Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A parallel and memory efficient algorithm for constructing the contour tree

The contour tree is a topological structure associated with a scalar function that tracks the connectivity of the evolving level sets of the function. It supports intuitive and interactive visual exploration and analysis of the scalar function. This paper describes a fast, parallel, and memory efficient algorithm for constructing the contour tree of a scalar function on shared memory systems. Comparisons with existing implementations show significant improvement in both the running time and the memory expended. The proposed algorithm is particularly suited for large datasets that do not fit in memory. For example, the contour tree for a scalar function defined on a 8.6 billion vertex domain (2048×2048×2048 volume data) can be efficiently constructed using less than 10GB of memory.
Insulin biosynthesis in neuronal progenitors derived from adult hippocampus and the olfactory bulb

In the present study, we demonstrated that insulin is produced not only in the mammalian pancreas but also in adult neuronal cells derived from the hippocampus and olfactory bulb (OB). Paracrine Wnt3 plays an essential role in promoting the active expression of insulin in both hippocampal and OB‐derived neural stem cells. Our analysis indicated that the balance between Wnt3, which triggers the expression of insulin via NeuroD1, and IGFBP‐4, which inhibits the original Wnt3 action, is regulated depending on diabetic (DB) status. We also show that adult neural progenitors derived from DB animals retain the ability to give rise to insulin‐producing cells and that grafting neuronal progenitors into the pancreas of DB animals reduces glucose levels. This study provides an example of a simple and direct use of adult stem cells from one organ to another, without introducing additional inductive genes.
Can unbounded distance measures mitigate the curse of dimensionality?

In this work, we revisit the curse of dimensionality, especially the concentration of the norm phenomenon which is the inability of distance functions to separate points well in high dimensions. We study the influence of the different properties of a distance measure, viz., triangle inequality, boundedness and translation invariance and on this phenomenon. Our studies indicate that unbounded distance measures whose expectations do not exist are to be preferred. We propose some new distance measures based on our studies and present many experimental results which seem to confirm our analysis. In particular, we study these distance measures w.r. t. indices like relative variance and relative contrast and further compare and contrast these measures in the setting of nearest neighbour/proximity searches and hierarchical clustering.
Quantifying cryptic Symbiodinium diversity within Orbicella faveolata and Orbicella franksi at the Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico

The genetic composition of the resident Symbiodinium endosymbionts can strongly modulate the physiological performance of reef-building corals. Here, we used quantitative metabarcoding to investigate Symbiodinium genetic diversity in two species of mountainous star corals, Orbicella franksi and Orbicella faveolata, from two reefs separated by 19 km of deep water. We aimed to determine if the frequency of different symbiont genotypes varied with respect to coral host species or geographic location. Our results demonstrate that across the two reefs both coral species contained seven haplotypes of Symbiodinium, all identifiable as clade B and most closely related to type B1. Five of these haplotypes have not been previously described and may be endemic to the Flower Garden Banks. No significant differences in symbiont composition were detected between the two coral species. However, significant quantitative differences were detected between the east and west banks for three background haplotypes comprising 0.1%–10% of the total. The quantitative metabarcoding approach described here can help to sensitively characterize cryptic genetic diversity of Symbiodinium and potentially contribute to the understanding of physiological variations among coral populations.
Antiferromagnetic spin ladders: Crossover between spin S=1/2 and S=1 chains.

We study a model of two weakly coupled isotropic spin-1/2 Heisenberg chains with an antiferromagnetic coupling along the chains. It is shown that the system always has a spectral gap. For the case of identical chains the model in the continuous limit is equivalent to 4 decoupled noncritical Ising models. For this case we obtain the exact expressions for the asymptotics of spin-spin correlation functions. When the chains have different exchange integrals the spectrum at low energies is well described by the O(3) nonlinear sigma model. We discuss the topological order parameter related to the gap formation and give a detailed description of the dynamical magnetic susceptibility.
The Meaning of the Basic Elements of Language in Terms of Cognitive Operations: Operational Semantics

In this article, the author provides a brief introduction to a completely new theory in Semantics, Operational Semantics (OS), which concerns the meanings of the basic linguistic elements that are indispensable for any linguistic expression, that is, mainly the “grammatical” words and morphemes. OS differs significantly from the other theories. In fact, in linguistics several of these basic elements are often considered to have a complex meaning and, in some cases, to be polysemous (such as some prepositions/cases and some verbs). Nevertheless, the words that designate them are among the first that children learn, and unique. OS is a systematic theory about the meaning of these linguistic elements, which it considers, in agreement with such facts, as having a simple and (substantially) unique meaning. The fundamental presupposition of OS is that the meanings of such linguistic elements are essentially sequences of elemental mental operations, amongst which the ones of attention play a key role. The author proposes a list of these elemental mental operations and shows how it is possible, by basing ourselves on these, to account for the meanings of the aforesaid linguistic elements. A new theory, which lies between linguistics and cognitive psychology, derives from this. This theory also allows us to define fundamental concepts of linguistics (such as “noun”, “subject”, “object” etc) in a simple and clear way and propose new solutions for some other problems in linguistics and psycholinguistics. In the last part of the article, the author also mentions a possible short-term practical application of OS, i.e. a device to improve the quality of machine translation, and highlights the limits of OS.
Carrageenan-Induced Colonic Inflammation Is Reduced in Bcl10 Null Mice and Increased in IL-10-Deficient Mice

The common food additive carrageenan is a known activator of inflammation in mammalian tissues and stimulates both the canonical and noncanonical pathways of NF-κB activation. Exposure to low concentrations of carrageenan (10 μg/mL in the water supply) has produced glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and impaired insulin signaling in C57BL/6 mice. B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 10 (Bcl10) is a mediator of inflammatory signals from Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 in myeloid and epithelial cells. Since the TLR4 signaling pathway is activated in diabetes and by carrageenan, we addressed systemic and intestinal inflammatory responses following carrageenan exposure in Bcl10 wild type, heterozygous, and null mice. Fecal calprotectin and circulating keratinocyte chemokine (KC), nuclear RelA and RelB, phospho(Thr559)-NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK), and phospho(Ser36)-IκBα in the colonic epithelial cells were significantly less (P < 0.001) in the carrageenan-treated Bcl10 null mice than in controls. IL-10-deficient mice exposed to carrageenan in a germ-free environment showed an increase in activation of the canonical pathway of NF-κB (RelA) activation, but without increase in RelB or phospho-Bcl10, and exogenous IL-10 inhibited only the canonical pathway of NF-κB activation in cultured colonic cells. These findings demonstrate a Bcl10 requirement for maximum development of carrageenan-induced inflammation and lack of complete suppression by IL-10 of carrageenan-induced inflammation.
A Dynamic Market Microstructure Model with Market Orders and Random Order Book Depth

This paper studies a dynamic market microstructure model, in which a strategic market maker competes with an informed trader. We include the presence of noise traders and limit order traders in our setup. Our model is a N-period model. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for an equilibrium to exist and provide conditions for it to be unique. Moreover, both the informed trader and the market maker try to maximize their profits. The resulting recursive equations lead to various economic interpretations. We investigate the interplay of different information sets. Finally we consider the competitive situation for the market maker. Our framework is general enough to obtain several well-known models as a particular case, among them the models by Kyle (1985) as well as Bondarenko and Sung (2003).
Comparison of the SIMARD MD to Clinical Impression in Assessing Fitness to Drive in Patients with Cognitive Impairment

Background The assessment of fitness to drive in patients with cognitive impairment is complex. The SIMARD MD was developed to assist with assessing fitness to drive. This study compares the clinical decision made by a geriatrician regarding driving with the SIMARD MD score. Methods Patients with a diagnosis of mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment, who had a SIMARD MD test, were included in the sample. A retrospective chart review was completed to gather diagnosis, driving status, and cognitive and functional information. Results Sixty-three patients were identified and 57 met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 77.1 years (SD 8.9). The most common diagnosis was Alzheimer’s disease in 22 (38.6%) patients. The mean MMSE score was 24.9 (SD 3.34) and the mean MoCA was 19.9 (SD 3.58). The mean SIMARD MD score was 37.2 (SD 19.54). Twenty-four patients had a SIMARD MD score ≤ 30, twenty-eight between 31–70, and five scored > 70. The SIMARD MD scores did not differ significantly compared to the clinical decision (ANOVA p value = 0.14). Conclusions There was no association between the SIMARD MD scores and the geriatricians’ clinical decision regarding fitness to drive in persons with mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment.
THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

What types of programs (camps, day care and after care programs) must comply with the ADA? Most programs must comply with the ADA regardless of whether they are run by a public or private organization.  Programs of State and Local Governments: Title II of the ADA requires that state and local governments provide persons with disabilities equal opportunity to participate in their programs. Therefore, any camp, child care, or after care program run by a city or town must allow children with diabetes to attend the program.  Privately-Run Programs: Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination against any citizen who wishes to participate in any program. Therefore, privately-run camps, child care centers, and after care programs may not refuse participation in any of their programs because a child is diabetic.
Potentiationof Immunityto Murine Leukemia(LSTRA)byBacillus

leukemia injected s.c. was uniformlylethalfor BALB/c x DBA/2 F1miceat doses of 1O@cellsorgreater. Micethat survivedafter injectionof near-thresholdtumorcell dosesusuallywere notimmune to the tumor. Few mice were cured by excisionof the injectionsitetumor 6 daysafter injection,butthosethat were cureddevelopedtumor immunity.Irradiationof the tumor cells with 8000 rads reliably prevented growth. againsta tumorline inducedbythe murinesarcomavirus (Moloney)but not against a spontaneousmammarycar cinoma or an antigenic, chemically-inducedsarcoma. Lymphoidcells from immunemice were effectivein the local passive transfer (Wlnn) test. The low level of immu nity induced by 1O@Lx was significantly potentiated by admixture of 5 x 1O@or 5 x 1O@colony-formingunits BacillusCalmette-GuÃ³rinin the tumorcell vaccIne.Bad Ius Calmette-GuÃ³rIngiven alone did not protect mice againstLSTRA,andadmixtureof a higherdoseofBacillus Calmette-GuÃ³rln(5 x 1O@colony-formingunits) did not alter the weak immunfty induced by the 10' Lx. Thus, potentlationof tumor immunityby an immunestimulant may occur with a relatively low optimum dose; higher dosesmayevokelessereffects. to a potent, diffuse perivascular tu mor cell infiltrates in most tissues. We concluded that quantitative and qualitative examination of peripheral blood We determined the time required for LSTRA to dissemi tion sites were excised. Two such experiments were done.5 Tumors were generally not palpable prior to Day 7. Excision of the injection site before Day 6 cured most of the animals, Day local surgery usually (18), immune to tumors. mice immune to transferable in the Winn test by lymphoid
Disc-corona energetics in the very high state of Galactic black holes

The X-ray spectra of Galactic binary systems dominated by a quasi-thermal component (disc dominated or high/soft state) are well described by a standard Shakura–Sunyaev disc structure down to the last stable orbit around the black hole. This is not the case in the very high (or steep power-law) state, where the X-ray spectra show both a strong disc component and strong, steep tail to higher energies. We use two such spectra from the black hole transient XTE J1550−564 as specific examples of this state, where the power emitted in the tail is more than 50 per cent of the bolometric luminosity. The simultaneous ASCA and RXTE data show that these have disc spectra which are significantly lower in temperature than those seen from the same source at the same luminosity in the high/soft state. If these give a true picture of the disc, then either the disc emissivity has reduced, and/or the disc truncates above the last stable orbit. However, it is often assumed that the tail is produced by Compton scattering, in which case its shape in these spectra requires that the Comptonizing region is marginally optically thick (τ∼ 2–3), and covers a large fraction of the inner disc. This will distort our view of the disc, especially of the hottest-temperature material. We build a theoretical model of a Comptonizing corona over an inner disc, and fit this to the data, but find that it still requires a large increase in inner disc radius for a standard disc emissivity. Instead, it seems more probable that the disc emissivity changes in the presence of the corona. We implement the specific inner disc–corona coupling model of Svensson & Zdziarski, in which some fraction f of the accretion power is dissipated in the corona, leaving only a fraction 1 −f to be dissipated in the optically thick disc. We show that this can explain the low-temperature/high-luminosity disc emission seen in the very high state with only a small increase in radius of the disc. While this inferred disc truncation is probably not significant, given the model uncertainties, it is consistent with the low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillation and gives continuity of properties with the low/hard-state spectra.
Is Money Demand in Vietnam Stable? Application of the Bounds Testing Approach

By adopting the bounds testing for cointegration framework in Pesaran et al. (2001), this paper investigates the dynamics of money demand in Vietnam from 1999 to 2011. The empirical result delivers strong evidence for a long-run relationship between money demand and income, expected inflation, exchange rates and gold price, regardless of M1, M2 or M2 without foreign currency deposits is considered. The stock price movements only matter in M2 and M2D. More crucially, the stability test conclusion points out the presence of stable money demand in Vietnam only for M1 and M2D while M2 demand manifesting some temporary instability. This results in the need of calling into question the actual monetary targeting strategy of the Central bank.
Isolation and characterization of multiple adenylate cyclase genes from the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120

Adenylate cyclase genes, designated cyaA, cyaB1, cyaB2, cyaC, and cyaD, were isolated from the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 by complementation of a strain of Escherichia coli defective for the presence of cya. These genes encoded polypeptides consisting of 735, 859, 860, 1,155, and 546 amino acid residues, respectively. Deduced amino acid sequences of the regions near the C-terminal ends of these cya genes were similar to those of catalytic domains of eukaryotic adenylate cyclases. The remaining part of each cya gene towards its N-terminal end showed a characteristic structure. CyaA had two putative membrane-spanning regions. Both CyaB1 and CyaB2 had regions that were very similar to the cyclic GMP (cGMP)-binding domain of cGMP-stimulated cGMP phosphodiesterase. CyaC consisted of four distinct domains forming sequentially from the N terminus: a response regulator-like domain, a histidine kinase-like domain, a response regulator-like domain, and the catalytic domain of adenylate cyclase. CyaD contained the forkhead-associated domain in its N-terminal region. Expression of these genes was examined by reverse transcription-PCR. The transcript of cyaC was shown to be predominant in this cyanobacterium. The cellular cyclic AMP level in the disruptant of the cyaC mutant was much lower than that in the wild type.
Isphs International Society of Phonetic Sciences the Perception of Japanese Geminates by Native and Non-native Listeners from the President Call for Papers Articles and Research Notes the Perception of Japanese Geminates by Native and Non-native Listeners

At long last, the missing issue of the Phonetician is finally ready! I think that I can safely say that no one is happier than the editorial staff. It is difficult to pinpoint any particular reason why this issue is so late, other than to say, we are extremely sorry for the delay. I will take this time to say that the Phonetician could get out more quickly if more people would volunteer to assist in its development. I know that this may sound harsh, but the reality is the Society NEEDS YOUR HELP! It is easy to complain when something is not done quickly enough or to provide suggestions to someone else in hopes that they will act upon them. But what have YOU done to make the Society stronger? There is a critical need for article submissions, reports about your Institute, descriptions of phonetics meetings that have occurred, as well as book reports. Have you contributed to the Phonetician lately? It is easy to do, just email me (rbahr@cas.usf.edu). I will see that your submission gets to the appropriate person. Better yet, volunteer to edit one issue. You can highlight your Institute and present research from your lab. I am sure that our constituency would find your issue very informative. Please think about it! I would also like to thank Prof. Dr. Jens-Peter Köster for overseeing the publication of the Phonetician for so many years. Since taking over this responsibility in the late 1990s, Prof. Dr. Köster (and his staff at the University of Trier) changed a good magazine into an excellent one. He made it look more professional by increasing its length and adding a spine. It now looks like a real journal. In addition, he added more scientific content by including original, peer-reviewed research papers. The response to these changes has been very positive and has really become what our Society is known for. We owe him an extreme debt of gratitude for his untiring service. Now that Prof. Dr. Köster has retired, who is going to step up and assist in preparing the Phonetician? We are now entering a new era – one of electronic submission and publication. As you know, the last issue of the Phonetician was placed on our website in January, 2009. Given the lateness of the distributing this issue, we determined that it was best to place this issue on line …
Spherically symmetric spacetimes with a trapped surface

This paper investigates the global properties of a class of spherically symmetric spacetimes. The class contains the maximal development of asymptotically flat (or hyperboloidal) spherically symmetric initial data for a wide variety of coupled Einstein-matter systems. For this class, it is proven here that the existence of a single trapped or marginally trapped surface implies the future completeness of future null infinity and the formation of an event horizon whose area radius is bounded by twice the final Bondi mass.
Does foreign direct investment promote development

What is the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on development? The answer is important for the lives of millions--if not billions--of workers, families, and communities in the developing world. The answer is crucial for policymakers in developing and developed countries, and in multilateral agencies. This volume gathers together the cutting edge of new research on FDI and host country economic performance and presents the most sophisticated critiques of current and past inquiries. It probes the limits of what can be determined from available evidence and from innovative investigative techniques. In addition, the book presents new results, concludes with an analysis of the implications for contemporary policy debates, and proposeds new avenues for future research.
Regulation of ethanol intake under chronic mild stress: roles of dopamine receptors and transporters

Studies have shown that exposure to chronic mild stress decreases ethanol intake and preference in dopamine D2 receptor wild-type mice (Drd2+/+), while it increases intake in heterozygous (Drd2+/−) and knockout (Drd2−/−) mice. Dopaminergic neurotransmission in the basal forebrain plays a major role in the reinforcing actions of ethanol as well as in brain responses to stress. In order to identify neurochemical changes associated with the regulation of ethanol intake, we used in vitro receptor autoradiography to measure the levels and distribution of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors and dopamine transporters (DAT). Receptor levels were measured in the basal forebrain of Drd2+/+, Drd2+/−, and Drd2−/− mice belonging to one of four groups: control (C), ethanol intake (E), chronic mild stress exposure (S), and ethanol intake under chronic mild stress (ES). D2 receptor levels were higher in the lateral and medial striatum of Drd2+/+ ES mice, compared with Drd2+/+ E mice. Ethanol intake in Drd2+/+ mice was negatively correlated with striatal D2 receptor levels. D2 receptor levels in Drd2+/− mice were the same among the four treatment groups. DAT levels were lower in Drd2+/− C and Drd2−/− C mice, compared with Drd2+/+ C mice. Among Drd2+/− mice, S and ES groups had higher DAT levels compared with C and E groups in most regions examined. In Drd2−/− mice, ethanol intake was positively correlated with DAT levels in all regions studied. D1 receptor levels were lower in Drd2+/− and Drd2−/− mice, compared with Drd2+/+, in all regions examined and remained unaffected by all treatments. The results suggest that in normal mice, ethanol intake is associated with D2 receptor-mediated neurotransmission, which exerts a protective effect against ethanol overconsumption under stress. In mice with low Drd2 expression, where DRD2 levels are not further modulated, ethanol intake is associated with DAT function which is upregulated under stress leading to ethanol overconsumption.