Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A ranking method of incomplete matrix based on prospect theory

With regard to the ranking method of incomplete decision matrix in multi-attribute group decision making, we propose a new method based on prospect theory. Firstly, this paper deals with the individual decision matrix. On this basis, the positive and negative ideal group decision matrices and ideal alternatives are obtained through combining OWA operator. Then, according to the difference of corresponding elements between the two matrices mentioned above, g possible matrices are determined and g possible prospect values of each alternative are gained. While the mean value of the g possible prospect values for each alternative is calculated, the ranking of the alternatives can be acquired subsequently. In the end, the feasibility and validity of this new method are illustrated by a numerical example.
Authors' Perspective: What is the Optimum Intake of Vitamin C in Humans?

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin C has traditionally been based on the prevention of the vitamin C deficiency disease, scurvy. While higher intakes of vitamin C may exert additional health benefits, the limited Phase III randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) of vitamin C supplementation have not found consistent benefit with respect to chronic disease prevention. To date, this has precluded upward adjustments of the current RDA. Here we argue that Phase III RCTs—designed principally to test the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical drugs—are ill suited to assess the health benefits of essential nutrients; and the currently available scientific evidence is sufficient to determine the optimum intake of vitamin C in humans. This evidence establishes biological plausibility and mechanisms of action for vitamin C in the primary prevention of coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer; and is buttressed by consistent data from prospective cohort studies based on blood analysis or dietary intake and well-designed Phase II RCTs. These RCTs show that vitamin C supplementation lowers hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and Helicobacter pylori infection, which are independent risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. Furthermore, vitamin C acts as a biological antioxidant that can lower elevated levels of oxidative stress, which also may contribute to chronic disease prevention. Based on the combined evidence from human metabolic, pharmacokinetic, and observational studies and Phase II RCTs, we conclude that 200 mg per day is the optimum dietary intake of vitamin C for the majority of the adult population to maximize the vitamin's potential health benefits with the least risk of inadequacy or adverse health effects.
A zero crossing algorithm for the estimation of the frequency of a single sinusoid in white noise

Presents a new algorithm for the estimation of the frequency of a single sinusoid in white noise, based on the computation of the interval between zero crossings. It is shown that for a high signal-to-noise ratio, the output error spectrum is concentrated in the high-frequency region. Theoretically, the desired precision can be achieved using a proper low-pass filter. The spectrum of the error due to the interpolation of the zero crossing is computed. Simulation results show that a precision of 10/sup -7/-10/sup -8/ can be obtained with modest computational effort. >
Insulated skin temperature as a measure of core body temperature for individuals wearing CBRN protective clothing

This study assessed the validity of insulated skin temperature (Tis) to predict rectal temperature (Tre) for use as a non-invasive measurement of thermal strain to reduce the risk of heat illness for emergency service personnel. Volunteers from the Police, Fire and Rescue, and Ambulance Services performed role-related tasks in hot (30 °C) and neutral (18 °C) conditions, wearing service specific personal protective equipment. Insulated skin temperature and micro climate temperature (Tmc) predicted Tre with an adjusted r2 = 0.87 and standard error of the estimate (SEE) of 0.19 °C. A bootstrap validation of the equation resulted in an adjusted r2 = 0.85 and SEE = 0.20 °C. Taking into account the 0.20 °C error, the prediction of Tre resulted in a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 91%, respectively. Insulated skin temperature and Tmc can be used in a model to predict Tre in emergency service personnel wearing CBRN protective clothing with an SEE of 0.2 °C. However, the model is only valid for Tis over 36.5 °C, above which thermal stability is reached between the core and the skin.
Fluoroquinolone Resistance in Haemophilus influenzae Is Associated with Hypermutability

ABSTRACT Forty-three percent (12/28) of ciprofloxacin (CIP)-nonsusceptible respiratory isolates of Haemophilus influenzae were hypermutable, compared with 8.5% (3/35) in the CIP-susceptible control group (P = 0.002). CIP-nonsusceptible mutants were obtained with hypermutable strains only; these mutants developed three resistance mechanisms in a step-by-step process: target modifications, loss of a porin protein, and increased efflux.
COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF ANGIOTENSIN II TYPE I RECEPTOR BLOCKERS ON BLOOD GLUCOSE CONCENTRATION AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN STREPTOZOTOCIN- INDUCED DIABETIC RATS Original Article

Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effects of ARBs (Angiotensin receptor blockers) namely telmisartan, losartan and valsartan on blood glucose concentration and oxidative stress in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Methods: The diabetic ratswere divided into four groups of six each. They were administered test drugs such as telmisartan (5mg/kg), losartan (10mg/kg), valsartan (5mg/kg) or vehicle for 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected at 0 and 8 weeks and plasma glucose was estimated. After the treatment period, liver and kidney lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were assayed. Results: Marked hyperglycemia, elevation in tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels along with a reduction in SOD and GSH enzymes were observed in STZ diabetic rats. Telmisartan pretreatment reduced blood glucose levels significantly at 8 weeks whereas losartan and valsartan did not show any significant effect on blood glucose levels. All the three ARBs telmisartan, losartan and valsartan improved the oxidative stress parameters towards the normal values of control. However, telmisartan pretreatment produced significantly greater antioxidant effect compared to losartan and valsartan treated diabetic rats. Conclusions: This suggests that telmisartan is superior to losartan and valsartan with regard to its glucose lowering property and antioxidant effect and may become a promising “cardio metabolic sartan” that targets diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in hypertensive patients.
When and Why Is Religious Attendance Associated With Antigay Bias and Gay Rights Opposition? A Justification-Suppression Model Approach

Even in relatively tolerant countries, antigay bias remains socially divisive, despite being widely viewed as violating social norms of tolerance. From a Justification-Suppression Model (JSM) framework, social norms may generally suppress antigay bias in tolerant countries, yet be “released” by religious justifications among those who resist gay rights progress. Across large, nationally representative US samples (Study 1) and international samples (Study 2, representing a total of 97 different countries), over 215,000 participants, and various indicators of antigay bias (e.g., dislike, moral condemnation, opposing gay rights), individual differences in religious attendance was uniquely associated with greater antigay bias, over and above religious fundamentalism, political ideology, and religious denomination. Moreover, in 4 of 6 multilevel models, religious attendance was associated with antigay bias in countries with greater gay rights recognition, but was unrelated to antigay bias in countries with lower gay rights recognition (Study 2). In Study 3, Google searches for a religious justification (“love the sinner hate the sin”) coincided temporally with gay-rights relevant searches. In U.S. (Study 4) and Canadian (Study 5) samples, much of the association between religious attendance and antigay bias was explained by “sinner–sin” religious justification, with religious attendance not associated with antigay bias when respondents reported relatively low familiarity with this justification (Study 5). These findings suggest that social divisions on homosexuality in relatively tolerant social contexts may be in large part due to religious justifications for antigay bias (consistent with the JSM), with important implications for decreasing bias.
IL‐10 mediates immunosuppression following primary infection with Toxoplasma gondii in mice

Suppression of the host immune response by Toxoplasma gondii has been observed in both human and experimental murine infection. In this study, inbred mice were infected with T. gondii. At day 7 post‐infection, the lymphoproli‐ferative response to both mitogen and superantigen as well as parasite antigen were found to be significantly depressed. Using a transwell system, it was determined that the reduced proliferative response was due to soluble factor (s) being expressed by splenocytes from the infected mice. Isolation of the splenocytes into an adherent and nonadherent population suggested that both macrophages and T cells were able to produce at least one soluble factor. Tissue culture supernatant derived from the splenocytes of the infected mice contain increased levels of IL‐10, whereas measurable IL‐2 levels could not be quantitated. At day 7 post‐infection, both a biologic assay for IFN‐γ in culture supernatant and the expression of IFN‐γ mRNA in the splenocytes were reduced. Antibody to IL‐10 was able to partially neutralize (almost 50%) the in vitro immune downregulation of the tissue culture supernatant. Anti‐IL‐10 in combination with a nitric oxide (NO) antagonist was able to reverse the inhibitory activity of the culture supernatant by 85%. Since IL‐10 is a potent antagonist of IFN‐γ, it may represent a critical cytokine involved in mediating T. gondii induced immunosuppression in the infected host.
Suppression of leakage current in Schottky barrier metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors

In this article we investigate the subthreshold behavior of PtSi source/drain Schottky barrier metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors. We demonstrate very large on/off ratios on bulk silicon devices and show that slight process variations can result in anomalous leakage paths that degrade the subthreshold swing and complicate investigations of device scaling.
Immunoreactive prostacyclin and thromboxane metabolites in normal pregnancy and the puerperium

Summary. Prostacyclin and thromboxane have been implicated in the pathophysiology of several disorders of pregnancy, but there is little information on concentrations of these prostaglandins in normal pregnancy. The aim of our study was to determine the range of values throughout normal pregnancy and the puerperium and to compare this with concentrations in normal non‐pregnant women. Measurement was by radioimmunoassay of prostacyclin and thromboxane metabolites. We observed a significant difference in prostacyclin metabolites in the first trimester. (mean 19·9, SEM 0·96 pg/ml) compared with the normal non‐pregnant group (mean 15·9. SEM 0·68 pghl). There were no significant differences between values in the normal non‐pregnant group and those in the second and third trimester or postnatally. The increase in prostacyclin in the first trimester may be associated with placentation and physiological vasodilation, and insencitivity to angiotensin It seen in early pregnancy. We noted a significant redaction in thromboxane metabolites in the second (mean 133, SEM 14·9 pg/ml) and third (mean 123, SEM 30·7 pg/ml) trimesters and the puerperium (mean 119, SEM 6·3 pg/ml) compared with the values in the normal non‐pregnant group (mean 142, SEM 4·9 pg/ml). This may be due to increased platelet stability or decreased thromboxane synthesis.
Stable Isotope Analysis of Turkey (Meleagriscc Gallopavo) Diet from Pueblo II and Pueblo III Sites, Middle San Juan Region, Northwest New Mexico

Abstract The transition from the Pueblo 11 Period (A.D. 1050–1150) to the Pueblo III Period (A.D. 1150–1300) in the San Juan Basin marks an intensification of turkey use, evidenced by an increase in the percentage of faunal assemblages representing turkey bones. We examine stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen ( δ15N) isotopic values of turkey bones from three ancestral Puebloan sites in the Middle San Juan Region to test the hypothesis that this intensification is linked to an increase in the amount of maize in the turkeys’ diets. We find no significant change in δ13C or δ15N across the two time periods, and all of the specimens’ values indicate maize consumption. A plot of bone apatite δ13C against collagen δ13C is consistent with a model of diets high in C4 protein, indicating that the turkeys did not use an alternative source of protein to maize and/or fauna that fed on maize. The reliance of both humans and turkeys on maize indicates a degree of turkey-human interdependency not previously known in the Middle San Juan Region. Future inquiries into the paleodiet of turkeys should target times and places where there is likely to have been a transition from hunting to domestication.
Min-norm interpretations and consistency of MUSIC, MODE and ML

The multiple signal characterization (MUSIC) approach, its generalization to correlated signals known as the method of direction estimation (MODE), and the deterministic maximum likelihood (ML) approach for bearing estimation in array processing are shown to be signal subspace fitting approaches in a minimum norm sense. MODE, for example, is shown to be an approach in which the array manifold is linearly estimated from principal empirical eigenvectors in a minimum weighted Frobenius norm sense. Using the min-norm interpretations, a unified proof for strong consistency of the three approaches is provided for stationary and ergodic signals.
Low vitamin K status is associated with osteoarthritis in the hand and knee.

OBJECTIVE Poor intake of vitamin K is common. Insufficient vitamin K can result in abnormal cartilage and bone mineralization. Furthermore, osteophyte growth, seen in osteoarthritis (OA), may be a vitamin K-dependent process. We undertook this study to determine whether vitamin K deficiency is associated with radiographic features of OA. METHODS We conducted an analysis among 672 participants (mean age 65.6 years, 358 women) in the Framingham Offspring Study, a population-based prospective observational cohort. Levels of plasma phylloquinone (the primary form of vitamin K) had previously been measured in these participants, for whom we also had bilateral hand and knee radiographs. The main outcomes were 1) prevalence ratios (PRs) of OA, osteophytes, and joint space narrowing (JSN) per quartile of plasma phylloquinone level for each joint, adjusting for correlated joints using generalized estimating equations, and 2) adjusted mean number of joints with each feature per quartile of plasma phylloquinone level. Analyses were conducted in hands and knees separately and adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, total energy intake, plasma vitamin D, and femoral neck bone mineral density. RESULTS The PRs for OA, osteophytes, and JSN and adjusted mean number of joints with all 3 features in the hand decreased significantly with increasing plasma phylloquinone levels (P<or=0.03 for all). For example, as plasma phylloquinone levels rose, the PR for hand OA decreased from 1.0 to 0.7 (P=0.005). For the knee, only the PR for osteophytes and the adjusted mean number of knee joints with osteophytes decreased significantly with increasing plasma phylloquinone levels (PR decreased from 1.0 to 0.6, P=0.01). CONCLUSION These observational data support the hypothesis of an association between low plasma levels of vitamin K and increased prevalence of OA manifestations in the hand and knee.
Marrying Uncertainty and Time in Knowledge Graphs

The management of uncertainty is crucial when harvesting structured content from unstructured and noisy sources. Knowledge Graphs ( KGs ) are a prominent example. KGs maintain both numerical and non-numerical facts, with the support of an underlying schema. These facts are usually accompanied by a confidence score that witnesses how likely is for them to hold. Despite their popularity, most of existing KGs focus on static data thus impeding the availabilityof timewise knowledge. What is missing is a comprehensive solution for the management of uncertain and temporal data in KGs . The goal of this paper is to fill this gap. We rely on two main ingredients. The first is a numerical extension of Markov Logic Networks (MLNs) that provide the necessary underpinning to formalize the syntax and semantics of uncertain temporal KGs . The second is a set of Datalog constraints with inequalities that extend the underlying schema of the KGs and help to detect inconsistencies. From a theoretical point of view, we discuss the complexity of two important classes of queries for uncertain temporal KGs: maximuma-posteriori and conditional probability inference. Due to the hardness of these problems and the fact that MLN solvers do not scale well, we also explore the usage of Probabilistic Soft Logics (PSL) as a practical tool to support our reasoning tasks. We report on an experimental evaluation comparing the MLN and PSL approaches.
REGIONAL VARIATIONS IN THE DENSE GAS HEATING AND COOLING IN M51 FROM HERSCHEL FAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY

We present Herschel PACS and SPIRE spectroscopy of the most important far-infrared cooling lines in M51, [C ii](158 μm), [N ii](122 and 205 μm), [O i](63 and 145 μm), and [O iii](88 μm). We compare the observed flux of these lines with the predicted flux from a photon-dominated region model to determine characteristics of the cold gas such as density, temperature, and the far-ultraviolet (FUV) radiation field, G0, resolving details on physical scales of roughly 600 pc. We find an average [C ii]/FTIR of 4 × 10−3, in agreement with previous studies of other galaxies. A pixel-by-pixel analysis of four distinct regions of M51 shows a radially decreasing trend in both the FUV radiation field, G0, and the hydrogen density, n, peaking in the nucleus of the galaxy, and then falling off out to the arm and interarm regions. We see for the first time that the FUV flux and gas density are similar in the differing environments of the arm and interarm regions, suggesting that the inherent physical properties of the molecular clouds in both regions are essentially the same.
Propofol Decreases Neuronal Population Spiking Activity in the Subthalamic Nucleus of Parkinsonian Patients

BACKGROUND: Implantation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) for the treatment of Parkinson disease is often performed using microelectrode recording (MER) of STN population spike activity. The extent to which sedative drugs interfere with MER is unknown. We recorded the population activity of STN neurons during propofol sedation and examined its effect on neuronal activity. METHODS: The procedure was performed during DBS surgery for Parkinson disease. We administered propofol (50 &mgr;g/kg/min) at a constant electrode location in the STN until stable sedation was achieved. We recorded the electrical activity, and calculated its root mean square (RMS) before, during, and after the propofol infusions. RESULTS: The activity of 24 electrode trajectories was recorded in 16 patients. The RMS of STN activity decreased significantly after propofol administration in 18 of the 24 trajectories. The average normalized RMS decreased by 23.2%± 9.1% (mean ± SD) during propofol administration (P < 0.001), and returned to baseline 9.3 ± 4.0 minutes after it was stopped. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol administration leads to a significant decrease of STN neuronal activity. Thus, it may interfere with MER identification of the STN borders. However, activity returns to baseline shortly after administration stops. Therefore, propofol can be safely used until shortly before MER for DBS.
Carreiras sem fronteiras e transição profissional no Brasil: desafios e oportunidades para pessoas e organizações. Elza Fátima Rosa Veloso. 1. ed. São Paulo: Atlas, 2012

Resenha apresenta e comenta conteudo do livro "Carreiras sem Fronteiras e Transicao Profissional no Brasil" da Profa. Dra. Elza Fatima Rosa Veloso. A resenha elenca aspectos historicos das teorias sobre carreitas bem como os principais conceitos a ela relacionados, ao longo dos diversos capitulos da obra. A resenha destaca atualidade do tema no Brasil, bem como sua evolucao recente.
Phenotypic and genetic structure of traits delineating personality disorder.

BACKGROUND The evidence suggests that personality traits are hierarchically organized with more specific or lower-order traits combining to form more generalized higher-order traits. Agreement exists across studies regarding the lower-order traits that delineate personality disorder but not the higher-order traits. This study seeks to identify the higher-order structure of personality disorder by examining the phenotypic and genetic structures underlying lower-order traits. METHODS Eighteen lower-order traits were assessed using the Dimensional Assessment of Personality Disorder-Basic Questionnaire in samples of 656 personality disordered patients, 939 general population subjects, and a volunteer sample of 686 twin pairs. RESULTS Principal components analysis yielded 4 components, labeled Emotional Dysregulation, Dissocial Behavior, Inhibitedness, and Compulsivity, that were similar across the 3 samples. Multivariate genetic analyses also yielded 4 genetic and environmental factors that were remarkably similar to the phenotypic factors. Analysis of the residual heritability of the lower-order traits when the effects of the higher-order factors were removed revealed a substantial residual heritable component for 12 of the 18 traits. CONCLUSIONS The results support the following conclusions. First, the stable structure of traits across clinical and nonclinical samples is consistent with dimensional representations of personality disorders. Second, the higher-order traits of personality disorder strongly resemble dimensions of normal personality. This implies that a dimensional classification should be compatible with normative personality. Third, the residual heritability of the lower-order traits suggests that the personality phenotypes are based on a large number of specific genetic components.