Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment with laquinimod reduces development of active MRI lesions in relapsing MS

Background: Laquinimod is a novel immunomodulatory substance developed as an orally available disease modifying treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate safety, tolerability, and efficacy on MRI lesions of two different doses of laquinimod compared with placebo in patients with relapsing MS. Methods: In this multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial, patients with relapsing MS received 0.1 mg or 0.3 mg laquinimod or placebo as three daily tablets for 24 weeks. Gadolinium-enhanced brain MRI scans were performed at screening, every eighth week during treatment, and 8 weeks after end of treatment. The primary efficacy variable was the cumulative number of active lesions over 24 weeks. Safety measures included adverse events, physical examination, and laboratory variables. Results: Of 256 screened patients, 209 were randomized (67 to 74 patients per group) in 20 centers. There was a significant difference between laquinimod 0.3 mg and placebo for the primary outcome measure (mean cumulative number of active lesions reduced by 44%). In the subgroup of patients with at least one active lesion at baseline the reduction was slightly more pronounced (52%). No differences with respect to clinical variables (relapses, disability) were found. The safety profile was favorable; there were no clinical signs of undesired inflammatory manifestations. Conclusion: Oral laquinimod in a dosage of 0.3 mg daily was well tolerated and effective in suppressing development of active lesions in relapsing multiple sclerosis.
Adaptive Range Filters for Cold Data: Avoiding Trips to Siberia

Bloom filters are a great technique to test whether a key is not in a set of keys. This paper presents a novel data structure called ARF. In a nutshell, ARFs are for range queries what Bloom filters are for point queries. That is, an ARF can determine whether a set of keys does not contain any keys that are part of a specific range. This paper describes the principles and methods for efficient implementation of ARFs and presents the results of comprehensive experiments that assess the precision, space, and latency of ARFs. Furthermore, this paper shows how ARFs can be applied to a commercial database system that partitions data into hot and cold regions to optimize queries that involve only hot data.
Volume Scene Graphs

This paper discusses volume scene graphs — a flexible hierarchical structure for composing scenes containing volume data sets and space-filling functions. Scene graph nodes are functions that, when evaluated at a point in space and time, compute and return a value. Typical nodes return values sampled from volume data sets, compute values using procedural texture algorithms, or filter and composite values returned by one or more other scene graph functions. Voxelization of a scene graph repeatedly evaluates the graph's functions over a gridded region of space. Examples are shown that compose scenes containing multiple volume data sets of differing resolutions and modalities.
Cervical adenocarcinoma and oral contraceptives.

English data comparable to US data on the incidence of cervical cancer are reported. Annual numbers of registrations of cervical cancer from 1968-82 were obtained from the South Thames Oxford and West Midlands cancer registries. The cases were divided into adenocarcinoma squamous cell carcinoma and "unknown and unspecified" cancer. Incidences were calculated in the 20-34 35-54 and 55 and older age groups and for the periods 1968-72 1973-77 and 1978-82. Within each age group the incidences were standardized for age by the indirect method using 5 year age groups; the 1968-82 rates for South Thames were taken as standard. According to the table the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the cervix in women under age 35 increased from 2.4-6.6 million between 1968-72 and 1978-82. The incidences of squamous and unclassified carcinomas also increased. Adenocarcinoma as a proportion of all cervical cancers increased from 5.7% to 7.6% in this age group. In women aged 35-54 the incidences of both squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma declined but the proportion of cervical adenocarcinomas increased from 8.9% to 10.5%. In women over 55 years the incidence of both squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma declined slightly; the relative proportion of each histological type changed little. In England as in the US there has been a marked increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma in young women which cannot be explained by more accurate classification of previously unspecified cancer. Squamous cell cancer also has increased in England but to a lesser extent. The data provide limited support to the suggestion that the 2 histological types may have different etiologies.
Role of biogenic amines and cHH in the crustacean hyperglycemic stress response

SUMMARY In this study, we investigated (using bioassays and ELISA) the variation of cHH (crustacean hyperglycemic hormone) level in the eyestalks and hemolymph of Palaemon elegans (Rathke) (Decapoda, Caridea) following injection of serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) and correlated cHH profile with the variation in amount and time course of glycemia. 5-HT induced in P. elegans a rapid and massive release of cHH from the eyestalk into the hemolymph followed by hyperglycemia. On the contrary, DA did not significantly affect cHH release and hyperglycemia. In addition, we measured the level and variation of 5-HT in the eyestalk and hemolymph of P. elegans following copper contamination. The release of 5-HT from the eyestalk is very rapid and dose dependent. In the hemolymph, a peak of 5-HT occurs after 30 min, and again the circulating concentration of 5-HT is dose dependent on copper exposure. After 1 h, the level of 5-HT slowly decreases to basal level. The release of 5-HT from the eyestalk into the hemolymph after copper exposure precedes the release of cHH, confirming its role as a neurotransmitter acting on cHH neuroendocrine cells. The fact that copper induced a rapid and massive release of 5-HT from the eyestalk can explain its demonstrated role in inducing the release of cHH and the consequent hyperglycemia in intact but not eyestalkless animals.
Element Ratios and the Formation of the Stellar Halo

It is well established that the vast majority of metal-poor Galactic halo stars show evidence for enrichment by solely massive stars. Recent observations have identified more varied behavior in the pattern of elemental abundances measured for metal-rich, [Fe/H] ∼ -1 dex, halo stars, with both high and low values of the ratio [α/Fe]. The low values are most naturally due to the incorporation of iron from Type Ia supernovae. These "low-alpha" halo stars have been interpreted as being accreted from dwarf galaxies. However, these stars are on very high energy radial orbits that plunge into the Galactic center from the outer regions of the stellar halo. We demonstrate here that known dwarf galaxies could not reproduce the observations, which require the proposed parent dwarf to have a very high mean density to provide "low-alpha" stars on orbits of such low values of perigalactic distance. Rather, the observations are consistent with fragmentation of a gaseous protohalo into transient star-forming regions, some of which are sufficiently dense to survive close to the Galactic center and self-enrich to relatively high metallicities. Those that probe the outer halo sustain star formation long enough to incorporate the ejecta from Type Ia supernovae. Furthermore, we point out that the values of the "Type II plateau" in the element ratios for disk stars and for halo stars are equal. This implies that the (massive) stars that enriched the early disk and halo had the same initial mass function. However, the bulk of the halo stars with [Fe/H] ∼ -1 dex that have been observed have significantly lower values of [α/Fe] than does a typical disk star of that metallicity. Thus there is a discontinuity in the chemical enrichment history between the halo and disk, as probed by these samples, consistent with previous inferences based on angular momentum considerations.
A fast surface reconstruction algorithm for 3D unorganized points

This paper puts forward a fast method of surface reconstruction. Power crust algorithm can reconstruct a good surface that is topological valid and be proved theoretically. But its running time is long. This paper proposes a non-uniformly sampling method to resample the input data set according to the local feature size before reconstruction. Experimental results show that the efficiency of the algorithm has been improved much more.
Generalized Trust Propagation with Limited Evidence

Trust underlies effective interactions among autonomous parties. Ideally, a truster would base its trust in a trustee on the evidence of prior experiences with the trustee. But, such experiences arise between only a few trusters and trustees. Thus, a truster must rely upon the propagation of trust through a path of intermediary agents, each providing a trust assessment in the next. However, existing propagation approaches fail in settings such as social communities and product evaluations where a forward path isn’t available and we must consider a backward path from a rated entity to a rater. We propose Shin, a generalized trust propagation approach that incorporates a recent probabilistic method for revising trust estimates in trustees. Shin yields higher prediction accuracy than traditional approaches. In settings such as e-commerce and social networks, trust provides the basis for interaction among autonomous agents [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. We define a truster’s trust in a trustee as the truster’s belief that a future interaction with the trustee will yield expected outcomes [7]. Trust relationships naturally form a trust network, a weighted directed graph whose vertices represent agents and whose edges represent directed trust relationships, weighted with the level of trust. Each edge weight is affected by the outcomes of prior interactions and determines whether its source agent elects to pursue a future interaction with its target. A centralized reputation system consolidates the trust network. In a decentralized setting, each agent knows of only its own out-edges. A truster can reasonably decide whether to interact with a (prospective) trustee based on its estimation of the latter’s trustworthiness. A truster that lacks direct experience with a trustee would rely upon referrals leading to witnesses who provide testimony of their experiences with the trustee. Restricting the witnesses to direct experience helps avoid double counting evidence. Trust propagation [8, 9] means estimating trust over referral paths. Existing approaches consider only forward paths wherein each agent trusts the next. Our propagation technique, Shin (from the Chinese word for trust), applies even if no suitable forward path exists provided a path from both the truster and trustee to a common neighbor exists.
Properties of the particle velocity field in gas-solid turbulent channel flow

Spatial characteristics of the particle velocity field are investigated using numerical simulations of gas-solid turbulent channel flow. The carrier phase is resolved using large eddy simulation (LES) of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The dispersed phase is computed using Lagrangian tracking in which particle motion is governed by the drag force. Predictions of dispersed phase transport are obtained for three particle response times in simulations with and without interparticle collisions. Spatial correlations of the particle velocity field are measured in planes parallel to the wall and exhibit a discontinuity at the origin. The discontinuity in the spatial correlations is consistent with recent work by Fevrier et al. [J. Fluid Mech. , 533, 1 (2005)] that shows the velocity of a particle is comprised of a contribution from a continuous field, shared by all the particles, and a random velocity component that is not spatially correlated. Analysis of the simulation database shows that the random.
Algorithmic aspects of graph homomorphisms Pavol Hell

Homomorphisms are a useful model for a wide variety of combinatorial problems dealing with mappings and assignments, typified by scheduling and channel assignment problems. Homomorphism problems generalize graph colourings, and are in turn generalized by constraint satisfaction problems; they represent a robust intermediate class of problems – with greater modeling power than graph colourings, yet simpler and more manageable than general constraint satisfaction problems. We will discuss various homomorphism problems from a computational perspective. One variant, with natural applications, gives each vertex a list of allowed images. Such list homomorphisms generalize list colourings, precolouring extensions, and graph retractions. Many algorithms for finding homomorphisms adapt well to finding list homomorphisms. Semihomomorphisms are another variant; they generalize the kinds of partitions that homomorphisms induce, to allow both homomorphism type constraints, and constraints that correspond to homomorphisms of the complementary graphs. Surprisingly, semi-homomorphism partition problems cover a great variety of concepts arising in the study of perfect graphs. We illustrate some of the ideas leading to efficient algorithms for all these problems.
Collagen and Glycosaminoglycan Profiles in the Canine Cervix during Different Stages of the Estrous Cycle and in Open- and Closed-Cervix Pyometra

ABSTRACT The extracellular matrix of the cervix that comprises collagen, elastin, proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) is thought to have an essential role in cervical relaxation. This study investigated the proportion of collagen and smooth muscle as well as the GAGs in cervices obtained from healthy bitches at different stages of the estrous cycle and bitches with open- and closed-cervix pyometra. Cervices were collected after ovariohysterectomy. The proportion of collagen to smooth muscle was determined using Masson’s trichrome staining. Alcian blue staining was used to evaluate the relative distribution of cervical GAGs. The proportion of cervical collagen relative to smooth muscle was higher at estrus compared to anestrus (P≤0.05). It was also higher (P≤0.05) in bitches with open- compared to those with closed-cervix pyometra. Overall, hyaluronan (HA) was the predominant GAG in the canine cervix. In the luminal epithelium, the staining intensity for HA was stronger in estrus than in anestrus (P≤0.05), but not in diestrus (P>0.05). On the contrary, the intensity for the combined keratan sulfate (KS) and heparan sulfate (HS) was stronger in anestrus than in estrus and diestrus (P≤0.05). In bitches with pyometra, the staining intensity of the stroma for KS and HS was weaker in open- compared to closed-cervix pyometra (P≤0.05). Collectively, the different profiles of collagen and GAG suggest that the metabolism of both collagen and GAGs in the canine cervix is associated with hormonal statuses during the estrous cycle and cervical patency of bitches with pathological uterine conditions, such as pyometra.
The extended counterpart of submm source Lockman 850.1

The IRAM Plateau de Bure mm interferometer and deep K-band imaging have been used to identify the brightest submm source detected in the Lockman eld of the UK 8 mJy SCUBA survey. The near infrared counterpart is an extended (20{30 kpc), clumpy, and extremely red object. The spectral energy distribution suggests it to be a dusty star forming object at a redshift of about 3 (2{4). Its star formation rate and near- infrared properties are consistent with Lockman 850.1 being a massive elliptical in formation.
SUPERVISI PENGAWAS DAN KEPALA SEKOLAH DALAM PENINGKATAN MUTU PEMBELAJARAN (STUDI KASUS PADA SMA NEGERI DI KABUPATEN KARAWANG)

Mutu Pembelajaran harus diciptakan, tidak bisa ditunggu-tunggu lagi. Ini menuntut para pelaku pendidikan di SMA Kabupaten Karawang khusunya kepala sekolah dan pengawas memiliki inisiatif dan kreatif yang tinggi. Selain itu dalam menciptakan peningkatan mutu Pembelajaran juga mengharuskan supervisor untuk berani mengambil resiko. Peluang resiko dalam menciptakan mutu Pembelajaran bagaikan satu mata uang dengan dua sisi. Para pelakunya harus memiliki kemampuan dan pengalaman yang tinggi dan harus mampu meninggalkan sikap mentalitas yang buruk. Mencermati permasalahan yang sedang kita hadapi di bidang pendidikan seperti dikatakan di atas, rasanya kita sepakat bahwa pendidikan harus lebih berusaha untuk menyentuh persoalan yang lebih mendasar dalam penyiapan sumber daya manusia. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah pendekatan kualitatif dengan jenis penelitian naturalistik terhadap Supervisi Pengawas dan Kepala Sekolah dalam Peningkatan Mutu Pembelajaran pada 3 SMA Negeri di Kabupaten Karawang, yaitu SMAN 2 Karawang, SMA Negeri 1 Telukjambe Kabupaten Karawang, dan SMAN I Pangkalan Kabupaten Karawang. Ada tiga masalah utama yang akan diungkap dalam penelitian ini. Pertama, bagaimana proses penyusunan perencanaan supervisi yang dilakukan pengawas untuk meningkatkan kompetensi mengajar guru; kedua, Masalah yang dihadapi oleh kepala sekolah dan pengawas dalam melaksanakan supervisi; dan ketiga bagaimana langkah-langkah yang dilakukan oleh kepala sekolah dan pengawas untuk mengatasi kendala dalam kegiatan supervisi di tiga sekolah tersebut. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dan pembahasan permasalahan serta temuan di lapangan maka dapat disimpulkan supervisi yang dilaksanakan pada 3 SMA Negeri di Kabupaten Karawang dilaksanakan dengan pengawasan terprogram dan berkesinambungan oleh supervisor yang memahami tugas dan fungsinya dengan baik dapat meningkatkan mutu Pembelajaran, yang pada akhirnya dapat meningkatkan mutu pembelajaran. Kata Kunci: Supervisi, Mutu Pembelajaran
Energy-efficient coordinated resource allocation for the downlink of cellular systems

Energy efficiency (EE) is growing in importance as a system design criterion for power-unlimited system such as cellular systems. Equally, resource allocation is a well-known method for improving the performance of the latter. In this paper, we propose two novel coordinated resource allocation strategies for jointly optimizing the resources of three sectors/cells in an energy-efficient manner in the downlink of multi-cell/sector systems. Given that this optimization problem is non-convex, it can only be optimally solved using high complexity exhaustive search. Here, we propose two practical approaches for allocating resources in a low complexity manner. We then compare our novel approaches against other existing non-coordinated and coordinated ones in order to highlight their benefit. Our results indicate that our first approach performs the best in terms of EE but with a low level of fairness in the user rate allocation; whereas our second approach provides a good trade-off between EE and fairness. Overall, base station selection, i.e. allowing only one sector to transmit at a time, is a very energy-efficient approach when the sleeping power is considered in the base station power model.
‘Children see before they speak’: an exploration of ableism in art education

Abstract According to Robert McRuer ‘cripping entails radically re-visioning, from committed anti-ableist positions, the taken-for-granted systems in which we are located’. Importantly, this critique enables us to recognize sites of inequality in education and provides tools to create alternative ways of conceptualizing pedagogy. Informed by such theoretical approaches to disability studies, this paper offers a Critical-crip Discourse Analysis (CcDA) of images and text representing art, craft, and design education in England between 2005 and 2011. This analysis indicates that although art education is recognized as significant for all children, limited representations of disabled children and young people can result in their experiences becoming devalued. Descriptions of apparently inclusive educational practices naturalize, prioritize, and reinforce so-called able-bodied/mindedness and fail to capture the benefits of diversity to educative practices in art. This analysis of discourses about art education is therefore an essential step in re-imagining an equitable and sustainable art education with true relevance for all.
The Placing Task: A Large-Scale Geo-Estimation Challenge for Social-Media Videos and Images

The Placing Task is a yearly challenge offered by the MediaEval Multimedia Benchmarking Initiative that requires participants to develop algorithms that automatically predict the geo-location of social media videos and images. We introduce a recent development of a new standardized web-scale geo-tagged dataset for Placing Task 2014, which contains 5.5 million photos and 35,000 videos. This standardized benchmark with a large persistent dataset allows research community to easily evaluate new algorithms and to analyze their performance with respect to the state-of-the-art approaches. We discuss the characteristics of this year's Placing Task along with the description of the new dataset components and how they were collected.
Transitioning from service management to service-dominant logic: Observations and recommendations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reflect on actions and obstacles in the conceptual transition from mainstream service management (1970‐2000s) to a new approach synthesized in service‐dominant (S‐D) logic (2000s). Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a review of approaches to service in the literature, education, and practice in management disciplines and economics.Findings – S‐D logic has triggered considerable interest in the global academic community. Its ten foundational premises (FPs) hold that service(s) and the roles of suppliers/customers be reconceptualized on a higher level of relevance and generalization. The new logic is not final but – to use its own terminology – is a value proposition that opens up for co‐created theory improvements.Research limitations/implications – To transition from a goods/services divide to a goods/service union, the platform for future service research requires the superordination of mainstream service management by a new language and lex.
Resources for Supporting Recommended Practices for Assessment

This checklist includes key practices for engaging families throughout the assessment process. Assessment is the process of gathering information to make informed decisions and is a critical component for intervening with young children who are at risk for developmental delays or have delays/disabilities, and their families. The checklist can be used to develop a plan to improve practitioner’s engagement of families in a child’s assessment process. It also can be used for a self-evaluation to determine whether the different practices were used to engage a family in their child’s assessment. http://www.ectacenter. org/~pdfs/decrp/ ASM-2_Engaging_Families_Partners. pdf Informed Clinical Reasoning Checklist
The privacy paradox on social network sites revisited: The role of individual characteristics and group norms

Users of social network sites (SNS) often state that they are concerned about their privacy, yet they often disclose detailed personal information on their profiles. This paper assessed the privacy settings of users of two large European SNS. More importantly, it also examined which factors predict the choice of specific privacy settings. The main focus was on the trade-off between privacy concerns and impression management. The paper also looked at the role of the dispositional variables trust and narcissism. These individual factors were contrasted with the effects of perceived group norms. Across three studies it was found that the vast majority of users protected at least certain parts of their profile (e.g., pictures, email address). Moreover, higher protection of profiles was consistently predicted by greater privacy concerns. Impression management motives and narcissism led to less restrictive privacy settings, but these results were less consistent across studies. Perceived social norms played a role in both SNS, whereas dispositional trust had no effect.