Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fast adaptive learning in repeated stochastic games by game abstraction

An agent must learn and adapt quickly when playing against other agents. This process is challenging in particular when playing in stochastic environments against other learning agents. In this paper, we introduce a fast and adaptive learning algorithm for repeated stochastic games (FAL-SG). FAL-SG utilizes lossy game abstraction to reduce the state space of the game and facilitate learning and adapting rapidly. We analyze FAL-SG's performance by proving bounds on the abstraction loss and prediction mistakes and show that FAL-SG satisfies three criteria prescribed for multiagent learning algorithms. We successfully establish the robustness and scalability of FAL-SG with extensive theoretical and experimental results.
Ophthalmic Cyclosporine Use in Ocular GVHD

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical ophthalmic cyclosporine in patients with dry eyes secondary to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Methods: Records of consecutive patients with ocular GVHD treated with topical cyclosporine were reviewed. Results: Thirty-two eyes of 16 patients were included with a mean follow-up of 90 days. Dry eye symptoms improved in 10 patients (62.5%), and corneal fluorescein staining improved in all eyes (P = 0.0039). Global physician impression was favorable in 12 patients (75%). Ocular burning or irritation was noted in 3 patients (19%), which improved with either continuation of cyclosporine at the current dosing regimen or reduction in dose and/or concentration of cyclosporine. Conclusion: Ophthalmic cyclosporine seems to be safe and may be beneficial for patients with ocular GVHD, particularly those with more severe dry eyes.
Post-coital administration of levonorgestrel does not interfere with post-fertilization events in the new-world monkey Cebus apella.

BACKGROUND Experimental evidence to disprove the belief that emergency contraception with levonorgestrel (LNG) prevents pregnancy by interfering with post-fertilization events is lacking. Here we determined the effect of post-coital and pre-ovulatory administration of LNG on fertility and ovulation, respectively, in the Cebus monkey. METHODS To determine the effect on fertility, LNG 0.75 mg or vehicle were administered orally or s.c. once or twice within the first 24 h after mating occurring very close to the time of ovulation. Females that became pregnant were aborted with mifepristone and re-entered the study after a resting cycle until each of 12 females had contributed, in a randomized order, two LNG and two vehicle-treated cycles. To determine the effect on ovulation, LNG 0.75 mg or vehicle were injected twice coinciding with follicles smaller or larger than 5 mm in diameter. Six females contributed five treated cycles each. RESULTS The pregnancy rate was identical in vehicle- and LNG-treated cycles. LNG inhibited or delayed ovulation only when treatment coincided with a follicle <5 mm diameter. CONCLUSION In Cebus monkeys, LNG can inhibit or delay ovulation but, once fertilization has taken place, it cannot prevent the establishment of pregnancy. These findings do not support the hypothesis that emergency contraception with LNG prevents pregnancy by interfering with post-fertilization events.
Mid-Infrared Spectra of Late-Type Stars: Long-Term Evolution

Recent ground-based mid-infrared spectra of 29 late-type stars, most with substantial dust shells, are compared to ground-based spectra of these stars from the 1960s and 1970s and to IRAS-LRS spectra obtained in 1983. The spectra of about half the stars show no detectable changes, implying that their distributions of circumstellar material and associated dust grain properties have changed little over this time interval. However, many of the stars with strong silicate features showed marked changes. In nearly all cases the silicate peak has strengthened with respect to the underlying continuum, although there is one case (VY CMa) in which the silicate feature has almost completely disappeared. This suggests that, in general, an oxygen-rich star experiences long periods of gradual silicate feature strengthening, punctuated by relatively rare periods when the feature weakens. We discuss various mechanisms for producing the changes, favoring the slow evolution of the intrinsic dust properties (i.e., the chemical composition or grain structure). Although most IRAS spectra agree well with ground-based spectra, there are a number of cases in which they fall well outside the expected range of uncertainty. In almost all such cases, the slopes of the red and blue LRS spectra do not match in their region of overlap.
The Use of Triple-Modular Redundancy to Improve Computer Reliability

One of the proposed techniques for meeting the severe reliability requirements inherent in certain future computer applications is described. This technique involves the use of triple-modular redundancy, which is essentially the use of the two-out-of-three votingc oncept at a low level. Effects of imperfect voting circuitry and of various interconnections logical elements are assessed. A hypothetical triple-modular redundant computer is subjected to a Monte Carlo program on the IBM 704, which simulates component failures. Reliability is thereby determined and compared with reliability obtained by analytical calculations based on simplifying assumptions.
Remedying discrimination : the limits of the law and the need for a systemic approach

Very few discrimination complaints reach the courts each year. As with other civil litigation, the reasons for this include the cost of pursuing litigation and, particularly for complainants, the risk of losing or receiving less than the complainant could have negotiated prior. Drawing on interviews with lawyers and non-legal advocates in Victoria and an analysis of successful cases in three jurisdictions, this article examines the remedy the court is likely to award in a successful discrimination complaint and considers the effect of this on the eradication of discrimination in society. A comprehensive examination of the remedies awarded in successful discrimination complaints in Victoria over a three year period shows that courts are most likely to order compensation at modest amounts and complainants are not regularly awarded their costs. A comparison with Queensland and the federal system reveals a similar experience. Even in those jurisdictions where wider remedies are available, courts rarely take the opportunity to make broad orders which could affect other similarly situated individuals or deter would-be respondents. While it is necessary to remedy the complainant’s experience, it is also necessary to address broader, systemic discrimination and a compensation award cannot do this. Remedying discrimination with compensation is primarily a problem because it is reactive. Compensation does not address other instances of discrimination in society or achieve systemic change nor does it encourage compliance because the respondent is not required to take anticipatory action to prevent another complaint. Based on the interpretive principles and extensive remedies provided in South Africa’s recent anti-discrimination and a study of remedies ordered by the South African Equality Courts and the Irish Equality Tribunal, the article proposes reforms to Australia’s anti-discrimination legislation to enable courts to make wider orders which target other instances of discrimination in addition to remedying the complainant’s experience.
Different Circuits for ON and OFF Retinal Ganglion Cells Cause Different Contrast Sensitivities

The theory of “parallel pathways” predicts that, except for a sign reversal, ON and OFF ganglion cells are driven by a similar presynaptic circuit. To test this hypothesis, we measured synaptic inputs to ON and OFF cells as reflected in the subthreshold membrane potential. We made intracellular recordings from brisk-transient (Y) cells in the in vitro guinea pig retina and show that ON and OFF cells in fact express significant asymmetries in their synaptic inputs. An ON cell receives relatively linear input that modulates a single excitatory conductance; whereas an OFF cell receives rectified input that modulates both inhibitory and excitatory conductances. The ON pathway, blocked by l-AP-4, tonically inhibits an OFF cell at mean luminance and phasically inhibits an OFF cell during a light increment. Our results suggest that basal glutamate release is high at ON but not OFF bipolar terminals, and inhibition between pathways is unidirectional: ON → OFF. These circuit asymmetries explain asymmetric contrast sensitivity observed in spiking behavior.
Rapid Way mobile application in Wireless sensor network: A practical research in transportation system

Mobile solutions give businesses a unique opportunity to re-think the way they interact with customers, employees and partners. We propose a new method called rapid way application on the mobile devices to handle and control the connection of the mobiles with GPS while mobile devices or sensor has mobility. This paper explores the relationship between the five depends and independent variable on Rapid Way mobile application such as Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, time saving, cost saving and intention to use Rapid Way application in Wireless sensor network for managing the sensors. A sample of 100 respondents is selected using a purposive sampling method whereby all segments of society to be included in the survey. A structured, self-administered as hard copy questionnaire is used to find data from these respondents. The findings indicate that the perceived usefulness (β = 0.307, p<;0.002) perceived ease of use (β = 0.176, p<;0.080) and time saving (β =0.019, p<;0.000) is positively related to intention to use Rapid Way application while cost saving is not significantly related to intention to use Rapid Way application (β =0.408, p<;0.849). Besides attention to result of this paper, it shows that there is a significant level of intention to use Rapid Way application, also, time saving (β =0.019, p<;0.000) as a new variable has the highest significant.
NanR, a Transcriptional Regulator That Binds to the Promoters of Genes Involved in Sialic Acid Metabolism in the Anaerobic Pathogen Clostridium perfringens

Among many other virulence factors, Clostridium perfringens produces three sialidases NanH, NanI and NanJ. NanH lacks a secretion signal peptide and is predicted to be an intracellular enzyme, while NanI and NanJ are secreted. Previously, we had identified part of an operon encoding NanE (epimerase) and NanA (sialic acid lyase) enzymes. Further analysis of the entire operon suggests that it encodes a complete pathway for the transport and metabolism of sialic acid along with a putative transcriptional regulator, NanR. The addition of 30 mM N-acetyl neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) to a semi-defined medium significantly enhanced the growth yield of strain 13, suggesting that Neu5Ac can be used as a nutrient. C. perfringens strain 13 lacks a nanH gene, but has NanI- and NanJ-encoding genes. Analysis of nanI, nanJ, and nanInanJ mutants constructed by homologous recombination revealed that the expression of the major sialidase, NanI, was induced by the addition of Neu5Ac to the medium, and that in separate experiments, the same was true of a nanI-gusA transcriptional fusion. For the nanI and nanJ genes, primer extension identified three and two putative transcription start sites, respectively. Gel mobility shift assays using purified NanR and DNA from the promoter regions of the nanI and nanE genes showed high affinity, specific binding by NanR. We propose that NanR is a global regulator of sialic acid-associated genes and that it responds, in a positive feedback loop, to the concentration of sialic acid in the cell.
Subsets of Human Dendritic Cell Precursors Express Different Toll-like Receptors and Respond to Different Microbial Antigens

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are ancient microbial pattern recognition receptors highly conserved from Drosophila to humans. To investigate if subsets of human dendritic cell precursors (pre-DC), including monocytes (pre-DC1), plasmacytoid DC precursors (pre-DC2), and CD11c+ immature DCs (imDCs) are developed to recognize different microbes or microbial antigens, we studied their TLR expression and responses to microbial antigens. We demonstrate that whereas monocytes preferentially express TLR 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8, plasmacytoid pre-DC strongly express TLR 7 and 9. In accordance with these TLR expression profiles, monocytes respond to the known microbial ligands for TLR2 (peptidoglycan [PGN], lipoteichoic acid) and TLR4 (lipopolysaccharide), by producing tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6. In contrast, plasmacytoid pre-DCs only respond to the microbial TLR9-ligand, CpG-ODNs (oligodeoxynucleotides [ODNs] containing unmethylated CpG motifs), by producing IFN-α. CD11c+ imDCs preferentially express TLR 1, 2, and 3 and respond to TLR 2-ligand PGN by producing large amounts of TNF-α, and to viral double-stranded RNA-like molecule poly I:C, by producing IFN-α and IL-12. The expression of distinct sets of TLRs and the corresponding difference in reactivity to microbial molecules among subsets of pre-DCs and imDCs support the concept that they have developed through distinct evolutionary pathways to recognize different microbial antigens.
Systemic Effector and Regulatory Immune Responses to Chlamydial Antigens in Trachomatous Trichiasis

Trachomatous trichiasis (TT) caused by repeated or chronic ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis is the result of a pro-fibrotic ocular immune response. At the conjunctiva, the increased expression of both inflammatory (IL1B, TNF) and regulatory cytokines (IL10) have been associated with adverse clinical outcomes. We measured in vitro immune responses of peripheral blood to a number of chlamydial antigens. Peripheral blood effector cells (CD4, CD69, IFNγ, IL-10) and regulatory cells (CD4, CD25, FOXP3, CTLA4/GITR) were readily stimulated by C. trachomatis antigens but neither the magnitude (frequency or stimulation index) or the breadth and amount of cytokines produced in vitro [IL-5, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-13, IFNγ, and TNFα] were significantly different between TT cases and their non-diseased controls. Interestingly we observed that CD4+ T cells account for <50% of the IFNγ positive cells induced following stimulation. Further investigation in individuals selected from communities where exposure to ocular infection with C. trachomatis is endemic indicated that CD3−CD56+ (classical natural killer cells) were a major early source of IFNγ production in response to C. trachomatis elementary body stimulation and that the magnitude of this response increased with age. Future efforts to unravel the contribution of the adaptive immune response to conjunctival fibrosis should focus on the early events following infection and the interaction with innate immune mediated mechanisms of inflammation in the conjunctiva.
Association between genotype and phenotype in families with mutations in the ABCA4 gene

Purpose To investigate the genotype and phenotype in families with adenosine triphosphate–binding cassette, sub-family A, member 4 (ABCA4)–associated retinal degeneration. Methods Three families with at least one family member with known homozygous or compound heterozygote mutations in the ABCA4 gene were studied. The investigations included full field electroretinography (ff-ERG), multifocal ERG (mERG), Goldmann visual fields, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and standard ophthalmological examination. Microarray (Asper) was used for ABCA4 genotyping. Results In family 1, the proband (age 23) was homozygote for the c768 G>T mutation. She was diagnosed with cone rod dystrophy (CRD) while her aunt (age 69) was compound heterozygote for the c768 G>T and c2894 A>G mutations and had autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (arRP). The father (age 61) and the mother (age 60) of the proband were asymptomatic carriers of the c768 G>T mutation. In family 2, the proband (age 25) was homozygote for the c5917del. She was diagnosed with CRD. Her father and two sisters were compound heterozygote for the c5917del and c5882 G>A mutations. The eldest sister (age 23) suffered from Stargardt disease (STGD) while the youngest sister (age 12) and their father (age 48) had no visual complaints. Anyhow, their ERG measurements indicated changes corresponding to STGD. The mother (age 42), (heterozygote for the c5917 delG mutation) and the youngest child (age 9; heterozygote for the c5882 G>A mutation) had a normal phenotype. In family 3, the proband (age 43) was compound heterozygote for c768 G>T and c3113 C>T and had been diagnosed with STGD. Her son (age 12), who was homozygote for the c768 G>T mutation, had wider scotomas with earlier onset (age 6), ff-ERG cone responses in the lower range of normality, and reduced mERG. At the moment, he is classified as having STGD but may progress to CRD. The father (age 45) was asymptomatic and heterozygote for the c768 G>T mutation. The patients with progressive disorders (CRD or arRP) had prolonged implicit times for the 30 Hz flicker ff-ERG and the mERG. All patients with two mutations in the ABCA4 gene demonstrated attenuation of retinal thickness on the OCT macular map. Conclusions This study confirms that ABCA4 mutations lead to a spectrum of retinal degenerations ranging from STGD to CRD or arRP. At the time of diagnosis, it is not possible to predict the severity of the condition only from genotyping. Our results suggest that prolongation of implicit times for the ff-ERG and/or mERG seem to be associated with progressive conditions such as CRD and arRP. Since ABCA4 mutations are common in the general population, different family members can harbor various combinations of mutations resulting in diverse phenotype and prognosis in the same family, further emphasizing the importance of a combination of genetic and electrophysiological tests at the first visit and follow-up.
A Novel impact Ionization MOS (I-MOS) structure using a silicon-germanium/silicon heterostructure channel

In order to decrease bias voltages in IMOS devices we have proposed a new IMOS structure with Si-Ge/Si heterostructure channel in this paper. In comparison with previously reported, single gate SOI IMOS and SGOI IMOS structures, this device can provide higher reduction in the source voltage as well as in threshold voltage. Moreover, the proposed structure provides considerable reduction in off-state current, while preserving the on-state current.
Building RDF Ontologies from Semi-Structured Legal Documents

The increasing interest in the context of e-government requires intelligent techniques for legal information and knowledge management. In this paper we describe a system that, given a number of legal paper documents, automatically transforms them into suitable RDF statements, using several ontological and linguistic knowledge levels. Although we describe a general methodology for a number of application domains, our system is particularly suitable for the notary realm.
Analysing Sociolinguistic Variation

1. Introduction 2. Data collection 3. The sociolinguistic interview 4. Data, data and more data 5. The linguistic variable 6. Formulating hypothesis/operationalizing claims 7. The variable rule program: theory and practice 8. The 'how to's of a variationist analysis 9. Distributional analysis 10. Multivariate analysis 11. Interpreting your results 12. Finding the story.
Serial Semiquantitative Imaging of Brain Damage Using Micro-SPECT and Micro-CT After Endothelin-1–Induced Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

In this study, we validated the use of 99mTc-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) micro-SPECT combined with micro-CT for semiquantification of the infarct size after an experimental stroke in rats and compared our observations with those obtained from histology. This imaging strategy was applied to measure the longitudinal effect of mild hypothermia on the progression of brain damage after stroke in rats. Methods: The endothelin-1 model was used to elicit a transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats. This resulted in a reproducible insult in which the core is represented by the striatum and the penumbra by the cortex. Micro-SPECT and micro-CT images were taken at 1, 3, and 7 d after infusion of endothelin-1 and compared with those taken before the insult. After the last acquisition, rats were sacrificed and the infarct volume was determined via Nissl staining. The results obtained with micro-SPECT and micro-CT were compared with histology at the same time points. Mild hypothermia (33°C) was induced for 2 h, starting 20 min after the insult. Results: Brain damage was estimated using micro-SPECT and micro-CT and was reproducible with minimal interobserver variability. Normothermic stroke rats had reduced 99mTc-HMPAO uptake at 1 and 3 d after the insult, whereas hypothermia improved damage after stroke. These findings corroborate with histology at the same time points. At 1 wk after the insult, no reduction of radioactive uptake was observed in any treatment group. Conclusion: Micro-SPECT and micro-CT allow quick and reproducible semiquantification of brain damage as an interesting alternative to histology to measure the extent of infarcted tissue in small animals after stroke.
Variation in the dysbindin gene and normal cognitive function in three independent population samples

The association between DTNBP1 genotype and cognitive abilities was investigated in three population samples (1054 Scottish, 1806 Australian and 745 English) of varying age. There was evidence in each of the cohorts for association (P < 0.05) to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes previously shown to relate to cognition. By comparison with previous findings, these associations included measures of memory, and there was at best equivocal evidence of association with general cognitive ability. Of the SNPs typed in all three cohorts, rs2619528 and rs1011313 showed significant association with measures of executive function in two cohorts, rs1018381 showed significant association with verbal ability in one cohort and rs2619522 showed significance/marginal significance with tests of memory, speed and executive function in two cohorts. For all these SNPs, the direction and magnitude of the allelic effects were consistent between cohorts and with previous findings. In the English cohort, a previously untested SNP (rs742105) located in a distinct haplotype block upstream of the other SNPs showed the strongest significance (P < 0.01) for measures of memory but weaker significance for general cognitive ability. Our results therefore support involvement of the dysbindin gene in cognitive function, but further work is needed to clarify the specific functional variants involved and the cognitive abilities with which they are associated.