Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain Functional Localization: A Survey of Image Registration Techniques

Functional localization is a concept which involves the application of a sequence of geometrical and statistical image processing operations in order to define the location of brain activity or to produce functional/parametric maps with respect to the brain structure or anatomy. Considering that functional brain images do not normally convey detailed structural information and, thus, do not present an anatomically specific localization of functional activity, various image registration techniques are introduced in the literature for the purpose of mapping functional activity into an anatomical image or a brain atlas. The problems addressed by these techniques differ depending on the application and the type of analysis, i.e., single-subject versus group analysis. Functional to anatomical brain image registration is the core part of functional localization in most applications and is accompanied by intersubject and subject-to-atlas registration for group analysis studies. Cortical surface registration and automatic brain labeling are some of the other tools towards establishing a fully automatic functional localization procedure. While several previous survey papers have reviewed and classified general-purpose medical image registration techniques, this paper provides an overview of brain functional localization along with a survey and classification of the image registration techniques related to this problem
Recovery of Glycerine From Spent Palm Kernel Soap and Palm Oil Soap Lye

The recovery of glycerine from spent soap lye has been done using soap lye samples obtained from the cold process of soap production using palm kernel oil (PKO) and palm oil (PO). The overall weight of glycerine recovered per 200g of oil used, was 9.8g (4.9%) and 9.4g (4.7%) from PKO and PO soap lye respectively. Thus an average of 56.3% and an average of 53.9% of the glycerine in spent soap lye were recovered from PKO and PO soap lye respectively. Higher quantity of brine (200g at 8% concentration) was needed to recover 9.8g of glycerine from PKO soap lye than that (50g at 12% concentration) required to recover 9.4g of glycerine from PO soap lye. The weight of glycerine obtained from palm kernel soap lye increased steadily going through some maxima at various brine concentrations before they began to drop. At 8% concentration, the maximum value of glycerine obtained was 9.8g, 7.9g at 10% concentration, 8g at 12 and 15% concentrations respectively. While the weight of glycerine recovered from palm oil soap lye increased minimally at all concentrations. At 8% concentration the maximum value of glycerine recovered was 8.2g, 9g at 10% concentration, 9.4g at 12% concentration and 9.1g at 15% concentration.
BiofilmQuant: A computer-assisted tool for dental biofilm quantification

Dental biofilm is the deposition of microbial material over a tooth substratum. Several methods have recently been reported in the literature for biofilm quantification; however, at best they provide a barely automated solution requiring significant input needed from the human expert. On the contrary, state-of-the-art automatic biofilm methods fail to make their way into clinical practice because of the lack of effective mechanism to incorporate human input to handle praxis or misclassified regions. Manual delineation, the current gold standard, is time consuming and subject to expert bias. In this paper, we introduce a new semi-automated software tool, BiofilmQuant, for dental biofilm quantification in quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) images. The software uses a robust statistical modeling approach to automatically segment the QLF image into three classes (background, biofilm, and tooth substratum) based on the training data. This initial segmentation has shown a high degree of consistency and precision on more than 200 test QLF dental scans. Further, the proposed software provides the clinicians full control to fix any misclassified areas using a single click. In addition, BiofilmQuant also provides a complete solution for the longitudinal quantitative analysis of biofilm of the full set of teeth, providing greater ease of usability.
Some Basic Issues in Economic Democracy

Based on a comparison of some recent and earlier proposals for economic democracy some basic, mainly economic, issues are identified: rights of property, management and income; decisions on technology and investment; political institutions; the functions of the state and the market. The Yugoslav solution and a recent Danish blueprint for economic democracy show striking similarities. Many proposals share the problem that despite increasing consensus and motivation inside the firm, self-management does not automatically provide social responsibility of management or a solution to problems arising from the separation of economic authority and economic responsibility which are immanent in administered economies.
Workshop on the Role of Ontologies in Planning and Scheduling

We investigatean approachto alleviating the problemsof knowledge engineeringfor AI Planningby importing object structuresandobjectbehavioursfrom sharedknowledge structures.In thispaperwedescribeourfirst stepsatdevising a methodto import knowledgefrom anapplicationontology into a form usablewithin aplanningdomainmodel.Weevaluateanimplementedtool calledOWL2OCL whichassistsin the translationof ontologicalinformationinto a form usable by aplanner .
Ablation of PI3K p110-α Prevents High-Fat Diet–Induced Liver Steatosis

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) catalytic subunits p110-α and p110-β play a role in liver steatosis induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Liver-specific p110-α and p110-β knockout mice and control animals for each group were fed an HFD or normal chow for 8 weeks. Biochemical assays and quantitative real-time PCR were used to measure triglyceride, expression of lipogenic and gluconeogenic genes, and activity of protein kinases downstream of PI3K in liver lysates. Fatty acid uptake and incorporation into triglycerides were assessed in isolated hepatocytes. RESULTS Hepatic triglyceride levels in HFD-fed p110-α−/− mice were 84 ± 3% lower than in p110-α+/+ mice, whereas the loss of p110-β did not significantly alter liver lipid accumulation. p110-α−/− livers also showed a reduction in atypical protein kinase C activity and decreased mRNA and protein expression of several lipogenic genes. Hepatocytes isolated from p110-α−/− mice exhibited decreased palmitate uptake and reduced fatty acid incorporation into triglycerides as compared with p110-α+/+ cells, and hepatic expression of liver fatty acid binding protein was lower in p110-α−/− mice fed the HFD as compared with controls. Ablation of neither p110-α nor p110-β ameliorated glucose intolerance induced by the HFD, and genes involved in gluconeogenesis were upregulated in the liver of both knockout animals. CONCLUSIONS PI3K p110-α, and not p110-β, promotes liver steatosis in mice fed an HFD. p110-α might exert this effect in part through activation of atypical protein kinase C, upregulation of lipogenesis, and increased uptake of fatty acids.
Visualizing Topics with Multi-Word Expressions

We describe a new method for visualizing topics, the distributions over terms that are automatically extracted from large text corpora using latent variable models. Our method finds significant $n$-grams related to a topic, which are then used to help understand and interpret the underlying distribution. Compared with the usual visualization, which simply lists the most probable topical terms, the multi-word expressions provide a better intuitive impression for what a topic is "about. " Our approach is based on a language model of arbitrary length expressions, for which we develop a new methodology based on nested permutation tests to find significant phrases. We show that this method outperforms the more standard use of $\chi^2$ and likelihood ratio tests. We illustrate the topic presentations on corpora of scientific abstracts and news articles.
Price, Trade Size, and Information Revelation in Multi-Period Securities Markets

We study price formation in securities markets, using the sequential trade framework of Glosten and Milgrom. This paper makes one basic methodological advance over previous research on sequential securities trading: we allow for multiple trade sizes for traders to choose from in a multi-period market. We examine how trade size multiplicity affects the intertemporal dynamics of trading strategies, bid-ask spreads, and information revelation. We also show that price impact, as a function of trade size, is increasing and exhibits (discrete) concavity.
Job Insecurity and Work Intensification

Based on findings of the recently published Joseph Rowntree Report, this book provides an up-to-the-minute review of current research on flexibility, job insecurity and work intensification. It examines the impact of these developments on individuals, their families, the workplace and the long-term health of the British economy, as well as an analysis of the impact across a wide range of OECD countries including the United States, France, Germany, Sweden and Japan. Key questions addressed include: * How are jobs more insecure? * Does just-in-time labour mean more flexible contracts or more flexible workers? * Does job insecurity entail a 'new flexible morality'? * How does workplace stress affect individual health and family relationships? Timely and thought-provoking, it is essential reading for all those involved in the fields of employment relations, HRM and the sociology of work.
Br Ief Definitive Repor T Calcineurin Regulates Innate Antifungal Immunity in Neutrophils

Calcineurin inhibitors, such as cyclosporine A (CsA) and FK506, are potent immunosuppres-sants used clinically for the treatment of a range of immune-mediated diseases, such as the rejection of solid organ allografts. CsA is best characterized for its ability to inhibit effector T cell functions, predominantly by preventing the activation of the NFAT transcription factors (Hogan et al., 2003). Blocking the activation of NFATs prevents the transcription of many characteristic T cell effector cytokines, such as IL-2 (Northrop et al., 1994). There are four calcium-responsive members of the NFAT family, designated NFATc1 through NFATc4 (Macian, 2005). All are retained in an inactive state in the cytosol by phosphorylation of serines in an N-terminal Serine-rich region domain. Upon intracellular calcium influx, calmodulin displaces an auto-inhibitory loop from the active site of the phosphatase calcineurin (Bram and Crabtree, 1994). Calcineurin then removes the inhibitory phosphates, allowing NFATs to translocate to the nucleus where they collaborate with other transcription factors, such as AP-1, to effect changes in gene transcription (Clipstone and Crabtree, 1992). Although NFATs have been extensively studied in the context of T cells, relatively few studies have examined their function in myeloid lineages (Losa García et al. Despite their effectiveness in blocking T cell–mediated pathology, the use of calcineu-rin inhibitors is tempered by their many adverse effects (Woo et al., 1997). One such toxicity with particularly high morbidity and mortality is infection with opportunistic fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans, Mucor sp. Patients taking immunosuppressive drugs, like cyclosporine A (CsA), that inhibit calcineurin are highly susceptible to disseminated fungal infections, although it is unclear how these drugs suppress resistance to these opportunistic pathogens. We show that in a mouse model of disseminated Candida albicans infection, CsA-induced susceptibility to fungal infection maps to the innate immune system. To further define the cell types targeted by CsA, we generated mice with a conditional deletion of calcineurin B (CnB) in neutrophils. These mice displayed markedly decreased resistance to infection with C. albicans, and both CnB-deficient and CsA-treated neutrophils showed a defect in the ex vivo killing of C. albicans. In response to the fungal-derived pathogen-associated molecular pattern zymosan, neutrophils lacking CnB displayed impaired up-regulation of genes (IL-10, Cox2, Egr1, and Egr2) regulated by nuclear factor of activated T cells, the best characterized CnB substrate. This activity was Myd88 independent and was reproduced by stimulation with the (1,3) glucan curdlan, indicating that dectin-1, rather than toll-like …
A Potential Synergy between Incomplete Arsenic Methylation Capacity and Demographic Characteristics on the Risk of Hypertension: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in an Arsenic-Endemic Area of Inner Mongolia, China

Inefficient arsenic methylation capacity has been associated with various health hazards induced by arsenic. In this study, we aimed to explore the interaction effect of lower arsenic methylation capacity with demographic characteristics on hypertension risk. A total of 512 adult participants (126 hypertension subjects and 386 non-hypertension subjects) residing in an arsenic-endemic area in Inner Mongolia, China were included. Urinary levels of inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) were measured for all subjects. The percentage of urinary arsenic metabolites (iAs%, MMA%, and DMA%), primary methylation index (PMI) and secondary methylation index (SMI) were calculated to assess arsenic methylation capacity of individuals. Results showed that participants carrying a lower methylation capacity, which is characterized by lower DMA% and SMI, have a higher risk of hypertension compared to their corresponding references after adjusting for multiple confounders. A potential synergy between poor arsenic methylation capacity (higher MMA%, lower DMA% and SMI) and older age or higher BMI were detected. The joint effects of higher MMA% and lower SMI with cigarette smoking also suggest some evidence of synergism. The findings of present study indicated that inefficient arsenic methylation capacity was associated with hypertension and the effect might be enhanced by certain demographic factors.
On the feasibility of geographically distributed web crawling

We identify the issues that are important in design of a geographically distributed Web crawler. The identified issues are discussed from a "benefit" and "challenge" point of view. More specifically, we focus on the effect of geographical locality of Web sites on crawling performance, and, as a practical study, investigate the feasibility of a distributed crawler in terms of network costs. For this purpose, we conduct various experiments to collect network access statistics about the servers in the educational domains of eight different countries (USA, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and Greece). We gather the statistics from four different sites located in USA, Brazil, Spain, and Turkey using echoping. The results favor geographically distributed Web crawling in terms of crawling throughput.
Changes in Disparity in County-Level Diagnosed Diabetes Prevalence and Incidence in the United States, between 2004 and 2012

Background In recent decades, the United States experienced increasing prevalence and incidence of diabetes, accompanied by large disparities in county-level diabetes prevalence and incidence. However, whether these disparities are widening, narrowing, or staying the same has not been studied. We examined changes in disparity among U.S. counties in diagnosed diabetes prevalence and incidence between 2004 and 2012. Methods We used 2004 and 2012 county-level diabetes (type 1 and type 2) prevalence and incidence data, along with demographic, socio-economic, and risk factor data from various sources. To determine whether disparities widened or narrowed over the time period, we used a regression-based β-convergence approach, accounting for spatial autocorrelation. We calculated diabetes prevalence/incidence percentage point (ppt) changes between 2004 and 2012 and modeled these changes as a function of baseline diabetes prevalence/incidence in 2004. Covariates included county-level demographic and, socio-economic data, and known type 2 diabetes risk factors (obesity and leisure-time physical inactivity). Results For each county-level ppt increase in diabetes prevalence in 2004 there was an annual average increase of 0.02 ppt (p<0.001) in diabetes prevalence between 2004 and 2012, indicating a widening of disparities. However, after accounting for covariates, diabetes prevalence decreased by an annual average of 0.04 ppt (p<0.001). In contrast, changes in diabetes incidence decreased by an average of 0.04 ppt (unadjusted) and 0.09 ppt (adjusted) for each ppt increase in diabetes incidence in 2004, indicating a narrowing of county-level disparities. Conclusions County-level disparities in diagnosed diabetes prevalence in the United States widened between 2004 and 2012, while disparities in incidence narrowed. Accounting for demographic and, socio-economic characteristics and risk factors for type 2 diabetes narrowed the disparities, suggesting that these factors are strongly associated with changes in disparities. Public health interventions that target modifiable risk factors, such as obesity and physical inactivity, in high burden counties might further reduce disparities in incidence and, over time, in prevalence.
Cell-to-cell communication and ovulation. A study of the cumulus-oocyte complex

Cell-to-cell communication was characterized in cumulus-oocyte complexes from rat ovarian follicles before and after ovulation. Numerous, small gap junctional contacts were present between cumulus cells and oocytes before ovulation. The gap junction are formed on the oocyte surface by cumulus cell processes that transverse the zona pellucida and contact the oolemma. The entire cumulus mass was also connected by gap junctions via cumulus-cumulus interactions. In the hours preceding ovulation, the frequency of gap junctional contacts between cumulus cells and the oocyte was reduced, and the cumulus was disorganized. Electrophysiological measurements indicated that bidirectional ionic coupling was present between the cumulus and oocyte before ovulation. In addition, iontophoretically injected fluorescein dye was tranferred between the oocyte and cumulus cells. Examination of the extent of ionic coupling in cumulus-oocyte specimens before and after ovulation revealed that ionic coupling between the cumulus and oocyte progressively decreased as the time of ovulation approached. In postovulatory specimens, no coupling was detected. Although some proteolytic mechanism may be involved in the disintegration of the cumulus-oocyte complex, neither the cumulus cells nor the oocyte produced detectable levels of plasminogen activator, a protease which is synthesized by membrana granulosa cells. In summary, cell communication is a characterisitc feature of the cumulus-oocyte complex, and this communication is terminated near the time of ovulation. This temporal pattern of the termination of communication between the cumulus and the oocyte may indicate that communication provides a mechanism for regulating the maturation of the oocyte during follicular development before ovulation.
The IEA Preprimary Study : early childhood care and education in 11 countries

Tables. Figures. Acknowledgements. Preface. A word about IEA. The IEA Preprimary Project: obtaining knowledge to improve the quality of children's early experiences (M. Crahay). Methodology of the Phase 1 study (P.P. Olmsted et al.). The Phase 1 national samples (P.P. Olmsted). Study findings: families' weekly use of early childhood services (O. Onibokun, P.P. Olmsted). Study findings: use of organized facilities (M. Ojala, S. Opper). Study findings: children's daily routines (A. Delhaxhe et al.). A nation-by-nation look at the findings (P.P. Olmsted). Questions answered, questions raised--a summary (D.P. Weikart). Appendix A: supplementary tables. Appendix B: IEA Preprimary Project Phase 1 national research centers and coordinators.
On building a reflective middleware service for location-awareness

Location based services are becoming essential feature of context-awareness in ubiquitous computing. Reflective distribute component programming model is proposed to systematically provide location to location based services (LBS). We integrate distributed component technology and reflection to develop localization capability as middleware service. Concept of meta object protocols (Reflection) is used in different way than traditional reflective mechanisms. It deals with the state of the component that is not inside the component rather resides outside of it, namely extrinsic. This component model provides the basis for middleware architecture to support location providing service at design, implementation and run time. We describe the methodology we used to build location-awareness as middleware service based upon our reflective component model.
Stabilized Binding of TBP to the TATA Box of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Early (tk) and Late (gC) Promoters by TFIIA and ICP4

ABSTRACT We have recently shown that ICP4 has a differential requirement for the general transcription factor TFIIA in vitro (S. Zabierowski and N. DeLuca, J. Virol. 78:6162-6170, 2004). TFIIA was dispensable for ICP4 activation of a late promoter (gC) but was required for the efficient activation of an early promoter (tk). An intact INR element was required for proficient ICP4 activation of the late promoter in the absence of TFIIA. Because TFIIA is known to stabilize the binding of both TATA binding protein (TBP) and TFIID to the TATA box of core promoters and ICP4 has been shown to interact with TFIID, we tested the ability of ICP4 to stabilize the binding of either TBP or TFIID to the TATA box of representative early, late, and INR-mutated late promoters (tk, gC, and gC8, respectively). Utilizing DNase I footprinting analysis, we found that ICP4 was able to facilitate TFIIA stabilized binding of TBP to the TATA box of the early tk promoter. Using mutant ICP4 proteins, the ability to stabilize the binding of TBP to both the wild-type and the INR-mutated gC promoters was located in the amino-terminal region of ICP4. When TFIID was substituted for TBP, ICP4 could stabilize the binding of TFIID to the TATA box of the wild-type gC promoter. ICP4, however, could not effectively stabilize TFIID binding to the TATA box of the INR-mutated late promoter. The additional activities of TFIIA were required to stabilize the binding of TFIID to the INR-mutated late promoter. Collectively, these data suggest that TFIIA may be dispensable for ICP4 activation of the wild-type late promoter because ICP4 can substitute for TFIIA's ability to stabilize the binding of TFIID to the TATA box. In the absence of a functional INR, ICP4 can no longer stabilize TFIID binding to the TATA box of the late promoter and requires the additional activities of TFIIA. The stabilized binding of TFIID by TFIIA may in turn allow ICP4 to more efficiently activate transcription from non-INR containing promoters.