Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Food logging: an information literacy perspective

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the meaning of information literacy (IL) in food logging, the activity of recording food intake and monitoring weight and other health conditions that may be affected by diet, using applications (apps) accessed through mobile devices and personal computers. Design/methodology/approach Data were gathered from a small group of food logging app users through a focus group and interviews. Analysis was informed by practice theory and the growing interest in IL outside educational settings. Findings Food logging revolves around the epistemic modality of information, but it is the user who creates information and it is not textual. Food logging is associated with a discourse of focussing on data and downplaying the corporeal information associated with eating and its effect on the body. Social information was an important source for choosing an app, but data were rarely shared with others. Food loggers are very concerned with data quality at the point of data entry. They have a strong sense of learning about healthy eating. They were not well informed about the data privacy and access issues. Practical implications Food loggers need to be better informed about data risks around food logging. Originality/value This is the first study of food logging from an IL perspective.
Inheritance, Generics and Binary Methods in Java

El lenguaje de programacion Java ha adoptado un mecanismo para definir tipos parametrizados, el cual estara disponible para los usuarios en la proxima version de su compilador. La primera especificacion formal para incluir genericos en Java fue publicada hace dos anos y una nueva version el pasado mes de Junio del 2003. En esta especificacion, se propone extender el sistema de tipos basandose en el sistema de cuantificacion restringida F (F–Bounded quantification) con el fin de soportar directamente polimorfismo parametrico en Java. Un metodo binario en aquel que contiene uno o mas parametros del mismo tipo del objeto que recibe el mensaje. El polimorfismo basado en el sistema de restriccion F y los metodos binarios no pueden ser combinados en forma sencilla en aquellos lenguajes de programacion orientados a objectos que contienen un sistema de tipos nominal y basan la seleccion del metodo a ejecutar solo en el tipo del objeto que recibe el mensaje. En este articulo, se presentan algunos problemas que aparecen en la implementacion de programas en Java cuando es necesario definir clases e interfaces parametrizadas
Continuous cerebral autoregulation monitoring by cross-correlation analysis: Evaluation in healthy volunteers

Objective In a former study, we applied cross-correlation (CC) analysis to recordings of arterial blood pressure (BP), intracranial pressure (ICP), and intracranial blood flow velocity (FV). A lack of significant time delay and a positive correlation coefficient of slow oscillations between these parameters was interpreted as indicative of impaired cerebral autoregulation, whereas a significant time delay and a negative correlation was regarded as preserved autoregulation. To test this hypothesis, cross-correlation was applied on recordings of BP and FV (CC [BP → FV]) in healthy volunteers with a presumably preserved cerebral autoregulation. Design Study of a diagnostic test. Subjects A total of 17 healthy volunteers. Measurements and Main Results BP was recorded by using a tonometric device, and bilateral FV in the middle cerebral arteries (MCA) was measured by transcranial Doppler sonography. Signals were sampled at a resting horizontal position for 29 mins. Cluster analysis showed a mean ± sd time delay for CC [BP → FVMCA left] of 6.45 ± 2.1 secs, and for CC [BP → FVMCA right] of 6.09 ± 1.8 secs. The mean correlation coefficient was −. 33 ± . 17 for the left and −. 36 ± . 09 for the right side. In about 30%, differing results with a correlation coefficient between −. 2 and . 2 and a time delay near zero were found. Cross-correlation between left and right FV showed a mean time delay of 0.09 ± 0.18 secs, with a mean correlation coefficient of . 82 ± . 16. Conclusion Spontaneous slow oscillations of BP and FV were detected, and cross-correlation analysis showed a negative correlation and a positive time delay in about 70% of the examinations. These findings corroborate the hypothesis that CC [BP → FV] might be able to assess the status of cerebral autoregulation continuously. The observed time delay between BP and FV oscillations is in good agreement with former studies on the dynamic properties of cerebral autoregulation.
Understanding Organizational Reforms in the Modern State: Specialization and Integration in Norway and France

This article examines the challenge Norway and France face in coordinating specialized government activities after 10 years of comprehensive reforms. The focus is on the tension between territorial and sectoral specialization and between vertical and horizontal specialization. We describe both sector-specific administrative reforms and more overarching general reforms, looking at similarities and differences in the reorganization choices made by the two countries and also at what drives change. We argue that a combination of factors is required to explain outcomes. These factors include not only home-grown reforms but also sectoral challenges, diffusion and learning from abroad, adaptation to the financial crisis and budget deficit, and choices made by powerful political executives. Sometimes these factors work together and reinforce each other, producing radical reforms; at other times they have a mutually constraining influence, resulting in only minor changes.
Study on Pressure Control Method of Combustion Chamber of Single-Stage Solid Rocket Motor

This article focuses on analyzing and studying on the combustion chamber of a single-stage solid rocket engine based on thermodynamics. The goal is to address issues with pressure control in the engine. In this paper, a nonlinear model was developed to validate and analyze the dynamic characteristics during the combustion process. Secondly, the nonlinear system is researched and designed by using linearization theory. Based on the dynamic characteristics and performance requirements during the combustion process, linear tools are used to design the controller. The inner loop adopts a Pseudo Differential Feedback (PDF) controller, while the outer loop adopts a bipolar controller. Finally, simulation experiments were conducted to verify that the combustion chamber pressure was controllable and met the expected requirements. The designed control system meets the requirements of system performance indicators and has good robustness.
Events, Interest, Segmentation, Binding and Hierarchy

We advocate the position that unsupervised learning of rich representations requires careful consideration of an issue that usually receives only cursory attention: The definition of a statistical 'event', or 'sample'. Data sets are presumed to have been generated by sampling from some probability distribution that is to be estimated, but there is no general canonical way to select a model for a given data set and define the correspondence between the various components of its joint random variable and particular subsets, or more generally, features, of the data. Any attempt to automate this choice must confront the fact that without a definition of 'event', this exercise cannot be formulated as a statistical learning problem. We introduce two supplementary criteria, information at a distance and information contrast, in order to clear this impasse, and show anecdotal results from using each. We argue that this issue also arises (whether recognized or not) in automated learning of feature hierarchies to form a rich representations, because distinct events are selected at one level of the hierarchy and bound together to form joint events at the next level.
Do public hospitals respond to changes in DRG price regulation? The case of birth deliveries in the Italian NHS

We study how changes in Diagnosis-Related Group price regulation affect hospital behaviour in quasi-markets with exclusive provision by public hospitals. Exploiting a quasi-natural experiment, we use a difference-in-differences approach to test whether public hospitals respond to an exogenous change in Diagnosis-Related Group tariffs by increasing C-section rates and/or by upcoding. Controlling for a detailed set of mother characteristics, we find that price changes did not affect the probability of a C-section. We do however find evidence of upcoding: Conditional on the birth delivery method (either a C-section or a vaginal delivery), public hospitals experiencing the largest price change exhibit a higher probability of treating patients coded as complicated. This finding suggests that even public hospitals may be sensitive to market incentives.
Effect of 'tongue tie' use on racing performance of thoroughbreds in the United Kingdom.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY There is contradictory published evidence on the potential efficacy of 'tongue ties' (TTs) for treatment of intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) in racehorses. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of TTs on racing performance in Thoroughbred racehorses in the U.K. using a retrospective cohort study. METHODS Data on individual horses' lifetime racing performance and TT use were retrieved from the Racing Post Online Database. Exposed cases were horses that ran with a TT in randomly chosen race meetings on one of 60 randomly chosen dates from 2001-2003. Unexposed (control) horses were matched to each exposed horse. Various measures of racing performance were analysed both within and between exposed and unexposed groups. Subsets of exposed horses that ran for 3 or 5 consecutive starts wearing TTs and their matched controls were analysed separately to examine the effect of repeated TT use. RESULTS The inclusion criteria were fulfilled by 108 horses. The odds ratio for 'improvement' in race earnings between exposed and unexposed horses was 1.85 for horses that ran at least once with a TT, and 3.60 and 4.24, respectively, for horses that ran in 3 or 5 consecutive races wearing a TT. After instigation of TT use, horses that ran in 3 or 5 consecutive races wearing a TT had a significant increase in earnings when they ran wearing a TT compared to their pre-TT races. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE The use of a TT appears to have a beneficial effect on racing performance in a selected population of Thoroughbred racehorses.
A new stochastic model of microsatellite evolution

We introduce a continuous-time Markov chain model for the evolution of microsatellites, simple sequence repeats in DNA. We prove the existence of a unique stationary distribution for our model, and fit the model to data from approximately 106 base pairs of DNA from fruit flies, mice, and humans. The slippage rates from the best fit for our model are consistent with experimental findings.
Advances in Brief BBR 3464 : A Novel Triplatinum Complex , Exhibiting a Preclinical Profile of Antitumor Efficacy Different from Cisplatin 1

Multinuclear platinum complexes represent a new class of anticancer agents, distinct in terms of DNA binding features and the profile of antitumor activity from their mononuclear counterparts, in particular cisplatin. Among complexes of this class, BBR 3464, a trinuclear platinum compound has been selected for preclinical development. In the present study, we describe the preclinical evaluation of BBR 3464 in a series of human tumor cell lines and tumor xenografts, with special emphasis on tumor types known to be resistant to cisplatin. In a panel of seven human tumor cell lines naturally resistant to cisplatin (three ovarian and four melanomas), BBR 3464 was extremely potent with IC50 values at least 20-fold lower than cisplatin. Against eight human tumor xenografts including four tumors refractory to cisplatin, BBR 3464 was confirmed to be very active with a tumor weight inhibition >80% in seven of them. The efficacy of BBR 3464 against cisplatin-resistant tumors was consistent with the ability of the drug to completely overcome resistance in three cell systems characterized by acquired resistance to cisplatin. Moreover, BBR 3464 caused a more prolonged effect than cisplatin, which was reflected by higher specific growth delay values. This prolonged effect is likely to be related to a more persistent perturbation of the cell cycle induced by BBR 3464 than by cisplatin, as shown in one ovarian tumor cell line. Finally, the profile of sensitivity to BBR 3464 within the 60-cell-lines screening panel of the National Cancer Institute, NIH (Bethesda, MD) differed from those of established drugs, thus supporting the hypothesis of a distinct mechanism of cytotoxic activity of BBR 3464. The novel trinuclear platinum complex, in light of its innovative antitumor activity profile, has the potential to become a useful clinical agent for the treatment of unresponsive tumors.
The Zinc Finger Transcription Factor, MOK2, Negatively Modulates Expression of the Interphotoreceptor Retinoid-binding Protein Gene, IRBP *

The human and murine MOK2 orthologue genes encode Krüppel/TFIIIA-related zinc finger proteins, which are factors able to recognize both DNA and RNA through their zinc finger motifs. MOK2 proteins have been shown to bind to the same 18-base pair (bp)-specific sequence in duplex DNA. This MOK2-binding site was found within introns 7 and 2 of human PAX3 and interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) genes, respectively. As these two genes are expressed in the brain asMOK2, we have suggested that PAX3 andIRBP genes are two potentially important target genes for the MOK2 protein. In this study, we focused our attention onIRBP as a potential MOK2 target gene. Sequence comparison and binding studies of the 18-bp MOK2-binding sites present in intron 2 of human, bovine, and mouse IRBP genes show that the 3′-half sequence is the essential core element for MOK2 binding. Very interestingly, 8-bp of this core sequence are found in a reverse orientation, in the IRBP promoter. We demonstrate that MOK2 can bind to the 8-bp sequence present in the IRBP promoter and repress its transcription when transiently overexpressed in retinoblastoma Weri-RB1 cells. In the IRBP promoter, it appears that the TAAAGGCT MOK2-binding site overlaps with the photoreceptor-specific CRX-binding element. We suggest that MOK2 represses transcription by competing with the cone-rod homeobox protein (CRX) for DNA binding, thereby decreasing transcriptional activation by CRX. Furthermore, we show that Mok2 expression in the developing mouse and in the adult retina seems to be concordant with IRBP expression.
Hand gesture recognition supported by fuzzy rules and Kalman filters

The paper presents a system based on camera and multimedia projector enabling a user to control computer applications by dynamic hand gestures. Gesture recognition methodology based on representing hand movement trajectory by motion vectors analysed using fuzzy rule-based inference is first given. For effective hand position tracking Kalman filters are employed. The system engineered is developed using J2SE and C++/OpenCV technology. In addition, OpenCV is used for image processing and J2SE with jFuzzyLogic package is employed for gesture interpretation. Results of fuzzy rule-based and fixed threshold-based gesture recognition effectiveness are provided. Additionally, for fuzzy rule-based gesture recognition the system efficacy after utilising Kalman filters is examined. The so-called interactive whiteboard application is given as an example of the system usage.
Association between B 7-H 1 expression and bladder cancer : a meta-analysis

B7 homolog 1 (B7-H1), which is also known as programmed death-L1, is an important member of the B7/CD28 costimulatory factor superfamily, which are emerging as important mediators of various host immune responses. B7-H1 is differentially expressed in various cell subsets and to different extents in human and murine cells. Human B7-H1 is constitutively expressed at low levels in dendritic cells and activated T cells (compared with high expression in activated murine T cells) and is highly expressed in monocytes and tumor cells. We conducted a meta-analysis to explore the association between B7-H1 expression and bladder cancer risk. Two groups were examined, including 352 bladder cancer cases and 60 healthy controls. Metaanalysis results revealed that B7-H1 expression is positively associated with bladder cancer and is strongly associated with the clinical stage of bladder cancer. However, no significant difference was found with respect to gender and the pathological grade of bladder cancer.
Replication of duck hepatitis B virus in primary duck hepatocytes and its dependence on the state of differentiation of the host cell

Primary duck hepatocytes obtained from Pekin ducks congenitally infected with duck hepatitis B virus were used to monitor expression of viral proteins and replication of viral DNA in cell culture. Duck hepatitis B virus core antigen, duck hepatitis B virus pre‐surface antigen and duck hepatitis B virus DNA were detectable for at least 12 days after cell plating. Whereas expression of duck hepatitis B pre‐surface antigen was constant during this time, expression of duck hepatitis B core antigen and of viral DNA rapidly declined. This diminished production of viral components in vitro was paralleled by a change of the hepatocytes toward a fibroblast‐like morphology. Supplementation of cell culture medium with 2% dimethyl sulfoxide, a solvent known to maintain the differentiated state of cultured cells, retained competence of the cultured hepatocytes to express duck hepatitis B core antigen and duck hepatitis B virus DNA at high levels. In a second set of experiments, duck hepatitis B virus negative hepatocytes were infected with duck hepatitis B virus from serum of congenitally infected ducks. Dimethyl sulfoxide remarkably improved the competence of cultured duck hepatocytes to become productively infected. This function was maintained for at least 12 days postplating.
Streptomyces spitsbergensis Wieczorek et al. 1993 is a later subjective synonym of Streptomyces baldaccii (Farina and Locci 1996) Witt and Stackebrandt 1991.

Reexamination of the morphological, cultural, and physiological characteristics of Streptomyces spitsbergensis Wieczorek et al. 1993 revealed that this organism belongs to the whorl-forming streptomycetes, and DNA-DNA hybridization data confirmed that S. spitsbergensis is a later subjective synonym of Streptomyces baldaccii (Farina and Locci 1966) Witt and Stackebrandt 1991.
Adsorption and diffusion of hydrogen on Pd(211) and Pd(111): Results from first-principles electronic structure calculations

We have carried out first-principles calculations of H adsorption on Pd 211 using density-functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation in the plane-wave basis to find out that the most preferred is the threefold hollow site on the terrace of Pd 211 with an adsorption energy of 0.52 eV: the hcp and fcc sites being almost energetically equally favorable. For subsurface H adsorption on Pd 211 , the octahedral site with an adsorption energy of 0.19 eV is slightly more favorable than the tetrahedral site 0.18 eV . Our calculated activation energy barrier for H to diffuse from the preferred surface site to the subsurface one on Pd 211 is 0.33 eV, as compared with 0.41 eV on Pd 111 . Thus, there is an enhancement of the probability of finding subsurface hydrogen in Pd 211 . Additionally, we find the diffusion barriers for H on the terraces of Pd 211 to be 0.11 eV, while that along the step edge to be only 0.05 eV and that within the second layer subsurface to be 0.15 eV.
Virtual space decision support system

A recent manifestation of the new paradigm regarding the relationship between humans and computers is called artificial reality, virtual reality or cyberspace. Using 3D computer graphics, multisensory interactive interface devices and high resolution displays, a virtual world can be realized in which one can pick up imaginary objects as if they are real. Using this technology, the virtual space decision support system (VSDSS) lets users design virtual products and experience them while in virtual space. The VSDSS and its application to the unified sales/production system (US/PS) are described in this paper. At present, most computer-aided manufacturing systems are geared towards production in small lots and are unable to handle custom-designed products. Using the VSDSS, individuals will be able to design their own products. The VSDSS system should be designed so that the dreams of the individuals can be realized.
Exposure to Smoking in Internationally Distributed American Movies and Youth Smoking in Germany: A Cross-cultural Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE. Studies of US adolescents have linked exposure to movie smoking with smoking behavior. It is unclear whether European adolescents are also responsive to movie tobacco imagery. METHODS. A longitudinal study was conducted to assess exposure to movie smoking in 2711 German never-smokers (aged 10 to 16 years). Movie smoking exposure was estimated by asking adolescents if they had seen movies from a list of 50 movie titles, randomly selected for each adolescent from 398 internationally distributed movies released between 1994 and 2004 that became box-office hits in Germany. These films were reviewed for smoking content. Adolescents were resurveyed 12 to 13 months later to determine smoking status, and results were compared with a similarly designed survey of 2603 white US adolescents. We hypothesized replication of the main effect of the exposure on trying smoking, and an interaction, with a significantly larger response among adolescents whose parents did not smoke. RESULTS. The 398 internationally distributed movies represented 80% of the German box-office hits within this time frame, with the majority (388) produced and/or distributed internationally by US companies. Smoking was present in 74% of the movies. Overall, 503 (19%) of the students tried smoking during the follow-up period. The incidence of trying smoking was associated with increased exposure to movie smoking. The form of the dose-response was similar to the US sample, with the strongest response to movies seen in the lower 2 quartiles of exposure. After controlling for baseline covariates, exposure to movie smoking remained a significant predictor of trying smoking in German adolescents, and the effect was significantly stronger in adolescents whose parents did not smoke. CONCLUSIONS. Smoking in internationally distributed US movies predicts trying smoking among German adolescents, closely replicating findings from a longitudinal study of white US adolescents. Smoking in these movies could have important worldwide public health implications.
Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Expressing Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E7 Peptide DNA Fused with Heat Shock Protein DNA as a Potential Vaccine for Cervical Cancer

ABSTRACT In this study, we explore a potential vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced tumors, using heat shock protein as an adjuvant, a peptide vaccine for safety, and adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a gene delivery vector. The tumor vaccine was devised by constructing a chimeric gene which contained HPV type 16 E7 cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitope DNA (M. C. Feltkamp, H. L. Smits, M. P. Vierboom, R. P. Minnaar, B. M. de Jongh, J. W. Drijfhout, J. ter Schegget, C. J. Melief, and W. M. Kast, Eur. J. Immunol. 23:2242–2249, 1993) fused with the heat shock protein gene as a tumor vaccine delivered via AAV. Our results demonstrate that this vaccine can eliminate tumor cells in syngeneic animals and induce CD4- and CD8-dependent CTL activity in vitro. Moreover, studies with knockout mice with distinct T-cell deficiencies confirm that CTL-induced tumor protection is CD4 and CD8 dependent. Taken together, the evidence indicates that this chimeric gene delivered by AAV has potential as a cervical cancer vaccine.