Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Mechanism of Valence-Space Metaphors: ERP Evidence for Affective Word Processing

Embodied cognition contends that the representation and processing of concepts involve perceptual, somatosensory, motoric, and other physical re-experiencing information. In this view, affective concepts are also grounded in physical information. For instance, people often say “feeling down” or “cheer up” in daily life. These phrases use spatial information to understand affective concepts. This process is referred to as valence-space metaphor. Valence-space metaphors refer to the employment of spatial information (lower/higher space) to elaborate affective concepts (negative/positive concepts). Previous studies have demonstrated that processing affective words affects performance on a spatial detection task. However, the mechanism(s) behind this effect remain unclear. In the current study, we hypothesized that processing affective words might produce spatial information. Consequently, spatial information would affect the following spatial cue detection/discrimination task. In Experiment 1, participants were asked to remember an affective word. Then, they completed a spatial cue detection task while event-related potentials were recorded. The results indicated that the top cues induced enhanced amplitude of P200 component while participants kept positive words relative to negative words in mind. On the contrary, the bottom cues induced enhanced P200 amplitudes while participants kept negative words relative to positive words in mind. In Experiment 2, we conducted a behavioral experiment that employed a similar paradigm to Experiment 1, but used arrows instead of dots to test the attentional nature of the valence-space metaphor. We found a similar facilitation effect as found in Experiment 1. Positive words facilitated the discrimination of upper arrows, whereas negative words facilitated the discrimination of lower arrows. In summary, affective words might activate spatial information and cause participants to allocate their attention to corresponding locations. Valence-space metaphors might be grounded in attention allocation.
The impact of changes in financial and macroeconomic variables on term structure of interest rates in Malaysia

Based on time series model, the connection between term structures of interest rate, financial and macroeconomic variables is explored for Malaysia from 1997Q1 to 2009Q2. The behavior of maturity spreads is examined in detail and regression model is established using Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method. The findings show that some macroeconomic variables do not have significant impact on maturity spreads. The money supply affect maturity spread positively while current account influence maturity spread negatively. The other variables, namely stock market return, gross domestic product, industrial production index, inflation rate and trade balance, have no relations with maturity spread. Future work should seek out the effects of maturity spreads on macroeconomic conditions.
Dual-parabolic modeling of the superior and the inferior temporal arcades in fundus images of the retina

Monitoring the openness of the inferior and the superior temporal arcades (ITA and STA) in retinal fundus images and how they change over time can facilitate improved diagnosis and optimized treatment of myopia and retinopathy of prematurity. We propose methods for the detection and modeling of the ITA and the STA, including Gabor filters to detect retinal vessels, and the generalized Hough transform to detect and parameterize semi-parabolic forms. Results obtained with 40 images of the DRIVE database, compared with traces of the temporal arcade drawn by an expert ophthalmologist, indicate a low mean distance to the closest point error of 12.33 pixels (0.25 mm). The proposed methods should facilitate quantitative analysis of the ITA and the STA and overcome limitations associated with subjective manual analysis.
On the economic consequences of civil war

A model of the economic effects of civil war and the post-war period is developed. A key feature is the adjustment of the capital stock through capital flight. Post-war this flight can either be reversed or continue, depending partly upon how far the capital stock has adjusted to the war. The model is tested on data for all civil wars since 1960. After long civil wars the economy recovers rapidly, whereas after short wars it continues to decline. We then consider the effect on the composition of economic activity, distinguishing between war-vulnerable and war-safe activities. Evidence for Uganda shows such compositional effects to be substantial.
Secondary Structure of Rat and Human Amylin across Force Fields

The aggregation of human amylin has been strongly implicated in the progression of Type II diabetes. This 37-residue peptide forms a variety of secondary structures, including random coils, α-helices, and β-hairpins. The balance between these structures depends on the chemical environment, making amylin an ideal candidate to examine inherent biases in force fields. Rat amylin differs from human amylin by only 6 residues; however, it does not form fibrils. Therefore it provides a useful complement to human amylin in studies of the key events along the aggregation pathway. In this work, the free energy of rat and human amylin was determined as a function of α-helix and β-hairpin content for the Gromos96 53a6, OPLS-AA/L, CHARMM22/CMAP, CHARMM22*, Amberff99sb*-ILDN, and Amberff03w force fields using advanced sampling techniques, specifically bias exchange metadynamics. This work represents a first systematic attempt to evaluate the conformations and the corresponding free energy of a large, clinically relevant disordered peptide in solution across force fields. The NMR chemical shifts of rIAPP were calculated for each of the force fields using their respective free energy maps, allowing us to quantitatively assess their predictions. We show that the predicted distribution of secondary structures is sensitive to the choice of force-field: Gromos53a6 is biased towards β-hairpins, while CHARMM22/CMAP predicts structures that are overly α-helical. OPLS-AA/L favors disordered structures. Amberff99sb*-ILDN, AmberFF03w and CHARMM22* provide the balance between secondary structures that is most consistent with available experimental data. In contrast to previous reports, our findings suggest that the equilibrium conformations of human and rat amylin are remarkably similar, but that subtle differences arise in transient alpha-helical and beta-strand containing structures that the human peptide can more readily adopt. We hypothesize that these transient states enable dynamic pathways that facilitate the formation of aggregates and, eventually, amyloid fibrils.
V453 Oph: a s-process enriched, but carbon-deficient RV Tauri star of low intrinsic metallicity

This paper reports the detection of a heavy element enriched RV Tauri variable with an abundance pattern that differs significantly from a standard s-process enriched object: V453 Oph. Based on optical high-resolution spectra, we determined that this object of low intrinsic metallicity ([Fe/H] = -2.2) has a mild, but significant, enrichment ([s/Fe] ∼ +0.5) of heavy elements for which the distribution points to slow neutron capture nucleosynthesis. This result is strengthened by a comparative analysis to the non-enriched RV Tauri star DS Aqr ([s/Fe] = 0.0). Although V453 Oph is the first RV Tauri star showing a strong s-process signature, it is not accompanied by C enhancement, challenging our current nucleosynthetic models of post-AGB stars that predict a simultaneous enrichment in C and s-process elements. The low N abundance excludes CN cycling as being responsible for the low C abundance. We explore three different scenarios to explain the heavy element distribution in this evolved object: an enrichment of the parental cloud, an accretion scenario in which the chemical patterns were acquired by mass transfer in a binary system and an intrinsic enrichment by dredge-up.
A Multilevel Economic Analysis of the Wheat Market in Pakistan

Government price policy in Pakistan affects both the supply and demand of wheat. The wheat market has been established in a particular idiosyncratic manner in Pakistan, and a thorough appraisal of policy needs to take this into account. Hence, to analyse various policy interventions, this study develops a multi-level wheat market model. After considering the real world aspects of the wheat marketing chain, a conceptual framework is developed involving five market levels. This is then translated into a multi-equation econometric model. The model is based on secondary time series data from 1971 to 1996. It consists of equations representing supply, demand, stock holding, importing and price formation. The model is used to estimate changes in consumer surplus, producer surplus and government expenditures, resulting from proposed policy changes.
Gender, Environment, and Sustainable Economic Growth

Both human and natural environment are interlinked with each other dynamically and keep this relation stable within themselves and with each other. The existence of all living organism including human being depends on the interlinkages between the physical human environment and natural environment. Natural resources and physical environment form a basis for sustainable livelihood system, in which human needs are met in the short and long run [Dankelman (2001)]. Although economic growth is an explicit goal in nearly every nation, but a wide range of independent scientific research provides undeniable evidence that the growth of the global economy is not sustainable because it consumes many of the environmental services that strengthen the production of goods and services [e.g., Houghton, et al. (1996); Vitousek, et al. (1997)]. Environmental services refer to the various ways that the environment influences production- and indeed-supports most part of human existence [Costanza and Daly (1992)]. There is a growing understanding that the degradation of environment and growth of waste materials can reduce the productivity of natural resources, as when ozone accumulates in the troposphere and lowers crop yields. This increases the quantity of human capital required to produce a specified quantity of food. The addition of wastes also slows the rate at which natural capital can process the waste material, as when sewage reduces the ability of aquatic ecosystems to process organic materials [Ayres (1996)]. There is also an increasing understanding that “economic growth does not necessarily go hand-in-hand with growth in the well-being of people”. It reflects the rising discrepancy between rich and poor and between genders in most countries [Ayres
Airborne hyperspectral sensor for individual species counting and mapping of Karas (Aquilaria malaccensis) in Bukit Nanas F.R, Malaysia

Karas (Aquilaria malaccensis) is well known for producing gaharu, a fragrant material which is extremely valuable for cosmetic products manufacturing. Due to its un-permitted harvesting, there is an alarming depletion in the natural forests, which requires some forms of quick monitoring in near real time. A study on the spatial distribution of Karas trees in Bukit Nanas F.R. , Federal Territory (FT) was therefore conducted to identify, quantify and map its geospatial distribution using an airborne hyperspectral sensor. Using a Sobel filter and Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) processing techniques, a digital geospatial distribution map with an accuracy of 89.47% showing 38 individual Karas trees was developed. This study demonstrated that individual Karas trees can be easily counted and mapped with an airborne hyperspectral sensor which may lead to possible estimation of gaharu production for its future sustainable management and conservation efforts in FT, Malaysia.
Modeling the p-n junction i-u characteristic for an accurate calibration-free temperature measurement

The p-n junction i-u characteristic model is decisive for the accuracy enhancement of calibration-free temperature measurement. In this paper, we give a survey of adapted physically-based p-n junction i-u characteristic models, such as the Ebers-Moll/sub 2/ the Ebers-Moll/sub 3/ and the Gummel-Poon model. Furthermore, we build new models through polynomial extensions to the fundamental Shockey model. The considered models were investigated with regard to the application of calibration-free temperature measurement. Experimental results show a model improvement with both physically and mathematically-based models.
Bargaining with Private Information

BARGAINING is usually interpreted as the process of arriving at mutual agreement on the provisions of a contract. In the economic realm, the prototype is exchange between a seller and a buyer of an item for money: the contract specifies the price paid for the item. In a wage negotiation, for instance, the union is the seller, the firm is the buyer, and if other terms of the contract are fixed, then the price is the base wage. In the legal realm, the prototype is disposition of a claim by a plaintiff against a defendant: the contract specifies the amount of the settlement, whereas failure to agree means proceeding to trial. Many damage suits, for instance, are settled by agreement on a payment from the defendant in exchange for the plaintiff's withdrawal of the claim; i.e., the defendant buys the claim from the plaintiff. The aggregate gain from trade in the case of exchange is the difference between the buyer's and the seller's valuation of the item; in the case of a damage suit, it is the sum of the parties' costs of a trial. These two prototypes of bilateral bargaining provide ample motivation for the topics discussed in this paper. In both economic and legal contexts, agreement may be delayed as the parties continue negotiations, or agreement might never be reached. Delay is usually costly, due to the opportunity costs of the parties' delayed receipt of their gains from trade and to expenses incurred during the process. Opportunity costs might be represented by lost production or forgone interest income; and expenses, by fees paid to brokers, attorneys, or other agents. Such costs loom large in prominent cases: corporate acquisitions, strikes by labor unions, and major civil suits. 1
Persistence of Anti-HBs Among Palestinian Medical Students After 18 - 22 Years of Vaccination: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Hepatitis B infection is a global public health problem affecting various sectors in the society. Vaccination is the first line measure to prevent the disease. Objectives: To assess the persistence of anti-HBs marker among medical students after 18 - 22 of vaccination as an indicator for Hepatitis B virus vaccine efficacy. Patients and Methods: In this study, 249 Palestinian medical students vaccinated at birth, 1, and 6 months of age using Engerix™-B starting from 1992 were studied. About 58% (144/249) of the students were Palestinians holding Israeli citizenship, while 42% (105/249) were Palestinians from the West Bank. Students were tested serologically for anti-HBs, as a marker for vaccine-induced immunity. Results: Over 75% (188/248) of students had levels of anti-HBs greater than 10 mIU/mL indicating immunity and protection. Five cases had positive results for anti-HBc indicating exposure to HBV infection; however, none of these cases showed any sign of HBV-DNA indicating effective clearance of the virus by the vaccine. Around 57% of the study group had anti-HBs level of 100 - 1000 mIU/mL. No significant association was found between anti-HBs level and age, sex, locality and level of anti-HBc (P > 0.05). The students were aware of different aspects of hepatitis B infection regarding the virus, symptoms, prevention and mode of transmission. Conclusions: The Palestinian and Israeli official policies to give a booster dose for risk groups like medical students at anti-HBs level below 10 mIU/mL should continue to ensure absolute protection. The currently-used vaccine and its time program cleared virus from students believed to have been exposed to the virus during their lifetime.
Effects of reactive social distancing on the 1918 influenza pandemic

The 1918 influenza pandemic was characterized by multiple epidemic waves. We investigated reactive social distancing, a form of behavioral response where individuals avoid potentially infectious contacts in response to available information on an ongoing epidemic or pandemic. We modelled its effects on the three influenza waves in the United Kingdom. In previous studies, human behavioral response was modelled by a Power function of the proportion of recent influenza mortality in a population, and by a Hill function, which is a function of the number of recent influenza mortality. Using a simple epidemic model with a Power function and one common set of parameters, we provided a good model fit for the observed multiple epidemic waves in London boroughs, Birmingham and Liverpool. We further applied the model parameters from these three cities to all 334 administrative units in England and Wales and including the population sizes of individual administrative units. We computed the Pearson’s correlation between the observed and simulated for each administrative unit. We found a median correlation of 0.636, indicating that our model predictions are performing reasonably well. Our modelling approach is an improvement from previous studies where separate models are fitted to each city. With the reduced number of model parameters used, we achieved computational efficiency gain without over-fitting the model. We also showed the importance of reactive behavioral distancing as a potential non-pharmaceutical intervention during an influenza pandemic. Our work has both scientific and public health significance.
Nitrogen nutrient status induces sexual differences in responses to cadmium in Populus yunnanensis

Populus yunnanensis was employed as a model species to detect sexual differences in growth, physiological, biochemical, and ultrastructural responses to cadmium (Cd) stress, nitrogen (N) deposition, and their combination. Compared with the control conditions, Cd decreased plant biomass, damaged the photosynthetic apparatus, visible as a decreased maximum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII; Fv/Fm) and effective quantum yield of PSII (Yield), depressed gas exchange capacity, and induced oxidative stress, visible as the disruption of antioxidative enzymes and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), in both sexes. On the other hand, Cd toxicity was mitigated by the recovery of gas exchange capacity, a decrease in ROS, and improvement of the redox imbalance in both sexes when N deposition was applied. However, males showed a higher gas exchange capacity, lower enzyme inhibition and ROS accumulation, stronger abilities to maintain cellular redox homeostasis, and a better maintenance of chloroplast ultrastructure than did females when exposed to Cd stress alone. Although males exhibited a higher Cd content in leaves than did females, males also accumulated higher levels of non-protein thiols (NP-SHs) and free amino acids (FAAs) for detoxification than did females. Sexual differences induced by Cd, visible, for example, in Fv/Fm, Yield, net photosynthesis rate (A), and stomatal conductance (gs), decreased under N deposition, as no significant differences between the sexes existed in these parameters under the combined treatment. The results indicated that females are more sensitive to Cd stress and suffer more injuries than do males. Moreover, N deposition can mitigate Cd toxicity and decrease sexual differences in Cd sensitivity.
Optimized Power Allocation for Multiple-Antenna Multiple-Relay Cooperative Communication System

One of the main advantages of relayed communication is that it reduces the necessary transmit power and distributes transmitted power throughout the hops. This implies lower interference to the rest of the network and consequently improves performance of the system. In this paper we investigate optimized power allocation over two-hop multiple antenna fixed relays for a given power budget. Outage probability which is the probability that the link quality falls bellow the certain threshold in a Rayleigh fading channel is used as the performance criterion. It is determined that increasing the number of relays and antennas at each relay increases capacity. The outage probability of threshold maximal ratio combining (T-MRC) and threshold selection combining (T-SC) of the multiple antenna multiple fixed relays is derived. Threshold decode and forward relaying (T-DF), which is more reliable than conventional decode and forward relaying (DF) is considered. Results show that optimizing the allocation of power enhances the system performance, especially in highly unbalanced links. The system with optimized power allocation can outperform the two-hop multiple relay system using uniform power allocation and distributed beamforming at the expense of increased computational complexity.
Bacterial Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Their Biosynthetic Genes, Functions, and Practical Use

The nutritional and pharmaceutical values of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) such as arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids have been well recognized. These LC-PUFAs are physiologically important compounds in bacteria and eukaryotes. Although little is known about the biosynthetic mechanisms and functions of LC-PUFAs in bacteria compared to those in higher organisms, a combination of genetic, bioinformatic, and molecular biological approaches to LC-PUFA-producing bacteria and some eukaryotes have revealed the notably diverse organization of the pfa genes encoding a polyunsaturated fatty acid synthase complex (PUFA synthase), the LC-PUFA biosynthetic processes, and tertiary structures of the domains of this enzyme. In bacteria, LC-PUFAs appear to take part in specific functions facilitating individual membrane proteins rather than in the adjustment of the physical fluidity of the whole cell membrane. Very long chain polyunsaturated hydrocarbons (LC-HCs) such as hentriacontanonaene are considered to be closely related to LC-PUFAs in their biosynthesis and function. The possible role of LC-HCs in strictly anaerobic bacteria under aerobic and anaerobic environments and the evolutionary relationships of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria carrying pfa-like genes are also discussed.
Vitamin E and antioxidant activity; its role in slow coronary flow

Summary Aim Oxidative stress, which is widely recognised as an important feature of many diseases, can be defined as an increased formation of reactive oxygen species or decreased antioxidant defense. In this study we measured plasma vitamin E levels and total antioxidant activity (AOA) in patients with slow coronary flow (SCF). Methods The plasma vitamin E levels and AOA were measured in 40 patients with angiographically diagnosed SCF. Forty subjects with normal coronary flow (NCF) served as the control group. SCF and NCF were analysed, and blood samples were taken for plasma vitamin E levels and AOA. Plasma vitamin E levels and AOA in patients with SCF were evaluated and compared to those of patients with NCF. Results There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of plasma AOA, lipid profile and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels but there was a significant difference in vitamin E levels between the two groups (p = 0.001). Conclusion Vitamin E levels were found to be lowered in patients with SCF compared to the NCF group. The association between smoking and vitamin E levels is worth further investigating in larger samples.