Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesizing Ornamental Typefaces

We present a method for creating ornamental typeface images. Ornamental typefaces are a composite artwork made from the assemblage of images that carry similar semantics to words. These appealing word‐art works often attract the attention of more people and convey more meaningful information than general typefaces. However, traditional ornamental typefaces are usually created by skilled artists, which involves tedious manual processes, especially when searching for appropriate materials and assembling them. Hence, we aim to provide an easy way to create ornamental typefaces for novices. How to combine users' design intentions with image semantic and shape information to obtain readable and appealing ornamental typefaces is the key challenge to generate ornamental typefaces. To address this problem, we first provide a scribble‐based interface for users to segment the input typeface into strokes according to their design concepts. To ensure the consistency of the image semantics and stroke shape, we then define a semantic‐shape similarity metric to select a set of suitable images. Finally, to beautify the typeface structure, an optional optimal strategy is investigated. Experimental results and user studies show that the proposed algorithm effectively generates attractive and readable ornamental typefaces.
Gender disparities in livestock production and their implication for livestock productivity in Africa

Livestock is a dominant agricultural activity in Africa, which is generally considered a key asset for most rural livelihoods and food security. This discussion is a synthesis of counter productive gender disparities in livestock production, focusing on issues of ownership, decision making and access to productive resources, and how these may influence livestock production. Livestock production in general, offers advantages over other agricultural activities and has been used as an entry point for promoting gender balance. However, the contribution of livestock production to household welfare in most cases has been insignificant due to various gender disparities. There are many measures which need to be explored with the aim of making the livestock systems become driving forces of rural household economies. Through the ‘gender lens’ the discussion also examines the roles, activities, responsibilities, opportunities and constraints of women in livestock production which compromise the achievement of greater equality between women and men within their spheres of interaction in household livestock production. One of the major factors responsible for the declining livestock productivity in rural areas is the relegation to the background of the contributions of women in the issues of livestock production. In this discussion, some of the strategic steps that can be adopted for future viable livestock production, include and not limited to the following: promotion of gender equality and equity in livestock production
Adopting the system of rice intensification (SRI) in Tanzania: A review

The demand of water for irrigation purposes in Tanzania outstrips the amount of water available for irrigation and other demands. On the other hand, the demand for more food to feed the growing population is increasing, calling for the need to have technologies and farming practices that ensure more food production while minimizing water uses. Rice is among cereal crops grown in Tanzania, and it can assist in meeting the food demand for the nation. Majority of rice producers in Tanzania and Sub-Saharan Africa(SSA) are subsistence farmers and they practice continuous flooding, a technique that requires much water. In addition to using large amounts of water, the conventional practices of growing paddy using local varieties transplanting process are implemented when seedlings are more than 21 days old, and 3-4 seedlings are transplanted in one hole. This practice results in low yields, and low water productivity and water use efficiency. The system of rice intensification (SRI) on the other hand, is a promising new practice of growing paddy rice that has proven to be very effective in saving water and increasing rice yields in many parts of the world. SRI practice is spreading fast and it has been adopted in many countries. The SRI practice has been introduced in Tanzania during the last 3 years as such it is not widely practiced. This paper reviews SRI practice at global, regional and country (Tanzania) level, and evaluates the challenges, opportunities and implications for its adoption in Tanzania. Knowledge gaps at each level have been identified and discussed as well as suggestions for researchable areas.
The effect of automated service quality on Australian banks' financial performance and the mediating role of customer satisfaction

Purpose – First, to investigate the relationship between customer perception of service quality and bank financial performance in the new context of the automated banking environment in Australia. Second, to test for the mediating role of customer satisfaction in that relationship.Design/methodology/approach – Reviews a very large literature and numerous previous empirical investigations of service quality. Defines automated service quality. Proposes a mediated model linking service quality to banks' financial performance through customer satisfaction in the context of the automated retail banking, and tests it by structural equation modelling (Amos 5). Findings – Customer satisfaction is confirmed as a mediator in the relationship between automated service quality and financial performance.Research limitations/implications – Further research is indicated, to validate the relevance of the findings across different countries.Practical implications – The proposed model can guide the formulation of marketing .
Problematizing Agile in the Large: Alternative Assumptions for Large-Scale Agile Development

In this paper we critically examine the underlying assumptions in existing studies of large-scale agile software development. We use Alvesson and Sandberg’s problematization methodology and find that existing studies of large-scale agile share a number of underlying assumptions relevant to small rather than large-scale projects. Empirically, we draw on a case study of a large-scale agile project lasting nearly four years and involving more than 120 participants. Interestingly, the findings of the study contradict many of the assumptions in the literature review. For example, work across boundaries becomes at least as important as work within teams. We contribute by developing an alternative set of assumptions better suited to the characteristics of large-scale agile software development. Based on this, we re-conceptualize agile in the large, emphasizing both the complex knowledge boundaries within the project itself, as well as the interactive complexity and tight coupling with technologies and processes outside the project.
New product development: using the salesforce to identify opportunities

The development process for new products is critically dependent on customer‐generated new product ideas. Although several conduits exist for identifying and communicating these ideas, by far the most productive one is the organization’s salesforce. While the integral role of salespeople as the linkage between buyers and sellers is generally acknowledged by many researchers, little empirical evidence exists which explores this role. This paper explores the role of the salesforce as an information source in the opportunity identification phase of the new product development process. It presents results of an empirical study of 223 sales managers concerning actual use and effectiveness of the salesforce as a source of new product ideas and proposes specific recommendations concerning improved utilization of the salesforce as a source of new product ideas generated from customers.
Experimental Evidence for Radiative Attachment in Astrochemistry from Electron Attachment to NCCCCN

Electron attachment to NCCCCN, dicyanoacetylene (2-butynedinitrile), has been observed. Metastable parent anions, NCCCCN−*, with microsecond or longer lifetimes are formed close to 0 eV electron energy with a cross section of ≥0.25 Å2. The stability of NCCCCN−* suggests that radiative attachment to NCCCCN and similar linear carbon chain molecules may be an important mechanism for the formation of negatively charged molecular ions in astrophysical environments. CCCN− and CN− fragment anions are formed at ~3 and ~6 eV.
Duplex follow-up of aorto-iliac stents.

OBJECTIVES to assess the feasibility of duplex follow up of aorto-iliac stents. MATERIAL AND METHODS in addition to standard clinical and ankle/brachial pressure assessment, 75 patients undergoing aorto-iliac stenting for atherosclerotic disease were prospectively followed up with duplex ultrasound at 3 monthly interval up to 1 year and then annually. We attempted to directly visualise the stents wherever possible using standard 2D imaging, standard and power Doppler, as well as spectral Doppler. Patients had an angiogram at 12 months or sooner if a problem was identified on the duplex scan. RESULTS mean follow up was 14 months (2-36). Complete visualisation of the pelvic arterial tree was achieved in 94% of scans. All patients had at least one satisfactory scan. Duplex detected 30 lesions in 23 patients. Twenty-seven lesions were confirmed at angiography. There were two false positives. Overall sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 100%, 93% and 96% for patient undergoing angiography. CONCLUSION duplex ultrasound follow up is feasible in the majority of patients.
Abnormalities of Respiratory Control and the Respiratory Motor Unit

Background:Control of ventilation depends on a brainstem neuronal network that controls activity of the motor neurons innervating the respiratory muscles. This network includes the pontine respiratory group and the dorsal and ventral respiratory groups in the medulla. Neurologic disorders affecting these areas or the respiratory motor unit may lead to abnormal breathing. Review Summary:The brainstem respiratory network contains neurons critical for respiratory rhythmogenesis; this network receives inputs from peripheral and central chemoreceptors sensitive to levels of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) and oxygen (PaO2) and from forebrain structures that control respiration as part of integrated behaviors such as speech or exercise. Manifestations associated with disorders of this network include sleep apnea and dysrhythmic breathing frequently associated with disturbances of cardiovagal and sympathetic vasomotor control. Common disorders associated with impaired cardiorespiratory control include brainstem stroke or compression, syringobulbia, Chiari malformation, high cervical spinal cord injuries, and multiple system atrophy. By far, neuromuscular disorders are the more common neurologic conditions leading to respiratory failure. Conclusions:Respiratory dysfunction constitute an early and relatively major manifestation of several neurologic disorders and may be due to an abnormal breathing pattern generation due to involvement of the cardiorespiratory network or more frequently to respiratory muscle weakness.
Diagnostic performance of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis.

OBJECTIVE Early diagnosis of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO) is frequently difficult. There are, however, few studies that have investigated the diagnostic performance of PVO in Japan. Our aim was to analyze the diagnostic performance and identify clinical factors associated with the diagnostic delay of PVO. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed hospital-based retrospective case analysis. All patients with PVO were identified from the computerized medical database at Okinawa Chubu Hospital in Okinawa, Japan, from January 1985 to December 2004. We collected the following data; baseline information; laboratory tests; clinical and microbiologic outcomes; and diagnostic process. We used multivariable-adjusted linear regression to identify significant factors associated with patient and hospital delay to the diagnosis of PVO. RESULTS We reviewed total of 209,428 patients hospitalized during the 20-year study period. Of those, we identified 51 patients with PVO. Eighty percent of these patients were misdiagnosed at their initial clinical encounters. Median duration from the symptom onset to the diagnosis was 19 days. Median durations of patient factor and hospital factor that contributed to the total delay were 1 and 8 days, respectively. Significant patient factor that contributed to delay was cognitive dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive dysfunction is a risk factor for patient delay for visiting physicians in patients with PVO. Diagnosis of PVO is difficult at the initial clinical encounter. High index of suspicion is needed for more rapid diagnosis of PVO.
Development of a numerical model for the electric current in burner-stabilised methane–air flames

This study presents a new model to simulate the electric behaviour of one-dimensional ionised flames and to predict the electric currents in these flames. The model utilises Poisson’s equation to compute the electric potential. A multi-component diffusion model, including the influence of an electric field, is used to model the diffusion of neutral and charged species. The model is incorporated into the existing CHEM1D flame simulation software. A comparison between the computed electric currents and experimental values from the literature shows good qualitative agreement for the voltage–current characteristic. Physical phenomena, such as saturation and the diodic effect, are captured by the model. The dependence of the saturation current on the equivalence ratio is also captured well for equivalence ratios between 0.6 and 1.2. Simulations show a clear relation between the saturation current and the total number of charged particles created. The model shows that the potential at which the electric field saturates is strongly dependent on the recombination rate and the diffusivity of the charged particles. The onset of saturation occurs because most created charged particles are withdrawn from the flame and because the electric field effects start dominating over mass based diffusion. It is shown that this knowledge can be used to optimise ionisation chemistry mechanisms. It is shown numerically that the so-called diodic effect is caused primarily by the distance the heavier cations have to travel to the cathode.
Detection of Oligodendrocytes in Tissue Sections Using PCR Synthesis of Digoxigenin-labeled Probes

Oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells in the central nervous system, were visualized with excellent resolution at the light microscopic level using in situ hybridization (ISH). Digoxigenin (Dig)-tagged probes were synthesized and efficiently labeled by PCR. Specific probes to myelin genes were made by RT from brain total RNAs, followed by PCR with designed specific primers in the presence of Dig-11-dUTP. Probes specific to proteolipid protein (PLP), PLP and its isoform DM20 (PLP/DM20), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) were synthesized and labeled. ISH was then applied on vibratomed tissue sections from mouse brains. Despite a low expression of MOG-specific and PLP-specific mRNAs in adult and newborn mouse brains, an oligodendrocyte population was detected. The specificity of Dig-labeled probes was confirmed with the double labeling of carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunocytochemistry and ISH. This versatile and easy method for synthesis and labeling of specific probes to oligodendrocytes can be also applied to detect many other mRNAs in the nervous system and in other tissues.
Protection from Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Lysis by HLA-G Expression on Target Cells

The outermost layer of the human placenta is devoid of classical class I human leukocyte antigens (HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C) and class II proteins (HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, and HLA-DP). Although this prevents recognition by maternal T lymphocytes, the lack of class I molecules leaves these cells susceptible to attack by natural killer (NK) cells. However, trophoblast cells directly in contact with the maternal tissues express the class I molecule HLA-G, which may be involved in protecting the trophoblast from recognition by NK cells. Here evidence is provided that expression of HLA-G is sufficient to protect otherwise susceptible target cells from lysis by activated NK1 and NK2 cell lines and clones that are specific for distinct groups of HLA-C alleles. The receptors on NK cells that recognize HLA-G are also identified.
Marketing concentration and geographical dispersion: a survey of organic farms in England and Wales.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the proportion and distribution of organic produce sold through different marketing channels by a sample of organic farmers in three “core” areas of organic farming in England and Wales. More specifically, it conducts a quantitative analysis of marketing concentration and geographical dispersion within different travel time zones.Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative database was constructed on the marketing channels and travel time zones used by 61 organic farmers to sell their produce and purchase necessary inputs. Indices of marketing concentration and geographical dispersion (outputs and inputs) were then calculated for each farm and region.Findings – Results indicate a high level of marketing concentration, dominated by marketing cooperatives, direct marketing and abattoir/processors. Similar levels of concentration are recorded for the indices of geographical dispersion (especially outputs). Results vary significantly between the three regions.
Barriers to the treatment of social anxiety.

OBJECTIVE This article evaluates barriers to treatment reported by adults with social anxiety who participated in the 1996 National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day. METHOD The background characteristics of screening day participants with symptoms of social anxiety (N=6,130) were compared with those of participants without social anxiety (N=4,507). Barriers to previous mental health treatment reported by participants with and without symptoms of social anxiety were compared. RESULTS Social anxiety was strongly associated with functional impairment, feelings of social isolation, and suicidal ideation. Compared to participants without social anxiety, those with social anxiety were significantly more likely to report that financial barriers, uncertainty over where to go for help, and fear of what others might think or say prevented them from seeking treatment. However, they were significantly less likely to report they avoided treatment because they did not believe they had an anxiety disorder. Roughly one-third (N=1,400 of 3,682, 38.0%) of the participants with symptoms of social anxiety who were referred for further evaluation were specifically referred for an evaluation for social phobia. CONCLUSIONS Social anxiety is associated with a distinct pattern of treatment barriers. Treatment access may be improved by building public awareness of locally available services, easing the psychological and financial burden of entering treatment, and increasing health care professionals' awareness of its clinical significance.
The Role of Religion and Culture on Bereavement: The example of the Orthodox Christian tradition

In the embodiments described in the specification pollutants in the exhaust gas of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle having an exhaust-gas purification device containing a catalyst in the exhaust line are reduced by controlling The air/fuel ratio supplied to the cylinders of the internal combustion engine in such a way that at least one of the engine cylinders is operated with a lean air/fuel ratio and the remaining cylinders are operated with a rich air/fuel ratio while a lambda value of approximately one is maintained in the overall exhaust flow from all the cylinders. In addition to rapid heating of the catalyst in the exhaust-gas purification device and compensation for a relatively low storage capacity of the catalyst, this arrangement also reduces the quantity of untreated exhaust upstream of the catalyst.
Evaluating Retrieval Effectiveness of Descriptors for Searching in Large Image Databases

This article presents an evaluation of image descriptors for searching in large image databases. Several image descriptors proposed in the literature achieve high precision levels when experimented in small (less than 20,000 images) and well-behaved image databases. Our assumption is that retrieval effectiveness may be strongly affected by variations in size, quality, and diversity of the images in the database. In order to verify whether an image descriptor maintains its retrieval effectiveness in large databases, experiments were carried out using several image descriptors and three image collections, including one with over 100,000 images collected from the Web. The results obtained show that in general the retrieval effectiveness of the different descriptors varies little in small image collections whereas in large image collections they differ significantly. Among the descriptors used in the experiments, there are two proposed by us for being used in large and heterogeneous image databases. The proposed descriptors outperform significantly the other descriptors used as baselines in the Web collection. These results give us a better understanding about the features and the strategies that should be followed to construct descriptors for practical search tasks in large image databases.
Minimal Streptomyces sp. strain C5 daunorubicin polyketide biosynthesis genes required for aklanonic acid biosynthesis

The structure of the Streptomyces sp. strain C5 daunorubicin type II polyketide synthase (PKS) gene region is different from that of other known type II PKS gene clusters. Directly downstream of the genes encoding ketoacylsynthase alpha and beta (KS alpha, KS beta) are two genes (dpsC, dpsD) encoding proteins of unproven function, both absent from other type II PKS gene clusters. Also in contrast to other type II PKS clusters, the gene encoding the acyl carrier protein (ACP), dpsG, is located about 6.8 kbp upstream of the genes encoding the daunorubicin KS alpha and KS beta. In this work, we demonstrate that the minimal genes required to produce aklanonic acid in heterologous hosts are dpsG (ACP), dauI (regulatory activator), dpsA (KS alpha), dpsB (KS beta), dpsF (aromatase), dpsE (polyketide reductase), and dauG (putative deoxyaklanonic acid oxygenase). The two unusual open reading frames, dpsC (KASIII homolog lacking a known active site) and dpsD (acyltransferase homolog), are not required to synthesize aklanonic acid. Additionally, replacement of dpsD or dpsCD in Streptomyces sp. strain C5 with a neomycin resistance gene (aphI) results in mutant strains that still produced anthracyclines.
Privatization Experiences in France

France lived through a long period of nationalization until the early 1980s, when nearly all the largest industrials firms as well as all the banks and public services were state-owned. Since then, a series of privatization moves have caused the state sector to shrink. Public services present a complex situation. For example, after its IPO, the national telecommunications operator France Telecom was simultaneously subjected to the deregulation of the telecom market in the world and to a new type of governance. EDF, the national electricity producer is next in line and should experience the same problems and opportunities.