Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Author's Personal Copy Games and Economic Behavior a Payoff-based Learning Procedure and Its Application to Traffic Games

In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t A stochastic process that describes a payoff-based learning procedure and the associated adaptive behavior of players in a repeated game is considered. The process is shown to converge almost surely towards a stationary state which is characterized as an equilibrium for a related game. The analysis is based on techniques borrowed from the theory of stochastic algorithms and proceeds by studying an associated continuous dynamical system which represents the evolution of the players' evaluations. An application to the case of finitely many users in a congested traffic network with parallel links is considered. Alternative descriptions for the dynamics and the corresponding rest points are discussed, including a Lagrangian representation.
Stress and serial adult metamorphosis: multiple roles for the stress axis in socially regulated sex change

Socially regulated sex change in teleost fishes is a striking example of social status information regulating biological function in the service of reproductive success. The establishment of social dominance in sex changing species is translated into a cascade of changes in behavior, physiology, neuroendocrine function, and morphology that transforms a female into a male, or vice versa. The hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal axis (HPI, homologous to HP-adrenal axis in mammals and birds) has been hypothesized to play a mechanistic role linking status to sex change. The HPA/I axis responds to environmental stressors by integrating relevant external and internal cues and coordinating biological responses including changes in behavior, energetics, physiology, and morphology (i.e., metamorphosis). Through actions of both corticotropin-releasing factor and glucocorticoids, the HPA/I axis has been implicated in processes central to sex change, including the regulation of agonistic behavior, social status, energetic investment, and life history transitions. In this paper, we review the hypothesized roles of the HPA/I axis in the regulation of sex change and how those hypotheses have been tested to date. We include original data on sex change in the bluebanded goby (Lythyrpnus dalli), a highly social fish capable of bidirectional sex change. We then propose a model for HPA/I involvement in sex change and discuss how these ideas might be tested in the future. Understanding the regulation of sex change has the potential to elucidate evolutionarily conserved mechanisms responsible for translating pertinent information about the environment into coordinated biological changes along multiple body axes.
Abstract and Concrete Sentences, Embodiment, and Languages

One of the main challenges of embodied theories is accounting for meanings of abstract words. The most common explanation is that abstract words, like concrete ones, are grounded in perception and action systems. According to other explanations, abstract words, differently from concrete ones, would activate situations and introspection; alternatively, they would be represented through metaphoric mapping. However, evidence provided so far pertains to specific domains. To be able to account for abstract words in their variety we argue it is necessary to take into account not only the fact that language is grounded in the sensorimotor system, but also that language represents a linguistic–social experience. To study abstractness as a continuum we combined a concrete (C) verb with both a concrete and an abstract (A) noun; and an abstract verb with the same nouns previously used (grasp vs. describe a flower vs. a concept). To disambiguate between the semantic meaning and the grammatical class of the words, we focused on two syntactically different languages: German and Italian. Compatible combinations (CC, AA) were processed faster than mixed ones (CA, AC). This is in line with the idea that abstract and concrete words are processed preferentially in parallel systems – abstract in the language system and concrete more in the motor system, thus costs of processing within one system are the lowest. This parallel processing takes place most probably within different anatomically predefined routes. With mixed combinations, when the concrete word preceded the abstract one (CA), participants were faster, regardless of the grammatical class and the spoken language. This is probably due to the peculiar mode of acquisition of abstract words, as they are acquired more linguistically than perceptually. Results confirm embodied theories which assign a crucial role to both perception–action and linguistic experience for abstract words.
Speech Recognition in Background Noise: Monaural versus Binaural Listening Conditions in Normal-hearing Patients

Hypothesis Patients with unilateral conductive hearing impairment often experience a great advantage in improved hearing thresholds after reconstructive ear surgery because the binaural hearing leads to increased speech recognition in competing noise. The aim of this study was to develop a clinical audiometric test to quantify the ability of speech recognition in background noise preoperatively and postoperatively. Methods A model consisting of phonetically balanced (PB) monosyllabic words and/or a just-follow-conversation test (JFC) was used in 16 normal-hearing listeners. In 8 of the participants, JFC at two levels of background noise (60 and 40 dB sound pressure level) was used as the only method. The tasks were performed in an anechoic chamber with varying spatial separations of speech and noise sources under free field conditions. The tests were made binaurally and monaurally; the latter condition was achieved by occluding one ear with a hearing protector. In PB word tests, the percent of correctly repeated words was scored. In the JFC task, the speech signal was adjusted by the listener to a level where he or she could just understand what was being said. This was expressed as a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. Results In both types of tests, the subjects achieved significantly better speech recognition scores in the binaural situations. In summary, compared with monaural conditions, the subjects achieved 17% to 18% better speech recognition in PB tests, and in JFC tests a 2-to 3-dB lower S/N ratio in binaural conditions. Conclusion These free field tests can be developed further as a clinical tool preoperatively and postoperatively to evaluate the effect of binaural hearing after ear surgery.
Effect of Colic Vein Ligature in Rats with Loperamide-Induced Constipation

Introduction. Medical treatment in chronic constipation is not always successful. Surgery is indicated in unresponsive selected severe cases. This study presents the distal venous colic ligation in rat as a novel surgical approach. Materials and Methods. 16 rats (study group) were evaluated in 3 phases of 6 days each: A (normal conditions), B (loperamide-induced constipation), and C (colic vein legation) and compared with rats treated in phase C with PEG 4,000 (control group). Blood biochemical and physiological parameters, daily fecal water content (FWC), and histological analysis were performed in all study phases. Results. No biochemical and physiological parameters changes were observed. FWC decreased in phase B and increased in phase C in both groups with a grow up to 2.3-fold in study group compared to control (P < 0.0001). Moreover, in study group, a high number of colonic goblet cells were detected (phase C versus phase B: P < 0.001) while no differences were registered in control. Conclusion. By ligature of the colic vein in constipated rats, an increase in FWC and goblet cells higher than in PEG treated rats was detected. The described surgical procedure appeared effective, simple, and safe; further studies in animal models, however, are necessary to assess its clinical applicability.
Maternal androgens in black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) eggs: consequences for chick development

We tested the hypothesis that mother birds counterbalance the negative effects of hatching asynchrony for later–hatched chicks by increasing the yolk androgen concentrations in consecutive eggs of their clutch. In doing so, they may adaptively tune each offspring's competitive ability and, thus, growth and survival. However, evidence in support of this hypothesis is contradictory. The yolk concentrations of maternal androgens in the eggs of black–headed gulls increase significantly with the laying order of the eggs in a clutch. We experimentally tested the functional consequences of this increase on chick development under natural conditions by injecting eggs with either an oil or androgen solution. We created experimental clutches in which androgen levels either stayed constant or increased with laying order while controlling for differences in egg quality by using only first–laid eggs. We then compared development, growth and survival between these broods. Androgen treatment enhanced embryonic development because androgen–treated eggs hatched half a day earlier than controls, while their size at hatching was similar to oil–treated controls. Androgen treatment did not increase chick survival, but it enhanced growth. Androgen–treated, third–hatched chicks had a higher body mass and longer legs than thirdndash;hatched chicks that hatched from oil–treated eggs. At the same time, growth of first chicks (which were all oil treated) was reduced by the presence of two androgen–treated siblings, suggesting that yolk androgens enhance the competitive ability of later–hatched chicks. Our results support the hypothesis that transfer of different amounts of androgens to the eggs of a clutch is a mechanism by which mothers maximize their reproductive output.
Expression of the Staphylococcus aureusUDP-N-Acetylmuramoyl- l-Alanyl-d-Glutamate:l-Lysine Ligase in Escherichia coli and Effects on Peptidoglycan Biosynthesis and Cell Growth

ABSTRACT The monomer units in the Escherichia coli andStaphylococcus aureus cell wall peptidoglycans differ in the nature of the third amino acid in thel-alanyl-γ-d-glutamyl-X-d-alanyl-d-alanine side chain, where X is meso-diaminopimelic acid orl-lysine, respectively. The murE gene fromS. aureus encoding the UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanyl-d-glutamate:l-lysine ligase was identified and cloned into plasmid vectors. Induction of its overexpression in E. coli rapidly results in abnormal morphological changes and subsequent cell lysis. A reduction of 28% in the peptidoglycan content was observed in induced cells, and analysis of the peptidoglycan composition and structure showed that ca. 50% of themeso-diaminopimelic acid residues were replaced byl-lysine. Lysine was detected in both monomer and dimer fragments, but the acceptor units from the latter contained exclusivelymeso-diaminopimelic acid, suggesting that no transpeptidation could occur between the ɛ-amino group ofl-lysine and the α-carboxyl group ofd-alanine. The overall cross-linking of the macromolecule was only slightly decreased. Detection and analysis ofmeso-diaminopimelic acid- andl-lysine-containing peptidoglycan precursors confirmed the presence of l-lysine in precursors containing amino acids added after the reaction catalyzed by the MurE ligase and provided additional information about the specificity of the enzymes involved in these latter processes.
VEGF regulates local inhibitory complement proteins in the eye and kidney

Outer retinal and renal glomerular functions rely on specialized vasculature maintained by VEGF that is produced by neighboring epithelial cells, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and podocytes, respectively. Dysregulation of RPE- and podocyte-derived VEGF is associated with neovascularization in wet age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), choriocapillaris degeneration, and glomerular thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Since complement activation and genetic variants in inhibitory complement factor H (CFH) are also features of both ARMD and TMA, we hypothesized that VEGF and CFH interact. Here, we demonstrated that VEGF inhibition decreases local CFH and other complement regulators in the eye and kidney through reduced VEGFR2/PKC-&agr;/CREB signaling. Patient podocytes and RPE cells carrying disease-associated CFH genetic variants had more alternative complement pathway deposits than controls. These deposits were increased by VEGF antagonism, a common wet ARMD treatment, suggesting that VEGF inhibition could reduce cellular complement regulatory capacity. VEGF antagonism also increased markers of endothelial cell activation, which was partially reduced by genetic complement inhibition. Together, these results suggest that VEGF protects the retinal and glomerular microvasculature, not only through VEGFR2-mediated vasculotrophism, but also through modulation of local complement proteins that could protect against complement-mediated damage. Though further study is warranted, these findings could be relevant for patients receiving VEGF antagonists.
INTEGRATING INTERNET-BASED READING MATERIALS INTO THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE CURRICULUM : FROM TEACHER-TO STUDENT-CENTERED APPROACHES

Whereas many educators enthusiastically embrace the use of Internet-based reading materials, little theoretical and empirical research exists that demonstrates how to make use of such practices in a sound pedagogical way. This article provides guidance to teachers and curriculum developers by describing three approaches to integrating Internet-based reading materials into a foreign language curriculum. The design of an Internet-based lesson is largely determined by a teacher's pedagogical approach, her/his technological expertise, and the students' language proficiency. In light of these factors, the approach to the pedagogical design of successful lessons falls along a continuum from being teacher-determined or teacher-facilitated to studentdetermined. In more detail, lesson designs may distinguish themselves in the following areas: • the learning resources, that is, the topics and content, text type • the scope of the learning environment, that is, the number of different sources (sites or links) to be integrated • the learning tasks, that is, the ways in which the learners explore the reading materials, synthesize and assimilate what they have learned. • the degree of teacher and learner involvement in determining the areas mentioned above Based on concrete sample lessons, this article describes the strengths and challenges of each approach from a pedagogical, technological and designer's point of view.
Regulation of Immune Responses by Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors

Both genetic and epigenetic factors are important regulators of the immune system. There is an increasing body of evidence attesting to epigenetic modifications that influence the development of distinct innate and adaptive immune response cells. Chromatin remodelling via acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination of histone proteins as well as DNA, methylation is epigenetic mechanisms by which immune gene expression can be controlled. In this paper, we will discuss the role of epigenetics in the regulation of host immunity, with particular emphasis on histone deacetylase inhibitors. In particular, the role of HDAC inhibitors as a new class of immunomodulatory therapeutics will also be reviewed.
Fast adaptive inter-prediction mode decision method for H.264 based on spatial correlation

H.264 defines 7 different coding modes for macroblocks (MBs) in P slices. In order to achieve a coding performance as high as possible, the H.264 encoder calculates rate distortion costs of all possible modes to determine the best mode of a MB. The computation complexity is so large that make it difficult to be used in practical applications especially in real time environment. In this paper, a fast adaptive intermodes decision method is proposed to reduce the complexity of H.264 encoder. Firstly the candidate inter modes used in rate distortion optimization can be limited in a small mode group (MG) by using the characteristics of the motion compensated residual image. Then the two most probable modes of the chosen MG are obtained on the basis of the modes of the up MB and the left MB. By calculating and comparing the rate distortion cost of the two modes, the optimum mode of the MB is determined. The overlapped mode groups and dynamic adjusted thresholds adopted in the proposed method can make the best mode lie within the chosen MG with great possibility which leads to extensive computation reduction with acceptable loss in quality. The experimental results show that the proposed method can save the encoding time up to 65% on average with -0.24dB performance degradation
Fabrication of continuous ultrathin ferroelectric films by chemical solution deposition methods

The integration of ferroelectrics in nanodevices requires firstly the preparation of high-quality ultrathin films. Chemical solution deposition is considered a rapid and cost-effective technique for preparing high-quality oxide films, but one that has traditionally been regarded as unsuitable, or at least challenging, for fabricating films with good properties and thickness below 100 nm. In the present work we explore the deposition of highly diluted solutions of pure and Ca-modified lead titanates to prepare ultrathin ferroelectric films, the thickness of which is controlled by the concentration of the precursor solution. The results show that we are able to obtain single crystalline phase continuous films down to 18 nm thickness, one of the lowest reported using these methods. Below that thickness, the films start to be discontinuous, which is attributed to a microstructural instability that can be controlled by an adequate tailoring of the processing conditions. The effect of the reduction of thickness on the piezoelectric behavior is studied by piezoresponse force microscopy. The results indicate that films retain a significant piezoelectric activity regardless of their low thickness, which is promising for their eventual integration in nanodevices, for example, as transducer elements in nanoelectromechanical systems.
The Mystery of Sleep Function: Current Perspectives and Future Directions

SYNOPSIS The function of sleep is one of the most persistent and perplexing mysteries in biology. Many theories have been proposed to explain why we sleep, but most account for only a portion of sleep behavior and very few enjoy strong experimental support. A critical review of current findings leads to the following conclusions. Sleep is for the brain rather than the body, and the neural process most impacted by sleep is cognition. Sleep may influence cognition in many ways, including the removal of a toxic byproduct of wakefulness, or the restoration of neural substrates needed for mental processes. The evidence for these possibilities, however, is weak or equivocal. On the other hand, converging lines of evidence support the hypothesis that sleep promotes brain plasticity.
Orthopaedic Biomechanics: Mechanics and Design in Musculoskeletal Systems

1. The Musculoskeletal System 1.1. Anatomical Overview 1.2. The Functions of the Musculoskeletal System 1.3. Bones 1.4. Joints of the Body 1.5. Soft Tissue Structures 1.6. The Hip, Knee, and Spine 1.7. Damage and Repair 1.8. Summary 1.9. Exercises 2. Loads and Motion in the Musculoskeletal System 2.1. Basic Concepts 2.2. Static Analysis of Skeletal System 2.3. The Musculoskeletal Dynamics Problem 2.4. Joint Stability 2.5. Summary 2.6. Exercises 3. Tissue Mechanics I: Bone 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Composition of Bone 3.3. Bone as a Hierarchical Composite Material 3.4. Elastic Anisotropy 3.5. Material Properties of Cortical Bone 3.6. Material Properties of Trabecular Bone 3.7. Hierarchical Analysis 3.8. Structural Anisotropy 3.9. Biomechanics of Bone Adaptation 3.10. Summary 3.11. Exercises 4. Tissue Mechanics II: Soft Tissue 4.1. Tendon and Ligament 4.2. Articular Cartilage 4.3. Intervertebral Disc 4.4. Muscle 4.5. Viscoelasticity 4.6. Summary 4.7. Exercises 5. Structural Analysis of Musculoskeltal Systems: Beam Theory 5.1. Basic Concepts 5.2. Symmetric Beams 5.3. Unsymmetrical Beams 5.4. Case Studies: Whole Bone Mechanics 5.5. Summary 5.6. Exercises 6. Structural Analysis of Musculoskeltal Systems: Advanced Topics 6.1. Beams on Elastic Foundation 6.2. Torsion of Noncircular Sections 6.3. Contact Stress Analysis 6.4. Summary 6.5. Exercises 7. Bone-Implant Systems 7.1. Implant Materials 7.2. Fracture Fixation Devices 7.3. Joint Replacements 7.4. Design of Bone-Implant Systems 7.5. Summary 7.6. Exercises 8. Fracture Fixation Devices 8.1. Fracture Repair 8.2. Mechanics of Intramedullary Rods 8.3. Combined Behavior of Bone and Rod 8.4. Mechanics of Bone Plates 8.5. Combined Behavior of Bone and Plate 8.6. Plate Fixation: Other Considerations 8.7. Irregular Bone Cross Section with a Plate 8.8. External Fixators 8.9. Controlling Callus Strains 8.10. Bone Screws and Effects of Holes 8.11. Other Issues and Complications 8.12. Summary 8.13. Exercises 9. Total Hip Replacements 9.1. Function: Kinematics and Loads 9.2. Fixation: Femoral Stems 9.3. Stresses in the Central Zone 9.4. BOEF and FEA Models for Bone-Stem Systems 9.5. Summary 9.6. Exercises 10. Total Knee Replacements 10.1. Knee Function 10.2. Knee Structure 10.3. Knee Replacements 10.4. Summary 10.5. Exercises 11. Articulating Surfaces 11.1. Damage Modes 11.2. Design: General Considerations 11.3. Summary 11.4. Exercises Suggestions for Further Reading Index