Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eutrophisation des eaux des retenues des barrages Smir et Sehla (Maroc) : causes, conséquences et consignes de gestion

Au Maroc, plusieurs retenues de barrages connaissent des problemes de la degradation de leur qualite d'eau due essentiellement aux differentes sources de pollution. L'une des consequences de cette situation est l'enrichissement de l'eau par les nutriments (N et P) indicateur d'un etat avance de l'eutrophisation. Ce phenomene provoque un desequilibre de l'ecosysteme avec un developpement anarchique d'algues et une consommation intense de l'oxygene au fond des lacs. La Direction de la Recherche et de la Planification de l'Eau a conduit depuis la fin des annees 80 un programme de surveillance de la qualite des eaux des retenues de barrage dans le but de proposer des solutions pour reduire ses consequences. Le present travail consiste a presenter les resultats de l'eutrophisation des eaux de deux retenues de barrages : Smir situee au Nord du Maroc qui sert a alimenter la zone cotiere entre Tetouan et Sebta en eau potable, et Sahla situee au Nord-Est du Maroc qui sert a alimenter la ville de Taounate en eau potable et proteger la grande retenue Al Wahda contre l'envasement et l'eutrophisation. Les resultats concernent l'exploitation des donnees physico-chimiques et biologiques selon un profil vertical de profondeur. Entre 1993 et 1998 pour Smir et entre 1996 et 1998 pour Sahla. Les parametres physico-chimiques, transparence et phosphore total ne semblent pas etre de bons descripteurs de la qualite des eaux de ces retenues se trouvant dans les zones semi-arides du fait de l'importance de la charge solide particulaire non bio-disponible pour le phytoplancton. Par contre la concentration en chlorophylle a semble etre representative du niveau trophique puisqu'elle donne une idee reelle du developpement algale. Un etat trophique des deux lacs reservoirs est dresse, et une comparaison de la qualite des eaux est faite en tenant compte des differentes mesures prises par le gestionnaire de la ressource en eau pour attenuer le phenomene de l'eutrophisation.
Etude de l'influence des conditions amont sur l'ecoulement derriere une marche par la simulation des grandes echelles

Dans cette etude on presente les resultats de simulations numeriques realisees sur un ecoulement de marche descendante. L'influence de la condition aux limites amont est examinee alors que les calculs sont menes au moyen de la methode de Simulation des Grandes Echelles. La premiere condition d'entree consideree est constituee d'un profil de vitesse moyen turbulent perturbe par un bruit blanc. Les donnees de la seconde condition d'entree sont quant a elles issues d'un calcul precurseur de couche limite turbulente. Les visualisations de l'ecoulement et l'examen des statistiques portant sur les vitesses et la pression montrent comment la couche cisaillee apres la separation est modifiee par la nature de la condition d'entree. Dans le cas de la simulation utilisant un calcul precurseur en entree, l'etude revele l'influence determinante des structures de la couche limite incidente. Notamment, on montre de quelle maniere les courants de basses et hautes vitesses ainsi que les tourbillons quasi-longitudinaux associes sont responsables de la destabilisation precoce de la couche cisaillee, conduisant alors a la reduction de la taille de la bulle de recirculation. Pourtant, malgre les differences de conditions initiales, les ecoulements des deux simulations developpent une structure relativement similaire a l'approche du rattachement, si bien que l'influence de la condition d'entree est negligeable, dans cette zone et plus loin dans l'ecoulement. Le contenu spectral des deux ecoulements est aussi examine, permettant ainsi de mettre en evidence les deux regimes d'oscillations basses frequences caracteristiques de ce type de configuration : l'oscillation du rattachement moyen et le battement de la couche cisaillee. La modification de la nature du couplage entre la couche cisaillee et la recirculation principale est rendue responsable du decalage observe pour la frequence de battement.
Trombólisis en el infarto agudo del miocardio: Análisis de los tiempos de demora

Se estudiaron 100 pacientes infartados, ingresados en la terapia intensiva, a los cuales se les aplico una encuesta, cuyo proposito era conocer la atencion terapeutica, el numero de servicios de salud donde se atendieron antes de llegar al hospital, los medios de transportacion empleados y los tiempos de demora prehospitalarios e intrahospitalarios (puertaaguja), para aplicar la estreptokinasa recombinante, que, segun se comprobo, se les aplico a 27 infartados de los 100 encuestados. En cuanto a la procedencia, 30 eran de Ciudad de La Habana, de ellos se les aplico a 11 (36 %) y 70 procedian de La Habana, 16 de ellos (23 %) recibieron ese tratamiento. El tiempo de demora prehospitalaria fue de 4 h con un tiempo puerta-aguja de 4,33 h para los infartados que se les aplico la estreptokinasa recombinante y con tiempos de demora prehospitalaria de 13,48 h para los que no se les administro. Concluyendo, mas de la mitad de los pacientes infartados, antes de llegar al hospital, acuden a multiples servicios de salud donde su atencion terapeutica y transportacion no son las mejores, los tiempos de demora influyeron en la baja utilizacion del tratamiento mencionado.
Composite poly(lactide)/hydroxylapatite screws for fixation of osteochondral osteotomies. A morphometric, histologic and radiographic study in sheep

The aim of this study was to evaluate the healing of an osteochondral fragment created in the distal sheep femur in response to fixation with a biodegradable polylactide/hydroxylapatite composite screw. Poly(L-lactide) screws were used for comparison. At follow-up times of 4 and 8 weeks, the specimens were examined with standard radiography and computed tomography, as well as with macro- and micro-histomorphometry. The intact contralateral femur served as a control. Only minimal signs of degradation of the polymer could be seen in the histologic specimens. At 8 weeks, nearly all osteotomies had healed completely and an association between implant type and delayed osteotomy healing was found. The width of the repair tissue at the tissue–implant interface was 250 ± 48 μm, representing a clear transition zone of newly formed trabecular bone separating the implant from the surrounding plexiform bone. This study showed that large polylactide implants which are buffered with hydroxylapatite show benign tissue responses and good implant osteointegration. The osteotomy healing in a weight-bearing osteochondral fragment model in sheep utilizing a composite polylactide/hydroxylapatite screw was equivalent to a similar polylactide screw implant, indicating that hydroxylapatite-buffered screw implants could be used for similar indications in current clinical use.
Thermal analysis of heterogeneous 3D ICs with various integration scenarios

Presents detailed thermal analysis of high performance three dimensional (3D) ICs under various integration schemes. The model incorporates the effect of vias and power consumption due to both devices in active layers and interconnect joule heating. The results show excellent agreement with the 3D finite element simulations using ANSYS. It is shown that under certain scenarios, 3D ICs can actually lead to better thermal performance than planar (2D) ICs. With the effect of vias, as efficient heat dissipation paths, taken into account, our model provides more realistic temperature rise estimation for 3D ICs. Furthermore, tradeoffs among power, performance, chip real estate and thermal impact for 3D ICs is evaluated. Finally, the thermal influence from incorporating RF circuits and optical interconnect on 3D ICs has been discussed.
The c.-133A > G polymorphism in NPC1L1 gene influences the efficacy of ezetimibe monotherapy on apolipoprotein A1 in hyperlipidemic patients.

Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 protein (NPC1L1) plays a critical role in intestinal cholesterol absorption. Previous studies found that the NPC1L1 c. -133A > G SNP, but not other NPC1L1 SNPs, was associated with response to statin treatment and statin-ezetimibe combinations. To date effect of NPC1L1 c. -133A > G SNP on ezetimibe monotherapy has not been studied. Our objective was to examine whether SNP c. -133A > G at the NPC1L1 gene has effects on lipid levels and on the efficacy of 3, 6 and 12 months of 10 mg daily ezetimibe monotherapy in hyperlipidemic patients with statin induced adverse effects. One hundred and one type IIa and IIb hyperlipidemic patients (72 females, 29 males; age: 61.23 +/- 9.87 ys; BMI: 28.18 +/- 4.29 kg/m2) were enrolled. The genotype frequencies were conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. We could not find significant differences in initial lipid levels between AA and AG + GG patients. While plasma levels of apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) did not significantly decrease after ezetimibe treatment (1.96; 3.39 and 2.74%) in AA patients, a significant elevation in ApoA1 levels has been found after treatment in AG + GG patients (9.15; 8.54 and 13.58%). The effect of NPC1L1 c. -133A > G on the ApoA1 levels was found significant (p < 0.05). Efficacy of treatment with ezetimibe on other plasma lipid parameters after 3, 6 or 12 months did not differ significantly. NPC1L1-133A > G SNP influences the ApoA1 response to ezetimibe monotherapy, therefore, may alter the effect of ezetimibe on the structure and function of the high-density lipoprotein particles.
Disruption of Higher-Order Folding by Core Histone Acetylation Dramatically Enhances Transcription of Nucleosomal Arrays by RNA Polymerase III

ABSTRACT We have examined the effects of core histone acetylation on the transcriptional activity and higher-order folding of defined 12-mer nucleosomal arrays. Purified HeLa core histone octamers containing an average of 2, 6, or 12 acetates per octamer (8, 23, or 46% maximal site occupancy, respectively) were assembled onto a DNA template consisting of 12 tandem repeats of a 208-bp Lytechinus 5S rRNA gene fragment. Reconstituted nucleosomal arrays were transcribed in a Xenopus oocyte nuclear extract and analyzed by analytical hydrodynamic and electrophoretic approaches to determine the extent of array compaction. Results indicated that in buffer containing 5 mM free Mg2+ and 50 mM KCl, high levels of acetylation (12 acetates/octamer) completely inhibited higher-order folding and concurrently led to a 15-fold enhancement of transcription by RNA polymerase III. The molecular mechanisms underlying the acetylation effects on chromatin condensation were investigated by analyzing the ability of differentially acetylated nucleosomal arrays to fold and oligomerize. In MgCl2-containing buffer the folding of 12-mer nucleosomal arrays containing an average of two or six acetates per histone octamer was indistinguishable, while a level of 12 acetates per octamer completely disrupted the ability of nucleosomal arrays to form higher-order folded structures at all ionic conditions tested. In contrast, there was a linear relationship between the extent of histone octamer acetylation and the extent of disruption of Mg2+-dependent oligomerization. These results have yielded new insight into the molecular basis of acetylation effects on both transcription and higher-order compaction of nucleosomal arrays.
Simplifying Credit Scoring Rules Using LVQ PSO

One of the key elements in the banking industry rely on the appropriate selection of customers. In order to manage credit risk, banks dedicate special efforts in order to classify customers according to their risk. The usual decision making process consists in gathering personal and financial information about the borrower. Processing this information can be time consuming, and presents some difficulties due to the heterogeneous structure of data. We offer in this paper an alternative method that is able to classify customers’ profiles from numerical and nominal attributes. The key feature of our method, called LVQ PSO, is the finding of a reduced set of classifying rules. This is possible, due to the combination of a competitive neural network with an optimization technique. These rules constitute a predictive model for credit risk approval. The reduced quantity of rules makes this method not only useful for credit officers aiming to make quick decisions about granting a credit, but also could act as borrower’s self selection. Our method was applied to an actual database of a credit consumer financial institution in Ecuador. We obtain very satisfactory results. Future research lines are exposed.
Floc Formation by Azospirillum lipoferum Grown on Poly-β-Hydroxybutyrate

Azospirillum lipoferum RG6xx was grown under conditions similar to those resulting in encystment of Azotobacter spp. A. lipoferum produced cells of uniform shape when grown on nitrogen-free β-hydroxybutyrate agar. Cells accumulated poly-β-hydroxybutyrate and often grew as chains or filaments that eventually lost motility and formed capsules. Within 1 week, vegetative A. lipoferum inocula were converted into microflocs arising from filaments or chains. Cells within microflocs were pleomorphic, contained much poly-β-hydroxybutyrate, and were encapsulated. Some cells had a cystlike morphology. Up to 57% of the dry weight of encapsulated flocs was poly-β-hydroxybutyrate, whereas vegetative cells grown in broth with combined nitrogen had only 3% of their dry weight as poly-β-hydroxybutyrate. Neither encapsulated cells in flocs nor nonencapsulated vegetative cells were significantly desiccation resistant. Under starvation conditions (9 days) only 25% of encapsulated cells remained viable, whereas vegetative cells multiplied severalfold. In short-term germination experiments with encapsulated flocs, nitrate, ammonium, and soil extract promoted formation of motile vegetative cells. Most cells in treatments lacking combined nitrogen eventually depleted their visible poly-β-hydroxybutyrate reserves without germinating. The remaining cells retained the reserve polymer and underwent size reduction.
An Official American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society Statement: Research questions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and resource use worldwide. The goal of this Official American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) Research Statement is to describe evidence related to diagnosis, assessment, and management; identify gaps in knowledge; and make recommendations for future research. It is not intended to provide clinical practice recommendations on COPD diagnosis and management. METHODS Clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates with expertise in COPD were invited to participate. A literature search of Medline was performed, and studies deemed relevant were selected. The search was not a systematic review of the evidence. Existing evidence was appraised and summarized, and then salient knowledge gaps were identified. RESULTS Recommendations for research that addresses important gaps in the evidence in all areas of COPD were formulated via discussion and consensus. CONCLUSIONS Great strides have been made in the diagnosis, assessment, and management of COPD as well as understanding its pathogenesis. Despite this, many important questions remain unanswered. This ATS/ERS Research Statement highlights the types of research that leading clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates believe will have the greatest impact on patient-centered outcomes.
Noise Control Characteristics of Synchrophasin g, Part 1: Analytical Investigation

The noise control characteristics of synchrophasing are investigated using a simplified model of an aircraft fuselage. The analysis presented includes directivity effects of the noise sources and solves the coupled motion between the interior and exterior acoustic fields and the shell vibrational response in closed form. The variation in sound pressure level at various locations inside the shell is studied for various synchrophase angles as well as the shell vibrational response and input power flow in order to uncover the principal mechanisms behind the transmission phenomena.
Short-term effect of motivational interviewing on clinical and psychological outcomes and health-related quality of life in cardiac rehabilitation patients with poor motivation in Hong Kong: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Motivational interviewing (MI) is effective in promoting behavioural changes in patients with substance abuse and smoking. However, its effectiveness on health outcomes in cardiac rehabilitation patients is unclear. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Method: A total of 146 patients assessed as having poor motivation attended a cardiac rehabilitation programme from February 2008 to June 2010. Patients (n = 73) in the control group received usual care while those in the experimental group (n = 73) received usual care plus four sessions of MI, each lasting 30–45 min. Clinical and psychological outcomes and health-related quality of life were measured at baseline and 3 months after entering the programme. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, Pearson Chi-squared test, and generalized estimating equations models were used to analyse the data. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups on clinical outcomes (all p-values >0.05). Patients in the experimental group had higher increases in health-related quality of life (SF-36) scores in the aspects of general health (4.74, 95% CI 0.04–9.44; p = 0.048) and role limitation due to emotional problems (8.80, 95% CI 1.16–16.43; p = 0.024). However, they reported significantly higher increases in anxiety levels (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) than those in the control group (0.96, 95% CI 0.09–1.83; p = 0.030). Conclusion: The short-term effectiveness of MI on clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life in poorly motivated cardiac rehabilitation patients is limited. MI, however, was shown to increase anxiety levels of patients during the study period (3 months). More evidence is needed to better understand this phenomenon in the future studies.
Factores asociados a la recuperación de la marcha y la funcionalidad en ancianos hospitalizados por fractura de cadera

El objetivo fundamental de este trabajo es conocer la influencia de la fractura de cadera en la recuperacion de la capacidad para la marcha y para la realizacion de las actividades basicas e instrumentales de la vida diaria en una muestra de ancianos, a los 6 meses de ser dados de alta del hospital.
Interactive generative systems for conceptual design: An empirical perspective

This paper argues from extensive research findings in design psychology and industrial design processes, as well as our own observations, that interactive generative systems can be powerful tools for human designers. Moreover, interactive generative systems can fit naturally into human design thinking and industrial design practice. This discussion is focused on aesthetic design fields like knitwear and graphic design, but is largely applicable to major branches of engineering. Human designers and generative systems have complementary abilities. Humans are extremely good at perceptual evaluation of designs, according to criteria that are extremely hard to program. As a result, they can provide fitness evaluations for evolutionary generative systems. They can also tailor the biases that generation systems use to reach useful solutions quickly. We discuss an application of these approaches: Kelly's evolutionary systems for color scheme design. Automatic design systems can work interactively with human designers by generating complete designs from partial specifications, that can then be used as starting points for designing by modification. We discuss an application of this approach: Eckert's garment shape design system.
A novel hybrid Photovoltaic/Wave energy utilization system for island electricity

This paper presents the efficient utilization of hybrid Photovoltaic/Wave energy system for desalination water pumping and supplying the local AC and DC loads. The novel hybrid system comprises eight key parts. The PV Array and Wave Energy permanent magnet linear generator (PMLG) as energy sources, Novel AC side Modulated Power Filter Compensator MPFC, AC-DC converter, Novel DC side Green Plug Power Filter GPF, DC Permanent Magnet Motor for water pumping station PMDC, DC local load, Interfacing DC-AC Inverter to the public grid, Inverter controller and AC load for supplying the additional electric demand. The proposed hybrid system with all subsystems has been digitally simulated using the Matlab Simulink/Sim-Power software environment. In addition, the novel dynamic error driven control system is also simulated and the performance and dynamic characteristics of the controllers is tested for PMDC Motor torque variation, changing variables of renewable sources and load excursions. The dynamic performance of the unified green Wave Energy utilization system is assessed using the coordinated dynamic error driven regulators.
Interleukin‐1 Stimulates Human Uterine Prostaglandin Production Through Induction of Cyclooxygenase‐2 Expression

PROBLEM: Uterine infection occurs in as much as 20% of preterm labor and results in increased decidual cytokines. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) and the cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) inhibitor, NS‐398, on myometrial prostaglandin (PG) production and COX‐2 expression. METHOD OF STUDY: Human uterine myocytes were stimulated with IL‐1 (0–50 ng/mL) over 24 hr. PGE2, PGF2α, and 6‐keto F1α were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Both COX‐1 and COX‐2 proteins and mRNA were measured by western and northern blot, respectively. RESULTS: IL‐1 increased PG production beginning at 6 hr. COX‐2 protein increased beginning at 4 hr and continued to increase at 24 hr. COX‐2 mRNA increased at 2 hr and peaked at 4 hr. NS‐398 blocked PG production but had no effect on COX‐2 protein or mRNA. CONCLUSIONS: IL‐1 increases PG production by myometrium by increased COX‐2 expression. NS‐398 completely blocks IL‐1‐induced PG production. With intrauterine infection, IL‐1 may induce labor through the autocrine production of uterotonic PGs.
Improvements on the security of P2P file-sharing system based on JXTA

File-sharing is one of the main applications in P2P technology. JXTA is the most representative development platform for P2P. According to the research and analysis of the current P2P technologies and JXTA platform, we implemented a P2P file-sharing system based on JXTA. The system realized the basic functions of file-sharing and also improved its security. We propose three kinds of security strategy, which are the membership authentication, user reputation feedback and security model for trust spreading mechanism, and achieve a more safety P2P application model. The model has been applied to practical application and was shown that it has a good practical value.
No . 332 SALIENCE , SIMILES , AND THE ASYMMETRY OF SIMILARITY

Models of similarity have traditionally assumed that the similarity relation is symmetrical. However, when reversed, similarity statements frequently have diiferent properties from those of the original. Previous attempts to account for the asymmetry of similarity, have focussed only on literal comparisons, resulting in a tendency to underestimate the degree of asymmetry in non-literal comparisons (i.e^ similes). A model of similarity is proposed to account for the varying degrees of asymmetry found in all kinds of natural language comparisons. In this model, asymmetry is attributed to an imbalance in the salience of the shared attributes. Studies are reported which test key aspects of the model. The results appear to provide converging evidence for the claim that asymmetry of similarity is due at least in part to salience imbalance.