Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A random access analog memory with master-slave structure for implementing hexadecimal logic

A random access analog memory is designed without static power in this work. The analog memory appears the benefit on the great reduction of interconnections but suffers from the static power consumption and inaccuracy. As a hybrid, the hexadecimal signal processing is targeted in this paper. For storing hexadecimal values even implementing hexadecimal sequential logic, a master-slave structure is proposed with eighteen transistors, which is 28% of four pieces of binary master-slave flipflop. The hexadecimal voltage values are stored on the floating gate; and the read-out operations are executed by a comparator to protect the stored voltage. This comparator is powered only during the read-out operation. In this manner, the static power is eliminated. By using the proposed timing control mode, the master and slave stages are organized for hexadecimal sequential logic. As a demonstration, a sixteen-counter is designed on the basis of proposed analog memory without combinational logic circuits, in which the number of devices is reduced in contrast of binary approaches. From the circuit simulation results, the designed circuits maintain the hexadecimal values and execute hexadecimal functions correctly.
Loss of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase-1 Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Lean Mice but Worsens Diabetes in Leptin-Deficient Obese Mice

The lipogenic gene stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD)1 appears to be a promising new target for obesity-related diabetes, as mice deficient in this enzyme are resistant to diet- and leptin deficiency–induced obesity. The BTBR mouse strain replicates many features of insulin resistance found in humans with excess visceral adiposity. Using the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique, we determined that insulin sensitivity was improved in heart, soleus muscle, adipose tissue, and liver of BTBR SCD1-deficient mice. We next determined whether SCD1 deficiency could prevent diabetes in leptin-deficient BTBR mice. Loss of SCD1 in leptinob/ob mice unexpectedly accelerated the progression to severe diabetes; 6-week fasting glucose increased ∼70%. In response to a glucose challenge, Scd1−/− leptinob/ob mice had insufficient insulin secretion, resulting in glucose intolerance. A morphologically distinct class of islets isolated from the Scd1−/− leptinob/ob mice had reduced insulin content and increased triglycerides, free fatty acids, esterified cholesterol, and free cholesterol and also a much higher content of saturated fatty acids. We believe the accumulation of lipid is due to an upregulation of lipoprotein lipase (20-fold) and Cd36 (167-fold) and downregulation of lipid oxidation genes in this class of islets. Therefore, although loss of Scd1 has beneficial effects on adiposity, this benefit may come at the expense of β-cells, resulting in an increased risk of diabetes.
Determination of Kinetic and Stoichiometric Parameters of Pseudomonas putida F1 by Chemostat and In Situ Pulse Respirometry

The applicability of pulse respirometry, for the estimation of kinetic and stoichiometric parameters in pure cultures was evaluated by comparison with traditional chemostat method. Pseudomonas putida F1 was cultured in a continuous stirred tank reactor, using glucose as sole carbon source. The reactor was operated under steady-state with six dilution rates, ranging from 0.06 to 0.35 h-1. Substrate and biomass concentration were measured and used to estimate kinetic and stoichiometric parameters, according to the Monod model. An in situ respirometry method was also applied to the reactor, with the injection of pulses of glucose from 19 to 97 mg L-1. The respirograms obtained were used to estimate the kinetic and stoichiometric parameters according to ASM1 and ASM3 models. No significance difference was observed between parameters estimated by chemostat and respirometric methods. The glucose affinity constant was from 0.4 to 0.7 mg L-1, the maximum specific growth rate was from varying from 0.14 to 0.20 h-1, and the growth yield was from 0.41 to 0.67. These results confirm that in situ pulse respirometry is a suitable method for kinetic and stoichiometric parameters estimation.
The diverse role of inhaled nitric oxide in experimental BPD: reduced fibrin deposition and improved lung growth.

dramatic improvements in neonatal care over the past decade have improved the overall survival of premature infants; however, more than one-third of infants born at less than 1,250 g will ultimately be diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a complex, multifactorial disease ([21][1]).
'This Guy is Japanese Stuck in a White Man's Body': A Discussion of Meaning Making, Identity Slippage, and Cross-cultural Adaptation

This paper addresses two issues within a general theory of cross-cultural adaptation. The first concerns the extent to which cross-cultural adaptation is activated by the ability to make meaning in Japanese as a foreign language. The second investigates the phenomenon of 'identity slippage'. Six life histories taken from informants who had learned Japanese after the age of 11 years have been used as narratives to provide qualitative date to shed light on issues concerning additional language development, and especially some of the consequences of learning Japanese on each informant's sense of self. It was found that making and interpreting meaning with a different set of appropriated linguistic, non-verbal and pivotal information plays a major role in cross-cultural adaptation. It was also discovered that 'identity slippage' is a multilayered phenomenon which relies, in part, on the ability to make meaning in a location and with an audience. Those who can and do identity slip challenge the notions of native and non-native.
Assessing and Managing Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk in Midlife Women

Background:The components of metabolic syndrome (MetS), a major cardiovascular risk in women that includes diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, can evolve during the perimenopause transition. Lifestyle interventions have been shown to ameliorate or prevent individual components of MetS. Purpose:This article will describe the hormonal and vascular changes occurring during perimenopause and discuss how they set the stage for MetS in women. The available screening tools (Framingham Assessment for Coronary Heart Disease vs Framingham General Cardiovascular Risk Profile vs Reynolds Risk Assessment) will be compared and contrasted within the context of the 2011 Updated Guidelines for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women via case study. Conclusions and Clinical Implications:Target goals and interventions to reduce or ameliorate the components of MetS will be presented, with a focus on achieving ideal cardiovascular health.
Many cheers make light the work: how social support triggers process gains in teams

Purpose – Social support from fellow team members has been neglected as a unique source of process gains in teams. This paper seeks to introduce the Model of Social Support within Teams (MSST) that explicates testable hypotheses on effects of team partners' affective and task‐related support on team performance.Design/methodology/approach – A theoretical model is proposed that specifies the psychological mechanisms by which affective and task‐related support from fellow team members evoke process gains in teams compared with individual work. Moreover, moderators and potential limits of these beneficial effects are described. The model integrates results from experimental research on behaviour in small groups with findings from field studies on organisational citizenship behaviour, team cognition, and efficacy beliefs at the individual and team level.Findings – It is predicted that affective support predominantly increases individual members' motivation, while task‐related support predominantly improves co.
Fusion of Hyperspectral and LIDAR Remote Sensing Data for Classification of Complex Forest Areas

In this paper, we propose an analysis on the joint effect of hyperspectral and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data for the classification of complex forest areas. In greater detail, we present: 1) an advanced system for the joint use of hyperspectral and LIDAR data in complex classification problems; 2) an investigation on the effectiveness of the very promising support vector machines (SVMs) and Gaussian maximum likelihood with leave-one-out-covariance algorithm classifiers for the analysis of complex forest scenarios characterized from a high number of species in a multisource framework; and 3) an analysis on the effectiveness of different LIDAR returns and channels (elevation and intensity) for increasing the classification accuracy obtained with hyperspectral images, particularly in relation to the discrimination of very similar classes. Several experiments carried out on a complex forest area in Italy provide interesting conclusions on the effectiveness and potentialities of the joint use of hyperspectral and LIDAR data and on the accuracy of the different classification techniques analyzed in the proposed system. In particular, the elevation channel of the first LIDAR return was very effective for the separation of species with similar spectral signatures but different mean heights, and the SVM classifier proved to be very robust and accurate in the exploitation of the considered multisource data.
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Lipids, Lipoproteins, and Apolipoproteins: Effects of Menopause

Objective—Levels of lipids and (apo)lipoproteins are known to increase after menopause, but it is unknown whether the genetic and environmental variability alters or whether lipids and (apo)lipoproteins are influenced by different genes before and after menopause. Methods and Results—We studied 453 monozygotic and 1280 dizygotic pairs of female white twins recruited from the St. Thomas’ UK Adult Twin Registry and measured total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1), and apolipoprotein B (apoB). Variance components software was used to estimate genetic and environmental influences on serum lipid levels in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Total variance was higher for triglycerides, HDL, and apoB after menopause. Postmenopausal women showed larger genetic variance for most lipids, apart from apoB and Lp(a). In premenopausal females, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, apoA1, and apoB all showed an influence of the shared environment (22% to 34%), which, after menopause, decreased in HDL and completely disappeared in total cholesterol, LDL, and apoA1. Only for Lp(a), with a high heritability of 87%, did the same model fit premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Generally, there was no indication that different genes influence lipids before and after menopause. Conclusions—These findings imply that genetic studies of lipids can pool results from premenopausal and postmenopausal women and that family-based interventions, such as changes in diet, are more likely to succeed in younger women, in whom the environmental influences are greater.
A solution to the problem of separation in logistic regression

The phenomenon of separation or monotone likelihood is observed in the fitting process of a logistic model if the likelihood converges while at least one parameter estimate diverges to ± infinity. Separation primarily occurs in small samples with several unbalanced and highly predictive risk factors. A procedure by Firth originally developed to reduce the bias of maximum likelihood estimates is shown to provide an ideal solution to separation. It produces finite parameter estimates by means of penalized maximum likelihood estimation. Corresponding Wald tests and confidence intervals are available but it is shown that penalized likelihood ratio tests and profile penalized likelihood confidence intervals are often preferable. The clear advantage of the procedure over previous options of analysis is impressively demonstrated by the statistical analysis of two cancer studies. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Novel Miniaturized Forward-Wave Directional Coupler With Periodical Mushroom-Shaped Ground Plane

A novel miniaturized forward-wave directional coupler with periodical mushroom-shaped ground plane is proposed. The coupler can be designed with identical characteristic impedances for even and odd mode and enhanced the difference of propagation constants between the even and odd mode. These distinct propagation characteristics can be predicted by the equivalent-circuit model of a unit-cell using the Bloch-Floquet theorem. A tested sample is designed and fabricated on the FR4 substrate. We designed a 0-dB coupler with the length about 1.28 λg, and 1.0-dB coupling is measured at 2.9 GHz due to the loss. Compared with previously studies, the proposed coupler can be implemented to attain the highest coupling level with a smaller size.
Hanseníase e vulnerabilidade social: uma análise do perfil socioeconômico de usuários em tratamento irregular

Este artigo analisa a determinacao social da hanseniase, a partir do reconhecimento da vulnerabilidade social dos usuarios em tratamento irregular, no Programa de Controle da Hanseniase do municipio de Campos dos Goytacazes (RJ). Para isso, apresenta uma pesquisa documental, com base nas Fichas de Cadastro Social dos usuarios mencionados, destacando aspectos como trabalho, renda, formacao familiar e acesso a politicas publicas. Seus resultados registram significativa presenca de trabalho precarizado associado a baixos niveis de renda e de escolaridade, sendo a maioria considerada pobre ou indigente (51,5%) e nao usuaria de beneficios assistenciais (66,7%).
What’s Wrong with the History of American Jewish Education?

The history of education is a worthwhile pursuit within the study of history writ-large, for education is a powerful cultural device that has been manipulated for a variety of social, political, and economic purposes. So, why is it the case that little work has been done to date on the history of American Jewish schooling? This article assesses the state of Jewish educational historiography and suggests that research has been constrained by two major factors: (1) Jewish historians have been reluctant to address educational matters, and (2) Jewish educators have been concerned foremost with the present and future, and not the past.
Brain metabolic stress and neuroinflammation at the basis of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease

Brain metabolic dysfunction is known to influence brain activity in several neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In fact, deregulation of neuronal metabolism has been postulated to play a key role leading to the clinical outcomes observed in AD. Besides deficits in glucose utilization in AD patients, recent evidence has implicated neuroinflammation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as components of a novel form of brain metabolic stress that develop in AD and other neurological disorders. Here we review findings supporting this novel paradigm and further discuss how these mechanisms seem to participate in synapse and cognitive impairments that are germane to AD. These deleterious processes resemble pathways that act in peripheral tissues leading to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, in an intriguing molecular connection linking AD to diabetes. The discovery of detailed mechanisms leading to neuronal metabolic stress may be a key step that will allow the understanding how cognitive impairment develops in AD, thereby offering new avenues for effective disease prevention and therapeutic targeting.
Rapid Estimation of Aedes aegypti Population Size Using Simulation Modeling, with a Novel Approach to Calibration and Field Validation

Abstract New approaches for control of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti (L.) are being developed, including the potential introduction of life-shortening symbiont bacteria into field populations and the release of transgenic strains with reduced vector competency. With these new approaches comes the need for rapid estimations of existing field population size. Here, we describe the use of simulation modeling with container-inhabiting mosquito simulation (CIMSiM) for estimation of Ae. aegypti pupal crop size in north Queensland, Australia. CIMSiM was calibrated for local conditions by deploying “sentinel key containers” (tire, 2-liter plastic bucket, 0.6-liter pot plant base, and tarpaulin indentation) in which water flux and pupal productivity were studied for 72 d. Iterative adjustment of CIMSiM parameters was used to fit model outputs to match that of sentinel key containers. This calibrated model was then used in a blind field validation, in which breeding container and local meteorological data were used to populate CIMSiM, and model outputs were compared with a field pupal survey. Actual pupae per ha during two 10-d periods in 2007 fell within 95% confidence intervals of simulated pupal crop estimates made by 10 replicate simulations in CIMSiM, thus providing a successful field validation. Although the stochasticity of the field environment can never be wholly simulated, CIMSiM can provide field-validated estimates of pupal crop in a timely manner by using simple container surveys.
Journal of Software Maintenance and Evolution: Research and Practice Automatic Segmentation of Method Code into Meaningful Blocks: Design and Evaluation

SUMMARY Good programming practice and guidelines suggest that programmers use both vertical and horizontal spacing to visibly delineate between code segments that represent different algorithmic steps or high level actions. Unfortunately, programmers do not always follow these guidelines. Editors and IDEs can easily indent code based on syntax, but they do not currently support automatic blank line insertion, which presents more significant challenges involving the semantics. This paper presents and evaluates a heuristic solution to the automatic blank line insertion problem, by leveraging both program structure and naming information to identify " meaningful blocks " , consecutive statements that logically implement a high level action. Our tool, SEGMENT, takes as input a Java method, and outputs a segmented version that separates meaningful blocks by vertical spacing. We report on several studies involving human judgements to evaluate the effectiveness of the automatic blank line insertion algorithm, for different size methods and for different levels of programmer expertise. The results indicate strong positive overall opinion of SEGMENT's effectiveness in comparison with both developer-written blank lines and blank lines inserted by newcomers to the code. The results vary only slightly among short and long methods, and among novice and advanced programmers. SEGMENT assists in making users obtain an overall picture of a method's actions and comprehend it quicker as well as provides hints for internal documentation placement.
Extending DNS to support geocasting towards VANETs: A proposal

The delivery of IP packets to a set of elements lying within a designated geographical area, also known as geocasting, is an important aspect in vehicular networks. Geocast messages can be used, for instance, to warn drivers about road conditions (e.g., weather hazards) and therefore prevent accidents. In order for geocasting to work on the Internet, IP addresses must be associated with geographical coordinates, either temporary (vehicles in transit on a road) or permanently (roadside units along the road). However, finding IP nodes within specified geographical areas is still an open issue, even though several proposals have been made. The objective of this paper is to introduce a novel proposal to extend DNS capabilities in order to support geocast.
Revisiting the Estonian Cyber Attacks: Digital Threats and Multinational Responses

In April 2007, the Estonian Government moved a memorial commemorating the Soviet liberation of the country from the Nazis to a less prominent and visible location in Tallinn. This decision triggered rioting among Russian-speaking minorities and cyber terrorism targeting Estonia's critical economic and political infrastructure. Drawing upon the Estonian cyber attacks, this article argues that globalization and the Internet have enabled transnational groups — such as the Russian diaspora — to avenge their grievances by threatening the sovereignty of nation-states in cyberspace. Sophisticated and virtually untraceable political "hacktivists" may now possess the ability to disrupt or destroy government operations, banking transactions, city power grids, and even military weapon systems. Fortunately, western countries banded together to effectively combat the Estonian cyber attacks and minimize their effects. However, this article concludes that in the age of globalization, interdependence, and digital interconnectedness, nation-states must engage in increased cooperative cyber-defense activities to counter and prevent devastating Internet attacks and their implications.
Efficient Multidimensional Suppression for K-Anonymity

Many applications that employ data mining techniques involve mining data that include private and sensitive information about the subjects. One way to enable effective data mining while preserving privacy is to anonymize the data set that includes private information about subjects before being released for data mining. One way to anonymize data set is to manipulate its content so that the records adhere to k-anonymity. Two common manipulation techniques used to achieve k-anonymity of a data set are generalization and suppression. Generalization refers to replacing a value with a less specific but semantically consistent value, while suppression refers to not releasing a value at all. Generalization is more commonly applied in this domain since suppression may dramatically reduce the quality of the data mining results if not properly used. However, generalization presents a major drawback as it requires a manually generated domain hierarchy taxonomy for every quasi-identifier in the data set on which k-anonymity has to be performed. In this paper, we propose a new method for achieving k-anonymity named K-anonymity of Classification Trees Using Suppression (kACTUS). In kACTUS, efficient multidimensional suppression is performed, i.e., values are suppressed only on certain records depending on other attribute values, without the need for manually produced domain hierarchy trees. Thus, in kACTUS, we identify attributes that have less influence on the classification of the data records and suppress them if needed in order to comply with k-anonymity. The kACTUS method was evaluated on 10 separate data sets to evaluate its accuracy as compared to other k-anonymity generalization- and suppression-based methods. Encouraging results suggest that kACTUS' predictive performance is better than that of existing k-anonymity algorithms. Specifically, on average, the accuracies of TDS, TDR, and kADET are lower than kACTUS in 3.5, 3.3, and 1.9 percent, respectively, despite their usage of manually defined domain trees. The accuracy gap is increased to 5.3, 4.3, and 3.1 percent, respectively, when no domain trees are used.