Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cross‐talk between toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) and proteinase‐activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is involved in vascular function

Proteinase‐activated receptors (PARs) and toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are involved in innate immune responses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible cross‐talk between PAR2 and TLR4 in vessels in physiological condition and how it varies following stimulation of TLR4 by using in vivo and ex vivo models.
What Properties are Desirable from an Electron Microscopy Segmentation Algorithm

The prospect of neural reconstruction from Electron Microscopy (EM) images has been elucidated by the automatic segmentation algorithms. Although segmentation algorithms eliminate the necessity of tracing the neurons by hand, significant manual effort is still essential for correcting the mistakes they make. A considerable amount of human labor is also required for annotating groundtruth volumes for training the classifiers of a segmentation framework. It is critically important to diminish the dependence on human interaction in the overall reconstruction system. This study proposes a novel classifier training algorithm for EM segmentation aimed to reduce the amount of manual effort demanded by the groundtruth annotation and error refinement tasks. Instead of using an exhaustive pixel level groundtruth, an active learning algorithm is proposed for sparse labeling of pixel and boundaries of superpixels. Because over-segmentation errors are in general more tolerable and easier to correct than the under-segmentation errors, our algorithm is designed to prioritize minimization of false-merges over false-split mistakes. Our experiments on both 2D and 3D data suggest that the proposed method yields segmentation outputs that are more amenable to neural reconstruction than those of existing methods.
Per‐subject characterization of bolus width in pulsed arterial spin labeling using bolus turbo sampling

Quantification of cerebral blood flow using QUIPSSII pulsed arterial spin labeling requires that the QUIPSS saturation delay TI1 is shorter than the natural temporal bolus width. Yet the duration of the bolus of tagged spins entering the region of interest varies during vasoactive stimuli such as gaseous challenges or across subjects due to differences in blood velocity or vessel geometry. A new technique, bolus turbo sampling, to rapidly measure the duration of the inflowing bolus is presented. It allows to optimize the arterial spin labeling acquisition to ensure reliable quantification of perfusion while maximizing the arterial spin labeling signal by avoiding the use of unnecessarily short label durations. The average bolus width measured in the right and left middle cerebral artery territories using the bolus turbo sampling technique has a repeatability coefficient of 75 ms and correlates significantly with the TI1,max determined from a novel multi‐TI1 protocol (R = 0.65, P < 0.05). The possibility to measure the bolus width under hypercapnia is demonstrated. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
NGC 5385, NGC 2664 and Collinder 21: Three candidate open cluster remnants

We present CCD UBVI photometric and medium/high resolution spectroscopic observations obtained in the field of the previously unstudied dissolving open cluster candidates NGC 5385, NGC 2664 and Collinder 21. Our analysis is based on the discussion of star counts, photometry, radial velocity distribution, and proper motions available from the Tycho 2 catalogue. All three aggregates clearly emerge from the mean Galactic field, but, regrettably, the close scrutiny of proper motions and radial velocities reveals that we are not facing any physical group. Instead, what we are looking at are just chance alignments of a few bright unrelated stars. Our analysis casts some doubt on the Bica et al. ([CITE], A&A, 366, 827) criterion to look for Possible Open Cluster Remnants. It seems mandatory to define a better criterion to adopt for further investigations.
Opioid Receptor Subtypes Differentially Modulate Serotonin Efflux in the Rat Central Nervous System

Opioid receptor subtypes may have site-specific effects and play different roles in modulating serotonergic neurotransmission in the mammalian central nervous system. To test this hypothesis, we used in vivo microdialysis to measure changes in extracellular serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) in response to local infusion of μ-, δ-, and κ-opioid receptor ligands into the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), median raphe nucleus (MRN), and nucleus accumbens (NAcc) of freely behaving rats. The μ-opioids [d-Ala2-N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO), endomorphin-1, and endomorphin-2 were administered by reverse dialysis infusion into the DRN. In response, extracellular 5-HT was increased in the DRN, an effect that was blocked by the selective μ-receptor antagonist β-funaltrexamine, but not by the δ-receptor antagonistN,N-diallyl-Tyr-Aib-Aib-Phe-Leu-OH (ICI-174,864). Infusion of δ-receptor agonists, [d-Ala2,d-Len5]enkephalin (DADLE), [d-Pen2,5]enkephalin (DPDPE), and deltophin-II into the DRN also increased extracellular 5-HT, an effect that was blocked by selective δ-receptor antagonists. In contrast to the DRN, local infusion of μ- and δ-opioids had no effect on 5-HT in the MRN or NAcc. These data indicate that μ- and δ-opioid ligands have a selective influence on serotonergic neurons in the DRN. Finally, the κ-receptor agonist U-50,488 [trans-(±)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide] produced similar decreases in 5-HT during local infusion into the DRN, MRN, and NAcc. These results provide evidence of differential regulation of 5-HT release by opioid receptor subtypes in the midbrain raphe and forebrain.
Modulation classification of QAM and PSK from their constellation using Genetic Algorithm and hierarchical clustering

Most of the approaches for recognition and classification of modulation have been founded on modulated signal's components. However, one of the best methods of modulation classification is the use of the constellation diagram of the received signal. In this paper, modulation classification for PSK and QAM is performed by genetic algorithm followed by hierarchical clustering algorithm, considering the constellation of the received signal. In addition this classification finds the decision boundary of the signal which is a critical information for bit detection. The simulation shows high capability of this method for recognition of modulation levels in the presence of the noise.
Brain-machine Interface in Robot-assisted Neurorehabilitation for Patients with Stroke and Upper Extremity Weakness – the Therapeutic Turning Point

Correspondence to Jung Hwan Kim National Rehabilitation Center Rehabilitation Hospital & Research Institute, 58 Samgaksanro, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul 01022, Korea. Tel: +82-2-901-1801 E-mail: view1492@gmail.com Jung Hwan Kim Brain-machine Interface in Robotassisted Neurorehabilitation for Patients with Stroke and Upper Extremity Weakness – the Therapeutic Turning Point Brain & NeuroRehabilitation 02
Factors that Affect Accounting Information System Implementation and Accounting Information Quality: A Survey in University Utara Malaysia

The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that affect accounting information system imp lementation and accounting informat ion quality fro m Universit i Utara Malaysia student's points of view. It examines the effect of hu man resources, data quality and management commit ment on accounting information system and information quality. A survey of 119 respondents is selected to gather information's to test the study hypotheses. The main findings indicate that there is significant relationship between management co mmit ments, data quality and accounting info rmation system. However, the relation is not significantly related to human resources. Furthermore, the relat ion between management commit ment and data quality are not significantly related to accounting informat ion quality but significantly related to accounting information system and hu man resources. The study recommends that co mprehensive training programmes to get the sufficient knowledge in accounting informat ion system implementation and the importance of data quality, furthermore, top management should support AIS imp lementation to get full benefit of accounting information system.
Suppressing test inflation in shared-memory parallel Automatic Test Pattern Generation

Multi-core machines enable the possibility of parallel computing in Automatic Test Pattern Generation (ATPG). With sufficient computing power, previously proposed parallel ATPG has reached near linear speedup. However, test inflation in parallel ATPG yet arises as a critical problem and limits its practicality. Therefore, we developed a parallel ATPG system that incorporates (1) concurrent interruption (CI), (2) ripple compaction (RC) and (3) fan-in-cone based fault ordering (FIC) to deal with such problem. Concurrent interruption aborts test generation on simultaneously detected faults by fault simulation. Ripple compaction combines tests for different faults while fan-in-cone based fault ordering strategically arranges the fault list to reduce the number of test generations and thus speeds up the ATPG process. According to our experiments, the proposed parallel ATPG system effectively reduces 11% pattern count and achieves ~0% test inflation while maintaining an average of 6.5X speedup with no attenuation in fault coverage on experimental circuits.
Static Symmetry Breaking in Circle Packing

1 IntroductionWe present new Static Symmetry-Breaking Inequalities (SSBI) [11,6] for theproblem of packing equal circles in a square [9]. The new SSBIs provide amarked computational improvement with respect to past work [1], though notyet at the level where a purely Mathematical Programming (MP) based spatialBranch-and-Bound (sBB) can be competitive with a Branch-and-Bound (BB)“boosted” by combinatorial and geometrical devices such as [9]. We considerthe following formulation of Circle Packing in a Square (CPS) problem:given N ∈ N and L ∈ N, can N non-overlapping circles of unit radius be ar-ranged in a square of side 2L? This is equivalent to the more usual formulationwhere one maximizes the number of non-overlapping circles of unit radius in asquare of side 2L with L ∈ Q
The offshore sailor: enskilment and identity

Abstract This paper employs the concept of enskilment – becoming skilful through active engagement – to investigate how a sense of identity, as an offshore sailor, is contingent upon being attuned to one’s environment. It draws on auto-ethnographic accounts to highlight the embodied practices that constitute ‘being’ an offshore sailor. In doing so, it draws on and extends investigations of leisure experiences concerned with offshore sailing, auto-ethnographic inquiry, the relationship between the body and the environment and developing a sense of identity. It highlights the process of enskilment that allowed the author to ‘(re)inhabit’ a particular leisure identity. The paper draws attention to the temporal and contingent identity of ‘being’ an offshore sailor that is grounded in the practice of offshore sailing. To understand the meaning of leisure experiences, it is helpful to foreground the embodied practices that constitute an activity, and consider how enskilment shapes participation and identity.
Mapping public relations scholarship in Asia: a longitudinal analysis of published research, 1995–2014

ABSTRACT This study provides a longitudinal content analysis of peer-reviewed research articles on Asian public relations in 8 leading communication journals published over the past 20 years (1995–2014, n = 162). Several content features of the journal articles were examined, including authorship, institution, theory presence and application, topic areas, methods, and contributions and limitations. Results revealed an increasing productivity especially from Asia-based scholars and the popularity on topics concerning public diplomacy. The analysis also indicated that most articles were theory-driven and survey was the most frequently used method. Experimentation and advanced statistical analyses have been gaining momentum as well. Implications of these findings were discussed with the goal to shed some light on the trends and directions of this maturing discipline in a continent with emerging economies and growing global influence.
Non-Tariff Measures in Agri-Food Trade: What Do the Data Tell Us? Evidence from a Cluster Analysis on OECD Imports

Non-tariff measures (NTMs) play an increasing role in the international trade of agri-food products. Although well-recognized, this role has not been extensively analyzed at a disaggregated level. This paper focuses on NTMs enacted by member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for 777 products. Using a cluster-analysis, the paper identifies the correlation between the occurrence of NTMs, their trade coverage, and the incidence of trade frictions for these products. The paper relates the statistical findings to the political economy literature on protection to explain cross-product differences in the occurrence of NTMs and trade frictions.
Canada is #IdleNoMore: exploring dynamics of Indigenous political and civic protest in the Twitterverse

ABSTRACT Social media have been playing a growingly important role in grassroots protest over the last five years. While many scholars have explored dynamics of political cyberprotest (e.g., the ongoing transnational Occupy movement, the 2012 Quebec student strike, the student-led protest movement in Chile between 2011 and 2013), few have studied sub-dynamics relating to ethno-cultural minorities’ uses of social media to gain visibility, mobilize support, and engage in political and civil action. We fill part of this gap in the academic literature by investigating uses of Twitter for political engagement in the context of the Canada-based Idle No More movement (INM). This ongoing protest initiative, which emerged in December 2012, seeks to mobilize Indigenous Peoples in Canada and internationally as well as their non-Indigenous allies. It does so by bringing attention to their culture, struggles, and identities as well as advocating for changes in policy areas relating to the environment, governance, and socio-economic matters. Our study explores to what extent references to aspects of Indigenous identities and culture shaped INM-related tweeting and, by extension, activism during the summer of 2013. We conducted a quantitative and qualitative content analysis of 1650 #IdleNoMore tweets shared by supporters of this movement between 3 July 2013 and 2 August 2013. Our study demonstrates that unlike other social media-intensive movements where economic and political concerns were the primary drivers of political and civil engagement, aspects of Indigenous culture influenced information flows and mobilization among #IdleNoMore tweeters.
Surface Realization with the Intersection Segment Functional

Deciding realizability of a given polyhedral map on a (compact, connected) surface belongs to the hard problems in discrete geometry from the theoretical, algorithmic, and practical points of view. In this paper, we present a heuristic algorithm for the realization of simplicial maps, based on the intersection segment functional. This heuristic was used to find geometric realizations in ℝ3 for all vertex-minimal triangulations of the orientable surfaces of genera g = 3 and g = 4. Moreover, for the first time, examples of simplicial polyhedra in ℝ3 of genus 5 with 12 vertices have been obtained.
CRMP5 Interacts with Tubulin to Inhibit Neurite Outgrowth, Thereby Modulating the Function of CRMP2

Collapsin response mediator proteins (CRMPs) are involved in signaling of axon guidance and neurite outgrowth during neural development and regeneration. Among these, CRMP2 has been identified as an important actor in neuronal polarity and axon outgrowth, these activities being correlated with the reorganization of cytoskeletal proteins. In contrast, the function of CRMP5, expressed during brain development, remains obscure. Here, we find that, in contrast to CRMP2, CRMP5 inhibits tubulin polymerization and neurite outgrowth. Knockdown of CRMP5 expression by small interfering RNA confirms its inhibitory functions. CRMP5 forms a ternary complex with MAP2 and tubulin, the latter involving residues 475-522 of CRMP5, exposed at the molecule surface. Using different truncated CRMP5 constructs, we demonstrate that inhibition of neurite outgrowth by CRMP5 is mediated by tubulin binding. When both CRMP5 and CRMP2 are overexpressed, the inhibitory effect of CRMP5 abrogates neurite outgrowth promotion induced by CRMP2, suggesting that CRMP5 acts as a dominant signal. In cultured hippocampal neurons, CRMP5 shows no effect on axon growth, whereas it inhibits dendrite outgrowth and formation, at an early developmental stage, correlated with its strong expression in neurites. At later stages, when dendrites begin to extend, CRMP5 expression is absent. However, CRMP2 is constantly expressed. Overexpression of CRMP5 with CRMP2 inhibits CRMP2-induced outgrowth both on the axonal and dendritic levels. Deficiency of CRMP5 expression enhanced the CRMP2 effect. This antagonizing effect of CRMP5 is exerted through a tubulin-based mechanism. Thus, the CRMP5 binding to tubulin modulates CRMP2 regulation of neurite outgrowth and neuronal polarity during brain development.
New Screening Software Shows that Most Recent Large 16S rRNA Gene Clone Libraries Contain Chimeras

ABSTRACT A new computer program, called Mallard, is presented for screening entire 16S rRNA gene libraries of up to 1,000 sequences for chimeras and other artifacts. Written in the Java computer language and capable of running on all major operating systems, the program provides a novel graphical approach for visualizing phylogenetic relationships among 16S rRNA gene sequences. To illustrate its use, we analyzed most of the large libraries of cloned bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences submitted to the public repository during 2005. Defining a large library as one containing 100 or more sequences of 1,200 bases or greater, we screened 25 of the 28 libraries and found that all but three contained substantial anomalies. Overall, 543 anomalous sequences were found. The average anomaly content per clone library was 9.0%, 4% higher than that previously estimated for the public repository overall. In addition, 90.8% of anomalies had characteristic chimeric patterns, a rise of 25.4% over that found previously. One library alone was found to contain 54 chimeras, representing 45.8% of its content. These figures far exceed previous estimates of artifacts within public repositories and further highlight the urgent need for all researchers to adequately screen their libraries prior to submission. Mallard is freely available from our website at http://www.cardiff. ac.uk/biosi/research/biosoft/ .
Metallothionein immunoexpression in non-syndromic and syndromic keratocystic odontogenic tumour

Background To compare the metallothionein (MT) immunoexpression in non-syndromic and syndromic keratocystic odontogenic tumour (KOT), to correlate MT with cellular proliferation, and to evaluate the influence of inflammation in MT. Material and Methods Fourteen cases of KOT were submitted to immunohistochemistry for MT and Ki-67 analysis. The lesions were grouped according to their grade of inflammation, and statistical analysis was performed. Results MT was higher in non-syndromic KOT than in syndromic KOT (p<0.05). No statistical difference in Ki-67 could be identified; however, an inverse correlation was observed between MT and Ki-67 in both lesions. When analysing inflammation, non-syndromic KOT showed no differences in either MT or Ki-67. Conclusions The MT immunophenotype of syndromic KOT was different from non-syndromic KOT. MT might not be involved in the proliferation control of both KOT. MT and Ki-67 immunoexpressions proved to be unaffected by inflammation in non-syndromic KOT. Key words: Odontogenic tumours, basal cell nevus syndrome, metallothionein, Ki-67 Antigen, immunohistoche-mistry.
Explaining Stock Returns: A Literature Survey

My objective in writing this survey is to provide an overview of the work that has been done in an important area of financial markets research—explaining the behavior of common stock returns. I have tried to make this survey as complete as possible, without getting bogged down in a lot of technical details. Since this area of research has been very active for the past several years, describing all of the work that has been done is not feasible. I have tried to include the most important research in my discussion, but in doing so, I have left out some very good papers. What follows is my attempt to adequately discuss all the main ideas in as concise a manner as possible.
Direct semi-dense SLAM for rolling shutter cameras

In this paper, we present a monocular Direct and Semi-dense SLAM (Simultaneous Localization And Mapping) system for rolling shutter cameras. In a rolling shutter camera, the pose is different for each row of each image, and this yields poor pose estimates and poor structure estimates when using a state-of-the-art semi-dense direct method designed for global shutter cameras. To address this issue in tracking, we model the smooth and continuous camera trajectory using a B-spline curve of degree k? 1 for poses in the Lie algebra, se(3). We solve for the camera poses at each row-time by a direct optimisation of photometric error as a function of the control points of the spline. Likewise for mapping, we develop generalised epipolar geometry for the rolling shutter case and solve for point depths using photometric error. Although each of these issues has been previously tackled, to the best of our knowledge ours is the first full solution to monocular, direct (feature-less) SLAM. We benchmark our method for pose accuracy and map accuracy against the state-of-the-art semi-dense SLAM system, LSD-SLAM, demonstrating the improved efficacy of our approach when using rolling shutter cameras via synthetic sequences with known ground-truth and real sequences.
Complete video quality preserving data hiding with reversible functionality

This paper proposes a novel data hiding method in the MPEG domain where the image quality of the modified video is completely preserved to that of the original (compressed) video. To our best knowledge, there is no data hiding method that completely preserves the video quality after data embedding, and this method is the first attempt of its kind. This method is also reversible where the modifications done during data embedding could be undone to restore the original video. This method is applicable not only to existing MPEG1/2 encoded video streams but also to the encoding process of MPEG video from sequence of raw pictures. The problem of filesize increase as a result of data embedding is addressed, and three independent solutions are presented to suppress the filesize increase while trading off with payload and coding efficiency. Basic performance of this method is verified through experiments on various existing MPEG1 encoded videos.