Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Primate Brain Anatomy: New Volumetric MRI Measurements for Neuroanatomical Studies

Since the publication of the primate brain volumetric dataset of Stephan and colleagues in the early 1980s, no major new comparative datasets covering multiple brain regions and a large number of primate species have become available. However, technological and other advances in the last two decades, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the creation of institutions devoted to the collection and preservation of rare brain specimens, provide opportunities to rectify this situation. Here, we present a new dataset including brain region volumetric measurements of 39 species, including 20 species not previously available in the literature, with measurements of 16 brain areas. These volumes were extracted from MRI of 46 brains of 38 species from the Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience Primate Brain Bank, scanned at high resolution with a 9.4-T scanner, plus a further 7 donated MRI of 4 primate species. Partial measurements were made on an additional 8 brains of 5 species. We make the dataset and MRI scans available online in the hope that they will be of value to researchers conducting comparative studies of primate evolution.
Visual Attention in Omnidirectional Video for Virtual Reality Applications

Understanding of visual attention is crucial for omnidirectional video (ODV) viewed for instance with a head-mounted display (HMD), where only a fraction of an ODV is rendered at a time. Transmission and rendering of ODV can be optimized by understanding how viewers consume a given ODV in virtual reality (VR) applications. In order to predict video regions that might draw the attention of viewers, saliency maps can be estimated by using computational visual attention models. As no such model currently exists for ODV, but given the importance for emerging ODV applications, we create a new visual attention user dataset for ODV, investigate behavior of viewers when consuming the content, and analyze the prediction performance of state-of-the-art visual attention models. Our developed test-bed and dataset will be publicly available with this paper, to stimulate and support research on ODV.
Comparison of the clinical, radiographic, and histological effects of titanium-prepared platelet rich fibrin to allograft materials in sinus-lifting procedures.

AIM In the present study, we evaluated the clinical, radiographic, and histological comparisons of completely autologous titanium-prepared platelet rich fibrin (T-PRF) or allograft in sinus-lifting procedures. METHODS Eighteen posterior maxilla requiring sinus-lifting procedures using the balloon-lifting technique for implant placement were selected. Ten sinuses were randomly assigned to T-PRF as the test group and eight to allografts as the control group. After 4 and 6 months in the test and control groups, respectively, computed tomography was done, and bone samples were received during implant surgery. Three months after the second surgery, implant stability was measured. RESULTS Radiological results showed that the allograft group had better results (62% in volume, 53% in density, and 69% in height) than the T-PRF group. Histomorphometric results showed that newly-formed bone ratios were 17.28 ± 2.53 and 16.58 ± 1.05 in the allograft group and T-PRF groups, respectively. There was no significant difference between the test and control groups (P = .611) for implant stability values. CONCLUSIONS The use of T-PRF alone in sinus-lifting operations has successful clinical and histomorphometric results. Bone formation in the T-PRF group was accelerated to 4 months compared to allografts according to the histological results.
Computational Design of Robotic Devices From High-Level Motion Specifications

We present a novel computational approach to design the robotic devices from high-level motion specifications. Our computational system uses a library of modular components—actuators, mounting brackets, and connectors—to define the space of possible robot designs. The process of creating a new robot begins with a set of input trajectories that specify how its end effectors and/or body should move. By searching through the combinatorial set of possible arrangements of modular components, our method generates a functional, as-simple-as-possible robotic device that is capable of tracking the input motion trajectories. To significantly improve the efficiency of this discrete optimization process, we propose a novel heuristic that guides the search for appropriate designs. Briefly, our heuristic function estimates how much an intermediate robot design needs to change before it becomes able to execute the target motion trajectories. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our computational design method by automatically creating a variety of robotic manipulators and legged robots. To generate these results, we define our own robotic kit that includes off-the-shelf actuators and 3-D printable connectors. We validate our results by fabricating two robotic devices designed with our method.
Field comparison of dry deposition samplers for collection of atmospheric mineral dust: results from single-particle characterization

Abstract. Frequently, passive dry deposition collectors are used to sample atmospheric dust deposition. However, there exists a multitude of different instruments with different, usually not well-characterized sampling efficiencies. As a result, the acquired data might be considerably biased with respect to their size representativity and, as a consequence, also composition. In this study, individual particle analysis by automated scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis was used to characterize different, commonly used passive samplers with respect to their size-resolved deposition rate and concentration. This study focuses on the microphysical properties, i.e., the aerosol concentration and deposition rates as well as the particle size distributions. In addition, computational fluid dynamics modeling was used in parallel to achieve deposition velocities from a theoretical point of view. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-calculated deposition rate measurements made using different passive samplers show a disagreement among the samplers. Modified Wilson and Cooke (MWAC) and Big Spring Number Eight (BSNE) – both horizontal flux samplers – collect considerably more material than the flat plate and Sigma-2 samplers, which are vertical flux samplers. The collection efficiency of MWAC increases for large particles in comparison to Sigma-2 with increasing wind speed, while such an increase is less observed in the case of BSNE. A positive correlation is found between deposition rate and PM10 concentration measurements by an optical particle spectrometer. The results indicate that a BSNE and Sigma-2 can be good options for PM10 measurement, whereas MWAC and flat-plate samplers are not a suitable choice. A negative correlation was observed in between dust deposition rate and wind speed. Deposition velocities calculated from different classical deposition models do not agree with deposition velocities estimated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The deposition velocity estimated from CFD was often higher than the values derived from classical deposition velocity models. Moreover, the modeled deposition velocity ratios between different samplers do not agree with the observations.
Hobbit regulates intracellular trafficking to drive insulin-dependent growth during Drosophila development

ABSTRACT All animals must coordinate growth rate and timing of maturation to reach the appropriate final size. Here, we describe hobbit, a novel and conserved gene identified in a forward genetic screen for Drosophila animals with small body size. hobbit is highly conserved throughout eukaryotes, but its function remains unknown. We demonstrate that hobbit mutant animals have systemic growth defects because they fail to secrete insulin. Other regulated secretion events also fail in hobbit mutant animals, including mucin-like ‘glue’ protein secretion from the larval salivary glands. hobbit mutant salivary glands produce glue-containing secretory granules that are reduced in size. Importantly, secretory granules in hobbit mutant cells lack essential membrane fusion machinery required for exocytosis, including Synaptotagmin 1 and the SNARE SNAP-24. These membrane fusion proteins instead accumulate inside enlarged late endosomes. Surprisingly, however, the Hobbit protein localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum. Our results suggest that Hobbit regulates a novel step in intracellular trafficking of membrane fusion proteins. Our studies also suggest that genetic control of body size, as a measure of insulin secretion, is a sensitive functional readout of the secretory machinery. Summary: Phenotypic analysis of hobbit mutants reveals that Hobbit is a novel and conserved regulator of body size in Drosophila that plays a specific role in secretory granule membrane protein trafficking.
On Government Effectiveness: Organizational and Governance Limitations on the Delivery of Education

These essays discuss organizational and governance issues that limit the effectiveness of governments, with an emphasis on the provision of public education in Brazil. Chapter 1 provides evidence of one benefit of environments that recognize performance, which government organizations often fail to do. I show that recognizing a high-achieving student increases the performance of the recognized student and his high-achieving classmates. The results are consistent with the explanation that the award changes classmates’ perceptions of themselves, which promotes a high-performance mindset (i.e., shaping students’ perceptions about ability, goals within reach and interests). Chapter 2 studies political transitions in an environment where politicians control the appointment of bureaucrats. We show that a change in the political party of local governments adversely affects the quality of education, measured by student achievement. Party turnover leads to disruptions in the operation of the school, increasing the replacement rate of teachers and headmasters and leading to the termination of school programs. This finding highlights the costs of allowing political control over bureaucracies: the control results in disruption of personnel and programs. Chapter 3 shows a negative association between incidences of corruption in educational funds in municipalities and student achievement in municipal schools. The results suggest that both mismanagement and lack of resources due to corruption matter for the quality of public education.
YOU ! ” Membership Preferences in Human-Robot Teams

Although groups of robots are expected to interact with groups of humans in the near future, research related to teams of humans and robots is still scarce. This paper contributes to the study of humanrobot teams by describing the development of two autonomous robotic partners and by investigating how humans choose robots to partner with in a multi-party game context. Our work concerns the successful development of two autonomous robots that are able to interact with a group of two humans in the execution of a task for social and entertainment purposes. The creation of these two characters was motivated by psychological research on learning goal theory, according to which we interpret and approach a given task differently depending on our learning goal. Thus, we developed two robotic characters implemented in two robots: Emys (a competitive robot, based on characteristics related to performance-orientation goals) and Glin (a relationship-driven robot, based on characteristics related The present paper is an extended version of the work in the article“Groups of humans and robots: Understanding membership preferences and team formation”, published in the Proceedings of Robotics: Science and Systems (2017), with the DOI 10.15607/RSS.2017. XIII.024. The present version includes a detailed description of the autonomous robots’ development, not included in the aforementioned article. It also includes a significantly improved discussion of our results in terms of human-robot collaboration. Filipa Correia · Tiago Ribeiro · Francisco S. Melo · Ana Paiva INESC-ID & Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa Avenida Professor Cavaco Silva, Edif́ıcio IST 2744-016 Porto Salvo, Portugal Tel. : +351-214233508, Fax: +351-213145843 E-mail: filipacorreia@tecnico.ulisboa. pt Sofia Petisca · Patŕıcia Alves-Oliveira Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, ISCTE-IUL (CIS-IUL) & INESC-ID to learning-orientation goals). In our study, a group of four (two humans and two autonomous robots) engaged in a card game for social and entertainment purposes. Our study yields several important conclusions regarding groups of humans and robots. (1) When a partner is chosen without previous partnering experience, people tend to prefer robots with relationship-driven characteristics as their partners compared with competitive robots. (2) After some partnering experience has been gained, the choice becomes less clear, and additional driving factors emerge as follows: (2a) participants with higher levels of competitiveness (personal characteristics) tend to prefer Emys, whereas those with lower levels prefer Glin, and (2b) the choice of which robot to partner with also depends on team performance, with the winning team being the preferred choice.
A Comparison of the Health Effects of Ambient Particulate Matter Air Pollution from Five Emission Sources

This article briefly reviews evidence of health effects associated with exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution from five common outdoor emission sources: traffic, coal-fired power stations, diesel exhaust, domestic wood combustion heaters, and crustal dust. The principal purpose of this review is to compare the evidence of health effects associated with these different sources with a view to answering the question: Is exposure to PM from some emission sources associated with worse health outcomes than exposure to PM from other sources? Answering this question will help inform development of air pollution regulations and environmental policy that maximises health benefits. Understanding the health effects of exposure to components of PM and source-specific PM are active fields of investigation. However, the different methods that have been used in epidemiological studies, along with the differences in populations, emission sources, and ambient air pollution mixtures between studies, make the comparison of results between studies problematic. While there is some evidence that PM from traffic and coal-fired power station emissions may elicit greater health effects compared to PM from other sources, overall the evidence to date does not indicate a clear ‘hierarchy’ of harmfulness for PM from different emission sources. Further investigations of the health effects of source-specific PM with more advanced approaches to exposure modeling, measurement, and statistics, are required before changing the current public health protection approach of minimising exposure to total PM mass.
Autumn shifts in cold tolerance metabolites in overwintering adult mountain pine beetles

The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a major forest pest of pines in western North America. Beetles typically undergo a one-year life cycle with larval cold hardening in preparation for overwintering. Two-year life cycle beetles have been observed but not closely studied. This study tracks cold-hardening and preparation for overwintering by adult MPB in their natal galleries. Adults were collected in situ between September and December (2016) for a total of nine time points during 91 days. Concentrations of 41 metabolites in these pooled samples were assessed using quantitative NMR. Levels of glycerol and proline increased significantly with lowering temperature during the autumn. Newly eclosed mountain pine beetles prepare for winter by generating the same cold-tolerance compounds found in larvae, but high on-site mortality suggested that two-year life cycle adults have a less efficacious acclimation process. This is the first documentation of cold acclimation metabolite production in overwintering new adult beetles and is evidence of physiological plasticity that would allow evolution by natural selection of alternate life cycles (shortened or lengthened) under a changing climate or during expansion into new geoclimatic areas.
Role of exercise training in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Preliminary evidence suggests exercise in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may improve reproductive and cardiometabolic parameters. Our primary aim was to determine the impact of exercise training on reproductive health in women with PCOS. Our secondary aim was to determine the effect of exercise training on cardiometabolic indices. A systematic review of published literature was conducted using MEDLINE and EMBASE based on a pre‐published protocol (PROSPERO CRD42017065324). The search was not limited by year. Randomized controlled trials, non‐randomized controlled trials and uncontrolled trials that evaluated an exercise intervention in women with PCOS and reported reproductive outcomes were included. Reproductive outcomes were analysed semi‐quantitatively and a meta‐analysis was conducted for reported cardiometabolic outcomes. Of 517 screened abstracts, 14 studies involving 617 women with PCOS were included: seven randomized controlled trials, one non‐randomized controlled trial and six uncontrolled trials. There were insufficient published data to describe the effect of exercise interventions on ovulation quantitatively, but semi‐quantitative analysis suggested that exercise interventions may improve menstrual regularity, pregnancy and ovulation rates. Our meta‐analysis found that exercise improved lipid profiles and decreased waist circumference, systolic blood pressure and fasting insulin. The impact of exercise interventions on reproductive function remains unclear. However, our meta‐analysis suggests that exercise interventions may improve cardiometabolic profiles in women with PCOS.
Health information quality on the internet in gynecological oncology: a multilingual evaluation.

BACKGROUND Oncological internet information quality is considered variable, but no comprehensive analysis of gynecological malig- nancies exists. The present authors' objectives were to compare the quality of common malignancy websites and to assess for language or disease differences; and secondly, to perform a quality comparison between medical and layperson terminology. MATERIALS AND METHODS World Health Organization (WHO) Health on the Net (HON) principles may be applied to websites using an automated toolbar function. Using a search engine (www.Google.com) 8,400 websites were assessed using keywords 'endometrial, 'uterine', 'cervical', 'ovarian', 'vaginal', 'vulvar', plus 'cancer', in English, French, German, and Spanish; repeated for alternate terms e.g. 'cervix', 'womb'. RESULTS Searches for "vaginal' 'uterine', 'cervical', and 'endometrial' each returned millions of websites. The total percentage of all assessed HON-accredited sites was notably low across all search terms (median 15%; range 3-19%). Significant differences by malignancy type (p < 0.0001), language (p < 0.0001), and tertiles (thirds) of the first 150 websites returned (p < 0.0001). French language had most accredited websites. Using alternate terms demonstrated significant differences (p < 0.001) in accredited websites for most gynecological cancers. CONCLUSIONS Internet data on gynecological malignancies is overwhelming. Further, a lack of validation of the majority of gynecological oncologic sites should be appreciated with discrepancies in quality and number of websites across diseases, languages, and also between medical and layperson terms. Physicians should encourage and more importantly their professional bodies should participate in the development of informative, ethical, and reliable health websites on the internet and direct patients to them.
Higher Plasma Fibrinogen Levels are Associated with Malignant Phenotype and Worse Survival in Patients with Glioblastomas

Preoperative plasma fibrinogen levels were associated with poor clinical outcomes in malignancies. There were few data about the prognostic value of plasma fibrinogen in glioblastomas (GBMs). The objective of our study was to investigate the association between fibrinogen and patients' clinicopathological factors and overall survival (OS). From 2008 to 2016, 315 patients with GBMs who had a surgical treatment at our institute, were retrospectively involved in this study. IDH (isocitrate dehydrogenase) mutations and ATRX (alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked) loss were detected with IHC (Immunohistochemistry). The preoperative plasma fibrinogen levels ranged from 1.00 to 5.22 g/L, with a mean of were 2.57 g/L. There were increased levels of plasma fibrinogen in patients aged ≥ 65 years, secondary GBMs, IDH mutation (p = 0.033) and ATRX loss (p = 0.040). Moreover, the plasma fibrinogen level was the highest in the subtype of IDH-1R132H wildtype - ATRX expression, which showed a shorter OS compared to the group of IDH-1R132H mut and IDH-1R132H wildtype - ATRX loss (p = 0.001, log-rank test). ROC curves for fibrinogen and IDH-1R132H wildtype - ATRX expression was also plotted, and indicated a potential diagnostic value of fibrinogen in molecular pathology. Univariate analysis found that younger age, higher KPS (Karnofsky Performance Score), gross total resection, complete chemoradiotherapy, IDH-1R132H mutations and lower levels of fibrinogen were associated with favorable outcomes. Multivariate analysis proved that chemoradiotherapy, IDH-1R132H and fibrinogen were independent prognostic factors. In conclusion, plasma fibrinogen could predict clinical outcome and molecular subtype in GBMs.
Role of caveolin‐1 in hepatocellular carcinoma arising from non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease

The molecular features of hepatocellular carcinoma arising from non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD‐HCC) are not well known. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which NAFLD‐HCC survives in a fat‐rich environment. We found that caveolin (CAV)‐1 was overexpressed in clinical specimens from NAFLD‐HCC patients. HepG2, HLE, and HuH‐7 HCC cell lines showed decreased proliferation in the presence of the saturated fatty acids palmitic acid and stearic acid, although only HLE cells expressed high levels of CAV‐1. HLE cells treated with oleic acid (OA) showed robust proliferation, whereas CAV‐null HepG2 cells showed reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis. CAV‐1 knockdown in HLE cells attenuated the OA‐induced increase in proliferation and enhanced apoptosis. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the levels of OA‐containing ceramide, a pro‐apoptotic factor, were higher in HepG2 and CAV‐1‐deficient HLE cells than in HLE cells, suggesting that CAV‐1 inhibits apoptosis by decreasing the level of OA‐containing ceramide. These results indicate that CAV‐1 is important for NAFLD‐HCC survival in fatty acid‐rich environments and is a potential therapeutic target.