Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Population growth of Brachionus macracanthus (Rotifera) in relation to cadmium toxicity: Influence of algal (Chlorella vulgaris) density

In the present work, we quantified the harmful effects of Cd+ 2 to Brachionus macracanthus using both acute (median lethal) and chronic (population growth) toxicity tests. Chronic toxicity tests were conducted under 4 different concentrations (0.000625–0.005 mg L− 1) of cadmium chloride at 23°C under 3 food (Chlorella vulgaris) levels (0.5 × 106, 1.0 × 106 and 2.0 × 106 cells mL− 1) using static renewal system for three weeks. The median lethal concentration bioassayed at 24 h (LC50) for B. macracanthus was 0.19 mg L− 1 of CdCl2. Cadmium adversely affected the population growth of B. macracanthus at all tested concentrations. Increase in algal food had a positive effect on the rotifer growth in controls; with increase in Cd levels, the population growth of B. macracanthus decreased even under the highest food level tested. The peak population abundance of B. macracanthus in controls at the highest food level of 2.0 × 106 cells mL− 1 was 40 ind. mL− 1. Depending on the heavy metal concentration and the algal level, the population growth rate (r) of B. macracanthus varied from 0.02 to 0.28 day− 1. The relatively higher sensitivity of B. macracanthus to cadmium toxicity is discussed in relation to other species of the same genus.
An Investigation into the Importance of “Very Rapid Dissolution” Criteria for Drug Bioequivalence Demonstration using Gastrointestinal Simulation Technology

The Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) is based on the mechanistic assumptions that the rate and extent of oral drug absorption are governed by drug solubility, intestinal permeability, and dissolution rate from the dosage form administered. One of the goals of BCS is to identify classes of drugs for which bioequivalence may be established based solely on the in vitro dissolution data, i.e., which would be eligible for biowaiver. On the basis of BCS, currently, the biowaiver concept is adopted and recommended for immediate release of drug products containing highly soluble and highly permeable compounds (BCS class 1 drugs). Dissolution testing properties are proposed to be more stringent: very rapid dissolution is demanded when generic drug application is submitted with the exemption of in vivo bioequivalence study. In the present paper, Gastrointestinal Simulation Technology has been applied in order to evaluate the potential for different in vitro drug dissolution kinetics to influence dosage forms in vivo behavior and the relevance of “very rapid dissolution” criteria to be met (i.e., more than 85% of dose dissolved in 15 min).
A Faster Algorithm for Asymptotic Communication for Omniscience

We propose a modified decomposition algorithm (MDA) to solve communication for omniscience (CO) problem in asymptotic model where the transmission rates could be real or fractional. It starts with a lower estimation of the minimum sum-rate and iteratively updates it by the optimizer of a Dilworth truncation problem until the minimum is reached with a corresponding optimal rate vector. We propose a fusion method for solving the Dilworth truncation problem, where the minimization is done over a fused user set. We show that the fusion method contributes to a significant reduction in the computation complexity. We also discuss how to utilize the results returned by the MDA algorithm to solve the non-asymptotic CO problem, where the communication rates are restricted to be integral, and how to choose a proper linear ordering of the user indices so that the optimal rate vector is also the optimizer of a minimum weighted sum-rate problem.
Localized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in relapsing remitting versus secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

Objective: To determine the efficacy of MRS in discriminating between relapsing remitting (RR) and secondary progressive (SP) MS. Methods: MRS at long and short echo times was carried out in 104 patients with MS stratified for clinical course (RR or SP), and the results were compared with those of 15 control subjects. Normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) was studied in 55 patients, and a high–T2-signal area on MRI in 49 others. Results: At long echo times, there was a highly significant decrease in the ratios N-acetyl-aspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr) and NAA/choline (Cho) in high–T2-signal areas and in the NAWM in patients with an SP course compared with control subjects and patients with an RR course. There was a significant negative correlation between these ratios and clinical disability measured by Expanded Disability Status Scale score, which was independent of disease duration. Discriminant values between patients with RR and SP courses were found in the NAWM (NAA/Cr = 1.75 and NAA/Cho = 1.5), but not in high–T2-signal areas. At short echo times, there was a significant increase in the ratio myoinositol/Cr in high-signal areas of patients with an SP course compared with control subjects, and the presence of abnormal resonances in the lesions and NAWM for free amino acids and lipids (in 30% and 8%, respectively) and GLX complex (glutamine, glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid; 16% and 20%, respectively). Conclusions: Studying normal-appearing white matter on MRI with MRS allows discrimination between relapsing remitting and secondary progressive patients. In the NAWM of patients with MS and an SP course, severe axonal loss/dysfunction is negatively correlated to clinical disability and independent of the duration of the disease.
A Bayesian Hierarchical Approach for Exploratory Analysis of Communities and Roles in Social Networks

We present a new probabilistic approach to modeling social interactions, that seamlessly integrates community discovery and role assignment for a deeper understanding of connectivity patterns in social networks. The devised approach is an unsupervised learning technique based on a Bayesian hierarchical model of social interactions. This model specifies an intuitive generative process, in which pairs of nodes in a social network are associated with communities as well as roles in the context of the respective communities, before that a directed interaction is possibly established between them. According to the generative semantics of the proposed model, nodes are represented as probability distributions over communities, while communities are represented as probability distributions over roles. Such distributions are unknown parameters of the proposed model, that are estimated from social-network data through approximated posterior inference and parameter estimation. A comparative evaluation over real-world social networks reveals that our approach outperforms state-of-the-art competitors in terms of link prediction.
Resurrecting the differential mortality model of sexual size dimorphism

In some animal groups males may be several times smaller than females. One of the hypotheses proposed to explain the evolution of this extreme sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is the differential mortality model (DMM), which is based on the assumption that when males are the searching sex, higher male mortality relaxes male–male contest competition, leading to the adaptive evolution of early‐maturing, small males that are favoured by viability selection. Evidence for the main prediction of this model, i.e. that there is a negative relationship between differential mortality and SSD, has remained elusive. Using sex differences in pitfall trap catches – a proxy of sex differences in mobility and mortality – across 40 spider species, and using the evolutionary comparative method, we found significant negative relationships between differential mortality and SSD for three size traits. Thus, the DMM can still explain part of the observed variance in SSD.
Shape Template Based Side-View Car Detection Algorithm

In this paper, we describe a side-view car detection algorithm based on template detection. The template is constructed according to car shape knowledge. The algorithm can roughly be divided into two stages, hypothesis generation and hypothesis verification. In HG step, we use Hough transform to detect wheels, with the shape knowledge we get a rectangular area to generate hypothesis area. In HV step, least squares based fitting line detection algorithm is applied to pick out the line segments in the hypothesis area of edge image, and then we detect cars by the contour knowledge. By the above process the car is detected in the image. This paper also describes the least squares fitting line detection algorithm. The experimental results of many car images show that our method has fine accuracy in car detection and costs less time.
The 1998 HTK system for transcription of conversational telephone speech

This paper describes the 1998 HTK large vocabulary speech recognition system for conversational telephone speech as used in the NIST 1998 Hub5E evaluation. Front-end and language modelling experiments conducted using various training and test sets from both the Switchboard and Callhome English corpora are presented. Our complete system includes reduced bandwidth analysis, side-based cepstral feature normalisation, vocal tract length normalisation (VTLN), triphone and quinphone hidden Markov models (HMMs) built using speaker adaptive training (SAT), maximum likelihood linear regression (MLLR) speaker adaptation and a confidence score based system combination. A detailed description of the complete system together with experimental results for each stage of our multi-pass decoding scheme is presented. The word error rate obtained is almost 20% better than our 1997 system on the development set.
AIS Electronic

Power has been an important topic amongst scholars in Information Systems (IS) research. Despite the vast literature on power in IS research, we found there is a lack of study that investigates the significance of power in a Parent-Subsidiary relationship. As a part of an ongoing research to explore the role of IS in the Parent-Subsidiary relationship, this paper highlights the impact of Enterprise Systems (ES) on the "evolution" of power as a critical aspect of that relationship. Using case study as a research method, we explore four scenarios, namely: Domination, Consultative, Empowerment, and Incitement; each with its own distinct aspects of power and its implication to ES in a corporate group environment. Ongoing research will attempt to explore the scenarios in greater details as well as expanding the number of corporate groups.
Optimizing IEEE 802.16j: Multihop Relaying in WiMAX Networks

For the global deployment of mobile WiMAX networks the limited budget of installation and efficiency of network quality are very important concerns. To optimize the WiMAX network quality of services in term of good data rate guarantee and the efficient radio spectrum to serve as more as possible users more and more coverage should be provided. For enhancing the radio coverage of the WiMAX network multihop relay station technique is proposed. IEEE 802.16 forum gives different types of service flows (i.e. UGS, rtps, ertps, nrtps, BE) for various kinds of applications. The network coverage can be improved by properly locating the relay stations to optimal locations where the installation of base station could be more costly as compared to relay stations. In this paper we presented the overview of IEEE 802.16j multihop relay networks with QoS support and how the network coverage and quality will be improved for rural and hilly areas where installation of base station is a big challenge.
Engaging Pre-service Teachers - and Their Professor - in Learning: A Comparison of Two Literacy Methods Courses

This article reports a scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) study undertaken to improve pre-service teachers’ engagement in learning in two advanced literacy teaching methods courses. Over four semesters’ time, data were collected in the form of Instructional Practices Inventory (IPI) codes, anecdotal peer observation notes, the professor’s written reflections, and ratings/comments from student course evaluations. Pre-service teachers’ engagement in learning increased from the first time to the second time the professor taught each course, but the quantitative analysis comparing the “old” course to the “new” course was deemed inconclusive. The professor’s transformative learning process, described as discursive and sometimes tacit, is illustrated through extensive written reflections and characterized by six qualitative themes. The study’s findings suggest that the systematic process of data collection, analysis, and reflection can support transformative learning toward improved teaching practice, especially when the process is self-motivated, collaborative, and ongoing.
Active and passive learning of linear separators under log-concave distributions

We provide new results concerning label efficient, polynomial time, passive and active learning of linear separators. We prove that active learning provides an exponential improvement over PAC (passive) learning of homogeneous linear separators under nearly log-concave distributions. Building on this, we provide a computationally efficient PAC algorithm with optimal (up to a constant factor) sample complexity for such problems. This resolves an open question concerning the sample complexity of efficient PAC algorithms under the uniform distribution in the unit ball. Moreover, it provides the first bound for a polynomial-time PAC algorithm that is tight for an interesting infinite class of hypothesis functions under a general and natural class of data-distributions, providing significant progress towards a longstanding open question. We also provide new bounds for active and passive learning in the case that the data might not be linearly separable, both in the agnostic case and and under the Tsybakov low-noise condition. To derive our results, we provide new structural results for (nearly) log-concave distributions, which might be of independent interest as well.
A Method for 3D Morphing using Slices

3-D morphing, in its simplest definition, is shape transformation between a pair of objects i.e. source and target, by gradual, continuous and simultaneous dissolvement of the shape of source object to its target and vice versa resulting in a number of intermediate shapes. Many algorithms have been developed for this purpose with each one having its own speciality. In this paper, a novel algorithm is presented which is based on slices. The technique originates from the concept of reducing a 3-D object to a number of slices in 2D plane. In the algorithm, all of the 2D slices may not be oriented in either x, y, z or in a particular direction. Orientation and rotation of the slices within a single body can be varied from one slice to another based on the alignment of the object. Oriented Bounding Box (OBB) is used to determine the orientation of the object. The advantages of the proposed method i.e. minimal user input, flexibility, dynamism and ease of implementing over other 3D morphing algorithms are also discussed.
TACIT KNOWLEDGE AND DYNAMIC CAPABILITY: THE IMPORTANCE OF PENROSIAN 'IMAGE'

This paper attempts to address some of the questions around the origins of dynamic capabilities by providing empirical work on the nature and impact of dynamic capability that is explicitly rooted in the existing theoretical literature. It is argued here that dynamic capability is a function of both the tacit perceptions held by a firm (arising out of past experience and learning) and deliberative, problem-solving processes. This represents a refinement of existing approaches to dynamic capability, and argues for increased importance to be given in research to the role of firm perceptions.
Conditionally immortalized cell line of inducible metanephric mesenchyme.

BACKGROUND The mesenchymal-epithelial conversion of metanephric mesenchyme (MM) in the formation of nephronic tubules has long served as a paradigm for inductive signaling in morphogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying this differentiation have remained an enigma due to insufficient numbers of primary mesenchymal cells that must be isolated manually from animal embryos. To overcome this problem, we have established a conditionally immortalized cell line, the rat-inducible metanephric mesenchyme (RIMM-18) by transfection of primary mesenchymal cells with a vector, encoding an estradiol-dependent E1A-ER fusion protein. METHODS Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), luciferase reporter assay, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, immunocytochemical, and immunohistochemical stainings were used to characterize the established cell line. RESULTS We demonstrate that in the presence of estradiol, the RIMM-18 cell line proliferates continuously, maintaining mesenchymal characteristics for over 40 passages. These cells are vimentin-positive and cytokeratin-negative. Under inductive conditions in the absence of estradiol, they are responsive to a number of cytokines, which are established inducers of mesenchymal cells in vivo and in vitro [i.e., fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-beta 2)]. We show the presence in RIMM-18 cells of specific protein markers and functionally active signaling pathways required for induction of tubule formation in MM. Furthermore, induced RIMM-18 cells change morphology, acquiring epithelial-like features, and begin to express epithelial markers (e.g., E-cadherin, cytokeratin, gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase, and secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (sFRP2). CONCLUSION This preliminary characterization of the RIMM-18 cell line suggests that it will be useful in the study of biochemical and molecular mechanisms of nephronic development and, possibly, of some types of renal cancer such as Wilms' tumor, which caricatures the normal process of kidney development.
Finding input sub-spaces for Polymorphic Fuzzy Signatures

A significant feature of fuzzy signatures is its applicability for complex and sparse data. To create Polymorphic Fuzzy Signatures (PFS) for sparse data, sparse input sub-spaces (ISSs) should be considered. Finding the optimal ISSs manually is not a simple task as it is time consuming; moreover, some knowledge about the dataset is necessary. Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering employed with a trapezoidal approximation method is needed to find ISSs automatically. Furthermore, dealing with sparse data, we should be mindful about choosing a reliable trapezoidal approximation method. This facilitates the optimal ISS creation for the data. In our experiment, two trapezoidal approximation methods were used to find optimal ISSs. The results demonstrate that our version of trapezoidal approximation for creating ISSs result in an PFS with lower mean square error compared to the original trapezoidal approximation method.
Histopathologic Criteria to Confirm White-nose Syndrome in Bats

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a cutaneous fungal disease of hibernating bats associated with a novel Geomyces sp. fungus. Currently, confirmation of WNS requires histopathologic examination. Invasion of living tissue distinguishes this fungal infection from those caused by conventional transmissible dermatophytes. Although fungal hyphae penetrate the connective tissue of glabrous skin and muzzle, there is typically no cellular inflammatory response in hibernating bats. Preferred tissue samples to diagnose this fungal infection are rostral muzzle with nose and wing membrane fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. To optimize detection, the muzzle is trimmed longitudinally, the wing membrane is rolled, and multiple cross-sections are embedded to increase the surface area examined. Periodic acid–Schiff stain is essential to discriminate the nonpigmented fungal hyphae and conidia. Fungal hyphae form cup-like epidermal erosions and ulcers in the wing membrane and pinna with involvement of underlying connective tissue. In addition, fungal hyphae are present in hair follicles and in sebaceous and apocrine glands of the muzzle with invasion of tissue surrounding adnexa. Fungal hyphae in tissues are branching and septate, but the diameter and shape of the hyphae may vary from parallel walls measuring 2 μm in diameter to irregular walls measuring 3–5 μm in diameter. When present on short aerial hyphae, curved conidia are approximately 2.5 μm wide and 7.5 μm in curved length. Conidia have a more deeply basophilic center, and one or both ends are usually blunt. Although WNS is a disease of hibernating bats, severe wing damage due to fungal hyphae may be seen in bats that have recently emerged from hibernation. These recently emerged bats also have a robust suppurative inflammatory response.
Wide-Angle Endoscope Interface for Solo Surgery

We have developed an wide-angle endoscope interface for solo surgery. The interface consists of the wide-angle endoscopic view and region of interest (ROI) view which is selected within the wide-angle view. The position of ROI could be determined by manipulating the surgical instrument with a web camera affixed. Features extracted from the web camera image by A-KAZE approach were tracked to estimate the position-change of the surgical instrument when the surgical tool moved. We identified the resolution of ROI selection using three images which were different sized square arrays. In case of the number of ROIs was twelve, success rate was best, and the rate diminished as the number of ROIs increased. The experimental results show that the method using an web camera without additional sensors satisfied the appropriate accuracy required for ROI selection in four seconds.
Biochemical Evidence for a Timing Mechanism in Prochlorococcus

ABSTRACT Organisms coordinate biological activities into daily cycles using an internal circadian clock. The circadian oscillator proteins KaiA, KaiB, and KaiC are widely believed to underlie 24-h oscillations of gene expression in cyanobacteria. However, a group of very abundant cyanobacteria, namely, marine Prochlorococcus species, lost the third oscillator component, KaiA, during evolution. We demonstrate here that the remaining Kai proteins fulfill their known biochemical functions, although KaiC is hyperphosphorylated by default in this system. These data provide biochemical support for the observed evolutionary reduction of the clock locus in Prochlorococcus and are consistent with a model in which a mechanism that is less robust than the well-characterized KaiABC protein clock of Synechococcus is sufficient for biological timing in the very stable environment that Prochlorococcus inhabits.
Ocular growth in premature infants conceived by in vitro fertilization versus natural conception.

PURPOSE To evaluate the possible effect of in vitro fertilization (IVF) on early development of the eye in premature infants. METHODS Biometric and keratometric values, intraocular pressure, and retinal vascular status were assessed in a cohort of 133 premature infants. These values were compared between premature infants conceived by IVF or naturally, and the relationship between these parameters and postconceptional age and weight at examination were evaluated. RESULTS The sample consisted of 133 premature infants, 62 (46.6%) born by IVF and 71 (53.4%) by natural conception. Postconceptional age at examination was 28 to 46 weeks. In both groups, axial length, anterior chamber depth, and corneal radius correlated with the postconceptional age and weight at examination and followed a linear growth pattern. Lens thickness changed very slightly. The rate of retinal vascularization correlated with the postconceptional age as well. No correlation was found between intraocular pressure and corrected age or weight at examination. There was no difference between the study and control groups in any of the biometric or keratometric parameters or in intraocular pressure, according to two-way analysis of variance. CONCLUSIONS IVF apparently does not affect early ocular growth, intraocular pressure, changes in corneal curvature, or retinal vascularization in premature infants. These findings may aid ophthalmologists in assessing ocular dimensions in this patient population.