Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Image-Based Learning to Measure the Space Mean Speed on a Stretch of Road without the Need to Tag Images with Labels

Space mean speed cannot be directly measured in the field, although it is a basic parameter that is used to evaluate traffic conditions. An end-to-end convolutional neural network (CNN) was adopted to measure the space mean speed based solely on two consecutive road images. However, tagging images with labels (=true space mean speeds) by manually positioning and tracking every vehicle on road images is a formidable task. The present study was focused on naïve animation images provided by a traffic simulator, because these contain perfect information concerning vehicle movement to attain labels. The animation images, however, seem far-removed from actual photos taken in the field. A cycle-consistent adversarial network (CycleGAN) bridged the reality gap by mapping the animation images into seemingly realistic images that could not be distinguished from real photos. A CNN model trained on the synthesized images was tested on real photos that had been manually labeled. The test performance was comparable to those of state-of-the-art motion-capture technologies. The proposed method showed that deep-learning models to measure the space mean speed could be trained without the need for time-consuming manual annotation.
Relationship between serum osteocalcin/undercarboxylated osteocalcin and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review/meta-analysis study protocol

Introduction The global burden of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is steadily increasing. Experimental studies have demonstrated that a novel hormone secreted by bone cells, osteocalcin (OC), can stimulate beta-cell proliferation and improve insulin sensitivity in mice. Observational studies in humans have investigated the relationship between OC and metabolic parameters, and T2DM. Importantly, few studies have reported on the undercarboxylated form of OC (ucOC), which is the putative active form of OC suggested to affect glucose metabolism. Objectives We will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to: (1) compare the levels of serum OC and ucOC between T2DM and normal glucose-tolerant controls (NGC); (2) investigate the risk ratios between serum OC and ucOC, and T2DM; (3) determine the correlation coefficient between OC and ucOC and fasting insulin levels, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance, haemoglobin A1c and fasting glucose levels and (4) explore potential sources of between-study heterogeneity. The secondary objective is to compare the serum OC and ucOC between pre-diabetes (PD) and NGC and between T2DM and PD. hods and analysis This study will report items in line with the guidelines outlined in preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology. We will include observational studies (cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies) and intervention studies with baseline data. Three databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and SCOPUS) will be searched from inception until July 2018 without language restrictions. Two reviewers will independently screen the titles and abstracts and conduct a full-text assessment to identify eligible studies. Discrepancies will be resolved by consensus with a third reviewer. The risk of bias assessment will be conducted by two reviewers independently based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Potential sources of between-study heterogeneity will be tested using meta-regression/subgroup analyses. Contour-enhanced funnel plots and Egger’s test will be used to identify potential publication bias. Ethics and dissemination Formal ethical approval is not required. We will disseminate the results to a peer-reviewed publication and conference presentation. PROSPERO registration number CRD42017073127.
Spirituality in the continuing education of healthcare professionals: An approach to palliative care

Abstract Objective A major barrier to the adoption of an approach that integrates spirituality into palliative care is the lack of preparation/education of healthcare professionals on the topic. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a continuing education activity for healthcare professionals addressing spirituality and spiritual care provision to patients and families within palliative care. Method We conducted an intervention study using a quantitative pre- and posttest design in a convenience sample of 52 healthcare professionals. Participants completed the Brazilian version of the Spiritual Care Competence Scale before and after attending a four-hour continuing education activity. Result Significant differences were observed between pre- and postintervention scores in the following dimensions: assessment and implementation of spiritual care, professionalization and improving the quality of spiritual care, personal support, and patient counseling (p < 0.001), and referral (p = 0.003). Significance of results The results of this study provide preliminary evidence of a positive effect of this educational intervention on the development of the competences needed by healthcare professionals to deliver a comprehensive approach centered on the patient/family, which includes attention to spirituality and spiritual care in the decision-making process.
An Educational Approach for Present and Future of Digital Transformation in Portuguese Organizations

The current technological evolution allows us to easily and quickly obtain more information, computing capacity, communication and connectivity, in addition to allowing new forms of collaboration between disperse networks of diversified actors. This new reality not only offers enormous potential for innovation and enhanced performance for organizations but also, extends beyond the classic boundaries to affect individuals, other organizations and society in general. At the same time, this reality makes the ability of organizations to uphold their competitive advantage more challenging, since the control of the elements of their operating environment decreases drastically as they increasingly control the elements of the same environment. This is how the digital transformation of organizations becomes unavoidable, because otherwise they tend to disappear. In this context, it is necessary to infer our students’ methods for researching, identifying and taking solutions about if organizations in Portugal are already living the aforementioned digital transformation or if they are aware of the need to adapt to this new reality. The main goal of this research formatted as educational approach, is to evaluate and compare the current state of digital adoption in terms of the preparation according to the prevailing technological categories (pillars and innovation accelerators), as well as future priorities of organizations in the implementation of digital transformation in Portuguese organizations. To evaluate such objectives, a Project Based Learning (PBL) approach was used to reinforce the research and decision-making skills of undergraduate business students. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that organizations are aware of the need to accommodate the digital transformation not to fail and disappearing. However, it is not possible to conclude which strategy is to be adopted by the organizations, and how such a strategy will affect the organization as a whole, in particular as in respect of its business model.
EXPOSURE TO THE CHINESE FAMINE IN EARLY LIFE AND THE THYROID FUNCTION AND NODULES IN ADULTHOOD.

BACKGROUND Previous studies found famine exposure was associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and fatty liver in adult women. In the study, we investigated the relationship between the Chinese famine exposure in early life and the thyroid function and nodules in adulthood. DESIGN Retrospective analyzed the data of subjects underwent routine physical check-up in the Public Health Center of our hospital in 2017. Subjects were divided into three groups: post-, pre-, and non-exposed group. The basal metabolic rate (BMR) was estimated by the revised Harris-Benedict formulation. The serum levels thyroid hormones were detected. Thyroid ultrasonography was performed by experienced technicians. The diagnosis of thyroid nodules was according to the thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS). RESULTS Compared to non-exposed subjects, the postnatally exposed subjects have significantly lower FT4, and statistically higher uTSH (p<0.05). The thyroid autoimmune antibodies between famine exposed groups and non-exposed group did not have significant difference (p>0.05). There were no statistical differences of heart rate and BMR among these groups (p>0.05). The famine exposure did not affect either the numbers thyroid nodules, or the TI-RADS score of thyroid nodules, or the maximal diameters of thyroid nodules. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate a significant association between famine exposure in early life and the down-regulated thyroid function in adulthood. Postnatal famine exposure may be more vulnerable to nutrients deficiency and lead to restricted thyroid development in later life.
UAV‐derived estimates of forest structure to inform ponderosa pine forest restoration

Restoring forest ecosystems has become an increasingly high priority for land managers across the American West. Millions of hectares of forest are in need of drastic yet strategic reductions in density (e.g., basal area). Meeting the restoration and management goals requires quantifying metrics of vertical and horizontal forest structure, which has relied upon field‐based measurements, manned airborne or satellite remote sensing datasets. We used unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) image‐derived Structure‐from‐Motion (SfM) models and high‐resolution multispectral orthoimagery in this study to quantify vertical and horizontal forest structure at both the fine‐ (<4 ha) and mid‐scales (4–400 ha) across a forest density gradient. We then used these forest structure estimates to assess specific objectives of a forest restoration treatment. At the fine‐scale, we found that estimates of individual tree height and canopy diameter were most accurate in low‐density conditions, with accuracies degrading significantly in high‐density conditions. Mid‐scale estimates of canopy cover and forest density followed a similar pattern across the density gradient, demonstrating the effectiveness of UAV image‐derived estimates in low‐ to medium‐density conditions as well as the challenges associated with high‐density conditions. We found that post‐treatment conditions met a majority of the prescription objectives and demonstrate the UAV image application in quantifying changes from a mechanical thinning treatment. We provide a novel approach to forest restoration monitoring using UAV‐derived data, one that considers varying density conditions and spatial scales. Future research should consider a more spatially extensive sampling design, including different restoration treatments, as well as experimenting with different combinations of equipment, flight parameters, and data processing workflows.
Dysregulation of hypothalamic‐pituitary estrogen receptor α–mediated signaling causes episodic LH secretion and cystic ovary

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal (HPG) axis disorder. PCOS symptoms most likely result from a disturbance in the complex feedback regulation system of the HPG axis, which involves gonadotrophic hormones and ovarian steroid hormones. However, the nature of this complex and interconnecting feedback regulation makes it difficult to dissect the molecular mechanisms responsible for PCOS phenotypes. Global estrogen receptor α (ERα) knockout (KO) mice exhibit a disruption of the HPG axis, resulting in hormonal dysregulation in which female ERt* KO mice have elevated levels of serum estradiol (E2), testosterone, and LH. The ERt* KO females are anovulatory and develop cystic hemorrhagic ovaries that are thought to be due to persistently high circulating levels of LH from the pituitary. However, the role of ERt* in the pituitary is still controversial because of the varied phenotypes reported in pituitary‐specific ERα KO mouse models. Therefore, we developed a mouse model where ERt* is reintroduced to be exclusively expressed in the pituitary on the background of a global ERα‐null (PitERtgKO) mouse. Serum E2 and LH levels were normalized in PitERtgKO females and were comparable to wild‐type serum levels. However, the ovaries of PitERtgKO adult mice displayed a more overt cystic and hemorrhagic phenotype when compared with ERt* KO littermates. We determined that anomalous sporadic LH secretion caused the severe ovarian phenotype of PitERtgKO females. Our observations suggest that pituitary ERα is involved in the estrogen negative feedback regulation, whereas hypothalamic ERt* is necessary for the precise control of LH secretion. Uncontrolled, irregular LH secretion may be the root cause of the cystic ovarian phenotype with similarities to PCOS. —Arao, Y. , Hamilton, K. J., Wu, S. ‐P., Tsai, M. ‐J., DeMayo, F. J., Korach, K. S. Dysregulation of hypothalamic‐pituitary estrogen receptor α–mediated signaling causes episodic LH secretion and cystic ovary. FASEB J. 33, 7375–7386 (2019). www.fasebj. org
A Comparative Study of Field Nematode Communities over a Decade of Cotton Production in Australia

Soil nematode populations have the potential to indicate ecosystem disturbances. In response to questions about nematode interactions with soilborne diseases and whether genetically modified cotton altered nematode populations, several fields in the Namoi cotton growing area of Australia were sampled between 2005 and 2007. No significant interactions were observed, but nematodes numbers were low and postulated to be due to the use of the nematicide aldicarb. Aldicarb was removed from the system in 2011 and in 2015 funding allowed some fields to be resampled to determine if there had been a change in the nematode numbers following aldicarb removal. No significant changes in the total nematode numbers were observed, implying that the removal of aldicarb had little impact on the total nematode population size. However, an increase in plant parasitic nematodes was observed in both fields, but the species identified and the levels of change were not considered a threat to cotton production nor driven solely by altered pesticide chemistry. Additionally, greater numbers of higher order coloniser-persisters in the 2015 samples suggests that the current cotton production system is less disruptive to the soil ecosystem than that of a decade ago.
Role of Neurocognitive Factors in Academic Fluency for Children and Adults With Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele

Abstract Objectives: Fluency is a major problem for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, including fluency deficits for academic skills. The aim of this study was to determine neurocognitive predictors of academic fluency within and across domains of reading, writing, and math, in children and adults, with and without spina bifida. In addition to group differences, we expected some neurocognitive predictors (reaction time, inattention) to have similar effects for each academic fluency outcome, and others (dexterity, vocabulary, nonverbal reasoning) to have differential effects across outcomes. Methods: Neurocognitive predictors were reaction time, inattention, dexterity, vocabulary, and nonverbal reasoning; other factors included group (individuals with spina bifida, n=180; and without, n=81), age, and demographic and untimed academic content skill covariates. Univariate and multivariate regressions evaluated hypotheses. Results: Univariate regressions were significant and robust (R 2 =.78, .70, .73, for reading, writing, and math fluency, respectively), with consistent effects of covariates, age, reaction time, and vocabulary; group and group moderation showed small effect sizes (<2%). Multivariate contrasts showed differential prediction across academic fluency outcomes for reaction time and vocabulary. Conclusions: The novelty of the present work is determining neurocognitive predictors for an important outcome (academic fluency), within and across fluency domains, across population (spina bifida versus typical), over a large developmental span, in the context of well-known covariates. Results offer insight into similarities and differences regarding prediction of different domains of academic fluency, with implications for addressing academic weakness in spina bifida, and for evaluating similar questions in other neurodevelopmental disorders. (JINS, 2019, 25, 249–265)
Bank-Firm Relationships in Emerging Markets: Evidence from India

Using data on bank-firm relationships for 2004, the study examines the factors influencing the relationships between bank and corporates. In particular, we examine the determinants of main bank relationship and the factors influencing multiple banking relationships. The findings suggest that state-owned banks have a comparative advantage in providing main relationships for informationally opaque firms. As regards the determinants of multiple banking relationships, it is found that firms without SBI-group banks as main bank are less likely to have multiple relationships. Finally, the results indicate that multiple banking relationships lowers borrowing costs for corporates: for a new bank granting credit, the interest rate charged by each bank declines by roughly 15-18 basis points. Relationship banking plays an important role in overcoming credit constraints for business. In the presence of informational asymmetry, adverse selection and moral hazard can lead to credit rationing, a problem that can be overcome by banking relationships, which over time, enables the bank to obtain information on the borrowing firm’s observable qualities and therefore, mitigate credit rationing. A growing body of theoretical literature examines the cost and benefits of banking relationships, suggesting that long-term exclusive banking relationships can relax the credit constraints of firms. On the other hand, such relationships potentially allow banks to extract rents by exploiting the informational monopoly power they possess over a firm if the quality of the firm is good but unobservable and the firm has good investment opportunities (Sharpe, 1990; Rajan, 1992; von Thadden, 1995). At the same time, informationally opaque firms with a single banking relationship are vulnerable to liquidity shocks to their first bank: unable to borrow from their preferred bank, such businesses may be unable to obtain financing from other non-relational banks, which fear they might be dealing with a ‘lemon’ (Detragiache et al., 2000). Therefore, in order to ensure stable financing, firms of both good and bad quality typically often choose multiple sources. The literature has also examined the comparative advantages of different bank ownership types – state-owned, private and foreign – in providing services to different categories of firms. Existing studies, however, do not directly address the potentially
A time-slice experiment with the ECHAM4 A-GCM at high resolution: The experimental design and the assessment of climate change as compared to a greenhouse gas experiment with ECHAM4/OPYC at low resolution

The experimental design of a time-slice experiment, which has been performed with the ECHAM4 A-GCM at a horizontal resolution of T106, is outlined and a description of the external forcing that has been prescribed during the time-slice experiment is given. Further, the climate statistics and the change in climate inferred from the time-slice experiment for a variety of meteorological variables are discussed. In order to investigate, to which extent the assessment of anthropogenic climate change depends on the horizontal resolution of the AGCM, the results inferred from the time-slice experiment are compared to those obtained from the climate change simulation with the ECHAM4/OPYC coupled model at a horizontal resolution of T42 that has provided the lower boundary forcing for the time-slice experiment. The time-slice experiment reveals a distinct change in climate caused by the anticipated increase in the atmospheric concentrations of the important greenhouse gases. The assessment of the anthropogenic climate change depends, however, on the horizontal resolution of the AGCM employed. These differences in the climate change signals, which result mainly from deviations in the simulations of the present-day climate, are due to a different impact of the horizontal resolution on the simulation of the present-day than on the simulation of the future climate, which has been affected by the anticipated increase in the atmospheric concentrations of the important greenhouse gases. The differences in the simulations of the climate for the two periods of the experiments at the different horizontal resolutions, in turn, are related to various causes: firstly, the incorporation of the non-linear interactions with those scales that are not resolved at the low resolution and their impact on the dynamical characteristics of the model, and secondly, the different behaviour of the physical parameterizations at the different resolutions and their local impact on certain meteorological variables such as the near-surface temperature and precipitation and their remote impact on the large-scale circulation. Moreover, the more realistic representation of the topography at the high resolution effects the simulations of a number of processes and phenomena on local as well as on regional scales.
Molecular Taxonomy of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome Based on Whole Transcriptome Profiling by Next-Generation RNA Sequencing of Bladder Mucosal Biopsies.

PURPOSE We systematically characterized gene expression, inflammation and neovascularization in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome to obtain biological evidence supporting diagnosis and classification. MATERIALS AND METHODS We sequenced RNA obtained from bladder mucosal biopsies of 33 patients with 3 subtypes of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, including Hunner lesions in 12, no Hunner lesions 11 but with glomerulations and neither Hunner lesions nor glomerulations in 10, and 9 controls. Differentially expressed genes of each subtype were searched to identify subtype specific biological pathways and candidate genes important for pathogenesis. Candidate genes were validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Digital immunohistochemical quantification was performed to assess subepithelial lymphoplasmacytic cell and microvessel density. Relationships between candidate gene over expression and symptom severity were explored. RESULTS Patients with Hunner lesions showed a distinct gene expression profile associated with significant up-regulation of biological processes involving immune responses and infection, and an increase in subepithelial lymphoplasmacytic cell and microvessel density. Over expression of 2 candidate genes, VEGF and BAFF, correlated with symptom severity. Meanwhile, the gene expression profiles of patients with the 2 subtypes without Hunner lesions were similar to those of controls. No difference in biological pathways or subepithelial lymphoplasmacytic cell and microvessel density were detected between these 2 subtypes and controls. CONCLUSIONS Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome with Hunner lesions shows distinct genomic and histological features associated with immune responses and infection. In addition, VEGF and BAFF are potential disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This subtype should be considered separate from the syndrome.