Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analyze the Influencing Factors of Food Security by Bidirectional Analytic Hierarchy Process

When we want to gain the weight of several influencing factors without sufficient data, we use the Analytic Hierarchy Process method. But sometimes this method may be a little inaccuracy, for the weights of the inner process are decided by manpower. This paper takes the background of food security to provide an improved Analytic Hierarchy Process method, which conduct the Analytic Hierarchy Process in two directions. Firstly, we conduct the traditional Analytic Hierarchy Process method and gain a group of weights. Then, we exchange the factors in the bottom layer and the food types in the middle layer and conduct the reversed Analytic Hierarchy Process method and gain another group of weights. At last, we calculate the mean of the two groups of weights and gain a better result, which integrates information from two directions. With this method, we will take use of more information and make more proper decision.
A distinctive similarity rendering approach to reconstitute hyperbola apices in GPR images

In ground penetration radar (GPR) B-scan images the detection of hyperbola signatures from the target object reflections is necessary, so that buried target object can be identified accurately. In order to accurately recognize the hyperbola signatures, a novel approach called a Distinctive Similarity Rendering Approach (DSRA) is applied to GPR images. This approach includes five steps. First, the GPR B-scan image is pre-processed by pattern profile method to extract the symmetrical open curves for cone presence. Second, the detected open cone curve components were enhanced by target focussing technique to build the close cone curve signatures to result the best hyperbola signature fit. Third, the processed GPR B-scan image results the best fit hyperbola signatures, these signatures are further processed using our proposed similarity rendering approach, to reconstitute the further hyperbola apices and for the detection of all hyperbola signatures in GPR B-scan image. Fourth, then we use sample hyperbola shape signatures with varying hyperbola cone radius (Cr) to locate the hyperbola apices from the spurious reflections of all hyperbola region of interest detected. To find the hyperbola apices, a Hough transform is used in the similarity rendering area. Finally, we estimate all the hyperbola shape signatures of target object reflections. In terms of hyperbola apices reconstitution, the proposed approach exhibits better performance, as shown in experimental result explanation.
Association between the polymorphism of HLA and ESRD in Dalian Han population located in north of China

ABSTRACT Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD), the last stage of chronic renal failure, is a global health problem. The number of ESRD patients worldwide is increasing faster than the number of kidneys available per year for renal transplantation. Most of the ESRD patients are awaiting renal transplantation. The immune response to the transplanted kidney is directed mainly against mismatched human leukocyte antigen (HLA) glycoproteins expressed on donor tissues. Thus, the analysis of HLA allele and haplotype polymorphisms is valuable not only for identifying ESRD susceptibility factors but also to improve graft survival. Methods: In this study, 163 Han ESRD patients were recruited to participate. The blood samples were genotyped by sequence-specific oligonucleotide method. A group of 14,529 healthy Chinese Han individuals registered at the Dalian Blood Center as bone marrow donors, living in the same region and of the same ethnicity, were used as controls. Results: We found that only one allele, HLA-DRB1*12, showed a positive association with ESRD (p = 0.004, pc = 0.028, odds ratio = 1.530, 95% confidence interval = 1.147–2.041); A*02-B*40-DRB1*09, A*02-B*40-DRB1*12, A*24-B*15-DRB1*12, and B*40-DRB1*12 were significantly more frequent in ESRD patients after Bonferroni correction (pc < 0.05). Conclusion: They were potentially valuable predictors for evaluating the risk of ESRD in the Dalian Han population.
Morphological and molecular characterization, sexual reproduction, and pathogenicity of Setosphaeria rostrata isolates from rice leaf spot

Setosphaeria rostrata, a common plant pathogen causing leaf spot disease, affects a wide range of plant species, mainly grasses. Fungi were isolated from brown spots on rice leaves throughout Peninsular Malaysia, and 45 isolates were identified as Setosphaeria rostrata. The isolates were then characterized using morphological and molecular approaches. The mating type was determined using PCR amplification of the mating type alleles, and isolates of opposite mating types were crossed to examine sexual reproduction. Based on nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region (ITS) and beta-tubulin (BT2) sequences, two phylogenetic trees were constructed using the maximum likelihood method; S. rostrata was clustered in one well-supported clade. Pathogenicity tests showed that S. rostrata isolates are pathogenic, suggesting that it is the cause of the symptoms. Mating-type analyses indicated that three isolates carried the MAT1-1 allele, and the other 42 isolates carried MAT1-2. After isolates with opposite mating types were crossed on Sach’s medium and incubated for 3 wk, six crosses produced pseudothecia that contained eight mature ascospores, and 12 other crosses produced numerous pseudothecia with no ascospores. To our knowledge, this is the first report on S. rostrata isolated from leaf spots on rice.
Promoting recruitment of minority ethnic groups into research: qualitative study exploring the views of South Asian people with asthma.

BACKGROUND We sought to understand the barriers and facilitators to participation in research from the perspectives of South Asian people with asthma. METHODS Eight focus groups were conducted in the preferred language of participants. Sampling was purposeful to ensure inclusion of males and females from differing ethnic, linguistic and religious backgrounds. RESULTS The forming of trusting relationships was described as pivotal to the successful recruitment of minority ethnic groups into research; personalized approaches were likely to be better received than more impersonal written approaches. Notable barriers to participation included: the stigma of being labelled with asthma; concerns surrounding participation in pharmaceutical trials; major time or travel commitments and a failure to show respect by not making information available in minority ethnic languages. Flexibility, in terms of timing, location and respecting of cultural and religious sensitivities around gender segregation, together with the offer of incentives, were highlighted as key factors to promote participation. CONCLUSIONS The barriers to recruitment are largely surmountable, but these will necessitate the use of resource intensive and more personalized approaches than are commonly employed for the White European origin population. Our proposed model to enhance recruitment is likely to have transferability beyond the field of asthma.
Inertial based hand position tracking for future applications in rehabilitation environments

This work is about the application of a wireless and miniaturized MEMS based Attitude and Heading Reference System for the estimation of hands position during standard rehabilitation exercises. The 3D orientation of the platform, computed on-board, along with the acceleration data, are collected by a computer. A specific algorithm has been developed in order to provide a reliable 3D position tracking of the hand without suffering from common error sources of MEMS sensors data processing, such as integration drift, inaccurate calibration procedures and finite integration times. This paper presents the setup, the developed algorithm and the preliminary results achieved with both a mechanical arm and a set of standard physical exercises performed by a human.
Quantitative assessment of liver fat with magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy

Hepatic steatosis is characterized by abnormal and excessive accumulation of lipids within hepatocytes. It is an important feature of diffuse liver disease, and the histological hallmark of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Other conditions associated with steatosis include alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and genetic lipodystrophies, cystic fibrosis liver disease, and hepatotoxicity from various therapeutic agents. Liver biopsy, the current clinical gold standard for assessment of liver fat, is invasive and has sampling errors, and is not optimal for screening, monitoring, clinical decision‐making, or well suited for many types of research studies. Noninvasive methods that accurately and objectively quantify liver fat are needed. Ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) can be used to assess liver fat but have limited accuracy as well as other limitations. Magnetic resonance (MR) techniques can decompose the liver signal into its fat and water signal components and therefore assess liver fat more directly than CT or US. Most MR techniques measure the signal fat‐fraction (the fraction of the liver MR signal attributable to liver fat), which may be confounded by numerous technical and biological factors and may not reliably reflect fat content. By addressing the factors that confound the signal fat‐fraction, advanced MR techniques measure the proton density fat‐fraction (the fraction of the liver proton density attributable to liver fat), which is a fundamental tissue property and a direct measure of liver fat content. These advanced techniques show promise for accurate fat quantification and are likely to be commercially available soon. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Adult stem cells in the knifefish cerebellum

Adult neurogenesis has been described in dozens of brain regions in teleost fish, with the largest number of new neurons being generated in the cerebellum. Here, we characterized the cerebellar neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) in the brown ghost knifefish (Apteronotus leptorhynchus), an established model system of adult neurogenesis. The majority of the new cerebellar cells arise from neurogenic niches located medially, at the interface of the dorsal/ventral molecular layers and the granular layer. NSPCs within these niches give rise to transit‐amplifying progenitors which populate the molecular layer, where they continue to proliferate during their migration toward target areas in the granular layer. At any given time, the majority of proliferating cells are located in the molecular layer. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the stem cell markers Sox2, Meis1/2/3, Islet1, and, to a lesser extent, Pax6, are widely expressed in all regions of the adult cerebellum. A large subpopulation of these NSPCs coexpress S100, GFAP, and/or vimentin, indicating astrocytic identity. This is further supported by the specific effect of the gliotoxin l‐methionine sulfoximine, which leads to a targeted decrease in the number of GFAP+ cells that coexpress Sox2 or the proliferation marker PCNA. Pulse‐chase analysis of the label size associated with new cells after administration of 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine demonstrated that, on average, two additional cell divisions occur after completion of the initial mitotic cycle. Overall numbers of NSPCs in the cerebellum niches increase consistently over time, presumably in parallel with the continuous growth of the brain. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 75: 39–65, 2015
Coordinating model and simulation in lot-to-lot supply chain based on common replenishment epoch

A policy of coordinating inventory by Common Replenishment Epoch(CRE) for a kind of lot-to-lot supply chain was studied and analyzed.In this supply chain,single supplier provided single product to multi-retailers with stochastic demand.Under the proposed policy of coordinating inventory,when the retailers accepted CRE provided by supplier,the supplier offered retailers a price discount.Retailers could accept or refuse the policy of coordination,which meant that the price discount to the retailers was selective.Finally,a numerical study and simulation analysis was conducted.Simulation result confirmed that the policy could reduce the cost of supplier,and the increased cost of retailer could be compensated by price discount so as to reduce the total cost of supply chain.
The impacts of a health belief model-based educational program on adopting self-care behaviors in pemphigus vulgaris patients

Introduction: Since pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a chronic disease and regarding its autoimmune nature, patients need to adopt self-care behaviors. This study aimed to assess the impacts of an educational program based on health belief model (HBM) on adopting self-care behaviors among patients with PV referred to Razi Hospital. Materials and Methods: Eighty-eight patients with PV were randomized in an educational intervention study in two groups in 2013–2014. The intervention group attended a 6 months self-care educational program in a specialized outpatient clinic, in addition to the regular care presented for both groups. To collect information about demographic characteristics, PV-related variables, and HBM constructs items, a self-designed questionnaire was used. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20. A P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Increase in perceived susceptibility, severity, and benefits score were significantly higher in intervention group compared with controls when adjusting for the difference in baseline scores of these HBM constructs and house ownership and employment status distribution in two groups using ANCOVA (P < 0.001). Furthermore, after intervention, the decrease in perceived barriers’ scores was significantly more than controls (P < 0.001), However, the decrease in cues to action score was not found significant (P = 0.380). Discussion: The results of this study show the effects of an HBM-based educational program as a tertiary preventive measure on adopting self-care behaviors in patients that can help them achieve self-efficacy in controlling their disease and enhancing their treatment process.
CHM-1, a New Vascular Targeting Agent, Induces Apoptosis of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells via p53-mediated Death Receptor 5 Up-regulation*

CHM-1 (2′-fluoro-6,7-methylenedioxy-2-phenyl-4-quinolone) has been identified as a potent antitumor agent in human hepatocellular carcinoma; however, its role in tumor angiogenesis is unclear. This study investigated the effects of CHM-1 and the mechanisms by which it exerts its antiangiogenic and vascular disrupting properties. Using a xenograft model antitumor assay, we found that CHM-1 significantly inhibits tumor growth and microvessel formation. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence microscopy, and cell death enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit revealed that CHM-1 inhibits growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by induction of apoptotic cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. CHM-1 also suppresses HUVEC migration and capillary-like tube formation. We were able to correlate CHM-1-induced apoptosis in HUVEC with the cleavage of procaspase-3, -7, and -8, as well as with the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase by Western blotting assay. Such sensitization was achieved through up-regulation of death receptor 5 (DR5) but not DR4 or Fas. CHM-1 was also capable of increasing the expression level of p53, and most importantly, the induction of DR5 by CHM-1 was abolished by p53 small interfering RNA. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that CHM-1 exhibits vascular targeting activity associated with the induction of DR5-mediated endothelial cell apoptosis through p53 up-regulation, which suggests its potential as an antivascular and antitumor therapeutic agent.
Measuring progress in clinical governance: assessing the reliability and validity of the Clinical Governance Climate Questionnaire

Despite a lack of conceptual clarity, the importance of cultural change to clinical governance is widely accepted. While generic measures of organizational performance, culture and climate are available, their relationship to clinical governance is unclear. Consequently, there is currently no valid and reliable measure of clinical governance climate. This study aimed to address the deficiency by reducing a pool of clinical governance climate indicators developed via previous qualitative research, describing a latent factor structure and assessing the internal consistency and external validity of the factor model. The resultant instrument, the Clinical Governance Climate Questionnaire (CGCQ), attained high internal consistency and external (discriminant and construct) validity in a study population of healthcare Trust staff. It consists of 60 items distributed across six sub-scales of clinical governance: planned and integrated quality improvement; proactive risk management; absence of unjust blame and punishment; working with colleagues; training and development; and organizational learning. The measure enables those charged with leading the clinical governance agenda in UK healthcare organizations to assess the progress of organizational development initiatives, highlighting areas requiring particular attention. They might also be of interest to those concerned about the negative unintended consequences of performance management.
Aircraft's visual navigation - a multiscale approach

Aircraft's visual navigation is a navigation technology of extracting navigation information from a train of images, which gives motion information of the aircraft concerned. To date, visual method provides an alternative of inertial and satellite navigation techniques. Aircraft's visual navigation without manmade landmarks is studied in this paper. Since there is no artificial landmark available, resorting to environmental characteristics of flight is necessary to obtain structural information. Using a multi-scale approach to extract such structural information is a highly preferable choice. Since its hierarchical nature makes it efficient to compute and accurate enough to satisfy practical use. The feature estimation function and the feature innovation are proposed in this paper. Using a hierarchical algorithm to extract navigation information is realized in the end
The Claims of After Virtue

Abstract After Virtue claims that it is characteristic of contemporary society that its debates are peculiarly unsettlable; that this state of affairs is the result of the failure by the thinkers of the Enlightenment to construct a rational, secular defence of shared moral principles; and that the Aristotelian tradition of the virtues provides the only rationally defensible alternative to post-Enlightenment morality.
Meta-analysis of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with tegafur-uracil in non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE Recent clinical trials have shown the efficacy of platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy for completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In Japan, many clinical trials of adjuvant chemotherapy with tegafur-uracil (UFT) have been conducted, and some trials showed positive results while others showed negative results. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with UFT in NSCLC. METHODS Among nine trials of postoperative adjuvant UFT-containing chemotherapy, six trials comparing surgery alone with surgery plus UFT were identified. Of six trials, two were three-arm trials including cisplatin-based chemotherapy followed by UFT, and data from that arm were not included in the meta-analysis. RESULTS Of 2,003 eligible patients, most (98.8%) had squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma, and most had stage I disease; the tumor classification was T1 in 1,308 (65.3%), T2 in 674 (33.6%), and the nodal status was N0 in 1,923 (96.0%). The two treatment groups did not differ significantly in major prognostic factors. The median duration of follow-up was 6.44 years. The survival rates at 5 and 7 years were significantly higher in the surgery plus UFT group (81.5% and 76.5%, respectively) than in the surgery alone group (77.2% and 69.5%, respectively; P = .011 and .001, respectively). The overall pooled hazard ratio was 0.74, and its 95% CI was 0.61 to 0.88 (P = .001). CONCLUSION This meta-analysis showed that postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with UFT was associated with improved 5- and 7-year survival in a Japanese patient population composed primarily of stage I adenocarcinoma patients.
Crystal Structure of the Heme-IsdC Complex, the Central Conduit of the Isd Iron/Heme Uptake System in Staphylococcus aureus*

Pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus require iron to survive and have evolved specialized proteins to steal heme from their host. IsdC is the central conduit of the Isd (iron-regulated surface determinant) multicomponent heme uptake machinery; staphylococcal cell-surface proteins such as IsdA, IsdB, and IsdH are thought to funnel their molecular cargo to IsdC, which then mediates the transfer of the iron-containing nutrient to the membrane translocation system IsdDEF. The structure of the heme-IsdC complex reveals a novel heme site within an immunoglobulin-like domain and sheds light on its binding mechanism. The folding topology is reminiscent of the architecture of cytochrome f, cellobiose dehydrogenase, and ethylbenzene dehydrogenase; in these three proteins, the heme is bound in an equivalent position, but interestingly, IsdC features a distinct binding pocket with the ligand located next to the hydrophobic core of the β-sandwich. The iron is coordinated with a tyrosine surrounded by several non-polar side chains that cluster into a tightly packed proximal side. On the other hand, the distal side is relatively exposed with a short helical peptide segment that acts as a lip clasping onto almost half of the porphyrin plane. This structural feature is argued to play a role in the mechanism of binding and release by switching to an open conformation and thus loosening the interactions holding the heme. The structure of the heme-IsdC complex provides a template for the understanding of other proteins, such as IsdA, IsdB, and IsdH, that contain the same heme-binding module as IsdC, known as the NEAT (near transporter) domain.