Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exposure Assessment for Italian Population Groups to Deoxynivalenol Deriving from Pasta Consumption

Four hundred and seventy-two pasta samples were collected from long retail distribution chain sales points located in North, Central and South Italy. Representative criteria in the sample collection were followed in terms of number of samples collected, market share, and types of pasta. Samples were analysed by an accredited HPLC-UV method of analysis. The mean contamination level (64.8 μg/kg) of deoxynivalenol (DON) was in the 95th percentile (239 μg/kg) and 99th percentile (337 μg/kg), far below the legal limit (750 μg/kg) set by Regulation EC/1126/2007, accounting for about one tenth, one third and half the legal limit, respectively. Ninety-nine percent of samples fell below half the legal limit. On the basis of the obtained occurrence levels and considering the consumption rates reported by the Italian official database, no health concern was assessed for all consumer groups, being that exposure was far below the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of 1000 ng/kg b.w/day. Nevertheless, despite this, particular attention should be devoted to the exposure to DON by high consumers, such as children aged 3–5 years, who could reach the TDI even with very low levels of DON contamination.
Regulatory inspection and the changing legitimacy of health and safety

The regulation of conduct via law is a key mechanism through which broader social meanings are negotiated and expressed. The use of regulatory tools to bring about desired outcomes reflects existing social and political understandings of institutional legitimacy, the meanings attached to regulation, and the values it seeks to advance. But these contextual understandings are not static, and their evolution poses challenges for regulators, particularly when they reflect political framing processes. This paper shows how inspection has been reshaped as a tool within the United Kingdom's health and safety system by changes in the meanings attached to the concept of “risk-based regulation. ” While rates of inspection have fallen dramatically in recent years, the nature and quality of inspection have also been fundamentally reshaped via an increasingly procedural and economically rational “risk-based” policy context. This has had consequences for the transformative and symbolic value of inspection as a tool of regulatory practice.
Commentary - On the Interpretation of Temporal Inflation Parameters in Stochastic Models of Judgment and Choice

The implications of Salisbury and Feinberg's (2010) paper [Salisbury, L. C. , F. M. Feinberg. 2010. Alleviating the constant stochastic variance assumption in decision research: Theory, measurement, and experimental test. Marketing Sci.29(1) 1--17] for the process of model development and testing in the field of intertemporal choice analysis is explored. Although supporting the overall thrust of Salisbury and Feinberg's critique of previous empirical work in the area, we also see their paper as illustrating the dangers of drawing strong inferences about the behavioral interpretation of statistical model parameters without seeking convergent empirical evidence. In particular, we are skeptical about the extent to which the reported effects of temporal distance on the estimated scale parameter, σc, are uniquely, or even primarily, due to unobserved error inflation that reflects consumer's uncertainty about future utility. This interpretation is brought into question by several lines of reasoning. Conceptually, we note that “uncertainty” is different from “error” and that, for choice data, the error inflation model is mathematically identical to a model in which the scale parameter is a deterministic function of the temporal discount rate. Empirically, a reanalysis of data from previously published experiments does not consistently support temporal error inflation, temporal convergence of choice shares, or the scale parameter as an explanation of variety seeking in choice sequences. In our opinion, the cumulative results of research on intertemporal choice require models in which the attributes of choice alternatives are differentially discounted over time. Despite these findings, we advocate that choice researchers should indeed follow Salisbury and Feinberg's advice to not assume that error variances will be unaffected by experimental manipulations, and such effects should be explicitly modeled. We also agree that uncovering effects on error variance is just the first step, and the ultimate goal should be to rigorously explain the reasons for such effects.
Complex Visual Search in Children and Adolescents: Effects of Age and Performance on fMRI Activation

Complex visuospatial processing relies on distributed neural networks involving occipital, parietal and frontal brain regions. Effects of physiological maturation (during normal brain development) and proficiency on tasks requiring complex visuospatial processing have not yet been studied extensively, as they are almost invariably interrelated. We therefore aimed at dissociating the effects of age and performance on functional MRI (fMRI) activation in a complex visual search task. In our cross-sectional study, healthy children and adolescents (n = 43, 19 females, 7-17 years) performed a complex visual search task during fMRI. Resulting activation was analysed with regard to the differential effects of age and performance. Our results are compatible with an increase in the neural network's efficacy with age: within occipital and parietal cortex, the core regions of the visual exploration network, activation increased with age, and more so in the right than in the left hemisphere. Further, activation outside the visual search network decreased with age, mainly in left inferior frontal, middle temporal, and inferior parietal cortex. High-performers had stronger activation in right superior parietal cortex, suggesting a more mature visual search network. We could not see effects of age or performance in frontal cortex. Our results show that effects of physiological maturation and effects of performance, while usually intertwined, can be successfully disentangled and investigated using fMRI in children and adolescents.
An ADD-Based Symbolic Analysis of Leakage Current in CMOS Circuits

As process geometries shrink, leakage currents are becoming an increasingly critical problem, particularly in full-custom circuit designs. Traditional circuit analysis techniques may be used to verify if leakage currents are within allowable limits. However, unless the analysis takes into account specific input constraints for the circuit, the results may be overly pessimistic. In this paper we target the leakage problem in CMOS circuits symbolically using Algebraic Decision Diagrams (ADDs). This ADD-based approach allows us to consider leakage as a function of a circuit’s inputs. Exclusivity constraints are easily included in the analysis, thus allowing for more accurate (and less pessimistic) results.
Meditation reduces pain-related neural activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, insula, secondary somatosensory cortex, and thalamus

Recent studies have shown that meditation inhibits or relieves pain perception. To clarify the underlying mechanisms for this phenomenon, neuroimaging methods, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, and neurophysiological methods, such as magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography, have been used. However, it has been difficult to interpret the results, because there is some paradoxical evidence. For example, some studies reported increased neural responses to pain stimulation during meditation in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and insula, whereas others showed a decrease in these regions. There have been inconsistent findings to date. Moreover, in general, since the activities of the ACC and insula are correlated with pain perception, the increase in neural activities during meditation would be related to the enhancement of pain perception rather than its reduction. These contradictions might directly contribute to the ‘mystery of meditation. ’ In this review, we presented previous findings for brain regions during meditation and the anatomical changes that occurred in the brain with long-term meditation training. We then discussed the findings of previous studies that examined pain-related neural activity during meditation. We also described the brain mechanisms responsible for pain relief during meditation, and possible reasons for paradoxical evidence among previous studies. By thoroughly overviewing previous findings, we hypothesized that meditation reduces pain-related neural activity in the ACC, insula, secondary somatosensory cortex, and thalamus. We suggest that the characteristics of the modulation of this activity may depend on the kind of meditation and/or number of years of experience of meditation, which were associated with paradoxical findings among previous studies that investigated pain-related neural activities during meditation.
The experiential and neurological underpinnings of spatial working memory representations

It remains contentious how information is stored in visual working memory (vWM), even though it is well established that its capacity is limited. Most models have assumed that information is stored in representations that generalise over features. Distinct features have also been assumed to be stored independent of each other. I will present evidence in this thesis that the precision of spatial recall is not only influenced by the number of objects held in memory, but also their location. Moreover, the configuration of the sample array affects recall of single items, suggesting that vWM depends on both, high-resolution local maps and coarse global, representations. Various strategies may be available to overcome the limited capacity of vWM, for example, by utilizing in long-term memory (LTM). I will demonstrate that recall is improved when spatial data are encoding. On the other hand, statistical regularities in the distribution of the memorised objects' locations do not seem to affect recall. Sleep, known to consolidate LTM, has recently been suggested to improve vWM capacity as well. I will present evidence to show that immediate post-learning sleep plays a crutial role in improvingvWM recall by consolidating landmarks in LTM, without improving overall vWM capacity. vWM depends on a distributed cortical network including Visual, Parietal, Frontal and medial Occipito-Temporal areas, though the precise functional role of each area is yet to be established. I will show that binding spatial to visual features, e.g. location and colour, but not binding non-spatial features, is impaired in a patient with bilateral Lingual gyrus and Parahippocampal cortical lesions. Moreover, these lesions disproportionately affect the maintenance of high-resolution spatial data, but not the binding errors, in vWM over longer delays.
Factors affecting career choice among undergraduate students in Universitas Indonesia

One of the critical aspects of an individual’s life is career choice as a career chosen will determine the role pattern need to be played by the individual in the society in the future and the career choice is one of the important processes in life. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors that influencing the career choice of the students. This study is focus on undergraduate students in Universitas Indonesia. Undergraduate students were chosen because right upon graduation, they were the one who will be dealing with the decision on career choice. A total number of 300 students responded to the questionnaire. Statistical Package software for Social Science (SPSS) Version 22.0 was used to analyse the collected data. Reliability analysis, multiple regressions, and correlation were applied to this study. Pearson correlation analysis results showed that the influence of self-efficacy, family, personal interests, and economic considerations have positive relationships to career choices. Moreover, the results of regression analysis showed that the family, self-efficacy, personal interest and economic considerations exerted great influence on the choice of a career. With a view to investigating student’s career choice that is affected by other important factors further studies are recommended strongly.
Treatment of moderately to severely active systemic lupus erythematosus with adrenocorticotropic hormone: a single-site, open-label trial

Background Alternative therapeutic options are needed for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) not adequately controlled with or intolerant to traditional treatments. This study evaluated the efficacy of Acthar® Gel (ACTH(1-39)) for reducing active SLE severity among patients receiving underlying conventional maintenance therapies. Methods Ten females (mean age = 49 yrs, disease duration = 7 yrs, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2000 [SLEDAI-2 K] = 10) currently on maintenance self-administered ACTH(1–39) gel 1 mL (80 U/mL) for 7–15 days and were assessed weekly for 28 days. Outcome measures included Physician and Patient Global Assessments, SLEDAI-2 K, Lupus Quality of Life scale, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) scale, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein. Student’s t-test compared data obtained at days 7, 14, and 28 with those from baseline. Results The primary endpoint of SLEDAI-2 K improvement was reached at all observation times (p < 0.05) and statistically significant improvements were observed for most other parameters. No treatment-related serious or unexpected adverse events were observed. Conclusions The trial results reveal that among SLE patients in need of therapeutic alternatives, ACTH(1-39) gel may provide significant disease activity reduction.
STOCHASTIC DYNAMICS MACROSCOPICALLY GOVERNED BY THE POROUS MEDIUM EQUATION FOR ISOTHERMAL FLOW

We describe interacting lattice models on the torus whose special feature is that the macroscopic equation of the empirical density is a degenerate parabolic equation, namely the equation of an ideal gas flowing isothermally through a porous medium. The models come in two versions: one with continuous variables and one with particles on the sites. In the particle model a degenerate equation is obtained only if the size of the particle vanishes in the limit, otherwise the limiting equation is a nondegenerate equation that also governs the densities of certain exclusion processes with speed change. We establish basic properties of these models such as attractiveness and reversibility, and prove the hydrodynamic scaling limits for the empirical densities. 1. Introduction and results The porous medium equation ∂tu = �(u m ), m > 1, has for some time been among the most intensely studied partial differential equations. A rich theory has developed since the fundamental solutions were found in the early 1950's in Russia, but results connecting this equation with interesting stochastic dynamics are few. This equation is a degenerate parabolic equation in the sense that when written in the form ∂tu = ∇ � D(u) ∇u � , the diffusion matrix D(u) vanishes for u = 0. In this paper we describe some simple interacting lattice models whose empirical densities obey the porous medium equation ∂tu = �(u 2 ) in a hydrodynamical scaling limit. The stochastic model we study comes in two versions, one with continuous variables (the stick model) and one with discrete variables (the particle model). The stick model is a relative of the linear models discussed in Chapter IX of Liggett's monograph (L), in the sense that when an event takes place at some time t, the new configuration ηt is a linear function of the old one ηt−. But the rates are not uniform as in the linear models of (L), for an event takes place at a site x at a rate proportional to the size of the variable η(x). This model is not new. It has been studied earlier in (SU), where H. Tanaka is credited for suggesting the model. The particle model resembles the zero-range process introduced by Spitzer (S), in that particles jump from a site with an intensity determined by the
Analisis Dampak Kesalahan Konsep Laju Reaksi Terhadap Kesalahan Konsep Kesetimbangan Pada Siswa SMA

Abstract : This study was designed to analyze the misconception of the chemistry subject reaction rate and chemical equilibrium and the effect of the misconceptions on the chemical equilibrium con-cept. The subjects of the research are two homogenous classes from seven science classes which were determined using random sampling technique. The research instruments were multiple choice test with four answers as well as an interview. The result showed that misconception occurred in all concepts discussed in this research and the impact of the misconception on chemical equilibrium concept occured in reaction rate concept and effect of increasing concentration of the reaction rate and chemical equilibrium. Key Words : misconception, reaction rate, chemical equilibrium, impact of misconception Abstrak : Penelitian ini dirancang untuk menganalisis kesalahan konsep laju reaksi dan kesetimbangan kimia serta dampak kesalahan konsep laju reaksi terhadap bahasan kesetimbangan kimia. Subjek pe-nelitian ini adalah dua kelas homogen dari tujuh kelas IPA di SMA Negeri 1 Sumenep yang ditentu-kan dengan menggunakan sistem random sampling. Instrumen penelitian berupa tes pilihan ganda dengan empat pilihan jawaban dan tes wawancara. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kesalahan konsep terjadi pada semua konsep yang diteliti. Dampak kesalahan konsep laju reaksi terhadap kese-timbangan kimia terjadi pada konsep laju reaksi dan konsep penambahan konsentrasi pada laju reak-si dan kesetimbangan kimia. Kata kunci : kesalahan konsep, laju reaksi, kesetimbangan kimia, dampak kesalahan konsep
Commutators, Words, Conjugacy Classes and Character Methods

In this survey paper we show how character methods can be used to solve a wide range of seemingly unrelated problems. These include commutators, powers of conjugacy classes and related random walks, as well as word maps and Waring type problems. In particular we describe recent progress made on conjectures of Ore, of Thompson, and of Lulov and Pak. New open problems and conjectures are also stated.
APS: agent's learning with imperfect recall

We present a new method of incremental, statistical learning, which is suitable for knowledge-based systems, especially software agents. The method is based on the imperfect recall assumption, according to which an agent does not store all the past observations. However it does preserve general rules concerning the past, that can be potentially useful for improving agent's action. During its performance an agent stores observations in the history. When system resources are idle and the size of the history is sufficient as for its statistical significance, the stored facts are analysed by means of data mining techniques, and disposed afterwards. The discovered rules are combined with the former rule base, so that the final rule set is approximately the same, as if it was obtained on the whole history.
An insight into the complex prion-prion interaction network in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a valuable model system for studying prion-prion interactions as it contains multiple prion proteins. A recent study from our laboratory showed that the existence of Swi1 prion ([SWI+]) and overproduction of Swi1 can have strong impacts on the formation of 2 other extensively studied yeast prions, [PSI+] and [PIN+] ([RNQ+]) (Genetics, Vol. 197, 685–700). We showed that a single yeast cell is capable of harboring at least 3 heterologous prion elements and these prions can influence each other's appearance positively and/or negatively. We also showed that during the de novo [PSI+] formation process upon Sup35 overproduction, the aggregation patterns of a preexisting inducer ([RNQ+] or [SWI+]) can undergo significant remodeling from stably transmitted dot-shaped aggregates to aggregates that co-localize with the newly formed Sup35 aggregates that are ring/ribbon/rod- shaped. Such co-localization disappears once the newly formed [PSI+] prion stabilizes. Our finding provides strong evidence supporting the “cross-seeding” model for prion-prion interactions and confirms earlier reports that the interactions among different prions and their prion proteins mostly occur at the initiation stages of prionogenesis. Our results also highlight a complex prion interaction network in yeast. We believe that elucidating the mechanism underlying the yeast prion-prion interaction network will not only provide insight into the process of prion de novo generation and propagation in yeast but also shed light on the mechanisms that govern protein misfolding, aggregation, and amyloidogenesis in higher eukaryotes.
Customer loyalty and complex services: The impact of corporate image on quality, customer satisfaction and loyalty for customers with varying degrees of service expertise

Based on theory from consumer behavior and cognitive psychology, the purpose of this paper is to discuss and test corporate image and customer satisfaction as two routes to customer loyalty. Based on data from 600 individual customers categorized as having high or low service expertise of three companies within the package tour industry, a conceptual model is proposed and tested empirically using structural equation modeling. The data used in the study are included in The Norwegian Customer Satisfaction Barometer. The paper concludes by claiming that for complex services, corporate image and customer satisfaction are not two separate routes to customer loyalty. Corporate image impacts customer loyalty directly whereas customer satisfaction does not. This finding was consistent with high and low service expertise. These results challenge the disconfirmation paradigm which predicts customer satisfaction as the primary route to customer loyalty. From a managerial perspective, information regarding the relative strength of the two routes is vital with regard to resource allocation in order to improve customer loyalty.
PQL Estimation Biases in Generalized Linear Mixed Models

The penalized quasi-likelihood (PQL) approach is the most common estimation procedure for the generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). However, it has been noticed that the PQL tends to underestimate variance components as well as regression coefficients in the previous literature. In this paper, we numerically show that the biases of variance component estimates by PQL are systematically related to the biases of regression coefficient estimates by PQL, and also show that the biases of variance component estimates by PQL increase as random effects become more heterogeneous.