Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NEBIVOLOL AMELIORATES INDOMETHACIN-INDUCED GASTRIC ULCER IN ADULT ALBINO RATS: ROLE OF INDUCIBLE NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE

The effect of nebivolol (NBV), a third-generation selective β1antagonist, on indomethacin (IND) induced gastric ulcer in rats was investigated. Thirty two male rats were used in this study, divided into four groups as follows: control group, IND ulcer-induced group, IND + NBV (1mg/kg/day, p.o.) group, and IND + NBV (5mg/kg/day, p.o.) group. Gastric ulcer was induced by a single injection of IND (30 mg/Kg, i.p.); NBV was administered for seven days prior to ulcer induction. At the end of the experiment, the stomach of each rat was removed for macroscopic examination and gastric ulcer scoring. The gastric mucosa was prepared for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and tissue homogenate preparation for biochemical study. Then, the remaining part was used for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. Results showed that NBV significantly protected rats from indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration. There is a significant decreased in the mean ulcer number, score and index along with increased preventive index. Also, NBV significantly decreased the elevations of nitrite⁄nitrate, malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1beta in IND-treated rats. In addition, NBV significantly ameliorated the IND-induced reductions of glutathione level, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities, and prostaglandin E2. Moreover, histopathological, immunohistochemical analysis of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and qRT-PCR for mRNA expression of iNOS gene:confirmed the biochemical results. It was concluded that NBV renders protection in IND-induced gastric ulceration in rats via maintenance of mucosal nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2, reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.
Adaptive measurement matrix design for compressed DoA estimation with sensor arrays

In this work we consider the problem of measurement matrix design for compressed 3-D Direction of Arrival (DoA) estimation using a sensor array with analog combiner. Since generic measurement matrix designs often do not yield optimal estimation performance, we propose a novel design technique based on the minimization of the Cramér-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB). We develop specific approaches for adaptive measurement design for two applications: detection of the newly appearing targets and tracking of the previously detected targets. Numerical results suggest that the developed designs allow to provide the near optimal performance in terms of the CRLB.
Iron-fortified milk and noodle consumption is associated with lower risk of anemia among children aged 6-59 mo in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND Anemia is common among children in developing countries and is associated with decreased cognitive and physical development. Iron-fortified foods may decrease child anemia. OBJECTIVE The objective was to describe the association between iron-fortified milk and iron-fortified noodle consumption and anemia in children aged 6-59 mo. DESIGN Consumption of fortified milk and fortified noodles and child anemia were assessed in 81,885 families from rural and 26,653 families from urban slum areas in Indonesia. RESULTS The proportions of children who received fortified milk and noodles were 30.1% and 22.6%, respectively, in rural families and 40.1% and 48.9%, respectively, in urban families. The prevalence of anemia among children from rural families was 55.9% and from urban families was 60.8%. Children from rural and urban families were less likely to be anemic if they received fortified milk [odds ratio (OR): 0.76; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.80 (P < 0.0001) and OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.74, 0.86 (P < 0.0001), respectively] but not fortified noodles [OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.09 (P = 0.56) and OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.88, 1.02 (P = 0.16), respectively] in multiple logistic regression models with adjustment for potential confounders. In rural families, the odds of anemia were lower when the child who consumed fortified milk also consumed fortified noodles or when the child who consumed fortified noodles also consumed fortified milk. CONCLUSIONS In Indonesia, consumption of fortified milk and noodles was associated with decreased odds of child anemia. Iron-fortified milk and noodles may be a strategy that could be applied more widely as an intervention to decrease child anemia.
Patient and healthcare professional factors influencing end-of-life decision-making during critical illness: A systematic review*

Objectives:The need for better understanding of end-of-life care has never been greater. Debate about recent U.S. healthcare system reforms has highlighted that end-of-life decision-making is contentious. Providing compassionate end-of-life care that is appropriate and in accordance with patient wishes is an essential component of critical care. Because discord can undermine optimal end-of-life care, knowledge of factors that influence decision-making is important. We performed a systematic review to determine which factors are known to influence end-of-life decision-making among patients and healthcare providers. Data Sources, Selection, and Abstraction:We conducted a structured search of Ovid Medline for interventional and observational research articles incorporating critical care and end-of-life decision-making terms. Data Synthesis:Of 6259 publications, 102 were relevant to our review question. Patient factors predicting less intensive end-of-life care include increasing age, comorbidity, and limited functional status; these factors appear to be influential for both clinicians and patients. Patient and clinician race, ethnicity, and nationality also appear to influence the technological intensity of end-of-life care. In general, white patients and those in North America and Northern Europe may be less likely to desire intensive end-of-life care than others. Physicians of similar geo-ethnic origin to patients appear less likely to prescribe such therapy. Physicians with more clinical experience and those routinely working in the intensive care unit are less likely than other physicians to recommend technologically intense care for critically ill patients at the end-of-life. Conclusions:Patients and clinicians may approach end-of-life discussions with different expectations and preferences, influenced by religion, race, culture, and geography. Appreciation of those factors associated with more and less technologically intense care may raise awareness, aid communication, and guide clinicians in end-of-life discussions.
A graphical retrieval system

Prism is a retrieval system that provides an online catalogue for a collection of original cartoon drawings at the University of Kent. The article starts with a general discussion of graphical user interfaces for retrieval systems and then describes the Prism system itself. Prism is unusual in that it has a largely Direct Manipulation graphical user interface and also in that it stores and displays digitised images of the cartoon drawings along with conventional textual catalogue records.
Impact of the Tsunami on reproductive health.

In the past ten years, increasing attention has been paid to the consequences of man-made disasters (conflicts) for reproductive health—in terms of pregnancy outcomes, sexual violence and sexually transmitted infections1,2—but far less to the consequences of natural disasters such as floods, landslides and earthquakes. Despite the many obvious differences between natural and man-made disasters there are similarities in the way they affect people. In any disaster, one public-health imperative is to understand and respond to the reproductive health needs of women and girls, men and boys, and lessons should be learned from the effects of the Tsunami that struck Indian Ocean countries on 26 December 2004. The concept typically covers pregnancy and motherhood, gynaecological care, child spacing and family planning, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, and adolescent reproductive health. Other issues that merit consideration in the wake of disasters are vulnerability, gender violence and poor access to care.
HIF prolyl‐hydroxylase 2 is the key oxygen sensor setting low steady‐state levels of HIF‐1α in normoxia

Hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF), a transcriptional complex conserved from Caenorhabditis elegans to vertebrates, plays a pivotal role in cellular adaptation to low oxygen availability. In normoxia, the HIF‐α subunits are targeted for destruction by prolyl hydroxylation, a specific modification that provides recognition for the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex containing the von Hippel–Lindau tumour suppressor protein (pVHL). Three HIF prolyl‐hydroxylases (PHD1, 2 and 3) were identified recently in mammals and shown to hydroxylate HIF‐α subunits. Here we show that specific ‘silencing’ of PHD2 with short interfering RNAs is sufficient to stabilize and activate HIF‐1α in normoxia in all the human cells investigated. ‘Silencing’ of PHD1 and PHD3 has no effect on the stability of HIF‐1α either in normoxia or upon re‐oxygenation of cells briefly exposed to hypoxia. We therefore conclude that, in vivo, PHDs have distinct assigned functions, PHD2 being the critical oxygen sensor setting the low steady‐state levels of HIF‐1α in normoxia. Interestingly, PHD2 is upregulated by hypoxia, providing an HIF‐1‐dependent auto‐regulatory mechanism driven by the oxygen tension.
Task-Driven Integrity Assessment and Control for Vehicular Hybrid Localization Systems

Throughout the last decade, vehicle localization has been attracting significant attention in a wide range of applications, including Navigation Systems, Road Tolling, Smart Parking, and Collision Avoidance. To deliver on their requirements, these applications need specific localization accuracy. However, current localization techniques lack the required accuracy, especially for mission critical applications. Although various approaches for improving localization accuracy have been reported in the literature, there is still a need for more efficient and more effective measures that can ascribe some level of accuracy to the localization process. These measures will enable localization systems to manage the localization process and resources so as to achieve the highest accuracy possible, and to mitigate the impact of inadequate accuracy on the target application. In this thesis, a framework for fusing different localization techniques is introduced in order to estimate the location of a vehicle along with location integrity assessment that captures the impact of the measurement conditions on the localization quality. Knowledge about estimate integrity allows the system to plan the use of its localization resources so as to match the target accuracy of the application. The framework introduced provides the tools that would allow for modeling the impact of the operation conditions on estimate accuracy and integrity, as such it enables more robust system performance in three steps. First, localization system parameters are utilized to contrive a feature space that constitutes probable accuracy classes. Due to the strong overlap among accuracy classes in the feature space, a hierarchical classification strategy is developed to address the class ambiguity problem via the class unfolding approach (HCCU). HCCU strategy is proven to be superior with respect to other hierarchical configuration. Furthermore, a Context Based Accuracy Classification (CBAC) algorithm is introduced to enhance the performance of the
B lymphocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus: lessons from therapy targeting B cells

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex disease characterizedby numerous autoantibodies and clinical involvement in multiple organ systems. Autoantibodies are usually present in serum for years before the onset of clinical disease. Autoimmunity begins with a limited number of autoantibodiesand evolves to become progressivelymore diverse. Eventually clinical disease ensues. The immunological events triggering the onset of clinical manifestations have not yet been defined. While undoubtedly T cells and dendritic cells appear to play major roles in SLE, a central role for B cells in the pathogenesis of this disease has been brought to the fore in the last few years by work performed both in mice and humans by multiple laboratories.As a result, there is little doubt about the importance of B cells in the development of SLE. Yet much remains to be learned about their role in the ongoing disease process and the merit of targeting B cells for the treatment of SLE. This article will review the role of B cells in human SLE as well as the currently available data on the treatment of SLE by depleting B cells with anti-CD20 (rituximab).
Large deformation of beam columns - a closed form solution and design guide for vertical buckling probe needles

Higher pin count and reduced pitch along with increased wafer size set new demands to fine pitch wafer probe technology. Vertical buckling probe needles are one of the available concepts. The required elasticity for contacting the pad is achieved by buckling of the needles. The buckling mode guarantees a consistent contact pressure over a large range of overtravel and thus allows for an optimal tolerance even under changing planarity conditions of the wafer. However, the dimensioning of a buckling needle for specified contact forces seems impossible for designers. Therefore, the authors present closed form solutions for large deformation of buckling beam columns. It is an extension of the Euler buckling cases known from textbooks and goes back to a publication of Thimoshenko regarding the first Euler case. This solution will now be discussed and extended to the fourth Euler case. Its applications will be demonstrated for a vertical buckling probe needle with one end built in and the other end guided by a guide plate. A closed form solution of the force-deflection characteristic will be presented and compared with geometrical nonlinear finite element analysis.
İzmir İli Çeşme Yerleşimi Kiyilarinda Alan Kullaniminda Gözlenen Değişimlerin Değerlendirilmesi Üzerine Bir Araştirma

azalma, yerlesim alani kullanimlarinda ise artis belirlenmistir. Bu alan kullanim kategorilerinin baskinlik degerleri incelendiginde ise; dogal bitki ortusu baskinliginda belirgin bir degisim gozlenmezken, yerlesim alanlari baskinliginda belirgin bir artis ve tarim alanlari baskinliginda ise belirgin bir azalma saptanmistir
Performance measurement of WEP and WPA2 on WLAN using OpenVPN

With the advancement of wireless networking many serious security issues have been raised. Because of broadcast nature in wireless networks, various attacks such as eavesdropping, Denial of Service, Session hijacking is very much possible. To encounter these attacks various encryption standards such as Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and 802.11i (WPA2) have been deployed along with it Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have also provided an important solution to security threats that surrounds the use of public networks for private communications. In this paper performance measurement of WEP and WPA2 on wireless local area networks (WLANs) using OpenVPN based on various performance metrics such as throughput, latency and frame loss rate will be done.
Exploring several dimensions of local, global and glocal using the generic conceptual framework Hodges's model

This paper introduces Hodges’s model a conceptual framework as a means to explore the concept glocal and the more familiar terms local and global . Actual and speculative definitions of glocal are offered. Discussion will also deliberate on the compound meanings of these terms. The model's four knowledge (care) domains facilitate discussion of the physical, social, political and individual dimensions of local, global and glocal. The paper draws upon health, anthropology, history, science, informatics and geopolitics – especially the themes of globalization, literacy, information technology and communication (voice). The purpose is exploratory with additional resort to philosophical reflection.
Lenalidomide--the phoenix rises.

Perhaps the darkest memory in modern pharmaceutical history is that of the devastating effects of thalidomide exposure on fetal development. More than four decades later, thalidomide reemerged from the ashes as the prototype for a new proprietary class of drugs with broad pharmacologic effects and promising antineoplastic activity, referred to collectively as immunomodulatory drugs. Thalidomide was first marketed in Europe in the late 1950s as a hypnotic and antiemetic for the treatment of morning sickness during pregnancy. Between 1956 and 1962, approximately 10,000 children were born with severe physical deformities, or phocomelia, as a result of the drug's unrecognized teratogenic .
Dimensionality Reduction for Improved Source Separation in FMRI Data

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) captures brain activity by measuring the hemodynamic response. It is often used to associate specific brain activity with specific behavior or tasks. The analysis of fMRI scans seeks to recover this association by differentiating between task and non-task related activation and by spatially isolating brain activity. In this paper, we frame the association problem as a convolution of activation patterns. We project fMRI scans into a low dimensional space using manifold learning techniques. In this subspace, we transform the time course of each projected fMRI volume into the frequency domain. We use independent component analysis to discover task related activations. The combination of these methods discovers sources that show stronger correlation with the activation reference function than previous methods.
A monitoring design for the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation

Current hydrographic data can provide snapshots but no continuous timeseries of the meridional overturning circulation (MOC). Using output from two eddy‐permitting numerical ocean models we test the feasibility of a monitoring system for the MOC in the North Atlantic. The results suggest that a relatively simple arrangement, using moorings placed across a longitude‐depth section and the zonal wind stress, is able to capture most of the MOC strength and vertical structure as a function of time. Being closely related to the transport of energy to the North Atlantic, measuring the MOC would open the prospect of having continuous information about a key element of northern hemisphere climate.
A 0.35 µm CMOS LC-tank injection-locked frequency divider

A divide-by-2 injection-locked frequency divider (ILFD) has been designed in a 0.35 µm CMOS process. The ILFD circuit is realized with a differential CMOS LC-tank oscillator with an injection MOS. Simulation results show that at the supply voltage of 2.5 V and by tuning Vtune from 0 to 2.5 V, the tuning range of the free-running ILFD is from 1.84 to 2.89 GHz. At the injection signal power of 0 dBm, the locking range of the proposed ILFD is about 2.49 GHz from the incident frequency 3.53 to 6.02 GHz. The ILFD dissipate 3.43 mW. At the tuning voltage of 1.6 V the simulated phase noise of the free running ILFD is −125.6 dBc/Hz at 1.066 MHz offset frequency at 2.65 GHz and the phase noise of the locked output is −132.7 dBc/Hz while the phase noise of the injected signal is −126.7 dBc/Hz.
Lipoxin A4 Stable Analogs Are Potent Mimetics That Stimulate Human Monocytes and THP-1 Cells via a G-protein-linked Lipoxin A4 Receptor*

Lipoxins (LX) are bioactive eicosanoids that activate human monocytes and inhibit neutrophils. LXA4 is rapidly converted by monocytes to inactive products, and to resist metabolism, synthetic analogs of LXA4 were designed. Here, we examined the bioactivity of several LXA4 analogs in monocytes and found, for chemotaxis, 15(R/S)-methyl-LXA4 and 15-epi-LXA4 were equal in activity, and 16-phenoxy-LXA4 was more potent than native LXA4. Both 15(R/S)-methyl-LXA4 and 16-phenoxy-LXA4 were ∼1 log molar more potent than LXA4 in stimulating THP-1 cell adherence (EC50 ≈ 1 × 10−10 M). Dimethylamide derivatives of the LXA4 analogs also possessed agonist rather than antagonist properties for monocytes. Neither LXA4 nor 16-phenoxy-LXA4 affected monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. We cloned an LXA4 receptor from THP-1 cells identical to that found in PMN. Evidence of receptor-mediated function of LXA4 and the stable analogs in monocytes included desensitization of intracellular calcium mobilization to a second challenge by equimolar concentrations of these analogs, but not to LTB4. Increases in [Ca2+]i by LXA4 and the analogs were specifically inhibited by an antipeptide antibody to the LXA4 receptor; and both LXA4- and analog-induced adherence and increments in Ca2+ were sensitive to pertussis toxin. Together, these results indicate that the LXA4 stable analogs are potent monocyte chemoattractants and are more potent than native LXA4 in stimulating THP-1 cell adherence, at subnanomolar concentrations. Moreover, they provide additional evidence that the LXA4 stable analogs retain selective bioactivity in monocytes and are valuable instruments for examining the functions and modes of action of LXA4.
Working Time Usage and Tracking in a Small Software Development Organization

This paper represents a study of working time usage in a small software development organization. The purpose of the study was twofold. First, we wanted to understand how software developers in the organization work and second, we wanted to explore the attitudes they had toward different types of time tracking approaches. The aim was to provide practical suggestions of appropriate methods and tools for monitoring the developers’ time. According to the results, working with computer tools occupies the overwhelming majority of the working time although manual tasks and interruptions take some of the time. Even though the developers in the case company do not feel threatened by time monitoring, they do not either feel that monitoring is necessary, which is interesting and challenging from the project management viewpoint. We suggest that the case company should establish a lightweight, tool-based time tracking process and trains the developers to use the system and report their working time accurately.
Local performance of the (1 + 1)-ES in a noisy environment

While noise is a phenomenon present in many real world optimization problems, the understanding of its potential effects on the performance of evolutionary algorithms is still incomplete. This paper investigates the effects of fitness proportionate Gaussian noise for a (1 + 1)-ES with isotropic normal mutations on the quadratic sphere in the limit of infinite search-space dimensionality. It is demonstrated experimentally that the results provide a good approximation for finite space dimensionality. It is shown that overvaluation as a result of failure to re-evaluate parental fitness leads to both reduced success probabilities and improved performance. Implications for mutation strength adaptation rules are discussed and optimal re-sampling rates are computed.
Using the Hough transform to detect circular forms in satellite imagery

The objective of this work is to identify geological circular forms, impact and volcano craters using satellite images. The recognition of objects (circular forms) is the last step in a processing chain which can be described in four phases: image processing, pattern detection, pattern recognition, and identification of the targets (models). The work presents the detection of circular forms in images including the south region of the Minas Gerais State in Brazil.