Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Sexual Dimorphism: A Critical Discussion in a (Paleo-) Anthropological Context

Abstract Viewed as a biological concept, sexual dimorphism does not appear to motivate debate. However, with the aim of measuring such dimorphism, several indexes have been proposed, and not all of them have been regarded as equally reliable by the biological community. The main divergence between the indexes is that their definition is based on appraising only partial features (e.g., the mean parameter) of the set of measurements corresponding to each sex. Provided that sexual dimorphism can be satisfactorily analyzed when random variables and their distribution functions are involved, it is also likely that the conjecture that the two sexes making up a population are independent enables such indexes to be clearly distinguished. We examined and compared the following measures of sexual dimorphism: the quotient of sample means, the sample range, the sample coefficient of variation, the overlapping area between two independent normal distributions, and the overlapping area between the functions making up a mixture of two normal distributions. We especially consider their inferential structures.
Offloading in Mobile Cloud Computing by Exception Maximization Algorithm

Offloading in mobile cloud computing by exception maximization algorithm is the idea to augment execution through migrating heavy computation from mobile devices to resourceful cloud servers and then receive the results from them via wireless networks. Offloading is an effective way to overcome the resources and functionalities constraints of the mobile devices since it can release them from intensive processing and increase performance of the mobile applications, in terms of response time. Offloading brings many potential benefits, such as energy saving, performance improvement, reliability improvement, ease for the software developers and better exploitation of contextual information. Parameters about method transitions, response times, cost and energy consumptions are dynamically re-estimated at runtime during application executions.
Microscopie non linéaire de tissus biologiques : excitation multicouleur, faisceaux de Bessel, et excitation en nappe de lumière

Le travail effectue au cours de cette these a porte sur le developpement et la mise en œuvre de nouvelles strategies en microscopie non lineaire permettant d'augmenter le nombre de signaux non lineaires simultanement observables d'une part, et la vitesse d'acquisition d'autre part. Dans un premier temps, nous avons explore la possibilite de produire des signaux multiples au moyen de deux trains d'impulsions synchronises de longueur d'onde centrale distincte. Nous avons montre que cette approche permet d'exciter de facon optimale et simultanee trois proteines fluorescentes respectivement bleue, jaune, et rouge. Une application de cette methode consiste a imager de grands volumes de tissus marques avec des transgenes Brainbow dans le but d'etudier la connectivite ou le lignage cellulaire. Plus generalement, nous avons montre que cette approche permet de combiner plusieurs signaux non lineaires tels que la fluorescence, la generation de seconde (SHG) et de troisieme (THG) harmoniques, ainsi que le melange a quatre ondes (FWM). Dans un deuxieme temps, nous avons etudie la possibilite d'augmenter la vitesse d'imagerie. Pour cela, nous avons mis en œuvre plusieurs manieres de produire des faisceaux de Bessel focalises afin d'augmenter la profondeur de champ d'un microscope a balayage. Enfin, en vue d'augmenter la vitesse d'acquisition tout en preservant le sectionnement optique, nous avons construit un microscope biphotonique a nappe de lumiere de profil spatial programmable. Dans cette geometrie nous avons compare les proprietes d'imagerie de profils d'excitation de type gaussien et de Bessel pour des applications en biologie du developpement.
An intelligent hybrid multi-criteria hotel recommender system using explicit and implicit feedbacks

Recommender systems, also known as recommender engines, have become an important research area and are now being applied in various fields. In addition, the techniques behind the recommender systems have been improved over the time. In general, such systems help users to find their required products or services (e.g. books, music) through analyzing and aggregating other users’ activities and behavior, mainly in form of reviews, and making the best recommendations. The recommendations can facilitate user’s decision making process. Despite wide literature on the topic, using multiple data sources of different types as the input has not been widely studied. Recommender systems can benefit from the high availability of digital data to collect the input data of different types which implicitly or explicitly help the system to improve its accuracy. Moreover, most of the existing research in this area is based on single rating measures in which a single rating is used to link users to items. This dissertation aims to design a highly accurate hotel recommender system, implemented in various layers and tailored for the subject problem. Using multi-rating system and benefitting from large-scale data of different types, the recommender system suggests hotels that are personalized and tailored for the given user. The system employs natural language processing techniques to assess the sentiment of the users’ reviews and extract implicit features. The entire recommender engine contains multiple sub-systems, namely users clustering, matrix factorization module, and hybrid recommender system. Each sub-system contributes to the final composite set of recommendations through covering a specific aspect of the problem. The accuracy of the proposed recommender system has been tested intensively where the results confirm the high performance of the system.
Predictors of infection in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been shown to have an increased susceptibility to the development of infections. The exact causes of this increased risk are unknown, but may relate to immunologic disturbances associated with the disease or to the immunosuppressive effects of agents used in its treatment. This study was undertaken to identify predictors of serious infections among patients with RA. Identification of such factors is the necessary first step in reducing the excess risk of infection in RA. METHODS Members of a population-based incidence cohort of Rochester, Minnesota residents ages >or=18 years, who had been diagnosed with RA between 1955 and 1994, were followed up longitudinally through their complete medical records until January 1, 2000. We examined potential risk factors for the development of all objectively confirmed (by microbiology or radiology) infections and for infections requiring hospitalization. Potential risk factors included RA severity measures (rheumatoid factor positivity, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, extraarticular manifestations of RA, and functional status), comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, and chronic lung disease), and other risk factors for infection (presence of leukopenia, smoking). Predictors were identified using multivariate time-dependent Cox proportional hazards modeling. RESULTS The 609 RA patients in the cohort had a total followup time of 7,729.7 person-years (mean 12.7 years per patient). A total of 389 patients (64%) had at least 1 infection with objective confirmation, and 290 (48%) had at least 1 infection requiring hospitalization. Increasing age, presence of extraarticular manifestations of RA, leukopenia, and comorbidities (chronic lung disease, alcoholism, organic brain disease, and diabetes mellitus), as well as use of corticosteroids, were strong predictors of infection (P < 0.004) in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Notably, use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs was not associated with increased risk of infection in multivariate analyses, after adjustment for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and disease-related variables. CONCLUSION We identified a number of strong predictors of infections in a population-based cohort of patients with RA. These results can be used to prospectively identify high-risk patients, who may benefit from closer followup and implementation of preventive strategies.
The Effects of Incentives on Families' Long-Term Outcome in a Parenting Program

To examine the impact of paying for participation in a preventive parenting program on treatment outcomes, 197 families with preschool-aged children were randomized to paid or unpaid conditions. Although both groups improved on nearly all measures, paid families showed less improvement on 3 of 10 variables, including father-reported child prosocial behavior and parenting skills and maternal distress. The interaction between payment and treatment format (individual vs. group) was examined. Compared to unpaid group participants, paid group intervention participants had significantly worse mother and father parenting skills posttreatment, whereas paid individual intervention mothers had significantly better skills. These findings suggest payment may lead to smaller treatment effects, although the bulk of the data point to no impact on outcomes. Given that payment attracts families who would not otherwise receive treatment, this appears to be a viable strategy to recruit families without appreciably impacting outcomes.
ISUOG Interim Guidance on ultrasound for Zika virus infection in pregnancy: information for healthcare professionals

In response to the World Health Organization (WHO) statements and international concerns regarding the Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak, ISUOG is publishing the following guidance for ultrasound during pregnancy. With the current uncertainty regarding many aspects of the diagnosis and clinical course of ZIKV infection in pregnancy, potentially valuable information may be obtained by ultrasound practitioners that may help in counseling pregnant women and further improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of ZIKV infection in pregnancy. This statement is not intended to replace previously published interim guidance on evaluation and management of ZIKV-exposed pregnant women. It should therefore be considered in conjunction with other relevant advice from organizations such as:
The effects of an exercise intervention on forward head and rounded shoulder postures in elite swimmers

Objectives To examine the correction of posture, increase in strength and decrease in shoulder pain and dysfunction in varsity swimmers. Design and Setting Randomised clinical trial. Participants Twenty-eight National Collegiate Athletic Association division I varsity swimmers. Measurements Two testing sessions were conducted before and after an 8-week time period. Posture, strength and shoulder pain and function were assessed. Forward head angle was measured using a digital inclinometer, forward head translation was measured using a ruler and total scapular distance was measured with unmarked string. Average and peak values (N) of strength were measured with the hand-held dynamometer. The intervention subjects then participated in an 8-week exercise training programme to correct posture. The procedures were then repeated in the post-test. Results Significant group by time interactions (p<0.05) were found in forward head angle and forward shoulder translation indicating a decrease in forward head angle and forward shoulder translation. Significant main effects for time (p<0.05) were found in strength measures for all muscle groups indicating increased strength for shoulder girdle muscles tested. Conclusions The exercise intervention was successful at decreasing forward head and rounded shoulder postures in elite swimmers. This study supports the theoretical basis for clinical rehabilitation of posture and the shoulder.
Antigenic relatedness between the spiralins of Spiroplasma citri and Spiroplasma melliferum

Four spiralins were compared by rocket immunoelectrophoresis, quantitative immunoblotting techniques, and the spiroplasma deformation test with the use of antispiralin (polyclonal) monospecific antibodies. This investigation revealed that the spiralins of Spiroplasma citri and S. melliferum are antigenically related and that probably no more than two epitopes simultaneously saturable with antibodies are shared by the two proteins. One at least of these epitopes is accessible to antibodies on the spiroplasma cell surface.
Análise de redes como ferramenta de gestão para empreendimentos interorganizacionais

O progresso social e economico de uma nacao depende do seu desenvolvimento cientifico, tecnologico e de seus sistemas de inovacao. A capacidade de cooperacao dos agentes de inovacao envolvidos e reconhecida como um elemento essencial de maturidade de um sistema. A consolidacao dos mecanismos de acao cooperativa depende da concepcao de um sistema onde o modelo de gestao seja inclusivo e aceito por todas as entidades envolvidas. A criacao do Arranjo Promotor de Inovacao de Nanotecnologia no complexo tecnologico de Florianopolis e um marco do desenvolvimento cientifico e tecnologico nessa area no Brasil. Este artigo tem por objetivo apresentar como a analise de uma rede composta por agentes com potencial de cooperacao pode auxiliar na concepcao e estabelecimento de seu modelo de gestao. A pesquisa apresentou informacoes que permitiram determinar a maturidade organizacional e a resiliencia da rede, considerados como principais fatores estrategicos para entendimento das dinâmicas das relacoes interorganizacionais.
On the Hierarchical Bayesian Approach to Image Restoration: Applications to Astronomical Images

In an image restoration problem one usually has two different kinds of information. In the first stage, one has knowledge about the structural form of the noise and local characteristics of the restoration. These noise and image models normally depend on unknown hyperparameters. The hierarchical Bayesian approach adds a second stage by putting a hyperprior on the hyperparameters, where information about those hyperparameters is included. In this work the author applies the hierarchical Bayesian approach to image restoration problems and compares it with other approaches in handling the estimation of the hyperparameters. >
Supporting multi-agent systems life cycle by integrating Protege and Prometheus

In this paper, an approach aiming to support the complete multi-agent systems (MAS) life cycle is proposed. Two existing and widely accepted tools, Protege Ontology Editor and Knowledge-Base Framework and Prometheus Development Kit, are integrated, offering a general sequence of steps facilitating application creation. It seems reasonable to integrate all traditional software development stages into one single methodology, which can provide a general approach for MAS creation, starting with problem definition and resulting in program coding, deployment and maintenance. The approach is successfully being applied to situation assessment issues, which has concluded in an agent-based decision-support system for environmental impact evaluation. An example is offered to evaluate the impact of environmental parameters upon human health in Spanish region Castilla-La Mancha, in general, and in the city of Albacete, in particular.
1-Imidoalkylphosphonium salts with modulated Cα–P+ bond strength: synthesis and application as new active α-imidoalkylating agents

An effective synthesis of the hitherto unknown 1-imidoalkylphosphonium salts has been developed in the reported study. The crucial step in the method included the decarboxylative α-methoxylation of N-phthaloyl- or N-succinylamino acids to the corresponding N-(1-methoxyalkyl)imides, followed by the displacement of the methoxy group by the triarylphosphonium group through melting of the imide derivative with triarylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate. The imidoalkylating properties of the obtained 1-imidoalkylphosphonium salts were tested using the Tscherniac–Einhorn-type reaction with aromatic hydrocarbons as a model reaction. It was found that the Cα–P+ bond strength can be considerably reduced and the imidoalkylation of arenes can be markedly facilitated using 1-imidoalkylphosphonium salts derived from triarylphosphines with electron-withdrawing substituents such as tris(m-chorophenyl)phosphine, tris(p-chlorophenyl)phosphine and tris[p-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]phosphine. Microwave irradiation also considerably facilitates the cleavage of the highly polar Cα–P+ bond.
Advanced tools for resolving complex issues in networking

This paper discusses the needs of the new generation of networks with advanced techniques based on intelligent and dynamic features to resolve complex issues that faced by future networks and provide solutions to the different limitations of the actual proposed techniques in networking. We believe that intelligent agents could provide these advanced tools. To prove our idea, we propose an extension to a networking platform with intelligent capabilities and define an agent behaviour to resolve a specific problem faced by a DiffServ network. Results show great increase in the global behaviour of the DiffServ network due to the agent integration.
ARY esion-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of

Phosph signali proces 1987; U activation (Ferrell and Martin, 1988, 1989; Golden and Brugge, 1989; Campbell and Sefton, 1990; Gold et al., 1990; June et al., 1990), cell fate determination (Casanova and Struhl, 1989; Kramer et al., 1991) and transformation (Cantley et al., 1991). It has long been known that many of these processes are also modulated by adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix (ECM) (Tucker et al., 1981; Wittelsberger et al., 1981; Patel and Lodish, 1987; Dike and Farmer, 1988; Adams and Watt, 1990; Nicholson and Watt, 1991). Although the mechanism by which adhesion regulates cell behavior is still poorly understood, early studies showing elevated levels of phosphotyrosine in focal adhesions (Comoglio et al., 1984; Maher et al., 1985) suggested that protein tyrosine phosphorylation may play an important role in adhesion dependent processes. Several laboratories have now shown that integrindependent adhesion of cells to the ECM activates a signaling pathway that leads to phosphorylation of specific proteins on tyrosine (Ferrell and Martin, 1989; Golden and Brugge, 1989; ., 19 ridg et ther foca 25F 1992; Lipfert et al., 1992;) and tensin (Bockholt and Burridge, 1993), suggesting that focal adhesions are important sites of adhesion-induced signal transduction. However, the relationship between these adhesion-induced phosphorylation events and the adhesion dependent regulation of cellular processes remains to be determined. The continued identification and characterization of proteins that are tyrosine phosphorylated in an adhesion-dependent manner, and the relevant kinases, should provide useful information regarding integrin-mediated signaling and ultimately, perhaps, lead to an understanding of the role of adhesion in the regulation of cell behavior. Much effort is being presently directed towards identifying the kinases responsible for the adhesion-induced increase in tyrosine phosphorylation and their in vivo substrates. In view of its localization, one obvious candidate is the focal adhesion kinase, pp125FAK, a tyrosine kinase that is activated in response to adhesion (Guan and Shalloway, 1992; Schaller et al., 1992). Indeed, FAK has been shown to phosphorylate Adhes increa protein focal a additio tyrosin appare paxilli highly (RSV) compl activat (mAb p130 i Immu photyr embry cre ore, ecip late 4F hat ss fib in. ing r st lly, nas ried .
Release of enzymes from rat liver mitochondria by freezing.

Glutamate and 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activities were used to estimate freezing damage to mitochondria.Freezing damage occurred in mitochondria by two steps: one was rapid and involved changes in membrane structure to expose 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase with concomitant release of glutamate dehydrogenase; the other was a slow extraction of glutamate dehydrogenase. The effect of freezing and thawing was very similar to the effect of exposure to high sucrose concentration and redilution. The data indicate that freezing temperature not only determined the sucrose concentration but also regulated the diffusion of sucrose. A combination of effects, of sucrose concentration and of diffusion, resulted in maximum damage at about −15 °C, while below −40 °C no damage was detectable.
Reliability and Validity of Assessing Subspecialty Level of Faculty Anesthesiologists’ Supervision of Anesthesiology Residents

BACKGROUND:Supervision of anesthesiology residents is a major responsibility of faculty (academic) anesthesiologists. Supervision can be evaluated daily for individual anesthesiologists using a 9-question instrument. Faculty anesthesiologists with lesser individual scores contribute to lesser departmental (global) scores. Low (<3, “frequent”) department-wide evaluations of supervision are associated with more mistakes with negative consequences to patients. With the long-term aim for residency programs to be evaluated partly based on the quality of their resident supervision, we assessed the 9-item instrument’s reliability and validity when used to compare anesthesia programs’ rotations nationwide. METHODS:One thousand five hundred residents in the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ directory of anesthesia trainees were randomly selected to be participants. Residents were contacted via e-mail and requested to complete a Web-based survey. Nonrespondents were mailed a paper version of the survey. RESULTS:Internal consistency of the supervision scale was excellent, with Cronbach’s &agr; = 0.909 (95% CI, 0.896–0.922, n = 641 respondents). Discriminant validity was found based on absence of rank correlation of supervision score with characteristics of the respondents and programs (all P > 0.10): age, hours worked per week, female, year of anesthesia training, weeks in the current rotation, sequence of survey response, size of residency class, and number of survey respondents from the current rotation and program. Convergent validity was found based on significant positive correlation between supervision score and variables related to safety culture (all P < 0.0001): “Overall perceptions of patient safety,” “Teamwork within units,” “Nonpunitive response to errors,” “Handoffs and transitions,” “Feedback and communication about error,” “Communication openness,” and rotation’s “overall grade on patient safety. ” Convergent validity was found also based on significant negative correlation with variables related to the individual resident’s burnout (all P < 0.0001): “I feel burnout from my work,” “I have become more callous toward people since I took this job,” and numbers of “errors with potential negative consequences to patients [that you have] made and/or witnessed. ” Usefulness was shown by supervision being predicted by the same 1 variable for each of 3 regression tree criteria: “Teamwork within [the rotation]” (e.g., “When one area in this rotation gets busy, others help out”). CONCLUSIONS:Evaluation of the overall quality of supervision of residents by faculty anesthesiologists depends on the reliability and validity of the instrument. Our results show that the 9-item de Oliveira Filho et al. supervision scale can be applied for overall (department, rotation) assessment of anesthesia training programs.