Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using Tree Detection Algorithms to Predict Stand Sapwood Area, Basal Area and Stocking Density in Eucalyptus regnans Forest

Managers of forested water supply catchments require efficient and accurate methods to quantify changes in forest water use due to changes in forest structure and density after disturbance. Using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data with as few as 0.9 pulses m−2, we applied a local maximum filtering (LMF) method and normalised cut (NCut) algorithm to predict stocking density (SDen) of a 69-year-old Eucalyptus regnans forest comprising 251 plots with resolution of the order of 0.04 ha. Using the NCut method we predicted basal area (BAHa) per hectare and sapwood area (SAHa) per hectare, a well-established proxy for transpiration. Sapwood area was also indirectly estimated with allometric relationships dependent on LiDAR derived SDen and BAHa using a computationally efficient procedure. The individual tree detection (ITD) rates for the LMF and NCut methods respectively had 72% and 68% of stems correctly identified, 25% and 20% of stems missed, and 2% and 12% of stems over-segmented. The significantly higher computational requirement of the NCut algorithm makes the LMF method more suitable for predicting SDen across large forested areas. Using NCut derived ITD segments, observed versus predicted stand BAHa had R2 ranging from 0.70 to 0.98 across six catchments, whereas a generalised parsimonious model applied to all sites used the portion of hits greater than 37 m in height (PH37) to explain 68% of BAHa. For extrapolating one ha resolution SAHa estimates across large forested catchments, we found that directly relating SAHa to NCut derived LiDAR indices (R2 = 0.56) was slightly more accurate but computationally more demanding than indirect estimates of SAHa using allometric relationships consisting of BAHa (R2 = 0.50) or a sapwood perimeter index, defined as (BAHaSDen)½ (R2 = 0.48).
Visual Speech Recognition using Features of Lip and Effect of Database on Digit Recognition

(cid:178) In this paper we present results of visual speech recognition using geometric and appearance model. For each of these methods Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is used to compute feature vectors. In this paper visual speech recognition is used for isolated digit utterance. For determination of visual features lip tracking is important. We used localized active contour method for lip tracking which was earlier used for biomedical application. PCA distance methods are used for feature vector comparison. Appearance method is compared with geometrical method for feature extraction. Appearance method is computationally efficient and giving better result as compare to geometrical method. Using appearance method of feature extraction, effect of isolation between two digit utterances is tested.
Dealing with Internet Trolling in Political Online Communities: Towards the This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things Scale

Internet trolling has become a popularly used term to describe the posting of any content on the Internet which is provocative or offensive. This is different from the original meaning online in the 1990s, which referred to the posting of provocative messages for humourous effect. Those systems operators (sysops) who run online communities are finding they are being targeted because of abuse posted on their platforms. Political discussion groups are some of the most prone to trolling, whether consensual or unwanted. Many such websites ara open for anyone to join, meaning when some members post messages they know are offensive but legal, others might find grossly offensive, meaning these messages could be illegal. This paper develops a questionnaire called the This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things Scale (TIWWCHNT-20), which aims to help sysops better plan the development of online communities to take account of different users' capacity to be offended, and for users to self-assess whether they will be suited to an online community. The scale is discussed in relation to different Internet posting techniques where different users will act differently.
Comparative buccal permeability enhancement of didanosine and tenofovir by potential multifunctional polymeric excipients and their effects on porcine buccal histology

Abstract This study identified and compared the buccal permeability properties of antiretroviral drugs, didanosine (ddI) and tenofovir (TNF), and the permeability effects of polymeric excipients – i.e. carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), sodium alginate (SA), polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) – as potential multifunctional excipients for buccal drug delivery. Permeation studies across porcine buccal mucosa were performed and the drug was quantified using UV spectrophotometry. The mean flux for both ddI (113–181 µg/cm2h) and TNF (40–102 µg/cm2h) increased linearly with increasing donor concentration. All polymeric excipients improved permeability of TNF while only PEG was effective for ddI. Permeability enhancement ratios at 20 mg/mL for ddI and TNF were 1.63 and 1.74, respectively, using PEG (0.5% w/v) and CMC (0.5% w/v), respectively. The maximum enhancement ratio of 2.13 for TNF was achieved with 4% w/v PEG. Light and transmission electron microscopy revealed no significant loss in cellular integrity of mucosa treated with either TNF or ddI alone or when coupled with PEG as a polymeric enhancer. Histomorphological observations correlated with flux values obtained for TNF and ddI alone, as well as with PEG’s effects on drug mass flux. TNF and ddI have demonstrated buccal delivery potential. Selective polymeric excipients provide an effective means to increase their penetration and may serve as potential formulation multifunctional excipients in a delivery system for delivery via the buccal route.
Conceptual apraxia and semantic memory deficit in Alzheimer's disease: Two sides of the same coin?

This study was designed to examine the patterns of apraxic disturbances and the relationships between action knowledge and other measures of semantic knowledge about objects in 10 well-characterized Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Five tasks were used to assess components of action knowledge (action–tool relationships, pantomime recognition, and sequential organization of action) and praxis execution (actual use, pantomiming) according to the cognitive model of praxis. Three tasks (verbal comprehension, naming, and a visual semantic matching task) were used to assess verbal–visual semantics. Considering patterns of apraxia first, conceptual apraxia was found in 9 out of the 10 AD patients, suggesting that it is a common feature even in the early stages of AD. Second, we found partly parallel deficits in tests of action-semantic and verbal–visual semantic knowledge in 9 AD patients. Impaired action knowledge was found only in patients with a semantic language deficit. These findings provide no evidence that “action semantics” may be separated from other semantic information. Our results support the view of a unitary semantic system, given that the representations of action-semantic and other semantic knowledge of objects are often simultaneously disrupted in AD. (JINS, 2000, 6, 693–703.)
Consideration on the cooperation of multiple autonomous mobile robots

The paper proposes basic concepts of cooperation of multiple autonomous mobile robots, The authors suggest to divide the cooperation into two types, active and nonactive according to the setting goal of the system. And in nonactive cooperation there must be 'modest cooperation' to prevent any collision of resource access by the robots. The way to design multiple robots system is also discussed. <<ETX>>
Expression and Function of Estrogen Receptor Subtypes in Granulosa Cells: Regulation by Estradiol and Forskolin1.

The expression and function of estrogen receptor ERα/β subtypes and ERβ variants in granulosa cells have been determined using several integrated approaches: , Western blotting, indirect immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, and transient transfection assays. Each of these approaches has provided specific details concerning the dynamics of ER expression, ER functional activity, and estradiol (E) regulation of target genes in granulosa cells. Specifically, the studies presented herein document that messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding ERβ and its splice variants, as well as mRNA encoding ERα, are expressed in granulosa cells of immature rats before and during culture in serum-free medium. The results also provide the first documentation that functional (DNA binding and transcriptionally active) ER is present in cultured granulosa cells and that its ability to bind consensus estrogen response element (ERE) oligonucleotide and to transactivate an ERE promoter-reporter construct is associated with the level (type? ) of recep.
The branchio-oto-renal syndrome

Summary The major features of the Branchio-Oto-Renal syndrome (BOR syndrome), an autosomal dominant disorder, are branchial remnants, ear anomalies, deafness and renal dysplasia. We report two family groups affected by the BOR syndrome: in two-thirds of the affected children renal abnormalities led to severe renal insufficiency in early life. The necessity for a meticulous search for renal anomalies in individuals with aural and/or branchial abnormalities is emphasized. In affected families, genetic counselling is suggested.
The great number crunch1

A hard look in the mirror, as they say, is good for fitness and vitality. The time seems ripe, then, fifty years after the birth of modern linguistics, to reexamine its foundations. Or rather, the rubble, as the editors of Probabilistic linguistics suggest : corpus statistics, Markov chains, information theory, and the very notion of probability that were supposedly buried by the Chomskyan landslide.
Phosphorylation of serine 774 of the neural cell adhesion molecule is necessary for cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein activation and neurite outgrowth

The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) plays a fundamental role during development and regeneration. NCAM is expressed in three major isoforms, two of them with intracellular domains of different length and one without any intracellular domain. The cytoplasmic domain of NCAM contains, depending on the isoform, up to 49 phosphorylation sites, and it has been demonstrated previously by phosphoproteomic analysis that NCAM is phosphorylated on serine 774. However, the impact of NCAM phosphorylation is unclear. Here we have analyzed the phosphorylation of serine 774 in more detail and found that phosphorylation of this site is crucial for NCAM‐mediated signal transduction. A serine‐to‐alanine exchange at position 774 (NCAM140‐S774A) resulted in decreased activation of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) after NCAM stimulation and, as a consequence, in decreased neurite outgrowth of NCAM140‐S774A‐transfected B35 neuroblastoma cells. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Steps to Design a Household Energy Game

Research where gamification is used to influence household energy consumption is an emerging field. This paper reviews the design and effectiveness of ten games that aim to influence household energy consumption and presents a novel gamification approach in which real world activities are implemented in a game design. From the review suggestions for the design of a new game have been identified, such as including real life missions in order to optimize the transfer between the game world and the real world, feedback from monitoring the electricity meter, the presence of a strong storyline, personalized game characters, social interaction, etc. Based on this comparative analysis, the new game 'Powersaver Game' focused on reducing energy consumption has been designed and its prototype is described. In the next stage of iterative design, end-users evaluated the match between in-game scenes and household energy saving activities. This considerate user-centered design process should allow us to build a serious game that is potentially effective in reducing household energy consumption.
Microalbuminuria in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES--To assess (a) the prevalence of microalbuminuria in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, (b) the association between urinary albumin excretion and disease activity as estimated by the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein (CRP), and (c) the association between urinary albumin excretion and treatment with antirheumatic drugs. METHODS--Sixty five patients with rheumatoid arthritis attending two rheumatology clinics were compared with 51 control subjects matched by age and sex. The controls consisted of 20 healthy subjects, 16 patients with osteoarthritis and 15 with non-articular rheumatism. Patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or evidence of previous renal disease were not included. Urinary albumin was assayed by immunoturbidimetry in random urine samples on two occasions within seven months. The results were expressed as the ratio of urinary albumin to urinary creatinine ratio. Disease activity was assessed by the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP. A drug history for the year before entry to the study was obtained for each patient. RESULTS--Urinary albumin to creatinine ratio in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was significantly greater than in controls (p < 0.01). Microalbuminuria (urinary albumin to creatinine ratio 3-30 mg/mmol in either or both urine samples) was present in 27.7% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 7.8% of the control subjects. A significant relation was noted between urinary albumin to creatinine ratio and CRP, and the duration of disease. The number of patients treated with either gold or penicillamine was significantly greater in patients with microalbuminuria than in patients with normoalbuminuria. CONCLUSIONS--Microalbuminuria is frequently present in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment with gold and penicillamine seems to increase the risk of developing microalbuminuria. Urinary albumin measured by immunochemical methods is a simple and sensitive test to detect early subclinical renal dysfunction and drug induced renal damage in rheumatoid arthritis. Urinary albumin excretion was found to be significantly correlated with CRP and may be a sensitive indicator of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Neutrophils contribute to the biological antitumor activity of rituximab in a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma severe combined immunodeficiency mouse model.

PURPOSE Rituximab is a chimeric antibody (Ab) directed against the cluster designated (CD) 20 antigen found on normal and malignant B cells. Rituximab activity has been associated with complement-mediated cytotoxicity, Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and induction of apoptosis. Recent studies performed in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse models suggest that in vivo rituximab-associated ADCC is mediated via the FcgammaRIII receptor on effector cells. Despite low level expression of FcgammaRIII, neutrophils are also known to induce ADCC primarily via FcgammaRI receptor (CD64). The purpose of this work was to study the effect(s) of neutrophils on the in vivo antitumor activity of rituximab. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN To better characterize the biological activity of rituximab, we used a human non-Hodgkin's lymphoma animal model by injecting Raji cells i.v. into natural killer (NK) cell-depleted SCID mice. Disseminated disease involving liver, lung, and central nervous system developed, with subsequent death occurring approximately 3 weeks after tumor inoculation. Specifically, 6-8-week-old NK cell-depleted SCID mice were inoculated by tail vein injection with 1 x 10(6) Raji cells on day 0. The animals then were divided into three cohorts: (a) group A received placebo (PBS); (b) group B received rituximab administered via tail vein injection at 10 mg/kg on days 3, 5, 7, and 11; and (c) group C consisted of neutrophil-depleted SCID mice treated with rituximab at 10 mg/kg on the same schedule. Neutrophils were depleted by i.p. administration of 80 microg of rat antimouse Ly-6G (Gr-1) Ab (BD PharMingen, Inc.) on days -1, 4, 9, and 14. The end point of the study was survival. Differences in outcome between treatment groups were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier methodology. RESULTS Neutrophil- and NK cell-depleted SCID mice (group C) did not respond to rituximab, and the mean survival time was not significantly different from that of control mice. NK cell-depleted SCID mice with intact neutrophil function (group B) responded to rituximab, and 66% remained alive and appeared healthy after a mean follow-up period of 246 days. Overall, NK cell-depleted SCID mice with intact neutrophil function treated with rituximab had statistically longer mean survival as compared with mice in neutrophil-depleted and control groups (161 days versus 28 days versus 22 days, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS In the absence of neutrophils, rituximab was less effective in controlling lymphoma cell growth or prolonging survival in our B-cell lymphoma SCID mouse model. Neutrophil-induced ADCC appears to contribute to the in vivo antitumor activity of rituximab. Strategies that improve the function of neutrophils, such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor or G-CSF priming, may increase the antitumor effects of rituximab. Additional in vivo animal studies are warranted.
What Is Your Faction? Multidimensional Evidence for the Divergent Series As the Basis for a New Model of Personality and Work Life

Introduction: The successful “Divergent” sci-fi trilogy by writer Veronica Roth portrays a dystopian and post-apocalyptic society where the population is divided into five groups called “Factions,” each with a specific social role and associated to a specific set of psychological traits. Though fictional, such typology is compelling and may provide a significant contribution to personality studies. Objectives: To investigate the accuracy of the classification of psychological and sociocultural traits into five Factions as described in Divergent and their potential practical usefulness for understanding work life choices and experiences in organizations. Method: A total of 217 Brazilian adult men and women of various ages, socioeconomic status and ethnicities were submitted to measures of several psychological and sociocultural variables, as well as of how strongly they supposedly manifest each Faction. The resulting dataset was studied using Smallest Space Analysis (SSA) and Facet Theory. Results: The Factions were shown not only to be associated to psychological variables in ways consistent with the descriptions from Divergent, but also to be related to specific aspects of one’s work life in organizations. Conclusion: The five Factions conceived by Roth appear to constitute an original set of constructs that are psychologically valid and, at the same time, of practical use in predicting work life choices and experiences. This justifies engaging in future empirical and theoretical work toward a new scientific model of potential practical value.
Differential effects of ovariectomy on calcium activation of cardiac and soleus myofilaments.

The hypothesis that ovarian sex hormone deficiency affects cardiac myofilament activation was tested. Chemically skinned ventricular trabeculae and single soleus muscle fibers were prepared from 10- and 14-wk ovariectomized and control rats. Tension-pCa (-log [Ca(2+)]) relations of left ventricular trabeculae and soleus fibers were compared to test whether thin filament proteins are potential sites of modulated activation. Trabeculae from ovariectomized rats exhibited a significant increase in Ca(2+) sensitivity with no change in maximal tension-generating ability. In contrast, soleus fibers demonstrated no shift in Ca(2+) sensitivity but generated significantly less maximal tension. No changes in thin filament protein isoform expression or loss of thin filament proteins were apparent in the trabeculae or soleus fibers from ovariectomized rats. Although not directly tested, our results are consistent with a possible modulation of regulatory proteins (e.g., cardiac troponin I) to account for the observed change in myofilament responsiveness of hearts from ovariectomized rats. Other possible mechanisms for the altered myocardial Ca(2+) sensitivity after ovariectomy are discussed.
Verbal behavior.

THE RECENT HISTORY AND CURRENT STATUS OF THE AREA OF VERBAL BEHAVIOR ARE CONSIDERED IN TERMS OF THREE MAJOR THEMATIC LINES: the operant conditioning of adult verbal behavior, learning to be an effective speaker and listener, and developments directly related to Skinner's Verbal Behavior. Other topics not directly related to the main themes are also considered: the work of Kurt Salzinger, ape-language research, and human operant research related to rule-governed behavior.
Managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the community. A randomized controlled trial of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation for elderly housebound patients.

PURPOSE Pulmonary rehabilitation is essential for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Housebound COPD patients are frequently excluded from this treatment because they are unable to access outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programs because of the severity of their disease. This randomized controlled trial assesses the effects of a 12-week home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program for 60 housebound COPD patients older than 60 years. METHODS Intervention patients received an individually tailored supervised walking and arm exercise program as well as individual multidisciplinary education sessions on COPD and its management. Outcomes were assessed using the 6-minute walk test, St George's respiratory questionnaire, and Borg score of perceived breathlessness. Healthcare utilization was assessed using hospital admission rates with exacerbation of COPD and average length of stay at readmission. RESULTS Complete data for 23 patients in each group were available for analysis. There was no significant difference between groups on baseline measures. Compared with the control group, intervention patients demonstrated a significant improvement in 6-minute walk test (P = .023), Borg score of perceived breathlessness (P = .024), St George's respiratory questionnaire total score (P = .020), and impact subscore (P = .024). At 6 months, the intervention group had a significantly shorter average length of stay at readmission to hospital with exacerbation (P = .035). CONCLUSION A 12-week home-based pulmonary rehabilitation is effective in improving exercise tolerance, perception of breathlessness, and quality of life for housebound COPD patients. To manage COPD in the community more effectively, health services should focus on expanding home-based pulmonary rehabilitation.