Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic management of endobronchial tuberculosis

Endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) is defined as tuberculous infection of the tracheobronchial tree. Common symptoms are cough, haemoptysis, sputum production, wheezing, chest pain and fever in active disease and dyspnoea and wheezing in the fibrous stage. This form of tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose because the lesion is not evident in the chest radiograph, frequently delaying treatment. Computed tomography is very useful in evaluating bronchial lesions such as stenosis or obstruction. The most important goal of treatment in active EBTB is eradication of tubercle bacilli. The second most important goal is prevention of bronchial stenosis. Corticosteroid therapy for the prevention of bronchial stenosis in EBTB remains controversial. However, the healing time of ulcerous lesions was shorter and bronchial stenosis was less severe, in patients treated with aerosol therapy, consisting of streptomycin 100 mg, a corticosteroid (dexamethasone 0.5 mg) and naphazoline 0.1 mg administered twice-daily along with conventional oral therapy. In inactive disease, treatment to restore full patency is appropriate. As steroids or other medications are unable to reverse stenosis from fibrous disease, airway patency must be restored mechanically by surgery or endobronchial intervention. Effectiveness and complications remain important issues with the mechanical techniques as use and evaluation continue. Corticosteroid therapy for prevention of bronchial stenosis in EBTB remains controversial. Our observations suggest that progression of bronchial stenosis can be prevented in patients who are treated with aerosol therapy with corticosteroids.
Reconstruction of soil pH by dendrochemistry of Masson pine at two forested sites in the Pearl River Delta, South China

Abstract• Soil acidification is a global concern. Base cation (Ca, Mg, Mn and Al) concentrations, as well as their molar ratios, were measured in tree rings of Masson pines (Pinus massoniana L.) from Dinghushan and Xiqiaoshan to reconstruct the historical changes in soil acidification in the Pearl River Delta, south China. • In Dinghushan, Ca and Mn xylem concentrations yielded significant correlations with the higher soil pHs, and Ca and Mg with the lower soil pHs. In Xiqiaoshan, only xylem Mn concentration correlated significantly with the soil pH in both layers. Significant correlations between xylem molar ratios and soil pH were revealed for Ca/Mn, Mg/Mn, Mn/Al and Ca/Al in the upper soils and for the same ratios except for Ca/Al in the deeper soils in Dinghushan. The same correlations were revealed for Ca/Mn, Mg/Mn and Mn/Al at both depths in Xiqiaoshan. • Soil pHs at 0–10 cm and 10–40 cm depths at the study sites were reconstructed by the molar ratios of Mg/Mn and Ca/Mn in the xylem of Masson pines, respectively. • Cation molar ratios in the xylem of Masson pine were superior to the single Ca, Mg, Mn and Al for soil acidity reconstruction in the Delta of China. Résumé• L’acidification du sol est un phénomène important à l’échelle mondiale. Les concentrations en cations (Ca, Mg, Mn et Al) aussi bien que leurs rapports molaires dans les cernes des pins (Pinus massoniana L.) de Dinghushan et Xiqiaoshan ont été mesurées pour reconstruire les changements historiques d’acidification du sol dans le delta de la Pearl River, dans le sud de la Chine. • À Dinghushan, les concentrations en Ca et Mn du xylème présentent des corrélations significatives avec les pH de la partie supérieure du sol, Ca et Mg, avec les pH de la partie inférieure du sol. À Xiqiaoshan, seule la concentration en Mn du xylème est corrélée significativement avec les pH du sol dans les deux horizons. Des corrélations significatives entre rapports molaires dans le xylème et les pH du sol ont été mises en évidences pour Ca/Mn, Mg/Mn, Mn/Al et Ca/Al dans les parties supérieures des sols et pour les mêmes rapports sauf Ca/Al dans les parties profondes des sols à Dinghushan. Des corrélations semblables ont été révélées pour Ca/Mn, Mg/Mn et Mn/Al dans les deux profondeurs à Xiqiaoshan. • Les pH du sol à 0–10 cm et 10–40 cm de profondeur dans les sites d’étude ont été reconstruits à partir des rapports molaires de Mg/Mn et Ca/Mn dans le xylème des pins. Les rapports molaires des cations dans le xylème des pins étaient supérieurs au seul Ca, Mg, Mn et Al pour la reconstruction de l’acidité du sol dans le Delta de la Chine.
Middle generation roles and the well-being of men and women.

Sociological literature on gender, work, and families has focused on both conflict and benefits created by combining the spouse, parent, and paid worker roles, whereas research by family gerontologists has focused on stress experienced by those who provide care to frail elderly parents as well as other roles associated with being in the "middle generation. " We examine consequences of adding middle generation roles to other major life roles during the middle years. We find that giving help to parents increases men's distress, while giving help to adult children enhances women's well-being. When help to biological parents is examined separately, it is found to increase both men's and women's distress. Women are unaffected by the multiplicity of roles while, for men, there is evidence of both role buffering and strain from conflicting demands. We discuss further directions for research on consequences of roles for well-being.
Identifying Exceptional Application Software Developers: A Comparison of Students and Professionals

Exceptional application software developers are a scarce resource. It is therefore important for employers to identify, retain, and cultivate individuals who exhibit this capacity. This study compared the personality characteristics of exceptional, experienced application software developers with the personality characteristics of junior and senior level IS and CS students (who can be seen as entry-level, or pre-entry level, IT developers). We used the Adjective Checklist to measure personality characteristics for all subjects, then mapped the resultant scales to the Five Factor Model of Personality. The results of this study suggest that exceptional application software developers exhibit significantly higher levels of Extraversion and Conscientiousness. Exceptional students (as determined by GPA), however, were actually found to be introverted. Thus, when GPA is used to pre-screen or filter for entry-level positions, recruiters may actually be excluding some of those candidates who are most likely to become exceptional application software developers. These results have implications for understanding and managing the recruiting of IT personnel and their progression from entry level (novice) to more experienced positions.
Complejidad de la programación en lógica rebatible

La linea de investigacion presentada se enmarca en el Proyecto de Investigacion “Tecnicas de Inteligencia Computacional para el diseno e implementacion de Sistemas Multiagentes” del Grupo de Investigacion en Robotica Cognitiva de la Universidad Nacional del Comahue, y en los desarrollos del Laboratorio de Investigacion y Desarrollo en Inteligencia Artificial y del Laboratorio de Investigacion y Desarrollo en Ingenieria de Software y Sistemas de Informacion, ambos de la Universidad Nacional del Sur.
WDM networks fuzzy logic optimization

This article brings new approach exploiting fuzzy logic optimization of data transfer in fast WDM optical networks. In order to reach effective optimization, control system evaluates several link parameters and finds the most appropriate data transfer path. In a WDM network, each available link disposing several wavelengths is considered. Not only basic link state parameters are considered in the control system, but also additional parameters like current utilization and maximum available capacity over a link or wavelength. Proposed optimization model highly increases overall network throughput, providing higher efficiency for telecommunication providers.
Herbal interventions in asthma and allergy.

This paper reviews the role of herbal-based medicines in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. A comprehensive literature search was performed of relevant English-language papers and abstracts were identified through a MEDLINE search and from bibliographies of the identified papers. Papers and studies pertaining to the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis were identified. They were then analyzed according to design, inclusion and exclusion criteria, population studied, variables tested, method of treatment (i.e., specific medicinal plants or herbal combinations), and results. The data have been reviewed and divided on the basis of culture and the effects of medicinal plants in asthma and allergy. A number of studies were found that support the use of some herbal medicines in asthma and allergy. Various derivatives from specific medicinal plants were identified as the antiasthma components and some mechanisms of action were explored. The results show positive effects of these herbs on bronchodilation, pulmonary function tests, and antagonism of asthma mediators such as histamine and platelet activating factor, corticosteroid levels, and clearance of mucus. Improved symptoms were also seen in patients with allergic rhinitis specifically on histamine-induced reactions, e.g., rhinorrhea, sneezing, and itching. From the review, there has been a role for some herbal medicines in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Usage of herbal medicines has increased in recent years. Many of these medicinal plants provided relief of symptoms equal to allopathic medicines used. Specific chemical derivatives have been isolated from many of these plant products which act on the mechanisms and mediators that cause asthma and allergies. The amount of research on these products, especially in the United States, is limited. There is a lack of control of quantity and quality of the components in these remedies. Yet, many have fewer side effects than current therapy. Throughout the history of medicine, drugs have been developed from traditional medicine. By continuing to investigate how some of these herbal interventions work, we may be able to find additional effective medicines to treat asthma and allergies.
Human Capital Composition, Proximity to Technology Frontier and Productivity Growth

The role of human capital composition has been given importance in the most recent endogenous growth models. Assuming that primary as well as secondary education is more suitable for imitation and higher education is more appropriate for innovation, this paper empirically investigates whether the contribution of human capital to productivity growth depends on the composition of human capital and the proximity to technology frontier in a panel of 87 sample countries over the period of 1970 to 2004. The sample is further divided into 28 high, 37 medium, and 22 low income countries to gain some insights into the importance of composition effects of human capital on growth in developing countries relative to their developed counterparts. Using different levels of human capital data from four alternative sources empirical results from system GMM estimator demonstrate that growth enhancing effect of skilled human capital increases with the proximity to the technology frontier only for high and medium income countries. Unskilled human capital is contributing more for low income countries as they move closer to the technology frontier. Matured workers with tertiary education are more growth enhancing for high and medium income countries, whereas younger workers with secondary education are more growth improving for low income countries. Estimated results are consistent across male and female workers.
Purine metabolism of erythrocytes preserved in adenine, adenine‐ inosine, and adenine‐guanosine supplemented media

Four different media for erythrocyte preservation have been compared by studying 16 variables mainly describing the purine metabolism and glycolysis of the erythrocyte. The concentrations of the additives in the erythrocyte suspensions were as follows: adenine, 0.25 mmol/l; adenine, 0.75 mmol/l; adenine, 0.25 and inosine, 0.50 mmol/l; and adenine, 0.25 and guanosine, 0.50 mmol/l. Evaluated from the concentrations of glycerate 2,3‐bisphosphate and purine nucleoside triphosphates, the medium with adenine‐guanosine was superior to the others. In this medium with adenine‐guanosine was superior to the others. In this medium the guanosine was rapidly split to guanine, which was slowly used for nucleotide synthesis or deaminated to xanthine. Differences between ATP and GTP in their reactivity with the two enzymes phosphofructose kinase seems to explain the beneficial effect of guanosine on preservation of erythrocytes.
Sur la nature du principe de précaution et ses effets sur la responsabilité

Parmi les orientations qu'on peut dessiner pour frayer la voie d'une pratique raisonnable de la precaution, la plus imperieuse pour les entrepreneurs qui creent des risques pour autrui est de mettre la gestion de ces risques en partage et en deliberation dans la societe globale, contre la tentation d'adopter des strategies du secret. Comme l'indique a juste titre P. Lascoumes, de nouveaux partenariats sont a inventer pour parvenir a sortir la gestion du risque du seul monde des decideurs et des experts. Lorsqu'elle est profondement ebranlee, la confiance ne se retablit pas par la sophistication de l'expertise technique ou par des coups de communication ou de publicite. Aux comites d'experts scientifiques dont le fonctionnement collectif doit etre ameliore et l'independance preservee, doivent etre adjoints de nouveaux types de forums, que certains appellent hybrides, ou il serait possible de voir representer, au plus pres des groupes concernes, le point de vue des gens ordinaires. La restauration de la credibilite de l'information passe par l'association des groupes concernes a son elaboration et a sa verification. La deuxieme orientation est celle d'une prise en charge precoce, graduelle, mais reversible, des risques au-dela des exigences reglementaires du moment : l'organisation d'une veille sur les menaces, la constitution de reseaux d'experts prets a etre mobilises, le recours a une expertise pluraliste, la definition de sortes d'echelles de Richter des etapes de l'elaboration scientifique afin de definir differents degres de mesure de sauvegarde et de precaution, l'adoption de mesures provisoires de sauvegarde qui pourront etre reexaminees en fonction des informations nouvelles, telles sont quelques unes des composantes d'une strategie de precaution dont les modalites restent largement a inventer. Finalement, les responsables publics et prives doivent se penetrer d'une idee simple : definir ce qu'est le risque acceptable est l'affaire de tous, et pas seulement celle des experts. C'est en le reconnaissant qu'on pourra passer du " risque acceptable " au " risque accepte " car gere dans une culture de precaution.
Synchronizing Redundant Cores in a Dynamic DMR Multicore Architecture

We introduce the difficulties in processing context switches, exceptions, and interrupts in DMR architectures. We propose ways to address these problems in a dynamic DMR (DDMR) architecture, providing methods that assure both cores detect the event, synchronize it to the same instruction, perform a secure context switch, run correct interrupt service routines, and avoid process termination. DDMR uses a time-division multiplexing (TDM) ring architecture to dynamically connect pairs of cores. We enhance this protocol to include the different message types required to handle interrupts and exceptions. We also propose a more efficient address-based, rather than TDM-based, ring architecture.
Jitter compensation using fuzzy rules and Kalman filter for mobile robots vision

Stable vision is the key for docking operation of mobile robots. Based on affine transformation image kinematics and recurrence relations, the sub-region KLT feature extract was designed, and fuzzy rules was established to get potential feature windows. Optimization of sum of absolute difference was used to match feature points. Diamond search template was adapted to make matching fast, and adaptive varying template size scheme was proposed to solve the problem the minimum SAD is not exclusive. Through solving over-determined image kinematics equations using the least squares algorithm, got the motion parameters. According to the observation model of intended motion, unintended motion was eliminated by Kalman filter. Then using filtered parameters to reconstruct image and designing bilinear interpolation algorithm to deal with non-integer pixel coordinate produced by flaot computing. On the autonomous robot experiment was completed. Results method proposed meet requirements of accuracy and real time.
Usando un modelo semi-estructural de pequeña escala para hacer proyecciones: Algunas consideraciones

Se presenta una breve exposicion de un modelo semi-estructural agregado y de pequena escala para realizar proyecciones de inflacion y hacer analisis de politica monetaria dentro del marco de Meta Explicita de Inflacion del Banco Central. En la exposicion, se describe la dinamica del modelo y se detallan los elementos involucrados en una proyeccion condicional a una determinada postura de politica monetaria. Para ello, se simula una proyeccion asumiendo tanto una postura de politica monetaria activa emanada de una regla de comportamiento asi como una postura pasiva que induce una determinada tasa de politica durante el horizonte de proyeccion. La simulacion muestra los problemas teoricos resultantes cuando se asume una postura pasiva. Por ello, se esboza una forma de remediar la posible anomalia que surge al hacer este tipo de proyecciones.
Caractérisation de la dynamique de population de l’épinoche à trois épines, Gasterosteus aculeatus, dans un mésocosme lotique

Les tests ecotoxicologiques en conditions ecosystemiques, tels que ceux que l’on peut realiser en mesocosmes,presentent une plus grande pertinence ecologique que les tests normalises en laboratoire. Ilspermettent d’integrer les interactions complexes entre les especes, entre le biotope et la biocenose. Cependant,en contrepartie de leur complexite, ces systemes presentent une variabilite importante qu’il s’agitde reduire, par une standardisation experimentale poussee, ou d’identifier les facteurs explicatifs pourmieux mettre en lumiere des differences entre traitements. Dans le cadre de cette these, nous avons enoutre fait le choix d’une espece sur laquelle focaliser nos efforts, le poisson, ici l’epinoche a trois epines,Gasterosteus aculeatus, en le considerant comme un bon indicateur de l’etat de sante du mesocosme. Ilnous est apparu plus judicieux, dans le cadre des etudes en mesocosmes, de se concentrer sur une especeintegratrice en parallele d’une analyse globale d’abondance des especes.L’objectif de cette these etait donc de mieux comprendre la dynamique de populations de l’epinoche atrois epines dans les mesocosmes de l’Ineris afin d’ameliorer les protocoles utilises et l’analyse des donneesobtenues lors des etudes ecotoxicologiques. Pour y parvenir, des experiences ont ete realisees afinde caracteriser les processus et les traits d’histoire de vie de l’espece dans notre site d’etude ; un protocolea ete propose pour effectuer des experiences en mesocosmes ciblees sur l’etude de la dynamique despoissons ; deux annees d’experience ont permis d’acquerir des donnees en conditions temoins et de mieuxsaisir les facteurs confondants ; nous avons mis en application nos connaissances en evaluant les effets dubisphenol A (BPA) sur la dynamique de population de poissons exposes a 0, 1, 10 et 100 μg/L de BPA.Nous avons ainsi pu decrire et expliquer la dynamique de la population de l’epinoche dans les mesocosmespar quatre phases distinctes : une augmentation massive des effectifs en raison de la reproduction desfondateurs ; une diminution importante des effectifs en raison d’une saturation des capacites du systeme ;une faible reprise ; une nouvelle chute a la fin de la periode de reproduction. S’agissant du BPA, des effetssignificatifs ont ete mis en evidence sur les individus (atrophie des gonades), mais egalement a l’echellede la population (structure de la population).
Is there a link between food and intestinal microbes and the occurrence of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis?

The pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) is not fully understood. The interaction between intestinal environmental factors of food and intestinal microbes and the immunological system of hosts seems to be an important aspect. We have reviewed the relationship of the daily consumption of dietary animal meat and fats, dairy products, sugar, and other factors that may be linked to the occurrence of CD and UC from the literature and Japanese epidemiological data. In the present study, we reviewed the association between food and intestinal microbes and other factors contributing to the occurence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from epidemiological data and case‐control studies of IBD in the literature that appeared on Medline, and assessed the reports of intestinal microbes involved in the occurrence of IBD. We found several papers describing the positive association of animal meat and sweets and sugar with the occurrence of CD and UC. An analysis of Japanese epidemiological data suggested that the registered number of patients with CD or UC started to increase more than 20 years after an increased daily consumption of dietary animal meat and fats, and milk and dairy products, and after a decreased consumption of rice. Many studies implied a positive role of intestinal microbes in the occurrence of IBD. Intestinal environmental factors, such as Westernized food and intestinal microbes, seem to be involved in the increased occurrence of IBD.
Optineurin promotes autophagosome formation by recruiting the autophagy-related Atg12-5-16L1 complex to phagophores containing the Wipi2 protein

Autophagy is a quality-control mechanism that helps to maintain cellular homeostasis by removing damaged proteins and organelles through lysosomal degradation. During autophagy, signaling events lead to the formation of a cup-shaped structure called the phagophore that matures into the autophagosome. Recruitment of the autophagy-associated Atg12-5-16L1 complex to Wipi2-positive phagophores is crucial for producing microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II), which is required for autophagosome formation. Here, we explored the role of the autophagy receptor optineurin (Optn) in autophagosome formation. Fibroblasts from Optn knock-out mouse showed reduced LC3-II formation and a lower number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes during both basal and starvation-induced autophagy. However, the number of Wipi2-positive phagophores was not decreased in Optn-deficient cells. We also found that the number of Atg12/16L1-positive puncta and recruitment of the Atg12-5-16L1 complex to Wipi2-positive puncta are reduced in Optn-deficient cells. Of note, Optn was recruited to Atg12-5-16L1–positive puncta, and interacted with Atg5 and also with Atg12-5 conjugate. A disease-associated Optn mutant, E478G, defective in ubiquitin binding, was also defective in autophagosome formation and recruitment to the Atg12-5-16L1–positive puncta. Moreover, we noted that Optn phosphorylation at Ser-177 was required for autophagosome formation but not for Optn recruitment to the phagophore. These results suggest that Optn potentiates LC3-II production and maturation of the phagophore into the autophagosome, by facilitating the recruitment of the Atg12-5-16L1 complex to Wipi2-positive phagophores.