Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Net neutrality: the technical side of the debate: a white paper

Network Neutrality is the subject of much current debate. In this white paper I try to find the signal in the noise by taking a largely technical look at various definitions of network neutrality and the feasibility and complexity of implementing systems that support those ideas.First off, there are a lot of emotional terms used to describe various aspects of what makes the melting pot of the neutrality debate. For example, censorship or black-holing (where route filtering, fire-walling and port blocking might say what is happening in less insightful way); free-riding is often bandied about to describe the business of making money on the net (rather than overlay service provision); monopolistic tendencies, instead of the natural inclination of an organisation that owns a lot of kit that they've sunk capital into, to want to make revenue from it.The paper describes the basic realities of the net, which has never been a level playing field for many accidental and some deliberate reasons, and then looks at the future evolution of IP (and lower level) services; the evolution of overlay services, and the evolution of the structure of the ISP business space (access, core and other); finally, I appeal to simple minded economic and regulatory arguments to ask whether there is any case at all for <I>special pleading</I> for the Internet as a special case, different from other services, or utilities.Mutatis mutandis.
Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome: Role of the Vastus Medialis Oblique

Anterior knee pain syndrome (AKPS) represents a significant problem for patients and sports medicine clinicians. Many predisposing factors have been associated with AKPS. Considerable attention has been given to quadriceps strengthening. Specifically the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) muscle is targeted for selective strengthening. Because of the VMO's oblique attachment to the patella, researchers report that proper dynamic alignment of the patella is dependent on VMO control. Given the lack of scientific information and agreement concerning the rehabilitation of patients with AKPS, the clinician and patient often become frustrated with the lack of progress during rehabilitation. Therefore the purpose of this paper is to clarify the current literature concerning the role of the VMO.
Talin regulates integrin β1-dependent and -independent cell functions in ureteric bud development

Kidney collecting system development requires integrin-dependent cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane receptors consisting of α and β subunits; crucial integrins in the kidney collecting system express the β1 subunit. The β1 cytoplasmic tail has two NPxY motifs that mediate functions by binding to cytoplasmic signaling and scaffolding molecules. Talins, scaffolding proteins that bind to the membrane proximal NPxY motif, are proposed to activate integrins and to link them to the actin cytoskeleton. We have defined the role of talin binding to the β1 proximal NPxY motif in the developing kidney collecting system in mice that selectively express a Y-to-A mutation in this motif. The mice developed a hypoplastic dysplastic collecting system. Collecting duct cells expressing this mutation had moderate abnormalities in cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and growth factor-dependent signaling. In contrast, mice lacking talins in the developing ureteric bud developed kidney agenesis and collecting duct cells had severe cytoskeletal, adhesion and polarity defects. Thus, talins are essential for kidney collecting duct development through mechanisms that extend beyond those requiring binding to the β1 integrin subunit NPxY motif. Summary: Talin proteins regulate kidney collecting duct development through mechanisms that extend beyond those that require binding to the β1 integrin subunit NPxY motif in their cytoplasmic tail.
Cell migration, intercalation and growth regulate mammalian cochlear extension

Developmental remodeling of the sensory epithelium of the cochlea is required for the formation of an elongated, tonotopically organized auditory organ, but the cellular processes that mediate these events are largely unknown. We used both morphological assessments of cellular rearrangements and time-lapse imaging to visualize cochlear remodeling in mouse. Analysis of cell redistribution showed that the cochlea extends through a combination of radial intercalation and cell growth. Live imaging demonstrated that concomitant cellular intercalation results in a brief period of epithelial convergence, although subsequent changes in cell size lead to medial-lateral spreading. Supporting cells, which retain contact with the basement membrane, exhibit biased protrusive activity and directed movement along the axis of extension. By contrast, hair cells lose contact with the basement membrane, but contribute to continued outgrowth through increased cell size. Regulation of cellular protrusions, movement and intercalation within the cochlea all require myosin II. These results establish, for the first time, many of the cellular processes that drive the distribution of sensory cells along the tonotopic axis of the cochlea. Summary: Myosin II plays multiple roles in the cell morphology changes and cellular rearrangements, including radial intercalation, that drive remodeling of the prosensory domain during development of the mouse cochlea.
Non-canonical WOX11-mediated root branching contributes to plasticity in Arabidopsis root system architecture

Lateral roots (LRs), which originate from the growing root, and adventitious roots (ARs), which are formed from non-root organs, are the main contributors to the post-embryonic root system in Arabidopsis. However, our knowledge of how formation of the root system is altered in response to diverse inductive cues is limited. Here, we show that WOX11 contributes to root system plasticity. When seedlings are grown vertically on medium, WOX11 is not expressed in LR founder cells. During AR initiation, WOX11 is expressed in AR founder cells and activates LBD16. LBD16 also functions in LR formation and is activated in that context by ARF7/19 and not by WOX11. This indicates that divergent initial processes that lead to ARs and LRs may converge on a similar mechanism for primordium development. Furthermore, we demonstrated that when plants are grown in soil or upon wounding on medium, the primary root is able to produce both WOX11-mediated and non-WOX11-mediated roots. The discovery of WOX11-mediated root-derived roots reveals a previously uncharacterized pathway that confers plasticity during the generation of root system architecture in response to different inductive cues. Summary: Root system development can respond flexibly to developmental and environmental cues by utilizing WOX11-mediated and non-WOX11-mediated pathways, which converge on a common mechanism for primordium development involving LBD16.
Hierarchical mesh decomposition using fuzzy clustering and cuts

Cutting up a complex object into simpler sub-objects is a fundamental problem in various disciplines. In image processing, images are segmented while in computational geometry, solid polyhedra are decomposed. In recent years, in computer graphics, polygonal meshes are decomposed into sub-meshes. In this paper we propose a novel hierarchical mesh decomposition algorithm. Our algorithm computes a decomposition into the meaningful components of a given mesh, which generally refers to segmentation at regions of deep concavities. The algorithm also avoids over-segmentation and jaggy boundaries between the components. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of the algorithm in control-skeleton extraction.
Outcome Measurement in Palliative Care: Quality of Life

Outcome measurement has a major role to play in improving the quality, efficiency and availability of palliative care. Measuring changes in a patient’s health over time, and finding out the reasons for those changes, can help service providers focus on learning and improving the quality of services. Outcome measures, specifically Patient- Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), are tools that can effectively be used in palliative care to assess and monitor care as well as quality of life (QOL), either for individual patients, or across populations. PROMs put the patient at the centre of care and focus on what matters to them.
EED, a member of the polycomb group, is required for nephron differentiation and the maintenance of nephron progenitor cells

ABSTRACT Epigenetic regulation of gene expression has a crucial role allowing for the self-renewal and differentiation of stem and progenitor populations during organogenesis. The mammalian kidney maintains a population of self-renewing stem cells that differentiate to give rise to thousands of nephrons, which are the functional units that carry out filtration to maintain physiological homeostasis. The polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) epigenetically represses gene expression during development by placing the H3K27me3 mark on histone H3 at promoter and enhancer sites, resulting in gene silencing. To understand the role of PRC2 in nephron differentiation, we conditionally inactivated the Eed gene, which encodes a nonredundant component of the PRC2 complex, in nephron progenitor cells. Resultant kidneys were smaller and showed premature loss of progenitor cells. The progenitors in Eed mutant mice that were induced to differentiate did not develop into properly formed nephrons. Lhx1, normally expressed in the renal vesicle, was overexpressed in kidneys of Eed mutant mice. Thus, PRC2 has a crucial role in suppressing the expression of genes that maintain the progenitor state, allowing nephron differentiation to proceed. Summary: Conditional inactivation of the polycomb gene Eed in nephron progenitor cells results in their premature loss and prevents normal nephron differentiation beyond the S-shaped tubule stage.
Dyna, an integrated architecture for learning, planning, and reacting

Dyna is an AI architecture that integrates learning, planning, and reactive execution. Learning methods are used in Dyna both for compiling planning results and for updating a model of the effects of the agent's actions on the world. Planning is incremental and can use the probabilistic and ofttimes incorrect world models generated by learning processes. Execution is fully reactive in the sense that no planning intervenes between perception and action. Dyna relies on machine learning methods for learning from examples---these are among the basic building blocks making up the architecture---yet is not tied to any particular method. This paper briefly introduces Dyna and discusses its strengths and weaknesses with respect to other architectures.
Small-molecule Wnt agonists correct cleft palates in Pax9 mutant mice in utero

Clefts of the palate and/or lip are among the most common human craniofacial malformations and involve multiple genetic and environmental factors. Defects can only be corrected surgically and require complex life-long treatments. Our studies utilized the well-characterized Pax9−/− mouse model with a consistent cleft palate phenotype to test small-molecule Wnt agonist therapies. We show that the absence of Pax9 alters the expression of Wnt pathway genes including Dkk1 and Dkk2, proven antagonists of Wnt signaling. The functional interactions between Pax9 and Dkk1 are shown by the genetic rescue of secondary palate clefts in Pax9−/−Dkk1f/+;Wnt1Cre embryos. The controlled intravenous delivery of small-molecule Wnt agonists (Dkk inhibitors) into pregnant Pax9+/− mice restored Wnt signaling and led to the growth and fusion of palatal shelves, as marked by an increase in cell proliferation and osteogenesis in utero, while other organ defects were not corrected. This work underscores the importance of Pax9-dependent Wnt signaling in palatogenesis and suggests that this functional upstream molecular relationship can be exploited for the development of therapies for human cleft palates that arise from single-gene disorders. Summary: Pax9-dependent Wnt signaling via Dkk1/2 expression in the posterior palatal mesenchyme enhances cell proliferation along the buccal-lingual axis, palatal shelf outgrowth and fusion.
Reaction-diffusion textures

We present a method for texture synthesis based on the simulation of a process of local nonlinear interaction, called reaction-diffusion, which has been proposed as a model of biological pattern formation. We extend traditional reaction-diffusion systems by allowing anisotropic and spatially non-uniform diffusion, as well as multiple competing directions of diffusion. We adapt reaction-diffusion system to the needs of computer graphics by presenting a method to synthesize patterns which compensate for the effects of non-uniform surface parameterization. Finally, we develop efficient algorithms for simulating reaction-diffusion systems and display a collection of resulting textures using standard texture- and displacement-mapping techniques.
Tangible tiles: design and evaluation of a tangible user interface in a collaborative tabletop setup

In this paper we describe a tangible user interface "Tangible Tiles", which uses optically tracked transparent plexiglass tiles for interaction and display of projected imagery on a table or whiteboard. We designed and implemented a number of interaction techniques based on two sets of different tiles, which either directly represent digital objects or function as tools for data manipulation. To discover the strengths and weaknesses of our current prototype, we conducted a user study that compared simple interaction with digital imagery in three conditions: 1) our Tangible Tiles system, 2) a commercial touch screen, and 3) a control condition using real paper prints. Although we discovered some conceptual problems, the results show potential benefits of Tangible Tiles for supporting collaboration and natural interaction.
The benefits of CROS aids for individuals with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract Objective: Treatment of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss has improved after introducing the new generation of monoCROS with a wireless connection, an open mould and an improvement in sound quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the new generation of CROS, to identify the situations in which the CROS was useful to the patient, and to identify factors that can predict successful treatment. Study design: Retrospective information was gathered by questionnaire from patients treated with the Phonak Audeo Smart CROS hearing aid at Aarhus University Hospital. The information related to usage, perceived benefit, situations of use, sound quality, maintenance and operation of the device. Results: The CROS was most frequently used in the company of others in small or large groups of people even though participants considered the sound quality to be best in quiet surroundings. The device was rarely used for telephone conversations. Of the 45 participants, 42.5% used it more than 4 h per day, 32.5% used it less than 4 h per day and 25% used it occasionally. The group of patients who used it most frequently was the student group, who used it in educational situations. The quality of sound was generally evaluated as above average, and operating and fitting the device was considered easy. Conclusion: The new generation of CROS hearing aids are useful in the treatment of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Further research is needed to compare this device to the BAHA.
Erlotinib resistance in mouse models of epidermal growth factor receptor-induced lung adenocarcinoma

SUMMARY Seventy-five percent of lung adenocarcinomas with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations respond to treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) gefitinib and erlotinib; however, drug-resistant tumors eventually emerge. In 60% of cases, resistant tumors carry a secondary mutation in EGFR (T790M), amplification of MET, or both. Here, we describe the establishment of erlotinib resistance in lung tumors, which were induced by mutant EGFR, in transgenic mice after multiple cycles of drug treatment; we detect the T790M mutation in five out of 24 tumors or Met amplification in one out of 11 tumors in these mice. This preclinical mouse model, therefore, recapitulates the molecular changes responsible for resistance to TKIs in human tumors and holds promise for the discovery of additional mechanisms of drug resistance in lung cancer.
Posture and sleep in children with cerebral palsy

This case study explored the factors that influence the experience of night-time postural management equipment by children with cerebral palsy in the South-West of England. The aims were to explore the views of children on using a sleep system, the role of their parents and therapist in its use and the quality of sleep experienced before and during use of a sleep system. Further objectives were the identification of factors that affect the use of sleep systems and the production of findings to guide therapists’ clinical practice.
Deferiprone for transfusional iron overload and its roles in developing countries

Introduction: Variations in chelation efficacy and adverse events in particular neutropenia and agranulocytosis relegate deferiprone (DFP) to a second-line therapy in iron overload patients in whom iron chelation with deferoxamine (DFO) is inadequate. With a major economical constraint, many patients who have no access to DFO or deferasirox in developing countries have started to use DFP as their first option. It is of interest to review the clinical pharmacology and latest clinical experiences with DFP to determine its role in the developing world. Areas covered: This review describes the preclinical and clinical data of DFP in patients with transfusional iron overload by searching with the keywords ‘deferiprone’ and ‘iron overload’ using the PubMed database. A projection of iron chelation cost per year was estimated based on the market price of all available iron chelators in 2013 and expected number of thalassemia patients who require chelation therapy in Thailand as an example. Expert opinion: Through a comprehensive program of medical education and continuous monitoring with appropriate clinical guidelines, DFP can be used with acceptable efficacy and safety. In patients who do not respond well to DFP monotherapy and/or require intensive chelation due to cardiac iron overload, a combination of DFP and DFO is highly recommended.
A Fuzzy Group-Decision Making Model Applied to the Choice of the Optimal Medicine in the Case of Symptoms not Disappearing after the Treatment

Fuzzy Set Theory has used many auxiliary methods in the trials of solutions of some medical problems. One of the attempts was the finding of the optimal level of drug action in the case when the clinical symptoms disappeared completely after the treatment (Gerstenkorn and Rakus, 1994; Rakus, 1991). However, there can occur such a morbid process in which the symptoms do not disappear after the treatment. The medication improves too high or too low level of the quantitative symptom but it still indicates the presence of the disease. It sometimes makes some problems to choose the medicine, which acts best because it can happen that most of them influence the same symptoms while they do not improve the others. A fuzzy decision making model tries to make easier to find such a drug which affects most of the symptoms in the highest degree. To solve this problem we propose an application of discrete values of the membership degrees in the model instead of the continuous ones that were tested in the paper of Rakus-Andersson and Gerstenkorn (1997). It should improve the thoroughness of the method and heighten the reliability of the accepted decision. It is also considered how to choose the best medicine in the circumstances when some decision-makers have different opinions about the priority of the tested drugs.
Nutritional Practices and Growth Velocity in the First Month of Life in Extremely Premature Infants

OBJECTIVES: The goals of this study were to describe nutritional practices in the first month of life for a large cohort of extremely low gestational age newborns and to determine the impact of these nutritional practices on growth velocity (GV) over the same period. METHODS: The sample included 1187 infants born at 23 to 27 weeks of gestation, at 14 institutions, between 2002 and 2004. Inclusion criteria included survival until day 28 and weight information for days 7 and 28. GV, expressed as grams per kilogram per day, was calculated for the interval between days 7 and 28. Nutritional practices during the first week and on days 14, 21, and 28 were compared with current nutritional guidelines in the literature. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated the contribution of limited nutrition to limited GV. RESULTS: Protein and fat delivery approximated current nutritional recommendations, whereas carbohydrate and total energy intake delivery did not. Despite this, GV of our study infants exceeded the current guideline of 15 g/kg per day. Nevertheless, we found extrauterine growth restriction (ie, weight for gestational age below the 10th centile) in 75% of the infants at 28 days, compared with only 18% at birth. A GV of 20 to 30 g/kg per day was associated with infants' maintaining or exceeding their birth weight z score, with rates in the upper range for the gestationally youngest infants. Early (day 7) nutritional practices were positively associated with GV measured between days 7 and 28. CONCLUSION: The early provision of nutrients is an important determinant of postnatal growth. Extrauterine growth restriction remains high in extremely premature infants even when they achieve a GV rate within current guidelines.
Infant Race Affects Application of Clinical Guidelines When Screening for Drugs of Abuse in Newborns

BACKGROUND: Screening for illicit drugs in newborns has privacy, social, and legal risks for families of the infants. Established drug-screening criteria may be applied in a manner that considers nonproven risk factors such as race in addition to evidence-based factors. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine if race was used as a criterion for screening infants for intrauterine cocaine exposure. We hypothesized that infants of black mothers would be more likely to be screened regardless of whether they met the standard criteria for screening of our institution's NICU. METHODS: We used the electronic medical records of newborn infants and their mothers to determine which mother-infant pairs had documented evidence of meeting the criteria for screening infants for prenatal exposure to illicit drugs set forth in the guidelines of our NICU. We then assessed the rates of drug screening to determine the strongest predictors of whether an infant would be screened. RESULTS: We assessed 2121 mother-infant pairs. Infants born to black mothers were more likely than those born to white mothers to have screening performed whether they met screening criteria (35.1% vs 12.9%; P < .001) or did not (5.3% vs 1.2%; P < .001). In a logistic regression analysis, black race remained independently associated (odds ratio: 2.17 [95% confidence interval: 1.25–3.79]) with drug screening even when we controlled for our standard screening criteria and income, insurance status, and maternal education. CONCLUSION: Providers seemed to have used race, in addition to recognized risk criteria, as a factor in deciding whether to screen an infant for maternal illicit drug use.