Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How good is an ensemble at capturing truth? Using bounding boxes for forecast evaluation

Ensemble prediction systems aim to account for uncertainties of initial conditions and model error. Ensemble forecasting is sometimes viewed as a method of obtaining (objective) probabilistic forecasts. How is one to judge the quality of an ensemble at forecasting a system? The probability that the bounding box of an ensemble captures some target (such as ‘truth’ in a perfect model scenario) provides new statistics for quantifying the quality of an ensemble prediction system: information that can provide insight all the way from ensemble system design to user decision support. These simple measures clarify basic questions, such as the minimum size of an ensemble. To illustrate their utility, bounding boxes are used in the imperfect model context to quantify the differences between ensemble forecasting with a stochastic model ensemble prediction system and a deterministic model prediction system. Examining forecasts via their bounding box statistics provides an illustration of how adding stochastic terms to an imperfect model may improve forecasts even when the underlying system is deterministic. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
The Intestinal Epithelial Cell Differentiation Marker Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase (ALPi) Is Selectively Induced by Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (HDACi) in Colon Cancer Cells in a Kruppel-like Factor 5 (KLF5)-dependent Manner*

Background: Differentiation induction represents a potential cancer treatment strategy. Results: Colon cancer cell lines respond differentially to HDACi-mediated induction of the differentiation marker ALPi. HDACi induction of ALPi is KLF5-dependent. Conclusion: HDACi induce ALPi in a subset of colon cancer cell lines in a KLF5-dependent manner. Significance: Colon cancer cell lines are differentially responsive to HDACi-induced differentiation. The histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) sodium butyrate promotes differentiation of colon cancer cells as evidenced by induced expression and enzyme activity of the differentiation marker intestinal alkaline phosphatase (ALPi). Screening of a panel of 33 colon cancer cell lines identified cell lines sensitive (42%) and resistant (58%) to butyrate induction of ALP activity. This differential sensitivity was similarly evident following treatment with the structurally distinct HDACi, MS-275. Resistant cell lines were significantly enriched for those harboring the CpG island methylator phenotype (p = 0.036, Chi square test), and resistant cell lines harbored methylation of the ALPi promoter, particularly of a CpG site within a critical KLF/Sp regulatory element required for butyrate induction of ALPi promoter activity. However, butyrate induction of an exogenous ALPi promoter-reporter paralleled up-regulation of endogenous ALPi expression across the cell lines, suggesting the presence or absence of a key transcriptional regulator is the major determinant of ALPi induction. Through microarray profiling of sensitive and resistant cell lines, we identified KLF5 to be both basally more highly expressed as well as preferentially induced by butyrate in sensitive cell lines. KLF5 overexpression induced ALPi promoter-reporter activity in resistant cell lines, KLF5 knockdown attenuated butyrate induction of ALPi expression in sensitive lines, and butyrate selectively enhanced KLF5 binding to the ALPi promoter in sensitive cells. These findings demonstrate that butyrate induction of the cell differentiation marker ALPi is mediated through KLF5 and identifies subsets of colon cancer cell lines responsive and refractory to this effect.
How Comparable are the Perceived Challenges Facing Principals of Low-Performing Schools ?

This study of 19 principals newly assigned to low-performing elementary and middle schools focused on the conditions that they perceived to contribute to inadequate student achievement. The conditions were organized into five clusters: (a) student achievement and behavior, (b) school programs and organization, (c) staffing, (d) school system concerns, and (e) parents and community. The conditions were analyzed to determine whether the principals, despite being assigned to highpoverty and low-performing schools, believed they faced sufficiently different conditions to justify some form of differentiated school leadership. The conclusion looks at the implications of the findings for the preparation of school principals. Introduction In this era of far-reaching educational accountability initiatives such as the U.S. No Child Left Behind Act, it has become fashionable to speak in broad generalities about high-poverty, low-performing schools. The implication, whether intended or not, is that the challenges confronting educators in these schools are roughly the same, regardless of the school’s location, size, make-up, or level. It is easy to understand why policy makers, politicians, and pundits might be tempted to paint high-poverty, low-performing schools with broad brushstrokes. Simplicity invariably trumps complexity when the public’s attention is at stake. The assumption is that complicated descriptions of variable conditions are difficult for a pre-occupied citizenry to grasp. Gaining resources and support for generic prescriptions to address generic problems is far easier and more straightforward than trying to differentiate responses to troubling situations based on nuanced assessments of localized needs. Such thinking can even be seen in how those charged with preparing educational administrators approach their task. Principal preparation programs, for the most part, train individuals to lead schools in general, not specific schools facing particular problems. An exception to the generic principal preparation program is the Virginia School Turnaround Specialist Program (VSTSP), the brainchild of former Virginia Governor Mark Warner. Warner’s background in private industry convinced him that the challenge of turning around low-performing organizations, be they for-profit businesses or public schools, required a special set of skills, above and beyond what organizational leaders typically possess. The creation of the VSTSP required extensive collaboration between the
Factors which affect the CFU‐GM content of the peripheral blood haemopoietic progenitor cell harvests in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia

Autologous peripheral blood haemopoietic stem cells (PBSC) were harvested from 30 patients with de novo acute leukaemia, 29 of whom had entered remission following standard chemotherapy. Correlation of CD34+ cells/kg to CFU‐GM/kg in the harvests was good (correlation coefficient=0.72, P<0.001). We demonstrated significant associations between the CFU‐GM content of the harvest and the following: time to platelets >50×109/l post final induction course (P<0.0001), days to harvest from day 1 of intensification/mobilization (correlation coefficient=−0.73, P<0.001), platelets >20×109/l at time of harvest (P=0.02), time to WBC >1.0×109/l post intensification/mobilization (correlation coefficient=−0.70, P<0.001), and WBC on day of harvest (correlation coefficient=0.60, P<0.001). In contrast, we found no relationship between the CFU‐GM content of the harvest and patient age up to 65 years, presence of absence of coexistent features of trilineage myelodysplasia at diagnosis, number of induction courses to remission or total number of courses of chemotherapy prior to intensification/mobilization. Haemopoietic recovery after reinfusion of PBSC was highly correlated to the number of CFU‐GM infused (neutrophils >0.5×109/l rs=−0.72, P=0.001; platelets >20×109/l unsupported rs=−0.71, P=0.001).
Is the Promise of Cancer-Screening Programs Being Compromised? Quality of Follow-Up Care after Abnormal Screening Results

Cancer screening has increased dramatically in the United States, yet in some populations, particularly racial minorities or the poor, advanced disease at diagnosis remains high. One potential explanation is that follow-up of abnormal tests is suboptimal, and the benefits of screening are not being realized. The authors used a conceptual model of access to care and integrated constructs from models of provider and patient health behaviors to review published literature on follow-up care. Most studies reported that fewer than 75 percent of patients received some follow-up care, indicating that the promise of screening may be compromised. They identified pervasive barriers to follow-up at the provider, patient, and health care system levels. Interventions that address these barriers appear to be effective. Improvement of data infrastructure and reporting will be important objectives for policy makers, and further use of conceptual models by researchers may improve intervention development and, ultimately, cancer control.
GeoPointer - approaching tangible augmentation of the real world

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to present an architecture and prototypical implementation of a context‐sensitive software system which combines the tangible user interface approach with a mobile augmented reality (AR) application.Design/methodology/approach – The work which is described within this paper is based on a creational approach, which means that a prototypical implementation is used to gather further research results. The prototypical approach allows performing ongoing tests concerning the accuracy and different context‐sensitive threshold functions.Findings – Within this paper, the implementation and practical use of tangible user interfaces for outdoor selection of geographical objects is reported and discussed in detail.Research limitations/implications – Further research is necessary within the area of context‐sensitive dynamically changing threshold functions, which would allow improving the accuracy of the selected tangible user interface approach.Practical implications – The practical.
Corydalis yanhusuo rhizoma extract reduces infarct size and improves heart function during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion by inhibiting apoptosis in rats

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of an extract from Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. , a Chinese herbal medicine, on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and to determine the mechanism(s) involved. In rats, the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery was occluded for 30 min and then reperfused for 6 h. 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium was used as a vehicle (I/R control group) and Corydalis yanhusuo rhizoma extract (I/R + CY 200, 100 mg/kg groups) were given. Infarct size and hemodynamic parameters were measured. Apoptosis was detected quantitatively by the terminal transferase dUTP nick end‐labeling (TUNEL) method and confirmed by DNA laddering on agarose gel. The expression of anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 and pro‐apoptotic Bax proteins was visualized by western blot analysis. In contrast to the I/R control group, administration with CY 200 mg/kg resulted in a significant reduction in the infarct size and an improvement in heart function as evidenced by higher LVSP and ±dp/dtmax. TUNEL‐positive cells in the ischemic myocardium were also significantly reduced in the I/R + CY 200, 100 mg/kg groups, consistent with little DNA laddering in these two groups. Furthermore, greater Bcl‐2 and attenuated Bax expression was found in the CY treated rats. These results suggest that the protective effect of Corydalis yanhusuo on myocardial I/R injury is closely associated with the inhibition of myocardial apoptosis through modulation of the Bcl‐2 family. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Incremental development of a shared urban ontology: the Urbamet experience

Thesauri are used for document referencing. They define hierarchies of domains. We show how document and domain contents can be used to validate and update a classification based on a thesaurus. We use document indexing and classification techniques to automate these operations. We also draft a methodology to systematically address those issues. Our techniques are applied to Urbamet, a thesaurus in the field of town planning.
Similarity Measures of Satellite Images Using an Adaptive Feature Contrast Model

Similarity measurement is one of key operations to retrieve “desired” images from an image database. As a famous psychological similarity measure approach, the Feature Contrast (FC) model is defined as a linear combination of both common and distinct features. In this paper, an adaptive feature contrast (AdaFC) model is proposed to measure similarity between satellite images for image retrieval. In the AdaFC, an adaptive function is used to model a variable role of distinct features in the similarity measurement. Specifically, given some distinct features in a satellite image, e.g., a COAST image, they might play a significant role when the image is compared with an image including different semantics, e.g., a SEA image, and might be trivial when it is compared with a third image including same semantics, e.g., another COAST image. Experimental results on satellite images show that the proposed model can consistently improve similarity retrieval effectiveness of satellite images including multiple geo-objects, for example COAST images.
Bridging Media Psychology and Cognitive NeuroscienceChallenges and Opportunities

Abstract. Media neuroscience has emerged as a new area of study at the intersection of media psychology and cognitive neuroscience. In previous work, we have addressed this trend from a methodological perspective. In this paper, we outline the progression of scholarship in systematic investigations of mass communication phenomena over the past century, from behaviorism and environmental determinism to biological and evolutionary paradigms. These new paradigms are grounded in an emergentist perspective on the nature of psychological processes. We discuss what it means to ask valid research questions in media neuroscience studies and provide recent examples in the areas of interpersonal and intergroup processes, morality, and narratives as well as in persuasion and health communication. We conclude with a selection of innovative methodological avenues that have the potential to accelerate the integration of cognitive neuroscience into media psychology research.
Information Extraction From Microblogs: A Survey

Microblogging(e.g. Twitter, http://twitter.com), as a new form of online communication in which users talk about their daily lives, publish opinions or share information by short posts, has become one of the most popular social networking services today, which makes it potentially a large information base attracting increasing attention of researchers in the field of knowledge discovery and data mining. In this paper, we conduct a survey about existing research on information extraction from microblogging services and their applications, and then address some promising future works. We specifically analyze three types of information: personal, social and travel information.
Optimal Charging of Li-Ion Batteries via a Single Particle Model with Electrolyte and Thermal Dynamics

This article seeks to derive insight on battery charging control using electrochemistry models. Directly using full order complex multi-partial differential equation (PDE) electrochemical battery models is difficult and sometimes impossible to implement. This article develops an approach for obtaining optimal charge control schemes, while ensuring safety through constraint satisfaction. An optimal charge control problem is mathematically formulated via a coupled reduced order electrochemical-thermal model which conserves key electrochemical and thermal state information. The Legendre-Gauss-Radau (LGR) pseudo-spectral method with adaptive multi-mesh-interval collocation is employed to solve the resulting nonlinear multi-state optimal control problem. Minimum time charge protocols are analyzed in detail subject to solid and electrolyte phase concentration constraints, as well as temperature constraints. The optimization scheme is examined using different input current bounds, and an insight on battery design for fast charging is provided. Experimental results are provided to compare the tradeoffs between an electrochemical-thermal model based optimal charge protocol, an electro-thermal-aging model based balanced charge protocol, and a traditional charge protocol. 9
Tpeak–Tend interval as an index of transmural dispersion of repolarization

Recent studies have highlighted the heterogeneity that exists among the cells that comprise ventricular myocardium, demonstrating unique electrophysiologic and pharmacologic profiles for epicardial, endocardial and M cells in a number of species, including man. (see [1,2] for reviews) Ventricular epicardial and M cells display action potentials with a prominent transient outward current (Ito)-mediated phase 1, giving rise to a notched appearance of the action potential. M cells are characterized by the ability of their action potential to prolong more than that of epicardial or endocardial cells in response to a slowing of rate and/or in response to drugs that prolong action potential duration (APD). Differences in the time-course of repolarization of these three predominant ventricular myocardial cell types appear to be largely responsible for the inscription of the electrocardiographic T wave [3]. Currents flowing down voltage gradients on either side of the M region contribute prominently to inscription of the T wave (Fig. 1) [3]. The interplay between these opposing transmural forces determines the height and width of the T wave and the extent to which the T wave may be interrupted, resulting in a bifid or notched appearance. The T wave begins when the plateau of epicardial action potential diverges from that of the M cell. As epicardium repolarizes, the voltage gradient between epicardium and the M region continues to grow giving rise to the ascending limb of the T wave. The voltage gradient between the M region and epicardium (DVM-Epi) reaches a peak when the epicardium is fully repolarized ± this marks the peak of the T wave. On the other end of the ventricular wall, the endocardial plateau deviates from that of the M cell, generating an opposing voltage gradient (DVEndo-M) and corresponding current that limits the amplitude of the T wave and contributes to the initial part of the descending limb of the T wave. The voltage gradient between
Controlled Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Cetirizine 10 mg o.d. and Fexofenadine 120 mg o.d. in Reducing Symptoms of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

Background: The efficacy, onset and duration of action and safety of cetirizine 10 mg o.d. , fexofenadine 120 mg o.d. , and placebo were compared in this investigator-blinded, crossover study involving the use of the Vienna Challenge Chamber. Methods: 40 volunteers with seasonal allergic rhinitis were exposed to a controlled grass pollen concentration for 6 h on 2 consecutive days. Subjective symptoms and objective measurements were recorded during the allergen exposure periods. Results: Both active medications were significantly more effective than placebo and had a comparable onset of action in alleviating the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis. The efficacy of both active drugs was comparable for the first 4 h after administration of the drugs on day 1 and day 2. However from 22 to 24 h after the first dose cetirizine was significantly superior to fexofenadine for the major symptom complex score and for sneezing. Concerning the total symptom complex score at day 2 fexofenadine could not reach superiority to placebo. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Cetirizine and fexofenadine were significantly better than placebo, also in reducing the symptom of nasal congestion. However cetirizine appears to have a longer duration of action than fexofenadine.
Prevention of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants: A 20-Year Experience

OBJECTIVE. Diet, indomethacin, and early use of dexamethasone have been implicated as possible causes of necrotizing enterocolitis and intestinal perforation. Because we seldom prescribe indomethacin or early dexamethasone therapy and we follow a special dietary regimen that provides late-onset, slow, continuous drip enteral feeding, we reviewed our 20 years of experience for the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and bowel perforation. METHODS. We reviewed data on all 1239 very low birth weight infants (501–1500 g) admitted to our level III unit over a period of 20 years (1986–2005), for morphologic parameters, necrotizing enterocolitis, bowel perforation, use of the late-onset, slow, continuous drip protocol, and indomethacin therapy. Outcome data were also compared with Vermont Oxford Network data for the last 4 years. RESULTS. In 20 years, 1158 infants received the late-onset, slow, continuous drip feeding protocol (group I), whereas 81 infants had either a change in dietary regimen, use of indomethacin, or early use of dexamethasone (group II). The rate of necrotizing enterocolitis in group I of 0.4% was significantly lower than that in group II of 6%. Group I, in comparison with the Vermont Oxford Network, had significantly lower rates of necrotizing enterocolitis (0.4% vs 5.9%), surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (0.4% vs 3.1%), and bowel perforation (0.35% vs 2.2%). CONCLUSIONS. Our 20-year experience with 1239 very low birth weight infants suggests strongly that the late-onset, slow, continuous drip feeding protocol and avoidance of indomethacin and early dexamethasone treatment contribute to the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis.
Isolation of a lytic bacteriophage against virulent Aeromonas hydrophila from an organized equine farm

A bacteriophage (VTCCBPA6) against a pathogenic strain of Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from the sewage of an organized equine breeding farm. On the basis of TEM analysis, phage belonged to family Myoviridae. PCR amplification and sequence analysis of gp23 gene (encoding for major capsid protein) revealed phylogenetic resemblance to T4 like virus genus. Protein profiling by SDS‐PAGE also indicated its resemblance to T4 like phage group. However, the comparison of its gp23 gene sequence with previously reported phages showed similarity with T4‐like phages infecting Enterobacteriaceae instead of Aeromonas spp. Thus, to our knowledge, this report points toward the fact that a novel/evolved phage might exist in equine environment against A. hydrophila, which can be potentially used as a biocontrol agent.
Effect of Crc and Hfq proteins on the transcription, processing, and stability of the Pseudomonas putida CrcZ sRNA

In Pseudomonas putida, the Hfq and Crc proteins regulate the expression of many genes in response to nutritional and environmental cues, by binding to mRNAs that bear specific target motifs and inhibiting their translation. The effect of these two proteins is antagonized by the CrcZ and CrcY small RNAs (sRNAs), the levels of which vary greatly according to growth conditions. The crcZ and crcY genes are transcribed from promoters PcrcZ and PcrcY, respectively, a process that relies on the CbrB transcriptional activator and the RpoN σ factor. Here we show that crcZ can also be transcribed from the promoter of the immediate upstream gene, cbrB, a weak constitutive promoter. The cbrB-crcZ transcript was processed to render a sRNA very similar in size to the CrcZ produced from promoter PcrcZ. The processed sRNA, termed CrcZ*, was able to antagonize Hfq/Crc because, when provided in trans, it relieved the deregulated Hfq/Crc-dependent hyperrepressing phenotype of a ΔcrcZΔcrcY strain. CrcZ* may help in attaining basal levels of CrcZ/CrcZ* that are sufficient to protect the cell from an excessive Hfq/Crc-dependent repression. Since a functional sRNA can be produced from PcrcZ, an inducible strong promoter, or by cleavage of the cbrB-crcZ mRNA, crcZ can be considered a 3′-untranslated region of the cbrB-crcZ mRNA. In the absence of Hfq, the processed form of CrcZ was not observed. In addition, we show that Crc and Hfq increase CrcZ stability, which supports the idea that these proteins can form a complex with CrcZ and protect it from degradation by RNases.