Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding the dynamics of product software development using the concept of coevolution

The context in which software is developed determines its evolution. Specifically for software developed as a product by startups, the uncertainty of market, platform and team not only determine the evolution of the product, but also of the process. During the lifecycle of the product the organization changes and different product improvement and process improvement patterns can be observed. With this in mind the Abernathy and Utterback dynamic innovation model proves to be an applicable view for the evolution of product software and its process. In this paper we introduce this theoretical model as a basis for further research in the co-evolution of product software development. Based on an anecdotal case study of a software-as-a-service product an example of the co-evolution of process and product in the software product industry is provided
The Estimation of Survival Function for Colon Cancer Data in Tehran Using Non-parametric Bayesian Model

Background Colon cancer is the third cause of cancer deaths. Although colon cancer survival time has increased in recent years, the mortality rate is still high. The Cox model is the most common regression model often used in medical research in survival analysis, but most of the time the effect of at least one of the independent factors changes over time, so the model cannot be used. In the current study, the survival function for colon cancer patients in Tehran is estimated using non-parametric Bayesian model. Methods In this survival study, 580 patients with colon cancer who were recorded in the Cancer Research Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences since April 2005 to November 2006 were studied and followed up for a period of 5 years. Survival function was plotted with non-parametric Bayesian model and was compared with the Kaplan-Meier curve. Results Of the total of 580 patients, 69.9% of patients were alive. 45.9% of patients were male and the mean age of cancer diagnosis was 65.12 (SD= 12.26) and 87.7 of the patients underwent surgery. There was a significant relationship between age at diagnosis and sex and the survival time while there was a non-significant relationship between the type of treatment and the survival time. The survival functions corresponding to the two treatment groups cross, in comparison with the patients who had no surgery in the first 30 months, showed a higher level of risk in the patients who underwent a surgery. After that, the survival probability for the patients undergoing a surgery has increased. Conclusion The study showed that survival rate has been higher in women and in the patients who were below 60 years at the time of diagnosis.
U1 precursors: variant 3' flanking sequences are transcribed in human cells

Using RNase protection and oligonucleotide hybridization experiments, we have shown that U1 precursors are derived by transcription of 3' flanking sequences. A labeled SP6 transcript of one of the true U1 genes (pD2) was able to protect a subset of the 3' flanking sequences present in HeLa cytoplasmic U1 RNA. However, not all U1 precursors were protected using this probe, suggesting that variant U1 precursor 3' tail sequences are expressed in HeLa cells. This conclusion has been confirmed by hybridization of HeLa RNA samples with specific oligonucleotide probes representing variant U1 3' flanking sequences. Interestingly, these variant tail sequences contain the putative Sm antigen binding site, A(U)3-6G. The conservation of this flanking sequence through evolution suggests a possible functional role for these precursor tails in ordering protein binding to U1 RNA.
Effects of ageing on speed and temporal resolution of speech stimuli in older adults

Background According to previous studies, most of the speech recognition disorders in older adults are theresults of deficits in audibility and auditory temporal resolution. In this paper, the effect of ageing on timecompressedspeech and auditory temporal resolution by word recognition in continuous and interrupted noisewas studied. Methods A time-compressed speech test (TCST) was conducted on 30 young and 32 older adults with normalhearing thresholds. Lists of monosyllabic words were used at three time compression ratios. Auditory temporalresolution was determined by measuring the monosyllabic word recognition score (WRS), in the presence ofcontinuous and interrupted noise, at three signal-to-noise ratios (S/Ns). Results There was a significant difference in TCST scores at the three compression ratios within and betweenyoung and older adult none (p< 0.001). Similar results were obtained in WRSs at the three S/Ns in the presenceof interrupted and continuous noise (p< 0.001), and in the degree of auditory temporal resolution(p=0.007). A significant correlation was found between the level of test difficulty of TCST with WRSs in bothyoung (r = 0.549, P=0.002) and older adults (r= 0.531, P=0.003). Conclusion Our results showed that ageing remarkably affects the processing of fast speech stimuli and temporalresolving ability. These results are more supportive of the effect of ageing on speech perception than onloss of hearing.
Metatranscriptomic analyses of honey bee colonies

Honey bees face numerous biotic threats from viruses to bacteria, fungi, protists, and mites. Here we describe a thorough analysis of microbes harbored by worker honey bees collected from field colonies in geographically distinct regions of Turkey. Turkey is one of the World's most important centers of apiculture, harboring five subspecies of Apis mellifera L. , approximately 20% of the honey bee subspecies in the world. We use deep ILLUMINA-based RNA sequencing to capture RNA species for the honey bee and a sampling of all non-endogenous species carried by bees. After trimming and mapping these reads to the honey bee genome, approximately 10% of the sequences (9–10 million reads per library) remained. These were then mapped to a curated set of public sequences containing ca. Sixty megabase-pairs of sequence representing known microbial species associated with honey bees. Levels of key honey bee pathogens were confirmed using quantitative PCR screens. We contrast microbial matches across different sites in Turkey, showing new country recordings of Lake Sinai virus, two Spiroplasma bacterium species, symbionts Candidatus Schmidhempelia bombi, Frischella perrara, Snodgrassella alvi, Gilliamella apicola, Lactobacillus spp. ), neogregarines, and a trypanosome species. By using metagenomic analysis, this study also reveals deep molecular evidence for the presence of bacterial pathogens (Melissococcus plutonius, Paenibacillus larvae), Varroa destructor-1 virus, Sacbrood virus, and fungi. Despite this effort we did not detect KBV, SBPV, Tobacco ringspot virus, VdMLV (Varroa Macula like virus), Acarapis spp. , Tropilaeleps spp. and Apocephalus (phorid fly). We discuss possible impacts of management practices and honey bee subspecies on microbial retinues. The described workflow and curated microbial database will be generally useful for microbial surveys of healthy and declining honey bees.
Tramadol for Postoperative Shivering: A Double-Blind Comparison with Pethidine

In most operating and recovery rooms, shivering is controlled by the use of humidifiers, warming blankets, and inhalation of humidified heated oxygen. However, pharmacological control is an effective alternate treatment modality. This randomized, double-blind trial, conducted in 30 ASA Grade I or 2 patients, was designed to explore the efficacy of tramadol and pethidine in the treatment of post-anaesthetic shivering. Tramadol is an inhibitor of the re-uptake of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) and norepinephrine in the spinal cord. This facilitates 5-hydroxytryptamine release, which influences thermoregulatory control. We compared the efficacy of tramadol with that of pethidine, presently a widely used drug for the control of shivering. Patients received either tramadol 1mg/kg or pethidine 0.5 mg/kg intravenously and the grade of shivering, pulse rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate were observed every 10 minutes after injection for one hour. Shivering was significantly more likely to have ceased in the tramadol group (12 of 15 versus 4 of 15 cases, P<0.05) at 10 minutes after drug administration and this control was better sustained. No patients receiving tramadol had a recurrence of shivering. It is concluded that intravenous tramadol 1 mg/kg is more effective for the treatment of postoperative shivering than pethidine 0.5 mg/kg.
Fingerprinting OpenFlow Controllers: The First Step to Attack an SDN Control Plane

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) controllers are considered as Network Operating Systems (NOSs) and often viewed as a single point of failure. Detecting which SDN controller is managing a target network is a big step for an attacker to launch specific/effective attacks against it. In this paper, we demonstrate the feasibility of fingerpirinting SDN controllers. We propose techniques allowing an attacker placed in the data plane, which is supposed to be physically separate from the control plane, to detect which controller is managing the network. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work on fingerprinting SDN controllers, with as primary goal to emphasize the necessity to highly secure the controller. We focus on OpenFlow-based SDN networks since OpenFlow is currently the most deployed SDN technology by hardware and software vendors.
Ambiguity resolution in a reductionistic parser

We are concerned with dependency-oriented morphosyntactic parsing of running text. While a parsing grammar should avoid introducing structurally unresolvable distinctions in order to optimise on the accuracy of the parser, it also is beneficial for the grammarian to have as expressive a structural representation available as possible. In a reductionistic parsing system this policy may result in considerable ambiguity in the input; however, even massive ambiguity can be tackled efficiently with an accurate parsing description and effective parsing technology.
GABAA/benzodiazepine receptors in acutely isolated hippocampal astrocytes

The properties of GABA receptor-mediated responses were examined in noncultured astrocytes, acutely isolated from the mature rat hippocampus. Whole-cell patch clamping revealed a GABA-activated Cl- conductance that was mimicked by the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol and depressed by the GABAA antagonists bicuculline and picrotoxin. The GABAA-activated currents were potentiated by the barbiturate pentobarbital and the benzodiazepine diazepam. The benzodiazepine inverse agonist DMCM either enhanced or depressed the astrocytic GABAA- mediated responses, suggesting receptor heterogeneity with respect to pharmacologic profiles. In addition, GABA evoked an increase in [Ca2+]n measured by indo-1 fluorometry, which was depressed in the presence of verapamil or picrotoxin. A GABAA-induced depolarization, therefore, causes Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. The expression and subcellular localization of GABAA receptors and its subunits were examined using immunohistochemical and fluorescent benzodiazepine binding techniques. Polyclonal antisera raised against the GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor, which recognizes multiple subunit isoforms, labeled receptors on the astrocytic cell body and most large processes. In contrast, antisera generated against either alpha 1 or beta 1 subunit peptides revealed immunoreactivity predominantly on a subset of processes. To determine the subcellular distribution of membrane-bound receptors, a fluorescent benzodiazepine derivative was superfused over live astrocytes and visualized with laser-scanning confocal microscopy. Specific fluorescence was distributed in discrete clusters on the cell soma and a subset of distal processes. Collectively, these data support the view that astrocytes, like neurons, express GABAA receptors and target subunit isoforms to distinct cellular localizations. Astrocytic GABAA receptors may be involved in both [Cl-]o and [pH]o homeostasis, and a GABA-evoked increase in [Ca2+]i could serve as a signal between GABAergic neurons and astrocytes.
MANAGING AN ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING SYSTEM BY ALIGNING STOCKS AND FLOWS

This paper considers the relationship between the stocks and flows of learning across levels in an overall organizational learning system. A survey instrument based on the Strategic Learning Assessment Map (SLAM) was administered to 15 individuals representing senior-, middleand non-management levels from each of 32 organizations, resulting in a total sample of 480 respondents. This research supports the premise that there is a positive relationship between the stocks of learning at all levels and business performance. Furthermore, the proposition that the misalignment of stocks and flows in an overall organizational learning system is negatively associated with business performance is also supported.
On the Number of Bh-Sets

A set A of positive integers is a Bh-set if all the sums of the form a1 + . + ah, with a1,. ,ah ∈ A and a1 ⩽ . ⩽ ah, are distinct. We provide asymptotic bounds for the number of Bh-sets of a given cardinality contained in the interval [n] = {1,. ,n}. As a consequence of our results, we address a problem of Cameron and Erdős (1990) in the context of Bh-sets. We also use these results to estimate the maximum size of a Bh-sets contained in a typical (random) subset of [n] with a given cardinality.
Ethical theory, codes of ethics and IS practice

Ethical issues, with respect to computer‐based information systems, are important to the individual IS practitioner. These same issues also have an important impact on the moral well‐being of organizations and societies. Considerable discussion has taken place in the Information Systems (IS) literature on specific ethical issues, but there is little published work which relates these issues to mainstream ethical theory. This paper describes a range of ethical theories drawn from philosophy literature and uses these theories to critique aspects of the newly revised ACM Code of Ethics. Some in the IS field on problematic ethical issues which are not resolved by the Code are then identified and discussed. The paper draws some implications and conclusions on the value of ethical theory and codes of practice, and on further work to develop existing ethical themes and to promote new initiatives in the ethical domain.
A simple respiratory indicator for irradiation during voluntary breath holding: a one-touch device without electronic materials.

PURPOSE To evaluate the use, structural principles, operation, and acquired reproducibility of a respiratory monitoring device to be used for voluntary patient breath holding. MATERIALS AND METHODS Evaluation was performed of a respiratory monitoring device that enables determination of the respiratory level in a patient by measuring the movement of two contacts on the abdomen and chest wall. Neither metallic nor electronic materials are used in the mechanics for this device. The initial study group comprised 21 consecutive patients (15 men, six women; mean age, 75 years; range, 56-92 years) with lung or abdominal tumors who underwent examination with the device and computed tomography (CT) for three-dimensional reproducibility of lung base position during voluntary breath holding with or without use of the device. RESULTS One patient with mild dementia was excluded; in most of the remaining 20 patients, high reproducibility of the breath-holding position was achieved in a short time with the device. In these 20 patients who were able to adapt to use of the device, three-dimensional mean maximum differences in lung base position during three random voluntary breath holds were 2.0 mm along the cranial-caudal axis, 1.5 mm along the anterior-posterior axis, and 1.2 mm along the right-left axis. The differences in all axes were significantly smaller with use of the respiratory monitoring device than without the device. CONCLUSION The device demonstrates satisfactory reproducibility of voluntary patient breath holding easily and inexpensively and may offer a convenient device for easy use during irradiation with voluntary breath-holding conditions that require a small internal margin.
Primary Prevention Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators in Older Racial and Ethnic Minority Patients

Background—Racial and ethnic minorities are under-represented in clinical trials of primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). This analysis investigates the association between primary prevention ICDs and mortality among Medicare, racial/ethnic minority patients. Methods and Results—Data from Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure Registry and National Cardiovascular Data Registry’s ICD Registry were used to perform an adjusted comparative effectiveness analysis of primary prevention ICDs in Medicare, racial/ethnic minority patients (nonwhite race or Hispanic ethnicity). Mortality data were obtained from the Medicare denominator file. The relationship of ICD with survival was compared between minority and white non-Hispanic patients. Our analysis included 852 minority patients, 426 ICD and 426 matched non-ICD patients, and 2070 white non-Hispanic patients (1035 ICD and 1035 matched non-ICD patients). Median follow-up was 3.1 years. Median age was 73 years, and median ejection fraction was 23%. Adjusted 3-year mortality rates for minority ICD and non-ICD patients were 44.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 44.2%–45.7%) and 54.3% (95% CI, 53.4%–55.1%), respectively (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63–0.98; P=0.034). White non-Hispanic patients receiving an ICD had lower adjusted 3-year mortality rates of 47.8% (95% CI, 47.3%–48.3%) compared with 57.3% (95% CI, 56.8%–57.9%) for those with no ICD (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.67%–0.83%; P<0.0001). There was no significant interaction between race/ethnicity and lower mortality risk with ICD (P=0.70). Conclusions—Primary prevention ICDs are associated with lower mortality in nonwhite and Hispanic patients, similar to that seen in white, non-Hispanic patients. These data support a similar approach to ICD patient selection, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Consistent Labeling of Tracked Objects in Multiple Cameras with Overlapping Fields of View

We address the issue of tracking moving objects in an environment covered by multiple uncalibrated cameras with overlapping fields of view, typical of most surveillance setups. In such a scenario, it is essential to establish correspondence between tracks of the same object, seen in different cameras, to recover complete information about the object. We call this the problem of consistent labeling of objects when seen in multiple cameras. We employ a novel approach of finding the limits of field of view (FOV) of each camera as visible in the other cameras. We show that, if the FOV lines are known, it is possible to disambiguate between multiple possibilities for correspondence. We present a method to automatically recover these lines by observing motion in the environment, Furthermore, once these lines are initialized, the homography between the views can also be recovered. We present results on indoor and outdoor sequences containing persons and vehicles.
Differential distribution of CREB in the mesolimbic dopamine reward pathway

The transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) has been implicated in the long‐term neuronal plasticity associated with addiction. While CREB is expressed in many cells throughout the brain, very little is known about the relative concentrations of CREB protein in various brain regions. Studies in which CREB levels have been altered, either constitutively throughout the brain via gene targeting or transiently in specific brain regions, demonstrate variable roles for this protein in mediating reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse. To investigate the complex nature of CREB function in addiction, we examined the distribution of CREB protein in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA), two brain regions that are part of the well‐defined mesolimbic dopamine pathway involved in reward processing. Our data demonstrate significantly more CRE binding activity and CREB protein in the NAc compared to levels present in the VTA of wild‐type mice. Phospho‐CREB levels are increased in the NAc of both wild‐type and CREBαΔ mutant animals after cocaine. However, morphine‐induced increases of phospho‐CREB levels are seen in the VTA of wild‐type mice but not CREBαΔ mutant mice. Consequently, the 90% reduction of CREB in CREBαΔ mutant mice differentially affects CREB phosphorylation and induction of downstream targets of CREB in the NAc and VTA.
Detailed parallel simulation of a biological neuronal network

Realistic modeling of the cat's brain advances neurobiology, while also teaching us a lesson on efficient communication among parallel processors. A scheme that can quickly propagate "spikes" of current between connected nerve cells might find use in many cases where a lot of irregular and nonlocal communication is needed. <<ETX>>
Statistical Estimation of the Protein-Ligand Binding Free Energy Based On Direct Protein-Ligand Interaction Obtained by Molecular Dynamics Simulation

We have developed a method for estimating protein-ligand binding free energy (ΔG) based on the direct protein-ligand interaction obtained by a molecular dynamics simulation. Using this method, we estimated the ΔG value statistically by the average values of the van der Waals and electrostatic interactions between each amino acid of the target protein and the ligand molecule. In addition, we introduced fluctuations in the accessible surface area (ASA) and dihedral angles of the protein-ligand complex system as the entropy terms of the ΔG estimation. The present method included the fluctuation term of structural change of the protein and the effective dielectric constant. We applied this method to 34 protein-ligand complex structures. As a result, the correlation coefficient between the experimental and calculated ΔG values was 0.81, and the average error of ΔG was 1.2 kcal/mol with the use of the fixed parameters. These results were obtained from a 2 nsec molecular dynamics simulation.
Diabetes Health Information Technology Innovation to Improve Quality of Life for Health Plan Members in Urban Safety Net

Safety net systems need innovative diabetes self-management programs for linguistically diverse patients. A low-income government-sponsored managed care plan implemented a 27-week automated telephone self-management support/health coaching intervention for English-, Spanish-, and Cantonese-speaking members from 4 publicly funded clinics in a practice-based research network. Compared to waitlist, immediate intervention participants had greater 6-month improvements in overall diabetes self-care behaviors (standardized effect size [ES] = 0.29, P < .01) and 12-Item Short Form Health Survey physical scores (ES = 0.25, P = .03); changes in patient-centered processes of care and cardiometabolic outcomes did not differ. Automated telephone self-management is a strategy for improving patient-reported self-management and may also improve some outcomes.
Local environmental politics in England Environmental activism in South East London and East Kent compared

In order to gain an understanding of the varied character of local environmental activism in England, this paper compares the character of local environmentalism in inner south east London with that in two adjacent less-urbanised / semi-rural districts in Kent (Canterbury and Ashford). These areas have been chosen so that we may examine the ways in which the nature of local environmental activism varies according to the degree and character of urbanisation of its context. In this very preliminary presentation of the results of our research, we present descriptive accounts of each area and of the character of environmentalism therein before focusing on the local campaigns against the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. We conclude by venturing some generalisations about the reasons for the different character of environmental activism in each location.