Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Fourier Frequency Spectrum Peaks of Milk Electrical Conductivity Signals as Indexes to Monitor the Dairy Goats’ Health Status by On-Line Sensors

The aim of this study is a further characterization of the electrical conductivity (EC) signal of goat milk, acquired on-line by EC sensors, to identify new indexes representative of the EC variations that can be observed during milking, when considering not healthy (NH) glands. Two foremilk gland samples from 42 Saanen goats, were collected for three consecutive weeks and for three different lactation stages (LS: 0–60 Days In Milking (DIM); 61–120 DIM; 121–180 DIM), for a total amount of 1512 samples. Bacteriological analyses and somatic cells counts (SCC) were used to define the health status of the glands. With negative bacteriological analyses and SCC < 1,000,000 cells/mL, glands were classified as healthy. When bacteriological analyses were positive or showed a SCC > 1,000,000 cells/mL, glands were classified as NH. For each milk EC signal, acquired on-line and for each gland considered, the Fourier frequency spectrum of the signal was calculated and three representative frequency peaks were identified. To evaluate data acquired a MIXED procedure was used considering the HS, LS and LS × HS as explanatory variables in the statistical model.Results showed that the studied frequency peaks had a significant relationship with the gland’s health status. Results also explained how the milk EC signals’ pattern change in case of NH glands. In fact, it is characterized by slower fluctuations (due to the lower frequencies of the peaks) and by an irregular trend (due to the higher amplitudes of all the main frequency peaks). Therefore, these frequency peaks could be used as new indexes to improve the performances of algorithms based on multivariate models which evaluate the health status of dairy goats through the use of gland milk EC sensors.
Analgesic effects of self-chosen music type on cold pressor-induced pain: Motivating vs. relaxing music

The attenuation of perceived pain through exposure to music is known as music analgesia. The present study used a mixed-methods design, investigating whether self-chosen music moderated participants’ psychological and physiological responses to pain during cold pressor (CP) tasks. Thirty participants took part (14 males, 16 females; Mage = 27.77 years). Three levels of musical stimulation were employed—relaxing music, motivating music and a silent control condition. Dependent variables included: CP tolerance time, Profile of Mood score, visual analogue pain rating—intensity and unpleasantness (VAS-I & VAS-U), blood pressure and pulse rate. Qualitative semi-structured interviews further investigated perceived differences between musical stimulation types. Results demonstrated a significant effect of musical exposure on VAS-U scores [F (2, 56) = 3.60, p = . 034]. Pairwise comparisons revealed that VAS-U scores were significantly lower after exposure to relaxing music than after silence. Qualitative analyses of interview transcripts revealed dominant themes of distraction, absorption and context-dependent memory induction, with the most-preferred condition being motivational music. Results of the current study suggest that active listening to music reduces pain unpleasantness ratings, and that individual preference is an important determinant of the overall emotional and distraction properties of musical stimuli.
From Russia with Love / Russian experimental and empirical contributions informed by an anticipatory perspective

There is a reason for appropriating the title of the James Bond movie. But first, a bit of background: The date was 25 October 2011. At the invitation of professor Dr Peter Koenig, I gave a lecture at the Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Osnabrück on a particular subject inspired by my research: quantifying anticipatory characteristics. Those who were present might remember that a student, with an obvious Russian accent (sorry, it did not sound Estonian), challenged my culture of the subject. “There were others”, he let me know, “who had worked on anticipation before Rosen, before you, and even before some of the authors that you brought to the attention of the scientific community”. This was, I thought, in reference to the large Annotated Bibliography published in this journal (volume 39 issue 1, 2010). I was happy to hear him mention some authors. (I knew only about Nikolai A. Bernstein, but not enough even about him). The rest is history: I initiated a Study Group on anticipation at the prestigious Hanse Institute for Advanced Study and worked hard to make a series of conferences dedicated to foundations happen. The Russians came to Delmenhorst. I had a tough time handling some of them, but all in all I learned a lot about a part of the history of science that rarely gets mentioned. James Bond would pause here before exposing the “criminal”. The student who challenged me is Andres Kurismaa, an exceptional intellectual fully dedicated to his academic focus – broader, I hasten to say than that of most my students (past and present). In his own words:
Between area and discipline

This paper explores tensions that emerge from the injunction to make progress in geographical knowledge production in the globalizing landscape of higher education and research. The paper identifies gaps that emerge between disciplinary geographical knowledge production and area studies knowledge production, particularly connections to non-western areas on which many geographers work. It suggests these gaps are symptomatic and productive of the discipline’s problematically constituted community: the ‘we’ of Geography’s vanguard. The paper charts the precipitation of these tensions within Geography’s disciplinary dispositif before suggesting three alternative knowledge production tactics aimed at closing any such gaps and that in turn democratically reconstitute disciplinary Geography’s ‘we’.
An agent oriented proactive fault-tolerant framework for grid computing

Because of computational grid heterogeneity, scale and complexity, faults become likely. Therefore, grid infrastructure must have mechanisms to deal with faults while also providing efficient and reliable services to its end users. Existing fault-tolerant approaches are inefficient because they are reactive and incomplete. They are reactive because they only deal with faults when they take place; they are incomplete because they only deal with certain types of faults. Proactive approaches increase efficiency by reducing the cost and time of operations and network resource usage by maintaining the state of executing applications and resuming operation when rescheduled. This paper presents an agent oriented, fault-tolerant grid framework where agents deal with individual faults proactively. Agents maintain information about hardware conditions, executing process memory consumption, available resources, network conditions and component mean time to failure. Based on this information and critical states, agent can improve the reliability and efficiency of grid services
Neutrinos as cluster dark matter

The dynamical mass of clusters of galaxies, calculated in terms of MOdified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), is a factor of 2 or 3 times smaller than the Newtonian dynamical mass but remains significantly larger than the observed baryonic mass in the form of hot gas and stars in galaxies. Here I consider further the suggestion that the undetected matter might be in the form of cosmological neutrinos with mass of the order of 2 eV. If the neutrinos and baryons have comparable velocity dispersions and if the two components maintain their cosmological density ratio, then the electron density in the cores of clusters should be proportional to T(3/2), as appears to be true in non-cooling flow clusters. This is equivalent to the 'entropy floor' proposed to explain the steepness of the observed luminosity-temperature relation, but here preheating of the medium is not required. Two-fluid (neutrino-baryon) hydrostatic models of clusters, in the context of MOND, reproduce the observed luminosity-temperature relation of clusters. If the beta law is imposed on the gas density distribution, then the self-consistent models predict the general form of the observed temperature profile in both cooling and non-cooling flow clusters.
Land Collateral and Labor Market Dynamics in France

The value of land in the balance sheet of French firms correlates positively with their hiring and investment flows. To explore the relationship between these variables, we develop a macroeconomic model with firms that are subject to both credit and labor market frictions. The value of collateral is driven by the forward-looking dynamics of the land price, which reacts endogenously to fundamental and non-fundamental (sunspot) shocks. We calibrate the model to French data and find that land price shocks give rise to significant amplification and hump-shaped responses of investment, vacancies and unemployment that are in line with the data.
Attentional Modulation of Change Detection ERP Components by Peripheral Retro-Cueing

Change detection is essential for visual perception and performance in our environment. However, observers often miss changes that should be easily noticed. A failure in any of the processes involved in conscious detection (encoding the pre-change display, maintenance of that information within working memory, and comparison of the pre and post change displays) can lead to change blindness. Given that unnoticed visual changes in a scene can be easily detected once attention is drawn to them, it has been suggested that attention plays an important role on visual awareness. In the present study, we used behavioral and electrophysiological (ERPs) measures to study whether the manipulation of retrospective spatial attention affects performance and modulates brain activity related to the awareness of a change. To that end, exogenous peripheral cues were presented during the delay period (retro-cues) between the first and the second array using a one-shot change detection task. Awareness of a change was associated with a posterior negative amplitude shift around 228–292 ms (“Visual Awareness Negativity”), which was independent of retrospective spatial attention, as it was elicited to both validly and invalidly cued change trials. Change detection was also associated with a larger positive deflection around 420–580 ms (“Late Positivity”), but only when the peripheral retro-cues correctly predicted the change. Present results confirm that the early and late ERP components related to change detection can be functionally dissociated through manipulations of exogenous retro-cueing using a change blindness paradigm.
Transporting compressed video over ATM networks with explicit-rate feedback control

We propose a scheme for transmission of variable bit rate (VBR) compressed video for interactive applications using the explicit-rate congestion-control mechanisms proposed for the available bit rate (ABR) service in asynchronous transfer mode networks. Compressed video is inherently bursty, with rate fluctuations over both short and long time scales. This source behavior can be accommodated by the ABR service, since the explicit-rate scheme allows sources to request varying amounts of bandwidth over time. Moreover, when the bandwidth demand cannot be met, the network provides feedback indicating the bandwidth currently available to a connection. In our scheme, the video source rate is matched to the available bandwidth by modifying the quantization level used during compression. We use trace-driven simulations to examine how effective the enhanced explicit-rate scheme is in "rate matching" between the network and the source and the effect on end-to-end delay. We also look at the sensitivity of the proposed scheme to the estimates of the network round-trip times and to inaccuracies in the rate requests made by sources.
Identity of socially interactive robotic twins: Initial results of VHRI study

The paper refers to the issue of robot companion being able to migrate between different embodiments. The main attention is focused on the case when two or more companions can share the same embodiment. It is shown that some behavioural characteristics can be significant in the process of recognition of the companion's identity. The results are based on a video based experimental study. Animations for this study were prepared using a dedicated software.
Probucol Attenuates Cyclophosphamide-induced Oxidative Apoptosis, p53 and Bax Signal Expression in Rat Cardiac Tissues

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a widely used drug in cancer chemotherapy and immunosuppression, which could cause toxicity of the normal cells due to its toxic metabolites. Probucol, a cholesterol-lowering drug, acts as potential inhibitor of DNA damage and shows to protect against doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy by enhancing the endogenous antioxidant system including glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase. This study examined the possible protective effects of probucol, a lipid-lowering compound with strong antioxidant properties, against CPinduced cardiotoxicity. This objective could be achieved through studying the gene expression-based on the possible protective effects of probucol against CP-induced cardiac failure in rats. Adult male Wistar albino rats were assigned into four treatment groups: Animals in the first (control) and second (probucol) groups were injected intraperitoneally with corn oil and probucol (61 mg/kg/day), respectively, for two weeks. Animals in the third (CP) and fourth (probucol plus CP) groups were injected with the same doses of corn oil and probucol (61 mg/kg/day), respectively, for one week before and one week after a single dose of CP (200 mg/kg, I.P.). The p53, Bax, Bcl2 and oxidative genes signal expression were measured by real time PCR. CP-induced cardiotoxicity was clearly observed by a significant increase in serum creatine phosphokinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) (117%), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (64%), free (69%) and esterified cholesterol (42%) and triglyceride (69%) compared to control group. In cardiac tissues, CP significantly increases the mRNA expression levels of apoptotic genes, p53 with two-fold and Bax with 1.6-fold, and decreases the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2 with 0.5-fold. Moreover, CP caused downregulation of antioxidant genes, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase and increased the lipid peroxidation and decreased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (40%) and ATP/ADP (44%) in cardiac tissues. Probucol pretreatment not only counteracted significantly the CP-induced increase in cardiac enzymes and apoptosis but also induced a significant increase in mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes and improved ATP, ATP/ADP, glutathione (GSH) in cardiac tissues. In conclusion, data from the present study suggest that probucol prevents the development of CP-induced cardiotoxicity by a mechanism related, at least in part, to its ability to increase mRNA expression of antioxidant genes and to decrease apoptosis in cardiac tissues with the consequent improvement in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and energy production.
Induction of differentiation in myeloid leukemia cell lines and acute promyelocytic leukemia cells by liposomal all-trans-retinoic acid.

All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) induces complete remissions in the majority of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Despite continuous p.o. ATRA administration, many patients relapse after a short remission duration. In these patients, ATRA plasma concentrations were found to be very low, which was related to induction of retinoic acid-binding protein and increased drug catabolism by cytochrome P-450-mediated reactions. An i.v. ATRA formulation, which can be achieved by encapsulating ATRA into liposomes, may have the potential to overcome these unwanted effects. We investigated the ability of liposomal ATRA (L-ATRA) to induce differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cell lines (HL-60, KG-1, and THP-1). Cellular differentiation, as assessed by morphological criteria and by the expression of a mature myeloid cell surface antigen (CD11b on HL-60 and KG-1 cells), was induced by culture in the presence of L-ATRA. The ability of L-ATRA-treated HL-60 cells to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium demonstrated that they were functionally differentiated cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed significant growth inhibition of the cells after L-ATRA treatment. Following culture with L-ATRA, cells from five patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia were found to be morphologically and immunophenotypically mature myeloid cells. L-ATRA was as effective as free ATRA in inducing differentiation of the cell lines and of the cells from patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. We conclude that L-ATRA effectively induces differentiation and may be a useful parenteral ATRA formulation for overcoming the pharmacological mechanisms that lead to "retinoid resistance. "
The Reciprocal Interactions between Polyphenols and Gut Microbiota and Effects on Bioaccessibility

As of late, polyphenols have increasingly interested the scientific community due to their proposed health benefits. Much of this attention has focused on their bioavailability. Polyphenol–gut microbiota interactions should be considered to understand their biological functions. The dichotomy between the biotransformation of polyphenols into their metabolites by gut microbiota and the modulation of gut microbiota composition by polyphenols contributes to positive health outcomes. Although there are many studies on the in vivo bioavailability of polyphenols, the mutual relationship between polyphenols and gut microbiota is not fully understood. This review focuses on the biotransformation of polyphenols by gut microbiota, modulation of gut microbiota by polyphenols, and the effects of these two-way mutual interactions on polyphenol bioavailability, and ultimately, human health.
Exhaustion Experiences in Junior Athletes: The Importance of Motivation and Self-Control Competencies

Quality of motivation, self-control competencies, as well as past performance experience influence sport participation outcomes in developing athletes. Studies have shown that junior athletes high in self-determined motivation are less prone to experience burnout, while self-control competencies help developing athletes to be conscious and deliberate in their self-regulatory efforts toward elite sport performances and avoid negative sport participation outcomes. Combining the self-determination theory framework and psychosocial theories of self-regulation, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine how various types of motivation and self-control competencies together are associated with the development of burnout symptoms in junior athletes. High-level Norwegian winter-sport athletes from elite sport academies (N = 199; female n = 72; 16–20 years of age) consented to participate. Associations between six types of motivational regulation, self-control, and indices of exhaustion were investigated. We hypothesized that athletes’ self-control competencies are important to operate successfully, and influenced by different types of motivation, they are expected to help athletes avoid negative sport participation outcomes such as emotional and physical exhaustion. Structural equation modeling analyses were conducted to analyze these relationships, and results revealed some multifaceted associations. When identifying antecedents of sport participation exhaustion and burnout, there is a need to go beyond the unique framework of motivation theories, and explore what cognitive competencies ensure fulfillment of motivation desires. In the current study, differences in junior athletes’ quality of motivation influenced self-control competencies when predicting exhaustion. Interestingly, young athletes driven by self-determined (intrinsic, integrated, and identified), and controlled (introjected and amotivation) regulations in association with self-control offered the strongest negative and positive associations with exhaustion, respectively. Findings clearly indicate that motivation and self-control competencies are meaningfully interrelated when assessing burnout propensity in young developing athletes.
Extracellular current flow and the site of transduction by vertebrate hair cells

The transduction process of a vertebrate hair cell commences with the application of mechanical stimuli to the hair bundle, a cluster microvillous stereocilia and single axonemal kinocilium. In an effort to determine where within the hair bundle transduction occurs, I have measured extracellular potentials around the hair bundles of mechanically stimulated hair cells from the bullfrog's sacculus. Stimulus-dependent signals up to 17 microV in peak-to-peak amplitude have been found. These appear to be due to the flow of transduction current on the basis of their amplitude, phase, dependence on stimulus size and orientation, proportionality to membrane potential, and sensitivity to an ototoxic antibiotic. The responses are consistently larger near the top of the hair bundle than at its base, suggesting that the transduction apparatus lies at or near the distal ends of the stereocilia.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1)–induced retinitis following herpes simplex encephalitis: Indications for brain‐to‐eye transmission of HSV‐1

Herpes simplex encephalitis is a severe neurological disease with high mortality and morbidity rates. Reactivated herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) can cause relapses and might even spread to the retina, where it can induce a potentially blinding eye disease, known as acute retinal necrosis. In the present study, the HSV‐1 strains in the brain and eye of 2 patients with acute retinal necrosis following an episode of herpes simplex encephalitis were genotyped. The HSV‐1 strains in both the brain and eye were identical in each patient, but they differed interindividually. The data suggest brain‐to‐eye transmission of HSV‐1 in these patients. Ann Neurol 2001;49:104–106
Practical and Incremental Convergence between SDN and Middleboxes

Networks today rely on middleboxes to provide critical performance, security, and policy compliance functions. Today, however, achieving these benefits and ensuring that the traffic traverses the desired sequence of middleboxes requires significant manual effort and operator expertise. In this respect, Software-defined Networking (SDN) offers a promising alternative. However, middleboxes introduce new aspects (e.g., policy composition, resource management, packet modifications) that fall outside the purvey of traditional L2/L3 functions that SDN supports (e.g., access control or routing). Thus, prior attempts in applying the SDN philosophy to middlebox management have mandated significant changes to middlebox implementations and/or SDN control interfaces. This paper addresses a practical question: Can today’s SDN simplify and improve the management of current middlebox deployments? To this end, we address algorithmic and system design challenges to demonstrate the feasibility of using SDN to simplify middlebox management. In doing so, we also take a significant step toward addressing industry concerns surrounding the ability of SDN to integrate with existing infrastructure and support L4–L7 capabilities.