Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Toward Distributed service discovery in pervasive computing environments

The paper proposes a novel distributed service discovery protocol for pervasive environments. The protocol is based on the concepts of peer-to-peer caching of service advertisements and group-based intelligent forwarding of service requests. It does not require a service to be registered with a registry or lookup server. Services are described using the Web Ontology Language (OWL). We exploit the semantic class/subClass hierarchy of OWL to describe service groups and use this semantic information to selectively forward service requests. OWL-based service description also enables increased flexibility in service matching. We present simulation results that show that our protocol achieves increased efficiency in discovering services (compared to traditional broadcast-based mechanisms) by efficiently utilizing bandwidth via controlled forwarding of service requests.
Carbon Dioxide Emission Savings Potential of Household Water Use Reduction in the UK

The relationship between household water use and energy consumption was examined to establish whether the conservation of water within a domestic environment offers significant potential for saving energy, thereby reducing household carbon dioxide emissions. Average UK water usage is 55,121 L ca -1 yr -1 . The supply of this volume of water and its subsequent treatment by the water companies is equivalent to just 38.6 kg CO 2 ca -1 yr -1 , although this is not currently included in the primary footprint. So water consumption per se does not significantly effect CO 2 emissions. However, the heating water within the household using electricity requires 5,036 kWh ca -1 yr -1 , equivalent to a further 2,830 t CO 2 ca -1 yr -1 with 57% of energy associated with use of heated tap water. Using gas instead of electricity to heat water can reduce emissions by 63%, equivalent to an average reduction of 4.36 t CO 2 yr -1 for a standard household (2.4 occupants). Water efficient appliances and the careful use of heated water in the home could reduce average household water use from 151 to 73 L ca -1 d -1 as well as the volume of water required to be heated thereby reducing related emissions by 58% or 1,662 kg CO 2 ca -1 yr -1 , where electricity is used. Maximum CO 2 emission reduction is achieved by the use of solar collectors using gas as standby heating fuel. This, coupled with simple water conservation measures, emits as little as 130 kg CO 2 ca -1 yr -1 a potential saving of 2.7 t CO 2 ca -1 yr -1 .
Experiential Ecommerce: A Summary of Research Investigating the Impact of Virtual Experience on Consumer Learning

for a grant to initiate this research and Theresa Cai and Harshavardhan Gangadharbatla for their invaluable help during the data collection. Consumers learn about products from the experience of interacting with people, objects and the environment. However, an experience is more than simply the passive reception of external sensations or subjective mental interpretations of a situation. Rather, an experience is the result of an ongoing transaction that gains in quality, intensity, meaning, and value integrating both psychological and emotional conditions (Mathur, 1971). These conditions are ultimately accomplished via the generation of thoughts and/or sensations brought together creating the experience (Hirshman, 1984). A product purchase is in many ways not the purchase of a physical good itself but of an experience that the product affords (Pine II and Gilmore, 1998). Thus, the role of consumer learning about a product prior to the purchase is mainly to assess what consumption experience the product can offer and how well it can meet the expectations of the anticipated experience (Hoch and Deighton, 1989). Research has documented that consumers learn about products through indirect experience, such as advertising, and via direct experience, such as product trial it has been speculated that the type of medium may limit the effect of advertising and a more powerful medium for communicating the details and experiences of a product, such as the Internet, could have a stronger impact on consumer learning (Moore and Lutz, 2000). Three-dimensional (3-D), multiuser , online environments constitute a new revolution of interactivity by creating compelling virtual experiences (Waller, 1997). McLuhan and McLuhan(1988) suggest that within any medium there is a connection between the human mind, the technology, and the environment that serves to immerse users. It is the interactive nature of the Internet that immerses consumers and offers the greatest potential to marketers because of the ability to offer user-controlled product interactive experiences (Schlosser and Kanfer, 2001). Since most products are 3-D objects that are experienced with the senses, the use of dynamic 3-D visualization in ecommerce is increasing as companies seek to give users a virtual experience of the product. The implications are that a 3-D virtual product experience is a simulation of a real or physical product experience and can be construed to be located between direct experience and indirect experience within the spectrum of consumer learning. To fully understand the impact of a virtual experience and the use of 3-D product …
A review of current approaches to radar-based quantitative precipitation forecasts

ABSTRACT Short-term radar-based forecasts of precipitation can be achieved through the implementation of nowcasting models, essentially based on the rainfall extrapolation from a series of consecutive radar scans. Recent advances in this field include the development of hybrid models, aimed at merging the benefits of radar nowcasting and numerical weather prediction models, and probabilistic systems, aimed at addressing the sources of uncertainty in radar rainfall forecasts by means of ensembles. This paper provides an overview of radar nowcasting methods and approaches, with an emphasis on recent developments in this field.
Optical spectroscopy of turbid media: time-domain measurements and accelerated Monte Carlo modelling

Optical spectroscopy is a versatile and powerful tool to probe translucent materials. In this work, the focus is on characterization of strongly scattering (turbid) materials by means of time-of-flight spectroscopy (TOFS). Instrumentation and modelling aspects of TOFS were investigated and improved, enabling significantly more accurate spectroscopic measurements. It was shown that the commonly used diffusion theory fails to accurately describe time-domain light propagation in e.g. tissue. A fully scalable Monte Carlo (MC) scheme (WMC) was developed, enabling MC to replace diffusion models in TOFS data evaluation. Consequently, the accuracy and capabilities of TOFS were significantly improved. Graphics processing units (GPUs) were introduced for acceleration of MC simulations in general, resulting in three orders of magnitude speedup. It was shown that proper utilization of the capabilities of modern GPUs allow similar performance, even for more complex problems. TOFS in combination with WMC was used in in vivo interstitial spectroscopy of the human prostate, demonstrating the need for better modelling in many clinical applications. To aid future interstitial in vivo measurements, a single-fibre TOFS system was developed and demonstrated in phantom experiments. Turning to investigations of pharmaceutical samples, a time-of-flight spectrometer, covering the 650-1400 nm spectral range, was developed, enabling TOFS for vibrational spectroscopy of solids. In spatially resolved TOFS measurements, compaction induced anisotropic light diffusion was observed. This is of great importance for the application of model-based optical spectroscopic tech- niques and may, in addition, provide important information about the sample microstructure. Furthermore, TOFS was used together with laser-based gas sensing to probe porous solids. Although a need for better models was revealed, excellent correlation between optical and actual porosity was demonstrated.
Prevalence of colon polyps detected by colonoscopy screening in asymptomatic black and white patients.

CONTEXT Compared with white individuals, black men and women have a higher incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer and may develop cancer at a younger age. Colorectal cancer screening might be less effective in black individuals, if there are racial differences in the age-adjusted prevalence and location of cancer precursor lesions. OBJECTIVES To determine and compare the prevalence rates and location of polyps sized more than 9 mm in diameter in asymptomatic black and white individuals who received colonoscopy screening. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Colonoscopy data were prospectively collected from 67 adult gastrointestinal practice sites in the United States using a computerized endoscopic report generator between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2005. Data were transmitted to a central data repository, where all asymptomatic white (n = 80 061) and black (n = 5464) patients who had received screening colonoscopy were identified. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence and location of polyps sized more than 9 mm, adjusted for age, sex, and family history of colorectal cancer in a multivariate analysis. RESULTS Both black men and women had a higher prevalence of polyps sized more than 9 mm in diameter compared with white men and women (422 [7.7%] vs 4964 [6.2%]; P < .001). Compared with white patients, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for black men was 1.16 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.34) and the adjusted OR for black women was 1.62 (95% CI, 1.39-1.89). Black and white patients had a similar risk of proximal polyps sized more than 9 mm (OR, 1.13;95% CI, 0.93-1.38). However, in a subanalysis of patients older than 60 years, proximal polyps sized more than 9 mm were more likely prevalent in black men (P = .03) and women (P < .001) compared with white men and women. CONCLUSION Compared with white individuals, black men and women undergoing screening colonoscopy have a higher risk of polyps sized more than 9 mm, and black individuals older than 60 years are more likely to have proximal polyps sized more than 9 mm.
Drugs improving insulin resistance for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and/or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by fat accumulation in the liver, which may progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. It is suspected in persons with elevated aminotransferase levels and features of insulin resistance (or metabolic) syndrome. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is not clear and there is no universal treatment. OBJECTIVES To assess beneficial and harmful effects of drugs improving insulin resistance for NAFLD and/or NASH. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index Expanded, and The Chinese Biomedical Database until February 2006. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised clinical trials assessing the effects of drugs improving insulin resistance for patients with NAFLD or NASH. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We evaluated the methodological quality of the randomised clinical trials by the generation of the allocation section, allocation concealment, and follow-up. Two independent observers extracted data from each trial. Dichotomous outcomes were reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). MAIN RESULTS Only three randomised clinical trials could be included. Two of the trials had unclear allocation concealment. None was blinded regarding outcome assessment. In two trials, metformin was associated with significantly higher normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase (OR fixed 2.83, 95% CI 1.27 to 6.31 versus diet and OR fixed 7.75, 95% CI 2.37 to 25.35 versus vitamin E) and improvement of liver echographic response (OR fixed 5.25, 95% CI 1.09 to 25.21). An improvement of fatty infiltration was observed in a limited number of patients undergoing liver biopsy. In the single pioglitazone trial, a statistically significant improvement of NASH histology was demonstrated. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS At present, there is insufficient data to either support or refute the use of drugs improving insulin resistance for patients with NAFLD, although current limited information suggests a favourable role of drugs improving insulin resistance. It is advisable to carry out large randomised trials on this topic employing clinically relevant outcome measures and adequate methodology, including blinded outcome assessment.
GPR56 is highly expressed in neural stem cells but downregulated during differentiation

The G-protein-coupled receptor 56 (GPR56) plays important roles in brain development and tumorigenesis. cDNA data suggest that GPR56 has potential to become a neural stem cell (NSC) or neural progenitor cell (NPC) marker. However, expression of GPR56 protein in human NSC/NPCs was not explored. Using specific antibodies and immunochemistry, we showed that GPR56 was highly expressed in nestin-positive NSC/NPCs in the ventricular/subventricular zone of human and mouse fetal brains, and in cultured neurospheres derived from both human and mouse fetal brains. Downregulation of GPR56 protein occurred earlier than that of nestin in differentiating neurosphere cultures. Loss of GPR56 protein was also evident in well-differentiated glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes and &bgr;III-tubulin-positive neurons. Our data suggest that GPR56 can be used as an NSC/NPC marker within the neural cell lineage, especially in combination with nestin.
Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia: A Review Study

Platelets are found in blood and they perform the functions of hemostasis whenever there is a damage in subendothelial happens platelets actives and aggregate to form a platelet plug in order to maintain hemostasis Glanzmann’s thrombocytopenia is a disease discovered by Glanzmann’s in 1918. It’s a genetic platelet surface receptor defects of GPIIb / IIIa. Either qualitative or quantitative. It will result in abnormal platelet agreegation and clot retraction. Several bleeding episodes are symptoms of GT including epistaxis, gingival bleeding etc. the management of GT could be done by various local measures and many anti - fibrinolytic agents and desmopressin etc. Heeding to recent studies the treatment options included retiuximab, bevacizumab and rFVIIa etc bone marrow transplantation and stem cell therapy is a great option of treatment but very rarely using methods of treatment because have less chances of successful results and a painful and costly therapy it ishe objective of this study is to understand all about the Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia its pathogenesis, discovery, treatment options and diagnostic tools etc . the study was based on previous published data obtained from PubMed , ncbi, elsevier and other publications of last 5 years was concluded that glanzmann’s thrombasthenia is a platelet disorder it is very rarely occur and characterized by severe bleeding episodes hence, it’s proper treatment and management is of great concern for all health care expertise.
AGGREGATE CERTAINTY ESTIMATORS

Selecting an effective method for combining the votes of base inducers in a multiclassifier system can have a significant impact on the system’s overall classification accuracy. Some methods cannot even achieve as high a classification accuracy as the most accurate base classifier. To address this issue, we present the strategy of aggregate certainty estimators, which uses multiple measures to estimate a classifier’s certainty in its predictions on an instance‐by‐instance basis. Use of these certainty estimators for vote‐weighting allows the system to achieve a higher overall average in classification accuracy than the most accurate base classifier. Weighting with these aggregate measures also results in higher average classification accuracy than weighting with single certainty estimates. Aggregate certainty estimators outperform three baseline strategies, as well as the methods of modified stacking and arbitration, in terms of average accuracy over 36 data sets.
Debugging geographers: teaching programming to non-computer scientists

The steep learning curve associated with computer programming can be a daunting prospect, particularly for those not well aligned with this way of logical thinking. However, programming is a skill that is becoming increasingly important. Geography graduates entering careers in atmospheric science are one example of a particularly diverse group who often require a better knowledge and understanding of computing. Critically, there is a necessity in the field for people with a diverse range of data analysis and modelling abilities. This article outlines the module design and evaluation of an introductory programming course for non-computer scientists within a UK geography department.
Long Non-Coding RNAs Dysregulation and Function in Glioblastoma Stem Cells

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common form of primary brain tumor, is highly resistant to current treatment paradigms and has a high rate of recurrence. Recent advances in the field of tumor-initiating cells suggest that glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) may be responsible for GBM’s rapid progression, treatment resistance, tumor recurrence and ultimately poor clinical prognosis. Understanding the biologically significant pathways that mediate GSC-specific characteristics offers promises in the development of novel biomarkers and therapeutics. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been increasingly implicated in the regulation of cancer cell biological behavior through various mechanisms. Initial studies strongly suggested that lncRNA expressions are highly dysregulated in GSCs and may play important roles in determining malignant phenotypes in GBM. Here, we review available evidence on aberrantly expressed lncRNAs identified by high throughput microarray profiling studies in GSCs. We also explore the potential functional pathways by analyzing their interactive proteins and miRNAs, with a view to shed lights on how this novel class of molecular candidates may mediate GSC maintenance and differentiation.
Measurement of lysophospholipid acyltransferase activities using substrate competition[S]

Lysophospholipid acyltransferases (LPATs) incorporate fatty acyl chains into phospholipids via a CoA-dependent mechanism and are important in remodeling phospholipids to generate the molecular species of phospholipids found in cells. These enzymes use one lysophospholipid and one acyl-CoA ester as substrates. Traditional enzyme activity assays engage a single substrate pair, whereas in vivo multiple molecular species exist. We describe here an alternative biochemical assay that provides a mixture of substrates presented to the microsomal extracts. Microsomal preparations from RAW 264.7 cells were used to compare traditional LPAT assays with data obtained using a dual substrate choice assay using six different lysophospholipids and eight different acyl-CoA esters. The complex mixture of newly synthesized phospholipid products was analyzed using LC-MS/MS. Both types of assays provided similar results, but the dual choice assay provided information about multiple fatty acyl chain incorporation into various phospholipid classes in a single reaction. Engineered suppression of LPCAT3 activity in RAW 264.7 cells was easily detected by the dual choice method. These findings demonstrate that this assay is both specific and sensitive and that it provides much richer biochemical detail than traditional assays.
A New Model for Coastal Resource Productivity and Sea‐Level Change: The Role of Physical Sedimentary Processes in Assessing the Archaeological Potential of Submerged Landscapes from the Northwest Australian Continental Shelf

Existing models of coastal occupation, in one form or another, embrace the assumption that changes in mean sea level were the prime driver for shifts in coastal resource productivity of consequence to coastal foragers. Focusing on the North West Shelf of Australia, this paper considers the role of physical sedimentary processes in understanding both past coastal resource productivity and the archaeology of drowned coastal landscapes. From a review of up‐to‐date literature on sea‐level related coastal formation process related to the North West Shelf, we describe the complex interplay of sea‐level change and sedimentary processes in determining (i) coastal resource availability, and (ii) archaeological site preservation potential through time. We argue that human behavioral models that have been linked solely to changes in sea level change from ca. 45 ka onward along the Australia continental shelf have inadequately accounted for local sedimentary regimes. It is not past sea‐level per se, which is of relevance to coastal productivity and human behavioral ecology models but changes in tidal regimes, coastal configurations and sedimentation. We conclude that our understanding of maritime adaptations for Sahul (Greater Australia) remain incomplete without investigating former coastlines and archaeological information that now lies submerged offshore.
Blockade of AP-1 Potentiates Endocrine Therapy and Overcomes Resistance

The transcription factor AP-1 is downstream of growth factor (GF) receptors (GFRs) and stress-related kinases, both of which are implicated in breast cancer endocrine resistance. Previously, we have suggested that acquired endocrine resistance is associated with increased activity of AP-1 in an in vivo model. In this report, we provide direct evidence for the role of AP-1 in endocrine resistance. First, significant overlap was found between genes modulated in tamoxifen resistance and a gene signature associated with GF-induced estrogen receptor (ER) cistrome. Interestingly, these overlapping genes were enriched for key signaling components of GFRs and stress-related kinases and had AP-1 motifs in their promoters/enhancers. Second, to determine a more definitive role of AP-1 in endocrine resistance, AP-1 was inhibited using an inducible dominant-negative (DN) cJun expressed in MCF7 breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. AP-1 blockade enhanced the antiproliferative effect of endocrine treatments in vitro, accelerated xenograft tumor response to tamoxifen and estrogen deprivation in vivo, promoted complete regression of tumors, and delayed the onset of tamoxifen resistance. Induction of DN-cJun after the development of tamoxifen resistance resulted in dramatic tumor shrinkage, accompanied by reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis. These data suggest that AP-1 is a key determinant of endocrine resistance by mediating a global shift in the ER transcriptional program. Implications: AP-1 represents a viable therapeutic target to overcome endocrine resistance. Mol Cancer Res; 14(5); 470–81. ©2016 AACR.
A satellite AOT derived from the ground sky transmittance measurements

The optical properties of aerosols such as smoke from burning vary due to aging processes and these particles reach larger sizes at high concentrations. The objectives of this study are to develop and evaluate an algorithm for estimating atmospheric optical thickness from Landsat TM image. This study measured the sky transmittance at the ground using a handheld spectroradiometer in a wide wavelength spectrum to retrieve atmospheric optical thickness. The in situ measurement of atmospheric transmittance data were collected simultaneously with the acquisition of remotely sensed satellite data. The digital numbers for the three visible bands corresponding to the in situ locations were extracted and then converted into reflectance values. The reflectance measured from the satellite was subtracted by the amount given by the surface reflectance to obtain the atmospheric reflectance. These atmospheric reflectance values were used for calibration of the AOT algorithm. This study developed an empirical method to estimate the AOT values from the sky transmittance values. Finally, a AOT map was generated using the proposed algorithm and colour-coded for visual interpretation.