Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deep neural networks: a new framework for modelling biological vision and brain information processing

Recent advances in neural network modelling have enabled major strides in computer vision and other artificial intelligence applications. Human-level visual recognition abilities are coming within reach of artificial systems. Artificial neural networks are inspired by the brain and their computations could be implemented in biological neurons. Convolutional feedforward networks, which now dominate computer vision, take further inspiration from the architecture of the primate visual hierarchy. However, the current models are designed with engineering goals and not to model brain computations. Nevertheless, initial studies comparing internal representations between these models and primate brains find surprisingly similar representational spaces. With human-level performance no longer out of reach, we are entering an exciting new era, in which we will be able to build neurobiologically faithful feedforward and recurrent computational models of how biological brains perform high-level feats of intelligence, including vision.
Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning

This series is introduced by the International Association for Knowledge Management (www.IAKM.net) with an aim to offer advanced peer-reviewed reference books to researchers, practitioners and students in the field of knowledge management in organizations. Both discussions of new theories and advances in the field, as well as reviews of the state-of-the art will be featured regularly. Particularly, the books will be open to these contributions: Reviews of the state-of-the art (i.e. syntheses of recent studies on a topic, classifications and discussions of theories, approaches and methods, etc.) that can both serve as a reference and allow opening new horizons Discussions on new theories and methods of scientific research in organisational knowledge management Critical reviews of empirical evidence and empirical validations of theories Contributions that build a bridge between the various disciplines and fields that converge towards knowledge management (i.e.: computer science, cognitive sciences, economics, other management fields, etc.) and propose the development of a common background of notions, concepts and scientific methods Surveys of new practical methods that can inspire practitioners and researchers in their applications of knowledge management methods in companies and public services
Assessment of the Immune Status and DNA Damage in Goats with Experimentally- Induced Hypocuprosis

This study was carried out on 16 adult castrated male Baladi goats with age ranged from 1-1.5 years old and weight range of 19±0.82 kg to investigate the biological role of copper deficiency on the modification of immune status and induction of DNA damage. They were randomized into two groups. The first group (six goats) were apparently healthy and kept as control group, whereas the second group (ten goats) were subjected to experimental induction of secondary copper deficiency by dietary addition of Molybdenum ( MO; 10- 40 mg/kg DM) and Sulpher (S; 1.5-3 g / Kg dry matter) daily for 24 weeks. Blood samples were collected without anti-coagulant every six weeks for determination of serum copper and ceruloplasmin activity. Heparinized blood samples were used for assessment of immune status, DNA damage and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD). Results showed significant decrease (P<0.05) in serum copper, ceruloplasmin and erythrocyte SOD activity starting from 6 weeks to 24 weeks after addition of Mo and S. Goats with experimentally-induced copper deficiency have low serum neutralization antibody index (0.5±0.1) against inactivated rift valley fever vaccine which did not reach the protective antibody level (1.7) compared to that of the apparently healthy control group (1.81 ±0.05) which exceeded the protective value. Lymphocyte blastogenesis response of copper deficient goats was decreased although non significantly in comparison with the apparently healthy control group. The results also showed that copper deficiency caused marked increase in the % of DNA fragmentation of blood cells in goats with experimentally-induced copper deficiency compared to the apparently healthy control group. Goats with experimentally-induced copper deficiency have DNA fragmentation as detected by gel electrophoresis and the DNA ladder represented a series of fragments that is multiples of 180–200 bp. Our findings suggest a significant role of copper deficiency in modulation of immune status and induction of DNA damage and cell apoptosis in goats. Hence, copper level should be strictly considered during formulation of rations in farm animal production practice.
Interaction of Leptospira Elongation Factor Tu with Plasminogen and Complement Factor H: A Metabolic Leptospiral Protein with Moonlighting Activities

The elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu), an abundant bacterial protein involved in protein synthesis, has been shown to display moonlighting activities. Known to perform more than one function at different times or in different places, it is found in several subcellular locations in a single organism, and may serve as a virulence factor in a range of important human pathogens. Here we demonstrate that Leptospira EF-Tu is surface-exposed and performs additional roles as a cell-surface receptor for host plasma proteins. It binds plasminogen in a dose-dependent manner, and lysine residues are critical for this interaction. Bound plasminogen is converted to active plasmin, which, in turn, is able to cleave the natural substrates C3b and fibrinogen. Leptospira EF-Tu also acquires the complement regulator Factor H (FH). FH bound to immobilized EF-Tu displays cofactor activity, mediating C3b degradation by Factor I (FI). In this manner, EF-Tu may contribute to leptospiral tissue invasion and complement inactivation. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a leptospiral protein exhibiting moonlighting activities.
Bank lending and relationship capital

I develop a general equilibrium theory of bank lending relationships in an economy subject to search frictions and limited enforceability. The model features a dynamic contracting problem embedded within a directed search equilibrium with aggregate and bank-specific uncertainty. The interaction between search and agency frictions generates a slow accumulation of lending relationship capital and distorts the optimal allocation of credit along both intensive and extensive margins. A crisis characterized by a sizable destruction of lending relationships therefore leads to a significant contraction in credit and a slow recovery, consistent with the Great Recession. I calibrate the model to study aggregate and cross-sectional implications and analyze policies aimed at reviving bank lending. JEL Classification: D86; E02; E22; G01; G21; G28; L26.
Early marriage, poor reproductive health status of mother and child well-being in India

Background and methodology Early marriage, women's poor reproductive health and child well-being are important areas of concern, especially in developing countries like India. Data from the third wave of National Family Health Survey (NFHS, 2005–2006) was used to examine the effects of early marriage on the reproductive health status of women and on the well-being of their children. Bivariate analyses, multiple linear regression and logistic regression were used for analyses. Results The results show that early age at marriage had detrimental effects on the reproductive health status of women. Women married at an early age were exposed to frequent childbearing, unplanned motherhood and abortions, which negatively affected their nutritional status. Children born to mothers with poor reproductive health had lower chances of survival and a higher likelihood of anthropometric failure (i.e. stunting, wasting and underweight). Discussion and conclusions Programmes should focus on delaying entry of adolescents into wedlock and motherhood through information, education and communication. More emphasis needs to be put on meeting the reproductive needs of poor adolescent mothers, and improving the nutritional status of their children, to break the vicious circle of poor reproductive health and poverty.
Heterogeneity of Genetic Pathways toward Daptomycin Nonsusceptibility in Staphylococcus aureus Determined by Adjunctive Antibiotics

ABSTRACT Daptomycin is increasingly used in combination with other antibiotics to enhance antimicrobial efficacy and/or to mitigate the emergence of daptomycin nonsusceptibility (DNS). This study used a clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain in which DNS emerged upon therapy to examine the influence of antibiotic combinations on the development of mutations in specific genes (mprF, rpoBC, dltA, cls2, and yycFG) previously associated with DNS. Whole genomes of bacteria obtained following 28 days of in vitro exposure to daptomycin with or without adjunctive clarithromycin, linezolid, oxacillin, or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were sequenced, and the sequences were compared to that of the progenitor isolate. The addition of oxacillin to medium containing daptomycin prevented the emergence of mprF mutation but did not prevent rpoBC mutation (P < 0.01). These isolates maintained susceptibility to daptomycin during the combined exposure (median MIC, 1 mg/liter). Daptomycin plus clarithromycin or linezolid resulted in low-level (1.5 to 8 mg/liter) and high-level (12 to 96 mg/liter) DNS, respectively, and did not prevent mprF mutation. However, these same combinations prevented rpoBC mutation. Daptomycin alone or combined with linezolid or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resulted in high-level DNS and mutations in mprF plus rpoBC, cls2, and yycFG. Combining daptomycin with different antimicrobials alters the mutational space available for DNS development, thereby favoring the development of predictable collateral susceptibilities.
An HMM-based speech synthesis system applied to English

This paper describes an HMM-based speech synthesis system (HTS), in which the speech waveform is generated from HMM themselves, and applies it to English speech synthesis using the general speech synthesis architecture of Festival. Similarly to other data-driven speech synthesis approaches, HTS has a compact language dependent module: a list of contextual factors. Thus, it could easily be extended to other languages, though the first version of HTS was implemented for Japanese. The resulting run-time engine of HTS has the advantage of being small: less than 1 Mbyte, excluding text analysis part. Furthermore, HTS can easily change voice characteristics of synthesized speech by using a speaker adaptation technique developed for speech recognition. The relation between the HMM-based approach and other unit selection approaches is also discussed.
Intracellular calcium concentration of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells is decreased by the overexpression of PnNOS gene in adipose tissue‐derived stem cells

The study investigated the effects of adipose tissue‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) modified with penile neuronal nitric oxide synthase (PnNOS) gene on intracellular calcium concentration in rat corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs). ADSCs and CCSMCs of Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were isolated and cultured in vitro respectively. The rat PnNOS gene was transferred into the ADSCs mediated by a recombinant adenovirus vector. The expression of the PnNOS gene was detected. At the same time, the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) was assayed. After coculturing with the CCSMCs of SD rats, which were isolated and expanded ex vivo, the cGMP and NO levels of ADSCs and CCSMCs were measured. Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in rat CCSMCs was measured with Fluo‐3/AM by flow cytometer after cocultured with ADSCs overexpressing PnNOS gene. The mRNA and protein expression of PnNOS gene mediated by recombinant adenovirus vector significantly overexpressed and lasted at least 2 weeks. Meanwhile, the concentration of NO and cGMP in ADSCs was greatly increased. The concentration of cGMP was significantly increased, and [Ca2+]i was obviously decreased in CCSMCs compared with the control groups (P < 0.05) after cocultured with ADSCs for 3 days. These findings demonstrated that ADSCs overexpressing PnNOS gene might decrease [Ca2+]i in CCSMCs by up‐regulating NO–cGMP signalling pathway.
Why So Many Local Entrepreneurs?

We document that the fraction of entrepreneurs working in the region where they were born is significantly higher than the corresponding fraction for dependent workers. This is more pronounced in more developed regions and positively related to the degree of local financial development. Firms created by locals are bigger, operate with more capital-intensive technologies, and obtain greater financing per unit of capital invested, than firms created by nonlocals. This suggests that there are so many local entrepreneurs because locals can better exploit the financial opportunities available in the region where they were born. This helps to explain how local financial development causes persistent disparities in entrepreneurial activity, technology, and income.
Overexpression of CHD1L is positively associated with metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma and predicts patients poor survival

CHD1L (chromodomain helicase/ATPase DNA binding protein 1-like gene) has been demonstrated as an oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, the role of CHD1L in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumorigenesis hasn't been elucidated. In this study, the expression and amplification status of CHD1L were examined by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization respectively in 248 surgically resected NSCLCs. The associations between CHD1L expression and clinicopathologic features and the prognostic value of CHD1L were analyzed. Overexpression and amplification of CHD1L was found in 42.1% and 17.7% of NSCLCs, respectively. The frequency of CHD1L overexpression (53.2% vs. 28.1%, P = 0.002) and amplification (25.2% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.020) in adenocarcinoma (ADC), was much higher than that in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). CHD1L overexpression was associated closely with ascending pN status (P < 0.001), advanced clinical stage (P = 0.001) and tumor distant metastasis (P = 0.001) in ADCs, but not in SCCs. For the whole cohort and ADC patients, univariate survival analysis demonstrated a significant association of CHD1L overexpression with shortened survival; and in multivariate analysis, CHD1L overexpression was evaluated as a independent predictor for overall survival and distant metastasis free survival. These results suggested that overexpression of CHD1L is positively associated with tumor metastasis of lung ADC, and might serve as a novel prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for lung ADC patients.
Phytochemical Screening and contractile activity of Foeniculum vulgare seeds on rat intestinal and uterine muscles

Foeniculum vulgare, commonly known as fennel is one of the commonest herbs used in traditional medicine. It is used to treat various ailments such as intestinal and uterine pain. There is no study had been done on the contractile activity of F. vulgare. This study was carried out to attempt the contractile activity of F. vulgare seeds extract on the intestinal and uterine muscles. The ethanolic extract of F. vulgare seeds were tested in vitro using the isolated tissue technique. The results showed that, the small doses of the of F. vulgare seeds extract caused an increase in the uterus muscle contractility of the wister rat, while the higher doses caused a relaxant effect. No significant effect had been seen on the ileal muscle contractility.
[Evaluation of bacterial colonization of the conjunctival sac in ranibizumab intravitreal injections treated patients].

AIM To establish the conjunctival sac bacterial flora structure in patients with wet form of the age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) indicated for the intravitreal application of Ranibizumab (Lucentis, Novartis Pharma AG). To evaluate the efficacy of combined local preparation with broad-spectrum antibiotic moxifloxacine 0.5% (Vigamox, Alcon) and povidone iodine solution, 5% (Betadine, Egis Pharmaceuticals, LTD.) and to evaluate subjective toleration of moxifloxacin. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a prospective, non-randomized study were evaluated 20 eyes of 20 patients treated by means of intravitreally-applied ranibizumab. In all patients, the swabs from the conjunctival sac of the treated eye were repeatedly taken in a given time-schedule--before the start of using moxifloxacin, on the day of the intravitreal application of ranibizumab--before the irrigation of the conjunctival sac with povidone iodine solution, 5%, further after the irrigation--immediately before the injection and the control was token three days after the intravitreal injection. At the same time, the moxifloxacine toleration was evaluated by a questionnaire. RESULTS The samples taken from the conjunctival sac of the treated eye before the application of moxifloxacine had positive bacterial culture in 17 eyes (85%) and negative culture in 3 eyes (15 %). Furthermore, in 2 eyes with positive culture, there was established resistance to moxifloxacine. After 3 days of moxifloxacine application, there was negative culture in 13 eyes (65%), in 7 eyes (35%) was the bacterial cultivation positive. After the irrigation with povidone iodine 5% solution was the cultivation negative in 17 eyes (85%), positive cultivation was in 3 eyes (15%); in all three cases, the cultures were susceptible to moxifloxacine. Three days after the intravitreal injection, the negative cultivation from the conjunctival sac was found in 13 eyes (65%), and in 7 eyes was the cultivation positive; the cultivated bacteria were moxifloxacine susceptible. Subjective symptoms after moxifloxacine application were reported by 10 patients altogether; 5 patients were without symptoms and 5 patients did not return the questionnaire. On average, the symptoms started the second day of moxifloxacine treatment and the average grade of symptoms was 1.6 on the scale from 0 to 5. CONCLUSION In our group we found a broad spectrum of microorganisms colonizing the conjunctival sac of patients indicated to the ARMD intravitreal treatment. After the prophylaxis with moxifloxacine, the incidence of positive bacterial cultivation decreased and the povidone iodine 5% solution irrigation this effect increased. The most common pathogen species was Staphylococcus coagulasis negative. Although the resistance to moxifloxacine in two different bacteria in two eyes in the beginning of observation was established, after moxifloxacine treatment, the cultivation of these bacteria in both eyes was negative, and in all other cases the cultivated bacteria were susceptible to moxifloxacine.
Socioeconomic status and cancer survival in Ontario.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE It is known that the socioeconomic status (SES) of the patient is associated with cancer survival in the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the association between SES and survival is also present in Canada, a society with a comprehensive, universal, health insurance program. METHODS A population-based cancer registry was used to identify the 357,530 cases of invasive cancer diagnosed in the Canadian province of Ontario between 1982 and 1991. Information from the 1986 Canadian census was linked to the registry and used to describe the SES of the area in which each patient resided. Cox regression was used to describe the association between median household income and survival while controlling for age, sex, and the region in which the patient resided. The Cox model was fitted in a competing risk framework to assess the association between income and the probability of specific causes of death. RESULTS Lung cancer and cancers of the head and neck region were relatively more common in poor-income communities, and cancers of the breast, CNS, and testis were relatively more common in richer communities. A strong and statistically significant association between community income and survival was observed in cancers of the head and neck region, cervix, uterus, breast, prostate, bladder, and esophagus. Smaller, but significant associations were seen in cancers of the lung and rectum. No significant association between community income and survival was observed in cancers of the stomach, colon, pancreas, or ovary. Analysis of the cause of death showed that community income is associated both with the probability of death from cancer and with the probability of death from other causes. CONCLUSION Although Canada's health care system was designed to provide equitable access to equivalent standards of care, it does not prevent a difference in cancer survival between rich and poor communities.
MIMO multichannel beamforming: SER and outage using new eigenvalue distributions of complex noncentral Wishart matrices

This paper analyzes MIMO systems with multichannel beamforming in Ricean fading. Our results apply to a wide class of multichannel systems which transmit on the eigenmodes of the MIMO channel. We first present new closed-form expressions for the marginal ordered eigenvalue distributions of complex noncentral Wishart matrices. These are used to characterize the statistics of the signal to noise ratio (SNR) on each eigenmode. Based on this, we present exact symbol error rate (SER) expressions. We also derive closed-form expressions for the diversity order, array gain, and outage probability. We show that the global SER performance is dominated by the subchannel corresponding to the minimum channel singular value. We also show that, at low outage levels, the outage probability varies inversely with the Ricean A*-factor for cases where transmission is only on the most dominant subchannel (i.e. a singlechannel beamforming system). Numerical results are presented to validate the theoretical analysis.
Variation of human papillomavirus type 6 (HPV-6) and HPV-11 genomes sampled throughout the world

We examined the genomic diversity of human papillomavirus type 6 (HPV-6) and HPV-11 isolates from different parts of the world by comparing the nucleotide sequences of part of the long control region of three reference clones and 62 HPV-6 and 40 HPV-11 isolates from Africa, Europe, Asia, and North and South America. The genomic sequence of the HPV-6b reference type had to be amended by inclusion of a 94-bp segment, which is also present with minor differences in HPV-6a. Aside from two small inserts typical of all variants related to HPV-6a and three inserts found in HPV-11 variants, no major alterations to the size of the long control regions of these viruses were observed. This corrects the previous impression that these two HPV types are highly polymorphic. Altogether, 19 HPV-6 and 10 HPV-11 variant genomes could be distinguished, and most of the differences were due to point substitutions. The variants of either type were continuously connected in phylogenetic trees rather than clustered separately into subtype groups. Thirteen mutations, namely, the two HPV-6a inserts and 11 substitutions in HPV-6 or HPV-11 variants, reduced the dissimilarity between the types, but they bridged only a small fraction of the genetic distance between the two types. Genomes more obviously intermediate between HPV-6 and HPV-11 were not found and probably do not exist any more. A single HPV-11 variant was found in Africa, but otherwise, no significant correlations of HPV-6 or HPV-11 variants with geography or ethnicity of the patient cohort were found. Functional analysis of diverse enhancer variants showed activities that differed two-to threefold, and it must be considered that transcriptional differences may alter the biology or pathology of these viruses. Similar variants were found in lesions from anatomically different sites and in both benign and malignant lesions.