Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Teaching End-User Ethics: Issues and a Solution Based on Universalizability

The ethical aspects of computing are increasingly being taught and written about in professional information systems education in universities. However, the ever-increasing role and use of computer technology means that computer ethics education related to computing is also necessary for non-professional/non-major computing/information systems students. Owing to the differences between professional and non-professional education, end-users need a different computer ethics program. First, this paper explores some of the issues (goals, challenges and problems to overcome) in end-user ethics teaching. Second, it proposes a solution based on the concept of universalizability. Third, the paper argues that the universalizability thesis is a proper tool for end-user education. Finally it demonstrates, with the help of three cases, how the solution chosen can be used to solve the issues identified and to educate end-users.
Development of hybrid wavelet-ANN model for hourly flood stage forecasting

Abstract Hourly flood forecasting with sufficient lead time is necessary to develop preparedness and facilitate quick response in adopting appropriate flood mitigation plans and rehabilitation actions. This study explores the potential of hybrid wavelet-ANN (wavelet-Artificial neural network) to model flood events in the Achankovil river basin in Kerala. Hourly water level at the Konni gauging site is predicted with 1-, 3- and 6-h lead times. The hybrid wavelet-ANN approach has proved its capabilities in hydrological studies due to the capability of wavelet in multi-resolution analysis and its ability to deal with non-stationarities. The three hybrid wavelet-ANN models developed were trained considering various combinations of flood events. The significant antecedent water level and precipitation values were selected based on statistical analysis and a study of the hydrology of the catchment. Decomposition of the input signals using wavelet was performed by selecting a suitable mother wavelet and an appropriate decomposition level. Results of this study clearly demonstrate the capability of the hybrid models to forecast floods satisfactorily up to 6 h lead time. The capability of the hybrid model is proved by comparison with a simple ANN model. The WANN models developed were able to predict the magnitude of peak value and the time to peak value more accurately when compared to the ANN models. These two parameters of a flood hydrograph are very important in many water resources applications.
Monotonicity testing over general poset domains

The field of property testing studies algorithms that distinguish, using a small number of queries, between inputs which satisfy a given property, and those that are `far' from satisfying the property. Testing properties that are defined in terms of monotonicity has been extensively investigated, primarily in the context of the monotonicity of a sequence of integers, or the monotonicity of a function over the n-dimensional hypercube {1,&ldots;,m}n. These works resulted in monotonicity testers whose query complexity is at most polylogarithmic in the size of the domain.We show that in its most general setting, testing that Boolean functions are close to monotone is equivalent, with respect to the number of required queries, to several other testing problems in logic and graph theory. These problems include: testing that a Boolean assignment of variables is close to an assignment that satisfies a specific 2-CNF formula, testing that a set of vertices is close to one that is a vertex cover of a specific graph, and testing that a set of vertices is close to a clique.We then investigate the query complexity of monotonicity testing of both Boolean and integer functions over general partial orders. We give algorithms and lower bounds for the general problem, as well as for some interesting special cases. In proving a general lower bound, we construct graphs with combinatorial properties that may be of independent interest.
A vision-based navigation system of mobile tracking robot

Based on the study of developments in many fields of computer vision, a novel computer vision navigation system for mobile tracking robot is presented. Three irrelevant technologies, pattern recognition, binocular vision and motion estimation, make up of the basic technologies of our robot. The non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) algorithm is applied to detect the target. The application method of NMF in our robot is demonstrated. Interesting observations on distance measurement and motion capture are discussed in detail. The reasons resulting in error of distance measurement are analyzed. According to the models and formulas of distance measurement error, the error type could be found, which is helpful to decrease the distance error. Based on the diamond search (DS) technology applied in MPEG-4, an improved DS algorithm is developed to meet the special requirement of mobile tracking robot.
Sutureless Aortic Prosthesis Implantation: the First Brazilian Experience with Perceval Device

This is a report of the first Brazilian experience with the Perceval sutureless aortic prosthesis in two patients with severe aortic stenosis. Transesophageal echocardiography was used during the procedure. The aortotomy was performed 1 cm above the sinotubular junction, followed by leaflets removal and decalcification. Correct valve size was selected, device released and an accommodation balloon used. The cardiopulmonary bypass times were 47 and 38 min and the cross-clamp times were 38 and 30 min. There was a significant decrease in mean gradients (41 and 75 mmHg preoperatively; 7 and 8 mmHg postoperatively). There was no major complication or paravalvular leak.
The Vesicle Protein SAM-4 Regulates the Processivity of Synaptic Vesicle Transport

Axonal transport of synaptic vesicles (SVs) is a KIF1A/UNC-104 mediated process critical for synapse development and maintenance yet little is known of how SV transport is regulated. Using C. elegans as an in vivo model, we identified SAM-4 as a novel conserved vesicular component regulating SV transport. Processivity, but not velocity, of SV transport was reduced in sam-4 mutants. sam-4 displayed strong genetic interactions with mutations in the cargo binding but not the motor domain of unc-104. Gain-of-function mutations in the unc-104 motor domain, identified in this study, suppress the sam-4 defects by increasing processivity of the SV transport. Genetic analyses suggest that SAM-4, SYD-2/liprin-α and the KIF1A/UNC-104 motor function in the same pathway to regulate SV transport. Our data support a model in which the SV protein SAM-4 regulates the processivity of SV transport.
Drug Repurposing of Metformin for the Treatment of Haloperidol-Related Behavior Disorders and Oxidative Stress: A Preliminary Study

A particular attribute of the brain lies in the ability to learn, acquire information from the environment, and utilize the learned information. Previous research has noted that various factors (e.g., age, stress, anxiety, pathological issues), including antipsychotic medications, affect the brain and memory. The current study aimed to reveal the effects of chronic metformin treatment on the cognitive performance of rats and on commonly measured markers for oxidative stress. Wistar male rats (n = 40) were randomly divided into four groups: CTR (n = 10)–control group, METF (n = 10)–animals receiving metformin 500 mg/kg, HAL (n = 10)–animals receiving haloperidol 2 mg/kg, and HALMETF (n = 10)–animals receiving haloperidol 2 mg/kg and metformin 500 mg/kg. The medication was administered daily by oral gavage for 40 days. Memory and learning were assessed using the Morris Water Maze (MWM) test. At the end of the MWM, the rodents were decapitated under anesthesia, and the brain and blood samples were assayed by liquid chromatography for markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, MDA, reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio, GSH/GSSG). The quantification of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was performed using the conventional sandwich ELISA technique. In the HALMETF group, metformin attenuated the negative effects of haloperidol. Brain and plasma MDA levels increased in the HAL group. Brain and plasma GSH/GSSG ratios and BDNF levels did not reveal any differences between groups. In conclusion, metformin treatment limits the deleterious cognitive effects of haloperidol. The effect on oxidative stress markers may also point toward an antioxidant-like effect of metformin, but this needs further tests for confirmation.
The relationship of organ weight, body weight and age in mice.

A method is described which permits the examination of the influences of increasing age and body weight on organ weights. Polynomial multivariate analysis is performed by computer, and the predicted organ weight values permit the construction of three dimensional graphs which show the influence on organ weight of all combinations of age and body weight. The application of the method will allow the physical biology of organisms to be determined with considerable precision over their life span.
Inhibition of IL-17A in Tumor Microenvironment Augments Cytotoxicity of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Tumor-Bearing Mice

It remains controversial whether IL-17A promotes or inhibits cancer progression. We hypothesized that IL-17A that is locally produced in the tumor microenvironment has an important role in angiogenesis and tumor immunity. We investigated the effect of inhibiting IL-17A at tumor sites on tumor growth and on local and systemic anti-tumor immunity. MC38 or B16 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into mice, and intratumoral injection of an adenovirus vector expressing siRNA against the mouse IL-17A gene (Ad-si-IL-17) significantly inhibited tumor growth in both tumor models compared with control mice. Inhibition of IL-17A at tumor sites significantly suppressed CD31, MMP9, and VEGF expression in tumor tissue. The cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T cells from tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in mice treated with Ad-si-IL-17 was significantly higher than in control mice; however, CD8+ T cells from splenocytes had similar activity levels. Suppression of IL-17A at tumor sites led to a Th1-dominant environment, and moreover, eliminated myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells at tumor sites but not in splenocytes. In conclusion, blockade of IL-17A at tumor sites helped suppress tumor growth by inhibiting angiogenesis as well as cytotoxic T lymphocytes activation at tumor sites.
Bisphosphonates: therapeutics potential and recent advances in drug delivery

Abstract Context: Bisphosphonates (BPs) are widely used for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. BPs are known as gold standard for osteoporosis (OP) treatment due to their positive results in clinical studies. But some serious side effects are associated with BPs like gastrointestinal adverse effect i.e. esophagitis and ulcer of esophagus. Oral bioavailability (BA) of BPs ranges from 0.6 to 1% due to poor absorption through gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Objective: The main objective of this review is to explore the role of novel drug delivery systems (DDSs) for the delivering of BPs and minimizing the drawbacks associated with them. Methods: The current review is focusing on classification, mechanism of action, and limitations of BPs, and is also dwelling on the use of novel DDSs like nanoparticles, liposomes, topical, transdermal systems, implants, bisphosphonate osteotropic DDS (BP-ODDS), microspheres, and calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) for BPs. This review also gives a critically reviewed compilation of the various in vitro and in vivo studies conducted till date. Conclusion: On the basis of the exhaustive literature, it has been found that the novel DDS minimizes the side effects associated with BPs and enhances the BA. The advance drug delivery has a greater impact on reducing the undesirable effects and increasing the BA of BPs.
Frame shift mutation, exon skipping, and a two-codon deletion caused by splice site mutations account for pyruvate kinase deficiency.

Three novel splice site mutations and two novel missense mutations were identified by molecular analysis of pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency associated with hereditary nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia. A Nepalese PK variant, PK Kowloon, was found to have a homozygous transversion at the 5'-splice site of the seventh intervening sequence (IVS) of the L-type PK gene (Ivs7[+1]gt --> tt). Using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, we showed that the R-type PK mRNA in the proband's reticulocytes included the seventh IVS between the seventh and eighth exon, introducing a stop codon 3 nucleotides downstream of the mutated site. Consequently, the translational product may lack 44% of the R-PK polypeptide. A transition at the last nucleotide of exon 9 (1269GCG --> GCA) was found in a Japanese PK variant, PK 'Kamata. ' The mutation did not alter the amino acid sequence, but caused skipping of the ninth exonic sequence in the R-PK transcripts. As a result, the affected R-type PK lost 51 amino acid residues (373Met-423Ala del). A transversion at the splice acceptor site of the third IVS (Ivs 3[-2]ag --> tg) was identified in PK 'Aomori. ' The mutation resulted in aberrant splicing at a cryptic splice site within exon 4, causing deletion of two codons in the aberrant R-PK transcript (95 Gly-96 Pro --> del). Both PK 'Kamata' and PK 'Aomori' had a missense mutation on the other allele, 1044AAG --> AAT (348Lys --> Asn) and 1075CGC --> TGC (359Arg --> Cys), respectively. Although both 348Lys and 359Arg were located in the sixth loop of A domain (beta/alpha)8 barrel, which has been shown to contain the substrate and cation binding sites, the degree of anemia was much more severe in PK 'Kamata' than PK 'Aomori,' possibly because the 51 amino acid deletion of PK 'Kamata' but the 2 amino-acid deletion of PK 'Aomori' may abolish PK catalytic activity.
A Neutral Thermostable β-1,4-Glucanase from Humicola insolens Y1 with Potential for Applications in Various Industries

We cloned a new glycoside hydrolase family 6 gene, Hicel6C, from the thermophilic fungus Humicola insolens Y1 and expressed it in Pichia pastoris. Using barley β-glucan as a substrate, recombinant HiCel6C protein exhibited neutral pH (6.5) and high temperature (70°C) optima. Distinct from most reported acidic fungal endo-β-1,4-glucanases, HiCel6C was alkali-tolerant, retaining greater than 98.0, 61.2, and 27.6% of peak activity at pH 8.0, 9.0, and 10.0, respectively, and exhibited good stability over a wide pH range (pH 5.0−11.0) and at temperatures up to 60°C. The K m and V max values of HiCel6C for barley β-glucan were 1.29 mg/mL and 752 μmol/min·mg, respectively. HiCel6C was strictly specific for the β-1,4-glucoside linkage exhibiting activity toward barley β-glucan, lichenan, and carboxy methylcellulose sodium salt (CMC-Na), but not toward laminarin (1,3-β-glucan). HiCel6C cleaved the internal glycosidic linkages of cellooligosaccharides randomly and thus represents an endo-cleaving enzyme. The predominant product of polysaccharide hydrolysis by HiCel6C was cellobiose, suggesting that it functions by an endo-processive mechanism. The favorable properties of HiCel6C make it a good candidate for basic research and for applications in the textile and brewing industries.
Risk factors for postpartum anestrus in crossbred cows in Bangladesh

Ultrasonography and a structured questionnaire were used in a cross-sectional study to gather data on the prevalence and risk factors for anestrus in crossbred cows at =>60 days postpartum in 273 smallholder farms. The prevalence of anestrus was 18%. The odds ratio (OR) for true anestrus was 17.52 and 2.81 times higher (P < 0.05) in cows with poor (=3.5) body condition score (BCS), respectively, compared to those with optimal BCS (2.5-3.5), 2.82 times higher in suckled than in nonsuckled cows (P = 0.03), and 2.53 times higher in cows that calved during the cold season than in those that calved during the hot season (P = 0.03). The OR for anestrus was 1.62 times higher (P = 0.017) in cows managed by an employee than in those managed by the farmers themselves (P = 0.001), and 2.66 times higher (P = 0.003) in small farms (=11 cows). The OR was 0.71 to 0.46 times lower in farms having a guaranteed market to sell milk than those with an uncertain traditional milk market (P < 0.05). Maintaining optimal BCS of cows, farmers' training on management of cattle reproduction, and development of a market linkage to sell milk would improve the number of cows for breeding by 60 days postpartum.
Vehicle Engine Classification Using Spectral Tone-Pitch Vibration Indexing and Neural Network

As a non-invasive and remote sensor, the Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV) has found a broad spectrum of applications in various areas such as civil engineering, biomedical engineering, and even security and restoration within art museums. LDV is an ideal sensor to detect threats earlier and provide better protection to society, which is of utmost importance to military and law enforcement institutions. However, the use of LDV in situational surveillance, in particular vehicle classification, is still in its infancy due to the lack of systematic investigations on its behavioral properties. In this work, as a result of the pilot project initiated by Air Force Research Laboratory, the innate features of LDV data from many vehicles are examined, beginning with an investigation of feature differences compared to human speech signals. A spectral tone-pitch vibration indexing scheme is developed to capture the engine's periodic vibrations and the associated fundamental frequencies over the vehicles' surface. A two-layer feed-forward neural network with 20 intermediate neurons is employed to classify vehicles' engines based on their spectral tone-pitch indices. The classification results using the proposed approach over the complete LDV dataset collected by the project are exceedingly encouraging; consistently higher than 96% accuracies are attained for all four types of engines collected from this project.
Batch-Mode Active-Learning Methods for the Interactive Classification of Remote Sensing Images

This paper investigates different batch-mode active-learning (AL) techniques for the classification of remote sensing (RS) images with support vector machines. This is done by generalizing to multiclass problem techniques defined for binary classifiers. The investigated techniques exploit different query functions, which are based on the evaluation of two criteria: uncertainty and diversity. The uncertainty criterion is associated to the confidence of the supervised algorithm in correctly classifying the considered sample, while the diversity criterion aims at selecting a set of unlabeled samples that are as more diverse (distant one another) as possible, thus reducing the redundancy among the selected samples. The combination of the two criteria results in the selection of the potentially most informative set of samples at each iteration of the AL process. Moreover, we propose a novel query function that is based on a kernel-clustering technique for assessing the diversity of samples and a new strategy for selecting the most informative representative sample from each cluster. The investigated and proposed techniques are theoretically and experimentally compared with state-of-the-art methods adopted for RS applications. This is accomplished by considering very high resolution multispectral and hyperspectral images. By this comparison, we observed that the proposed method resulted in better accuracy with respect to other investigated and state-of-the art methods on both the considered data sets. Furthermore, we derived some guidelines on the design of AL systems for the classification of different types of RS images.
Echangeur à plaques corruguées en mode condenseur : étude locale des transferts thermo-hydrauliques

In this work we bring new information on the analysis of condensation heat transfer inside a corrugated plate heat exchanger (PHE), based on the characterization of local and global parameters. An experimental study of pentane complete condensation inside a PHE composed of two channels has been conducted for mass fluxes between 9 and 30 kg.m.s. The PHE, placed vertically with downward pentane flow, presents a hydraulic diameter of 4.4 mm and a corrugation angle of 55 °. A protocol for characterizing the fluid temperature profile, based on infrared metrology, has been specifically developed. These measurements coupled to a local enthalpy balance allow determining the averaged profiles of the vapor mass fraction, the heat transfer coefficient and the heat flux density along the PHE. The results, for the majority of tests, show a significant variation of the heat flux 22 ème Congrès Français de Mécanique Lyon, 24 au 28 Août 2015 density, up to 400%, between the inlet and the outlet of the heat exchanger. Moreover, the local heat transfer coefficient decreases by 5 to 10 times between the beginning and the end of the condensation zone. We deduce that the global heat transfer coefficient calculated, either by the LMTD method or from the assumption of a uniform heat flux density, is lower than that obtained by integrating the local profile, with relative deviations of 10 to 20% depending on the mass flux. A good agreement is obtained between the total pressure drop experimentally measured and that determined by different combinations of two-phase flow models, either homogeneous or separate phases flow types. This result tends to complicate the analysis of two-phase flow structures in three-dimensional channel geometry. Mots clés : Condensation, Echangeur à plaques, Transferts thermiques, Pertes de pression, Métrologie infrarouge, Expérimental Nomenclature cp capacité calorifique, (J.kg .K) Dh diamètre hydraulique, m e épaisseur de la plaque, m f coefficient de friction de DarcyWeisbach G flux massique ou vitesse massique, kg.m. s h coefficient de transfert de chaleur, W.m. K L longueur, m Lv chaleur latente de condensation, (J.kg) ? ̇? débit massique, (kg.s) p pression, (Pa) Pr nombre de Prandtl, Pr = μ. cp. λ -1 q densité de flux de chaleur, (kW.m ) Re nombre de Reynolds, Re = G.Dh. μ -1 S section de passage, (m ) T température, ( C) ? ̅? température moyenne, ( C) x titre massique de la vapeur z position verticale, (m) z* position verticale normalisée, z* = z.L ΔP pertes de pression, (Pa) Greek letters λ conductivité thermique, (W.m .K) ρ masse volumique, (kg.m ) μ viscosité dynamique, (Pa.s) β angle de chevron, (°) Subscripts cond condensation calc calculé diph diphasique exp Expérimental l liquide r réfrigérant sat saturation tot valeur totale v vapeur z position suivant l’axe vertical z
Foam in a two-dimensional Couette shear: a local measurement of bubble deformation

We re-analyse experiments on a foam sheared in a two-dimensional Couette geometry. We characterize the bubble deformation by a texture tensor. Our measurements are local in time: they show two regimes, one transient and one stationary. They provide both the average and fluctuations of the anisotropy. Measurements are also local in space: they show that both the deformation and the elastic contribution to the stress field do not localize, varying smoothly across the shear gap. We can thus describe the foam as a continuous medium with elastic properties.