Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antarctic Marine Biodiversity – What Do We Know About the Distribution of Life in the Southern Ocean?

The remote and hostile Southern Ocean is home to a diverse and rich community of life that thrives in an environment dominated by glaciations and strong currents. Marine biological studies in the region date back to the nineteenth century, but despite this long history of research, relatively little is known about the complex interactions between the highly seasonal physical environment and the species that inhabit the Southern Ocean. Oceanographically, the Southern Ocean is a major driver of global ocean circulation and plays a vital role in interacting with the deep water circulation in each of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. The Census of Antarctic Marine Life and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Marine Biodiversity Information Network (SCAR-MarBIN) have strived to coordinate and unify the available scientific expertise and biodiversity data to improve our understanding of Southern Ocean biodiversity. Taxonomic lists for all marine species have been compiled to form the Register of Antarctic Marine Species, which currently includes over 8,200 species. SCAR-MarBIN has brought together over 1 million distribution records for Southern Ocean species, forming a baseline against which future change can be judged. The sample locations and numbers of known species from different regions were mapped and the depth distributions of benthic samples plotted. Our knowledge of the biodiversity of the Southern Ocean is largely determined by the relative inaccessibility of the region. Benthic sampling is largely restricted to the shelf; little is known about the fauna of the deep sea. The location of scientific bases heavily influences the distribution pattern of sample and observation data, and the logistical supply routes are the focus of much of the at-sea and pelagic work. Taxa such as mollusks and echinoderms are well represented within existing datasets with high numbers of georeferenced records. Other taxa, including the species-rich nematodes, are represented by just a handful of digital records.
Witten's Invariant of 3-Dimensional Manifolds: Loop Expansion and Surgery Calculus

We review two different methods of calculating Witten's invariant: a stationary phase approximation and a surgery calculus. We give a detailed description of the 1-loop approximation formula for Witten's invariant and of the technics involved in deriving its exact value through a surgery construction of a manifold. Finally we compare the formulas produced by both methods for a 3-dimensional sphere S^3 and a lens space L(p,1).
Accurate and eff icient flow based congestion estimation in floorplanning

Congestion has been a topic of great importance in the floorplanning of deep-submicron Odesign. In this paper, we design an accurate and efficient congestion estimation model by performing global routing. We interpret the global routing problem as a flow problem of several commodities and relax the integral flow constraints. The objective of resulting fractional flow problem is to minimize the maximum congestion over all edges in the inner dual graph [ 131. The underlying routing graph for each commodity is derived by assigning directions to the inner dual graph edges. We design an efficient two-phase algorithm to solve this fractional flow problem. The first phase is denoted as Incoming Flow Balancing (IFB) by which a good initial solution is derived. The second phase is called Srepwise Flow Refinement (SFR) by which the maximum congestion of the solution in first phase is iteratively reduced to its optimal value. In addition, a valid global routing solution can be obtained by applying a simple rounding procedure on the fractional flow solution. The maximum congestion after rounding is only increased by 2.82% on average according to our experimental results. which justifies the use of fractional flow to estimate the routing congestion. Finally. we demonstrate our model by integrating it into a simulated annealing (SA) based floorplanner, where we use the maximum congestion as part of the cost of SA. The experimental results show that, on average, our congestion-driven floorplanner can generate a much less congested floorplan (-36.44%) with a slight sacrifice in area (+1.30%) and wirelength (+2.64%). The runtime of the whole SA process is only increased moderately (+270%).
Effects of Mechanically Deboned Chicken Meat (MDCM) and Collagen on the Quality Characteristics of Semi-dried Chicken Jerky

This study was conducted to determine the effects of using mechanically deboned chicken meat (MDCM) and collagen on quality characteristics of semi-dried chicken jerky. In experiment I, semi-dried chicken jerky was prepared with the replacement of chicken breast with MDCM (0, 10, 20, and 30%). The pH value of the jerky formulated with only chicken breast was 5.94, while the replacement of chicken breast with MDCM significantly increased the pH (p<0.05). The protein content and shear force of the jerkies decreased with increasing amounts of MDCM, whereas the fat, ash content and processing yield showed the opposite tendency (p<0.05). Replacement with up to 10% MDCM had no adverse effects on the sensory characteristics of the semi-dried chicken jerky. In experiment II, four levels of pork collagen (0, 1, 2, and 3%) were added to the semi-dried chicken jerky formulated with 90% chicken breast and 10% MDCM. The addition of collagen increased the moisture content, but decreased the ash content of the jerkies produced (p<0.05). The processing yield of the jerkies increased with increasing added amounts of collagen (p<0.05). It was found that the jerkies formulated with 0-2% collagen had significantly higher overall acceptance score than those prepared with 3% collagen (p<0.05). In conclusion, MDCM and collagen could be useful ingredients to reduce the production cost and improve the processing yield of semi-dried chicken jerky. The optimal levels of MDCM and collagen which could be added without adverse effects on the sensory characteristics were up to 10% and 2%, respectively.
Etiologic diagnosis of bovine infectious abortion by PCR

Infectious abortion is a significant cause of reproductive failure and economic losses in cattle. The goal of this study was to detect nucleic acids of several infectious agents known to cause abortion including Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Bovine Herpesvirus 1, Brucella abortus, Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis, Chlamydophila abortus, Leptospira sp. , Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella sp. , Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium, Neospora caninum, and Tritrichomonas foetus. Tissue homogenates from 42 fetuses and paraffin-embedded tissues from 28 fetuses and 14 placentas/endometrium were included in this study. Brucella abortus was detected in 14.2% (12/84) of the samples. Salmonella sp. DNA was amplified from 2 fetuses, and there was one positive for Neospora caninum, and another for Listeria monocytogenes. This PCR-based approach resulted in identification of the etiology in 19% of samples, or 20% if considered fetal tissues only.
A new approach to flexible humidity sensors using graphene quantum dots

Highly sensitive flexible humidity sensors based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) were developed. The GQDs were prepared using a facile hydrothermal method and characterized considering morphological, structural, and compositional experiments. Then, their humidity sensing properties in correlation with flexibility characteristics were investigated. Good selectivity and response (∼390 for a RH change of 99%), broad detection range (1–100% RH), rather short response and recovery times (12 and 43 s, respectively) as well as flexibility were obtained, demonstrating that the GQD sensors have potential for application in wearable electronics and RH monitoring. Detection of hydrogen (H2) gas by the GQDs confirms the exchange of a proton through adsorbed H+ species in the H2O sensing mechanism. Considering the structure of the sensing material and RT performance, capillary condensation resulting in the formation of a conductive path by water molecules is suggested as the dominant sensing mechanism at high RH.
Why Contextual Preference Reversals Maximize Expected Value

Contextual preference reversals occur when a preference for one option over another is reversed by the addition of further options. It has been argued that the occurrence of preference reversals in human behavior shows that people violate the axioms of rational choice and that people are not, therefore, expected value maximizers. In contrast, we demonstrate that if a person is only able to make noisy calculations of expected value and noisy observations of the ordinal relations among option features, then the expected value maximizing choice is influenced by the addition of new options and does give rise to apparent preference reversals. We explore the implications of expected value maximizing choice, conditioned on noisy observations, for a range of contextual preference reversal types—including attraction, compromise, similarity, and phantom effects. These preference reversal types have played a key role in the development of models of human choice. We conclude that experiments demonstrating contextual preference reversals are not evidence for irrationality. They are, however, a consequence of expected value maximization given noisy observations.
Multi-Stage Beamforming for Coded OFDM with Multiple Transmit and Multiple Receive Antennas

Conventionally, subcarrier based beamforming was used in an OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) system under MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) channels to achieve optimal performance, where many DFT/IDFT (discrete Fourier transform/inverse DFT) blocks, each corresponding to one antenna, are required. To reduce the complexity induced by the DFT/IDFT processing, symbol based beamforming was recently proposed with only one IDFT block at the transmitter and one DFT block at the receiver. However, this approach results in a significant performance loss especially when the number of distinct paths in the channel is large. In this paper, we propose a multi-stage beamforming (MSB) scheme for MIMO-OFDM systems employing both the principles of subcarrier level beamforming and symbol level beamforming to effectively tradeoff system performance and complexity. Using the proposed MSB scheme and with a little complexity increase compared with the symbol based beamforming, system performance can be significantly improved. Under some channel conditions, the proposed MSB scheme can achieve a performance close to the optimal subcarrier based beamforming scheme but with much lower complexity. For the MSB scheme, we propose an iterative algorithm to jointly optimize the symbol level and subcarrier level weighting coefficients. To reduce the complexity of the joint weighting coefficients calculation algorithm, we propose a reduced complexity algorithm to first obtain the symbol level weighting coefficients and then the subcarrier level weighting coefficients. Simulation results show that good performance can be achieved using the proposed weighting coefficients calculation algorithms with reasonable complexity
The Extent of Coronary Atherosclerosis Is Associated With Increasing Circulating Levels of High Sensitive Cardiac Troponin T

Objective—This study explored the relationship between coronary atherosclerotic plaque burden and quantifiable circulating levels of troponin measured with a recently introduced high sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) assay. Methods and Results—Cardiac patients suspected of having coronary artery disease (CAD) but without acute coronary syndrome were studied. Cardiac troponin T levels were assessed using the fifth-generation hs-cTnT assay. All patients (n=615) underwent cardiac computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). On the basis of CCTA, patients were classified as having no CAD or mild (<50% lesion), moderate (50% to 70% lesion), severe (>70% lesion), or multivessel CAD (multiple >70% lesions). As a comparison, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were measured. Progressively increasing hs-cTnT levels were found in patients with mild (median, 4.5 ng/L), moderate (median, 5.5 ng/L), severe (median, 5.7 ng/L), and multivessel (median, 8.6 ng/L) CAD compared with patients without CAD (median, 3.7 ng/L) (all P<0.01). For high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, no such relationship was observed. In patients without CAD, 11% showed hs-cTnT levels in the highest quartile, compared with 62% in the multivessel disease group (P<0.05). Multivariance analysis identified hs-cTnT as an independent risk factor for the presence of CAD. Conclusion—In patients without acute coronary syndrome, even mild CAD is associated with quantifiable circulating levels of hs-cTnT.
Distributional semantic models for the evaluation of disordered language

Atypical semantic and pragmatic expression is frequently reported in the language of children with autism. Although this atypicality often manifests itself in the use of unusual or unexpected words and phrases, the rate of use of such unexpected words is rarely directly measured or quantified. In this paper, we use distributional semantic models to automatically identify unexpected words in narrative retellings by children with autism. The classification of unexpected words is sufficiently accurate to distinguish the retellings of children with autism from those with typical development. These techniques demonstrate the potential of applying automated language analysis techniques to clinically elicited language data for diagnostic purposes.
Self-Timed Architecture of a Reduced Instruction Set Computer

An advanced Self-Timed Reduced Instruction Set Computer (ST-RISC) architecture is described. It is designed hierarchically, and is formally specified functionally at the various levels by a CSP-like language. The architectural features include decoupled data and branch processors, delayed branches with variable delay, unified data path and control, efficient non-redundant handshaking protocols, and novel self-timed building blocks such as combinational logic, master-slave registers, finite state machines, and FIFO elements.
Peripheral Monocyte Functions and Activation in Patients with Quiescent Crohn’s Disease

Recent developments suggest a causal link between inflammation and impaired bacterial clearance in Crohn’s disease (CD) due to alterations of intestinal macrophages. Studies suggest that excessive inflammation is the consequence of an underlying immunodeficiency rather than the primary cause of CD pathogenesis. We characterized phenotypic and functional features of peripheral blood monocytes of patients with quiescent CD (n = 18) and healthy controls (n = 19) by analyses of cell surface molecule expression, cell adherence, migration, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, oxidative burst, and cytokine expression and secretion with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) priming. Peripheral blood monocytes of patients with inactive CD showed normal expression of cell surface molecules (CD14, CD16, CD116), adherence to plastic surfaces, spontaneous migration, chemotaxis towards LTB4, phagocytosis of E. coli, and production of reactive oxygen species. Interestingly, peripheral blood monocytes of CD patients secreted higher levels of IL1β (p<.05). Upon LPS priming we found a decreased release of IL10 (p<.05) and higher levels of CCL2 (p<.001) and CCL5 (p<.05). The expression and release of TNFα, IFNγ, IL4, IL6, IL8, IL13, IL17, CXCL9, and CXCL10 were not altered compared to healthy controls. Based on our phenotypic and functional studies, peripheral blood monocytes from CD patients in clinical remission were not impaired compared to healthy controls. Our results highlight that defective innate immune mechanisms in CD seems to play a role in the (inflamed) intestinal mucosa rather than in peripheral blood.
Daytime Sleep Enhances Consolidation of the Spatial but Not Motoric Representation of Motor Sequence Memory

Motor sequence learning is known to rely on more than a single process. As the skill develops with practice, two different representations of the sequence are formed: a goal representation built under spatial allocentric coordinates and a movement representation mediated through egocentric motor coordinates. This study aimed to explore the influence of daytime sleep (nap) on consolidation of these two representations. Through the manipulation of an explicit finger sequence learning task and a transfer protocol, we show that both allocentric (spatial) and egocentric (motor) representations of the sequence can be isolated after initial training. Our results also demonstrate that nap favors the emergence of offline gains in performance for the allocentric, but not the egocentric representation, even after accounting for fatigue effects. Furthermore, sleep-dependent gains in performance observed for the allocentric representation are correlated with spindle density during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep of the post-training nap. In contrast, performance on the egocentric representation is only maintained, but not improved, regardless of the sleep/wake condition. These results suggest that motor sequence memory acquisition and consolidation involve distinct mechanisms that rely on sleep (and specifically, spindle) or simple passage of time, depending respectively on whether the sequence is performed under allocentric or egocentric coordinates.
The evolution of technology within a simple computer model

Technology—the collection of devices and methods available to human society—evolves by constructing new devices and methods from ones that previously exist, and in turn offering these as possible components—building blocks—for the construction of further new devices and elements. The collective of technology in this way forms a network of elements where novel elements are created from existing ones and where more complicated elements evolve from simpler ones. We model this evolution within a simple artificial system on the computer. The elements in our system are logic circuits. New elements are formed by combination from simpler existing elements (circuits), and if a novel combination satisfies one of a set of needs, it is retained as a building block for further combination. We study the properties of the resulting build out. We find that our artificial system can create complicated technologies (circuits), but only by first creating simpler ones as building blocks. Our results mirror Lenski et al.'s: that complex features can be created in biological evolution only if simpler functions are first favored and act as stepping stones. We also find evidence that the resulting collection of technologies exists at self-organized criticality. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 11: 23–31, 2006
Higher body weight and distant metastasis are associated with higher radiation exposure to the household environment from patients with thyroid cancer after radioactive iodine therapy

Abstract There were insufficient data regarding radiation exposure to the household environment from patients with thyroid cancer who received radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy in Asia; we therefore performed the present study at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Keelung, Taiwan. Patients with papillary or follicular thyroid cancer who received 3.7 GBq (100 mCi) RAI were enrolled in this prospective hospital-based study. The enrolled patients were asked to place a thermoluminescent dosimeter in the living room, bedroom, and bathroom of their houses for 4 weeks to measure radiation exposure to the household environment. A total of 43 patients (18 men and 25 women; mean age 51 ± 13 years) who received 3.7 GBq (100 mCi) RAI completed the study. The mean value of total radiation exposure over 4 weeks from the patients to the bedroom, bathroom, and living room (eliminating the background radiation factor) was 0.446 ± 0.304 (0.088–1.382) mSv. We divided the patients into 2 groups: those with more than and less than the mean value of total radiation exposure to the bedroom, bathroom, and living room. Factors associated with the higher amount of radiation exposure from the patients to the household environment were patient body weight (P = .025, univariate analysis; P = .037, multivariate analysis, odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.067 [1.004–1.134]) and distant metastases based on 131I post-therapy scanning (P = .041, univariate analysis; P = .058, multivariate analysis, odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 6.453 [0.938–44.369]); age, sex, body mass index, renal function, serum stimulated thyroglobulin level, and recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone use were not associated with the amount of radiation exposure from the patients to the household environment. Higher body weight and distant metastases may be the best predictors for higher radiation exposure to the household environment from patients with thyroid cancer after RAI therapy.
Computer graphics and geometric ornamental design

Throughout history, geometric patterns have formed an important part of art and ornamental design. Today we have unprecedented ability to understand ornamental styles of the past, to recreate traditional designs, and to innovate with new interpretations of old styles and with new styles altogether. The power to further the study and practice of ornament stems from three sources. We have new mathematical tools: a modern conception of geometry that enables us to describe with precision what designers of the past could only hint at. We have new algorithmic tools: computers and the abstract mathematical processing they enable allow us to perform calculations that were intractable in previous generations. Finally, we have technological tools: manufacturing devices that can turn a synthetic description provided by a computer into a real-world artifact. Taken together, these three sets of tools provide new opportunities for the application of computers to the analysis and creation of ornament. In this dissertation, I present my research in the area of computer-generated geometric art and ornament. I focus on two projects in particular. First I develop a collection of tools and methods for producing traditional Islamic star patterns. Then I examine the tesselations of M. C. Escher, developing an “Escherization” algorithm that can derive novel Escher-like tesselations of the plane from arbitrary user-supplied shapes. Throughout, I show how modern mathematics, algorithms, and technology can be applied to the study of these ornamental styles.
Intrathecal injection of TRPV1 shRNA leads to increases in blood pressure in rats

Aim: The transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channels have been implicated to play a role in blood pressure regulation. However, contribution of tissue specific TRPV1 to blood pressure regulation is largely unknown. Here, we test the hypothesis that TRPV1 expressed in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of lower thoracic and upper lumbar segments (T8–L3) of the spinal cord and their central and peripheral terminals constitutes a counter regulatory mechanism preventing the increases in blood pressure.