Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pathophysiology of IBS is currently focused on the interplay of visceral hy-Rifaximin treatment for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in children with irritable bowel syndrome : a preliminary study

1314 Abstract. – OBJECTIVES: Aims of the study were to assess the effects of rifaximin treatment on small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) prevalence and gastrointestinal symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty (50) irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) children were consecutively enrolled. All subjects underwent lactulose hydrogen/methane breath test (LBT) to assess SIBO before and one month after the treatment with rifaximin 600 mg daily for one week. All IBS patients filled out a Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) to assess and score gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, flatulence) at baseline and one month after treatment. RESULTS: The prevalence of abnormal LBT in patients with IBS was 66% (33/50). LBT normalization rate was 64% (21/33). Compliance was excellent, and no relevant side-effects were observed during treatment. VAS score was significantly higher in IBS patients with abnormal LBT than SIBO negatives, and strongly improved after successful treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Rifaximin was effective and safe in SIBO treatment and IBS symptoms improvement in childhood. Double blind placebocontrolled interventional studies are warranted to verify the real impact of SIBO on gastrointestinal symptoms in children with IBS.
Automatic extraction of lunar impact craters from Chang’E images based on Hough transform and RANSAC

This article proposed an algorithm combining Hough transform and RANSAC algorithm for automatic extraction of lunar craters. (1) In order to suppress noise, the images were filtered; (2) The edge of image were extracted, subsequently, eliminate false edge points by qualifying the gradient direction and the area of connected domain; (3) The edge images were segmented through Hough transform, gathering the same crater edge points together; (4) The edge images after segmentation were fitted using RANSAC algorithm, getting the high precision parameter. High precision of the algorithm was verified by the experiments of images acquired by the Chang’E-1 satellites.
Improvements in Big Data Hadoop Several hybrid efficiency methods

In recent years, database management system (DBMS) has become more prominent in the industry due to the staggering amount of structured and unstructured data. Dealing with management of such data is a challenge for DBMSs. According to several surveys, many company engineers choose Hadoop for their premier management system [5], due to its flexibility, ease of management and being open source software. However, more recently, database administrators of big company cite that Hadoop does not always work in their best interest in specific areas of data management. In order to solve big-data problems by providing considerable power of computability, Hadoop sacrifices efficient data processing. In the real-time data processing, Hadoop has lower speed than traditional DBMSs because it does not use high-level language, such as SQL and other query optimized languages. In this paper, we discuss methods to improve efficiency. Such improvements increase the ability of data processing in real-time, hence making Hadoop more useful. Keywords-Efficiency, Hadoop, MapReduce, Big Data
On Formal Security Analysis of Automotive Systems

Today’s cars use an increasing number of electronic control units (ECUs) due to the development towards a more and more autonomous behavior. Further, they get exceedingly connected to the Internet to provide numerous services to the driver, such as streaming music, receiving e-mails or remotely locking and unlocking the car’s door. These new features can result in security risks. Researchers have shown security problems in multiple cases regarding e.g. the OBD-II port of a car, the mobile phone connection via Bluetooth, and the cellular connection of a car. The currently used approaches to avoid such failures are restricted to applying risk analysis, attack trees, penetration tests etc. Numerous approaches based on formal models exist, yet to the best of our knowledge none addresses the specifics of automotive systems. This paper introduces the extension of an approach previously used for cryptographic protocol analysis, explains its tool support, and applies it to a German manufacturer’s system to remotely unlock car doors that was recently found to be flawed. Our analysis confirms these findings and identifies an additional security issue. The paper further introduces a fieldbus communication model, thus enabling to include in-car network communication in the formal analysis.
0 51 12 01 v 1 2 3 N ov 2 00 5 Strategies for fast convergence in semiotic dynamics

Semiotic dynamics is a novel field that studies how semiotic conventions spread and stabilize in a population of agents. This is a central issue both for theoretical and technologic al reasons since large system made up of communicating agents, like web communities or artificial embodied agents teams, ar e getting widespread. In this paper we discuss a recently introduced simple multi-agent model which is able to account for the emergence of a shared vocabulary in a population of agents. In particular we introduce a new deterministic agen ts’ playing strategy that strongly improves the performance of the game in terms of faster convergence and reduced cognitive effort for the agents.
The Comparative Analysis of University Incubators and Non-University Incubators

This paper focuses on a comparative study of university incubators (UIs) and non-university incubators in China. It firstly outlines the background of Chinese incubation industry, and then compares university incubators and non-university incubators in terms of sponsorship, types of entrepreneurs, location, and services at a general level. To make a specific analysis, it samples Chongqing University incubators and Caohejing technology business incubator (TBI) as a case study. Our findings show that the mission oriention, type of entrepreneurs, better services in pooling resources, public image, networking and funding help non-university incubator (Caohejing TBI) perform better than university incubators (Chongqing UI) in terms of income creation and survival rate of tenant firms.
Enhanced Patricia Tree with Reordering and Fast Incremental and Decremental Update Functions

 Abstract—Routing-table lookup function is formed as a tree structure. In particular, backbone router of the Internet manages a huge tree structure of the routing table in order to store all routing information brought by routing protocols, such as BGP. Though high-speed lookup is desirable for the backbone router, the tree-based lookup requires multiple memory accesses and it degrades the throughput of the lookup. Aggregation of redundant nodes and elimination of useless nodes are necessary for the high-throughput lookup. Enhanced Patricia Tree (EPT) and Enhanced Patricia Tree with Reordering (EPT-R) were studied for the high-throughput lookup. In this paper, the incremental and decremental update algorithms for EPT-R are proposed and evaluated. These incremental and decremental update algorithms for EPT and EPT-R are effective in quick update time.
Isolation of Endophytic Actinomycetes From Leaves of Tomato Plants and Their Activities Against Bacterial Speck Disease

The biological control agents of endophytic actinomycetes was investigated to determine whether control of bacterial speck of tomato, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst). From natural infected tomato leaves showing bacterial speck disease symptoms, six isolates of Pst (Pst1, Pst2, Pst 3, Pst4, Pst5, and Pst DC3000) were isolated, it proved to be pathogenic and able to infect tomato plants under greenhouse condition, causing speck disease symptoms. From the eighty eight isolates of endophytic actinomycetes recovered from healthy tomato leaves plants, nine isolates were selected and tested for their potential inhibition against bacterial tomato speck disease in vitro and in vivo. According to16SrDNA analysis the isolates TR-24 and TR-26 of isolated actinomyces proved to be Streptomyces glaucescens. While the isolates TR-20, TR-32 and TR-34 were identified as Streptomyces graminisoli and isolates TR-25 identified as Streptomyces flavovirens as well as isolates TR-33 and TR-35 were identified as Streptomyces scabies. Finally isolate TR-36 was identified as Streptomyces roseochromogenus. Application of nine isolates of Streptomyces by spraying or drenching methods, all Streptomyces isolates were able to reduce disease severity of bacterial speck compared to infected control. Minutely, the spore suspensions of TR-24 and TR-26 isolates gave the highest reduction of the disease severity. However, the lowest reduction was achieved by isolate TR-35 compared with other Streptomyces isolates.
RapiCSF - A fast test of spectral contrast sensitivity

The contrast sensitivity function (CSF) and its variation over diﬀer-ent spatial frequencies, is important for the overall visual performance of humans. Measurements of the CSF are common in research whenever a complete visual assessment is required. However its adaption into routine ophthalmological and optometric practice has been limited. This is due to the time it takes to perform a complete CSF-test. The here invented new computer based test is similar to the Gabor patches used in other CSF-tests, the diﬀerence being that it modulates frequency on the x-axis and contrast on the y-axis. This creates one test image with all contrast and frequency levels desired. The patient can then trace along the perceived visual outline of the image. The RapiCSF system was tested on a group of healthy volunteers and compared with the standard Vistech chart test. The mean time for one RapiCSF test was 13 s compared to 87 s for the Vistech chart. The diﬀerence of test time between the two tests was statistically signiﬁcant. The RapiCSF test has the potential to measure contrast sensitivity in children and persons with cognitive impairment, considering its simplicity. Since the resolution limit of the retina equals the CSF at high contrast and high spatial frequencies, acuity testing with Snellen charts are redundant if CSF is tested with suﬃciently high frequencies. The RapiCSF test can potentially replace acuity charts as well as current CSF tests.
Estimating large-scale multivariate local level models with application to stochastic volatility

We derive the closed-form solution to the Riccati equation for the steadystate Kalman filter of the multivariate local linear trend model. Based on this result we propose a fast EM algorithm that provides approximated maximum likelihood estimates of the model’s parameters and apply it to large-scale stochastic volatility models. Abstract Deriviamo la soluzione dell’equazione di Riccati relativa al filtro di Kalman in steady-state per il local linear trend multivariato. Utilizziamo tale risultato per proporre un algoritmo EM, che calcola un’approssimazione della stima di massima verosimiglianza dei parameteri del modello. Applichiamo tale metodo di stima a modelli di volatilità stocastica di grandi dimensione.
TECHNOLOGICAL PARKS AS AN ELEMENT OF INNOVATION SYSTEMS INFRASTRUCTURE

The paper discusses the infrastructure of innovati ve systems existing and developing in Poland. It presents the applied metho dologies of measuring and assessing the innovative activities based on indicators and an or iginal approach to the way of examining, evaluating and classifying the organizations consti tuting the infrastructure of innovation systems. For that reason a bi-parametrical model wa s used, according to which the organizations studied are presented as points in th e plane. A certain type of map is created in the form of a matrix, which in a simple way illu strates a functional location of the organizations examined. In the bi-parametrical mode l f description one avoids evaluating according to the linear order, and while comparing the organizations one can consider their uniqueness.
The undersigned have examined the dissertation entitled : CAREGIVERS ’ EXPERIENCE IN WRAPAROUND : A QUALITATIVE STUDY presented on March 8 , 2019 by Mackenzie Soniak

A large number of youth in the United States suffer from a severe emotional disturbance (SED). Due to a number of factors (e.g., lack of access to services, siloed service providers), many of these children have unmet severe emotional and behavioral health needs. Wraparound has been identified as a care philosophy and intervention to meet the needs of these youth. Wraparound programs aim to provide individualized, comprehensive, community-based care for children and their families. Although this intervention is widely spread across the United States, research findings on the efficacy of the approach are mixed. Previous research aimed to identify and understand the most beneficial components of wraparound, while noting how contextual and regional factors can impact the delivery of these components. Some explorations have utilized a qualitative methodology; however, to date, most of the qualitative research focuses on the perspectives of service providers while neglecting the essential perspectives of caregivers and youth served by wraparound programs. This dissertation aimed to better understand a wraparound program in New Hampshire from the perspective of the caregiver. This phenomenological study used semi-structured interviews to explore the perspective of eight caregivers. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of the data resulted in six main themes: (a) Initiating wraparound services, (b) FAST Forward Coordinator (FFC) and Family Support Specialist (FSS), (c) Wraparound Team, (d) Supports and Services, (e) Family Engagement, and (f) Program Outcomes. Implications, limitations, and future research suggestions are explored.
XXXVII CONFERENZA ITALIANA DI SCIENZE REGIONALI THE IMPACT OF CRIMINALITY ON THE RISKINESS OF COOPERATIVE CREDIT BANKS IN ITALY : A MACRO REGIONAL APPROACH

In Italy, Credit Cooperative Banks (CCBs), unlike large banks, despite the economic downturn, have continued to extend credit to customers, but at the cost of a higher incidence of bad credit. This increased credit risk of local banks has been caused by management policy choices, such as preferring to modify the conditions applicable to credit supply and to engage firms in long-term credit relationships rather than initiating credit recovery procedures. The originality of this empirical analysis is due to the demonstration of the effects of environmental factors related to the spread of crime and lower economic well-being, higher unemployment rate and poverty of families on the credit market in Southern Italy. This correlation between the riskiness of credit for CCBc and socioeconomic variables has also been reported through the analysis of territorial differences between geographical areas. This analysis highlights a broader diffusion in this macroregion than in the North and the Centre. Finally, a Pooled OLS approach is provided for modelling the credit risk as a function of environmental factors.
ASSESSMENT OF POST-HARVEST LOSSES OF YAM ( Dioscorea spp . ) IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF KARU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA , NASARAWA STATE

The aim of this study is to introduce a method for the direct assessment of post-harvest losses in yam caused by rodents. Key informants comprising practicing yam farmers; the agriculture extension workers were selected for a Focus Group Discussion. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data, and the 95% Confidence Interval (CI) measured precision of respondent noted to have given a specific response. The daily yam requirements of the trapped rodents in the weight class were determined by measuring the actual amounts consumed by representative samples of captive rodents in cages. The study reveals that the major causes of post-harvest losses of yam is basically poor storage (17.7-54.7% CI) and to a lesser extent post-harvest handling of yam (10.2-24% CI). Analysis of variance shows that there is relationship between the yams sold, stored, processed and consumed, indicating increasing demand for the yam (Dioscorea spp.); the 10.5kg of yam lost to rodents during storage called for concern, this has resulted to both qualitative and quantitative losses. The study recommended investment in post-harvest storage processing technologies; education as well as proper method of controlling rodents that destroy yam tubers in storage.
Face Reconstruction from a Single Image

Reconstructing the detailed geometric structure of a face from a given image is a key to many computer vision and graphics applications, such as motion capture and reenactment. The reconstruction task is challenging as human faces vary extensively when considering expressions, poses, textures, and intrinsic geometry. While many approaches tackle this complexity by using additional data to reconstruct the face of a single subject, extracting facial surface from a single image remains a difficult problem. As a result, single-image based methods can usually provide only a rough estimate of the facial geometry. In contrast, we propose to leverage the power of convolutional neural networks to produce a highly detailed face reconstruction from a single image. For this purpose, we introduce an end-to-end CNN framework which derives the shape in a coarse-to-fine fashion. The proposed architecture is composed of two main blocks, a network that recovers the coarse facial geometry (CoarseNet), followed by a CNN that refines the facial features of that geometry (FineNet). The proposed networks are connected by a novel layer which renders a depth image given a mesh in 3D. Unlike object recognition and detection problems, there are no suitable datasets for training CNNs to perform face geometry reconstruction. Therefore, our training regime begins with a supervised phase, based on synthetic images, followed by an unsupervised phase that uses only unconstrained facial images. The accuracy and robustness of the proposed model is demonstrated by both qualitative and quantitative evaluation tests.
Studying Racism in Aotearoa / New Zealand

The history and colonization of Aotearoa/New Zealand resulted in a unique socio-political landscape based on a foundational document The Treaty of Waitangi which guides policy, practice and law. Against this background the significance and importance of studying racism is discussed, alongside the claim that the changing face of racism argues for discursive methods which are sensitive to the covert nature of the language of racism. Contemporary studies of racism are discussed and the argument is made for the importance of this work in understanding the production of racism as a step toward the elimination of associated discrimination. keywords racism, Aotearoa/New Zealand, language, discursive psychology Colonization and the Treaty of Waitangi Critical psychological research into racism goes beyond traditional understandings of racism as the product of individualized cognitions. Indeed, critical psychologists suggest understanding racism begins with historical power relationships between groups (Durrheim, Hook & Riggs, 2009). While it is important to acknowledge the contestability and partiality of historical accounts, the following is offered as one socio-political context which foregrounds the study of contemporary racist talk within the uniquely bicultural country of Aotearoa/New Zealand. The history of colonization offers insight into early characterizations of Indigenous peoples thereby providing the foundations for contemporary racist practices (Huygens, 2009; McCreanor, 1997). Colonization typically involves the exploitation of Indigenous peoples with new ‘settlers’ taking control of resources and imposing new systems of governance. Indigenous customs and practices are overtaken by the zeal of the colonizers who assume cultural superiority through the introduction of new technology, language and law. This pattern has been repeated throughout human history where, at worst, policies of genocide and political decimation have marginalized Indigenous peoples (Power, 2003). While this is largely true in Aotearoa/New Zealand, our history took a unique political and psychological turn with the 1840 signing of the Treaty of Waitangi which became the foundational document guiding the negotiation of indigenous and settler issues. Māori arrived in Aotearoa/New Zealand in the thirteenth century following exploratory sea voyages from the islands of the central South Pacific (King, 2003). Settlement was based on tribal lines which claim descent from the original canoes with inhabitants developing a system of communal living based on whanau (close family ties) iwi (tribal groups) and a holistic connection to the land. Subsequent Pakeha (white) settlement began in the early 1800’s,
The Impact of War on Child Human Capital : Evidence from Children in Ethiopia

In May 1998 a border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea resulted in a war lasting until June 2000, which came with significant economic cost and affected individual livelihoods in both countries. However, the specific effects on human capital of young children in the affected region of Ethiopia still remain unclear, partly because of limited availability of suitable data. This paper investigates the effect on child human capital outcomes using the Young Lives data set for Ethiopia. Identification of the effect of the war is based on a difference-in-difference approach, by tracking cohorts of children born before and after the war, in war affected and non-affected regions. The results show that exposure to the war between the age of 3-4 to 5-6 is associated with about a third of standard deviation reduction in average height-for-age z-score and an increased incidence of childhood stunting by about 11 percentage points. In addition, exposed children are more likely to complete fewer grades, less likely to be enrolled in school, and more likely to exhibit reading problems. These are disconcerting findings, especially for children from poor backgrounds, as early life outcomes can have lasting impacts during adulthood.
Clinical significance of DAPK promoter hypermethylation in gastric cancer : a meta-analysis

Death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) gene promoter methylation was reported to be associated with gastric cancer (GC) in previous studies. However, the results remained inconsistent. We conducted a systematic literature search of the Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Chinese Biomedical Database for the relevant articles (up to October 2015). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to assess the strength of the association between DAPK methylation and GC risk. A total of 24 studies, comprising 3,250 samples, were analyzed in this meta-analysis. Our study revealed that DAPK promoter methylation levels were significantly different in the following comparisons: GC tissues vs. adjacent tissues (OR = 3.29, 95% CI = 1.48-7.33, P = 0.004), GC tissues vs. normal tissues (OR = 19.91, 95% CI = 11.77-33.69, P<0.001), GC blood samples vs. normal blood samples (OR = 25.11, 95% CI = 3.48-181.36, P = 0.001), adjacent tissues vs. normal tissues (OR = 5.67, 95% CI = 3.95-8.12, P<0.001), GC tissues vs. intestinal metaplasia (IM) tissues (OR = 3.29, 95% CI = 1.22-8.86, P = 0.019), IM tissues vs. normal tissues (OR = 8.01, 95% CI = 1.34-47.78, P = 0.022). In addition, the relationships between DAPK promoter methylation and TNM stage, differentiation status and nodal metastasis among GC cases were also identified. Our meta-analysis identified a strong association of DAPK promoter hypermethylation with GC risk, provided the evidence that DAPK promoter methylation might contribute to tumorigenesis, progression in GC, and might be a promising potential biomarker.