Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimized Processing Placement Over a Vehicular Cloud

Modern vehicles equipped with on-board units (OBU) are playing an essential role in the emerging smart city revolution. The vehicular processing resources, however, are not used to their full potential. The concept of vehicular clouds is proposed to exploit the underutilized vehicular resources to supplement cloud computing services to relieve the burden on centralized cloud data centers and improve quality of service. In this paper we introduce a vehicular cloud architecture supported by fixed edge computing nodes and a central cloud data center. A mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model is developed to optimize the allocation of the processing demands in the distributed architecture while minimizing the overall power consumption. The results show power savings as high as 84% compared to processing in the conventional cloud.Variations in the test cases to include processing demand and traffic demand splitting showed power saving of 71% and 16% respectively, even for large demand volumes. A heuristic algorithm with performance approaching that of the MILP model is developed to validate the MILP model and allocate processing demands in real time.
A Review on the Dual Role of SOCS3 in Cancer

Background: Aberrant proliferation is a hallmark of cancer. Cellular proliferation mechanisms and various cytokines contribute to the progression of cancer. The tumor suppressor protein Suppressor of Cytokine Signalling 3 (SOCS3), which acts via the JAK/STAT pathway, have a role in the progression of cancer. Aim: To explore the role of SOCS3 in all the hallmarks of cancer. To exhibit SOCS3 action on proliferation pathways and immune aspect affecting cancer progression. Methods: The PubMed database was searched using the keywords proliferation, SOCS3, JAK/STAT, interleukins, and tumor suppressor. Articles relevant to SOCS3 were considered for this review. Results: In this review, we have illustrated the dual action of SOCS3, which inhibits various proliferative mechanisms and affects certain interleukins that counterbalance the progression of cancer. In addition, SOCS3 affects all the hallmarks of cancer. Conclusion: We hope that this review will stimulate further investigation of SOCS3, which has the potential to become a new target for the pharmacological treatment of various cancers in the future.
www.clinicalcases.eu Archive of Clinical Cases

The role of vitamin D in the human body is a complex one, proven by the many studies performed related to this aspect. Data from the literature on the correlation between vitamin D deficiency and thyroid autoimmune pathology, although present and increasing in the last 10 years, have failed to establish exactly whether or not there is a link between them. The aim of the study was to assess the status of vitamin D in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease; and to determine if there is a correlation between parameters such as: thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), ATPO; and vitamin D levels. Therefore, we performed a retrospective study in which we included 60 patients, 32 with autoimmune thyroid pathology and 28 patients with negative antithyroid antibodies. The average age of those in the case group was 58 years old and 52 years old for the control group. Female sex was predominant in both groups of patients, 97% in the study group and 71% in the control group. Vitamin D values in patients with thyroid autoimmune pathology in our study were on average higher than those obtained in the control group (patients with negative thyroid antibodies), without finding a statistically significant difference between the values of the two groups of patients (p = 0.197). The study shows a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in both groups of patients (with or without autoimmune thyroid disease), the highest rate being observed among patients without autoimmune pathology, but without a statistically significant difference between values.
Horizontal Chimney Effect

An analysis of natural convection in horizontal slots has been carried out. It is demonstrated that a proper combination of heating and groove patterns can create a net horizontal fluid movement which we refer to as the horizontal chimney effect. Groove shapes that can be easily manufactured as well as heating patterns that can be easily created using heating wires were considered. It has been shown that both patterns must be properly tuned. The direction of the net horizontal flow can be changed by changing the relative positions of the patterns. Changes of groove geometry can change the flow rate by up to 100%. Simultaneous use of grooves and heating at both plates can nearly double the system effectiveness. The strength of the flow increases with reduction of the Prandtl number.
Development of Functional Composite Cu(II)-Polyoxometalate/PLA with Antimicrobial Properties

Novel composite self-disinfecting films of polylactic acid (PLA) filled with nanosized particles of double sodium–copper(II) paratungstate B Na2Cu3(CuOH)2[W12O40(OH)2]·32H2O (POM) were developed. The solvent casting (POM/PLA film) and solvent-free melt extrusion methods (Extr. POM/PLA film) were applied for film preparation. The copper (II) ion release to water from both types of the films after 10 days at different temperatures demonstrated that the PLA matrix acts as a diffusion barrier, and the resulting concentration of released copper in water at room temperature remained low, at 0.79% for POM/PLA film and 0.51% for Extr. POM/PLA film. The POM-containing films reveals a significant inhibitory effect against E. coli ATCC 25922 in the agar diffusion test. The numbers of CFUs in washes of the films after incubation for 24 h were found to be 3.6 log CFU mL–1 (POM/PLA film) and 4.1 log CFU mL–1 (Extr. POM/PLA film). The films combine the antibacterial properties of POM and a bio-based polymer matrix, which makes them a prospective coating material for applications in hospital indoor environments. Excellent thermal stability of POM gives a technological advantage for industrial manufacturing to allow the processing of novel composite material in the solvent free (molten) state.
Validation model of fibrosis-8 index score to predict significant fibrosis among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND Identifying hepatic fibrosis is crucial for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) management. The fibrosis-8 (FIB-8) score, recently developed by incorporating four additional variables into the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, showed better performance in predicting significant fibrosis in NAFLD. AIM To validate the FIB-8 score in a biopsy-proven NAFLD cohort and compare the diagnostic performance of the FIB-8 and FIB-4 scores and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) for predicting significant fibrosis. METHODS We collected the data of biopsy-proven NAFLD patients from three Asian centers in three countries. All the patients with available variables for the FIB-4 score (age, platelet count, and aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels) and FIB-8 score (the FIB-4 variables plus 4 additional parameters: The body mass index (BMI), albumin to globulin ratio, gamma-glutamyl transferase level, and presence of diabetes mellitus) were included. The fibrosis stage was scored using nonalcoholic steatohepatitis CRN criteria, and significant fibrosis was defined as at least fibrosis stage 2. RESULTS A total of 511 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and complete data were included for validation. Of these 511 patients, 271 (53.0%) were female, with a median age of 51 (interquartile range: 41, 58) years. The median BMI was 29 (26.3, 32.6) kg/m2, and 268 (52.4%) had diabetes. Among the 511 NAFLD patients, 157 (30.7%) had significant fibrosis (≥ F2). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of the FIB-8 and FIB-4 scores and NFS for predicting significant fibrosis were 0.774, 0.743, and 0.680, respectively. The FIB-8 score demonstrated significantly better performance for predicting significant fibrosis than the NFS (P = 0.001) and was also clinically superior to FIB-4, although statistical significance was not reached (P = 0.073). The low cutoff point of the FIB-8 score for predicting significant fibrosis of 0.88 showed 92.36% sensitivity, and the high cutoff point of the FIB-8 score for predicting significant fibrosis of 1.77 showed 67.51% specificity. CONCLUSION We demonstrated that the FIB-8 score had significantly better performance for predicting significant fibrosis in NAFLD patients than the NFS, as well as clinically superior performance vs the FIB-4 score in an Asian population. A novel simple fibrosis score comprising commonly accessible basic laboratories may be beneficial to use for an initial assessment in primary care units, excluding patients with significant liver fibrosis and aiding in patient selection for further hepatologist referral.
Novel Therapies for the Treatment of HER2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer: A Canadian Perspective

The advent of anti-HER2 targeted therapies has dramatically improved the outcome of HER2-positive breast cancer; however, resistance to treatment in the metastatic setting remains a challenge, highlighting the need for novel therapies. The arrival of new treatment options and clinical trials examining the efficacy of novel agents may improve outcomes in the metastatic setting, including in patients with brain metastases. In the first-line setting, we can potentially cure a selected number of patients treated with pertuzumab + trastuzumab + taxane. In the second-line setting, clinical trials show that trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is a highly effective option, resulting in a shift from trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) as the previous standard of care. Moreover, we now have data for patients with brain metastases to show that tucatinib + trastuzumab + capecitabine can improve survival in this higher-risk group and be an effective regimen for all patients in the third-line setting. Finally, we have a number of effective anti-HER2 therapies that can be used in subsequent lines of therapy to improve patient outcomes. This review paper discusses the current treatment options and presents a practical treatment sequencing algorithm in the context of the Canadian landscape.
Paternal diet induces transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of DNA methylation signatures and phenotypes in sheep model

Abstract Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI) requires transmission of environmentally induced epigenetic changes and associated phenotypes to subsequent generations without continued exposure to the environmental factor that originated the change. TEI is well-established in plants and Caenorhabditis elegans; however, occurrence in mammals is debated and poorly understood. Here, we examined whether paternal diet from weaning to puberty-induced changes in sperm DNA methylation that were transmitted to subsequent generations. Over 100 methylated cytosines, environmentally altered in the F0 generation, were inherited by the F1 and F2 generations. Furthermore, the F0 paternal diet was associated with growth and male fertility phenotypes in subsequent generations. Differentially methylated cytosines were correlated with gene expression. Our results demonstrate that some sperm methylation sites may escape DNA methylation erasure and are transmitted to subsequent generations despite the 2 waves of epigenetic programming: in primordial germ cells and in embryos after fertilization. These results advance our understanding of the complex relationships between nature and nurture.
Association of Abnormal Iron Status with the Occurrence and Prognosis of Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Peritonitis: A Longitudinal Data-Based 10-Year Retrospective Study

This retrospective study investigated the effect of iron status on peritonitis by analyzing longitudinal iron parameters in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Patients who received PD at our center from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2015 were included and followed up until 31 December 2017. According to the joint quartiles of baseline transferrin saturation and ferritin, iron status was categorized as reference iron status (RIS), absolute iron deficiency (AID), functional iron deficiency (FID), and high iron status (HIS). Generalized estimating equations and Cox regression models with time-dependent covariates were used. A total of 1258 PD patients were included; 752 (59.8%) were male, with a mean (±standard deviation) age of 47.4 (±14.9) years. During a median follow-up period of 35.5 (interquartile range, 18.4–60.0) months, 450 (34.3%) patients had 650 episodes of peritonitis. By analyzing longitudinal data, patients with AID were independently positively associated with the occurrence (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.45) and treatment failure of peritonitis (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 1.85). Patients with HIS were positively associated with the treatment failure of peritonitis (AHR = 2.70). Longitudinal AID and HIS were associated with the episodes and poor prognosis of peritonitis. Active clinical monitoring and correction of iron imbalance in patients with PD are needed.
Genetic Parameters of Somatic Cell Score in Florida Goats Using Single and Multiple Traits Models

Simple Summary Over the past few years, the Florida breed goat improvement program has led to significant genetic progress in milk production. However, there has been a parallel increase in the incidence of mastitis cases in this population. In this study, we try to assess the current situation of the population and estimate the genetic parameters of somatic cell score (SCS) using the dairy test day and single and multiple traits models. Genetic analysis of this score may allow us to select goats that are more resistant to mastitis. The results show that the SCSs have a heritability of medium-high magnitude, which ensures genetic progress if this criterion is used for selection. Finally, from the point of view of selection, the SCS should not be interpreted as an expression of the same trait over all the parturitions, even though they are closely correlated. Abstract A total of 1,031,143 records of daily dairy control test of Spanish Florida goats were used for this study. The database was edited, and only the records of the first three lactations were kept. The final database contained 340,654 daily-test somatic cell counts from 27,749 daughters of 941 males and 16,243 goats. The evolution of this count in the last 14 years was analyzed following French and American international associations’ criteria for the risk of mastitis in goats, and confirmed the slight increase in SCS in the last years and the importance of this problem (50% of dairy control tests show a risk of suffering mastitis). For the genetic analysis, the SCS records were log-transformed to normalize this variable. Two strategies were used for the genetic analysis: a univariate animal model for the SCS assuming that SCS does not vary throughout the parities, and a multi-character animal model, where SCS is not considered as the same character in the different parities. The heritabilities (h2) were higher in the multiple traits models, showings an upward trend from the first to the third parity (h2 between 0.245 to 0.365). The genetic correlations of the same trait, as well as between breeding values (GVs) between different parities, were different from unity. The breeding values (EBVs) obtained for both models were subjected to a PCA: the first eigenvector (λ1) explained most of the variations (between 74% to 90%), while the second λ2 accounted for between 9% to 20% of the variance, which shows that the selection will be proportionally favorable but not equivalent in all parities and that there are some variations in the type of response.
Effects of Mycorrhizal Biofertilizer on the Biochemical Constituent, Nutrient Uptake, Chlorophyll Content, Growth and Agronomic Parameters of American Yam Bean (Pachyrhizus erosus L.) under Saline Condition

Salt stress negatively impacts plant physiology, metabolism and productivity.The effects of mycorrhizal biofertilizer on the biochemical constituent, nutrient uptake, chlorophyll content, growth and agronomic parameters of American Yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus L.) under saline conditions were investigated. Seeds were planted in polythene bags previously filled with sand, 50 g of Biofertilizer and supplied with a nutrient solution for six weeks in a completely randomized design in a greenhouse. Plants were subjected to NaCl concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 200 mM) with 0 as control. The concentrations 0 and 50 mM NaCl were tested on the farm for five months. Plots were arranged in a randomized block design. The number of flowers per plant, flowering time, number of pods per plant, yield and harvest index were evaluated. The results in the greenhouse showed that the stem height, leaf area, the number of leaves, noose diameter, dry biomass and chlorophyll content decreased significantly (P<0.01) from 100 mM NaCl. Mg, Ca and K significantly (P<0.001) decreased in plant organs with the supply of intake doses of NaCl in the culture medium. The different metabolites (Total soluble proteins, Proline, Total free amino acids, Total soluble carbohydrates and Total phenolic contents) increased significantly (P< 0.001) from 50 mM NaCl. The findings indicate that the accumulation of AMF positively influenced the growth and agronomic parameters of American yam bean under salinity.Their use alleviated the toxicity of NaCl, improved crop productivity and could be encouraged for better development of salinity affected areas.
Architectural Scale Models in the Digital Age: design, representation and manufacturing

Come with us to read a new book that is coming recently. Yeah, this is a new coming book that many people really want to read will you be one of them? Of course, you should be. It will not make you feel so hard to enjoy your life. Even some people think that reading is a hard to do, you must be sure that you can do it. Hard will be felt when you have no ideas about what kind of book to read. Or sometimes, your reading material is not interesting enough.
Nur77 Deficiency Exacerbates Macrophage NLRP3 Inflammasome-Mediated Inflammation and Accelerates Atherosclerosis

Purpose Activation of NLR (nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat immune receptor) family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome mediating interleukin- (IL-) 1β secretion has emerged as an important component of inflammatory processes in atherogenesis. The nuclear receptor Nur77 is highly expressed in human atherosclerotic lesions; however, its functional role in macrophage NLRP3 inflammasome activation has not yet been clarified. Methods, Materials, and Results. Eight-week-old apolipoprotein E (ApoE)−/− and ApoE−/− Nur77−/− mice that were fed a Western diet underwent partial ligation of the left common carotid artery (LCCA) and left renal artery (LRA) to induce atherogenesis. Four weeks later, severe plaque burden associated with increased lipid deposition, reduced smooth muscle cells, macrophage infiltration, and decreased collagen expression was identified in ApoE−/− Nur77−/− mice compared with those in ApoE−/− mice. ApoE−/− Nur77−/− mice showed increased macrophage inflammatory responses in carotid atherosclerotic lesions. In vitro studies demonstrated that oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ox-LDL) increased the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and upregulated the expressions of cleaved caspase-1, cleaved IL-1β and gasdermin D (GSMD) in WT peritoneal macrophages (PMs) in a NLRP3-dependent manner. Nur77−/− PMs exhibited a further increased level of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation under ox-LDL treatment compared with WT PMs. Mechanistically, Nur77 could bind to the promoter of NLRP3 and inhibit its transcriptional activity. Conclusions This study demonstrated that Nur77 deletion promotes atherogenesis by exacerbating NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation.
Introduction of new norms from the area of concrete in Boštanj concrete plant

The main aim of this thesis is production of concrete mixtures at the Bostanj concrete plant and conformity control of the mixtures by applying criteria given in new standards for concrete mixtures, EN 206:2013 and EN 1026:2016. In the beginning of the thesis the concrete plant and its main components, which are needed for the plant operation, are described. Some essential characteristics of aggregate, cement and chemical admixtures that appear in the concrete plant and influence the concrete structure are subject of subsequent chapters. Next, tests of fresh concrete properties carried out by the plant laboratory are described. In the practical part of the thesis results of ordinary and air entrained concrete mixtures are compared. The tested properties of the fresh mixtures are temperature, consistency by slump test, determination of water to cement ratio, air content and fresh concrete density. In hardened state only average compressive strength of concrete at the age of 28 days was determined. The obtained results were compared and analysed. In the last chapter novelties in the standards EN 206:2013 and EN 1026:2016 were summarized and their influence on the concrete plant operation was emphasized.
Ensuring Transient Stability With Guaranteed Region of Attraction in DC Microgrids

DC microgrids have promising applications in renewable integration due to their better energy efficiency when connecting DC components. However, they might be unstable since many loads in a DC microgrid are regulated as constant power loads (CPLs) that have a destabilizing negative impedance effect. As a result, the state trajectory displacement caused by abrupt load changes or contingencies can easily lead to instability. Many existing works have been devoted to studying the region of attraction (ROA) of a DC microgrid, in which the system is guaranteed to be asymptotically stable. Nevertheless, existing work either focuses on using numerical methods for ROA approximations that generally have no performance guarantees or cannot ensure a desired ROA for a general DC microgrid. To close this gap, this paper develops an innovative control synthesis algorithm to make a general DC microgrid have a theoretically guaranteed ROA, for example, to cover the entirety of its operating range regarding state trajectories. We first study the nonlinear dynamics of a DC microgrid to derive a novel transient stability condition to rigorously certify whether a given operating range is a subset of the ROA; then, we formulate a control synthesis optimization problem to guarantee the condition’s satisfaction. This condition is a linear constraint, and the optimization problem resembles an optimal power flow problem and has a good computational behavior. Simulation case studies verify the validity of the proposed work.
The fusion of computational intelligence methodologies in sliding mode control

This tutorial discusses how some "intelligence" can be incorporated in sliding mode controllers by the use of computational intelligence methodologies in order to alleviate the well known problems met in practical implementations of sliding mode controllers. The paper presents an overview of the research and applications reported in the literature in this respect. Parallels are drawn between fuzzy control and VSS (variable structure systems) with a sliding mode.