Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparing bird and human soaring strategies

Gliding saves much energy, and to make large distances using only this form of flight represents a great challenge for both birds and people. The solution is to make use of the so-called thermals, which are localized, warmer regions in the atmosphere moving upwards with a speed exceeding the descent rate of bird and plane. Whereas birds use this technique mainly for foraging, humans do it as a sporting activity. Thermalling involves efficient optimization including the skilful localization of thermals, trying to guess the most favorable route, estimating the best descending rate, etc. In this study, we address the question whether there are any analogies between the solutions birds and humans find to handle the above task. High-resolution track logs were taken from thermalling falcons and paraglider pilots to determine the essential parameters of the flight patterns. We find that there are relevant common features in the ways birds and humans use thermals. In particular, falcons seem to reproduce the MacCready formula widely used by gliders to calculate the best slope to take before an upcoming thermal.
Integration of Optical and SAR Data for Burned Area Mapping in Mediterranean Regions

The aim of this paper is to investigate how optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data can be combined in an integrated multi-source framework to identify burned areas at the regional scale. The proposed approach is based on the use of fuzzy sets theory and a region-growing algorithm. Landsat TM and (C-band) ENVISAT Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) images acquired for the year 2003 have been processed to extract burned area maps over Portugal. Pre-post fire SAR backscatter temporal difference has been integrated with optical spectral indices to the aim of reducing confusion between burned areas and low-albedo surfaces. The output fuzzy score maps have been compared with reference fire perimeters provided by the Fire Atlas of Portugal. Results show that commission and omission errors in the output burned area maps are a function of the threshold applied to the fuzzy score maps; between the two extremes of the greatest producer’s accuracy (omission error < 10%) and user’s accuracy (commission error < 5%), an intermediate threshold value provides errors of about 20% over the study area. The integration of SAR backscatter allowed reducing local commission errors from 65.4% (using optical data, only) to 11.4%, showing to significantly mitigate local errors due to the presence of cloud shadows and wetland areas. Overall, the proposed method is flexible and open to further developments; also in the perspective of the European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel missions operationally providing SAR and optical datasets.
‘THICK’ CONCEPTIONS OF SUBSTANTIVE REPRESENTATION: WOMEN, GENDER AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS

Understanding and analysing the complexity and contingency of what is ‘going on’ with the substantive representation of women (SRW) requires a ‘thick’ contextual framework comprising a whole‐system approach rather than a narrow focus on whether or not female political representatives ‘act for’ women. A new schema is presented which enables us to locate and analyse the critical actors, sites and dynamics of SRW, over time, and in concrete gendered institutions and situations. The framework also addresses the question of what counts as the SRW.
Type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor targeted therapies in pediatric cancer

Data from over 20 years ago demonstrated potential use for insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling modulators, specifically with IGF-1R antagonists, in a variety of pediatric and adolescent cancers, particularly in sarcomas. However, in spite of promising preclinical data, IGF-1R inhibitors have not had the success as single agents that was originally hoped for in clinical trials. Several potential mechanisms exist by which tumors are resistant to IGF-1R inhibitors. Notably, these resistance mechanisms are currently best understood in Ewing sarcoma and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Various treatment schema have been proposed as a potential way to overcome this resistance. The use of IGF-1R inhibitors, mechanisms of resistance, and current ongoing clinical studies using IGF-1R inhibitors in pediatric cancers are reviewed here.
Structure-preserving model reduction for spatially interconnected systems with experimental validation on an actuated beam

ABSTRACT A technique for model reduction of exponentially stable spatially interconnected systems is presented, where the order of the reduced model is determined by the number of truncated small generalised singular values of the structured solutions to a pair of Lyapunov inequalities. For parameter-invariant spatially interconnected systems, the technique is based on solving a pair of Lyapunov inequalities in continuous-time and -space domain with a rank constraint. Using log-det and cone complementarity methods, an improved error bound can be obtained. The approach is extended to spatially parameter-varying systems, and a balanced truncation approach using parameter-dependent Gramians is proposed to reduce the conservatism caused by the use of constant Gramians. This is done by considering two important operators, which can be used to represent multidimensional systems (temporal- and spatial-linear parameter varying interconnected systems). The results are illustrated with their application to an experimentally identified spatially interconnected model of an actuated beam; the experimentally obtained response to an excitation signal is compared with the response predicted by a reduced model.
Difference between total and intact assays for N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen reflects degradation of pN-collagen rather than denaturation of intact propeptide

Background The concentration of N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) in the serum reflects the rate of type I collagen formation. Intact PINP assay measures the trimeric propeptide while total P1NP assay measures both trimeric and monomeric forms. In this study we compared these two assays emphasizing the possible differences. Methods Intact and total PINP were measured from serum in healthy Finnish blood donors (n = 34) and in the patients with chronic renal failure before and after haemodialysis (n = 39). In addition, the serum of a normal man, pooled hospital serum samples and the serum of a patient with haemodialysis treatment were fractioned by gel filtration and trimeric and monomeric forms were located. Fractions were lyophilized and intact and total PINP were measured in each fraction. Samples from bedridden geriatric patients (n = 173) were also measured using intact and total PINP assays and a degradation marker of type I collagen (ICTP). Results The correlation between intact and total PINP in controls was 0.89 and their PINP concentrations were similar. In haemodialysis or bedridden geriatric patients, the PINP methods gave significantly different results. In gel filtration studies, intact PINP hardly measured monomeric form even if its concentration was disproportionately increased in haemodialysis patients. In bedridden geriatric patients, the difference of total and intact PINP correlated significantly to degradation marker ICTP. Conclusions Difference between total and intact assays for PINP seem to reflect degradation of pN-collagen rather than denaturation of intact propeptide.
Anaphora Resolution

This chapter provides a theoretical background of anaphora and introduces the varieties of this pervasive linguistic phenomenon. Next, it defines the task of anaphora resolution and introduces it as a three-stage process: identification of anaphors, location of the candidates for antecedents, and the resolution algorithm. After that, the chapter outlines a selection of influential and extensively cited anaphora resolution algorithms and proceeds to discuss issues related to the evaluation of anaphora resolution algorithms. Recent deep learning work on anaphora and coreference resolution is briefly presented as well. Finally, the chapter explains why anaphora resolution is important for various NLP applications.
UWB receiver for breast cancer detection: Comparison between two different approaches

In UWB imaging for breast cancer detection, breast-reflected RF signals are processed to create energy images. This method was validated with instrumentation tools, which must be replaced with integrated circuits. We compare two front-end architectures, Direct Conversion (DC) and Coherent Equivalent Time Sampling (CETS). We evaluate the effect-on energy maps and SCR/SMR metrics-of noise sources, phase inaccuracies and non-linearity. DC receiver is more sensitive to phase inaccuracies and so less robust than CETS receiver. The latter can work in time domain with UWB pulses, other than in frequency domain like the DC one, which reduces acquisition time without performance impact.
Geografie en inwoneraantallen als verklarende factoren voor variatie in het Nederlandse dialectgebied

It is a fundamental insight of dialectology that language variation is structured geographically (Nerbonne & Kleiweg 2006). Apart from geographic proximity, large population sizes may increase social contact between communities living in two separate locations and thus the chance that the respective dialects are influenced by each other. Analoguous to the gravity model in physics, Trudgill 1974 combined linguistic similarity, geography and population sizes in one model as an index of linguistic influence between dialect locations. Following Nerbonne & Heeringa 2006 we use a model which combines geography and population sizes only to explain variation in aggregate dialect distances. In contrast to Nerbonne & Heeringa we use data of a larger and less homogeneous area. The data set comprises 27 varieties in the Netherlands and the North of Belgium. In accordance with Nerbonne & Heeringa 2006 we found geography to be an important predictor, but could not prove a significant additional value of population size in explaining linguistic variation.
How the internet is changing the implementation of traditional research methods, people’s daily lives, and the way in which developmental scientists conduct research

Recent years have seen an impressive increase in web-based research, of which we review and discuss two main types. First, researchers can create online versions of traditional questionnaires. Using the internet in this way usually does not compromise the psychometric properties of such measures, and participants are typically not less representative of the general population than those of traditional studies. Technical guidelines are provided to set up such studies, and thorny issues such as participants’ anonymity are discussed. We will also discuss issues regarding the assessment of minors and the repeated assessment of participants to assess developmental changes via the web. Second, the internet has changed the way people interact with each other. The study of the psychosocial consequences of this development is called cyberpsychology. We review emerging findings from this young discipline, with a focus on developmentally-relevant implications such as the use of the internet by adolescents to disclose personal information.
Effect of Fish Oil on Heart Rate in Humans: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background—The effect of fish oil on heart rate (HR), a major risk factor for sudden death, is not well established. We calculated this effect in a meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in humans. Methods and Results—Randomized trials of fish oil that evaluated HR were identified through MEDLINE (1966 through January 2005), hand-searching of references, and contact with investigators for unpublished results. Two investigators independently extracted trial data. A pooled estimate was calculated from random-effects meta-analysis. Predefined stratified meta-analyses and meta-regression were used to explore potential heterogeneity. Of 197 identified articles, 30 met inclusion criteria. Evidence for publication bias was not present. In the overall pooled estimate, fish oil decreased HR by 1.6 bpm (95% CI, 0.6 to 2.5; P=0.002) compared with placebo. Between-trial heterogeneity was evident (Q test, P<0.001). Fish oil reduced HR by 2.5 bpm (P<0.001) in trials with baseline HR ≥69 bpm (median) but had little effect (0.04-bpm reduction; P=0.56) in trials with baseline HR <69 bpm (P for interaction=0.03). Fish oil reduced HR by 2.5 bpm (P<0.001) in trials with duration ≥12 weeks but had less effect (0.7-bpm reduction; P=0.27) in trials with duration <12 weeks (P for interaction=0.07). HR reduction with fish oil intake did not significantly vary by fish oil dose (range, 0.81 to 15 g/d), type of HR measure, population age, population health, parallel versus crossover design, type of control oil, or study quality by Delphi criteria (P for interaction >0.25 for each). Conclusions—In randomized controlled trials in humans, fish oil reduces HR, particularly in those with higher baseline HR or longer treatment duration. These findings provide firm evidence that fish oil consumption directly or indirectly affects cardiac electrophysiology in humans. Potential mechanisms such as effects on the sinus node, ventricular efficiency, or autonomic function deserve further investigation.
PROFESIONALISME GURU SD NEGERI SE-KECAMATAN WARUNGASEM KABUPATEN BATANG Suatu tinjauan aspek persepsi guru tentang kepemimpinan kepala sekolah dan motivasi berprestasi guru

The purposes of this study were: to analyze the influence of teacher perceptions of principal leadership to teacher profesionlisme, 2) to analyze the influence of achievement motivation to teacher, and 3) to analyze the influence of teacher perceptions of principal leadership and teacher achievement motivation teacher profesionlisme Elementary School District as Batang Warungasem. The quantitative approach is used in this research with population consists of all elementary school teachers as Warungasem Batang district with the status of civil servants, amounting to 190 people. The Sample are 148 people. Data collection method in this study is conducted through a questionnaire. The validity and reliability instrument have been test and that result is significant on 5%. The results showed that: 1) the teachers’ perceptions of principal leadership have a positive and significant effect to the teacher professionalism at 5%, 2) the teachers achievement motivation have a positive and significant efect to the teacher professionalism at 5% and 3) the teacher perceptions of principal leadership and teacher achievement motivation have a positive and significant effect on teacher professionalism elementary School District as Warungasem Batang at 5% significance level.
THE INFLUENCE OF PERCEIVED REALISM ON AD LIKING AND BRAND LIKING

A study, using a three-step experiment in a mall in the northeastern U.S., was conducted to explore how product involvement and perceived realism may influence ad liking and brand liking among consumers. In total, 64 participants were recruited to fill out a questionnaire after reading ad scripts, which were designed in two versions, one with high realism and one with low realism. The final analysis showed that ad liking and brand liking were correlated. In some cases, when perceived realism increased, ad liking and brand liking also increased. Realism has stronger influence on ad liking and band liking for the “low involvement” productcoffee, than it does for the “high involvement” product automobiles. There was no similar finding for six other products, which were used to represent lowor high-involvement products. Further exploration about possible interactions between involvement and realism, and their potential effects on advertising effectiveness, merits attention for marketers and advertisers.
Conditional Reasoning, Representation, and Empirical Evidence on a Concrete Task

This study examined interactions between empirical data, internal representations, and reasoning performance on a conditional reasoning task using a concrete apparatus. Subjects were asked an initial series of questions in order to determine the pattern of inferences they made after simple exposure to the apparatus. They were subsequently shown two different experimental manipulations designed to provide data about the internal structure of the apparatus without giving information about specific inferences. Some subjects did change their reasoning in response to the new data, although most remained stable throughout the experiment. These results are consistent with the idea that reasoning may require generation of an internal representation of a problem space. It was also concluded that the relation between reasoning and empirical evidence cannot be understood without supposing that evidence is often interpreted by subjects according to their reasoning patterns.
Molecular mimicry and multiple sclerosis: Degenerate T‐cell recognition and the induction of autoimmunity

Various mechanisms have been proposed for the initiation of autoimmune responses by autoreactive T‐cell clones. One of these, the molecular mimicry hypothesis, postulates that myelin‐reactive T‐cell clones are activated by foreign antigens. Until recently, sequence homology between self‐ and foreign antigens was considered necessary for cross‐recognition to occur in multiple sclerosis. This article reviews current progress in T‐cell receptor immunology that led to modify this view and proposes a role for degenerate T‐cell antigen recognition in the induction of autoimmunity. Ann Neurol 1999;45:559–567
Distortion Bounds for Broadcasting With Bandwidth Expansion

We consider the problem of broadcasting a single Gaussian source to two listeners over a Gaussian broadcast channel, with rho channel uses per source sample, where rho>1. A distortion pair (D1 ,D2) is said to be achievable if one can simultaneously achieve a mean-squared error (MSE) D1 at receiver 1 and D2 at receiver 2. The main result of this correspondence is an outer bound for the set of all achievable distortion pairs. That is, we find necessary conditions under which (D1,D2) is achievable. We then apply this result to the problem of point-to-point transmission over a Gaussian channel with unknown signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and rho>1. We show that if a system must be optimal at a certain SNRmin, then, asymptotically, the system distortion cannot decay faster than O(1/SNR). As for achievability, we show that a previously reported scheme, due to Mittal and Phamdo (2002), is optimal at high SNR. We introduce two new schemes for broadcasting with bandwidth expansion, combining digital and analog transmissions. We finally show how a system with a partial feedback, returning from the bad receiver to the transmitter and to the good receiver, achieves a distortion pair that lies on the outer bound derived here
Drug repositioning by integrating target information through a heterogeneous network model

MOTIVATION The emergence of network medicine not only offers more opportunities for better and more complete understanding of the molecular complexities of diseases, but also serves as a promising tool for identifying new drug targets and establishing new relationships among diseases that enable drug repositioning. Computational approaches for drug repositioning by integrating information from multiple sources and multiple levels have the potential to provide great insights to the complex relationships among drugs, targets, disease genes and diseases at a system level. RESULTS In this article, we have proposed a computational framework based on a heterogeneous network model and applied the approach on drug repositioning by using existing omics data about diseases, drugs and drug targets. The novelty of the framework lies in the fact that the strength between a disease-drug pair is calculated through an iterative algorithm on the heterogeneous graph that also incorporates drug-target information. Comprehensive experimental results show that the proposed approach significantly outperforms several recent approaches. Case studies further illustrate its practical usefulness. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION http://cbc.case. edu CONTACT jingli@cwru.edu SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Interaction of municipal solid waste ash with water.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration ash is composed mainly of glasses and common minerals. We examine the dominant chemical reactions occurring between water and MSW ash using batch reactors. The ash-water solutions are dominated by ions released by soluble salts. X-ray diffraction documents the dissolution of soluble salts and the precipitation of at least one secondary alteration mineral. Three types of reactions are identified. (1) After rapid exhaustion of soluble salts, sodium and potassium exhibit nearly steady-state behavior due to the slow release of ions from less soluble minerals and glasses. Approximately 10 kg of anhydrous salts could be precipitated from a solution contacting each metric ton of ash
How does Conflict in Migrants’ Country of Origin Affect Remittance-Sending? Financial Priorities and Transnational Obligations among Somalis and Pakistanis in Norway

This article examines how conflict in the country of origin interacts with other factors in shaping migrants’ remittance-sending practices. Our data come from a survey of 10 immigrant groups in Norway and semi-structured interviews with Somali and Pakistani remittance-senders and receivers. First, we conduct an in-depth comparison to explore the differences in how Somali and Pakistani migrants decide about remittance-sending. Second, we use survey data on all 10 migrant groups to evaluate whether the differences that are not explained by socioeconomic characteristics, may partly reflect whether or not there is ongoing conflict in the country of origin. In our analyses we differentiate between (1) the effect of migrants’ capacity to remit and their prioritizing of local and transnational expenditures, and (2) the impact of state collapse and absence of human security on migrants’ and refugees’ desire to remit. We find that ongoing conflict in the country of origin exerts an upward pressure on remittance-sending.
The emerging role of alternative splicing in senescence and aging

Deregulation of precursor mRNA splicing is associated with many illnesses and has been linked to age‐related chronic diseases. Here we review recent progress documenting how defects in the machinery that performs intron removal and controls splice site selection contribute to cellular senescence and organismal aging. We discuss the functional association linking p53, IGF‐1, SIRT1, and ING‐1 splice variants with senescence and aging, and review a selection of splicing defects occurring in accelerated aging (progeria), vascular aging, and Alzheimer's disease. Overall, it is becoming increasingly clear that changes in the activity of splicing factors and in the production of key splice variants can impact cellular senescence and the aging phenotype.