Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection and Recognition of Moving Objects by Using Motion Invariants

Motion invariant features, which are called either absolute or relative invariant linear features, are useful for detection and recognition of moving objects from image streams. We conducted simple experiments using these invariant features. The first experiment tested our method for moving object recognition with a fixed camera using absolute invariant linear features. In the second experiment, another method was used to detect moving objects with a moving camera using both relative and absolute invariant linear features. The results of these experiments confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed methods
Comparison of beta-lactam regimens for the treatment of gram-negative pulmonary infections in the intensive care unit based on pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics.

OBJECTIVES This study utilized pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics to compare beta-lactam regimens for the empirical and definitive treatment of gram-negative pulmonary infections in the ICU. METHODS Susceptibility data were extracted from the 2002 Intensive Care Unit Surveillance System (ISS) and pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained from published human studies. Monte Carlo simulation was used to model the free percent time above the MIC (free %T > MIC) for 18 beta-lactam regimens against all gram-negative isolates, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. The cumulative fraction of response (CFR) was determined for bacteriostatic and bactericidal targets (free %T > MIC): penicillins (> or = 30/50%), cephalosporins/monobactams (> or = 40/70%) and carbapenems (> or = 20/40%). RESULTS The 2002 ISS database contained MICs for 2408 gram-negative isolates including 1430 Enterobacteriaceae, 799 P. aeruginosa, and 179 A. baumannii. Imipenem had the highest percentage susceptible for all gram-negatives, Enterobacteriaceae and A. baumannii, while piperacillin/tazobactam had the highest percentage susceptible for P. aeruginosa. For empirical therapy, imipenem 0.5 g every 6 h, cefepime 2 g every 8 h and ceftazidime 2 g every 8 h demonstrated the highest CFR. For definitive therapy, imipenem 0.5 g every 6 h, ertapenem 1 g daily and cefepime 2 g every 8 h, cefepime 1 g every 8 h and cefepime 1 g every 12 h had the highest bactericidal CFR against Enterobacteriaceae; ceftazidime 2 g every 8 h, cefepime 2 g every 8 h, piperacillin/tazobactam 3.375 g every 4 h, ceftazidime 1 g every 8 h and aztreonam 1 g every 8 h against P. aeruginosa; and imipenem 0.5 g every 6 h, ticarcillin/clavulanate 3.1 g every 4 h, ceftazidime 2 g every 8 h, cefepime 2 g every 8 h and ticarcillin/clavulanate 3.1 g every 6 h against A. baumannii. CONCLUSIONS Based on pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, imipenem 0.5 g every 6 h, cefepime 2 g every 8 h and ceftazidime 2 g every 8 h should be the preferred beta-lactam regimens for the empirical treatment of gram-negative pulmonary infections in the ICU. The order of preference varied against Enterobacteriaceae, P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii.
Lisbon , Portugal EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCES BETWEEN INRIM AND IPQ IN THE DENSITY FIELD

Density measurements are frequently associated to specific requirements in order to evaluate the quality of a process or to determine mass and/or volume of the material. Hydrostatic weighing is the usual method to get directly the traceability to the SI system of the density as well as of the solid volume. INRIM (the former CNR IMGC) supplied to IPQ a hydrostatic apparatus with a measuring cell, devoted to measure the density of liquids and the volume (density) of small solid bodies, with technical support and assistance in the density field. Since 2005 the partnership between the two Institutes has been developed within the EUROMET project 858 “Hydrostatic weighing – exchange of experiences”. This paper deals with the activity concerning the main technical and metrological characteristics of the supplied measuring cell and also shows the preliminary results for testing it. For this purpose a comparison was carried out between the two laboratories. Each one determined the volume and consequently the density of the silicon sphere supplied together with the measuring cell. We should note that the comparison was carried out as a part of technology transfer from INRIM to IPQ. Thus the comparison results can not be linked to any key or supplementary comparison presented in KCDB.
Mother-Child and Father-Child Mutuality in Two Contexts: Consequences for Young Children's Peer Relationships

This study examines the role that context plays in links betweenrelative balance, or mutuality in parent–child interaction andchildren’s social competence. Sixty-three toddlers and theirparents were observed in a laboratory play session and caregivingactivity (i.e. eating snack). Mutuality was operationalised as therelative balance in (a) partners’ compliance to initiations, and (b)partners’ expression of positive emotion. Caregivers ratedchildren’s social competence with peers, and children’s prosocialand aggressive behaviour with peers was observed in theirchildcare arrangement. Contextual differences were observed inthe manifestation of parent–child mutuality, with both mother–child and father–child dyads displaying higher mutual compli-ance scores in the play context than in the caregiving context.Father–child dyads also displayed higher levels of sharedpositive emotion during play than during the caregiving context.There were no differences in a way that parent–child mutualityduring play and caregiving was associated with children’s socialcompetence with peers. Overall, the results suggest that parent–child mutuality is a quality of parent–child interaction thathas consistent links to children’s peer competence regardless ofthe context in which it occurs. Copyright r 2009 John Wiley S peer relationships; play; caregiving;mother–child;father–child
Diacylglycerol (DAG)-lactones, a New Class of Protein Kinase C (PKC) Agonists, Induce Apoptosis in LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cells by Selective Activation of PKCα*

Phorbol esters, the archetypical (PKC) activators, induce apoptosis in androgen-sensitive LNCaP prostate cancer cells. In this study we evaluate the effect of a novel class of PKC ligands, the diacylglycerol (DAG)-lactones, as inducers of apoptosis in LNCaP cells. These unique ligands were designed using novel pharmacophore- and receptor-guided approaches to achieve highly potent DAG surrogates. Two of these compounds, HK434 and HK654, induced apoptosis in LNCaP cells with much higher potency than oleoyl-acetyl-glycerol or phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. Moreover, different PKC isozymes were found to mediate the apoptotic effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and HK654 in LNCaP cells. Using PKC inhibitors and dominant negative PKC isoforms, we found that both PKCα and PKCδ mediated the apoptotic effect of PMA, whereas only PKCα was involved in the effect of the DAG-lactone. The PKCα selectivity of HK654 in LNCaP cells contrasts with similar potencies in vitro for binding and activation of PKCα and PKCδ. Consistent with the differences in isoform dependence in intact cells, PMA and HK654 show marked differences in their abilities to translocate PKC isozymes. Both PMA and HK654 induce a marked redistribution of PKCα to the plasma membrane. On the other hand, unlike PMA, HK654 translocates PKCδ predominantly to the nuclear membrane. Thus, DAG-lactones have a unique profile of activation of PKC isozymes for inducing apoptosis in LNCaP cells and represent the first example of a selective activator of a classical PKC in cellular models. An attractive hypothesis is that selective activation of PKC isozymes by pharmacological agents in cells can be achieved by differential intracellular targeting of each PKC.
Verbreitung, Entwicklung und Erklärung von Delinquenz im Jugendalter. Ergebnisse einer aktuellen Längsschnittstudie

Der vorliegende Beitrag beschaftigt sich sowohl mit der Entwicklung der Jugendkriminalitat als auch mit ihrer Entstehung. Hierzu ist ein theoretisches Modell entwickelt worden, das sich vorwiegend an soziologischen und sozialpsychologischen Erklarungsansatzen orientiert und zwischen mehreren Analyseebenen differenziert. Durch die erste, umfangreichere kriminologische Langsschnittstudie in Deutschland ("Kriminalitat in der modernen Stadt") konnen die Grundphanomene der Delinquenzverbreitung (Ubiquitat), der Spontanbewahrung und der Delinquenzintensitat systematisch mit deskriptiven und multivariaten Auswertungstechniken untersucht werden. Die nach Geschlecht und Schulform kontrollierten Verlaufsmuster zeigen, dass erhebliche Unterschiede in der Delinquenzverbreitung bestehen, die Verlaufe der Spontanbewahrung aber recht ahnlich sind. Die Untersuchung nach unterschiedlichen Typen (Klassen) von Delinquenzverlaufen mit Hilfe von Mischverteilungsmodellen ergibt ein noch differenzierteres Bild. Die Prufung der Hypothesen der Theorie des geplanten Verhaltens fur das in der Jugendphase stark verbreitete Delikt Ladendiebstahl hebt die Bedeutung der Handlungskonsequenzen, des wahrgenommenen Entdeckungsrisikos und der Handlungsabsichten hervor. (DIPF/Orig.) This article considers the development of adolescents' delinquent behavior and its emergence. A theoretical model, developed to allow consideration of sociological and social psychological approaches to these matters, distinguishes several levels of analysis. Descriptive and multivariate analysis techniques were used to analyze the ubiquity, intensity, and decline of delinquency. While evidence of relatively large differences concerning ubiquity emerged in models controlling for gender and type of school, differences concerning the trajectories were small. The results obtained of the mixture models gave a more sophisticated picture. Further analyses confirmed, in line with hypotheses aligned with the theory of planned behavior the importance of the perceived consequences of delinquent behavior, the risk of detection and the behavioral intention for the explanation of juvenile shoplifting. (DIPF/Orig.)
Effect of the Cysteinyl Leukotriene Antagonist Pranlukast on Transendothelial Migration of Eosinophils

Background:Evidence shows that leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) can cause a partial reduction of eosinophils in the asthmatic airway. Although cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) can regulate the development of eosinophilic inflammation, LTRA might modulate the eosinophilic response to other inflammatory molecules involved in allergic inflammation. Montelukast is an LTRA that inhibits eosinophil transendothelial migration (TEM) in response to platelet-activating factor (PAF). The present study evaluates whether pranlukast (an LTRA) modifies eosinophil TEM in response to chemoattractants including PAF and C-C chemokines. Methods: Eosinophils isolated from the blood of healthy individuals were incubated with or without pranlukast. We then evaluated eosinophil transmigration across human umbilical vein endothelial cells in response to LTD4, eotaxin, RANTES and PAF. Results: Pranlukast did not modify the spontaneous transmigration of eosinophils (n = 5). As reported, eosinophil TEM was significantly augmented by 0.1 µM LTD4 and this enhancement was blocked by 1 µM pranlukast (p < 0.001; n = 6). On the other hand, pranlukast did not modify eosinophil transmigration in response to eotaxin, RANTES, or PAF (p > 0.1; n = 5). Conclusion: The inhibitory effect of pranlukast on eosinophil transmigration is highly specific for the CysLT1-dependent pathway.
Rhesus macaque IFITM3 gene polymorphisms and SIV infection

Interferon-induced transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) have been recognized as important antiviral effectors of the innate immune system, both in cell culture and in infected humans. In particular, polymorphisms of the human IFITM3 gene have been shown to affect disease severity and progression in influenza A virus (FLUAV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, respectively. Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are commonly used to model human infections and the experimental inoculation of these animals with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is one of the best models for HIV/AIDS in humans. However, information on the role of IFITM3 in SIV infection of rhesus macaques is currently lacking. We show that rhesus macaque (rh) IFITM3 inhibits SIV and FLUAV entry in cell culture, although with moderately reduced efficiency as compared to its human counterpart. We further report the identification of 16 polymorphisms in the rhIFITM3 gene, three of which were exonic and synonymous while the remainder was located in non-coding regions. Employing previously characterized samples from two cohorts of SIV-infected rhesus macaques, we investigated the relationship between these rhIFITM3 polymorphisms and both AIDS-free survival time and virus load. In cohort 1, several intronic polymorphisms were significantly associated with virus load or survival. However, an association with both parameters was not observed and significance was lost in most cases when animals were stratified for the presence of MHC allele Mamu-A1*001. Moreover, no significant genotype-phenotype associations were detected in cohort 2. These results suggest that, although IFITM3 can inhibit SIV infection in cell culture, genetic variation in rhIFITM3 might have only a minor impact on the course of SIV infection in experimentally infected animals.
Intrusion Detection via Machine Learning for SCADA System Protection

SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) systems have always been susceptible to cyber-attacks. Different types of cyber-attacks could occur depending on the architecture and configurations used in the SCADA system. To protect cyber infrastructure from above attacks a growing collaborative effort between cyber security professionals and researchers from private and academia has involved in designing variety of intelligent intrusion detection systems. This paper introduces a new European Framework-7 project CockpitCI and roles of intelligent machine learning methods to prevent SCADA systems from cyber-attacks.
African Christianity: Its Public Role

Paul Gifford examines African Christianity in the mid-1990s against the back ground of the continent's current social, economic, and political circumstances. Gifford sheds light on the dynamics of African churches and churchgoers, and assesses their different contributions to political developments since 1989. He also evaluates the churches' role in promoting a civil society in Africa. Detailed analyses of the state of the churches in Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, and Cameroon suggest more general patterns operating widely across sub-Saharan Africa.
Spaceborne fully polarimetric time-series datasets for land cover analysis

The objective of this paper is to make a review of the current status of the project entitled Evaluation of RADARSAT-2 quad-pol data for functional assessment of wetlands (Id6842), developed in the frame of the CSA-ESA SOAR-EU (Science and operational applications research for Europe) program by a consortium comprising I.E.T.R at the University of Rennes 1 and COSTEL-LETG at the University of Haute-Bretagne. The main objective of this project concerns in evaluating fully polarimetric RADARSAT-2 time-series datasets to delineate precisely effective and potential wetlands, map detailed vegetation distribution, identify agricultural practices and determine water cycle and waterlevels.
Virtual Worlds as Information Spaces: Supporting Semantic and Social Navigation in a shared 3D Environment

Virtual worlds are a popular medium for communication and collaboration in 3D and they are being used as shared information spaces in various application areas. However, compared to traditional hypermedia and web-based information systems they offer little support for semantic and social navigation. In this paper, a framework for enhancing virtual worlds with metaphors that support improved semantic and social browsing in the 3D environment is proposed, and an integrated architecture for their interface with external information sources through the employment of Linked Data is presented. In order to assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach, a prototype system has been implemented and accordingly evaluated.
Ability of Acidaminococcus fermentans to oxidize trans-aconitate and decrease the accumulation of tricarballylate, a toxic end product of ruminal fermentation

Mixed ruminal bacteria convert trans-aconitate to tricarballylate, a tricarboxylic acid which chelates blood divalent cations and decreases their availability (J. B. Russell and P. J. Van Soest, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 47:155-159, 1984). Decreases in blood magnesium in turn cause a potentially fatal disease known as grass tetany. trans-Aconitate was stoichiometrically reduced to tricarballylate by Selenomonas ruminantium, a common ruminal bacterium in grass-fed ruminants (J. B. Russell, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 49:120-126, 1985). When mixed ruminal bacteria were enriched with trans-aconitate, a trans-aconitate-oxidizing bacterium was also isolated (G. M. Cook, F. A. Rainey, G. Chen, E. Stackebrandt, and J. B. Russell, Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 44:576-578, 1994). The trans-aconitate-oxidizing bacterium was identified as Acidaminococcus fermentans, and it converted trans-aconitate to acetate, a nontoxic end product of ruminal fermentation. When S. ruminantium and A. fermentans were cocultured with trans-aconitate and glucose, tricarballylate never accumulated and all the trans-aconitate was converted to acetate. Continuous-culture studies (dilution rate, 0.1 h-1) likewise indicated that A. fermentans could outcompete S. ruminantium for trans-aconitate. When mixed ruminal bacteria were incubated in vitro with 10 mM trans-aconitate for 24 h, 45% of the trans-aconitate was converted to tricarballylate. Tricarballylate production decreased 50% if even small amounts of A. fermentans were added to the incubation mixes (0.01 mg of protein per mg of mixed bacterial protein). When A. fermentans (2 g of bacterial protein) was added directly to the rumen, the subsequent conversion of trans-aconitate to tricarballylate decreased 50%, but this effect did not persist for more than 18 h. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Both N- and C-terminal regions contribute to the assembly and functional expression of homo- and heteromultimeric voltage-gated K+ channels

The functional diversity of voltage-gated K+ channels may be partially determined by the mechanisms that permit or limit the assembly of molecularly diverse K+ channel subunits. To determine possible amino acid sequence domains required for subunit assembly and expression, we have constructed 15 N- and C-terminal interstitial or truncation deletion mutations in mKv1.1 (MBK1), a mouse Shaker-like K+ channel. We injected Xenopus oocytes with cRNA encoding each of these mutants and coinjected each mutant cRNA with cRNA for wild-type mKv1.3, another mouse Shaker-like K+ channel that can form heteromultimers with mKv1.1. We found that the last five amino acids of the C-terminus of mKv1.1 contribute to functional expression by (1) rescuing the function of mutants with a large truncation of the C-terminus (delta 424–495), and (2) contributing to the slow inactivation kinetics (time constant of 2– 3 sec) of wild-type mKv1.1 whole-cell K+ currents. All C-terminal deletion mutants were able to express at least as heteromultimers with mKv1.3, suggesting that the C-terminus is not required for channel assembly. In contrast, nine different interstitial or truncation mutants in which part of a highly conserved, large (80–99 amino acid residues) domain within the N-terminus had been deleted were unable to express either homomultimers or heteromultimers. The relatively small sizes and nonoverlapping distributions of the interstitial deletions enable us to suggest that the structural integrity of this entire N- terminal domain is required for subunit assembly and functional expression of this and probably other Shaker-like K+ channel proteins.
Designing a Digital Medical Management Training Simulator Using Distributed Cognition Theory

Background. Training of medical professionals is important to improve care during mass-causality events. Therefore, it is essential to extend knowledge on how to design valid and usable simulation-based training environments. Purpose. This article investigates how distributed cognition and simulation theory concepts can guide design of simulation-based training environments. We present the design and user evaluation of DigEmergo, a simulator for training and assessing emergency medicine management. Design approach. A prior Distributed Cognition in Teamwork (DiCoT) analysis of the Emergo Train System (ETS) guided the design process. The design objective of DigEmergo was to be useful, usable, retain distributed cognition features of ETS, and strengthen validity and output reliability. Evaluation. Eight expert ETS instructors participated in a formative system evaluation. The Technology Assessment Model (TAM) questionnaire was used to measure usefulness and ease of use. Observations and post-test interviews were conducted to contextualize the measures. Results. The results showed that DigEmergo was perceived as somewhat to quite useful and somewhat easy to use. Overall, expert users considered DigEmergo promising and successful in retaining core ETS features. Conclusions. The study indicates that a design methodology based on distributed cognition and simulation theory can be successfully combined to guide simulator (re)design and strengthen simulator validity.
Pushing the Limits of OWL, Rules and Protege. A Simple Example

The Semantic Web brings powerful languages for creating models, based on Description Logics and Rules. These languages are used within ontology engineering tools and applied in strong and efficient reasoners. Working within the context of a Summer School, we explored these technologies by creating a small and easy to understand example, working firstly with OWL alone, and introducing SWRL rules as needed, to automatically classify a number of instances according to some intuitively simple criteria. We present the example OWL ontology, SWRL rules, and the issues and problems we encountered. Our experience highlights the capabilities and limitations of OWL and of SWRL, not in theoretical but in practical terms, and points to the need for better tool support, but is primarily a lesson in ”traps for young players” in terms of formulating classifications, that we hope will be instructive for Semantic Web students following in our footsteps, and their tutors.