Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Definition of Management Zones Through Image Processing for Precision Agriculture

The continuous growth of the world population results in ever growing demands on food production, however the amount of area available to expand farming activities gets smaller every day. This is the chief motivator for techniques to help farmers improve the efficiency of their crops. This paper proposes the utilization of aerial images of plantations, captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), in order to monitor the plant’s health, the vitality of the vegetation is calculated using well-known methods such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). However, alone this data is not enough because the farmer cannot decide which actions and where he should take, for that reason the management zones are needed. The vigor zones are calculated utilizing a classification algorithm to divide the crop in a prefixed number of regions, grouping those with similar aspects, which allows the producer to decide how he will act in each zone.
A role for the POU‐III transcription factor Brn‐4 in the regulation of striatal neuron precursor differentiation

Both insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) induce the differentiation of post‐mitotic neuronal precursors, derived from embryonic day 14 (E14) mouse striatal multipotent stem cells. Here we ask whether this differentiation is mediated by a member of the POU‐III class of neural transcription factors. Exposure of stem cell progeny to either IGF‐I or BDNF resulted in a rapid upregulation of Brn‐4 mRNA and protein. Indirect immunocytochemistry with Brn‐4 antiserum showed that the protein was expressed in newly generated neurons. Other POU‐III genes, such as Brn–1 and Brn–2, did not exhibit this upregulation. Basic FGF, a mitogen for these neuronal precursors, did not stimulate Brn‐4 expression. In the E14 mouse striatum, Brn‐4‐immunoreactive cells formed a boundary between the nestin‐immunoreactive cells of the ventricular zone and the β‐tubulin‐immunoreactive neurons migrating into the mantle zone. Loss of Brn–4 function during the differentiation of stem cell‐derived or primary E14 striatal neuron precursors, by inclusion of antisense oligonucleotides, caused a reduction in the number of β‐tubulin‐immunoreactive neurons. These findings suggest that Brn‐4 mediates, at least in part, the actions of epigenetic signals that induce striatal neuron‐precursor differentiation.
Effect of Weaning on Small Intestinal Structure and Function in the Piglet

Fifty-four piglets were selected from 12 litters weaned at 17 (Treatment 1), 21 (Treatment 2), 28 (Treatment 3) and 35 (Treatment 4) days old, respectively, to determine the effect of weaning age on small intestinal villus morphology, immunology and histochemistry. From proximal duodenum, proximal jejunum, distal jejunum and middle ileum, intestinal samples with three replicates (piglets) in each treatment were taken at 18, 22, 28 and 36; 22, 28, 36 and 43; 28, 36, 43, and 50; and 18, 22, 28, 36, 43 and 50d of age in Treatment 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. This was equivalent to 12h, 3d, 1 week, 2 week postweaning in Treatment 1; 12h, 1 week, 2 week, 3 week postweaning in Treatment 2 and 3, and all the same age in Treatment 4 as in Treatment 1, 2, 3, respectively. The results showed that villous height of duodenum and proximal jejunum decreased significantly in Treatment 1 and 3. Crypt depth in the duodenum, proximal jejunum and ileum also decreased significantly in Treatment 1. Date had significant effect on villous height of the duodenum, distal jejunum and ileum with the shortest on day 29 and crypt depth of all positions increased with piglet age except the crypt depth in proximal jejunum decreased on day 50. Weaning age and day of age had significant effects on intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) number and goblet cell (GC) number at all positions of small intestinal mucosa in piglets. The number of IEL at all segments of small intestinal mucosa in Treatment 3 increased significantly compared to those in other treatments, but IEL number at all locations of small intestinal mucosa in Treatment 2 decreased significantly compared to those in other treatments. The number of GC in small intestinal mucosa increased significantly in early-weaned (< day 21) piglets. It appears that providing fluid milk replacer for a few days postweaning could dramatically reduce the negative impact of weaning on villous morphology and digestive and absorptive function, especially in pigs weaned prior to 3 week of age. Finally, as weaning age was reduced, GC had a greater role in intestinal duct protection.
The "W" park of Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger : Régional integration, trans-boundary challenges and local participation

Le Parc W - espace partage entre le Benin, le Burkina Faso et le Niger - represente la plus grande aire protegee transfrontaliere en Afrique avec ses 17.000 km2. L'aire delimitee et ensuite classee entre 1927 et 1937 a ete repartie entre les trois pays a l'independance. Depuis lors, elle a ete amenagee par des services administratifs et selon des systemes juridiques et poliques distincts. Cependant, pour les populations riveraines et leurs activites econorniques, le Parc constitue toujours un meme ensemble geographique et environnemental. A partir de 1984 la convergence d'interet entre les trois Etats a peu a peu ete reconnue et des negociations pour un mode de gestion conjointe du Parc Regional du W ont ete entamee. Avec la creation d'une Coordination regionale et d'un cadre de concertation permanent entre les responsables de chaque pays, le Parc s'est ensuite dote d'orientations et des mecanismes necessaires pour faire face aux defis communs. A titre d'exemple, a l'heure actuelle une approche regionale a grande echelle est mise en oeuvre pour un amenagement pastoral qui concerne a la fois reserves de faune et de forets, terres agricoles, zones de pâtures saisonnieres ou de stationnement, ou encore lieux de vente du betail. Une approche integree et regionale pour cette question - et plusieurs autres dont l'extension des terres consacrees a la production du coton - implique une reconnaissance a la fois des droits et des pratiques decidee au niveau local et celle des nouvelles formes institutionnelles de coordination qui depassent les seules limites d'un Etat. Ainsi les choix politiques doivent specifier les responsabilites de chacun des acteurs a plusieurs echelles, et prendre en compte les obligations internationales liees a l'inscription du parc dans les conventions du Patrimoine mondial, de Ramsar et de l'Homme et la Biosphere. La viabilite du Parc W et de son aire d'influence depend du succes des actions qui visent a reconcilier les interets parfois conflictuels des groupes sociaux voisins du parc, des acteurs prives et gouvernementaux au niveau national et des organismes internationaux de suivi et d'appui a la gestion des espaces protegees. C'est ainsi qu'a ete approuve une approche participative visant la constitution des plate-formes flexibles («nattes de concertation/negociation») entre les acteurs concernes par les memes «unites de gestion des ressources naturelles» dans la peripherie du Parc W. La mise en oeuvre effective de ces orientations et decisions reste toutefois tres lente et meriterait de recevoir un appui politique fort et coherent des trois Etats concernes pour repondre aux besoins et attentes des populations riveraines et des responsables de la conservation de cette aire protegee regionale. (Resume d'auteur)
Evidence that 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaric acid promotes lipid and protein oxidative damage and reduces the nonenzymatic antioxidant defenses in rat cerebral cortex

In the present work we investigated the in vitro effect of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutarate (HMG) that accumulates in 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA lyase deficiency (HMGLD) on important parameters of oxidative stress in rat cerebral cortex. It was observed that HMG induced lipid peroxidation by significantly increasing chemiluminescence and levels of thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBA‐RS). This effect was prevented by the antioxidants α‐tocopherol, melatonin, N‐acetylcysteine, and superoxide dismutase plus catalase, suggesting that free radicals were involved in the lipid oxidative damage. On the other hand, HMG did not change TBA‐RS levels in intact or disrupted mitochondrial preparations, indicating that generation of oxidants by this organic acid was dependent on cytosolic mechanisms. HMG also induced protein oxidative damage in cortical supernatants, which was reflected by increased carbonyl content and sulfhydryl oxidation. Furthermore, HMG significantly reduced the nonenzymatic antioxidant defenses total‐radical trapping antioxidant potential, total antioxidant reactivity, and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in rat cerebral cortex. HMG‐induced GSH reduction was totally blocked by melatonin pretreatment. We also verified that the decrease of GSH levels provoked by HMG in cortical supernatants was not due to a direct oxidative effect of this organic acid, because exposition of commercial GSH and purified membrane protein‐bound thiol groups to HMG in the absence of cortical supernatants did not decrease the reduced sulfhydryl groups. Finally, the activities of the main antioxidant enzymes were not altered by HMG exposure. Our data indicate that oxidative stress elicited in vitro by HMG may possibly contribute at least in part to the pathophysiology of the brain injury in HMGLD. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Real time sparse and dense stereo in an early cognitive vision system using CUDA Master ’ s thesis

This master’s thesis proceeds the work done in my FORK. Here we investigate how the introduction of a CUDA enabled graphics card can speed up the algorithms involved during the stereo computation of the CoViS framework. Stereo matching and reconstruction in general tend to be computationally heavy, and the support for parallel execution motivates us to transfer known algorithms to the massively parallel platform. The dense stereo algorithms have already proven (e.g. in the FORK) that they often fit the parallel environment nicely, so we investigate how this information can be integrated in an existing vision framework. Sparse stereo is more challenging but in spite of suboptimal memory access patterns and varying levels of parallelism we manage to achieve a moderate speed up.
Débat sur l’Indice du bien-être économique

Depuis quelques annees, le theme de l’insuffisance du PIB comme indicateur exclusif de richesse et de « bonne sante » d’une societe fait l’objet d’un debut de debat public. Au niveau national et international, le besoin grandit d’un instrument de mesure qui refleterait davantage l’evolution du bien-etre collectif. Le 15 octobre dernier, la DARES organisait un seminaire de recherche sur ce theme. Andrew SHARPE a presente les travaux qu’il mene depuis plusieurs annees avec Lars Osberg sur la construction d’un indice de bien-etre economique pour differents pays de l’OCDE. Florence JANY-CATRICE, Bernard PERRET et Dominique MEDA, tous impliques dans le debat francais sur les indicateurs, les ont commentes et discutes. Travail et emploi publie ici les elements de ce debat.
Distribution of Polycystine Radiolarians in Bottom Surface Sediments and Its Relation to Summer Sea Temperature in the High-Latitude North Atlantic

An objective of the study is to get new biogeographic information on the modern polycystine radiolarians from the high-latitude North Atlantic. The quantitative radiolarian dataset was compiled from publications and own micropaleontological counts from samples of the bottom surface sediments of the North Atlantic north of 40°N and Nordic Seas. Standard statistical treatment of micropaleontological data by factor analysis reveals five radiolarian assemblages which have their highest load at the specific temperature range in agreement with the oceanographic setting. An occurrence of radiolarian assemblages reflects extension and interaction of the warm North Atlantic and cold Polar/Arctic waters. Radiolarian distribution exhibits good correlation with the climatically averaged summer sea temperature on depth level of 200 m.
Performance of Vitek 2 for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia with Vitek 2 (2009 FDA) and CLSI M100S 26th Edition Breakpoints

ABSTRACT The performances of Vitek 2 AST-GN69 and AST-XN06 cards were compared to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) reference broth microdilution (BMD) for 99 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 26 Acinetobacter baumannii isolates, and 11 Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates. In total, 15 antimicrobials were evaluated, with 11 for P. aeruginosa, 14 for A. baumannii, and 2 for S. maltophilia. Categorical agreement (CA) was assessed using both Vitek 2 breakpoints and 2016 CLSI M100S 26th edition breakpoints. The essential agreement values for P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, and S. maltophilia were 99.5%, 99.2%, and 100%, respectively. The CA values for P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, and S. maltophilia were 94.1%, 92.7%, and 95.5%, respectively, by the Vitek 2 breakpoints, and 93.4%, 92.3%, and 95.5%, respectively, by the CLSI breakpoints. Overall, the Vitek 2 performance was comparable to that of BMD using both Vitek 2 breakpoints and 2016 CLSI M100S 26th edition breakpoints. Improved performance was noted for the reformulated piperacillin-tazobactam and imipenem found on the AST-GN69 card, with no very major or major errors noted when using the CLSI breakpoints.
Heavy metal levels in Spanish cheeses: influence of manufacturing conditions

Heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Hg) and Ni contents were determined in a wide variety of cheeses consumed in Spain from all geographical regions and with the official “Protected Designation of Origin”. Pb content ranged from 110 to 5 µg kg−1, which can be considered safe as, in all cases, the Pb contribution did not exceed 50% of the toxic density. Cd levels ranged between 11.4 to 1.3 µg kg−1; however, the toxic density values for Cd in different types of cheeses exceeded the reference value in some cases. The highest Hg content was found to Gata-Hurdes (208.3 µg kg−1), corresponding to a very high toxic density value (325%). Ni levels in cheese indicated that they are not good sources of this element. The type of milk, rennet and coagulation process had a significant influence on heavy metal levels in cheeses.
Bivalent enzyme inhibitors discovered using dynamic covalent chemistry.

A bivalent dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) system has been designed to selectively target members of the homodimeric glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzyme family. The dynamic covalent libraries (DCLs) use aniline-catalysed acylhydrazone exchange between bivalent hydrazides and glutathione-conjugated aldehydes and the bis-hydrazides act as linkers to bridge between each glutathione binding site. The resultant DCLs were found to be compatible and highly responsive to templating with different GST isozymes, with the best results coming from the M and Schistosoma japonicum (Sj) class of GSTs, targets in cancer and tropical disease, respectively. The approach yielded compounds with selective, nanomolar affinity (K(i) =61 nM for mGSTM1-1) and demonstrates that DCC can be used to simultaneously interrogate binding sites on different subunits of a dimeric protein.
Effects of preventive group education on the resistance of LDL against oxidation and risk factors for coronary heart disease in bypass surgery patients

BACKGROUND. Comprehensive preventive education for heart patients is effective in reducing cardiac events. However, very demanding counselling protocols cannot easily be implemented as an integral part of clinical practice in hospitals. AIM. To evaluate whether recurrent preventive group education for coronary artery bypass grafting patients affects the resistance of LDL against oxidation and the classical risk factors for coronary heart disease. METHODS. A prospective, controlled study with one-year follow-up was carried out in Southern Finland. Coronary artery bypass patients were allocated late ( S 18 months) after the operation in the intervention and control groups. RESULTS. Seventy two patients (65 men and 7 women) completed the study. Twelve-hour group education on healthy life-style had a significant (25%, P = 0.01) but transient positive effect on the resistance of LDL against oxidation. There was a trend towards increased physical activity in the intervention group. The impact of education on patients' weight was also more consistent (1.2 kg at 12 months, P < 0.05), whereas long-term effects on fibrinogen and serum lipids were small. CONCLUSIONS. Repeated group education applied as an economically feasible part of specialist care had only small positive effects on patients' risk factors. There was a significant, but transient, increase in the resistance of LDL against oxidation. However, effective lipid lowering drug treatment is indicated for most coronary artery bypass patients rather than repeated health education alone.
POSFET tactile sensing chips using CMOS technology

This work presents the advanced version of novel POSFET (Piezoelectric Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) devices based tactile sensing chip. The tactile sensing chip in the new version, presented here, has been fabricated using CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) technology. The chip consists of 4 × 4 POSFET touch sensing devices, four temperature diodes, and the electronic circuitry comprising of multiplexers, current mirrors, high compliance current sinks and voltage output buffers. The on chip POSFET devices have linear response in the tested dynamic contact forces range of 0.01-3N and the sensitivity (without amplification) is 102.4 mV/N.
Breastfeeding and Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches affect 19 percent of adult women. A small group of these migraine sufferers also are breastfeeding mothers. Although a correlation has not been documented in the literature, some women have noted that the onset, frequency, or pattern of their migraine headaches changes during lactation. Lactation consultants can provide education and support to breastfeeding women suffering from migraine. They also are in an excellent position to add case studies to the scientific database about this phenomenon.
Case presentation: Mr. J, an 88 year-old man found on the floor, complaining of generalized weakness.

Mr. J is 88-years old, with a medical history of bladder cancer, status-post resection with a neo-bladder, right ureteral stent and chronic renal insufficiency. He was brought to a local emergency department after his son found him on the floor. The patient said that earlier in the day, he was getting up from a chair, felt weak, and slid to the ground. He could not get up. Review of systems was positive for having chills during the past few days; decreased appetite, with 6-pound weight loss over the last month; and bloody urostomy output over the past 36 hours and was otherwise negative.
Diagnosis, disclosure, and having autism: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the perceptions of young people with autism

Abstract Background Although there is extensive research examining parental experiences of assessment and diagnosis of autism, there is a paucity of research from the perspective of individuals with autism. Method Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with nine young people with high functioning autism who were capable of providing a verbal account of their perceptions of autism and diagnosis experiences. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results Diagnosis, and the disclosure of the diagnosis of autism, were embedded in respondents' perceptions of “having” autism. This superordinate theme included five themes: (i) disclosure delay, (ii) providing explanations, (iii) potential effects of labelling, (iv) disruptions and opportunities, and (v) acceptance and avoidance. Conclusion In relation to the existing literature, it is suggested that the effects of diagnosis, or disclosure of diagnosis, from the perspective of the person with autism be given greater consideration.
RECOVERY THROUGH RECONNECTION: A CULTURAL DESIGN FOR FAMILY BEREAVEMENT IN TAIWAN

Using reanalyzed data from ethnographic research performed in Taiwan during the 1990s, the authors inspect Taiwanese cultural patterns as they affect adaptation to loss in the form of death. The data include participant observations and the narratives of 52 widows and 30 of their children. An analysis of interview transcripts suggests that the most common form of return to a harmony house among the participants was achieving a sense of reconnection with the deceased. According to the narratives, the Taiwanese concept of reconnection entails (a) maintaining the status quo, (b) restoring images of the deceased in family affairs, and (c) communicating with the dead. Each theme represents the efforts of bereaved families to retain a sense of wholeness (a central Chinese goal) and to preserve symbolic images of fathers and husbands. The authors suggest that reconnection is a culturally specific and accepted means of resolving grief among Taiwanese.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: rituximab subcutaneous injection

Stage 1 of an open-label randomised controlled trial in adults (SABRINA; n=127) with previously untreated follicular lymphoma demonstrated pharmacokinetic non-inferiority of 3-week cycles of fixed-dose subcutaneous rituximab 1400 mg compared with intravenous rituximab 375 mg/m body surface area. Overall response rate was similar in the 2 groups; however, the trial did not have the statistical power to detect differences between the groups. Administration-related reactions were more common with subcutaneous rituximab compared with intravenous rituximab, although most were mild to moderate.
Relationship between smoking status and tooth loss: Findings from national databases in Japan

Background A causal association between cigarette smoking and periodontal disease has been established. The present study examined the association between smoking and tooth loss using national databases in Japan. Methods Records of the Survey of Dental Diseases and the National Nutrition Survey in 1999 were linked electronically using common identification. Records of 3,999 subjects aged older than 40 years were analyzed using logistic regression models, controlling for confounding factors, such as age, frequency of tooth brushing, body mass index, alcohol consumption, and intakes of vitamin C and E. Results Prevalence of tooth loss in terms of having less than 19 existing teeth was 37.3% overall. Smoking rates differed in males (45.6%) and females (7.8%). The prevalence of tooth loss in nonsmokers, former, and current smokers was 28.5%, 38.6%, and 36.9% in males, and 38.6%, 34.3% and 38.9% in females, respectively. Adjusted means of existing teeth controlling for confounders by smoking status were 21.5, 19.7 and 18.2 in males and 19.0, 19.2 and 16.4 in females, respectively. The association of tooth loss was non-significant in former smokers but significant in current smokers: adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) relative to nonsmokers in males and females were 1.29 (0.92-1.80) and 0.86 (0.46, 1.60) for former smokers and 2.22 (1.61-3.06) and 2.14 (1.45-3.15) for current smokers, respectively. A dose-response relationship between lifetime exposure and tooth loss was seen (P for trend <0.0001). Conclusion The findings of this cross-sectional study of a nationwide population of Japanese indicated an association between smoking and tooth loss.