Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Managing organizational handoffs with empowered teams

High morale, strong teamwork, and proactive thinking (instead of reactive thinking) are essential catalysts for the development of products that meet or exceed customer expectations. The traditional organizational structure into which development work is segmented can either impede or enhance the ability of developers to form effective teams. Because of their usual hierarchical form and often rigid boundaries, organizational structures can also inhibit the development of a strong sense of ownership, thereby stifling creative, proactive problem solving. This paper describes a way to form empowered teams around traditional organizational boundaries, i.e., by organizing the team into a subproject team. The subproject concept was used effectively in the development of a hardware, firmware, and operating system platform for a new PBX. We did not create the usual artificial deliveries between hardware and software organizations through contractual obligations. Instead, we formed a subproject that encompassed all the development work needed to formulate, test, and deploy the new PBX vehicle. Quality metrics data for the subproject showed an increase in customer satisfaction, high team morale, and a reduction in necessary rework.
Ad-hoc Registration and Configuration of Social Object Labels

This paper presents Social Object Labels (SOLs) as a ubiquitous annotation platform and highlights the specific aspect of ad-hoc registration and configuration. It argues that this quality reduces costs and risks for organisations trialling and adopting the system, as it allows deployment in the target environment without custom development, workflow changes or technical assistance. The paper discusses functionality related to ad-hoc deployment and registration and their implementation in a current SOL prototype.
Using a Token Approach for the MAC Layer of Linear Sensor Networks - Impact of the Redundancy on the Throughput

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) consist of a large number of sensor nodes deployed in a wide area for monitoring applications. For some of these applications, as pipeline or road monitoring, wireless sensor nodes have to be deployed in a linear manner. We refer to these WSNs as Linear Sensor Networks (LSNs). Due to specificity of LSNs, MAC protocol designed for WSNs, as contention or TDMA based protocols, are often not suitable. Furthermore, wireless node deployment can provide a certain form of redundancy to prevent link or node failures. In this paper, we propose a token based MAC protocol for linear sensor networks in order to improve the network performance. We evaluate the effect of the redundancy on the number of packets delivered to the sink. We show that the redundancy induces a significant improvement both on the delivered traffic and on the FIFO queue size of the nodes.
Changes in chemical coding of myenteric neurones in ulcerative colitis

Background: Morphological and functional changes in the enteric nervous system (ENS) have been reported in inflammatory bowel diseases but it is still uncertain whether neurochemical coding of myenteric neurones is altered in ulcerative colitis (UC). Aims: In this study we investigated transmitter co-localisation in myenteric neurones of normal colon and the colon of patients with UC. Methods: Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), neurone specific enolase (NSE), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and substance P (SP) were detected by immunohistochemical methods in whole mounts of colonic myenteric plexus of UC patients (n=10) and controls (n=8). Results: The proportion of ChAT positive and VIP positive neurones relative to the NSE population did not differ in inflamed (33.3% and 9.3%, respectively) and non-inflamed segments (33.6% and 9.7%) of UC colon compared with controls (35.0% and 6.9%). The proportion of SP positive neurones was significantly larger in both inflamed (15.5%) and non-inflamed (20.3%) segments than in controls (5.9%). Analysis of changes in subpopulations showed that 26.9% of neurones were only ChAT positive in controls but that the proportion was significantly smaller in inflamed (18.8%) and non-inflamed (15.8%) areas of UC. The proportions of neurones containing ChAT and SP were significantly higher in inflamed (11.8%) and non-inflamed (13.9%) areas than in controls (5.0%). Conclusion: Remodelling of myenteric neurones in UC involves a shift from mainly cholinergic to more SP positive innervation. This effect may constitute part of the neuronal basis for the motility disturbances observed in UC.
Unsupervised estimation of myocardial displacement from tagged MR sequences using nonrigid registration

We propose a fully automatic cardiac motion estimation technique that uses nonrigid registration between temporally adjacent images to compute the myocardial displacement field from tagged MR sequences using as inputs (sources) both horizontally and vertically tagged images. We present a new multisource nonrigid registration algorithm employing a semilocal deformation model that provides controlled smoothness. The method requires no segmentation. We apply a multiresolution optimization strategy for better speed and robustness. The accuracy of the algorithm is assessed on experimental data (animal model) and healthy volunteer data by calculating the root mean square (RMS) difference in position between the estimated tag trajectories and manual tracings outlined by an expert. For the ∼20000 tag lines analyzed (45 slices over 20–40 time frames), the RMS difference between the automatic tag trajectories and the manually segmented tag trajectories was 0.51 pixels (0.25 mm) for the animal data and 0.49 pixels (0.49 mm) for the human volunteer data. The RMS difference in the separation between adjacent tag lines (RMS_TS) was also assessed, resulting in an RMS_TS of 0.40 pixels (0.19 mm) in the experimental data and 0.52 pixels (0.56 mm) in the volunteer data. These results confirm the subpixel accuracy achieved using the proposed methodology. Magn Reson Med 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analysis of the Delay of Confirmed Downlink Frames in Class B of LoRaWAN

Wireless sensor networks have long been characterized by short range communications. Lately, long range wireless sensor networks such as LoRaWAN (long range wide area network) have emerged, increasing the communication range at the cost of reduced bit rate. This paper focuses on the MAC layer of LoRaWAN and studies communications from a gateway to an end-device. We propose a Markov chain model to estimate the delivery delay of an acknowledged communication (with retransmissions) and study the impact of the number of channels, the data-rate and the number of nodes.
DR AF T Probabilistic Model Checking : Advances and Applications

Probabilistic model checking is a powerful technique for formally verifying quantitative properties of systems that exhibit stochastic behaviour. Such systems are found in many application domains: for example, probabilistic behaviour may arise due to the presence of failures in unreliable hardware, message loss in wireless communication channels, or the use of randomisation in distributed protocols. This chapter starts with an introduction to the technique of probabilistic model checking. We then survey some recent advances in the area, including controller synthesis, compositional verification, probabilistic real-time systems and parametric model checking. We illustrate the application of the various techniques with a combination of toy examples and descriptions of larger case studies. The chapter concludes with a discussion of some of the key challenges in the field. Marta Kwiatkowska Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, e-mail: marta.kwiatkowska@cs.ox. ac.uk Gethin Norman School of Computing Science, University of Glasgow, UK, e-mail: gethin.norman@glasgow.ac.uk David Parker School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham, UK, e-mail: d.a. parker@cs.bham. ac.uk
Multi-channel differencing adaptive noise cancellation based on kernel-based normalized least-mean-square algorithm

The performance of detection for weak signal of the sonar array is extremely attenuated by intricate noises. It is also difficulty how to acquire reference (or secondary) noise correlated with the primary noise. The multi-channel reference noises are obtained by differencing the accurately delayed outputs of array elements. Kernel-based normalized least mean square (KNLMS) algorithm is an efficient way used to online predict time series data with the advantages of simplicity and stability. This paper presents an algorithm that combines multi-channel differencing to obtain reference noise and KNLMS to adaptively cancel the unknown noise. The simulation results demonstrate that the performances of multi-channel differencing adaptive noise cancellation based on KNLMS are better than the conventional adaptive noise cancellation methods using the realistic lake experiment of sonar array noise data.
Laser Phase Noise Tolerance in Direct Detection Optical OFDM Transmission Using Laser Linewidth Emulator

Laser phase noise tolerance in direct detection optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission system is experimentally demonstrated using laser linewidth emulator. With this linewidth emulator, the linewidth of the laser can be broadened independently without inducing other laser's noise characteristics such as relative intensity noise and chirping. The results show the effect of phase-to-intensity noise conversion due to the laser's phase noise and chromatic dispersion. This induces noise pedestals not only onto the optical carrier, but also to each of the subcarriers, and thus produces intersubcarriers interference. Measurements show 6 dB Q-degradation is suffered by the system when 10 MHz linewidth is used as compared to using narrowest emulator linewidth of 256 kHz. Transmission with the linewidth emulator set to 20 MHz is also shown where it can still be tolerated by 400 km of fiber at the Q of 9.606 dB with respect to $1.6\,\times \,10^{{\rm - 3}}$ bit error rate. Simulation of 16 quadratic-amplitude modulation (QAM) (∼128 Gb/s) and 4 QAM (∼100 Gb/s) using VPItransmissionMaker are also presented to demonstrate the effect of carrier's phase-to-intensity noise conversion when a high data rate and wide OFDM signal bandwidth are used with the linewidth emulator as the system's laser source. The results show that a phase rotation term is insignificant for lower M-size QAM with fiber length less than 500 km. This presents the high effectiveness and reliability of the laser linewidth emulator to discretely determine an independent phase noise tolerance from the other laser's noise characteristics in the optical OFDM transmission system.
Possible risk factors for the transmission of hepatitis E virus and for the severe form of hepatitis E acquired locally in Hokkaido, Japan

Hepatitis E in industrialized countries has not been well studied. To define the possible risk factors for transmission of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and for the severe form of hepatitis E in Japan, we investigated the clinical and virological characteristics of hepatitis E in 32 patients who contracted the mild (n = 23) or severe form (n = 9) of domestically acquired hepatitis E between 1996 and 2004 in Hokkaido, where hepatitis E is most prevalent in Japan. Nine patients with the severe form of hepatitis E included two patients with fulminant hepatitis E and seven patients who were diagnosed with severe acute hepatitis in which hepatic encephalopathy did not appear during the course of the illness despite low plasma prothrombin activity (≤40%) and/or increased total bilirubin level (≥20 mg/dl). At least 25 patients (78%) had consumed uncooked or undercooked pig liver and/or intestine 1–2 months before the onset of hepatitis E. When compared with the seven patients with HEV genotype 3, the 25 patients with HEV genotype 4 had a higher peak alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level (P = 0.0338) and a lower level of lowest prothrombin activity (P = 0.0340). The severe form of hepatitis E was associated with the presence of an underlying disease (56% [5/9] vs. 17% [4/23], P = 0.0454). The study suggests that zoonotic food‐borne transmission of HEV plays an important role in the occurrence of hepatitis E in Hokkaido, Japan, and that the HEV genotype and the presence of an underlying disease influence the severity of hepatitis E. J. Med. Virol. 76:341–349, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Radiation from fast and slow traveling waves

This article presents an overview of the radiation from fast and slow traveling waves. The goal is to describe the mechanisms that give rise to the radiation in a leaky-wave antenna (LWA). An infinite aperture distribution and line-source assumptions will be used to convey the concepts. In addition, the relationship between the leaky-wave antenna and other types of traveling wave antennas will be elucidated.
Viable but nonculturable stage of Campylobacter jejuni and its role in survival in the natural aquatic environment

Conditions influencing the survival of Campylobacter jejuni in the natural aquatic environment have been determined. Release of Campylobacter spp. into natural waters by animal hosts is postulated to play a key role in the maintenance of viability and transmission of the organism in the environment. Laboratory flask microcosms containing filter-sterilized stream water were used to test C. jejuni for the ability to remain viable in simulated natural systems. The microcosms were compared with the biphasic and shaking broth procedures used routinely for growth of Campylobacter spp. in the research laboratory. The stream-water microcosms were analyzed to determine effects of temperature and aeration on the survival of a well-characterized C. jejuni strain isolated originally from a human campylobacteriosis patient. Morphological characteristics were evaluated by phase-contrast microscopy and scanning or transmission electron microscopy. Survival curves were quantified on the basis of plate counts, epifluorescent microscopy, optical density measurements, and direct viable counts associated with protein synthesis in the absence of DNA replication. A significant difference was observed between results of direct enumeration, i.e., direct viable counts or acridine orange direct counts, and those from spread plate cultures. In all cases, increasing temperature of cultivation resulted in decreased recoverability on laboratory media, due possibly to an increased metabolic rate, as analyzed by CO2 evolution in the presence of radiolabeled glutamate. Stream water held at low temperature (4 degrees C) sustained significant numbers of campylobacters for greater than 4 months. Microcosms, aerated with shaking, exhibited logarithmic decline in recoverable C. jejuni, while stationary systems underwent a more moderate rate of decrease to the nonculturable state. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
High-performance Work Practices in Europe: Challenges of Diffusion

Although the evidence supports the role of high-performance work practices (HPWPs) in underpinning improvements in organisational performance, it is striking that so few companies in Europe seem willing to introduce them. The purpose of this article is to examine the barriers to the dissemination of HPWPs, and especially the challenges and dilemmas it presents to policy makers at the design stage. The article is based on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with the principal officials responsible for seven HPWP programmes across six European countries, as well as on extensive secondary material. The interviews were analysed to identify key issues of concern, and then grouped to provide general insights into the operation of HPWP programmes. The article identifies a number of challenges common to all the programmes that need resolution, including tensions between research and dissemination, whether programmes should aim at breadth or depth, and the role of the social partners. It accordingly advocates a new research agenda that focuses on policies to achieve their wider diffusion, which will be of particular value to policy-makers. It also proposes that research should be directed away from replicating studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of HPWPs and towards analyses of constraints on dissemination and the means to overcome them.
Annonaceous acetogenins mediated up-regulation of Notch2 exerts growth inhibition in human gastric cancer cells in vitro

Background Gastric cancer (GC) is a global health problem because of limited treatments and poor prognosis. Annonaceous acetogenins (ACGs) has been reported to exert anti-tumorigenic effects in cancer, yet the mechanism underlying its effects on GC remains largely unknown. Notch signaling plays a critical role in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Therefore, it may contribute to the development of GC. This study aims to explore the role of Notch2 in ACGs’ activities in GC cells. Results ACGs inhibited GC cells’ viability in a dose dependent manner and led to cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase with an increased Notch2 expression. Additionally, Notch2 siRNA reduced ACGs-induced cell growth inhibition while Notch2 cDNA transfection did the opposite. Materials and Methods ACGs were administrated in GC cells and cell proliferation was assayed by MTS, cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. Additionally, the expression of Notch2 and the downstream target Hes1 were identified by Western blot. Furthermore, Notch2-siRNA transfection and Notch2-cDNA were performed to investigate the role of Notch2 in the antitumor effect of ACGs. Conclusions: Up-regulation of Notch2 by ACGs is a potential therapeutic strategy for GC.
The Effect of Fluperlapine in Acute Psychotic Patients

Fluperlapine (NB 106 689), a dibenzazepine chemically and pharmacologically similar to clozapine, was investigated in 28 patients with regard to antipsychotic efficacy and occurrence of adverse effects. In an open early phase II study patients were given fluperlapine over a period of 26 days. The average daily dosage was 300 mg. Five patients had to be withdrawn from the trial during the first week due to side effects or therapeutic inefficacy, 23 patients were examined during the period planned. The substance proved to have fast-acting antipsychotic effect with few adverse effects and no extrapyramidal motor disturbances.
An oral keratinocyte life cycle model identifies novel host genome regulation by human papillomavirus 16 relevant to HPV positive head and neck cancer

Many aspects of the HPV life cycle have been characterized in cervical cell lines (W12, CIN612) and in HPV immortalized primary foreskin keratinocytes. There is now an epidemic of HPV positive oropharyngeal cancers (HPV16 is responsible for 80-90% of these); therefore increased understanding of the HPV16 life cycle in oral keratinocytes is a priority. To date there have been limited reports characterizing the HPV16 life cycle in oral keratinocytes. Using TERT immortalized “normal” oral keratinocytes (NOKs) we generated clonal cell lines maintaining the HPV16 genome as an episome, NOKs+HPV16. Organotypic raft cultures demonstrated appropriate expression of differentiation markers, E1^E4 and E2 expression along with amplification of the viral genome in the upper layers of the epithelium. Using this unique system RNA-seq analysis revealed extensive gene regulation of the host genome by HPV16; many of the changes have not been observed for HPV16 before. The RNA-seq data was validated on a key set of anti-viral innate immune response genes repressed by HPV16 in NOKs+HPV16. We show that the behavior of these NOKs+HPV16 lines is identical to HPV16 immortalized human tonsil keratinocytes with regards innate gene regulation. Finally, using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data we examined gene expression patterns from HPV positive and negative head and neck cancers and demonstrate this innate immune gene signature set is also downregulated in HPV positive cancers versus negative. Our system provides a model for understanding HPV16 transcriptional regulation of oral keratinocytes that is directly relevant to HPV positive head and neck cancer.
Randomized phase II study of erlotinib in combination with placebo or R1507, a monoclonal antibody to insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, for advanced-stage non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE R1507 is a selective, fully human, recombinant monoclonal antibody (immunoglobulin G1 subclass) against insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R). The strong preclinical evidence supporting coinhibition of IGF-1R and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as anticancer therapy prompted this study. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with advanced-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with progression following one or two prior regimens, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 to 2, and measurable disease were eligible. Patients were randomly assigned to receive erlotinib (150 mg orally once a day) in combination with either placebo, R1507 9 mg/kg weekly, or R1507 16 mg/kg intravenously once every 3 weeks. Treatment cycles were repeated every 3 weeks. The primary end point was comparison of the 12-week progression-free survival (PFS) rate. RESULTS In all, 172 patients were enrolled: median age, 61 years; female, 33%; never-smokers, 12%; and performance status 0 or 1, 88%. The median number of R1507 doses was six for the weekly arm and 3.5 for the every-3-weeks arm. Grades 3 to 4 adverse events occurred in 37%, 44%, and 48% of patients with placebo, R1507 weekly, and R1507 every 3 weeks, respectively. The 12-week PFS rates were 39%, 37%, and 44%, and the median overall survival was 8.1, 8.1, and 12.1 months for the three groups, respectively, with statistically nonsignificant hazard ratios. The 12-week PFS rate in patients with KRAS mutation was 36% with R1507 compared with 0% with placebo. CONCLUSION The combination of R1507 with erlotinib did not provide PFS or survival advantage over erlotinib alone in an unselected group of patients with advanced NSCLC. Predictive biomarkers are essential for further development of combined inhibition of IGF-1R and EGFR.
Facilitated Reflective Performance Feedback: Developing an Evidence- and Theory-Based Model That Builds Relationship, Explores Reactions and Content, and Coaches for Performance Change (R2C2)

Purpose To develop and conduct feasibility testing of an evidence-based and theory-informed model for facilitating performance feedback for physicians so as to enhance their acceptance and use of the feedback. Method To develop the feedback model (2011–2013), the authors drew on earlier research which highlights not only the factors that influence giving, receiving, accepting, and using feedback but also the theoretical perspectives which enable the understanding of these influences. The authors undertook an iterative, multistage, qualitative study guided by two recognized research frameworks: the UK Medical Research Council guidelines for studying complex interventions and realist evaluation. Using these frameworks, they conducted the research in four stages: (1) modeling, (2) facilitator preparation, (3) model feasibility testing, and (4) model refinement. They analyzed data, using content and thematic analysis, and used the findings from each stage to inform the subsequent stage. Results Findings support the facilitated feedback model, its four phases—build relationship, explore reactions, explore content, coach for performance change (R2C2)—and the theoretical perspectives informing them. The findings contribute to understanding elements that enhance recipients’ engagement with, acceptance of, and productive use of feedback. Facilitators reported that the model made sense and the phases generally flowed logically. Recipients reported that the feedback process was helpful and that they appreciated the reflection stimulated by the model and the coaching. Conclusions The theory- and evidence-based reflective R2C2 Facilitated Feedback Model appears stable and helpful for physicians in facilitating their reflection on and use of formal performance assessment feedback.