Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A cloudlet-based approach to tackle network challenges in mobile cloud applications

Advancement in mobile broadband communication enables to effectively communicate anywhere at any time. More specifically, for people who live in rural areas of developing countries it is the best means to communicate with the rest of the world. This has prodigious potential of enabling new opportunities in their live. The appearance of cloud computing, the recent improvements in communication networks, and the mobile phone market penetration allow a large number of users to access remote computing systems using their mobile devices.
Effect of cold storage and cryopreservation of immature non-human primate testicular tissue on spermatogonial stem cell potential in xenografts.

BACKGROUND Successful cryopreservation of gonadal tissue is an important factor in guaranteeing the fertility preservation via germ cell or testicular tissue transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cooling and cryopreservation on spermatogonial stem cell survival and function of immature non-human primate testicular tissue xenografted to nude mice. METHODS Group 1 (control group) received subcutaneous grafts of fresh immature rhesus monkey testes. The treatment groups received grafts after 24 h cooling in ice-cold medium (Group 2), after 24 h of cryopreservation without cryoprotectant (Group 3), with ethylene glycol (Group 4: 1.4 M) or with dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) (group 5: 1.4 M; group 6: 0.7 M), using cooling rates of 0.5 degrees C/min. The graft number, weight and histology were examined 3-5 months later. RESULTS After xenografting, grafts from fresh and cooled tissue showed good survival and spermatogenic induction to spermatocytes. Cryopreservation in 1.4 M DMSO also allowed grafts to initiate spermatogenesis. In contrast, 0.7 M DMSO and ethylene glycol showed inferior protection. CONCLUSIONS Our observations suggest that cryopreservation of immature primate testis is a feasible approach to maintain spermatogonial stem cells and may serve as a promising tool for fertility preservation of prepubertal boys. The possibility to delay the transplantation of cooled samples suggests an option for clinical centralization of testicular tissue cryopreservation.
Robotic Approaches for Rehabilitation of Hand Function After Stroke

ABSTRACTThe goal of this review was to discuss the impairments in hand function after stroke and present previous work on robot-assisted approaches to movement neurorehabilitation. Robotic devices offer a unique training environment that may enhance outcomes beyond what is possible with conventional means. Robots apply forces to the hand, allowing completion of movements while preventing inappropriate movement patterns. Evidence from the literature is emerging that certain characteristics of the human-robot interaction are preferable. In light of this evidence, the robotic hand devices that have undergone clinical testing are reviewed, highlighting the authors’ work in this area. Finally, suggestions for future work are offered. The ability to deliver therapy doses far higher than what has been previously tested is a potentially key advantage of robotic devices that needs further exploration. In particular, more efforts are needed to develop highly motivating home-based devices, which can increase access to high doses of assisted movement therapy.
A Comparative Study on Classification of Working Memory Tasks Using EEG Signals

Assessing a mental workload level using electroencephalography (EEG) signals represents an active research area. The development of low-cost wireless EEG headsets drew the attention of researchers in the field of critical human-machine collaboration systems. In this paper, some classification methods are used to discriminate the working memory load levels using EEG raw data records. The brain waves were acquired during several tasks performed according to the n-back paradigm. Selecting the right features and assessing the workload memory level remains a challenging task for a broad range of practical applications. The preprocessed EEG signals are classified with different algorithms suitable for non-stationary signals. The proposed experiments guide an empirical feature selection and correlate EEG signals classification based on n-back memory tests using different acquisition devices. A professional Brain Products helmet and a low-cost wireless Emotiv Epoc+ device were used for comparison. The results prove the impact of two multiclass classifiers, Random Forests (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) and feature selection, on EEG signals classification for n-back working memory tasks and highlight some disadvantages of wireless EEG acquisition tools. The results obtained suggest that both RF and SVM classifiers performed well on EEG data. Workload levels can be precisely identified using RF and a limited set of frontally located electrodes for data acquisition on both EEG devices.
Activation of human peripheral blood dendritic cells induces the CD86 co‐stimulatory molecule

Maximal T lymphocyte responses require presentation of antigen by major histocompatibility complex molecules and delivery of one or more co‐stimulatory signals. Interaction of the CD28 molecule on T lymphocytes with its ligands on antigen‐presenting cells (APC) initiates a critical co‐stimulatory pathway inducing T lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine secretion. Dendritic cells (DC) are potent APC for a primary T lymphocyte response and potential CD28/CTLA‐4 ligands on DC are, therefore, of particular functional relevance. In these experiments, the expression and function of the CD28/CTLA‐4 ligands B7.1 (CD80) and B7.2 (CD86) were examined on human blood DC. Resting DC populations directly isolated by immunodepletion of lineage marker‐positive cells lacked cell membrane expression of CD80 and expressed little or no CD86, although CD86, but not CD80 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction analysis. In contrast, low‐density DC isolated after culture in vitro strongly expressed CD86 surface protein, but expressed limited or no CD80, although mRNA for both molecules were detected. Short‐term culture of directly isolated DC up‐regulated both CD80 and CD86 expression. Analysis of the kinetics of CD28/CTLA‐4 ligand induction showed that surface CD86 was present within 8 h, whereas CD80 antigen was first detected after 24 h of culture. The functional importance of CD28/CTLA‐4 ligand up‐regulation on DC during T lymphocyte interactions was demonstrated by the ability of both CTLA‐41g and CD86 monoclonal antibodies (mAb), but not CD80 mAb, to block an allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction stimulated by DC populations initially negative for CD80 and CD86. These results demonstrate that CD86 is both the earliest and functionally the predominant co‐stimulatory CD28/CTLA‐4 ligand on DC.
Hybrid Approach for Determining Eddy-Current Losses in High-Speed PM Rotors

This paper presents a novel method for calculating rotor eddy-current losses of PM machines using an analytically derived current sheet (2D) in combination with commercially available FE software (3D). First, an equation-based approach is used to determine the total magnetic field at the stator inner diameter. A 2D current sheet is formulated from the total field in the rotor reference frame. Next, the 2D current sheet is extended axially and used in a 3D FE analysis of the machines un-magnetized rotor. Using this procedure, rotor loss caused by armature current time harmonics, slot permeance variation and winding MMF harmonics has been calculated that properly considers axial variation with limited computing resources.
Impaired distractor inhibition in patients with schizophrenia on a negative priming task

Background. Numerous studies have suggested, via the interpretation of negative priming effects, that subjects with schizophrenia are less able than controls to inhibit irrelevant distracting information. Further issues concerning impairment in inhibitory processes are investigated here. First, recent research has revealed that negative priming (NP) effects can be caused by different processes, distractor inhibition or perceptual review. Therefore, conclusions concerning reduced inhibition in patients with schizophrenia are not possible from previous NP research. Secondly, previous NP studies have required subjects to identify some feature of the target. This is the first study to examine NP that uses a spatial task in patients with schizophrenia. Method. Twenty-eight subjects with schizophrenia and 28 age and sex matched non-psychiatric control subjects completed a computerized NP task that eliminated the possible contribution of perceptual review. Results. Subjects with schizophrenia had reduced levels of NP compared to control subjects on this spatial NP task (t=2·46, P<0·02). Current age, positive, negative or total PANNS scores did not correlate with negative priming scores, but post hoc analyses revealed that clozapine-treated patients had significantly greater levels of negative priming than patients receiving typical antipsychotic medications. Conclusions. The present experiment eliminated the contribution of perceptual review to negative priming and demonstrated that when a pure measure of inhibition is taken on a localization task, patients with schizophrenia were less able to inhibit irrelevant distracting stimuli. The fact that NP was reduced in a spatial task suggested a more diffuse reduction in inhibition than previous studies that examined only identification-based responses.
The changing role of local water resources over time (The case of Slovenian rural region Bela krajina)

Prispevek obravnava problematiko lokalnih vodnih virov na primeru Bele krajine - podeželske, kraske pokrajine v jugovzhodni Sloveniji. Na terenu smo inventarizirali 261 razlicnih vodnih virov, preucili njihovo nekdanjo in sedanjo rabo ter vlogo v življenju lokalnega prebivalstva in podali oceno njihove hidrogeoloske obcutljivosti ter hidroekoloske ogroženosti. Z izgradnjo vodovoda so belokranjski vodni viri izgubili svoj tradicionalni vodooskrbni pomen, navezanost lokalnega prebivalstva nanje in vedenje o njih pa tone v pozabo. Kljub temu posamezne lokalne skupnosti v zadnjem casu prepoznavajo njihovo naravno, kulturno in ekosistemsko vrednost, kar se zrcali v pobudah za ohranjanje, zascito in obnovo posameznih vodnih virov. Vecina belokranjskih vodnih virov je zaradi kraskega povrsja sicer zelo obcutljivih za onesnaževanje, vendar pa je njihova dejanska hidroekoloska ogroženost, ki izhaja iz clovekovih dejavnosti v zaledju, razmeroma majhna.
Undifferentiated lingual gestures in children with articulation/phonological disorders.

Previous research using electropalatography (EPG) has shown that a distinctive articulatory characteristic of lingual consonants in the speech of school-age children with articulation/phonological disorders (APD) is a high amount of tongue-palate contact. Consonants produced in this way have been referred to as undifferentiated lingual gestures. This article reviews the EPG literature on undifferentiated gestures with 4 overarching goals: (a) to provide a precise articulatory description of undifferentiated gestures, (b) to estimate the rate of occurrence of undifferentiated gestures in children with APD, (c) to propose an original.interpretation of undifferentiated gestures, and (d) to discuss the significance of the gestures in the light of current theories of APD. Undifferentiated gestures typically occur during productions of lingual consonant targets and are characterized by contact that lacks clear differentiation between the tongue apex, tongue body, and lateral margins of the tongue. The EPG literature reports 17 school-age children with APD, of whom 12 (71%) show evidence of undifferentiated gestures. Standard transcriptions do not reliably detect undifferentiated gestures, which are transcribed as speech errors (e.g., phonological substitutions, phonetic distortions) in some contexts, but are transcribed as correct productions in other contexts. Undifferentiated gestures are interpreted as reflecting a speech motor constraint involving either delayed or deviant control of functionally independent regions of the tongue. The limitations of the current EPG literature are stated, and the need for research into undifferentiated gestures in preschool children is discussed.
An Evaluation of Communication Strategies Used by Kenya Community Development Foundation and Wildlifedirect to Influence Public Policy and Debate

vii DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS.viii CHAPTER ONE . 1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY . 1 1.1 Overview . 1 1.1.1 Background of the Study . 1 1.1.2 Global Scene . 2 1.1.3 Trend in Africa . 3 1.1.4 Trend in Kenya . 4 1.1.5 WildlifeDirect . 5 1.1.6 Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) . 5 1.2 Problem Statement . 6 1.3 Objectives . 7 1.3.1 General objective . 7 1.3.2 Specific objectives . 7 1.4 Research Questions . 7 1.5 Rationale of the Study . 8 1.6 Significance of the Study. 9 ii 1.7 Scope of the Study . 9 CHAPTER TWO . 10 LITERATURE REVIEW . 10 2.1 Overview . 10 2.1.1 Theoretical Review . 10 2.1.2 Participatory Communication Theory . 10 2.1.2 The Policy Cycle—A Simplified Model of the Policy Process . 11 2. 2.1 Conceptual Framework . 14 2.2.2 Communication Activities . 15 2.2.3 Social Media and Public Campaigns . 15 2.2. 4 Coalition Building and Constituency. 16 2.2. 5 Mass Media . 16 2.2. 6 Public Policy Debate . 17 2.3 Empirical Review . 17 2.3.1 The Civil Society Organisation: The Perspectives . 17 2.3.2 Communication Activities . 18 2.3. 3 Coalitions and Constituency building . 19 2.3. 4 Social Media . 19 2.3. 5 Mass Media . 20 2.3. 6 Public Policy Debate . 21 2.3. 7 Research Gap . 21 CHAPTER THREE . 22 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY . 22 3.1 Overview . 22 3.2 Research Design and Approach . 22
[Repair of articular cartilage defects by autologous adipose derived mesenchymal stem cell: experiment with rabbits].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of autologous adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) transduced by adenovirus-mediated human transforming growth factor 2 (Ad-hTGF-beta2) gene in the repair of articular cartilage defects. METHODS Rabbit ADSCs were obtained, cultured, and transfected with Ad-hTGF-beta2 containing human transforming growth factor (hTGF)-beta2. Three days later RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of hTGF-beta2 in the ADSCs, and ELISA was used to detect the protein expression of hTGF-beta2 in the supernatant. phosphorylation of Smad was examined by Western blotting. Articular cartilage defects at the femoral trochlea were made on 20 rabbits (40 sides) so as to establish animal models. The culture-expanded rabbit ADSCs transfected with Ad-hTGF-2 were seeded on poly (L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds. The cell-adhered PLGA scaffolds were implanted into the articular cartilage defects. Plain PLGA was implanted into the left-side defects of 10 rabbits as control group and the defects of 10 sides remained untreated as blank control group. The rabbits were sacrificed 4, 12, and 24 weeks after the operation respectively. The specimens of defects were examined histologically and stained immunohistochemically for type II collagen. RESULTS After transfection the ADSCs expressed mRNA and protein expression of hTGF-beta2 and Western blotting showed bands of phosphorylated Smad. The cartilage specimens harvested from the experimental group rabbits demonstrated hyaline cartilage formation mingled closely with the nearby tissues and expression of type II collagen. However, only fibroblasts, not cartilage-like cells, were seen in the control groups that lacked the expression of type II collagen too. CONCLUSION Culture-expanded autologous ADSCs adhered with PLGA composites facilitate the formation of hyaline-cartilage.
The prevalence of nosocomial infection in intensive care units in Europe. Results of the European Prevalence of Infection in Intensive Care (EPIC) Study. EPIC International Advisory Committee.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired infections and the risk factors for these infections, identify the predominant infecting organisms, and evaluate the relationship between ICU-acquired infection and mortality. DESIGN A 1-day point-prevalence study. SETTING Intensive care units in 17 countries in Western Europe, excluding coronary care units and pediatric and special care infant units. PATIENTS All patients (> 10 years of age) occupying an ICU bed over a 24-hour period. A total of 1417 ICUs provided 10 038 patient case reports. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Rates of ICU-acquired infection, prescription of antimicrobials, resistance patterns of microbiological isolates, and potential risk factors for ICU-acquired infection and death. RESULTS A total of 4501 patients (44.8%) were infected, and 2064 (20.6%) had ICU-acquired infection. Pneumonia (46.9%), lower respiratory tract infection (17.8%), urinary tract infection (17.6%), and bloodstream infection (12%) were the most frequent types of ICU infection reported. Most frequently reported micro-organisms were Enterobacteriaceae (34.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (30.1%;[60% resistant to methicillin], Pseudomonas aeruginosa (28.7%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (19.1%), and fungi (17.1%). Seven risk factors for ICU-acquired infection were identified: increasing length of ICU stay (> 48 hours), mechanical ventilation, diagnosis of trauma, central venous, pulmonary artery, and urinary catheterization, and stress ulcer prophylaxis. ICU-acquired pneumonia (odds ratio [OR], 1.91; 95% confidence interval[Cl], 1.6 to 2.29), clinical sepsis (OR, 3.50; 95% Cl, 1.71 to 7.18), and bloodstream infection (OR, 1.73; 95% Cl, 1.25 to 2.41) increased the risk of ICU death. CONCLUSIONS ICU-acquired infection is common and often associated with microbiological isolates of resistant organisms. The potential effects on outcome emphasize the importance of specific measures for infection control in critically ill patients.
Flaxseed and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Results from a Double Blind, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective: Flaxseed is a rich source of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), fiber and lignans, making it a potentially attractive functional food for modulating cardiovascular risk. We studied the effects of flaxseed on markers of cardiovascular risk in hypercholesterolemic adults. Methods: Sixty-two men and post-menopausal women with pre-study low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) between 130 and 200 mg/dl were randomized to 40g/day of ground flaxseed-containing baked products or matching wheat bran products for 10 weeks while following a low fat, low cholesterol diet. Fasting lipoproteins, measures of insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress, and safety were assessed at 0, 5 and 10 weeks. Results: Flaxseed was well-tolerated, and increased serum levels of ALA (p < 0.001). Compared to wheat, flaxseed significantly reduced LDL-C at 5 weeks (−13%, p < 0.005), but not at 10 weeks (−7%, p = 0.07). Flaxseed reduced lipoprotein a (Lp[a]) by a net of 14% (p = 0.02), and reduced the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index by 23.7% (p = 0.03) compared to wheat at 10 weeks, but did not affect markers of inflammation (IL-6, Hs-CRP) or oxidative stress (ox LDL, urinary isoprostanes) at any time points. In men, flaxseed reduced HDL-C concentrations by a net of 16% (p = 0.03) and 9% (p = 0.05) at 5 and 10 weeks, respectively. Conclusions: Ground flaxseed has a modest but short lived LDL-C lowering effect, yet reduces Lp(a) and improves insulin sensitivity in hyperlipidemic adults. The HDL-C lowering effect of flaxseed in men warrants additional study.
Infertility and Inherited Thrombophilia

Infertility is a condition that affects between one-fifth and one-sixth of couples of reproductive age. It is defined as a reduction in or a lack of ability to reproduce and its cause may lie either in the male or female partner (Stedman, 2006). According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, infertility should be considered when pregnancy fails to occur after one year of regular sexual activity without the use of any contraceptive method. In view of its high incidence, infertility currently constitutes a significant health issue. The social structure prevalent today in which women are conditioned to consider motherhood at a later age results in an increase in the number of couples seeking medical assistance to fulfill their dream of having children (Neuspiller, 2003). Nevertheless, the forms of treatment available today within the realm of assisted reproduction result in a pregnancy rate of approximately 40%, an unsatisfactory percentage, since it means that the majority of couples are still denied the opportunity to conceive (Qublan, 2006; Vaquero et al., 2006). In 30% of the couples currently undergoing treatment for infertility, the factors preventing them from becoming pregnant have yet to be identified (Grandone, 2005). The majority of the studies conducted to evaluate failure to conceive in assisted reproduction have focused on the problems that occur following laboratory fertilization, i.e. implantation of the embryo in the woman’s uterus (Vaquero et al., 2006). Various studies have concentrated on improving factors associated with the embryo, such as the quality and quantity of embryos, and on female factors. Some that need to be taken into consideration include improving endometrial receptivity and identifying intervening factors associated with immunological response and the genetic characteristics of the woman, including her potential for coagulation during pregnancy and implantation of the embryo (Glueck, 2000). Because of the success rate of 34%, the assisted reproduction clinics try to improve the pregnancy rate by transferring more than one embryo. This procedure has as a consequence, another problem of great significance and social impact, which is the multiple pregnancy (Haggarty, 2006). Recently, a hypothesis has been raised that the same factors associated with the occurrence of recurrent pregnancy loss may also affect the early phase of the embryo implantation process (Vaquero et al., 2006). The possible causes for a failure in embryo implantation have been widely investigated; however, there is no consensus in the literature on this subject.
Examining the Evolution of Cross-National Fiscal Transparency

Over the past two decades, global institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, have linked fiscal transparency to better governance, improved economic performance, and increased civic participation in government decision making. As a result, scholars and practitioners have attempted to systematically study the factors associated with a country’s fiscal transparency. At the international level, extant research employs cross-sectional analysis, which limits an understanding of how fiscal transparency evolves over time. We address this limitation by offering a cross-national longitudinal analysis of the factors associated with fiscal transparency as measured by the open budget index. Our study spans the years 2006 to 2012, using data on political, fiscal, information access, and economic conditions among 59 countries from nearly every part of the world. Using a first-difference panel regression and robust standard errors clustered by country, we found a positive association between economic recessions and fiscal transparency, indicating that fiscal crises may serve as opportunities for furthering transparency efforts. In addition, our study extends empirical documentation on the positive relationship between fiscal imbalance and fiscal transparency from the United States to the international arena, and provides support for a positive association between development aid and fiscal transparency. We also offer evidence for a negative association between democracy and fiscal transparency, which builds upon an emerging area of research suggesting selective release of government information by democratically elected officials.