Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Study of risk factors in progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD)

Chronic kidney disease is a growing epidemic, with at least 10 million people with kidney damage. Diabetic kidney disease is the most common cause of ESRD worldwide. The rate of decline of GFR is variable, especially in diabetics, ranging from 2 to 20 ml/min/1.73 m2/yr. The reasons for these differences in the rate of disease progression are multifactorial, including both non-modifiable and modifiable factors. Aim is to retard progression of disease as cost of therapy is high. The study was planned to identify progression factors.
On the positivity of the quasi-local mass (general relativity)

The quasi-local energy-momentum of Dougan and Mason(1991), associated with a spacelike topological two-sphere, is examined. It is is shown that the energy-momentum four-vector is zero iff the Cauchy development of the 3-surfaces spanned by the two-sphere is flat, and is null (i.e. the quasi-local mass is zero) if and only if the Cauchy development is a pure radiative pp-wave spacetime geometry with a common principle null direction of the Weyl and Ricci tensors.
Analytical Techniques for the Determination of Lactones in Piper methysticum

The development and comparison of two analytical methods (HPLC in reversed phase and normal phase mode and GC) for the determination of six major lactones in P methysticum is described in this paper. By all methods, a satisfying separation of these compounds could be achieved. Each method shows distinct advantages to previously published ones, regarding separation quality, time or conditions. Several kava samples were analyzed by these new or modified methods, and the qualitative and quantitative results obtained were comparable. Primary differences in separation times and detection limits were observed, so that each method might be preferable, depending on the requirements. The pharmacologically active compounds are known to be lactones (total content in the root from 3 to 20 %, with 1-6 as most dominant ones), which show analgesic, anticonvulsant and sedative effects in animal experiments [3, 4]. Kava based proprietary drugs are marketed in Germany to treat sleep disorders and anxiety, and combinations with pumpkin seed oil are used for the treatment of irritable bladder syndrome [5]. Literature reports the determination of kava pyrones by GC [6-8], normal [9, 10] and reversed phase [11-13] HPLC, but all of these methods have some limitations concerning separation time or peak resolution. We have developed an improved RP-HPLC method, which allows a good separation of 1-6 without the use of chiral column material or column heating. In the present studies this RP method was compared with normal phase HPLC and GC separations. Advantages and limits of each technique are discussed.
Preparation and characterization of alginate-chitosan capsule shells using tripoliphosphate crosslink method

Objective: This study aims to determined the effect of crosslinked tripolyphosphate (TPP) concentration variation on the nature of capsule shells formation and to determined the characteristics of capsule preparations that the best with alginate-chitosan and tripolyphosphate. Method: This research includes the preparation of alginate solution, chitosan and TPP, preparation of capsule shells, capsule shells characterization, disintegration time analysis, the swelling degree test, functional group analysis (FTIR) and morphology (SEM). Result: The results showed that the best capsule shells formulations produced from alginate-chitosan and TPP crosslinking compounds were Formula F7 and F8. However, from the characteristics of the swelling degree test, the capsule shells formula F8 had a better degree of swelling compared to the formula F7. The mechanical strength produced from the F8 capsule shells was also better than the formula F7. Conclusions: Based on the description above, it can be concluded that the concentration of chitosan and crosslinking compounds significantly influence the formation of capsule shells and the characteristics of capsule shells preparations with alginate-chitosan and TPP crosslinks produce good physical properties so that it can be used as a drug delivery system.
APPLICATION OF MULTIOBJECTIVE GENETIC ALGORITHM IN ACCELERATOR PHYSICS∗

The optimization of an accelerator system is important in both design and upgrade stage, and many of them are Multiobjective problems, i.e. searching for a balance between several quantities. A full understanding of this balance could provide the decision maker more information on the final choice. In this paper we present the application of an optimization algorithm called Multiobjective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA) in two problems. One is the lattice of a synchrotron light source (take ALS as an example) and the other is a VHF gun.
Trends on Adaptive Object Models Research

An Adaptive Object Model (AOM) is a meta-modeling dynamic technique, where a runtime model is used in order to allow for fast prototyping and model experimentation. It uses several levels of abstraction but differs from generative approaches and reflection in it’s degree of dynamism and application domain. We present a set of common AOM-related design patterns, along with several open issues. We also present the current version of Oghma, an AOM-based system that aims to become a framework for information systems development. Our intent was to compare Oghma with other systems of this sort. We believed some of Oghma’s solutions belong to the current state of the art, but also that some benefit could be taken from other researcher’s experiences with AOMs. We have verified our beliefs to some extent, and briefly documented some of Oghma’s solutions that we have not yet found applied to other AOMs. However, Oghma is still not close of being a comprehensive solution.
Block Bootstrap Prediction Intervals for Autoregression

This paper provides evidence that the principle of parsimony can be extended to interval forecasts. We propose new prediction intervals based on parsimonious autoregressions. The serial correlation in the error term is accounted for by the block bootstrap. The proposed intervals generalize the i.i. d bootstrap intervals by allowing for serially correlated errors. Simulations show the proposed intervals have superior performance when the serial correlation in the error term is strong and when forecast horizon is short. By applying the proposed intervals to U.S. inflation rate, we highlight a tradeoff between preserving correlation and adding variation.
WST 50.5-H39 corr

Endocrine disrupting compounds can affect the hormone system in organisms and are the subject of environmental and human health concerns. The effluents of wastewater treatment plants contribute to the emission of estrogenically active substances into the environment. Membrane technology, which is an advanced wastewater treatment option, is the subject of this research. The removal techniques under investigation are membrane bioreactors, reverse osmosis, and nanofiltration. Eleven different nanofiltration membranes were tested in the laboratory set-up. The observed retention of NP and BPA ranged between 70% and 100%. The contact angle is an indicator for the hydrophobicity of a membrane, whose influence on the permeability and retention of NP was evident. Regarding the retention of BPA no dependency on the contact angle was observed. Results of the investigation of a full-scale landfill leachate treatment plant indicate a bisphenol A (BPA) removal of more than 98% with membrane bioreactors and reverse osmosis. The mass balance indicates that biological degradation is the most important removal process in the membrane bioreactor configuration.
Ultrasonography for Diagnosis, Intervention and Follow-up in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Early therapeutic intervention and the use of novel, highly effective treatments in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have improved the outcome in many diseased children, but have also increased the need for more precise methods for evaluating disease activity. In this context, both ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) play an important role in adult rheumatology, although these methods have yet not been fully evaluated in JIA. The objective of the present research was to evaluate Doppler-US in the clinical setting of pediatric rheumatology. This was achieved by investigating the following: • Doppler-US for identification of the exact anatomical locations of inflamed structures in clinically affected ankle and wrist regions • US for guidance of steroid injections in the ankle and wrist regions • Doppler-US for follow-up of treatment efficacy after steroid injections • Doppler-US and MRI for diagnosis of deep-seated gluteal enthesitis, including a comparison of the results with those obtained in healthy ageand sex-matched controls • Doppler-US and MRI for evaluation of symptomatic joints in JIA patients, including a comparison of the results with those found in healthy ageand sex-matched controls The findings of the current studies indicate that use of Doppler-US/US in pediatric rheumatology: • enables identification of the exact anatomical location of inflammation in the ankle and wrist regions; • improves assessment of synovitis and enthesitis; • allows precise guidance of steroid injections in the ankle and wrist regions; • is valuable for repetitive monitoring of treatment efficacy; • is readily available at point of care and, in anatomically accessible areas, is complementary to MRI for investigation of disease activity and damage.
Lifetime Portfolio Selection: A Simple Derivation

Merton’s portfolio problem involves finding the optimal asset allocation between a risky and a risk free asset, and the optimal consumption over time, so as to maximize aggregate utility of consumption. This paper gives a simple and straightforward solution to Merton’s portfolio problem for lognormally distributed returns and isoelastic utility in the discrete and continous time cases.
DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF A BROADBAND HIGH ISOLATION DUAL-POLARIZED OMNIDIRECTIONAL ANTENNA

A high isolation broadband dual-polarized omnidirectional antenna comprising two low profile orthogonally polarized omnidirectional radiating elements is presented. A modified monopole using loadings to broaden impedance bandwidth is applied to vertical polarization (VP), while four printed concentrically arranged Yagi-Uda-like antennas are employed for horizontal polarization (HP). Both the simulated and measured results indicate that the operating bands of the proposed antenna with its reflection coefficient less than −10 dB are 1.48 to 3.16 GHz for VP and 1.69 to 2.7 GHz for HP. A good port isolation larger than 40 dB and omnidirectional patterns with the out-of-roundness less than 2dB in horizontal plane are obtained. This paper explains the radiation mechanism by investigating the simulated surface current distributions for VP element and establishing a radiation model for HP element, and also analyzes the performance of the proposed antenna. This antenna design can be applied to 4G (LTE) communication system.
Long-Sensing-Length Strain Sensor Based on Optical Fiber Fabry-Perot Interferometer With HCF-SMF Structure

We proposed and demonstrated an optical fiber Fabry-Perot (F-P) sensor with long sensing length for strain measurement. The structure of the sensor was fabricated with a simple process by splicing a long single mode fiber (SMF) with a short section of hollow-core fiber (HCF). The end of the SMF was cleaved with smooth reflective surface which hence allows the sensing length of the proposed sensor can achieve several centimeters with good visibility. Sensors with different sensing lengths were fabricated and experimentally analyzed in this paper. The relationship between the optical path difference (OPD) of the sensor and strain is found to be linear. With the sensing length of ∼10 mm and ∼49 mm, the sensor can achieve the OPD strain sensitivity of 20.42 nm/μϵ and 115.57 nm/μϵ at 1550 nm over the range of 1000 μϵ respectively. Besides, with the sensing length of ∼10 mm, the OPD temperature sensitivity of the sensor was 187.64 nm/°C. With the advantages of easy making, low cost and long sensing length, it is anticipated that the proposed sensor has great potential in measuring the strain with a large distribution.
Protective Effect and Mechanism of Astragaloside on Kidney of Rats with Renovascular Hypertension

摘要: 目的 观察黄芪甲苷对肾性高血压大鼠的保护作用及其机制。 方法 将 60只 SD雄性大鼠按照经典两肾 一夹(2-kidney-1-clip,2K1C)型肾性高血压大鼠模型方法建模,将成模大鼠随机分为模型组,黄芪甲苷低、高 剂量组,依那普利组,同时设假手术组。 各组大鼠灌胃给药 8周后,观察各组大鼠血压及肾脏组织学变化,血 清超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)、丙二醛(malonaldehyde,MDA)、一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO) 和诱导型一氧化氮合酶 (inducible nitric oxide synthase, iNOS)水平以及肾脏组织 Cu -Zn -SODmRNA、 iNOSmRNA表达情况。 结果 (1)应用黄芪甲苷干预后大鼠尾动脉收缩压明显降低,尤其黄芪甲苷高剂量组收 缩压与依那普利组相仿;光镜下可见模型组肾小球毛细血管塌陷,肾小球萎缩、硬化、坏死,肾间质可见大量 炎症细胞和红细胞浸润等;黄芪甲苷高剂量组、依那普利组未见肾小球萎缩、坏死,肾间质仍偶见炎症细胞浸 润。 (2)与假手术组比较,模型组血清 SOD、NO和 iNOS显著降低,MDA显著升高(P 约 0.01);与模型组比较, 黄芪甲苷低、高剂量组血清 SOD、NO和 iNOS显著升高,MDA显著降低 (P 约 0.05)。 黄芪甲苷高剂量组血清 SOD 显著低于依那普利组,血清 MDA、NO和 iNOS 显著高于依那普利组(P 约 0.05)。 (3)黄芪甲苷低、高剂量 组大鼠肾脏组织 Cu-Zn-SODmRNA、iNOSmRNA表达均显著升高(P 约 0.05),其中黄芪甲苷高剂量组高于低剂 量组(P 约 0.05),表现出良好的剂量关系。 结论 黄芪甲苷能够有效降低肾性高血压大鼠肾脏损伤,其机制可 能与抗氧化应激和调节血管收缩功能有关。 关键词:黄芪甲苷;肾性高血压;氧化应激;机制 中图分类号:R285.5 文献标志码:A 文章编号:1003-9783(2014)04-0446-05 doi: 10.3969/j.issn. 1003-9783.2014. 04.014
Development in a Mouse Model -Associated Gastric Cancer Helicobacter pylori Prevents The Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor Nimesulide

Purpose: Helicobacter pylori infection can lead to gastric cancer, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is overexpressed in the stomach during H. pylori infection. Therefore, we investigated whether nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs might protect against this form of cancer. Specifically, we examined the chemopreventive effect of the COX-2 inhibitor nimesulide on H. pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis in mice. Experimental Design: C57BL/6 mice were treated with the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and/or H. pylori. To determine the effect of COX-2 inhibition, nimesulide was mixed with feed pellets and administered for the duration of the experiment. All of the mice were sacrificed 50 weeks after the start of the experiment. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting for COX-2, Bax and Bcl-2 were performed in stomach tissues. In vitro experiments with the human gastric cancer cell line AGS were also performed to identify mechanisms underlying cancer chemoprevention by nimesulide. Results: Gastric tumors developed in 68.8% of mice that were given both MNU and H. pylori, whereas less than 10% developed gastric tumors when given either MNU or H. pylori alone. These findings indicate that H. pylori promotes carcinogen-induced gastric tumorigenesis. In mice treated with both MNU and H. pylori, nimesulide administration substantially reduced H. pylori-associated gastric tumorigenesis, whereas substantial inductions of apoptosis were observed. In vitro studies demonstrated that nimesulide and H. pylori when combined acted synergistically to induce more apoptosis than either alone. Conclusions: Our data show that nimesulide prevents H. pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis, and suggest that COX-2 may be a target for chemoprevention of gastric cancer.
Linking L2 proficiency to L2 acquisition: opportunities and challenges of profiling research

At the SLATE meeting of December 2006, Franceschina, Alanen, Huhta and Martin (2006) proposed the so called DEMfad agenda, meaning that development of a particular linguistic construction can best be studied by examining the frequency, accuracy and distribution of form-meaning constructions longitudinally, from emergence to mastery in a given domain2. However, we would not only like to examine the acquisition of specific elements of L2 grammar in isolation, but also in combination with an understanding of how the lexicogrammatical system at large is developing. Researchers therefore need to ascertain the “linguistic profile” of L2-learners, at any point of L2 development, in terms of the accuracy, under-use and over-use of morpheme sequences. Many of the papers brought together in this volume provide evidence of the feasibility of such a profiling enterprise. This is an exciting, promising and non-trivial feat, first of all for language testing practice and possibly also for syllabus design. As the contributions of Salamoura and Saville and of Alanen, Huhta and Tarnanen show, it is possible to build learner corpora of written productions, have productions rated at a given CEFR level, annotate them, and then conduct lexical and grammatical analyses yielding lexico-grammatical profiles. Comparisons of the profiles appear to show that the profiles of two adjacent developmental levels often differ from each other in the frequency of occurrence of a whole range of (correct or incorrect) morphemes rather than in the total absence versus presence of particular morphemes or in the partial versus fully correct application of particular rules of grammar.
Art, Affect and Color: Creating Engaging Expressive Scientific Visualization

As the complexity of scientific data and the needs to communicate the science have grown, the requirements for visualization design and use have become more sophisticated. We increasingly need more effective ways of communicating the science across multiple audiences, including non-experts in the field. The challenges of enriching the representation have moved from the more naive ideas of making it “aesthetically attractive” to more profound constructs of visual language: how to enhance nuances in the data, and how to support more expressive visualizations that elicit different cognitive and communicative affect to tell the science story. In this paper, we describe how artistic color techniques drawn from paintings can be operationally applied to produce more evocative and informative scientific visualization. We illustrate how the color use in a painting can reveal structure and information priority and elicit affect using examples from current work with our scientific visualization colleagues. Our results highlight the value of engaging with artists in long-term, multidisciplinary science teams, but also emphasize the comprehension gaps that exist across the disciplines and the need for methods and techniques that bridge them so they are accessible to a wider range of data scientists. Our color extraction methods and results are a small example of such bridging techniques.
Public Awareness towards Global Climate Change: Asian Perspectives

The central aim of this paper is to examine whether awareness, risk perception and attitudes towards climate change and its adverse impacts have any significant associations to proenvironmental behavior among public who undertake initiatives to diminish the impacts. A theoretical framework has been proposed based on literature review. Consequently, the result from an empirical research based on survey questionnaire as research instrument, are analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) to validate the framework and the research questions. Awareness, knowledge, risk perception, attitudes towards climate change significantly lead to pro-environmental behavior among public. Particularly, the risk perception of climate change has notably impacted individuals’ adoption the cases to lead climate change initiatives to oppose its attack.This study recommends that people will accept pro-environmental behaviors if they have enough understanding of climate change and its adverse impacts. as a result, several means could be used such mass media, community leader, environmental education from primary school level, working together government and NGOs, as well as organizing seminar, conference, workshop, campaigns and research etc. to stimulate pro-environmental behavior. Therefore, the findings should lead to widespread awareness program emphasizing on adverse impacts of climate change and individual initiatives that can be taken up. It will also enable policy makers to design programs that could influence awareness, knowledge, perception, attitudes and stimulate pro-environmental behavior, in order to prevent further degradation of the natural environment.
Epidemiological and Molecular Features of Prostate Cancer in Asian Men Living in Asian Countries: Implications in Screen and Management

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer, and second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States. Incidence and mortality of prostate cancer in most Asian countries are much lower. With dramatic economic development and exposure to westernized life style and increased PSA testing, the incidence of prostate cancer has recently surged rapidly in Asian countries. For the screen and management of prostate cancer, most Asian countries adopt the guideline and recommendations from Western countries, yet there has been limited data to either support or against such a practice. This review discusses epidemiology, screen and management of prostate cancer in Asian men living in their native Asian countries. In particular, it focuses on the difference of genetic, environment and life style factors and screen program between Asian and Western population. Jin Zhong and Jianyu Rao* Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, USA Jianyu Rao, et al. Clinics in Oncology Prostate Cancer Remedy Publications LLC. , | http://clinicsinoncology.com/ 2016 | Volume 1 | Article 1100 2 The major challenge for prostate cancer management is early detection of aggressive prostate cancer, at same time to prevent unnecessary biopsy, over-diagnosis and overtreatment of indolent prostate cancer. Overall, Asian men have different prostate cancer genetic variants and biological behavior in comparison with Western population [7-9]. Since most prostate cancers are detected clinically rather than through PSA-based screen in Asian countries, the cancers are often more advanced; therefore, it may be important for Asian countries to have wider exposure to screening program to detect early stage aggressive prostate cancer. However, the current PSA based Risk Calculator for Western countries screen program overestimates the risk of prostate cancer in some Asian countries. Asian countries need to develop their own specific screen programs to prevent unnecessary biopsies and over-diagnosis. Active surveillance is becoming an important management strategy for prostate cancer patients, which is critical to prevent overtreatment. Identification of patients with indolent prostate cancer is the key for success of active surveillance. Criteria and nomograms for selection of patients used in western countries again might not work in Asian countries. The selection criteria and nomograms for active surveillance specific for Asian countries still remain to be developed and validated. Further studies are necessary to develop novel biomarkers as potential screening marker replacing or in additional to PSA, to use genetic profiling of individual prostate cancer for stratifying patients for different therapeutic modality in both Western and Asian populations.