Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design Theory in Information Systems

The aim of this paper is to explore an important category of information systems knowledge that is termed “design theory”. This knowledge is distinguished as the fifth of five types of theory: (i) theory for analysing and describing, (ii) theory for understanding, (iii) theory for predicting, (iv) theory for explaining and predicting, and (v) theory for design and action. Examples of design theory in information systems are provided, with associated research methods. The limited understanding and recognition of this type of theory in information systems indicates that further debate concerning its nature and role in our discipline is needed.
Survey of Women's Opinions on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Southeast Nigeria: Study of Patients Attending Antenatal Clinic

Background: Female genital mutilation is known to exist especially in many third world countries including Nigeria with many women being victims of this harmful practice and its complications. The practice is rife in Southeast Nigeria and efforts have been made to discourage it. Objective: To determine women's views on aspects of female genital mutilation and the prevalence among the study population. Method: Women attending the antenatal clinics of two university teaching hospitals in Southeast Nigeria were interviewed by means of structured pre-tested interviewer- administered questionnaires. The data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 10.0 and the results expressed in descriptive statistics as percentages. Results: The prevalence of FGM was 42.1%. However, only 14.3% of the respondents circumcised their own daughters or showed willingness to circumcise their daughters indicating considerable reduction in uptake of the practice. A larger proportion (63.7%) would support legislation against FGM. Conclusion: There is a high opinion against the practice of FGM in Southeast Nigeria, with the majority of the women showing support for legislation against it.
Factors affecting the performance of trainable models for software defect prediction

Context. Reports suggest that defects in code cost the US in excess of $50billion per year to put right. Defect Prediction is an important part of Software Engineering. It allows developers to prioritise the code that needs to be inspected when trying to reduce the number of defects in code. A small change in the number of defects found will have a significant impact on the cost of producing software. Aims. The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the factors which affect the performance of defect prediction models. Identifying the causes of variation in the way that variables are computed should help to improve the precision of defect prediction models and hence improve the cost effectiveness of defect prediction. Methods. This dissertation is by published work. The first three papers examine variation in the independent variables (code metrics) and the dependent variable (number/location of defects). The fourth and fifth papers investigate the effect that different learners and datasets have on the predictive performance of defect prediction models. The final paper investigates the reported use of different machine learning approaches in studies published between 2000 and 2010. Results. The first and second papers show that independent variables are sensitive to the measurement protocol used, this suggests that the way data is collected affects the performance of defect prediction. The third paper shows that dependent variable data may be untrustworthy as there is no reliable method for labelling a unit of code as defective or not. The fourth and fifth papers show that the dataset and learner used when producing defect prediction models have an effect on the performance of the models. The final paper shows that the approaches used by researchers to build defect prediction models is variable, with good practices being ignored in many papers. Conclusions. The measurement protocols for independent and dependent variables used for defect prediction need to be clearly described so that results can be compared like with like. It is possible that the predictive results of one research group have a higher performance value than another research group because of the way that they calculated the metrics rather than the method of building the model used to predict the defect prone modules. The machine learning approaches used by researchers need to be clearly reported in order to be able to improve the quality of defect prediction studies and allow a larger corpus of reliable results to be gathered.
The value of fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis and prognostic assessment of palpable breast lesions

In recent years there appears to be a growing movement toward the use of core needle biopsy (CNB) over fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for the detection of breast carcinoma. This tendency is caused in part by the idea that CNB can provide a more specific or definitive diagnosis as well as the belief that the assessment of prognostic/predictive factor is not possible or reliable on cytologic specimens. At our institution, FNAB of breast has been practiced for over 25 years with excellent cytologic–histological correlation. This practice has been beneficial not only for patients, but also for training physicians since nowadays a very small number of centers in the United States still routinely perform fine needle aspiration as a diagnostic tool in breast cases.
RECORDINGS OF APPLANATING FORCE AT CONSTANT INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE

Facility of outflow of aqueous humour estimated at two Pt‐levels suggests a pressure‐dependence within the eye with a lower facility of outflow at a higher pressure level. A rise in the intraocular pressure by 15 mmHg, before the measurement of the facility of outflow, resulted in larger values. No age‐dependent difference in the facility of outflow between eyes of selected young and elderly subjects with normal ocular tension was found. Nor could any difference be established between subjects with normal ocular tension and those with ocular hypertension. In young subjects accommodation induced an increase in the facility of outflow. Thirty minutes after a single‐dose of pilocarpine, no significant decrease in intraocular pressure, but an increase in facility of outflow was found. Two hours after a single‐dose of acetazolamide, a decrease in intraocular pressure but no significant change in facility of outflow was found.
Repeated Social Stress during Pregnancy Impairs Neuromotor Development of the Primate Infant

Neuromotor responses were assessed in 90 infant squirrel monkeys born from normal and stressed pregnancies. Repeated psychological disturbance during pregnancy, evoked by disruption of the pregnant female's social relationships, significantly altered the performance of the young infant on a standardized battery of neuromotor tests. As compared with infants from undisturbed pregnancies, infants from chronically stressed pregnancies had poorer motor abilities, impaired balance reactions, and reduced postrotary nystagmus. They also had shorter attention spans and looking episodes during the administration of orientation items. In contrast, when only a single stressful period was imposed during midgestation, infants were not significantly different from control subjects. These findings indicate that sustained stress across pregnancy can have deleterious effects on fetal development, but a short period of stress, at least when restricted to midgestation, does not appear to adversely affect neuromotor responses of the young primate infant.
Does early thermal conditioning sometimes fail to improve the resistance of broilers to heat stress

L'acclimatation precoce (TC) qui consiste a exposer des jeunes poussins a 40 °C pendant 24 heures, fait baisser la temperature corporelle (Tb) et ameliore durablement la resistance des poulets de chair a un coup de chaleur. Trois experiences conduites dans un environnement tropical semi-controle evaluent des facteurs de variation de l'efficacite de TC. Par rapport a une source unique de chaleur au gaz pendant TC, l'adjonction d'ampoules infra rouges a diminue la croissance et augmente la consommation pour une meme temperature ambiante (Ta). Quelle que soit la source de chaleur, Tb mesuree a 7 et 40 jours d'âge, etait toujours diminuee par TC (-0,22 °C en moyenne). TC n'a reduit la mortalite pendant un stress thermique apres l'âge de 40 jours que lorsqu'il etait applique avec des eleveuses a gaz au cours de la seconde experience. L'utilisation d'ampoules infra rouges pendant la premiere semaine de vie n'a jamais permis de reduire la mortalite. La troisieme experience demontre l'existence d'une acclimatation tardive lorsque les poulets sont eleves en conditions tropicales naturelles (Ta variant quotidiennement entre 26 et 36 °C) par rapport a des poulets dont la Ta maximale a ete limitee a 31 °C par conditionnement d'air entre 30 et 40jours d'âge. La Tb des poulets eleves en climat tropical naturel etait reduite (-0.16 °C) et ils resistaient a un stress thermique a 38 ± 2 °C a l'âge de 41 jours, alors que 12,6 % des poulets dont l'air etait conditionne mourraient. L'effet de TC sur Tb etait maintenu dans les deux environnements mais aucune difference de mortalite pendant le stress thermique n'etait mesurable. Les irregularites de reponse a TC d'une experience a l'autre proviennent d'une definition imprecise des conditions d'application de TC et des stress thermiques et des conditions environnementales apres TC qui peuvent induire une acclimatation tardive. La Tb etait toujours reduite de maniere durable apres TC mais cette reduction pourrait n'etre pas directement la cause de la resistance aux stress thermiques. En revanche, sur les 525 poulets ayant subit un stress thermique pendant les 3 experiences, 64 % de ceux qui avaient a l'âge de 4 jours (avant l'exposition a TC) une Tb inferieure a 40,8 °C ont survecu au coup de chaleur final contre seulement 47 % des poussins qui avaient une Tb superieure a40,8 °C a 4 jours. La temperature corporelle des poussins nouveau-nes merite des recherches complementaires.
Caractérisation du climat dans quatre terroirs en région soudano-sahélienne du Nord-Cameroun et conséquences pour l'agriculture

Afin de montrer qu'en zone soudano sahelienne du Nord-Cameroun, caracteriser le regime pluviometrique peut permettre d'identifier les principaux aleas dus au climat en culture pluviale, une etude a ete menee dans quatre terroirs. Cette etude, fondee sur des analyses du regime pluviometrique et des analyses frequentielles, a ete faite sur la periode 1970-2000. Il s'en degage que la zone soudano sahelienne du Nord-Cameroun connait quatre grands risques climatiques entrainant des problemes agronomiques: i) une tres grande variabilite de la pluviometrie dans l'espace et dans le temps; ii) une agressivite des pluies et des problemes d'erosion; iii) une mauvaise repartition annuelle de la pluviometrie avec des "trous" pouvant intervenir en juin, juillet ou aout et impliquant des stress hydriques; iv) un risque d'arret precoce des pluies dans la 3eme decade de septembre, entrainant un non bouclage du cycle des cultures semees tardivement. (Resume d'auteur)
Cathepsin K expression and activity in canine osteosarcoma.

BACKGROUND Cathepsin K (CatK) is a lysosomal protease with collagenolytic activity, and its secretion by osteoclasts is responsible for degrading organic bone matrix. People with pathologic bone resorption have higher circulating CatK concentrations. HYPOTHESIS Canine osteosarcoma (OS) cells will possess CatK, and its secretion will be cytokine inducible. Circulating CatK concentrations will be increased in dogs with OS, and will be a surrogate marker of bone resorption. ANIMALS Fifty-one dogs with appendicular OS and 18 age- and weight-matched healthy control dogs. METHODS In a prospective study, expressions of CatK mRNA and protein were investigated in OS cells. The inducible secretion and proteolytic activity of CatK from OS cells was assessed in vitro. Serum CatK concentrations were quantified in normal dogs and dogs with OS and its utility as a bone resorption marker was evaluated in dogs with OS treated with palliative radiation and antiresorptive agents. RESULTS Canine OS cells contain preformed CatK within cytoplasmic vesicles. In OS cells, TGFβ1 induced the secretion of CatK, which degraded bone-derived type I collagen in vitro. CatK concentrations were higher in dogs with OS than healthy dogs (11.3 ± 5.2 pmol/L versus 8.1 ± 5.0 pmol/L, P = .03). In a subset of dogs with OS, pretreatment CatK concentrations gradually decreased after palliative radiation and antiresorptive treatment, from 9.3 ± 3.2 pmol/L to 5.0 ± 3.1 pmol/L, P = . 03. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Canine OS is associated with pathologic bone resorption, and CatK inhibitors might aid in the management of canine OS-related malignant osteolysis.
Identifying Mirror Symmetry Density with Delay in Spiking Neural Networks

The ability to rapidly identify symmetry and anti-symmetry is an essential attribute of intelligence. Symmetry perception is a central process in human vision and may be key to human 3D visualization. While previous work in understanding neuron symmetry perception has concentrated on the neuron as an integrator, here we show how the coincidence detecting property of the spiking neuron can be used to reveal symmetry density in spatial data. We develop a method for synchronizing symmetry-identifying spiking artificial neural networks to enable layering and feedback in the network. We show a method for building a network capable of identifying symmetry density between sets of data and present a digital logic implementation demonstrating an 8x8 leaky-integrate-and-fire symmetry detector in a field programmable gate array. Our results show that the efficiencies of spiking neural networks can be harnessed to rapidly identify symmetry in spatial data with applications in image processing, 3D computer vision, and robotics.
Loss of R2D2 Proteins ROPN1 and ROPN1L Causes Defects in Murine Sperm Motility, Phosphorylation, and Fibrous Sheath Integrity1

ABSTRACT The fibrous sheath (FS) is a flagellar cytoskeletal structure unique to sperm that surrounds the outer dense fibers and axoneme. Its primary components are A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) 3 and 4, which suggests that the FS affects flagellar beating via the scaffolding of signaling pathways necessary for motility. Sperm proteins ROPN1 and ROPN1L bind AKAP3. To determine the role of ROPN1 and ROPN1L in sperm function, we created mice deficient in ROPN1 (RKO), mice deficient in ROPN1L (RLKO), and double knockout mice (DKO). All three strains of mice had normal testicular morphology and spermatogenesis. Only the DKOs had obvious defects in sperm morphology (thinning and shredding of the principal piece), which was accompanied by a reduction in AKAP3 levels. RLKO mice had slightly reduced sperm motility and increased levels of ROPN1. RKO mice had moderately impaired motility and increased levels of ROPN1L. DKO sperm were immotile. We have previously determined that RKO male mice are subfertile, and DKO males are infertile. Together these data indicate that ROPN1L and ROPN1 compensate for each other in the absence of the opposing protein, possibly to maintain AKAP3 incorporation in the FS. Sperm from mice lacking ROPN1L exhibited reductions in both cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) phosphorylation of a 270-kDa protein (perhaps FSCB), and in capacitation-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Sperm from mice lacking ROPN1 had reduced levels of FSCB and increased tyrosine phosphorylation of noncapacitated sperm. These data demonstrate that mutations in ROPN1 and ROPN1L can cause defects in FS integrity, sperm motility, and PKA-dependent signaling processes, leading to male infertility.
Reactive oxygen species as signals that modulate plant stress responses and programmed cell death

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known as toxic metabolic products in plants and other aerobic organisms. An elaborate and highly redundant plant ROS network, composed of antioxidant enzymes, antioxidants and ROS‐producing enzymes, is responsible for maintaining ROS levels under tight control. This allows ROS to serve as signaling molecules that coordinate an astonishing range of diverse plant processes. The specificity of the biological response to ROS depends on the chemical identity of ROS, intensity of the signal, sites of production, plant developmental stage, previous stresses encountered and interactions with other signaling molecules such as nitric oxide, lipid messengers and plant hormones. Although many components of the ROS signaling network have recently been identified, the challenge remains to understand how ROS‐derived signals are integrated to eventually regulate such biological processes as plant growth, development, stress adaptation and programmed cell death. BioEssays 28: 1091–1101, 2006. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Production comparée de zooplancton en bassins fertilisés avec la fiente de volaille et la bouse de vache

En vue d’identifier le meilleur fertilisant qui pourra etre utilise pour la production intensive du zooplancton en milieu controle, les essais de production du zooplancton en bassins fertilises a la fiente de volaille et a la bouse de vache sont realises et les resultats compares. Le dispositif experimental est constitue de 06 bassins dont 02 pour la fiente, 02 pour la bouse et 02 pour le temoin. Apres fertilisation, le zooplancton est ensemence le meme jour avec 1 ind.L -1 de nauplius de copepodes, 2 ind.L -1 de copepodes, 3 ind.L -1 de rotiferes et 1 ind.L -1 de cladoceres par bassin. Un suivi des parametres nutritifs et biologiques des milieux de production a ete realise tous les 2 jours pendant 30 jours. Les parametres physico-chimiques ont tres peu varie dans les bassins. La temperature moyenne est de 29,6 ± 0,1 °C ; l’oxygene dissous moyen est de 6,8 ± 0,7 mg.L -1 et le pH moyen est de 9,1 ± 0,1. Les forts taux de nitrates (4,55 mg.L -1 ) et de phosphates (19,79 mg.L -1 ) sont obtenus avec la fiente de volaille. La densite du zooplancton qui est de 7 ind.L -1 dans tous les bassins est passee a 2022 ind.L -1 (maximum) en 6 jours dans les bassins fertilises a la bouse de vache, a 3046 ind.L -1 (maximum) en 6 jours dans les bassins fertilises a la fiente de volaille et a 772 ind.L -1 (maximum) en 21 jours dans les bassins temoins. Les resultats obtenus ont montre que la fiente de volaille libere plus vite les sels nutritifs dans l’eau et donne la meilleure biomasse phytoplanctonique (taux de chlorophylle-a plus eleves ; p -1 ), la production journaliere la plus elevee (41 ind.L -1 .J -1 ) et le meilleur taux d’accroissement (Kr, 24 heures = 0,7) est obtenu dans les bassins a fiente de volaille. Ainsi, la fiente de volaille se revele comme le meilleur fertilisant pour la production du zooplancton. © 2010 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved Mots cles : Culture, zooplancton, bassins, fiente de volaille, bouse de vache.
Evaluating doppler devices using a moving string test target

Two moving string test targets have been developed and used to characterize ultrasound Doppler instrumentation. The characteristics investigated were sample volume size and location. The tests were performed on a combined echo/Doppler instrument and on an annular array system. The procedures can be carried out routinely in the clinical laboratory to ensure that the instrument is working properly or as an aid for correct interpretation of acquired data.
Current Issues in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Mycophenolic Acid: Report of a Roundtable Discussion

This review is based on a roundtable discussion held under the auspices of F. Hoffman-LaRoche in Nice, France, in December 1999. The meeting drew together laboratory scientists and clinicians with expertise in the measurement of mycophenolic acid (MPA) and the application of these measurements as a guide to therapy with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Three of those presenting data at the meeting had been members of a recent consensus panel on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of MPA. The purpose of the meeting was to update members of the Roche Development Team on the latest critical thinking regarding the advantages and limitations of applying TDM to transplant patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil, and to provide a basis for a consensus on MPA therapeutic drug monitoring. Short presentations were made by each participant, followed by open discussions. Representatives of Roche who attended the meeting included Etienne Dumont, MD, Samson Fung, MD, Hari Kumar, PhD, Richard D. Mamelok, MD, Eleanor L. Ramos, MD, and Mandy Rees, BS. The proceedings were recorded and transcribed by Phase Five Communications. Subsequently, the transcript was made into the following review article, and the latest findings from recent publications were incorporated into the text. The final document is intended as an introduction to the topic of TDM of MPA and provides a summary of what was discussed at the Nice meeting. It also includes recommendations for TDM strategies based on the current pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data for MPA.
Comparative study of tobramycin and gentamicin with special reference to anti‐Pseudomonas activity

Tobramycin was compared to gentamicin in vitro and was found more active on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. When tobramycin and gentamicin were administered to volunteers as a single intramuscular iniection (2 . 5 mg. per kilogram), similar blood levels were observed (mean peak levels of 7.3 p.g per milliliter and 7.1 p.g per milliliter, respectively). Sera from these subiects was more active (p < 0.05) against strains of Ps. aeruginosa, which had similar susceptibility to tobramycin and gentamicin.
Bcl‐2 overexpression in melanoma cells increases tumor progression‐associated properties and in vivo tumor growth

In this study, we demonstrated that bcl‐2 overexpression in human melanoma cells consistently enhanced the activity of multiple metastasis‐related proteinases, in vitro cell invasion, and in vivo tumor growth. In particular, by using the M14 parental cell line, the MN8 control clone, and two bcl‐2 overexpressing derivatives, we found that bcl‐2 overexpressing cells exposed to hypoxia, when compared to parental cells, expressed higher level of several metalloproteases (MMPs) such as MMP‐2, MMP‐7, MT1‐MMP, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases‐1 and ‐2. Moreover, bcl‐2 overexpression in melanoma cells enhanced in vitro invasion on matrigel and, in vivo tumor growth. The more aggressive behavior of bcl‐2 transfectants tumors is significantly associated to an increase in MMP‐2 expression as well as in a more elevated microvessel density as compared to the parental line. Taken together, our data suggest that bcl‐2 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of molecules associated with the migratory and invasive phenotype, contributing, in cooperation to hypoxia, to tumor progression. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.