Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor Has Protective Effects Against Stroke Events in Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Background and Purpose— Recent clinical studies suggest that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) exert protective effects against nonhemorrhagic stroke. In a murine cerebral ischemia model produced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, statins were shown to reduce infarct size. However, the effect of statins on hypertension-based stroke is unknown. The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of a statin on stroke in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP), in which both cerebral hemorrhage and infarction occur. Methods— We treated SHR-SP chronically from 4 weeks of age with cerivastatin (2 mg/kg per day by gavage) or vehicle. The physiological parameters, the incidence of stroke-associated symptoms, and mortality were assessed. Results— At 14 weeks of age, the incidence (13±3% versus 37±8%;P <0.01) and the size of stroke (1.6±0.2 versus 2.2±0.1 arbitrary units;P <0.01) were significantly decreased by cerivastatin, although blood pressure and plasma cholesterol levels were not different. Moreover, stroke-associated symptoms and early mortality of SHR-SP were markedly reduced in the statin-treated group (mortality at the age of 15 weeks: 15% versus 50%;P <0.05). Statin treatment significantly reduced superoxide production from nonstroke parenchyma of brain and infiltration of inflammatory cells to the stroke lesions. Conclusions— Our data show that a high dose of statin exerts protection against hypertension-based stroke and ameliorates the disease severity via inhibition of superoxide production and modulation of inflammation in brain.
Comparison of named entity recognition tools for raw OCR text

This short paper analyses an experiment comparing the efficacy of several Named Entity Recognition (NER) tools at extracting entities directly from the output of an optical character recognition (OCR) workflow. The authors present how they first created a set of test data, consisting of raw and corrected OCR output manually annotated with people, locations, and organizations. They then ran each of the NER tools against both raw and corrected OCR output, comparing the precision, recall, and F1 score against the manually annotated data.
A Partial Ordering Relation on Flat-Fading Channels

In this correspondence, we establish a partial ordering framework to compare flatfading channels in a capability sense, which is based on the relative dominance of their mutual information functions over a convex set of input distributions. For this purpose, we address the effect of the line-of-sight and scattering components on the mutual information of flat-fading channels. For example, we show that in the presence of channel state information (CSI) at the receiver, the mutual information of flat-fading channels is monotonically increasing with respect to the absolute value of the line-of-sight component of the channel. In other words, for a fixed scattering component, channels with larger line-of-sight component are more capable than channels with smaller line-of-sight component. In contrast, in the absence of CSI, the mutual information is monotonically increasing with respect to the line-of-sight component, provided that it is smaller than or equal to the standard deviation of the scattering component. Furthermore, we briefly address applications of this work to the capacity assessment of simple and compound channels. Index Terms Capability, capacity assessment, compound channels, flat-fading, mutual information, partial ordering, Rayleigh, Rician. ∗This work was supported in part by Texas Instruments Leadership University Program.
Argument Discovery and Extraction with the Argument Workbench

The paper discusses the architecture and development of an Argument Workbench, which is a interactive, integrated, modular tool set to extract, reconstruct, and visualise arguments. We consider a corpora with dispersed information across texts, making it essential to conceptually search for argument elements, topics, and terminology. The Argument Workbench is a processing cascade, developed in collaboration with DebateGraph. The tool supports an argument engineer to reconstruct arguments from textual sources, using information processed at one stage as input to a subsequent stage of analysis, and then building an argument graph. We harvest and preprocess comments; highlight argument indicators, speech act and epistemic terminology; model topics; and identify domain terminology. We use conceptual semantic search over the corpus to extract sentences relative to argument and domain terminology. The argument engineer uses the extracts for the construction of arguments in DebateGraph.
Sterile Protection against Plasmodium knowlesi in Rhesus Monkeys from a Malaria Vaccine: Comparison of Heterologous Prime Boost Strategies

Using newer vaccine platforms which have been effective against malaria in rodent models, we tested five immunization regimens against Plasmodium knowlesi in rhesus monkeys. All vaccines included the same four P. knowlesi antigens: the pre-erythrocytic antigens CSP, SSP2, and erythrocytic antigens AMA1, MSP1. We used four vaccine platforms for prime or boost vaccinations: plasmids (DNA), alphavirus replicons (VRP), attenuated adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad), or attenuated poxvirus (Pox). These four platforms combined to produce five different prime/boost vaccine regimens: Pox alone, VRP/Pox, VRP/Ad, Ad/Pox, and DNA/Pox. Five rhesus monkeys were immunized with each regimen, and five Control monkeys received a mock vaccination. The time to complete vaccinations was 420 days. All monkeys were challenged twice with 100 P. knowlesi sporozoites given IV. The first challenge was given 12 days after the last vaccination, and the monkeys receiving the DNA/Pox vaccine were the best protected, with 3/5 monkeys sterilely protected and 1/5 monkeys that self-cured its parasitemia. There was no protection in monkeys that received Pox malaria vaccine alone without previous priming. The second sporozoite challenge was given 4 months after the first. All 4 monkeys that were protected in the first challenge developed malaria in the second challenge. DNA, VRP and Ad5 vaccines all primed monkeys for strong immune responses after the Pox boost. We discuss the high level but short duration of protection in this experiment and the possible benefits of the long interval between prime and boost.
Guerrilla Veterans in Post-War Zimbabwe: Conclusion

List of tables Acknowledgements Chronology (1889-1980) List of abbreviations Map 1. Introduction 2. The peace settlement 3. The assembly phase 4. Military integration 5. Employment programs for the demobilized 6. Conclusion Epilogue: the past in the present Appendix: the ruling party's attempts to withdraw ex-combatants' special status and ex-combatants' responses, 1988-97 Notes References List of pseudonyms used in the text Index.
Herbaceous biomass retrieval in habitats of complex composition: a model merging SAR images with unmixed landsat TM data

A remote sensing methodology for herbaceous areal above-ground biomass (AAB) estimation in a heterogeneous Mediterranean environment is presented. The methodology is based on an adaptation of the semiempirical water-cloud backscatter model to complex vegetation canopies combined with shrubs, dwarf shrubs, and herbaceous plants. The model included usage of the green leaf biomass volumetric density as a canopy descriptor and of cover fractions derived from unmixing Landsat Thematic Mapper image data for the three vegetation formations. The inclusion of the unmixed cover fractions improves modeling synthetic aperture radar backscatter, as it allows separation between the different radiation interaction mechanisms. The method was first assessed with reference to the reproduction of the backscatter from the vegetation formations. In the next phase, the accuracy of AAB retrievals from the backscatter data was evaluated. Results of testing the methodology in a region of climatic gradient in central Israel have shown a good correspondence between observed and predicted AAB values (R/sup 2/=0.82). This indicates that the methodology developed may lay a basis for mapping important and more advanced ecological information such as primary production and contribute to better understanding of processes in Mediterranean and semiarid regions.
Muscle Activation During Various Hamstring Exercises

Abstract McAllister, MJ, Hammond, KG, Schilling, BK, Ferreria, LC, Reed, JP, and Weiss, LW. Muscle activation during various hamstring exercises. J Strength Cond Res 28(6): 1573–1580, 2014—The dorsal muscles of the lower torso and extremities have often been denoted the “posterior chain. ” These muscles are used to support the thoracic and lumbar spine and peripheral joints, including the hip, knee, and ankle on the dorsal aspect of the body. This study investigated the relative muscle activity of the hamstring group and selected surrounding musculature during the leg curl, good morning, glute-ham raise, and Romanian deadlift (RDL). Twelve healthy, weight-trained men performed duplicate trials of single repetitions at 85% 1-repetition maximum for each lift in random order, during which surface electromyography and joint angle data were obtained. Repeated measures analysis of variance across the 4 exercises was performed to compare the activity from the erector spinae (ES), gluteus medius (GMed), semitendinosus (ST), biceps femoris (BF), and medial gastrocnemius (MGas). Significant differences (p ⩽ 0.05) were noted in eccentric muscle activity between exercise for the MGas (p < 0.027), ST (p < 0.001), BF (p < 0.001), and ES (p = 0.032), and in concentric muscle activity, for the ES (p < 0.001), BF (p = 0.010), ST (p = 0.009), MGas (p < 0.001), and the GMed (p = 0.018). Bonferroni post hoc analysis revealed significant pairwise differences during eccentric actions for the BF, ST, and MGas. Post hoc analysis also revealed significant pairwise differences during concentric actions for the ES, BF, ST, MGas, and GMed. Each of these showed effect sizes that are large or greater. The main findings of this investigation are that the ST is substantially more active than the BF among all exercises, and hamstring activity was maximized in the RDL and glute-ham raise. Therefore, athletes and coaches who seek to maximize the involvement of the hamstring musculature should consider focusing on the glute-ham raise and RDL.
Future‐oriented narrative reporting: determinants and use

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of future‐oriented information in UK annual report narrative sections. The paper also investigates the association between corporate dividend policy and levels of future‐oriented information, as a proxy for information asymmetry. Design/methodology/approach – A computer‐based‐content analysis is used to measure levels of future‐oriented information. Tobit and logit regressions are then applied in order to examine the impact of firm characteristics, and corporate governance characteristics on future‐oriented disclosure. In further tests, Tobit and logit regression models are used to investigate the association between corporate dividend policy and levels of future‐oriented information. Findings – The authors find that firm size is the main factor affecting the firms’ levels of future‐oriented information. This variable is statistically significant in five regression models. In addition, the authors find that profitability, outsider directorships, and insider ownerships affect the levels of future‐oriented information. However, the significance of these variables depends on whether fixed effects or random effects models are used and whether year dummies are included or excluded in the analyses. Finally, the authors find a positive association between corporate dividend policy and information asymmetry (measured by the levels of future‐oriented information). Originality/value – This paper contributes to the existing disclosure studies in two crucial ways. First, it offers the first evidence that levels of future‐oriented information are driven by some firm characteristics, and some corporate governance mechanisms. Second, it offers the first UK evidence of the association between corporate dividend policy and information asymmetry. The results show that dividends and information asymmetry are negatively associated.
On designing and testing distributed virtual environments

Distributed real‐time (DRT) systems are among the most complex software systems to design, test, maintain, and evolve. The existence of components distributed over a network often conflicts with real‐time requirements, leading to design strategies that depend on domain‐specific and even application‐specific knowledge. Distributed virtual environment (DVE) systems are DRT systems that connect multiple users instantly with each other and with a shared virtual space over a network. DVE systems deviate from traditional DRT systemsx in the importance of the quality of the end user experience. We present an analysis of important, but challenging, issues in the design, testing, and evaluation of DVE systems through the lens of experiments with a concrete DVE, OpenSimulator. We frame our observations within six dimensions of well‐known design concerns: correctness, fault tolerance/prevention, scalability, time sensitivity, consistency, and overhead of distribution. Furthermore, we place our experimental work in a broader historical context, showing that these challenges are intrinsic to DVEs and suggesting lines of future research. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dysregulation of the Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Pathway Is Involved in Lipid Disorder-Mediated Organ Injury

The low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) pathway is a negative feedback system that plays important roles in the regulation of plasma and intracellular cholesterol homeostasis. To maintain a cholesterol homeostasis, LDLR expression is tightly regulated by sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) and SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP) in transcriptional level and by proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) in posttranscriptional level. The dysregulation of LDLR expression results in abnormal lipid accumulation in cells and tissues, such as vascular smooth muscle cells, hepatic cells, renal mesangial cells, renal tubular cells and podocytes. It has been demonstrated that inflammation, renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation, and hyperglycemia induce the disruption of LDLR pathway, which might contribute to lipid disorder-mediated organ injury (atherosclerosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, kidney fibrosis, etc). The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a critical mediator in the disruption of LDLR pathway caused by pathogenic factors. The mTOR complex1 activation upregulates LDLR expression at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels, consequently resulting in lipid deposition. This paper mainly reviews the mechanisms for the dysregulation of LDLR pathway and its roles in lipid disorder-mediated organ injury under various pathogenic conditions. Understanding these mechanisms leading to the abnormality of LDLR expression contributes to find potential new drug targets in lipid disorder-mediated diseases.
Spatial phenotypic and genetic structure of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in a heterogeneous natural system, Lake Mývatn, Iceland

Eco-evolutionary responses of natural populations to spatial environmental variation strongly depend on the relative strength of environmental differences/natural selection and dispersal/gene flow. In absence of geographic barriers, as often is the case in lake ecosystems, gene flow is expected to constrain adaptive divergence between environments – favoring phenotypic plasticity or high trait variability. However, if divergent natural selection is sufficiently strong, adaptive divergence can occur in face of gene flow. The extent of divergence is most often studied between two contrasting environments, whereas potential for multimodal divergence is little explored. We investigated phenotypic (body size, defensive structures, and feeding morphology) and genetic (microsatellites) structure in threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) across five habitat types and two basins (North and South) within the geologically young and highly heterogeneous Lake Mývatn, North East Iceland. We found that (1) North basin stickleback were, on average, larger and had relatively longer spines than South basin stickleback, whereas (2) feeding morphology (gill raker number and gill raker gap width) differed among three of five habitat types, and (3) there was only subtle genetic differentiation across the lake. Overall, our results indicate predator and prey mediated phenotypic divergence across multiple habitats in the lake, in face of gene flow.
Racial Identity, Self-Esteem, and the Impostor Phenomenon Among Black College Students

For Blacks, a positive racial identity has been shown to protect against poor psychological outcomes and also foster healthy self-esteem; conversely, a negative racial identity has been associated with diminished self-acceptance marked by feelings of inferiority. These negative attributes are two major facets of the impostor phenomenon (IP). IP is marked by an individual’s persistent perception of incompetency despite contrary evidence. IP has been found to negatively impact many high achieving students but literature on IP among Blacks is limited. The current study addresses this gap by examining the relationships between racial identity, self-esteem, and IP among 112 Black undergraduate students. Previous literature has emphasized a positive relationship between racial identity and self-esteem and an inverse association between selfesteem and IP; thus, it was hypothesized that self-esteem would mediate the relationship between racial identity and IP. Mediation testing via bootstrapping with 5000 re-samples (Preacher & Hayes, 2008) revealed support for the hypothesis (B= -3.25, r2 = .44, p < .05.; Bias Corrected Confidence Intervals, lower CI = -6.32, upper CI=-2.34). The current study revealed that selfesteem mediates the relationship between racial identity and IP. University initiatives should focus on creating inclusive environments that foster positive racial identity development and self-esteem for Blacks in an effort to reduce experiences of IP.
Very Large Telescope near-infrared spectra of hard serendipitous Chandra sources

We present near-infrared long-slit spectra of eight optically dim X-ray sources obtained with ISAAC on the Very Large Telescope. Six of the sources have hard X-ray emission with a significant fraction of the counts emerging above 2 keV. All were discovered serendipitously in the fields of three nearby galaxy clusters observed with Chandra, and identified through near-infrared imaging. The X-ray fluxes lie close to the break in the source counts. Two of the sources show narrow emission lines and a third has a broad line. One of the narrow line-emitting sources has a clear redshift identification at z = 2.18, while the other has a tentative determination based on the highest-redshift detection of He I λ 10830 at z = 1.26. The remainder have featureless spectra to deep limiting equivalent widths of ∼20-60 A and line flux ∼5 × 10 - 1 7 erg s - 1 cm - 2 in the K band. High-quality J-, H- and K-band images of the sources were combined with archival optical detections or limits to estimate a photometric redshift for six of them. Two sources show a complex double morphology. The hard sources have spectral count ratios consistent with heavily obscured active galactic nuclei, while the host galaxy emits much of the optical and near-infrared flux. The most likely explanation for the featureless continua is that the line photons are being scattered or destroyed by optically thick gas and associated dust with large covering fractions.
Examining Sexuality Education Preferences Among Youth at Risk for Poor Sexual Health Outcomes Based on Social Determinants of Health Factors

ABSTRACT At-risk adolescents may experience Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) that lead to higher rates of risky sexual behavior, including increased risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. These SDoH may include components such as unstable family structures, incomplete education, and poverty. Targeting at-risk youth for sexuality education is one way to work toward decreasing sexual health disparities. However, preferences for sexuality education approaches may differ among at-risk youth by additional factors including sex and sexual orientation. The purpose of this study was to describe sexuality education preferences among at-risk youth and how sexuality education preferences differ based on sex and sexual orientation in an at-risk sample of high school-aged youth in Texas. Results indicate sexuality education preferences differ based on sex and sexual orientation when examined by sexual health topics and methods of delivery. Implications of this study indicate including at-risk youth in sexual health programs may be a way to target those at-risk of adverse SDoH, but these groups also have specific preferences for sexuality education.
Black and Gray-Box Identification of a Hydraulic Pumping System

The use of auxiliary information during the identification of nonlinear systems can be handled in different ways and at different levels. In this brief, static information of a 15 kW hydraulic pumping system is used as a priori knowledge in the parameters estimation of polynomial models which are compared to polynomial and neural models obtained by black-box techniques. The aim is to find models with good performance in both transient and steady-state regimes. This brief presents a novel bi-objective problem that uses free-run simulation and a new decision-maker. The optimization problem is solved using a genetic algorithm. Compared with other techniques, the proposed approach can lead to models with better dynamic and static performance.
Small-signal neural models and its application to determining model parameters

This paper introduces the use of the concept of small signal analysis, commonly used in circuit design, for understanding neural models. We show that neural models, varying in complexity from Hodgkin-Huxley to Integrate and fire have similar small signal models when their corresponding differential equations are close to the same bifurcation with respect to input current. The small signal model allows circuit designers to intuitively understand the behavior of complicated differential equations in a simple way. We use small-signal models for deriving parameters for a simple neural model (like resonate and fire) from a more complicated but biophysically relevant one like Morris-Lecar. We show similarity in the sub threshold behavior of the simple and complicated model when they are close to a Hopf bifurcation and a Saddle-node bifurcation. Hence, this is useful to correctly tune simple neural models for large scale cortical simulations.