Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vivo imaging models for testing the inflammatory potential of implant materials and infection

Es gibt einen zunehmenden Bedarf an neuen medizinischen Implantatmaterialien. Herkommliche Implantate konnen aufgrund fehlender Integration ins Wirtsgewebe oder durch bakterielle Infektionen versagen. Mikrobielle Infektionen sind ein groses klinisches Problem aufgrund ihrer Antibiotikaresistenz. Es besteht ein Bedarf an dedizierten Implantatmaterialien mit verbesserten Eigenschaften. Neuartige Implantatmaterialien mussen charakterisiert werden. Traditionell wurde die Histologie verwendet, aber diese Methode erfordert Tieropfer und es kann nur jeweils ein Zeitpunkt analysiert werden. In dieser Arbeit wurden in vivo-Modelle etabliert um entzundliche Implantatmaterialien und bakterielle Infektionen zu detektieren. Nicht-invasive Bildgebung wurde zur Visualisierung und Quantifizierung von Biomaterial-induzierten Entzundungen verwendet. Anfanglich wurden Entzundungsprodukte, wie reaktive Sauerstoffspezies, Proteasen und entzundliches Zellwachstum stimulierende Molekule mittels Fluoreszenz visualisiert. Mit diesen Ansatzen konnen entzundliche Materialien von biokompatiblen Implantaten unterschieden werden. Allerdings litt die Empfindlichkeit unter der hohen Autofluoreszenz vom Gewebe. Zur Verbesserung der Empfindlichkeit wurden biolumineszente Immunzellen benutzt um das Entzundungspotential von Implantatmaterialien zu bewerten. Diese Immunzellen wurden aus dem Knochenmark von Luziferase exprimierenden Mausen isoliert. Die Luziferase wurde durch einen Promotor gesteuert, der durch bakterielle Infektion in vivo aktiviert wurde. Mehrere Materialien mit unterschiedlichem Entzundungspotenzial wurden getestet. Entzundliche und infizierte Biomaterialien zeigten einen deutlichen Unterschied in der Signalintensitat im Vergleich zu biokompatiblen Materialien oder blosse Verletzung. Polystyrol und Polylaktat-co-Glykolsaure (PLGA) Implantate waren entzundlich. Die biolumineszierenden Immunzellen ergaben ein nicht-invasives, zuverlassiges und empfindliches Verfahren, um das Entzundungspotential von Biomaterialien zu bestimmen. Dieses Verfahren kann fur die Bewertung des Entzundungspotenzials der neuen Implantatmaterialien oder Beschichtungen verwendet werden, und konnte ferner als Verfahren zur Fruherkennung von Implantatinfektionen in der Klinik weiter entwickelt werden.
Valuation of Marine Ecosystem Threshold Effects: Application of Choice Experiments to Value Algal Bloom in the Black Sea Coast of Bulgaria

Algal bloom arises in part from anthropogenic emissions of nutrients into the coastal zone. Increased interest in water quality in coastal and marine areas stemming from the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive leads to important questions in terms of policies to address nutrient loadings. This paper presents the results from a choice experiment for the valuation of algal blooms in Varna Bay, Bulgaria. Varna Bay is an important tourist destination and a large port city on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. Algal bloom events have been experienced frequently in this area. A choice experiment questionnaire was developed to be applied in Varna Bay. The key attributes used were visibility, duration of bloom and the amount of congestion on the beach. The amount of bloom is found to be important - respondents are willing to pay for a program that entails 1 week of algal bloom about 33 Leva (s.e. 8.09) when there is high visibility; 21 Leva (s.e. 5.75) with medium visibility and 9 Leva (s.e. 3.48) with low visibility. Respondents are willing to pay more for programs that offer shorter duration of algal bloom. The marginal price for one metre of extra space between the respondent and the nearest person is equal to 0.38 Leva.
The locations of halo formation and the peaks formalism

We investigate the problem of predicting the halo mass function from the properties of the Lagrangian density field. We focus on a perturbation spectrum with a small-scale cut-off (as in warm dark matter cosmologies). This cut-off results in a strong suppression of low mass objects, providing additional leverage to rigorously test which perturbations collapse and to what mass. We find that all haloes are consistent with forming near peaks of the initial density field, with a strong correlation between proto-halo density and ellipticity. We demonstrate that, while standard excursion set theory with correlated steps completely fails to reproduce the mass function, the inclusion of the peaks constraint leads to the correct number of haloes but significantly underpredicts the masses of low-mass objects (with the predicted halo mass function at low masses behaving like dn/dln m ~ m^{2/3}). This prediction is very robust and cannot be easily altered within the framework of a single collapse barrier. The nature of collapse in the presence of a small-scale cut-off thus reveals that excursion set calculations require a more detailed understanding of the collapse-time of a general ellipsoidal perturbation to predict the ultimate collapsed mass of a peak -- a problem that has been hidden in the large abundance of small-scale structure in CDM. We demonstrate how this problem can be resolved within the excursion set framework.
Blended Cryptography for Secured Data Transfer in Medical IoT Devices

To make the best use of the vast potential opportunities that accompanies medical IoT sensor devices, security and privacy measures are expected to be inculcated as fundamental requirement within these systems. Although cryptography proves to be a promising solution for data breach problem, there is always an inconclusive debate between the usages of symmetric encryption schemes which provides reduced computation overhead and asymmetric encryption schemes that delivers better authentication in IoT devices. This research paper focuses on a brief analysis of various existing symmetric and asymmetric lightweight algorithms for IoT. Using simulation tests, we provide important analysis and considerations on practical feasibility of these cryptographic algorithms in IoTs built using sensor networks to help designers predict security performance under a set of constraints, we also propose a new methodology which blends the usage of both symmetric and asymmetric encryption scheme for enhanced data transfer in health care related IoT devices. Keywords—Biomedical; Internet of Things; cryptography; symmetric encryption; asymmetric encryption
Diagnostic challenges with accurate identification of Listeria monocytogenes isolates from food and environmental samples in South Africa

Background The 2017–2018 listeriosis outbreak in South Africa warranted testing for Listeria monocytogenes in food products and processing environments. Diagnostic tests are needed to accurately differentiate L. monocytogenes from other Listeria species. Objective The study assessed the performance of the commonly used tests in our setting to accurately identify L. monocytogenes. Methods The study was conducted in a public health laboratory in South Africa. Cultured isolates from food and environmental samples were tested both prospectively and retrospectively between August 2018 and December 2018. Isolates were phenotypically identified using tests for detecting β-haemolysis, Christie-Atkins-Munch-Peterson, alanine arylamidase (AlaA), mannosidase, and xylose fermentation. Listeria monocytogenes isolates were identified using automated systems, Microscan Walkaway Plus 96, Vitek® MS, Vitek® 2 and Surefast Listeria monocytogenes PLUS PCR. All results were compared to whole-genome sequencing results. Results β-haemolysis and Christie-Atkins-Munch-Peterson tests gave delayed positivity or were negative for L. monocytogenes and falsely positive for one strain of Listeria innocua. The AlaA enzyme and Colorex Listeria agar lacked specificity for L. monocytogenes identification. Based on a few phenotypic test results, an aberrant L. monocytogenes strain and Listeria seeligeri strain were reported. All automated platforms overcalled L. monocytogenes in place of other Listeria species. Conclusion No test was ideal in differentiating Listeria species. This is an issue in resource-limited settings where these tests are currently used. Newer technologies based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and other molecular techniques specific to L. monocytogenes detection need to be investigated.
Afraid of whom? Threat sensitivity's influence changes with perceived source of threat

Abstract. Taking insights from the fields of psychology and biology, a growing body of scholarship considers the psychophysiological foundations of political attitudes. Subconscious emotional reactions to threat, for example, have been shown to predict socially conservative attitudes toward out-groups. However, many of these studies fail to consider different sources of perceived threat. Using a combination of survey and physiological data, I distinguish between fear of others and fear of authority, finding that threat sensitivity predicts divergent political attitudes depending on the strength of each. Those who are more sensitive to threat from others tend to hold socially conservative attitudes, while those who fear authority generally take more libertarian positions. As sensitivity to threat is at least partially inherited, these findings highlight the genetic role of political predispositions.
Home owning motivation in Malaysia

The residential property industry, which had grown rapidly in the 1980s, however, encountered overhang problems recently. Overhang of residential units has been getting worse and therefore, precautionary measures must be taken by the housing developers before it leads to a property glut. In order to address property overhang in the country, housing developers must recognize the importance of orienting their activities to consider how and why households are motivated to home owning. Factor analysis of the 25 questions was used to support the grouping of these questions into a smaller number of factors. Factors were used as constructs of the motivation of homeownership. The results conclude that Malaysian householders are motivated to become homeowners because they expect home owning will improve the home environment in which a child lives, improve neighborhood stability through higher properties maintenance and improvement, and longer tenure, and improve social capital and local amenities investments in the neighborhood. The motivation of home owning is crucial to housing developers as they have to be cautious before undertaking any new project. Housing developers should know what the market really wants and plan their products to take cognizance of the changing lifestyles of Malaysians
Effect of hibiscus sabdariffa l. Piper nigrum l. And zingiber officinale r. Extract on serum electrolytes profile and changes in the pancreas of alloxan induced diabetic rat.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is the most common endocrine disease which is characterized by hyperglycaemia, altered metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates and protein with an increased risk of many complications such as liver and pancreas damage and altered serum electrolytes level. During the past few years many plants and spices have been used to manage DM. This work aimed to investigate the possible anti-diabetic effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. , Zingiber officinale roscoe and Piper nigrum L. extract treatments in alloxan induced diabetic rats via studying pancreas, liver structure abnormalities and serum electrolytes level alteration. 30 male Wistar rats (130-180 g) were injected intraperitoneally and divided into five main groups each of 6 rats. The control group was injected with a single dose of saline solution (0.9% NaCl), diabetic group was injected with a dose of alloxan solution (170 mg/kg), high and low dose of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg extract after induction of diabetes respectively and metformin treated group was injected at a daily dose 500 mg/kg metformin after induction of diabetes. Microscopic histopathology examination of pancreatic tissues showed decrease in islets of Langerhans size in the diabetic group, sinusoidal enlargement and increased fatty vacuoles in the liver tissues of the diabetic group. There were alterations in the serum electrolytes levels of the diabetic group. These abnormalities were healed after treatment of diabetic rats with extract which could have the ability to regenerate beta cells of islets of Langerhans. The present study could verify that the extract normalized the various serum electrolytes levels and histological abnormalities resulted due to diabetes metabolic disorders.
Performance gaps between English speakers and Chinese-English speakers on classic semantic, action, and emotional verbal fluency

Aims and objectives: Semantic verbal fluency taps into vocabulary knowledge but often elicits poorer performance in bilingual speakers tested in a second language (L2). Few studies have examined verbal fluency tasks that target abstract words and examined test–retest reliability. The present study examined the performance gap between English speakers and Chinese-English speakers on classic semantic, action, and emotional verbal fluency. Methodology: English data were collected for six verbal fluency tasks from 41 English speakers and 18 Chinese-English speakers who spoke English as L2. Verbal fluency performance was reassessed one week later to examine test–retest reliability. Data and analysis: Verbal productivity, valence and arousal, test–retest reliability, and cross-session consistency in producing similar responses in repeated testing were analyzed. Morphological complexity of verbal responses also was compared because Chinese is morphologically simpler than English and emotional verbal fluency may trigger morphologically complex words. Findings/conclusions: Productivity gaps between groups were reliable for all tasks despite practice effects but were smaller for action and emotional verbal fluency. Words produced by Chinese-English speakers were more positive generally and less arousing for specific categories (e.g., “happy”). Both speaker groups were equally likely to produce variable responses with repeated testing, especially for emotional verbal fluency. Words produced by Chinese-English speakers were morphologically simpler than those produced by English speakers for emotional verbal fluency. Originality: Past work on semantic verbal fluency has focused on the retrieval of neutral and concrete words. This is the first study to assess the reliability in performance gaps between speakers tested in L1 and speakers tested in L2 on verbal fluency that targets the retrieval of abstract and emotional-laden words. Significance: Verbal fluency is one of the most frequently employed tasks in neuropsychological assessments. The findings demonstrate the effects of language proficiency on performance across verbal fluency variants, group differences in valence and arousal, the effects of repeated testing, and the effects of linguistic features on responses produced.
Interaction of Regional Population and Employment over Time: identifying short-run effects and equilibrium adjustment

We investigate the interaction of regional population and employment in a simultaneous model. A focus on regional time series allows us to innovate in two ways on the ongoing causality debate in the literature. Firstly, a dynamic specification is proposed that generalizes the often assumed lagged adjustment process and enables to identify both short and long-term effects. We argue that the long-run relationship between population and employment should be interpreted as a labour market equilibrium. A second improvement on current empirical evidence is the use of region and time-specific fixed effects. Because by applying these panel data techniques, unobserved heterogeneity on the regional level and national trends are controlled for, the identification of regional population-employment interaction is substantially less troubled by an omitted variables problem. The model is estimated on almost three decades of annual data for regions in The Netherlands. This dataset is unique because it includes internal migration, so that we can disentangle net migration and exogenous natural population increase in order to model population adjustment more accurately. Reflecting the geographical structure of the country, which is characterised by overlapping urban areas, we allow for interregional commuting. Our main findings are that in The Netherlands, employment growth responds to deviations from regional labour market equilibria, but net internal migration is only slightly affected by regional employment in the short run. This implies that equilibrium on regional labour markets is restored through adjustment of employment instead of population. It also illustrates the additional insight into dynamic adjustment processes that can be gained from distinguishing both short and long-run effects, the importance of which is confirmed by rejection of the lagged adjustment process hypothesis for our data. Finally, the dominance of supply side factors in the employment equation casts doubt on appropriateness of traditional regional export base and multiplier models, which heavily rely on the assumption that local factor supply constraints are absent.
Path Planning and Execution for Planetary Exploration Rovers Based on 3D Mapping

The unmanned exploration of the Moon has steadily increased in the past years due to the renewed interest in creating a permanent human settlement on our natural satellite. After detailed remote sensing from orbiters, the focus is now shifting onto autonomous landing and surface locomotion by robotic devices on and around a specific area of highest interest. Especially, robotic exploration is a precursor for future human settlements on the Moon and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is one important aspect in the selection process of candidate locations for such settlements. In the early 1960’s, Watson (Watson et al., 1961) estimated that it would be possible to find deposits of ice caps at the bottom of craters located at the Moon’s polar regions. He argued that the shadows produced on these craters due to the very small deviation of the Moon’s equatorial plane position with respect to the Sun create an environment that would present the proper conditions to retain such deposits. Robotic exploration of these regions becomes a vital initial step on the way to build a permanent base of operations for humans to live on extended periods. The navigation of a vehicle on the Moon is presented with a series of issues such as the trafficability over the lunar soil (called “regolith”), the irregularity of the topography and the poor illumination at the Polar Regions, especially at the craters. In this chapter, attention is centered on the irregularity of the topography and the poor illumination issues. Given that we assume an environment with a very low angle of illumination which results in large shadowed areas, we propose the use of Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems to perceive the surroundings of the vehicle. These systems are not impaired by the lighting conditions assumed and have been successfully utilized in several outdoor mobile robotic applications (Langer et al., 2000),(Morales et al., 2008),(Skrzypcznski, 2008). The features of the topography of the surface of the Moon may translate as obstacles for the navigation of the vehicle and also may limit the visual range of the exteroceptive sensors at a given location. These obstacles cause an “occluding” effect on the readings of the sensors therefore decreasing the size of the perceivable area. Various researchers have approached the occlusion problem presented on indoor and outdoor autonomous navigation of mobile robotic systems. In (Dupuis et al., 2005),(Rekleitis et al., 2009), an irregular triangulated mesh is created based on a LIDAR’s sensory data, and then “filtered” in order to find “shadows” or occluding obstacles and eliminate them from the map. A description of the problems that occluding obstacles may present in teleoperated navigation is presented in (Kunii & Kubota, 2006). In (Heckman et al., 2007), a method to classify different voxels based on its location with respect to an occluding obstacle is given, whereas 13
Data ex Machina: Introduction to Big Data

Social life increasingly occurs in digital environments and continues to be mediated by digital systems. Big data represents the data being generated by the digitization of social life, which we break down into three domains: digital life, digital traces, and digitalized life. We argue that there is enormous potential in using big data to study a variety of phenomena that remain difficult to observe. However, there are some recurring vulnerabilities that should be addressed. We also outline the role institutions must play in clarifying the ethical rules of the road. Finally, we conclude by pointing to a few trends that are not yet common in research using big data but will play an increasing role in it. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Sociology Volume 43 is July 30, 2017. Please see http://www.annualreviews. org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Biological traits approaches in benthic marine ecology: Dead ends and new paths

Abstract Biological traits analysis (BTA) links community structure to both ecological functions and response to environmental drivers through species’ attributes. In consequence, it has become a popular approach in marine benthic studies. However, BTA will reach a dead end if the scientific community does not acknowledge its current shortcomings and limitations: (a) uncertainties related to data origins and a lack of standardized reporting of trait information; (b) knowledge gaps on the role of multiple interacting traits on driving the organisms’ responses to environmental variability; (c) knowledge gaps regarding the mechanistic links between traits and functions; (d) a weak focus on the spatial and temporal variability that is inherent to the trait expression of species; and, last but not least, (e) the large reliance on expert knowledge due to an enormous knowledge gap on the basic ecology of many benthic species. BTA will only reach its full potential if the scientific community is able to standardize and unify the reporting and storage of traits data and reconsider the importance of baseline observational and experimental studies to fill knowledge gaps on the mechanistic links between biological traits, functions, and environmental variability. This challenge could be assisted by embracing new technological advances in marine monitoring, such as underwater camera technology and artificial intelligence, and making use of advanced statistical approaches that consider the interactive nature and spatio‐temporal variability of biological systems. The scientific community has to abandon some dead ends and explore new paths that will improve our understanding of individual species, traits, and the functioning of benthic ecosystems.