Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parallel Population Models for Genetic Algorithms

This paper is an attempt to make the discussion of parallel genetic algorithms independent from hardware issues. There have been many parallel implementations of genetic algorithms, some of them on hardware that is not even available any more. Most of these implementations have also modified the structure of the genetic algorithm for matters of efficiency, and it has been reported that these modifications have also improved the quality of genetic search. It is thus also desirable to discuss parallel genetic algorithms also in a hardware independent context. In this paper, parallel implementations of genetic algorithms are reviewed and their parallel population model is extracted. They are classified due to the radius of their mating operator into ‘global’, ‘regional’ and ‘local’ models. Based on these considerations, a flexible parallel population model for genetic algorithms is derived, which contains all the above models as a special case and could nevertheless be implemented on many parallel architectures.
Human Neuroscience

differences in mean RT. For example, activity in congruent trials with relatively slow RTs might equal activity in incongruent trials with relatively fast RTs. Consistent with this possibility, effects of various experimental manipulations on brain activity are sometimes eliminated, or even reversed, after controlling for conditional differences in mean RT (Christoff et al., 2001; Epstein et al., 2007). However, no previously published study has investigated whether effects of response conflict on pMFC activity can be explained by conditional differences in mean RT (but for data supporting this hypothesis, see Grinband et al., in press). Such a result would complicate the interpretation of conflict-related activity in the pMFC. Indeed, if conflict-related activity in the pMFC could be explained by conditional differences in mean RT, then such activity could reflect any of several processes whose recruitment increases with RT. For example, Yarkoni et al. (2009) proposed that participants must sustain attention on a given trial until a response is made. Thus, effects of response conflict on pMFC activity might index greater attentional demands in high-conflict than in low-conflict trials, rather than conflict detection or resolution per se. Analogously, such effects might reflect greater demands on other processes that are likely recruited until a response is made, such as arousal or effort. For instance, task performance evokes increased autonomic arousal relative to the inter-trial interval (Kobayashi et al., 2007), and such task-related arousal may persist longer on trials with slow RTs. Similarly, slow RTs may recruit effortful performance-monitoring processes to compensate for
IQGAP1: a key regulator of adhesion and migration

The dynamic rearrangement of cell-cell adhesion is one of the major physiological events in tissue development and tumor metastasis. Polarized cell migration, another key event, is a tightly regulated process that occurs during tissue development, chemotaxis and wound healing. Rho-family small GTPases, especially Rac1 and Cdc42, play pivotal roles in these processes through one of their effectors, IQGAP1. Recent studies reveal that IQGAP1 regulates cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion both positively and negatively. It captures and stabilizes microtubules through the microtubule-binding protein CLIP-170 near the cell cortex, leading to establishment of polarized cell morphology and directional cell migration. Furthermore, Rac1 and Cdc42 link the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) protein to actin filaments through IQGAP1 at the leading edge and thereby regulate polarization and directional migration.
Risk factors for pre-eclampsia at antenatal booking: systematic review of controlled studies

Abstract Objective To determine the risk of pre-eclampsia associated with factors that may be present at antenatal booking. Design Systematic review of controlled studies published 1966-2002. Data synthesis Unadjusted relative risks were calculated from published data. Results Controlled cohort studies showed that the risk of pre-eclampsia is increased in women with a previous history of pre-eclampsia (relative risk 7.19, 95% confidence interval 5.85 to 8.83) and in those with antiphospholipids antibodies (9.72, 4.34 to 21.75), pre-existing diabetes (3.56, 2.54 to 4.99), multiple (twin) pregnancy (2.93, 2.04 to 4.21), nulliparity (2.91, 1.28 to 6.61), family history (2.90, 1.70 to 4.93), raised blood pressure (diastolic ≥ 80 mm Hg) at booking (1.38, 1.01 to 1.87), raised body mass index before pregnancy (2.47, 1.66 to 3.67) or at booking (1.55, 1.28 to 1.88), or maternal age ≥ 40 (1.96, 1.34 to 2.87, for multiparous women). Individual studies show that risk is also increased with an interval of 10 years or more since a previous pregnancy, autoimmune disease, renal disease, and chronic hypertension. Conclusions These factors and the underlying evidence base can be used to assess risk at booking so that a suitable surveillance routine to detect pre-eclampsia can be planned for the rest of the pregnancy.
Stabilization of short telomeres and telomerase activity accompany immortalization of Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human B lymphocytes

We have measured telomere length and telomerase activity throughout the life span of clones of human B lymphocytes transformed by Epstein-Barr virus. Shortening of telomeres occurred at similar rates in all populations and persisted until chromosomes had little telomeric DNA remaining. At this stage, some of the clones entered a proliferative crisis and died. Only clones in which telomeres were stabilized, apparently by activation of telomerase, continued to proliferate indefinitely, i.e., became immortal. Since loss of telomeres impairs chromosome function, and may thus affect cell survival, we propose that telomerase activity is required for immortality. We have now detected this enzyme in a variety of immortal human cells transformed by different viruses, indicating that telomerase activation may be a common step in immortalization.
Production function analysis of Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp) in Central Agricultural Zone of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

The study analyzed the production of Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp) in Central Agricultural Zone, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socioeconomic characteristics of farmers and analyzed the factors that affect the production of pumpkin (Cucurbita spp) in the study area. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 60 respondents. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and production function analysis. The results of the socio-economic characteristics showed that 68.3% of the respondents were male and between the ages of 31 and 40 years (53.3%). Also, majorities (81.7%) of the respondents were married. and larger proportion (71.7.0%) had one form of education or the other. The findings also revealed that 55.0% had household sizes of between 6 and10 persons, with 41.7% having household sizes of less than 5 persons. Major proportion (58.3%) had farm sizes of less than 2 ha. Larger portion (70%) of the respondents did not belong to any cooperative association and substantial percentage (73.3%) had no access to credit facilities and 71.7% had no access to extension services. Coefficients for household size, labour, seed, fertilizer and farm size have the expected positive apriori signs. Agrochemicals had negative coefficient sign and significant at 5 % probability level. The R2 was also computed at 0.894 indicating that about 89.4% variations were explained by the variables included in the model. Government should encourage pumpkin farmers through provision of affordable and accessible credit facilities to boost scale of production and Research institutions should be encouraged to develop technologies that will minimize the menace of pests and disease infestation in pumpkin production. Adequate and well trained extension agents should be made available to provide supports to the farmers.
Metabolic Syndrome and the Risk of Stroke in Middle-Aged Men

Background and Purpose— The metabolic syndrome, a clustering of disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism, obesity and abdominal fat distribution, dyslipidemia, and hypertension is associated with cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of metabolic syndrome, as defined by National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) and World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, with the risk for stroke. Methods— Population-based cohort study with an average follow-up of 14.3 years from eastern Finland. A total of 1131 men with no history of cardiovascular disease and diabetes at baseline participated. Sixty-five strokes occurred, of which 47 were ischemic strokes. Results— Men with the metabolic syndrome as defined by the NCEP criteria had a 2.05-fold (95% CI, 1.03 to 4.11; P=0.042) risk for all strokes and 2.41-fold (95% CI, 1.12 to 5.32; P=0.025) risk for ischemic stroke, after adjusting for socioeconomic status, smoking, alcohol, and family history of coronary heart disease. Additional adjustment for ischemic changes during exercise test, serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, plasma fibrinogen, energy intake for saturated fats, energy expenditure of leisure time physical activity, and white blood cell count, the results remained significant. The risk ratios among men with metabolic syndrome as defined by the WHO criteria were 1.82 (95% CI, 1.01 to 3.26; P=0.046) for all strokes and 2.16 (95% CI, 1.11 to 4.19; P=0.022) for ischemic stroke. After further adjustment, the respective risks were 2.08 (95% CI, 1.12 to 3.87; P=0.020) and 2.47 (95% CI, 1.21 to 5.07; P=0.013). Conclusion— The risk of any stroke is increased in men with metabolic syndrome, in the absence of stroke, diabetes and cardiovascular disease at baseline. Prevention of the metabolic syndrome presents a great challenge for clinicians with respect to stroke.
The Role of Endocytic L1 Trafficking in Polarized Adhesion and Migration of Nerve Growth Cones

Motility of the nerve growth cone is highly dependent on its dynamic interactions with the microenvironment mediated by cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). These adhesive interactions can be spatially regulated by changing the density and avidity of CAMs on the growth cone. Previous studies have shown that L1, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of CAMs, is endocytosed at the central domain of the growth cone followed by centrifugal vesicular transport and reinsertion into the plasma membrane of the leading edge. The present paper focuses on the functional significance of endocytic L1 trafficking in dorsal root ganglia neurons in vitro. We demonstrate that the rate of L1-based neurite growth has a positive correlation with the amount of endocytosed L1 in the growth cone, whereas stimulation of neurite growth via an N-cadherin-dependent mechanism does not increase L1 endocytosis. A growth cone that migrates on an L1 substrate exhibits a steep gradient of L1-mediated adhesion (strong adhesion at the growth cone's leading edge and weak adhesion at the central domain). This gradient of L1 adhesion is attenuated after inhibition of L1 endocytosis in the growth cone by intracellular loading of a function-blocking antibody against α-adaptin, a subunit of the clathrin-associated AP-2 adaptor. Inhibition of L1 endocytosis by this antibody also decreased the rate of L1-dependent growth cone migration. These results indicate that the growth cone actively translocates CAMs to create spatial asymmetry in adhesive interactions with its environment and that this spatial asymmetry is important for growth cone migration.
Improving Exhaust Temperature Management At Low-loaded Diesel Engine Operations Via Internal Exhaust Gas Recirculation

Modern on-road automotive vehicles mostly utilize exhaust after-treatment (EAT) systems to meet the stringent emission regulations. Although those systems are generally effective to reduce emission rates, they are ineffectual at low loads due to low exhaust temperatures (below 250 o C). This study demonstrates on a diesel engine model that exhaust temperatures can be increased above 250 o C at light loads through internal exhaust gas recirculation (IEGR). Engine system operates at 1700 RPM engine speed and within 2.5-4.5 bar brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) engine load. IEGR increases the amount of in-cylinder hot residual exhaust gases and thus causes a considerable exhaust temperature rise (up to 70 o C). Warmer exhaust system keeps EAT emission conversion efficiency mostly above 90 % and accelerates EAT catalyst bed warm-up through increased (up to 142 %) heat transfer rates. IEGR is not as fuel-consuming as conventional EAT warming techniques and can keep the fuel consumption rise below 5 %.
Universum Prescription: Regularization Using Unlabeled Data

This paper shows that simply prescribing "none of the above" labels to unlabeled data has a beneficial regularization effect to supervised learning. We call it universum prescription by the fact that the prescribed labels cannot be one of the supervised labels. In spite of its simplicity, universum prescription obtained competitive results in training deep convolutional networks for CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100, STL-10 and ImageNet datasets. A qualitative justification of these approaches using Rademacher complexity is presented. The effect of a regularization parameter — probability of sampling from unlabeled data — is also studied empirically.
University of Huddersfield Repository Dynamics of contact line motion during the wetting of rough surfaces and correlation with topographical surface parameters

glass ceramic and poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA). Topographical 2D parameters were calculated according to the following standards, defining Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS): ISO 4287, ISO 12085, ISO 13565, ISO 12780, ISO 12181. Influence of topographical parameters on wettability and spreading phenomenon has been evaluated by statistical covariance analysis. The following parameters have strong influence on fluid spreading on rough surface: Rmr - relative material ratio of the roughness profile, Trc - microgeometric material ratio, Pmr - relative material ratio of the raw profile, Kr - mean slope of the roughness motifs, RONt -peak to valley roundness deviation, Psk - Skewness of the raw profile. The physical meaning of selected parameters is discussed, and Kr (the mean slope of the roughness motifs) is selected as the most important and physically meaningful parameter. It has been found that for all tested materials, fluid spreading have increasing tendency, when mean slope of the roughness motifs ( Kr ) increase.
Differential Effects of Methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium Ion, Rotenone, and Paraquat on Differentiated SH-SY5Y Cells

Paraquat (PQ), a cationic nonselective bipyridyl herbicide, has been used as neurotoxicant to modulate Parkinson's disease in laboratory settings. Other compounds like rotenone (ROT), a pesticide, and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) have been widely used as neurotoxicants. We compared the toxicity of these three neurotoxicants using differentiated dopaminergic SH-SY5Y human cells, aiming to elucidate their differential effects. PQ-induced neurotoxicity was shown to be concentration and time dependent, being mitochondrial dysfunction followed by neuronal death. On the other hand, cells exposure to MPP+ induced mitochondrial dysfunction, but not cellular lyses. Meanwhile, ROT promoted both mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal death, revealing a biphasic pattern. To further elucidate PQ neurotoxic mechanism, several protective agents were used. SH-SY5Y cells pretreatment with tiron (TIR) and 2-hydroxybenzoic acid sodium salt (NaSAL), both antioxidants, and N ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, partially protected against PQ-induced cell injury. Additionally, 1-(2-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl)-4-(3-phenyl-propyl)piperazine (GBR 12909), a dopamine transporter inhibitor, and cycloheximide (CHX), a protein synthesis inhibitor, also partially protected against PQ-induced cell injury. In conclusion, we demonstrated that PQ, MPP+, and ROT exerted differential toxic effects on dopaminergic cells. PQ neurotoxicity occurred through exacerbated oxidative stress, with involvement of uptake through the dopamine transporter and protein synthesis.
Status Epilepticus: Epidemiology and Public Health Needs

Status epilepticus (SE) is defined as a continuous clinical and/or electrographic seizure activity lasting five minutes or more or recurrent seizure activity without return to baseline. There is a paucity of epidemiological studies of SE, as most research is derived from small population studies. The overall incidence of SE is 9.9 to 41 per 100,000/year, with peaks in children and the elderly and with febrile seizures and strokes as its main etiologies. The etiology is the major determinant of mortality. Governments and the academic community should predominantly focus on the primary prevention of etiologies linked to SE, as these are the most important risk factors for its development. This review describes the incidence, prevalence, etiology, risk factors, outcomes and costs of SE and aims to identify future research and public health needs.
Nonparametric identification of the classical errors-in-variables model without side information

This note establishes that the fully nonparametric classical errors-in-variables model is identifiable from data on the regressor and the dependent variable alone, unless the specification is a member of a very specific parametric family. This family includes the linear specification with normally distributed variables as a special case. This result relies on standard primitive regularity conditions taking the form of smoothness and monotonicity of the regression function and nonvanishing characteristic functions of the disturbances.
Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Reveals Hot Spots and Doubly Heterozygous Mutations in Chinese Patients with Familial Cardiomyopathy

As a common cardiac disease mainly caused by gene mutations in sarcomeric cytoskeletal, calcium-handling, nuclear envelope, desmosomal, and transcription factor genes, inherited cardiomyopathy is becoming one of the major etiological factors of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and heart failure (HF). This disease is characterized by remarkable genetic heterogeneity, which makes it difficult to screen for pathogenic mutations using Sanger sequencing. In the present study, three probands, one with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHCM) and two with familial dilated cardiomyopathy (FDCM), were recruited together with their respective family members. Using next-generation sequencing technology (NGS), 24 genes frequently known to be related to inherited cardiomyopathy were screened. Two hot spots (TNNI3-p.Arg145Gly, and LMNA-p.Arg190Trp) and double (LMNA-p.Arg190Trp plus MYH7-p.Arg1045His) heterozygous mutations were found to be highly correlated with familial cardiomyopathy. FDCM patients with doubly heterozygous mutations show a notably severe phenotype as we could confirm in our study; this indicates that the double mutations had a dose effect. In addition, it is proposed that genetic testing using NGS technology can be used as a cost-effective screening tool and help guide the treatment of patients with familial cardiomyopathy particularly regarding the risk of family members who are clinically asymptomatic.
Positive Geometric Vascular Remodeling Is Seen After Catheter-Based Radiation Followed by Conventional Stent Implantation but Not After Radioactive Stent Implantation

BackgroundRecent reports demonstrate that intracoronary radiation affects not only neointimal formation but also vascular remodeling. Radioactive stents and catheter-based techniques deliver radiation in different ways, suggesting that different patterns of remodeling after each technique may be expected. Methods and ResultsWe analyzed remodeling in 18 patients after conventional stent implantation, 16 patients after low-activity radioactive stent implantation, 16 patients after higher activity radioactive stent implantation, and, finally, 17 patients who underwent catheter-based radiation followed by conventional stent implantation. Intravascular ultrasound with 3D reconstruction was used after stent implantation and at the 6-month follow-up to assess remodeling within the stent margins and at its edges. Preprocedural characteristics were similar between groups. In-stent neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) was inhibited by high-activity radioactive stent implantation (NIH 9.0 mm3) and by catheter-based radiation followed by conventional stent implantation (NIH 6.9 mm3) compared with low-activity radioactive stent implantation (NIH 21.2 mm3) and conventional stent implantation (NIH 20.8 mm3) (P =0.008). No difference in plaque or total vessel volume was seen behind the stent in the conventional, low-activity, or high-activity stent implantation groups. However, significant increases in plaque behind the stent (15%) and in total vessel volume (8%) were seen in the group that underwent catheter-based radiation followed by conventional stent implantation. All 4 groups demonstrated significant late lumen loss at the stent edges; however, edge restenosis was seen only in the group subjected to high-activity stent implantation and appeared to be due to an increase in plaque and, to a lesser degree, to negative remodeling. ConclusionsDistinct differences in the patterns of remodeling exist between conventional, radioactive, and catheter-based radiotherapy with stenting.
Octopus Cells in the Posteroventral Cochlear Nucleus Provide the Main Excitatory Input to the Superior Paraolivary Nucleus

Auditory streaming enables perception and interpretation of complex acoustic environments that contain competing sound sources. At early stages of central processing, sounds are segregated into separate streams representing attributes that later merge into acoustic objects. Streaming of temporal cues is critical for perceiving vocal communication, such as human speech, but our understanding of circuits that underlie this process is lacking, particularly at subcortical levels. The superior paraolivary nucleus (SPON), a prominent group of inhibitory neurons in the mammalian brainstem, has been implicated in processing temporal information needed for the segmentation of ongoing complex sounds into discrete events. The SPON requires temporally precise and robust excitatory input(s) to convey information about the steep rise in sound amplitude that marks the onset of voiced sound elements. Unfortunately, the sources of excitation to the SPON and the impact of these inputs on the behavior of SPON neurons have yet to be resolved. Using anatomical tract tracing and immunohistochemistry, we identified octopus cells in the contralateral cochlear nucleus (CN) as the primary source of excitatory input to the SPON. Cluster analysis of miniature excitatory events also indicated that the majority of SPON neurons receive one type of excitatory input. Precise octopus cell-driven onset spiking coupled with transient offset spiking make SPON responses well-suited to signal transitions in sound energy contained in vocalizations. Targets of octopus cell projections, including the SPON, are strongly implicated in the processing of temporal sound features, which suggests a common pathway that conveys information critical for perception of complex natural sounds.