Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A mathematical description of the speed/accuracy trade-off of aimed movement

Target clicking having proved an indispensable building block of interface design, it is little surprise that the speed/accuracy trade-off of aimed movement has always been a keen concern of HCI research. The trade-off is described by the Fitts law. In HCI and psychology likewise, the traditional approach has focused on the time-minimisation paradigm of Fitts [5], ignoring other relevant paradigms in which the Fitts law fails, such as the spread-minimisation paradigm of Schmidt et al. [18]. This paper aims at unearthing and consolidating the foundations of the speed/accuracy trade-off problem. Taking mean movement time as our speed measure and relative spread as our accuracy measure, we show that a small set of obvious mathematical axioms predict not only the data from the Fitts and the Schmidt paradigms but also the data from the more recent dual-minimisation paradigm of Guiard et al. [7]. The new mathematical framework encourages a more complete understanding: not only is it possible to estimate an amount of resource, a quantity equivalent to the classic throughput, it is also possible to characterize the resource-allocation strategy --- the other, no less important facet of the trade-off problem which has been left aside so far. The proposed approach may help HCI practitioners obtain from their experimental data more reliable and more complete information on the comparative merits of design options.
Asac 2005 Toronto, Ontario Canadian Evidence on Market for Corporate Control: Its Disciplinary Role on Ineficient Managers Motivation and Hypotheses

This study suggests the Canadian market for corporate control penalizes sub-optimal management. High turnover rates are observed for the Canadian top managers (Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) or presidents) in the target firms and executives who have been replaced are less likely to find similar executive positions in other public firms. In addition, this study shows target firms usually have poor pre-acquisition performance and they experience positive market reaction following takeover announcements.
Lipid compositional analysis of pulmonary surfactant monolayers and monolayer-associated reservoirs Published, JLR Papers in Press, January 1, 2003. DOI 10.1194/jlr.M200380-JLR200

Pulmonary surfactant is a lipid:protein complex containing dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) as the major component. Recent studies indicate adsorbed surfactant films consist of a surface monolayer and a monolayer-associated reservoir. It has been hypothesized that the monolayer and its functionally contiguous reservoir may be enriched in DPPC relative to bulk phase surfactant. We investigated the compositional relationship between the monolayer and its reservoir using paper-supported wet bridges to transfer films from adsorbing dishes to clean surfaces on spreading dishes. Spreading films appear to form monolayers in the spreading dishes. We employed bovine lipid extract surfactant [BLES(chol)] containing [3H]DPPC and either [14C]palmitoyl, oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC), [14C]dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG), [14C]palmitoyl, oleoyl-phosphatidylglycerol (POPG), or [14C]cholesterol. Radiolabeled phosphatidylglycerols were prepared using phospholipase D. The studies demonstrated that the [3H]DPPC-[14C] POPC ratios were the same in the prepared BLES dispersions as in Langmuir-Blodgett films, indicating a lack of DPPC selectivity during film formation. Furthermore, identical 3H-14C isotopic ratios were observed with DPPC and either 14C-labeled POPC, DPPG, POPG, or cholesterol in the original dispersions, the bulk phases in adsorption dish D1, and monolayers recovered from spreading dish D2. These relationships remained unperturbed with 2-fold increases in bulk concentrations in D1 and 10-fold variations in D1-D2 surface area. These results indicate adsorbed surfactant monolayers and their associated reservoirs possess similar lipid compositions and argue against selective adsorption of DPPC.
The influence of the Amundsen Sea Low on the winds in the Ross Sea and surroundings: Insights from a synoptic climatology

The Amundsen Sea Low (ASL) is an area of climatologically low atmospheric pressure situated over the Southern Ocean. The depth and location of this feature have significant effects on winds, temperature, moisture transport, and sea ice in its vicinity. In this article, we quantify the modulating effect of this feature on winds over the Ross Sea and Ross Ice Shelf. We examine composites of surface winds sampled according to extrema in ASL depth, longitude, and latitude. We employ the output of a previously developed synoptic climatology to identify the explanatory synoptic‐scale forcings. In autumn, winter, and spring (AWS) we find that the impact of the depth of the ASL is smaller than that of its location. The ASL moves eastward when it is deep, thereby reducing its influence on Ross Sea winds. When the ASL is northward, we find strongly enhanced southerly flows over the Ross Sea and Ice Shelf, forced by greater cyclonic activity in the north of the Ross Sea. In summer, we find increased cyclonic flow coinciding with a deeper ASL, despite the ASL being located in the Bellingshausen Sea at this time. The responses to the ASL longitude and latitude are profoundly different to those in AWS, suggesting that relationships are strongly dependent on the varying seasonal location of the low. We examine two metrics of the ASL depth and identify that the absolute mean sea level pressure (MSLP) has a more widespread response than that of the relative MSLP.
Adjusting outbreak detection algorithms for surveillance during epidemic and non-epidemic periods

Many aberration detection algorithms are used in infectious disease surveillance systems to assist in the early detection of potential outbreaks. In this study, we explored a novel approach to adjusting aberration detection algorithms to account for the impact of seasonality inherent in some surveillance data. By using surveillance data for hand-foot-and-mouth disease in Shandong province, China, we evaluated the use of seasonally-adjusted alerting thresholds with three aberration detection methods (C1, C2, and C3). We found that the optimal thresholds of C1, C2, and C3 varied between the epidemic and non-epidemic seasons of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and the application of seasonally adjusted thresholds improved the performance of outbreak detection by maintaining the same sensitivity and timeliness while decreasing by nearly half the false alert rate during the non-epidemic season. Our preliminary findings suggest a general approach to improving aberration detection for outbreaks of infectious disease with seasonally variable incidence.
Heparanase: A Potential New Factor Involved in the Renal Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) Induced by Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) Injury

Background Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is an important cause of acute renal failure and delayed graft function, and it may induce chronic renal damage by activating epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular cells. Heparanase (HPSE), an endoglycosidase that regulates FGF-2 and TGFβ-induced EMT, may have an important role. Therefore, aim of this study was to evaluate its role in the I/R-induced renal pro-fibrotic machinery by employing in vitro and in vivo models. Methods Wild type (WT) and HPSE-silenced renal tubular cells were subjected to hypoxia and reoxygenation in the presence or absence of SST0001, an inhibitor of HPSE. In vivo, I/R injury was induced by bilateral clamping of renal arteries for 30 min in transgenic mice over-expressing HPSE (HPA-tg) and in their WT littermates. Mice were sacrificed 48 and 72 h after I/R. Gene and protein EMT markers (α-SMA, VIM and FN) were evaluated by bio-molecular and histological methodologies. Results In vitro: hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) significantly increased the expression of EMT-markers in WT, but not in HPSE-silenced tubular cells. Notably, EMT was prevented in WT cells by SST0001 treatment. In vivo: I/R induced a remarkable up-regulation of EMT markers in HPA-tg mice after 48–72 h. Noteworthy, these effects were absent in WT animals. Conclusions In conclusion, our results add new insights towards understanding the renal biological mechanisms activated by I/R and they demonstrate, for the first time, that HPSE is a pivotal factor involved in the onset and development of I/R-induced EMT. It is plausible that in future the inhibition of this endoglycosidase may represent a new therapeutic approach to minimize/prevent fibrosis and slow down chronic renal disease progression in native and transplanted kidneys.
Activity-Dependent Recruitment of Extrasynaptic NMDA Receptor Activation at an AMPA Receptor-Only Synapse

We have identified an excitatory synapse in cerebellar molecular layer interneurons at which the level of presynaptic activity determines the receptor type involved in the postsynaptic response. When small numbers of parallel fibers are activated, EPSCs are mediated solely by AMPA receptors (AMPARs), despite our finding that NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are present in the dendrites of these cells. The EPSC kinetics are fast (τ decay = 0.82 ± 0.05 msec at room temperature), consistent with the role these interneurons are thought to play in precisely timed inhibitory control of Purkinje cells. NMDARs are activated only when glutamate release is increased either by facilitation with brief high-frequency trains or by recruiting more presynaptic fibers with higher stimulus intensities. Under these conditions, EPSCs consist of a fast-rising AMPAR-mediated current followed by a slow component mediated by both NMDARs and AMPARs. Inhibitors of glutamate transport increase the amplitude and prolong the time course of the compound EPSCs. In contrast, the properties of fast AMPAR EPSCs resulting from the activation of few inputs remain unchanged when glutamate uptake is blocked. Our results suggest that, at these synapses, the postsynaptic density contains AMPARs alone. It is only when transmitter release is high enough for glutamate to diffuse to the extrasynaptic space and to reach concentrations sufficient to activate extrasynaptic receptors that NMDARs are involved in the postsynaptic response. We suggest that such a spatial separation of receptor types may provide a mechanism for rapid changes in EPSC properties, depending on the amount of synaptic activity.
Uremic malnutrition is a predictor of death independent of inflammatory status.

BACKGROUND Several studies have pointed out the influence of nutritional parameters and/or indices of inflammation on morbidity and mortality. Often, these conditions coexist, and the relative importance of poor nutritional status and chronic inflammation in terms of predicting clinical outcomes in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients has not been clarified. METHODS We undertook a prospective cohort study analyzing time-dependent changes in several established nutritional and inflammatory markers, and their influence on mortality in 194 CHD patients (53% male, 36% white, 30% with diabetes mellitus, mean age 55.7 +/- 15.4 years) throughout a 57-month period. Serial measurements of serum concentrations of albumin, prealbumin, creatinine, transferrin, cholesterol, and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as normalized protein catabolic rate, postdialysis weight, and phase angle and reactance by bioelectrical impedance analysis were performed every 3 months. Clinical outcomes were simultaneously assessed using indicators of mortality. RESULTS Serum albumin, serum prealbumin, serum creatinine, and phase angle were significant predictors of all-cause mortality, even after adjustment for serum CRP concentrations. Serum CRP concentrations were not significantly associated with mortality. Serum albumin concentrations and phase angle were also independent predictors of cardiovascular deaths in the multivariate model. CONCLUSION The nutritional status of CHD patients predicts mortality independent of concomitant presence or absence of inflammatory response. Prevention of, and timely intervention to treat uremic malnutrition by suitable means are necessary independent of the presence and/or therapy of inflammation in terms of improving clinical outcomes in CHD patients.
In Situ Self-Assembled Nanocomposites from Bacterial Cellulose Reinforced with Eletrospun Poly(lactic acid)/Lipids Nanofibers

The goal of this study is to explore a new strategy to improve the mechanical and hydrophobic properties of bacterial cellulose (BC) mats. The present work is the first to report the preparation of in situ self-assembled BC nanocomposites using electrospun hydrophobic poly(lactic acid) (PLA) or PLA/lipids (PLA/Lip) nanofiber mats as foundation for BC nanofiber growth. Adding electrospun PLA mats to the BC culture media led to a two-fold increase in toughness with a 52% increase in elongation of the nanocomposites with regard to BC. The incorporation of electrospun PLA and PLA/Lip nanofiber mats lowered the moisture regain and water vapor transmission of BC nanocomposites relative to pure BC mats. The interfacial bonding between the individual components of a nanocomposite is a key factor for the improvement of composite strength, stiffness, and barrier properties; thus additional strategies to improve interaction between hydrophilic BC and hydrophobic PLA fibers need to be explored.
Variability of vitamins B1, B2 and minerals content in baobab (Adansonia digitata) leaves in East and West Africa

The regional variability and age–age correlation on vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and minerals (Ca, Mg, P, K, Cu, Fe, Mn, Na, and Zn) concentration in baobab leaves were investigated. Baobab was cultivated from seeds from 11 countries including Benin, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Tanzania, Togo, Senegal, and Sudan. Vitamins B1 and B2 content were assessed using microbiological VitaFast kits methods and minerals by atomic absorption and flame spectrometry methods. Overall, the results showed a higher content of vitamin B2 compared to vitamin B1 with the highest vitamin B2 content (1.04 ± 0.05 mg/100 g DM) from Senegal. The highest iron (Fe) content of 26.39 mg/100 g was found in baobab leaves from Mali. For age–age correlation, adult baobab leaves of Nankoun in Burkina Faso provided the highest calcium (Ca) content of 3373 mg/100 g. However, for provenance trial, young plants from three communities of Burkina Faso showed the highest calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) content. The study demonstrated that vitamins B1 and B2 and mineral contents in baobab leaves vary with the country and the age of the tree. Vitamin B1 content was higher in baobab leaves from ascendants compared to those from descendants, while in contrast vitamin B2 content was higher in the leaves from the descendants compared to their ascendants (mother tree).
Thermodynamic Mechanisms Responsible for the Tropospheric Response to SST Anomalies in the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave

Abstract Tropospheric temperature and vorticity budgets for the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave (ACW) are diagnosed utilizing the National Centers for Environment Prediction–National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis datasets from 1983 to 1992, focusing on the eastern Atlantic, Indian, and western and central Pacific sectors of the Southern Ocean where remote forcing from the Tropics has been observed to be weak. There, warm sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies are found in the ACW propagating eastward together with anomalous upward latent heat flux, positive precipitation, low-level convergence, upper-level divergence, midlevel ascent, and poleward surface wind. Diagnosing the anomalous temperature budget finds SST-induced latent heat flux instigating anomalous mid- to upper-level diabatic heating and low-level diabatic cooling in the absence of significant eddy heat flux divergence. This diabatic heating profile is balanced by a combination of vertical and horizontal heat advection, giving rise t.
Modeling and control insights into demand-side energy management through setpoint control of thermostatic loads

This paper examines the problem of using thermostat offset signals to directly control distributed air conditioning loads attached to the grid. The paper models these loads using a novel partial differential equation framework that builds on existing diffusion- based load modeling ideas in the literature. Both this PDE model and its finite-difference discretizations are bilinear in the state and control variables. This key insight creates a unique opportunity for designing nonlinear direct load control algorithms with theoretically guaranteed Lyapunov stability properties. The paper's main contribution to the literature is the development of the bilinear PDE model and Lyapunov- stable controller for real-time management of thermostatic air conditioning loads.
Tackling Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows by means of ant colony system

The Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (DVRPTW) is an extension of the well-known Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), which takes into account the dynamic nature of the problem. This aspect requires the vehicle routes to be updated in an ongoing manner as new customer requests arrive in the system and must be incorporated into an evolving schedule during the working day. Besides the vehicle capacity constraint involved in the classical VRP, DVRPTW considers in addition time windows, which are able to better capture real-world situations. Despite this, so far, few studies have focused on tackling this problem of greater practical importance. To this end, this study devises for the resolution of DVRPTW, an ant colony optimization based algorithm, which resorts to a joint solution construction mechanism, able to construct in parallel the vehicle routes. This method is coupled with a local search procedure, aimed to further improve the solutions built by ants, and with an insertion heuristic, which tries to reduce the number of vehicles used to service the available customers. The experiments indicate that the proposed algorithm is competitive and effective, and on DVRPTW instances with a higher dynamicity level, it is able to yield better results compared to existing ant-based approaches.
Simulation of meandering river processes

A simple mathematical model for the simulation of river meandering processes is presented and analysed. The model is schematized as follows: computation of steady-state flow field and riverbed topography; and computation of bank erosion rate as a function of the near-bank hydraulic and morphological properties. The model is linear for the prediction of flow field and river bed topography, while geometrical non-linearities arise from the bank erosion equation. The flow and river bed model is derived by fully coupling flow field, bed topography and sediment transport and it (roughly) accounts for the secondary flow momentum convection.
Glucagon Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Modulates OVA-Induced Airway Inflammation and Mucus Secretion Involving a Protein Kinase A (PKA)-Dependent Nuclear Factor-κB (NF-κB) Signaling Pathway in Mice

Asthma is a common chronic pulmonary inflammatory disease, featured with mucus hyper-secretion in the airway. Recent studies found that glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs, including liraglutide and exenatide, possessed a potent anti-inflammatory property through a protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent signaling pathway. Therefore, the aim of current study was to investigate the value of GLP-1 analog therapy liraglutide in airway inflammation and mucus secretion in a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma, and its underlying molecular mechanism. In our study, BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged by OVA to induce chronic asthma. Pathological alterations, the number of cells and the content of inflammatory mediators in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and mucus secretion were observed and measured. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression of E-selectin and MUC5AC were analyzed by qPCR and Western blotting. Then, the phosphorylation of PKA and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 were also measured by Western blotting. Further, NF-κB p65 DNA binding activity was detected by ELISA. OVA-induced airway inflammation, airway mucus hyper-secretion, the up-regulation of E-selectin and MUC5AC were remarkably inhibited by GLP-1 in mice (all p < 0.01). Then, we also found that OVA-reduced phosphorylation of PKA, and OVA-enhanced NF-κB p65 activation and NF-κB p65 DNA binding activity were markedly improved by GLP-1 (all p < 0.01). Furthermore, our data also figured out that these effects of GLP-1 were largely abrogated by the PKA inhibitor H-89 (all p < 0.01). Taken together, our results suggest that OVA-induced asthma were potently ameliorated by GLP-1 possibly through a PKA-dependent inactivation of NF-κB in mice, indicating that GLP-1 analogs may be considered an effective and safe drug for the potential treatment of asthma in the future.
Constraining Content in Mediated Unstructured Social Interactions: Studies in the Wild

When studying social interactions, robust data collection protocols can come at the expense of allowing a natural interaction to take place because of a rigid structure in the experimental scenario. This work seeks to explore the use of an interaction mediator as a tool to constrain the content of a social interaction without imposing an interaction structure. Two studies were conducted in different interaction contexts using children: a peer-peer interaction, and a teacher-child interaction. Given that no interaction structure is imposed, objective metrics to characterise behaviour prove difficult to apply. Qualitative analysis techniques, namely Conversation Analysis, are therefore used to study the dyadic interactions. Results confirm the role of the mediating device in providing interaction content without imposing interaction structure. This illustrates the potential role of such devices in manipulating social interactions to facilitate empirical interrogation.
A snowdrift index based on SNOWPACK model calculations

Abstract The SNOWPACK model developed at the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research is a one-dimensional momentum, mass- and energy-balance model. Its current version includes important features such as a numerical solution of the instationary heat-transfer and creep/settlement equations, a complete surface-energy balance, phase changes, water transport and snow microstructure development (metamorphism). The microstructural parameters are linked to the thermal conductivity and the snow viscosity. The new snowdrift routine uses the modelled snow to determine a threshold friction velocity The drift model describes the local mass flux of snow, distinguishing between a saltation and suspension contribution. The snow-cover model adapts to erosion (or deposition) due to drifting and blowing snow. The drift formulation improves the seasonal snow-cover simulation considerably for stations that show a significant influence of snow transport. From the mass-flux calculation, a snowdrift index results that provides valuable information on local snowdrift for avalanche warning.