Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Import Penetration, Intermediate Inputs and Firms’ Productivity in the EU Food Industry

The aim of this contribution is to study empirically the effect of trade liberalization on productivity growth exploiting a large micro-dataset of more than 20,000 French and Italian food firms, over the 2004-2012 period. This relationship has been studied focusing on import penetration at both industry and upstream sectors level, to investigate the role played by imports in intermediate inputs. Main findings show that import penetration in both final products and intermediate inputs systematically contributed to firm-level productivity growth. Yet, the productivity growth effect induced by import penetration in upstream sectors is 10 times higher than the one at the industry level. Horizontal import competition coming from the EU15 and OECD countries exerts the strongest effect on productivity growth. By contrast, when vertical import penetration is considered, also sourcing intermediate inputs from emerging markets appears important for firms’ productivity growth. Finally, we also find a strong confirmation that the effects of import penetration are increasing with the initial level of firms’ productivity. All these stylized facts may have interesting policy implications.
A Study of Depression in Old Age Using Single-Photon Emission Computerised Tomography

There is evidence to suggest that organic cerebral changes occur in elderly depressed patients. Quantitative studies of elderly depressed patients have demonstrated that they have reduced ‘radio-attenuation’ on computerised tomography (CT) scans and as a group resembled more closely a group of demented patients than normal controls (Jacoby et al, 1983). Many biochemical changes associated with ageing are similar to the pathophysiological abnormalities in depression and in dementia (Alexopoulos et al, 1988). These changes, coupled with the high frequency of depressive syndromes in demented patients, suggest a complex relationship between depression and dementia in old age. Mahendra (1985) has suggested that a variety of brain abnormalities can produce a spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from depression with minimal cognitive dysfunction at one end to dementia with minimal depression at the other.
Compressive imaging reconstruction using adaptive directional total variation based on structure orientation fields

Abstract. Compressive imaging presents the challenge of reconstructing an image accurately from its under-sampling measurements. The total variation model, used as the regularization for imaging reconstruction, ignores structure direction, which tends to result in over-smoothing of homogenous regions and staircase artifacts in textured regions. This paper proposes to solve this problem using a compressive reconstruction method with adaptive directional total variation (DTV) based on the structure orientation field (SOF). This approach builds the estimation model of the structure tensor upon the Huber norm as the penalty term, reducing the degradation influence and reaching a quick solution using the primal-dual algorithm. The method then uses the structure tensor to describe the SOF and to establish compressive reconstruction in which the SOF restricts the DTV regularization. Finally, by analyzing the structure of the objective function, this approach adopts the linearized alternating direction method of multipliers to address the challenges presented by the reconstruction model. The experimental results show that the proposed method requires fewer iterations and demonstrates better reconstruction performance than existing methods, as indicated by examining texture details for visual fidelity and quality as measured through other objective criteria.
Metabolic connectivity: methods and applications

Purpose of review Metabolic connectivity modelling aims to detect functionally interacting brain regions based on PET recordings with the glucose analogue [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Here, we outline the most popular metabolic connectivity methods and summarize recent applications in clinical and basic neuroscience. Recent findings Metabolic connectivity is modelled by various methods including a seed correlation, sparse inverse covariance estimation, independent component analysis and graph theory. Given its multivariate nature, metabolic connectivity possess added value relative to conventional univariate analyses of FDG-PET data. As such, metabolic connectivity provides valuable insights into pathophysiology and diagnosis of dementing, movement disorders, and epilepsy. Metabolic connectivity can also identify resting state networks resembling patterns of functional connectivity as derived from functional MRI data. Summary Metabolic connectivity is a valuable concept in the fast-developing field of brain connectivity, at least as reasonable as functional connectivity of functional MRI. So far, the value of metabolic connectivity is best established in neurodegenerative disorders, but studies in other brain diseases as well as in the healthy state are emerging. Growing evidence indicates that metabolic connectivity may serve a marker of normal and pathological cognitive function. A relationship of metabolic connectivity with structural and functional connectivity is yet to be established.
High‐density mapping and follow‐up studies on chromosomal regions 1, 3, 6, 12, 13 and 17 in 28 families with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

A subset of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) shows familial aggregation. Studies show an increased risk for CLL and other lymphoproliferative disease among first‐degree relatives of affected individuals. A genome‐wide scan of 18 CLL families in 2003 detected LOD or non‐parametric linkage scores ≥1·0 on chromosomes 1, 3, 6, 12, 13 and 17. Follow‐up study with 28 families showed no evidence of linkage at 1p22.1–p21.2, 3q22.1, 3q26.2, 6q22.31–q23.2, 12q24.23, 14q32.13, 17p13.3. Chromosome 13q21.33 remains a region of interest with a P‐value of 0·013 (marker D13S1291) and warrants additional molecular investigation as a susceptibility region for CLL.
An alternative method for smartphone input using AR markers

Abstract As smartphones came into wide use recently, it has become increasingly popular not only among young people, but among middle-aged people as well. Most smartphones adopt capacitive full touch screen, so touch commands are made by fingers unlike the PDAs in the past that use touch pens. In this case, a significant portion of the smartphone’s screen is blocked by the finger so it is impossible to see the screens around the finger touching the screen; this causes difficulties in making precise inputs. To solve this problem, this research proposes a method of using simple AR markers to improve the interface of smartphones. A marker is placed in front of the smartphone camera. Then, the camera image of the marker is analyzed to determine the position of the marker as the position of the mouse cursor. This method can enable click, double-click, drag-and-drop used in PCs as well as touch, slide, long-touch-input in smartphones. Through this research, smartphone inputs can be made more precise and simple, and show the possibility of the application of a new concept of smartphone interface.
Speech Imitation in Simulated Deafness, Using Visual Cues and Recoded' Auditory Information

A technique for the simulation of deafness, and its alleviation by a new " frequency transposition " device are described. The effects of visual cues (provided by the experimenter's articulatory movements), and of 'recoded' auditory information provided by the " frequency transposer "), on subjects' ability to make a 'judged match' imitation response to spoken CVC nonsense syllables, were evaluated. The improved imitation when visual cues were provided, of both " manner " of articulation (p < 0.01), and " place " of articulation (p < 0.001) of certain fricative, sibilant and stop consonants, together with a highly significant improvement in overall imitation scores (p << 0.0005), supported the conclusion that normal hearing subjects, although untrained in lipreading, had a well developed ability to ' integrate' auditory and visual speech information. Further, the improved imitation of both " manner " of articulation (p < 0.025), and " place " of articulation (p < 0.025), of certain fricative, sibilant and stop consonants brought about by ' recoding ' the speech signal (without any experimentally guided articulation or discrimination training) supported the hypothesis that the recoding technique would produce a signal which was sufficiently ' speech-like' to be utilised with effect by the ear-brain system, and may therefore be of use in the rehabilitation of the " perceptively " deaf.
Colocalization of distant chromosomal loci in space in E. coli: a bacterial nucleolus

Gaal et al. examined the relative positions of the ribosomal RNA operons in space. The results show that E. coli bacterial chromosome folding in three dimensions is not dictated entirely by genetic position but rather includes functionally related, genetically distant loci that come into close proximity, with rRNA operons forming a structure reminiscent of the eukaryotic nucleolus.
Supplemental Material for the paper “ Learning Separable Filters ”

Figure 1 illustrates some filter banks learned on the DRIVE dataset. In particular, it shows how an example learned filter bank can be replaced by its rank-1 approximation obtained using the SVD decomposition (SEP-SVD). Figure 2 shows examples of 3D filter banks learned on the OPF dataset. In Figure 3 the central slice of the filter banks are given for a better comparison. We report the detailed pixel classification results in Table 1. To provide a fair comparison of the different approaches, we have evaluated the quality of the classification we obtained on both the 2D and the 3D datasets by using several analytic measures. In particular, we considered the following:
The mouse “tool box” for meiotic studies

Besides availability, there are numerous advantages to using mice for meiotic studies: (1) techniques exist for enriching the population of spermatocytes at particular meiotic stages; (2) spermatogenesis in mice is highly synchronized and testis sections afford a highly accurate method of staging meiotic events; (3) knock-out mice provide a rich source of meiotic mutants. Coupled with antibody localization techniques these tools, singularly and in combination, provide multiple means of temporally and physically dissecting meiosis.
Sia: An interactive medical assistant using natural language processing

In this fast moving world, people are ignorant about their health issues and avoid routine check-ups. It is very difficult for users to spend longer time on-line and explore health information. To solve this problem, we provide voice-based android application to the user where user can interact with system and get inference of diseases and their remedies by giving the symptoms as input. For processing the given input we normalize the data by using noun phrase extraction and medical term identifier. For getting more precise result, we extend our system to generate relevant questions to the user and accordingly provide remedy for problem. Question is generated by mapping the user input array with question generation matrix.
Integrated design of a linear/neuro-adaptive controller in the presence of norm-bounded uncertainties

Adaptive neural controllers are often criticised for the lack of clear and easy design methodologies that relate adaptive neural network (NN) design parameters to performance requirements. This study proposes a methodology for the design of an integrated linear-adaptive model reference controller that guarantees component-wise boundedness of the tracking error within an a priori specified compact domain. The approach is based on the design of a robust invariant ellipsoidal set where both the NN reconstruction error and the neuro-adaptive control are considered as bounded persistent uncertainties. We show that all the performance and control requirements for the closed-loop system can be expressed as linear matrix inequality constraints. This brings the advantage that feasibility and optimal design parameters can be effectively computed while solving a linear optimisation problem. An advantage of the method is that it allows a systematic and quantitative evaluation of the interplay between the design parameters and their impact on the requirements. This produces an integrated linear/neuro-adaptive performance-oriented design methodology. A numerical example is used to illustrate the approach.
Reconhecimento de espécies florestais através de imagens macroscópicas

xii 1 INTRODUÇÃO 1 1.1 Motivação . 3 1.2 Desafios . 4 1.3 Objetivos . 4 1.4 Contribuições . 5 1.5 Organização do Documento . 6 2 FUNDAMENTAÇÃO TEÓRICA 7 2.1 Propriedades Organolépticas da Madeira . 7 2.2 Propriedades Anatômicas da Madeira . 9 2.3 Cor . 11 2.4 Textura . 13 2.4. 1 Abordagem Estat́ıstica . 17 2.4. 1.1 Medidas baseadas na distribuição de ńıveis de cinza . 17 2.4. 1.2 Matriz de coocorrência . 20 2.4. 2 Abordagem Estrutural . 25 2.4. 2.1 Fractais . 26 2.4. 2.2 LBP Local Binary Pattern . 36 2.4. 2.3 Local Phase Quantization LPQ . 40 2.4. 2.4 Histograma da orientação da borda Edge Orientation Histogram EOH . 42 2.4. 3 Abordagem Espectral . 43 2.4. 3.1 Filtro de Gabor . 44 2.5 Combinação de Classificadores . 48 3 ESTADO DA ARTE 52 3.0. 1 Reconhecimento de Espécies Florestais . 52
Retinoic Acid Receptor α Fusion to PML Affects Its Transcriptional and Chromatin-Remodeling Properties

ABSTRACT PML-RAR is an oncogenic transcription factor forming in acute promyelocytic leukemias (APL) because of a chromosomal translocation. Without its ligand, retinoic acid (RA), PML-RAR functions as a constitutive transcriptional repressor, abnormally associating with the corepressor-histone deacetylase complex and blocking hematopoietic differentiation. In the presence of pharmacological concentrations of RA, PML-RAR activates transcription and stimulates differentiation. Even though it has been suggested that chromatin alteration is important for APL onset, the PML-RAR effect on chromatin of target promoters has not been investigated. Taking advantage of the Xenopus oocyte system, we compared the wild-type transcription factor RARα with PML-RAR as both transcriptional regulators and chromatin structure modifiers. Without RA, we found that PML-RAR is a more potent transcriptional repressor that does not require the cofactor RXR and produces a closed chromatin configuration. Surprisingly, repression by PML-RAR occurs through a further pathway that is independent of nucleosome deposition and histone deacetylation. In the presence of RA, PML-RAR is a less efficient transcriptional activator that is unable to modify the DNA nucleoprotein structure. We propose that PML-RAR, aside from its ability to recruit aberrant quantities of histone deacetylase complexes, has acquired additional repressive mechanisms and lost important activating functions; the comprehension of these mechanisms might reveal novel targets for antileukemic intervention.
The influence of plastic light cure sheaths on the hardness of resin composite.

OBJECTIVE This study investigated the influence of a disposable light cure sheath on both the surface hardness and hardness at varying thicknesses of resin composite. METHODS A series of resin composite discs (Spectrum) were fabricated with varying depths up to 6 mm. The light curing units used were a standard halogen unit (Elipar Trilight) and an LED unit (Elipar Freelight 2). Recommended curing times from the manufacturer were followed. The disposable light-curing sheath (Cure Sleeve) was used with both light-curing units. Two additional groups without the sheath were employed as controls. Each specimen (n = 4) was subjected to hardness testing to evaluate hardness from 0 mm to 5 mm thick. A 200g load was applied for 10 seconds using a Vickers diamond indenter and six indentations were obtained from each specimen. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA. RESULTS The LED without a sheath achieved the highest surface hardness value (47.2 VHN +/- 5.5). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding surface hardness (p > 0.05). As the thicknesses of the resin composite increased, the hardness values decreased in all groups. The LED light curing unit, in combination with a sheath, demonstrated the lowest hardness values at a 5 mm thickness of resin composite (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION All four different methods of light curing resulted in a significant reduction in hardness values with increasing resin composite thickness, which could compromise the mechanical properties of the resin composite. However, the use of the light cure sheaths still provided an acceptable depth of cure when used following the 2 mm increment rule. It was not until 3 mm that the use of the light cure sheaths compromised the hardness results. It is recommended that the curing depth should not exceed 2 mm, regardless of light curing method.
Oriented cell divisions asymmetrically segregate aPKC and generate cell fate diversity in the early Xenopus embryo

A key feature of early vertebrate development is the formation of superficial, epithelial cells that overlie non-epithelial deep cells. In Xenopus, deep and superficial cells show a range of differences, including a different competence for primary neurogenesis. We show that the two cell populations are generated during the blastula stages by perpendicularly oriented divisions. These take place during several cell divisions, in a variable pattern, but at a percentage that varies little between embryos and from one division to the next. The orientation of division correlates with cell shape suggesting that simple geometric rules may control the orientation of division in this system. We show that dividing cells are molecularly polarised such that aPKC is localised to the external, apical, membrane. Membrane localised aPKC can be seen as early as the one-cell stage and during the blastula divisions, it is preferentially inherited by superficial cells. Finally, we show that when 64-cell stage isolated blastomeres divide perpendicularly and the daughters are cultured separately, only the progeny of the cells that inherit the apical membrane turn on the bHLH gene, ESR6e. We conclude that oriented cell divisions generate the superficial and deep cells and establish cell fate diversity between them.
Emotion Skills as a Protective Factor for Risky Behaviors Among College Students

Involvement in health-endangering behaviors is considered a reflection of college students' psychosocial development; however, not all students participate in these activities. Emotion skills, such as the ability to interpret and manage emotions, may serve as a protective factor against risk-taking behavior among emerging adults. We compared the contributions of emotional intelligence and self-esteem, a commonly studied risk factor, to engagement in risk-taking behaviors among undergraduates (N = 243). Structural equation modeling revealed that emotional intelligence, but not self-esteem, was related significantly to risky behaviors. These findings lend support to the literature showing that emotional intelligence may serve as a protective factor for college student risk taking.
Isolation-effects during paired-associate training.

These experiments were done to determine whether isolating the stimulusor the response-term of a paired associate has the same effect on learning as isolating an item in a serial-list. Two techniques for producing isolation were used, color and low meaningfulness. In serial learning, each has been found to facilitate learning of associations involving the isolated term as a response and as the nominal stimulus. '
Transcription of ColE1Ap mbeC induced by conjugative plasmids from twelve different incompatibility groups

Although nonconjugative mobilizable plasmids require helping functions of conjugative plasmids in order to be mobilized into recipients, at least some genes from the nonconjugative plasmids may be induced to assist in the DNA transfer process. Conjugative plasmids from 12 different incompatibility groups mobilized the nonconjugative plasmid ColE1Ap between Escherichia coli strains. Introduction of any of the conjugative plasmids into the ColE1Ap-containing strain resulted in an induction of mbeC, the product of which is a component of the mobilization relaxation complex. Each of the conjugative plasmids caused protein to bind specifically to mbe promoter DNA, suggesting a direct regulatory interaction.
Association of Five Single Nucleotide Polymorphism loci with Asthma in Children of Chinese Han Nationality

Background. Increasing research is available verifying that asthma is a familial and hereditary disorder of a complex of factors and genes. Objective. To investigate the single and combined associations of five single nucleotide polymorphism loci in three genes with the development of asthma in children of Chinese Han Nationality. Methods. A total of 192 children with asthma and an equal number of control subjects were recruited in this study. Asthma was diagnosed in accordance with American Thoracic Society criteria. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to detect the genotypes of the single nucleotide polymorphism loci. Results. No statistic differences (p > 0.05) were found between experimental and control group in genotype distribution among three loci (NOS1 C5266T, TGF-beta1 L10P, and TGF-beta1 R25P). However, a significant diversity was observed among IL4-RA Q551R (p = 0.004) and TGF-beta1 C-509T (p = 0.000). Furthermore, the frequency of IL4-RA Q551R A/G and TGF-beta1 C-509T C/T in the asthma group were significantly higher than those in the control group (OR = 1.91, P = 0.002; OR = 2.90, P = 0.000, respectively). The carriers of both IL4-RA Q551R A/G and TGF-beta1 C-509T C/T did not have a more significant risk of having asthma than those who covered either. Conclusion. The three loci (NOS1 C5266T, TGF-beta1 L10P and TGF-beta1 R25P) have little contribution to the development of childhood asthma in Chinese Han Nationality. IL4-RA Q551R and TGF-beta1 C-509T are single nucleotide polymorphism loci with significant association to childhood asthma, but they do not have synergistic effects.
Improving farm animal welfare

How do you define the quality of life of a farmed animal? This book addresses the complex and often controversial issues surrounding the assessment and improvement of farm animal welfare. It discusses the relevance of science based welfare assessments and the importance of establishing a fruitful dialogue between science and society. An outline is given of the development of a workable welfare assessment system for cattle, pigs and chickens as well as practical ways of improving the animals' quality of life. This book synthesises the huge body of work carried out by the largest ever international network of scientists and stakeholders in Welfare Quality. It describes some of the obstacles encountered and their solution and why particular paths were chosen. It also sets out what still needs to be done and presents selected strategies and technologies (automation, proxy indicators, targeting of risk factors, etc.) designed to ensure the continued improvement of welfare and its assessment.