Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Navigating the Information Revolution: Choices for Laggard Countries.

Abstract : The rapid diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICTs) during the last two decades has had a profound impact on all spheres of human endeavors, changes that are collectively referred to as the Information Revolution (IR). But the revolution has been uneven, with some countries being far ahead and others far behind in IR, resulting in the so called digital divide. Laggard countries need means to move ahead if they are to access the benefits that IR offers and not suffer the consequences of being left out. This study identifies stages of IR, classifies countries according to their various stages, and using country-level data, identifies the drivers that are important across stages of IR. This is done at two levels: (1) drivers of diffusion of IR artifacts (short term dynamics) and drivers of the broader IR concept (long term dynamics). This study finds that at lower stages, the factors that drive the information revolution tend to be those that have to do with the development of markets. In the intermediate stages, demand factors are the key drivers. At higher stages, supply factors are the key drivers of IR. Current use level or epidemic effects are the key drivers of the short term diffusion of ICT artifacts. The overriding drivers at all stages seem to be levels of human capital, quality of governance and the extent of urbanization. This analysis unifies long term adoption drivers with short term diffusion drivers to develop a road map that points the way for laggard countries as they ride the information revolution.
Position-paper for Future_workspaces Hyper-bonds – Multimodal Interfaces for Collaborative Workspaces of the Future

2 Multimodal Man-Machine Interfaces for learning and working are getting more and more important if we foresee, as we do, a closer integration of different real and virtual realities, mixed realities. To make these multimodal interfaces, based on mechatronic principles easy to use as a developer and user, we need more general theoretical concepts and practical modules. A generalized concept to blend physical systems with their virtual counterparts, being their computer-internal representation or a functional continuation will be introduced. Hyper-Bonds combine the unified abstract systems representation of bond graphs with their concrete implementation in a " hyper-connection " between physical phenomena of the computer-external environment and the logical structure of computer-internal representations in a vivid way. The theory is laid down and a first application in a learning and working environment for automation technologa, allowing a free determination of boundaries, is shown. Further applications and extensions are highlighted. 1. Introduction Mixed realities are becoming more and more popular and have some interesting perspectives for tele-service and tele-learning. They represent a kind of coupling of real world phenomena to various information, represented within a computer. This might take place in the sense that information is displayed and overlaid to real phenomena (see Augmented Reality research: Weiser 1993, Wellner 1993), in the sense that real phenomena are used as handles to manipulate information (see Graspable User Interface research: Fitzmaurice et al 1995) or in the sense that both worlds are bi-directional tight together (Ishii & Ullmer 1997, Brave et al 1998). The focus of this paper is the later approach.
Bmc Microbiology

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profile homogeneity of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis isolates from cattle and heterogeneity of those from sheep and goats Abstract Background: Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) causes paratuberculosis in animals and is suspected of causing Crohn's Disease in humans. Characterization of strains led to classify paratuberculosis isolates in two main types, cattle type strains, found affecting all host species, and sheep type strains, reported affecting mainly sheep. In order to get a better understanding of the epidemiology of paratuberculosis a large set of Map isolates obtained from different species over the last 25 years have been characterized. Five-hundred and twenty isolates from different hosts (cattle, sheep, goats, bison, deer and wild boar) and origins had been cultured and typed by IS1311 restriction-endonuclease-analysis. Two-hundred and sixty-nine isolates were further characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using SnaBI and SpeI endonucleases. Differences in strain isolation upon various media conditions were also studied.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SUPERVISED IMAGE CLASSIFICATION ALGORITHMS FOR SATELLITE IMAGES

Image classification is a complex information extraction technique. The objective of image classification is to identify the features occurring in an image and group similar features as clusters. The aim of this study is to compare some supervised image classification techniques . The techniques considered in this paper are Minimum Distance, k-Nearest Neighbour (KNN), Nearest Clustering Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) Classification algorithms. All the techniques are compared and analysed for best results and maximum accuracy.
Influence of Vitamin D Metabolites on Plasma Cytokine Concentrations in Endurance Sport Athletes and on Multiantigen Stimulated Cytokine Production by Whole Blood and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Cultures

Aim. Our aims were to determine the influence of plasma total 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) status on the plasma cytokine concentrations in athletes and the in vitro effects of different doses of 1, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1, 25(OH)2D3) on multiantigen stimulated cytokine production by whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures. Methods. Plasma samples from 43 athletes with high and low levels of 25(OH)D were assayed for the concentrations of cytokines. The whole blood samples and PBMCs from healthy subjects were incubated in vitro with a multi-antigen vaccine and different doses of added 1, 25(OH)2D3. The circulating cytokines and stimulated whole blood and PBMC culture production of cytokines were determined using a biochip assay. Results. The circulating interleukin-(IL-)10 and interferon-(IFN-) γ concentrations were significantly higher in the vitamin D sufficient athletes. Furthermore, the production of tumour necrosis factor-(TNF-) α, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-10 by whole blood culture was significantly inhibited by 1, 25(OH)2D3 concentrations of 1000 pmol/L or 10000 pmol/L. Conclusions. We found that the influence of vitamin D on circulating cytokines might be different in athletes compared with nonathletes and cytokines production by whole blood culture was not influenced by 1, 25(OH)2D3 in concentrations within the normal healthy range.
Contribution of Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Signaling within Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray to Pain Sensitivity in Parkinson’s Disease via GABAergic Pathway

Background/aims Hypersensitive pain response is often observed in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD); however, the mechanisms responsible for hyperalgesia are not well understood. Chronic neuroinflammation is one of the hallmarks of PD pathophysiology. Since the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) is an important component of the descending inhibitory pathway controlling on central pain transmission, we examined the role for pro-inflammatory cytokines (PICs) system of PAG in regulating exaggerated pain evoked by PD. Methods We used a rat model of PD to perform the experimental protocols. PD was induced by microinjection of 6-hydroxydopamine to lesion the left medial forebrain bundle. Pain responses to mechanical and thermal stimulation were first examined in control rats and PD rats. Then, ELISA and Western Blot analysis were used to determine PIC levels and their receptors expression. Results Protein expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α receptors (namely, IL-1R, IL-6R, and TNFR subtype TNFR1) in the plasma membrane PAG of PD rats was upregulated, whereas the total expression of PIC receptors was not significantly altered. The ratio of membrane protein and total protein (IL-1R, IL-6R, and TNFR1) was 1.48 ± 0.15, 1.59 ± 0.18, and 1.67 ± 0.16 in PAG of PD rats (P < 0.05 vs. their respective controls). This was accompanied with increases of PICs of PAG and decreases of GABA (623 ± 21 ng/mg in control rats and 418 ± 18 ng/mg in PD rats; P < 0.05 vs. control rats) and withdrawal thresholds to mechanical and thermal stimuli. Our data further showed that the concentrations of GABA and withdrawal thresholds were largely restored by blocking those PIC receptors in PAG of PD rats. Stimulation of GABA receptors in PAG of PD rats also blunted a decrease in withdrawal thresholds. Conclusion Our data suggest that upregulation of the membrane PIC receptor in the PAG of PD rats is likely to impair the descending inhibitory pathways in regulating pain transmission and thereby plays a role in the development of hypersensitive pain response in PD.
Preparation of Three-Dimensional Vascularized MSC Cell Sheet Constructs for Tissue Regeneration

Engineering three-dimensional (3D) vascularized constructs remains a challenge due to the inability to form rich microvessel networks. In this study we engineered a prevascularized 3D cell sheet construct for tissue regeneration using human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells as cell sources. hMSCs were cultured to form a thick cell sheet, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were then seeded on the hMSCs sheet to form networks. The single prevascularized HUVEC/hMSC cell sheet was folded to form a 3D construct by a modified cell sheet engineering technique. In vitro results indicated that the hMSCs cell sheet promoted the HUVECs cell migration to form networks in horizontal and vertical directions. In vivo results showed that many blood vessels grew into the 3D HUVEC/hMSC cell sheet constructs after implanted in the subcutaneous pocket of immunodeficient mice. The density of blood vessels in the prevascularized constructs was higher than that in the nonprevascularized constructs. Immunohistochemistry staining further showed that in vitro preformed human capillaries in the prevascularized constructs anastomosed with the host vasculature to form functional blood vessels. These results suggest the promising potential of this 3D prevascularized construct using hMSCs cell sheet as a platform for wide applications in engineering vascularized tissues.
Multi-Media Fusion through Application of Machine Learning and NLP

This paper describes work on a system to dynamically cluster and present information from live multimedia news sources. Features are obtained by applying statistical and natural language processing techniques to texts associated with the media (new wire stories or closed-captions). Conceptual clustering is employed to dynamically build a set of hierarchical clusters. Results are presented objectively comparing automated clustering with hand clustering of the same articles.
On the Complexity of the Highly Connected Deletion Problem

Removing as few edges as possible from a graph such that the resulting graph consists of highly connected components is a natural problem in graph-based data clustering. Building on work by Hartuv and Shamir [Inf. Proc. Lett. 2000], we introduce the corresponding combinatorial optimization problem Highly Connected Deletion. We show that Highly Connected Deletion is NP-hard even on 4-regular graphs and provide fixed-parameter tractability results for the problem.
Evolutionary Trajectory Planner for Multiple UAVs in Realistic Scenarios

This paper presents a path planner for multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) based on evolutionary algorithms (EAs) for realistic scenarios. The paths returned by the algorithm fulfill and optimize multiple criteria that 1) are calculated based on the properties of real UAVs, terrains, radars, and missiles and 2) are structured in different levels of priority according to the selected mission. The paths of all the UAVs are obtained with the multiple coordinated agents coevolution EA (MCACEA), which is a general framework that uses an EA per agent (i.e., UAV) that share their optimal solutions to coordinate the evolutions of the EAs populations using cooperation objectives. This planner works offline and online by means of recalculating parts of the original path to avoid unexpected risks while the UAV is flying. Its search space and computation time have been reduced using some special operators in the EAs. The successful results of the paths obtained in multiple scenarios, which are statistically analyzed in the paper, and tested against a simulator that incorporates complex models of the UAVs, radars, and missiles, make us believe that this planner could be used for real-flight missions.
Automated Pattern Database Design

Pattern databases are dictionaries for heuristic estimates based on state-to-goal distances in state space abstractions. Their effectiveness is sensitive to the selection of the underlying patterns. Especially for multiple and additive pattern databases, a manual selection of pattern sets that lead to good exploration results is involved. For automating the selection process, greedy bin-packing strategies have been suggested. This paper proposes genetic algorithms to optimize their output. Patterns are encoded as Boolean matrices and optimized using an objective function based on predicting the heuristic search tree size, given the distribution of heuristic values in the abstract state spaces. To reduce the memory requirements of the databases we apply a construction process based on BDDs. Experiments in heuristic search planning show that the search efforts are significantly reduced.
Controllability and quadratic stabilization of a class of discrete linear repetitive processes

Abstract Repetitive processes are a distinct class of two-dimensional systems (i.e. information propagation in two independent directions) of both systems theoretic and applications interest. They cannot be controlled by direct extension of existing techniques from either standard (termed 1D here) or two-dimensional (2D) systems theory. In this paper we define a new model for these processes necessary to represent dynamics which arise in some applications areas and which are not included in the currently used model. Then we proceed to define quadratic stability for this case and develop the first results on a control theory in the form of pass controllability and the design of physically based control laws.
Simulation‐based uncertainty quantification of human arterial network hemodynamics

This work aims at identifying and quantifying uncertainties from various sources in human cardiovascular system based on stochastic simulation of a one‐dimensional arterial network. A general analysis of different uncertainties and probability characterization with log‐normal distribution of these uncertainties is introduced. Deriving from a deterministic one‐dimensional fluid–structure interaction model, we establish the stochastic model as a coupled hyperbolic system incorporated with parametric uncertainties to describe the blood flow and pressure wave propagation in the arterial network. By applying a stochastic collocation method with sparse grid technique, we study systemically the statistics and sensitivity of the solution with respect to many different uncertainties in a relatively complete arterial network with potential physiological and pathological implications for the first time. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tunable Negative Group Delay in a Birefringent Fabry–Pérot-Like Cavity With High Fractional Advancement Induced by Cross-Interference Effect

A strong and broadband negative group delay (NGD) is demonstrated in a circular waveguide with an asymmetric cross-shaped slotted structure in the millimeter-wave region. For an input of 45° linear polarization (relative to the orientation of the cross-shaped slots), the NGD fractional bandwidth is as high as 3.57%, in which the optimal group advancement obtained is nearly 24 times greater than the delay traveling with the speed of light in vacuum. This further indicates a very high fractional advancement of 12.10%. In addition, the NGD can be controlled by adjusting the polarization azimuthal angle of the incident pulse. The observed tunable NGD effect is attributed to the destructive cross interference between the two polarization eigenstates, which effectively reduces the released field energy at the observed polarization channel. A general theory is provided with excellent agreement in the experimental and simulation results.
A 128 × 128 CMOS bio-sensor array for extracellular recording of neural activity

Sensor arrays are a key tool in the field of neuroscience for noninvasive recording of the activity of biological networks, such as dissociated neurons or neural tissue. A high-density sensor array complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor chip is presented with 16 K pixels, a frame rate of 2 kiloframes per second, and a pitch of 7.8 m 7.8 m for imaging of neural activity. The related circuit and system issues as well as process aspects are discussed. A mismatch-canceling calibration circuitry with current mode signal representation is used. Results from first biological experiments are presented, which prove full functionality of the chip.
Prioritization of influenza pandemic vaccination to minimize years of life lost.

BACKGROUND How to allocate limited vaccine supplies in the event of an influenza pandemic is currently under debate. Conventional vaccination strategies focus on those at highest risk for severe outcomes, including seniors, but do not consider (1) the signature pandemic pattern in which mortality risk is shifted to younger ages, (2) likely reduced vaccine response in seniors, and (3) differences in remaining years of life with age. METHODS We integrated these factors to project the age-specific years of life lost (YLL) and saved in a future pandemic, on the basis of mortality patterns from 3 historical pandemics, age-specific vaccine efficacy, and the 2000 US population structure. RESULTS For a 1918-like scenario, the absolute mortality risk is highest in people <45 years old; in contrast, seniors (those >or=65 years old) have the highest mortality risk in the 1957 and 1968 scenarios. The greatest YLL savings would be achieved by targeting different age groups in each scenario; people <45 years old in the 1918 scenario, people 45-64 years old in the 1968 scenario, and people >45 years old in the 1957 scenario. CONCLUSIONS Our findings shift the focus of pandemic vaccination strategies onto younger populations and illustrate the need for real-time surveillance of mortality patterns in a future pandemic. Flexible setting of vaccination priority is essential to minimize mortality.
The New Russian Business Leaders

In order to work effectively with Russian organizations, it is essential for potential Western partners and shareholders to fully understand their leadership style, organizational practices and business expectations. Based on extensive interviews with the pioneers of Russian business and the authors' own experiences, this perceptive new book attempts to decipher the enigma of Russia's new generation of business leaders. The authors present six in-depth case studies focusing on companies of vastly differing sizes, ranging from a newly-privatized operation, and the creation and organization of an oligarch's empire, to several entrepreneurial start-ups in different service industries. The case studies document the changes and developments that have occurred in Russia since the privatization era of the 1990s, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the emerging business leadership orientations. Grounded in Russian culture and history, the book takes a balanced view of the rapid development and transformation of the country's business leadership over the past ten years. The authors also offer perceptive conclusions and practical advice that will not only contribute to the success of Western businesses operating in Russia and other former communist countries in Eastern Europe but also help business people in Eastern Europe create high performance organizations. As we move towards a globalized economy, the need to recognise executive behaviour in Russia is becoming increasingly important. This book will provide a great source of information for academics and researchers of entrepreneurship, leadership studies and international business. Although the focus is on Russian entrepreneurs, the lessons in the book are equally as relevant for other cultures and leadership styles.
Inhibition of Nucleotide Biosynthesis Potentiates the Antifungal Activity of Amphotericin B

The polyene antifungal agent Amphotericin B exhibits potent and broad spectrum fungicidal activity. However, high nephrotoxicity can hinder its administration in resource poor settings. Quantification of early fungicidal activity in studies of HIV patients with cryptococcosis demonstrate that 5-Fluorocytosine therapy in combination with Amphotericin B results in faster clearance than with Amphotericin B alone. In vitro synergy between the two drugs has also been reported but the mechanism by which 5-Fluorocytosine synergizes with Amphotericin B has not been delineated. In this study we set out to investigate the effect of genetic mutation or pharmacologic repression of de novo pyrimidine and purine biosynthesis pathways on the Amphotericin B susceptibility of Cryptococcus neoformans. We demonstrate that a ura- derivative of wild type Cryptococcus neoformans strain H99 is hypersensitive to Amphotericin B. This sensitivity is remediated by re-introduction of a wild type URA5 gene, but not by addition of exogenous uracil to supplement the auxotrophy. Repression of guanine biosynthesis by treatment with the inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor, mycophenolic acid, was synergistic with Amphotericin B as determined by checkerboard analysis. As in Cryptococcus neoformans, a ura − derivative of Candida albicans was also hypersensitive to Amphotericin B, and treatment of Candida albicans with mycophenolic acid was likewise synergistic with Amphotericin B. In contrast, neither mycophenolic acid nor 5-FC had an effect on the Amphotericin B susceptibility of Aspergillus fumigatus. These studies suggest that pharmacological targeting of nucleotide biosynthesis pathways has potential to lower the effective dose of Amphotericin B for both C. neoformans and C. albicans. Given the requirement of nucleotide and nucleotide sugars for growth and pathogenesis of Cryptococcus neoformans, disrupting nucleotide metabolic pathways might thus be an effective mechanism for the development of novel antifungal drugs.
PantaRay: fast ray-traced occlusion caching of massive scenes

We describe the architecture of a novel system for precomputing sparse directional occlusion caches. These caches are used for accelerating a fast cinematic lighting pipeline that works in the spherical harmonics domain. The system was used as a primary lighting technology in the movie Avatar, and is able to efficiently handle massive scenes of unprecedented complexity through the use of a flexible, stream-based geometry processing architecture, a novel out-of-core algorithm for creating efficient ray tracing acceleration structures, and a novel out-of-core GPU ray tracing algorithm for the computation of directional occlusion and spherical integrals at arbitrary points.