Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Boundary Detection of Dispersal Impact Craters Based on Morphological Characteristics Using Lunar Digital Elevation Model

Lunar impact craters are the most typical geomorphic unit found on the moon and are of great significance for the study of terrain features. Currently, most mainstream detection algorithms for lunar impact craters represent craters as circles, but these methods counter difficulty in expressing the real shapes in an accurate manner. It is difficult to conduct an advanced analysis, such as characteristic and spatial heterogeneity analyses of the lunar surface. The lunar terrain characteristics were analyzed using dispersal impact craters as the object, and a dispersal crater detection algorithm (CDA) based on a digital elevation model (DEM-based CDA) was proposed. By analyzing the surface catchment, the impact crater can be treated as a closed basin structure. The raw impact crater region is detected using watershed algorithm. This algorithm can detect the real boundaries of an impact crater based on the actual terrain. Several morphological factors, such as posture ratio and rectangle factor, are used to filter the raw impact crater regions. A suborbicular raw impact crater region is treated as the desired result after the elimination of false impact craters. For the remaining raw impact crater regions, terrain profile analysis is applied to accurately identify the boundaries of impact craters. The DEM data produced from the Chang'E-2 imagery and LRO laser altimeter data (20 and 60 m) are used in verification. The results show that the impact crater boundaries with real terrain characteristics can be effectively expressed and used in further exploration.
Extension Master Gardener Social Media Needs: A National Study

An online survey was conducted to assess the feasibility of providing training on the use of social media for the Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program. Volunteers (n = 1,275) and coordinators (n = 111) responded. Findings indicate the existence of sufficient interest in a nationally coordinated social media training. Inclusion of social media as a qualifying activity in EMG programs should be explored. Findings support inclusion of volunteers in future surveys and the possible need for increased involvement of volunteers in setting program direction. Training is being developed on the basis of the data. Future surveying of the EMG population by using random sampling to more accurately define the audience is strongly encouraged.
Multiobjective Beampattern Optimization in Collaborative Beamforming via NSGA-II With Selective Distance

Collaborative beamforming is usually characterized by high, asymmetrical sidelobe levels due to the randomness of node locations. Previous works have shown that the optimization methods aiming to reduce the peak sidelobe level (PSL) alone do not guarantee the overall sidelobe reduction of the beampattern, especially when the nodes are random and cannot be manipulated. Hence, this paper proposes a multiobjective amplitude and phase optimization technique with two objective functions: PSL minimization and directivity maximization, in order to improve the beampattern. A novel selective Euclidean distance approach in the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) is proposed to steer the candidate solutions toward a better solution. Results obtained by the proposed NSGA with selective distance (NSGA-SD) are compared with the single-objective PSL optimization performed using both GA and particle swarm optimization. The proposed multiobjective NSGA provides up to 40% improvement in PSL reduction and 50% improvement in directivity maximization and up to 10% increased performance compared to the legacy NSGA-II. The analysis of the optimization method when considering mutual coupling between the nodes shows that this improvement is valid when the inter-node Euclidean separations are large.
The reproducibility of ophthalmic utility values.

PURPOSE Utility values have been used in the ophthalmic literature to measure the quality of life associated with a health state. By convention, a utility value of 1.0 is associated with perfect health, and a value of 0.0 is associated with death. Construct validity of utility values has been demonstrated, particularly in regard to decreasing utility values as the vision decreases in the better seeing eye, but long-term test-retest reliability has not been demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the test-retest reliability of ophthalmic utility values. METHODS One hundred fifteen patients with ophthalmic diseases and stable visual acuity underwent time trade-off utility analysis with retesting at various intervals ranging from 1 month to 2 years. The results were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The study was designed to have an 50% power, using a two-sided alpha of 5%, to be able to detect a 10% difference between the test and retest groups. RESULTS The mean time from testing to retesting was 0.87 years, with a median time of 1.0 year and range of 1 month to 2 years. The mean utility value in the test group was 0.766 (SD = .21; 95% CI, 0.730-0.802), while the mean utility value in the retest group was 0.763 (SD = .22; 95% CI, 0.724-0.802). The difference between the means of the test-retest groups was not significant (P = .99). The intraclass correlation between the initial and follow-up utility scores was . 5246 (P < .00005). CONCLUSIONS Ophthalmic utility values appear to have good test-retest reliability over prolonged periods of time. This information is important because it gives researchers increased confidence in the validity of basic tools for ophthalmic cost-effective (cost-utility) analyses.
Empirical Examination of Integrated Component of Intellectual Capital on Financial Performance: Study of Select Service and Non-Service Firms in Nigeria

This study assessed the impact of the components of Intellectual Capital (Human Capital, Structural Capital, Relational Capital and Innovation Capital) of Companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange with a view to determining their association with financial performance. The study adopted multiple regression analysis in analyzing data collected from annual reports and accounts of the sampled companies to determine the continue effect of intellectual capital on financial performance among the 182 listed companies. Based on this, the study found out that the integrated effect of the components (Human capital, structural capital, relational capital and innovation capital) made about 40% contribution to the variance in financial performance of the companies. The study developed a model for understanding the IC components and their effect on organization financial performance. The application of this is that investment in IC can contribute to over 40% of change in financial performance consequent upon this, it is recommended that Nigerian listed companies should substantially invest in IC to help boost companies’ financial configuration.
Comparison between bronchial and alveolar samples of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in asthma.

BACKGROUND Cell content of BALF may vary according to the segment of the lung washed. It was proposed to separate BALF into several aliquots, the first sample being more related to bronchi. The present study compared bronchial and alveolar samples by fractionating aliquots of BALF in normal and asthmatic subjects. METHODS One hundred asthmatic subjects (mean +/- SEM: 37 +/- 1.5 yr in age) were compared with 31 normal subjects (mean +/- SEM: 32 +/- 2.2 yr in age). None of the subjects was a smoker and none was taking drugs that might interfere with the results. The severity of asthma was defined by the clinical score of Aas examining the chronic severity of asthma and ranging from 1 to 5 (range: 1 to 4; mean +/- SEM: 2.2 +/- 0.1) and FEV1 (range: 45 to 130 percent; mean +/- SEM: 82 +/- 1.8 percent of predicted values). Bronchoscopy was done in a standardized manner. A first aliquot of 50 ml of saline each were instilled and the BALF recovered was pooled (alveolar sample). After centrifugation, total and differential cell counts (May Grünwald-Giemsa) were carried out on bronchial and alveolar samples. RESULTS The alveolar sample contained significantly more cells per milliliter of BALF than the bronchial sample in normal (p less than 0.0077, Wilcoxon test) and in asthmatic subjects (p = 0.0001, Wilcoxon test). Both in normal and asthmatic subjects, bronchial samples contained significantly more neutrophils and epithelial cells and fewer macrophages and lymphocytes than alveolar samples. In asthmatic subjects, the bronchial sample contained a significantly greater percentage of eosinophils than the alveolar sample. Eosinophils were significantly increased in asthmatic subjects for both the bronchial and alveolar samples. Bronchial and alveolar eosinophilia both were correlated with the Aas score (r = 0.25, p = 0.024 and r = 0.38, p = 0.0006, respectively, by Spearman Rank test). CONCLUSIONS This study shows in a large number of subjects that the cell content of bronchial and more distal segments of the lung is not comparable, indicating that studies should not give pooled data in asthmatic subjects. Moreover, it confirms the presence of BALF eosinophilia in asthmatic subjects.
Dimmable LED Driver Based on Twin-Bus Converter and Differential-Mode Transformer

In this paper, a four-channel lighting-emitting diode (LED) driver is presented, which combines a twin-bus converter and three differential-mode transformers. In this LED driver, the twin-bus converter can achieve reduction of the voltage stress of the switch, and the differential-mode transformers can achieve current sharing. Furthermore, the twin-bus converter can provide demagnetizing paths for the differential-mode transformers. Above all, the LED strings can be easily expanded. Moreover, the LED currents can be regulated by the dimming control switch. Finally, theoretical deductions and experimental results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed topology.
Enzymes Involved in Anaerobic Respiration Appear To Play a Role in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Virulence

ABSTRACT Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, the etiological agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, is able to survive on respiratory epithelia, in tonsils, and in the anaerobic environment of encapsulated sequesters. It was previously demonstrated that a deletion of the anaerobic dimethyl sulfoxide reductase gene (dmsA) results in attenuation in acute disease (N. Baltes, S. Kyaw, I. Hennig-Pauka, and G. F. Gerlach, Infect. Immun. 71:6784-6792, 2003). In the present study, using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, we identified an aspartate ammonia-lyase (AspA) which is upregulated upon induction with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). This enzyme is involved in the production of fumarate, an alternative electron acceptor under anaerobic conditions. The coding gene (aspA) was cloned and shown to be present in all A. pleuropneumoniae serotype reference strains. The transcriptional start point was identified downstream of a putative FNR binding motif, and BALF-dependent activation of aspA was confirmed by construction of an isogenic A. pleuropneumoniae mutant carrying a chromosomal aspA::luxAB transcriptional fusion. Two aspA deletion mutants, A. pleuropneumoniae ΔaspA and A. pleuropneumoniae ΔaspAΔdmsA, were constructed, both showing reduced growth under anaerobic conditions in vitro. Pigs challenged with either of the two mutants in an aerosol infection model showed a lower lung lesion score than that of the A. pleuropneumoniae wild-type (wt) controls. Pigs challenged with A. pleuropneumoniae ΔaspAΔdmsA had a significantly lower clinical score, and this mutant was rarely reisolated from unaltered lung tissue; in contrast, A. pleuropneumoniae ΔaspA and the A. pleuropneumoniae wt were consistently reisolated in high numbers. These results suggest that enzymes involved in anaerobic respiration are necessary for the pathogen's ability to persist on respiratory tract epithelium and play an important role in A. pleuropneumoniae pathogenesis.
Adaptive Variable Time Fractional Anisotropic Diffusion Filtering for Seismic Data Noise Attenuation

Seismic records are often contaminated with various kinds of noise, which makes it very difficult to distinguish the expected geological features. In this paper, we introduce a novel adaptive variable time fractional-order anisotropic diffusion equation for seismic data noise removal and strongly oriented structure enhancement. Since the time fractional-order differential equation interpolates a parabolic equation and a hyperbolic equation, the solution benefits both of these approaches. The presented differential equation can be written as a Volterra integral equation, and its well-posedness can be guaranteed for all time. We employ a structure tensor to analyze the flow-like texture characteristic which is typical in seismic data. Then, the diffusion process is guided reasonably by a diffusion tensor based on the structure tensor analysis which allows real anisotropic behavior comparing to the classical scalar diffusion approach. In reference to the numerical implementation, we utilize the predictor-corrector algorithm to solve the Volterra integral equation which provides high-order numerical precision jointly with good stability property. Finally, numerical experiments involved with synthetic and prestacked real seismic data are presented. The obtained results demonstrate that the noise is effectively removed, and the coherent seismic events that express some important geological structures are not only preserved but significantly enhanced.
Adoptive transfer of macrophage from mice with depression‐like behavior enhances susceptibility to colitis

Background: Depression is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but the pathway is not well understood. We examined whether the locus of susceptibility to colitis in mice with depression‐like behavior (DLB) resides with the macrophage and implicates the vagus nerve. Methods: Chronic colitis mimicking ulcerative colitis (UC) was induced by dextran sulfate sodium administered to C57BL/6‐mice. Depression was induced by intracerebroventricular infusion of reserpine in healthy or vagotomized mice treated with antidepressant desmethylimipramine (DMI). Colitis was assessed macroscopically, histologically, and by C‐reactive protein measurement in serum and by cytokines in colonic samples. Cytokine release was measured on macrophages isolated from these models. Naive macrophage colony‐stimulating factor‐deficient mice (op/op) were injected with peritoneal macrophages obtained from the different groups and acute colitis was induced. Results: Vagotomy reactivated inflammation in mice with chronic colitis. DLB reactivated colitis and this was prevented by DMI only in mice with intact vagi. Macrophages isolated from vagotomized or DLB‐mice showed a selective increase of proinflammatory cytokine release and this was not seen in macrophages isolated from DLB‐DMI‐treated mice; moreover, vagotomy abolished this beneficial effect. In op/op, adoptive transfer of macrophages from non‐DLB mice significantly increased the inflammatory markers. These parameters were significantly increased when transferred with macrophages isolated from DLB or VXP mice. Op/op mice that received macrophages from DLB‐DMI‐treated mice showed a significant decrease of all parameters and vagotomy abolished this effect. Conclusions: These data identify the critical role of macrophage in linking depression and susceptibility to intestinal inflammation via the vagus nerve. The results provide a basis for developing new approaches to the management of UC patients with coexisting depression by rebalancing cytokine production by the cell. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)
Cognitive effects of hospital calls in anaesthesiologists

The work hours of Norwegian physicians are under scrutiny because of an increased public focus on patient safety. Ample international research indicate harmful effects of doctor fatigue based on studies on physicians working long weeks and on‐call shifts of more than 30 consecutive hours. There is a lack of research on effects relevant for short or intermediate length of work weeks and call shifts. This study intended to study cognitive effects of short or intermediate duration in‐hospital calls.
Specific skin-reactive protein from culture filtrate of Mycobacterium bovis BCG

A highly purified protein, named MPB70, was isolated from the culture filtrate of Mycobacterium bovis BCG. This protein accounted for more than 10% of the proteins secreted into the culture medium. MPB70 was purified by precipitation with ammonium sulfate, followed by treatment with diethylaminoethyl ion exchanger, with or without 3 M urea, and by gel filtration. The final MPB70 preparation was homogenous as judged by several analyses. The molecular weight was estimated to be 18,000 by electrophoresis or molecular sieve and 15,100 by sedimentation equilibrium. The preparation did not contain sugars. The amino acid composition did not include cysteine or tryptophan. In skin reaction, MPB70 was a strictly BCG-specific antigen and, among the guinea pigs sensitized with the heat-killed cells of the various species of mycobacteria--Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains H37Rv and Aoyama B, Mycobacterium kansasii, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Mycobacterium phlei, and BCG, it elicited a delayed cutaneous reaction only in the guinea pigs sensitized with BCG. The potency of MPB70 in the skin reaction was about one-twentieth of the standard purified protein derivative.
The expression and function of microRNAs in chondrogenesis and osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE To use an in vitro model of chondrogenesis to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) with a functional role in cartilage homeostasis. METHODS The expression of miRNAs was measured in the ATDC5 cell model of chondrogenesis using microarray and was verified using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. MicroRNA expression was localized by in situ hybridization. Predicted miRNA target genes were validated using 3'-untranslated region-Luc reporter plasmids containing either wild-type sequences or mutants of the miRNA target sequence. Signaling through the Smad pathway was measured using a (CAGA)(12) -Luc reporter. RESULTS The expression of several miRNAs was regulated during chondrogenesis. These included 39 miRNAs that are coexpressed with miRNA-140 (miR-140), which is known to be involved in cartilage homeostasis and osteoarthritis (OA). Of these miRNAs, miR-455 resides within an intron of COL27A1 that encodes a cartilage collagen. When human OA cartilage was compared with cartilage obtained from patients with femoral neck fractures, the expression of both miR-140-5p and miR-455-3p was increased in OA cartilage. In situ hybridization showed miR-455-3p expression in the developing limbs of chicks and mice and in human OA cartilage. The expression of miR-455-3p was regulated by transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) ligands, and miRNA regulated TGFβ signaling. ACVR2B, SMAD2, and CHRDL1 were direct targets of miR-455-3p and may mediate its functional impact on TGFβ signaling. CONCLUSION MicroRNA-455 is expressed during chondrogenesis and in adult articular cartilage, where it can regulate TGFβ signaling, suppressing the Smad2/3 pathway. Diminished signaling through this pathway during the aging process and in OA chondrocytes is known to contribute to cartilage destruction. We propose that the increased expression of miR-455 in OA exacerbates this process and contributes to disease pathology.
Recommendations for a standard UK approach to incorporating umbilical cord blood into clinical transplantation practice: an update on cord blood unit selection, donor selection algorithms and conditioning protocols

Allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation offers a potentially curative treatment option for a wide range of life‐threatening malignant and non‐malignant disorders of the bone marrow and immune system in patients of all ages. With rapidly emerging advances in the use of alternative donors, such as mismatched unrelated, cord blood and haploidentical donors, it is now possible to find a potential donor for almost all patients in whom an allograft is indicated. Therefore, for any specific patient, the transplant physician may be faced with a myriad of potential choices, including decisions concerning which donor to prioritize where there is more than one, the optimal selection of specific umbilical cord blood units and which conditioning and graft‐versus‐host disease prophylactic schedule to use. Donor choice may be further complicated by other important factors, such as urgency of transplant, the presence of alloantibodies, the disease status (homozygosity or heterozygosity) of sibling donors affected by inherited disorders and the cytomegalovirus serostatus of patient and donor. We report UK consensus guidelines on the selection of umbilical cord blood units, the hierarchy of donor selection and the preferred conditioning regimens for umbilical cord blood transplantation, with a summary of rationale supporting these recommendations.
Acute effects of cocaine on anterior pituitary hormones in male and female rhesus monkeys.

The effects of acute cocaine administration (0.4 or 0.8 mg/kg) on anterior pituitary hormones were studied in four male and six female adult rhesus monkeys during the midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle (days 20-23). Progesterone levels averaged 15.7 +/- 3 and 10.6 +/- 2.8 ng/ml before low and high dose cocaine administration. Integrated plasma samples were collected every 10 min for 40 min before i.v. administration of cocaine, and 11 postcocaine samples were collected over 110 min. Cocaine (0.8 mg/kg) stimulated a significant increase in luteinizing hormone (LH) within 10 to 20 min (P < .01) and LH reached peak levels (59-60% above base line) within 30 min after cocaine administration in both males and females. Plasma cocaine levels averaged 289 +/- 23 and 346 +/- 73 ng/ml at 10 min after i.v. cocaine (0.8 mg/kg) administration in males and females, respectively. Follicle stimulating hormone levels were unchanged in midluteal females. Male testosterone increased by 50% above average base-line levels 50 min after the LH peak (80 min postcocaine). These data are consistent with our previous findings that cocaine increased LH and enhanced luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-stimulated LH in early follicular females. The low dose of cocaine did not change basal levels of LH and follicle stimulating hormone in midluteal females and both LH and testosterone were unaffected in males. Cocaine plasma levels averaged 97.6 +/- 29 and 68.3 +/- 9.1 ng/ml at 10 min after 0.4 mg/kg of cocaine in males and females, respectively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Yeni Keynesyen İktisat mı, Yeni Neo-Klasik Sentez mi?

Yeni Keynesyenler, Keynesyen iktisadi tekrar hayata dondurmeye calisan yaklasimlardan biridir. Bu amacla Keynesyen makro iktisadin mikro temellerini insa etmeye calismislardir. Bu cercevede calismalarinda nominal fiyatlar ve ucretlerdeki yapiskanliklar ile eksik bilgi ve piyasa basarisizligi konularini vurgulamislardir. Boylece, ozel sektor ajanlari rasyonel beklentilere sahip olsa ve para arzindaki degismeleri ongorse bile, toplam talep duzeyindeki degismelerin reel ekonomik aktiviteyi etkileyebilecegini gostermislerdir. Bu cercevede Keynesyen iktisadin reenkarnasyonundan bahsetmek mumkundur. Ancak, soz konusu reenkarnasyonla birlikte Keynesyen Iktisat, Keynes’in iktisadindan biraz daha uzaklasip, Neo-klasik paradigmaya daha cok yaklasmistir. Dolayisiyla, Yeni Keynesyen iktisadi, Yeni Neo-Klasik Sentez olarak isimlendirmek mumkundur. Bu tez, Yeni Keynesyen iktisatcilarin calismalarindan hareketle ispatlanmaya calisilacaktir