Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative report on transplantation and relevant ethical problems in five European countries, and some reflections on Japan

Abstract Comparison of transplantation medicine in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Spain and Portugal reveals many and important differences with respect to frequency of transplantations, frequency of life donations, legal regulations and influence of the family on organ donation. The differences observed are at least partly related to cultural and value differences between the various countries, but many questions need to be studied systematically and in more detail before useful conclusions can be drawn. One study would have to address the problem of how differences in the family influence on organ donation can be explained. Another question needing further clarification concerns the exact meaning of “medical decision” and “medical criteria” because these terms, on which access to- and selection from the waiting list largely depends, are equivocally defined and seem to differ according to different traditions. Open questions also arise with respect to the influence of “closeness or distance” on medical decision making. The findings indicate that it would be premature to propose common guidelines to be observed within Europe as long as the above mentioned and some further questions have not been systematically studied and thoroughly analyzed.
The Use of Modified Rimler-Shotts Agar as a Selective Medium for the Isolation of Aeromonas Species from Children Diarrhea in Mosul-Iraq

Many selective simple and differential nutrient media were used for the isolation and identification of Aeromonas species. As for cultural characteristics, an examination of Modified Rimler Shotts was carried out and it was found that this medium was preferable for isolating Aeromonas species. This might be because this medium gave a kaleidoscopic colour variations for different Aeromonas species, besides some other positive discerning characteristics that this medium provides while other media block distinction. By accounting the recovery percentage compared to nutrient agar medium, it was noticed the A. sobria was the better growth on MRS medium followed by A. hydrophila and A. caviae.
Availability of household loads to participate in demand response

This paper proposes a novel method to characterize the availability of household loads to participate in demand response programmes, as well as detailed mathematical models to characterize households loads. The availability of the households results from the flexibility of their controllable loads to increase/reduce consumption. This flexibility is calculated taking into account the comfort levels predefined by the customers and the technical restrictions of the controllable loads. The proposed method was evaluated through a management algorithm developed to perform demand control actions in quasi-real-time, according to the objectives of the distribution system operator or energy aggregator and the availability of the household loads. A scenario with a single household located in a semi-urban area is used to illustrate the application of the algorithm and validate the proposed method.
Taxanes with anthracyclines as first‐line chemotherapy for metastatic breast carcinoma

The magnitude of the benefit of adding taxanes to anthracyclines in first‐line chemotherapy for metastatic breast carcinoma is still unclear. The authors performed a pooled analysis as well as a meta‐analysis of all Phase III trials, to determine whether the combination of anthracyclines plus taxanes provided an advantage over standard anthracyclines‐based regimens.
EFFECT OF ACTIVE RECOVERY ON ACUTE STRENGTH DEFICITS INDUCED BY PASSIVE STRETCHING

We herein examined whether immediate muscular activity (active recovery) after stretching decreased stretch-induced strengthdeficits in human muscles. Our within-subject study included 8 subjects who were used as their own controls. For each subject, both legs were subjected to the same warm-up and stretching treatments, and then one leg was exposed to active recovery (experimental treatment) while the other was allowed to recover passively (control). Unilateral maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of knee extensors was measured at baseline, poststretching, and postrecovery to monitor strength evolution. Our results revealed that the MVC strength at the baseline time point for control (590.8 ± 104.2) and treated (602.2 ± 112.7) legs decreased poststretching by 8.0 and 8.9%, respectively, and further decreased postrecovery by 1.3 and 1.2%, respectively. Maximal voluntary contraction strength tests demonstrated very good reliability, having intraclass coefficients of correlation ranging from 0.92–0.98. Mixed analysis of variance showed that the stretching program yielded significantly increased flexibility (p ≤ 0.01) and significantly decreased MVC (p ≤ 0.001) in both legs. The over-time variability between legs was marginal (1%), and no significant between-leg differences were observed. Indeed, the improvement in strength restoration due to active vs. passive recovery was −0.5 ± 15 N, which was significantly lower (p < 0.01; 1-tailed t-test) than the amount of strength inhibition (32.6 N), estimated as 60% of the overall strength deficit (54.3 ± 29.7 N). These results confirm that significant strength is lost poststretching but fail to show greater improvement in strength following active vs. passive recovery. Collectively, the present findings indicate that, contrary to the belief of many coaches, muscular exercises during the poststretching period are unlikely to minimize stretch-induced strength deficits.
Analysis of illumination robustness in long-term object learning

In this article we evaluate the incremental object learning approach of the iCub humanoid robot which is directed towards long-term engagement. Affordable robot companion systems are currently entering the consumer market which highlights the importance in understanding environmental influences on robotic systems under real world conditions. If a robot is to be sent into the real world or different robots/sensors are to be used, we need our algorithms to be independent from both illumination and sensor influenced changes. In our work, we investigate the robustness of the interactive object learning to linear and non-linear lighting changes which can occur due to illumination changes throughout the day or the sensors used. Our results with the models we use suggest that the current method is susceptible to these changes. Therefore, we provide an adjustment to the current method to be able to cope with this problem.
Behavior spectrum: An effective method for user's web access behavior monitoring and measurement

With the number of Internet users and applications continues to grow, it becomes increasingly important to understand the users' behavior character for efficient network management and security monitoring. Web is one of the most popular applications, which can help users to obtain anything they want. In this paper, we propose a new framework to measure and monitor users' web access behavior character. Firstly, web services are divided into 12 types according to the content they provide. As user like to access different web services at different time instants, we proposed the behavior spectrum to describe the users' access character in an easily understandable way. Secondly, we employ three traffic features (number of connections, number of packets and number of bytes) to measure the intensity of users' access behavior. Based on the spectrums and features obtained, two kinds of user's access characters are analyzed: the characters at a particular time instant and the dynamic changing characters at continuous time points. Finally, we employ the Renyi entropy to cluster the users into different groups based on the spectrum and find the results are useful for network management. To verify the method, several actual traffic traces are collected from the Northwest Regional Center of CERNET (China Education and Research Network) and the experimental results prove the efficiency of the proposed methods.
Conditional allelic replacement applied to genes encoding the histone variant H3.3 in the mouse

Post‐translational modifications to residues in core histones convey epigenetic information. Their function can be evaluated in amino acid substitution mutants, although to date this method has not been used in mice. To this end, we have evaluated gene targeting vectors designed for Cre recombinase‐mediated conditional allelic replacement at the two unlinked genes encoding the histone variant H3.3. The conditional alleles consist of an uninterrupted wild‐type H3.3 coding sequence upstream of a desired alternative or proxy coding sequence. The arrangement of two loxP sites allows Cre‐mediated replacement of the wild‐type coding sequence with the proxy. To demonstrate proof of principle, at each locus we replaced the wild‐type coding sequence with a fluorescent reporter. This produced null alleles that will be useful to analyse the effects of H3.3 deficiency in development. Each targeting vector can readily be retrofitted with a proxy coding sequence encoding a modified H3.3 protein. Such vectors will allow for the conditional substitution of specific residues in order to dissect the roles of H3.3 post‐translational modifications in development and disease. genesis, 51:142‒146, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Differential innervation of parvalbumin‐immunoreactive interneurons of the basolateral amygdaloid complex by cortical and intrinsic inputs

In the basolateral (BL) amygdaloid complex, the excitability of projection cells is regulated by intrinsic inhibitory interneurons using γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a transmitter. A subset of these cells are labeled in a Golgi‐like manner by Parvalbumin (PV) immunohistochemistry. Recently, we have shown that the overwhelming majority of axon terminals contacting these PV‐immunoreactive neurons form asymmetric synapses. The present study was undertaken to identify the source(s) of these inputs. Since previous work had revealed that thalamic axons form very few synapses on BL interneurons (<1%), we focused on cortical and intra‐amygdaloid inputs. Iontophoretic injections of the anterograde tracers Phaseolus vulgaris‐leucoagglutinin or biotinylated dextran amine were performed in various cortical fields in cats (perirhinal, entorhinal, pre/infralimbic cortices) and monkeys (orbitofrontal region) or in the BL amygdaloid nucleus in cats. These injections resulted in a large number of anterogradely labeled terminals forming asymmetric synapses in the BL complex. Following cortical injections, numerous anterogradely labeled terminals were found in the vicinity of PV‐immunoreactive interneurons in the BL amygdala. However, only ≈1% of these terminals formed synaptic contacts with PV‐immunoreactive profiles. In contrast, as many as 11% of the terminals contributed by the intranuclear axon collaterals of BL projection cells established synapses with PV‐immunoreactive elements. Since the axon terminals of PV‐immunoreactive interneurons are enriched in GABA and they exclusively form symmetric synapses, these results suggest that PV‐immunoreactive interneurons are predominantly involved in feedback inhibition in the BL amygdaloid complex. J. Comp. Neurol. 416:496–508, 2000.
Creation and implementation of a set of game strategies based on training neural networks with reinforcement learning

The study explores the problems of reinforcement learning and finding non-obvious play strategies using reinforcement learning. Two approaches to agent training (blind and pattern-based) are considered and implemented. The advantage of the self-learning approach with reinforcement using patterns as applied to a specific game (tic-tac-toe five in a row) is shown. Recorded and analyzed the use of unusual strategies by an agent using a pattern-based approach.
Displacement Velocity and Strain Analysis of Opak Fault Monitoring Stations

The Opak Fault is an active fault that can potentially cause earthquakes in Yogyakarta. Periodic monitoring of the Opak Fault activity was previously used more GNSS observation data from the measurement campaign by the Geodesi Geometri dan Geodesi Fisis (GGGF) Laboratory Team, Geodetic Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada. However, there are several CORS BIG stations located in Yogyakarta. The CORS BIG data is used to increase the precision of the Opak Fault monitoring station. Therefore, the addition of the CORS is evaluated to obtain a displacement in the monitoring station. The computation of the displacement velocity value of the Opak Fault monitoring station has been done before using the Linear Least Square Collocation and grid search methods. The other method, namely the kriging method, needs to be evaluated for producing a more precise displacement velocity value. The research data includes GNSS campaign and CORS BIG data for six years, 2013 to 2020. The CORS stations around DIY are JOGS and CBTL. The GNNS data were processed to determine the solution for the daily coordinate, displacement, and standard deviation values for each Opak Fault monitoring station. The displacement velocity value is generated by the Linear Least Square method then reduced from the influence of the Sunda Block. The velocity value is used in the strain value estimation around the Opak Fault area at each station using the kriging method combined with the gaussian sequential simulation technique. The estimated displacement velocities are examined for statistical significance compared to the research of Adam (2019) and Pinasti (2019). This research generates the value of the displacement velocity in the east and north components of 12.39 to 30.99 mm/year and 1.96 to -14.11 mm/year, respectively. The displacement direction of all monitoring stations is dominant to the southeast. The Sunda Block reduced the displacement velocity. The east and north components are -2.32 to 2.28 mm/year and -0.52 to 4.2 mm/year, respectively. The displacement direction is towards the northwest. The strain estimation using the kriging method combined with the gaussian sequential simulation technique obtained an average strain value of 0.05 microstrain/year. The result of the data processing at each station has different arrow lengths, meaning that each location has a different strain value.
A new method of imposing boundary conditions in pseudospectral approximations of hyperbolic equations

A new method to impose boundary conditions for pseudospectral approximations to hyperbolic equations is suggested. This method involves the collocation of the equation at the boundary nodes as well as satisfying boundary conditions. Stability and convergence results are proven for the Chebyshev approximation of linear scalar hyperbolic equations. The eigenvalues of this method applied to parabolic equations are shown to be real and negative.
Bio Inspired Routing Algorithm and Efficient Communications within IoT

IoT does not stop integrating and connecting more complex objects with different architectures, resources and constraints. This is why the conventional communication architectures and protocols designed for the existing wireless networks become ineffective in the context of IoT. Indeed, IoT communications parameters and constraints must be taken into account by all the important mechanisms that intervene in the communication process, such as routing. This article surveys a number of proposed routing algorithms for efficient communications within wireless networks and IoT. Based on the limitations of these works, a novel routing algorithm, called EICAntS (Efficient IoT Communications based on Ant System), is proposed to improve the route selection mechanism by exploiting the advantages of an ant colony system. The evaluation results of EICAntS recorded an improvement in delay, throughput, lifetime and conservation of energy.
Control of Plural Number of Arrayed Microvalves using pH-responsive Hydrogel

We present a pH-responsive microvalve array system and new multiplexing technology that facilitates the operation of microvalve arrays using pH-responsive hydrogel microspheres. By incorporating these microspheres inside of the arrayed microvalve polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) platform, we produced pH-responsive arrayed microvalves with 'Open' and 'Close' operations carried out by the multiphase laminar streams of pH solutions. The constructed arrayed microvalves were adequately controlled by the multiphase pH-buffer streams with the widths controlled only by the pressure of the pH-buffer solutions.
Plasma Plume Ignited by Plasma Plume at Atmospheric Pressure

In this paper, a plasma jet device is used to study the propagation of plasma plumes at atmospheric pressure. It is found that a primary plasma plume can ignite a secondary plasma plume, which can further ignite a tertiary plasma plume. Each plume is separated from another by a single tube. High-speed photographs show that the secondary plasma plume is ignited after the primary plasma plume is extinguished. Likewise, the tertiary plasma plume is ignited after the secondary plasma plume disappears.
From pole to pole: the potential for the Arctic seastar Asterias amurensis to invade a warming Southern Ocean

Due to climatic warming, Asterias amurensis, a keystone boreal predatory seastar that has established extensive invasive populations in southern Australia, is a potential high‐risk invader of the sub‐Antarctic and Antarctic. To assess the potential range expansion of A. amurensis to the Southern Ocean as it warms, we investigated the bioclimatic envelope of the adult and larval life stages. We analysed the distribution of adult A. amurensis with respect to present‐day and future climate scenarios using habitat temperature data to construct species distribution models (SDMs). To integrate the physiological response of the dispersive phase, we determined the thermal envelope of larval development to assess their performance in present‐day and future thermal regimes and the potential for success of A. amurensis in poleward latitudes. The SDM indicated that the thermal ‘niche’ of the adult stage correlates with a 0–17 °C and 1–22.5 °C range, in winter and summer, respectively. As the ocean warms, the range of A. amurensis in Australia will contract, while more southern latitudes will have conditions favourable for range expansion. Successful fertilization occurred from 3 to 23.8 °C. By day 12, development to the early larval stage was successful from 5.5 to 18 °C. Although embryos were able to reach the blastula stage at 2 °C, they had arrested development and high mortality. The optimal thermal range for survival of pelagic stages was 3.5–19.2 °C with a lower and upper critical limit of 2.6 and 20.3 °C, respectively. Our data predict that A. amurensis faces demise in its current invasive range while more favourable conditions at higher latitudes would facilitate invasion of both larval and adult stages to the Southern Ocean. Our results show that vigilance is needed to reduce the risk that this ecologically important Arctic carnivore may invade the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.
A packet forwarding controller for mobile IP-based networks with packet buffering

Performance of TCP can be severely degraded in Mobile IP-based wireless networks where packet losses not related to network congestion occur frequently during inter-subnetwork handoffs by user mobility. To solve such a problem in the networks using Mobile IP, the packet buffering method at a base station recovers those packets dropped during handoff by forwarding the buffered packets at the old base station to the mobile users. But, when the mobile user moves to a congested base station in a new foreign subnetwork, those buffered packets forwarded by the old base station are dropped and TCP transmission performance of a mobile user degrades severely. In this paper, we propose a PFC (Packet Forwarding Controller) required at a base station to increase TCP throughput in Mobile IP-based networks. The PFC at the old base station forwards or discards the buffered packets during handoffs according to the current status of RED (Random Early Detection) buffer at the congested FA (Foreign Agent) router. Simulation results show that PFC increases throughputs of TCP flows and link utilization.
Effects of mechanical layering on volcano deformation

SUMMARY The migration and accumulation of magma beneath volcanoes often causes surface displacements that can be measured by geodetic techniques. Usually, deformation signals are explained using models with uniform mechanical properties. In this paper, we study surface displacements due to magma chamber inflation, using heterogeneous finite element models. We first present a systematic analysis of the influence of mechanical layering, showing that the stiffness contrast significantly affects the entity and the pattern of vertical and radial displacements. Second, as an example we apply the models to interpret ground displacements at Darwin volcano ~ ~
Likelihood Ratio-Based Tests for Markov Regime Switching

Markov regime switching models are widely considered in economics and finance. Although there have been persistent interests (see e.g., Hansen, 1992, Garcia, 1998, and Cho and White, 2007), the asymptotic distributions of likelihood ratio based tests have remained unknown. This paper considers such tests and establishes their asymptotic distributions in the context of non- linear models allowing for multiple switching parameters. The analysis simultaneously addresses three difficulties: (i) some nuisance parameters are unidentified under the null hypothesis, (ii) the null hypothesis yields a local optimum, and (iii) conditional regime probabilities follow stochastic processes that can only be represented recursively. Addressing these issues permits substantial power gains in empirically relevant situations. Besides obtaining the tests' asymptotic distributions, this paper also obtains four sets of results that can be of independent interest: (1) a characterization of conditional regime probabilities and their high order derivatives with respect to the model's parameters, (2) a high order approximation to the log likelihood ratio permitting multiple switching parameters, (3) a refinement to the asymptotic distribution, and (4) a unified algorithm for simulating the critical values. For models that are linear under the null hypothesis, the elements needed for the algorithm can all be computed analytically. The above results also shed light on why some bootstrap procedures can be inconsistent and why standard information criteria, such as the Bayesian information criterion (BIC), can be sensitive to the hypothesis and the model's structure. When applied to the US quarterly real GDP growth rates, the methods suggest fairly strong evidence favoring the regime switching specification, which holds consistently over a range of sample periods.