Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Anterior Hippocampus Supports a Coarse, Global Environmental Representation and the Posterior Hippocampus Supports Fine-grained, Local Environmental Representations

Representing an environment globally, in a coarse way, and locally, in a fine-grained way, are two fundamental aspects of how our brain interprets the world that surrounds us. The neural correlates of these representations have not been explicated in humans. In this study we used fMRI to investigate these correlates and to explore a possible functional segregation in the hippocampus and parietal cortex. We hypothesized that processing a coarse, global environmental representation engages anterior parts of these regions, whereas processing fine-grained, local environmental information engages posterior parts. Participants learned a virtual environment and then had to find their way during fMRI. After scanning, we assessed strategies used and representations stored. Activation in the hippocampal head (anterior) was related to the multiple distance and global direction judgments and to the use of a coarse, global environmental representation during navigation. Activation in the hippocampal tail (posterior) was related to both local and global direction judgments and to using strategies like number of turns. A structural shape analysis showed that the use of a coarse, global environmental representation was related to larger right hippocampal head volume and smaller right hippocampal tail volume. In the inferior parietal cortex, a similar functional segregation was observed, with global routes represented anteriorly and fine-grained route information such as number of turns represented posteriorly. In conclusion, moving from the anterior to the posterior hippocampus and inferior parietal cortex reflects a shift from processing coarse global environmental representations to processing fine-grained, local environmental representations.
C4.5: Programs for Machine Learning

From the Publisher: Classifier systems play a major role in machine learning and knowledge-based systems, and Ross Quinlan's work on ID3 and C4.5 is widely acknowledged to have made some of the most significant contributions to their development. This book is a complete guide to the C4.5 system as implemented in C for the UNIX environment. It contains a comprehensive guide to the system's use , the source code (about 8,800 lines), and implementation notes. The source code and sample datasets are also available on a 3.5-inch floppy diskette for a Sun workstation. C4.5 starts with large sets of cases belonging to known classes. The cases, described by any mixture of nominal and numeric properties, are scrutinized for patterns that allow the classes to be reliably discriminated. These patterns are then expressed as models, in the form of decision trees or sets of if-then rules, that can be used to classify new cases, with emphasis on making the models understandable as well as accurate. The system has been applied successfully to tasks involving tens of thousands of cases described by hundreds of properties. The book starts from simple core learning methods and shows how they can be elaborated and extended to deal with typical problems such as missing data and over hitting. Advantages and disadvantages of the C4.5 approach are discussed and illustrated with several case studies. This book and software should be of interest to developers of classification-based intelligent systems and to students in machine learning and expert systems courses.
An Accurate and Compact Rayleigh and Rician Fading Channel Simulator

A stochastic sum-of-sinusoids based simulation model is proposed for Rayleigh and Rician fading channels. The time-averaged statistical properties of the new model have been significantly improved compared to existing models. Verification of the proposed fading simulator is carried out by comparing its measured statistical properties with the properties of the ideal reference models. The simulator utilizes a time-overlapped implementation strategy to provide a compact design suitable for multiple antenna simulators. An implementation of the resulting Rician fading simulator on a Xilinx Virtex-II Pro XC2VP100- 6 FPGA uses only 2% of the configurable slices, 1% of the dedicated multipliers, and 2% of the on-chip block memories while generating 201 million 2 times 16-bit complex-valued fading samples per second. The scalable design of the fading channel simulator enables a straightforward implementation of multiple antenna channels and different diversity schemes.
Investigation on the use of Coco Coir Polypropylene as Thermal Insulator

Thermal insulators are essential in terms of making structures conducive for people to live in and a nice place to work on. This experimental study aimed to develop a thermal insulator using recyclable materials namely; the coco coir from the coconut fruit and used polypropylene drinking straws. This lead to the assumption that all materials have a property to conduct heat and a material which has low thermal conductivity is an ideal insulator. Observing the physical properties of the coco coir being a composite material and various applications, It was incorporated, as well as the polypropylene used straws being commonly named as plastics gives an idea to make these materials the core components of a product that can be used as a thermal insulator.
Controversies in ocular tuberculosis

Ocular tuberculosis still remains a presumptive, clinical diagnosis in the presence of supportive clinical signs and investigations, while in the absence of other possible causes of uveitis. The purpose of this review is to discuss three controversies of ocular tuberculosis today. First, it is unclear from many reports on how the diagnosis of ocular tuberculosis was defined, and if they included ‘probable’ or ‘possible’ diagnoses. Thus, there is a need to standardise the terminology used for ocular tuberculosis to allow for comparisons among studies. Second, the investigative approach is heterogeneous worldwide and there is currently no agreement on the pathogenesis of ocular tuberculosis. A suggested clinical approach involves first identifying supportive ocular signs, followed by a step-ladder approach of using various investigations such as nucleic acid amplification tests and interferon-γ release assays, before confirming a ‘definite’ case of ocular tuberculosis. Third, there are currently no guidelines for the commencement or duration of antitubercular therapy in patients with ocular tuberculosis. The current review highlights the need for a collaboration from ophthalmologists around the world to establish a consensus on the terminology, guidelines on first-line investigations to use and guidance on antitubercular and corticosteroid therapy for ocular tuberculosis.
Relative Evolutionary Timescale of Hot Molecular Cores with Respect to Ultracompact H II Regions

Using the Owens Valley and Nobeyama Radio Observatory interferometers, we carried out an unbiased search for hot molecular cores and ultracompact (UC) H II regions toward the high-mass star-forming region G19.61-0.23. In addition, we performed 1.2 mm imaging with SIMBA and retrieved 3.5 and 2 cm images from the VLA archive database. The newly obtained 3 mm image brings information on a cluster of high-mass (proto)stars located in the innermost and densest part of the parsec-scale clump detected in the 1.2 mm continuum. We identify a total of 10 high-mass young stellar objects: one hot core (HC) and nine UC H II regions, whose physical parameters are obtained from model fits to their continuum spectra. The ratio between the current and expected final radii of the UC H II regions ranges from 0.3 to 0.9, which leaves the possibility that all O-B stars formed simultaneously. Under the opposite assumption, namely, that star formation occurred randomly, we estimate that the HC lifetime is less than ~1/3 of that of UC H II regions on the basis of the source number ratio between them.
An integrated algorithm of incremental and robust PCA

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a well-established technique in image processing and pattern recognition. Incremental PCA and robust PCA are two interesting problems with numerous potential applications. However, these two issues have only been separately addressed in the previous studies. In this paper, we present a novel algorithm for incremental and robust PCA by seamlessly integrating the two issues together. The proposed algorithm has the advantages of both incremental PCA and robust PCA. Moreover, unlike most M-estimation based robust algorithms, it is computational efficient. Experimental results on dynamic background modelling are provided to show the performance of the algorithm with a comparison to the conventional batch-mode and nonrobust algorithms.
Weather and Environmental Hazards at Mass Gatherings

Introduction Reviews of mass gathering events have traditionally concentrated on crowd variables that affect the level and type of medical care needed. Weather and environmental hazards at mass gathering events have not been fully researched. This review examines these events and aims to provide future suggestions for event organisers, medical resource planners, and emergency services, including local hospital emergency departments. Methods A review was conducted using computerised data bases: MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, HMIC and EMBASE, with Google used to widen the search beyond peer-reviewed publications, to identify grey literature. All peer-review literature articles found containing information pertaining to lessons identified from mass gathering disasters due to weather or environmental hazards leading to participant death, injury or illness were analysed and reviewed. Disasters occurring due to crowd variables were not included. These articles were read, analysed, abstracted and summarised. Results 20 articles from literature search were found detailing mass gathering disasters relating directly to weather or environmental hazards from 1988 – 2011, with only 17 cases found within peer-review literature. Two events grey literature from 2011 are due to undergo further inquiry while one article reviews an event originally occurring in 1922. Analysis of cases were categorised in to heat and cold-related events, lightning and storms and disease outbreak. Conclusions Mass gathering events have an enormous potential to place a severe strain on the local health care system, Prior health resource and environmental planning for heat & cold-related illness, lightning & storms, and disease outbreak can advance emergency preparedness and response to potential disasters. Citation: Soomaroo L, Murray V. Weather and Environmental Hazards at Mass Gatherings. PLoS Currents Disasters. 2012 Jul 31 Keywords: Mass Gatherings, Disasters, Sporting Events, Festivals, Concerts, Storm, Lightning, Cyclone, Hot-weather illness, Cold-weather illness, Disease, Public Health, Syndromic Surveillance Abbreviations: ALS – Advance Life support; BLS – Basic Life support; ED – Emergency Department; EMS – Emergency Medical Services; PPR – Patient Presentation Rate
An approach for assessing cumulative effects in a model river, the Athabasca River basin

Novel approaches addressing aquatic cumulative effects over broad temporal and spatial scales are required to track changes and assist with sustainable watershed management. Cumulative effects assessment (CEA) requires the assessment of changes due to multiple stressors both spatially and temporally. The province of Alberta, Canada, is currently experiencing significant economic growth as well as increasing awareness of water dependencies. There has been an increasing level of industrial, urban, and other land‐use related development (pulp and paper mills, oil sands developments, agriculture, and urban development) within the Athabasca River basin. Much of the historical water quantity and quality data for this basin have not been integrated or analyzed from headwaters to mouth, which affects development of a holistic, watershed‐scale CEA. The main objectives of this study were 1) to quantify spatial and temporal changes in water quantity and quality over the entire Athabasca River mainstem across historical (1966–1976) and current day (1996–2006) time periods and 2) to evaluate the significance of any changes relative to existing benchmarks (e.g., water quality guidelines). Data were collected from several federal, provincial, and nongovernment sources. A 14% to 30% decrease in discharge was observed during the low flow period in the second time period in the lower 3 river reaches with the greatest decrease occurring at the mouth of the river. Dissolved Na, sulfate, chloride, and total P concentrations in the second time period were greater than, and in some cases double, the 90th percentiles calculated from the first time period in the lower part of the river. Our results show that significant changes have occurred in both water quantity and quality between the historical and current day Athabasca River basin. It is known that, in addition to climatic changes, rivers which undergo increased agricultural, urban, and industrial development can experience significant changes in water quantity and quality due to increased water use, discharge of effluents, and surface run‐off. Using the results from this study, we can begin to quantify dominant natural and man‐made stressors affecting the Athabasca River basin as well as place the magnitude of any local changes into an appropriate context relative to trends in temporal and spatial variability. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2010; 6:119–134. © 2009 SETAC
The influence of deep cryogenic treatment and in-situ cryogenic micro turning of Ti-6Al-4V on cutting forces, surface integrity and chip morphology

The demand for sustainable manufacturing of axi-symmetric, micro turned titanium based neurosurgical implants are increasing. However, dry micro-turning of titanium alloy at higher cutting speeds, results in poor surface integrity, because of continuous saw-tooth chip formation, chip adhesion, and micro-scratch initiation on the machined surface. To overcome these issues in micro-turning, two techniques were attempted in this paper. First, Ti-6Al-4V is cryogenically cooled for 72 hours and then subsequently heat treated for four hours at 170°C before machining. Second, in-situ cryogenic experiments, liquid nitrogen is fed in the cutting zone. It is observed that, in-situ cryogenic micro-turning assists in ease of chip fracture resulting in good surface finish. It inhibits the formation of saw-tooth chip and thereby a fluctuation of forces with time is limited. Micro-scratch and adhesion of machined chips were present in non-treated and deep-cryogenic treated surfaces whereas, in-situ cryogenically micro-turned surfaces were free from the above defects.
Evolutionary computation for figure-ground separation

The problem of figure-ground separation is modeled as one of energy minimization using the Ising system model from quantum physics. The Ising system model for the figure-ground separation problem makes explicit the definition of shape in terms of attributes such as cocircularity, smoothness, proximity and contrast and is based on the formulation of an energy function that incorporates pair wise interactions between local image features in the form of edgels. The paper explores a class of stochastic optimization techniques based on evolutionary algorithms in the context of figure-ground separation using the Ising system model. Experimental results on synthetic edgel maps and edgel maps derived from gray scale images are presented.
Theoretical and finite element modeling of piezoelectric nanobeams with surface and flexoelectricity effects

ABSTRACT In this paper, a size-dependent Euler–Bernoulli beam model, which takes the flexoelectricity, piezoelectricity, and dielectricity as well as the surface elasticity into consideration, is established. Theoretical solutions for the static bending deflection of thin beams under different loading (uniformly distributed and concentrated load) and boundary conditions (cantilevered, both ends simply supported, clamped–clamped), are established. Moreover, an iterative finite element algorithm is developed for the analysis of thin flexoelectric beams under any load and boundary conditions. Our numerical results show the direct bulk flexoelectricity always play the role of stiffening the beams with various boundary conditions, while the residual surface stresses behave either stiffening or softening the nanobeams dependent on boundary conditions. The present investigation also demonstrates the size-dependent effects of flexoelectricity on the bending rigidity and piezoelectricity.
The cellular and molecular origin of tumor-associated macrophages

Long recognized as an evolutionarily ancient cell type involved in tissue homeostasis and immune defense against pathogens, macrophages are being rediscovered as regulators of several diseases, including cancer. Here we show that in mice, mammary tumor growth induces the accumulation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) that are phenotypically and functionally distinct from mammary tissue macrophages (MTMs). TAMs express the adhesion molecule Vcam1 and proliferate upon their differentiation from inflammatory monocytes, but do not exhibit an “alternatively activated” phenotype. TAM terminal differentiation depends on the transcriptional regulator of Notch signaling, RBPJ; and TAM, but not MTM, depletion restores tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic T cell responses and suppresses tumor growth. These findings reveal the ontogeny of TAMs and a discrete tumor-elicited inflammatory response, which may provide new opportunities for cancer immunotherapy. Origins of tumor macrophages To help the immune system fight cancer, it is important to understand the origins and functions of immune cells in tumors and the surrounding tissues. One type of immune cells, macrophages, is present both in tumors and in nearby noncancerous tissue, but the relationship between these two cell populations is unclear. Franklin et al. found that tumor-associated macrophages in mouse mammaries differed in form, function, and origin from macrophages found in nearby noncancerous mammary tissue. Moreover, when they removed macrophages from the tumors but not the other mammary tissue, tumors shrank and cytotoxic T cells—another kind of immune cell that kills tumor cells—infiltrated the tumors. Tumor-associated macrophages may thus be an important therapeutic target. Science, this issue p. 921. The origins of tumor-associated macrophages in a mouse mammary tumor model are revealed. [Also see Perspective by Perdiguero and Geissmann]
Caries experience in schoolchildren in Bucharest, Romania: the PAROGIM study.

OBJECTIVE This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence and experience of dental caries among children from public middle schools in Bucharest in relation to socioeconomic status and access to school-based dental care. METHODS Clinical data were collected from 1,595 schoolchildren aged 10-17 years, randomly allocated by clusters into a stratified sample population. The dental caries were scored according to the World Health Organization (WHO) clinical criteria and expressed based on tooth and surface levels [Decayed-Missing-Filled Teeth/Surfaces indices (DMFT/DMFS)]. A questionnaire was administered to the children to determine the education level of their parents and their living standard. RESULTS The caries prevalence was 75 percent, and 64 percent had untreated caries. The mean DMFT value for the entire sample was 2.8, and its highest component was decayed teeth (mean DT 2). Parental education level had the strongest influence on the caries scores; 70 percent of children whose parents had not completed a university degree had untreated caries (%DT) compared to only 49 percent of children whose parents had a higher level of education (P < 0.05). Children with access to school-based dental care had significantly better dental health (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Compared to previous national surveys, the caries rates among schoolchildren in Bucharest are slowly declining. However, there was still a high proportion of untreated caries with a clear socioeconomic gradient, and a change in the school-based oral preventive strategy is needed to meet the needs of the children.
TRADEREVEALED TFP*

This paper pursues a novel methodology, based on the trade model of Eaton and Kortum (2002), to estimate TFP levels, relative to the US, for the manufacturing sector of 18 OECD countries from 1985 to 2002. In the model, rms have technologies described by a probability distribution, with parameters related to absolute and comparative advantages. We show that manufacturing TFP is a function of these advantages, augmented by a measure of trade openness. Our results shed light on the role of international competition in selecting rms with higher productivity. In our sample, international competition raised manufacturing TFP by an average 7%  a contribution quite diversi ed across countries and with a common upward trend. Finally, we focus on Italys relative TFP and compare it with one obtained from development accounting as well as with estimates available from national sources. JEL classi cation: D24, F10, O40. Keywords: Ricardian trade theory, Eaton-Kortum model, multi-factor productivity. * We thank Fernando Alvarez, Paola Caselli and Jonathan Eaton for extensive discussions during the genesis of this paper, and seminar participants at the Bank of Italy and Tor Vergata University (RIEF Conference) for several useful comments. Giovanna Poggi provided valuable research assistance. All the remaining errors are ours. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reect those of the Bank of Italy. E-mail: andrea. nicelli@bancaditalia.it, patrizio.pagano@bancaditalia.it, massimo.sbracia@bancaditalia.it.