Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring coral calcification under ocean acidification: methodological considerations for the 45Ca-uptake and total alkalinity anomaly technique

As the oceans become less alkaline due to rising CO2 levels, deleterious consequences are expected for calcifying corals. Predicting how coral calcification will be affected by on-going ocean acidification (OA) requires an accurate assessment of CaCO3 deposition and an understanding of the relative importance that decreasing calcification and/or increasing dissolution play for the overall calcification budget of individual corals. Here, we assessed the compatibility of the 45Ca-uptake and total alkalinity (TA) anomaly techniques as measures of gross and net calcification (GC, NC), respectively, to determine coral calcification at pHT 8.1 and 7.5. Considering the differing buffering capacity of seawater at both pH values, we were also interested in how strongly coral calcification alters the seawater carbonate chemistry under prolonged incubation in sealed chambers, potentially interfering with physiological functioning. Our data indicate that NC estimates by TA are erroneously ∼5% and ∼21% higher than GC estimates from 45Ca for ambient and reduced pH, respectively. Considering also previous data, we show that the consistent discrepancy between both techniques across studies is not constant, but largely depends on the absolute value of CaCO3 deposition. Deriving rates of coral dissolution from the difference between NC and GC was not possible and we advocate a more direct approach for the future by simultaneously measuring skeletal calcium influx and efflux. Substantial changes in carbonate system parameters for incubation times beyond two hours in our experiment demonstrate the necessity to test and optimize experimental incubation setups when measuring coral calcification in closed systems, especially under OA conditions.
The overall impact of emotional intelligence on nursing students and nursing

Healthcare employers often criticize the lack of emotional competency and critical thinking skills demonstrated by newly licensed nurses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether emotional intelligence (EI) training for nurses improves critical thinking and emotional competence enough to justify including EI in nursing curricula. A meta-analysis was conducted inclusive of EI related nursing abilities and traits such as leadership, health, reflection, ethical behavior, nursing student performance, and job retention/satisfaction. Studies of EI constructs, test instruments, and contrary viewpoints were also examined. The analysis included 395 EI studies of approximately 65,300 participants. All the studies reported a positive correlation with EI ranging from weak to strong with a moderate cumulative effect size of r = 0.3022 across all studies. This study may contribute to positive social change by reducing employers time and cost for training newly licensed nurses, thereby decreasing the overall cost of health care to the public.
Epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal

The charts of 67 patients treated for epidermoid carcinoma of the surgical anal canal were reviewed. The clinical presentation, type of surgical procedure performed, lymph node status of the pararectal and inguinal nodes, time of recurrence, site of recurrence, and median survival from the date of primary surgery and from the date of recurrence were determined. There were 55 patients (82%) who had a minimum of 5 years' follow‐up since initial treatment. Optimal surgical treatment requires an abdominoperineal resection with wide dissection of the ischiorectal fossa and perineum in all patients, as well as an en bloc excision of the posterior vaginal wall in women. Although excision of the posterior vaginal wall improves the disease‐free interval, median survival is not altered, compared with the group without vaginectomy. The predominant sites of local recurrence in men are the pelvis and perineum, and in women, the pelvis and posterior vaginal wall. The status of the pararectal lymph nodes from the operative specimen can give accurate information about the relative risk of recurrence. The presence of inguinal lymph node metastases represents a poor prognosis because of a close association with systemic metastases.
Information Technology Certification: A Student Perspective

Certification has become a popular adjunct to traditional means of acquiring information technology (IT) skills, and employers increasingly specify a preference for those holding certifications. This chapter reports on a study designed to investigate student perception of both the benefits and risks of certification and its importance in obtaining employment. Certification was perceived as an important factor in achieving employment and students undertaking it anticipate that it will lead to substantial financial benefits. Yet, higher salaries are not seen as the most important benefit of certification. The potential benefits that students believe are most important relate to 'real-world' experience. The respondents were aware of the possible risks of certification but did not appear to be overly concerned about them.
Type D personality and ill-health among Swedish adolescents

Objective: Sleep problems are associated with an increased risk of psychiatric and somatic diseases. Type D personality, or the distressed personality, refers to the joint tendency to experience negative emotions and to inhibit self-expression in social interaction. Type D personality is associated with an increased number of health complaints including cardiovascular diseases. The present study investigated whether Type D personality was associated with sleep problems among adolescents. Methods: The study was part of the Survey of Adolescent Life in Vastmanland 2008 (SALVe 2008). A total of 5012 adolescents (age 15-18 years old) completed a questionnaire including the Type D measurement DS14 and questions on sleep disturbances, sleep hours during school nights, and sleep hours during weekend nights. Results: Adolescents with a Type D personality had an approximately four times increased risk of having sleep disturbances. Moreover, Type D personality was associated with sleeping fewer hours. Conclusion: As adolescence represents a formative period for development it is critical to identify sleep disorders early. The presence of Type D personality associated with poor sleep demands attention because sleep problems may be an early stage in the development of later diseases.
A Majorized Penalty Approach for Calibrating Rank Constrained Correlation Matrix Problems

In this paper, we aim at finding a nearest correlation matrix to a given symmetric matrix, measured by the componentwise weighted Frobenius norm, with a prescribed rank and bound constraints on its correlations. This is in general a non-convex and difficult problem due to the presence of the rank constraint. To deal with this difficulty, we first consider a penalized version of this problem and then apply the essential ideas of the majorization method to the penalized problem by solving iteratively a sequence of least squares correlation matrix problems without the rank constraint. The latter problems can be solved by a recently developed quadratically convergent smoothing Newton-BiCGStab method. Numerical examples demonstrate that our approach is very efficient for obtaining a nearest correlation matrix with both rank and bound constraints.
Parsing the WSJ Using CCG and Log-Linear Models

This paper describes and evaluates log-linear parsing models for Combinatory Categorial Grammar (CCG). A parallel implementation of the L-BFGS optimisation algorithm is described, which runs on a Beowulf cluster allowing the complete Penn Treebank to be used for estimation. We also develop a new efficient parsing algorithm for CCG which maximises expected recall of dependencies. We compare models which use all CCG derivations, including non-standard derivations, with normal-form models. The performances of the two models are comparable and the results are competitive with existing wide-coverage CCG parsers.
The value of protein structure classification information—Surveying the scientific literature

The Structural Classification of Proteins (SCOP) and Class, Architecture, Topology, Homology (CATH) databases have been valuable resources for protein structure classification for over 20 years. Development of SCOP (version 1) concluded in June 2009 with SCOP 1.75. The SCOPe (SCOP–extended) database offers continued development of the classic SCOP hierarchy, adding over 33,000 structures. We have attempted to assess the impact of these two decade old resources and guide future development. To this end, we surveyed recent articles to learn how structure classification data are used. Of 571 articles published in 2012–2013 that cite SCOP, 439 actually use data from the resource. We found that the type of use was fairly evenly distributed among four top categories: A) study protein structure or evolution (27% of articles), B) train and/or benchmark algorithms (28% of articles), C) augment non‐SCOP datasets with SCOP classification (21% of articles), and D) examine the classification of one protein/a small set of proteins (22% of articles). Most articles described computational research, although 11% described purely experimental research, and a further 9% included both. We examined how CATH and SCOP were used in 158 articles that cited both databases: while some studies used only one dataset, the majority used data from both resources. Protein structure classification remains highly relevant for a diverse range of problems and settings. Proteins 2015; 83:2025–2038. © 2015 The Authors. Proteins: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Key variables to predict tie strength on social network sites

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to predict tie strength using profile similarities and interaction data between users, and thus distinguish between strong and weak relationships on social network sites (SNSs). Design/methodology/approach – This study developed a program and an online questionnaire to collect the data set from Facebook, and then integrated that data set with a subjective data set consisting of participants’ opinions of the strength of their friendships on Facebook. The model developed here for predicting tie strength performed well when was applied on a data set of 6,477 SNSs’ ties, distinguishing between strong and weak ties with over 50 percent accuracy. Findings – The results developed an algorithm (predictive model) that quantifies and measures tie strength continuously to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The results found that the variables in the dimension of emotional intensity had stronger effects than other interaction variables. Originality/value – This study de.
Growth-promoting activity of Hominis Placenta extract on regenerating sciatic nerve

AbstractAim:Extract of Hominis Placenta (HP) has been used in oriental medicine as an agent for improving physiological function. The present study was conducted to investigate whether HP treatment in an experimental sciatic nerve injury animal model produces growth-promoting effects on regenerating peripheral nerve fibers after injury.Methods:After HP was injected into a sciatic nerve injury site, changes in protein levels were analyzed in the regenerating nerve area by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining analyses. For quantitative assessment of axonal regeneration, a retrograde tracing technique was used to identify the neuronal cell bodies corresponding to regenerating axons, and the extent of neurite outgrowth in cultured dorsal root ganglia (DRG) sensory neurons prepared from animals that had experienced a sciatic nerve crush injury 7 d before neuron collection was analyzed.Results:Induction levels of axonal growth-associated protein (GAP-43) in the injured sciatic nerves were elevated by HP treatment. HP treatment also upregulated cell division cycle 2 (Cdc2) protein levels in the distal stump of the injured sciatic nerve. Induced Cdc2 protein was detected in Schwann cells, suggesting that Cdc2 kinase activity maybe involved in the growth-promoting activity of regenerating axons via Schwann cell proliferation. Cell body measurement by retrograde tracing indicated that HP treatment produced significant increases in regenerating motor axons. Finally, HP treatment of cultured DRG sensory neurons significantly increased neurite arborization and elongation.Conclusion:HP promotes the regeneration of injured sciatic axons by upregulating the synthesis of regeneration-related protein factors such as GAP-43 and Cdc2.
A Multiobjective Resources Scheduling Approach Based on Genetic Algorithms in Grid Environment

Resources scheduling plays an important role in grid. This paper converts resources scheduling problem in grid into a multiobjective optimization problem, and presents a resources scheduling approach based on multiobjective genetic algorithms. This approach deals with dependent relationships of jobs, and regards multi-dimensional QoS metrics, completion time and execution cost of jobs, as multiobjective. Based on Pareto sorting and niched sharing method, our approach determines optimal solutions. Experimental results show that our approach gets less completion time of jobs and total execution cost of jobs than min-min algorithm and max-min algorithm
DISCRETE-TIME ROBUST POLE-PLACEMENT DESIGN THROUGH GLOBAL OPTIMIZATION

Abstract A robust pole placement controller design method is presented for discrete-time systems with parametric model uncertainties contained within known bounds. The design methodology is based on the minimization of a cost function by using genetic algorithms. It allows for a thorough assessment of robust performance in addition to robust stability. The effectiveness of this technique is shown for a real-time experimental laboratory-scale helicopter system. Copyright © 2002 IFAC
The Psychophysics of Reward: Empirical Studies and Modeling of Performance for Medial Forebrain Electrical Stimulation in the Rat

Brain stimulation reward (BSR), the effect of electrical stimulation that animals seek to reinitiate, is a useful tool to investigate reward-seeking behaviour and its neural underpinnings. The experiments in this thesis pursue this approach by applying the "reward-mountain" model of performance for BSR. This model provides a framework for describing the computational processes that link the induced neural activity to reward- seeking behaviour. The data to which the model is fit are obtained by measuring operant performance for BSR (time spent pressing a lever) as a function of subjective intensity of the stimulation (controlled by pulse frequency) and opportunity cost (work time required to earn a reward). Determining the stage of neural circuitry responsible for the behavioural impact of physiological manipulations is among the principal goals of this strategy. At the core of the model is the subject’s computation of “payoff” via the integration of reward intensity and costs. An important initial stage, often overlooked in neuroscientific studies of decision-making, is the transformation of the objective into subjective variables. The formal relationship between these variables (termed psychophysical functions) is often non-linear: what is experienced is not necessarily a direct reflection of the external world. An analysis of these transformations is important for the full understanding of cost-benefit decision-making. A central goal of the experiments in this thesis is to estimate the psychophysical functions of reward-seeking variables. Chapter 1 reviews the BSR literature and describes the reward-mountain model. The experiment described in Chapter 2 concerns the valuation of time: the translation of the experimenter-set opportunity cost (the objective price) into the equivalent subjective domain (subjective price). The experiment described in Chapter 3 estimates the frequency-response function of the directly stimulated neurons subserving the rewarding effect. This function translates the experimenter-set pulse frequency (the inducing stimulus) into the firing frequency of the neuron (the induced physiological response). Chapter 4 describes a proof-of-principle study: the ability of the reward-mountain paradigm to detect the effect of a lesion challenge on pursuit of BSR and to link this effect to one or more stages of processing. Chapter 5 concludes with a general discussion.
Modeling and Compensation of Pivot Nonlinearity in Hard Disk Drives

In this paper the authors propose a new, straightforward approach to derive model of the pivot nonlinearity in the hard disk drive. The proposed nonlinear model is not based on classical pivot nonlinearity models. It is derived using frequency domain measurements obtained for different amplitudes of the actuator excitation current. One of the advantages of the obtained model is that it is derived using actual experimental measurements conducted under the real operating conditions of the hard disk drive. Experimental results show good match of the derived model with both the frequency and time domain measurements. The derived model is subsequently used for feedforward compensation of the pivot nonlinearity and the experimental results are presented. Simulation studies are carried out for adaptive neural network compensation using the derived model.
Aided Perception of /s/ and /z/ by Hearing-Impaired Children

Objective The overall goal of this study was to determine the accuracy with which hearing-impaired children can detect the inflectional morphemes /s/ and /z/ when listening to speech through hearing aids. Design In the first part of the study a perceptual test was developed with equal numbers of singular and plural nouns spoken by both a male and female talker. Thirty-six normal-hearing children (3 to 5 yr) were tested to determine the age at which children could perform this test without difficulty. In the second part of the study, 40 children with bilateral sensorineural hearing losses (5 to 13 yr) were tested while wearing personal hearing aids. Stimuli were presented in the sound field at 65 dB SPL. Results For the normal-hearing children, mean performance increased and inter-subject variability decreased through age 5 yr 3 mo when performance reached ≥90% for all children. No significant talker or form (plural versus singular) effects were noted for this group. For the hearing-impaired children, performance varied considerably across all ages. For these subjects, significant effects of talker and form were observed. Specifically, plural test items spoken by the female talker showed the highest error rate. Conclusions In general, mid-frequency audibility (2 to 4 kHz) appeared to be most important for perception of the fricative noise for the male talker while a somewhat wider frequency range (2 to 8 kHz) was important for the female talker.
Self and agency: a defence of Praśastapāda's differential naturalism

This thesis discusses the Vaiśeṣika philosopher Praśastapāda’s conception of self in his text, the Padārthadharmasaṃgraha, and its key commentaries. It examines the arguments these texts propose for the existence of a self that is non-physical and yet non-Cartesian, based in a paradigm I term ‘differential naturalism’. I examine Praśastapāda’s four arguments for the existence of a self from: the structures of agency and action in human cognition; in intentional mental and bodily acts; in the homeostatic regulation of the human body; and in the biological life of the human organism. The core thesis, I argue, is that the rational structures of agency and action we find in these activities require a conscious owner. This must be a self. The dualist argument for the self’s non-physical nature emerges from a dichotomous ontology of mental and physical properties and causal powers, which entails that only a non-physical substance can be a bearer of the normative and intentional structures that agency and mental causation demand. The minded self is, however, necessarily embodied. Praśastapāda, I suggest, postulates a naturalistic conception of self. Such a self enables the integration of the mental, moral and physical realms as aspects of natural order, for self is the bearer not only of psychological, vital and normative powers in the natural world, but of natural law qua moral law. This integrative, yet differential, naturalism provides an innovative alternative to Western and classical Indian physicalist and dualist perspectives.
In vivo behavior of poly(1,3-trimethylene carbonate) and copolymers of 1,3-trimethylene carbonate with D,L-lactide or epsilon-caprolactone: Degradation and tissue response.

The degradation and the tissue response evoked by poly(1,3-trimethylene carbonate) [poly(TMC)] and copolymers of TMC with either 52 mol % D,L-lactide (DLLA) or 89 mol % epsilon-caprolactone (CL) were evaluated in vivo by subcutaneous implantation of polymer films in rats for periods up to one year. Poly(TMC) specimens were extensively degraded after 3 weeks and, as confirmed by histology, totally resorbed in less than a year. A fast linear decrease in thickness and mass without a change in molecular weight was observed. Initially an acute sterile inflammatory tissue reaction, caused by the implantation procedure, was observed, followed by a mild macrophage-mediated foreign body reaction that lasted during the resorption period of the polymer. It is concluded that in vivo, poly(TMC) is degraded via surface erosion involving cellular-mediated processes. The degradation of the copolymers was slower than that of poly(TMC), taking place via autocatalyzed bulk hydrolysis, preferentially of ester bonds. The TMC-DLLA copolymer degraded 20 times faster than the TMC-CL one. In both cases, the tissue reaction upon implantation resembled a sterile inflammatory reaction followed by a foreign body reaction that led to the polymer encapsulation. Significant mass loss was only observed for the TMC-DLLA copolymer, which underwent 96% mass loss in 1 year. When extensive mass loss started, a mild-to-moderate secondary foreign body reaction, related to clearance of the polymer fragments, was triggered. The results presented in this study demonstrate that poly(TMC) and both TMC copolymers are biodegradable and biocompatible materials, making these polymers attractive for the preparation of short- and long-term degradable devices for soft tissue engineering.
Old Technology Upgrades, Innovation, and Competition in Vertically Differentiated Markets

We study how the migration from an old to a new technology is affected by the access price to the old technology. We show that both the incumbent and the regulator are willing to set a very high access price to accelerate consumers' migration to the new technology. When the quality of the old technology is exogenous and the entrant dominates investment in the new technology, the old technology is completely switched off in equilibrium, whereas the old technology persists when the incumbent dominates investment. When the incumbent can decide on an endogenous upgrade of the old technology, the migration to the new technology is slowed down, and the entrant might be foreclosed.