Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Equality and human rights : new grounds for concern

One might assume when considering equality and human rights together that these two concepts would work cumulatively to create a whole that is greater than the sum of the two parts. However, at times, as the work of Titia Loenen1 has demonstrated, these two concepts can end up in conflict, with a resulting reduction in each. The reasons for this conflict are numerous, and this paper does not claim to address them all. Instead its focus is on two possible reasons. First, I consider the difficulty that the law in Europe has had in dealing with the increase in the number of grounds on which equality can be claimed. Second, and related to the first, I assess the extent to which the new grounds raise questions about the meaning of the terms ‘equality’ and ‘human rights’. Finally, I suggest that a renewed understanding of the meaning of these terms may help to resolve the supposed conflict between them and lead to ways forward in which these two notions could more positively interact.
Hearing in Real-Life Environments (HERE): Structure and Reliability of a Questionnaire on Perceived Hearing for Older Adults

Objectives: The ability to hear in a variety of social situations and environments is vital for social participation and a high quality of life. One way to assess hearing ability is by means of self-report questionnaire. For questionnaires to be useful, their measurement properties, based on careful validation, have to be known. Only recently has consensus been reached concerning how to perform such validation and been published as COSMIN (consensus-based standards for the selection of health status measurement instruments) guidelines. Here the authors use these guidelines to evaluate the measurement properties of the “Hearing in Real-Life Environments” (HERE) questionnaire, a newly developed self-report measure that assesses speech perception, spatial orientation, and the social-emotional consequences of hearing impairment in older adults. The aim is to illustrate the process of validation and encourage similar examinations of other frequently used questionnaires. Design: The HERE questionnaire includes 15 items with a numeric rating scale from 0 to 10 for each item and allows the assessment of hearing with and without hearing aids. The evaluation was performed in two cohorts of community-dwelling older adults from Finland (n = 581, mean 82 years) and the United Kingdom (n = 50, mean 69 years). The internal structure of the questionnaire and its relationship to age, hearing level, and self-reported and behavioral measures of speech perception was assessed and, when possible, compared between cohorts. Results: The results of the factor analysis showed that the HERE’s internal structure was similar across cohorts. In both cohorts, the factor analysis showed a satisfactory solution for three factors (speech hearing, spatial hearing, and socio-emotional consequences), with a high internal consistency for each factor (Cronbach’s &agr;’s for the factors from 0.90 to 0.97). Test–retest analysis showed the HERE overall mean score to be stable and highly replicable over time (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.86, standard error of measurement of the test score = 0.92). The HERE overall mean score correlated highly with another self-report measure of speech perception, the Speech Spatial Qualities of Hearing questionnaire (standardized regression coefficient [&bgr;] = −0.75, p < 0.001), moderately highly with behaviorally assessed hearing level (best-ear average: &bgr; = 0.45 to 0.46), and moderately highly with behaviorally measured intelligibility of sentences in noise (&bgr; = −0.50, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Using the COSMIN guidelines, the authors show that the HERE is a valid, reliable, and stable questionnaire for the assessment of self-reported speech perception, sound localization, and the socio-emotional consequences of hearing impairment in the context of social functioning. The authors also show that cross-cultural data collected using different data collection strategies can be combined with a range of statistical methods to validate a questionnaire.
The auxin receptor TIR1 homolog (PagFBL 1) regulates adventitious rooting through interactions with Aux/IAA28 in Populus

Summary Adventitious roots occur naturally in many species and can also be induced from explants of some tree species including Populus, providing an important means of clonal propagation. Auxin has been identified as playing a crucial role in adventitious root formation, but the associated molecular regulatory mechanisms need to be elucidated. In this study, we examined the role of PagFBL1, the hybrid poplar (Populus alba × P. glandulosa clone 84K) homolog of Arabidopsis auxin receptor TIR1, in adventitious root formation in poplar. Similar to the distribution pattern of auxin during initiation of adventitious roots, PagFBL1 expression was concentrated in the cambium and secondary phloem in stems during adventitious root induction and initiation phases, but decreased in emerging adventitious root primordia. Overexpressing PagFBL1 stimulated adventitious root formation and increased root biomass, while knock‐down of PagFBL1 transcript levels delayed adventitious root formation and decreased root biomass. Transcriptome analyses of PagFBL1 overexpressing lines indicated that an extensive remodelling of gene expression was stimulated by auxin signalling pathway during early adventitious root formation. In addition, PagIAA28 was identified as downstream targets of PagFBL1. We propose that the PagFBL1‐PagIAA28 module promotes adventitious rooting and could be targeted to improve Populus propagation by cuttings.
Fréchet estimation of time-varying covariance matrices from sparse data, with application to the regional co-evolution of myelination in the developing brain

Assessing brain development for small infants is important for determining how the human brain grows during the early period of life when the rate of brain growth is at its peak. The development of MRI techniques has enabled the quantification of brain development. A key quantity that can be extracted from MRI measurements is the level of myelination, where myelin acts as an insulator around nerve fibers and its deployment makes nerve pulse propagation more efficient. The co-variation of myelin deployment across different brain regions provides insights into the co-development of brain regions and can be assessed as a correlation matrix that varies with age. Typically, available data for each child are very sparse, due to the cost and logistic difficulties of arranging MRI brain scans for infants. We showcase here a method where data per subject are limited to measurements taken at only one random age, while aiming at the time-varying dynamics. This situation is encountered more generally in cross-sectional studies where one observes $p$-dimensional vectors at one random time point per subject and is interested in the $p \times p$ correlation matrix function over the time domain. The challenge is that at each observation time one observes only a $p$-vector of measurements but not a covariance or correlation matrix. For such very sparse data, we develop a Fr\'echet estimation method. Given a metric on the space of covariance matrices, the proposed method generates a matrix function where at each time the matrix is a non-negative definite covariance matrix, for which we demonstrate consistency properties. We discuss how this approach can be applied to myelin data in the developing brain and what insights can be gained.
In vitro and in vivo stability of black-platinum coatings on flexible, polymer microECoG arrays

Objective. Intracranial EEG (iEEG) or micro-electrocorticography (µECoG) microelectrodes offer high spatial resolution in recordings of neuronal activity from the exposed brain surface. Reliability of dielectric substrates and conductive materials of these devices are under intensive research in terms of functional stability in biological environments. Approach. The aim of our study is to investigate the stability of electroplated platinum recording sites on 16-channel, 8 micron thick, polyimide based, flexible µECoG arrays implanted underneath the skull of rats. Scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to reveal changes in either surface morphology or interfacial characteristics. The effect of improved surface area (roughness factor = 23 ± 0.12) on in vivo recording capability was characterized in both acute and chronic experiments. Main results. Besides the expected reduction in thermal noise and enhancement in signal-to-noise ratio (up to 39.8), a slight increase in the electrical impedance of individual sites was observed, as a result of changes in the measured interfacial capacitance. In this paper, we also present technology processes and protocols in detail to use such implants without crack formation of the porous platinum surfaces. Significance. Our findings imply that black-platinum coating deposited on the recording sites of flexible microelectrodes (20 microns in diameter) provides a stable interface between tissue and device.
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy: the technique and its applications

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is an experimental technique using statistical analysis of the fluctuations of fluorescence in a system in order to decipher dynamic molecular events, such as diffusion or conformational fluctuations of biomolecules. First introduced by Magde et al to measure the diffusion and binding of ethidium bromide onto double-stranded DNA, the technique has been undergoing a renaissance since 1993 with the implementation of confocal microscopy FCS. Since then, a flurry of experiments has implemented FCS to characterize the photochemistry of dyes, the translational and rotational mobilities of fluorescent molecules, as well as to monitor conformational fluctuations of green fluorescent proteins and DNA molecules. In this review, we present the analytical formalism of an FCS measurement, as well as practical considerations for the design of an FCS setup and experiment. We then review the recent applications of FCS in analytical chemistry, biophysics and cell biology, specifically emphasizing the advantages and pitfalls of the technique compared to alternative spectroscopic tools. We also discuss recent extensions of FCS in single-molecule spectroscopy, offering alternative data processing of fluorescence signals to glean more information on the kinetic processes.
Characterising N‐acetylglucosaminylphosphatidylinositol de‐N‐acetylase (CaGpi12), the enzyme that catalyses the second step of GPI biosynthesis in Candida albicans

&NA; Candida albicans N‐acetylglucosaminylphosphatidylinositol de‐N‐acetylase (CaGpi12) recognises N‐acetylglucosaminylphosphatidylinositol (GlcNAc‐PI) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and is able to complement ScGPI12 function. Both N‐ and C‐terminal ends of CaGpi12 are important for its function. CaGpi12 was biochemically characterised using rough endoplasmic reticulum microsomes prepared from BWP17 strain of C. albicans. CaGpi12 is optimally active at 30°C and pH 7.5. It is a metal‐dependent enzyme that is stimulated by divalent cations but shows no preference for Zn2+ unlike the mammalian homologue. It irreversibly loses activity upon incubation with a metal chelator. Two conserved motifs, HPDDE and HXXH, are both important for its function in the cell. CaGPI12 is essential for growth and viability of C. albicans. Its loss causes reduction of GlcNAc‐PI de‐N‐acetylase activity, cell wall defects and filamentation defects. The filamentation defects could be specifically correlated to an upregulation of the HOG1 pathway.
Pain assessment during outpatient hysteroscopy using room temperature versus warm normal saline solution as a distention medium - a prospective randomized study.

OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of warm normal saline distention solution versus a standard, room-temperature normal saline as distention medium for pain relief during outpatient hysteroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective randomized case-placebo controlled study was conducted in tertiary care centre - Central Clinical Hospital of Ministry of Interior and Administration. Study group consisted of 100 women referred for outpatient hysteroscopy between January 2015 and July 2015. Every patient, who was referred for an office hysteroscopy, was offered to participate in the study to receive a sterile, 0.9% normal saline warmed up to 36⁰C as distention medium. Control group were women receiving sterile, room temperature of 25⁰C, 0.9% normal saline solution as a distention medium. No pre-medication nor analgesia were used. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for one-dimensional pain assessment. Women were asked to mark a VAS score before, during, and five and 15 minutes following the procedure. RESULTS Median VAS scores during and directly after the anaesthesia-free hysteroscopy were no different between two groups. (p = 0.554 and p = 0.121, respectively). There were also no differences in the procedure time between groups (p = 0.845). CONCLUSIONS Warm normal saline distention solution does not reduce the pain during and at the end of the outpatient hysteroscopy. The effect does not depend on the age of women, menopausal status, parity or type of outpatient hysteroscopy (operative or diagnostic).
Approximate Nearest Neighbor Search in High Dimensions

The nearest neighbor problem is defined as follows: Given a set $P$ of $n$ points in some metric space $(X,D)$, build a data structure that, given any point $q$, returns a point in $P$ that is closest to $q$ (its "nearest neighbor" in $P$). The data structure stores additional information about the set $P$, which is then used to find the nearest neighbor without computing all distances between $q$ and $P$. The problem has a wide range of applications in machine learning, computer vision, databases and other fields. To reduce the time needed to find nearest neighbors and the amount of memory used by the data structure, one can formulate the {\em approximate} nearest neighbor problem, where the the goal is to return any point $p' \in P$ such that the distance from $q$ to $p'$ is at most $c \cdot \min_{p \in P} D(q,p)$, for some $c \geq 1$. Over the last two decades, many efficient solutions to this problem were developed. In this article we survey these developments, as well as their connections to questions in geometric functional analysis and combinatorial geometry.
eGovernance frameworks for successful citizen use of online services: A Danish-Japanese comparative analysis

The use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) by the public sector is often highlighted as a key tool for the transformation of public sector service delivery. Recent literature reviews have highlighted the limited understanding of the role played by governance, inter-governmental decision making and cooperation when introducing ICT solutions and online services to citizens. As part of a larger qualitative, multi-country comparison, this article compares the Danish and Japanese approaches to electronic governance (eGovernance) and inter-governmental cooperation to answer the question: Does a strong governance model and high level of intergovernmental action lead to the successful supply and use of online citizen services? The analysis finds that the two cases support academic arguments in favour of a strong eGovernance model and a high level of inter-governmental cooperation and decision making. The article finds that a political- or public sector-driven and motivated public sector modernisation, a consensus seeking and an inter-governmental approach to eGovernment, trust between actors, and the role of formal and informal are important determinants for success, as illustrated by the continued strength of the Danish governance and joint-governmental cooperation model over the more fragmented Japanese approach. Still, both countries would benefit from a more holistic approach to service delivery, process, and organisational reengineering in order to progress further. The analysis finds that the two cases support academic arguments in favour of a strong eGovernance model and a high level of inter-governmental cooperation and decision making. The article finds that a political- or public sector-driven and motivated public sector modernisation, a consensus seeking and an inter-governmental approach to eGovernment, trust between actors, and the role of formal and informal are important determinants for success, as illustrated by the continued strength of the Danish governance and joint-governmental cooperation model over the more fragmented Japanese approach. Still, both countries would benefit from a more holistic approach to service delivery, process, and organisational reengineering in order to progress further.
Authenticity as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Power Contingent Self-Esteem and Subjective Well-Being

Drawing on Eastern wisdom and Self-Determination Theory (Deci and Ryan, 1995), the current study conceptualized a new form of maladaptive self-esteem, the power contingent self-esteem, which is extremely contingent on one’s sense of power, and posits it is related to low subjective well-being by making people experience less authenticity. In Study 1, we found that general power contingent self-esteem was consistently linked to low subjective well-being. More importantly, the negative relationship between power contingent self-esteem and subjective well-being was mediated by authenticity. Study 2 further confirmed the mediation effect between power contingent self-esteem role and satisfaction through authenticity across four different roles (work, romance, friendship, and parent–child relationships). The finding of the negative relationship between power contingent self-esteem and subjective well-being via authenticity contributes to understanding the complicated association between power, self-esteem, and life satisfaction.
Adaptive and polymorphic VLIW processor to optimize fault tolerance, energy consumption, and performance

Because most traditional homogeneous and heterogeneous processors have a fixed design that limits its runtime adaptability, they are not able to cope with the varying application behavior when one considers the axes of fault tolerance, performance, and energy consumption altogether. In this context, we propose a new dynamically adaptive processor design that is capable of delivering the best trade-off among these three axes according to the application at hand, or be tuned to optimize a specific metric. This is achieved by extending a polymorphic processor that can change its issue-width during runtime with specific mechanisms for fault tolerance, energy optimization, and performance enhancement. They are controlled by an optimization algorithm that evaluates and chooses which is the best configuration according to given requirements. Considering a metric that weighs all three axes, the proposed adaptive processor delivers a result that is 94.88% of the oracle processor on average, while a static configuration (defined at design time without runtime adaptation) only achieves 28.24% at most, which means that dynamic adaptation is required to cope with different application behaviors as there is not one specific configuration that fits all applications.
Accuracy-based Curriculum Learning in Deep Reinforcement Learning

In this paper, we investigate a new form of automated curriculum learning based on adaptive selection of accuracy requirements, called accuracy-based curriculum learning. Using a reinforcement learning agent based on the Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient algorithm and addressing the Reacher environment, we first show that an agent trained with various accuracy requirements sampled randomly learns more efficiently than when asked to be very accurate at all times. Then we show that adaptive selection of accuracy requirements, based on a local measure of competence progress, automatically generates a curriculum where difficulty progressively increases, resulting in a better learning efficiency than sampling randomly.
Inhibitory effects of mycosporine‐2‐glycine isolated from a halotolerant cyanobacterium on protein glycation and collagenase activity

Mycosporine‐2‐glycine (M2G), isolated from the halotolerant cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica, was purified and characterized in order to determine its utility as a cosmetic and pharmaceutical ingredient. M2G efficiently inhibited protein crosslinking. The inhibitory activity of M2G was significantly greater than that of the well‐known Maillard reaction inhibitor aminoguanidine. In addition, M2G and other known mycosporine‐like amino acids inhibited bacterial collagenase activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing that M2G specifically inhibits the formation of advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs), which play a critical role in ageing process and age‐related diseases. These observations indicate that M2G may have potential therapeutic applications by suppressing the formation of AGEs and inhibiting excess collagenase activity.
Screening of seized cocaine samples using electrophoresis microchips with integrated contactless conductivity detection

This study describes the development of a new analytical method for the separation and detection of cocaine (COC) and its adulterants, or cutting agents, using microchip electrophoresis (ME) devices coupled with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D). All the experiments were carried out using a glass commercial ME device containing two pairs of integrated sensing electrodes. The running buffer composed of 20 mmol/L amino‐2‐(hydroxymethyl) propane‐1,3‐diol and 10 mmol/L 3,4‐dimethoxycinnamic acid provided the best separation conditions for COC and its adulterants with baseline resolution (R > 1.6), separation efficiencies ranging from (2.9 ± 0.1) to (3.2 ± 0.2) × 105 plates/m, and estimated LOD values between 40 and 150 μmol/L. The quantification of COC was successfully performed in four samples seized by the Brazilian Federal Police Department and all predicted values agree with values estimated by the reference method. Some other interfering species were detected in the seized samples during the screening procedure on ME–C4D devices. While lidocaine was detected in sample 3, the presence of levamisole was observed in samples 2 and 4. However, their concentrations were estimated to be below the LOQ. ME–C4D devices have proved to be quite efficient for the identification and quantification of COC with errors lower than 10% when compared to the data obtained by a reference method. The approach herein reported offers great potential to be used for on‐site COC screening in seized samples.