Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protective effect of sesamol against myocardial infarction caused by isoproterenol in Wistar rats

Abstract This study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective effect of sesamol on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction in adult male albino Wistar rats. The heart damage induced by ISO was indicated by elevated levels of the marker enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and the levels of troponin T and I in the plasma. In addition, lipid peroxidative markers such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dienes (CD) and lipid hydroperoxides (LHP) significantly increased in the plasma and heart. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) significantly decreased in the heart and (non-enzymic antioxidants) vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione (GSH)) levels significantly decreased in the plasma and heart in ISO-rats. Histopathological observations correlated with the biochemical parameters. Administration of sesamol at different doses 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally for 7 days prevented the above changes and improved towards normality; the 50 mg dose was more effective than the other two doses.
Prediction of survival without morbidity for infants born at under 33 weeks gestational age: a user-friendly graphical tool

Objective To develop models and a graphical tool for predicting survival to discharge without major morbidity for infants with a gestational age (GA) at birth of 22–32 weeks using infant information at birth. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Canadian Neonatal Network data for 2003–2008 were utilised. Patients Neonates born between 22 and 32 weeks gestation admitted to neonatal intensive care units in Canada. Main outcome measure Survival to discharge without major morbidity defined as survival without severe neurological injury (intraventricular haemorrhage grade 3 or 4 or periventricular leukomalacia), severe retinopathy (stage 3 or higher), necrotising enterocolitis (stage 2 or 3) or chronic lung disease. Results Of the 17 148 neonates who met the eligibility criteria, 65% survived without major morbidity. Sex and GA at birth were significant predictors. Birth weight (BW) had a significant but non-linear effect on survival without major morbidity. Although maternal information characteristics such as steroid use, improved the prediction of survival without major morbidity, sex, GA at birth and BW for GA predicted survival without major morbidity almost as accurately (area under the curve: 0.84). The graphical tool based on the models showed how the GA and BW for GA interact, to enable prediction of outcomes especially for small and large for GA infants. Conclusion This graphical tool provides an improved and easily interpretable method to predict survival without major morbidity for very preterm infants at the time of birth. These curves are especially useful for small and large for GA infants.
Measuring listening effort expended by adolescents and young adults with unilateral or bilateral cochlear implants or normal hearing

Abstract Objectives To compare the listening effort expended by adolescents and young adults using implants versus their peers with normal hearing when these two groups are achieving similar speech perception scores. The study also aimed to compare listening effort expended by adolescents and young adults with bilateral cochlear implants when using two implants versus one. Methods Eight participants with bilateral cochlear implants and eight with normal hearing aged 10–22 years were included. Using a dual-task paradigm, participants repeated consonant–nucleus–consonant (CNC) words presented in noise and performed a visual matching task. Signal-to-noise ratios were set individually to ensure the word perception task was challenging but manageable for all. Reduced performance on the visual task in the dual-task condition relative to the single-task condition was indicative of the effort expended on the listening task. Results The cochlear implant group, when using bilateral implants, expended similar levels of listening effort to the normal hearing group when the two groups were achieving similar speech perception scores. For three individuals with cochlear implants, and the group, listening effort was significantly reduced with bilateral compared to unilateral implants. Discussion The similar amount of listening effort expended by the two groups indicated that a higher signal-to-noise ratio overcame limitations in the auditory information received or processed by the participants with implants. This study is the first to objectively compare listening effort using two versus one cochlear implant. The results provide objective evidence that reduced listening effort is a benefit that some individuals gain from bilateral cochlear implants.
SELEcTor: Discovering Similar Entities on LinkEd DaTa by Ranking Their Features

Several approaches have been used in the last years to compute similarity between entities. In this paper, we present a novel approach to compute similarity between entities using their features available as Linked Data. The key idea of the proposed framework, called SELEcTor, is to exploit ranked lists of features extracted from Linked Data sources as a representation of the entities we want to compare. The similarity between two entities is thus mapped to the problem of comparing two ranked lists. Our experiments, conducted with museum data from DBpedia, demonstrate that SELEcTor achieves better accuracy than stateof-the-art methods.
Obstacle Avoidance for Low-Cost UAVs

The goal of our work is an obstacle avoidance system for MAVs using only a monocular camera. The proposed system detects obstacles in real-time from the micro aerial vehicle (MAV) and compares with the stored images in a database, if there is a match acts the control law to avoid it. Our proposal includes the feature point detector Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF) for fast processing of obstacles, also we implemented a control law to avoid it. The results of our system were tested in real time on a commercial low-cost MAV, it was able to detect and avoid an obstacle on unknown positions and complete the path. We check our algorithm on many successful flight experiments.
Transmission Strategy for Interference Alignment in a System-Level Perspective

The paper builds up on the idea of separating, in the time dimension, between conventional uncoordinated MIMO and IA transmission. The former usually utilizes all available dimensions (antennas) to send useful information, while the latter mitigates inter-cell interference. Due to the multitude of users in cellular networks, the transmission schemes are suitable for different groups of users. Therefore, in order to take advantage of both schemes, the users are classified into two groups: one with those users that supposedly benefit from cooperation and the other with those that should not cooperate. The proposed method for grouping the users has the advantage of being based on a simple decision metric, which avoids having to calculate precoders for all different possible combinations. Since each group must apply the proper transmission scheme, a fraction of the temporal resources is dedicated to each type of transmission. An automatic reservation of the temporal resources and an adaptive adjustment of the grouping threshold for each user, which avoids having to empirically determine a single threshold, are also proposed. These proposed mechanisms are shown to provide performance gains of up to 30% over the conventional transmissions.
A Method of Introducing Multipath TCP to Mobile Core Networks and Its Evaluations

The number of mobile terminals that have both a cellular interface and a Wi-Fi interface has been growing in the recent years. Meanwhile, Multipath TCP (MPTCP) that enables the simultaneous use of multiple paths with multiple TCP flows while showing just one regular TCP connection with the application has been standardized by the IETF and has drawn more attention recently. One feature of MPTCP is that it can be realized only by operating system layers supporting multipath communication without any modifications of the application. However, it might be difficult to install MPTCP in all server operating systems. In this paper, we propose a method for applying a proxy that forwards TCP communication from a server to MPTCP communication on a mobile core network, and show the results of evaluation with the existing equipment.
Minimal clinically important difference of the lower-extremity fugl–meyer assessment in chronic-stroke

Abstract Background: The Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID), the smallest difference in the treatment outcome, augments both clinical and research practice. The MCID of the Fugl–Meyer assessment: Lower extremity (FMA-LE), an important motor measure in stroke, is not known. Objective: To estimate MCID score of FMA-LE using an anchor-based approach in chronic poststroke hemiparetic (>6 months) stroke subjects. Methods: Design: A prospective, observational study. Setting: Occupational therapy department of a rehabilitation institute. Participants: Sixty-five poststroke hemiparetic subjects (Mean age = 44.22 years, 42 men, Mean poststroke duration = 16.42 months). Intervention: The conventional motor therapy based on neurophysiological approaches was provided for the affected lower extremity (30 sessions, 45 min each, 3/week). Outcome Measures: FMA-LE, Functional ambulation classification (FAC), and global rating of patient-perceived changes (GRPPC). Result: The estimated MCID of FMA-LE was found to be a score of 6 using both FAC (sensitivity 90, specificity 94) and GRPPC (sensitivity 87, specificity 91). Conclusion: In chronic poststroke hemiparetic subjects, the computed MCID of FMA-LE is a score of 6. The subjects who achieve a change in a score of 6 on FMA-LE would perceive a meaningful recovery of lower-extremity function than those who do not. The reference value may be utilized in stroke rehabilitation.
Analysis and testing of Web applications

The economic relevance of Web applications increases the importance of controlling and improving their quality. Moreover, the newly available technologies for their development allow the insertion of sophisticated functions, but often leave the developers responsible for their organization and evolution. As a consequence, a high demand is emerging for methodologies and tools for the quality assurance of Web-based systems. In this paper, a UML model of Web applications is proposed for their high-level representation. Such a model is the starting point for several analyses, which can help in the assessment of the static site structure. Moreover, it drives Web application testing, in that it can be exploited to define white-box testing criteria and to semi-automatically generate the associated test cases. The proposed techniques were applied to several real-world Web applications. The results suggest that automatic support for verification and validation activities can be extremely beneficial. In fact, it guarantees that all paths in the site which satisfy a selected criterion are properly exercised before delivery. The high level of automation that is achieved in test case generation and execution increases the number of tests that are conducted and simplifies the regression checks.
The comment density of open source software code

The development processes of open source software are different from traditional closed source development processes. Still, open source software is frequently of high quality. Thus, we are investigating how open source software creates high quality and whether it can maintain this quality for ever larger project sizes. In this paper, we look at one particular quality indicator, the density of comments in open source software code. In a large-scale study of more than 5,000 projects, we find that active open source projects document their source code, and we find that the comment density is independent of team and project size, but not of project age. In future work, we intend to correlate comment density with project success or failure.
Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Molecular Classification, Prognostic Markers and Targeted Therapies

Context: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous group of diseases that is negative for esterogen receptor (ER) progesteron receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). This type of breast cancer is typically high-grade carcinomas, although low-grade tumors occur. The aim of this review is to focus on molecular classification and features, prognostic markers and targeted therapies of triple negative breast cancer. Evidence Acquisition: We searched using electronic databases Pubmed/Medline, Dare, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews with terms of ‘Triple negative breast cancer’, ‘Breast cancer’, ‘Molecular classification’, ‘Immunohistochemical markers’, ‘Molecular features, ‘Targeted therapy’, and ‘Prognostic marker’. Results: It seems that TNBC itself can be subdivided into immunomodulatory, mesenchymal, mesenchymal stem-like, luminal androgen receptor, and distinct basal-like subtypes that differ substantially from basal-like tumors. There are several prognostic makers for TNBC including EGFR and ALDH1, Lysyl Oxidase-Like 2 protein (LOXL2), Synuclein gamma (SNCG), LDHB (Lactate Dehydrogenase B). The antiangiogenic agents, EGFR inhibitors, and PARP inhibitors are new therapeutic Implications and potent factors to targeted therapies of TNBC. Conclusions: Only a few clinical trials are performed on TNBC patients because this disease has a low incidence. Therefore, it seems larger scale clinical trials are needed to be conducted in the future.
Two-Cell Two-Way Relaying with Reduced Interference

The fundamental problem in multi-cell two-way relaying is low uplink achievable rate due to the fact that the uplink signal transmitted by a user is significantly contaminated by the downlink signal transmitted simultaneously by the base station (BS) in the neighboring cell, which has much greater power than the power of the user uplink signal. In this paper, a novel relay precoding optimization scheme is proposed in the two-cell two-way relay channel with only local channel state information in pursuit of reducing the inter-cell interference. The optimization problems for finding the relay precoding coefficients are decoupled at each relay, and can be solved using the parameters which are calculated offline according to the users' locations. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme outperforms the conventional two-way relaying and direct communication without relaying for cell-edge users, owing to reduced inter-cell interference.
How to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation: an opportunity for technology development

The report by Martin et al 1 describing the accuracy of resuscitation interventions by Advanced Paediatric Life Support instructors raises some interesting questions, not least for the writers of resuscitation guidelines. The most obvious question is: Does it really matter that external chest compressions (ECCs) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are performed slightly too fast, not deep enough or in the wrong ratio? From the perspective of the guideline writer, the answer is complex. For example, there is very good evidence that CPR performed by bystanders improves survival in infants and children, but there is no direct evidence in humans that strict compliance with the international recommendations on ECC rate, depth, duty cycle (the ratio between compression and relaxation) and relaxation force will achieve improved patient outcomes during resuscitation.2 Indeed, it would be impossible to design an ethical study to prove this. There is, however, evidence from laboratory animal studies, and some human observations, that inform best methods of optimising pressure and flow during ECC and it is a reasonable assumption that better perfusion should create the potential for improved outcomes.3 Hence, the guideline writer has the difficult task of translating such research evidence into a number or, as in this case,1 a small range of numbers for the interventions during ECC. If a resuscitation provider performs ECC outside these ranges, there will be no sudden failure of blood flow—it is likely the ratio of blood flow to, say, …
Temporomandibular disorders. Part 2: conservative management

Abstract Appropriate management of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) requires an understanding of the underlying dysfunction associated with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and surrounding structures. A comprehensive examination process, as described in part 1 of this series, can reveal underlying clinical findings that assist in the delivery of comprehensive physical therapy services for patients with TMD. Part 2 of this series focuses on management strategies for TMD. Physical therapy is the preferred conservative management approach for TMD. Physical therapists are professionally well-positioned to step into the void and provide clinical services for patients with TMD. Clinicians should utilize examination findings to design rehabilitation programs that focus on addressing patient-specific impairments. Potentially appropriate plan of care components include joint and soft tissue mobilization, trigger point dry needling, friction massage, therapeutic exercise, patient education, modalities, and outside referral. Management options should address both symptom reduction and oral function. Satisfactory results can often be achieved when management focuses on patient-specific clinical variables.
Effects of decomposition techniques on knowledge-based program understanding

This paper studies the effects of two different program decomposition techniques on knowledge-based program understanding. The first technique generates events which encapsulate program parts that are interdependent with respect to data flow. The second technique is program slicing. Both techniques are briefly described and the resulting slices and events are compared. An understanding of a program is formed by matching its events or slices against previously designed knowledge base plans. In order to have a detailed insight into the design and utilization of the knowledge base, we perform a two-phase case study. The first phase uses the decomposition results of a set of 65 loops to construct two different knowledge bases; one for recognizing loop events and the other for recognizing loop slices. This phase of the case study demonstrates the different design decisions made during the construction of the two knowledge bases. The second phase of the case study utilizes the previously designed plans in analyzing a set of 92 loops extracted from five randomly selected programs. Finally, the results of comparing the two decomposition techniques are summarized
Impact Evaluation of Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation and Physical Activity on Bone Health Status of Elderly Population of Urban Vadodara

Background : Osteoporosis is a global public health problem affecting the ageing population and influenced by poor nutrition, lack of physical activities, and absence of supplementation on time. Objectives : To study the impact of Calcium and vitamin D supplementation along with weight bearing exercises on bone health status of elderly. Methods : 30 elderly males and 20 elderly females having poor BMD and poor serum vitamin D were supplemented with 1000 mg calcium and 500 IU vitamin D/ day along with weight bearing exercises for a period of 3 months, along with that 60000 IU vitamin D 3 /week for 2 months were given to 30 males only. Serum calcium, Vitamin D, BMD, dietary calcium intake, frequency of vitamin D rich food intake, anthropometry etc. were measured at the baseline as well as after the intervention. Results : Mean BMD T-scores (-1.1 to -2.5: osteopenia; >-2.5: osteoporosis) of the elderly males and females were significantly (pâ‰¤0.001) decreased after the intervention depicting improvement (baseline:-2.34Â±0.50, final:-1.86Â±0.61). 26.7% reduction in osteoporotic cases among males and 50 % among women was achieved. Mean serum calcium (baseline: 9.38Â±0.63, final: 9.46Â±0.61) and vitamin D level (baseline: 23.76Â±13.17, final: 35.48Â±14.84) was increased significantly (pâ‰¤0.05). 60% males and 70% females achieved vitamin D sufficiency level after the intervention. Mean physical endurance (Grip strength, standing balance, walking speed and rise from chair) scores were significantly increased in both males and females. Locomotor problems were reduced among 6.7% males and 40% females after regular weight bearing exercise and supplementation. Conclusion : Calcium and vitamin D supplementation with daily weight bearing exercise has a preventive and curative effect on BMD and it maintains the serum calcium and vitamin D levels. Long term and high dose supplementation needs further investigation.
Motion in the unstable thoracolumbar spine when spine boarding a prone patient

Abstract Introduction Previous research has found that the log roll (LR) technique produces significant motion in the spinal column while transferring a supine patient onto a spine board. The purpose of this project was to determine whether log rolling a patient with an unstable spine from prone to supine with a pulling motion provides better thoracolumbar immobilization compared to log rolling with a push technique. Methods A global instability was surgically created at the L1 level in five cadavers. Two spine-boarding protocols were tested (LR Push and LR Pull). Both techniques entailed performing a 180° LR rotation of the prone patient from the ground to the supine position on the spine board. An electromagnetic tracking device registered motion between the T12 and L2 vertebral segments. Six motion parameters were tracked. Repeated-measures statistical analysis was performed to evaluate angular and translational motion. Results Less motion was produced during the LR Push compared to the LR Pull for all six motion parameters. The difference was statistically significant for three of the six parameters (flexion–extension, axial translation, and anterior–posterior (A–P) translation). Conclusions Both the LR Push and LR Pull generated significant motion in the thoracolumbar spine during the prone to supine LR. The LR Push technique produced statistically less motion than the LR Pull, and should be considered when a prone patient with a suspected thoracolumbar injury needs to be transferred to a long spine board. More research is needed to identify techniques to further reduce the motion in the unstable spine during prone to supine LR.
Targeting prion proteins in neurodegenerative disease

Background: Spongiform neurodegeneration is the pathological hallmark of individuals suffering from prion disease. These disorders, whose manifestation is sporadic, familial or acquired by infection, are caused by accumulation of the aberrantly folded isoform of the cellular prion protein (PrPc), termed PrPSc. Although usually rare, prion disorders are inevitably fatal and transferrable by infection. Objective: Pathology is restricted to the central nervous system and premortem diagnosis is usually not possible. Yet, promising approaches towards developing therapeutic regimens have been made recently. Methods: The biology of prion proteins and current models of neurotoxicity are discussed and prophylactic and therapeutic concepts are introduced. Results/conclusions: Although various promising drug candidates with antiprion activity have been identified, this proof-of-concept cannot be transferred into translational medicine yet.