Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shape Analysis of Elastic Curves in Euclidean Spaces

This paper introduces a square-root velocity (SRV) representation for analyzing shapes of curves in euclidean spaces under an elastic metric. In this SRV representation, the elastic metric simplifies to the IL2 metric, the reparameterization group acts by isometries, and the space of unit length curves becomes the unit sphere. The shape space of closed curves is the quotient space of (a submanifold of) the unit sphere, modulo rotation, and reparameterization groups, and we find geodesics in that space using a path straightening approach. These geodesics and geodesic distances provide a framework for optimally matching, deforming, and comparing shapes. These ideas are demonstrated using: 1) shape analysis of cylindrical helices for studying protein structure, 2) shape analysis of facial curves for recognizing faces, 3) a wrapped probability distribution for capturing shapes of planar closed curves, and 4) parallel transport of deformations for predicting shapes from novel poses.
Relationship between Optical Coherence Tomography and Electrophysiology of the Visual Pathway in Non-Optic Neuritis Eyes of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Purpose Loss of retinal ganglion cells in in non-optic neuritis eyes of Multiple Sclerosis patients (MS-NON) has recently been demonstrated. However, the pathological basis of this loss at present is not clear. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate associations of clinical (high and low contrast visual acuity) and electrophysiological (electroretinogram and multifocal Visual Evoked Potentials) measures of the visual pathway with neuronal and axonal loss of RGC in order to better understand the nature of this loss. Methods Sixty-two patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis with no previous history of optic neuritis in at least one eye were enrolled. All patients underwent a detailed ophthalmological examination in addition to low contrast visual acuity, Optical Coherence Tomography, full field electroretinogram (ERG) and multifocal visual evoked potentials (mfVEP). Results There was significant reduction of ganglion cell layer thickness, and total and temporal retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness (p<0.0001, 0.002 and 0.0002 respectively). Multifocal VEP also demonstrated significant amplitude reduction and latency delay (p<0.0001 for both). Ganglion cell layer thickness, total and temporal RNFL thickness inversely correlated with mfVEP latency (r = −0.48, p<0.0001 respectively; r = −0.53, p<0.0001 and r = −0.59, p<0.0001 respectively). Ganglion cell layer thickness, total and temporal RNFL thickness also inversely correlated with the photopic b-wave latency (r = −0.35, p = 0.01; r = −0.33, p = 0.025; r = −0.36, p = 0.008 respectively). Multivariate linear regression model demonstrated that while both factors were significantly associated with RGC axonal and neuronal loss, the estimated predictive power of the posterior visual pathway damage was considerably larger compare to retinal dysfunction. Conclusion The results of our study demonstrated significant association of RGC axonal and neuronal loss in NON-eyes of MS patients with both retinal dysfunction and post-chiasmal damage of the visual pathway.
PENGARUH JENIS KELAMIN DAN KREATIVITAS TERHADAP KEMAMPUAN MENGEMUKAKAN PENDAPAT ANAK KELAS RENDAH DI SEKOLAH DASAR

Abstract, The objective of this research is to find out the differences of early childhood students’ ability in expressing opinion based on the effect of sexual difference and creativity. The method used in this research is ex post facto 2 x 2 factorial design and selected randomly of 64 students from 5 equal elementary schools.The research findings are follow: (1) Male students’ ability in expressing opinion are higher than those female students; (2) Male student’s ability in expressing opinion are higher than those female students, for those who have high creativity; (3) There is no significance difference between male and female student’s ability in expressing opinion, for those who have low creativity; (4) There is no significance interaction effect between sexual different and level of students’ creativity.These findings come up with a conclusion that when a teacher want to improve students’ (early childhood students) ability in expressing opinion, especially in democratic era, level of creativity could not be taken into consideration, if student’s sexual different is compared.
A Particle-and-Density Based Evolutionary Clustering Method for Dynamic Networks

Recently, dynamic networks are attracting increasing interest due to their high potential in capturing natural and social phenomena over time. Discovery of evolutionary communities in dynamic networks has become a critical task. The previous evolutionary clustering methods usually adopt the temporal smoothness framework, which has a desirable feature of controlling the balance between temporal noise and true concept drift of communities. They, however, have some major drawbacks: (1) assuming only a fixed number of communities over time; and (2) not allowing arbitrary start/stop of community over time. The forming of new communities and dissolving of existing communities are very common phenomena in real dynamic networks. In this paper, we propose a new particle-and-density based evolutionary clustering method that efficiently discovers a variable number of communities of arbitrary forming and dissolving. We first model a dynamic network as a collection of lots of particles called nano-communities, and a community as a densely connected subset of particles, called a quasi l-clique-by-clique (shortly, l-KK). Each particle contains a small amount of information about the evolution of data or patterns, and the quasi l-KKs inherent in a given dynamic network provide us with guidance on how to find a variable number of communities of arbitrary forming and dissolving. We propose a density-based clustering method that efficiently finds temporally smoothed local clusters of high quality by using a cost embedding technique and optimal modularity. We also propose a mapping method based on information theory that makes sequences of smoothed local clusters as close as possible to data-inherent quasi l-KKs. The result of the mapping method allows us to easily identify the stage of each community among the three stages: evolving, forming, and dissolving. Experimental studies, by using various data sets, demonstrate that our method improves the clustering accuracy, and at the same time, the time performance by an order of magnitude compared with the current state-of-the art method.
Robust parsing with weighted constraints

Based on constraint optimization techniques, an architecture for robust parsing of natural language utterances has been developed. The resulting system is able to combine possibly contradicting evidence from a variety of information sources, using a plausibility-based arbitration procedure to derive fairly rich structural representations, comprising aspects of syntax, semantics and other description levels of language. The results of a series of experiments are reported which demonstrate the high potential for robust behaviour with respect to ungrammaticality, incomplete utterances, and temporal pressure.
The Effect of Florida's Bright Futures Program on College Choice: A Regression Discontinuity Approach

This study evaluates the effect of Florida's Bright Future Program on student college choices. We used regression discontinuity design to estimate the effect of two award levels, which had different SAT/ACT thresholds, on the probability of students choosing in-state public colleges and four-year public colleges. The most consistent and robustfinding was the positive, significant increases in the probability of attending Florida's public colleges and in the probability of choosing four-year public colleges for those students who barely met the program eligibility criteria when compared with those who barely missed those criteria. That is, the evidence presented in this analysis points to the fact that the Bright Future programs significantly altered students' college choices, both in terms of attending in-state public colleges and four-year public colleges. Although this finding held at different award levels and for students who took the SAT and/or ACT tests, the magnitude of the program effect varied along these factors.
Characterization of a bovine pregnancy‐associated protein using two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis, N‐terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry

Bovine pregnancy‐associated protein (bPAP) isolated from pregnant bovine urines by two‐dimensional electrophoresis (2‐DE) was characterized by N‐terminal sequencing, internal sequencing, and mass spectrometric analyses using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry. Database search using the amino acid sequences and the peptide mass profiles showed that the protein is a novel bovine pregnancy‐associated protein of which the N‐terminus has a high similarity to collagen alpha. The protein has a molecular mass of 21 kDa and a pI of 6.1. The expression profiles of the protein from the urine of 30 pregnant and 20 nonpregnant cows characterized by 2‐DE indicated that the expression of bPAP during pregnancy increased to over nmol from the pmol level basal expression of bPAP at the nonpregnant state with < 3% of false negatives and < 10% of false positives. Using the peptide sequence information, polyclonal antibodies against the bPAP protein were generated. The purified polyclonal antibodies against the peptide sequences of bPAP detected the 21 kDa protein on the blots of pregnant cow urine by Western blot analysis. In addition, analysis showed that the expression of bPAP in the urine is associated with pregnancy, but that the urine concentration of bPAP is not correlated with the duration of the pregnancy.
Subthalamic nucleus stimulation modulates afferent inhibition in Parkinson disease

Background: Peripheral sensory stimulation at the wrist inhibits the motor cortex as measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation at interstimulus intervals of approximately 20 ms (short latency afferent inhibition [SAI]) and 200 ms (long latency afferent inhibition [LAI]). Previous studies suggested that reduced SAI in Parkinson disease (PD) reflects adverse effect of dopaminergic medications and reduced LAI may be related to nondopaminergic manifestations of PD. We hypothesize that subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) may correct these deficiencies. Methods: We studied the effects of STN DBS on SAI and LAI in seven PD patients and age-matched controls. PD patients were studied in an off medication followed by an on medication session, with the stimulator switched on or off in random order in each session. Results: In the on medication session, SAI was reduced in the stimulator off condition and was restored by STN DBS. LAI was partially normalized by STN DBS in the medication on condition. Conclusions: Subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation improves short latency afferent inhibition, suggesting that it could normalize pathways that are adversely affected by dopaminergic medications. The effect of STN stimulation on long latency afferent inhibition suggests that it may influence nondopaminergic pathways involved in sensorimotor integration.
‘Merit’, ‘Preferential’or ‘Diversity-Based’Selection: Effect of Information Frame and Informant Gender on the Public's Views on Preferential Treatment in Selection

The study examined (1) the public's reactions to the philosophical justifications for merit vs. preferential selection, and (2) the effect of information frame (i.e. ‘merit’, ‘preferential’and ‘diversity’frames) and informant gender on people's views on preferential selection. Results show that in general the public supported merit selection and opposed the preferential practice and that their reactions to the justifications for a selection practice determined the level of support for (or opposition to) that practice. In addition, people's support for merit selection was weakened under the preferential-frame-female-informant condition; their opposition to preferential selection was also reduced when a male informant advocated the advantages of the preferential practice by using the term diversity-based selection instead of preferential selection. Results were discussed in the context of the social influence literature.
Effect of Intraoperative Dexmedetomidine Infusion on Postoperative Bowel Movements in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Gastrectomy

AbstractSympathetic hyperactivation is one of the causes of postoperative ileus, which occurs frequently after abdominal surgery and adversely influences the patient's prognosis. We aimed to investigate whether dexmedetomidine (DEX) could attenuate postoperative ileus in patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy.Ninety-two patients were randomized to the control (n = 46) or DEX group (n = 46). DEX was administered at a loading dose of 0.5 &mgr;g/kg for 10 minutes, followed by an infusion rate of 0.4 &mgr;g/kg/h from insufflation of the pneumoperitoneum to the end of surgery. The primary goal was to compare postoperative bowel movements by evaluating the time to first flatus. The balance of the autonomic nervous system, duration of postoperative hospital stay, and pain scores were assessed.The time to first flatus was shorter in the DEX group compared with the control group (67.2 ± 16.8 hours vs 79.9 ± 15.9 hours, P < 0.001). The low-frequency/high-frequency power ratio during pneumoperitoneum increased in the control group, compared with baseline values and the DEX group. The length of postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the DEX group compared with the control group (5.4 ± 0.7 days vs 5.8 ± 1.1 days, P = 0.04). Patients in the DEX group had lower pain scores and required fewer analgesics at 1 hour postoperatively.DEX facilitated bowel movements and reduced the length of hospital stay in patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy. This may be attributed to the sympatholytic and opioid-sparing effects of DEX.
Flavones induce neutrophil apoptosis by down-regulation of Mcl-1 via a proteasomal-dependent pathway

Neutrophil apoptosis and subsequent nonphlogistic clearance by surrounding phagocytes are key to the successful resolution of neutrophilic inflammation, with dysregulated apoptosis reported in multiple human inflammatory diseases. Enhancing neutrophil apoptosis has proresolution and anti‐inflammatory effects in preclinical models of inflammation. Here we investigate the ability of the flavones apigenin, luteolin, and wogonin to induce neutrophil apoptosis in vitro and resolve neutrophilic inflammation in vivo. Human neutrophil apoptosis was assessed morphologically and by flow cytometry following incubation with apigenin, luteolin, and wogonin. All three flavones induced time‐ and concentration‐dependent neutrophil apoptosis (apigenin, EC50=12.2 μM; luteolin, EC50=14.6 μM; and wogonin, EC50=28.9 μM). Induction of apoptosis was caspase dependent, as it was blocked by the broad‐spectrum caspase inhibitor Q‐VD‐OPh and was associated with both caspase‐3 and caspase‐9 activation. Flavone‐induced apoptosis was preceded by down‐regulation of the prosurvival protein Mcl‐1, with proteasomal inhibition preventing flavone‐induced Mcl‐1 down‐regulation and apoptosis. The flavones abrogated the survival effects of mediators that prolong neutrophil life span, including lipoteichoic acid, peptidoglycan, dexamethasone, and granulocyte‐macrophage colony stimulating factor, by driving apoptosis. Furthermore, wogonin enhanced resolution of established neutrophilic inflammation in a zebrafish model of sterile tissue injury. Wogonin‐induced resolution was dependent on apoptosis in vivo as it was blocked by caspase inhibition. Our data show that the flavones induce neutrophil apoptosis and have potential as neutrophil apoptosis‐inducing anti‐inflammatory, proresolution agents. —Lucas, C. D. , Allen, K. C. , Dorward, D. A. , Hoodless, L. J., Melrose, L. A. , Marwick, J. A. , Tucker, C. S. , Haslett, C. , Duffin, R. , Rossi, A. G. Flavones induce neutrophil apoptosis by down‐regulation of Mcl‐1 via a proteasomal‐dependent pathway. FASEB J. 27, 1084–1094 (2013). www.fasebj. org
Celebrating African Men's Role in Child Care and Early Childhood Development Programs

In many cultures, early child care and education has been considered the purview of women, who were thought to be more nurturing and better suited to the role. Hand-in-hand with this notion is the historical misconception that early child care and education is unimportant, and that the most valued members of society should focus on other, more important things. Thankfully, we are recognizing the importance of early care and education and the value of both male and female involvement in child rearing. Research consistently shows the benefits of strong male role models and father figures in children's lives. In Africa, where many local cultures have enforced traditional and strict gender divisions of labor, this change is beginning to take root. Men are increasingly joining the early child care and education profession and are proud to contribute to the positive development of their own children and the children in their communities. In this article, the author champions dedicated and passionate men in the profession, and calls for campaigns and policies to reduce discrimination against male caregivers in early childhood.
Primary Spinal OPC Culture System from Adult Zebrafish to Study Oligodendrocyte Differentiation In Vitro

Endogenous oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are a promising target to improve functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) by remyelinating denuded, and therefore vulnerable, axons. Demyelination is the result of a primary insult and secondary injury, leading to conduction blocks and long-term degeneration of the axons, which subsequently can lead to the loss of their neurons. In response to SCI, dormant OPCs can be activated and subsequently start to proliferate and differentiate into mature myelinating oligodendrocytes (OLs). Therefore, researchers strive to control OPC responses, and utilize small molecule screening approaches in order to identify mechanisms of OPC activation, proliferation, migration and differentiation. In zebrafish, OPCs remyelinate axons of the optic tract after lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)-induced demyelination back to full thickness myelin sheaths. In contrast to zebrafish, mammalian OPCs are highly vulnerable to excitotoxic stress, a cause of secondary injury, and remyelination remains insufficient. Generally, injury induced remyelination leads to shorter internodes and thinner myelin sheaths in mammals. In this study, we show that myelin sheaths are lost early after a complete spinal transection injury, but are re-established within 14 days after lesion. We introduce a novel, easy-to-use, inexpensive and highly reproducible OPC culture system based on dormant spinal OPCs from adult zebrafish that enables in vitro analysis. Zebrafish OPCs are robust, can easily be purified with high viability and taken into cell culture. This method enables to examine why zebrafish OPCs remyelinate better than their mammalian counterparts, identify cell intrinsic responses, which could lead to pro-proliferating or pro-differentiating strategies, and to test small molecule approaches. In this methodology paper, we show efficient isolation of OPCs from adult zebrafish spinal cord and describe culture conditions that enable analysis up to 10 days in vitro. Finally, we demonstrate that zebrafish OPCs differentiate into Myelin Basic Protein (MBP)-expressing OLs when co-cultured with human motor neurons differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This shows that the basic mechanisms of oligodendrocyte differentiation are conserved across species and that understanding the regulation of zebrafish OPCs can contribute to the development of new treatments to human diseases.
Avirulence of LT2 strains of Salmonella typhimurium results from a defective rpoS gene

In order to identify the genetic basis for the attenuation of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 strains, experiments were performed to identify a gene(s) which restores virulence to an avirulent LT2 strain. These and further experiments confirmed that an rpoS mutation is the sole determinant of the attenuation of S. typhimurium LT2.
Early Adolescents’ Conceptions of Parental and Friend Authority Over Relational Aggression

The purpose of the present research is to compare early adolescents’ beliefs about parental and friend jurisdiction over relational aggression to their beliefs about parental and friend jurisdiction over physical aggression and personal behaviors. One hundred three adolescents (Xı age = 12 years, 11 months; SD = 12.46 months) are individually interviewed and asked to evaluate the acceptability of parents and friends negating their physically aggressive behaviors (e.g., hitting), relationally aggressive behaviors (e.g., gossiping), and personally aggressive behaviors (e.g., changing hairstyles). They are also asked to justify their responses. Results highlight the complexity in adolescents’ thinking about these issues. For example, adolescents believe that parental jurisdiction is more acceptable over physical aggression as compared to relational aggression. However, adolescents do not make this distinction with regard to friend jurisdiction. When justifying their responses for relational aggression, adolescents cite social conventions, personal choice, and relationship maintenance reasons.
Measuring Sharedness of Team-Related Knowledge: Design and Validation of a Shared Mental Model Instrument

Abstract Many researchers have explored how people share and construct similar mental models in teams. They have claimed that successful team performance depends on a shared mental model of team members about task, team, equipment and situation. Most of the literature has illustrated simplified relationships between a team's mental model and their performance without a valid instrument addressing the confined and relevant constructs of a shared mental model. This paper describes the instrument development steps and the conceptual framework for factors associated with shared mental models. After development and refinement, the instrument was finalized for use to measure team-related knowledge. The final instrument consists of 42 items that are linked to the five emergent factors of shared mental models including general task and team knowledge, general task and communication skills, attitude toward teammates and task, team dynamics and interactions, and team resources and working environment.