Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anthropometric, Physiological and Performance Aspects That Differentiate Male Athletes from Females and Practical Consequences

The article provides a concise analysis of the meaningful and comprehensive aspects of the incidence of gender differences in sport performance, in particular analyzes some aspects (physiological, quantitative and qualitative) that determine the performance of the sport and influence the organization of training in elite sports. The results of different scientific papers will allow to better understand and motivate more accurately the methodological choices and the procedural attentions, in the respect physical, physiological, technical, psychic and gender characteristics in the various sports activities. The objective of the study is theoretical argument for the part relating to the revision of the scientific literature of the theory of training and interpretative for the theoretical and documentary results.
An evolutionary stage model of cyberspace: a case study of Samsung Economic Research Institute

An evolutionary stage model of cyberspace is proposed based on the four key fundamental driving forces: Moore’s Law, Gilder’s Law, Metcalfe’s Law, and the Law of Disruption. It is suggested that the managerial tasks and information and communication technologies associated with the utilization of cyberspace will change in character over a period of time, and will evolve in patterns roughly related to the proposed four stages, namely, the node stage, the link stage, the network stage, and the space stage. Each stage is described and validated through a longitudinal single-case study of Samsung Economic Research Institute (SERI) from 1996 to 2001.
Histone deacetylase inhibitors influence chemotherapy transport by modulating expression and trafficking of a common polymorphic variant of the ABCG 2 efflux transporter

1 Histone deacetylase inhibitors influence chemotherapy transport by modulating expression and trafficking of a common polymorphic variant of the ABCG2 efflux transporter Author manuscripts have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication but have not yet been edited. Abstract Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) have exhibited some efficacy in clinical trials but it is clear that their most effective applications have yet to be fully determined. In this study, we show that HDIs influence the expression of a common polymorphic variant of the chemotherapy drug efflux transporter ABCG2, which contributes to normal tissue protection. As one of the most frequent variants in human ABCG2, the polymorphism Q141K impairs expression, localization and function, thereby reducing drug clearance and increasing chemotherapy toxicity. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the ABCG2 Q141K variant was fully processed but retained in the aggresome, a perinuclear structure where misfolded proteins aggregate. In screening for compounds that could correct its expression, localization and function, we found that the microtubule disrupting agent colchicine could induce re-localization of the variant from the aggresome to the cell surface. More strinkingly, we found that HDIs could produce a similar effect but also restore protein expression to wild-type levels, yielding a restoration of ABCG2-mediated specific drug efflux activity. Notably, HDIs did not modify aggresome structures but instead rescued newly synthesized protein and prevented aggresome targeting, suggesting that HDIs disturbed trafficking along microtubules by eliciting changes in motor protein expression. Together, these results showed how HDIs are able to restore wild-type functions of the common Q141K polymorphic isoform of ABCG2. More broadly, our findings expand the potential uses of HDIs in the clinic. Author manuscripts have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication but have not yet been edited.
Algorithms for discrete and continuous multicommodity flow network interdiction problems

We consider a network interdiction problem on a multicommodity flow network, in which an attacker disables a set of network arcs in order to minimize the maximum profit that can be obtained from shipping commodities across the network. The attacker is assumed to have some budget for destroying (or “interdicting”) arcs, and each arc is associated with a positive interdiction expense. In this paper, we examine problems in which interdiction must be discrete (i.e., each arc must either be left alone or completely destroyed), and in which interdiction can be continuous (the capacities of arcs may be partially reduced). For the discrete problem, we describe a linearized model for optimizing network interdiction that is similar to previous studies in the field, and compare it to a penalty model that does not require linearization constraints. For the continuous case, we prescribe an optimal partitioning algorithm along with a heuristic procedure for estimating the optimal objective function value. We demonstrate on a set of randomly generated test data that our penalty model for the discrete interdiction problem significantly reduces computational time when compared to that consumed by the linearization model.
HERD INDUCED BY UNINFORMED TRADERS IN EFFICIENT FINANCIAL MARKETS

Rational herd is usually regarded to be difficult, if not impossible, to take place in an efficient financial market. In an extension of a sequential unit trading model, we find that large numbers of inferiorly informed traders who used not to trade could be induced to engage in herding when there are only a few uninformed traders adopting feedback strategies. We show conditions under which different scenarios take place. The herding led by uninformed traders could be persistent and robust without information cascade. The model also captures the gradual accumulation of market frenzies and panics. As the required number of uninformed traders who trigger the informed trader’s herding could be very small, the model is plausibly justified in reality. The model thus provides us with a unique framework for looking into many interesting phenomena in financial markets.
Effects of Latent Toxoplasmosis on Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases in Pregnancy

Background Toxoplasmosis, one of the most common zoonotic diseases worldwide, can induce various hormonal and behavioural alterations in infected hosts, and its most common form, latent toxoplasmosis, influences the course of pregnancy. Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) belong to the well-defined risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a link between latent toxoplasmosis and maternal AITD in pregnancy. Methods Cross-sectional study in 1248 consecutive pregnant women in the 9–12th gestational weeks. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPOAb), and free thyroxine (FT4) were assessed by chemiluminescence; the Toxoplasma status was detected by the complement fixation test (CFT) and anti-Toxoplasma IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Overall, 22.5% of the women were positive for latent toxoplasmosis and 14.7% were screened positive for AITD. Women with latent toxoplasmosis had more often highly elevated TPOAb than the Toxoplasma-negative ones (p = 0.004), and latent toxoplasmosis was associated with decrease in serum TSH levels (p = 0.049). Moreover, we found a positive correlation between FT4 and the index of positivity for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies (p = 0.033), which was even stronger in the TPOAb-positive Toxoplasma-positive women, (p = 0.014), as well as a positive correlation between FT4 and log2 CFT (p = 0.009). Conclusions Latent toxoplasmosis was associated with a mild increase in thyroid hormone production in pregnancy. The observed Toxoplasma-associated changes in the parameters of AITD are mild and do not seem to be clinically relevant; however, they could provide new clues to the complex pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases.
A Model of Human Muscle Energy Expenditure

A model of muscle energy expenditure was developed for predicting thermal, as well as mechanical energy liberation during simulated muscle contractions. The model was designed to yield energy (heat and work) rate predictions appropriate for human skeletal muscle contracting at normal body temperature. The basic form of the present model is similar to many previous models of muscle energy expenditure, but parameter values were based almost entirely on mammalian muscle data, with preference given to human data where possible. Nonlinear phenomena associated with submaximal activation were also incorporated. The muscle energy model was evaluated at varying levels of complexity, ranging from simulated contractions of isolated muscle, to simulations of whole body locomotion. In all cases, acceptable agreement was found between simulated and experimental energy liberation. The present model should be useful in future studies of the energetics of human movement using forward dynamic computer simulation.
An Explicit-Implicit Predictor-Corrector Domain Decomposition Method for Time Dependent Multi-Dimensional Convection Diffusion Equations

The numerical solution of large scale multi-dimensional convection diffusion equations often requires efficient parallel algorithms. In this work, we consider the extension of a recently proposed non-overlapping domain decomposition method for two dimensional time dependent convection diffusion equations with variable coefficients. By combining predictor-corrector technique, modified upwind differences with explicitimplicit coupling, the method under consideration provides intrinsic parallelism while maintaining good stability and accuracy. Moreover, for multi-dimensional problems, the method can be readily implemented on a multi-processor system and does not have the limitation on the choice of subdomains required by some other similar predictorcorrector or stabilized schemes. These properties of the method are demonstrated in this work through both rigorous mathematical analysis and numerical experiments. AMS subject classifications: 65N30, 65F10
Potential-Based Shaping and Q-Value Initialization are Equivalent

Shaping has proven to be a powerful but precarious means of improving reinforcement learning performance. Ng, Harada, and Russell (1999) proposed the potential-based shaping algorithm for adding shaping rewards in a way that guarantees the learner will learn optimal behavior. In this note, we prove certain similarities between this shaping algorithm and the initialization step required for several reinforcement learning algorithms. More specifically, we prove that a reinforcement learner with initial Q-values based on the shaping algorithm's potential function make the same updates throughout learning as a learner receiving potential-based shaping rewards. We further prove that under a broad category of policies, the behavior of these two learners are indistinguishable. The comparison provides intuition on the theoretical properties of the shaping algorithm as well as a suggestion for a simpler method for capturing the algorithm's benefit. In addition, the equivalence raises previously unaddressed issues concerning the efficiency of learning with potential-based shaping.
Human papillomavirus DNA in surgical smoke during cervical loop electrosurgical excision procedures and its impact on the surgeon

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore whether human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA is present in surgical smoke generated by loop electrosurgical excision procedures (LEEPs). Furthermore, we investigated the impact of this HPV DNA on surgeons. Methods: A total of 134 outpatients with persistent HPV infections treated with LEEP for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia between 2015 and 2016, along with the corresponding LEEP operators, were included. The flow fluorescence in situ hybridization technique was used to detect HPV DNA in exfoliated cervical cells from the patients, in surgical smoke and in nasal epithelial cells from the surgeons before and after LEEP. Results: The positive rates of HPV DNA in the three types of samples mentioned above were 94.8%, 29.9% and 1.5%, respectively. The distribution of HPV subtypes in surgical smoke was identical to that in the cervical specimens. The positive rate of HPV DNA in surgical smoke was significantly increased for greater distances of the suction device from the surgical site. The nasal epithelial cells of two surgeons were positive for HPV DNA, and the genotypes were consistent with those in the corresponding surgical smoke. After a 3–6-month follow-up, the nasal swabs from these two doctors tested negative for HPV DNA. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the presence of HPV DNA in surgical smoke produced by LEEP and the risk of airborne transmission of HPV DNA during the operation. Fortunately, the HPV DNA in the nasopharynx of the operators was not persistent.
Simplified SOM-neural model for video segmentation of moving objects

Background determination is crucial to visual intelligent surveillance systems. Although several methods have been proposed in the literature, research on this topic is still a paramount objective in the surveillance system community. High performance and low computational cost in a video segmentation model are some of the characteristics of the segmentation model presented in this paper. The model is designed to work with semi-static backgrounds. The segmentation model is based on a SOM like architecture. Weights neuron updates are performed in the fly to provide dynamic background actualization. The model keeps simplicity but it is tolerant to background variations like illumination, shadows, and slow moving background regions. The method was tested in several scenarios, including daytime and night situations, as well as interior and exterior scenarios. Qualitative and quantitative results of the model show high performance for normal backgrounds, and acceptable performance on high dynamic backgrounds, compared with complex models reported in the literature.
Cepstrum-Domain Model Combination Based on Decomposition of Speech and Noise Using MMSE-LSA for ASR in Noisy Environments

This paper presents an efficient method for combining models of speech and noise for robust speech recognition applications in noisy environments. This method decomposes the cepstrum domain representation of noise-corrupted speech into clean speech cepstrum and background noise cepstrum components using a minimum mean squared error-log spectral amplitude (MMSE-LSA) criterion. Speech recognition is then performed on noisy cepstrum domain observations using a model that is formed by parallel combination of cepstrum domain clean speech distributions and background noise distributions estimated using this MMSE-LSA based noise decomposition. This method is far more efficient than other parallel model combination (PMC) procedures because model combination is performed directly in the cepstrum domain rather than in the linear spectral domain. Whereas background noise model estimation is addressed as a separate issue in existing PMC procedures, this method explicitly incorporates a mechanism to continually update background noise models and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimates over time. The performance of the proposed cepstrum-domain model combination method is compared with a well known implementation of PMC which uses a log-normal approximation when combining speech and background noise model means and variances on a connected digit string recognition task which is subjected to mismatched channel and environment conditions. As a result, it is shown that the proposed model combination technique gives a word error rate that is comparable to PMC when background noise information and SNR are known prior to estimation. The paper will also present the results of experiments where a combination of cepstrum-domain feature compensation and model combination are applied to this task.
THE INDUCTION OF DECIDUOMATA IN THE RAT.

ON E of the main steps in the elucidation of the mechanism of ovum implantation is to determine how the blastocyst stimulates the uterus to undergo a decidual reaction. The extent of this reaction varies between species but is particularly marked in rodents, and normal ovum implantation does not occur without it. It has been known for several years, however, that the uterus of a suitably primed rodent can be stimulated to produce decidual cells in the absence of a blastocyst simply by traumatization of the uterus. The so-called deciduoma which results is thought to be analogous to the decidual reaction of normal implantation because (a) it is histologically similar (Krehbiel, 1937), and (b) the hormonal requirements for its formation are similar to those for implantation. Thus the deciduoma is a useful model on which to investigate factors which may be important in the initiation of the decidual response. It is also of interest as an example of extremely rapid cellular proliferation (the uterus may increase its weight four-fold in 72 hours) and so may provide information about cellular growth in general. If the deciduoma is analogous to the decidual reaction it is a reasonable assumption that the mechanisms by which the two responses are initiated have at least a final stage in common. Shelesnyak (1952) found that histamine instilled into the lumen of the uterus initiated the formation of a deciduoma in rats and, on this and other evidence, postulated that histamine liberation was an important factor in the initiation of the decidual cell response both by the blastocyst and by trauma. However, the injection of any substance into the uterus is attended by sufficient trauma to cause a small deciduoma and thus one can only be sure that a substance is affecting deciduoma formation if a carefully controlled experiment has shown that the substance causes a response significantly different from that given by an injection of vehicle alone. To do this it is essential to have an objective and quantitative measure of the response and to design the experiments so that unconscious bias is avoided.
“Asexy and we know it”: The Emergence of Asexual Activism as a Sexual and Gender Social Movement

This thesis considers the emerging character of asexual activism in Western societies. It asks what the key factors are impacting on triggering, mobilisation, organisation and performance that motivate asexual-identified individuals into collective activism. It considers the significance of wider LGBT+ and Q activism exemplified by Pride as performed spectacle, as a factor influencing the character of contemporary asexual activism. This is considered both in terms of how the staging, setting and scripting of Pride speaks to asexual activists in the West, and, how they speak back to Pride as actor-activists, audience and bystanders to its political theatre. Methodologically, this thesis is based on 15 months of ethnographic research: online semi-structured interviews with asexual activists in both Europe and North America; auto-ethnographic participant-observation of Pride events in Europe and North America, and, specific case studies of WorldPride 2014 and Berlin Pride 2015. Theoretically, it draws cross-disciplinarily on: insights from Social Movement Theory, particularly recent work which emphasises the significance of emotive, cultural drama in contemporary activism; insights from Sexuality & Gender Studies concerning scripted behaviour and LGBT+ and Q identity-formations, and, emerging research in Asexual Studies concerning asexual orientations, identities and socialised behaviours. The thesis emphasises the work of Goffmann (1971, 1974, 2017), Jasper (2008), Plummer (1994), Rubin (2011), Stallybrass and White (1986) and Tilly (1995) to analyse the presentation of the asexual activist self, the collective activist performances through which that self is embodied, and the interrelated asexual and Pride narratives that are contended. Through auto-ethnography it considers the researcher’s engagement with these contentious repertoires, as academic and participant-observer who is also an actor-activist, audience member and bystander. This analysis reveals a disconnect between the ongoing, framed scripting of Pride activism in the West and the emerging core-frames of asexual activist scripts; even as asexual activists seek alignment.
Neurocutaneous Melanosis Presenting as Chronic Partial Epilepsy

Background Neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM) is a rare neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by the presence of multiple congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) and the proliferation of melanocytes in the central nervous system, usually involving the leptomeninges. Chronic partial epilepsy as a sole manifestation is rare in NCM. Case Report A 32-year-old man suffering from chronic partial epilepsy presented with multiple CMN on his trunk and scalp. Brain MRI demonstrated a focal lesion in the right amygdala that was consistent with interictal epileptiform discharges in the right temporal region on electroencephalography (EEG). An anterior temporal lobectomy was performed, and the pathology investigation revealed numerous melanophages in the amygdala. The patient was seizure-free after surgery. Conclusions We report a patient with NCM presenting as chronic partial epilepsy who was successfully treated by anterior temporal lobectomy.
Demand and Income Distribution in a Two-Country Kaleckian Model

This study builds a two-country Kaleckian model and investigates the effect of one country’s economic policy on both countries. In contrast to preceding studies, we consider monetary aspects as well as real aspects. Our results show that the effects on output of an increase in the nominal wage rate and in the mark-up rate differ from the results obtained from one-country Kaleckian models. Moreover, we show that the success of monetary easing in one country may depend on the other country’s policy, implying the need for policy coordination between the two countries.
Functional coupling of acoustic and chemical signals in the courtship behaviour of the male Drosophila melanogaster

During courtship, the male Drosophila melanogaster sends signals to the female through two major sensory channels: chemical and acoustic. These signals are involved in the stimulation of the female to accept copulation. In order to determine the respective importance in the courtship of these signals, their production was controlled using genetical and surgical techniques. Males deprived of the ability to emit both signals are unable to mate, demonstrating that other (e.g. visual or tactile) signals are not sufficient to stimulate the female. If either acoustic or chemical signals are lacking, the courtship success is strongly reduced, the lack of the former having significantly more drastic effects. However, the accelerated matings of males observed with males bearing wild‐type hydrocarbons compared with defective ones, whichever the modality of acoustic performance (wing vibration or playback), strongly support the role of cuticular compounds to stimulate females. We can conclude that among the possible factors involved in communication during courtship, acoustic and chemical signals may act in a synergistic way and not separately in D. melanogaster.