Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using X-Ray Mammograms to Assist in Microwave Breast Image Interpretation

Current clinical breast imaging modalities include ultrasound, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and the ubiquitous X-ray mammography. Microwave imaging, which takes advantage of differing electromagnetic properties to obtain image contrast, shows potential as a complementary imaging technique. As an emerging modality, interpretation of 3D microwave images poses a significant challenge. MR images are often used to assist in this task, and X-ray mammograms are readily available. However, X-ray mammograms provide 2D images of a breast under compression, resulting in significant geometric distortion. This paper presents a method to estimate the 3D shape of the breast and locations of regions of interest from standard clinical mammograms. The technique was developed using MR images as the reference 3D shape with the future intention of using microwave images. Twelve breast shapes were estimated and compared to ground truth MR images, resulting in a skin surface estimation accurate to within an average Euclidean distance of 10 mm. The 3D locations of regions of interest were estimated to be within the same clinical area of the breast as corresponding regions seen on MR imaging. These results encourage investigation into the use of mammography as a source of information to assist with microwave image interpretation as well as validation of microwave imaging techniques.
Variation in Streptococcus pyogenes NAD+ Glycohydrolase Is Associated with Tissue Tropism

ABSTRACT Streptococcus pyogenes is an important pathogen that causes a variety of diseases. The most common infections involve the throat (pharyngitis) or skin (impetigo); however, the factors that determine tissue tropism and severity are incompletely understood. The S. pyogenes NAD+ glycohydrolase (SPN) is a virulence factor that has been implicated in contributing to the pathogenesis of severe infections. However, the role of SPN in determining the bacterium's tissue tropism has not been evaluated. In this report, we examine the sequences of spn and its endogenous inhibitor ifs from a worldwide collection of S. pyogenes strains. Analysis of average pairwise nucleotide diversity, average number of nucleotide differences, and ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions revealed significant diversity in spn and ifs. Application of established models of molecular evolution shows that SPN is evolving under positive selection and diverging into NAD+ glycohydrolase (NADase)-active and -inactive subtypes. Additionally, the NADase-inactive SPN subtypes maintain the characteristics of a functional gene while ifs becomes a pseudogene. Thus, NADase-inactive SPN continues to evolve under functional constraint. Furthermore, NADase activity did not correlate with invasive disease in our collection but was associated with tissue tropism. The ability to cause infection at both the pharynx and the skin (“generalist” strains) is correlated with NADase-active SPN, while the preference for causing infection at either the throat or the skin (“specialist” strains) is associated with NADase-inactive SPN. These findings suggest that SPN has a NADase-independent function and prompt a reevaluation of the role of SPN in streptococcal pathogenesis.
Journal interaction: A bibliometric analysis of economics journals

Purpose – Citation analysis is widely used as an evaluation method within sciences. The purpose of this paper is to use citation analyses to add insight into the interaction between economics journals. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a method of citation analysis using multiple linear regressions on both cited and citing economics journals. The proposed method controls for the different characteristics of the journals as well as for their degree of interaction. Findings – The paper shows some of the hidden structures within the science of economics that are determinants for the results from citation analysis. The analysis indicates several underlying factors within citation patterns in economics that should be accounted for when doing citation analysis for evaluation purposes. A journal is to a large extent self‐supplying with citations but, when this is extracted from the data, journals are dependent on similar journals – with respect to sub‐discipline, geography and JIF – to supply citations. Research limitations/implications – The analysis in this paper includes only a sub‐set of the journals of the science of economics and other sciences may exhibit other patterns and thus other underlying factors. Practical implications – In an evaluation that takes place across a wide board of sciences an analysis of both cited and citing journals may help to determine which factors should be taken into account in the evaluation. Originality/value – This type of analysis enables one to analyse some of the characteristics that separate the sciences.
LA INFLUENCIA DEL MAESTRO-TUTOR DEL PRACTICUM EN EL BIENESTAR/MALESTAR DEL FUTURO DOCENTE THE INFLUENCE OF THE TUTOR-TEACHER OF PRACTICE TEACHING ON THE WELLBEING/UNEASE OF THE FUTURE TEACHER

The deep changes which our society has undergone have meant new duties and compromises for the teacher. These demands generate a negative psychological state which has consequences both on the teacher and on teaching. It is necessary to train teachers at the different stages of his/her professional development in order that he/she may face, with sufficient skills, those situations that are potentially conflictive
ENVIRONMENTAL ROBUSTNESS AND THE ADAPTABILITY OF POPULATIONS

Recent work has shown that genetic robustness can either facilitate or impede adaptation. But the impact of environmental robustness on adaptation remains unclear. Environmental robustness helps ensure that organisms consistently develop the same phenotype in the face of “environmental noise” during development. Under purifying selection, those genotypes that express the optimal phenotype most reliably will be selectively favored. The resulting reduction in genetic variation tends to slow adaptation when the population is faced with a novel target phenotype. However, environmental noise sometimes induces the expression of an alternative advantageous phenotype, which may speed adaptation by genetic assimilation. Here, we use a population‐genetic model to explore how these two opposing effects of environmental noise influence the capacity of a population to adapt. We analyze how the rate of adaptation depends on the frequency of environmental noise, the degree of environmental robustness in the population, the distribution of environmental robustness across genotypes, the population size, and the strength of selection for a newly adaptive phenotype. Over a broad regime, we find that environmental noise can either facilitate or impede adaptation. Our analysis uncovers several surprising insights about the relationship between environmental noise and adaptation, and it provides a general framework for interpreting empirical studies of both genetic and environmental robustness.
Investigation of the annealing time effects on Cu deposited CdTe thin films for photovoltaic application

Firstly, Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) thin films have been deposited on cleaned soda lime glass substrates at 300°C by using the RF magnetron sputtering technique. After that, Cu thin film was deposited for 5 minutes at 200°C on top of CdCl<sub>2</sub> treated CdTe thin films by sputtering. Subsequently, CdTe and Cu stacks were annealed at 400°C for 15 minutes, 20 minutes and 25 minutes in a vacuum furnace. The influence of different annealing times on the structural, topographical and electrical properties of Cu sputtered CdTe thin films were then examined by XRD, AFM and Hall Effect measurement, respectively. XRD patterns reveal that, one CdTe peak corresponding to the (111)cub reflection planes at 2θ=23.8<sup>o</sup> and another low intensity Cu<sub>2</sub>Te peak representing (200)<sup>hex</sup> hexagonal reflection planes at around 2θ=24.8<sup>o</sup> were found for all the annealing times. Surface roughness and topography were viewed from the AFM images. Noteworthy changes were observed in the films surface roughness due to the different annealing times. The surface roughness values imply rising trend for lower annealing times. Bulk carrier density was in the order of 10<sup>18</sup>cm<sup>-3</sup>. The highest carrier concentration of 7.1×10<sup>18</sup>cm<sup>-3</sup> was achieved for the films annealed for 15 min.
Partial Likelihood-Based Scoring Rules for Evaluating Density Forecasts in Tails

We propose new scoring rules based on partial likelihood for assessing the relative out-of-sample predictive accuracy of competing density forecasts over a specific region of interest, such as the left tail in financial risk management. By construction, existing scoring rules based on weighted likelihood or censored normal likelihood favor density forecasts with more probability mass in the given region, rendering predictive accuracy tests biased towards such densities. Our novel partial likelihoodbased scoring rules do not suffer from this problem, as illustrated by means of Monte Carlo simulations and an empirical application to daily S&P 500 index returns.
Stochastic properties of quantization noise in memoryless converters affected by integral nonlinearity

This paper is focused on the stochastic properties of quantization noise introduced by nonideal memoryless converters. In particular, overloading effects and integral nonlinearity (INL) are considered. A theoretical model is given, which accurately describes the quantization noise probability density function in presence of overloading noise and both deterministic and stochastic INL. A Gaussian stimulus is adopted for validation purposes due to its relevance in modern telecommunication systems. The proposed model is then used to derive quantization noise power as a function of both input signal and INL stochastic properties, in order to evaluate the average performance of classes of analog-to-digital converters (ADC). Finally, the results are applied to a memoryless converter affected by Gaussian INL, analyzing the properties of quantization noise.
CURRENT METHODS OF MYOPIA CONTROL A LITERATURE REVIEW & UPDATE

Myopia affects up to one-third of the population in the United States today. It is a leading cause of low vision in Asian countries secondary to the increased risk of retinal detachments and glaucoma. Genetics, as well as environmental factors and nearwork have been hypothesized to play a role in myopia development. Current techniques to control its progression target these etiologies. Methods of myopia control that have been explored include: vision and behavioral therapy, contact lenses, multifocal lenses, and pharmaceutical agents. In the realm of vision and behavioral therapy, prior non-controlled studies are encouraging. Bifocal contact lenses appear to have high potential in reducing myopia. Atropine, pirenzepine, biofeedback, and progressive lenses have shown promising results, predominantly in young esophoric myopes. Many of the current studies, particularly those involving vision therapy, atropine, pirenzepine, and orthokeratology lenses, should be repeated to quantify the influence on myopia progression. Myopia control continues to be an area of active research.
Arabidopsis plants deficient in plastidial glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase show alterations in abscisic acid (ABA) signal transduction: interaction between ABA and primary metabolism

Abscisic acid (ABA) controls plant development and regulates plant responses to environmental stresses. A role for ABA in sugar regulation of plant development has also been well documented although the molecular mechanisms connecting the hormone with sugar signal transduction pathways are not well understood. In this work it is shown that Arabidopsis thaliana mutants deficient in plastidial glycolytic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapcp1gapcp2) are ABA insensitive in growth, stomatal closure, and germination assays. The ABA levels of gapcp1gapcp2 were normal, suggesting that the ABA signal transduction pathway is impaired in the mutants. ABA modified gapcp1gapcp2 gene expression, but the mutant response to the hormone differed from that observed in wild-type plants. The gene expression of the transcription factor ABI4, involved in both sugar and ABA signalling, was altered in gapcp1gapcp2, suggesting that their ABA insensitivity is mediated, at least partially, through this transcriptional regulator. Serine supplementation was able partly to restore the ABA sensitivity of gapcp1gapcp2, indicating that amino acid homeostasis and/or serine metabolism may also be important determinants in the connections of ABA with primary metabolism. Overall, these studies provide new insights into the links between plant primary metabolism and ABA signalling, and demonstrate the importance of plastidial glycolytic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in these interactions.
The Politics of Knowledge in Education

This article contributes to the growing social realist literature in the sociology of education. A world systems approach is used to explain the shift to the various forms of localisation, including the emphasis on experience in the curriculum, as a strategy of globalisation that contributes to the decline of universal class consciousness and progressive politics in the contemporary period. Limiting the curriculum to experiential knowledge limits access to a powerful class resource; that of conceptual knowledge required for critical reasoning and political agency. Knowledge that comes from experience limits the knower to that experience. The shift to localised knowledge fixes groups in the working class to a never ending present as schools that use a social constructivist approach to knowledge in the curriculum fail to provide the intellectual tools of conceptual thinking and its medium in advanced literacy that lead to an imagined, yet unknown, future.
What makes consumers believe: the impacts of priming and sequential service experiences on consumer emotions and willingness to pay

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of priming on consumer emotions and willingness to pay as consumers experience two services with two opposite valences. Design/methodology/approach – A 2 (service experience sequence: failure–success, success–failure) × 3(priming: positive, negative, no priming) between-subject experiment was conducted with 230 college students in China. Findings – Results indicate that when priming information is included, people give greater decision weight to the second service. Specifically, in the failure–success scenario, priming information between two services increases positive emotions and decreases negative emotions, raising willingness to pay. In the success–failure scenario, priming information decreases positive emotions and increases negative emotions, thus lowering willingness to pay. Practical implications – First, if businesses discover the possibility of a service failure, then disclosing negative information is better than whitewashing the t.
Orbital forced cyclicity of reflector strength in the seismic records of the Cape Basin

A well‐pronounced succession of continuous high‐amplitude reflectors characterises the upper acoustic units off Southwest Africa as revealed in our seismostratigraphic study. We performed spectral analyses over age‐transformed seismic traces. The results suggest a temporal regularity in the variation of reflector strength according to Milankovitch cycles since the early Pliocene. Periods of 100 kyr/cycle between 0–2 Ma correspond to eccentricity modulations. From 2–3 Ma, shorter periods close to obliquity cycles prevail, whereas in even older units periodicity increases again to 100 kyr/cycle. We propose the cyclicity of high‐amplitude reflectors is caused by orbitally driven climate variations, which modulate the sedimentary properties and with it the seismic reflectivity.
Attribution Theory in Sport: Current Status and New Perspectives

In adopting attribution theory, researchers in the field of sport psychology have followed the cognitive perspectives characteristic of mainstream investigations in this area. Numerous investigations regarding the self-perception of achievement outcomes in sport reveal this trend. The present article discusses the sport psychological perspective of attribution theory in terms of present and future concerns. First, a critical evaluation of existing approaches to the study of sport attribution is presented. The discussion outlines the typical characteristics of such investigations and their problems, some inherited from psychology and others unique to sport. This critical analysis underscores the narrowness of previous interests. Second, the broad scope of attribution is presented to emphasize the wealth of research problems that could be studied, in addition to those concerning self-focus on achievement outcomes. Third, recent investigations of attribution in sport are briefly described to exemplify new re.
Seizure-like phenomena and propofol: A systematic review

Abstract—Data on seizure-like phenomena (SLP) in patients receiving propofol were systematically reviewed. Reports had to provide detailed information on SLP in individual patients who received propofol. Phenomena were classified according to the time point of their occurrence during anesthesia or sedation (induction, maintenance, emergence, delayed [>30 minutes after emergence]) and their clinical presentation (generalized tonic-clonic seizures, focal motor seizures, events presented as increased tone with twitching and rhythmic movements not perceived as generalized tonic-clonic seizures, opisthotonos, involuntary movements). In 70 patients without epilepsy, SLP happened during induction in 24 (34%), during maintenance in two (3%), during emergence in 28 (40%), and was delayed in 16 (23%). Most frequent clinical presentations of SLP were generalized tonic-clonic seizures in 30 patients (43%), events presented as increased tone with twitching and rhythmic movements not perceived as generalized tonic-clonic seizures in 20 (36%), and involuntary movements in 11 (16%). Of 11 patients with epilepsy, seven (64%) had generalized tonic-clonic seizure during emergence. Of all 81 patients, 26 (32%) only had an EEG, and 12 (15%) only a neurologic consultation. SLP may happen in patients with or without epilepsy receiving propofol. The time point of the occurrence of SLP suggests that a change in cerebral concentration of propofol may be causal. To confirm this hypothesis, to estimate the prevalence of propofol-related SLP, and to identify patients at risk, data of higher quality are needed.
The rapport multimedia conferencing system

This paper describes the design and initial implementation of the Rapport multimedia conferencing system, which supports interactive, real-time, distributed conferences among two or more users. Using computers connected by data and voice networks, this system creates an environment in which many sorts of meetings can take place, including telephone conversations, discussions among colleagues, and lectures. Rapport provides new opportunities for meetings, allowing a user to interact with distant colleagues and to participate in several conferences concurrently at his or her workstation. The system allows many existing computer programs to be used, unmodified, within its conferencing environment. Thus computer-generated data and displays are available to the conferees for manipulation and editing, enhancing the exchange of information during meetings. Although Rapport does not encourage a particular methodology of meeting conduct, such specialized support can be built using Rapport. The paper outlines Rapport's conference abstraction and the model on which it is based — the “virtual meeting room. ” It then presents an overview of Rapport's architecture, discusses the system's environmental requirements, and concludes by mentioning some of our plans for future work with Rapport.
Fractalkine-induced smooth muscle cell proliferation in pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is characterised by a progressive increase in pulmonary arterial resistance due to endothelial and smooth muscle cell proliferation resulting in chronic obstruction of small pulmonary arteries. There is evidence that inflammatory mechanisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of human and experimental pulmonary hypertension. The aim of the study was to address the role of fractalkine (CX3CL1) in the inflammatory responses and pulmonary vascular remodelling of a monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension model. The expression of CX3CL1 and its receptor CX3CR1 was studied in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension by means of immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse-transcription PCR on laser-captured microdissected pulmonary arteries. It was demonstrated that CX3CL1 was expressed by inflammatory cells surrounding pulmonary arterial lesions and that smooth muscle cells from these vessels had increased CX3CR1 expression. It was then shown that cultured rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells expressed CX3CR1 and that CX3CL1 induced proliferation but not migration of these cells. In conclusion, the current authors proposed that fractalkine may act as a growth factor for pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Chemokines may thus play a role in pulmonary artery remodelling.
Evaluating cognitive rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis: on the bumpy road to establishing evidence.

There is marked enfeeblement of the memory; conceptions are formed slowly; the intellectual and emotional faculties are blunted in their totality,” Charcot (1877) reportedly noted about people with multiple sclerosis (MS) [1]. Despite these early observations of what we now refer to as ‘cognitive deficits’ and ‘mood disorders’, the magnitude and severity of these problems in MS were not considered seriously until over 100 years later. By the early 1990s, studies had begun to consistently demonstrate that people with MS reported cognitive problems.
Stabilization and passification of uncertain systems via static output feedback

Control of systems with time-varying dynamical characteristics impose either a conservative time-invariant control strategy that should hold for all time instants or to adopt some adaptive scheme. One of such, called simple adaptive control, is particularly appropriate for control applications such as flexible aircrafts or other fast varying processes. Indeed, it does not need any real-time estimation of time-vaying parameters but adapts based on the unique sensors measurements. Yet, this control strategy, also called passivity-based adaptive control, needs to be applied for the system to be passifiable. Or at least it needs to exhibit a linear combination of the inputs and outputs such that this property holds. The paper is devoted to the search of such linear combinations with practical efficient algorithms. Results are discussed in detail for an uncertain time-varying aircraft control example.
A 1.92-Megapixel CMOS Image Sensor With Column-Parallel Low-Power and Area-Efficient SA-ADCs

This paper presents a CMOS image sensor with 10-bit column-parallel successive approximation analog-to-digital converters (SA-ADCs). The SA-ADC in each column integrates the binary-weighted references instead of using an internal digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to reduce the area. The area of the column 10-bit SA-ADC is 9 μm × 425 μm. The area of the capacitor array in the SA-ADC is reduced to only 2.8% compared with that of a conventional binary-weighted capacitor DAC. In order to reduce the power consumption, the SA-ADC uses the switched power technique. The constant analog-to-digital conversion time and the switched power technique increase the power saving rate as the frame rate decreases. The proposed image sensor has been fabricated using a 0.13-μm CMOS process. The measured power consumption of the proposed SA-ADC is reduced to 85% and 58% of that in the SA-ADC without the switched power technique at the frame frequencies of 15 and 150 frames/s, respectively.