switching quasi-resonant technique. In the paper, the converter and its modes of operation are discussed and analyzed. The method of control is explained, and a design procedure is derived and then demonstrated with an example. The feasibility of the converter is shown with experimental results obtained from a prototype.
Learning systems design with UML and patterns

Research in educational multimedia shows many benefits of learning with the use of multimedia environments. To take advantage of these benefits, the authors developed a multimedia assisted teaching environment (MATE), which is being tried in supporting their teaching of information technology (IT) subjects, MATE's main strength is its ability to facilitate reuse of multimedia components while developing teaching material. In this paper, MATE is described from the perspective of a student learning systems analysis and design via projects and case studies. The workings of the MATE tool are illustrated with an example that shows their approach to teaching design skills with reusable design patterns.
Identification of cone classes in Xenopus retina by immunocytochemistry and staining with lectins and vital dyes

Abstract The aim of the present study was to determine the number of cone classes in the Xenopus retina. We examined the dimensions and staining properties of cones, utilizing two monoclonal antibodies, COS-1 and OS-2, developed by Szel and Rohlich (1985). Living cones also were reacted with the plant lectins peanut agglutinin (PNA) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and with a fluorescent stilbene dye, DIDS, which binds selectively to red-sensitive cones (Kleinschmidt, 1991; Kleinschmidt & Harosi, 1992a, b). Three cone populations were distinguished based on differences in size and staining properties. Eighty-eight percent of all cones were stained strongly by COS-1, PNA, and DIDS, but weakly by OS-2. The group of cones stained by COS-1 had the largest mean dimensions of outer segment length, width, and oil droplet diameter. COS-1 negative cones were divisible into two groups: a subclass of miniature cones (approximately 4% total cones) was stained strongly by OS-2, PNA, and DIDS. The balance, constituting approximately 9% total cones, were of intermediate size, were not stained by PNA and reacted weakly to OS-2 and DIDS. WGA stained all cones. Large, COS-1 + cones appear to be red-sensitive and belong to the class of anion-tunable cone pigments. We suggest that the intermediate size, COS-1 negative cones are blue-sensitive based on the finding that blue-sensitive chromatic horizontal cells connect to them preferentially (Witkovsky et al., work in progress). The remaining class of miniature cones may be UV-sensitive, since another amphibian, the salamander, has been shown to possess red-, blue-, and UV-sensitive cones (Perry & McNaughton, 1991).
Molecular imprinting science and technology: a survey of the literature for the years up to and including 2003

Over 1450 references to original papers, reviews and monographs have herein been collected to document the development of molecular imprinting science and technology from the serendipitous discovery of Polyakov in 1931 to recent attempts to implement and understand the principles underlying the technique and its use in a range of application areas. In the presentation of the assembled references, a section presenting reviews and monographs covering the area is followed by papers dealing with fundamental aspects of molecular imprinting and the development of novel polymer formats. Thereafter, literature describing attempts to apply these polymeric materials to a range of application areas is presented. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelagem computacional eletromecânica de cardiomiócitos de ratos hipertensos

A hipertensao e uma doenca cronica que esta relacionada com o aumento da pressao exercida pelo sangue nas paredes dos vasos sanguineos. Seu surgimento esta relacionado a sindromes metabolicas e, frequentemente, a obesidade. Entre o periodo de 2000 e 2011, esta patologia foi considerada a maior causa de morte no mundo devido a complicacoes inerentes a sua disfuncao, como por exemplo acidente vascular cerebral e o infarto do miocardio. Diversos estudos vem sendo realizados com o objetivo de compreender melhor os mecanismos que estao relacionados ao surgimento da hipertensao bem como as disfuncoes causadas pela doenca. Dentre estas disfuncoes, existem as alteracoes fisiologicas que ocorrem no coracao sendo que as principais alteracoes ocorrem na atividade eletrica e mecânica do orgao cardiaco. A modelagem computacional se mostra como uma ferramenta muito eficaz no auxilio de tais estudos. A possibilidade de simular as disfuncoes causadas pela hipertensao no coracao permitiria realizar experimentos previos com baixo custo e em um pequeno intervalo de tempo. Assim este trabalho tem por principal objetivo apresentar modelos computacionais capazes de reproduzir a atividade eletromecânica transmural do miocito de ratos normotensos e hipertensos. Para isto, e proposto um novo modelo matematico/computacional resultado de um acoplamento de outros dois presentes na literatura. O modelo computacional proposto obteve resultados bastante satisfatorios visto que foi capaz de reproduzir as alteracoes fisiologicas ocorridas em miocitos de ratos, tanto para celulas de origem do epicardio quanto para celulas de origem do endocardio, nas principais variaveis associadas ao batimento cardiaco: potencial de acao, transiente intracelular de calcio e o encurtamento do sarcomero.
A Novel Coupling Metric for Object-Oriented Software Systems

Over the last four decades, particular interest in software complexities is how to measure and control coupling interactions of the various parts of object-oriented (OO) systems. This paper introduces a novel coupling metric, called global coupling metric, to evaluate coupling interactions between classes of object-oriented systems. The metric differs from the majority of existing metrics in two aspects: it takes into account the strength that one class is dependent on another, it reflects indirect coupling. An empirical comparison of the novel metric with one of the most widely used coupling metrics is described.
Mastication et ODF

Au cours de l'evolution de l'Homme, le role de la dentition a bien change. Au depart, les dents sont considerees comme un veritable outil qui permet a l'Homme de survivre a l'environnement dans lequel il se trouve, et ou la fonction masticatoire se doit d'etre tres efficace. Ainsi, les mâchoires sont larges, le relief des dents, tres abrase, sans dysmorphose ni malposition dentaire. De nos jours, l'evolution du regime alimentaire marque par l'apparition d'aliments cuits et ramollis a repousse la mastication au second plan, puisqu'il n'est plus necessaire de mastiquer longuement les aliments pour les rendre aptes a etre deglutis. La mastication est en effet un des moteurs de la croissance cranio-faciale, ce qui implique que si celle-ci n'est plus correctement realisee, les centres de croissance ne sont plus sollicites. De plus, on se retrouve alors avec des dents au relief encore tres cuspide, veritable verrou dans les mouvements de lateralites mandibulaires (indispensables a une fonction masticatoire physiologique). On observe du fait de ce comportement, de plus en plus de malocclusions, encombrements et dysmorphoses en lien avec cette dysfonction. L'objectif de cette these est de montrer l'importance de la fonction masticatoire dans la croissance du massif cranio-facial, et donc l'importance de celle-ci dans nos traitements ODF. Il est en effet primordial de s'assurer que les enfants mastiquent correctement si l'on veut esperer une croissance harmonieuse ainsi qu'une diminution des dysmorphoses et malpositions dentaires associees a cette fonction. Il est egalement important de prendre conscience que nos traitements ne pourront rester stables dans le temps qu'a la condition que le contexte fonctionnel soit retabli. Ceci passe le plus souvent par la correction de la ventilation et de la dysfonction linguale, mais la mastication ne doit pas etre laissee de cote si l'on veut eviter tout risque de recidive.
Experimental Surgical Therapies for Huntington's Disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by abnormal movement, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disturbance. HD is caused by a trinucleotide repeat expansion in the HTT gene and a corresponding neurotoxic polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin protein. There is currently no therapy to modify the progressive course of the disease, and symptomatic treatment options are limited. In this review we describe a diverse set of emerging experimental therapeutic strategies for HD: deep brain stimulation; delivery of neurotrophic factors; cell transplantation; HTT gene silencing using RNA interference or antisense oligonucleotides; and delivery of intrabodies. The common feature of these experimental therapies is that they all require a neurosurgical intervention, either for implantation of an electrode or for brain delivery of molecules, viruses or cells that do not cross the blood–brain barrier upon oral or intravenous administration. We summarize available data on the rationale, safety, efficacy, and intrinsic limitations of each of these approaches, focusing mainly on studies in HD patients and genetic animal models of HD. Although each of these strategies holds significant promise, their efficacy remains to be proven in HD patients.
Human red blood cells deformed under thermal fluid flow

The flow-induced mechanical deformation of a human red blood cell (RBC) during thermal transition between room temperature and 42.0 °C is interrogated by laser tweezer experiments. Based on the experimental geometry of the deformed RBC, the surface stresses are determined with the aid of computational fluid dynamics simulation. It is found that the RBC is more deformable while heating through 37.0 °C to 42.0 °C, especially at a higher flow velocity due to a thermal-fluid effect. More importantly, the degree of RBC deformation is irreversible and becomes softer, and finally reaches a plateau (at a uniform flow velocity U > 60 µm s−1) after the heat treatment, which is similar to a strain-hardening dominated process. In addition, computational simulated stress is found to be dependent on the progression of thermotropic phase transition. Overall, the current study provides new insights into the highly coupled temperature and hydrodynamic effects on the biomechanical properties of human erythrocyte in a model hydrodynamic flow system.
How Can Socio-Economic Differences in Physical Activity Among Women Be Explained? A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT This qualitative study investigated why women of low socio-economic status (SES) are less physically active than women of higher-SES. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 high-, 19 mid- and 18 low-SES women. A social-ecological framework, taking into account intrapersonal, social and environmental level influences, was adopted to guide the development of interview questions and interpretation of data. Thematic analysis identified a number of key influences on physical activity that varied by SES. These included negative early life/family physical activity experiences (a consistent theme among those of low-/mid-SES); participation in a wider range of physical activities in leisure time (high-SES); greater priority given to television viewing (low-SES); lack of time due to work commitments (low-SES); lack of time due to family commitments (high-SES); and neighbourhood-level barriers (low-SES). Financial costs were not perceived as a key barrier by women in any SES group. Public health strategies aimed at reducing SES inequalities in physical activity might focus on overcoming negative early experiences/attitudes to physical activity, reducing television viewing and promoting a wider variety of different types of physical activity, and addressing neighbourhood safety and other barriers to physically active lifestyles in socio-economically disadvantaged areas.
Nucleotide-based therapies targeting clusterin chemosensitize human lung adenocarcinoma cells both in vitro and in vivo.

INTRODUCTION Lung cancer is highly lethal and resistant to most anticancer interventions. Treatment resistance is mediated, in part, by enhanced expression of cell survival proteins that help facilitate tumor progression. Clusterin is a stress-associated cytoprotective protein up-regulated by various apoptotic triggers in many cancers and confers treatment resistance when overexpressed. The objectives in this study were to evaluate clusterin expression levels in human lung cancer tissue, and to test effects of clusterin silencing using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and short interfering double-stranded RNAs (siRNAs) on chemosensitivity in human lung cancer A549 cells. METHODS Clusterin immunostaining was evaluated in a tissue microarray of 149 spotted human lung cancers. The effects of clusterin ASO or siRNA treatment on clusterin expression and chemosensitivity to paclitaxel was examined in A549 cells in vitro while the ability of clusterin ASO to chemosensitize in vivo was evaluated in immunocompromised mice bearing A549 tumors. RESULTS More than 80% of human non-small cell lung cancers are immunoreactive for clusterin. Clusterin ASO or siRNA decreased clusterin mRNA expression in A549 cells >75% in a dose-dependent, sequence-specific manner, and significantly enhanced chemosensitivity to paclitaxel in vitro. Characteristic apoptotic DNA laddering was observed after combined treatment with ASO plus paclitaxel, but not with either agent alone. In vivo administration of clusterin ASO, compared to mismatch control oligonucleotide, synergistically enhanced the effects of paclitaxel or gemcitibine to significantly delay A549 tumor growth. CONCLUSION These findings identify clusterin as a valid therapeutic target in strategies employing novel multimodality therapy for advanced lung cancer.
Hybrid policy to determine awaking sensor nodes

The Medium Access Control layer in Wireless Sensor Networks handles the failures that occur when a node sends a frame to a dormant neighbor. Some protocols work in such a way that when a node shares its working schedule with its neighbors, each sender node schedules its transmission to the moment when the next node is awake. In others, the nodes do not share information and when one needs to send a frame, it first discovers the time when the next node will be awake. Both approaches are limited due to additional transmissions. This work proposes a hybrid policy that combines the existing ones in order to minimize their costs. Simulation results reveal that our solution often reduces the number of transmissions and energy consumption of the existing policies in the evaluated scenarios.