Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Imputation-Based Meta-Analysis of Severe Malaria in Three African Populations

Combining data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) conducted at different locations, using genotype imputation and fixed-effects meta-analysis, has been a powerful approach for dissecting complex disease genetics in populations of European ancestry. Here we investigate the feasibility of applying the same approach in Africa, where genetic diversity, both within and between populations, is far more extensive. We analyse genome-wide data from approximately 5,000 individuals with severe malaria and 7,000 population controls from three different locations in Africa. Our results show that the standard approach is well powered to detect known malaria susceptibility loci when sample sizes are large, and that modern methods for association analysis can control the potential confounding effects of population structure. We show that pattern of association around the haemoglobin S allele differs substantially across populations due to differences in haplotype structure. Motivated by these observations we consider new approaches to association analysis that might prove valuable for multicentre GWAS in Africa: we relax the assumptions of SNP–based fixed effect analysis; we apply Bayesian approaches to allow for heterogeneity in the effect of an allele on risk across studies; and we introduce a region-based test to allow for heterogeneity in the location of causal alleles.
Estimating the Absolute Position of a Mobile Robot Using Position Probability Grids

In order to re-use existing models of the environment mobile robots must be able to estimate their position and orientation in such models. Most of the existing methods for position estimation are based on special purpose sensors or aim at tracking the robot's position relative to the known starting point. This paper describes the position probability grid approach to estimating the robot's absolute position and orientation in a metric model of the environment. Our method is designed to work with standard sensors and is independent of any knowledge about the starting point. It is a Bayesian approach based on certainty grids. In each cell of such a grid we store the probability that this cell refers to the current position of the robot. These probabilities are obtained by integrating the likelihoods of sensor readings over time. Results described in this paper show that our technique is able to reliably estimate the position of a robot in complex environments. Our approach has proven to be robust with respect to inaccurate environmental models, noisy sensors, and ambiguous situations.
Neocortical Layer 6, A Review

This review attempts to summarise some of the major areas of neocortical research as it pertains to neocortical layer 6. After a brief summary of the development of this intriguing layer, the major pyramidal cell classes to be found in layer 6 are described and compared. The connections made and received by these different classes of neurones are then discussed and the possible functions of these connections, with particular reference to the shaping of responses in visual cortex and thalamus. Inhibition in layer 6 is discussed where appropriate, but not in great detail. Many types of interneurones are to be found in each cortical layer and layer 6 is no exception, but the functions of each type remain to be elucidated (Gonchar et al., 2007).
Feasibility and Safety of Vagal Stimulation In Monkey Model

Summary: The feasibility, safety, and preliminary effects of chronic vagal stimulation were studied in an alumina‐gel monkey model. Pilot studies to perfect the equipment, determine stimulation thresholds, and insure the comfort and safety of the animals preceded this study. Four monkeys were equipped with an indwelling, 2‐electrode cuff (titanium bands spaced 7 mm apart; silicone encased; 1.5 cm total length) in contact around the right vagus nerve; avoidance of the cardiac branch was confirmed by electrocardiograms. After postsurgical recovery, the intact and awake animals received constant‐current stimulation (5 mA; 83 Hz, 143 Hz, or 50–250 Hz randomly; 0.5‐ms pulse width) at the onset of every spontaneous seizure for the duration of the seizure or every 3 h for 40 s if stimulation had not occurred in the preceding hour. Stimulation periods of 2–6 weeks, with differing levels of stimulation, were preceded and followed by at least a 2‐week baseline period of no stimulation. During the stimulation periods, the seizure rate decreased to zero in two monkeys and the interseizure intervals became invariable in the remaining two monkeys. These effects carried over temporarily into the poststimulation baseline periods. Vagal stimulation had no consistent effects on seizure severity or EEG interictal spikes. Histological studies of six vagus nerves were unable to separate electrode cuff damage from any direct effects stimulation may have had on the nerves. Although it appears that chronic vagal stimulation is feasible and that epileptogenic processes are influenced, the safety and efficacy of the procedure are still in question.
Driving Profiles Computation and Monitoring for Car Insurance CRM

Customer segmentation is one of the most traditional and valued tasks in customer relationship management (CRM). In this article, we explore the problem in the context of the car insurance industry, where the mobility behavior of customers plays a key role: Different mobility needs, driving habits, and skills imply also different requirements (level of coverage provided by the insurance) and risks (of accidents). In the present work, we describe a methodology to extract several indicators describing the driving profile of customers, and we provide a clustering-oriented instantiation of the segmentation problem based on such indicators. Then, we consider the availability of a continuous flow of fresh mobility data sent by the circulating vehicles, aiming at keeping our segments constantly up to date. We tackle a major scalability issue that emerges in this context when the number of customers is large—namely, the communication bottleneck—by proposing and implementing a sophisticated distributed monitoring solution that reduces communications between vehicles and company servers to the essential. We validate the framework on a large database of real mobility data coming from GPS devices on private cars. Finally, we analyze the privacy risks that the proposed approach might involve for the users, providing and evaluating a countermeasure based on data perturbation.
The time course of word retrieval revealed by event-related brain potentials during overt speech

Speech production is one of the most fundamental activities of humans. A core cognitive operation involved in this skill is the retrieval of words from long-term memory, that is, from the mental lexicon. In this article, we establish the time course of lexical access by recording the brain electrical activity of participants while they named pictures aloud. By manipulating the ordinal position of pictures belonging to the same semantic categories, the cumulative semantic interference effect, we were able to measure the exact time at which lexical access takes place. We found significant correlations between naming latencies, ordinal position of pictures, and event-related potential mean amplitudes starting 200 ms after picture presentation and lasting for 180 ms. The study reveals that the brain engages extremely fast in the retrieval of words one wishes to utter and offers a clear time frame of how long it takes for the competitive process of activating and selecting words in the course of speech to be resolved.
Tribeca: A System for Managing Large Databases of Network Traffic

The engineers who analyze traffic on high bandwidth networks must filter and aggregate either recorded traces of network packets or live traffic from the network itself. These engineers perform operations similar to database queries, but cannot use conventional data managers because of performance concerns and a semantic mismatch between the analysis operations and the operations supported by commercial DBMSs. Traffic analysis does not require fast random access, transactional update, or relational joins. Rather, it needs fast sequential access to a stream of traffic records and the ability to filter, aggregate, define windows, demultiplex, and remultiplex the stream. Tribeca is an extensible, stream-oriented DBMS designed to support network traffic analysis. It combines ideas from temporal and sequence databases with an implementation optimized for databases stored on high speed ID-1 tapes or arriving in real time from the network. The paper describes Tribeca's query language, executor and optimizer as well as performance measurements of a prototype implementation.
Study on Interfacial Interaction between Polymer and Nanoparticle in a Nanocoating Matrix: A MARTINI Coarse-Graining Method

The interface between the polymer and nanoparticle (NP) plays a key role in the introduction of superior properties and new functionalities into nanocoatings. Computationally, the interfacial phenomena can be studied effectively through molecular modeling and simulation. In this paper, the MARTINI force field is used to investigate the behavior of the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) resin in the presence of hydrophilic NPs. Parameters for the coarse-grained PMMA model were optimized to reproduce conformational structures and liquid densities obtained using the CHARMM general all-atom force field. Model-based simulation produced melt densities and radii of gyration for the polymer that are in good agreement with those predicted by all-atom simulations over a temperature range of 200–500 K. Simulations were performed to evaluate the effect of the NP concentration, size, and polydispersity on the behavior of the polymer matrix. It is shown that the presence of NPs leads to elongation of the polymer chains a.
A Spectrophotometric Investigation of the Interaction of Iodine with Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Introduction The various colors of iodine in different solvents have attracted the attention of investigators for over half a century. Beckmann’ showed that the differences are not due to any change in the molecular weight of iodine and suggested solvation as the cause of brown color. Lachman2 supported this explanation, pointing out that the solvents which give a violet color are saturated, those which give brown colors are unsaturated. He stated that small additions of alcohol to a solution of iodine in chloroform suffice to shift the color stepwise from violet to brown. Hildebrand and Glascock3 found that when iodine and an alcohol were both added to a “violet” solvent, bromoform or ethylene bromide, the molal lowering of the freezing point was considerably less than additive, indicating combination of iodine with alcohol. Furthermore, they investigated colorimetrically the equilibria of iodine with ethyl alcohol, ethyl acetate and nitrobenzene dissolved together in a “violet” solvent such as carbon tetrachloride, chloroform or carbon disulfide, and found in each case an equilibrium constant corresponding to a 1 : 1 compound. They calculated the heat of combination in one case. There followed a long series of investigations of the general problem, well summarized by Gmelin4 and in a recent review by Kleinberg and Davidson.6 But the original division of iodine solutions into two or more distinct color classes became untenable with the work of Waentig, Groh’ and \X7alkers which showed that the position of the absorption bands of iodine solutions in the visible region moved gradually from violet to brown, the shift being only small in the case of benzene in which the color of iodine is a red-violet. We have long been curious about the chemical basis for iodine solvates. It is not a question of dipole moment, as Walkers concluded, for we have recently shown rather conclusively that the iodine solubility, which would be altered by solvation effects, bears little or no relation to the dipole moment of the solvent mole~ule . ~ The alcohols are extraordinary dipoles, and their effect is readily understandable, but the case of benzene seemed
Towards Automatic Segmentation of Semantic Video Objects

It remains a challenge to automatically segment video objects consistent with human visual perception and content understanding. Based on extensive literature survey on existing video object segmentation algorithms, we propose in this paper an integrated approach for semantic video object segmentation, where shape cues in successive frames is taken into account in exploiting the principle of change detection together with pre- and post processing to improve its segmentation accuracy. In comparison with existing segmentation techniques, our contribution can be highlighted as: (i) pre-processing via image sharpness to present a strong edge detection and improve change detections; (ii) localizing the positional range of the moving object to reduce the computation followed by the step of getting the difference of these two frames in that position range to extract the moving object mask. Benchmarked by one of the well reported existing algorithms, we illustrate that our proposed algorithm achieves certain level of improvements, and our algorithm also features in automatic semantic object segmentation inside videos
HRTF aided broadband doa estimation using two microphones

Two sensor broadband direction of arrival (DOA) estimation suffers from an inherent lack of dimensionality due to having just two sensors, yet humans and other animals are able to overcome this limitation using subtle variations introduced by the ears. Application of existing DOA estimation techniques to such systems becomes complicated due to the ill-behaved nature of the Head Related Transfer Function (HRTF). In this paper we present a subband signal extraction and focussing technique which retains the diversity information of the HRTF. We then develop a framework for combining these signals for subspace DOA estimation and investigate the constraints imposed on the single and multi-source DOA estimation problems. Finally, estimation performance is compared with existing techniques and we find performance has improved to be comparable to human localisation abilities.
Constraining ecosystem processes from tower fluxes and atmospheric profiles.

The planetary boundary layer (PBL) provides an important link between the scales and processes resolved by global atmospheric sampling/modeling and site-based flux measurements. The PBL is in direct contact with the land surface, both driving and responding to ecosystem processes. Measurements within the PBL (e.g., by radiosondes, aircraft profiles, and flask measurements) have a footprint, and thus an integrating scale, on the order of 1-100 km. We use the coupled atmosphere-biosphere model (CAB) and a Bayesian data assimilation framework to investigate the amount of biosphere process information that can be inferred from PBL measurements. We investigate the information content of PBL measurements in a two-stage study. First, we demonstrate consistency between the coupled model (CAB) and measurements, by comparing the model to eddy covariance flux tower measurements (i.e., water and carbon fluxes) and also PBL scalar profile measurements (i.e., water, carbon dioxide, and temperature) from Canadian boreal forest. Second, we use the CAB model in a set of Bayesian inversions experiments using synthetic data for a single day. In the synthetic experiment, leaf area and respiration were relatively well constrained, whereas surface albedo and plant hydraulic conductance were only moderately constrained. Finally, the abilities of the PBL profiles and the eddy covariance data to constrain the parameters were largely similar and only slightly lower than the combination of both observations.
Dust temperature and the submillimetre—radio flux density ratio as a redshift indicator for distant galaxies

ABSTRA C T It is difficult to identify the distant galaxies selected in existing submillimetre-wave surveys, because their positions are known at best to only several arcsec. Centimetre-wave VLA observations are required in order to determine positions to subarcsec accuracy, and so to allow reliable optical identifications to be made. Carilli & Yun pointed out that the ratio of the radio to submillimetre-wave flux densities provides a redshift indicator for dusty starforming galaxies, when compared with the tight correlation between the far-infrared and radio flux densities observed in low-redshift galaxies. This method does provide a useful, albeit imprecise, indication of the distance to a submillimetre-selected galaxy. Unfortunately, it does not provide an unequivocal redshift estimate, as the degeneracy between the effects of increasing the redshift of a galaxy and decreasing its dust temperature is not
Longitudinal looming study in infants using high-density EEG

A rapidly approaching object provides information about the object’s approach and how imminent a collision is. Prospective control when responding to a looming object approaching on a direct collision course was studied longitudinally in infants 3/4 and 11/12 months of age. Different characteristics of peak VEP activity from infants’ brain electrical recordings (EEG) were compared between the infants at these two different ages. The aim of this study was to find evidence for infant brain electrical responses coherent with a looming stimulus approaching the infant under three different accelerations. The results showed that there were differences in peak VEP activation with age. At the age of 3/4 months, infants showed peak VEP activation significantly later after the end of the looming sequence and VEP peaks with longer duration compared to when they were 11/12 months old.One of the underlying causes of the developmental trend found in our study could be due to an increase in locomotor experience as infants grow older and become more mobile. More follow-up research is needed to investigate the relation between behavioral development and changes in brain activity associated with infants’ perception of looming motion.
Reversible changes in hippocampal CA1 synapses associated with water maze training in rats

Long‐term memories seem to require protein synthesis to be established. This process can be related with synaptogenesis resulting in changes in the form or even in the number or proportion of synaptic contacts. Results from behavioral studies assessing quantitative changes associated with different learning tasks are controversial. The aim of our work was to assess whether the number of CA1 hippocampal synaptic contacts can be modified after training in different tasks in the Morris water maze (MWM). We found transient changes in the synaptic density of the symmetric synapses associated with place learning. A reduced synaptic density of the symmetric synapses in the stratum radiatum of CA1 was found at 48 h posttraining, returning to control levels 72 h posttraining. The same effect was observed 1 h after training in a nonspatial task. Synaptic changes found in the CA1 shortly after water maze training suggest a possible participation of the hippocampus in the acquisition of nonspatial tasks together with a role in the short‐term consolidation of spatial memory. As no changes were found in the total number of synapses counted, it is likely that subtle changes in synaptic efficacy than new synapse generation may be sufficient to support the acquisition and maintenance of new memories. Synapse 59:177–181, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Best of friends? Investigating the dog-human relationship

Dogs are commonly referred to as man's best friend, but the main focus of this thesis was to investigate how the dog experiences the relationship. The first part of the thesis dealt with methodology currently used to assess the dog-human relationship: the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP) and the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS). In one experiment, possible associations between the dog's bond to its owner (using the SSP) and the strength of the owner's relationship to the dog (using the MDORS) were investigated. Associations found were linked to how much the owner interacted with the dog on a daily basis, but not to the level of the owner's emotional closeness to the dog. In another experiment, the SSP was evaluated for its suitability to measure a dog's bond to a human. Findings showed that the test procedure was sensitive to order effects, but that there was variation in how the dog behaved during reunion with the person. The second part of the thesis targeted the dog's reaction upon reunion with a human in different situations. In one study, the effect of time being separated from the owner was studied in the dog's home. While the owner was away dogs rested for most of the time, regardless of the duration of time alone. But once the owner returned, dogs initiated more physical contact and expressed higher frequencies of lip licking, body shaking and tail wagging after a longer duration of separation compared to a shorter one. In the final study, the type of interaction initiated by the human upon reunion was manipulated and endocrine measures were taken to better interpret the dog's behavioural reaction. It was found that when the person initiated both physical and verbal ('full') contact with the dog, oxytocin levels increased and stayed high for a longer time after the reunion event compared to when the person only talked to the dog or ignored it. The levels of physical contact initiated by the dog and lip licking behaviour were highest when the person interacted fully with the dog. In summary, at reunion the dog's greeting behaviour differed according to the familiarity of the person, to the duration of the separation and to the type of interaction initiated by the person. It is proposed that this variation in dog behaviour during reunion should be the target of future studies of dog-human relationships.