Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Atopic eczema. What has caused the epidemic in industrialised countries and can early intervention modify the natural history of atopic eczema?

Atopic eczema (AE) has a lifetime prevalence of between 15 and 20% in industrialized countries, but a very low prevalence in rural Africa. The ‘atopic eczema epidemic’ has developed in industrialized countries within the last four decades. The disease has a strong genetic influence, so environmental factors must be responsible for the dramatic increase in disease prevalence. It is therefore fair to consider what interventions may change its prevalence. In this article, several factors are considered: the increased number of doctors in industrialized countries, the development of drugs like topical steroids and emollients, the ‘demanding parents’ and ‘old mother’ syndromes, introduction of vaccination programmes, allergen exposure, breastfeeding and the possible beneficial effects of probiotics.
Graph regularized discriminant analysis and its application to face recognition

Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) is a powerful technology for supervised dimensionality reduction, however, it only captures the extrinsic (or global) structure in the data and fails to discover the intrinsic structure of the data manifold. In this paper, we develop a new linear supervised dimensionality reduction method, called Graph Regularized Discriminant Analysis(GRDA), which respects both extrinsic and intrinsic structure in the data. In particular, a regularization term, incorporating the manifold structure, is introduced into the objective function of LDA. The formulation allows us to achieve a more discriminative subspace by simultaneously considering the graph preserving and the global LDA criteria. We then apply the proposed GRDA algorithm to face recognition by exploiting the local dissimilarity of face images in different classes. Experimental results clearly show that the proposed GRDA method outperforms many state-of-the-art face recognition algorithms.
Spatial Information and Temporal Representation in Memory

This study examined the effect of spatial cues on memory for temporal order. Improved performance for temporal order with added spatial cues was found only for certain directions and orientations. Dependent measures included memory for items, order, and response latency. The presence of a spatial cue had a significant effect on memory for order but not on memory for an item. For response latency, there were significant main effects for visual field and direction. There were also several significant interactions of visual field, direction, and orientation. The implications of these findings for the understanding of the relationship of spatial and temporal information in memory are discussed.
Does the Type of Ventricular Assisted Device Influence Survival, Infection, and Rejection Rates Following Heart Transplantation?

Abstract Objective: To determine the influence of the type of left ventricular assisted device (LVAD) as predictor of survival, hospitalizations due to infection, and rejection following heart transplantation and to delineate any further predictors of such outcomes. Methods: Patients who received a left ventricular assist device (HeartMate [Thoratec Corp., Pleasanton, CA, USA] or Novacor [World Heart Corporation, Ottawa, Canada]) as a bridge to heart transplantation between October 1991 and June 2004 using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Thoracic Registry database were evaluated. Comparison of survival curves between HeartMate and Novacor was performed using Kaplan–Meier survival method and Cox proportional hazard model adjusting for patient demographics and co‐morbidities. Infection and rejection rates between the two devices were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression model. Results: The UNOS database provided 1255 patients with HeartMate and 154 patients with Novacor between 1991 and 2004. Unadjusted one‐ and five‐year survivals for HeartMate and Novacor were 0.84 and 0.80 and 0.72 and 0.56, respectively, following heart transplantation. Adjusting for patient demographics and co‐morbidities, no statistical significant difference in one‐year survival was observed between those who received HeartMate and Novacor (HR = 1.49, p = 0.127). At five years, however, the HeartMate group had higher survival than Novacor (HR = 1.53, p = 0.043). All‐time posttransplant hospitalizations due to infection and rejection were similar between HeartMate and Novacor recipients after adjusting for patient case mix. Conclusion: Controlling for patient case mix, there was no survival difference at one year between those who received Novacor versus HeartMate LVAD. At five years, a Novacor bridge to transplant patient on average had statistically significantly lower survival than HeartMate recipients. No difference in infection and rejection were observed.
Improved human-robot team performance using Chaski, A human-inspired plan execution system

We describe the design and evaluation of Chaski, a robot plan execution system that uses insights from human-human teaming to make human-robot teaming more natural and fluid. Chaski is a task-level executive that enables a robot to collaboratively execute a shared plan with a person. The system chooses and schedules the robot's actions, adapts to the human partner, and acts to minimize the human's idle time. We evaluate Chaski in human subject experiments in which a person works with a mobile and dexterous robot to collaboratively assemble structures using building blocks. We measure team performance outcomes for robots controlled by Chaski compared to robots that are verbally commanded, step-by-step by the human teammate. We show that Chaski reduces the human's idle time by 85%, a statistically significant difference. This result supports the hypothesis that human-robot team performance is improved when a robot emulates the effective coordination behaviors observed in human teams.
Investigation of antitumor effects of Lactobacillus crispatus in experimental model of breast cancer in BALB/c mice.

AIM To evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal injections of heat-killed Lactobacillus crispatus on breast tumor size and overall survival of Balb/c mouse received 4T1 mammary carcinoma. Materials and methods: Different doses of L. crispatus have been injected intraperitoneally in BALB/c mice. RESULTS Tumor size was decreased in the experiment group treated with 1 × 108 bacteria/200 μl. Treatment with 1 × 108 bacteria/200 μl resulted in survival improvement. The myeloid-derived suppressor cells and reactive oxygen species production have been increased in all groups. Cox2 expression decreased in tumor tissues of the mice treated with 108 bacteria/200 μl. The expressions of Arginase and iNos increased in the spleen and tumor tissues of those treated with 5 × 108 bacteria/200 μl. CONCLUSION We have shown the protective effect of L. crispatus on survival of tumor-bearing mice.
Large-scale distribution of hybridogenetic lineages in a Spanish desert ant

Recently, a unique case of hybridogenesis at a social level was reported in local populations of the desert ants Cataglyphis. Queens mate with males originating from a different genetic lineage than their own to produce hybrid workers, but they use parthenogenesis for the production of reproductive offspring (males and females). As a result, non-reproductive workers are all inter-lineage hybrids, whereas the sexual line is purely maternal. Here, we show that this unorthodox reproductive system occurs in all populations of the ant Cataglyphis hispanica. Remarkably, workers are hybrids of the same two genetic lineages along a 400 km transect crossing the whole distribution range of the species. These results indicate that social hybridogenesis in C. hispanica allows their maintenance over time and across a large geographical scale of two highly divergent genetic lineages, despite their constant hybridization. The widespread distribution of social hybridogenesis in C. hispanica supports that this reproductive strategy has been evolutionarily conserved over a long period.
C-Reactive Protein Elevation and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the number two cause of cancer deaths in the United States, for both men and women (AHCPR, 2003). About 151,000 Americans are diagnosed and over 57,000 die each year from CRC (Jemal et al., 2004). One risk factor for CRC that has been heavily studied is inflammation. A personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, for instance, has been associated with an increased risk for CRC (ACS, 2003). Numerous studies have reported the protective effect from CRC of nonsteroidal antiinflammatories (NSAIDS) and aspirin (Baron et al., 2003; Gann, Manson, Glynn, Buring, & Hennekens, 1993; Greenberg, Baron, Freeman, Mandel, & Haile, 1993; Sandler, Galanko, Murray, Helm, & Woosley, 1998; Sandler et al., 2003). Recently, one study indicated a possible link between C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for inflammation, and CRC. C-reactive protein was first discovered in 1930 (Pasche & Serhan, 2004) and is a protein produced in the liver during episodes of acute inflammation (NIH, 2002). Local inflammation and tissue injury may signal the liver to produce and release CRP into the bloodstream (Pasche & Serhan). Specifically, CRP is made in response to interleukin6 (IL-6) (Erlanger, Platz, Rifai, & Helzlsouer, 2004). C-reactive protein’s most important role is to interact with the complement system (NIH). C-reactive protein may bind to damaged cell tissues and components and may act as an opsonin, which helps prepare the cellular debris for phagocytosis and elimination by macrophages and leukocytes (Pasche & Serhan). Erlinger et al. (2004) investigated the possibility that CRP, as a marker for inflammation, could help identify people at risk for the development of CRC. The subjects of their prospective study were participants of Washington County, Maryland’s CLUE II cohort, established in May 1989 (baseline). Blood was drawn at baseline and stored at 70 degrees C. A linkage with the Washington County Cancer Registry and Maryland State Cancer Registry was used to determine which subjects were diagnosed with CRC during a period of up to 11 years after baseline (Erlinger et al., 2004). A total of 172 subjects developed CRC. Of these 172 subjects, 131 had colon cancer and 41 had rectal cancer. For each CRC case, 1 or 2 case matched con-
Mean Characteristics at Follow-Up Examination , Adjusted for Baseline Examination Characteristics , for Natural Menopause Cases , Hormone Users , and Premenopausal Control Subjects Natural menopause Hormone

We investigated the psychological and symptom consequences of the natural menopause in a longitudinal study of 541 initially premenopausal healthy women. All women were given an extensive evaluation at baseline. After 3 years of follow-up, 69 women ceased cycling for 12 months; another 32 women had ceased cycling and had taken hormone replacement therapy for a total of 12 months. These women were reevaluated in a clinic examination identical with the baseline examination, as were 101 age-matched premenopausal control women. Comparison among groups at the baseline and follow-up examination showed that natural menopause led to few changes in psychological characteristics, with only a decline in introspectiveness and an increase in reports of hot flashes being apparent. We conclude that natural menopause did not have negative mental health consequences for the majority of middle-aged healthy women.
Inflammatory markers of lung disease in adult patients with cystic fibrosis

Progressive pulmonary disease associated with chronic bacterial infection and inflammation is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Identifying markers of inflammation that correlate with lung injury may be useful in monitoring disease progression and response to therapy. We hypothesized that levels of serum biomarkers would correlate with clinical course of CF as defined by pulmonary function testing (FEV1).
The Roma: Between a Myth and the Future

Dans cet article, l'A s'interesse a l'histoire du peuple rome. L'A tente ici de definir une identite commune aux multiples communautes ethniques qui composent ou sont assimilees aux Romes, par la langue, et la perpetuation de traditions au fil des siecles. L'A retrace le parcours geographique et historique des Romes, pour se pencher sur les stereotypes, atrocites et discriminations dont sont encore victimes ces intouchables de l'humanite
Pre‐hospital delays and intravenous thrombolysis in urban and rural areas

Kozera G, Chwojnicki K, Gójska‐Grymajło A, Gąsecki D, Schminke U, Nyka WM. Pre‐hospital delays and intravenous thrombolysis in urban and rural areas. Acta Neurol Scand: 2012: 126: 171–177. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Frequent Alteration of MLL3 Frameshift Mutations in Microsatellite Deficient Colorectal Cancer

Background MLL3 is a histone 3- lysine 4 methyltransferase with tumor-suppressor properties that belongs to a family of chromatin regulator genes potentially altered in neoplasia. Mutations in MLL3 were found in a whole genome analysis of colorectal cancer but have not been confirmed by a separate study. Methods and Results We analyzed mutations of coding region and promoter methylation in MLL3 using 126 cases of colorectal cancer. We found two isoforms of MLL3 and DNA sequencing revealed frameshift and other mutations affecting both isoforms of MLL3 in colorectal cancer cells and 19 of 134 (14%) primary colorectal samples analyzed. Moreover, frameshift mutations were more common in cases with microsatellite instability (31%) both in CRC cell lines and primary tumors. The largest isoform of MLL3 is transcribed from a CpG island-associated promoter that has highly homology with a pseudo-gene on chromosome 22 (psiTPTE22). Using an assay which measured both loci simultaneously we found prominent age related methylation in normal colon (from 21% in individuals less than 25 years old to 56% in individuals older than 70, R = 0.88, p<0.001) and frequent hypermethylation (83%) in both CRC cell lines and primary tumors. We next studied the two loci separately and found that age and cancer related methylation was solely a property of the pseudogene CpG island and that the MLL3 loci was unmethylated. Conclusions We found that frameshift mutations of MLL3 in both CRC cells and primary tumor that were more common in cases with microsatellite instability. Moreover, we have shown CpG island-associated promoter of MLL3 gene has no DNA methylation in CRC cells but also primary tumor and normal colon, and this region has a highly homologous of pseudo gene (psiTPTE22) that was age relate DNA methylation.
Observering the surface energy budget at Cabauw : A status report

Introduction Closing the surface energy budget (SEB) is one of the longest outstanding problems in micro-meteorology. At the earth’s surface the net radiation (QN), consisting of the budget of shortwave incoming (K), shortwave outgoing (K), longwave incoming (L) and longwave outgoing radiation (L), should be balanced by the transport of heat into the soil (G) and to the atmosphere in the form of sensible (H) and latent heat (LE):
The retina of Manduca sexta: rhodopsin expression, the mosaic of green-, blue- and UV-sensitive photoreceptors, and regional specialization

SUMMARY Spectral sensitivities of individual photoreceptors in the compound eye of Manduca sexta were verified by immunocytochemistry, and the retinal mosaic was mapped, using polyclonal antisera raised against amino-terminal sequences of three identified rhodopsins: P520, P450 and P357. Retinulae are composed of a small proximal cell and seven or eight elongate cells extending across the retina. In each retinula, one or two elongate dv cells oriented in the dorsal-ventral axis of the retinal lattice express either P450 or P357. Six elongate ap and ob cells in the anterior-posterior and oblique axes express P520. The small proximal pr cell also appears to express P520. The retinal mosaic is regionalized into three distinct domains: ventral and dorsal domains that divide the main retina, and a large dorsal rim area. The immunocytochemical data provide a high-resolution map of the Manduca retina that confirms and refines earlier low-resolution ERG spectral sensitivity measurements. The dorsal and ventral domains, separated at a well-defined equatorial border, are distinguished by differences in the proportion of blue-sensitive dv cells: these cells dominate the ventral retina but are less abundant in the dorsal retina. Green-sensitive ap and ob receptors are uniformly distributed across the dorsal and ventral domains, and UV-sensitive dv cells are fairly uniformly distributed because many retinulae in the dorsal domain contain only one dv cell. Similarly, dorsal rim retinulae contain only the ventral member of the dv pair of receptors, two-thirds of which express P357. Otherwise, dorsal rim receptors express none of the three sequenced Manduca opsins; they must express rhodopsins that have yet to be cloned.
Peer and Self-Assessment

Part of a student's well-rounded learning experience is to take an active role in group activities, group projects, and group presentations. Even though you would expect all group members to be equally involved, we know that some students will do more than others. To find out how well each of the students performed in the group and to round out the ―group experience,‖ allow students to assess the performance of their group. Often, the group is asked to assess each other's performance using guidelines or a rubric which allows for both quantitative and qualitative feedback. In addition to the peer feedback, each group member could also reflect on their own performance within the group. When combined with the instructor's assessment, peer-and self-assessment can provide a more comprehensive picture of a student's performance as depicted in Figure 1 below. Formative Assessment Figure 1 illustrates peer-and self-assessment at the formative stage—where each group member will begin to assess the performance of one another, including themselves. Formative assessment is useful in that it allows the group to assess their ongoing performance and to make changes, adjustments, and modifications of their initial plans toward the final product. Summative Assessment Summative assessment occurs during the group's final presentation or after the project has been submitted. As before, the group will assess each other's performance, but now that assessment is based on the final performance or project. It is at this point the instructor provides his or her assessment, using the same or similar guidelines or rubrics used by the students. Both formative and summative assessments can be identified on one form. Figure 1 When combined with the instructor's assessment, peer-and self-assessment can provide a more comprehensive picture of a student's performance
"Consumption and habits : evidence from panel data"

The purpose of this paper is to test for the presence of habit formation in consumption decisions using household panel data. We use the test proposed by Meghir and Weber (1996) and estimate the within -period marginal rate of substitution between commodities, which is robust to the presence of liquidity constraints. To that end, we use a Spanish panel data set in which households are observed up to eight consecutive quarters. This temporal dimension is crucial, since it allows us to take into account time invariant unobserved heterogeneity across households (? fixed effects? ) and, therefore, to investigate if the relationship between current and past consumption reflects habits or heterogeneity. Our results conf irm the importance of accounting for fixed effects when analyzing intertemporal consumption decisions allowing for time non-separabilities. Once fixed effects are controlled for and a proper set of instruments is used, the results yield supporting evidence of habit formation in the demand system of food at home, transport and services.
Dietary fiber and antioxidant capacity in Fucus vesiculosus products

Several nutraceutical products have been developed from Fucus vesiculosus, a brown edible seaweed, rich in dietary fiber and polyphenolic antioxidants (phlorotannins). The aim of this work was to compare the antioxidant capacity and polysaccharide composition of raw Fucus with those of some common commercial nutraceuticals. All tested products contained a high percentage of dietary fiber (45–59%), raw Fucus powder being the sample with the highest content. Also, raw Fucus powder exhibited significantly higher antioxidant capacity (determined by FRAP, ABTS and ORAC assays) than the commercial fucoidans and commercial antioxidant extracts. Polyphenols (phlorotannins) seem to be the main contributors to Fucus’ antioxidant capacity in both raw powder and commercial fucoidans.
Integrating PSL properties into SystemC transactional modeling — Application to the verification of a modem SoC

This paper focuses on the assertion-based verification (ABV) of hardware/software embedded systems, described at the Electronic System Level. We first summarize the features of a tool that enables the automatic instrumentation of SystemC TLM platforms with property checkers produced from PSL assertions and the runtime verification of these requirements. We also present its last improvements. Then we describe a return of experience using as case study a SoC modem for digital radio reception developed by Thales Communications & Security. Various temporal properties that capture the intended requirements, regarding hardware or hardware/software interactions, are formalized in PSL and checked during simulation.
Stationary Features and Cat Detection

Most discriminative techniques for detecting instances from object categories in still images consist of looping over a partition of a pose space with dedicated binary classifiers. The efficiency of this strategy for a complex pose, that is, for fine-grained descriptions, can be assessed by measuring the effect of sample size and pose resolution on accuracy and computation. Two conclusions emerge: (1) fragmenting the training data, which is inevitable in dealing with high in-class variation, severely reduces accuracy; (2) the computational cost at high resolution is prohibitive due to visiting a massive pose partition. To overcome data-fragmentation we propose a novel framework centered on pose-indexed features which assign a response to a pair consisting of an image and a pose, and are designed to be stationary: the probability distribution of the response is always the same if an object is actually present. Such features allow for efficient, one-shot learning of pose-specific classifiers. To avoid expensive scene processing, we arrange these classifiers in a hierarchy based on nested partitions of the pose; as in previous work on coarse-to-fine search, this allows for efficient processing. The hierarchy is then ”folded” for training: all the classifiers at each level are derived from one base predictor learned from all the data. The hierarchy is ”unfolded” for testing: parsing a scene amounts to examining increasingly finer object descriptions only when there is sufficient evidence for coarser ones. In this way, the detection results are equivalent to an exhaustive search at high resolution. We illustrate these ideas by detecting and localizing cats in highly cluttered greyscale scenes.
Laboratory Life: The Construction of Scientific Facts

This highly original work presents laboratory science in a deliberately skeptical way: as an anthropological approach to the culture of the scientist. Drawing on recent work in literary criticism, the authors study how the social world of the laboratory produces papers and other "texts,"' and how the scientific vision of reality becomes that set of statements considered, for the time being, too expensive to change. The book is based on field work done by Bruno Latour in Roger Guillemin's laboratory at the Salk Institute and provides an important link between the sociology of modern sciences and laboratory studies in the history of science.