Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimal Control Formulation for Determining Optical Flow

An optimal control formulation for determining optical flow is presented. The new framework differs from preceding approaches in that it does not require differentiation of the data and does combine optical flow with image reconstruction. It can be considered as a control-in-the-coefficients problem with a cost functional of tracking type. A numerical algorithm that solves the optimality system consisting of hyperbolic and elliptic partial differential equations is presented. Numerical experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the optimal control approach.
Smoking and risk of death due to pulmonary tuberculosis: a case-control comparison in 103 population centers in China.

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between smoking and the risk of tuberculosis (TB) mortality in a large population-based case-control study in China using an alternative control group selection design. METHODS During 1989-1991, a nationwide mortality survey was conducted of deaths among adults from 1986 to 1988. Surviving spouses or other informants provided detailed information about their own as well as the deceased person's smoking history. For the present study, all persons who died of TB at age > or =40 were used as cases, whereas all surviving spouses of deceased persons who died from causes other than those attributed to smoking were used as controls. RESULTS It was estimated that for 22.5% of men and 6.6% of women, smoking was a contributing factor for TB deaths. Although variations in TB death rates by smoking status were not obvious before the age of 60, these differences increased substantially with age thereafter. This trend occurred in both urban and rural areas, although rural TB death rates were double those observed in urban areas. CONCLUSIONS Tobacco smoking was associated with a large number of deaths from TB in China. The current study confirms results from previous studies about the relationship between smoking and TB mortality.
[The preparation of collagen burn pellicle of compound sulfadiazine silver and assessment of its efficacy in an animal experiment on deep partial thickness burn wound].

OBJECTIVE To prepare the collagen burn pellicle of compound sulfadiazine sliver and observe its therapeutic effect on deep partial thickness burn wound. METHODS The initator method was adopted for preparing the collagen burn pellicle of compound sulfadiazine sliver. A model of deep partial thickness burn wound was established in 84 SD rats for the observation of the effect of collagen burn pellicle of compound sulfadiazine sliver on burn wound healing. RESULTS The collagen burn pellicle of compound sulfadiazine sliver enhanced the coming off of necrotic tissues and the healing of burn wound. The hydroxyproline content of burn wound was higher in the experiment group than that in the comparison groups, (P < 0.05). The percentage of G0/G1-phase in full skin cells of burn wound at 5, 7, 10 and 14 days after burn was lower than that in the comparison groups (P < 0.05). The percentage of S-phase at 5, 7 and 14 days was higher in the experiment group than that in the comparison groups (P < 0.05). The water content in full skin cells of burn wound at 24, 36 and 48 hours after burn was significantly lower in the experiment group than that the comparison groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The collagen burn pellicle of compound sulfadiazine sliver can enhance wound healing in the management of deep partial thickness burn wound.
Clupea Harengus: Intraspecies Distinction using Curvature Scale Space and Shapelets - Classification of North-sea and Thames Herring using Boundary Contour of Sagittal Otoliths

We present a study comparing Curvature Scale Space (CSS) representation with Shapelet transformed data with a view to discriminating between sagittal otoliths of North-Sea and Thames Herring using otolith boundary and boundary metrics. CSS transformed boundaries combined with measures of their circularity, eccentricity and aspect-ratio are used to classify using nearest-neighbour selections with distance being computed using CSS matching methods. Shapelet transformed data are classified using a number of techniques (NearestNeighbour, Naive-Bayes, C4.5, Support Vector Machines, Random and Rotation Forest) and compared to CSS classification results. Both methods use Leave One Out Cross Validation (LOOCV). We describe the method of encoding and the matching algorithm used during CSS classification and give an overview of Shapelet transforms and the classifiers that are used on the data. It is shown that whilst CSS forms part of the MPEG-7 standard and performs better than random selection, it can be significantly out-performed by recent additions to machine-learning methods in this application. Shapelets also show that with regard to intra-species distinction, the discriminatory features of otolith boundaries may lie not in the major inflection points, but the boundary points between them.
Production and consumption of university Linked Data

Linked Data increases the value of an organisation's data over the web by introducing explicit and machine processable links at the data level. We have adopted this new stream of data representation to produce and expose existing data within The Open University (OU) as Linked Data. We present in this paper our approach for producing the data, based on well-defined workflows at the organisation as well as the technical levels. We also discuss the data already available to consume, and show the potential improvements that Linked Data brings by presenting three applications: (1) the OU Expert Search system for finding experts at the OU based on a specified topic of interest, (2) the Social Study application to identify potential courses for students based on their Facebook profile information, and (3) the Linked OpenLearn application that helps students identify related media and courses to OpenLearn units at the OU. Before concluding the paper, we show the potential benefits and an approach towards interlinking data beyond The Open University with other universities, using a common categorisation scheme.
Medical Education in Iran: An Exploration of Some Curriculum Issues

Abstract Background: Although Iran is a large and populous country, the state of medical education is poorly understood and under researched. However, it is apparent that, in recent years, calls for reform in medical education have not tended to lead to major changes. As a result, the curricula used are in danger of being perceived as dated and less effective than they should be. Purpose: This exploratory study is designed to investigate the perspectives and experiences of a group of the most influential medical education course planners in Iran. Its aim is to investigate their views about the nature of the undergraduate medical curriculum in Iran and explore with them ways in which such curricula could be modernized and improved. Methods: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were used to explore the perceptions of an elite group of medical education course planners who all work in prestigious universities in Tehran. Each of these 10 individuals was interviewed twice, over a period of several months, in order that an in-depth view of their perceptions could be unraveled. Results: A deep concern about the lack of an innovative medical education curriculum in Iran emerged as the strongest theme from the interviews. There is widespread agreement that the current curriculum is too oriented towards the students passively learning facts. There is also a perceived lack of integration between the two-year basic science courses and clinical learning. Furthermore, participants feel that poor teaching facilities and overcrowding of students has provided an unsuitable learning environment. Both positive and negative attitudes toward educational strategies in curriculum development were demonstrated. Some of the barriers to curriculum change were also discussed. Conclusions: There is a real need for major changes in the medical education curriculum in Iran. The results of this study suggest that a move towards a curriculum that engages students as active participants in a process of lifelong learning would be highly beneficial. As clinically qualified doctors they will face many challenges in the years ahead, and a modernized curriculum should help them to acquire the necessary knowledge and develop the clinical skills and problem solving abilities they will need.
Role of Mouse and Human Autophagy Proteins in IFN-γ–Induced Cell-Autonomous Responses against Toxoplasma gondii

IFN-γ mediates cellular innate immunity against an intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, by inducing immunity-related GTPases such as p47 IFN-γ–regulated GTPases (IRGs) and p65 guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs), which also participate in antibacterial responses via autophagy. An essential autophagy protein, Atg5, was previously shown to play a critical role in anti–T. gondii cell-autonomous immunity. However, the involvement of other autophagy proteins remains unknown. In this study, we show that essential autophagy proteins differentially participate in anti–T. gondii cellular immunity by recruiting IFN-γ–inducible GTPases. IFN-γ–induced suppression of T. gondii proliferation and recruitment of an IRG Irgb6 and GBPs are profoundly impaired in Atg7- or Atg16L1-deficient cells. In contrast, cells lacking other essential autophagy proteins, Atg9a and Atg14, are capable of mediating the anti–T. gondii response and recruiting Irgb6 and GBPs to the parasites. Although IFN-γ also stimulates anti–T. gondii cellular immunity in humans, whether this response requires GBPs and human autophagy proteins remains to be seen. To analyze the role of human ATG16L1 and GBPs in IFN-γ–mediated anti–T. gondii responses, human cells lacking ATG16L1 or GBPs were generated by the Cas9/CRISPR genome-editing technique. Although both ATG16L1 and GBPs are dispensable for IFN-γ–induced inhibition of T. gondii proliferation in the human cells, human ATG16L1 is also required for the recruitment of GBPs. Taken together, human ATG16L1 and mouse autophagy components Atg7 and Atg16L1, but not Atg9a and Atg14, participate in the IFN-γ–induced recruitment of the immunity-related GTPases to the intracellular pathogen.
Root Surface Association in Relation to Nodulation of Medicago sativa

Nine strains of Rhizobium meliloti, ranging in competitive ability on Medicago sativa from excellent to poor in autoclaved soils, were paired in 29 combinations and used to inoculate M. sativa in a liquid rooting medium. A positive correlation (r = 0.545) between strain ratios in nodules after 28 days and root surface cell ratios after 7 days was determined. Two cell fractions from the root surface, representing loosely and firmly adhering cells, were investigated. Infectivity was linked to the more firmly adhering cells. A significant relationship was established between the cell ratios of competing strains in the two fractions. In another experiment, adherence of cells of both infective and noninfective Rhizobium strains to roots of M. sativa and Trifolium repens was demonstrated; the ratios of loosely to firmly adhering cells on the root surface were significantly narrower with the infective combinations than with noninfective strain-legume associations.
Between professional dignity and economic interests--evidence based on a survey of Taiwan's primary care physicians.

OBJECTIVE If the entirety of professional autonomy must be compromised in the face of a state-run social insurance, physicians may choose to preserve only certain dimensions of their professional autonomy. This study tests the relative importance of the target-income hypothesis versus the professional allegiance hypothesis in explaining physicians' behavior by collating economic interests against professional dignity. DATA AND METHOD A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the response data from the 1244 physicians who practiced as office-based providers under the contract with the National Health Insurance (NHI) in the South Region of Taiwan and had experienced a change in the utilization review system; 394 (31%) physicians completed the questionnaire. Chi-squared analysis, logistical ordered regression, and odds-ratio analysis were conducted to test the effects of the physicians' experience with the utilization review system on their satisfaction with the NHI program. RESULT The ordered logistical regression verified the hypotheses of physicians' experiences on the satisfaction of the professional-controlled review system, and the odds-ratio analysis suggested that the physicians might give considerable value to their professional dignity. This effect was strong enough to balance out that of the loss in economic interests as the odds ratio was 0.5667 with the 95% confidence interval being (0.1014, 3.1682), which includes the odds ratio of 1. CONCLUSION Economic incentives should not always take center stage if the policy makers are to co-opt physicians. The professional allegiance hypothesis is at work as strongly as the target-income hypothesis.
Diurnal variation of neutropenia during clozapine treatment.

Neutropenia in clozapine treatment is of considerable importance because it can be an early sign of incipient agranulocytosis (Hummer et al., 1992). However, stopping clozapine therapy because of neutropenia can result in severe rebound psychosis (Borison et al., 1988). The following is a case report of a patient on clozapine treatment who developed transient morning neutropenia.
Somatosensory Impairments in the Upper Limb Poststroke

Background. A thorough understanding of the presence of different upper-limb somatosensory deficits poststroke and the relation with motor performance remains unclear. Additionally, knowledge about the relation between somatosensory deficits and visuospatial neglect is limited. Objective. To investigate the distribution of upper-limb somatosensory impairments and the association with unimanual and bimanual motor outcomes and visuospatial neglect. Methods. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted, including 122 patients within 6 months after stroke (median = 82 days; interquartile range = 57-133 days). Somatosensory measurement included the Erasmus MC modification of the (revised) Nottingham Sensory Assessment (Em-NSA), Perceptual Threshold of Touch (PTT), thumb finding test, 2-point discrimination, and stereognosis subscale of the NSA. Upper-limb motor assessment comprised the Fugl-Meyer assessment, motricity index, Action Research Arm Test, and Adult-Assisting Hand Assessment Stroke. Screening for visuospatial neglect was performed using the Star Cancellation Test. Results. Upper-limb somatosensory impairments were common, with prevalence rates ranging from 21% to 54%. Low to moderate Spearman ρ correlations were found between somatosensory and motor deficits (r = 0.22-0.61), with the strongest associations for PTT (r = 0.56-0.61) and stereognosis (r = 0.51-0.60). Visuospatial neglect was present in 27 patients (22%). Between-group analysis revealed somatosensory deficits that occurred significantly more often and more severely in patients with visuospatial neglect (P < .05). Results showed consistently stronger correlations between motor and somatosensory deficits in patients with visuospatial neglect (r = 0.44-0.78) compared with patients without neglect (r = 0.08-0.59). Conclusions. Somatosensory impairments are common in subacute patients poststroke and are related to motor outcome. Visuospatial neglect was associated with more severe upper-limb somatosensory impairments.
Library self-service: Predicting user intentions related to self-issue and return systems

Purpose – This paper aims to compare the effectiveness of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the integrated TPB/TAM model to understand acceptance of library self‐issue and return systems.Design/methodology/approach – The study data come from a non‐random convenience sample of 266 undergraduate students, age 18‐25. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using AMOS 17.0 to identify causal relationships.Findings – Findings show that the TPB/TAM integrated model is superior to the TPB and the TAM alone in terms of the ability to explain user acceptance of self‐issue and return systems. Although subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and perceived usefulness have direct positive relationships to behavioral intention to use self‐issue and return systems, attitude plays the most important role in explaining the intention to use self‐issue and return systems.Research limitations/implications – The study assesses self‐reported behavioral intention as part .
Reninoma: case report and literature review

Reninoma is a tumor of the renal juxtaglomerular cell apparatus that causes hypertension and hypokalemia via hypersecretion of renin. We describe a case of reninoma and provide a review of the literature, with a discussion emphasizing the diagnostic evaluation for such patients. The subject had persistent elevation of both plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone. Imaging studies revealed the presence of a lesion in the renal cortex, which was further identified as a renin-producing lesion via selective venous catheterization following administration of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I). Following partial nephrectomy, the PRA and plasma aldosterone levels declined rapidly and the blood pressure and potassium supplementation requirements normalized. This case demonstrates the utility of both appropriate imaging studies and selective venous catheterization following provocative administration of an ACE-I for diagnosis.
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy as a Unique Manifestation of Multiple Sclerosis

Objective: To report on five patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) as the unique manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Among 350 consecutive MS patients, we identified 16/350 (4.6%) who also had epileptic seizures. Here, we review their electrophysiological and clinical features. Results: Five of these 16 patients (four female, one male; mean age 34.2 years; range 31 to 38) with MS and epileptic seizures had an extremely homogeneous clinical picture characterized by TLE as the unique manifestation of MS, even at long follow-up (mean: five years; range 4 to 10). In all patients, seizures started in the second or third decade. Brain MRI revealed at least one juxta-cortical lesion within the temporal region. Antiepileptic medication was always effective. Conclusions: The present study provides the first evidence of a peculiar form of MS characterized by TLE as the unique manifestation of the disease with no disability or MS relapses at long-term follow-up.
ASSOCIATION OF COMMON VARIATIONS OF 8q24 WITH THE RISK OF PROSTATE CANCER IN KOREANS AND A REVIEW OF THE ASIAN POPULATION

© 2 0 1 2 T H E A U T H O R S B J U I N T E R N A T I O N A L © 2 0 1 2 B J U I N T E R N A T I O N A L | doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2012. 11211,11236.x 1 What ’ s known on the subject? and What does the study add? The association between subjects with the genetic variation of 8q24 and the risk of development of prostate cancer in Korean men was found. As a result of haplotype analysis, [ AGC ] and [ CTA ] carriers showed a signifi cant association with prostate cancer risk. This is clinically meaningful as an initial study on genetic susceptibility to prostate cancer in Korean men and the fi rst report of 8q24 haplotypes in an Asian population. OBJECTIVE
Genetic structuring and differentiation of Echinococcus multilocularis in Slovakia assessed by sequencing and isoenzyme studies

SummaryNucleotide sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene and isoenzyme analysis were used to survey the genetic variability in Echinococcus multilocularis populations from Slovakia. A sample of 12 isolates acquired from 10 different districts from red foxes exhibited identical sequences. Compared with the previously described E. multilocularis variants, one base substitution was consistently observed relative to the M1 variant (detected in China, Alaska, North America, Japan) and three base substitutions were recorded relative to the M2 variant (detected in Germany) in the CO1 fragment. These data, along with the recently gathered data from French isolates, are indicative of a genetically unique population occurring in Central and Western Europe. Electrophoretic examination of enzymes produced by 14 gene loci revealed intraspecific polymorphism only with the glucose-phosphate isomerase (two distinct patterns) and the mannosephosphate isomerase (four genotypes composed of three alleles) enzyme systems. To allow a fast species differentiation of E. multilocularis and E. granulosus (specifically, the G7 genotype occurring in Slovakia), discriminative electrophoretic characters between the species were obtained by isoenzyme analysis. Fixed genetic differences between the species were detected in the glucose-phosphate isomerase, esterase and aldolase systems, and partial differences were detected in four additional systems.
Effects of perceived privacy protection: does reading privacy notices matter?

Many consumers do not read privacy notices despite the fact that websites post privacy notices to address consumers’ long-standing concerns about privacy protection on the internet. To understand why consumers do not read privacy notices and the impact of reading (or not reading) privacy notices on the found effect of privacy notices, data were collected from 137 readers of privacy notices and 97 non-readers of privacy notices. This research’s test of the moderating effects of reading (or not reading) privacy notices found that perceived privacy protection positively affected trust and negatively affected perceived information risk and that the negative effect of perceived privacy protection on perceived information risk became stronger for privacy notice readers. This research also developed a typology of reasons why consumers read and do not read privacy notices.
Mutation‐selection balance accounting for genetic variation for viability in Drosophila melanogaster as deduced from an inbreeding and artificial selection experiment

We carried out an experiment of inbreeding and upward artificial selection for egg‐to‐adult viability in a recently captured population of Drosophila melanogaster, as well as computer simulations of the experimental design, in order to obtain information on the nature of genetic variation for this important fitness component. The inbreeding depression was linear with a rate of 0.70 ± 0.11% of the initial mean per 1% increase in inbreeding coefficient, and the realized heritability was 0.06 ± 0.07. We compared the empirical observations of inbreeding depression and selection response with computer simulations assuming a balance between the occurrence of partially recessive deleterious mutations and their elimination by selection. Our results suggest that a model assuming mutation‐selection balance with realistic mutational parameters can explain the genetic variation for viability in the natural population studied. Several mutational models are incompatible with some observations and can be discarded. Mutational models assuming a low rate of mutations of large average effect and highly recessive gene action, and others assuming a high rate of mutations of small average effect and close to additive gene action, are compatible with all the observations.