Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reasoning behind choices: rationality and social norms in the housing market behaviour of first-time buyers in the Czech Republic

Abstract The main objective of this paper is to draw attention to the influence of social norms on housing market behaviour. The research is based on an in-depth qualitative study of first-time buyers in the Czech Republic. We found systemic deviations from economically rational behaviour (as defined by mainstream housing economic theory) that stem from the influence of a dominant housing social norm about what constitutes the ‘right’ housing tenure. We show how the influence of a social norm constrains financial, pragmatic, utility- or investment-based considerations of Czech home-buyers. Sociology can thus significantly contribute to recent econometric research about sources of housing market instability.
An Active Snake Model for Classification of Extreme Emotions

The paper presents an image based method for classification of extreme emotions. Facial images were analyzed using action units derived from the distance-measures, taken from the centers of eyes and the mouth. After initial edge detection, the contours of the mouth and the eyes were further traced and smoothened using an active snake model. Two states of emotions i.e. happy and sad have been tested in this paper. The ratio of the mouth opening and the average distance between the center of mouth and the eyes has been considered as the indicator of the extreme emotional states.
A Novel Chinese Text Summarization Approach Using Sentence Extraction Based on Kernel Words Recognition

The continuing growth of world wide Web and on-line text collections makes a large volume of information available to users. Automatic text summarization helps users to quickly understand the documents. This paper proposes an automated technique for Chinese document summarization based on kernel words recognition and discourse segment extraction. This method can be divided into the following five steps. First, the input articles are annotated by lexical analysis. Second, all focused named entities are recognized using a machine learning method. Third, the input articles are divided into several discourse segments, all kernel words of these segments are extracted by the way of rule-based main verbs recognition, and all relations among entities are extracted. Fourth, all important sentence candidates are ranked based on some rules, and redundant sentences are removed based on kernel words information. Finally, several most important sentences are extracted to compose the summarization according to expected compression ratio, and these important sentences are output using a special document as reference. A series of experiments are performed on two Chinese document collections. The results show the superiority of the proposed technique over reference systems.
Overt testicular disease (OTD) at diagnosis is not associated with a poor prognosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Results of the EORTC CLG study 58881

To assess the prognosis of overt testicular disease (OTD) at diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we analyzed the outcome of 1,165 boys enrolled in EORTC trial 58881. Thirteen (1.1%) boys had OTD associated with bad prognostic features. Patients with and without OTD did not differ in event‐free survival (EFS) (P = 0.30) or overall survival (OS) (P = 0.54), even after adjustment for the three most important independent factors (NCI risk group, presence of very high risk features, type of asparaginase used). OTD was not an independent prognostic factor. These results may be due to the use of risk‐adjusted intensive chemotherapy comprising high‐dose methotrexate. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:344–348. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Noise reduction and modeling methods of TLS point cloud based on R-tree

3D terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) appears in 1980s. As a new high-tech, TLS can fast obtain the 3D coordinates of objects on the ground surface through high-speed laser scanning. However, it is still an urgent problem that how to deal with the high density and unorganized point clouds, including reducing noise and modeling these mass data. The main purpose of this paper is to research how to reduce noise for the huge point cloud data, and establish TIN efficiently for modeling accurately after the data preprocess. This paper utilizes R-tree which has been widely used in building index to build the dynamic index structure, and then reduces noise points through K-Nearest Neighbor Query (KNN) based on R-tree. Finally it adopts triangulation growth method based on KNN to establish TIN, realizes the modeling process for point cloud data, and proves the valid and feasibility of the algorithm by experiments.
In vivo measurements of muscle specific tension in adults and children

To better understand the effects of pubertal maturation on the contractile properties of skeletal muscle in vivo, the present study investigated whether there are any differences in the specific tension of the quadriceps muscle in 20 adults and 20 prepubertal children of both sexes. Specific tension was calculated as the ratio between the quadriceps tendon force and the sum of the physiological cross‐sectional area (PCSA) multiplied by the cosine of the angle of pennation of each head within the quadriceps muscle. The maximal quadriceps tendon force was calculated from the knee extension maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) by accounting for EMG‐based estimates of antagonist co‐activation, incomplete quadriceps activation using the interpolation twitch technique and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐based measurements of the patellar tendon moment arm. The PCSA was calculated as the muscle volume, measured from MRI scans, divided by optimal fascicle length, measured from ultrasound images during MVC at the estimated angle of peak quadriceps muscle force. It was found that the quadriceps tendon force and PCSA of men (11.4 kN, 214 cm2) were significantly greater than those of the women (8.7 kN, 152 cm2; P < 0.01). Both adult groups had greater values than the children (P < 0.01) but there were no differences between boys (5.2 kN, 99 cm2) and girls (6.1 kN, 102 cm2). Agonist activation was greater in men and women than in girls (P < 0.05), and antagonist activation was greater in men than in boys (P < 0.05). Moment arm length was greater in men than in boys or girls and greater in women than in boys (P < 0.05). The angle of pennation did not differ between the groups in any of the quadriceps heads. The specific tension was similar (P > 0.05) between groups: men, 55 ± 11 N cm−2; women, 57.3 ± 13 N cm−2; boys, 54 ± 14 N cm−2; and girls, 59.8 ± 15 N cm−2. These findings indicate that the increased muscle strength with maturation is not due to an increase in the specific tension of muscle; instead, it can be attributed to increases in muscle size, moment arm length and voluntary activation level.
SensorBuster: On Identifying Sensor Nodes in P2P Botnets

The ever-growing number of cyber attacks originating from botnets has made them one of the biggest threat to the Internet ecosystem. Especially P2P-based botnets like ZeroAccess and Sality require special attention as they have been proven to be very resilient against takedown attempts. To identify weaknesses and to prepare takedowns more carefully it is thus a necessity to monitor them by crawling and deploying sensor nodes. This in turn provokes botmasters to come up with monitoring countermeasures to protect their assets. Most existing anti-monitoring countermeasures focus mainly on the detection of crawlers and not on the detection of sensors deployed in a botnet. In this paper, we propose two sensor detection mechanisms called SensorRanker and SensorBuster. We evaluate these mechanisms in two real world botnets, Sality and ZeroAccess. Our results indicate that SensorRanker and SensorBuster are able to detect up to 17 sensors deployed in Sality and four within ZeroAccess.
Three-dimensional dose verification using BANG gel: a clinical example.

OBJECT The authors sought to demonstrate the possible value of three-dimensional dose verification by using gel dosimetry. METHODS In this study, commercially available BANG-25 Gy gel was used. This polymer gel is tissue equivalent and the relaxation rate (R2) measured using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is proportional to the absorbed dose in the gel. A cylindrical container filled with BANG was mounted within an anthropomorphic head phantom and was handled using the same process as would be used for a patient undergoing gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS). An irregular target outline was constructed and a dose plan was created consisting of seven shots, three using the 8-mm and four using the 4-mm collimator helmet. The maximum dose specified was 25 Gy. A combination of several single spin-echo MR imaging sequences with different echo times was used to calculate the R2. The geometric resolution of the MR images was approximately 1 mm3. To compare the measured dose distribution with the calculated one, isodoses were overlaid in three orthogonal planes by using specially designed analysis software. CONCLUSIONS Comparisons of the measured and calculated relative dose distributions showed good overall agreement, with differences of less than 3 mm between measured and calculated isodoses. High resolution BANG gel dosimetry for GKS can be useful for the verification of clinical treatment plans, especially when multiple shots are involved. Further verifications will be done using additional imaging parameters and absolute dose calibrations to improve the method.
Simultaneous harvesting of endothelial progenitor cells and mesenchymal stem cells from the human umbilical cord

The human umbilical cord (UC) is usually discarded as biological waste. However, it has attracted interest as a source of cells including endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which have demonstrated enormous potential in regenerative medicine. The present study describes a convenient protocol that has been developed to sequentially extract these two cell types from a single UC. EPCs which had properties of progenitor cells were successfully isolated from the UC vein. These cells had cobble-shaped morphology and expressed Flt-1, KDR, VE-cadherin, von Willebrand factor and CD31 mRNA, in addition to CD73, CD105 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. In addition to absorbing fluorescent-labeled acetylated low density protein and binding to fluorescein isothiocyanate-UEA-l, they were able to form vascular tube-like structures on Matrigel. Typical fibroblast-like cells, which were isolated from the Wharton's jelly, were confirmed to be MSCs by their expression of CD73, CD90 and CD105, and their ability to differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts. Thus, the human UC-derived cells may be suitable for use in tissue engineering and cell therapy.
A New Flexible Reconstruction Framework for Motion Correction in SPECT Imaging

Due to the long imaging times in SPECT, patient motion is inevitable and constitutes a serious problem for any reconstruction algorithm. The measured inconsistent projection data lead to reconstruction artifacts which can significantly affect the diagnostic accuracy of SPECT if not corrected. Among the most promising attempts for addressing this cause of artifacts is the so-called data-driven motion correction methodology, implemented, for example, in the OSEM scheme. At present, this algorithm is restricted to the exclusive use of a dual-head SPECT system with perpendicular heads and incorporating in a subset only projection data obtained between a patient movement. The utilization within other SPECT systems may lead to unsatisfactory results. In this note we present a new reconstruction framework which overcomes these two shortcomings. Within the new framework, the user may choose any set of projection for the reconstruction and the scheme works for any SPECT system. As a byproduct, the well-known EM and OSEM reconstruction schemes may be written in terms of the new framework and therefore are included in the theoretical considerations. The paper is supplemented by a large set of test examples, underscoring the potential power of the proposed novel approach. Using both an academic example and images from a double-head detector we studied the extent of defects induced by simulated motion and validated the new schemes.
A versatile internal control for use as DNA in real‐time PCR and as RNA in real‐time reverse transcription PCR assays

Aims: To develop and evaluate a TaqMan‐based internal amplification control (IAC) that can be used as DNA in real‐time PCR (qPCR) or as RNA in reverse transcription real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) to identify the presence of assay inhibition and to evaluate its incorporation into existing qPCR and qRT‐PCR methods for bacterial detection.
A preliminary report on a chemomechanical means of removing caries.

Extensive testing for the safety of the GK-101 solution was conducted with experimental animals. An Investigational New Drug permit was awarded by the Food and Drug Administration before clinical studies. Subsequently, two studies--one double-blind and one open--were conducted to determine the safety and caries-removing efficacy of a 0.05% solution of N-monochloroglycine (GK-101) on clinical subjects, as well as to study the technique for such a procedure. In the double-blind study, the efficacy, as shown by ratings for caries removal, of GK-101 applied under pressure was significantly greater than that of the placebo solution of normal saline (P less than 0.01). Both treatment groups were comparable with respect to the age distribution, pretreatment intraoral examination results, and past history. No drug-related reactions were reported by patients in either group. On the basis of caries removal results in the open study, GK-101 solution, in conjunction with the pump system, was found to be effective as determined by the investigator. The caries in all but one of the 61 lesions treated with GK-101 was rated as "total removal" or as "almost total to total" removal. Approximately 77% of the patients treated with GK-101 experienced neither pain nor an odd taste. Any pain reported was always described as "slight" or "little. " The drug is currently being further tested for safety and efficacy.
Rapid decarbonisation of cities by addressing behavioural failures? A critical review of policy interventions

While many of the interventions to reduce carbon emissions target market failures, little attention is given to behavioural failures. This study investigates to what degree cities, which have taken a central role in global decarbonisation efforts, already incorporate findings from behavioural economics in their policy interventions. The ‘traditional taxonomy’ for policy intervention, represented among others in the work of the IPCC, is taken as a benchmark for assessing city’s decarbonisation interventions in the areas of building energy efficiency and transportation. Based on an extensive literature review and empirical data of urban climate networks, the study finds that market failures in adopting low-carbon technologies largely dominate the framing of policy interventions. Based on few examples of non-traditional interventions addressing behavioural failures, an alternative taxonomy to frame decarbonisation policy is discussed. (Less)
Joint Power Optimization for Device-to-Device Communication in Cellular Networks With Interference Control

For device-to-device (D2D) communication under laid in a cellular network with uplink resource sharing, both cellular and D2D pairs may cause significant inter-cell interference (ICI) at a neighboring base station (BS). In this paper, under optimal BS receive beamforming, we jointly optimize the power of a cellular user (CU) and a D2D pair for their sum rate maximization, while satisfying minimum SINR requirements and worst-case ICI limit in multiple neighboring cells. We solve this non-convex joint optimization problem in two steps. First, the necessary and sufficient condition for the D2D admissibility under given constraints is obtained. Finally, we consider joint power control of the CU and D2D transmitters. We propose a power control algorithm to maximize the sum rate. Depending on the severity of ICI that D2D and CU may cause, we categorize the feasible solution region into five cases, each of which may further include several scenarios based on minimum SINR requirements. The proposed algorithm is optimal when ICI to a single neighboring cell is considered. For multiple neighboring cells, we provide an upper bound on the performance loss by the proposed algorithm and conditions for its optimality. We further extend our consideration to the scenario of multiple CUs and D2D pairs, and formulate the joint power control and CU-D2D matching problem. We show how our proposed solution for one CU and one D2D pair can be utilized to solve this general joint optimization problem. Simulation demonstrates the effectiveness of our power control algorithm and the nearly optimal performance of the proposed approach in the setting of multiple CUs and D2D pairs.
Delay-Dependent Stability for Linear Systems with Multiple Time Delays

This paper deals with the problem of the asymptotical stability for a class of linear systems with multiple time delays. By incorporating with the integral inequality, a linear matrix inequality method is used to derive a delay-dependent sufficient condition, which can guarantee that the linear systems with multiple time delays are asymptotical stable. At last, one example is given to illustrate that the new methods are more effective than the present methods and the delay bounds obtained in this paper are of less conservative.
Standing but not Delivering: Preparing Pre-service Teachers to use LGBTQ Young Adult Literature in the Secondary English Classroom

Despite calls from national organizations (CAEP, NCTE) to prepare teachers to include the study of LGTBQ culture into classrooms, little progress has been made incorporating LGTBQ themed literature and dialogue surrounding LGBTQ issues in secondary classrooms (Clark, 2010; Sieben & Wallowitz, 2009; Haertling-Thein, 2013). To examine why, this qualitative case study explored the transition of two educators who participated in LGBTQ teacher training as teacher candidates from pre-service to practicing teachers. Consistent with current research, the researchers discovered that teacher training in LGBTQ literature and issues promoted an ally-stance. Participants came to recognize the need to include this genre within their curriculum as practicing teachers and made a commitment to do so. However, this stance was not enough to influence the actual use of LGBTQ literature and dialogue surrounding LGBTQ issues in the classroom. We discuss the factors that shape this resistance despite participants maintaining an ally-stance. We recommend a more widened scope of study of LGBTQ issues and literature within our English teacher education programs and added professional development of current practicing teachers and administrators in an effort to make explicit the literary value of LGBTQ themed texts and the responsibility for dialogue on LGBTQ issues to occur.
Functional circuitry for the induction of prolonged excitation in the rat spinal dorsal horn

The neuronal circuitry through which prolonged excitation is generated in the spinal dorsal horn was investigated using optical imaging of neuronal excitation in transverse slices of rat spinal cords. It is known that tetanic stimulation (20 Hz for 1 s) of the dorsal root that activates both A and C primary afferent fibres elicits slow intrinsic optical signals (IOS) in the dorsal horn, seen most intensely in the substantia gelatinosa (SG), lamina II, and that IOS expresses in part the slow synaptic response recorded intracellularly in dorsal horn neurons. We here report that the slow IOS within the SG were completely abolished after an incision was made at the border between the SG and the deeper laminae, but not after an incision within the deeper dorsal horn of the laminae III–V. The result demonstrates directly that, in order to generate prolonged excitation in the SG, the neuronal elements in the deeper dorsal horn must be intact. Thus, the afferent information might be received first by the deeper elements and then transmitted to the SG region, and/or collaboration between the SG and deeper elements is necessary to maintain prolonged excitation in the SG.
Live-cell imaging to measure BAX recruitment kinetics to mitochondria during apoptosis

The pro-apoptotic BCL2 gene family member, BAX, plays a pivotal role in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Under cellular stress, BAX recruitment to the mitochondria occurs when activated BAX forms dimers, then oligomers, to initiate mitochondria outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP), a process critical for apoptotic progression. The activation and recruitment of BAX to form oligomers has been studied for two decades using fusion proteins with a fluorescent reporter attached in-frame to the BAX N-terminus. We applied high-speed live cell imaging to monitor the recruitment of BAX fusion proteins in dying cells. Data from time-lapse imaging was validated against the activity of endogenous BAX in cells, and analyzed using sigmoid mathematical functions to obtain detail of the kinetic parameters of the recruitment process at individual mitochondrial foci. BAX fusion proteins behave like endogenous BAX during apoptosis. Kinetic studies show that fusion protein recruitment is also minimally affected in cells lacking endogenous BAK or BAX genes, but that the kinetics are moderately, but significantly, different with different fluorescent tags in the fusion constructs. In experiments testing BAX recruitment in 3 different cell lines, our results show that regardless of cell type, once activated, BAX recruitment initiates simultaneously within a cell, but exhibits varying rates of recruitment at individual mitochondrial foci. Very early during BAX recruitment, pro-apoptotic molecules are released in the process of MOMP, but different molecules are released at different times and rates relative to the time of BAX recruitment initiation. These results provide a method for BAX kinetic analysis in living cells and yield greater detail of multiple characteristics of BAX-induced MOMP in living cells that were initially observed in cell free studies.
Coexpression of VEGF and angiopoietin-1 promotes angiogenesis and cardiomyocyte proliferation reduces apoptosis in porcine myocardial infarction (MI) heart

VEGF and angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) are two major angiogenic factors being investigated for the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI). Targeting VEGF and Ang1 expression in the ischemic myocardium can increase their local therapeutic effects and reduce possible adverse effects. Adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs) expressing cardiac-specific and hypoxia-inducible VEGF [AAV-myosin light chain-2v (MLC)VEGF] and Ang1 (AAV-MLCAng1) were coinjected (VEGF/Ang1 group) into six different sites of the porcine myocardium at the peri-infarct zone immediately after ligating the left descending coronary artery. An identical dose of AAV-Cytomegalovirus (CMV)LacZ or saline was injected into control animals. AAV genomes were detected in the liver in addition to the heart. RT-PCR, Western blotting, and ELISA analyses showed that VEGF and Ang1 were predominantly expressed in the myocardium in the infarct core and border of the infarct heart. Gated single-photon emission computed tomography analyses showed that the VEGF/Ang1 group had better cardiac function and myocardial perfusion at 8 wk than at 2 wk after vector injection. Compared with the saline and LacZ controls, the VEGF/Ang1 group expressed higher phosphorylated Akt and Bcl-xL, less Caspase-3 and Bad, and had higher vascular density, more proliferating cardiomyocytes, and less apoptotic cells in the infarct and peri-infarct zones. Thus, cardiac-specific and hypoxia-induced coexpression of VEGF and Ang1 improves the perfusion and function of porcine MI heart through the induction of angiogenesis and cardiomyocyte proliferation, activation of prosurvival pathways, and reduction of cell apoptosis.