Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biosafety decisions and perceived commercial risks: The role of GM-free private standards

"We herein investigate the observed discrepancy between real and perceived commercial risks associated with the use of genetically modified (GM) products in developing countries. We focus particularly on the effects of GM-free private standards set up by food companies in Europe and other countries on biotechnology and biosafety policy decisions in food-exporting developing countries. Based on field visits made to South Africa, Namibia, and Kenya in June 2007, and secondary information from the press and various publications, we find 31 cases of interactions between private GM-free standards and biosafety policy decisions in 21 countries. Although we cannot infer the direct involvement of supermarkets and food companies in biosafety policy processes in developing countries, we find that by setting up GM-free standards, these actors are indirectly influential via their local traders, who face the possibility of exclusion if they do not comply with the standards. Organic producers' and anti-GM organizations also play a role in spreading perceptions of commercial risks that are not always justified. By comparing cases, we differentiate three types of relevant commercial risks: real risks, potential risks, and unproven risks. We then identify two critical, yet misleading, presumptions perpetuated by the various interest groups to spread the fear of potential or unproven risks: the infeasibility of non-GM product segregation and the lack of alternative buyers. We also find that information asymmetries and risk-averse behaviors related to perceived market power can help insert unfounded export concerns into biosafety or biotechnology policy decisions. The results of our analysis are used to suggest a simple framework to separate real commercial risks from others, based on five critical questions designed to aid decision makers when they face pressures to reject GM crop testing, application, consumption or use for fear of alleged export losses. " from authors' abstract
Aspects of Swedish speech rhythm

This study examines some aspects of speech rhythm, with particular reference to Swedish. A background to the problem area is given and some fundamental problems pointed out. Some theoretical issues are also studied. The question of how to describe and model interstress interval duration is addressed. It is shown, using published data from five languages, that interstress interval duration can be described as a linear function of the number of syllables. Languages seem to fall into two classes, however. It is suggested that this is due to differences in the duration of stressed syllables. It is also shown that a linear growth in interstress interval duration, as a function of the number of syllables in the interval, does not preclude the existence of interval-internal temporal compensations. Speech rhythm in Swedish is studied experimentally in both production and perception. In the production study, the hypothesis that interstress interval duration may be described as a linear function is tested on a recorded material consisting of 5 sentences read by 30 speakers. An analysis of the results gives supportfor the hypothesis. The possible existence of compression of syllables, as a function of interval length, is also studied, but no significant effect is found. The perception part of the study describes two sets of experiments. In one type of experiment the locations of stress beats in a phrase of read poetry are studied. Stress beats are found to be closely associated with the onsets of the stressed vowels. Duration perception of interstress intervals is also studied in a series of experiments, in which stimuli and experimental conditions are varied. Duration perception is shown to be quite accurate, indicating that subjects are capable of determining that interstress intervals are of unequal durations in speech.
Towards an Empathic Social Robot for Ambient Assisted Living

In the context of Ambient Assisted Living, assistance and care are delegated to the intelligence embedded in the environment that, in our opinion, should provide not only a task-oriented support but also an interface able to establish a social empathic relation with the user. This can be achieved, for instance, using a social assistive robot as interface towards the environment services. In the context of the NICA (Natural Interaction with a Caring Agent) project we developed the behavioral architecture of a social robot able to assist the user in the interaction with a smart home environment. In this paper we describe how this robot has been endowed with the capability of recognizing the user affective state from the combination of facial expressions and spoken utterances and to reason on in order to simulate an empathic behavior.
Exosomes and Exosomal miRNA in Respiratory Diseases

Exosomes are nanosized vesicles released from every cell in the body including those in the respiratory tract and lungs. They are found in most body fluids and contain a number of different biomolecules including proteins, lipids, and both mRNA and noncoding RNAs. Since they can release their contents, particularly miRNAs, to both neighboring and distal cells, they are considered important in cell-cell communication. Recent evidence has shown their possible importance in the pathogenesis of several pulmonary diseases. The differential expression of exosomes and of exosomal miRNAs in disease has driven their promise as biomarkers of disease enabling noninvasive clinical diagnosis in addition to their use as therapeutic tools. In this review, we summarize recent advances in this area as applicable to pulmonary diseases.
Secondary axis induction by heterospecific organizers in zebrafish

To investigate the inductive activities of the vertebrate organizer, we transplanted the chicken organizer (Hensen's node) into zebrafish gastrula and analyzed resulting secondary axes. Grafted Hensen's node did not differentiate or participate in the secondary axis. It also did not induce a secondary notochord or expression of the genes normally expressed by the fish organizer including no tail, axial, goosecoid. Nevertheless, it recruited fish cells to organize a variety of tissues: the dorsal portion of the central nervous system including Rohon‐Beard sensory neurons, otic vesicles, dorsal pigment stripe, dorsal fin, somites, heart, and pronephric ducts. Enlarged neural plate induced by the organizer was shown by the expression pattern of dlx3 and msxB genes, which demarcates the early presumptive neural tissue. In addition, Hensen's node of an earlier stage chicken embryo displayed differential movement in zebrafish from that of a later stage. This might reflect unknown differences in properties between the organizer at two different developmental stages related to its normal organizer activity. To create a model system to study the molecular mechanisms of the organizer, we next transplanted genetically modified mouse cells into zebrafish embryos. We found that Wnt3A‐transfected NIH3T3 cells are much more potent in inducing a secondary axis than NIH3T3 cells alone. These results suggest that formation of a variety of tissues are controlled by signalling from the organizer itself with no requirement of participation of the organizer‐derived tissues. Additionally, the activities of the organizer may involve a function of Wnt‐family genes. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Software Simulation Tool for the Capacity Analysis of WiMAX Base Stations

In this paper it generate a self analysis and verification tool for the field trial data based on the simulation software in the setting of the system parameters for WiMAX base station. Through repeat reviewing and verification of the system specifications for the WiMAX system and the analysis of a series of field trial data to complete an analysis tool that has the attribute that it has been verified through field trail data. With this analysis tool it will provide the service providers a guidance of how to set up its system parameters.
Motion based detection of respiration rate in infants using video

Worldwide, 11% of infants are born prematurely, with a substantially increased risk of apneas, i.e. suspension of breathing, and in need of extra care after birth. Sensors used in neonatal intensive care units today are attached to the infant and can cause false alarms due to contact difficulties. In this paper we propose to monitor the respiratory rate of infants by using video recordings and video processing. A phase-based algorithm for the detection of small and repetitive motions is combined with a method for detecting situations where the camera view is blocked by a caretaker. The phase-based respiration detection (PRD) is tested on a small test set of videos of sleeping babies, where each breath is manually marked providing a truth signal. Compared to a difference-based method, PRD is much more robust and promising. The PRD is also tested on two adults, and the resulting respiratory rate is compared to a truth signal extracted from measuring the impedance pneumography of the thorax with encouraging results.
Rationing of drinking water supply in relationship with growth and sanitary performances of growing rabbits.

The aim of the research was to try to control the e pizootic rabbit enteropathy and improve performances by rationing the same amount of water when a feed without antibiotics was administered. Different ways of water supply for a total of 4 hours a day were tested in an industrial rabbit farm. A total of 480 rabbits were utilized i n two trials of 240 subjects each. The rabbits, wea ned at the age of 35 days, were randomly distributed in to 4 homogeneous groups with 10 replications of 6 subjects each. The control could drink ad libitum for 24 hours a day. The other three treatments received water according to different supply planni ng: once a day for 4 hours; twice a day for 2 hours each time and four times a day for 1 hour respectiv ly. Indicating the time of water supply followed b y the time of not supply, the treatments were indicat ed as 24/0 (control), 4/20, 2/10 and 1/5 respective ly. Except the control, all the experimental treatments received water for 4 hours a day globally. In the first trial growth was not significantly different among the treatments. Feed conversion rate was lowe r than 4.5 in the 24/0 and 4/20 treatment, but rose t 5.9 and 5.1 in the 2/10 and 1/5 treatments, respectively. These results were related with the h igh mortality rate, since water restriction was not showing any certain positive effect. The values of mortality were 20%, 23%, 35% and 28% respectively for the four treatments. In the second trial the results were still worst. The consumptio n of water was 21%, 54% and 72% for the groups 4/20, 2/1 0 and 1/5 respectively, in comparison with the control in the first trial, and 26%, 66% and 85% in the second trial (P<0.001). This shows that modulating the same total time of water supply the amount of drinking water can be controlled. According to our 2 experiments, performances remain ed too low and mortality too high to be considered compatible with the needs of commercial production.
Interpolating vertical parallax for an autostereoscopic three-dimensional projector array

Abstract. We present a technique for achieving tracked vertical parallax for multiple users using a variety of autostereoscopic projector array setups, including front- and rear-projection and curved display surfaces. This hybrid parallax approach allows for immediate horizontal parallax as viewers move left and right and tracked parallax as they move up and down, allowing cues such as three-dimensional (3-D) perspective and eye contact to be conveyed faithfully. We use a low-cost RGB-depth sensor to simultaneously track multiple viewer head positions in 3-D space, and we interactively update the imagery sent to the array so that imagery directed to each viewer appears from a consistent and correct vertical perspective. Unlike previous work, we do not assume that the imagery sent to each projector in the array is rendered from a single vertical perspective. This lets us apply hybrid parallax to displays where a single projector forms parts of multiple viewers’ imagery. Thus, each individual projected image is rendered with multiple centers of projection, and might show an object from above on the left and from below on the right. We demonstrate this technique using a dense horizontal array of pico-projectors aimed into an anisotropic vertical diffusion screen, yielding 1.5 deg angular resolution over 110 deg field of view. To create a seamless viewing experience for multiple viewers, we smoothly interpolate the set of viewer heights and distances on a per-vertex basis across the array’s field of view, reducing image distortion, cross talk, and artifacts from tracking errors.
Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors

The enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) prevents the inactivation of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Since GLP-1–based therapy is a promising novel treatment of type 2 diabetes, the strategy to inhibit the enzyme has been explored. Several DPP-4 inhibitors are in clinical development; these are orally active and increase levels of active GLP-1, which in turn increases insulin secretion and reduces glucagon secretion and thereby lowers glucose levels. Most experience exists for sitagliptin (Merck) and vildagliptin (Novartis), which both have a long duration of action, allowing once-daily administration. In drug-naive subjects with type 2 diabetes, both sitagliptin and vildagliptin reduce A1C levels by ∼1% as monotherapy, as demonstrated in studies up to 52 weeks. Also in combination with metformin and thiazolidinediones, sitagliptin and vildagliptin improve glycemic control with reduction of A1C of ∼1%. Both sitagliptin and vildagliptin are safe and tolerable with low risk of hypoglycemia. They are both body weight neutral. The studies presented thus far therefore suggest that DPP-4 inhibition is an efficient treatment of type 2 diabetes, both as monotherapy and combination therapy. Because of its efficiency, safety, and tolerability in association with the oral mode of administration, it is expected that DPP-4 inhibition will be a first-line treatment of the early stage of type 2 diabetes, particularly in combination with metformin or thiazolidinediones. GLP-1 is one of the important incretin hormones; it is released after meal ingestion and stimulates insulin secretion (1). GLP-1 also exhibits strong antidiabetic actions, as initially demonstrated already in the early 1990s (2–4). Thus, infusion of GLP-1 lowers circulating glucose through a combination of stimulation of insulin secretion and inhibition of glucagon secretion. A 6-week study with continuous subcutaneous infusion of GLP-1 showed reduction in fasting and prandial glycemia along with reduction in A1C and improvement both in insulin secretion and insulin action …
Association between structural brain network efficiency and intelligence increases during adolescence

Adolescence represents an important period during which considerable changes in the brain take place, including increases in integrity of white matter bundles, and increasing efficiency of the structural brain network. A more efficient structural brain network has been associated with higher intelligence. Whether development of structural network efficiency is related to intelligence, and if so to which extent genetic and environmental influences are implicated in their association, is not known. In a longitudinal study, we mapped FA‐weighted efficiency of the structural brain network in 310 twins and their older siblings at an average age of 10, 13, and 18 years. Age‐trajectories of global and local FA‐weighted efficiency were related to intelligence. Contributions of genes and environment were estimated using structural equation modeling. Efficiency of brain networks changed in a non‐linear fashion from childhood to early adulthood, increasing between 10 and 13 years, and leveling off between 13 and 18 years. Adolescents with higher intelligence had higher global and local network efficiency. The dependency of FA‐weighted global efficiency on IQ increased during adolescence (rph=0.007 at age 10; 0.23 at age 18). Global efficiency was significantly heritable during adolescence (47% at age 18). The genetic correlation between intelligence and global and local efficiency increased with age; genes explained up to 87% of the observed correlation at age 18. In conclusion, the brain's structural network differentiates depending on IQ during adolescence, and is under increasing influence of genes that are also associated with intelligence as it develops from late childhood to adulthood.
Gender Differences in Outcomes after off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Our objective was to assess surgical outcomes between male and female patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The study was conducted from a 10-year hospitalization cohort (n = 11,230) in which the data were collected prospectively. Inclusion criteria included an off-pump CABG-only procedure. There were 526 men and 250 women included in the study. Fourteen potential confounding risk factors and 14 outcome variables were examined. Six potential risk factors were found to be significantly different between men and women. Men were younger (P = 0.014), had a larger body surface area (P < 0.001), a higher creatinine level (P < 0.001), required more grafts (P < 0.001), and were more likely to have a cerebrovascular history (P = 0.020) and a history of tobacco use (P ≤ 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that even after controlling for age, body surface area, creatinine level, number of grafts, and tobacco history, women had longer length of hospitalization (odds ratio, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.28–3.04, P = 0.002) and more sternal wound complications than men (odds ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–2.11, P = 0.028) after off-pump CABG. Although not statistically different, women had lower operative mortality than men after off-pump CABG (0.8% [2 of 10] compared with 1.5% [8 of 10], respectively). Despite women requiring a longer hospitalization and having a greater incidence of sternal wound infections than men, there was no significant difference in mortality.
Sequence alignment with tandem duplication

Algorithm development for comparing and aligning biological sequences has, until recently, been based on the SI model of mutational events which assumes that modification of sequences proceeds through any of the operations of substitution, insertion or deletion (the latter two collectively termed indels). While this model has worked fairly well, it has long been apparent that other mutational events occur. In this paper, we introduce a new model, the DSI model which includes another common mutational event, tandem duplication. Tandem duplication produces tandem repeats which are common in DNA, making up perhaps 10% of the human genome. They are responsible for some human diseases and may serve a multitude of functions in DNA regulation and evolution. Using the DSI model, we develop new exact and heuristic algorithms for comparing and aligning DNA sequences when they contain tandem repeats.
Angiopoietin-2 Impairs Revascularization After Limb Ischemia

Angiopoietins play important roles in the formation of neovessels and complex vascular networks. Angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and Ang-2 belong to a family of growth factors that display opposing effects on the activation of Tie2 (tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin and epidermal growth factor homology domain 2). Endothelial Ang-2 expression is associated with vessel destabilization and regulates a balance between vascular regression and growth. To elucidate, in particular, the role of Ang-2 after arterial artery occlusion in the mouse limb, we applied a transgenic animal model with targeted Ang-2 expression in endothelial cells. We show here that restoration of blood flow in Ang-2:Tie1 transgenic mice is dramatically impaired when Ang-2 expression is induced in the vasculature. The defective restoration of perfusion in Ang-2 transgenic mice is evidenced by reduced collateral artery growth, which typically occurs to compensate for flow deficits after occlusion of the large conductance artery. Furthermore, reduced movement capacities and higher incidents of necrosis are consequently observed in the transgenic limbs as compared with controls. Mechanistically, the observed effects are attributed to defective smooth muscle cell recruitment in Ang-2 transgenic mice. Moreover, distinct Ang-2 levels in the genetically modified animals clearly correlated with the magnitude of reduced perfusion. In conclusion, our studies define Ang-2 as an important molecule for the progression of collateral artery growth and angiogenesis during ischemia and suggest precise Ang-2 dosage activities to accomplish blood vessel growth.
Antibiotic assaying by use of a direct plate technique

The two standard methods of antibiotic assay, the cylinder plate technique (3) and the serial tube dilution-turbidimetric technique [as described by Schlicter (4), Fisher (2), and Rammelkamp (method as modified by Eli Lilly Laboratories for Clinical Research)], necessitate timeconsuming, meticulous detail for their success. The method described in this paper utilizes a simpler technique, with complete assay results known in 18 to 24 hr. A twofold serial dilution is performed on each sample of serum to be assayed (1 ml of serum to 1 ml of sterile saline) in 12 tubes, starting with a titer of 1:2 up to a titer of 1:4,096. A twofold serial dilution is also performed on the control antibiotics. The concentration of the first control tube is 100 ttg/ml, made from the 1,000 ,ug/ml stock solution of the antibiotic being assayed. This tube is further diluted until the twelfth control tube has an antibiotic concentration of 0.0475 pug/ml. The initial antibiotic concentration can be varied, depending upon the sensitivity of the microorganism used in the assay. The stock solution of the test microorganism is prepared as for the tube dilution method of assay (4), with an 18-hr-old culture which has an optical density of 1 or has 10% light transmittance at 600 absorbancy units (Spectronic-20 calorimeter, Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, N.Y.). This solution will contain approximately 600 million bacteria per ml. A 1:1,000 dilution is made from this original 18-hr-old stock culture solution, which will be used to seed the blood plates. Blood plates (Optilux Blood Agar Plates, BBL; Trypticase Soy Agar with defibrinated sheep blood) are numbered and divided into four sections with a wax pencil, each section representing one particular tube in the serial dilutions. The entire plate is seeded with the bacteria by the same method used for routine sensitivity testing (1, 5). After the twofold serial dilutions are made and the blood plates are seeded, 0.04 ml from each tube is dropped in the center of the plate area indicated for the particular tube. These plates are then incubated for 18 to 24 hr at 37 C and are read at the end of this incubation period. The inhibiting quantity of control antibiotic to standard microorganism is the last drop area that shows no growth at the drop site. According to Fig. 1, there is obvious inhibition of bacterial growth at drop areas 1, 2, 3, and 4. Figure 2 shows