Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE BALANCED SCORECARD AND TABLEAU DE BORD: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ON TRANSLATING STRATEGY INTO ACTION

Over twenty years ago Steven Kerr wrote an article entitled "On the folly of hoping for A and rewarding B". The paper, now considered a "classic", described how many companies' performance measurement systems were rewarding different behaviors than the ones they hoped to obtain from their employees. This issue has received much attention over the last few years. In particular, Robert Kaplan and David Norton have published a series of three Harvard Business Review articles proposing a specific framework, called Balanced Scorecard, to facilitate the translation of strategy into action. The idea of having some form of balanced picture of company performance is not new in itself. Many companies have for years tracked and reported multiple indicators. Further, many countries have also had particular traditions. In France, for example, companies have been using a related tool called "Tableau de Bord" for over fifty years. The paper reviews and compares Tableau de Bord and Balanced Scorecard. We conclude that Kaplan and Norton's Balanced Scorecard represents a welcome addition and goes further than what most companies and countries were doing.
G LOBAL J OURNAL OF E NGINEERING S CIENCE AND R ESEARCHES Monitoring, Localizing and Securitizing of WSNs for applications in Logistics

The applications of using WSNs in logistics are presented in this paper, having some advantages (e.g., distributed processing, multi-hop routing), WSNs allow telemetry, control and management applications which can be widely used in logistics, especially in autonomous logistics systems. Originating from the requirements of future logistics systems in which the real time quality monitoring is necessary, many aspects of applying WSNs in logistics are considered, such as data collection, lifetime of sensor nodes during long transportation processes, or network management to reduce the labor work and enhance the object monitoring in logistic processes. Moreover, a context aware model based on rules helps sensor nodes to make better decisions in monitoring services. A efficient localization techniques are developed to identify positions of logistic objects. And finally the entire system is securitized by encryption method.
Naomaitai Ameliorated Brain Damage in Rats with Vascular Dementia by PI3K/PDK1/AKT Signaling Pathway

Background/Aims Naomaitai can improve blood perfusion and ameliorate the damage in the paraventricular white matter. This study was focused on observing the neuroprotective effect of Naomaitai on the vascular dementia of rat and exploring the action mechanism of PI3K/PDK1/AKT signaling pathway. Methods A vascular dementia model of rats was established by permanent, bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. Rats' behavior was tested by Neurological deficit score and the Morris water maze. The pathology and apoptosis were detected through HE staining and TUNEL assay. Myelin sheath loss and nerve fiber damage were detected by LFB staining. Inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, and brain damage markers were detected through ELISA. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins and PI3K/PDK1/AKT signaling pathway related proteins were measured by western blot. The expressions of PI3K, PDK1, AKT, and MBP in paraventricular white matter cells were detected by immunofluorescence. Results Naomaitai treatment decreased neurological function score in rats with vascular dementia, ameliorated paraventricular white matter damage caused by long-term hypoxia, and hypoperfusion reduced the brain injury markers S-100β and NSE contents, suppressed inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress, reduced IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA contents, and remarkably increased IL-10 and SOD contents. TUNEL and western blot assay showed that Naomaitai treatment decreased neuronal cell apoptosis, increased Bcl-2 expression, and reduced caspase-3 and Bax expression. Furthermore, we found Naomaitai inhibited PI3K and PDK1 expression and activated phosphorylated AKT protein in rats with vascular dementia. However, the protective effect of Naomatai in rats with vascular dementia was inhibited, and expression of PI3K signaling pathway-related proteins was blocked after administration of PI3K inhibitor. Conclusion Naomaitai can ameliorate brain damage in rats with vascular dementia, inhibit neuronal apoptosis, and have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative stress effects, which may be regulated by the PI3K/PDK1/AKT signaling pathway.
Knock knock, who’s there?: marine invertebrates in tubes of Ceriantharia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)

Abstract This study reports on the fauna found in/on tubes of 10 species of Ceriantharia and discusses the characteristics of these occurrences, as well as the use of mollusc shells in ceriantharian tube construction. A total of 22 tubes of Ceriantharia from Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Norway, Portugal and the United States were analysed, revealing 58 species of marine invertebrates using them as alternative substrates. Based on a literature review and analyses of the sampled material, we report new occurrences for Photis sarae (Crustacea), Microgaza rotella (Mollusca), Brada sp. , Dipolydora spp. , Notocirrus spp. , and Syllis garciai (Annelida). The use of mollusc shells in tube construction increases the tubes’ structural resistance and strength. Ceriantharian tubes are suitable alternative substrates for the dwelling of numerous tubicolous and infaunal species that usually burrow into sediments or anchor on fixed or mobile habitats seeking shelter, thus playing a relevant role as local biodiversity hotspots.
Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio are Associated with Lower Extremity Vascular Lesions in Chinese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are inflammatory markers used for prediction of chronic complications of diabetes. Lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is one of chronic complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The correlation between NLR, PLR, and lower extremity vascular lesions was investigated in subjects with T2DM to determine the best predictive marker for LEAD. METHODS Three hundred thirty-five patients with T2DM (199 males and 136 females; age 54.12 ± 14.07 years) were enrolled. Blood differential counts and anklebrachial index (ABI) were assessed. Patients were divided into the LEAD group (ABI ≤ 0.9, n = 236) and non-LEAD group (ABI > 0.9, n = 99), and NLR and PLR were compared between the two groups. The independent risk factors for LEAD were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the optimal cutoff values of PLR and NLR for prediction of LEAD. RESULTS NLR and PLR in the LEAD group were significantly increased compared to non-LEAD group patients. Univariate analyses identified that NLR was positively correlated with age, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and 2-hours postprandial glucose levels. PLR was positively correlated with age, duration of T2DM, HbA1c, TG, TC, and LDL, but negatively correlated with diastolic blood pressure and fasting C-peptide levels. Binary logistic regression analysis identified that age, total number of white blood cells, PLR, and TC were significant and independent factors of diabetic LEAD. Moreover, ROC curve analysis showed that NLR and PLR were both predictive markers of LEAD in diabetes, and that the area under the PLR curve was larger than NLR. CONCLUSIONS NLR and PLR are positively correlated with LEAD in diabetes. PLR was superior to NLR as a predictor of LEAD in diabetes.
Peginterferon Alfa-2a (40 kD) Stopping Rules in Chronic Hepatitis B: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Individual Participant Data

Background Peginterferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFN) treatment stopping rules in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are clinically desirable. Previous studies exploring this topic contained important limitations resulting in inconsistent recommendations within the current treatment guidelines. We undertook a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis to identify the most appropriate PEG-IFN treatment stopping rules. Methods Roche's internal database, PubMed and conference abstracts were searched for studies that enrolled >50 treatment-naive patients with CHB who received PEG-IFN treatment for 48 weeks. Stopping rules were identified using receiver-operating characteristic curve analyses and pre-specified biomarker cutoff target performance characteristics (sensitivity >95%, specificity >10%, negative predictive value >90%). Robustness of proposed stopping rules was assessed using internal/external validation analyses. Results Eight study datasets were included in the meta-analysis (n=1,423; 765 hepatitis B e antigen [HBeAg]-positive, 658 HBeAg-negative patients). In general, performance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA cutoffs at weeks 12 and 24 was similar, and common biomarker cutoffs that met target performance criteria were identified across multiple patient subgroups. For HBeAg-positive genotype B/C and HBeAg-negative genotype D patients the proposed stopping rule is HBsAg >20,000 IU/ml at week 12. Alternatively, HBV DNA level cutoffs of >8 log10 and >6.5 log10 IU/ml, respectively, can be used instead. The proposed stopping rules accurately identify up to 26% of non-responders. Conclusions The meta-analysis demonstrates that early PEG-IFN discontinuation should be considered in HBeAg-positive genotype B/C and HBeAg-negative genotype D patients at week 12 of treatment based on HBsAg or HBV DNA levels.
Effects of the Origin and Deacetylation Degree of Chitosan on Properties of Its Coatings on Titanium

The properties of chitosan coatings on titanium surfaces may be influenced by a variety of factors, including their chemical characteristics and the deposition method. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of a chitosan’s origin (a type of shrimp) and deacetylation degree (DD), when deposited on a very smooth titanium surface, on adhesion and biological behavior. The tests were performed using chitosan of a degree of 87% or 84% of deacetylation and that originated from armor crabs or shrimp armor. The technology of fabrication of chitosan coatings was by surface polishing to a smooth surface, oxidation in air, and immersion in a chitosan solution. The surface topographies were analyzed with an atomic force microscope and their water contact angles were measured by a falling drop method with a goniometer. The bioactivity tests were done in in vitro on osteogenic cells, type MC3T3-E1, with a biological microscope. The abrasion of the coatings was examined using a nano tribotester. The obtained results revealed that the adhesion of the coatings onto a smooth, oxidized titanium surface is appropriate as they remain sufficiently adjacent to the surface after wear tests. The source of chitin has a significant influence on biological properties, and the deacetylation degree is much less critical. The performed tests demonstrated the crucial role that the source of chitosan and the applicability of the applied surface treatment play in the preparation of chitosan coatings.
Speech-in-noise representation in the aging midbrain and cortex: Effects of hearing loss

Age-related deficits in speech-in-noise understanding pose a significant problem for older adults. Despite the vast number of studies conducted to investigate the neural mechanisms responsible for these communication difficulties, the role of central auditory deficits, beyond peripheral hearing loss, remains unclear. The current study builds upon our previous work that investigated the effect of aging on normal-hearing individuals and aims to estimate the effect of peripheral hearing loss on the representation of speech in noise in two critical regions of the aging auditory pathway: the midbrain and cortex. Data from 14 hearing-impaired older adults were added to a previously published dataset of 17 normal-hearing younger adults and 15 normal-hearing older adults. The midbrain response, measured by the frequency-following response (FFR), and the cortical response, measured with the magnetoencephalography (MEG) response, were recorded from subjects listening to speech in quiet and noise conditions at four signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs): +3, 0, -3, and -6 dB sound pressure level (SPL). Both groups of older listeners showed weaker midbrain response amplitudes and overrepresentation of cortical responses compared to younger listeners. No significant differences were found between the two older groups when the midbrain and cortical measurements were analyzed independently. However, significant differences between the older groups were found when investigating the midbrain-cortex relationships; that is, only hearing-impaired older adults showed significant correlations between midbrain and cortical measurements, suggesting that hearing loss may alter reciprocal connections between lower and higher levels of the auditory pathway. The overall paucity of differences in midbrain or cortical responses between the two older groups suggests that age-related temporal processing deficits may contribute to older adults’ communication difficulties beyond what might be predicted from peripheral hearing loss alone; however, hearing loss does seem to alter the connectivity between midbrain and cortex. These results may have important ramifications for the field of audiology, as it indicates that algorithms in clinical devices, such as hearing aids, should consider age-related temporal processing deficits to maximize user benefit.
Hotspots of human impact on threatened terrestrial vertebrates

Conserving threatened species requires identifying where across their range they are being impacted by threats, yet this remains unresolved across most of Earth. Here, we present a global analysis of cumulative human impacts on threatened species by using a spatial framework that jointly considers the co-occurrence of eight threatening processes and the distribution of 5,457 terrestrial vertebrates. We show that impacts to species are widespread, occurring across 84% of Earth’s surface, and identify hotspots of impacted species richness and coolspots of unimpacted species richness. Almost one-quarter of assessed species are impacted across >90% of their distribution, and approximately 7% are impacted across their entire range. These results foreshadow localised extirpations and potential extinctions without conservation action. The spatial framework developed here offers a tool for defining strategies to directly mitigate the threats driving species’ declines, providing essential information for future national and global conservation agendas.
Secondary Bile Acids and Short Chain Fatty Acids in the Colon: A Focus on Colonic Microbiome, Cell Proliferation, Inflammation, and Cancer

Secondary bile acids (BAs) and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), two major types of bacterial metabolites in the colon, cause opposing effects on colonic inflammation at chronically high physiological levels. Primary BAs play critical roles in cholesterol metabolism, lipid digestion, and host–microbe interaction. Although BAs are reabsorbed via enterohepatic circulation, primary BAs serve as substrates for bacterial biotransformation to secondary BAs in the colon. High-fat diets increase secondary BAs, such as deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA), which are risk factors for colonic inflammation and cancer. In contrast, increased dietary fiber intake is associated with anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. These effects may be due to the increased production of the SCFAs acetate, propionate, and butyrate during dietary fiber fermentation in the colon. Elucidation of the molecular events by which secondary BAs and SCFAs regulate colonic cell proliferation and inflammation will lead to a better understanding of the anticancer potential of dietary fiber in the context of high-fat diet-related colon cancer. This article reviews the current knowledge concerning the effects of secondary BAs and SCFAs on the proliferation of colon epithelial cells, inflammation, cancer, and the associated microbiome.
Design strategies and application progress of therapeutic exosomes

Exosomes have great potential to be drug delivery vehicles due to their natural material transportation properties, intrinsic long-term circulatory capability, and excellent biocompatibility, which are suitable for delivering a variety of chemicals, proteins, nucleic acids, and gene therapeutic agents. However, an effective method of loading specific protein agents into exosomes for absorption by target cells is still lacking. The application potential of exosome is still limited. In this review, we discussed the methods for loading specific treating molecules (proteins, nucleic acids and small chemicals) into exosomes, the design strategies for cell and tissue targeting, and the factors for exosome formation. This review can be used as a reference for further research as well as for the development of therapeutic exosomes.
Efekt rozpraszania podpowierzchniowego z wykorzystaniem

In the paper there is presented the spherical harmonics (SH) based method for subsurface scattering and its GPU-based implementation. The described approach is modification of the Green‟s algorithm [1]. The 3D model thickness was encoded for each vertex in every possible direction. The algorithm is divided into two parts: the preprocessing executed on CPU and the visualization stage designed for GPU. The tests were carried out and described. They revealed the effectiveness of the obtained results. To verify the results, they were compared with those obtained from other algorithms. The results show efficiency benefits of the authors„ algorithm in comparison with the comparable quality approaches. Moreover, the modification of the Green`s algorithm improves the quality of the subsurface scattering effect, as the unnatural effect of sharp curves visible on the final images is reduced. It is possible because in this approach the way the light goes through an object depends on the model thickness. The paper is organized as follows. In Section 2 the previous works are discussed. In Section 3 the application of subsurface scattering based on the spherical harmonics and its hardware implementation are presented. Section 5 shows the obtained results. At the end of the paper there are given some concluding remarks.
Altered cochlear innervation in developing and mature naked and Damaraland mole rats

Compared to many other rodent species, naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber) have elevated auditory thresholds, poor frequency selectivity, and limited ability to localize sound. Because the cochlea is responsible for encoding and relaying auditory signals to the brain, we used immunofluorescence and quantitative image analysis to examine cochlear innervation in mature and developing naked mole rats compared to mice (Mus musculus), gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), and Damaraland mole rats (Fukomys damarensis), another subterranean rodent. In comparison to mice and gerbils, we observed alterations in afferent and efferent innervation as well as their patterns of developmental refinement in naked and Damaraland mole rats. These alterations were, however, not always shared similarly between naked and Damaraland mole rats. Most conspicuously, in both naked and Damaraland mole rats, inner hair cell (IHC) afferent ribbon density was reduced, whereas outer hair cell afferent ribbon density was increased. Naked and Damaraland mole rats also showed reduced lateral and medial efferent terminal density. Developmentally, naked mole rats showed reduced and prolonged postnatal reorganization of afferent and efferent innervation. Damaraland mole rats showed no evidence of postnatal reorganization. Differences in cochlear innervation specifically between the two subterranean rodents and more broadly among rodents provides insight into the cochlear mechanisms that enhance frequency sensitivity and sound localization, maturation of the auditory system, and the evolutionary adaptations occurring in response to subterranean environments.
Totally Sequential Cordial Graphs

Suppose G= (V, E) is a simple graph with vertex set V and edge set E. A vertex labeling f: V {0, 1} induces an edge labeling f*: E {0, 1} defined by f*(x y)= |f(x) f(y)| . f is called a cordial labeling of G if the number of vertices labeled ‘0’ and the number of vertices labeled ‘1’ differ by atmost 1 and the number of edges labeled ‘0’ and the number of edges labeled ‘1’ differ by atmost 1. A graph with a cordial labeling is called a cordial graph. If the total number of vertices and edges labeled with ‘0’ and the total number of vertices and edges labeled with ‘1’ differ by atmost 1, it is called a Totally Sequential Cordial (TSC) labeling of G. A graph with a Totally Sequential Cordial labeling is called a Totally Sequential Cordial graph. In this paper we find the Totally Sequential Cordial labeling for certain graphs.
Cytomorphologic and molecular analyses of fallopian tube fimbrial brushings for diagnosis of serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma

The paradigm shift localizing the origin of ovarian high‐grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) to the fallopian tube underscores the rationale for meticulous microscopic examination of salpingectomy specimens. The precursor, termed “serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma,” is often a focal lesion, which poses difficulties for histologic diagnosis.
Efficient Distributed Method for NLOS Cooperative Localization in WSNs

The accuracy of cooperative localization can be severely degraded in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) environments. Although most existing approaches modify models to alleviate NLOS impact, computational speed does not satisfy practical applications. In this paper, we propose a distributed cooperative localization method for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in NLOS environments. The convex model in the proposed method is based on projection relaxation. This model was designed for situations where prior information on NLOS connections is unavailable. We developed an efficient decomposed formulation for the convex counterpart, and designed a parallel distributed algorithm based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), which significantly improves computational speed. To accelerate the convergence rate of local updates, we approached the subproblems via the proximal algorithm and analyzed its computational complexity. Numerical simulation results demonstrate that our approach is superior in processing speed and accuracy to other methods in NLOS scenarios.