Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning words and speech units through natural interactions

This work provides an ecological approach to learning words and speech units through natural interactions, without the need for preprogrammed linguistic knowledge in form of phonemes. Interactions such as imitation games and multimodal word learning create an initial set of words and speech units. These sets are then used to train statistical models in an unsupervised way. Index Terms: multimodal learning, ecological approach, motor learning, interactions
Cellular Basis of Hypocotyl Growth in Arabidopsis thaliana

The Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyl is widely used to study the effects of light and plant growth factors on cell elongation. To provide a framework for the molecular-genetic analysis of cell elongation in this organ, here we describe, at the cellular level, its morphology and growth and identify a number of characteristic, developmental differences between light-grown and dark-grown hypocotyls. First, in the light epidermal cells show a characteristic differentiation that is not observed in the dark. Second, elongation growth of this organ does not involve significant cortical or epidermal cell divisions. However, endoreduplication occurs, as revealed by the presence of 4C and 8C nuclei. In addition, 16C nuclei were found specifically in dark-grown seedlings. Third, in the dark epidermal cells elongate along a steep, acropetal spatial and temporal gradient along the hypocotyl. In contrast, in the light all epidermal cells elongated continuously during the entire growth period. These morphological and physiological differences, in combination with previously reported genetic data (T. Desnos, V. Orbovic, C. Bellini, J. Kronenberger, M. Caboche, J. Traas, H. Hofte [1996] Development 122: 683–693), illustrate that light does not simply inhibit hypocotyl growth in a cell-autonomous fashion, but that the observed growth response to light is a part of an integrated developmental change throughout the elongating organ.
Avaliação comportamental de ratas em diferentes fases do ciclo estral por meio do teste do nado forçado e campo aberto

A depressao e a ansiedade sao os problemas de saude mental mais comuns nos dias atuais. Dados epidemiologicos apontam que as mulheres sao a parcela da sociedade que mais sofre desses problemas, podendo apresentar o dobro de chance de desenvolver algum desses disturbios mentais quando comparadas aos homens. Pesquisas apontam que os hormonios sexuais femininos podem ter grande participacao no desenvolvimento de sintomas depressivos ou na ansiedade, uma vez que os grupos mais afetados sao mulheres em menopausa e periodo pos-parto, alem de serem observadas tambem variacoes de humor e ansiedade durante o proprio ciclo menstrual. As variacoes de estrogenio e progesterona nestas fases sao conhecidas e podem estar relacionadas aos sintomas depressivos e de ansiedade. Utilizando testes comportamentais, este estudo buscou avaliar as alteracoes no comportamento de ratas em diferentes fases do ciclo estral. Grupos de ratas tiveram suas fases do ciclo estral devidamente caracterizadas e foram submetidos a dois testes comportamentais: o teste do nado forcado e o teste do campo aberto. Nao houve diferenca estatisticamente significativa nos parâmetros comportamentais avaliados entre as ratas em diferentes fases do ciclo estral no teste do nado forcado. Femeas em diestro precoce apresentaram maior distância percorrida no teste do campo aberto comparada com as ratas em estro. Concluimos que as variacoes hormonais durante o ciclo estral nao sao capazes de induzir alteracoes comportamentais relacionadas a depressao, mas podem alterar o comportamento exploratorio/atividade motora das femeas. Estudos adicionais sao necessarios para uma melhor avaliacao dos niveis de estrogenio e progesterona no comportamento de femeas nas diferentes fases do ciclo estral.
Long-term treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer disease in a 77-year-old female patient.

Alzheimer disease is characterized by a loss of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain and a decrease in acetylcholine levels. 1 Currently, cholinesterase inhibitors, drugs that act by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of acetylcholine, are the only therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer disease approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The cholinesterase inhibitors have been shown to be effective in treating the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer disease and in slowing functional decline. 2–6 An early diagnosis of Alzheimer disease allows initiation of cholinesterase inhibitor therapy early in the disease course and could serve to lengthen the time during which the patient can function independently. The benefits of early diagnosis and initiation of long-term cholinesterase inhibitor therapy are illustrated in the case of a 77-year-old woman residing in an assistedliving facility who had cognitive impairment. Mild Alzheimer disease was subsequently diagnosed and treated with a cholinesterase inhibitor for 3 years.
Synthesis and antitumor properties of selenocoxib‐1 against rat prostate adenocarcinoma cells

Hormone refractory prostate cancer poses a huge problem and standard of care chemotherapy has not been very successful. We used a novel strategy to combine properties of 2 well‐studied class of compounds (selenium and COX‐2 inhibitor) and examined the resulting effectiveness against prostate cancer. Bearing in mind that sulfonamide moiety and pyrazole ring is important for the proapoptotic activity of Celecoxib, we synthesized a selenium derivative, Selenocoxib‐1, by modifying Celecoxib at position 3 of the pyrazole ring. The PAIII cells derived from a metastatic prostate tumor that arose spontaneously in a Lobund‐Wistar (LW) rat were used to examine the efficacy of Selenocoxib‐1 in vitro. In addition, human metastatic prostate cancer cells, PC‐3M, were tested for antitumor effect of Selenocoxib‐1 in vitro. The IC50 in PAIII and PC‐3M cells for Selenocoxib‐1 was about 5 μM, while for Celecoxib it was more than 20 μM. Selenocoxib‐1 induced apoptosis in a dose‐dependent manner in the PAIII cells. COX‐2 expression in PAIII cells was downregulated by Celecoxib and Selenocoxib‐1 at 20 and 5 μM, respectively; the COX‐2 activity was, however, not affected by Selenocoxib‐1. Following treatment with Selenocoxib‐1, PAIII cells resulted in dose‐dependent decrease in HIF‐1α, p‐AKT and Bcl‐2 levels. A reduction in weights was observed in subcutaneous tumors produced by PAIII cells pretreated with Selenocoxib‐1 as compared to Celecoxib in LW rats. Further, following 1 week Selenocoxib‐1 treatment of PAIII tumors resulted in significant reduction of tumor weights. This study demonstrates that Selenocoxib‐1 is more effective against prostate cancer than Celecoxib.
VISUALISATION OF ULTRASONIC TESTING DATA USING AUGMENTED REALITY

Ultrasonic testing data is usually visualised in form of Cand D-images. For simple inspection tasks of flat samples, these representation methods are an effective means for identifying and evaluating defects. However, for com plex inspection tasks, e.g. testing of large curved composite structures, it is often difficult to relate the findings to the tested structure. Therefore it is important to illustrate the data in a more intuitional way. One approach to master these challenges is to dis play the ultrasonic data in an ‘augmented reality’ (AR) environment. AR is a computer-based technique supporting the human perception by merg ing visual images with artificial, computer-generated data. With regard to ultrasonic testing, the AR technology can be used to merge the ultrasonic testing data (e. g. a Cor D-image) with the visual image of the structure. In this way , the ultrasonic image gets visually linked to the tested component and appears less abstract and mor e tangible than the bare Cor D-image. Furthermore, the blended image fac ilitates the evaluation of the data and the distinction between actual defects and structure related anomalies. The scope of application of the AR technology is not only limited to ultra sonic testing, but provides also benefits for other NDT methods, e.g. eddy curr ent testing. The present work gives a first impression of the potential of the AR technolo gy for ultrasonic testing on the basis of defective CFRP structures.
Study on the Characteristics of Zolpidem Orally Disintegrating Tablets from Different Formulations

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine zolpidem (ZLP) orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) from different formulations in order to characterize their physicochemical properties and thus, provide the necessary prescribing and dispensing information on those preparations. Methods: Five 5-mg-ZLP ODTs from five different formulations were used in this study. These tablets were subjected to weight and content uniformity tests as indicators of quality. In addition, they were subjected to dissolution, wetting time, hardness, and disintegration tests. Results: The content uniformity test ensured that preparations contained a uniform quantity of the active ingredient. The weight of each preparation was the same as that listed on the package insert. In the dissolution test, all the preparations had dissolved by at least 85% after 15 min. The hardness test showed that, on average, all the preparations had a hardness of at least 30 N. Results of the wetting time and disintegration tests indicated that the five preparations have different mechanisms of disintegration. Conclusion: Our results revealed differences in the physicochemical properties between the five formulations. We concluded from this study that formulation differences could affect the disintegration, dissolution, and absorption of ODTs. In order to provide better medical care for each individual patient, it is necessary for the pharmacist to pursue information regarding the pharmaceutical properties of medications.
Comparison of MASTER and AUDERA for measurement of auditory steady-state responses Comparación de MASTER y AUDERA para la medición de las respuestas auditivas de estado estable

Two approaches to assess auditory steady-state responses (ASSR) are compared under similar test conditions: a monaural single-frequency technique with a detection method based on phase coherence (AUDERA), and a binaural multiple-frequency technique using the F-test (MASTER). ASSR thresholds at four frequencies were assessed with both methods in both ears of ten normal-hearing and ten hearing-impaired adult subjects, within a test duration of one hour. The test-retest reliability and the influence of prolonging the test duration are assessed. For the total subject group the multiple-frequency technique outperforms the single-frequency technique. In hearing-impaired subjects, however, both techniques perform equally well. Hearing thresholds can be estimated with a standard error of the estimate between 7 and 12 dB dependent on frequency. About 55% of the estimates are within 5 dB of the behavioral hearing threshold, and 94% within 15 dB. Prolonging the test duration improves the performance of both techniques.
A Compact Three Degrees-of-Freedom Motion Sensor Based on the Laser-Self-Mixing Effect

The simultaneous measurement of the linear displacement and two rotation angles (yaw and pitch) of a moving object using a laser sensor based on the self-mixing effect is reported. The laser head includes three commercial diode lasers equipped with monitor photodiodes. The target is a plane mirror attached to the moving object. The linear and angular resolutions are 0.7 mum and 0.8times10-30 (2.7 arcsec), respectively. The linearity of the sensor response has been verified over a range of 1 m and plusmn0.4deg. Using three retroreflector prisms with a diameter of 10 mm instead of the plane mirror, the angular range of yaw and pitch has been improved by one order of magnitude.
Role of Hyphal Formation in Interactions ofCandida albicans with Endothelial Cells

ABSTRACT The ability to change from yeast to hyphal morphology is a major virulence determinant of Candida albicans. Mutants with defined defects in filamentation regulatory pathways have reduced virulence in mice. However, is it poorly understood why hyphal formation is critical for C. albicans to cause hematogenously disseminated infections. We used recently constructed mutants to examine the role of hyphal formation in the interactions ofC. albicans with endothelial cells in vitro. These interactions included the ability of the mutants to invade and injure endothelial cells. Because the formation of hyphae may influence the host inflammatory response to C. albicans, we also investigated the capacity of these mutants to stimulate endothelial cells to express E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule 1. We infected endothelial cells with C. albicans strains containing homozygous null mutations in the following filamentation regulatory genes: CLA4, CPH1,EFG1, and TUP1. Whereas the wild-type strain formed true hyphae on endothelial cells, we found that neither the Δefg1 nor the Δcph1 Δefg1double mutant germinated. The Δtup1 mutant formed only pseudohyphae. We also found that the Δefg1, Δcph1 Δefg1, and Δtup1 mutants had significantly reduced capacities to invade and injure endothelial cells. Therefore, Efg1p and Tup1p contribute to virulence by regulating hyphal formation and the factors that enable C. albicans to invade and injure endothelial cells. With the exception of the Δcph1 Δefg1 mutant, all other mutants stimulated endothelial cells to express at least one of the leukocyte adhesion molecules. Therefore, the combined activities of Cph1p and Efg1p are required for C. albicans to stimulate a proinflammatory response in endothelial cells.
Presión tributaria, gasto público e inversión privada en la comunidad Andina de Naciones

Este articulo explora opiniones acerca de la inversion privada en los paises que conforman la Comunidad Andina de Naciones (CAN), como influyen variables como los impuestos, la inversion publica, el producto interno bruto, son complementarios, sustitos o, independientes uno de otro. Estas opiniones han intentado explicar como la inversion privada aporta al crecimiento economico de corto y largo plazo, a partir de situar los determinantes de la inversion privada como generador de riqueza y no a los de ahorro, como tradicionalmente se asume.Estas opiniones abre un espacio para la discusion en el entorno latinoamericano y para ello se ha recolectado evidencia empirica y teorica sobre varios contextos y el impacto que han tenido los impuestos en estos, del mismo modo, se ha presentado evidencia empirica sobre la informacion de inversion que dispone los paises de la Comunidad Andina de Naciones, y se ha mostrado de manera estadistica el impacto de cada una de las variables estudiadas en este documento en la busqueda de estimular la inversion privada, pero no con tasas impositivas muy pequenas, sino asegurando un mercado en expansion, infraestructura moderna, creditos baratos entre otros estimulos que solo un Estado fuerte, con recursos y bien organizado puede brindar.Para este grupo de paises seleccionado se utilizo una especificacion econometrica basada en un modelo de panel dinamico para el periodo comprendido entre 1990 y 2012, en donde la inversion privada es la variable dependiente del Producto Interno Bruto o ingreso, del gasto publico, de la recaudacion tributaria por concepto de Impuesto sobre la Renta, del Impuesto al Valor Agregado, y el indice de tipo de cambio real.Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la posicion durante las ultimas decadas que han sostenido los gobiernos estudiados, en el sentido de aumentar la participacion estatal en la actividad economica del pais y privilegiar la recaudacion tributaria, carece de sustento de acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos en el presente articulo. En el momento en que se generan incentivos a la inversion, se reduce la carga tributaria, se puede conseguir mayor inversion.
IMMUNOGLOBULIN LEVELS IN SERUM AND CERVICOVAGINAL SECRETIONS OF PATIENTS INFECTED WITH TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS

Background: Trichomoniasis caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, is one of the most common sexually transmitted parasites in the world, accounting for approximately 170 million infections annually. Although the factor behinds such incidence is still not clear, local and systemic host immune response is involved. Objectives: Accordingly, the present research was planned to determine the level of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM) in sera and vaginal washes of women infected with T. vaginalis. Materials and Methods: Fifteen women infected with T. vaginalis (culture confirmed) and 15 healthy females were inspected for total level of IgA, IgG and IgM in their sera and vaginal washes by means of single radial immunodiffusion. Results: The total level of IgA, IgG and IgM in serum and vaginal wash of patients and controls showed no significant difference, with the exception of IgG, which showed a significant increased mean in the sera of patients. Conclusion: Humoral immune response is important in controlling T. vaginalis, with a special reference to IgG.
Alternative Biometric as Method of Information Security of Healthcare Systems

As information technologies develop, there appear more and more medical devices for diagnosis of human condition and maintenance of life-support. Such devices as insulin pumps, implanted pacemakers and defibrillators are used for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of the patients’ condition. These devices operate using sensors interacting with the human body. The increasing complexity of such devices induced development of a Body Area Network technology which makes it possible to arrange the sensor network on the human body and perform continuous monitoring of the organism's condition. The possibility to continuously record the patient’s data is useful not only in the treatment and diagnosis but also for design of the information security system for life-support medical devices. In this article discuss the problem of human authentication in BASN. Biometric technology using heart sounds applied in approach; moreover it has a number of benefits compared to the standard methods of biometrics.
Estimation of unknown input for linear systems with commensurate delays

This paper investigates the unknown input estimation for a large class of linear systems with commensurate delays. A Luenberger-like observer plus a high order sliding mode differentiator are proposed by involving only the past and actual values of the system output. Sufficient conditions are given to guarantee the existence of such an unknown input estimator.
[The influence of the sounds of music on chosen cardiotocographic parameters in mature pregnancies].

UNLABELLED The influence of the sounds of music on adults' organisms is well investigated. It is widely known that low rhythm music can diminish psychophysical tension acting as a relaxing and anxiolytic agent, while fast rhythm of the music may have just opposite action-excitement. Despite the big number of publications about the influence of the sounds on human organism only very few papers about fetal reactions on music have been reported. A prospective study of 38 patients with mature pregnancies was made to evaluate the changes in the chosen cardiotocographic (CTG) parameters while listening to the different kinds of the music. Only physiological pregnancies were qualified. In the procedure all the patients were performed a Non Stress Test, than continuing CTG observation were exposed to three kinds of music: low (relaxation), medium (activation), fast rhythm (excitation). Uterine contractility, fetal heart rate (FHR), fetal movements (FM), incidence of accelerations and decelerations, oscillation mid-value were noted. A proportional positive correlation between the uterine contractility, fetal movements and the increase of the rhythm of the music was observed. No influence of the music on fetal heart rate and oscillation mid value was observed. An increased incidence of accelerations while playing the music was reported comparing to the control (i.e. pregnant patients not exposed to the music). No decelerations were observed. CONCLUSIONS 1. Music has a significant impact on fetal behaviour. 2. Various sounds of music have influence on distinct behaviour of fetus. 3. Increasing rhythm of music intensifies uterine contractility and fetal movements.
On asymptotic properties of continuous-time stochastic approximation type consensus protocols

For the multi-agent consensus with stochastic communication noises, the stochastic approximation type protocol is an effective method. In this paper, we will analyze the asymptotic properties of continuous-time stochastic approximation type consensus protocols in both mean square and probability one. We clarify the relationship between the convergence rate of the consensus error and a representative class of consensus gains. Different from the previous literature in which stochastic Lyapunov functions and the supermartingale convergence theorem were used, basic results of stochastic analysis and algebraic graph theory are used in this paper. By the law of the iterated logarithm of stochastic integrals, more precise estimates of the convergence rate are given.
Aldosterone in the development and progression of renal injury.

BACKGROUND The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) contributes to hypertension and nephropathy. Until recently, aldosterone either has not been considered or has been considered a relatively minor component of the process-a contribution that could be negated with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition or angiotensin receptor blockade. METHODS A Medline search was performed to identify relevant literature describing the role of aldosterone in the pathogenesis of renal dysfunction. RESULTS Growing evidence from experimental and clinical studies indicates that increased aldosterone is an independent contributor to small- and medium-sized arterial injury and nephropathy. Excess mineralocorticoid receptor stimulation of local and systemic origin promotes target organ dysfunction, vascular injury, and fibrosis, independent of the effects of other elements of the RAAS. Blockade of the RAAS with ACE inhibition or angiotensin receptor blockade often does not confer optimal protection from the effects of mineralocorticoids on small- and medium-sized blood vessels. Recent preliminary data from clinical studies indicate that aldosterone blockade protects the kidneys, sharply decreases proteinuria, beyond the activities of ACE inhibition or angiotensin receptor blockade and independent of beneficial blood pressure effects, and can protect patients from vascular injury associated with diabetes mellitus and hypertension. CONCLUSION Aldosterone blockade with the selective aldosterone blocker eplerenone, in combination with other RAAS inhibitors, is probably renoprotective and should be considered as a component of the treatment regimens of diabetic and hypertensive patients at risk for renal or cardiovascular disease expression. A high priority should be placed on developing the randomized, controlled trials required to establish that role.
The phonological loop and memory for rhythms: An individual differences approach

The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between short-term memory for rhythm and the phonological loop in working memory. Results showed that digit span scores significantly correlated with the scores on the rhythmic memory task, and that the correlation between the two scores remained significant even after the common variance with reading speed was partialled out. Partial correlation and regression analyses indicated that the relation between memory for rhythm and digit span scores is mediated by the third component in the phonological loop, the component that is responsible for regulation of timing mechanisms in immediate memory tasks.