Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Iodine Concentration in Milk of Sheep and Goats from Farms in South Bohemia

Travniaek, J., J. Kursa: Iodine Concentration in Milk Sheep and Goats from Farms in South Bohemia. Acta Vet. Brno 2001, 70: 35-42. Iodine concentration was determined in milk samples collected from 60 sheep on 10 farms and from 94 goats of 64 farmers. The animals were grazed in the summer and fed hay of local harvests in the winter. Pregnant and lactating sheep received daily 0.2 to 0.4 kg of cereal meal. The iodine concentration in the hay fed to the sheep and goats ranged from 20.5 to 162.4 µg per 1 kg dry matter. The mean iodine concentration in sheep milk was 105.5 µg . l -1 . The corresponding value for the farms (n = 4) where the sheep had access to mineral licks (35 mg iodine per 1 kg) was 243.3 ± ± 87.2 µg . l -1 (ranged from 107.7 to 436.6) and for the rest of the farms (n = 6) 47.9 ± 27.8 µg . l -1 . Mean iodine concentrations in goat milk (31.6 µg . l-1 in 1998 and 63.0 µg . l-1 in 1999) were indicative of iodine deficiency. The corresponding value for the goats (n = 17) receiving iodised salt was 142.1 ± 102.6 µg . l-1 (ranged from 51.8 to 393.6) and for the remaining goats 19.3 ± ± 13.2 µg . l -1 . The mean iodine concentrations in goat milk on three farms on which neonatal goitre in kids was diagnosed ranged from 8.5 to 23.3 µg . l-1. Kids, lambs, goitre, iodine deficiency, iodine supplementation. Current methods for the assessment of the iodine status include the determination of concentrations of not only urinary, but also milk iodine (Grace 1995), because it has been found that iodine excretion in the milk varies significantly in dependence on its dietary intake. Miller et al. (1974) found that, under normal conditions and an adequate iodine supply, ruminants excrete 8% of ingested iodine in the milk. Determination of milk iodine for diagnostic and epidemiological purposes is often used in studies of the prevalence of juvenile goitre regarded as the most significant manifestation of iodine deficiency (Korber et al. 1985). Groppel (1991) pointed out that, at an equal dietary intake, the ovine and caprine colostrum and milk contain more iodine than milk of cows and that iodine concentrations of 79 µg . l -1 and 62 µg . l -1 in the sheep and goat milk, respectively, are indicative of iodine deficiency. Azuolas and Caple (1984) used milk iodine concentration as a marker of the metabolic and iodine status of sheep in Australia. Mean concentrations found within an extensive monitoring in 59 sheep flocks in the state Victoria ranged from 79 to 1 831 µg . l -1 . Two flocks in which goitre was diagnosed in lambs showed variations in the milk iodine concentration within the range of 45 to 98 µg . l -1 . Milk of ewes receiving 30 µg of iodine per animal per day contained 45 µg . l -1 and 80% of their lambs developed neonatal goitre. On the other hand, daily intake of 80 to 100 µg I resulted in milk concentrations 95 to 131 µg . l -1 and lambs were
Getting Everyone on Board: The Role of Inspirational Leadership in Geographically Dispersed Teams

A rich body of research in the area of leadership has examined the influence of transformational/charismatic forms of leadership on employees' motivation, attitudes, and behaviors. This research is based on the assumption that leaders are able to influence followers based on close, sustained, and personalized contact with them. However, new organizational realities are challenging this assumption. Drawing on the intersections between social identity theory and leadership research, this study highlights the importance of inspirational leaders who, by developing socialized relationships with team members, can foster attitudes that are critical for team effectiveness in geographically dispersed settings. Findings support the role of this form of leadership in dispersed settings. Inspirational leadership emerged as a significant predictor of individuals' trust in team members and commitment to the team. Further, the positive relationship between inspirational leadership and individuals' commitment to the team and trust in team members was strengthened in teams that were more dispersed suggesting that inspirational leaders are important in all contexts but that their importance is underscored in highly dispersed contexts. Finally, shared perceptions of trust and commitment predicted performance at the team level.
Detecting wormhole attacks in delay-tolerant networks

Delay-tolerant networks are especially useful in providing mission-critical services including emergency scenarios and battlefield applications. However, DTNs are vulnerable to wormhole attacks, in which a malicious node records the packets at one location and tunnels them to another colluding node, which relays them locally into the network. Wormhole attacks are a severe threat to normal network operation in DTNs. In this article we describe various methods that have been developed to detect wormhole attacks. However, most of them cannot work efficiently in DTNs. To detect the presence of a wormhole attack, we propose a detection mechanism that exploits the existence of a forbidden topology in the network. We evaluated our approach through extensive simulations using both Random Way Point and Zebranet mobility models. Our results show that the proposed method can detect wormhole attacks efficiently and effectively in DTNs.
Adaptive Submodularity: Theory and Applications in Active Learning and Stochastic Optimization

Solving stochastic optimization problems under partial observability, where one needs to adaptively make decisions with uncertain outcomes, is a fundamental but notoriously difficult challenge. In this paper, we introduce the concept of adaptive submodularity, generalizing submodular set functions to adaptive policies. We prove that if a problem satisfies this property, a simple adaptive greedy algorithm is guaranteed to be competitive with the optimal policy. In addition to providing performance guarantees for both stochastic maximization and coverage, adaptive submodularity can be exploited to drastically speed up the greedy algorithm by using lazy evaluations. We illustrate the usefulness of the concept by giving several examples of adaptive submodular objectives arising in diverse applications including sensor placement, viral marketing and active learning. Proving adaptive submodularity for these problems allows us to recover existing results in these applications as special cases, improve approximation guarantees and handle natural generalizations.
Evaluating visual aesthetics in photographic portraiture

We propose and demonstrate a strategy to quantify aesthetic quality in photographs. Our approach is to develop a small set of classification features by tuning general compositional principles to a targeted image domain where saliency can be better understood. We demonstrate this strategy with photographic portraits of individuals, but it can be extended to other domains. Our technique leverages a refined method of using templates as spatial composition feature look-up tables. Compared to the traditional approach using a large set of global and local features extracted with little salient knowledge, classifiers using features extracted with our approach are better predictors of human aesthetic judgments.
The German version of the Material Values Scale

Aim: The Material Values Scale is an instrument to assess beliefs about the importance to own material things. This instrument originally consists of the three subscales: ‘centrality’, ‘success’, and ‘happiness’. The present study investigated the psychometric properties of the German version of the MVS (G-MVS). Method: A population-based sample of 2,295 adult Germans completed the questionnaire in order to investigate the factorial structure. To test construct validity, additional samples were gathered among patients with compulsive buying (N=52) and medical students (N=347) who also answered the Compulsive Buying Scale (CBS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale (PHQ-8). Results: In the German population-based sample we could not confirm the 3-factor model but rather suggest a 2-factor solution with a first collapsed factor ‘centrality/success’, and the second factor ’happiness’. Patients with compulsive buying showed the highest scores on the G-MVS. While G-MVS scores among compulsive buyers and medical students were significantly related to compulsive buying scores, the correlation between the G-MVS and the depression measure appeared substantially lower. We did not find any gender differences regarding materialism, neither in the population-based sample nor in the students’ or compulsive buyers’ samples. However, age was negatively related to G-MVS scores. Conclusion: Confirmatory factor analyses suggest a 2-factor model of the G-MVS. Overall, the results indicate the use of the G-MVS as a brief, psychometrically sound, and potentially valid measure for the assessment of material values.
ABCB1 Gene Polymorphisms and Glucocorticoid-Induced Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head Susceptibility: A Meta-Analysis

Background The results of studies on association between ABCB1 gene polymorphisms and glucocorticoid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (GANFH) are controversial. This study aimed to assess the association of ABCB1 gene polymorphisms with the risk of GANFH by conducting a meta-analysis. Material/Methods The PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched for papers that describe the association between ABCB1 polymorphisms and GANFH risk. Summary odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated based on a fixed-effects model or random-effects model, depending on the absence or presence of significant heterogeneity. Results A total of 5 studies and 833 patients were included in the final analysis. Significant differences were found for rs1045642 polymorphism in the comparisons of CC vs. CT+TT (OR, 1.462; 95% CI, 1.066–2.007; P=0.019), and rs2032582 polymorphism in the comparisons of GG vs. G(TA)+(TA)(TA) (OR, 1.548; 95% CI,1.063–2.255; P=0.023). Conclusions The study demonstrated that the ABCB1 polymorphisms (rs1045642 and rs2032582) significantly reduced the risk of GANFH.
Minimalist Approach to Perceptual Interactions

Work aimed at studying social cognition in an interactionist perspective often encounters substantial theoretical and methodological difficulties: identifying the significant behavioral variables; recording them without disturbing the interaction; and distinguishing between: (a) the necessary and sufficient contributions of each individual partner for a collective dynamics to emerge; (b) features which derive from this collective dynamics and escape from the control of the individual partners; and (c) the phenomena arising from this collective dynamics which are subsequently appropriated and used by the partners. We propose a minimalist experimental paradigm as a basis for this conceptual discussion: by reducing the sensory inputs to a strict minimum, we force a spatial and temporal deployment of the perceptual activities, which makes it possible to obtain a complete recording and control of the dynamics of interaction. After presenting the principles of this minimalist approach to perception, we describe a series of experiments on two major questions in social cognition: recognizing the presence of another intentional subject; and phenomena of imitation. In both cases, we propose explanatory schema which render an interactionist approach to social cognition clear and explicit. Starting from our earlier work on perceptual crossing we present a new experiment on the mechanisms of reciprocal recognition of the perceptual intentionality of the other subject: the emergent collective dynamics of the perceptual crossing can be appropriated by each subject. We then present an experimental study of opaque imitation (when the subjects cannot see what they themselves are doing). This study makes it possible to characterize what a properly interactionist approach to imitation might be. In conclusion, we draw on these results, to show how an interactionist approach can contribute to a fully social approach to social cognition.
‘Peer pressure’ in larval Drosophila?

ABSTRACT Understanding social behaviour requires a study case that is simple enough to be tractable, yet complex enough to remain interesting. Do larval Drosophila meet these requirements? In a broad sense, this question can refer to effects of the mere presence of other larvae on the behaviour of a target individual. Here we focused in a more strict sense on ‘peer pressure’, that is on the question of whether the behaviour of a target individual larva is affected by what a surrounding group of larvae is doing. We found that innate olfactory preference of a target individual was neither affected (i) by the level of innate olfactory preference in the surrounding group nor (ii) by the expression of learned olfactory preference in the group. Likewise, learned olfactory preference of a target individual was neither affected (iii) by the level of innate olfactory preference of the surrounding group nor (iv) by the learned olfactory preference the group was expressing. We conclude that larval Drosophila thus do not take note of specifically what surrounding larvae are doing. This implies that in a strict sense, and to the extent tested, there is no social interaction between larvae. These results validate widely used en mass approaches to the behaviour of larval Drosophila.
3-Gb/s High-Speed True Random Number Generator Using Common-Mode Operating Comparator and Sampling Uncertainty of D Flip-Flop

True random number generators (TRNGs) are important in data encryption for information security applications. In this paper, we propose a TRNG that utilizes a comparator in the common-mode operation and the sampling uncertainty of a D flip-flop (DFF). The comparator output is affected by the input common-mode noise and the noise that is simultaneously self-induced. A slicer generates an unpredictable and asynchronous pulse to the input of the DFF according to the output-referred noise of the comparator. By sampling the random pulse with a 3-GHz external clock, there is a sampling uncertainty, which helps to increase the random quality. As a result, we use the independent two random sources for TRNG. The area of the designed circuit is 1609 $\mu \text{m}^{\mathrm { {2}}}$ . In spite of the small size, the data rate of the proposed TRNG is 3 Gb/s. We verify that the output bit stream passes all of the National Institute of Standards and Technology test suites. We fabricate the TRNG in a 65-nm CMOS process with a 1.2 V supply voltage. The power consumption of the proposed TRNG is 5 mW, and the energy per bit is 1.6 pJ/b.
Theoretical Data on Support of a Unified Indoor Geolocation Channel Model

In this paper we present theoretical data in support of the unified indoor geolocation channel model namely (1) path loss and (2) multipath distribution models. First, the path loss model is currently accepted to be a function of the transmitter and receiver geometry and frequency of operation. Second, the most widely used and accepted indoor channel multipath distribution models are Nakagami with m degrees of freedom, Rayleigh, Rician, and lognormal. The purpose of this paper is two fold: (1) to provide a better interpretation of the sets of theoretical data for the indoor channel model and (2) to be able to explain the lack of fit of the well-known multipath distribution models from the previous measurement data sets reported in the literature; thus, providing support for the unified indoor channel model theory. The unified path loss model consists of an approach for linking together the path loss models of the three geolocation systems (macrocellular, microcellular, and indoor) with the distance between the transmitter and receiver, R, and the frequency of operation, f. The path loss caused by increase of the transmitter receiver distance is much more severe than the path loss caused by the path loss caused by increase of the frequency of operation. The bottom line here is that we need to design future receivers or propose a signal structure that will account for 40 to 80 dB of signal degradation indoors. The unified multipath distribution consists of a linear transformation of the well-known multipath distribution models such as Nakagami with m degrees of freedom, Rayleigh, Rician, and lognormal. While it is rather straight forward to prove the unified geolocation multipath distribution model when only the contributing individual distributions are Rayleigh, Rician, and lognormal, if we assume that we have a fourth distribution such as Nakagami with m degrees then the process is not straight forward any more. We will investigate this and report the results in the future. The main purpose of the unified multipath distribution model is to enable the calculations of reflections’ gain. Assuming that the channel is composed of individual distributions such as Rayleigh, Rician, and Lognormal we have perform reflection gain calculations. From the theoretical data it appears that reflections with gain 3dB or higher than the LOS gain are on the order of 1 out of 6.2 days. On the other hand, reflections with gain 5dB greater than the LOS gain are of the order of 1 out of ~6072 years. And this is the most important conclusion of this work that for simulation or implementation purposes we should never consider reflections with gains greater than equal to 5 dB greater than the LOS gain.
The relationship between the Crabtree effect and the oxidative metabolism of glucose and carbohydrate intermediates in ascites tumor cells.

I t has been observed and repeatedly verified that, while glucose is rapidly glycolyzed by Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, the endogenous respiration of these cells is markedly depressed, when the concentration of this same substrate is raised above a certain level (1, 3, 8, 9, 12, 20, ~1, 24, 25) (Crabtree effect [10]). Below this level glucose may even exert some stimulating effect on their 05 consumption, the stimulation becoming more enhanced as incubation proceeds and endogenous substrates are depleted (3, 21, 24). The enhanced 02 uptake of ascites tumor cells with glucose present at low concentrations suggested that this substrate may also be oxidized by the tumor cells, and studies carried out with uniformly labeled glucose (U-G-C 14) have shown that this was indeed the case. Glucose is readily oxidized by ascites tumor cells (8, ~4, 29), and when present at higher concentrations it can provide a substantial proportion (up to 60 per cent or more) of the carbon used in respiration (3). There is ample evidence that this oxidation proceeds by more than one pathway and that to a certain extent this substrate is also removed via the hexose monophosphate oxidation pathway (the shunt) (17, 24, 27, 28). However, it has been shown that most of the glucose (about 80 per cent) taken up by the ascites tumor cells could be accounted for by the appearance of lactic acid (3, 6, 14, ~9), into which it had obviously been rapidly converted, most probably by the Embden-Meyerhof gIycolytic pathway. I t is thus evident that the main part of the total COs obtained from the oxidation of glucose would necessarily derive by way of oxidation of its glycolytic products, lactic and pyruvic acids, via the Krebs cycle. As to the nature and identity of the endogenous respiratory substrates involved in the inhibition of
Multiple roles for four-jointed in planar polarity and limb patterning.

Insect cuticles have been a model system for the study of planar polarity for many years and a number of genes required for this process have been identified. These genes organise the polarised arrangement of hairs on the legs, wings, thorax, and abdomen of adult Drosophila. It has previously been shown that four-jointed is involved in planar polarity decisions in the eye as well as proximal distal leg and wing development. We now present evidence that four-jointed is expressed in a gradient through the developing wing and show that it is required for planar polarity determination in both the wing and the abdomen. Clones of cells either lacking or ectopically expressing four-jointed cause both autonomous and nonautonomous repolarisation of hairs in these tissues. We propose that the inferred four-jointed expression gradient is important for planar polarity establishment and that local inversions of the gradient by the clones are the probable cause of the observed polarity phenotypes. In addition we observe defects in wing vein development. The subtle phenotypes of mutant flies, and the diverse patterning processes in which it is involved, suggest that four-jointed may act as a modifier of the activity of multiple other signalling factors.
TCP-BuS: Improving TCP performance in wireless Ad Hoc networks

Reliable data transmission over wireless multi-hop networks, called ad hoc networks, has proven to be non-trivial. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), a widely used end-to-end reliable transport protocol designed for wired networks, is not entirely suitable for wireless ad hoc networks due to the inappropriateness of TCP congestion control schemes. Specifically, the TCP sender concludes that there is network congestion upon detecting packet losses or at time-outs. However, in wireless ad hoc networks, links are broken as a result of node mobility and hence some time is needed to perform route reconfiguration. During this time, packets could be lost or held back. Hence, the TCP sender could mistake this event as congestion, which is untrue. A route disconnection should be handled differently from network congestion. In this paper, we propose a new mechanism that improves TCP performance in a wireless ad hoc network where each node can buffer ongoing packets during a route disconnection and re-establishment. In addition to distinguishing network congestion from route disconnection due to node mobility, we also incorporate new measures to deal with reliable transmission of important control messages and exploitation of TCP fast recovery procedures. Our simulation compares the proposed TCP-BuS approach with general TCP and TCP-Feedback. Results reveal that TCP-BuS outperforms other approaches in terms of communication throughput under the presence of mobility.
Correlation of clinical, parasitological and histopathological diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in an endemic region in Sri Lanka.

INTRODUCTION Diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) largely depends on the clinical appearance of the lesions in endemic areas. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to correlate the clinical diagnosis with positive laboratory tests used for the identification of leishmania parasite (stained smears and histopathology) and therapeutic response. METHODS 114 clinically suspected patients (190 lesions) were studied. They were diagnosed as typical clinical cases (87.4%) and clinically suggestive cases (12.6%) on the basis of criteria for clinical diagnosis. Slit-skin-smear and histopathology were performed in all patients. RESULTS Out of 103 who were clinically diagnosed, 62 (60.2%) were confirmed parasitologically. Out of 41 who were negative for both smear and histology, 34 (33%) had supportive histology and the diagnosis was supported by good treatment response in 37 (35.9%). Hence, the clinical diagnosis was 93.2% accurate and this increased to 96% after observing the good response to therapy. CONCLUSIONS Considering the magnitude of the problem, limited resources, and clinical accuracy of 96%, clinical diagnosis by a dermatologist appears to be reliable enough in diagnosing CL lesions in endemic areas in Sri Lanka.