Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Poor Communication is Alive and Well: A Study of Annual Report Readability

Annual reports p rovide the p rimary communication medium between corporations and t heir important external audiences, notably their shareholders. This study applies Flesch and Fog formulas to demonstrate that Canadiar? corporate annual reports a re p repared to degrees of reader comprehension difficulty beyond the educational attainment levels of 90% of all Canadians, and two-thirds of Canadian shareholders. Les rapports annuels sont le principal v6hicle de communication entre les corporations et la population concernCe, notamment leurs actionaaires. Cette dtude a recours aux modsles de Flesch et Fog, afin de p rouver que, les rapports annuels des corporations canadiennes sont prCparCs a un niveau de connaissance supdrieur a celui de 90 pour c ent des Canadiens, et de deux-tiers des actionnaires canadiens.
Implement tracking algorithm using CNNs

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) is widely used as classifiers in the field of computer vision. The more complex a CNNs model is, the more accurate classification results will be. But a very deep network also requires a better GPU to train and test in a reasonable time. In this paper, we purpose a tracking algorithm using LeNet-5, and avoid computing complex handcrafted features from the raw inputs. Modifying the number of kernels improves the tracking accuracy of models, avoid over-fitting. The experiment of processing a video clip meets real-time requirement while using GPU and it shows our algorithm is more robust than traditional algorithm like particle filter to track single target under the complicated background.
Markers of genital tuberculosis in infertility.

INTRODUCTION Although genital tuberculosis is a condition that is prevalent worldwide, it is still a diagnostic dilemma. This study aimed to find an effective diagnostic modality for the condition. METHODS A total of 100 infertile women were clinically evaluated with haemoglobin estimation, total and differential count, Mantoux test, tubercle bacilli enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TB ELISA), hysterosalpingography, pelvic ultrasonography, laparohysteroscopy, premenstrual endometrial biopsy for histopathology, culture and tubercle bacilli polymerase chain reaction (TBPCR). The womens' Day 2 hormonal profile (luteinising, follicle-stimulating, prolactin and thyroidstimulating hormones) and their husbands' semen analysis were also conducted. RESULTS A total of 58 women had primary infertility and 42 had secondary infertility. Female factor infertility was present in 63 percent of the cases (mostly tubal; 45.97 percent). 26 women tested positive for endometrial TBPCR. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Mantoux test, TB ELISA and hysterosalpingography were found to have high negative predictive value (greater than 80 percent), while the positive predictive value was 35-45 percent. Laparoscopy findings were suggestive of tuberculosis in 13 percent of the women, out of which 83.3 percent were positive for endometrial TBPCR. Hysteroscopy revealed intrauterine adhesions in 34.8 percent of the women, with 68.8 percent being positive for tubercular bacilli. CONCLUSION Our study established that in cases of genital tuberculosis, the use of expensive endometrial TBPCR tests may be avoided with a detailed workup, which would also help in the institution of anti-tubercular treatment in early disease, thus enhancing the chance of pregnancy.
Dynamic Class Provisioning on Mobile Devices

Mobile devices are characterized by low processing power, limited communication bandwidth, limited storage space and rudimentary input and output systems. Networks of such devices are mainly the medium for data exchange. Dynamic code exchange is a feature that is not supported in this environment even though communication is easily achieved. This paper proposes a flexible class loader for the Java connected limited device configuration (CLDC). Introducing a dynamic remote class loader on the CLDC is necessary in order to efficiently deploy the platform into mobile wireless networks. The proposed solution is compared with other possible solutions and is evaluated in relation to existing systems
Communities discovery in mobile call records

Given the users relational data of real world, how to get a clear vision of the network structure? A direct way is to identify the primary communities contained in and composed of it. Our goal is to bring forward a pragmatic solution not only discovering such concerned communities but also offering some inner hierarchy information. We propose a novel core vertices based method. Compared with former analogous algorithms, it overcomes the intrinsic shortcomings of this kind of solutions. Our method requires no strong assumption and no user-specific confined parameters. It can be applied to large scale of data set and a great deal of application situations. Experiments on real data show that it is effective and efficient to offer a comprehensible accuracy outcome.
Exposure of actin on the surface of the human sperm head during in vitro culture relates to sperm morphology, capacitation and zona binding.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the proportion of motile sperm with actin exposed on the surface of the head and sperm function. METHODS Semen samples were obtained from normozoospermic men and sperm function tests were performed. Motile sperm selected by swim-up were incubated with actin monoclonal antibody (A-mAb, 1:100) for 2 h, then anti-mouse IgG Dynabeads were used to detect sperm-bound A-mAb. Sperm capacitation was increased by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and decreased by bicarbonate-free medium. RESULTS The proportion of sperm with exposed actin increased with time for up to 2 h incubation. Bicarbonate-free medium significantly decreased the proportion of sperm with exposed actin. PMA significantly enhanced this phenomenon. Sperm bound to zona pellucida (ZP) had a significantly higher proportion with exposed actin than did sperm remaining in medium. Of the 79 samples studied, an average of 9.4% (range 1-27%) of motile sperm had exposed actin after 2 h incubation and this was significantly correlated with sperm normal morphology and ZP binding. CONCLUSION Exposure of actin on the surface of the sperm head during in vitro culture may be related to membrane modification during sperm capacitation and hence may be a useful marker for this subpopulation of sperm.
Social evolution of toxic metal bioremediation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Bacteria are often iron-limited, and hence produce extracellular iron-scavenging siderophores. A crucial feature of siderophore production is that it can be an altruistic behaviour (individually costly but benefitting neighbouring cells), thus siderophore producers can be invaded by non-producing social ‘cheats’. Recent studies have shown that siderophores can also bind other heavy metals (such as Cu and Zn), but in this case siderophore chelation actually reduces metal uptake by bacteria. These complexes reduce heavy metal toxicity, hence siderophore production may contribute to toxic metal bioremediation. Here, we show that siderophore production in the context of bioremediation is also an altruistic trait and can be exploited by cheating phenotypes in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Specifically, we show that in toxic copper concentrations (i) siderophore non-producers evolve de novo and reach high frequencies, and (ii) producing strains are fitter than isogenic non-producing strains in monoculture, and vice versa in co-culture. Moreover, we show that the evolutionary effect copper has on reducing siderophore production is greater than the reduction observed under iron-limited conditions. We discuss the relevance of these results to the evolution of siderophore production in natural communities and heavy metal bioremediation.
Induction of c-fos mRNA by kindled seizures: complex relationship with neuronal burst firing

Expression of the immediate-early gene c-fos has been advanced as a marker of neuronal activity in the adult nervous system. We sought to test the validity of c-fos mRNA expression as a marker of neuronal activity during seizures and to elucidate specific neurotransmitter receptors whose activation was necessary for seizure-evoked c-fos mRNA expression. We correlated c-fos mRNA expression, measured with in situ hybridization, with kindled seizure-induced firing of hippocampal dentate granule cells or substantia nigra pars compacta and pars reticulata neurons. We found that the occurrence of seizure-evoked synchronous action potentials during the seizure exhibited a perfect qualitative correlation with the presence of c-fos mRNA expression in the granule cells 30 min following the seizure (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.002). However, there was no quantitative correlation between the number of seizure-induced population action potentials and the magnitude of c-fos mRNA expression in the granule cells. In the substantia nigra, where neuronal populations have previously been demonstrated to exhibit synchronous firing during kindled seizures, no induction of c-fos mRNA was detected in either pars compacta or pars reticulata. Pretreatment with antagonists of the NMDA subtype of glutamate receptor selectively and markedly decreased seizure-induced c- fos mRNA expression in the dentate granule cells, despite increasing the number of granule cell population action potentials. These findings illustrate the complexity of the relationship between c-fos induction and neuronal burst firing during kindled seizures. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
An Internet linkage and mutation database for the complex phenotype asthma

SUMMARY The paper presents details of database construction, website installation and server architecture of the asthma and allergy gene database. AVAILABILITY Database and server templates are available on request from the first author. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The URL of the asthma and allergy gene database is http://cooke.gsf. de
Optimal Value of Information in Graphical Models

Many real-world decision making tasks require us to choose among several expensive observations. In a sensor network, for example, it is important to select the subset of sensors that is expected to provide the strongest reduction in uncertainty. In medical decision making tasks, one needs to select which tests to administer before deciding on the most effective treatment. It has been general practice to use heuristic-guided procedures for selecting observations. In this paper, we present the first efficient optimal algorithms for selecting observations for a class of probabilistic graphical models. For example, our algorithms allow to optimally label hidden variables in Hidden Markov Models (HMMs). We provide results for both selecting the optimal subset of observations, and for obtaining an optimal conditional observation plan. Furthermore we prove a surprising result: In most graphical models tasks, if one designs an efficient algorithm for chain graphs, such as HMMs, this procedure can be generalized to poly-tree graphical models. We prove that the optimizing value of information is NPPP-hard even for polytrees. It also follows from our results that just computing decision theoretic value of information objective functions, which are commonly used in practice, is a #P-complete problem even on Naive Bayes models (a simple special case of polytrees). In addition, we consider several extensions, such as using our algorithms for scheduling observation selection for multiple sensors. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on several real-world datasets, including a prototype sensor network deployment for energy conservation in buildings.
Effects of the beta‐adrenergic receptor antagonist Propranolol on dyskinesia and L‐DOPA‐induced striatal DA efflux in the hemi‐parkinsonian rat

Dopamine (DA) replacement therapy with L‐DOPA continues to be the primary treatment of Parkinson's disease; however, long‐term therapy is accompanied by L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesias (LID). Several experimental and clinical studies have established that Propranolol, a β‐adrenergic receptor antagonist, reduces LID without affecting L‐DOPA's efficacy. However, the exact mechanisms underlying these effects remain to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti‐dyskinetic profile of Propranolol against a panel of DA replacement strategies, as well as elucidate the underlying neurochemical mechanisms. Results indicated that Propranolol, in a dose‐dependent manner, reduced LID, without affecting motor performance. Propranolol failed to alter dyskinesia produced by the D1 receptor agonist, SKF81297 (0.08 mg/kg, sc), or the D2 receptor agonist, Quinpirole (0.05 mg/kg, sc). These findings suggested a pre‐synaptic mechanism for Propranolol's anti‐dyskinetic effects, possibly through modulating L‐DOPA‐mediated DA efflux. To evaluate this possibility, microdialysis studies were carried out in the DA‐lesioned striatum of dyskinetic rats and results indicated that co‐administration of Propranolol (20 mg/kg, ip) was able to attenuate L‐DOPA‐ (6 mg/kg, sc) induced DA efflux. Therefore, Propranolol's anti‐dyskinetic properties appear to be mediated via attenuation of L‐DOPA‐induced extraphysiological efflux of DA. We investigated the ability of the beta‐adrenergic receptor (βAR) antagonist Propranolol to reduce drug‐induced dyskinesia in hemi‐parkinsonian rats. Dyskinesia induced by L‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (L‐DOPA), but not D1 or D2 agonists was reduced by Propranolol. In vivo striatal microdialysis revealed that Propranolol's anti‐dyskinetic effects were related to an attenuation of L‐DOPA‐induced dopamine (DA) efflux. These findings show that pre‐synaptic βAR mediate L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia (LID) and highlight Propranolol's therapeutic potential.
Exploiting Food Choice Biases for Healthier Recipe Recommendation

By incorporating healthiness into the food recommendation / ranking process we have the potential to improve the eating habits of a growing number of people who use the Internet as a source of food inspiration. In this paper, using insights gained from various data sources, we explore the feasibility of substituting meals that would typically be recommended to users with similar, healthier dishes. First, by analysing a recipe collection sourced from Allrecipes.com, we quantify the potential for finding replacement recipes, which are comparable but have different nutritional characteristics and are nevertheless highly rated by users. Building on this, we present two controlled user studies (n=107, n=111) investigating how people perceive and select recipes. We show participants are unable to reliably identify which recipe contains most fat due to their answers being biased by lack of information, misleading cues and limited nutritional knowledge on their part. By applying machine learning techniques to predict the preferred recipes, good performance can be achieved using low-level image features and recipe meta-data as predictors. Despite not being able to consciously determine which of two recipes contains most fat, on average, participants select the recipe with the most fat as their preference. The importance of image features reveals that recipe choices are often visually driven. A final user study (n=138) investigates to what extent the predictive models can be used to select recipe replacements such that users can be ``nudged'' towards choosing healthier recipes. Our findings have important implications for online food systems.
Solutions for the self-adaptation of communicating systems in operation

In the context of mission-critical, safety-critical, and remote-controlled applications, it is required to equip systems with self-adapting capabilities. Adaptation is required in post-manufacturing to correct yield loss and achieve zero defective parts-per-million as well as during normal operation to account for different application scenarios and for varying environmental conditions. A self-adaptive system must be capable of providing the required high performances after manufacturing and throughout its normal operation regardless the application scenario wherein it is deployed and despite the varying environmental conditions. In this paper, we describe a generic post-manufacturing self-adaptation technique for RF circuits as well as concurrent self-adaptation techniques for a safety-critical medical sensor for glaucoma diagnosis and for a NFC system which is very sensitive to the environment in which it operates.
Polyelectrolyte multilayers prepared from water-soluble poly(alkoxythiophene) derivatives.

Electronically conducting polyanion and polycation based on poly(alkoxythiophene) derivatives, poly-3-(3'-thienyloxy)propanesulfonate (P3TOPS) and poly-3-(3'-thienyloxy)propyltriethylammonium (P3TOPA) have been synthesized. Both polymers are water-soluble and exhibit high conjugation length in solution and in the solid state. These polyelectrolytes were used to prepare conducting and electroactive polyelectrolyte multilayers by the sequential layer-by-layer adsorption technique. In aqueous solutions multilayers of P3TOPS with inactive polyelectrolytes (e.g., poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), PDADMA) displayed electrochemical and optical behavior similar to polythiophene films prepared in organic media. Their in-plane conductivity was low (ca. 1.6 x 10(-)(5) S cm(-)(1)). The conductivity could, however, be increased by a factor of ca. 40 in "all-thiophene" films, in which P3TOPA was substituted for the inactive polycation (PDADMA). The interpenetration of layers is of prime importance in films containing conducting components. The interpenetration of P3TOPS was studied by measuring the charge-transfer rate across an insulating polyelectrolyte multilayer between the substrate and the P3TOPS layer with modulated electroreflectance. The extent of interpenetration was 8-9 polyelectrolyte layers, the length scale (7-15 nm) depending on the nature of the insulating layer and, especially, on the ionic strength of the solution used for the adsorption of P3TOPS.
The Veil of Communism : An Analysis of Lifespan , GDP per Capita , Human Capital , and Agricultural Productivity in Eastern Europe

There is a clear economic difference between the more economically-developed Western Europe and their poorer counterparts in Eastern Europe and central Asia. But what caused this economic divergence? How big of a role did communism play? If communism is responsible, through what economic mechanisms did it manage to hinder growth? This paper will look at GDP/capita, growth in GDP/capita, human capital, labor to land ratio, ratio of unskilled to skilled workers, growth in lifespan, average expenditure per student and variations in these outcomes in order to determine a more specific impact of communism. This paper finds not only that communism had a huge negative impact on growth, but that even though communism was completely gone from Europe by 1991; it still impacts the growth of former communist countries. Moreover, there seem to be 2 blocks of countries within the communist bloc: non-Soviet Central and Eastern Europe and Soviet Eastern Europe and Central Asia and these two regions behave very differently.
Designing user interface adaptation rules with T: XML

The specification of model adaptation and generation rules is a topic of great interest for the user interface development community, since there are more and more approaches supporting the model-based approach. The ubiquitousness in interaction and the different user profiles are not the only challenges when designing interactive systems. Furthermore, the context of use evolves over time. In this situation, there is a strong need to provide a set of adaptation rules to make the user interface evolve according to the context of use evolution. This paper contributes a metamodel for the definition of adaptation rules in a systematic approach, pursuing engineer adaptation. Moreover, a tool called T:XML is presented that supports the specification of adaptation rules using a visual notation that greatly simplifies the process of designing adaptation for model-based user interface environments.
Updates of Compressed Dynamic XML Documents

Because of the ever-growing number of applications that send numerous and potentially large XML files over networks there has been a recent interest in efficient updates of XML documents. However all known approaches deal with uncompressed documents. In this paper, we describe a novel XML compressor, XSAQCT designed to improve the efficiency of querying and updating XML documents with minimal decompression in a network environment.
Automated Integration of Dual-Edge Clocking for Low-Power Operation in Nanometer Nodes

Clocking power, including both clock distribution and registers, has long been one of the primary factors in the total power consumption of many digital systems. One straightforward approach to reduce this power consumption is to apply dual-edge-triggered (DET) clocking, as sequential elements operate at half the clock frequency while maintaining the same throughput as with conventional single-edge-triggered (SET) clocking. However, the DET approach is rarely taken in modern integrated circuits, primarily due to the perceived complexity of integrating such a clocking scheme. In this article, we first identify the most promising conditions for achieving low-power operation with DET clocking and then introduce a fully automated design flow for applying DET to a conventional SET design. The proposed design flow is demonstrated on three benchmark circuits in a 40nm CMOS technology, providing as much as a 50% reduction in clock distribution and register power consumption.
Risk Is Not a Four Letter Word: Social Integration and Developmental Growth

Individuals facing recovery from serious mental illness confront social challenges stemming from discrimination and the structure of our economic safety net. Although research has contributed to significant advances for individuals with the most serious mental illness, questions about the social nature of their world remain largely unasked. How can persons with mental illness move from community isolation to community integration? Building on earlier research, this article uses qualitative data to address developmental challenges as impediments to community integration for young people with serious mental illness. Sixty transcripts from unstructured, in-depth interviews with persons with psychiatric disabilities moving toward social integration were content analyzed to demonstrate possibilities for developmental growth in the context of informal and intentional communities. Data are organized and presented in three conceptual categories drawn from developmental theory: (1) risk taking, (2) reciprocal relationships, and (3) self-determination. Based on the results, the authors suggest that attention to the challenges of developmental growth should complement current evidence-based and best program practices for young adults with mental illness.