Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lactational and subsequent reproductive responses of lactating sows to dietary lysine (protein) concentration.

Gilts (n = 208) were used to evaluate the effect of lysine (protein) intake over three parities on lactation and subsequent reproductive performance. Sows were assigned randomly to one of five experimental diets at each farrowing. The five corn-soybean mealbased lactation diets contained increasing concentrations of total lysine (.60, .85, 1.10, 1.35, and 1.60%) and CP (14.67, 18.15, 21.60, 25.26, and 28.82%). Other amino acids were provided at a minimum of 105% of the NRC (1988) ratio to the lysine requirement. Sows had ad libitum access to their assigned diets from parturition until weaning (19.5+/-.2 d postpartum). All sows were fed a common gestation diet (14% CP and .68% lysine) from weaning to next farrowing. Litter size was standardized by d 3 postpartum to 10 pigs in parity 1 and 11 pigs in parity 2 and 3. Increasing dietary lysine (protein) linearly decreased (P<.05) voluntary feed intake of parity 1 (from 5.4 to 4.6 kg/d), 2 (from 6.5 to 5.8 kg/d), and 3 sows (from 6.8 to 6.2 kg/d). With the increase of dietary lysine (protein) concentration during lactation, litter weight gain responded quadratically (P<.05) in all three parities. Maximal litter ADG was 2.06, 2.36, and 2.49 kg/d in parities 1, 2, and 3, respectively, which occurred at about 44, 55, and 56 g/d of lysine intake for parity 1, 2, and 3 sows, respectively. Increasing dietary lysine (protein) had no effect (P>.1) on sow weight change, weaning-to-estrus interval, and farrowing rate in all three parities and no effect on backfat change in parity 2 and 3, but tended to increase backfat loss linearly (P<.1) in parity 1. A linear decrease of second litter size (total born, from 11.7 to 10.1, P<.1; born alive, from 11.0 to 8.9, P<.01) was observed when dietary lysine (protein) increased during the first lactation. Lysine (protein) intake during the second lactation had a quadratic effect on third litter size (P<.05; total born: 13.3, 11.2, 11.6, 11.9, and 13.6; born alive: 11.8, 10.1, 10.3, 11.2, and 12.4). However, fourth litter size was not influenced by lysine (protein) intake during the third lactation. These results suggest that the lysine (protein) requirement for subsequent reproduction is not higher than that for milk production. Parity influences the lysine (protein) requirement for lactating sows and the response of subsequent litter size to previous lactation lysine (protein) intake.
The role of an omnipresent pocket device: smartphone attendance and the role of user habits

Smartphones are convergent, always-on pocket devices that have taken up an important role in the life of their users. This warrants a closer look into how this medium is used in every-day situations. Are goal-oriented incentives the main drive for smartphone usage, or do habits play a critical role? This study with 481 Belgian smartphone users attempts to describe the precedents of smartphone attendance by validating the model of media attendance (MMA), a social-cognitive theory of uses and gratifications (LaRose & Eastin, 2004). We surprisingly did not find evidence for a significant effect of habits on smartphone usage. We suggest two explanations. First, we suggest some uncertainties concerning the MMA methodology. Second, we suggest a more complex reality in which several habitual use patterns are shaped, dependent on user, context and device. This warrants a more in-depth study, using more advanced measures for smartphone usage and habit strength.
A Large-Scale Analysis of the Security of Embedded Firmwares

As embedded systems are more than ever present in our society, their security is becoming an increasingly important issue. However, based on the results of many recent analyses of individual firmware images, embedded systems acquired a reputation of being insecure. Despite these facts, we still lack a global understanding of embedded systems' security as well as the tools and techniques needed to support such general claims. In this paper we present the first public, large-scale analysis of firmware images. In particular, we unpacked 32 thousand firmware images into 1.7 million individual files, which we then statically analyzed. We leverage this large-scale analysis to bring new insights on the security of embedded devices and to underline and detail several important challenges that need to be addressed in future research. We also show the main benefits of looking at many different devices at the same time and of linking our results with other large-scale datasets such as the ZMap's HTTPS survey. In summary, without performing sophisticated static analysis, we discovered a total of 38 previously unknown vulnerabilities in over 693 firmware images. Moreover, by correlating similar files inside apparently unrelated firmware images, we were able to extend some of those vulnerabilities to over 123 different products. We also confirmed that some of these vulnerabilities altogether are affecting at least 140K devices accessible over the Internet. It would not have been possible to achieve these results without an analysis at such wide scale. We believe that this project, which we plan to provide as a firmware unpacking and analysis web service, will help shed some light on the security of embedded devices.
Glycinergic synaptic inputs to bipolar cells in the salamander retina

1 Glycine activated strychnine‐sensitive chloride conductances at both the dendrites and the axonal telodendria of most bipolar cells in the salamander retina. 2 The chloride equilibrium potential of bipolar cells was found to be negative to ‐50 mV, indicating that glycinergic synapses on bipolar cells are inhibitory. 3 Some bipolar cells exhibited discrete, strychnine‐sensitive, chloride‐mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs). These were elicited by focal application of glutamate at the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Glycinergic synapses were localized using simultaneous focal application of calcium to retinal slices bathed in calcium‐free media. Both dendritic and telodendritic glycinergic IPSCs were observed. 4 The decay of the telodendritic IPSCs was well fitted by a single exponential with a time constant of 17.7 ± 8.7 ms. Similar kinetics were observed for dendritic IPSCs in some cells, but in one class of on‐centre bipolar cell the decay of the dendritic IPSCs was better fitted by a sum of two exponentials with time constants 9.9 ± 4.3 and 51.3 ± 24.3 ms. 5 The dendritic IPSCs were best driven by application of glutamate at the distal IPL (the off sublamina), while the telodendritic IPSCs were driven best by application near the telodendria. These results suggest that bipolar cell dendrites receive inhibitory glycinergic inputs from interplexiform cells that are excited by off‐centre bipolar cells, whereas bipolar cell telodendria receive glycinergic amacrine cell inputs that are antagonistic to the photoreceptor inputs. 6 Both inputs could be elicited in the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), but the dendritic IPSCs were sometimes abolished by TTX, suggesting that sodium‐dependent spikes play an important role in the transmission of interplexiform cell signals to the outer plexiform layer.
Safe exploration for reinforcement learning

In this paper we define and address the problem of safe exploration in the context of reinforcement learning. Our notion of safety is concerned with states or transitions that can lead to damage and thus must be avoided. We introduce the concepts of a safety function for determining a state’s safety degree and that of a backup policy that is able to lead the system under control from a critical state back to a safe one. Moreover, we present a level-based exploration scheme that is able to generate a comprehensive base of observations while adhering safety constraints.We evaluate our approach on a simplified simulation of a gas turbine.
THE PROPERTIES OF THE STAR-FORMING INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM AT z = 0.8–2.2 FROM HiZELS: STAR FORMATION AND CLUMP SCALING LAWS IN GAS-RICH, TURBULENT DISKS

We present adaptive optics assisted integral field spectroscopy of nine Hα-selected galaxies at z = 0.84–2.23 drawn from the HiZELS narrowband survey. Our observations map the kinematics of these star-forming galaxies on ∼kpc scales. We demonstrate that within the interstellar medium of these galaxies, the velocity dispersion of the star-forming gas (σ) follows a scaling relation σ∝Σ1/nSFR + constant (where ΣSFR is the star formation surface density and the constant includes the stellar surface density). Assuming the disks are marginally stable (Toomre Q = 1), this follows from the Kennicutt–Schmidt relation (ΣSFR = AΣngas), and we derive best-fit parameters of n = 1.34 ± 0.15 and A = 3.4+2.5−1.6 × 10−4 M☉ yr−1 kpc−2, consistent with the local relation, and implying cold molecular gas masses of Mgas = 109–10 M☉ and molecular gas fractions of Mgas/(Mgas + M⋆) = 0.3 ± 0.1, with a range of 10%–75%. We also identify 11 ∼kpc-scale star-forming regions (clumps) within our sample and show that their sizes are comparable to the wavelength of the fastest growing mode. The luminosities and velocity dispersions of these clumps follow the same scaling relations as local H ii regions, although their star formation densities are a factor ∼15 ± 5 × higher than typically found locally. We discuss how the clump properties are related to the disk, and show that their high masses and luminosities are a consequence of the high disk surface density.
Influence of a Favorable Streamwise Pressure Gradient on Laminar Film Cooling at Mach 2 . 67

Direct numerical simulations are used to investigate the me thod of film cooling in a laminar flat-plate Mach-2.67 boundary layer. Air is employed as mean-flow and coolant ga s and is introduced into the boundary layer through one row of holes by means of a modeled b lowing approach. The e ffects of a favorable streamwise pressure gradient are investigated for two different blowing rates and an adiabatic-wall boundary condition. It is shown that a favorable streamwise pressure gradient has a beneficial influence on the cooling e ffectiveness, mainly due to the higher streamwise velocity cl ose to the wall.
Neuroimaging and ADHD: fMRI, PET, DTI Findings, and Methodological Limitations

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by pervasive and developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. There is no conclusive cause of ADHD although a number of etiologic theories have been advanced. Research across neuroanatomical, neurochemical, and genetic disciplines collectively support a physiological basis for ADHD and, within the past decade, the number of neuroimaging studies concerning ADHD has increased exponentially. The current selective review summarizes research findings concerning ADHD using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Although these technologies and studies offer promise in helping to better understand the physiologic underpinnings of ADHD, they are not without methodological problems, including inadequate sensitivity and specificity for psychiatric disorders. Consequently, neuroimaging technology, in its current state of development, should not be used to inform clinical practice.
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy with and without retrograde pyelography: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE Since the introduction of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), many changes have been added regarding the entrance to pyelocalyceal system such as insertion of the needle pointed to an opaque stone as a guided landmark. We aim at comparing the outcomes of managing renal calculi with and without retrograde pyelography. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a randomized clinical trial, 55 cases with opaque renal calculi candidates for PCNL with stone in one calyce, in the pelvis or both in one calyce and the pelvis simultaneously were included in a nine-month study. They were randomized into 2 groups, noncatheterized (n = 28) and catheterized (n = 27), called intervention and control groups, respectively. RESULTS The 2 groups had similar distributions regarding gender, age, duration of operation, length of hospital stay, past history of any surgical procedures on kidney, and stone size. Outcome (residual stone based on aforementioned management) was evaluated with plain X-ray on the morning following the operation. Postoperative hemoglobin decrease was significantly higher in controls than in the intervention group (p < 0.001) (with no clinical significance). No difference in outcome, postoperative fever, duration of surgery, duration of hospital stay and radiation exposure was observed between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION Our findings showed no differences in major clinical outcomes between the 2 groups (with and without catheter insertion for retrograde pyelography).
Empirical evaluation of feature selection methods in classification

In the paper, we present an empirical evaluation of five feature selection methods: ReliefF, random forest feature selector, sequential forward selection, sequential backward selection, and Gini index. Among the evaluated methods, the random forest feature selector has not yet been widely compared to the other methods. In our evaluation, we test how the implemented feature selection can affect (i.e. improve) the accuracy of six different classifiers by performing feature selection. The results show that ReliefF and random forest enabled the classifiers to achieve the highest increase in classification accuracy on the average while reducing the number of unnecessary attributes. The achieved conclusions can advise the machine learning users which classifier and feature selection method to use to optimize the classification accuracy, which may be important especially in risk-sensitive applications of Machine Learning (e.g. medicine, business decisions, control applications) as well as in the aim to reduce costs of collecting, processing and storage of unnecessary data.
Trichomonas Vaginalis: A Reemerging Pathogen

Infestation with T. vaginalis is a common and potentially morbid infection. In addition to reproductive tract discharge and irritation, infection with this protozoa is increasingly recognized to be associated with reproductive tract complications, including postabortal infection, postcesarean infection, preterm birth, and PROM. Clinical diagnosis is often difficult and newer approaches using specific antigen and nucleic acid technologies will probably replace "wet prep" microscopic techniques. Effective treatments continue to depend on oral metronidazole treatment. Cure of resistant strains, which remain rare, depends on administration of higher, more prolonged doses of metronidazole. Improved understanding of the natural history, pathobiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this common protozoa is urgently needed. Practitioners should consider routinely screening and treating women for trichomoniasis before any reproductive tract surgery (chorionic villi sampling, hysterectomy, cesarean section, dilatation and curettage, therapeutic abortion, and so on), after changing sexual partners, and during pregnancy. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients and their sexual contacts should be treated.
Young Children's Understanding of Teaching and Learning and Their Theory of Mind Development: A Causal Analysis from a Cross-Cultural Perspective

Children's understanding of the concepts of teaching and learning is closely associated with their theory of mind (ToM) ability and vital for school readiness. This study aimed to develop and validate a Preschool Teaching and Learning Comprehension Index (PTLCI) across cultures and examine the causal relationship between children's comprehension of teaching and learning and their mental state understanding. Two hundred and twelve children from 3 to 6 years of age from Hong Kong and the United States participated in study. The results suggested strong construct validity of the PTLCI, and its measurement and structural equivalence within and across cultures. ToM and PTLCI were significantly correlated with a medium effect size, even after controlling for age, and language ability. Hong Kong children outperformed their American counterparts in both ToM and PTLCI. Competing structural equation models suggested that children's performance on the PTLCI causally predicted their ToM across countries.
The Impact of Sleep Timing, Sleep Duration, and Sleep Quality on Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation amongst Japanese Freshmen: The EQUSITE Study

Aim. The aim of this study was to identify the impact of bedtime, wake time, sleep duration, sleep-onset latency, and sleep quality on depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation amongst Japanese freshmen. Methods. This cross-sectional data was derived from the baseline survey of the Enhancement of Q-University Students Intelligence (EQUSITE) study conducted from May to June, 2010. A total of 2,631 participants were recruited and completed the following self-reported questionnaires: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the original Health Support Questionnaires developed by the EQUSITE study research team. Results. Of 1,992 participants eligible for analysis, 25.5% (n = 507) reported depressive symptoms (CES-D total score ≥ 16), and 5.8% (n = 115) reported suicidal ideation. The present study showed that late bedtime (later than 01:30), sleep-onset latency (≥30 minutes), and poor sleep quality showed a marginally significant association with depressive symptoms. Poor sleep quality was seen to predict suicidal ideation even after adjusting for depressive symptoms. Conclusion. The current study has important implications for the role of bedtime in the prevention of depressive symptoms. Improving sleep quality may prevent the development of depressive symptoms and reduce the likelihood of suicidal ideation.
Association of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A9 (UGT1A9) gene polymorphism with kidney allograft function.

BACKGROUND UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are a group of enzymes involved in the detoxification and excretion of xeno- and endobiotics. Polymorphic variants of the UGT1A9 gene were shown to influence exposition to mycophenolate mophetil (MMF), a common immunosuppressive drug used in kidney allograft recipients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate an association between key clinical features of kidney post-transplant course in patients receiving MMF therapy and UGT1A9-2152C>T and -275 T>A SNPs, known to induce UGT1A9 gene expression and UGT1A9 98T>C, resulting in reduced enzyme activity. MATERIAL/METHODS DNA was isolated from peripheral blood of kidney allograft recipients (n=103) and a control group representing the background population of Poland (n=450). Presence of the analyzed SNP was detected using the PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Accuracy of the applied method was confirmed by DNA sequencing. RESULTS In patients carrying the UGT1A9-2152T and -275A minor alleles we observed a trend of increased risk of acute allograft rejection within 3 months after transplantation, but this difference was at the border of significance. However, the UGT1A9 98C allele was found to be associated with diminished estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) during the first year after engraftment and transient proteinuria in the first and second month post-transplantation. This association was not observed for UGT1A9-2152C>T and -275 T>A. Our data show that transplanted kidney function may be affected in patients carrying UGT1A9 98C allele and receiving MMF. CONCLUSIONS Genotyping of the functional UGT1A9 SNP may be of practical use in kidney transplant recipients.
Altered Cortico-Striatal–Thalamic Connectivity in Relation to Spatial Working Memory Capacity in Children with ADHD

Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) captures a heterogeneous group of children, who are characterized by a range of cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Previous resting-state functional connectivity MRI (rs-fcMRI) studies have sought to understand the neural correlates of ADHD by comparing connectivity measurements between those with and without the disorder, focusing primarily on cortical–striatal circuits mediated by the thalamus. To integrate the multiple phenotypic features associated with ADHD and help resolve its heterogeneity, it is helpful to determine how specific circuits relate to unique cognitive domains of the ADHD syndrome. Spatial working memory has been proposed as a key mechanism in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Methods: We correlated the rs-fcMRI of five thalamic regions of interest (ROIs) with spatial span working memory scores in a sample of 67 children aged 7–11 years [ADHD and typically developing children (TDC)]. In an independent dataset, we then examined group differences in thalamo-striatal functional connectivity between 70 ADHD and 89 TDC (7–11 years) from the ADHD-200 dataset. Thalamic ROIs were created based on previous methods that utilize known thalamo-cortical loops and rs-fcMRI to identify functional boundaries in the thalamus. Results/Conclusion: Using these thalamic regions, we found atypical rs-fcMRI between specific thalamic groupings with the basal ganglia. To identify the thalamic connections that relate to spatial working memory in ADHD, only connections identified in both the correlational and comparative analyses were considered. Multiple connections between the thalamus and basal ganglia, particularly between medial and anterior dorsal thalamus and the putamen, were related to spatial working memory and also altered in ADHD. These thalamo-striatal disruptions may be one of multiple atypical neural and cognitive mechanisms that relate to the ADHD clinical phenotype.
Of big hegemonies and little tigers: Ecocentrism and environmental justice

ABSTRACT Stefan Bengtsson's commentary about policy hegemony discusses the alternative discourses of socialism, nationalism, and globalism. However, Stefan does not adequately demonstrate how these discourses can overcome the Dominant Western Worldview (DWW), which is imbued with anthropocentrism. It will be argued here that most policy choices promoting sustainability, and education for it, are made within a predetermined system in which the already limiting notion of environmental protection is highly contingent on human welfare. What would really contest the dominant assumptions of Vietnamese policy and, more specifically, education for sustainable development (ESD) is an alternative discourse that challenges the DWW. That alternative discourse embraces philosophical ecocentrism and practices of ecological justice between all species, and deep ecology theory - all perspectives fundamentally committed to environmental protection.
Testing a Hierarchical Model of Neuroticism and Its Cognitive Facets

Neuroticism and several other traits have been proposed to confer vulnerability for unipolar mood disorders (UMDs) and anxiety disorders (ADs). However, it is unclear whether the associations of these vulnerabilities with these disorders are attributable to a latent variable common to all vulnerabilities, more narrow latent variables, or both. In addition, some researchers have suggested that neuroticism predicts UMDs, ADs, and substance use disorders (SUDs) with comparable strength, whereas other researchers have hypothesized that neuroticism is more strongly related to UMDs and ADs. We tested hypotheses about the factor structure of several vulnerabilities and the prospective associations of these latent variables with initial onsets of UMDs, ADs, and SUDs during a 3-year period in 547 participants recruited as high school juniors. Although a general neuroticism factor predicted SUDs, it predicted UMDs and ADs more strongly and especially predicted comorbid UMDs and ADs. There was also mixed support for specific associations involving more narrow latent vulnerabilities.