Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Conception et validation d'une architecture de signalisation pour la garantie de qualité de service dans l'Internet multi-domaine, multi-technologie et multi-service

Depuis quelques annees, les evolutions technologiques conjointes de l’informatique et des telecommunications ont conduit a une modification substantielle des communications et des reseaux. Une des consequences de ces progres est la convergence vers une infrastructure unique de transfert de donnees. Porte par son developpement continu, l’Internet (IP) se revele comme solution pour l’interconnexion des differentes technologies heterogenes, petite ou grande distance, fixe ou mobiles, l’infrastructure globale pour tout type de communication. De ce contexte resulte la problematique generale de nos travaux qui est de definir et de mettre en oeuvre des nouveaux mecanismes, protocoles et architectures pour repondre aux besoins des applications emergentes. Nos contributions s’inscrivent dans ce theme de la maitrise de la garantie de la Qualite de Service (QoS) de bout en bout dans un environnement Internet heterogene a plusieurs niveaux : multi domaine, multi technologie et multi service. Nous adressons le besoin des nouvelles architectures en signalisation inter domaine couplee au provisionnement et au controle d’admission pour repondre aux besoins du trafic et des services actuels. Dans ce cadre, nous avons participe a la conception, l'implementation, le deploiement et la validation de l'architecture du projet europeen IST EuQoS (« End-to-end Quality of Service support over heterogeneous networks »). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------During the last years, computer science and telecommunications joint technological evolutions led to a perspective change in the area of communications and networks. One of the consequences of this progress is the convergence towards a sole infrastructure for data exchange. Due to its continuous development, Internet (IP) appears as the solution for interconnecting different heterogeneous technologies, short or long distance, fixe or mobile, the global infrastructure for communication transport. Internet supports many new types of applications: dynamic, multimedia, real time, distributed, potentially multi-user, mobile, such as voice over IP (VoIP), video on demand (VoD), visio conference, interactive games, etc. The general concerns addressed by our work result from this context. Our objective is to define and implement new mechanisms, protocols and architectures to answer the needs of emergent applications. Our proposals contribute to mastering the end-toend Quality of Service (QoS) in a multi-level heterogeneous environment, by addressing the current need of inter-domain signalling coupled with provisioning and admission control, to meet the traffic requirements. In this context, we participated in the design, development, deployment and validation of the architecture defined within the European project IST EuQoS (“End-to-end Quality of Service support over heterogeneous networks”).
A functional model for adult stem cells in epithelial tissues

Tissue turnover, regeneration, and repair take place throughout life. Stem cells are key players in these processes. The characteristics and niches of the stem cell populations in different tissues, and even in related tissues, vary extensively. In this review, stem cell differentiation and stem cell contribution to tissue maintenance and regeneration is compared in the epithelia of the skin, the cornea, the lung, and the intestine. A hierarchical model for adult stem cells is proposed, based on the potency of stem cell subpopulations in a specific tissue. The potency is defined in terms of the maintenance, the repair, and the regeneration of the tissue. The niche supplies cues to maintain the specific stem cell potency.
2D irregular structure patterning and analysis of LED by NSOM

This contribution presents possibilities of near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) in two different modes as an effective tool for semiconductor device surface patterning and for high-resolution microscopy. The illumination mode of the NSOM is used in lithography application to pattern two-dimensional irregular structure in the emitting surface of GaAs/AlGaAs-based light emitting diode (LED). The structure was patterned in the upper confinement AlGaAs layer and the enhancement of radiation from the patterned surface was proven by NSOM in collection mode.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Spatial Thinking: Boarding Education With Geotechnology And Drones

The recent boom in the number and importance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as drones, unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPASs), has placed the geosciences and remote sensing (RS) community in a privileged position. But the increasing market demand for a geoenabled workforce contrasts markedly with the number of college-level students enrolling in the related disciplines. This article focuses on current and future opportunities for incorporating UAVs, geosciences, and RS as part of education programs to engage incoming students (and society more broadly) in this set of emerging technologies. Specifically, we will review the current status of geosciences and RS education involving UAVs, including a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) matrix and a vision toward the future. In short, it is essential that we systematize, disseminate, and universalize topics related to geosciences and RS education in terms of UAVs because the fields are growing exponentially, and the trend is expected to continue.
The mediating role of product and process innovations on the relationship between knowledge management and operational performance in manufacturing companies in Jordan

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of knowledge management (KM) on product and process innovations, as well as on operational performance (OP). In addition, the effects of product and process innovations on OP, as well as their mediating effects on the relationship between KM and OP, are also investigated. ,A questionnaire-based survey was designed and used to collect data from 207 manufacturing companies operating in the Jordanian capital Amman. To assess construct validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. To test research hypotheses, the bootstrap re-sampling method was applied using Hayes’s SPSS multiple-mediator PROCESS macro. ,The results indicate that KM has significant positive effects on product and process innovations, and OP. Process innovation was found to have a significant positive effect on OP, while product innovation was not. Furthermore, only process innovation was found to significantly mediate the KM-OP relationship. ,The findings of this study provide useful insights about the role of KM in facilitating and enhancing product and process innovations, as well as OP in the surveyed manufacturing companies. An important implication concerns the roles of product and process innovations. Manufacturing companies seeking improvements in their OP are recommended to focus on process innovation rather than product innovation. While product innovation may affect other aspects of performance, such as market and financial ones, it was not found to significantly affect OP. Process innovation can also leverage KM’s contribution to manufacturing companies’ OP. ,This is a pioneering study in that it developed an integrated model that depicts the interrelationships among KM, product innovation and process innovation and OP, in a developing country context.
Effect of protein synthesis inhibitors on viral mRNA's synthesized early in adenovirus type 2 infection

Viral mRNA species synthesized early in adenovirus type 2 infection in the presence of cycloheximide were compared with those synthesized in the absence of drug or in the presence of the DNA synthesis inhibitor 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine. Cycloheximide caused approximately a 10-fold stimulation in the accumulation of [3H]uridine into early viral mRNA species. The only exception was a 24s mRNA transcribed from the transforming end of the genome; in the presence of cycloheximide, accumulation of this mRNA species was stimulated no more than 2-fold. Treatment with cycloheximide also resulted in the accumulation of polyadenylated RNAs transcribed from EcoRI-C that are heterogeneous and smaller than the 20S mRNA. Other translation inhibitors were shown to have similar effects, suggesting that inhibition of protein synthesis early after infection induces alterations in the metabolism of specific RNA sequences.
Long‐Term Dynamics of Fecal Corticosterone in Male Great Gerbils (Rhombomys opimus Licht.): Effects of Environment and Social Demography

We examined the relationship among seasonal characteristics of climate, food, and population demography (social structure) and fecal corticosterone (CORT) concentrations over 6 yr in adult males of an arid‐adapted species, the great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus Licht., Gerbillidae, Rodentia), as a measure of chronic stress in high, low, and recovering population densities. Results showed yearly differences in the seasonal means of CORT, with the highest concentrations in the year of the highest population density. Analysis of year‐specific relationships revealed a positive correlation between mean CORT and total precipitation in January and February and a negative correlation with precipitation in March. In the beginning of spring, when gerbils were in maximum reproductive effort, CORT correlated positively with the saturation of burrow systems and with the number of adult females with an adult male. A linear stepwise regression of CORT in individual males in spring seasons of all 6 yr combined after removal of year effects revealed that CORT depended positively on the number of females associated with a single male but negatively on the abundance of annual herbs. Disappearance of adult males was not related to CORT in most cases. We found no correlation between overall mortality from season to season and mean CORT in either spring (March–May) or fall. In fact, we found a highly negative correlation between mean CORT and the proportion of disappeared males at the beginning of spring. Only at the high population density when cases of probable catastrophic mortality of all adults in the group were excluded was CORT of individual males related positively to their disappearance during the summer drought. Our results suggest that desert rodents with irregular population fluctuations are more sensitive to suppression by external factors than by density‐dependent mortality mediated by stress. The favorable feeding and climatic conditions may have compensated for density‐dependent increases of CORT and the negative effects it might have had on survival.
Internalizing Antibodies to the C-Type Lectins, L-SIGN and DC-SIGN, Inhibit Viral Glycoprotein Binding and Deliver Antigen to Human Dendritic Cells for the Induction of T Cell Responses

The C-type lectin L-SIGN is expressed on liver and lymph node endothelial cells, where it serves as a receptor for a variety of carbohydrate ligands, including ICAM-3, Ebola, and HIV. To consider targeting liver/lymph node-specific ICAM-3-grabbing nonintegrin (L-SIGN) for therapeutic purposes in autoimmunity and infectious disease, we isolated and characterized Fabs that bind strongly to L-SIGN, but to a lesser degree or not at all to dendritic cell-specific ICAM-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN). Six Fabs with distinct relative affinities and epitope specificities were characterized. The Fabs and those selected for conversion to IgG were tested for their ability to block ligand (HIV gp120, Ebola gp, and ICAM-3) binding. Receptor internalization upon Fab binding was evaluated on primary human liver sinusoidal endothelial cells by flow cytometry and confirmed by confocal microscopy. Although all six Fabs internalized, three Fabs that showed the most complete blocking of HIVgp120 and ICAM-3 binding to L-SIGN also internalized most efficiently. Differences among the Fab panel in the ability to efficiently block Ebola gp compared with HIVgp120 suggested distinct binding sites. As a first step to consider the potential of these Abs for Ab-mediated Ag delivery, we evaluated specific peptide delivery to human dendritic cells. A durable human T cell response was induced when a tetanus toxide epitope embedded into a L-SIGN/DC-SIGN-cross-reactive Ab was targeted to dendritic cells. We believe that the isolated Abs may be useful for selective delivery of Ags to DC-SIGN- or L-SIGN-bearing APCs for the modulation of immune responses and for blocking viral infections.
Quality of life in stiff person syndrome

Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare, chronic disorder characterized by painful spasm and stiffness. We investigated the quality of life (QoL) in SPS patients, and identified factors associated with impairment in patients' QoL. Twenty‐four SPS patients (10 men, 14 women; mean age ± S.D., 52.6 ± 9.5 years) completed the medical outcomes study Short Form health survey (SF‐36), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and a questionnaire asking for sociodemographic and clinical details. Extent of the disease was assessed using a distribution of stiffness score. SPS patients showed markedly reduced mean scores for all dimensions of the SF‐36 when compared to norms from the general population of the United Kingdom. QoL scores showed a strong correlation with the extent of the disease. Depression was a common finding; 14 of 24 patients had depressive symptoms as evidenced by the BDI. There was a significant and strong correlation between the BDI score and several SF‐36 subscores. This is the first study to address QoL in patients with SPS. We have shown that SPS has a significant impact on patients' reported QoL. The association between depression and QoL highlights the importance of recognizing and treating depression in SPS. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society
QR Code Based Patient Medical Health Records Transmission: Zimbabwean Case

In Zimbabwe the health care delivery system is hierarchical and patient transfer from the lower level to the next higher level health care facility involves patients carrying their physical medical record card. A medical record card holds information pertaining to the patient’s medical history, pre-existing allergies, medical health conditions, prescribed medication the patient is currently taking among other details. Recording such patient information on a medical health card renders it susceptible to tempering, loss, and misinterpretation as well as susceptible to breaches in confidentiality. In this paper, we propose the application of Quick Response (QR) codes to secure and transmit this sensitive patient information from one level of the health care delivery system to another. Other security methods such as steganography could be used, but in this paper we propose the use of QR codes owing to the high proliferation of mobile phones in the country, high storage capacity, flexibility, ease of use and their capability to maintain data integrity as well as storage of data in any format.
Work in progress - the fundamental research of cyberworlds: Potentials of open-source-style education for social revolution

We explore the potentials of ldquoopen-source-style-educationrdquo from the viewpoint of an axiomatic approach of cyberworlds adopting an approach to study a basic 4 step reasoning; axiom, theorem, implementation and proof. The first step is defining the axioms of world; ldquoin the evolutionary power, borrowing and utilizing functions exceed owned functions.rdquo The second step is ldquotheoremrdquo as the prediction derived from the axiom; ldquoto enjoy sharing unlimited resources make the world stable by its cooperation processes.rdquo The third step is the ldquoimplementationrdquo as ldquoopen-source-style-educationrdquo for producing global commons and wealth. The fourth step is the ldquoproofrdquo of the potentials of ldquoopen-source-style-educationrdquo from the point of view of network science and open society Sir Karl Raimund Popper argued. Open Source has hitherto been discussed mainly in relation to software development, politics, economics, and sociology, however it can and should also be investigated from educational aspects as a means for changing our society according to the advance of science that could invent the weapon even the individual can slaughter the all mankind instantaneously in the near future. In this paper we argued the potential powers of ldquoopen-source-style-educationrdquo to change our society. In using conceptual education-models we propose here an open source learning models on the basis of legitimate peripheral participation and scale free network as a potential contribution to the improvement and evolution of our society.
Extracting terminology from Wikipedia

In this paper we present a new approach for obtaining the terminology of a given domain using the category and page structures of the Wikipedia in a domain and language independent way. The idea is to take profit of category graph of Wikipedia starting with a set of categories that we associate with the domain. After obtaining the full set of categories belonging to the selected domain, the collection of corresponding pages is extracted, using some constraints. The set of titles of recovered pages and categories is selected as initial domain term vocabulary. The system has been evaluated substituting by it the term candidates analyzer module of an state-of-the-art term extractor, YATE. The results show that this resource may be used for this task overcoming some of the limitations of alternative knowledge sources. This approach has been applied to three domains (astronomy, chemistry, economics and medicine) and two languages (English and Spanish).
Genética molecular e sistemática animal: Um breve histórico, contribuições e desafios

O progresso da genetica molecular tem possibilitado o desenvolvimento de metodos para caracterizar geneticamente individuos e populacoes. Na ultima decada, o uso crescente de marcadores moleculares de DNA deu origem a taxonomia molecular. O gene COI e considerado o marcador universal para codigo de barras genetico animal, porem sua amplificacao e dificil para alguns taxons, e isso tem motivado a proposta de marcadores alternativos. Entretanto, e possivel que a combinacao de dois ou mais marcadores de DNA e o desenvolvimento de oligonucleotideos iniciadores especie-especificos possam resolver esse dilema. Por outro lado, tornou-se cada vez mais dificil publicar descricoes de especies baseadas exclusivamente em morfologia no mundo inteiro. Taxonomistas atribuem esse fato ao fenomeno do “impedimento taxonomico”. Apesar das divergencias entre taxonomistas tradicionalistas e moleculares, e muito provavel que o uso integrado de dados geneticos e morfologicos possa fornecer subsidios mais consistentes na delimitacao de especies. Recentemente, ouso de marcadores de DNA em sistematica filogenetica abriu caminho para a sistematica molecular. Algumas iniciativas tem contribuido para o avanco dessa nova linha de pesquisa, por exemplo: criacao de bases de dados filogeneticos e disponibilidadede infraestrutura computacional para inferencia filogenetica. Dentre os desafios de trabalhar com taxonomia molecular, destacam-se a demanda por infraestrutura adequada e alto investimento financeiro. Apesar disso, a taxonomiano Brasil, sem duvida, tem potencial para continuar se expandindo como uma das ciencias mais promissoras deste seculo, principalmente nesse momento da historia em que fragmentacao e degradacao ambiental demandam o conhecimento urgente da biodiversidade.
Beclin 1, an autophagy gene essential for early embryonic development, is a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor

The biochemical properties of beclin 1 suggest a role in two fundamentally important cell biological pathways: autophagy and apoptosis. We show here that beclin 1-/- mutant mice die early in embryogenesis and beclin 1+/- mutant mice suffer from a high incidence of spontaneous tumors. These tumors continue to express wild-type beclin 1 mRNA and protein, establishing that beclin 1 is a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor gene. Beclin 1-/- embryonic stem cells have a severely altered autophagic response, whereas their apoptotic response to serum withdrawal or UV light is normal. These results demonstrate that beclin 1 is a critical component of mammalian autophagy and establish a role for autophagy in tumor suppression. They both provide a biological explanation for recent evidence implicating beclin 1 in human cancer and suggest that mutations in other genes operating in this pathway may contribute to tumor formation through deregulation of autophagy.
A Study of K-Nearest Neighbour as an Imputation Method

Data quality is a major concern in Machine Learning and other correlated areas such as Knowledge Discovery from Databases (KDD). As most Machine Learning algorithms induce knowledge strictly from data, the quality of the knowledge extracted is largely determined by the quality of the underlying data. One relevant problem in data quality is the presence of missing data. Despite the frequent occurrence of missing data, many Machine Learning algorithms handle missing data in a rather naive way. Missing data treatment should be carefully thought, otherwise bias might be introduced into the knowledge induced. In this work, we analyse the use of the k-nearest neighbour as an imputation method. Imputation is a term that denotes a procedure that replaces the missing values in a data set by some plausible values. Our analysis indicates that missing data imputation based on the k-nearest neighbour algorithm can outperform the internal methods used by C4.5 and CN2 to treat missing data.
Glycemic load, glycemic index and carbohydrate intake in relation to risk of stomach cancer: A prospective study

The glycemic effects of diets high in refined grains and starchy foods might increase stomach cancer risk by affecting circulating glucose, insulin and insulin‐like growth factor‐I levels. No prospective data on the role of high glycemic load and glycemic index diets on stomach cancer risk have been reported. We therefore prospectively investigated dietary glycemic load, overall glycemic index and carbohydrate intake in relation to the incidence of stomach cancer among 61,433 women in the population‐based Swedish Mammography Cohort. Diet was assessed at baseline (1987–1990) and again in 1997. During 903,586 person‐years of follow‐up, a total of 156 incident cases of stomach cancer were ascertained. We observed no material associations of dietary glycemic load, overall glycemic index and total carbohydrate intake with the risk of stomach cancer. The multivariate hazard ratios for the highest versus the lowest quintile were 0.76 (95% CI = 0.46–1.25) for glycemic load, 0.77 (95% CI = 0.46–1.30) for overall glycemic index and 0.85 (95% CI = 0.50–1.43) for carbohydrate intake. The associations did not vary according to body mass index. Lack of information on Helicobacter pylori infection status did not allow stratification by this potential effect modifier. Findings from this population‐based prospective cohort of middle‐aged and elderly women did not provide evidence of a positive association between glycemic load, glycemic index and carbohydrate intake with risk of stomach cancer. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Survival of the fittest: an evolutionary approach to an export-led model of growth

Abstract Developing countries often rely on the export-led model of growth. Exposure to (developed) foreign markets increases learning opportunities for firms, enhances their competences and capabilities, and facilitates potentially more innovation. The actual benefit differs among firms depending on internal firm characteristics (genetic material). Using survey data for Slovenia we show that export orientation, firms’ genetic material, competences and capabilities and innovation are related. The paper contributes to the literature in several ways, primarily by extending knowledge on innovation and corporate behaviour in an export-led developing country, using micro level data.