Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diversity of Moraxella spp. strains recovered from infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis cases in Uruguay.

BACKGROUND Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) is the most common ocular disease that affects cattle throughout the world and it has a very significant economic impact. IBK is caused by members of the genus Moraxella and therapeutic and preventive measures have shown limited success. Vaccines, most of them chemically inactivated bacterins, generally induce a limited protection. METHODOLOGY In this study, the genetic diversity of Uruguayan clinical Moraxella bovis and Moraxella bovoculi isolates was assessed by RAPD-PCR, ERIC-PCR and BOX-PCR fingerprinting. Also, antibiotic resistance of the Moraxella spp. isolates was assessed utilizing the disk diffusion method. RESULTS When interspecific molecular diversity was assessed, different bands patterns were observed even within a single outbreak of IBK, showing the coexistence of different genotypes of Moraxella spp. The high genetic diversity within M. bovis and M. bovoculi isolates did not permit to correlate isolates DNA fingerprints with geographical origins, dates or even with both different Moraxella species. Antibiotics resistance patterns showed significant differences between M. bovis and M. bovoculi. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study of diversity that includes M. bovis and M. bovoculi associated to IBK cases. Genetic diversity did not allow to correlate DNA fingerprints of the isolates with geographical origins, isolation dates or even both different Moraxella species. Antibiotics resistance patterns showed differences between M. bovis and M. bovoculi. This remarkable variation within isolates could explain the partial protection induced by commercial vaccines. All these findings could be important for the design of prevention or treatment strategies against IBK.
Empirical Patterns of Firm Growth and R&D Investment: A Quality Ladder Model Interpretation

We present a model of endogenous firm growth with R&D investment and innovation as the engine of growth. The objective of our analysis is to present a framework that can be used for microeconometric analysis of firm performance in high-tech industries. The model for firm growth is a partial equilibrium model drawing on the quality ladder models in the macro growth literature, but also on the literature on patent races and the discrete choice models of product differentiation. We examine to what extent the assumptions and the empirical content of our model are consistent with the findings that have emerged from empirical studies of growth, productivity, R&D and patenting at the firm level. The analysis shows that the model fits well empirical patterns such as (i) a skewed size distribution of firms with persistent differences in firm sizes, (ii) firm growth (roughly) independent of firm size (the so-called Gibrat's law) and (iii) R&D investment proportional to sales, as well as a number of other empirical patterns.
Exploring the relationship between patterns of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and cardiometabolic health in middle-aged Irish adults

1 AUTHOR DECLARATION. 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 6 LIST OF FIGURES. 12 LIST OF TABLES. 13 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS. 15 CHAPTER ONE – BACKGROUND Problem. 18 Relevance to Public Health. 20 Gap in the Research. 20 Thesis Structure. 22 Novelty of Research. 23 Aims and Objectives. 24 CHAPTER TWO – INTRODUCTION History and Epidemiology of Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity 26 Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Definitions. 26 History of Physical Activity. 27 Physical Behaviour Measurements. 28 Self-reported Measurements of Physical Behaviour Questionnaires. 29 Reliability and Validity of the IPAQ-SF . 30 Strengths and Limitations of the IPAQ-SF. 31
Gradient Descent Only Converges to Minimizers: Non-Isolated Critical Points and Invariant Regions

Given a non-convex twice differentiable cost function f , we prove that the set of initial conditions so that gradient descent converges to saddle points where ∇f has at least one strictly negative eigenvalue has (Lebesgue) measure zero, even for cost functions f with non-isolated critical points, answering an open question in [12]. Moreover, this result extends to forward-invariant convex subspaces, allowing for weak (non-globally Lipschitz) smoothness assumptions. Finally, we produce an upper bound on the allowable step-size.
Soil seed banks, habitat heterogeneity, and regeneration strategies in a Mediterranean coastal sand dune

This study investigated the effects of microhabitat characteristics on soil seed bank structure, regeneration strategies, and plant composition in a Mediterranean coastal sand dune in Israel. Three different microhabitats were selected: (a) open patches between shrubs, (b) shrub understorey, and (c) open, disturbed patches in pedestrian trails. In each microhabitat two types of sampling plots were established: (a) seedling removal and (b) control (seedlings not removed). Emerging seedlings in each microhabitat were identified, counted, and removed every two weeks. In the controls, the vegetation was sampled only once at the peak of the herbaceous growing season. At the end of the growing season in plots where seedlings were removed, the upper soil was collected and sieved before seeds set. Viable non-germinated seeds were identified and counted. An estimation of persistent seed banks was obtained for each plot. Species composition, species richness, species diversity, and aboveground biomass by species were estimated. Germination fractions among species and plant functional groups were measured. Microhabitats differed in soil seed bank density, germination characteristics, above-ground biomass production, and species composition. The open patches between shrubs generally had the highest densities of seeds, seedlings, and mature individual herbaceous plants. Important density differences between total seedlings removed and mature vegetation may indicate strong plant mortality in all microhabitats. Annual and perennial grasses, composites, annual crucifers, and annual forbs produced transient seed banks, while legumes, umbelifers, and perennial forbs had persistent seed banks. Disturbance by public trampling in trails led to low seed and plant densities in this microhabitat. No effects of facilitation of shrubs on the annual vegetation were noted in shub understorey. Habitat heterogeneity had a strong impact on vegetation structure and regeneration strategies.
A Model of Knower-Level Behavior in Number Concept Development

We develop and evaluate a model of behavior on the Give-N task, a commonly-used measure of young children's number knowledge. Our model uses the knower-level theory of how children represent numbers. To produce behavior on the Give-N task, the model assumes children start out with a base-rate that make some answers more likely a priori than others, but is updated on each experimental trial in a way that depends on the interaction between the experimenter's request and the child's knower-level. We formalize this process as a generative graphical model, so that the parameters-including the base-rate distribution and each child's knower-level-can be inferred from data using Bayesian methods. Using this approach, we evaluate the model on previously published data from 82 children spanning the whole developmental range. The model provides an excellent fit to these data, and the inferences about the base-rate and knower-levels are interpretable and insightful. We discuss how our modeling approach can be extended to other developmental tasks, and can be used to help evaluate alternative theories of number representation against the knower-level theory.
Saturation at low x and nonlinear evolution

In this talk the results of the analytical and numerical analysis of the nonlinear Balitsky-Kovchegov equation are presented. The characteristic BFKL diffusion into infrared regime is suppressed by the generation of the saturation scale. We identify the scaling and linear regimes for the solution. We also study the impact of subleading corrections onto the nonlinear evolution.
KELVIN–HELMHOLTZ INSTABILITIES AT THE SLOSHING COLD FRONTS IN THE VIRGO CLUSTER AS A MEASURE FOR THE EFFECTIVE INTRACLUSTER MEDIUM VISCOSITY

Sloshing cold fronts (CFs) arise from minor merger triggered gas sloshing. Their detailed structure depends on the properties of the intracluster medium (ICM): hydrodynamical simulations predict the CFs to be distorted by Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities (KHIs), but aligned magnetic fields, viscosity, or thermal conduction can suppress the KHIs. Thus, observing the detailed structure of sloshing CFs can be used to constrain these ICM properties. Both smooth and distorted sloshing CFs have been observed, indicating that the KHI is suppressed in some clusters, but not in all. Consequently, we need to address at least some sloshing clusters individually before drawing general conclusions about the ICM properties. We present the first detailed attempt to constrain the ICM properties in a specific cluster from the structure of its sloshing CF. Proximity and brightness make the Virgo Cluster an ideal target. We combine observations and Virgo-specific hydrodynamical sloshing simulations. Here, we focus on a Spitzer-like temperature-dependent viscosity as a mechanism to suppress the KHI, but discuss the alternative mechanisms in detail. We identify the CF at 90 kpc north and northeast of the Virgo center as the best location in the cluster to observe a possible KHI suppression. For viscosities ≳ 10% of the Spitzer value KHIs at this CF are suppressed. We describe in detail the observable signatures at low and high viscosities, i.e., in the presence or the absence of KHIs. We find indications for a low ICM viscosity in archival XMM-Newton data and demonstrate the detectability of the predicted features in deep Chandra observations.
Impact of Next Generation Sequencing Techniques in Food Microbiology

Understanding the Maxam-Gilbert and Sanger sequencing as the first generation, in recent years there has been an explosion of newly-developed sequencing strategies, which are usually referred to as next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques. NGS techniques have high-throughputs and produce thousands or even millions of sequences at the same time. These sequences allow for the accurate identification of microbial taxa, including uncultivable organisms and those present in small numbers. In specific applications, NGS provides a complete inventory of all microbial operons and genes present or being expressed under different study conditions. NGS techniques are revolutionizing the field of microbial ecology and have recently been used to examine several food ecosystems. After a short introduction to the most common NGS systems and platforms, this review addresses how NGS techniques have been employed in the study of food microbiota and food fermentations, and discusses their limits and perspectives. The most important findings are reviewed, including those made in the study of the microbiota of milk, fermented dairy products, and plant-, meat- and fish-derived fermented foods. The knowledge that can be gained on microbial diversity, population structure and population dynamics via the use of these technologies could be vital in improving the monitoring and manipulation of foods and fermented food products. They should also improve their safety.
Knowledge and Awareness of Age Related Eye Diseases: a Population-Based Survey

Purpose To determine general awareness and knowledge about cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy (DR), as common avoidable causes of blindness in an Iranian population. Methods This cross-sectional population-based survey was performed on residents over 45 years of age in Tehran. The sampling frame was the list of all landline phone numbers registered by the Telecommunications Center of Iran, through which systematic random sampling was performed. Data was collected by phone-call interviews and completing a semi-structured questionnaire. Awareness was defined as whether the respondent had ever heard of the disease. Knowledge was assessed by realizing different aspects of each disease. Results Of a total of 1,084 eligible people including 574 (52.9%) women and 510 (47.1%) men were included and 957 subjects (response rate, 88.3%) completed the interview. Awareness regarding glaucoma, cataract and DR was 46.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]:43.4 -49.8%), 82.9% (95% CI: 80.5 -85.3%) and 86.2% (95% CI: 84-88.4%). In addition, 19.2% (95% CI: 16.7 -21.7%), 57.3% (95% CI: 54.2-60.4%) and 72% (95% CI: 69.2 -74.8%) of respondents could give at least a basic definition of the mentioned diseases, respectively. Only 22.6% (95% CI: 20-25.2%) and 41.6% (95% CI: 38.5-44.7%) realized glaucoma and DR as a treatable condition; in contrast, 77.2% (95% CI: 74.5-79.9%) categorized cataract as treatable. Only 19% and 7.1% knew that DR and glaucoma may commence without any apparent symptoms. Conclusion Compared with cataract and DR, most participants had limited information about glaucoma. In addition, few of the respondents were familiar with the initial symptoms of DR and glaucoma.
Obscuration in Extremely Luminous Quasars

The SEDs and IR spectra of a remarkable sample of obscured AGNs selected in the MIR are modeled with recent clumpy torus models. The sample contains 21 AGNs at z = 1.3–3 discovered in the largest Spitzer surveys (SWIRE, NDWFS, and FLS) by means of their extremely red IR to optical colors. All sources show the 9.7 μm silicate feature in absorption and have extreme MIR luminosities [L(6 μ m) ≃ 1046 ergs s−1]. The IR SEDs and spectra of 12 sources are well reproduced with a simple torus model, while the remaining nine sources require foreground extinction from a cold dust component to reproduce both the depth of the silicate feature and the NIR emission from hot dust. The best-fit torus models show a broad range of inclinations. Based on the unobscured QSO MIR luminosity function (Brown and coworkers) and on a color-selected sample of AGNs, we estimate the surface densities of obscured and unobscured QSOs with L(6 μ m) > 1012 L☉ and z = 1.3–3.0 to be about 17-22 and 11.7 deg−2, respectively. Overall we find that ~35%-41% of luminous QSOs are unobscured, 37%-40% are obscured by the torus, and 23%-25% are obscured by a cold absorber detached from the torus. These fractions are consistent with a decrease of the torus covering fraction at large luminosities as predicted by receding torus models. An FIR component is observed in eight objects with luminosity greater than 3.3 × 1012 L☉, implying SFRs of 600–3000 M☉ yr −1. In the whole sample, the average contribution from a starburst component to the bolometric luminosity, as estimated from the PAH 7.7 μm luminosity in the composite IR spectra, is ≤20% of the total bolometric luminosity.
Lower Urinary Tract Urological Abnormalities and Urodynamic Findings of Physiological Urinary Incontinence Versus Non-mono Symptomatic Nocturnal Enuresis in Children

Background: Although 98% of children attain daytime bladder control by three years of age, urinary incontinence is regarded physiological up to the fifth year of life. Objectives: This study aimed to assess whether lower urinary tract urological abnormalities and abnormal urodynamic findings are infrequent in children with physiological urinary incontinence in contrast to those with non-monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (NMNE). Patients and Methods: During a three-year period (2007-2009), 66 neurologically normal children including 51 children (34 girls, 17 boys) older than five years of age with NMNE and intermittent daytime incontinence, and 15 children with physiological urinary incontinence (eight girls and seven boys) aged four to five years of age without any known urological abnormalities were enrolled in the study. Patients with neurologic deficits or known urological anomalies were excluded from the study. Kidney-bladder ultrasonography, voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), and urodynamic studies were performed to evaluate the anatomy of urinary tract and bladder function. Results: Urinary tract infection was found in 23 (34.8%) children, 17 (33.3%) and 6 (40%) patients with NMNE and physiological urinary incontinence, respectively. Out of 48 patients who underwent VCUG, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) was found in seven and eight children younger and older than five years of age, respectively. Abnormal urodynamic findings were reported in 5 (62.5%) of eight children younger than five-year-old, and 14 (63.6%) of 22 patients older than 5-year-old. Conclusions: VUR might be more frequent in children with physiological urinary incontinence than the normal population, and might be as common as NMNE with intermittent daytime incontinence.
Steering Through Sequential Linear Path Segments

The steering law models human motor performance and has been verified to hold for a single linear and/or circular path. Some extensions investigated steering around corners. Yet, little is known about human performance in navigating joined linear paths, i.e., successions of path segments with different widths. Such operations appear in graphical user interface tasks, including lasso operations in illustration software. In this work, we conducted several experiments involving joined paths. The results show that users significantly changed their behavior, and that this strategy change can be predicted beforehand. A simple model summing the two indexes of difficulty (IDs) for each path predicts movement time well, but more sophisticated models were also evaluated. The best model in terms of both of R2 and AIC values includes the ID of the crossing operation to enter the second path.
Teachers Can Untangle the Truth from Myth in the Classroom: Using an Interdisciplinary Approach to â€œDeveloping the Brain.â€ An Application of Deans for Impact (2015)

An interdisciplinary partnership between cognitive scientists, neuroscientists, college professors, and professional educators conducting research and implementing best practices in the classroom may potentially enhance the science of developing and nurturing the brain, the science of learning. Â This article discussed three practical implications: (a) understanding and teaching with learning differences in mind; (b) recognizing student interest and motivation; and (c) assessing and building prior knowledge to influence positive outcomes. In conclusion, examples of current cohort model research and opportunities for collaboration between neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, and classroom teachers are highlighted.
Analysis of QoS Parameters for Energy Efficient Routing in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are required to provide energy efficiency and different level of Quality of Service (QoS) based on the type of applications. Due to resource constraints like memory, power sources, bandwidth and processing power in WSNs, the energy efficient routing and QoS support becomes an important issue. In this paper we propose Analysis of QoS Parameters for Energy Efficient Routing protocol (we shortly named as AQSER) that maximize the network lifetime through traffic balancing across multiple nodes. AQSER differentiates Real Time (RT) and NonReal Time (NRT) traffic to allow high important traffic to reach destination within acceptable delay reduces average end-to-end delay by sending traffics over multiple paths and increases the throughput through introducing error correction code. AQSER uses the residual energy, buffer size, Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), Packet Reception Ratio (PRR), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Required Number of Packets retransmission (RNP) and Average Probability of Packet Reception (APPR) to predict the best next hop through the paths construction phase. Based on the concept of service differentiation the AQSER protocol uses queuing model to handle both real time and non-real time traffic. Protocol dynamically changes the node in case of node failure while sending the data on the paths and decreases the energy consumption in case of node failure by means increase the lifetime of the network. By means of computer simulations, we have evaluated and studied the performance of our routing protocol and compared it with another protocol. Simulation results have shown that our protocol achieves lower average delay and energy consumption and increases packet delivery ratio then other protocol. KeywordsEnergy Efficiency, Error Correction, Multipath Routing, Quality of Service, Wireless Sensor Networks.
Waiting Time for Coronal Preparation and the Influence of Different Cements on Tensile Strength of Metal Posts

This study aimed to assess the effect of post-cementation waiting time for core preparation of cemented cast posts and cores had on retention in the root canal, using two different luting materials. Sixty extracted human canines were sectioned 16 mm from the root apex. After cast nickel-chromium metal posts and cores were fabricated and luted with zinc phosphate (ZP) cement or resin cement (RC), the specimens were divided into 3 groups (n = 10) according to the waiting time for core preparation: no preparation (control), 15 minutes, or 1 week after the core cementation. At the appropriate time, the specimens were subjected to a tensile load test (0.5 mm/min) until failure. Two-way ANOVA (time versus cement) and the Tukey tests (P < 0.05) showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) tensile strength values for the ZP cement groups than for the RC groups. Core preparation and post-cementation waiting time for core recontouring did not influence the retention strength. ZP was the best material for intraradicular metal post cementation.
Applying the Repgrid Technique to Resolve Cognitive Conflicts Among Experts During Knowledge Capture

There is an urgent need to understand and resolve conflict that may occur among multiple experts during the knowledge acquisition process so that it remains less of a "bottleneck". Our study addresses this need by examining the effectiveness of the repertory grid technique (Repgrid) in resolving cognitive conflicts among multiple experts in virtual teams during the process of knowledge capture. While the main study is ongoing, we present preliminary results from the pilot study conducted using real world experts. The results indicate that Repgrid technique is an effective technique in achieving consensus
A DC-DC Converter Efficiency Model for System Level Analysis in Ultra Low Power Applications

This paper presents a model of inductor based DC-DC converters that can be used to study the impact of power management techniques such as dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS). System level power models of low power systems on chip (SoCs) and power management strategies cannot be correctly established without accounting for the associated overhead related to the DC-DC converters that provide regulated power to the system. The proposed model accurately predicts the efficiency of inductor based DC-DC converters with varying topologies and control schemes across a range of output voltage and current loads. It also accounts for the energy and timing overhead associated with the change in the operating condition of the regulator. Since modern SoCs employ power management techniques that vary the voltage and current loads seen by the converter, accurate modeling of the impact on the converter efficiency becomes critical. We use this model to compute the overall cost of two power distribution strategies for a SoC with multiple voltage islands. The proposed model helps us to obtain the energy benefits of a power management technique and can also be used as a basis for comparison between power management techniques or as a tool for design space exploration early in a SoC design cycle.