Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retinal degenerations with truncation mutations in the cone-rod homeobox (CRX) gene.

PURPOSE To define the phenotypes of retinal degenerations associated with mutations in the gene encoding CRX (cone-rod homeobox), a photoreceptor-specific transcription factor. METHODS Heterozygotes with the E168 [delta1 bp], E168 [delta2 bp], or G217 [delta1 bp] CRXgene mutation were studied clinically, with visual function tests, including rod and cone perimetry and electroretinography (ERG), and with optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS Clinical diagnoses included autosomal dominant cone-rod dystrophy in one family (E168 [delta1 bp] mutation) and simplex Leber congenital amaurosis in two families (E168 [delta2 bp], G217 [delta1 bp] mutations). In the family with the E168 [delta1 bp] mutation, two siblings had relatively mild disease expression in the third decade of life. The central retinas of these two patients had profound loss of rod and short wavelength cone function; long/middle wavelength cone thresholds were elevated at fixation, but there were greater paracentral than central abnormalities. Peripheral retinal dysfunction was evident by psychophysics and by maximum amplitude loss for rod- and cone-isolated ERG photoreceptor responses. OCT cross-sectional reflectance images showed decreased central retinal thickness consistent with photoreceptor loss. An additional member of this family (E168 [delta1 bp] mutation) and two other patients (representing E168 [delta2 bp] and G217 [delta1 bp] mutations) had a severe phenotype with retina-wide loss of function and islands of function remaining only in the temporal periphery. CONCLUSIONS Truncation mutations in CRX are associated with retinopathies that share phenotypic features but vary in disease severity. The disease mechanism could involve abnormal photoreceptor development compounded by a disturbance in the maintenance of photoreceptors in the mature retina.
Different Linkage of Depression to Hypercortisolism Early Versus Late After Stroke: A 3‐Year Longitudinal Study

Background and Purpose Using the dexamethasone suppression test, we studied the suppressibility of the Cortisol axis and its clinical determinants at various time points after stroke. A major aim was to examine the dexamethasone test as a diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of major depression in stroke patients. Methods The dexamethasone suppression test, major depression, functional ability, and disorientation were assessed in a cohort of 70 patients with acute stroke and after 3 months (n=63) and 3 years (n=43). Results Early after stroke, 24% of the patients were nonsuppressors, with about the same proportion at 3 months (22%) and 3 years (21%). None of the controls (17 healthy elderly volunteers) were nonsuppressors. High Cortisol levels early after stroke were significantly associated with functional impairment (r=0.35; p=0.003) and disorientation (r=0.27; p=0.03). Three years after stroke, high postdexamethasone Cortisol levels were significantly associated with major depression (r=0.57; p< 0.001). The sensitivity of the dexamethasone test was 70% and the specificity 97%. In a longitudinal analysis of the long-term survivors (n=42), postdexamethasone Cortisol values at 3 months predicted major depression at 3 years. Conclusions Hypercortisolism is associated with major depression late (3 years) but not early (0–3 months) after stroke. Patients with hypercortisolism 3 months after stroke are at risk of major depression later in the course and warrant careful follow-up from a psychiatric viewpoint.
The impact of mediated party issue strategies on electoral support

Based on agenda-setting, priming and issue ownership theory, we know that issue ownership and party visibility in the news can be used as strategies to affect electoral support. Thus far, it is, however, unclear whether these effects are independent or work interactively. This study aims to fill this gap. We focus on the Partij voor de Vrijheid, the prominent Dutch right-wing populist party, and draw upon an experimental design in which we exposed a sample of Dutch voters (N = 600) to media coverage on one of four issues – an owned issue, an unowned issue, an issue owned by another party and a contested issue – featuring either a party cue or not. The results indicate that the impact of issue coverage is moderated by party cues: attention to owned issues and unowned issues increases support only when party cues are present. Attention to contested and trespassing issues does not increase support.
Scalable Self-Configuring Integration of Localization and Indexing in Wireless Ad-Hoc Sensor Networks

Data applications in wireless ad hoc sensor networks require scalable localization methods and dynamic data space partitioning among sensors to support efficient query processing. These challenges are exacerbated by sensors’ inherent constraints in storage capability, battery power, processing speed and communication bandwidth. To meet the imperative of energy preservation in data manipulation operations without performance degradation, we propose a scalable and self-configuring scheme, which synergistically integrates localization and data space partitioning, thus minimizing the otherwise prohibitive cost of separately performing localization and/or indexing. We first introduce a basic scheme, called ”simple PRDS”, which enables sensors to self-configure into a consistent coordinate system and to dynamically partition the data space in a network with a small core (at least 15% to 20%) of randomly scattered location-aware sensors within the geographical area spanning the network. We then propose an adaptive version of PRDS, which adds a refinement phase driven by a forcebased relaxation method called mass-spring optimization, to the basic scheme to handle cases where the fraction of location-aware sensors is significantly reduced. Seamless transition is achieved between the basic scheme and refinement phase by assessing the current requirement of the network, while concomitantly, without user intervention, performing efficient local re-adjustment of the data space partitioning among neighborhood sensors. Our experiments, under a varying number of location-aware sensors, show that the "adaptive PRDS" achieves better results than the "simple PRDS" at the cost of a small increase in latency, and is significantly superior to the combination of the best previously proposed techniques for localization and indexing.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Grassland Ecosystems of the Central Lithuania: Multi-Criteria Evaluation on a Basis of the ARAS Method

N2O, CH4, and CO2 are potential greenhouse gas (GHG) contributing to climate change; therefore, solutions have to be sought to reduce their emission from agriculture. This work evaluates GHG emission from grasslands submitted to different mineral fertilizers during vegetation period (June–September) in two experimental sites, namely, seminatural grassland (8 treatments of mineral fertilizers) and cultural pasture (intensively managed) in the Training Farm of the Lithuanian University of Agriculture. Chamber method was applied for evaluation of GHG emissions on the field scale. As a result, soil chemical composition, compactness, temperature, and gravimetric moisture as well as biomass yield of fresh and dry biomass and botanical composition, were assessed during the research. Furthermore, a simulation of multi-criteria assessment of sustainable fertilizers management was carried out on a basis of ARAS method. The multicriteria analysis of different fertilizing regimes was based on a system of environmental and productivity indices. Consequently, agroecosystems of cultural pasture (N180P120K150) and seminatural grassland fertilizing rates N180P120K150 and N60P40K50 were evaluated as the most sustainable alternatives leading to reduction of emissions between biosphere-atmosphere and human-induced biogenic pollution in grassland ecosystems, thus contributing to improvement of countryside environment.
Full-waveform Inversion in an Anisotropic Elastic Earth - Can We Isolate the Role of Density and Shear Wave Velocity?

Five parameters are needed to describe VTI anisotropy in 2-D elastic media. With conventional streamer data, an optimal parameterization for full-waveform inversion (FWI) consists in using the horizontal velocity vh, the anellipicity parameter η, and the parameter that relates the horizontal-to-vertical velocity, e. This parameterization, derived with a pseudo- acoustic formulation of the wave equation, minimizes crosstalks. We extend this analysis to the elastic case and wonder what are the effects of density and shear-wave velocity on the inversion results if ignored. Using radiation patterns derived in the elastic case and a modified version of the Marmousi II model, we see that PP-waves are mostly helping to recover vh and e, while PS-waves are mostly helping to recover η. For all scattering angles and wave modes, e and ρ are strongly coupled. Keeping ρ and vs unchanged during the inversion is a valid strategy if their background models are good enough. For small vs and ρ errors, the vs perturbation will map into η while ρ will map into e. For large errors, vs adversely affects the recovery of η and might leak into vh while ρ will preferentially leak into e, then η and, in smaller proportions, into vh.
Non-separable utility, wealth effects, and economic growth in a monetary economy

This paper investigates the effects of wealth-enhanced social status using an optimizing monetary growth model with non-separable utility function between consumption and wealth. Within this framework, we first arrive a conclusion that, in the case of no wealth effects, an increase in the rate of money growth does not stimulate the steady-state growth rate. Moreover, in the case of existing wealth effects, we show that an increase in the rate of money growth has a negative effect on the long-run growth rate of the economy. This result is in sharp contrast with the typical conclusion of the relevant field.
ON THE BORDERLINE? PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND/OR AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDERS IN SECURE, FORENSIC AND OTHER SPECIALIST SETTINGS

■Processes for identifying and assessing people with learning disabilities and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and for providing care, support and after care will be influenced by different policies and perceived service responsibilities. National policies relating to people with learning disabilities and/or ASD are not consistently applied across the different types of secure setting. This may affect the experiences of, and opportunities available to, people with learning disabilities and/or ASD in these different environments.
Celebrity endorsements: a literature review and research agenda

This paper presents a narrative review of celebrity endorsement research. The review identifies six areas of research on celebrity endorsements (celebrity prevalence, campaign management, financial effects, celebrity persuasion, non-evaluative meaning transfer, and brand-to-celebrity transfer). A review of the research in each area identifies key findings, conflicting results, and research gaps. In addition, this paper reviews the celebrity endorsement literature with a focus on the psychological processes underlying celebrity endorsement effects that has been put forward in the literature. Based on the review an agenda for future research is offered.
Potential For Intracranial Movements in Pterosaurs

Based on comparative anatomical, morphological, and phylogenetic considerations the potential of pterosaurs for cranial kinesis is assessed. Our investigation shows that whereas skeletally mature derived pterodactyloids have completely fused, rigid and doubtlessly akinetic skulls, skeletally immature derived pterodactyloids and more basal pterosaurs possess key features in the morphology of their otic and basal joints that are suggestive of cranial kinesis, namely streptostyly. In addition, pterosaurs exhibit an evolutionarily informative trend in the degree of cranial ossification, where it is low in most nonpterodactyloids (here named bifenestratans), intermediate in Rhamphorhynchus and Archaeopterodactyloidea, and high in derived pterodactyloids. Incomplete fusion could also indicate loose connections between skull elements. However, another crucial anatomical requirement of a kinetic skull, the permissive kinematic linkage is absent in all pterosaurian taxa. The fact, that the presence of permissive kinematic linkages in the skull is also a prerequisite of all types of cranial kinesis, provides hard evidence that all members of Pterosauria had akinetic skulls. Thus, the presence of the morphological attributes indicative of intracranial movements in some pterosaurs must be explained on grounds other than real potential for cranial kinesis. It could either be of mechanical or ontogenetic importance, or both. Alternatively, it might be considered as the morphological remnant of a real, kinetic skull possessed by the diapsid ancestors of pterosaurs. Anat Rec, , 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Treatment Discontinuation and Clinical Events in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Treated with Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors or NPH Insulin as Third-Line Therapy

Objective To compare dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors with neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin, in terms of effectiveness and safety for the management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) not controlled on metformin and sulfonylureas. Methods A retrospective cohort study of individuals with DM2 newly dispensed with either DPP-4 inhibitors or NPH as third-line therapy, after metformin and sulfonylurea. Treatment discontinuation, macrovascular outcomes, and hypoglycemia were compared using multivariable Cox regression models, adjusted for sex, age, year of cohort entry, place of residence, hypertension, past history of hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, comorbidities, and number of visits to emergency departments, outpatient physician, and hospitalizations. Results Treatment discontinuation and hypoglycemia occurred more frequently with NPH than with DPP-4 inhibitor users. In the adjusted Cox model, the use of NPH compared to that of DPP-4 inhibitors was associated with a higher risk of discontinuation (HR: 1.33; 95% CI 1.27–1.40) and hypoglycemia (HR: 2.98; 95% CI 2.72–3.28). Risk of cardiovascular events was similar across groups. Conclusions This real-world analysis suggests that DM2 patients initiating third-line therapy with NPH have poorer control of diabetes when compared to DPP-4 inhibitor initiators.
JOINT DENSITY FOR THE LOCAL TIMES OF CONTINUOUS-TIME MARKOV CHAINS: EXTENDED VERSION

We investigate the local times of a continuous-time Markov chain on an arbitrary discrete state space. For fixed finite range of the Markov chain, we derive an explicit formula for the joint density of all local times on the range, at any fixed time. We use standard tools from the theory of stochastic processes and finite-dimensional complex calculus. We apply this formula in the following directions: (1) we derive large deviation upper estimates for the normalized local times beyond the exponential scale, (2) we derive the upper bound in Varadhan's lemma for any measurable functional of the local times, and (3) we derive large deviation upper bounds for continuous-time simple random walk on large subboxes of Z d tending to Z d as time diverges. We finally discuss the relation of our density formula to the Ray-Knight theorem for continuous-time simple random walk on Z, which is analogous to the well-known Ray-Knight description of Brownian local times. In this extended version, we prove that the Ray-Knight theorem follows from our density formula.
FROM SHOCK BREAKOUT TO PEAK AND BEYOND: EXTENSIVE PANCHROMATIC OBSERVATIONS OF THE TYPE Ib SUPERNOVA 2008D ASSOCIATED WITH SWIFT X-RAY TRANSIENT 080109

We present extensive early photometric (ultraviolet through near-infrared) and spectroscopic (optical and near-infrared) data on supernova (SN) 2008D as well as X-ray data analysis on the associated Swift X-ray transient (XRT) 080109. Our data span a time range of 5 hr before the detection of the X-ray transient to 150 days after its detection, and a detailed analysis allowed us to derive constraints on the nature of the SN and its progenitor; throughout we draw comparisons with results presented in the literature and find several key aspects that differ. We show that the X-ray spectrum of XRT 080109 can be fit equally well by an absorbed power law or a superposition of about equal parts of both power law and blackbody. Our data first established that SN 2008D is a spectroscopically normal SN Ib (i.e., showing conspicuous He lines) and showed that SN 2008D had a relatively long rise time of 18 days and a modest optical peak luminosity. The early-time light curves of the SN are dominated by a cooling stellar envelope (for Δt≈0.1–4 days, most pronounced in the blue bands) followed by 56Ni decay. We construct a reliable measurement of the bolometric output for this stripped-envelope SN, and, combined with estimates of EK and Mej from the literature, estimate the stellar radius R⋆ of its probable Wolf–Rayet progenitor. According to the model of Waxman et al. and Chevalier & Fransson, we derive RW07⋆ = 1.2 ± 0.7R☉ and RCF08⋆ = 12 ± 7 R☉, respectively; the latter being more in line with typical WN stars. Spectra obtained at three and four months after maximum light show double-peaked oxygen lines that we associate with departures from spherical symmetry, as has been suggested for the inner ejecta of a number of SN Ib cores.
University of Huddersfield Repository Surfing the Waves: Live Audio Mosaicing of an Electric Bass Performance as a Corpus Browsing Interface

In this paper, the authors describe how they use an electric bass as a subtle, expressive and intuitive interface to browse the rich sample bank available to most laptop owners. This is achieved by audio mosaicing of the live bass performance audio, through corpus-based concatenative synthesis (CBCS) techniques, allowing a mapping of the multi-dimensional expressivity of the performance onto foreign audio material, thus recycling the virtuosity acquired on the electric instrument with a trivial learning curve. This design hypothesis is contextualised and assessed within the Sandbox#n series of bass+laptop meta-instruments, and the authors describe technical means of the implementation through the use of the open-source CataRT CBCS system adapted for live mosaicing. They also discuss their encouraging early results and provide a list of further explorations to be made with that rich new interface.
Characterization of putative stem cell populations in the cornea using synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy.

PURPOSE High-resolution synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopy coupled with multivariate analysis was used to investigate the characteristics of putative adult stem cell (SC), transiently amplified (TA) cell, and terminally differentiated (TD) cell populations of the corneal epithelium. METHODS Spectra of individual cells in situ in cryosections of bovine cornea were collected by using a synchrotron microspectroscopy facility at Daresbury Laboratory (United Kingdom). The resultant spectra were analyzed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS The median spectra of the three different cell populations showed marked differences, which correlated with their degree of differentiation and proliferative capacity. Multivariate (principal component) analysis (PCA) showed that the three cell populations could be segregated into discrete clusters, with only a slight overlap between the SC and TA cell populations. Further analysis (Mann-Whitney test) indicated that the most significant (P<0.001) spectral differences between the SC and TA cell populations were chiefly associated with changes in nucleic acid conformation. CONCLUSIONS SR-FTIR microspectroscopy coupled with PCA appears to enable the identification of SC, TA cell, and TD cell populations. The results also suggest that a small subpopulation of cells in the corneal epithelial SC niche possess TA cell-like characteristics. The most significant spectral characteristics associated with the SCs appear to relate to differences in nucleic acid conformation. This finding is consistent with recent theories suggesting that the control of differentiation is related to major changes in chromatin structure.
The effects of laser microbeam irradiation on the flagellum of Crithidia (Strigomonas) oncopelti.

I. Flagella and cell bodies of Crithidia ( Strigomonas ) oncopelti were irradiated at preselected points with a pulsed ruby laser microbeam. Results were recorded by high-speed cinephotomicrography. A flagellum could be completely amputated at the irradiated point. 2. The portion of the flagellum between the cell body and the irradiated point beat from the base after irradiation. The amputated portion of the flagellum could beat from either the tip or the irradiated point, and could beat first from the tip and then from the irradiated point or vice versa. Beating could continue for up to ten cycles. 3. For flagellar activity in this organism neither a unique region of the flagellum nor the cell body is necessary. Wave propagation appears to involve the transmission of a signal at a greater velocity than that of the wave. The results favour a model of bend propagation which allows for a distribution of autonomous initiators along the flagellar length.
Evaluation of a Coherence Protocol for Eliminating Passive Sharing in Shared-Bus Multithreaded Multiprocessors

Single-chip multiprocessors and multiple-thread architectures are becoming an affordable solution for high-performance general-purpose workstations and servers. On these machines, the workload is typically constituted of both sequential and parallel applications. Shared-bus shared-memory multithreaded multiprocessor can be used to speed-up the execution of such workload. In this environment, the scheduler takes care of the load balancing by allocating a ready process on the first available processor, thus producing process migration. Process migration and the persistence of private data into different caches produce an undesired sharing, named passive sharing. The copies due to passive sharing produce useless coherence traffic on the bus and coping with such a problem may represent a challenging design problem for these machines. Many protocols use smart solutions to limit the overhead to maintain coherence among shared copies. None of these studies treats passive-sharing directly, although some indirect effect is present while dealing with the other kinds of sharing. Affinity scheduling can alleviate this problem, but this technique does not adapt to all load conditions, especially when the effects of migration are massive. A simple coherence protocol is presented. This protocol eliminates passive sharing using information from the compiler that is normally available in operating system kernels. The performance of this protocol has been evaluated and compared against other solutions proposed in the literature by means of enhanced trace-driven simulation. The performance of the proposed dolution outperforms the other protocols, especially in the case of a multithreaded processor, thus demonstrating its effectiveness in this kind of hardware platform. The complexity of the proposed approach has been evaluated in terms of the number of protocol states, additional bus lines and required software support. The protocol further limits the coherence-maintaining overhead by using information about access patterns to shared data exhibited in parallel applications.