Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensory Organ Generation in the Chick Inner Ear

There are a total of eight sensory organs in the chick inner ear. Each sensory organ has a distinct structure tailored for its function, and its morphology is well characterized. However, the origin of these sensory organs and the lineage relationships among them are largely unknown. In this report, we show that BMP4 (bone morphogenetic protein), a secreted protein of the TGF-β gene family, is the earliest sensory marker identified to date for the chick inner ear. In addition to BMP4, we show that Msx-1 is a sensory marker for the three cristae, the lagena, and macula neglecta. P75NGFR (nerve growth factor receptor) is a marker for the three cristae only. Based on the expression pattern of these three genes—BMP4, Msx-1, and p75NGFR—it is estimated that the first sensory organs to be generated were the superior and posterior cristae at stage 19, followed by the macula sacculi at stage 20, the lateral crista at stage 22, the basilar papilla and lagena at stage 23, the macula utriculi at stage 24, and the macula neglecta at stage 29. The age of generation of each sensory organ as defined by the first appearance of these molecular markers is well in advance of the histological differentiation. In addition, the differential gene expressions in each presumptive sensory organ may contribute to the distinct structure of the mature organ.
Distinguishing between Indirect and Direct Modes of Transmission Using Epidemiological Time Series

Pathogen transmission can involve direct and/or indirect pathways. Using theoretical models, in this study we ask, “do directly and indirectly transmitted pathogens yield different population-level epidemiological dynamics? ” and “can the transmission pathway be inferred from population-level epidemiological data? ” Our approach involves comparing the continuous-time dynamics of a class of compartmental epidemiological models with direct versus environmentally mediated indirect transmission pathways. Combing analytical theory and numerical simulations we show that models with direct and indirect transmission can produce quantitatively similar time series when the pathogen cannot reproduce in the environment, particularly when the environmental pathogen dynamics are fast. We apply these results to a previous study on chronic wasting disease and show that identifying the transmission pathway is more difficult than previously acknowledged. Our analysis and simulations also yield conditions under which numerical differences can potentially identify the transmission route in oscillating endemic systems and systems where the environmental pathogen dynamics are not fast. This work begins to identify how differences in the transmission pathway can result in quantitatively different epidemiological dynamics and how those differences can be used to identify the transmission pathway from population level time series.
Diagnostic and prognostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen in pancreatic cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is one of the most widely used tumor markers and is increased in 30%–60% of patients with pancreatic cancer. Although carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is the most important serum biomarker in pancreatic cancer, the diagnostic and prognostic value of CEA is gradually being recognized. Materials and methods The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were searched for related literature published until January 2017. Diagnostic accuracy variables were pooled using the Meta-Disc software. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for prognostic data were calculated and analyzed using Stata software. Results A total of 3,650 participants enrolled in 19 studies met our inclusion criteria. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio of a CEA-based panel were 0.45 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41–0.50), 0.89 (95% CI, 0.86–0.91), 5.39 (95% CI, 3.16–9.18), and 0.55 (95% CI, 0.41–0.72), respectively. The area under the curve (AUC, 0.90) and Q-value (0.84) of the CEA-based panel indicated a significantly higher diagnostic accuracy compared with CEA or CA19-9 alone. Moreover, there was also a significant association between high levels of CEA and worse overall survival (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.31–1.56). Conclusion Our meta-analysis indicated that elevated serum CEA level, as a vital supplementary to CA19-9, can play an important role in the clinical diagnosis of pancreatic cancer patients and predict poor prognosis.
Chromosome replication in an Escherichia coli dnaA mutant integratively suppressed by prophage P2

Escherichia coli CRT4624-P2sig5 is a dnaA mutant in which integration of the prophage P2sig5 has occurred at the attP2II site (min 85). This strain was integratively suppressed, and when cells were shifted to 42 degrees C replication was initiated at a site in or near the P2 prophage. Initially, this replication occurred primarily in the direction that corresponds to the clockwise direction on the genetic map. Replication also occurred in the counterclockwise direction, but the initiation of replication in this direction occurred approximately 40 min later than the initiation of replication in the other direction. Because of this delay, the replication forks that traveled in the clockwise direction were the first to arrive in the region of the replication terminus. These replication forks ceased replication near the aroD locus (min 37), and it is proposed that the replication terminus is between the aroD and rac loci (min 31). A model is proposed for the cycle of chromosome replication in this strain at 42 degrees C.
Efficacy of valganciclovir and ganciclovir for cytomegalovirus disease in solid organ transplants: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a problematic virus in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR) such as liver, can worsen overall mortality and transplant outcome, so its prevention and treatment is a key of success in such patients. This study is aimed to compare the efficacy of ganciclovir (GCV) and valganciclovir (VGC) for prevention and treatment of infection with CMV. MATERIALS AND METHODS After sensitive and systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane and other available databases, both prospective and retrospective studies on effect of VGC and GCV in prevention and treatment of CMV disease among SOTR, which had our study criteria, were included. The pooled risk estimates were calculated using random-effects models. RESULTS Among 1324 title, 19 studies were included. In 11 prophylactic studies (2368 patients), the pooled risk of CMV disease (VGC relative to GCV) was 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.91-1.49 and in studies of liver transplant recipients, 1.53, 95% CI: 0.86-2.70. Rate of viremia eradication in VGC to GCV was 1.05, 95% CI: 0.97-1.13. In 3 treatment studies (422 patients), rate of successful treatment in VGC to GCV was 0.98, 95% CI: 0.91-1.06 and viremia eradication 0.95, CI 95% 0.77-1.16. All these values did not show statistically significantly differences between GCV and VGC. CONCLUSION It can be concluded that VGC as an alternative to GCV can be used with equal efficacy in prevention and treatment of CMV disease in SOTR.
Il disagio genitoriale come condizione psico-socio-economica contemporanea: Quale sostegno alla genitorialità?

This paper develops some theoretical considerations on parental distress that characterizes contemporary society as the consequence of the de-territorialization of productive communities. Considering the contemporary changes in the macro-social context within which the parents act their role it is required to address the relational issues within the family. It is also proposed a model of clinical-dynamic support group setting to promote coping in the parental distress. Keywords: Parental distress; Parental relations; Clinical-dynamic support group for parents
Stereo Matching as a Nearest-Neighbor Problem

We propose a representation of images, called intrinsic curves, that transforms stereo matching from a search problem into a nearest-neighbor problem. Intrinsic curves are the paths that a set of local image descriptors trace as an image scanline is traversed from left to right. Intrinsic curves are ideally invariant with respect to disparity. Stereo correspondence then becomes a trivial lookup problem in the ideal case. We also show how to use intrinsic curves to match real images in the presence of noise, brightness bias, contrast fluctuations, moderate geometric distortion, image ambiguity, and occlusions. In this case, matching becomes a nearest-neighbor problem, even for very large disparity values.
Spleen content of selected polyphenols, splenocytes morphology and function in mice fed Rhodiola kirilowii extracts during pregnancy and lactation.

UNLABELLED The genus Rhodiola (Crassulaceae) consists of many species, growing mainly in Asia and traditionally used as adaptogens and anti-inflammatory drugs. In order to elaborate herbal immunostimulator which could be safely given to pregnant women, we performed a study on immunotropic effects of feeding pregnant and lactating mice Rhodiola kirilowii extracts. This paper presents the results of the first part of our study - spleen content of selected polyphenols, spleen cellularity, splenocytes phenotype and their response to mitogens. Experiments were performed on adult inbred females of Balb/c strain, mated with adult males. Females, since copulatory plug was noted, up to the 28-th day after delivery were fed daily with 20 mg/kg b.m. water (RKW) or hydro-alcoholic (RKW-A) extracts of Rhodiola kirilowii. RESULTS 1. Significantly lower proportion of pregnant mice in experimental groups than in the control. 2. Cellularity of spleen and flavonol quercetin spleen concentration were significantly lower in experimental groups in comparison to the controls. 3. Flavanols ((+)-catechin and epicatechin) levels were significantly higher in the spleens of experimental mice than in the controls. 4. Positive correlation between spleen cellularity and quercetin, and negative correlation between spleen cellularity and epicatechin content were observed. 5. Spleen mass and spleen lymphocytes phenotype and proliferation in RKW and RKW-A fed mice did not differ from the control. These results, together with suspicion of some embryo-toxicity, are worrying and eliminate the possibility of use Rhodiola kirilowii extracts for long-term treatment in pregnant females.
MENTE E LINGUAGEM: A PERSPECTIVA CHOMSKYANA E SUA REPERCUSSÃO NAS DISCUSSÕES DE PUTNAN, FODOR E SEARLE

Este artigo possui o objetivo de compreender e analisar aspectos relativos a propostas teoricas sobre mente/linguagem desenvolvidas por Chomsky e suas repercussoes nas teorizacoes de Putnan, Fodor e Searle em obras que abordam tal escopo. A partir de uma perspectiva metodologica dialogica, em que e utilizada como instrumento a revisao bibliografica, foram considerados certos fenomenos mentais/linguisticos discutidos por esses autores. Observa-se que, embora cada um dos estudiosos privilegie a reflexao acerca de determinado objeto hipotetico, como intencionalidade, linguagem do pensamento, Gramatica Universal e externalismo semântico, Chomsly, Putnan, Fodor e Searle concebem a indissociabilidade entre mente e linguagem nos processos de significacao humana.
Video Matting Using Motion Extended GrabCut

GrabCut is perhaps the most powerful semi-automatic algorithm for matting presented to date. In its existing form, it is not suitable for video object segmentation. This paper considers major extensions that make it suitable for this purpose. A method for initialising matting without user intervention is presented, followed by a more robust data model using a Mean Shift algorithm to control model complexity. In addition, normalised motion information as well as colour is used to form joint colour and motion feature vectors. This improves the robustness of the mattes in the presence of colour camouflage and decreases the user intervention required for a successful result. Comparison between GrabCut and the proposed Motion Extended GrabCut (MxGrabCut), shows the improvement for video matting.
URBAN GARDENS: AS A SOLUTION TO ENERGY POVERTY AND URBAN HEAT ISLAND

Urban gardens are a means of greening and are created by a local community. As regards any urban environment, urban greening helps cooling the air and provides shading, thus reducing building energy consumption and improving the outdoor conditions during the summer. In more detail, vegetation is a way to deal with the phenomenon of energy poverty in which many people cannot meet their basic energy needs as well as the phenomenon of urban heat island. This paper deals with the ways in which vegetation affects the improvement of microclimatic change, mainly through evapotranspiration. This is examined in a region of the city of Chania. More specifically, through the application of Envi-met software the current condition, a scenario with absence of vegetation and two scenarios of different vegetation are analyzed. In the last two scenarios fruit and vegetables and agro-biodiversity like herbs, which both are consumed, are used.
Enhancing the Survivability of Intrusion Detection Agents through Port Switching and Peer-to-peer Replication

Security applications such as intrusion detection software often lack a security-conscious design that supports their vigilance goal. Similarly, software generation tools and libraries typically lack security constructs that support the development more robust systems. The latter is the case of agent-generation frameworks, which are rarely designed to guarantee agents a safe, continuous functioning hereby limiting their operational potential. Some intrusion detection architectures have contemplated the use of software agents and have inherited challenges from both, the design branch and the agent-support software branch. This paper sheds some light on the interleaving of survivability features into intrusion detection agents. It contemplates two aspects essential to agentry, namely communication confidentiality and agent availability. We discuss the details of a prototype that implements a linear-time port-switching communication protocol aimed at protecting exchanges between agents, and a peer-to-peer replication and location model to strengthen the availability of agents. We discuss the design and the specifics of the integration of these two techniques and present experimental results that show an increased security-level at a low performance cost.
Queueing delay - error probability tradeoff for point-to-point channels with fixed length block codes

We study the tradeoff between the average error probability and the average queueing delay of messages which randomly arrive to the transmitter of a point-to-point discrete memoryless channel that uses variable rate fixed codeword length random coding. Bounds to the exponential decay rate of the average error probability with average queueing delay in the regime of large average delay are obtained. Upper and lower bounds to the optimal average delay for a given average error probability constraint are presented. We then formulate a constrained Markov decision problem for characterizing the rate of transmission as a function of queue size given an average error probability constraint. Using a Lagrange multiplier the constrained Markov decision problem is then converted to a problem of minimizing the average cost for a Markov decision problem. A simple heuristic policy is proposed which approximately achieves the optimal average cost.
Success factors in ERP systems implementations: Lessons from practice

Purpose – To reveal the mechanisms determining the success of ERP implementations on the basis of research conducted among practitioners dealing with ERP projects.Design/methodology/approach – A collection of potential ERP implementation success factors was identified. The respondents expressed their opinions concerning the importance of subsequent factors for implementation success and about the factors' appearance in their projects. The synthetic measure of implementation success was constructed and the factors' impact on the implementation project success was examined. Then, the most influential factors for the ERP implementation success were selected.Findings – Recognises the factors that have the greatest influence on implementation success, regardless of the project type. Moreover, the leading roles of certain factors appear among specific project groups. The practitioners do not appreciate the significance of particular factors which have an important influence on project success. Nevertheless, som.
An Ontology-Based Document-Space as an Adaptable User Interface for Mobile Information Systems

In the last few years, mobile devices like laptops, PDAs and in particular cell phones have become very popular. Most students at schools and universities own at least one – if not several – of these devices. Thus, it seems sensible to think about ways to use them to support the main task of these students, i.e. learning. One important aspect of learning is the need to collect and combine learning information from different sources and, maybe even more important, to share and discuss them with fellow students to get deeper insights into the topics. Particularly with the ever increasing amount of knowledge and knowledge sources, in order to succeed in university, it is crucial to adequately deal with the various learning documents. While most of these documents are available electronically from university-owned servers or external sources, many are stored on the students’ mobile devices. These might be copies of official materials, but also the students’ own summaries, solutions to exercises and so on. Given the amount of information available on the mobile devices, there should be a way to use it that goes beyond having access to the material on one’s own device. Our basic idea is to enable students to form ad-hoc networks and to have access to all the information made available in this network. Besides the technical issues involved in forming an ad-hoc network, and the issues concerning information description and discovery, which are not the topic of this paper but which are explored in our DIANE project [1], a major problem is how to present the integrated information so that it can be used efficiently. Since mobile devices vary widely in their display capabilities, this presentation needs to be adapted to different device classes. In this paper, we propose such a user interface. The remainder of this paper is structured as follows: Section 2 introduces a scenario and identifies the main problems that need to be solved. Section 3 gives an overview of existing approaches. Then, in Section 4, we introduce our solution. The paper ends with a summary in Section 5.
The ceiling to coproduction in university–industry research collaboration

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into government attempts at bridging the divide between theory and practice through university–industry research collaboration modelled under engaged scholarship. The findings are based on data sourced from interviews with 47 academic and industry project leaders from 23 large-scale research projects. The paper demonstrates a ceiling to the coproduction of knowledge arising from the preconceived beliefs of both academics and industry partners regarding project roles and responsibilities. The findings show that coproduction was constrained by academic partners assuming control over much of the research activities and industry partners failing to confront or challenge academic decision-making because both academics and industry partners placed a higher value on academic knowledge compared with applied or practical knowledge. It is argued the theory of engaged scholarship, and consequent initiatives to encourage engaged scholarship, fail to account for the superior status of academic knowledge.
Multi-objective Scheduling of BPEL Workflows in Geographically Distributed Clouds

In this paper, a novel scheduling algorithm for Cloud-based workflow applications is presented. If the constituent workflow tasks are geographically distributed - hosted by different Cloud providers or data centers of the same provider - data transmission can be the main bottleneck. The algorithm therefore takes data dependencies between workflow steps into account and assigns them to Cloud resources based on the two conflicting objectives of cost and execution time according to the preferences of the user. Our implementation is based on BPEL, an industry standard for workflow modeling, and does not require any changes to the standard. It is based on, but not limited to, the Active BPEL engine and Amazon's Elastic Compute Cloud. To automatically adapt the scheduling decisions to network-related changes, the data transmission speed between the available resources is monitored continuously. Experimental results for a real-life workflow from a medical domain indicate that both the workflow execution times and the corresponding costs can be reduced significantly.
Who’s got the phone? Gender and the use of the telephone at the bottom of the pyramid

Many studies conclude that a significant gender divide in access to the telephone exists, particularly in developing countries. Furthermore, women are also said to use telephones in a different manner from men — making and receiving more calls, spending more time on calls and using telephones primarily for ‘relationship maintenance’ purposes. Much of this research is based on small-sample studies in affluent developed countries. This article shows that a significant gender divide in access to telephones exists in Pakistan and India, to a lesser extent in Sri Lanka, but is absent in the Philippines and Thailand. It also challenges the findings which claim that women’s and men’s use is fundamentally different, at least at the ‘bottom of the pyramid’ in developing countries.