Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fast Segmentation and Classification of Very High Resolution Remote Sensing Data Using SLIC Superpixels

Speed and accuracy are important factors when dealing with time-constraint events for disaster, risk, and crisis-management support. Object-based image analysis can be a time consuming task in extracting information from large images because most of the segmentation algorithms use the pixel-grid for the initial object representation. It would be more natural and efficient to work with perceptually meaningful entities that are derived from pixels using a low-level grouping process (superpixels). Firstly, we tested a new workflow for image segmentation of remote sensing data, starting the multiresolution segmentation (MRS, using ESP2 tool) from the superpixel level and aiming at reducing the amount of time needed to automatically partition relatively large datasets of very high resolution remote sensing data. Secondly, we examined whether a Random Forest classification based on an oversegmentation produced by a Simple Linear Iterative Clustering (SLIC) superpixel algorithm performs similarly with reference to a traditional object-based classification regarding accuracy. Tests were applied on QuickBird and WorldView-2 data with different extents, scene content complexities, and number of bands to assess how the computational time and classification accuracy are affected by these factors. The proposed segmentation approach is compared with the traditional one, starting the MRS from the pixel level, regarding geometric accuracy of the objects and the computational time. The computational time was reduced in all cases, the biggest improvement being from 5 h 35 min to 13 min, for a WorldView-2 scene with eight bands and an extent of 12.2 million pixels, while the geometric accuracy is kept similar or slightly better. SLIC superpixel-based classification had similar or better overall accuracy values when compared to MRS-based classification, but the results were obtained in a fast manner and avoiding the parameterization of the MRS. These two approaches have the potential to enhance the automation of big remote sensing data analysis and processing, especially when time is an important constraint.
Safety data on 19 vehicles for use in 1 month oral rodent pre‐clinical studies: administration of hydroxypropyl‐ß‐cyclodextrin causes renal toxicity

Potential new drugs are assessed in pre‐clinical in vivo studies to determine their safety profiles. The drugs are formulated in vehicles suitable for the route of administration and the physicochemical properties of the drug, aiming to achieve optimal exposure in the test species. The availability of safety data on vehicles is often limited (incomplete data, access restricted/private databases). Nineteen potentially useful vehicles that contained new and/or increased concentrations of excipients and for which little safety data have been published were tested. Vehicles were dosed orally once daily to HanWistar rats for a minimum of 28 days and a wide range of toxicological parameters were assessed. Only 30% (w/v) hydroxypropyl‐ß‐cyclodextrin was found unsuitable owing to effects on liver enzymes (AST, ALT and GLDH), urinary volume and the kidneys (tubular vacuolation and tubular pigment). 20% (v/v) oleic acid caused increased salivation and hence this vehicle should be used with caution. As 40% (v/v) tetraethylene glycol affected urinary parameters, its use should be carefully considered, particularly for compounds suspected to impact the renal system and studies longer than 1 month. There were no toxicologically significant findings with 10% (v/v) dimethyl sulphoxide, 20% (v/v) propylene glycol, 33% (v/v) Miglyol®812, 20% (w/v) Kolliphor®RH40, 10% (w/v) Poloxamer 407, 5% (w/v) polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 or 10% (v/v) Labrafil®M1944. All other vehicles tested caused isolated or low magnitude effects which would not prevent their use. The aim of sharing these data, including adverse findings, is to provide meaningful information for vehicle selection, thereby avoiding repetition of animal experimentation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Community-Level Analysis of psbA Gene Sequences and Irgarol Tolerance in Marine Periphyton

ABSTRACT This study analyzes psbA gene sequences, predicted D1 protein sequences, species relative abundance, and pollution-induced community tolerance in marine periphyton communities exposed to the antifouling compound Irgarol 1051. The mechanism of action of Irgarol is the inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport at photosystem II by binding to the D1 protein. The metagenome of the communities was used to produce clone libraries containing fragments of the psbA gene encoding the D1 protein. Community tolerance was quantified with a short-term test for the inhibition of photosynthesis. The communities were established in a continuous flow of natural seawater through microcosms with or without added Irgarol. The selection pressure from Irgarol resulted in an altered species composition and an inducted community tolerance to Irgarol. Moreover, there was a very high diversity in the psbA gene sequences in the periphyton, and the composition of psbA and D1 fragments within the communities was dramatically altered by increased Irgarol exposure. Even though tolerance to this type of compound in land plants often depends on a single amino acid substitution (Ser264→Gly) in the D1 protein, this was not the case for marine periphyton species. Instead, the tolerance mechanism likely involves increased degradation of D1. When we compared sequences from low and high Irgarol exposure, differences in nonconserved amino acids were found only in the so-called PEST region of D1, which is involved in regulating its degradation. Our results suggest that environmental contamination with Irgarol has led to selection for high-turnover D1 proteins in marine periphyton communities at the west coast of Sweden.
Give 'Em What They Want: A One-Year Study of Unmediated Patron-Driven Acquisition of e-Books

In September 2009, the University of Iowa Libraries embarked on an experiment with patron-driven acquisition (PDA) of e-books with ebrary and YBP. An e-book–only PDA plan was initiated, entirely unmediated and with instantaneous access to the content. MARC records were loaded for each title, determined by our YBP approval profile and other limitations, for a total of 12,000 PDA records. Usage, cost, subject, and publisher data were analyzed for 850 purchased PDA e-books and thousands of other ebrary subscription titles. Results indicate that PDA can be a useful and effective tool for meeting user needs and building the local collection, but the role of PDA in the library’s collection management program presents challenges as well as opportunities.
Microscopic Colitis and Colorectal Neoplastic Lesion Rate in Chronic Nonbloody Diarrhea: A Prospective, Multicenter Study

Background:Lymphocytic and collagenous colitis are emerging as common findings in subjects undergoing colonoscopy for chronic non-bloody diarrhea (CNBD). Data concerning microscopic colitis (MC) are still limited and affected by controversial epidemiological evidences. Recent converging lines of evidence suggest that MC correlates a lower risk of colorectal neoplasia. Accordingly, we prospectively assessed MC prevalence in a multicenter cohort of subjects submitted to colonoscopy for CNBD, thereby defining whether MC influences the risk of colorectal neoplasia. Methods:Consecutive patients with CNBD of unknown origin underwent pan-colonoscopy with multiple biopsies. The prevalence of neoplastic patients in MC was compared with that observed in negative CNBD subjects. Results:Among 8006 colonoscopy, 305 subjects were enrolled for CNBD. Patients with CNBD were more likely to be women than men (odds ratio = 1.5; P = 0.001). Histopathology detected high prevalence of MC (16%) with a clear predominance of collagenous colitis (70%). A striking age-dependent rise in MC-associated risk was observed, depicting outstanding differences among varying age groups, as in the number needed to screen 1 new case. Gender distribution was balanced within MC patients (Female/Male = 1.5/1), especially among lymphocytic colitis (Female/Male = 1.2/1). MC patients were negatively associated with the risk of neoplastic polyps compared with negative CNBD subjects (odds ratio = 0.22; P = 0.035). Conclusions:MC is the first cause of CNBD in subjects submitted to colonoscopy. Multiple biopsies are strongly recommended, even in the case of uneventful endoscopic inspection, especially for age ≥40 years. MC has a reduced risk of colorectal neoplasia, suggesting that this model of chronic inflammation plays a protective effect against colorectal carcinogenesis.
Notch3-Jagged signaling controls the pool of undifferentiated airway progenitors

Basal cells are multipotent airway progenitors that generate distinct epithelial cell phenotypes crucial for homeostasis and repair of the conducting airways. Little is known about how these progenitor cells expand and transition to differentiation to form the pseudostratified airway epithelium in the developing and adult lung. Here, we show by genetic and pharmacological approaches that endogenous activation of Notch3 signaling selectively controls the pool of undifferentiated progenitors of upper airways available for differentiation. This mechanism depends on the availability of Jag1 and Jag2, and is key to generating a population of parabasal cells that later activates Notch1 and Notch2 for secretory-multiciliated cell fate selection. Disruption of this mechanism resulted in aberrant expansion of basal cells and altered pseudostratification. Analysis of human lungs showing similar abnormalities and decreased NOTCH3 expression in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease suggests an involvement of NOTCH3-dependent events in the pathogenesis of this condition. Highlighted article: In the adult mouse lung, Notch3 identifies a population of parabasal cells and regulates the balance between basal and parabasal progenitor pools.
Determinants of 4α-Phorbol Sensitivity in Transmembrane Domains 3 and 4 of the Cation Channel TRPV4*

TRPV4, a Ca2+-permeable member of the vanilloid subgroup of the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, is activated by cell swelling and moderate heat (>27 °C) as well as by diverse chemical compounds including synthetic 4α-phorbol esters, the plant extract bisandrographolide A, and endogenous epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs; 5,6-EET and 8,9-EET). Previous work identified a tyrosine residue located in the first half of putative transmembrane segment 3 (TM3) as a crucial determinant for the activation of TRPV4 by its most specific agonist 4α-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (4α-PDD), suggesting that 4α-PDD interacts with the channel through its transmembrane segments. To obtain insight in the 4α-PDD-binding site and in the mechanism of ligand-dependent TRPV4 activation, we investigated the consequences of specific point mutations in TM4 on the sensitivity of the channel to different chemical and physical stimuli. Mutations of two hydrophobic residues in the central part of TM4 (Leu584 and Trp586) caused a severe reduction of the sensitivity of the channel to 4α-PDD, bisandrographolide A, and heat, whereas responses to cell swelling, arachidonic acid, and 5,6-EET remained unaffected. In contrast, mutations of two residues in the C-terminal part of TM4 (Tyr591 and Arg594) affected channel activation of TRPV4 by all stimuli, suggesting an involvement in channel gating rather than in interaction with agonists. Based on a comparison of the responses of WT and mutant TRPV4 to 4α-PDD and different 4α-phorbol esters, we conclude that the length of the fatty acid moiety determines the ligand binding affinity and propose a model for the interaction between 4α-phorbol esters and the TM3/4 region of TRPV4.
Oxygenation of the Portal Vein by Intraperitoneal Administration of Oxygenated Perfluorochemical Improves the Engraftment and Function of Intraportally Transplanted Islets

Objectives: One of the major obstacles for successful intraportal islet transplantation (IPIT) is early graft loss due to hypoxia. We therefore examined the effect of intraperitoneal oxygenated perfluorochemical (PFC) on oxygenation of the portal vein with respect to islet engraftment and function after IPIT in a rat model. Methods: First, we measured the oxygen tension and saturation in the portal vein of Lewis rats before and after intraperitoneal injection of oxygenated PFC. Second, blood glucose levels, glucose tolerance, and the number of surviving islets were measured after IPIT with oxygenated PFC (group 1), with PFC saturated by nitrogen (group 2), and without any PFC (control). Results: Both oxygen tension and saturation in the portal vein significantly increased after injection of oxygenated PFC. In IPIT, the functional success rate in group 1 was 83.3%, compared with 16.7% in group 2 and 16.7% in the control. On the 28th posttransplantation day, the number of engrafted islets in the liver in group 1 (12.8 [SD, 3.3]) was significantly higher than that in group 2 (4.7 [SD, 3.0]) and in the control group (6.5 [SD, 3.3]). Conclusions: We clearly demonstrated the effect of intraperitoneal oxygenated PFC on oxygenation of the portal vein, resulting in better IPIT outcomes.Abbreviations: AUC - area under the curve, IEQ - islet equivalent, IPGTT - intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, IPIT - intraportal islet transplantation, PO2 - oxygen tension, PFC - perfluorochemical, SO2 - oxygen saturation
Degradation of 1,4-dichlorobenzene by a Pseudomonas sp

A Pseudomonas species able to degrade p-dichlorobenzene as the sole source of carbon and energy was isolated by selective enrichment from activated sludge. The organism also grew well on chlorobenzene and benzene. Washed cells released chloride in stoichiometric amounts from o-, m-, and p-dichlorobenzene, 2,5-dichlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, 3-chlorocatechol, 4-chlorocatechol, and 3,6-dichlorocatechol. Initial steps in the pathway for p-dichlorobenzene degradation were determined by isolation of metabolites, simultaneous adaptation studies, and assay of enzymes in cell extracts. Results indicate that p-dichlorobenzene was initially converted by a dioxygenase to 3,6-dichloro-cis-1,2-dihydroxycyclohexa-3,5-diene, which was converted to 3,6-dichlorocatechol by an NAD+-dependent dehydrogenase. Ring cleavage of 3,6-dichlorocatechol was by a 1,2-oxygenase to form 2,5-dichloro-cis, cis-muconate. Enzymes for degradation of haloaromatic compounds were induced in cells grown on chlorobenzene or p-dichlorobenzene, but not in cells grown on benzene, succinate, or yeast extract. Enzymes of the ortho pathway induced in cells grown on benzene did not attack chlorobenzenes or chlorocatechols.
Kefoconazofe 2% Emulsion in the Treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis

Abstract: Fifty patients (42 men, 8 women) with seborrheic dermatitis were included in the trial. Ketoconazole 2% emulsion or the same emulsion without active drug was applied b.i. d. for 4 weeks. Two patients dropped out in the ketoconazole group and nine in the placebo group. Pityrosporum ovale was cultured from all patients at the start and from six out of 23 in the ketoconazole group versus nine out of 16 in the placebo group at week 4. The overall assessment showed a significantly better response to treatment for the ketoconazole emulsion (72%) than for the placebo (32%).
EPÍFITOS VASCULARES EM ÁREA COM FLORESTA ESTACIONAL SEMIDECIDUAL, PELOTAS, RIO GRANDE DO SUL, BRASIL

O presente estudo teve como objetivo conhecer a composicao floristica de epifitos vasculares de uma Floresta Estacional Semidecidual no interior do municipio de Pelotas, atraves de coletas mensais no periodo de 2009-2011, realizadas a partir de caminhadas aleatorias de forma a abranger toda a area de estudo. No levantamento floristico foram encontradas 63 especies, 31 generos e nove familias. Orchidaceae apresentou a maior riqueza, com 24 especies, seguida por Bromeliaceae com 12 especies, Polypodiaceae com oito especies, Piperaceae com sete especies e Cactaceae com cinco especies. Estas cinco familias somam 89% da riqueza de epifitos vasculares na area de estudo. Destacaram-se pela riqueza floristica, os generos Peperomia e Tillandsia com sete especies cada e o genero Oncidium com seis especies. Com relacao as categorias ecologicas, 59 especies foram classificadas como holoepifitas habituais, envolvendo a totalidade das especies de Bromeliaceae, Cactaceae, Orchidaceae, Piperaceae e Polypodiaceae. A maioria das especies (70%) ocorreu simultaneamente como epifita e como rupicola na floresta em questao. A riqueza epifitica na area em estudo foi considerada alta, levando-se em consideracao a posicao austral da mata estudada.
Il carcinoma neuroendocrino della mammella. Nostra esperienza e proposta di un algoritmo terapeutico per un tumore raro

The neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast is a very rare tumor. In this paper we describe our experience in 10 cases of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast, and an integrated diagnostic-therapeutic proposal for this tumor. Since no positive association has been shown between neuroendocrine differentiation and tumor size, staging, grading, survival and therefore prognosis, we consider that surgical therapy for neuroendocrine tumors of the breast should be the same as that performed in common invasive histotypes. Due to the presence of specific cellular receptors in neuroendocrine tumors of the breast, somatostatin has been claimed as a useful tool both for diagnostic (Octreoscan) and therapy (for metastatic disease). As for therapy, synthetic analogs show advantages versus native somatostatin, because of a longer half-life, and data from literature report encouraging results obtained by using radiolabelled somatostatin analogs. One of these is 90 Y-Dotatoc; we have already used it in patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the lung. Our algorithm for neuroendocrine tumors of the breast includes diagnostic scintigraphy with Octreoscan and receptor-mediated radiolabelled therapy with 90 Y-Dotatoc in patients with confirmed scintigraphic expression of somatostatin receptors in tumoral tissue.
Differences in physiological energetics between intertidal and raft cultivated mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis

Methods of physiological energetics were applied to compare growth rates of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk from 2 habitats: intertidal and raft cultures. Scope for growth was determined after l and 15 d under standard laboratory conditions Both groups of mussels improved their growth potential during maintenance in the laboratory due to a combination of increased ingestion rate and decreased metabol~c rate. Cultivated mussels presented h ~ g h e r weight-specific clearance rates, higher absorption efficiency and higher rates of ammonia excretion, w h ~ c h resulted in increased scope for growth with respect to ~ntertldal mussels. This finding is related to the differential characteristics of these 2 habitats in terms of cycles of food availability and air exposure. Differences between the groups of mussels persisted after 15 d of experimental treatment and were mainly accounted for by absorption efficiency.
High Level Class II trans-Activator Induction Does Not Occur with Transient Activation of the IFN-γ Signaling Pathway1

Gene activation in early development is highly dependent on precise concentrations of trans-acting factors for the activation of different genes at differing points in the embryo. Thus, not only is the presence or absence of a particular trans-activator or repressor relevant in determining gene activation, but also the concentration of the regulatory protein must be above or below a certain threshold for proper gene regulation. Signaling pathways in somatic cells are thought to represent cascades of on/off switches, mediated most commonly by phosphorylation. Here we demonstrate a quantitative mechanism for regulating the level of a component of the IFN-γ signaling pathway that in effect represents the differential sensitivities of STAT1, IFN-regulatory factor-1, and class II trans-activator (CIITA) to IFN-γ. Unlike developmental gene regulation, in which specificity of gene activation is a function of regulatory protein concentrations, specificity of gene activation in the IFN-γ signaling pathway is regulated by the duration of the activation of the primary IFN-γ-regulatory protein, STAT1. This result most likely explains previously reported data indicating that a minimum amount of IFN-γ is required for MHC class II gene activation despite the fact that the level of the IFN-γ-inducible factor directly required for MHC class II induction, CIITA, directly correlates with the level of MHC class II expression. The induction of a high level of CIITA is dependent on sustained IFN-γ signaling. The possible implications of this result for tumorigenesis are discussed.
Long Walk to Freedom. The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela.

Since his release from prison in 1990, Nelson Mandela has emerged as the world's most potent moral leader since Gandhi. As president of the ANC and head of the anti-apartheid movement, he has been instrumental in moving South Africa toward black-majority rule. Throughout the world he is revered as a vital force in the fight for human rights and racial equality. In this autobiography Nelson Mandela details the development of his political consciousess and describes his pivotal role in the formation of the ANC Youth League. He brings to life his dramatic years underground, which lead to a sentence of life imprisonment in 1964, and sheds new light on his surprisingly eventful quarter century behind bars. And he takes us inside the momentous events of the 1990s, leading up to South Africa's first-ever multi-racial elections, and his feelings about his near landslide victory as president.
New Ways of Exploiting Feedback in Memoryless Broadcast Channels. (Canal de diffusion sans me'moire: nouvelles techniques d'utilisation de la voie de retour)

In this dissertation we investigate the usefulness of feedback and propose new ways of exploiting rate-limited feedback for the memoryless broadcast channels (BC). In the first part of the dissertation, we consider K-reciever Gaussian BC with only common message and feedback. We show that linear-feedback schemes with a message point, in the spirit of the Schalkwijk-Kailath scheme, are strictly suboptimal for this setup. To contrast this negative result, we describe a scheme for rate-limited feedback that uses the feedback in an intermittent way, which achieves all rates R up to capacity C with an L-th order exponential decay of the probability of error if the feedback rate RFb ≥ (L− 1)R, for some positive integer L. In the second part, we study the two-receiver DMBC with private messages and ratelimited feedback. Two types of schemes based on block-Markov strategy and Marton’s coding, have been proposed for this setup. In the first type of scheme, the transmitter simply relays the feedback messages obtained over the feedback links by encoding them into the Marton cloud center of the next-following block. With this type of scheme, we show that any positive feedback rate can strictly improve over the non-feedback capacity region for the class of strictly essentially less-noisy BCs, which we introduce in this dissertation. In our second type of scheme, the transmitter decodes all the feedback information and processes it with some local information before sending the result to the receivers. When the feedback rates are sufficiently large, then our scheme can recover all previously known capacity and degrees of freedom results for memoryless BCs with feedback.