Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Strength of Sexual Arousal as a Function of the Age of the Sex Offender: Comparisons Among Pedophiles, Hebephiles, and Teleiophiles

Previous research has shown that sexual arousability in human males declines from its peak in early adolescence until old age. This study compared the rates of decline in three groups of males: those most attracted sexually to prepubescent children (pedophiles), those most attracted to pubescent children (hebephiles), and those most attracted to physically mature persons (teleiophiles). The participants were 2,028 patients referred to Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health from 1995 to 2004 for evaluation of criminal or otherwise disturbing sexual behavior, but not for erectile or ejaculatory problems. All underwent phallometric assessment for erotic age-preference. This is a psychophysiological technique in which an individual's penile blood volume is monitored while he is presented with a standardized set of laboratory stimuli depicting male and female children, pubescents, and adults. The experimental measure of sexual arousability was the average of the participant's three greatest penile responses to any stimulus category, expressed in cubic cm of blood volume increase. The results showed that sexual arousability was an inverse function of age, and that there were no differences between the pedophiles, hebephiles, and teleiophiles in the rate at which arousability declined.
Whose Left? Working-Class Political Allegiances in Post-industrial Britain

A romanticized view of class alignment in Britain exists that has been attacked and defended equally in academic works over the last twenty years. Historically, the Labour Party was seen as the defender of working-class interests, though critics within the party and the British socialist movement have often questioned this notion. Such questions have appeared more pertinent with the diminution of the working class due to the de-industrialization of the British economy. In 1983 Andrew Gamble noted that: “The greatest threat to this underlying strength of the British labour movement are the twin trends of declining manufacturing output and rising unemployment”. He argued that it was the failure of the Labour Party to arrest these trends and “translate the overwhelming objective strength [. ] into organizational strength and political leadership” which had led to the dealignment of the working class away from Labour.
Patterns of Firm Responses to Different Types of Natural Disasters

This article examines the relationships between disaster type and firms’ disaster responses. We draw on a unique dataset of 2,164 press releases related to the occurrence of 206 natural disasters (hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, and wildfires) over a 10-year period (2005-2014) to analyze how firm responses are shaped by the type of disaster it faces. Firms play an increasingly important role in disaster response. We find that firms engage in more anticipatory responses when the type of disaster a firm faces exhibits even impact dispersion and high expected recurrence, and provides substantial warning. Our study draws a relationship between physical geography, disaster type, and more anticipatory firm responses which can improve how firms and communities respond to the risks posed by different types of natural disasters. The article concludes by outlining an agenda for future research on firm responses to natural disasters.
On memoryless provers and insincere verifiers

In this article, we introduce a Prover–Verifier model for analysing the computational complexity of a class of constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs) termed boolean binary constraint satisfaction problems (BBCSPs). BBCSPs represent an extremely general class of CSPs and find applications in a wide variety of domains including constraint programming, puzzle solving and program testing. The constraints in a BBCSP permit the combination of multiple theories as opposed to traditional constraint systems in which all constraints belong to the same theory. We establish that each instance of a BBCSP admits a coin-flipping Turing machine that halts in time polynomial in the size of the input. Furthermore, the algorithm is oblivious in that it never sees more than one constraint at a time. The prover, P, in the Prover–Verifier model is endowed with very limited powers. In particular, it has no memory and it can only pose restricted queries to the verifier. The verifier, on the other hand, is both omniscient in that it is cognisant of all the problem details and insincere in that it does not have to decide a priori on the intended proof. However, the verifier must stay consistent in its responses, i.e. it cannot rule out a certain possibility in one response to a query from the prover and then rule in the same possibility in response to a subsequent query. We note that the combination of the resources required by the prover and the type of certificate demanded of the verifier, determine the resources required by an algorithm. Inasmuch as our provers will be memoryless and our verifiers will be asked for extremely simple certificates, our work establishes the existence of a simple, randomised algorithm for BBCSPs. Our model itself serves as a basis for the design of zero-knowledge machine learning algorithms in that the prover ends up learning the proof desired by the verifier. Likewise, our work finds applications in the domain of certifying algorithm design, wherein the goal is to provide a proof of correctness of the algorithm on the input instance by providing an easily checkable certificate.
Modeling and performance analysis of cooperative communications in cognitive radio networks

In this paper, we study the performance of a network comprised of a primary user and a secondary user with the latter having cognitive radio capabilities. The secondary node uses the empty slots of the primary user to transmit its own traffic as well as to relay the primary's traffic in a cooperative fashion. Taking a queuing theory approach, we find the probability generating functions of the numbers of packets in the queues of the primary and secondary users. Subsequently, we determine a number of performance measures such as the average queues' lengths, average packet transmission delays and secondary user's queue surcharge due to cooperation. The numerical results along with the simulations show the importance of controlling the number of primary user packets admitted by the secondary user for cooperation and its impacts on the other performance measures.
Electromyographic activity associated with spontaneous functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats

This investigation was designed to study the spontaneous functional recovery of adult rats with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) at thoracic level during a time course of 2 weeks. Daily testing sessions included open field locomotor examination and electromyographic (EMG) recordings from a knee extensor (vastus lateralis, VL) and an ankle flexor muscle (tibialis anterior, TA) in the hindlimbs of treadmill walking rats. The BBB score (a locomotor score named after Basso et al., 1995, J. Neurotrauma, 12, 1–21) and various measures from EMG recordings were analysed (i.e. step cycle duration, rhythmicity of limb movements, flexor and extensor burst duration, EMG amplitude, root‐mean‐square, activity overlap between flexor and extensor muscles and hindlimb coupling). Directly after SCI, a marked drop in locomotor ability occurred in all rats with subsequent partial recovery over 14 days. The recovery was most pronounced during the first week. Significant changes were noted in the recovery of almost all analysed EMG measures. Within the 14 days of recovery, many of these measures approached control levels. Persistent abnormalities included a prolonged flexor burst and increased activity overlap between flexor and extensor muscles. Activity overlap between flexor and extensor muscles might be directly caused by altered descending input or by maladaptation of central pattern generating networks and/or sensory feedback.
An Econometric Analysis Of Energy Revenue And Government Expenditure Shocks On Economic Growth In Trinidad And Tobago

Energy revenues represent roughly 45 percent of Trinidad and Tobago's GDP and are highly volatile since it is correlated with the price of oil and gas. Hence, sharp changes in energy prices, whether temporary or sustained, can have important consequences for economic growth and overall macroeconomic performance. After the 2014 crash in oil prices, a key challenge that emerged for policymakers in hydrocarbon exporting countries is how to manage fiscal retrenchment in an environment of subdued growth. Using structural vector autoregression, this article examines three questions related to this challenge by focusing on Trinidad and Tobago: (1) what is the asymmetric effect of energy revenue shocks on macroeconomic performance, (2) what is the asymmetric effect of energy revenue shocks on government expenditure (disaggregated by categories), and (3) what is the effect of government expenditure shocks (disaggregated by categories) on economic growth. The results suggest that although positive energy revenue shock increases growth almost immediately, it is not sustained. A negative energy revenue shock is found to have a greater adverse effect on primary expenditure than a positive shock and this largely occurs through a reduction in capital expenditure. Transfers and subsidies, and goods and services are the most sensitive components of current expenditure to positive energy shocks. With respect to the effect of expenditure on growth, transfers and subsidies significantly reduce growth in the short run, whereas other categories of expenditure are found to have a largely positive effect on growth. From a policy perspective, three important implications are identified. The first is for a detailed assessment of the various components of primary expenditure with the objective of reducing and or reorienting expenditure, particularly the "unproductive" parts such as transfers and subsidies, towards growth-enhancing areas. The extent to which such adjustments adversely affect the household welfare should be part of policy considerations. The second is the need for clear fiscal rules, and for the authorities to balance more effectively the role of fiscal policy as a growth stimulus. Thirdly, the country's stabilization fund, which was designed to manage windfall energy revenues, should be revisited to make withdrawal and deposit rules more explicit and effective during periods of commodity booms.
Errors in health care management: what do they cost?

Background—Iatrogenic injuries are relatively common and a potentially avoidable source of morbidity. The economic evaluation of this area has been limited by the lack of good quality national data to provide an estimate of incidence, associated disability, and preventability of iatrogenic injuries. Two recent surveys, the Quality in Australian Health Care Study (QAHCS) and the Utah Colorado Study (UTCOS), have now made this feasible. Aims—To determine the direct costs associated with iatrogenic injuries occurring in a hospital setting. Methods—The QAHCS was used as a representative national source of information on the incidence, disability, and preventability of iatrogenic injuries. Costs were calculated using information from Australian disease related groups (AN-DRGs) relative to the injury categories. Results—The cost of just 12 preventable iatrogenic injuries is significant (0.25 million US dollars) and accounts for 2–3% of the annual budget of a typical Australian community based hospital of 120 beds. Costing data provide additional useful information for policy and decision makers. Conclusion—Costing iatrogenic injuries is an important component of the impact of these events. An ongoing national database of iatrogenic injuries is necessary to assist in identifying the incidence of these injuries, monitoring trends, and providing data for cost estimates and economic evaluations. (Quality in Health Care 2000;9:216–221)
Psychometric Profiling of the Elderly Using the Cambridge Cognitive Examination

Objectives: To (1) build a psychometric profile of elderly subjects attending specialist day care centers and residential homes using the Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG); (2) identify factors that are predictive of the score obtained; and (3) determine whether scores from CAMCOG and the less time-consuming Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were correlated sufficiently for the latter to replace the former for general cognitive screening. Design: Nonrandom convenience sampling of elderly subjects attending specialist day care centers, residential homes, and units for the elderly mentally ill. Setting: Belfast, Northern Ireland. Main Outcome: CAMCOG and MMSE scores with age, sex, educational level, marital status, visual and hearing ability, various central nervous system diseases, and handedness as independent variables. Results: Age, sex, the wearing of glasses, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and epilepsy were found to be significant predictors of the CAMCOG score. This pattern held true for the MMSE score, except for stroke. CAMCOG and MMSE scores were correlated closely, even after deletion of overlapping scores. However, the CAMCOG score showed an increasing bias when the mean score increased. The cognitive function of the subjects attending the 3 types of establishment differed significantly, with those in the residential homes being the most heterogenous. Conclusions: The subjects profiled showed significant cognitive impairment. The MMSE score appears to give much the same information as the CAMCOG score in this general screening of our patient group. The population considered is probably representative of subjects attending similar units in the United Kingdom.
Structural and functional analysis of the yeast N-acetyltransferase Mpr1 involved in oxidative stress tolerance via proline metabolism

Mpr1 (sigma1278b gene for proline-analog resistance 1), which was originally isolated as N-acetyltransferase detoxifying the proline analog l-azetidine-2-carboxylate, protects yeast cells from various oxidative stresses. Mpr1 mediates the l-proline and l-arginine metabolism by acetylating l-Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate, leading to the l-arginine–dependent production of nitric oxide, which confers oxidative stress tolerance. Mpr1 belongs to the Gcn5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) superfamily, but exhibits poor sequence homology with the GNAT enzymes and unique substrate specificity. Here, we present the X-ray crystal structure of Mpr1 and its complex with the substrate cis-4-hydroxy-l-proline at 1.9 and 2.3 Å resolution, respectively. Mpr1 is folded into α/β-structure with eight-stranded mixed β-sheets and six α-helices. The substrate binds to Asn135 and the backbone amide of Asn172 and Leu173, and the predicted acetyl-CoA–binding site is located near the backbone amide of Phe138 and the side chain of Asn178. Alanine substitution of Asn178, which can interact with the sulfur of acetyl-CoA, caused a large reduction in the apparent kcat value. The replacement of Asn135 led to a remarkable increase in the apparent Km value. These results indicate that Asn178 and Asn135 play an important role in catalysis and substrate recognition, respectively. Such a catalytic mechanism has not been reported in the GNAT proteins. Importantly, the amino acid substitutions in these residues increased the l-Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate level in yeast cells exposed to heat stress, indicating that these residues are also crucial for its physiological functions. These studies provide some benefits of Mpr1 applications, such as the breeding of industrial yeasts and the development of antifungal drugs.
PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF A MICROSOMAL ENZYME SYSTEM CATALYZING THE REACTIVATION OF REDUCED RIBONUCLEASE AND LYSOZYME.

In this follow-up to an earlier article, Anfinsen, Goldberger, and Epstein reported "the solubilization and partial purification of the active microsomal protein," and described some of the properties of the soluble system. This and other studies seemed to make clear that the integrity of microsomes as organized particles was not required for catalyzing the reactivation of the reduced forms of ribonuclease and lysozyme. Their findings suggested that the microsomal system might function to facilitate the conversion of at least two different polypeptide chains to the corresponding native proteins during the synthesis of most proteins containing disulfide bonds.
Allozyme Markers for the Identification of Lecithochirium rufoviride and Lecithochirium furcolabiatum (Trematoda: Hemiuridae), Parasites of Conger conger and Anguilla anguilla From Atlantic Spanish Waters

The allozyme variation between 2 sympatric populations of Lecithochirium furcolabiatum and L. rufoviride was examined with the aim to investigate if the 2, morphologically similar, helminths are reproductively distinct. Three enzyme loci, Gpd, Pgm-1, and Idh were found to be diagnostic for the 2 species. These results support the conclusion that the worms are different biological species. Only the Gpi and Gdh loci showed no differences. Marked genetic subdivision was detected at the Idh locus in the L. rufoviride population. Given that the genotypic distribution at Pgm-1 showed no significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg expectations, it does not appear that the absence of heterozygotes for Idh was caused by the reproductive structure of the population. Although there are several other possible reasons for the deficiency of heterozygotes in natural populations, the existence of a new noninterbreeding group within the population studied constitutes a plausible explanation.
An efficient routing algorithm for multicasting in a large network

In this paper we introduce a new multicast routing algorithm to be used in a large network. The proposed algorithm is a hybrid of the core based tree (CBT) and protocol independent multicast-sparse mode (PIM-SM) and builds a bidirectional shared tree centered around a rendezvous point and shortest path trees rooted at some senders. Multicast messages are distributed along the bidirectional shared tree and the shortest path trees and, therefore, the message delivery delay is lower than both the CBT and the PIM-SM.
3-D heart segmentation on CT images using superellipsoid model fitting

Model based segmentation is one of the best methods for segmentation of the heart in CT and MRI images. Because of basic characteristics of the heart shape, it can be represented by such models like ellipse and superellipse. Among model based methods elliptic and superelliptic methods are more computationally expensive. But when prior knowledge of the heart shape is available the parameter estimations become reliable. In this paper we propose a 3-D semi-automatic heart segmentation using transverse axis slices. The approach consists of fitting superellipse to each slice and making a 3-D superellipsoid model of the heart. We used an iterative method over a set of given data as partial data. Moreover partial data for obtaining prior knowledge of the heart shape are used that makes our method computationally less expensive. Results show that the addition of partial data increase robustness of a fitting. Also this method can segment hidden parts of heart in transverse axis CT images.
Thyroid nodules and related symptoms are stably controlled two years after radiofrequency thermal ablation.

BACKGROUND Percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation (RTA) is a promising new therapeutic approach to manage thyroid nodules (TNs). The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effectiveness of RTA in inducing shrinkage of TNs as well as in controlling compressive symptoms and thyroid hyperfunction in a large series of elderly subjects with solid or mainly solid benign TNs. METHODS Ninety-four elderly patients with cytologically benign compressive TNs were prospectively enrolled in the study; 66 of them had nontoxic goiter and 28 had toxic or pretoxic goiter. RTA was performed by using a RITA StarBurst Talon hook-umbrella needle inserted in every single TN under ultrasonographic real-time guidance. TN volume, TN-related compressive symptoms and thyroid function were evaluated at baseline and 12 to 24 months after RTA. RESULTS All TNs significantly decreased in size after RTA. The mean decrease in TN volume 12 months after RTA was from 24.5 +/- 2.1 to 7.5 +/- 1.2 mL (p < 0.001), with a mean percent decrease of 78.6 +/- 2.0%. Two years after RTA, a 79.4 +/- 2.5% decrease of TNs size was observed. Compressive symptoms improved in all patients and completely disappeared in 83 of 94 (88%) patients. Hyperthyroidism resolved in most patients allowing methimazole therapy to be completely withdrawn in 79% of patients with pretoxic and toxic TNs (100% with pretoxic TNs and 53% with toxic TNs). The treatment was well tolerated by all patients. No patient needed hospitalization after RTA and no major complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS RTA is an effective and simple procedure for obtaining lasting shrinkage of TNs, controlling compressive symptoms, and treating thyroid hyperfunction. When performed in experienced medical centers, RTA may be a valid alternative to conventional treatments for nontoxic and pretoxic TNs. It is particularly attractive for elderly people for whom surgery and radioiodine therapy are often contraindicated or ineffective.
Fingerprint image enhancement based on nonlinear anisotropic reverse-diffusion equations

We present an approach based on nonlinear anisotropic reverse diffusion equations (NARDE) to enhance noisy fingerprint images. After studying the nonlinear diffusion equations to denoised images and nonlinear reverse diffusion process in nature, a new scheme is advanced with new selection criteria of optimal stopping time. Experiments were carried out and showed the high efficiency of the noise removing sharpening scheme and the role of selection criteria on noisy fingerprint images.
Quantitative Fecal Lactoferrin in Toxin-Positive and Toxin-Negative Clostridium difficile Specimens

ABSTRACT Quantitative fecal lactoferrin was measured in 112 patients tested for toxigenic Clostridium difficile using glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and toxin immunoassays combined with tcdB PCR. Lactoferrin levels were higher in the GDH-positive/toxin-positive group (79 μg/ml) than in the GDH-positive/toxin-negative/PCR-positive (21 μg/ml) and the GDH-negative groups (13 μg/ml). Differences in fecal lactoferrin levels suggest variable presence or severity of C. difficile infection among toxin-positive and toxin-negative patients.
Changes in Drosophila melanogaster midgut proteins in response to dietary Bowman–Birk inhibitor

The midgut proteome of Drosophila melanogaster was compared in larvae fed dietary Bowman–Birk inhibitor (BBI) vs. larvae fed a control diet. By using two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis, nine differentially expressed proteins were observed, which were associated with enzymes or transport functions such as sterol carrier protein X (SCPX), ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme, endopeptidase, receptor signalling protein kinase, ATP‐dependent RNA helicase and α‐tocopherol transport. Quantitative real‐time PCR verified differential expression of transcripts coding for six of the proteins observed from the proteomic analysis. BBI evidently affects expression of proteins associated with protein degradation, transport and fatty acid catabolism. We then tested the hypothesis that SCPX was critical for the Drosophila third instars’ response to BBI treatment. Inhibition of SCPX caused the third instars to become more susceptible to dietary BBI.