Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Managing information and distributing knowledge in a knowledge-intensive business environment

Both information and knowledge are huge resources in organizations, but only if they are utilized correctly. Appropriate information must be in the right place, at the right time and with the right person. Attempts should be made to capture, share and utilize existing critical knowledge for use by the entire organization as effectively as possible. Especially in knowledge-intensive organizations, such as software companies, this aspect is crucial. The availability of relevant information is one of the most important assets in this business environment. Primarily, management is responsible for organizing and managing this challenging and often complicated task. Achieving this will significantly enhance the organization's ability to succeed in today's rapidly changing knowledge-intensive business environment. The paper discusses the factors that are potential enablers for success in information sharing and knowledge management in the software engineering field. Additionally, a case study is presented, which demonstrates how information distribution was implemented in practice in.
Experience report: an empirical study of PHP security mechanism usage

The World Wide Web mainly consists of web applications written in weakly typed scripting languages, with PHP being the most popular language in practice. Empirical evidence based on the analysis of vulnerabilities suggests that security is often added as an ad-hoc solution, rather than planning a web application with security in mind during the design phase. Although some best-practice guidelines emerged, no comprehensive security standards are available for developers. Thus, developers often apply their own favorite security mechanisms for data sanitization or validation to prohibit malicious input to a web application. In the context of our development of a new static code analysis tool for vulnerability detection, we studied commonly used input sanitization or validation mechanisms in 25 popular PHP applications. Our analysis of 2.5 million lines of code and over 26 thousand secured data flows provides a comprehensive overview of how developers utilize security mechanisms in practice regarding different markup contexts. In this paper, we discuss these security mechanisms in detail and reveal common pitfalls. For example, we found certain markup contexts and security mechanisms more frequently vulnerable than others. Our empirical study helps researchers, web developers, and tool developers to focus on error-prone markup contexts and security mechanisms in order to detect and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Reappraisal generation after acquired brain damage: The role of laterality and cognitive control

In the past decade, there has been growing interest in the neuroanatomical and neuropsychological bases of reappraisal. Findings suggest that reappraisal activates a set of areas in the left hemisphere (LH), which are commonly associated with language abilities and verbally mediated cognitive control. The main goal of this study was to investigate whether individuals with focal damage to the LH (n = 8) were more markedly impaired on a reappraisal generation task than individuals with right hemisphere lesions (RH, n = 8), and healthy controls (HC, n = 14). The reappraisal generation task consisted of a set of ten pictures from the IAPS, depicting negative events of different sorts. Participants were asked to quickly generate as many positive reinterpretations as possible for each picture. Two scores were derived from this task, namely difficulty and productivity. A second goal of this study was to explore which cognitive control processes were associated with performance on the reappraisal task. For this purpose, participants were assessed on several measures of cognitive control. Findings indicated that reappraisal difficulty – defined as the time taken to generate a first reappraisal – did not differ between LH and RH groups. However, differences were found between patients with brain injury (LH + RH) and HC, suggesting that brain damage in either hemisphere influences reappraisal difficulty. No differences in reappraisal productivity were found across groups, suggesting that neurological groups and HC are equally productive when time constraints are not considered. Finally, only two cognitive control processes inhibition and verbal fluency- were inversely associated with reappraisal difficulty. Implications for the neuroanatomical and neuropsychological bases of reappraisal generation are discussed, and implications for neuro-rehabilitation are considered.
THROMBOPHILIC RISK FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH CRANIAL AND SPINAL DURAL ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULAE

OBJECTIVENumerous studies have reported the technical aspects and results of surgical and/or endovascular treatment of cranial dural arteriovenous fistulae (cDAVF) and spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae (sDAVF). Only a few of them have addressed the question of thrombophilic conditions, which may be relevant as pathogenetic factors or can increase the risk for venous thromboembolic events. Therefore, the objective of this study is to compare thrombophilic risk factors in patients with cDAVF and sDAVF with no history of trauma. METHODSA total of 43 patients (25 with cDAVF and 18 with sDAVF) were included in this study. Blood samples were analyzed for G20210A mutation of the prothrombin gene and factor V Leiden mutation. In all patients, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, fibrinogen, antithrombin, protein C and S activity, von Willebrand factor antigen, ristocetin cofactor activity, D-dimer, coagulation factor VIII activity, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor were determined. Screening was performed for the occurrence of lupus antiphospholipid and cardiolipin antibodies. RESULTSThe prevalence of G20210A mutation of the prothrombin gene was significantly higher in patients with cDAVF (n = 6) compared with patients with sDAVF (n = 0; P < 0.05, Fisher's exact test). A factor V Leiden mutation was found in 3 patients with sDAVF and in 1 patient with cDAVF (P = 0.29, Fisher's exact test). No significant difference was found for other parameters, except for fibrinogen, but decreased protein C activity was more frequent in patients with cDAVF compared with patients with sDAVF (4 versus 1). Decreased protein S activity was encountered in 3 patients (2 with sDAVF and 1 with cDAVF). Cardiolipin antibodies were found in 2 patients with cDAVF but in none with sDAVF, whereas only 1 patient with sDAVF had lupus antiphospholipid antibodies. CONCLUSIONIn both groups of patients with dural arteriovenous fistulae, genetic thrombophilic abnormalities occurred in a higher percentage than in the general population. The differences of the genetic abnormalities may be involved in different pathophysiological mechanism(s) in the development of these distinct neurovascular entities.
TLR2-Induced IL-10 Production Impairs Neutrophil Recruitment to Infected Tissues during Neonatal Bacterial Sepsis

Sepsis is the third most common cause of neonatal death, with Group B Streptococcus (GBS) being the leading bacterial agent. The pathogenesis of neonatal septicemia is still unsolved. We described previously that host susceptibility to GBS infection is due to early IL-10 production. In this study, we investigated whether triggering TLR2 to produce IL-10 is a risk factor for neonatal bacterial sepsis. We observed that, in contrast to wild-type (WT) pups, neonatal TLR2-deficient mice were resistant to GBS-induced sepsis. Moreover, if IL-10 signaling were blocked in WT mice, they also were resistant to sepsis. This increased survival rate was due to an efficient recruitment of neutrophils to infected tissues that leads to bacterial clearance, thus preventing the development of sepsis. To confirm that IL-10 produced through TLR2 activation prevents neutrophil recruitment, WT pups were treated with the TLR2 agonist Pam3CSK4 prior to nebulization with the neutrophil chemotactic agent LTB4. Neutrophil recruitment into the neonatal lungs was inhibited in pups treated with Pam3CSK4. However, the migration was restored in Pam3CSK4-treated pups when IL-10 signaling was blocked (either by anti–IL-10R mAb treatment or by using IL-10–deficient mice). Our findings highlight that TLR2-induced IL-10 production is a key event in neonatal susceptibility to bacterial sepsis.
Maximum Flow in Planar Networks

Efficient algorithms for finding maximum flow in planar networks are presented. These algorithms take advantage of the planarity and are superior to the most efficient algorithms to date. If the source and the terminal are on the same face, an algorithm of Berge is improved and its time complexity is reduced to $O(n\log n)$. In the general case, for a given $D > 0$ a flow of value D is found if one exists; otherwise, it is indicated that no such flow exists. This algorithm requires $O(n^2 \log n)$ time. If the network is undirected a minimum cut may be found in $O(n^2 \log n)$ time. All algorithms require $O(n)$ space.
Effects of acetaldehyde on c-fos mRNA induction in the paraventricular nucleus following ethanol administration.

AIMS The effect of acetaldehyde on c-fos mRNA expression in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the rat was examined using in situ hybridization histochemistry. METHODS Increases in acetaldehyde concentrations were induced using cyanamide (a potent inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase), in the presence of two different doses of ethanol. Concentrations of blood ethanol and acetaldehyde were determined by head space gas chromatography. RESULTS Neither cyanamide alone nor the low dose of ethanol (1 g/kg) alone increased c-fos expression in the PVN. However, the combination of cyanamide and low dose ethanol resulted in a significant and maximal increase in c-fos mRNA in the PVN. High dose ethanol (3 g/kg) resulted in a significant increase in c-fos mRNA. This stimulation also appeared maximal as there was no further increase in c-fos expression in the presence of cyanamide. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that acetaldehyde accumulation in blood has an important stimulatory effect on c-fos expression in the PVN at low ethanol concentrations. Furthermore, this stimulation of c-fos mRNA appears to be an either/or response: not activated in response to low dose ethanol, but maximally to high dose ethanol. These data also provide further evidence for a dissociation between the activation of c-fos and corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) mRNA in the PVN, as we have previously demonstrated that this dose of cyanamide alone is sufficient to evoke a sustained increase in plasma corticosterone and an increase in CRF mRNA.
DNA methylation and cognitive functioning in healthy older adults

Long-term supplementation with folic acid may improve cognitive performance in older individuals. The relationship between folate status and cognitive performance might be mediated by changes in methylation capacity, as methylation reactions are important for normal functioning of the brain. Although aberrant DNA methylation has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders, the relationship between DNA methylation status and non-pathological cognitive functioning in human subjects has not yet been investigated. The present study investigated the associations between global DNA methylation and key domains of cognitive functioning in healthy older adults. Global DNA methylation, defined as the percentage of methylated cytosine to total cytosine, was measured in leucocytes by liquid chromatography–MS/MS, in 215 men and women, aged 50–70 years, who participated in the Folic Acid and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (FACIT) study (clinical trial registration number NCT00110604). Cognitive performance was assessed by means of the Visual Verbal Word Learning Task, the Stroop Colour-Word Interference Test, the Concept Shifting Test, the Letter–Digit Substitution Test and the Verbal Fluency Test. Using hierarchical linear regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, level of education, alcohol consumption, smoking status, physical activity, erythrocyte folate concentration and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 C → T genotype, we found that global DNA methylation was not related to cognitive performance on any of the domains measured. The present study results do not support the hypothesis that global DNA methylation, as measured in leucocytes, might be associated with cognitive functioning in healthy older individuals.
Lineage Loss in Serengeti Cheetahs: Consequences of High Reproductive Variance and Heritability of Fitness on Effective Population Size

Abstract: In natural populations, many breeders do not leave surviving offspring, and as a result many potential genetic lineages are lost. I examined lineage extinction in Serengeti cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and found that 76% of matrilines were lost over a 25‐year period. Production of future breeders was nonrandom and generally confined to a few families. Five out of 63 matrilines accounted for 45% of the total cheetah population over the course of the study. Lineage persistence is perhaps best illustrated by the variance in lifetime reproductive success ( LRS) and heritability in this parameter. In female cheetahs, variance in LRS was high, and new data show that this LRS was heritable. Variance in LRS and heritability in LRS have dramatic consequences for effective population size, Ne. I calculated Ne for cheetahs, taking into account fluctuating population size, unequal sex ratio, non‐Poisson distribution of reproductive success, and heritability of fitness. The Ne was most strongly affected by variance in reproductive success and especially heritability in reproductive success. The variance Ne was 44% of the actual population size, and the inclusion of heritability further reduced Ne to only 15% of the actual population, a ratio similar to that of a social carnivore with reproductive suppression. The current cheetah population in the Serengeti is below numbers suggested by Ne estimates as sufficient to maintain sufficient genetic diversity.
Vital Signs Monitoring System Based on EMFi Sensors and Wavelet Analysis

The paper presents a monitoring system for non-obtrusive measuring of vital signs such as respiration and heart activity. Two sensing channels including electromechanical film sensors (EMFi sensor) tapped on an office chair are used to obtain the ballistocardiographyc (BCG) signals from human subjects. The conditioning circuits include amplification stages (charge amplifier, programmable gain amplifier) and 20 Hz low-pass and 50 Hz notch active filters used to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The gain control and analog-to-digital conversion is performed using a multifunction I/O device USB compatible connected to a laptop PC. The digital processing of the acquired signals is an important part of the work. It includes digital filtering, based on Stationary Wavelet Transform, and signal decomposition, based on Discrete Wavelet Transform, in order to extract the respiration and heart rate based on BCG signal analyze. A practical approach concerning the dependence of the used wavelet type on vital signs estimation accuracy is reported. The results on respiration rate and heart rate using BCG signal and the implemented algorithms are compared with the values of these parameters measured through ECG and spirometry analysis.
Collective Behavior of Asperities as a Model for Friction and Adhesion

Understanding friction and adhesion in static and sliding contact of surfaces is important in numerous physical phenomena and technological applications. Most surfaces are rough at the microscale, and thus the real area of contact is only a fraction of the nominal area. The macroscopic frictional and adhesive response is determined by the collective behavior of the population of evolving and interacting microscopic contacts. This collective behavior can be very different from the behavior of individual contacts. It is thus important to understand how the macroscopic response emerges from the microscopic one. In this thesis, we develop a theoretical and computational framework to study the collective behavior. Our philosophy is to assume a simple behavior of a single asperity and study the collective response of an ensemble. Our work bridges the existing well-developed studies of single asperities with phenomenological laws that describe macroscopic rate-and-state behavior of frictional interfaces. We find that many aspects of the macroscopic behavior are robust with respect to the microscopic response. This explains why qualitatively similar frictional features are seen for a diverse range of materials. We first show that the collective response of an ensemble of one-dimensional independent viscoelastic elements interacting through a mean field reproduces many qualitative features of static and sliding friction evolution. The resulting macroscopic behavior is different from the microscopic one: for example, even if each contact is velocity-strengthening, the macroscopic behavior can be velocity-weakening. The framework is then extended to incorporate three-dimensional rough surfaces, long- range elastic interactions between contacts, and time-dependent material behaviors such as viscoelasticity and viscoplasticity. Interestingly, the mean field behavior dominates and the elastic interactions, though important from a quantitative perspective, do not change the qualitative macroscopic response. Finally, we examine the effect of adhesion on the frictional response as well as develop a force threshold model for adhesion and mode I interfacial cracks.
Phonological Abstraction in the Mental Lexicon

A perceptual learning experiment provides evidence that the mental lexicon cannot consist solely of detailed acoustic traces of recognition episodes. In a training lexical decision phase, listeners heard an ambiguous [f-s] fricative sound, replacing either [f] or [s] in words. In a test phase, listeners then made lexical decisions to visual targets following auditory primes. Critical materials were minimal pairs that could be a word with either [f] or [s] (cf. English knife-nice), none of which had been heard in training. Listeners interpreted the minimal pair words differently in the second phase according to the training received in the first phase. Therefore, lexically mediated retuning of phoneme perception not only influences categorical decisions about fricatives (Norris, McQueen, & Cutler, 2003), but also benefits recognition of words outside the training set. The observed generalization across words suggests that this retuning occurs prelexically. Therefore, lexical processing involves sublexical phonological abstraction, not only accumulation of acoustic episodes.
Hepatitis C virus infection and membranous glomerulonephritis.

Cristiana Rollino, MD, Divisione di Nefrologia e Dialisi, Ospedale Giovanni Bosco, Piazza del Donatore di Sangue 3, I-10154 Torino (Italy) Dear Sir, Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is known to be associated with membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN), where it represents one of the etiologic factors identified up to now [1]. The frequency of association varies according to different authors and is particularly high in childhood [2]. HBs, HBe and HBc antigens have been identified in subepithelial deposits [3–5]. Whether other forms of hepatitis can also be associated with this nephropathy is still unknown. As new tests for the detection of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies (HCV-Abs) have become available recently, we looked for a possible association between HCV and MGN. We tested sera of 27 adult patients (16 males, 11 females; mean age 49.8 ± 12.2 years) with biopsy-proven MGN. None of them exhibited systemic lupus erythe-matosus, diabetes mellitus, syphilis, malignancy or exposure to heavy metals or drugs known to induce MGN. HBV antigen and antibody were negative in all the patients. The presence of HCV-Abs was evaluated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ‘Abbott HCV EIA’, which employs a recombinant antigen of HCV. The neutralizing confirmatory Abbott test was used to bear out the positive results. Only 1 of 27 patients showed the presence of HCV-Abs in several sera; this result was corroborated by the confirmatory test. The onset of MGN in this patient occurred in July 1989. At the time of the admittance to our nephrology department (April 1990), laboratory investigations showed slight elevation of serum transaminases; alkaline phosphatase and prothrombin time were within the normal range, proteinuria was 4,400 mg/24 h, and renal function was normal. The patient was given a treatment with 3 × 1 g methylprednisolone pulses followed by oral prednisone 25 mg daily for 1 month and by chlorambucil 10 mg daily for the next month. The treatment was repeated 3 times and lasted on the whole 6 months [6]. At the end of the therapy, complete remission of the nephropathy (proteinuria 0.2 g/day) was achieved and transaminases were within the normal range. The relationship between hepatitis and occurrence of the nephrotic syndrome is not simply defined. At the time of the admittance to our department, we probably might have observed a late
HISTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON SUCCINIC DEHYDROGENASE IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM—IV

THH present article is a continuation of the histochemical mapping of succinic dehydrogenase activity (SDA) in the brain of the guinea pig (FRIEDE, 1959~); the cerebral cortex is described with particular reference to gradations of enzyme activity among cytoarchitectonic areas. The nomenclature and the spatial definition of the cortical areas of the guinea pig used in this article refer to ROSE’S (1912) investigation of the cortex of certain small mammals. This article should be consulted for information on the cytoand myeloarchitectonics of the cerebral cortex of the guinea pig, since the present paper will be limited to chemoarchitectonics. There is some disagreement, however, about ROSE’S identitication of areas (KRIEG, 1946) and about principles of architectonic mapping in general (LASHLEY and CLARK, 1946). The histochemical architecture of the cerebral cortex is based mainly on gradations of the enzyme activity in the neuropil. The apparently independent behavior of enzyme activity in neuropil and in cell bodies stimulates the desire for further information on cytological localization of SDA. Two studies providing such information are now added to this investigation; one concerns the demonstration of SDA in isolated tissue elements and the other is concerned with correlations of glial cell density and enzyme activity in the neuropil.