Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GLOBAL PROCESS STANDARDIZATION: A CASE STUDY

Meeting the needs of customers has always been a challenge. It is even more so for suppliers who serve customers across the world, and where the customer expects standardized processes - regardless of the country. While it is challenging to standardize critical processes in a domestic market, it is more challenging in the global, or transnational, market. This paper uses a case study to share how one organization was able to standardize their processes across the globe. Benefits derived from this effort are also provided. A framework for determining how key transnational processes can be managed and standardized is also presented.
Antimicrobial activities, toxicity and phenolic composition of Asphodeline anatolica E. Tuzlaci leaf extracts from Turkey

Abstract The antimicrobial activity of acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts of Asphodeline anatolica E. Tuzlaci leaves was evaluated against American type culture collection, food and clinical isolates (Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin-resistant strains-MRSA). Biofilm formation, toxicity and characterisation of the polyphenolic content were analysed. The acetone extract demonstrated a higher antibacterial activity against S. aureus including MRSA strains, L. monocytogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa than against other extracts. No effect was observed in biofilm formation. The extracts resulted non-toxic against Artemia salina Leach. The phytochemical screening of extracts indicated that they mainly contained six polyphenols identified as catechin 3-O-gallate, protocatechuic acid, diosmin, rutin, cirsimaritin and kaempferol glucoside. This study is the first report on antimicrobial activity and phenolic content of A. anatolica and contributes to enrich the literature data on the biological properties of this plant. A. anatolica leaves have a potential as source of natural antimicrobial compounds.
Discontinuing Antiresorptive Therapy One Year after Cardiac Transplantation: Effect on Bone Density and Bone Turnover

Background. We have previously reported that subjects randomized to alendronate or calcitriol immediately after cardiac transplantation sustained minimal bone loss during the first year, significantly less than a concurrently transplanted reference group that received calcium and parent vitamin D. In this extension, we evaluated the effect of discontinuing alendronate or calcitriol on bone loss and biochemical markers of bone turnover during the second year. We hypothesized that subjects who discontinued alendronate, which has a long half-life in bone, would not sustain significant bone loss. As the half-life of calcitriol is short, we hypothesized that there would be significant bone loss after discontinuing calcitriol. Methods. We measured bone density (BMD), calciotropic hormones and bone turnover markers at 12, 18, and 24 months after transplantation in adherent subjects who completed the randomized trial on alendronate or calcitriol, and in reference subjects who had received no preventive therapy. Results. In all, 75 subjects (34 alendronate, 25 calcitriol, 16 reference) participated. During the second year, the bone resorption marker, serum N-telopeptide, rose by 27% in the calcitriol group (P≤0.001). Bone alkaline phosphatase, a bone formation marker, increased by 54% in the calcitriol group (P≤0.001) and by 32% in the alendronate group (P≤0.001). BMD did not change significantly at any site in either randomized group. Conclusions. After discontinuing alendronate or calcitriol, BMD remained stable during the second year after cardiac transplantation, despite a significant increase in a biochemical marker of bone resorption in the calcitriol group. This suggests that antiresorptive therapy may be discontinued at the end of the first posttransplantation year in cardiac transplant recipients without resumption of rapid bone loss. However, as increased bone turnover may predict future bone loss and fractures, such patients warrant observation to ensure that BMD remains stable long-term.
The effect of various hormonal preparations and calcium supplementation on bone mass in early menopause. Is there a predictive value for the initial bone density and body weight?

Abstract. Pines A, Katchman H, Villa Y, Mijatovic V, Dotan I, Levo Y,. Ayalon D (Ichilov Hospital, Tel‐Aviv; Ramat Marpe Hospital, Ramat‐Gan, Tel‐Aviv, Israel. VU Ziekenhuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). The effect of various hormonal preparations and calcium supplementation on bone mass in early menopause. Is there a predictive value for the initial bone density and body weight? J Intern Med 1999; 246: 357–361.
Statistical Methods for Fighting Financial Crimes

Financial crimes affect millions of people every year and financial institutions must employ methods to protect themselves and their customers. The use of statistical methods to address these problems faces many challenges. Financial crimes are rare events that lead to extreme class imbalances. Criminals deliberately attempt to conceal the nature of their actions and quickly change their strategies over time, resulting in class overlap and concept drift. In some cases, legal constraints and investigation delays make it impossible to actually verify suspected crimes in a timely manner, resulting in class mislabeling or unknown labels. In addition, the volume and complexity of financial data require algorithms to be not only effective, but also efficiently trained and executed. This article focuses on two important types of financial crimes: fraud and money laundering. It discusses some of the traditional statistical techniques that have been applied as well as more recent machine learning and data mining algorithms. The goal of the article is to introduce the subject and to provide a survey of broad classes of methodologies accompanied by selected illustrative examples.
UV protection finishing of textiles using ZnO nanoparticles

The synthesis and characterization of nanosized zinc oxide particles and their application on cotton and polyester/cotton fabrics have been studied for the protection against UV radiation. The nanoparticles are produced in different conditions of temperature (90° or 150°C) and reaction medium (water or 1,2-ethanediol). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffractometry have been used to characterize the nanoparticles composition as well as their shape, size and crystallinity. The effectiveness of the treatment is assessed using the standardized tests, such as UV–Vis spectrophotometry and the calculation of the ultraviolet protection factor both before and after washing of the treated samples. It is found that the performance of ZnO nanoparticles as UV-absorbers can be efficiently transferred to fabric materials through the application of ZnO nanoparticles. The UV tests indicate a significant improvement in the UV absorbing activity in the ZnO-treated fabrics.
[Expression and significance of EGF mRNA and EGFR mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Many evidences demonstrated that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) subfamily played an important role in they initiation and progression of various cancers. But it is not clear whether there is a relationship between EGFR and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aims of the present study were to explore the expression and significance of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) mRNA and EGFR mRNA in human HCC tissues. METHODS Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to determine the expression of EGF mRNA and EGFR mRNA in 60 HCC tissues and their adjacent liver tissues. RESULTS The positive rate of EGF mRNA was significantly lower in the HCC tissue (60%, 36/60) than in the adjacent liver tissue (80%, 48/60) (P< 0.05). The positive rate of EGFR mRNA in the HCC tissue (60%, 36/60) was markedly higher than in the adjacent liver tissue (41.67%, 25/60) (P< 0.05). The expression of EGFR mRNA in the HCC tissue was significantly correlated with the clinical stage, the portal vein tumor thrombus, the presence of extrahepatic metastasis, and the recurrence of tumor, the number of tumor, but not correlated with the diameter of tumor, the level of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), the differentiation of tumor and the liver cirrhosis in the adjacent tissue. The detectable rate of EGF mRNA was correlated with the diameter of tumor but not correlated with the clinical stage, the portal vein tumor thrombus, the presence of extrahepatic metastasis, the recurrence of tumor, the number of tumor, the level of serum AFP, the differentiation of tumor and the liver cirrhosis in the adjacent tissue. CONCLUSIONS EGF may not be involved in the initiation and progression of HCC, whereas, EGFR relates to the initiation and progression and the recurrence of HCC. EGFR can be considered as a marker for predicting the metastasis and recurrence of HCC.
Association of TLR7 single nucleotide polymorphisms with chronic HCV‐infection and response to interferon‐a‐based therapy

Summary. An efficient immune response against hepatitis C virus (HCV) is necessary to clear infection. As HCV is a single‐stranded RNA virus, a role for TLR7 in the immune response against HCV is possible, and early clinical studies have demonstrated an antiviral effect of TLR7 stimulation. We tested the hypothesis that genetic variations of TLR7 are associated with chronic HCV‐infection and outcome of therapy. The prevalence of three TLR7 variations was analysed in 978 patients with chronic HCV‐infection, 898 patients with chronic liver disease of other aetiologies, and in 203 healthy controls. The prevalence of TLR7 variations was correlated with the response to interferon‐α‐based treatment in 544 patients with chronic HCV‐infection. We analysed TLR7 polymorphisms by melting curve analysis and reconstructed haplotypes. The c.32A>T variation was over‐represented in female patients with chronic HCV‐infection compared to patients with other chronic liver diseases and to healthy controls (P < 0.05). In contrast, c.2403 G>A was less prevalent in male patients with chronic HCV‐infection (P < 0.05). No association was observed for the third variant, c.1‐120T>G. Haplotype analysis confirmed the differential distribution of TLR7 variants between the groups. Within the group of female patients with chronic HCV‐infection, c.32T was predictive of an unfavourable outcome of interferon‐α therapy (P < 0.05). This study reports the association of TLR7 variants with chronic HCV‐infection and with the response to interferon‐α therapy in patients with chronic HCV‐infection. Our results suggest that variations of TLR7 impair the immune response to HCV and imply a gender‐specific effect of this X‐chromosomal variation.
CT Perfusion Mean Transit Time Maps Optimally Distinguish Benign Oligemia from True “At-Risk” Ischemic Penumbra, but Thresholds Vary by Postprocessing Technique

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Various CTP parameters have been used to identify ischemic penumbra. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal CTP parameter and threshold to distinguish true “at-risk” penumbra from benign oligemia in acute stroke patients without reperfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive stroke patients were screened and 23 met the following criteria: 1) admission scanning within 9 hours of onset, 2) CTA confirmation of large vessel occlusion, 3) no late clinical or radiographic evidence of reperfusion, 4) no thrombolytic therapy, 5) DWI imaging within 3 hours of CTP, and 6) either CT or MR follow-up imaging. CTP was postprocessed with commercial software packages, using standard and delay-corrected deconvolution algorithms. Relative cerebral blood flow, volume, and mean transit time (rCBF, rCBV and rMTT) values were obtained by normalization to the uninvolved hemisphere. The admission DWI and final infarct were transposed onto the CTP maps and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine optimal thresholds for each perfusion parameter in defining penumbra destined to infarct. RESULTS: Relative and absolute MTT identified penumbra destined to infarct more accurately than CBF or CBV*CBF (P < .01). Absolute and relative MTT thresholds for defining penumbra were 12s and 249% for the standard and 13.5s and 150% for the delay-corrected algorithms, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriately thresholded absolute and relative MTT-CTP maps optimally distinguish “at-risk” penumbra from benign oligemia in acute stroke patients with large-vessel occlusion and no reperfusion. The precise threshold values may vary, however, depending on the postprocessing technique used for CTP map construction.
Possible structural abnormality of the brainstem in unipolar depressive illness: a transcranial ultrasound and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging study

Background: Most empirically derived antidepressants increase monoamine levels. The nuclei of cells synthesising these monoamines are located in the brainstem, and projection tracts such as the medial forebrain bundle reach virtually all other brain areas. Two studies of unipolar depressive illness using transcranial ultrasound have reported reduced echogenicity of the brainstem midline in unipolar depressed patients. This may be consistent with disruption of white matter tracts, including the medial forebrain bundle, and it has been suggested that the effect of such disruption could be reversed by antidepressants. Objective: To replicate these findings in a group of unipolar depressed patients and controls. Methods: Fifteen unipolar depressed patients and 15 controls were studied using transcranial ultrasound imaging and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI). Results: No difference in echogenicity of the brainstem midline of unipolar depressed patients was found. A possible trend (Cohen’s d = 0.39) in the direction of previous studies was found. Although the echogenicity of the brainstem midline of the control group was found to be similar to previous reports, there was no reduction in the patient group. Additionally, no structural abnormality of the brainstem was identified using DT-MRI. Conclusions: While these data do not replicate the findings of previous studies reporting a significant reduction in the echogenicity of the brainstem midline in unipolar depressed patients, the ultrasound investigation indicated that there may be a trend in this direction. Given the importance of identifying the causes of depressive illness, it is important that other groups attempt similar studies.
Effect of Dofetilide and d-Sotalol on the ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channel of Rabbit Ventricular Myocytes

Background: The ability of dofetilide and d-sotalol to maintain their class III action during ischemia is uncertain. We investigated the effect of these two drugs on the ATP-sensitive potassium channel (IKATP), which plays a major role in ischemia-induced action potential duration shortening. Methods and Results: The activity of (IKATP) channels was studied in excised membrane patches of single ventricular myocytes, obtained by standard enzymatic dissociation techniques from New Zealand white rabbits. Dofetilide demonstrated a dose-dependent block of (IKATP) with an EC50 of 51 ± 1 μM in inside-out patches. Its ability to block the channel was substantially less when applied to the external membrane surface. d-Sotalol significantly blocked (IKATP) (42% reduction) at a concentration of 10 μM but not at 1 μM. As with dofetilide, its ability to block (IKATP) was reduced when applied externally. Conclusions: We conclude that dofetilide and d-sotalol block the ATP-sensitive potassium channel. but dofetilide does so only at concentrations much greater than those rcquired for block of the delayed rectifier potassium channel. d-Sotalol in contrast shows modest blockade of (IKATP) at concentrations in the tipper range of those seen during its clinical use.
Improving Meat Quality through Nutrition

Currently, producers are paid premiums for high lean, low fat, heavy carcasses but carcass merits beyond these are not factored into producer settlements. However, increased emphasis on value-added/branded-product meats and greater vertical integration through the marketing chain has placed further emphasis on retailer and consumer demands for pork quality. These demands will in all likelihood translate into packer paid premiums for quality or valueadded traits and producer prosperity will depend on their abilities to respond to market demands.
Modeling and trading the Greek stock market with artificial intelligence models

The main motivation for this thesis is to introduce some new methodologies for the prediction of the directional movement of financial assets with an application to the ASE20 Greek stock index. Specifically, we use some alternative computational methodologies named Evolutionary Support Vector Machine (ESVM), Gene Expression programming, Genetic Programming Algorithms and 2 hybrid combinations of linear and no linear models for modeling and trading the ASE20 Greek stock index using as inputs previous values of the ASE20 index and of four other financial indices. For comparison purposes, the trading performance of the ESVM stock predictor, Gene Expression Programming, Genetic Programming Algorithms and the 2 Hybrid combination methodologies have been benchmarked with four traditional strategies (a nave strategy, a Buy and Hold strategy, a MACD and an ARMA models), and a Multilayer Pereceptron (MLP) neural network model. As it turns out, the proposed methodologies produced a higher trading performance in terms of annualized return and information ratio, while providing information about the relationship between the ASE20 index and other foreign indices.
Enhancement of MLD for SDM/OFDM using power imbalance of polarization and pre-phase distortion scheme

SDM/OFDM systems transmit different data using the same frequency, so it is necessary to reduce the co-channel interference for separating the simultaneously received signals. Previous studies have shown that the maximum likelihood detection (MLD) has the best BER performance. However, if the received powers of the desired symbols from different antennas are nearly the same, MLD shows poor detection property, since almost the same replicas may generate, even if the combination of the transmitted symbols are different. For enhancement of a MLD of SDM/OFDM, in this paper, we focus on a power imbalance of polarization and the pre-phase distortion scheme to diminish the same power and phase occurrence probability of the received signals.
CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE THORACIC AORTIC WALL IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS TREATED WITH LOSARTAN OR SPIRONOLACTONE

1 In the present study, we compared the elastin and collagen content of thoracic aortic medial and adventitial layers from Wistar‐kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In addition, the effects of losartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, and spironolactone, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, on collagen and elastin content were determined. 2 Prehypertensive (4‐week‐old) and hypertensive (16‐week‐old) SHR were randomly divided into three groups treated with either 0.9% NaCl, losartan (20 mg/kg per day) or spironolactone (200 mg/kg per day). Prehypertensive and hypertensive SHR were treated for 12 and 16 weeks, respectively. Age‐matched WKY rats were not treated with NaCl, losartan or spironolactone and served as the control group. 3 The medial and adventitial layers of the thoracic aorta were composed mainly of elastin and collagen, respectively, in both SHR and WKY rats. Compared with WKY rats, SHR exhibited greater collagen and elastin content in the media, but decreased collagen and elastin content in the adventitial layer. Both medial and adventitial collagen and elastin content increased significantly with age in both strains and was greater in 32‐week‐old rats compared with 16‐week‐old rats. Spironolactone treatment decreased collagen content in the media of thoracic aortas from prehypertensive SHR, whereas losartan decreased collagen content in the media of aortas from hypertensive SHR. In contrast, neither spironolactone nor losartan had any effect on adventitial collagen content in prehypertensive and hypertensive SHR. Medial collagen and elastin were positively related to pulse pressure (PP), but there was no correlation between adventitial mass or collagen content and PP or mean arterial pressure in untreated and treated SHR and WKY rats. 4 In conclusion, the composition of the medial and adventitial layers of the thoracic aorta differs and treatment of SHR with losartan and spironolactone decreases collagen content when delivered at the hypertensive or prehypertensive stage, respectively. However, neither drug has any effect on adventitial collagen content in SHR.
Exponential stability and stabilization of uncertain linear time-varying systems using parameter dependent Lyapunov function

In this paper, the problem of exponential stability and stabilization for a class of uncertain linear time-varying systems is considered. The system matrix belongs to a polytope and the time-varying parameter as well as its time derivative are bounded. Based on a time-varying version of Lyapunov stability theorem, new sufficient conditions for the exponential stability and stabilization via parameter dependent state feedback controllers (i.e., a gain scheduling controllers) are given. Using parameter dependent Lyapunov function, the conditions are formulated in terms of two linear matrix inequalities without introducing extra useless decision variables and hence are simply verified. The results are illustrated by numerical examples.
Architectural support for synchronization of threads accessing variable-sized units of virtual memory

The paper presents an architecture for synchronization of threads or tasks when accessing regions of virtual memory. Access control is defined on a memory region through a view that defines the size of access units and also the protocol in terms of a finite state machine (FSM). Variable-sized access units are obtained without altering the underlying fixed sized paging implementation. Trace-driven simulation is used to examine average delay for the PCU and to examine its performance when various parameters were varied. A TPC-C benchmark application under different transaction loads was traced and the results show that it is the number of TLB accesses (approximately 15 times more as compared to PCU accesses) for the modeled application that incurs the dominant delay.
Providing Physical Autonomy to Disabled People through Telemonitoring and Home Support

The long term rehabilitation goal for individuals with a severe disability, such as acquired brain injury, is resettlement back in the community away after a discharge. Thus, solutions and systems that provide physical autonomy must be investigated and designed. In this paper, we present a solution that relies on telemonitoring and home support and that use context-aware techniques to be personalized and adaptable to users’ needs. The system is part of the BackHome project and is currently running at end-users facilities in Belfast and Würzburg. Here, we present and discuss preliminary experiments performed in Barcelona with healthy users.