Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endogenous and exogenous components in the circadian variation of core body temperature in humans

Core body temperature is predominantly modulated by endogenous and exogenous components. In the present study we tested whether these two components can be reliably assessed in a protocol which lasts for only 120 h. In this so‐called forced desynchrony protocol, 12 healthy male subjects (age 23.7 ± 1.4 y) were subjected one by one to an artificial light/dark cycle of 20 h (10 lux vs. darkness). Core body temperature was measured continuously. The temperature data were analysed by an iterative method based on the assumption that the endogenous and exogenous components contribute to body temperature in an additive way. The results show that the average temperature curve is an almost perfect addition of the two components. The endogenous component differs from a sinusoid, and the relative contributions of the endogenous and exogenous components to the raw temperature curves differ substantially between the subjects. The average amount of unexplained variance in the individual data was 17%. Averaging of the body temperature curves over subjects reduced the unexplained variance to only 2%. This reduction in unexplained variance upon averaging over subjects must be due to the fact that most of the variance is either differently dependent on circadian phase for the various subjects or not dependent on circadian phase at all. The circadian pacemaker component revealed an average value of tau of 24.30 ± 0.36 h, which is consistent with recent findings in the literature. We conclude that a short forced desynchrony protocol is sufficient for the distinction between the masking and pacemaker components of core body temperature. The same protocol can be used to study the influence of these components on all kinds of other physiological and psychological signals.
Introduction to the Maximum Solution Problem

This paper surveys complexity and approximability results for the Maximum Solution (Max Sol) problem. Max Sol is an optimisation variant of the constraint satisfaction problem. Many important and well-known combinatorial optimisation problems are instances of Max Sol: for example, Max Sol restricted to the domain {0, 1} is exactly the Max Ones problem (which, in turn, captures problems such as Independent Set and 0/1 Integer Programming). By using this relationship, many different problems in logic, graph theory, integer programming, and algebra can be given a uniform treatment. This opens up for new ways of analysing and solving combinatorial optimisation problems.
New Methodologies A Canine Model of Multiple Portosystemic Shunting

Dawn M. Boothe, DVM, PhD Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas Veterinary Medical Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to develop and describe an experimental canine model of multiple acquired portosystemic shunts (PSS) similar in nature to spontaneously occurring PSS. Sixteen dogs were used and were divided into a control (n = 6) and a diseased group (n = 10). Dogs of the diseased group were administered dimethylnitrosamine (2 mg/kg of body weight, po) twice weekly, and clinicopathologic, ultrasonographic, and hepatic scintigraphic  ndings were recorded during the development of hepatic disease and PSS. Surgery was then performed to permit visual veri cation of multiple shunts, catheter placement for portography examination, and biopsy of the liver. All diseased dogs developed severe hepatic disease and multiple PSS as documented visually at surgery and on portography. Based on this study, dimethylnitrosamineinduced portosystemic shunting appears to be an appropriate model for spontaneously occurring multiple PSS secondary to portal hypertension.
The role of personality in successful aging

The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the role of personality as a predictor of successful aging. Three studies are presented and discussed using the data from the Georgia Centenarian Study (Study 1 and 3) and the data from the Midlife in the United States study (Study 3). Study 1 suggested an alternative approach for measuring the Big Five personality domains, Digman’s (1997) two higher-order personality factors (i.e., Alpha and Beta), and found a positive association between personality and each component of successful aging (i.e., cognitive functioning, physical functioning, physical health, and social engagement). Study 2 examined the longitudinal effects of personality level and personality change on successful aging and found that higher initial levels of personality traits (i.e., emotional stability, extraversion, openness to experience, conscientiousness, and agreeableness) were positively associated with successful aging and that decreases in each personality trait over time predicted worse outcomes of successful aging. Finally, based on the developmental adaptation model, Study 3 examined the effects of cumulative life events and personality on objective and subjective successful aging, along with the mediating effects of personality on the relationship between cumulative life events and successful aging. The findings of the three studies support previous studies indicating that personality would serve as an explanatory construct accounting for the developmental pathway to successful aging.
Does partisanship really affect on FDI? An analysis of the Euro Area's FDI policies to Southeast Asian countries

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a key element of the global economy. FDI is an engine of employment, technological progress, productivity improvements, and ultimately economic growth. Because of these significant benefits, attracting FDI has become one of the integral parts of economic development strategies in many countries. There are two schools of thought that hypothesize the FDI determinants: economic factors and political factors. For the latter school of thought, the central questions are: Is there a noticeable difference among political parties in a country in their trade policy positions? Do left parties advocate different trade policies than right parties? In the advanced industrial countries where labour tends to be scarce, are left parties more protectionist than right ones, which represent capital owners? Prior evidence had demonstrated an association between partisanship and trade policies (FDI policies). This paper extends the cross-country and temporal variance in national regulation of FDI. The theory looks at government partisanship, which we define in terms of left parties or right parties. The paper tests two hypotheses that explore various aspects how the parties in Euro Area and Southeast Asian countries have competed over trade policy. This study uses 11 Euro Area countries and 5 Southeast Asian countries that actively do outward and inward FDI. The time frame of analysis is 2000-2006 period that is believed as a start of Economic Integration in the European Union, which is symbolized with the launching of European Single Currency at that time. Statistic methods used for testing the hypothesis are t-test and multivariate regression model. The empirical results provide support for an intuitively positive effect of globalization that makes left parties and right parties converge on its political economy and preference into open or free trade. After controlling for various factors, partisanship does not matter. In terms of position taking, both types of partisanship consistently take the free trade stances. In other words, it can be believed that Euro Area and Southeast Asian governments‘ preference on political economic and FDI are becoming more symmetric over time.
Poisson Noise Reduction with Higher-Order Natural Image Prior Model

Poisson denoising is an essential issue for various imaging applications, such as night vision, medical imaging, and microscopy. State-of-the-art approaches are clearly dominated by patch-based non-local methods in recent years. In this paper, we aim to propose a local Poisson denoising model with both structural simplicity and good performance. To this end, we consider a variational modeling to integrate the so-called fields of experts (FoE) image prior, that has proven an effective higher-order Markov random fields model for many classic image restoration problems. We exploit several feasible variational variants for this task. We start with a direct modeling in the original image domain by taking into account the Poisson noise statistics, which performs generally well for the cases of high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). However, this strategy encounters problem in cases of low SNR. Then we turn to an alternative modeling strategy by using the Anscombe transform and Gaussian statistics derived data term.
Corrosion resistance of stainless steel, nickel-titanium, titanium molybdenum alloy, and ion-implanted titanium molybdenum alloy archwires in acidic fluoride-containing artificial saliva: An in vitro study

Objective: (1) To evaluate the corrosion resistance of four different orthodontic archwires and to determine the effect of 0.5% NaF (simulating high fluoride-containing toothpaste of about 2250 ppm) on corrosion resistance of these archwires. (2) To assess whether surface roughness (Ra) is the primary factor influencing the corrosion resistance of these archwires. Materials and Methods: Four different archwires (stainless steel [SS], nickel-titanium [NiTi], titanium molybdenum alloy [TMA], and ion-implanted TMA) were considered for this study. Surface characteristics were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Linear polarization test, a fast electrochemical technique, was used to evaluate the corrosion resistance, in terms of polarization resistance of four different archwires in artificial saliva with NaF concentrations of 0% and 0.5%. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way analysis of variance. Results: The potentiostatic study reveals that the corrosion resistance of low-friction TMA (L-TMA) > TMA > NiTi > SS. AFM analysis showed the surface Ra of TMA > NiTi > L-TMA > SS. This indicates that the chemical composition of the wire is the primary influential factor to have high corrosion resistance and surface Ra is only secondary. The corrosion resistance of all wires had reduced significantly in 0.5% acidic fluoride-containing artificial saliva due to formation of fluoride complex compound. Conclusion: The presence of 0.5% NaF in artificial saliva was detrimental to the corrosion resistance of the orthodontic archwires. Therefore, complete removal of residual high-fluorinated toothpastes from the crevice between archwire and bracket during tooth brushing is mandatory.
Exploring DRD4 and its interaction with SLC6A3 as possible risk factors for adult ADHD: A meta‐analysis in four European populations

Attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common behavioral disorder affecting about 4–8% of children. ADHD persists into adulthood in around 65% of cases, either as the full condition or in partial remission with persistence of symptoms. Pharmacological, animal and molecular genetic studies support a role for genes of the dopaminergic system in ADHD due to its essential role in motor control, cognition, emotion, and reward. Based on these data, we analyzed two functional polymorphisms within the DRD4 gene (120 bp duplication in the promoter and 48 bp VNTR in exon 3) in a clinical sample of 1,608 adult ADHD patients and 2,352 controls of Caucasian origin from four European countries that had been recruited in the context of the International Multicentre persistent ADHD CollaboraTion (IMpACT). Single‐marker analysis of the two polymorphisms did not reveal association with ADHD. In contrast, multiple‐marker meta‐analysis showed a nominal association (P = 0.02) of the L‐4R haplotype (dup120bp‐48bpVNTR) with adulthood ADHD, especially with the combined clinical subtype. Since we previously described association between adulthood ADHD and the dopamine transporter SLC6A3 9R‐6R haplotype (3′UTR VNTR‐intron 8 VNTR) in the same dataset, we further tested for gene × gene interaction between DRD4 and SLC6A3. However, we detected no epistatic effects but our results rather suggest additive effects of the DRD4 risk haplotype and the SLC6A3 gene. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Absolute and Relative Pessimistic Inductions

[full article, abstract in English; abstract in Lithuanian] The absolute pessimistic induction states that earlier theories, although successful, were abandoned, so current theories, although successful, will also be abandoned. By contrast, the relative pessimistic induction states that earlier theories, although superior to their predecessors, were discarded, so current theories, although superior to earlier theories, will also be discarded. Some pessimists would have us believe that the relative pessimistic induction avoids empirical progressivism. I argue, however, that it has the same problem as the absolute pessimistic induction, viz., either its premise is implausible or its conclusion does not probably follow from its premise.
CONVERGENCE ON THE LEVI-CIVITA FIELD AND STUDY OF POWER SERIES

Convergence under various topologies and analytical properties of power series on Levi-Civita fields are studied. A radius of convergence is established that asserts convergence under a weak topology and reduces to the conventional radius of convergence for real power series. It also asserts strong (order) convergence for points the distance of which from the center is infinitely smaller than the radius of convergence. In addition to allowing the introduction of common transcendental functions, power series are shown to behave similar to real power series. Besides being infinitely often differentiable and re-expandable around other points, it is shown that power series satisfy a general intermediate value theorem as well as a maximum theorem and a mean value theorem.
Is Integration or Fragmentation the Starting Point to Improve Prevention? Research That Makes a Real Difference 3) Know What Success Looks Like

Acknowledgements About HSMC HSMC has been one of the leading UK centres for research, personal and organisational development in health care for 40 years. Commissioning of healthcare and provision of healthcare outside hospitals have become specific areas of expertise in recent years, underpinned by a continuing commitment to issues of quality improvement and public and patient engagement. This reputation has also extended to adult social care, with a growing track record in inter-agency commissioning and provision of health and social care services. HSMC has also developed a national reputation for both organisational and leadership development across all health settings. For further information visit: The discussion paper on which this policy paper is based was commissioned by the Institute for Social Change at Manchester University as part of a series of Knowledge Exchange Trials workshops. These workshops bring together academics, policy makers and programme stakeholders to facilitate exchange of ideas, expertise and research. For more information regarding the workshops please follow this website link. 3 Summary The importance of health, social care and other sectors working together has been recognised for many decades by governments of all political persuasion. This is true within the current policy environment, in which integration has been proposed as the binding force to connect an increasingly diverse range of providers around individual patients and their families. Initiatives to promote integration are being introduced at all levels of the system, with a patient experience based narrative setting the standard against which success should be judged. This integration is being encouraged not only in respect of statutorily funded clinical, public health and social care services but also with other policy areas such as housing and leisure and other sectors (in particular the third sector). One of the expected impacts of a better integrated health and social care system is that it will facilitate the transition to more preventative models of support. Such a shift in resources has also been a long-held aspiration of national health and social care policy, on the basis that successfully providing early and re-abling interventions will reduce the number of older people from requiring more intensive and long-term types of support. This shift is seen as a means to improve the quality of life of older people through enabling them to remain in their local community and retain their level of independence, and to address or at least soften the financial pressures resulting from …
The Role of the Family in the IT Career Goals of Middle School Latinas

Little is known about the role of family in middle school Latinas’ pathway to an IT-related career. This paper will present findings on how rural, Latina girls are thinking about the role of family in their career interests. The 77 participants range in age from 12-13, and most have parents who were born in Mexico and work in service-related jobs. Students described their career goals, influences on their goal(s), how their parents would feel if they chose to be a computer scientist, and whether their goal would be different if they were a boy. Few described an IT-related goal, and parent support was not a factor. Most students reported that parents were the primary influence on their goals, and most said that their parents would be supportive IF they chose to be a computer scientist. One third said that their career choice would change if they were a boy.
A generic component model for building systems software

Component-based software structuring principles are now commonplace at the application level; but componentization is far less established when it comes to building low-level systems software. Although there have been pioneering efforts in applying componentization to systems-building, these efforts have tended to target specific application domains (e.g., embedded systems, operating systems, communications systems, programmable networking environments, or middleware platforms). They also tend to be targeted at specific deployment environments (e.g., standard personal computer (PC) environments, network processors, or microcontrollers). The disadvantage of this narrow targeting is that it fails to maximize the genericity and abstraction potential of the component approach. In this article, we argue for the benefits and feasibility of a generic yet tailorable approach to component-based systems-building that offers a uniform programming model that is applicable in a wide range of systems-oriented target domains and deployment environments. The component model, called OpenCom, is supported by a reflective runtime architecture that is itself built from components. After describing OpenCom and evaluating its performance and overhead characteristics, we present and evaluate two case studies of systems we have built using OpenCom technology, thus illustrating its benefits and its general applicability.
Active Contribution of Dendrites to the Tonic and Trimodal Patterns of Activity in Cerebellar Purkinje Neurons

The cerebellum is responsible for coordination of movement and maintenance of balance. Cerebellar architecture is based on repeats of an anatomically well defined circuit. At the center of these functional circuits are Purkinje neurons, which form the sole output of the cerebellar cortex. It is proposed that coordination of movement is achieved by encoding timing signals in the rate of firing and pattern of activity of Purkinje cells. An understanding of cerebellar timing requires an appreciation of the intrinsic firing behavior of Purkinje cells and the extent to which their activity is regulated within the functional circuits. We have examined the spontaneous firing of Purkinje neurons in isolation from the rest of the cerebellar circuitry by blocking fast synaptic transmission in acutely prepared cerebellar slices. We find that, intrinsically, mature Purkinje cells show a complex pattern of activity in which they continuously cycle among tonically firing, bursting, and silent modes. This trimodal pattern of activity emerges as the cerebellum matures anatomically and functionally. Concurrent with the transformation of the immature tonically firing cells to those with the trimodal pattern of activity, the dendrites assume a prominent role in regulating the excitability of Purkinje cells. Thus, alterations in the rate and pattern of activity of Purkinje neurons are not solely the result of synaptic input but also arise as a consequence of the intrinsic properties of the cells.
Online Newspapers’ Readers’ Comments - Democratic Conversation Platforms or Virtual Soapboxes?

Online discussions between citizens have been subject to scholarly debate and several empirical studies for a substantial period of time. Scholars have envisioned these as potential venues for citizens’ deliberation. Often, however, empirical findings do not support these notions. The quality of discussion is often not up to the standards of truly deliberative discussions. Nonetheless, there are strains of evidence suggesting that online discussion venues applying facilitators, fixed topics and actively enforcing discussion rules, may avoid many of the problems with discussion quality. This article therefore examines whether readers’ comments on a Finnish newspaper’s website resemble democratic conversations. During the course of three weeks in spring 2010, we content analyze 300 reader comments. Our findings indicate that although there are strains of democratic conversations to be found in online reader comments, there are also many instances in which the opposite holds true.
Incremental map generation with GPS traces

This paper provides a generic approach for map generation based on Global Positioning System (GPS) traces especially for unknown terrains. The system uses AI algorithms to infer the road geometry. Given a set of GPS traces, this input is refined by filtering and partitioning algorithms. For constructing the graph, clustering algorithms are applied that allow to incrementally generate a road map, annotated with travel time information. The processing of the input data relies on a subdivision of the world into tiles. A flexible map viewer is provided to navigate through the hierarchically organized content of the database. The system provides the export of maps to serve e.g. as the input for a routing server, which in turn can be queried via TCP/IP for shortest and quickest routes.
2009 / 3 The principal ' s dilemma

A recurrent dilemma in team management is to select between a team-based and an individualbased wage scheme. We explore such a dilemma in a simple model of production in teams, in which the team members may differ in their effort choices and qualification. We show that, in spite of enhancing output as the basis for payment, a team-based wage scheme might be less profitable for the principal than an individual-based wage scheme. We also highlight a deep misalignment between designing optimal (output-based) incentives for a team and treating its members impartially. Finally, upon introducing the possibility of liquidity constraints in our model, we provide rationale for the so-called “rich get richer” hypothesis.