Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Near-Infrared Light and pH-Responsive Polypyrrole@Polyacrylic acid/Fluorescent Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Imaging and Chemo-Photothermal Cancer Therapy.

We have rationally designed a new theranostic agent by coating near-infrared (NIR) light-absorbing polypyrrole (PPY) with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), in which PAA acts as a nanoreactor and template, followed by growing small fluorescent silica nanoparticles (fSiO2 NPs) inside the PAA networks, resulting in the formation of polypyrrole@polyacrylic acid/fluorescent mesoporous silica (PPY@PAA/fmSiO2 ) core-shell NPs. Meanwhile, DOX-loaded PPY@PAA/fmSiO2 NPs as pH and NIR dual-sensitive drug delivery vehicles were employed for fluorescence imaging and chemo-photothermal synergetic therapy in vitro and in vivo. The results demonstrate that the PPY@PAA/fmSiO2 NPs show high in vivo tumor uptake by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect after intravenous injection as revealed by in vivo fluorescence imaging, which is very helpful for visualizing the location of the tumor. Moreover, the obtained NPs inhibit tumor growth (95.6 % of tumors were eliminated) because of the combination of chemo-photothermal therapy, which offers a synergistically improved therapeutic outcome compared with the use of either therapy alone. Therefore, the present study provides new insights into developing NIR and pH-stimuli responsive PPY-based multifunctional platform for cancer theranostics.
Interpersonal Relationships Moderate the Effect of Faces on Person Judgments

Previous research suggests that people form impressions of others based on their facial appearance in a very fast and automatic manner, and this especially holds for trustworthiness. However, as yet, this process has been investigated mostly in a social vacuum without taking interpersonal factors into account. In the current research, we demonstrate that both the relationship context that is salient at the moment of an interaction and the performed behavior, are important moderators of the impact of facial cues on impression formation. It is shown that, when the behavior of a person we encounter is ambiguous in terms of trustworthiness, the relationship most salient at that moment is of crucial impact on whether and how we incorporate facial cues communicating (un)trustworthiness in our final evaluations. Ironically, this can result in less positive evaluations of interaction partners with a trustworthy face compared to interaction partners with an untrustworthy face. Implications for research on facial characteristics, trust, and relationship theories are discussed.
The Internationalization of African Firms: Effects of Cultural Differences on the Management of Subsidiaries

The recent rise in internationalization of African firms has given rise to an interest in studies on internationalization in Africa. This study examines the motives for internationalization of these firms and the role subsidiaries play in the parent company. It provides a nuanced perspective on cultural differences in African countries and their impact on subsidiary staffing and performance. It is based on a qualitative study of an African firm, IT World, which has subsidiaries in three African countries. The study results suggest that while African countries seem to be culturally close, there are some nuances among them that may be significant for staffing decisions and ultimately for subsidiary performance. The study provides some insights which should help managers develop appropriate strategies for managing internationalization in Africa.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of vildagliptin in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To assess the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety of vildagliptin, a potent and selective inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4), in Japanese patients with Type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study, 62 Japanese patients with Type 2 diabetes received vildagliptin 10 mg, 25 mg or 50 mg twice daily for 7 days. Blood samples were collected for the determination of plasma concentrations of vildagliptin, DPP-4, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose, insulin and glucagon. RESULTS Exposure to vildagliptin (area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 12 h (AUC0-12h) and the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax)) increased in an approximately dose-proportional manner, and no accumulation was observed following multiple doses of vildagliptin (accumulation factor 1.00 - 1.02). DPP-4 activity was completely inhibited for varying durations by all doses of vildagliptin; the duration of complete DPP-4 inhibition was dose-dependent. DPP-4 inhibition after vildagliptin 50 mg twice daily remained > 80% throughout the 24-h period. Vildagliptin treatment led to a dose-dependent increase in plasma active GLP-1 levels; the overall increases (area under the effect-time course from 0 to 8 h, AUE0-8h) after 7 days' treatment were 1.5-, 1.7-, and 1.8-fold with vildagliptin 10 mg, 25 mg and 50 mg twice daily, respectively (all p < 0.0001 vs. placebo). Postprandial plasma glucose during the 4-h period after breakfast was significantly reduced with the 10, 25 and 50 mg vildagliptin doses by 50.3, 92.2 and 69.5 mg·h/dl, respectively. Insulin levels remained unchanged in the context of reduced glucose levels at all doses studied. CONCLUSIONS Vildagliptin demonstrated similar pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects in Japanese patients to those observed previously in non-Japanese patients with Type 2 diabetes.
PbTiO3 nanorod arrays grown by self-assembly of nanocrystals

Arrays of ferroelectric lead titanate (PbTiO3) nanorods have been grown on a substrate by a novel template-free method. Hydrothermal treatment of an amorphous PbTiO3 precursor in the presence of a surfactant and PbTiO3 or SrTiO3 substrates resulted in the growth of PbTiO3 nanorod arrays aligned perpendicular to the substrate surface. Two steps in the growth mechanism were demonstrated: first an epitaxial layer was formed on the substrate; this was followed by self-assembly of nanocrystals forming a mesocrystal layer which matured into arrays of PbTiO3 nanorods.
Identification of a p53 Response Element in the Promoter Region of the hMSH2 Gene Required for Expression in A2780 Ovarian Cancer Cells*

Defects in the human MSH2 mismatch repair system have been implicated in cellular mutagenesis, tumorigenesis, and chemotherapeutic resistance. The current studies characterized the 5′ upstream proximal promoter region of thehMSH2 gene using transient transfection of A2780 ovarian cancer cells. Serial deletions of a 1.88-kb fragment of the proximal promoter region of the hMSH2 gene revealed that promoter activity was restricted to the first −281 bp. Targeted deletions within this −281 bp region coupled with specific sequence mutagenesis identified a response element for the p53 tumor suppressor protein located between −242 and −222 bp. The −242 hMSH2 p53 element is configured as a direct tandem repeat palindrome with 80% homology to the p53 consensus binding sequence. Co-transfection of anhMSH2 reporter and p53 expression vector into the p53-null cell line SK-OV-3 produced 10-fold enhanced transcription, which was lost when the −242 to −222 p53 binding site was mutated. These results clearly demonstrate the presence of a previously unidentified p53 response element in the hMSH2 proximal promoter. Its location at −242 bp upstream of the start site of transcription is distinct from two previously reported p53 sites at −447 and −416, which transactivate in Saos-2 cells (Scherer, S. J., Maier, S. M., Seifert, M., Hanselmann, R. G., Zang, K. D., Muller-Hermelink, H. K., Angel, P., Welter, C., and Schartl, M. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 37469–37473). Finally, in sharp contrast to their activity in Saos-2 cells, deletion of the −447 and −416 sites in A2780 cells had no effect onhMSH2 promoter activity. Thus, it appears that p53 regulates hMSH2 expression through multiple cell type-specific DNA response elements.
The common cold: control?

Hippocrates believed the practice of therapeutic bleeding for colds was a worthless treatment, and in the first century, Pliny the younger supported the therapeutic value for colds of "kissing the hairy muzzle of a mouse. " Benjamin Franklin spoke against the prevalent belief that cold exposure and dampness caused colds. He also had astutely observed that close contact with ill persons would lead to colds; he recommended fresh air and to avoid exposure to the transpirations of others. Chicken soup is purported to effect improvement in symptoms, and the proposed basis for such an effect, inhalation of warm moist air, forms the basis for a therapeutic device called Rhinotherm® that generates warm moist air for inhalation. Vitamin C and, more recently, zinc compounds are reportedly effective for colds [1]. The recital of proposed causes and cures of the common cold continues as man's most common malady continues to circumvent effective control. A considerable disparity exists currently between the relative significance of the medical problem and the relative intensity of research on the common cold; the result is slow progress toward development of methods for control. Nevertheless, although control of the common cold is not currently in sight, progress is being made and development of effective control should not be considered as altogether hopeless. In the current issue of the Journal, the problems and inadequacies of a potentially useful material for treatment of colds, interferon, are presented; in addition, further insight into mechanisms of the spread of colds as well as a model system for evaluating control procedures are described. These reports provide reasons to be both discouraged and encouraged. This perspective will summarize some previous information concerning colds and iden-
Discrete Total Variation: New Definition and Minimization

We propose a new definition for the gradient field of a discrete image, defined on a twice finer grid. The differentiation process from the image to its gradient field is viewed as the inverse operation of linear integration, and the proposed mapping is nonlinear. Then, we define the total variation of an image as the l1 norm of its gradient field amplitude. This new definition of the total variation yields sharp edges and has better isotropy than the classical definition.
Investigating the Factors Affecting the Implementation of Knowledge Management in Aghajari Oil and Gas Exploitation Company

Knowledge management is one way to improve the survival of organization. Therefore, the identification and study of factors affecting the deployment of knowledge management can help organizations to implement and enforce it better. When factors affecting the deployment of knowledge management to be identified and analyzed previously and an appropriate platform to be provided for its deployment, knowledge management is successfully implemented in organizations. Because the management of the existing knowledge of organization is a humanistic matter and is completely related to human resources, organizations to deploy successful knowledge management should provide appropriate organizational culture, strategic thinking, right staff training and suitable technology and act accordingly. Aghajari Oil and Gas Exploitation Company with respect to the determined objectives and policies of the ministry and more emphasis on the issue of knowledge-based operation process of oil and gas resources and according to its task at oil exploitation, production and sending and protection of the facilities and oil tanks as well as rapid advances in technology and increasing employees' level of education, considers knowledge management. This research is conducted in line with the goals and policies set by the Ministry of Petroleum. For this purpose, one main hypothesis, four sub-hypotheses and two side-hypotheses are developed. The results of hypotheses testing implied the endorsement of main hypothesis namely, it was found that organizational factors influence the management deployment in Aghajari Oil and Gas Exploitation Company. Four research hypotheses were confirmed as well thus, it became clear that organizational factors (including organizational culture, strategic thinking, employees’ training and technology) affect the management deployment in Aghajari Oil and Gas Exploitation Company. Also according to the results, the first side-hypothesis that "The different education level of employees has different effects on the implementation of knowledge management in Aghajari Oil and Gas Exploitation Company" was confirmed. But the second side-hypothesis that "different professions (technical and non-technical) have different effect on the deployment of knowledge management in Aghajari Oil and Gas Exploitation Company" was rejected.
Advancement Towards an Approved Vaccine to Target Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria

Plasmodium falciparum causes the severest form of malaria which kills well over one million persons each year, chiefly children, and results in significant debilitation in hundreds of millions more. This disease has a dramatic socioeconomic impact in endemic countries and thus it is a recurring target for global health enterprises. Increased investment in existing control measures, including insecticide-impregnated bed nets, has been paired with revitalized efforts to develop an efficacious vaccine. Sequencing of the genome of P. falciparum has provided insights into the malaria parasite’s complex lifecycle, which, combined with a deeper understanding of the human immune response to infection, has yielded many novel candidate vaccines during the past two decades. Most notable of these is RTS,S which has shown great promise over a long development process, becoming the first candidate vaccine against human malaria to advance to phase III clinical trials. Hence, there is optimism that in the near future RTS,S may become the first ever licensed vaccine against a parasitic disease in humans. However, this is qualified by the need for a better knowledge of its mechanism of protection and questions raised over its long-term therapeutic capacity. While the availability of RTS,S as a validated commercial product is not guaranteed, it is likely to contribute to the continuing campaign against malaria, if only as a forerunner to a fine-tuned second generation vaccine.
Expression analysis of cloned chromosomal segments of Escherichia coli

The novel transcription system of bacteriophage T7 was used to express Escherichia coli genes preferentially with a new low-copy-number plasmid vector, pFN476, to minimize toxic gene effects. Selected E. coli chromosomal fragments from an ordered genomic library (Y. Kohara, K. Ikiyama, and K. Isono, Cell 50:495-508, 1987) were recloned into this vector, and their genes were preferentially expressed in vivo utilizing its T7 promoter. The protein products were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. By using DNA sequence information, the gel migration was predicted for the protein products of open reading frames from these segments, and this information was used to identify gene products visualized as spots on two-dimensional gels. Even in the absence of DNA sequence information, this approach offers the opportunity to identify all gene products of E. coli and map their genes to within 10 kb on the E. coli genome; with sequence information, this approach can produce a definitive expression map of the E. coli genome.
ATM Frauds -Preventive Measures and Cost Benefit

It is well-known that criminals have many ways of illegally accessing ATM machines to access the account of legitimate users. In this paper, we briefly provide an overview of the possible fraudulent activities that may be perpetrated against ATMs and justify why the use of biometric should be considered as preventive measure. A prototype of biometric ATM was designed and questionnaires were distributed to users for their opinion. Finally, the paper concludes by giving a simple risk and cost benefit analysis for the proposed design. Keyword(s): ATM Fraud, Biometrics, Fingerprint Verification, ATM Fraud Countermeasures.
Higher Fruit Consumption Linked With Lower Body Mass Index

the United States has raised questions among many health professionals: Do the overweight eat differently from thinner people? Do the obese and overweight choose different foods, or consume larger quantities, or both? Is obesity a result of metabolism and activity level? One of the major nutrition campaigns in the last decade has been to urge Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables in terms of quantity and variety. As a starting point in exploring the effects of eating habits on body weight, researchers with USDA’s Economic Research Service examined the relationship between consumption of fruits and vegetables and obesity. We wondered if people who eat more fruits and vegetables are thinner than those who eat lesser amounts. We hypothesized that people who work to incorporate nutrient-dense, low-fat fruits and vegetables in their diets will work to keep their weights at healthy levels. We found a negative relationship, or inverse association, between fruit consumption and body mass index: people who eat more servings of fruit each day have lower body mass indices. Surprisingly, we found no consistent relationship between vegetable consumption and body mass index, especially among children.
A novel operating and backup channel allocation scheme in IEEE 802.22 systems

In this paper, novel operating and backup channels allocation schemes for IEEE 802.22 system are introduced and their performances are investigated. Interference level and the probability of appearance for incumbent user are taken into account in order to optimally update the backup channels list. Additionally, the operating channel is allocated based on Carrier to Interference and Noise Ratio (CINR) so as to meet Quality of Service (QoS) requirement. Simulation results illustrate that performance is significantly enhanced by employing the proposed channel allocation schemes in the IEEE 802.22 system.
A sparse optimization method for masking effect removal in noise synthetic aperture radar

In this paper, we propose a sparse optimization method to suppress the masking effect of noise synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging. The transmitted noise waveforms have large fluctuations in the spectrum, which results in high-level sidelobes in the range direction. Weak targets can be masked by the sidelobes of strong targets when traditional matched filtering (MF) is applied. Inspired by the idea of compressed sensing (CS), we formulate the noise SAR imaging process as solving an inverse problem from incomplete random frequency measurements, and then reconstruct the noise SAR image using sparse optimization method. Experimental results on real airborne noise SAR data are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Aberystwyth University Ordered weighted aggregation of fuzzy similarity relations and its application to detecting water treatment plant malfunction

Ordered weighted aggregation procedures have been introduced in many applications with promising results. In this paper, an innovative approach for ordered weighted aggregation of fuzzy relations is proposed. It allows the integration of component relations generated from different perspectives of a certain observation to form an overall fuzzy relation, deriving a useful similarity measure for observed data points. Two types of aggregation are investigated: a) min/max operators are employed for the aggregation of component relations defined by the minimum T-norm; and b) sum/product operators are employed for the aggregation of component relations defined by the Lukasiewicz T -norm. The resultant ordered weighted aggregations prove to preserve the desirable reflexivity and symmetry properties, with T -transitivity also conditionally preserved if appropriate weighting vectors are adopted. The conditions upon which the proposed aggregated relations preserve T -transitivity are studied. The characteristics of applying an aggregated relation in combination with clustering procedures is also experimentally examined, where fuzzy similarity relations regarding individual features are aggregated to support hierarchical clustering. An application to the detection of water treatment plant malfunction demonstrates that better results can be obtained with the transitive fuzzy relations acting as the required similarity measures, as compared to the use of non-transitive ones. By introducing transitivity to the aggregation the interpretability of the detection system is also enriched.
No . 1233 A Model of Casino Gambling

Casino gambling is a hugely popular activity around the world, but there are still very few models of why people go to casinos or of how they behave when they get there. In this paper, we show that prospect theory can offer a surprisingly rich theory of gambling, one that captures many features of actual gambling behavior. First, we demonstrate that, for a wide range of parameter values, a prospect theory agent would be willing to gamble in a casino, even if the casino only offers bets with zero or negative expected value. Second, we show that prospect theory predicts a plausible time inconsistency: at the moment he enters a casino, a prospect theory agent plans to follow one particular gambling strategy; but after he enters, he wants to switch to a different strategy. The model therefore predicts heterogeneity in gambling behavior: how a gambler behaves depends on whether he is aware of the time-inconsistency; and, if he is aware of it, on whether he is able to commit, in advance, to his initial plan of action. JEL classification: D03, D81
Algorithm of set-valued state estimation for strapdown inertial navigation systems

The article deals with set-valued state estimation for strap down inertial navigation systems when there is no statistical information about an initial state, disturbances and noises but the sets of their possible values are available. The suggested algorithm uses an implicit description of feasible sets with the linear inequality system that describes sets of possible values of initial state, disturbances and noises, and the linear equations system received from the system model. The algorithm involves solving a row of linear programming problems. The comparison of set-valued estimates and Kalman filter estimates was performed.
Enhanced Monte Carlo localization incorporating a mechanism for preventing premature convergence

SUMMARY In this paper, we propose an enhanced Monte Carlo localization (EMCL) algorithm for mobile robots, which deals with the premature convergence problem in global localization as well as the estimation error existing in pose tracking. By incorporating a mechanism for preventing premature convergence (MPPC), which uses a “reference relative vector” to modify the weight of each sample, exploration of a highly symmetrical environment can be improved. As a consequence, the proposed method has the ability to converge particles toward the global optimum, resulting in successful global localization. Furthermore, by applying the unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) to the prediction state and the previous state of particles in Monte Carlo Localization (MCL), an EMCL can be established for pose tracking, where the prediction state is modified by the Kalman gain derived from the modified prior error covariance. Hence, a better approximation that reduces the discrepancy between the state of the robot and the estimation can be obtained. Simulations and practical experiments confirmed that the proposed approach can improve the localization performance in both global localization and pose tracking.