Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Anatomically Structured Sensory-Motor Sequence Learning System Displays Some General Linguistic Capacities

The capacity in primates to master temporal-sequential constraints from the external world might provide a basis for accommodating similar constraints in language. While the neural specialization required for language clearly distinguishes man from the other primates, it is less clear to what extent this specialization constitutes a drastic neurophysiological divergence versus a variation on an existing sequencing capability. In an effort to address this issue, an anatomically structured neural network model, previously developed to reproduce complex sensory-motor sequences and the corresponding single-unit recordings from primate prefrontal cortex, is studied in a simple linguistic context. The model is presented sentences from a small language and demonstrates a simple capacity to "understand" and generalize at different levels. Interactions between variations on (a) the model architecture and (b) the target language structure agree with data from crosslinguistic aphasia studies. These results support the hypothesis that a brain architecture for nonlinguistic cognitive functions (in this case sensory-motor sequencing) can provide a basis for a general sequence processing component of linguistic function.
Telecommuting innovation and organization: a contingency theory of labor process change

This paper develops a « contingency theory » of technological work reorganization that addresses organizational, managerial, and job characteristic contengencies in the reorganization of the work process. Sustantively, the focus is on the rationales of top decision-makers in a sample of firms for adopting and designing telecommuting jobs. Following the theoritical model developed in the paper, the AA. find that telecommuting innovation is primarily contingent on organizational constraints (such as bureaucratic inertia) and, on the other hand, upon managerial goals (such as control of the labor process) in interaction with the relative power and status of the target employee group.
Comparison of Outcomes in a Traditional versus Accelerated Nursing Curriculum

In this descriptive study, graduates of a traditional baccalaureate nursing program were compared with graduates of an accelerated baccalaureate program at the same university between 1991 and 2006. A survey was sent to a random sample of two groups: traditional baccalaureate graduates and graduates of the accelerated program who had previous degrees in another major and completed the nursing curriculum in a shorter time frame than the traditional students, resulting in a total sample of 73 graduates. Outcome variables included demographics, NCLEX passing rates, transitioning to the professional role, employment, professional development, certifications and self-reported reasons the respondents entered the nursing profession and why they remained. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups on these variables. Results of a t-test revealed that the GPA of the accelerated group was significantly higher than the traditional group. Future considerations include the impact that accelerated program development may have on both the current and projected nursing shortage.
Edge-based locality sensitive hashing for efficient geo-fencing application

Geo-fencing is a promising technique for emerging location-based services. Its two basic spatial predicates, INSIDE and WITHIN pairings between points and polygons, can be addressed by state-of-the-art methods such as the crossing number algorithm. In the era of big-data, however, geo-fencing has to process millions of points and hundreds of polygons or even more in real-time. In this paper, we propose an efficient algorithm to improve the scalability of geo-fencing, which consists of two main stages. At the first stage, an R-tree is used to quickly detect whether a point is inside the minimum bounding rectangle of a polygon. In the second stage, instead of an exhaustive search, we design an edge-based locality sensitive hashing scheme adapted to the crossing number algorithm. As for the case of WITHIN detection, a probing scheme is suggested to locate adjacent buckets so as to check all edges near to a target point. By further exploiting batch processing and multi-threading programming, our algorithm can achieve a fast speed while retaining 100% accuracy over all training datasets provided by the GIS Cup 2013 organizers.
Statistical Embedding in Complex Biosystems

Summary Complex high-dimensional systems represent an important area of interdisciplinary research in systems biology. Gene expression values obtained by microarray data represent a good example, owing to their various features that depend on biological network dynamics. This work emphasizes the role of blind source separation for dealing with dimensionality reduction and feature selection, and their useful combination with fuzzy rules, embedding principles and entropic measures. In particular, entropy and embedding are useful tools for controlling the robustness and stability of the decomposition of a system with larger than intrinsic dimensionality. As a result, the convergence to a small intrinsic dimensionality occurs by the means of least dependent components, seen as a minimal number of salient features.
The allure of toxic leaders : why we follow destructive bosses and corrupt politicians--and how we can survive them

Toxic leaders - such as Ken Lay at Enron or Al Dunlap ("Chainsaw Al") at Sunbeam, or Slobodan Milosevic in Yugoslavia - have always been with us, and many books explain what makes them tick. But in The Allure of Toxic Leaders, Jean Lipman-Blumen explains what makes the followers tick, exploring why we tolerate - and remain steadfastly loyal to - leaders who are destructive to their organizations, their employees, their nations, and their constituents. Why do we knowingly follow, seldom unseat, frequently prefer, and sometimes even create toxic leaders? Lipman-Blumen argues that these leaders appeal to our deepest needs, playing on our anxieties and fears, on our yearnings for security, high self-esteem, and significance, and on our desire for noble enterprises and immortality. The author explores how psychological needs - such as the desire to be at the heart of the action, to be an insider - can often make us susceptible to toxic leaders. She describes how followers inadvertently keep themselves in line by a set of insidious control myths that they internalize. In addition, outside forces - such as economic depressions, political upheavals, or a crisis in the company - can increase our anxiety and our longing for charismatic leaders. Equally important, Lipman-Blumen shows how followers, mired in the swamp of toxic leadership, can learn critical lessons for the future and survive in the meantime. She discusses how to confront, reform, undermine, blow the whistle on, or oust a toxic leader. And she suggests how we can diminish our need for strong leaders, identify "reluctant leaders" among competent followers, and even nurture the leader within ourselves. Toxic leaders first charm, but then manipulate, mistreat, weaken, and ultimately devastate their followers. The Allure of Toxic Leaders tells us how to recognize these leaders and identify the germ of toxicity within their "noble" visions before it's too late.
Human growth hormone doping in sport

Background and objectives: Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been on the list of forbidden substances since availability of its recombinant form improved in the early 1990s. Although its effectiveness in enhancing physical performance is still unproved, the compound is likely used for its potential anabolic effect on the muscle growth, and also in combination with other products (androgens, erythropoietin, etc.). The degree of similarity between the endogenous and the recombinant forms, the pulsatile secretion and marked interindividual variability makes detection of doping difficult. Two approaches proposed to overcome this problem are: the indirect method, which measures a combination of several factors in the biological cascade affected by administration of GH; and the direct method, which measures the difference between the circulating and the recombinant (represented by the unique 22 kD molecule) forms of GH. This article gives an overview of what is presently known about hGH in relation to sport. The available methods of detection are also evaluated. Methods: Review of the literature on GH in relation to exercise, and its adverse effects and methods of detection when used for doping. Results and conclusion: The main effects of exercise on hGH production and the use and effects of rhGH in athletes are discussed. Difficulties encountered by laboratories to prove misuse of this substance by both indirect and direct analyses are emphasised. The direct method currently seems to have the best reliability, even though the time window of detection is too short. hGH doping is a major challenge in the fight against doping. The effect of exercise on hGH and its short half-life are still presenting difficulties during doping analysis. To date the most promising method appears to be the direct approach utilising immunoassays.
Evaluation for some bacterial and viral abortions of dairy cattle farms in Burdur District of Turkey.

Summary In this study, the presence of antibodies to Brucella abortus, Chlamydophila abortus, Coxiella burnetii, Bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and Bovine herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) were investigated in dairy cattle herds with abortion history in Burdur province, Southwest region of Turkey. The blood samples were collected from 932 dairy cattle ≥2 years of age from 10 herds not vaccinated against for mentioned infections and all of the serum samples were tested for B. abortus by ELISA. Seronegative herds for B. abortus were investigated for C. burnetii and C. abortus. While seropositivity for B. abortus and C. burnetii were detected 25.3% (236/932) and 10.2% (19/186), antibodies against C. abortus was not detected. Seronegative herds for B. abortus, C. burnetii and C. abortus were analysed for antibodies to BHV-1, BVDV and BHV-4 and seropositivity were found as 43.5% (40/92), 81.5% (75/92), 42.4% (39/92), respectively. BVDV antigen was determined in 2.2% (2/92) of the samples. As a result, we determined that C. abortus is not an important agent causing abortion in dairy herds in Burdur, but the seropositivity of B. abortus, C. burnetii, BHV-1, BVDV and BHV-4 are high. Thus, the herds should be tested for these infections regularly and control measures must be taken.
A UK institution's university-wide approach to plagiarism:

Research and consultations in session 2003/2004 by a University's Plagiarism Working Group uncovered a poor understanding of plagiarism and inconsistent handling procedures throughout its schools. In an effort to address both these issues, a strategic 2-year Action Plan was developed and rolled out beginning the following academic year in order to improve student support, staff awareness and more consistent practice overall. The plan included a pilot using the detection software service, Turnitin'UK, with five of the University's 14 schools. The pilot was only one of a series of university-wide deliberations, others included the revision and piloting of a University Plagiarism Code of Practice, implementation of school-based academic conduct officers, improved staff development opportunities and student support materials and events. One school in the University has served as a role model of good practice throughout. Noteworthy is the school's record keeping practice since session 2001/02 of incidences of plagiarism and other academic misconduct. In the paper we present the factors such as gender, nationality and level of study that have been found linked to the incidences of plagiarism in the school. Additionally, the role plagiarism detection software plays in addressing plagiarism is explored within the collaborative and holistic approach of the Action Plan. Finally, the challenges and resistance faced by key players throughout the implementation of the first phase of the Action Plan at the University are considered and the commitment to continuous enhancement recognised.
Dose-escalation study of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of rivaroxaban in healthy elderly subjects.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of rivaroxaban--a novel, oral, direct Factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor--in healthy elderly subjects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In this single-centre, single-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-escalation study, 48 subjects (aged 60-76 years) were randomized to receive a single oral dose of 30, 40 or 50 mg of rivaroxaban or placebo. RESULTS Rivaroxaban was absorbed rapidly, reaching peak plasma concentration (C(max)) 4 h after dosing in all groups. Bioavailability, in terms of the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and C(max), increased slightly (less than dose proportionally) after administration of rivaroxaban 40 mg compared with 30 mg, but was not increased further with rivaroxaban 50 mg. Rivaroxaban pharmacodynamic effects (inhibition of FXa activity and prolongation of prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and HepTest) all showed a similar pattern, with maximum inhibition of FXa activity increasing from 68% after rivaroxaban 30 mg to 75% after 40 mg and no further increase with the 50 mg dose. Most adverse events were mild; observed rates were less than placebo for the 30 and 40 mg dose groups, and similar to placebo for 50 mg. No differences were found between male and female subjects. Effects of rivaroxaban doses above 50 mg were not investigated in this study. CONCLUSIONS Each single dose of rivaroxaban was well tolerated, with predictable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics at doses up to 40 mg, and provided effective anticoagulation in healthy elderly subjects. Adverse events were somewhat elevated in the 50 mg group, but given the small sample size, no specific conclusions can be drawn about this dosing level.
Accurate Floating-Point Product and Exponentiation

Several different techniques and softwares intend to improve the accuracy of results computed in a fixed finite precision. Here, we focus on a method to improve the accuracy of the product of floating-point numbers. We show that the computed result is as accurate as if computed in twice the working precision. The algorithm is simple since it only requires addition, subtraction, and multiplication of floating-point numbers in the same working precision as the given data. Such an algorithm can be useful for example to compute the determinant of a triangular matrix and to evaluate a polynomial when represented by the root product form. It can also be used to compute the integer power of a floating-point number.
Role of epinephrine in TNF and IL-6 production from isolated perfused rat liver.

A bidirectional communication exists between the nervous system and the immune system. Evidence has accumulated suggesting that cytokines-immune peptides influence sympathetic neuronal survival and that cytokines can promote the secretion of catecholamines. Using an isolated perfused rat liver (IPRL) preparation, we have shown that the liver is an important source of circulating cytokines in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and that corticosterone dose dependently influenced LPS-induced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). In this study, we investigated the direct effect of epinephrine (another stress hormone) on the production of TNF and IL-6 in liver. We demonstrated that epinephrine (1 microM/ml) alone did not induce TNF bioactivity but significantly increased IL-6 bioactivity from IPRL effluent. When the IPRL was infused with LPS, epinephrine significantly decreased TNF bioactivity. Epinephrine in LPS-treated livers also significantly increased IL-6 bioactivity. Both responses were totally inhibited by the beta-blocker propranolol (10 microM/ml). Anisomycin, a protein synthesis inhibitor, infused into the IPRL completely blocked the rise in TNF and IL-6 concentrations in the effluent leaving the IPRL, supporting the hypothesis that the synthesis (or release) of these cytokines was dependent on protein synthesis. We then attempted to determine whether epinephrine exerts similar effects in vitro. Using isolated Kupffer cells and hepatocytes, we found that epinephrine alone had no effect on TNF and IL-6 production in Kupffer cells and hepatocytes but significantly decreased LPS-induced TNF bioactivity and increased LPS-induced IL-6 bioactivity in Kupffer cells. Our data support the hypothesis that epinephrine can promote IL-6 secretion from IPRL. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN OF ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS: A PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGIC AND PHARMACOVIGILANCE STUDY IN A TERTIARY TEACHING HOSPITAL IN INDIA

Objective: Epilepsy is the second most common chronic neurological condition seen by neurologists. It is estimated that there are 55, 00,000 persons with epilepsy in India. So, the present study aims at getting an insight into the type of epileptic seizures prevalent in a tertiary referral teaching Hospital in eastern India, to describe the drug utilization pattern of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for the management of various forms of epileptic seizures over a period of one year and to investigate the pattern and extent of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) with AEDs. Methods: Data from five hundred twenty eight patients with epilepsy at the outpatient of Neurology Department, SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack was collected according to detailed semi-structured questionnaire. The data includes demographic data, AEDs data and ADR data. Results and Discussion: Tonic clonic seizures were most prominent followed by complex partial seizures. Most of patients are young and epileptic seizures are more common in man. 47% of cases are refractory. Polytherpy was most frequently used in all type of epileptic seizures. Sodium Valproate was the most frequently prescribed AED followed by Phenytion sodium and Carbamazepine. The drugs prescribed are mainly from the Essential drug list. The ADRs are found to mild and predominant in female. Conclusion: This study strongly highlights the need for therapeutic drug monitoring of epileptic patients. Measures should be taken to improve rational use of antiepileptic drugs to minimise the number of refractory cases of epilepsy. There is under utilization of newer AEDs. Inclusion of newer AEDs like Lamotrigine, Topiramate etc in the Essential Drug List is recommended. Female patients need special attention during medication.
Time course of polyglutamine aggregate body formation and cell death: Enhanced growth in nucleus and an interval for cell death

Polyglutamine (polyQ) aggregate bodies are a hallmark of dentatorubral‐pallidoluysian atrophy and related neurodegenerative disorders, although the relationship between aggregate body formation and cell death is not clear. We analyzed the kinetics of polyQ aggregate formation and the time intervals for cell death, tracking individual cells using fluorescence video microscopy, for the first time. Expanded polyQ tracts of atrophin‐1 with or without nuclear localization signal (NLS) labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) were constructed, Q57NLS/GFP and Q56/GFP, respectively. All of the Q57NLS/GFP aggregate bodies were in nuclei, and all of the Q56/GFP aggregate bodies were in cytoplasm. Aggregates of Q56/GFP were larger than those of Q57NLS/GFP. Surprisingly, a kinetic analysis showed that the latter grew 5.37 times faster than the former. The time interval between transfection and cell death was shorter in Q57NLS/GFP, but the time between the end of the rapid growing phase of aggregation and the start of the cell death process did not show a significant difference. Aggregate growth was confirmed to correspond to the accumulated free polyQ by the time of starting aggregation. These findings suggest that aggregate body formation induced by expanded polyQ stretches is a self‐limiting process and is enhanced by factor(s) in nuclei, whereas it is not tightly bound to the cell death process. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
InverseFaceNet: Deep Single-Shot Inverse Face Rendering From A Single Image

We introduce InverseFaceNet, a deep convolutional inverse rendering framework for faces that jointly estimates facial pose, shape, expression, reflectance and illumination from a single input image in a single shot. By estimating all these parameters from just a single image, advanced editing possibilities on a single face image, such as appearance editing and relighting, become feasible. Previous learning-based face reconstruction approaches do not jointly recover all dimensions, or are severely limited in terms of visual quality. In contrast, we propose to recover high-quality facial pose, shape, expression, reflectance and illumination using a deep neural network that is trained using a large, synthetically created dataset. Our approach builds on a novel loss function that measures model-space similarity directly in parameter space and significantly improves reconstruction accuracy. In addition, we propose an analysis-by-synthesis breeding approach which iteratively updates the synthetic training corpus based on the distribution of real-world images, and we demonstrate that this strategy outperforms completely synthetically trained networks. Finally, we show high-quality reconstructions and compare our approach to several state-of-the-art approaches.
The Myth That Schools Shortchange Girls: Social Science in the Service of Deception.

Judith Kleinfeld received her bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College in 1966 and her doctoral degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1969. She is professor of psychology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Her many publications focus on gender issues, the education of culturally diverse children, and the education of children with fetal alcohol syndrome. In 1993, she won the Emil Usibelli Award for Distinguished Research.
Cadet Beliefs, Attitudes, and Interactions During the Early Phases of Sex Integration

It has been thirty years since an executive order abolished racial segregation in the armed forces and in that time there has been substantial progress toward the integration of minorities into service life. A large number of studies have documented the integration process, as well as individual adaptations in various military settings (Moskos, 197 I ; Coates and Pellegrin, 1965; Evans and Lane, 1956). Not all of these are in agreement concerning the success of racial integration. Until recently the military was in the forefront of equality in terms of traditional
Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals

Preface. 1.Diagnosis. 2.Social Behaviour. 3.Language. 4.Interests and Routine. 5.Motor Clumsiness. 6.Cognition. 7.Sensory Sensitivity. 8.Frequently Asked Questions. References. Appendices: Resource Material on Emotions and Friendship and Diagnostic Criteria. Index.
Children's problems in text comprehension

competence by hearing them read aloud were frequently unaware of comprehension problems. The experimental design was to match groups for vocabulary and word recognition but with contrasting levels of comprehension. They found an equal spread of less-skilled comprehenders in classes, regardless of teaching method. The general conclusion reached is that comprehension problems are not necessarily due to differences in the ability to decode words OR access their meanings. Poor comprehenders of print were also poor listeners, and both skilled and unskilled comprehenders were similar in terms of short-term memory, vocabulary skills, and recall of the