Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Declarative computational perceptions networks for automatically generating excerpts in computer games by using Bousi Prolog

Recently, we have presented a new technology for improving player experience in Computer Games by using players behaviour analysis and linguistic descriptions. Here, we explain the details about its implementation which have not been presented in any work before. Our implementation is based on a declarative version of the concept of computational perception network whose implementation has been performed by means of a fuzzy linguistic logic programming language named Bousi Prolog. Our aim is to show the potentiality of this kind of programming language in order to implement computational perceptions in computer games.
Reclamation of Marine Chitinous Materials for the Production of α-Glucosidase Inhibitors via Microbial Conversion

Six kinds of chitinous materials have been used as sole carbon/nitrogen (C/N) sources for producing α-glucosidase inhibitors (aGI) by Paenibacillus sp. TKU042. The aGI productivity was found to be highest in the culture supernatants using demineralized crab shell powder (deCSP) and demineralized shrimp shell powder (deSSP) as the C/N source. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) and maximum aGI activity of fermented deCSP (38 µg/mL, 98%), deSSP (108 µg/mL, 89%), squid pen powder (SPP) (422 µg/mL, 98%), and shrimp head powder (SHP) (455 µg/mL, 92%) were compared with those of fermented nutrient broth (FNB) (81 µg/mL, 93%) and acarbose (1095 µg/mL, 74%), a commercial antidiabetic drug. The result of the protein/chitin ratio on aGI production showed that the optimal ratio was 0.2/1. Fermented deCSP showed lower IC50 and higher maximum inhibitory activity than those of acarbose against rat intestinal α-glucosidase.
PIP2 binding residues of Kir2.1 are common targets of mutations causing Andersen syndrome

Background: Mutations in KCNJ2 , the gene encoding the inward-rectifying K+ channel Kir2.1, cause the cardiac, skeletal muscle, and developmental phenotypes of Andersen–Tawil syndrome (ATS; also known as Andersen syndrome). Although pathogenic mechanisms have been proposed for select mutations, a common mechanism has not been identified. Methods: Seventeen probands presenting with symptoms characteristic of ATS were evaluated clinically and screened for mutations in KCNJ2 . The results of mutation analysis were combined with those from previously studied subjects to assess the frequency with which KCNJ2 mutations cause ATS. Results: Mutations in KCNJ2 were discovered in nine probands. These included six novel mutations (D71N, T75R, G146D, R189I, G300D, and R312C) as well as previously reported mutations R67W and R218W. Six probands possessed mutations of residues implicated in binding membrane-associated phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). In total, mutations in PIP2-related residues accounted for disease in 18 of 29 (62%) reported KCNJ2 -based probands with ATS. Also reported is that mutation R67W causes the full clinical triad in two unrelated males. Conclusions: The novel mutations corresponding to residues involved in Kir2.1 channel–PIP2 interactions presented here as well as the overall frequency of mutations occurring in these residues indicate that defects in PIP2 binding constitute a major pathogenic mechanism of ATS. Furthermore, screening KCNJ2 in patients with the complex phenotypes of ATS was found to be invaluable in establishing or confirming a disease diagnosis as mutations in this gene can be identified in the majority of patients.
Fasting induces a form of autonomic synaptic plasticity that prevents hypoglycemia

Significance To prevent a fall in blood glucose during fasting, the counter-regulatory response is activated. An important component of this pathway involves the autonomic nervous system and release of epinephrine from the adrenal gland. This autonomic response is often referred to as a reflex, implying the output is hardwired and inflexible. Here we show the strength of the terminal synapse that controls epinephrine release is actually highly plastic. Fasting leads to a long-lasting increase in synaptic strength by a process that requires neuropeptide Y and Y5 receptors. In the absence of neuropeptide Y, synaptic strengthening is absent, epinephrine release is reduced, and the mice become hypoglycemic. These findings indicate that the response to fasting involves significant autonomic synaptic plasticity. During fasting, activation of the counter-regulatory response (CRR) prevents hypoglycemia. A major effector arm is the autonomic nervous system that controls epinephrine release from adrenal chromaffin cells and, consequently, hepatic glucose production. However, whether modulation of autonomic function determines the relative strength of the CRR, and thus the ability to withstand food deprivation and maintain euglycemia, is not known. Here we show that fasting leads to altered transmission at the preganglionic → chromaffin cell synapse. The dominant effect is a presynaptic, long-lasting increase in synaptic strength. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches we show this plasticity requires neuropeptide Y, an adrenal cotransmitter and the activation of adrenal Y5 receptors. Loss of neuropeptide Y prevents a fasting-induced increase in epinephrine release and results in hypoglycemia in vivo. These findings connect plasticity within the sympathetic nervous system to a physiological output and indicate the strength of the final synapse in this descending pathway plays a decisive role in maintaining euglycemia.
2 Strategies for Business Turnaround and Recovery : A Review and Synthesis

Purpose: Against a backdrop of continued weak economic conditions and with many firms experiencing declining financial performance, this paper presents a synthesis of the business turnaround literature. It aims to identify which turnaround and recovery strategies have been effective historically, based on the evidence provided by previous empirical research. Design/methodology/approach: We review literature that includes 22 empirical studies, which investigated business turnarounds in previous recessionary environments. We review this literature in its entirety, rather than as individual contributions, to synthesise the lessons available for businesses operating in today’s challenging economic environment. Findings: Our review revealed convergence in the findings of the prior studies. Six effective turnaround strategies were consistently identified. Four of these relate to the content of the turnaround, namely cost efficiencies, asset retrenchment, a focus on the firm’s core activities and building for the future and two relate to accompanying change processes required for implementation: reinvigoration of firm leadership and culture change. Research limitations/implications: We highlight areas where knowledge on business turnarounds remains limited and suggest potentially fruitful directions for future research. Practical implications: We discuss the elements involved in each of the six effective turnaround strategies identified. We also provide a contemporary example to illustrate the application of these strategies in the current economic environment. Originality/value: The paper offers practitioners an evidence-based view on effective business turnaround and recovery strategies, in addition to providing researchers with an accessible review of the existing literature.
Human cathepsin L rescues the neurodegeneration and lethality in cathepsin B/L double-deficient mice

Abstract Cathepsin B (CTSB) and cathepsin L (CTSL) are two widely expressed cysteine proteases thought to predominantly reside within lysosomes. Functional analysis of CTSL in humans is complicated by the existence of two CTSL-like homologs (CTSL and CTSL2), in contrast to mice, which possess only one CTSL enzyme. Thus, transgenic expression of human CTSL in CTSL-deficient mice provides an opportunity to study the in vivo functions of this human protease without interference by its highly related homolog. While mice with single-gene deficiencies for murine CTSB or CTSL survive without apparent neuromuscular impairment, murine CTSB/CTSL double-deficient mice display degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells and neurons of the cerebral cortex, resulting in severe hypotrophy, motility defects, and lethality during their third to fourth week of life. Here we show that expression of human CTSL through a genomic transgene results in widespread expression of human CTSL in the mouse that is capable of rescuing the lethality found in CTSB/CTSL double-deficient animals. Human CTSL is expressed in the brain of these compound mutants, predominantly in neurons of the cerebral cortex and in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, where it appears to prevent neuronal cell death.
Dramaterapia en personas con trastorno mental grave

La Asociacion Canaria de Terapias Creativas (ASCATEC) se crea en el ano 2008, en Tenerife, para favorecer la recuperacion de las personas con trastorno mental grave, apostando por una alternativa terapeutica innovadora en cuanto a metodos y modalidades de intervencion, mediante la aplicacion de terapias artisticas. Los autores exponen la experiencia terapeutica de la Dramaterapia, con los pacientes con trastorno mental grave derivados durante los ultimos 2 anos a traves de los servicios publicos de salud mental de la isla. Aunque la dramaterapia busca su evidencia cientifica hoy disponemos de experiencia suficiente de sus posibles beneficios clinicos y como estratificar los procesos de exigencia en base a los niveles de autonomia y deterioro que presentan los pacientes.
Traços de personalidade e apredizagem por conflito socio-cognitivo

Esta pesquisa verificou a relacao entre tracos de personalidade (segundo Eysenck) e aprendizagem por conflito socio-cognitivo. Os estudos experimentais sao poucos e os trabalhos que analisam a relacao entre essas duas variaveis, em quase sua totalidade concebem a aprendizagem baseando-se na teoria experimental do comportamento. A populacao investigada foi de 120 sujeitos, de 5 a 7 anos, de tres escolas publicas. Todos os sujeitos foram avaliados por intermedio de uma adaptacao do EPQ-J/Sisto (1998) e pela prova piagetiana de comprimento. Os sujeitos que, neste ultimo instrumento, apresentaram nivel nao-conservador foram selecionados para o experimento, totalizando 36 sujeitos. Quatro tracos de personalidade foram pontuados, N (emocionalidade), P (dureza), E (extroversao) e S (sinceridade). O experimento constituiu-se por sete situacoes de aprendizagem por conflito socio-cognitivo em cada sessao, com pares de sujeitos, na prova de comprimento. Um dia apos as tres sessoes de intervencao realizou-se o pos-teste imediato e 25 dias apos o pos-teste retardado, quando foi ministradas a prova classica de conservacao de comprimento, individualmente. A aprendizagem foi inferida baseando-se nas variacoes de desempenho entre a medicao do pre-teste e dos pos-testes. Os dados encontrados foram relacionados com genero e faixa etaria, e submetidos a analise estatistica de variância e regressao multipla. A analise dos dados indicou que ha uma tendencia da variavel dureza diminuir com a idade (p = ,012). A aprendizagem, no pos-teste imediato foi explicada pelo traco dureza (p = ,0004) e sinceridade (p = ,0180). Abstract
L'échange des données de santé entre hôpitaux et acteurs de la santé - le projet MediCoordination

Au sein de la medecine moderne, les changements technologiques ont tout particulierement modifie la pratique de l’imagerie medicale. Les progres concernent toutes les etapes du processus : l’acquisition des images, le post-processing, le stockage, la recherche d’images et enfin leur transmission. Ces ameliorations ont engendre une augmentation de la qualite des soins, de la securite du patient, de l’efficience des prestations mais aussi une diminution de la dose delivree aux patients par une reduction des cliches dupliques. En facilitant l’acces aux images et aux rapports associes, le PACS et le RIS ne sont d’ailleurs pas etrangers a ces progres. Dans certains pays, les systemes d’informations tendent a etre integres au dossier electronique du patient (ou Electronic Health Record en anglais [1,2,3]. Cela permet l’acces aux donnees du patient, y compris aux images et rapports de radiologie, aux autres prestataires de soins concernes. En effet, le dossier electronique du patient est defini comme « le groupement actualisable a vie, gere par le patient de toutes les donnees personnelles, medicales, preventives et administratives et de soins administres disponibles. L'EHR comprend diverses informations personnelles, dont les antecedents medicaux, les resultats importants de laboratoire, les rapports d'operation ainsi que les radiographies et les donnees numeriques d'autres examens. » [1].
Polypharmacy in psychiatry: patterns of differential treatment.

The authors studied 500 psychiatric patients who had been treated polypharmaceutically. The group was divided into thirds—one-third remaining on their original two medications, one-third on two placebos but no active medication, and one-third on one placebo and one psychoactive drug. While there were significant changes in patient pathologies, the female trend was different from the male. Analyzing the data, the authors conclude that polypharmacy, especially in men, is often an inadequate form of treatment.
Towards practical private information retrieval from homomorphic encryption

Private information retrieval (PIR) allows a client to retrieve data from a remote database while hiding the client's access pattern. To be applicable for practical usage, PIR protocol should have low communication and computational costs. In this paper a new generic PIR protocol based on somewhat homomorphic encryption (SWHE) is proposed. Compared to existing constructions the proposed scheme has reduced multiplicative depth of the homomorphic evaluation circuit which allows to cut down the total overhead in schemes with ciphertext expansion. The construction results in a system with \(O(\log{n})\) communication cost and \(O(n)\) computational complexity for a database of size \(n\).
Stable Treemaps via Local Moves

Treemaps are a popular tool to visualize hierarchical data: items are represented by nested rectangles and the area of each rectangle corresponds to the data being visualized for this item. The visual quality of a treemap is commonly measured via the aspect ratio of the rectangles. If the data changes, then a second important quality criterion is the stability of the treemap: how much does the treemap change as the data changes. We present a novel stable treemapping algorithm that has very high visual quality. Whereas existing treemapping algorithms generally recompute the treemap every time the input changes, our algorithm changes the layout of the treemap using only local modifications. This approach not only gives us direct control over stability, but it also allows us to use a larger set of possible layouts, thus provably resulting in treemaps of higher visual quality compared to existing algorithms. We further prove that we can reach all possible treemap layouts using only our local modifications. Furthermore, we introduce a new measure for stability that better captures the relative positions of rectangles. We finally show via experiments on real-world data that our algorithm outperforms existing treemapping algorithms also in practice on either visual quality and/or stability. Our algorithm scores high on stability regardless of whether we use an existing stability measure or our new measure.
X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa in Japan: Clinical and Genetic Findings in Male Patients and Female Carriers

X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) is a type of severe retinal dystrophy, and female carriers of XLRP demonstrate markedly variable clinical severity. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the clinical findings of male patients with and female carriers of XLRP in a Japanese cohort and demonstrate the genetic contribution. Twelve unrelated families (13 male patients, 15 female carriers) harboring pathogenic mutations in RPGR or RP2 were included, and comprehensive ophthalmic examinations were performed. To identify potential pathogenic mutations, targeted next-generation sequencing was employed. Consequently, we identified 11 pathogenic mutations, of which five were novel. Six and five mutations were detected in RPGR and RP2, respectively. Only one mutation was detected in ORF15. Affected male patients with RP2 mutations tended to have lower visual function than those with RPGR mutations. Female carriers demonstrated varying visual acuities and visual fields. Among the female carriers, 92% had electroretinographical abnormalities and 63% had a radial autofluorescent pattern, and the carriers who had higher myopia showed worse visual acuity and more severe retinal degeneration. Our results expand the knowledge of the clinical phenotypes of male patients with and female carriers of XLRP and suggest the possibility that RP2 mutations are relatively highly prevalent in Japan.
CALCIUM ACCRETION AND BONE FORMATION IN DOGS: AN EXPERIMENTAL COMPARISON BETWEEN THE RESULTS OF CA-45 KINETIC ANALYSIS AND TETRACYCLINE LABELLING.

1. In two dogs, approximately one to two years and three to four months of age, an experimental comparison was made between the calcium accretion rate as defined by the Bauer-Carlsson-Lindquist equation, and the bone formation rate determined by double tetracycline labelling.2. The overall calcium accretion rate was determined from the specific activity of the blood plasma, and the urinary and faecal excretion of isotope, following an intravenous tracer dose of Ca45. A time of five days after injection was used for the calculation of accretion rates, but data for shorter times of calculation are included.3. Local accretion rates were obtained for different parts of the skeleton by determining the specific activities of bone samples at the end of the experiment.4. The amount of isotope the uptake of which was not related to new bone formation (the diffuse component) was determined autoradiographically.5. Local values for appositional growth rate and bone formation rate were obtained, using sections of unde.
DIE EU-ÜBERGANGSREGELUNG ZUM HERKUNFTSSCHUTZ BEI AGRARPRODUKTEN UND LEBENSMITTELN AUS DEM BLICKWINKEL DER TRANSAKTIONS- UND DER INFORMATIONSÖKONOMIE

Seit mittlerweile 15 Jahren besteht mit der Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 2081/92 ein europaweites Schutzsystem fur geografische Angaben bei Agrarprodukten und Lebensmitteln. Der Beitrag analysiert auf Grundlage Informationsokonomie und der Transaktionskostenansatzes diese Regelung. Die Analyse zeigt, dass trotz der Neuformulierung der Verordnung im Jahr 2006 weiterhin auf Seiten der Verbraucher die Gefahr der Irrefuhrung besteht und die Regelung der deutschen Ernahrungswirtschaft hohe Transaktionskosten verursacht. Ursachlich dafur verantwortlich ist der Kerngedanke der Verordnung, Namen solcher Produkte gegen missbrauchliche Verwendung im Wettbewerb zu schutzen, die vom Wesen her als Original aufgrund eigener Geschichte, eigener Rezeptur bzw. besonderer Qualitat anzusehen sind. Handlungsbedarf besteht daher sowohl fur die durchfuhrende Institution als auch fur den Gesetzgeber.
Current Concepts in Mucosal Immunity III . Ontogeny and function of gd T cells in the intestine *

Kagnoff, Martin F. Current Concepts in Mucosal Immunity. III. Ontogeny and function of gd T cells in the intestine. Am. J. Physiol. 274 (Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 37): G455– G458, 1998. —gd T cells are located in the paracellular space between epithelial cells. In the human colon and small intestine, 5–40% of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) are gd T cells, and in mice an even greater proportion of IEL are gd T cells. The gd T cell receptor repertoire in the human intestine undergoes marked changes in V region gene usage and junctional diversity during development from fetus to newborn to adult, suggesting that gd T cells may mediate qualitatively or quantitatively different functions at various stages of development. gd IEL have been shown to produce cytokines and growth factors and to influence epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as the mucosal development of immunoglobulin A B cells. gd IEL also manifest cytolytic activity. However, the ligands recognized by intestinal gd T cells and the role they play in intestinal immune responses, in immune defense to enteric pathogens, and in the pathogenesis of intestinal disease are thus far largely unknown.
The assessment of mitral inflow propagation velocity in the diagnosis of advanced left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

BACKGROUND The echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular diastolic function is usually based on mitral inflow parameters. The main limitation of this method is caused by pseudonormalisation of mitral inflow profile in advanced stages of diastolic dysfunction. AIM To evaluate the value of propagation velocity (Vp) of early and atrial mitral inflow wave in the diagnosis of pseudonormalisation. METHODS We examined 180 subjects (104 males, mean age 58+/-11) by transthoracic echocardiography with the assessment of propagation velocity in colour-M-mode. The studied group consisted of 120 patients with coronary artery disease and 60 healthy controls. The values of E/A (ratio of early to atrial mitral inflow peak velocity) were calculated and subjects with normal (early wave deceleration time, Edt > or =150 ms) and pseudonormal (Edt <150 ms) mitral inflow patterns were identified. Propagation velocities were compared between groups with normal and pseudonormal mitral inflow profiles and optimal cut-off values were estimated. RESULTS In the pseudonormal group, velocities of early and atrial propagation were significantly lower than those in the normal group: 25+/-11 vs 46+/-8 cm/s (p<0.001) and 33+/-10 vs 43+/-11 cm/s, (p<0.01), respectively. Both parameters showed the same optimal cut-off value for the diagnosis of pseudonormalisation which was < or =31 cm/s. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for the detection of pseudonormal mitral inflow pattern for early wave propagation were 87, 96 and 94%, and for atrial wave propagation - 60, 83 and 78%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Decreased value of mitral inflow early wave propagation velocity offers high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of mitral inflow pseudonormalisation. Atrial wave propagation velocity has also potential value for advanced quantitative assessment of diastolic function.
A Dopingless FET With Metal–Insulator–Semiconductor Contacts

By adopting the charge-plasma concept, dopingless FETs with metal-semiconductor and metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) contacts in parallel at the source/drain (SD) have been studied in this letter. Currents are found to flow mainly through the MIS contacts for a given SD metal workfunction when the insulator thickness is thin enough. In order to avoid the possible penalty caused by Fermi level pinning, the dopingless FET with only SD MIS contacts has been proposed as well. The impacts of insulator material parameters, such as bandgap, electron affinity, dielectric constant, and physical thickness, on the electrical characteristics of the dopingless FET have been investigated systematically. Based on numerical simulations, this letter provides a general guideline with physical insights for designing dopingless FETs with high-permittivity insulator at the SD MIS contacts.