Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a computational environment for MIT electromagnetic equation propagation simulator

In this work, a high-level computational environment has been developed for the MIT Electromagnetic Equation Propagation (MEEP) software. Pre-processing and post-processing features have been implemented through the Visualization Toolkit (VTK) framework, in order to provide new graphical features for MEEP. An interactive user interface is available to make a scripting-free MEEP usage. Software engineering techniques have been employed in order to provide a reusable, maintainable, extendable, and integrable software system. Tests show an elaborate electromagnetic simulation scenario in the pre-processing stage, as well as bi-dimensional movies and interactive three-dimensional plan cuts in the post-processing phase.
IP Address Lookup by Using GPU

We present a novel parallel IP address lookup architecture based on graphics processing unit (GPU) via compute unified device architecture (CUDA). Our architecture consists of two functions: (1) host function and (2) device function. The host function is executed by a CPU to construct and update the data structure of IP address lookup executed by the device function in a GPU. Both host and device functions are executed simultaneously to fully utilize computational resources. To shorten the lookup time, a trie-based data structure optimized for CUDA is developed. The trie-based data structure uses multi-bit stride to shorten the trie depth and also improves the efficiency of texture cache in GPUs. The experimental results show that a low-end G92 GPU can achieve a throughput of more than 1.3 billion packets per second for IPv4 routing tables with more than 350K prefixes while a high-end GT200 GPU can further double the performance. By employing dual data structures, the implementation can support several hundred thousand updates per second.
Using the Lego-Mindstorm kit in German Computer Science Education

In Germany in all Region the Educational System is different and the computer science Education is different too. Computer science is obligatory at the high school in Bavaria and in Saxony, in the other Regions just selectable. In spite of the big difference between various regions, the Lego-Mindstorm is widely used at all educational level. The students are very motivated, because the movement of the Robot shows, how they succeeded in writing a good program. The Lego-Minstorms kit can be used from the 5th grade to the University level.
HIV Self-Testing Among Online MSM in China: Implications for Expanding HIV Testing Among Key Populations

Abstract:HIV self-testing offers an alternative to facility-based testing that could expand HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM). We organized an online survey of MSM in China to better understand the frequency and correlates of HIV self-testing. A total of 1342 individuals completed the survey. About 20.3% of MSM reported previous HIV self-testing. Self-testing was correlated with being married, having 6 or greater male anal sex partners in the past 3 months, and having HIV tested within 12 months in the multivariable analysis. Our study suggests that HIV self-testing may be able to reach subgroups of high-risk MSM and enable more frequent HIV testing.
MANUAL DE MALEZAS DEL VALLE DE MÉXICO AYUDA A CONOCER LA FLORA DE LA CAPITAL

EL 18 DE SEPTIEMBRE SE PRESENTO EN LA CASA UNIVERSITARIA DEL LIBRO EL "MANUAL DE MALEZAS DEL VALLE DE MEXICO", DE LOS DOCTORES JOSE SARUKHAN Y FRANCISCO J. ESPINOSA, EL CUAL CONSTITUYE UNA IMPORTANTE APORTACION AL CONOCIMIENTO DE LA FLORA DE LA CIUDAD DE MEXICO, EN ESPECIAL LA DEL GRUPO DE LAS ARVENSES, COMUNMENTE DENOMINADAS MALEZAS. EN EL EVENTO, EL DOCTOR SARUKHAN HABLO DE LOS ASPECTOS NEGATIVOS Y POSITIVOS DE ESTAS PLANTAS. DIJO QUE ALGUNAS DE LAS PERDIDAS MAS SERIAS EN LA PRODUCCION AGRICOLA MUNDIAL HAN SIDO CAUSADAS POR LA PRESENCIA DE MALEZAS, PERO QUE LAS ARVENSES TAMBIEN TIENEN SU LADO POSITIVO, YA QUE CONSTITUYEN RECEPTACULOS DE MUCHAS ESPECIES DE INSECTOS IMPIDIENDOLES EL PASO AL CULTIVO; SE LLEGAN A CONVERTIR EN CONTROLES BIOLOGICOS DE PLAGAS. EL LIBRO ES UNA COEDICION DE LA UNAM Y EL FONDO DE CULTURA ECONOMICA.
IRS-1 Mediates Inhibition of Ca2+ Mobilization by Insulin via the Inhibitory G-protein Gi*

Platelet agonists initiate aggregation and secretion by activating receptors coupled to the G-protein Gq, thereby raising cytosolic Ca2+, [Ca2+]i. The rise in [Ca2+]i is facilitated via inhibition of cAMP formation by the inhibitory G-protein of adenylyl cyclase, Gi. Since insulin attenuates platelet activation, we investigated whether insulin interferes with cAMP regulation. Here we report that insulin (0.5–200 nmol/liter) interferes with agonist-induced increases in [Ca2+]i (ADP, thrombin), cAMP suppression (thrombin), and aggregation (ADP). The effects of insulin are as follows: (i) independent of the P2Y12 receptor, which mediates ADP-induced cAMP lowering; (ii) not observed during Gs-mediated cAMP formation; (iii) unaffected by treatments that affect phosphodiesterases (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine); and (iv) not changed by interfering with NO-mediated regulation of cAMP degradation (NG-monomethyl-l-arginine). Hence, insulin might interfere with Gi. Indeed, insulin induces the following: (i) tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and Giα2; (ii) co-precipitation of IRS-1 with Giα2 but not with other Gα subunits. Despite persistent receptor activation, the association of IRS-1 with Giα2 is transient, being optimal at 5 min and 1 nmol/liter insulin, which is sufficient to suppress Ca2+ signaling by ADP, and at 10 min and 100 nmol/liter insulin, which is required to suppress Ca2+ signaling by thrombin. Epinephrine, a known platelet sensitizer and antagonist of insulin, abolishes the effect of insulin on [Ca2+]i, tyrosine phosphorylation of Giα2, and aggregation by interfering with the phosphorylation of the insulin receptor β subunit. We conclude that insulin attenuates platelet functions by interfering with cAMP suppression through IRS-1 and Gi.
Shrinking Lung Syndrome in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Department of Internal Medicine. La Rabta.University Hospital

In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the respiratory system is frequently compromised. One of its uncommon manifestations is the shrinking lung syndrome (SLS), characterized by unexplained dyspnea, a restrictive pattern on pulmonary function tests, and an elevated hemidiaphragm. The pathogenesis of the SLS remains unknown. We report three consecutive cases of women with systemic lupus erythematosus, aged 32, 33, and 35 years. Clinical features included dyspnea and chest pain. Onset of the SLS manifestations occurred in the absence of a SLE flare, in patients treated with low dose of corticosteroids. Diagnosis was based on clinical and laboratory patterns, particularly chest RMI showing basilar atelectasis, elevated diaphragms, and small lung volumes in two cases. Corticosteroid treatment induced improvement in the three cases and no relapse was noted. Clinical, laboratory, physiopathological, and therapeutic aspects of this syndrome are reviewed, particularly RMI findings, never discussed in previous studies.
SOMATOMEDIN ACTIVITY AND GROWTH HORMONE SECRETION

Abstract. Rappaport, R. , Prevot, C. and Czernichow, P. (Department of Paediatrics. Hopital des Enfants Malades, Paris, France). Somatomedin activity and growth hormone secretion. I. Changes related to body weight in anorexia nervosa. Acta Paediatr Scand 69:37, 1980. —Anorexia nervosa in childhood and adolescence, associated with impaired growth can be considered as a form of chronic malnutrition. Twelve patients aged 11 to 17 years were investigated. In spite of increased GH secretion, plasma somatomedin activities were diminished in 8 cases. Plasma T4 T3 and arginine stimulated insulin secretion were also decreased. In six patients who gained weight a significant negative correlation was found between weight deficit and plasma somatomedin activity. Prolonged administration of growth hormone in one case did not stimulate the generation of somatomedin activity. Nutrition and increased insulin secretion could play a role in changes observed during recovery
Un Método para Medir el Tamañno Funcional y Evaluar la Calidad de Sitios Web

Resumen. La calidad del software para la Web es una preocupacion actual de la comunidad cientifica y empresarial. En este articulo se discuten los principales problemas encontrados en el desarrollo de aplicaciones Web y se presenta un metodo con el objetivo de medir el tamano funcional y evaluar la calidad de sitios Web. El metodo propuesto integra un modelo navegacional elaborado en el proceso de desarrollo de estas aplicaciones, una metrica que permite medir “puntos de funcion para la web” y un modelo de calidad para identificar y cuantificar atributos Web. De esta forma, nos centramos en aspectos fundamentales de la calidad de aplicaciones Web: medicion y evaluacion del producto software y control del proceso de desarrollo.
DNA damage of lymphocytes in experimental chronic renal failure: beneficial effects of losartan.

BACKGROUND Kidney diseases are associated with the accumulation of various uremic toxins increasing the oxygen free radical (OFR) activity with a number of serious consequences. One of them could be the impairment of DNA stability with the increased formation of DNA breaks. METHODS The study was performed in 4/6 kidney ablation rat nephropathy lasting for three months. The results of sham-operated (Sham), remnant kidney (Nx), and Nx treated by losartan (NxL) were compared. RESULTS Nx significantly increased blood pressure, plasma creatinine, urea, hippurate, malondialdehyde (MDA), lipofuscin (LF), and the number of DNA breaks of lymphocytes. Losartan decreased the rise of blood pressure and inhibited the rise of creatinine plasma concentration but not of other variables, while it markedly inhibited the number of DNA breaks (Sham 15.9 +/- 1.1, Nx 54.5 +/- 1.7, P < 0.001; Nx/Sham, NxL 23.3 +/- 2.6 P < 0.001, NxL/Sham and P < 0.001 NxL/Nx). CONCLUSIONS The 4/6 kidney ablation nephropathy increases the susceptibility of lymphocyte DNA to breaks, and losartan inhibits the number of breaks by a mechanism independent on glomerular filtration, accumulation of MDA or LF (markers of oxidative stress), and hippurate (marker of the accumulation of middle molecular substances). An independent mechanism, probably the interference with proliferation, is suggested.
Recent advances and future directions in targeting the secretory apparatus in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a genetically heterogeneous tumour of transformed plasma cells, terminally differentiated effectors of the B cell lineage specialized in producing large amounts of immunoglobulins. The uniquely well‐developed secretory apparatus that equips normal and transformed plasma cells with the capacity for high‐level protein secretion constitutes a distinctive therapeutic target. In this review we discuss how fundamental cellular processes, such as the unfolded protein response (UPR), endoplasmic reticulum (ER)‐associated degradation and autophagy, maintain intracellular protein homeostasis (proteostasis) and regulate plasma cell ontogeny and malignancy. We summarize our current understanding of the cellular effects of proteasome inhibitors and the molecular bases of resistance to them. Furthermore, we discuss how improvements in our understanding of the secretory apparatus and of the complex interactions between intracellular protein synthesis and degradation pathways can disclose novel drug targets for multiple myeloma, defining a paradigm of general interest for cancer biology and disorders of altered proteostasis.
Epstein‐Barr virus antagonizes the antiproliferative activity of transforming growth factor‐β but does not abolish its signaling

TGF‐β induces apoptosis and inhibits the proliferation of EBV‐negative B‐lymphoma cell lines. In contrast, EBV‐immortalized B cells are resistant to both the proapoptotic and the antiproliferative activities of TGF‐β. We have generated a lymphoblastoid cell line, in which we can switch on and off the EBV‐specific transcriptional program driven by EBNA2. When these cells express the EBNA2‐driven phenotype, they are resistant to TGF‐β‐mediated growth arrest. We used this cell line to readdress the question of how EBV can overcome the antiproliferative TGF‐β activity. We show here that EBV‐driven cells remain TGF‐β‐responsive since TGF‐β target genes are readily induced. Thus, EBV can overcome TGF‐β‐mediated growth arrest without interfering with the core machinery of the TGF‐β signaling pathway, which links ligand binding to the induction of TGF‐β target genes. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prediction of Topic Volume on Twitter

We discuss an approach for predicting microscopic (individual) and macroscopic (collective) user behavioral patterns with respect to specific trending topics on Twitter 1 . Going beyond previous efforts that have analyzed driving factors in whether and when a user will publish topic-relevant tweets, here we seek to predict the strength of content generation which allows more accurate understanding of Twitter users’ behavior and more effective utilization of the online social network for diffusing information. Unlike traditional approaches, we consider multiple dimensions into one regression-based prediction framework covering network structure, user interaction, content characteristics and past activity. Experimental results on three large Twitter datasets demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed method. We find in particular that combining features from multiple aspects (especially past activity information and network features) yields the best performance. Furthermore, we observe that leveraging more past information leads to better prediction performance, although the marginal benefit is diminishing.
Drying from phosphate-buffered solutions can result in the phosphorylation of primary and secondary alcohol groups of saccharides, hydroxylated amino acids, proteins, and glycoproteins.

Drying (e.g., freeze-drying) aqueous phosphate-buffered solutions of organic compounds containing primary and/or secondary alcohol groups promotes esterification, producing orthophosphate esters. The reaction is accelerated by heat and by pH values < 7 and is affected by residual moisture content. The same preparations as solutions, similarly treated, produced little or no phosphorylated materials. The promotion of esterification in the dry state can, in part, be rationalized in terms of a mass-action effect because of the resulting low-water activity in dried preparations. When metaphosphates are used, esterification proceeds at a greatly increased rate and to a greater extent. Because of the relatively facile interconversion of phosphorus oxyacid salts, it is possible that a "metaphosphate species" may be responsible for the esterification reaction in all cases. We conclude that care should be exercised when hydroxylated organic compounds are dried from phosphate buffers so as to avoid the formation of phosphorylated artifacts.
Redox Reagents and Divalent Cations Alter the Kinetics of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Channel Gating*

Gating of the cystic fibrosis Cl− channel requires hydrolysis of ATP by its nucleotide binding folds, but how this process controls the kinetics of channel gating is poorly understood. In the present work we show that the kinetics of channel gating and presumably the rate of ATP hydrolysis depends on the species of divalent cation present and the oxidation state of the protein. With Ca2+ as the dominant divalent cation instead of Mg2+, the open burst duration of the channel is increased approximately 20-fold, and this change is reversible upon washout of Ca2+. In contrast, “soft” divalent cations such as Cd2+ interact covalently with cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). These metals decrease both opening and closing rates of the channel, and the effects are not reversed by washout. Oxidation of CFTR channels with a variety of oxidants resulted in a similar slowing of channel gating. In contrast, reducing agents had the opposite effect, increasing both opening and closing rates of the channel. In cell-attached patches, CFTR channels exhibit both oxidized and reduced types of gating, raising the possibility that regulation of the redox state of the channel may be a physiological mode of control of CFTR channel activity.
Extubation criteria after weaning from intermittent mandatory ventilation and continuous positive airway pressure

The “traditional” weaning criteria, arterial blood gases, and a number of other physiologic variables were measured in 47 patients to evaluate to what extent reduced ventilatory reserves or extrapulmonary organ dysfunction affect successful extubation. All patients had been weaned from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and from mechanical ventilation according to the intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) method; at the time of study, all patients had compromised arterial oxygenation relieved by supplemental inspired oxygen.No significant difference between patients successfully extubated and those who required reintubation was found using the traditional weaning criteria or blood gases. On the other hand, patients who required reintubation had significantly lower urine volume (p < 0.01), lower respiratory quotient values (p < 0.05), and a higher incidence of positive blood culture (p < 0.05). These 3 variables also correlated best to the patients' outcome after extubation.
Symmetry, Gestalt and Information Theory

Two kinds of patterns were made up out of crosses. The first kind was symmetrical and the second contained a sub-pattern repeated in the same orientation. Subjects were requested to reproduce the stimuli after viewing them for 2 sec. It was found that there was no difference between the two kinds of stimuli when symmetry about the horizontal axis was involved but that when symmetry about the vertical axis occurred the symmetrical stimuli were reproduced more accurately than the repeated stimuli. Introduction of contrasting colours on the two portions of each pattern decreased the frequency of correct responses, whilst stressing the grid line subdividing the stimuli into two portions containing the same information had no significant effect.
Electrocochleographic and Audiometric Evaluation of Hypobaric Effect in Meniere's Disease

Objectives: To elucidate the effects of hypobaric pressure on cochlear hydrodynamics in patents with well‐defined Meniere's disease. Design: Sixteen patients were consecutively selected. Elevated hearing threshold levels and pathological transtympanal electrocochleography (tt‐ECOG) were confirmed at the day of trial. The patients were exposed to repeated episodes of hypobaric pressure in a pressure chamber. The rate (20 daPa/s) and magnitude (‐285 daPa) of chamber pressure change were low. The induced tympanic overpressure (+185 daPa) was continuously monitored and any tympanic equilibration was avoided. Methods: The results of Bekesy and speech audiometry as well as tt‐ECOG performed immediately before and after exposure were compared. The importance of chamber pressure change, number of hypobaric episodes, duration of exposure, and the induced relative tympanic overpressure was tested. Results: It is shown that the relative tympanic overpressure is the most important factor to affect the cochlear hydrodynamics. Higher relative overpressure was associated with improvement of hearing threshold levels, while the ECOG results tended to improve with lower induced tympanic overpressure. Conclusion: The importance of tympanic overpressure shown in this study is in agreement with previous findings from hypobaric animal experiments. The inverse relation of psychoacoustic and ECOG tests suggests that the two methods evaluate different parameters, perhaps contributing differently to the physiology of hearing.
Prediction of postoperative clinical course by autologous tumor-killing activity in lung cancer patients.

Fifty patients with primary localized lung cancer were tested at the time of surgery for the ability of their lymphocytes to kill autologous, freshly isolated tumor cells, and the assay was evaluated for prognostic significance. Peripheral blood lymphocytes of 27 patients (54%) demonstrated significant autologous tumor-killing activity in 6-hour 51Cr-release assays. Twenty-three of the 27 patients with autologous tumor-killing activity remained tumor free and survived more than 5 years after curative surgery, while all 23 who were negative for autologous tumor-killing activity relapsed by 18 months after surgery and died within 42 months after surgery. The differences in survival curves for the two groups were highly significant (P less than .00003). Autologous tumor-killing activity was not correlated with natural killer (NK) cell activity against K562 human myeloid leukemia cells or proliferation of lymphocytes stimulated with autologous, freshly isolated tumor cells in mixed culture. There were no differences in total survival between patients with positive results and those with negative results in tests of NK cell activity and autologous mixed lymphocyte-tumor culture reaction. These results indicate that autologous tumor-killing activity is a meaningful prognostic indicator and provide evidence for immunological control of tumor growth and metastasis. According to our preliminary data, it is unlikely that lung cancer patients who remain tumor free after 60 months of follow-up will develop recurrence or die from the disease. We are conducting a study to determine whether induction of autologous tumor-killing activity before surgery, by treatment with biological response modifiers,can improve the clinical outcome in patients who do not naturally have this potential.
A 0.7-V CMOS operational transconductance amplifier with bulk-driven technique

This paper presents a two-stage pseudo-differential amplifier. Rail-to-rail operations are achieved by using bulk terminals as the inputs. The positive feedback technique is used to enhance the transconductance with negative conductance. The bulk terminals of all transistors are carefully biased to lower their threshold voltages (Vth) and maximize signal swing. Using a standard 0.18-μm CMOS technology, measurement results demonstrate that gain-bandwidth product is 0.97MHz. The settling time for a 0.7-Vpp step is 2.1/μS. The input referred noise is 0.14mV at 1MHz. All the circuits dissipate 0. 107μW under a single 0.7-V power supply.
Association of virus load, CD4 cell count, and treatment with clinical progression in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with very low CD4 cell counts.

This study prospectively assessed the impact of treatment modality, virus load, and CD4 cell count of <50 cells/mm(3) on human immunodeficiency virus disease progression. The incidence rate of new AIDS disease or death was 54.8 (95% confidence interval, 48.7-59.9) per 100 person-years of follow-up. Independent predictors related to progression were latest CD4 cell count (relative risk [RR], 0.84/10 mm(3) higher; P<. 0001), latest hemoglobin level (RR, 0.79/g/L higher; P<.0001), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis (RR, 0.49; P<.0001), latest body mass index (RR, 0.93/kg/m(2) higher; P=. 002), latest virus load (RR, 1.11/log(10) higher; P=. 03), and intensity of treatment (RR, 1.82, P=.004; RR 2.27, P<.0001; RR 2.46, P=.0001; RR 2.33 P<.0006; 5.10, P<.0001, respectively, for 4, 3, 2, 1, or no drugs vs. >or=5 drugs). Although reverse causality cannot be excluded, more intense antiviral treatment appears to decrease the risk of progression in immunocompromised patients.
Selenium toxicosis in sheep associated with excessive sodium selenite in a commercial supplement

SELENIUM is an essential trace element in mammals. It is necessary for the functioning of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which protects against oxidative damage to intracellular structures. The biologically active form of selenium is selenocysteine. Other selenoproteins have also been identified