Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Significance of Transportation to Civilization

When the progress of civilization is reviewed, one impressive fact looms large in the history of all peoples. In the primitive stages of development they have to spend practically all their time in securing the products necessary to maintain life. It is only when there is some material surplus available that the human race makes much progress. When the struggle with nature is so keen that only the physical wants are satisfied, man is unable to expend effort or thought upon intellectual or cultura.l matters. Therefore there
Long-term outcome and prognostic factors of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

AIM To evaluate the long-term outcome and prognostic factors of patients with hilar cholangiocarinoma. METHODS Ninety-six consecutive patients underwent treatment for malignant hilar bile duct tumors during 1995-2005. Of the 96 patients, 20 were initially treated with surgery (n = 2 R0 / n = 18 R1). In non-operated patients, data analysis was performed retrospectively. RESULTS Among the 96 patients, 76 were treated with endoscopic transpapillary (ERC, n = 45) and/or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD, n = 31). The mean survival time of these 76 patients undergoing palliative endoscopic and/or percutaneous drainage was 359 +/- 296 d. The mean survival time of patients with initial bilirubin levels > 10 mg/dL was significantly lower (P < 0.001) than patients with bilirubin levels < 10 mg/dL. The mean survival time of patients with Bismuth stage II (n = 8), III (n = 28) and IV (n = 40) was 496 +/- 300 d, 441 +/- 385 d and 274 +/- 218 d, respectively. Thus, patients with advanced Bismuth stage showed a reduced mean survival time, but the difference was not significant. The type of biliary drainage had no significant beneficial effect on the mean survival time (ERC vs PTBD, P = 0.806). CONCLUSION Initial bilirubin level is a significant prognostic factor for survival of patients. In contrast, age, tumor stage according to the Bismuth-Corlette classification, and types of intervention are not significant prognostic parameters for survival. Palliative treatment with endoscopic or percutaneous biliary drainage is still suboptimal, new diagnostic and therapeutic tools need to be evaluated.
Prehospital Notification by Emergency Medical Services Reduces Delays in Stroke Evaluation: Findings From the North Carolina Stroke Care Collaborative

Background and Purpose— Individuals with stroke-like symptoms are recommended to receive rapid diagnostic evaluation. Emergency medical services (EMS) transport, compared with private modes, and hospital notification before arrival may reduce delays in evaluation. This study estimated associations between hospital arrival modes (EMS or private and with or without EMS prenotification) and times for completion and interpretation of initial brain imaging in patients with presumed stroke. Methods— Among patients with suspected stroke identified and enrolled by the North Carolina Stroke Care Collaborative registry in 2008 to 2009, we analyzed data on arrival modes, meeting recommended targets for brain imaging completion and interpretation times (<25 minutes and <45 minutes since hospital arrival, respectively) and patient- and hospital-level characteristics. We used modified Poisson regression to estimate adjusted risk ratios and 95% CIs. Results— Of 13 894 eligible patients, 21% had their brain imaging completed and 23% had their brain imaging interpreted by a physician within target times. Arrival by EMS (versus private transport) was associated with both brain imaging completed within 25 minutes of arrival (EMS with prenotification: risk ratio, 3.0; 95% CI, 2.1 to 4.1; EMS without prenotification: risk ratio, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.6 to 2.3) and brain imaging interpreted within 45 minutes (EMS with prenotification: risk ratio, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.3 to 3.3; EMS without prenotification: risk ratio, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.1). Conclusions— Patients with presumed stroke arriving to the hospital by EMS were more likely to receive brain imaging and have it interpreted by a physician in a timely manner than those arriving by private transport. Moreover, EMS arrivals with hospital prenotification experienced the most rapid evaluation.
Questioning policy, youth participation and lifestyle sports

Young people have been identified as a key target group for whom participation in sport and physical activity could have important benefits to health and well-being and consequently have been the focus of several government policies to increase participation in the UK. Lifestyle sports represent one such strategy for encouraging and sustaining new engagements in sport and physical activity in youth groups, however, there is at present a lack of understanding of the use of these activities within policy contexts. This paper presents findings from a government initiative which sought to increase participation in sport for young people through provision of facilities for mountain biking in a forest in south-east England. Findings from qualitative research with 40 young people who participated in mountain biking at the case study location highlight the importance of non-traditional sports as a means to experience the natural environments through forms of consumption which are healthy, active and appeal to their identities. In addition, however, the paper raises questions over the accessibility of schemes for some individuals and social groups, and the ability to incorporate sports which are inherently participant-led into state-managed schemes. Lifestyle sports such as mountain biking involve distinct forms of participation which present a challenge for policy-makers who seek to create and maintain sustainable communities of youth participants.
Serpentine and non‐serpentine ecotypes of Collinsia sparsiflora associate with distinct arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal assemblages

Although plant adaptation to serpentine soils has been studied for several decades, the mechanisms of plant adaptation to edaphic extremes are still poorly understood. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are common root symbionts that can increase the plant hosts’ establishment and growth in stressful environments. However, little is known about the role plant–AMF interactions play in plant adaptation to serpentine. As a first step towards understanding this role, we examined the AMF assemblages associated with field populations of serpentine and non‐serpentine ecotypes of California native plant Collinsia sparsiflora. We sampled roots of C. sparsiflora from three serpentine and three non‐serpentine sites in close proximity (110 m to 1.94 km between sites) and analysed the small subunit ribosomal DNA gene amplified from root DNA extracts using AMF‐specific primers. A total of 1952 clones from 24 root samples (four from each site) were sequenced. We used sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis to determine operational taxonomic units (OTU) resulting in 19 OTUs representing taxa from six AMF genera, including one serpentine‐specific OTU. We used Bray–Curtis similarity, multidimensional scaling and analysis of similarity to compare root sample AMF assemblages. These analyses clearly showed that plant ecotypes associated with distinct AMF assemblages; an Acaulospora OTU‐dominated serpentine, and a Glomus OTU‐dominated non‐serpentine assemblages. Species diversity and evenness were significantly higher in serpentine assemblages. Finally, relate analysis showed a relationship between ecotype AMF assemblages and soil nutrients. This study reveals a strong relationship between AMF associates and plant adaptation to edaphic extremes.
Hybridization, Introgression, and the Nature of Species Boundaries.

Species can be defined as populations that are diagnosably distinct, reproductively isolated, cohesive, or exclusive groups of organisms. Boundaries between species in sympatry are maintained by intrinsic barriers to gene exchange; these boundaries may not be uniform in space, in time, or across the genome. Here, we explore the nature of the species boundary, defined as the phenotypes/genes/genome regions that remain differentiated in the face of potential hybridization and introgression. We emphasize that species boundaries are semipermeable, with permeability (gene exchange) being a function of genome region. The early evidence for semipermeable species boundaries came from data on differential introgression in hybrid zones. This “genic view” of species was common in the hybrid zone literature even when few molecular markers were available to characterize genome-wide patterns of variation. Now, molecular tools allow detailed characterization of differentiation between diverging lineages and patterns of variation across natural hybrid zones, but the questions being asked by evolutionary biologists have remained much the same. Recent data (from DNA sequences and genotypes) reinforce earlier conclusions about the semipermeable nature of most species boundaries. However, debate persists over the nature and extent of genome divergence that accompanies speciation.
Knowledge Production and Knowledge Transmission. The interaction between research and teaching at universities

Abstract Even though the interaction between teaching and research at universities is a well‐studied topic, it is difficult on the basis of available studies to draw any definite conclusions concerning the character of this relationship. This study, which is based on survey data, as well as interviews, shows that university faculty believe that their research influences their teaching and that their teaching activities have a positive effect on their teaching. They find, however, that research is more important for teaching than vice versa. The characteristics of the interaction vary between teaching on various levels and between disciplines. In general, the interaction is stronger at a graduate than at an undergraduate level. At an undergraduate level the relationship is stronger in the humanities and the social sciences than in other fields of learning, while there are no such differences at a graduate level. The findings are discussed on the basis of differences between disciplines and types of teaching
PATTERNS OF TRAUMA IN PATIENT SEEN AT THE EMERGENCY CLINICS OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS IN MEKELLE, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA.

BACKGROUND Injuries are a neglected health problem in developing countries. Ethiopia has a high incidence of road traffic accidents and trauma constitutes about half of surgical emergencies among patient seen at health facilities. The objective of this study was to determine the pattern of trauma among patient seen at emergency outpatient departments of public hospitals in northern Ethiopia METHODS Retrospective data on patient seen at the hospitals during a one-year period (January 1, 2013-December 31, 2013) was collected. The source population was all patients who visited the emergency OPD of two public hospitals in Mekelle, Tig ray. RESULTS The 16-25 year old age group was the most commonly affected age group, accounting for 38.5% followed by the 26-35 year old group (21.4%) of the cases. Males were more frequently involved than females ((74.3%) vs 25.7%). Eighty-three per cent of the patients were from urban areas. Interpersonal violence (31%), accidental falls (19.2%) and Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) (14.1%) were the most common causes of injury. The Head (33.5%) was the most commonly involved part of the body. CONCLUSION This study indicates a high burden of trauma in the study area and the need for interventions to control the problem. Given the morbidity and mortality associated with trauma, trauma registry system will be beneficial in Tigray and perhaps for the whole country.
Stimulating Intellectual Activity with Adaptive Environment (SMILE)

As of 2016, 47.5 million people have dementia worldwide according to the World Health Organization, and it is expected that this number will nearly double every 20 years, reaching 100 million sooner than 2030. The goal of the SMILE concept is to help the elderly to live independently and to prevent/delay dementia. It should improve the quality of life of elderly by introducing healthy habits and a lifelong involvement in mentally and socially stimulating activities. It should reduce social isolation, i.e. high degree of loneliness, dissatisfaction with social contacts, and decreased social network. The focus is on prevention of gradual decline in memory function and planning ability, as well. Applying social network concepts provides easier social interaction for older people. Using stimulating and interactive environment enhances and maintains brain plasticity through social interaction. So far there are no published articles or projects that are targeted at the same goal to develop a self-care social interactive TV system as a Service, which is the aim of the SMILE concept. There are a lot of projects and papers about the relevant technologies, however not the integrated approach, which is the key innovation in this concept.
Diagnostik von Selbstekel im Rahmen der Depression

Hintergrund: Selbstekel beschreibt die Abscheu, die gegen spezifische Aspekte der eigenen Person gerichtet ist und könnte deshalb eine wichtige Rolle für depressive Störungen spielen. Ziel einer ersten Studie war die Entwicklung eines Messinstruments, das sowohl in psychisch gesunden als auch klinischen Populationen eingesetzt werden kann. Methodik: Eine erste Version des Fragebogens zur Erfassung des Selbstekels (FESE) wurde von 895 Probanden im Alter zwischen 15 und 71 Jahren bearbeitet. Ergebnisse: Die Hauptachsenanalyse mit schiefwinkliger Rotation ergab für die Daten der ersten Teilstichprobe (n = 302) 2 inhaltlich relevante Faktoren: «personenbezogener Ekel» (9 Items, Abwertung des eigenen äußeren Erscheinungsbildes und der Persönlichkeit) und «verhaltensbezogener Ekel» (5 Items, Abwertung des eigenen Verhaltens). Diese Lösung konnte durch eine konfirmatorische Faktoranalyse über die zweite Teilstichprobe (n = 593) bestätigt werden. In einer zweiten Studie erzielten depressive Patienten in stationärer Therapie höhere FESE-Werte als gesunde Kontrollprobanden. Schlussfolgerungen: Der FESE ist ein reliabler, valider und ökonomischer Fragebogen zur Erfassung des Selbstekels, dessen klinische Relevanz für Patienten mit einer Depression aufgezeigt werden konnte. Die Untersuchung weiterer klinischer Störungen mittels dieses Instruments erscheint vielversprechend.
A Gene Regulatory Network Model for Cell-Fate Determination during Arabidopsis thaliana Flower Development That Is Robust and Recovers Experimental Gene Expression Profilesw⃞

Flowers are icons in developmental studies of complex structures. The vast majority of 250,000 angiosperm plant species have flowers with a conserved organ plan bearing sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in the center. The combinatorial model for the activity of the so-called ABC homeotic floral genes has guided extensive experimental studies in Arabidopsis thaliana and many other plant species. However, a mechanistic and dynamical explanation for the ABC model and prevalence among flowering plants is lacking. Here, we put forward a simple discrete model that postulates logical rules that formally summarize published ABC and non-ABC gene interaction data for Arabidopsis floral organ cell fate determination and integrates this data into a dynamic network model. This model shows that all possible initial conditions converge to few steady gene activity states that match gene expression profiles observed experimentally in primordial floral organ cells of wild-type and mutant plants. Therefore, the network proposed here provides a dynamical explanation for the ABC model and shows that precise signaling pathways are not required to restrain cell types to those found in Arabidopsis, but these are rather determined by the overall gene network dynamics. Furthermore, we performed robustness analyses that clearly show that the cell types recovered depend on the network architecture rather than on specific values of the model's gene interaction parameters. These results support the hypothesis that such a network constitutes a developmental module, and hence provide a possible explanation for the overall conservation of the ABC model and overall floral plan among angiosperms. In addition, we have been able to predict the effects of differences in network architecture between Arabidopsis and Petunia hybrida.
Extracellular biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using the cell-free filtrate of nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans

The biosynthesis of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) using biological systems such as fungi has evolved to become an important area of nanobiotechnology. Herein, we report for the first time the extracellular synthesis of highly stable silver NPs (AgNPs) using the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001). The fungal cell-free filtrate was analyzed by the Bradford method and 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid assay and used to synthesize the AgNPs in the presence of a 1 mM AgNO3 solution. They have been characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Zeta potential measurements, Fourier-transform infrared, and Raman spectroscopes. UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed bioreduction, while X-ray diffractometry established the crystalline nature of the AgNPs. Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy images showed approximately 11, 38 nm monodisperse and quasispherical AgNPs. Zeta potential analysis was able to show a considerable stability of AgNPs. The N–H stretches in Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicate the presence of protein molecules. The Raman bands suggest that chitinase was involved in the growth and stabilization of AgNPs, through the coating of the particles. Our results show that the NPs we synthesized have good stability, high yield, and monodispersion.
Unified Texture Management for Arbitrary Meshes

Video games and simulators commonly use very detailed textures, whose cumulative size is often larger than the GPU memory. Textures may be loaded progressively, but dynamically loading and transferring this large amount of data in GPU memory results in loading delays and poor performance. Therefore, managing texture memory has become an important issue. While this problem has been (partly) addressed early for the specific case of terrain rendering, there is no generic texture management system for arbitrary meshes. We propose such a system, implemented on today's GPUs, which unifies classical solutions aimed at reducing memory transfer: progressive loading, texture compression, and caching strategies. For this, we introduce a new algorithm -- running on GPU -- to solve the major difficulty of detecting which parts of the texture are required for rendering. Our system is based on three components manipulating a tile pool which stores texture data in GPU memory. First, the Texture Load Map determines at every frame the appropriate list of texture tiles (i.e. location and MIP-map level) to render from the current viewpoint. Second, the Texture Cache manages the tile pool. Finally, the Texture Producer loads and decodes required texture tiles asynchronously in the tile pool. Decoding of compressed texture data is implemented on GPU to minimize texture transfer. The Texture Producer can also generate procedural textures. Our system is transparent to the user, and the only parameter that must be supplied at runtime is the current viewpoint. No modifications of the mesh are required. We demonstrate our system on large scenes displayed in real time. We show that it achieves interactive frame rates even in low-memory low-bandwidth situations.
Crisis Communication Patterns in Social Media during Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy was one of the deadliest and costliest of hurricanes of the past few decades. Many states experienced significant power outage; however, many people used social media to communicate while having limited or no access to traditional information sources. Using machine learning techniques, this study explored the evolution of various communication patterns and determined user concerns that emerged over the course of Hurricane Sandy. The original data included ∼52M tweets coming from ∼13M users between October 14, 2012 and November 12, 2012. A topic model was run on ∼763K tweets from the top 4,029 most frequent users who tweeted about Sandy at least 100 times. Some 250 well-defined communication patterns based on perplexity were identified. Conversations of the most frequent and relevant users indicate the evolution of numerous storm-phase (warning, response, and recovery) specific topics. People were also concerned about storm location and time, media coverage, and activities of political leaders and celebrities. Also presented is each relevant keyword that contributed to one particular pattern of user concerns. Such keywords would be particularly meaningful in targeted information-spreading and effective crisis communication in similar major disasters. Each of these words can also be helpful for efficient hash-tagging to reach the target audience as needed via social media. The pattern recognition approach of this study can be used in identifying real-time user needs in future crises.
Pattern recognition of Vehicle Logo using Tchebichef and Legendre moment

In this paper, we propose a Vehicle Logo Recognition (VLR) approach which uses moment invariant for feature extraction. Moment invariants and Minimum-Mean Distance (MMD) classifier are adopted to recognize six different types of vehicle logos from a public dataset. Vehicle logos obtained from coarse and fine segmentation, are recognized using Tchebichef and Legendre moment invariants. In either coarse or fine segmented vehicle logo images, Tchebichef moment invariants perform better than the Legendre's. With the experimental accuracy results of 88.3% on the 240 dataset images of six different types of vehicle logos, it has demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method in recognizing the fine segmented vehicle logo, which supports the use of the system for real application.
Negotiating teacher professionalism: governmentality and education reform in Hong Kong

This research investigates how the Hong Kong state controls and disciplines the education sector through the regulation and manipulation of discourses. The authoritative narratives are that some schools are failing the students and parents for not being able to provide quality education, and that these schools are not subject to public scrutiny while spending public money. This article seeks to understand the role of such narratives in neoliberal politics and the marketisation of education which lead to governance in the form of initiatives in school quality assurance mechanism; how different actors (Education Bureau, Professional Teachers' Union and individual teachers) are involved in the process; how they negotiate this governance of education; how such governance transforms the self-perception of teachers as well as the perception of teachers by others; and how teachers interpret, appropriate and resist such discursive power.