Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arrhythmias in the developing heart

Prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias increases gradually with age; however, specific rhythm disturbances can appear even prior to birth and markedly affect foetal development. Relatively little is known about these disorders, chiefly because of their relative rarity and difficulty in diagnosis. In this review, we cover the most common forms found in human pathology, specifically congenital heart block, pre‐excitation, extrasystoles and long QT syndrome. In addition, we cover pertinent literature data from prenatal animal models, providing a glimpse into pathogenesis of arrhythmias and possible strategies for treatment.
A Composite Estimator of Effective Teaching

States and districts are collecting multiple measures of teaching to evaluate teacher effectiveness, but there is limited information about how indicators can be combined to improve inferences about a teacher’s impact on student achievement and about teaching. We derive a statistical model and estimate the parameters of an optimal combined measure of teacher effectiveness using data from the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) project. We contrast the optimal composites to composites created using equal weighting of indicators and to weights based on existing state policies. Our explorations consider multiple scenarios for data collection to determine tradeoffs between collecting more data and combining multiple indicators to improve the accuracy of inferences. We find evidence that there is a common component of effective teaching shared by all indicators, but there are also substantial differences in the stable component across measurement modes and across some indicators within a mode. The implication from our model is that composites that place relatively equal weight on all indicators will tend to capture the component of effective teaching that is common across indicators. We also find that optimal weights strongly depend on the target criterion and the optimal predictor tends to put most of the weight on the indicator corresponding to the target criterion. Composites formed based on state policies are moderately to highly correlated with optimal predictor of teacher contributions to achievement on the state test. Due to the relatively high reliability of the indicators in the MET project dataset, there are small differences in composites created under different data collection scenarios. Note: This paper details the technical methods and analyses for the MET project’s study of composite measures of teaching. A non-technical summary is in the MET project brief, “Ensuring Fair and Reliable Measures of Effective Teaching,” available at www.metproject. org.
Carbon budget and carbon chemistry in Photon Dominated Regions

We present a study of small carbon chains and rings in Photon Dominated Regions (PDRs) performed at millimetre wavelengths. Our sample consists of the Horsehead nebula (B33), the ? Oph L1688 cloud interface, and the cometary-shaped cloud IC 63. Using the IRAM 30-m telescope, the SEST and the Effelsberg 100-m telescope, we mapped the emission of C2H, c-C3H2 and C4H, and searched for heavy hydrocarbons such as c-C3H, l-C3H, l-C3H2, l-C4H2 and C6H. The large scale maps show that small hydrocarbons are present until the edge of all PDRs, which is surprising as they are expected to be easily destroyed by UV radiation. Their spatial distribution reasonably agrees with the aromatic emission mapped in mid-IR wavelength bands. C2H and c-C3H2 correlate remarkably well, a trend already reported in the diffuse ISM (Lucas & Liszt \cite{Lucas2000}). Their abundances relative to H2 are relatively high and comparable to the ones derived in dark clouds such as L134N or TMC-1, known as efficient carbon factories. The heavier species are however only detected in the Horsehead nebula at a position coincident with the aromatic emission peak around 7 ? m. In particular, we report the first detection of C6H in a PDR. We have run steady-state PDR models using several gas-phase chemical networks (UMIST95 and the New Standard Model) and conclude that both networks fail in reproducing the high abundances of some of these hydrocarbons by an order of magnitude. The high abundance of hydrocarbons in the PDR may suggest that the photo-erosion of UV-irradiated large carbonaceous compounds could efficiently feed the ISM with small carbon clusters or molecules. This new production mechanism of carbon chains and rings could overcome their destruction by the UV radiation field. Dedicated theoretical and laboratory measurements are required to understand and implement these additional chemical routes. Appendix A is only available in electronic form at http://www.edpsciences. org
Cost-benefit rules in general equilibrium

Should long-term assets such as infrastructure, education, and the environment earn the same return as productive capital? If yes, we can say that investments in such assets pass the cost-benefit test. But time-inconsistent decision-makers prefer to violate the test: long-term assets provide commitment to current preferences, leading to investment biases. We formulate the cost-benefit requirement as a rule that must be followed, also in large projects that influence the economy as a whole. The institutionalized cost-benefit prudence eliminates the biases but, surprisingly, has no social value in general equilibrium. The behavioral rule implements Pareto efficiency if and only if preferences are time-consistent, a case where the rule is redundant. We perform full welfare analysis under the Pareto criterion and describe self-enforcing and welfare-enhancing cost-benefit rules that link total savings and long-term investments. A climate change illustration shows that quantitative magnitudes can be significant. (JEL classification: H43; H41; D61; D91; Q54; E21.
Use of facial composite systems in US law enforcement agencies

Abstract Facial composite images are often used in the criminal investigation process to facilitate the search for and identification of someone who has committed a crime. Since the use of facial composite images is sometimes relied upon as an integral part of an investigation, it is important to ascertain information about the various decisions made and procedures implemented by law enforcement regarding the use of composites. A 39-item survey was developed to examine the prevalence of a number of procedures related to composite production, including the systems implemented, criteria for selecting systems, law enforcement training, satisfaction with systems, legal challenges, and procedural issues with respect to interviewing multiple witnesses and the distribution of composite images. Surveys were distributed to 1637 city, state and county law enforcement agencies nationwide; 163 completed surveys were returned. This paper summarizes our survey results and discusses the implications for investigative procedures, law enforcement training, and future research needs.
Hazardous Times for Monetary Policy: What Do Twenty-Three Million Bank Loans Say about the Effects of Monetary Policy on Credit Risk-Taking?

We identify the effects of monetary policy on credit risk-taking with an exhaustive credit register of loan applications and contracts. We separate the changes in the composition of the supply of credit from the concurrent changes in the volume of supply and quality, and the volume of demand. We employ a two-stage model that analyzes the granting of loan applications in the first stage and loan outcomes for the applications granted in the second stage, and that controls for both observed and unobserved, time-varying, firm and bank heterogeneity through time*firm and time*bank fixed effects. We find that a lower overnight interest rate induces lowly capitalized banks to grant more loan applications to ex ante risky firms and to commit larger loan volumes with fewer collateral requirements to these firms, yet with a higher ex post likelihood of default. A lower long-term interest rate and other relevant macroeconomic variables have no such effects.
AMPK acts as a molecular trigger to coordinate glutamatergic signals and adaptive behaviours during acute starvation

The stress associated with starvation is accompanied by compensatory behaviours that enhance foraging efficiency and increase the probability of encountering food. However, the molecular details of how hunger triggers changes in the activity of neural circuits to elicit these adaptive behavioural outcomes remains to be resolved. We show here that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) regulates neuronal activity to elicit appropriate behavioural outcomes in response to acute starvation, and this effect is mediated by the coordinated modulation of glutamatergic inputs. AMPK targets both the AMPA-type glutamate receptor GLR-1 and the metabotropic glutamate receptor MGL-1 in one of the primary circuits that governs behavioural response to food availability in C. elegans. Overall, our study suggests that AMPK acts as a molecular trigger in the specific starvation-sensitive neurons to modulate glutamatergic inputs and to elicit adaptive behavioural outputs in response to acute starvation. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.16349. 001
Fixed points of the multifunction concerning F -contractions in partial metric spaces

In this paper, we prove some new fixed point theorems for multi-valued mappings under new contractions by proposing a new class of functions. The results of this paper improve several results in the literatures. And we extend the results into metric-like spaces, which expand the application range of the results. c ©2016 All rights reserved.
Tolerance to oxidative stress induced by desiccation in Porphyra columbina (Bangiales, Rhodophyta)

Unravelling the mechanisms underlying desiccation tolerance is crucial in order to understand the position of algal species in the intertidal zone. The alga Porphyra columbina lives in the uppermost part of the rocky intertidal zones around the world and was selected as a model for this study. Naturally desiccated plants were collected during low tide and studied for morphological changes, oxidative burst induction, biomolecule oxidation, antioxidant responses, and photosynthetic status. Naturally hydrated plants collected during high tides were used for comparative purposes. In addition, changes induced by desiccation were assessed in vitro and the capacity to recover from desiccation was determined by rehydrating the fronds in seawater. The global results show that desiccation induces morphological and cellular alterations accompanied by a loss of ∼96% of the water content. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was induced by desiccation and two peaks of H2O2 were detected at 1 and 3 h of desiccation. However, during in vitro rehydration post-desiccation, the ROS quickly returned to the basal levels. At the biomolecular level, only a low production of oxidized proteins was recorded during desiccation, whereas the activity of diverse antioxidant enzymes increased. However, this activity diminished to near basal levels during rehydration. The photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) during desiccation declined by 94–96% of the values recorded in hydrated plants. This reduction was generated by the low levels of trapped energy flux per cross-section (TRo/CS), electron transport flux per CS (ETo/CS), and density of reaction centres (RC/SCo) as well as the chlorophyll content. The inverse pattern was observed for the levels of phycocyanin and phycoerythrin content. Fv/Fm and the photosynthetic indicators were restored to normal levels after only 5 min of rehydration. The results indicate that desiccation in P. columbina causes overproduction of ROS that is efficiently attenuated. The morphological and photosynthetic changes could be operating as tolerance mechanisms due to the fact that these responses principally prevent biomolecular alteration and cellular collapse. Thus, the activation of different physiological mechanisms helps to explain the high tolerance to desiccation of P. columbina and, at least in part, the position of this species at the highest level in the intertidal zone.
Local Mesh Patterns Versus Local Binary Patterns: Biomedical Image Indexing and Retrieval

In this paper, a new image indexing and retrieval algorithm using local mesh patterns are proposed for biomedical image retrieval application. The standard local binary pattern encodes the relationship between the referenced pixel and its surrounding neighbors, whereas the proposed method encodes the relationship among the surrounding neighbors for a given referenced pixel in an image. The possible relationships among the surrounding neighbors are depending on the number of neighbors, P. In addition, the effectiveness of our algorithm is confirmed by combining it with the Gabor transform. To prove the effectiveness of our algorithm, three experiments have been carried out on three different biomedical image databases. Out of which two are meant for computer tomography (CT) and one for magnetic resonance (MR) image retrieval. It is further mentioned that the database considered for three experiments are OASIS-MRI database, NEMA-CT database, and VIA/I-ELCAP database which includes region of interest CT images. The results after being investigated show a significant improvement in terms of their evaluation measures as compared to LBP, LBP with Gabor transform, and other spatial and transform domain methods.
H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Unipolar Mood Disorder Patients

Neuroimaging and postmortem studies have suggested the involvement of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in the pathophysioloy of unipolar disorder. We examined with in vivo 1 H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) the levels of specific metabolites in the DLPFC of adult unipolar patients and the role of illness chronicity on DLPFC abnormalities. Nineteen unmedicated unipolar mood disorder patients and 19 age-and gender-matched healthy controls underwent a short echo-time 1 H MRS examination localized to an 8-cm 3 single voxel placed in the left DLPFC. There were no significant differences in metabolite levels, including N-acetylaspartate (NAA), phosphocreatine plus creatine (PCr+Cr) and choline-containing-compounds (GPC+PC), between the two groups. However, NAA/PCr+Cr ratios were significantly lower in the chronic than in the less chronically ill patients and healthy controls. The low levels of NAA/PCr+Cr ratios in the left DLPFC of unipolar patients who had been more chronically ill suggest a potential role for illness chronicity in neuronal abnormalities in the DLPFC in unipolar disorder. This could possibly be accounted for by neurodegenerative processes arising with the 0925-4927/$-see front matter D 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. progression of the illness. Future 1 H MRS investigations should longitudinally examine the role of illness chronicity on DLPFC abnormalities and their relationship with the symptoms of unipolar disorder.
Categories of knowledge. Further fractionations and an attempted integration.

In this study we investigated the category specificity of the comprehension impairments of Y.O. T. , a patient with a severe global dysphasia. Using matching to sample techniques it was possible to demonstrate selective impairments and selective preservations not only of broad categories of semantic knowledge but also of particular subsets of such categories. Specifically, Y.O. T. 's comprehension of 'objects' was, in general, significantly more impaired than for foods or living things. Within the broad class of objects she was significantly more impaired in the comprehension of small manipulable objects than large man-made objects. Within her proper noun vocabulary there was a significant dissociation between her good comprehension of proper nouns having a unique and well-known referent (e.g., Churchill) and common proper nouns without such a referent (e.g., Jones). Her error responses were not consistent, semantic similarity and significant rate effects were observed, and it was therefore considered that her category specific comprehension deficits were primarily ones of access to a full semantic representation. We attempt to give a principled account of the increasing number of seemingly arbitrary instances of fine-grain categorical impairments of semantic knowledge. We have suggested that different weighting values from multiple sensory channels will be important in the acquisition of different categories of knowledge and that such differential weightings could be the basis of the categorical organization of systems in the brain subserving semantic knowledge.
A scale-adaptive extension to methods based on LBP using scale-normalized Laplacian of Gaussian extrema in scale-space

Local Binary Patterns and its derivatives have been widely used in the field of texture recognition over the last decade. A restriction of methods based on LBP is the variance in terms of signal scaling. This is mainly caused by the fixed LBP radius and the fixed support area of sampling points. In this work we present a general framework to enhance the scale-invariance of all LBP flavored methods, which can be applied to existing methods with minimal effort. Based on scale-normalized Laplacian of Gaussian extrema in scale-space, the global scale of a texture in question is estimated, combined with a confidence measure, to compute scale adapted patterns. By using the notion of intrinsic scales, textures are analyzed at appropriate LBP scales. A comprehensive experimental study shows that the scale-invariance of three different LBP based methods (LBP, LTP, Fuzzy LBP) is highly improved by the proposed extension.
Sphinx-4: a flexible open source framework for speech recognition

Sphinx-4 is a flexible, modular and pluggable framework to help foster new innovations in the core research of hidden Markov model (HMM) speech recognition systems. The design of Sphinx-4 is based on patterns that have emerged from the design of past systems as well as new requirements based on areas that researchers currently want to explore. To exercise this framework, and to provide researchers with a "researchready" system, Sphinx-4 also includes several implementations of both simple and state-of-the-art techniques. The framework and the implementations are all freely available via open source.
A wide-field K-band survey — II. Galaxy clustering

We present the first measurement of the angular correlation function in a $K$-selected galaxy survey, from two fields covering almost 10 square degrees. The angular correlation function at small angles is well described by a $\theta^{-0.8}$ power law, as for optically selected samples. The clustering amplitude is reduced by a factor of $\sim 4$ between galaxies with $K<15$ and a fainter magnitude slice with $15<K<16$. This allows us to place constraints upon the redshift distribution of the galaxies and their spatial correlation function. We find no clear evidence for a change in clustering amplitude when galaxies are selected by their observed $B-K$ colours.
Type III restriction-modification enzymes: a historical perspective

Restriction endonucleases interact with DNA at specific sites leading to cleavage of DNA. Bacterial DNA is protected from restriction endonuclease cleavage by modifying the DNA using a DNA methyltransferase. Based on their molecular structure, sequence recognition, cleavage position and cofactor requirements, restriction–modification (R–M) systems are classified into four groups. Type III R–M enzymes need to interact with two separate unmethylated DNA sequences in inversely repeated head-to-head orientations for efficient cleavage to occur at a defined location (25–27 bp downstream of one of the recognition sites). Like the Type I R–M enzymes, Type III R–M enzymes possess a sequence-specific ATPase activity for DNA cleavage. ATP hydrolysis is required for the long-distance communication between the sites before cleavage. Different models, based on 1D diffusion and/or 3D-DNA looping, exist to explain how the long-distance interaction between the two recognition sites takes place. Type III R–M systems are found in most sequenced bacteria. Genome sequencing of many pathogenic bacteria also shows the presence of a number of phase-variable Type III R–M systems, which play a role in virulence. A growing number of these enzymes are being subjected to biochemical and genetic studies, which, when combined with ongoing structural analyses, promise to provide details for mechanisms of DNA recognition and catalysis.
Capital Supply, Financial Intermediaries, and Corporate Peer Effects

We document “supply-side” channels that connect peer firms’ financial policies. We find constrained firms’ equity issuance decisions depend on peers’ recent SEO activity, and that common financial intermediaries strengthen the transmission of peer effects. Constrained firms react positively to peer SEO announcements, and analyst coverage and institutional ownership increase following peer firms’ SEOs. Constrained firms’ SEO announcement returns and underwriting fees improve with “their” underwriters’ recent peer-SEO experience. Peer effects are pronounced when there is more overlap with peers’ financial intermediaries and major shareholders. We conclude that supply-side effects are key in the transmission of peer-to-peer financial policies.
Operationalizing ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of People among the Member States: Issues of Convergence, Divergence and Prospects for Sub-Regional Integration

Migration is commonplace in the world today. Within the milieu of growing and intensive economic, political and socio-cultural interdependence among state and non-state actors, mass intra and inter border and continental movements of people have been on the ascendancy. Global estimates indicate that 3 percent of the world’s population are migrants (United Nations, 2006). The West African sub-region is no exception to this growing phenomenon. Of the 191 million migrants scattered across the globe nearly 7 million people hail from the West Africa sub-region (ibid ). Most countries in the world experience immigration and emigration in varying proportions such that each country is classified based on the proportion of migrants who enter or leave a state. Some countries are also classified as transit states as they receive many migrants who eventually relocate to other states. Since the 1980s, the issue of international migration has gained prominence with regards to relations between states and international organizations ranging from regional blocs like the European Union (EU), Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) etc. to United Nations (UN) and its specialized agencies for many reasons including the plight of refugees (forced migration) and the impact of labour migration (brain drain/ gain) on the economies of developing countries. This paper traces the historical antecedents of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) protocol on free movement of persons, its rationale and discusses issues surrounding its implementation among the member countries. Section one looks at the historical background of West African migration, types and factors influencing population movements as well as direction of migrations flows. The next section examines the protocol and discusses the issues of convergence and divergence among the member states and identifies factors affecting effective implementation. The final section looks at factors required for effective free movement of persons, goods and services to facilitate the materialisation of economic integration.