Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards Challenge Balancing for Personalised Game Spaces

This article focuses on games that can tailor the provided game experience to the individual player (personalised games), typically by effectively utilising player models. A particular challenge in this regard, is utilising player models for assessing online (i.e., while the game is being played) and unobtrusively which game adaptations are appropriate. In this article, we propose an approach for personalising the space in which a game is played (i.e., levels) - to the end of tailoring the experienced challenge to the individual player during actual play of the game. Our approach specically considers two persisting design challenges, namely implicit user feedback and high risk of user abandonment. Our contribution to this end is proposing a clear separation between (intelligent) offine exploration and (safety-conscious) online exploitation. We are presently assessing the effectiveness of the developed approach in an actual video game: Infinite Mario Bros. To this end, we have enhanced the game such that its process for procedural-content generation allows the game spaces (i.e., levels) to be personalised during play of the game. We use data from intelligent oine exploration to determine both a model of experienced challenge as well as safe level design parameters for use on new players. Online, we use a gradient ascent algorithm with designer-specified domain knowledge to select the next set of level design parameters.
Molecular Diagnosis of 46,XY DSD and Identification of a Novel 8 Nucleotide Deletion in Exon 1 of the SRD5A2 Gene

SUMMARY Phenotypic presentation of 46,XY DSD depends on the underlying defects. Defect in androgen action on the target tissues or production of active metabolite share common morphological features. Molecular study may help differentiating these abnormalities with precision. Mutational analysis of androgen receptor (AR) and SRD5A2 genes was performed in 29 subjects with 46,XY DSD, by PCR-SSCP. The amplicons that showed an aberrant migration in SSCP were subjected to sequencing. Interestingly, six patients from 4 unrelated families (a pair of sibs, uncle/nephew and other two isolated) were identified with mutations in SRD5A2 gene. In five patients p.R246Q missense mutation was detected, of which four were homozygous and one was compound heterozygous: g. 80_87delT CGCGAAG (p.A27fsX132) and p.R246Q. Another patient with isolated micropenis harbored a heterozygous p.G196S missense mutation. No AR gene mutation was detected. In conclusion, our study suggests that p.R246Q mutation is common amongst patients with SRD5A2 gene defect from the Northern states of India. Also, it records a novel deletion in exon 1 of SRD5A2 gene in a patient with severe hypospadias.
On toroidal rotating drops

The existence of toroidal rotating drops was observed experimentally by Plateau in 1841. In 1983 Gulliver rigorously showed that toroidal solutions of the governing equilibrium equations do indeed exist. In this short note, we settle two questions posed by Gulliver concerning the existence of additional toroidal solutions. We use a general assertion concerning rotationally symmetric surfaces whose meridian curves have inclination angle given as a function of distance from the axis along with explicit estimates for rotating drops.
Spatial and Temporal Drivers of Phenotypic Diversity in Polymorphic Snakes

Color polymorphism in natural populations presents an ideal opportunity to study the evolutionary drivers of phenotypic diversity. Systems with striking spatial, temporal, and qualitative variation in color can be leveraged to study the mechanisms promoting the distribution of different types of variation in nature. We used the highly polymorphic ground snake (Sonora semiannulata), a putative coral snake mimic with both cryptic and conspicuous morphs, to compare patterns of neutral genetic variation and variation over space and time in color polymorphism to investigate the mechanistic drivers of phenotypic variation across scales. We found that strong selection promotes color polymorphism across spatial and temporal scales, with morph frequencies differing markedly between juvenile and adult age classes within a single population, oscillating over time within multiple populations, and varying drastically over the landscape despite minimal population genetic structure. However, we found no evidence that conspicuousness of morphs was related to which color pattern was favored by selection or to any geographic factors, including sympatry with coral snakes. We suggest that complex patterns of phenotypic variation in polymorphic systems may be a fundamental outcome of the conspicuousness of morphs and that explicit tests of temporal and geographic variation are critical to the interpretation of conspicuousness and mimicry.
Skeletal muscle hypertrophy adaptations predominate in the early stages of resistance exercise training, matching deuterium oxide‐derived measures of muscle protein synthesis and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling

Resistance exercise training (RET) is widely used to increase muscle mass in athletes and also aged/cachectic populations. However, the time course and metabolic and molecular control of hypertrophy remain poorly defined. Using newly developed deuterium oxide (D2O)‐tracer techniques, we investigated the relationship between long‐term muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and hypertrophic responses to RET. A total of 10 men (23 ± 1 yr) undertook 6 wk of unilateral (1‐legged) RET [6 × 8 repetitions, 75% 1 repetition maximum (1‐RM) 3/wk], rendering 1 leg untrained (UT) and the contralateral, trained (T). After baseline bilateral vastus lateralis (VL) muscle biopsies, subjects consumed 150 ml D2O (70 atom percentage; thereafter 50 ml/wk) with regular body water monitoring in saliva via high‐temperature conversion elemental analyzer:isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Further bilateral VL muscle biopsies were taken at 3 and 6 wk to temporally quantify MPS via gas chromatography:pyrolysis:isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Expectedly, only the T leg exhibited marked increases in function [i.e., 1‐RM/maximal voluntary contraction (60°)] and VL thickness (peaking at 3 wk). Critically, whereas MPS remained unchanged in the UT leg (e.g., ∼1.35 ± 0.08%/d), the T leg exhibited increased MPS at 0‐3 wk (1.6 ± 0.01%/d), but not at 3‐6 wk (1.29 ± 0.11%/d); this was reflected by dampened acute mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling responses to RET, beyond 3 wk. Therefore, hypertrophic remodeling is most active during the early stages of RET, reflecting longer‐term MPS. Moreover, D2O heralds promise for coupling MPS and muscle mass and providing insight into the control of hypertrophy and efficacy of anabolic interventions. —Brook, M. S. , Wilkinson, D. J., Mitchell, W. K. , Lund, J. N. , Szewczyk, N. J., Greenhaff, P. L. , Smith, K. , Atherton, P. J. Skeletal muscle hypertrophy adaptations predominate in the early stages of resistance exercise training, matching deuterium oxide‐derived measures of muscle protein synthesis and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling. FASEB J. 29, 4485‐4496 (2015). www.fasebj. org
In Vitro Mitotic Responses of the Amebocyte-Producing Organ of Biomphalaria glabrata to Extracts of Schistosoma mansoni

Amebocyte-producing organs (APOs) of Biomphalaria glabrata were maintained in nonnutritive saline with, or without, extracts of miracidia and adults of Schistosoma mansoni, and examined histologically. The hematopoietic cells remained viable and showed measurable mitotic activity for up to 6 days, with little evidence of tissue death. APOs accumulated fluid and became swollen by as soon as 24 hr, but no cell exomigration was observed. Parasite extracts elicited an increase in the number of dividing cells in the APO, suggesting that the extract may directly stimulate a response from the hematopoietic cells by providing either nutrients or mitogenic growth factors.
Low-Frequency Noise in Advanced SiGe:C HBTs—Part II: Correlation and Modeling

In part I, we extensively analyzed the results of the low-frequency noise characterization in advanced SiGe:C heterojunction bipolar transistors. In this paper, we demonstrate that base and collector noise spectral densities are partially correlated. The correlation is investigated by studying the coherence function at different bias conditions. The coherence reveals a frequency dependence at lower bias due to the presence of dominant generation-recombination mechanisms, whereas at higher bias, the coherence approaches unity. The bias dependence of the coherence is studied in several transistor geometries. In addition, a partially correlated base and collector 1/f noise model is proposed and implemented in HiCuM. Modeling results are in agreement with the measured data.
Price spread and convenience yield behaviour in the international oil market

This paper examines the price and volatility behaviour of two similar commodities (Brent Crude Oil and West Texas Intermediate) and attempts to identify the variables that affect their relative price differential. Price spreads and convenience yields are estimated in an effort to test a number of hypotheses relating to market segmentation, seasonality and maturity effect. Cash and futures price data covering the period 1991–1995 reveal that: convenience yields are significant and about 2.5% of cash prices on the average; convenience yields exhibit strong yearly and monthly seasonalities due to supply/demand imbalances; convenience yield is a negative function of the level of stocks and behaves like a call option; as maturity of futures contracts nears, their convenience yields get smaller, an indication that the maturity effect exists in futures prices, and crude oil price spreads are affected by convenience yields which act as surrogates for demand/supply conditions and market price behaviour.
One Size Does Not Fit All—Regional Variation in the Impact of the Share 35 Liver Allocation Policy

Allocation policies for liver transplantation underwent significant changes in June 2013 with the introduction of Share 35. We aimed to examine the effect of Share 35 on regional variation in posttransplant outcomes. We examined two patient groups from the United Network for Organ Sharing dataset; a pre–Share 35 group composed of patients transplanted between June 17, 2012, and June 17, 2013 (n = 5523), and a post–Share group composed of patients transplanted between June 18, 2013, and June 18, 2014 (n = 5815). We used Kaplan–Meier and Cox multivariable analyses to compare survival. There were significant increases in allocation Model for End‐stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores, laboratory MELD scores, and proportions of patients in the intensive care unit and on mechanical, ventilated, or organ‐perfusion support at transplant post–Share 35. We also observed a significant increase in donor risk index in this group. We found no difference on a national level in survival between patients transplanted pre–Share 35 and post–Share 35 (p = 0.987). Regionally, however, posttransplantation survival was significantly worse in the post–Share 35 patients in regions 4 and 10 (p = 0.008 and p = 0.04), with no significant differences in the remaining regions. These results suggest that Share 35 has been associated with transplanting “sicker patients” with higher MELD scores, and although no difference in survival is observed on a national level, outcomes appear to be concerning in some regions.
Design of a compact ultra wideband balanced-to-balanced power divider/combiner

A compact ultra wideband balanced-to-balanced power divider/combiner based on Finite Ground Coplanar Waveguide (FGCPW) phase inverter is presented. By replacing the λ/2 transmission lines in [1] by FGCPW phase inverters, circuit size of the power divider/combiner has been significantly reduced, from (0.75λ × 0.5λ) to about (0.375λ × 0.125λ). With the wideband property of the FGCPW phase inverter, 3-dB fractional bandwidth of the proposed power divider/combiner can be obtained up to 200%. A -3.7 dB differential-mode transmission coefficient |SddAB| and -0.25 dB common-mode reflection coefficients |SccAA|, |SccBB| have been obtained. Other mixed mode S-parameters are all less than -10 dB from 0.1 GHz to 1.75 GHz. The measurement results agreed well with the simulation results.
Control of COX-2 gene expression through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma in human cervical cancer cells.

PURPOSE The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma), a ligand-dependent transcription factor belonging to the family of nuclear receptors, has been implicated in the control of cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 expression in some tissue, although the exact mechanism(s) of this activity has not been elucidated. In this study we explored the possible mechanism(s) of control of COX-2 gene expression through PPARgamma signaling in human cervical cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Using primary human cervical tissues and the CaSki human cervical cancer cell line, we assayed for PPARgamma and COX-2 mRNA expression by reverse transcription-PCR. Nuclear protein binding activities to three response elements located in the COX-2 promoter [nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB), cyclic AMP response element, and activator protein (AP)-2] were measured by gel mobility shift assays. We used transient transfection assays with COX-2 promoter reporter gene constructs to determine the regulatory sites in this promoter, which mediates PPARgamma regulation of COX-2 activity. RESULTS We showed, for the first time, that primary human cervical cancer tissues express PPARgamma. Using CaSki cells, we demonstrated that COX-2 and PPARgamma mRNA levels were inversely regulated by PPARgamma ligands in that these compounds up-regulated PPARgamma but down-regulated COX-2. In contrast, epidermal growth factor (EGF), a potent activator of COX-2, decreased PPARgamma mRNA levels. This down-regulation of PPARgamma mRNA by EGF was blocked in the presence of NS-398, a selective COX-2 inhibitor. PPARgamma ligands suppressed the binding activities of AP-1 (binding to CRE) and NFkappaB but not AP-2. Transient transfection results indicated that EGF stimulated whereas PPARgamma ligands inhibited COX-2 promoter (-327/+59) activity. This effect by PPARgamma ligands on the COX-2 promoter was blocked when the CRE, but not the NFkappaB, binding site was mutagenized. CONCLUSION Cervical cancer cells express readily detectable levels of PPARgamma. There is reciprocal negative regulation between COX-2 and PPARgamma signaling in human cervical cancer cells. The ability of PPARgamma ligands to inhibit COX-2 appears to be mediated predominantly through inhibition of AP-1 protein binding to the CRE site in the COX-2 promoter.
Numerical Quenching Solutions of a Parabolic Equation Modeling Electrostatic Mems

In this paper, we study the semidiscrete approximation for the following initial-boundary value problem  ut(x, t) = uxx(x, t) + λf(x)(1− u(x, t))−p, −l < x < l, t > 0, u(−l, t) = 0, u(l, t) = 0, t > 0, u(x, 0) = u0(x) ≥ 0, −l ≤ x ≤ l, where p > 1, λ > 0 and f(x) ∈ C([−l, l]), symmetric and nondecreasing on the interval (−l, 0), 0 < f(x) ≤ 1, f(−l) = 0, f(l) = 0 and l = 1 2 . We find some conditions under which the solution of a semidiscrete form of above problem quenches in a finite time and estimate its semidiscrete quenching time. Moreover, we prove that the semidiscrete solution must quench near the maximum point of the function f(x), for λ sufficiently large. We also establish the convergence of the semidiscrete quenching time to the theoretical one when the mesh size tends to zero. Finally, we give some numerical experiments for a best illustration of our analysis.
The Relation Between Patients' NRS Pain Scores and Their Desire for Additional Opioids after Surgery

Postoperative pain is commonly assessed through a numerical rating scale (NRS), an 11‐point scale where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Guidelines advise the administration of analgesics at NRS pain scores above 3 or 4. In clinical practice, not all patients with pain scores above the treatment threshold are willing to accept additional analgesic treatment, especially when opioids are offered. The objective of this study is to measure the relation between patients' NRS pain scores and their desire for additional opioids.
Mutation in the Tyrosine Kinase Domain of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Is a Predictive and Prognostic Factor for Gefitinib Treatment in Patients with Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose: Mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) can be used to predict the tumor response of patients receiving gefitinib for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We investigated the association between mutations in EGFR tyrosine kinase domain and tumor response and survival in gefitinib-treated NSCLC patients. Experimental Design: EGFR mutations in exons 18 to 21 were analyzed by DNA sequencing of paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from gefitinib-treated NSCLC patients. The results were correlated with clinical variables. Results: EGFR mutations were found in 61.1% (33 of 54) of cases; response rate and disease control rate were 56.8% and 68.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in mutation rates between adenocarcinoma (29 of 43) and nonadenocarcinoma (4 of 11; P = 0.085). However, all four nonadenocarcinomas with EGFR mutations had no response to gefitinib. Presence of EGFR mutations was the only independent predictor for disease control (P = 0.003) and tumor response (P = 0.017) in multivariate analysis; positive predictive values were 87.9% and 70.8% and negative predictive values were 61.9% and 69.2%, respectively. In comparison with patients whose tumor was negative for EGFR mutations, patients with EGFR mutations had better progression-free survival (median, 7.6 versus 1.7 months; P = 0.011) and overall survival (median, 14.7 versus 4.7 months; P = 0.046). Conclusions: Mutations in EGFR tyrosine kinase correlate with treatment response and survival in gefitinib-treated NSCLC patients and can be used as a predictive and prognostic factor. Thus, analysis of EGFR tyrosine kinase mutations in lung adenocarcinoma is of clinical significance, as it can permit the customization of treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
What are the Psychiatric Manifestations of Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

Psychiatric symptoms attributable to vitamin B12 deficiency have been described for decades. The earlier reports are for the most part in accord with more recent ones, despite being diagnostically less specific in psychiatric and hematologic terms. These symptoms seem to fall into several clinically separate categories: slow cerebration; confusion; memory changes; delirium, with or without hallucinations and/or delusions; depression; acute psychotic states; and (more rarely) reversible manic and schizophreniform states.
Molecular cloning, nucleotide sequence, and occurrence of a 16.5-kilodalton outer membrane protein of Brucella abortus with similarity to pal lipoproteins

Recombinant lambda gt11 phages were selected by screening a genomic library of Brucella abortus DNA with monoclonal antibodies specific for a 16.5-kDa Brucella outer membrane protein (Omp16). The corresponding gene, named pal, was subcloned on a 0.7-kb AluI fragment. Immunoblotting confirmed the expression of a recombinant Omp16 in the transformants. DNA sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 168 codons. The deduced amino acid sequence agrees with an internal peptide sequence of native Omp16 and contains a potential lipoprotein signal peptide cleavage site, giving rise to a predicted mature protein of 144 amino acids. The predicted sequence of Omp16 also shows a remarkable degree of similarity to the sequences of three peptidoglycan-associated bacterial lipoproteins. In immunoblotting with a monoclonal antibody specific for Omp16, we demonstrated that Omp16 was expressed in the 34 Brucella strains tested, representing all six species and known biovars.
A Survey of Denture Hygiene in Older Patients

Objective: To assess the denture hygiene in elderly patients. Materials And Methods: In this study, a questionnaire was applied to patients from the South Indian population in order to evaluate the hygiene methods and habits concerning the use of complete dentures, the age of dentures and its irritation and whether patients have been instructed on how to clean their dentures. The study sample consisted of totally 50 subjects in the age group 60-80 years respectively. Results: Most of the individuals used only water to clean their dentures twice per day. Participants from the age group 60-80 years and who had been wearing dentures since 10 to 15 years maintained better frequency of cleaning. The majority of these patients used water and toothbrush for denture cleansing. After seeing the condition, nearly more than half of the dentures were rated as poor. Conclusion: Improper denture hygiene leads to various lesions of the oral environment associated with wearing of dentures. This is mainly due to irregular cleansing habits and also less usage of cleansing solutions. The dentist should give appropriate instructions regarding the maintenance of the denture cleanliness.
Pulsed positive discharges in air at moderate pressures near a dielectric rod

We study pulsed positive discharges in air in a cylindrically symmetric setup with an electrode needle close (about 1 mm) above the top of a dielectric cylindrical rod of 4 mm in diameter mounted at its bottom on a grounded plate electrode. We present ICCD (intensified charge-coupled device) pictures and evaluations of experiments as well as simulations with a fluid discharge model; the simulations use cylindrical symmetry. In the experiments, there is an initial inception cloud phase, where the cylindrical symmetry is maintained, and later a streamer phase, where it is broken spontaneously. At 75–150 mbar, discharges with cylindrical symmetry are not attracted to the dielectric rod, but move away from it. The dielectric rod plays the sole role of an obstacle that shades (in the context of photoionization) a cone-shaped part of the inception cloud; the cone size is determined by the geometry of the setup. The material properties of the dielectric rod, such as its dielectric permittivity and the efficiency of the photon induced secondary electron emission do not have a noticeable effect. This is due to the abundance of photoionization in air, which supplies a positive discharge with free electrons and allows it to propagate along the electric field lines. Using some simple field calculations, we show that field enhancement due to dielectric polarization does not play a significant role in our geometry as long as the discharge maintains its cylindrical symmetry. The field component towards the rod is insufficiently enhanced to cause the discharge to move towards the rod. Any additional electrons produced by the dielectric surface do not influence this discharge morphology. This interpretation is supported by both experiments and simulations. At higher pressures (400–600 mbar) or for larger gaps between the needle and the dielectric rod, the inception cloud reaches its maximal radius within the gap between needle and rod and destabilizes there. In those cases, streamer channels are more likely to turn into a surface streamer. All our experiments and simulations were performed at moderate pressures (75–600 mbar), but we expect that the results will be the same for other pressures assuming that all the lengths scales (including the rod) in the setup are rescaled according to the Townsend scaling of the discharge.