Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A General Write Channel Model for Bit-Patterned Media Recording

In this paper, we propose a general write channel model for bit-patterned media recording by adding physically justifiable noise and feedback to the previously studied model. First, we study the noisy writing process by discussing several sources of errors causing some extra disturbances during the write process, in addition to data-dependent write synchronization errors that were studied before. Then, for this generalized model with various input and state distributions, we obtain information rate lower and upper bounds including the previous bounds as special cases. Second, a simplified feedback in the proposed channel is considered which stems from the special features of writing, and the behavior of this channel is analyzed in response to the feedback and compared mathematically and numerically with the situation, at which the feedback is ignored.
The effect of age on the cyclical patterns of plasma LH, FSH, oestradiol and progesterone in women with regular menstrual cycles.

Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), oestradiol and progesterone concentrations in plasma were obtained daily throughout the menstrual cycles of 94 regularly cycling women, aged between 24 and 50 years. Although mean LH concentrations changed little with advancing age, mean FSH concentrations were significantly (P less than 0.001) elevated from the age of 39 years. FSH concentrations in the oldest women studied (48-50 years) were approximately 3-fold greater than in the younger controls (women aged 23-35 years). LH concentrations rose slightly (P less than 0.05) during the last 5 years only. The increase in FSH concentration was not, however, uniform across the cycle, but was confined predominantly to the mid-follicular and post-ovulatory phases (i.e. those times in the normal menstrual cycle when circulating inhibin concentrations appear to be minimal). Despite the clear increases in FSH concentration, there was little alteration in the mean steroid profiles which remained within the normal fertile range throughout the last decade of reproductive life. The only exception to this was a small, transient, but significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in preovulatory oestradiol concentration between the ages of 36 and 38 years, which was followed by a transient increase (P less than 0.01) in oestradiol concentration between 39 and 44 years. However, no corresponding significant changes in mean progesterone concentrations were observed.
Family Forms and Domestic Service in Southern Italy from the Seventeenth to the Nineteenth Centuries

ABSTRACT: The relationship between form of household and the distribution of servants is examined for a sample of forty communities spread throughout mainland southern Italy for the period ranging from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century. The link between the nuclear family household system and the presence of widespread life course service, found elsewhere in Europe, is not found in this area. Southern Italy was characterized by a nuclear family household system, yet service as a stage of the life course was generally uncommon. Servants were largely female and involved women of all ages.
Between being wise and acting wise: A hidden conditional in some constructions with propensity adjectives1

This paper develops a semantic analysis of three constructions: (i) the subject-oriented adverb construction (Wisely, John left early), (ii) the ‘Adj+to Inf’ construction (John was wise to leave early), and (iii) the ‘Adj+of NP’ construction (It was wise of John to leave early), which all involve three semantic components: (i) an individual a (John), (ii) a property P1 that describes a mental/behavioral propensity (wise), and (iii) another property P2 which typically describes an action (leave early). I argue that the three constructions share a meaning along the lines of ‘P2(a), and from this it is possible to infer that P1(a)’, where P1 is forced to receive the transitory interpretation, but they differ as to which component they assert/presuppose. I further demonstrate that this analysis allows us to solve two well-known semantic puzzles concerning these constructions (the ‘entailment puzzle’ and the ‘embeddability puzzle’). The three constructions are highly amenable to the Construction Grammar approach, because their meaning cannot be derived from the intuitive meanings of their constituents and regular semantic rules only. I provide formal analyses of the three constructions in the framework of Sign-Based Construction Grammar (SBCG).
Engaging whiteness: How racial power gets reified in education

The central question addressed in this essay is how students engage in a class that focuses on the political and social power of whiteness. Specifically, it looks at how whiteness gets inscribed and reified in our education practices, even as we try to disrupt its normative influence. The essay is based upon an in-depth qualitative study of a graduate seminar dedicated to addressing diversity issues critically. We conclude that despite students' expressed intentions and efforts at disrupting whiteness, they draw upon a variety of discourses that actually serve to protect and secure whiteness's dominant position. Twelve different discourses that students cite are described, grouped into four broad appeals: to self, to progress, to authenticity, and to extremes. Understanding how students invoke these discourses as an implicit way of resisting critical engagements with whiteness can help us to problematize these practices as well as cultivate more productive and enabling interactions.
De Novo Donor‐Specific Antibody at the Time of Kidney Transplant Biopsy Associates with Microvascular Pathology and Late Graft Failure

We studied whether de novo donor‐specific antibodies (DSA) in sera from patients undergoing kidney transplant biopsies associate with specific histologic lesions in the biopsy and prognosis. DSA were assessed in 145 patients at the time of biopsy between 7 days to 31 years posttransplant. DSA was detected in 54 patients (37%), of which 32 represented de novo DSA. De novo DSA was more frequent in patients having late biopsies (34%) versus early biopsies (4%), and was usually either against class II alone or class I and II but rarely against class I alone. Microcirculation inflammation (glomerulitis, capillaritis) and damage (glomuerulopathy, capillary basement membrane multilayering), and C4d staining were associated with de novo DSA. However, the degree of scarring, arterial fibrosis and tubulo‐interstitial inflammation did not correlate with the presence of de novo DSA. De novo DSA correlated with reduced graft survival after the biopsy. Thus, de novo DSA at the time of a late biopsy for clinical indication is primarily against class II, and associates with microcirculation changes in the biopsy and subsequent graft failure. We propose careful assessment of de novo DSA, particularly against class II, be performed in all late kidney transplant biopsies.
Réflexions suite à une recherche qualitative sur le traitement des agresseurs sexuels pédophiles

Cet article resume certains resultats issus d’une recherche qualitative sur la motivation a entreprendre et a poursuivre un traitement specialise chez des agresseurs sexuels pedophiles. Ces resultats soulignent notamment l’importance pour ces patients d’acquerir un sentiment de maitrise, d’evoluer dans un environnement aux regles stables, pre-etablies, voire strictes, et de s’assurer de la force et de l’autorite des therapeutes par des confrontations ouvertes. Ces resultats sont discutes dans une perspective psychodynamique et en reference au debat sur les traitements conformes aux manuels.
Neural Mechanisms Underlying Contextual Dependency of Subjective Values: Converging Evidence from Monkeys and Humans

A major challenge for decision theory is to account for the instability of expressed preferences across time and context. Such variability could arise from specific properties of the brain system used to assign subjective values. Growing evidence has identified the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) as a key node of the human brain valuation system. Here, we first replicate this observation with an fMRI study in humans showing that subjective values of painting pictures, as expressed in explicit pleasantness ratings, are specifically encoded in the VMPFC. We then establish a bridge with monkey electrophysiology, by comparing single-unit activity evoked by visual cues between the VMPFC and the orbitofrontal cortex. At the neural population level, expected reward magnitude was only encoded in the VMPFC, which also reflected subjective cue values, as expressed in Pavlovian appetitive responses. In addition, we demonstrate in both species that the additive effect of prestimulus activity on evoked activity has a significant impact on subjective values. In monkeys, the factor dominating prestimulus VMPFC activity was trial number, which likely indexed variations in internal dispositions related to fatigue or satiety. In humans, prestimulus VMPFC activity was externally manipulated through changes in the musical context, which induced a systematic bias in subjective values. Thus, the apparent stochasticity of preferences might relate to the VMPFC automatically aggregating the values of contextual features, which would bias subsequent valuation because of temporal autocorrelation in neural activity.
An evaluation of strategies developed to prevent substance abuse among student-athletes.

Substance abuse by the collegiate athlete has become a major concern. Drug testing programs are viewed as one method of combatting this problem; however, more emphasis should be placed upon developing effective drug prevention programs. The current study addresses this need by (a) designing a multifocused prevention program specifically for student-athletes based on the previous literature, (b) evaluating its overall effectiveness as well as that of its individual components, and (c) identifying factors associated with preintervention usage patterns of student-athletes for the purpose of guiding future program development efforts. Although 110 student-athletes indicated a willingness to participate in the study, only 58 completed the assessment packet. These 58 were randomly assigned to intervention and control conditions. Few differences were found between the treatment and control groups. Perhaps the most important finding was that social-environmental factors and pro-usage attitudes were related to pre.
Microglia in the CNS: Immigrants from another world

Microglia are immunocompetent cells of the brain that continuously survey their environment with highly motile extensions. Although first described almost a century ago, the developmental origin of microglia is still debated. Besides early myeolomonocytic cell populations that colonize the developing neuroectoderm already during embryogenesis, newly migrated myeloid cells are considered important disease modulators in the adult brain. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of myeloid cell recruitment from the periphery and their development into bone marrow‐derived phagocytes in the adult brain is pivotal for manipulating immune cell entry into the CNS and potentially reducing disease burden. A major question is whether bone marrow‐derived mononuclear phagocytes have similar features and fates as their endogenous counterparts. Significant advances in our understanding of microglia biology under physiological as well as under pathological conditions have been made in the last few years, especially by combining novel gene‐targeting techniques that allow cell manipulation and trafficking analysis. These new aspects will be discussed in the present review. ©2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Error rate of asynchronous DS-CDMA in Nakagami fading

An accurate bit-error-rate (BER) calculation method is derived for a binary direct-sequence (DS) spread-spectrum multiple-access (SSMA) system using conventional matched filter receivers and random sequences on flat-fading Nakagami channels. A closed-form expression for the characteristic function of a sum of multiple Nakagami interfering signals is found. The accuracy of the standard Gaussian approximation (SGA) is assessed for DS code-division multiple-access (CDMA) systems operating on Nakagami fading channels.
Social dynamics of captive western lowland gorillas living in all-male groups

Male mammals show considerable variation in their association (e.g. single-male, multi-male, all-male groups) and relationship (e.g. affiliative versus intolerant) patterns. Although a number of primates have been observed to form all-male groups, studies of the social dynamics of these groups are limited. This study examined the social interactions of 25 male western lowland gorillas living in nine captive all-male groups. Over 1,300 hours of data were collected using group scan and all-occurrence sampling methodologies. Groups were cohesive, with males spending approximately one-third of their time within 5 meters of another individual. Although complete linear dominance hierarchies within a group were not observed, dominance relationships between individuals were evident for the majority (66%) of dyads. Social interactions varied as a function of age, with subadults engaging in more affiliative behavior and less non-contact aggression than either blackbacks or silverbacks. Visual/olfactory access to females increased non-contact aggression between males. Such results are similar to those found for all-male groups of mountain gorillas in the wild and demonstrate that all-male groups can be a cohesive social unit in this species. They also raise the questions of why all-male groups have rarely been observed in wild populations and how social, ecological and anthropogenic factors influence male sociality.
Direct evidence for active segregation of oriC regions of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome and co‐localization with the Spo0J partitioning protein

We have developed methods for labelling regions of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome with the nucleotide analogue 5‐bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and for subcellular visualization of the labelled DNA. Examination of oriC‐labelled chromosomes in outgrowing spores has provided direct evidence for active segregation of sister chromosomes. Co‐immunodetection of Spo0J and BrdU‐labelled DNA has directly confirmed the expected close association between this chromosome partitioning protein and the oriC region of the chromosome. The results provide further support for the notion that bacterial cells use an active mitotic‐like mechanism to segregate their chromosomes.
Pedagogies of critical race theory: Experimentations with white preservice teachers

We have taken to heart the call of critical race theorists and critical Whiteness scholars to open up a White discourse on White racism. As White, female, teacher educators, we endeavored to openly address Whiteness and White racism with our White students to help them become more aware of the advantages and biases inherent in their positionality as White teachers. As we did this, we were critically aware of both the negative and positive possible outcomes of our endeavors. Throughout our work with our students and our subsequent reflections on the results, we were able to establish ways of speaking about Whiteness that moved our students, and ourselves, to a more critical, more empowered understanding of race and Whiteness.
A novel method for determining the nature of time series

The delay vector variance (DVV) method, which analyzes the nature of a time series with respect to the prevalence of deterministic or stochastic components, is introduced. Due to the standardization within the DVV method, it is possible both to statistically test for the presence of nonlinearities in a time series, and to visually inspect the results in a DVV scatter diagram. This approach is convenient for interpretation as it conveys information about the linear or nonlinear nature, as well as about the prevalence of deterministic or stochastic components in the time series, thus unifying the existing approaches which deal either with only deterministic versus stochastic, or the linear versus nonlinear aspect. The results on biomedical time series, namely heart rate variability (HRV) and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) time series, illustrate the applicability of the proposed DVV-method.
Peut-on se fier aux délinquants pour estimer leurs gains criminels ?

Toute etude quantitative qui requiert d’un echantillon de delinquants de proceder a un inventaire individuel et detaille de leurs activites delinquantes et des revenus criminels qu’ils en retirent suscite, a juste titre d’ailleurs, un certain scepticisme. Dans cet article nous procedons a un bilan des objections et des problemes associes a de telles enquetes ainsi que des strategies de validation utilisees dans la litterature pour detecter les erreurs de mesure, leur amplitude et leur direction. En utilisant un echantillon de delinquants adultes incarceres dans les penitenciers federaux au Quebec, nous evaluons la portee des problemes de validite des declarations de revenus criminels, le degre de convergence de leurs declarations lorsqu’on fait varier la nature des questions posees et les raisons particulieres des differences observees. Nos resultats montrent que les facteurs les plus decisifs dependent de la complexite cognitive des tâches demandees aux repondants plutot que des caracteristiques individuelles ou des effets de contexte de l’entretien.
Parental Gate-keeping in Diasporic Indian Families: Examining the Intersection of Culture, Gender and Consumption

Stories of familial memories, histories and daily life, from sixteen daughters of diasporic Indian families living in Britain, are used to examine how culture, gender and consumption are negotiated within family settings. The differing gate-keeping roles played by parents, children and grandparents within families, in resisting or promoting the negotiation of cultural boundaries, have not been examined before. This provides a crucial opportunity to examine the changing pattern(s) of power, identity and gender roles in ethnic families; the gap in research on gender roles within the family; the family as part of a social system; the cultural embeddedness of family relationships; and the family at a more disaggregated level. These daughters' stories identified the polarisation of parental positions over a number of key issues, notably language, media and consumption (e.g. food, alcohol, clothing); showed the importance of understanding gender as performance across the family/societal boundaries; and demonstrated the centrality of communities and networks in supporting and restraining different interpretations of culture, consumption and gender by mothers and fathers.
Assembly and Regulation of the CD40 Receptor Complex in Human B Cells

CD40 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily. Studies with human B cells show that the binding of CD154 (gp39, CD40L) to CD40 recruits TNF receptor– associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and TRAF3 to the receptor complex, induces the downregulation of the nonreceptor-associated TRAFs in the cell and induces an increased expression of Fas on the cell surface. Combined signaling through the interluekin 4 receptor and CD40 induces an increased expression of Fas with a commensurate increase in the level of TRAF2, but not TRAF3, that is recruited to the receptor complex. In contrast, engagement of the membrane immunoglobulin and CD40 limits Fas upregulation and reduces the recruitment of TRAF2, relative to TRAF3, to the CD40 receptor complex. These studies show that the TRAF composition of the CD40 receptor complex can be altered by signals that influence B cell differentiation.
Adoption of 4G wireless services under consideration of technology and economic perspectives

The newly introduced 4G wireless technology has the potential to attract additional users by overcoming limitations of instability, limited mobility and limited bandwidth of 3G technology. This study integrates technology and economic perspectives to gain a better understanding of users behaviour in adopting 4G wireless technology. Our data were collected in a web-based survey of 499 respondents, and we used the structural equation modelling (SEM) to evaluate the integrated model. The results show that attitude towards the use of 4G technology and the perceived usefulness of it are significant facilitators of users intention to adopt this technology whereas perceived uncertainty and transaction costs are inhibitors. Trust has a positive effect on users attitude towards 4G wireless technology, but it negatively influences transaction costs. The findings provide valuable references for both academicians and practitioners to understand the users adoption of 4G wireless technology.
Report of the International Consensus Development Conference on Female Sexual Dysfunction: Definitions and Classifications

83 Address correspondence to Rosemary Basson, Echelon Bldg. , Vancouver Hospital, 855 W. 12th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V5Z 1M9. E-mail: sexmed@interchange.ubc. ca Supported by the Sexual Function Health Council of the American Foundation for Urologic Disease through educational grants provided by Affiliated Research Centers, Eli Lilly/ICOS Pharmaceuticals, Pentech Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Inc., Procter & Gamble, Schering-Plough, Solway Pharmaceuticals, TAP Pharmaceuticals, and Zonagen. Financial interest and/or other relationship with Affiliated Research Centers, Astra, Bayer AG, Bristol-Myers, Eli Lilly, Fournier Group, Glaxo Wellcome, Lilly/ICOS, Matrix Pharma, NexMed, NitroMed, Pentech, Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Canada Ltd., Pfizer UK, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Procter & Gamble, Scherling-Plough, Senetek, Shwarz-Pharma, Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Syntec, Syntex, TAP Pharmaceuticals, Vivus and/or Zonagen. This article originally appeared in The Journal of Urology, volume 163, pages 888–893 and is reprinted with permission of the publisher. Report of the International Consensus Development Conference on Female Sexual Dysfunction: Definitions and Classifications
Adaptive Behavior, Social Adjustment, and Academic Achievement of Regular and Special Education Children

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to compare the adaptive behavior, social adjustment and academic achievement of educable mentally retarded, learning disabled, behavior disordered, and regular class children. A sample of 120 children, aged 7 through 9 years, was selected from class rolls on the basis of group membership, race and sex. Significant differences were found in adaptive behavior, social adjustment, and academic achievement among the four groups; none of the instruments, however, was able to differentiate among all four categories of children. Adaptive behavior and academic achievement differentiated EMR and regular class children from the other two groups, while social adjustment appeared to be the most effective variable in differentiating BD children from the other three categories. Findings of this study support the notion that measures of these abilities provide information of use to teachers, psychologists, and placement committees in their attempts to provide the most appropr.