Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of ultra-low doses of nicotine on the expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference in mice

In the present study, the effects of acute administration of nicotine, as well as nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists, on the expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference, have been investigated in male Swiss-Webster mice. Animals received different doses of morphine 5 days after surgical cannulation in the lateral ventricle. Subcutaneous injections of morphine (2–5 mg/kg) in mouse produced place preference in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, both intraperitoneal (0.0006–0.1 mg/kg) and intracerebroventricular (0.007–25 ng) nicotine administration significantly reduced the expression of morphine-induced place preference, in a dose-dependent manner. Nicotine, however, was effective over narrow ultra-low dose ranges (0.0012, 0.0025, 0.005 and 0.01 mg/kg; intraperitoneal) and (0.03, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.6 ng/mouse; intracerebroventricular). In addition, locomotor activity was reduced when higher doses of nicotine [both intraperitoneal (0.02, 0.03 and 0.1 mg/kg) and intracerebroventricular (10 and 24 ng/mouse)] were used. Nicotine alone, however, did not cause motivational effects. Intracerebroventricular injection of hexamethonium (0.03, 0.1 and 0.3 μg/mouse; 10 min before nicotine) diminished the effects of nicotine on morphine-induced conditioned place preference. This effect could neither be obtained by intraperitoneal administration of hexamethonium (1, 5 and 10 mg/kg; 30 min before nicotine), nor be reproduced after either intracerebroventricular or intraperitoneal injection of atropine (a muscarinic receptor antagonist). The antagonists, themselves, did not show any motivational effects when used alone and were unable to affect the expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference. It appears that ultra-low doses of nicotine can reduce the expression of morphine-induced place preference, and that central nicotinic acetylcholine receptors play a role in this regard.
On Balancing Disclosure Risk and Data Utility in Transaction Data Sharing Using RU Confidentiality Map

Organizations and businesses, including financial institutions and healthcare providers, are increasingly collecting and disseminating information about individuals in the form of transactions. A transaction associates an individual with a set of items, each representing a potentially confidential activity, such as the purchase of a stock or the diagnosis of a disease. Thus, transaction data need to be shared in a way that preserves individuals’ privacy, while remaining useful in intended tasks. While algorithms for anonymizing transaction data have been developed, the issue of achieving a “desired” balance between disclosure risk and data utility has not been investigated. In this paper, we assess the balance offered by popular algorithms using the R-U confidentiality map. Our analysis and experiments shed light on how the joint impact on disclosure risk and data utility can be traced, which allows the production of high-quality anonymization solutions.
Multimodal biometrics: state of the art in fusion techniques

The concept of multimodal biometrics is gaining importance to realise reliable, accurate and robust authentication systems. In multimodal biometrics, information fusion can be done at various levels: sensor level, feature level, match-score level, rank level and decision level. This paper surveys the issues of fusion at different levels and recent researches addressing these issues. Furthermore, there are several fusion rules available to combine biometric traits at different levels of fusion. We have reviewed the recent approaches of fusion rules. A comparison of the state-of-the-art fusion techniques has been made to comprehend their merits and demerits.
Prefrontal Cortex Activity during Response Selection Predicts Processing Speed Impairment in Schizophrenia

Abstract Processing speed is the most impaired neuropsychological domain in schizophrenia and a robust predictor of functional outcome. Determining the specific cognitive operations underlying processing speed dysfunction and identifying their neural correlates may assist in developing pro-cognitive interventions. Response selection, the process of mapping stimuli onto motor responses, correlates with neuropsychological tests of processing speed and may contribute to processing speed impairment in schizophrenia. This study investigated the relationship between behavioral and neural measures of response selection, and a neuropsychological index of processing speed in schizophrenia. Twenty-six patients with schizophrenia and 21 healthy subjects underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning during performance of two- and four-choice reaction time (RT) tasks and completed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS) Processing Speed Index (PSI). Response selection, defined as RT slowing between two- and four-choice RT, was impaired in schizophrenia and correlated with psychometric processing speed. Greater activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) was observed in schizophrenia and correlated with poorer WAIS PSI scores. Deficient response selection and abnormal recruitment of the dorsolateral PFC during response selection contribute to processing speed impairment in schizophrenia. Interventions that improve response selection and normalize dorsolateral PFC function may improve processing speed in schizophrenia. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–10)
Fairness optimization of thinning Call Admission Control in wireless networks

Resource reservation Call Admission Control (CAC) schemes constitute an efficient solution for prioritizing high priority calls. Issues concerning fairness among calls arise during the implementation of CAC. In this paper, a new optimization model selecting the admission probability in thinning schemes is proposed to provide fairness in resource sharing among different input call stream flows. The existence of an optimal admission probability value is proven based on users satisfaction under different traffic input load maintaining users Quality of Service (QoS) levels. Based on this analysis, an effective fairness and thinning CAC policy is proposed, where the admission decision is dynamically adjusted based on appropriately defined users utility. The analysis is performed under different degrees of users risk aversion, reflecting their behavior towards the perceived QoS levels. The optimal values are determined through an iterative algorithm. The performance results obtained verify the improvement achieved by the integrated model, especially when networks operate near congestion.
Analysis of ovarian cancer cell lines using array‐based comparative genomic hybridization

In this study, 23 ovarian cancer cell lines were screened using array‐comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) based on large‐insert clones at about 1 Mb density from throughout the genome. The most frequent recurrent changes at the level of the chromosome arm were loss of chromosome 4 or 4q, loss of 18q and gain of 20 or 20q; other recurrent changes included losses of 6q, 8p, 9p, 11p, 15q, 16q, 17p, and 22q, and gain of 7q. Losses of 4q and 18q occurred together more often than expected. Evidence was found for two types of ovarian cancer, one typically near‐triploid and characterized by a generally higher frequency of chromosomal changes (especially losses of 4p, 4q, 13q, 15q, 16p, 16q, 18p and 18q), and the other typically near‐diploid/tetraploid and with fewer changes overall, but with relatively high frequencies of 9p loss, 9q gain, and 20p gain. Multiple novel changes (amplifications, homozygous deletions, discrete regions of gain or loss, small overlapping regions of change and frequently changed clones) were also detected, each of which might indicate the locations of oncogenes or tumour suppressor loci. For example, at least two regions of amplification on chromosome 11q13, one including cyclin D1 and the other the candidate oncogene PAK1, were found. Amplification on 11q22 near the progesterone receptor gene and a cluster of matrix metalloproteinase loci was also detected. Other potential oncogenes, which mapped to regions found by this study, included cyclin E and PIK3C2G. Candidate tumour suppressor genes in regions of loss included CDKN2C, SMAD4‐interacting protein and RASSF2. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Successful treatment of exertional heat stroke using continuous plasma diafiltration

We report a case of severe exertional heat stroke with multiple organ failure successfully treated with continuous plasma diafiltration (CPDF). PDF effectively removed proinflammatory cytokines, and simultaneously, supported liver function. Furthermore, CPDF therapy showed beneficial effects on multiple organ functions. These features suggest that it is a primary treatment option for exertional heat stroke with multiple organ failure. J. Clin. Apheresis 31:490–492, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Keeping it “simple” for scalability, sustainability and transferability — A reflection of our journey in building and sustaining a future school

This paper takes the form of a combined narrative of the school principal and the dean of development, research and technology on their reflection of the school's efforts in the integration and pervasive use of technology for teaching and learning. The main intent of this paper is to put in writing the tacit knowledge and insights - the expansive cycles that we have experienced (Engeström, 2001) and gained over the past seven years. This is also our humble attempt to make the implicit (i.e., our tacit knowledge and experiences) explicit (Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1995). This paper describes several educational innovative initiatives taken by the school over the years, especially on how improvements were made over each of the iteration to the efforts made. The issues of scalability, sustainability and transferability were taken into consideration in the design and development of the ubiquitous use of ICT for teaching and learning (Looi, Hung, Bopry & Koh, 2004; Mioduser, Nachmias, Forkosh-Baruch & Tubin, 2004). We further propose the idea of keeping educational innovation simple; keeping innovations simple would facilitate its scalability, sustainability and transferability. We describe how the school has created a sustainable one-to-one computing learning environment in terms of the technological infrastructure, hardware, software and also the teaching approaches and pedagogy. In addition, we also outline how pedagogical practices were enhanced through regular professional development opportunities and practitioner research. This qualitative ethnographic case study records and shares our seven years of experiences in designing, implementing, scaling, sustaining and transferring teaching and learning with technology in a ubiquitous and pervasive manner. We share that innovative educational practices should be kept as simple as possible to enhance their survivability in the already crowded and complex educational eco-system.
Drug-related mortality and fatal overdose risk: Pilot cohort study of heroin users recruited from specialist drug treatment sites in London

Fatal overdose and drug-related mortality are key harms associated with heroin use, especially injecting drug use (IDU), and are a significant contribution to premature mortality among young adults. Routine mortality statistics tend to underreport the number of overdose deaths and do not reflect the wider causes of death associated with heroin use. Cohort studies could provide evidence for interpreting trends in routine mortality statistics and monitoring the effectiveness of strategies that aim to reduce drug-related deaths. We aimed to conduct a retrospective mortality cohort study of heroin users recruited from an anonymous reporting system from specialist drug clinics. Our focus was to test whether (1) specialist agencies would agree to participate with a mortality cohort study, (2) a sample could be recruited to achieve credible estimates of the mortality rate, and (3) ethical considerations could be met. In total, 881 heroin users were recruited from 15 specialist drug agencies. The overall mortality rate of the cohort of heroin users was 1.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 2.2.) per 100 person-years. Mortality was higher among males, heroin users older than 30 years, and injectors, but not significantly higher after adjustment in a Cox proportional hazard model. Among the 33 deaths, 17 (52%) were certified from a heroin/methadone or opiate overdose, 4 (12%) from drug misuse, 4 (12%) unascertained, and 8 (24%) unrelated to acute toxic effects of drug use. Overall, the overdose mortality rate was estimated to be at least 1.0 per 100 person-years. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 17 times higher for female and male heroin users in the cohort compared to mortality in the non-heroin-using London population aged 15–59 years. The pilot study showed that these studies are feasible and ethical, and that specialist drug agencies could have a vital role to play in the monitoring of drug-related mortality.
Tanshinone VI Inhibits the Expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 and Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

This study investigated the possible antitumor mechanisms of action of Tanshinone VI, one of the components of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, which is used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. To this end, the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), were evaluated in-vitro in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-stimulated endothelial cells, with, or without the addition of Tanshinone VI (10, 20, 30, or 40 mM) in the culture medium; the effects of Tanshinone VI on angiogenesis was also evaluated with an epithelial cell tube formation assay and its toxicity was evaluated with a colorimetric (MTT) cell viability assay. The results showed that the up-regulation of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 induced by TNF-α was dose-dependently inhibited by Tanshinone VI, with restoration of control levels at the dose of 40 mM; Tanshinone VI also had a remarkable anti-angiogenesis effect, already at the dose of 10 mM, while none of the doses tested had significant effects on cell viability. These results indicate that the antitumor properties of Tanshinone VI can be ascribed to the inhibition of cell adhesion, due to blockage of the up-regulation of cell adhesion molecules, with the consequent inhibition of metastases formation and/or angiogenesis. The lack of toxic effects at the dosage used makes Tanshinone VI a good candidate for its therapeutic use in humans.
A domain-language approach to designing dynamic enterprise component-based architectures to support business services

Presents solutions to a major subset of problems facing component-based development and integration (CBDI). These solutions include patterns, techniques, design artifacts and activities across what we have identified as the five domains of CBDI, namely: organizational, methodological, architectural, technology implementation and infrastructure. We present a taxonomy of CBDI domains that transcends technology and tools to cover a wider spectrum of business and methodology concerns across an enterprise. Representative examples from the methodological and architectural domains are given. Domain-specific languages are combined with the object paradigm to yield grammar-oriented object design (GOOD). GOOD helps identify and map reusable subsystems in a business model to a well-mannered component-first software architecture. We then demonstrate how these manners should be added as first-class constructs to the component-based paradigm of software engineering.
Is Dispositional Optimism Associated with Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors

In view of the large body of research demonstrating that optimism has beneficial effects on people’s well-being and health, one may assume that it also protects against fatigue. However, few studies have investigated the association between optimism and cancer-related fatigue in cancer patients, and the results are inconsistent. Thus our aim was to investigate if optimism is associated with severe fatigue, when adjusting for known factors associated with fatigue such as age, emotional distress, pain, Body Mass Index (BMI), surgery type and adjuvant treatment. We conducted a nationwide survey of 832 Norwegian breast cancer survivors. The women completed the Fatigue Questionnaire, Brief Pain Inventory Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Life Orientation Test-Revised, two to six years after treatment. Results showed that 37% of the women reported severe fatigue. Women with severe fatigue scored lower on optimism than those without (15.5 vs 17.7, p < .0001). A logistic regression analysis with severe fatigue as the dependent variable showed that low level of optimism was significantly associated with severe fatigue, but the association was very low in comparison to emotional distress and chronic pain. The study’s findings may be useful in directing breast cancer centers’ effort to identify and provide comprehensive care for breast cancer survivors with severe fatigue.
Endotoxin‐induced cytokine gene expression and excretion in the liver

Peptide mediators, including tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin 1 and interleukin‐6, are associated with many chronic inflammatory diseases and septic shock. As such, considerable information has been collected by means of study of cytokine secretion from isolated cells or plasma cytokines during septic shock or inflammatory disorders. In this investigation, we used semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis and a recently developed liver slice model to examine the characteristics of cytokine profiles that occur in the liver, the main organ involved in endotoxemia, after lipopolysaccharide challenge. Tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1α and interleukin‐6 were rapidly secreted after in vivo LPS exposure or when added in vitro to rodent or human liver slice samples. This increase was associated with increased cytokine‐specific mRNA transcripts. Kinetic analysis revealed that most tumor necrosis factor‐α is released from the liver within 1 hr of lipopolysaccharide challenge, whereas interleukin‐1α and interleukin‐6 continued to be produced for the entire culture period. Addition of monoclonal antibodies against tumor necrosis factor‐α or interleukin‐1α to the culture partly inhibited interleukin‐6 secretion, indicating that interleukin‐1α and tumor necrosis factor‐α help mediate and sustain interleukin‐6 synthesis. Depletion of hepatic sinusoidal macrophages (Kupffer cells) by a liposome‐mediated macrophage “suicide” technique indicated that almost all of the secreted interleukin‐1α and tumor necrosis factor‐α originate from these cells, whereas interleukin‐6 secretion might also include other cell types. This study supports and extends previous findings and allows for a more rational approach to developing effective therapies against chronic inflammatory diseases and septic shock. (Hepatology 1994;19:480–488).
Cholangiocarcinoma in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: Risk Factors and Clinical Presentation

Background: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) confers a high risk of cholangiocarcinoma (CC) development. Since patients at risk of CC may be selected for early liver transplantation, it is a challenge to identify any predisposing factors. We compared the presentation and natural history of a large number of PSC patients with and without later CC development to identify features associated with risk of CC. Methods: Clinical and laboratory data from presentation and follow-up were collected from 394 PSC patients from five European countries. The cohort included 48 (12.2%) patients with CC. Results: CC was diagnosed within the first year after diagnosis of PSC in 24 (50%) cases and in 13 (27%) patients at intended liver transplantation. Jaundice, pruritus, abdominal pain and fatigue were significantly more frequent at diagnosis of PSC in the group that developed CC, but not after exclusion of cases diagnosed within the first year. Inflammatory bowel disease was diagnosed at least 1 year before PSC more often among patients with CC development than among those without (90% and 65%, respectively; P = 0.001). The duration of inflammatory bowel disease before diagnosis of PSC was significantly longer in patients who developed CC than in the remaining group (17.4 years and 9.0 years, respectively; P = 0.009 in multivariate analysis). Conclusions: A high proportion of CC cases is diagnosed within the first year after diagnosis of PSC. A long history of inflammatory bowel disease is a risk factor for CC development.
FFA Adsorption from Waste Oils or Non-Edible Oils onto an Anion- Exchange Resin as Alternative Method to Esterification Reaction Prior to Transesterification Reaction for Biodiesel Production

Biodiesel is an alternative source of energy in diesel engines in its neat form or as a blend with conventional diesel fuel. The raw feedstock costs represent a lot of the overall biodiesel production cost. Therefore, the employment of waste oils or non-edible oils (which do not compete with edible oils) as feedstock for biodiesel production are presented as the best alternative. However, the presence of free fatty acids (FFA) in these oils is undesirable for biodiesel production due to the transesterification reaction performance is reduced. Hence, in this paper, the adsorption as treatment for reducing or removing FFA from oils prior to transesterification reaction for biodiesel production is examined using a strong anion-exchange resin in order to avoid esterification reaction employed commonly prior to transesterification reaction.
A More Power-Efficient Adaptive Discontinuous Reception Mechanism in LTE

The discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism is adopted by the Third Generation Partner Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) as a promising technology to extend the user equipment's (UE's) battery lifetime. From our simulation, it can be found that the decrease in power consumption resulted from LTE DRX is always at the price of deteriorated system utility. Thus, this paper focuses on the design of an improved DRX configuration method to provide higher power efficiency. The single threshold adaptive configuration DRX mechanism (S-ADRX) is proposed to guarantee the system utility at the cost of extra energy consumption. Based on S-ADRX, a novel multi-threshold adaptive configuration DRX mechanism (M-ADRX) is presented, which is able to save as much power as possible while maintaining the system utility without any additional signaling overhead. Simulation results indicate that the proposed M-ADRX mechanism outperforms the current LTE DRX.
C2 information quality: An enterprise systems perspective

With the advent of the Information Age and the continued development of information and communications technologies (ICT), individuals and organizations have had to manage a transition from a world characterized by the paucity of information to one marked by a deluge of information. The information-related quality metrics that have been developed and used measure both absolute characteristics and “fitness for use. ” The absolute measures relate to inherent aspects of a particular piece of data or information while the fitness-for-use measures generally consider the context of a single information consumer. Command and Control (C2) in the 21st century relies increasingly on decentralized and distributed networks. As a result, data and information quality needs to be considered from a systems or networked-enterprise perspective. This paper provides an example of enterprise information quality metrics and employs these to explore two networked-enterprise information quality-related hypotheses. The first of these posits a relationship between measures of enterprise information quality and the effectiveness of an enterprise. The second argues that the values of selected enterprise information quality measures determine the most appropriate organizational approach option. Experimental results are presented that support these two hypotheses.