Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
INTERINDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN CATECHOLAMINE EXCRETION DURING STRESS

Measurements of adrenaline and noradrenaline excretion during inactivity and stress, and ratings of 22 personality variables were obtained for 110 subjects. Six factors were extracted by a factor analysis. Two of the factors were associated with personality variables, three primarily with catecholamines, and one with both types of variables. The ‘mixed. ’ factor was tentatively interpreted as indicating that individuals with depressive tendencies respond to stressors with a relatively smaller rise in adrenaline excretion. This finding is in line with current theories concerning the role of catecholamines in affective psychoses.
Province-based study of neurologic disability among survivors weighing 500 through 1249 grams at birth.

BACKGROUND As the mortality of children weighing 500 through 1249 g at birth decreases, the published rates of neurologic disability among survivors have caused concern. Outcome information from a province-based study in which perinatal/neonatal regional care is well developed and includes high-risk identification, early referral, organized transport, and outreach education, provides data from a Canadian source for comparison with epidemiologic reports. METHODS Neurologic disability rates among 2- to 3-year-old survivors weighing 500 through 1249 g at birth is provided based on all live births/neonatal survivors/1-year survivors born in Alberta, Canada to Alberta residents in 1990. RESULTS Corrected survival to 1-year was 163 of 229 or 71% of live births of the total group weighing 500 through 1249 g. Of 168 live births, 143 or 85% weighing 750 through 1249 g, free from lethal anomalies, survived. Based on 1-year survival, disability rates were: cerebral palsy, 67/1000; vision loss (acuity in the best seeing eye after correction, < 20/60), 12/1000; neurosensory hearing loss (loss of > or = 30 dB binaurally), 12/1000; and trainable/profound mental retardation, 18/1000. No survivor had a convulsive disorder. No vision loss or mental retardation as defined by this study occurred in survivors of > or = 750 g. All children with cerebral palsy were or were projected to become ambulatory. CONCLUSIONS Neurologic disability among small preterm surviving infants can occur less frequently than suggested by published reports. We believe this provincial study supports the value of well developed regional perinatal programs.
Mechanism for selectivity-inactivation coupling in KcsA potassium channels

Structures of the prokaryotic K+ channel, KcsA, highlight the role of the selectivity filter carbonyls from the GYG signature sequence in determining a highly selective pore, but channels displaying this sequence vary widely in their cation selectivity. Furthermore, variable selectivity can be found within the same channel during a process called C-type inactivation. We investigated the mechanism for changes in selectivity associated with inactivation in a model K+ channel, KcsA. We found that E71A, a noninactivating KcsA mutant in which a hydrogen-bond behind the selectivity filter is disrupted, also displays decreased K+ selectivity. In E71A channels, Na+ permeates at higher rates as seen with and flux measurements and analysis of intracellular Na+ block. Crystal structures of E71A reveal that the selectivity filter no longer assumes the “collapsed,” presumed inactivated, conformation in low K+, but a “flipped” conformation, that is also observed in high K+, high Na+, and even Na+ only conditions. The data reveal the importance of the E71-D80 interaction in both favoring inactivation and maintaining high K+ selectivity. We propose a molecular mechanism by which inactivation and K+ selectivity are linked, a mechanism that may also be at work in other channels containing the canonical GYG signature sequence.
Ten Characteristics of a Good Teacher.

From time to time during the 15 years I have been working in the field of English language teaching and training, I have put myself in the position of language learner rather than teacher. In addition to enjoying language study and finding the process fascinating, I find it beneficial to view the process through the eyes of a student. Even though I have felt at odds with some teachers and their methods, I have learned something from every teacher I have ever had , even the worst of them.
Bitcoin-NG: A Scalable Blockchain Protocol

Cryptocurrencies, based on and led by Bitcoin, have shown promise as infrastructure for pseudonymous online payments, cheap remittance, trustless digital asset exchange, and smart contracts. However, Bitcoin-derived blockchain protocols have inherent scalability limits that trade-off between throughput and latency and withhold the realization of this potential. This paper presents Bitcoin-NG, a new blockchain protocol designed to scale. Based on Bitcoin's blockchain protocol, Bitcoin-NG is Byzantine fault tolerant, is robust to extreme churn, and shares the same trust model obviating qualitative changes to the ecosystem. In addition to Bitcoin-NG, we introduce several novel metrics of interest in quantifying the security and efficiency of Bitcoin-like blockchain protocols. We implement Bitcoin-NG and perform large-scale experiments at 15% the size of the operational Bitcoin system, using unchanged clients of both protocols. These experiments demonstrate that Bitcoin-NG scales optimally, with bandwidth limited only by the capacity of the individual nodes and latency limited only by the propagation time of the network.
Scaling behavior of convolutional LDPC ensembles over the BEC

We study the scaling behavior of coupled sparse graph codes over the binary erasure channel. In particular, let 2L+1 be the length of the coupled chain, let M be the number of variables in each of the 2L+1 local copies, let ℓ be the number of iterations, let Pb denote the bit error probability, and let ∈ denote the channel parameter. We are interested in how these quantities scale when we let the blocklength (2L + 1)M tend to infinity. Based on empirical evidence we show that the threshold saturation phenomenon is rather stable with respect to the scaling of the various parameters and we formulate some general rules of thumb which can serve as a guide for the design of coding systems based on coupled graphs.
Authenticated ID-based Key Exchange and remote log-in with simple token and PIN number

Authenticated key exchange protocols tend to be either token based or password based. Token based schemes are often based on expensive (and irreplaceable) smart-card tokens, while password-only schemes require that a unique password is shared between every pair of correspondents. The magnetic strip swipe card and associated PIN number is a familiar and convenient format that motivates a combined “two-factor” approach. Finally we suggest an extension of the scheme for use in a client-server scenario.
Power-Law Distributions in Empirical Data

Power-law distributions occur in many situations of scientific interest and have significant consequences for our understanding of natural and man-made phenomena. Unfortunately, the detection and characterization of power laws is complicated by the large fluctuations that occur in the tail of the distribution—the part of the distribution representing large but rare events—and by the difficulty of identifying the range over which power-law behavior holds. Commonly used methods for analyzing power-law data, such as least-squares fitting, can produce substantially inaccurate estimates of parameters for power-law distributions, and even in cases where such methods return accurate answers they are still unsatisfactory because they give no indication of whether the data obey a power law at all. Here we present a principled statistical framework for discerning and quantifying power-law behavior in empirical data. Our approach combines maximum-likelihood fitting methods with goodness-of-fit tests based on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) statistic and likelihood ratios. We evaluate the effectiveness of the approach with tests on synthetic data and give critical comparisons to previous approaches. We also apply the proposed methods to twenty-four real-world data sets from a range of different disciplines, each of which has been conjectured to follow a power-law distribution. In some cases we find these conjectures to be consistent with the data, while in others the power law is ruled out.
Preservice String Teachers' Lesson-Planning Processes

This yearlong qualitative study is an examination of 10 undergraduate preservice teachers' lesson planning for the classes and/or individual lessons they taught in a university string project. Data analysis revealed that these preservice teachers held differing views of lesson planning from each other and from their supervisor. Five themes emerged: (a) concerns about knowing how to begin to plan, (b) difficulty identifying what the children needed to learn, (c) the prominence of decisions made on the fly, (d) comparisons of thinking about teaching and planning with actual written plans, and (e) limited transfer of in-class experiences to teaching in the project. Suggestions for teacher educators include acknowledging the complex nonlinear relationship between planning skills, teaching experience, and professional knowledge; structuring guided experiences with a variety of lesson planning formats (e.g., written, mental, verbal); and maximizing opportunities for preservice teachers to reflect on connections between their experiences as students and as teachers. September 22, 2004 December 10, 2004.
Differences in whey protein content between cow's milk collected in late pasture and early indoor feeding season from conventional and organic farms in Poland.

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to investigate bioactive whey protein concentrations in cow's milk collected in late pasture (LP) and early indoor feeding (EIF) season from conventional and organic farms in Poland. RESULTS Results showed that in the LP somatic cell count (SCC) was higher under organic farming conditions. However, percentages of protein and fat were higher under conventional farming conditions. In EIF, milk from conventional dairy farms had a higher percentage of fat and lactose and a lower concentration of protein and SCC in comparison to milk from organic farms. Organic milk in LP had higher concentrations of beneficial whey proteins than conventional milk, including β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg, 4.12 vs. 2.68 g L⁻¹), lactoferrin (Lf, 334.99 vs. 188.02 mg L⁻¹), and lysozyme (Lz, 15.68 vs. 12.56 µg L⁻¹). However, conventional milk in EIF had higher concentrations of bovine serum albumin (146.47 vs. 118.65 mg L⁻¹), Lf (49 vs. 185.27 mg L⁻¹), and Lz (16.63 vs. 13.22 µg L⁻¹). CONCLUSIONS The results show significant differences in the investigated parameters between organic milk and milk from conventional system during EIF and LP. Moreover, extending the pasture season during EIF in organic farms decreases concentration of bioactive compounds of milk.
Cycling efficiency is related to the percentage of type I muscle fibers.

We determined that the variability in the oxygen cost and thus the caloric expenditure of cycling at a given work rate (i.e., cycling economy) observed among highly endurance-trained cyclists (N = 19; mean +/- SE; VO2max, 4.9 +/- 0.1 l.min-1; body weight, 71 +/- 1 kg) is related to differences in their % Type I muscle fibers. The percentage of Type I and II muscle fibers was determined from biopsies of the vastus lateralis muscle that were histochemically stained for ATPase activity. When cycling a Monark ergometer at 80 RPM at work rates eliciting 52 +/- 1, 61 +/- 1, and 71 +/- 1% VO2max, efficiency was determined from the caloric expenditure responses (VO2 and RER using open circuit spirometry) to steady-state exercise. Gross efficiency (GE) was calculated as the ratio of work accomplished.min-1 to caloric expenditure.min-1, whereas delta efficiency (DE) was calculated as the slope of this relationship between approximately 50 and 70% VO2max. The % Type I fibers ranged from 32 to 76%, and DE when cycling ranged from 18.3 to 25.6% in these subjects. The % Type I fibers was positively correlated with both DE (r = 0.85; P less than 0.001; N = 19) and GE (r = 0.75; P less than 0.001; N = 19) during cycling. Additionally, % Type I fibers was positively correlated with GE (r = 0.74; P less than 0.001; N = 13) measured during the novel task of two-legged knee extension; performed at a velocity of 177 +/- 6 degrees.s-1 and intensity of 50 and 70% of peak VO2 for that activity. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Elective versus therapeutic radical neck dissection in epidermoid carcinoma of the oral. Cavity results of a randomized clinical trial

This study concerns 75 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity who were patients at the Gustave‐Roussy Institute between December 1966 and July 1973. These patients were divided into two groups. The first group was comprised of 39 patients who underwent elective radical neck dissection; nodal involvement was present in 49% with capsular rupture in 13%. In the second group of 36, neck disease appeared during follow up in 19 cases. Therapeutic radical neck dissection was carried out in 17; the nodes were histologically positive in 15, 9 of which had a capsular rupture. In 2 cases, local or general conditions did not permit operative intervention. In this group, the involvement rate was 47% with a 25% capsular rupture rate. However, the comparison of the survival curves by the log‐rank test did not reveal any differences, even though histologic prognostic factors were taken into account. These findings led to the conclusion that in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity staged T1N0, T2N0, or T3N0 (from AJC's and UICC's clinical staging system), it seems possible, without risk, to delay neck dissection until a node is detectable, although it is reasonable to perform elective neck dissection in those cases in which the patient is unavailable for regular followup.
Moduli Stabilization in Toroidal Type IIB

We discuss the first step in the moduli stabilization program a la KKLT for a general class of resolved toroidal type IIB orientifolds. In particular, we discuss their geometry, the topology of the divisors relevant for the D3–brane instantons which can contribute to the superpotential, and some non–trivial aspects of the orientifold action.
Coagulation and Fibrinolysis in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation: Current Views and Insights

Bleeding in OLT is related to two different mechanisms. There is no doubt that the extensive surgical trauma plays a critical role in the origin of serious bleeding. However, this bleeding can be aggravated by defects in the hemostasis system. Hemostasis defects can be divided into those present before the operation and secondary to the underlying liver disease and those originating during the operation. Intraoperative defects can be classified according to the three main systems of hemostasis: coagulation, fibrinolysis, and platelet function. Serious problems with coagulation are clearly related to the quality of the graft and are less frequent now since better graft preservation techniques have been introduced. Adequate intraoperative monitoring and substitution therapy with plasma products is also important in controlling coagulation defects. However, problems resulting from hyperfibrinolysis seem to be of clinical importance, especially during the anhepatic stage and after graft reperfusion. While lack of hepatic clearance seems to be an important cause of t-PA increase during the anhepatic stage, enhanced release may be important for the rise after graft reperfusion. There is also evidence that decreased platelet numbers and function, especially after graft reperfusion, play a role. The clinical relevance of this finding remains to be elucidated. Finally, it has recently been demonstrated that antifibrinolytic agents may reduce intraoperative blood loss. However, the effect of aprotinin and other antifibrinolytic agents has still to be confirmed by randomized clinical studies. Future scientific research should focus on the mechanisms underlying the hemostasis defects. It can be expected that these efforts may finally result in a further reduction in the usage of blood products during liver transplantation.
Copyright Protection Using a Computational Watermarking Scheme

In this paper an efficient copyright protection watermarking algorithm is proposed. By embedding orthogonal vector into the wavelet-tree structure of the host image, we get the watermarked image. At the same time human vision system is considered to get perceptual results. We design an elaborate function for blind watermarking scheme. This function can dynamically determine the embedding position. The theory and experimental results show that our method successfully survives image processing operation, noise adding, the JPEG lossy compression and image cropping. Especially, the scheme is robust towards image sharpening and image enhancement.
Listeria and Enterococcal Infections in Neonates 28 Days of Age and Younger: Is Empiric Parenteral Ampicillin Still Indicated?

Introduction Empiric parenteral ampicillin has traditionally been used to treat listeria and enterococcal serious bacterial infections (SBI) in neonates 28 days of age or younger. Anecdotal experience suggests that these infections are rare. Existing data suggest an increasing resistance to ampicillin. Guidelines advocating the routine use of empiric ampicillin may need to be revisited. Objective This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and ampicillin sensitivity of listeria and enterococcal infections in neonates 28 days of age and younger who presented to 2 pediatric emergency departments (ED) in Michigan. Methods We conducted a 2-center, retrospective chart review (2006–2010) of neonates 28 days of age or younger who were evaluated for SBI in the ED. We abstracted and compared relevant demographic, historical and physical details, laboratory test results, and antibiotic sensitivity patterns to ampicillin from the eligible patient records. Results We identified SBI in 6% (72/1192) of neonates 28 days of age or younger who were evaluated for SBI, of which 0.08% (1/1192) neonates had enterococcal bacteremia and 0.08% (1/1192) neonates had listeria bacteremia. A total of 1.4% (15/1192) of patients had enterococcal urinary tract infection (UTI). Urinalysis is less helpful as a screening tool for enterococcal UTI when compared with Escherichia coli UTI (P < 0.001). Seventy-three percent (11/15) of urine isolates had an increase of minimal inhibitory concentrations, which indicate gradual development of resistance to ampicillin. Conclusions Listeria is an uncommon cause of neonatal SBI in febrile neonates who presented to the ED. Empiric use of ampicillin may need to be reconsidered if national data confirm very low listeria and enterococcal prevalence and high ampicillin resistance patterns.
Diverging Discourses: Gender Differences in Televised Golf Announcing

Previous analyses of sports telecasts found disparities between the ways male and female athletes were portrayed by on-air commentators, but no previous analysis has examined gender differences within professional golf telecasts. Examination of 34,881 descriptors within 243.5 hours of televised PGA and LPGA golf located 2 dozen critical differences in the ways male and female golfers were portrayed. Most crucially, women were more likely than men to be described in terms of why they succeeded or failed, whereas men were more likely than women to be depicted with personality or physical attributes, a notable change from earlier research findings for other sports. Comparison with the findings in 9 seminal studies of sports announcing showed that golf commentary is distinctively different from other types of sports commentary. The results counter the previously identified female stereotype of implied physical weakness, while potentially exemplifying a newer stereotype of female golfers achieving because they are lucky.
QoS-Aware scheduling in heterogeneous datacenters with paragon

Large-scale datacenters (DCs) host tens of thousands of diverse applications each day. However, interference between colocated workloads and the difficulty of matching applications to one of the many hardware platforms available can degrade performance, violating the quality of service (QoS) guarantees that many cloud workloads require. While previous work has identified the impact of heterogeneity and interference, existing solutions are computationally intensive, cannot be applied online, and do not scale beyond a few applications. We present Paragon, an online and scalable DC scheduler that is heterogeneity- and interference-aware. Paragon is derived from robust analytical methods, and instead of profiling each application in detail, it leverages information the system already has about applications it has previously seen. It uses collaborative filtering techniques to quickly and accurately classify an unknown incoming workload with respect to heterogeneity and interference in multiple shared resources. It does so by identifying similarities to previously scheduled applications. The classification allows Paragon to greedily schedule applications in a manner that minimizes interference and maximizes server utilization. After the initial application placement, Paragon monitors application behavior and adjusts the scheduling decisions at runtime to avoid performance degradations. Additionally, we design ARQ, a multiclass admission control protocol that constrains application waiting time. ARQ queues applications in separate classes based on the type of resources they need and avoids long queueing delays for easy-to-satisfy workloads in highly-loaded scenarios. Paragon scales to tens of thousands of servers and applications with marginal scheduling overheads in terms of time or state. We evaluate Paragon with a wide range of workload scenarios, on both small and large-scale systems, including 1,000 servers on EC2. For a 2,500-workload scenario, Paragon enforces performance guarantees for 91% of applications, while significantly improving utilization. In comparison, heterogeneity-oblivious, interference-oblivious, and least-loaded schedulers only provide similar guarantees for 14%, 11%, and 3% of workloads. The differences are more striking in oversubscribed scenarios where resource efficiency is more critical.
Revealing the neural fingerprints of a missing hand

The hand area of the primary somatosensory cortex contains detailed finger topography, thought to be shaped and maintained by daily life experience. Here we utilise phantom sensations and ultra high-field neuroimaging to uncover preserved, though latent, representation of amputees’ missing hand. We show that representation of the missing hand’s individual fingers persists in the primary somatosensory cortex even decades after arm amputation. By demonstrating stable topography despite amputation, our finding questions the extent to which continued sensory input is necessary to maintain organisation in sensory cortex, thereby reopening the question what happens to a cortical territory once its main input is lost. The discovery of persistent digit topography of amputees’ missing hand could be exploited for the development of intuitive and fine-grained control of neuroprosthetics, requiring neural signals of individual digits. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.15292. 001