Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimal grid selection in numerical approaches to dynamic heterogeneous agent macroeconomic models

A well-known fact about household savings behaviour is that it depends on an individual's own wealth holdings and income expectations. In understanding how these decisions aggregate and respond to policy, we must therefore confront the substantial heterogeneity in these features which is present in the macro economy. One persistent challenge in the literature which aims to provide this understanding is the need to keep track of and forecast the decisions of every single individual in the economy. Such a feat is not possible in practice, so that some grouping of individuals is typically needed to sidestep the issue. This article considers the dividing of households into representative groups to optimally represent savings decisions across the wealth distribution. Such a division is guided by the principle that many groups are needed where there is a large amount of variation in savings propensities. Combining numerical analysis with theory on consumption behaviour, it is shown in the context of a simple model that the savings behaviour of wealthy and poor households can be captured by including a single representative for each category. Meanwhile, several groups are needed to describe the behaviour of the middle class. Middle class households face uncertain future income comparable in size to current wealth holdings, leading to a wide range of savings propensities when compared to poor hand-to-mouth individuals and wealthy savers.
Ultrasonic characterization of extra-cellular matrix in decellularized murine kidney and liver

Three-dimensional scaffolds are essential to the field of tissue engineering. While novel synthetic structures are being developed, there is still a great interest in exploring natural scaffolds in tissue, the extra-cellular matrix (ECM). A recently developed technique known as “decellularizing” allows for the removal of cells from intact tissue while preserving the ECM structure. In order to exploit the uniqueness of the native ECM, a structure which varies significantly between organs, it first needs to be well studied. This study outlines the use of quantitative ultrasound as a non-destructive method to characterize the extracellular matrix of excised murine kidneys and livers. This allows for the study of both natural tissue scaffolds, as well as the contributions of the cellular and extra-cellular components to ultrasound backscatter. In this study, excised murine livers and kidneys were imaged with a VisualSonics Vevo2100 using nominal 40 MHz linear-array transducer, after being maintained in PBS. Subsequently the organs were decellularized, in this process, the ECM of the tissue is isolated from its inhabiting cells, leaving an ECM scaffold of the tissue. The remaining extracellular matrix structures were reimaged. Raw RF data was acquired and normalized by a reference phantom. Linear fits to the normalized power spectra allow for the estimation and comparison of the spectral slope and midband fit. After being decellularized, the organs were significantly smaller in volume with increased backscatter in the liver and overall decrease in the kidney. The heterogeneous structure of the kidney was apparent in parametric images, with the spectral slope and midband fit higher in the central medulla region. The ability to compare backscatter from the extracellular matrix with and without cells allows for a detailed analysis of the contribution of individual cells to the ultrasound backscatter and could be employed to evaluate scaffold structures and progress of growth on these scaffolds.
The ironies of vehicle feedback in car design

Car drivers show an acute sensitivity towards vehicle feedback, with most normal drivers able to detect ‘the difference in vehicle feel of a medium-size saloon car with and without a fairly heavy passenger in the rear seat’ (Joy and Hartley 1953–54). The irony is that this level of sensitivity stands in contrast to the significant changes in vehicle ‘feel’ accompanying modern trends in automotive design, such as drive-by-wire and increased automation. The aim of this paper is to move the debate from the anecdotal to the scientific level. This is achieved by using the Brunel University driving simulator to replicate some of these trends and changes by presenting (or removing) different forms of non-visual vehicle feedback, and measuring resultant driver situational awareness (SA) using a probe-recall method. The findings confirm that vehicle feedback plays a key role in coupling the driver to the dynamics of their environment (Moray 2004), with the role of auditory feedback particularly prominent. As a contrast, drivers in the study also rated their self-perceived levels of SA and a concerning dissociation occurred between the two sets of results. Despite the large changes in vehicle feedback presented in the simulator, and the measured changes in SA, drivers appeared to have little self-awareness of these changes. Most worryingly, drivers demonstrated little awareness of diminished SA. The issues surrounding vehicle feedback are therefore similar to the classic problems and ironies studied in aviation and automation, and highlight the role that ergonomics can also play within the domain of contemporary vehicle design.
Human Nutrition and Metabolism Plasma Homocysteine Levels in Taiwanese Vegetarians Are Higher than Those of Omnivores 1

Mild hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and may result from a deficiency of folate, vitamin B-6 or vitamin B-12. Because vitamin B-12 deficiency is often associated with vegetarianism, this study was designed to examine the effect of Taiwanese vegetarian diets on B-vitamin status and plasma homocysteine levels. Female Buddhist lacto-vegetarians (n 45; 31–45 y) and matched omnivores (n 45) recruited in Hualien, Taiwan, were investigated. Taiwanese vegetarians consumed normal amount of folate, but only 21% of Taiwan Recommended Daily Nutrient Allowances (RDNA) values of vitamin B-12. Compared with the omnivores, the vegetarians had significantly higher levels of plasma folate (14.79 7.70 vs. 11.98 8.29 nmol/L), but lower levels of vitamin B-12 (207.7 127.1 vs. 403.5 138.9 pmol/L). Fasting plasma homocysteine levels were significantly higher in vegetarians than in omnivores (mean: 11.20 4.27 vs. 8.64 2.06 mol/L; median: 10.5 vs. 8.5 mol/L). Fasting plasma homocysteine was inversely correlated with plasma folate and vitamin B-12 in the vegetarian group. Multiple regression analysis revealed that plasma folate, vitamin B-12 and creatinine were independent determinants of homocysteine variation and contributed to 38.6% of homocysteine variation in the vegetarians. Compared with the omnivores, vegetarians also had significantly lower serum levels of valine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, alanine and arginine, but higher levels of glycine. In the vegetarian group, fasting plasma homocysteine correlated negatively with serum threonine, lysine, histidine, arginine and cystine, and these amino acids contributed to 38.7% of homocysteine variation. In conclusion, the Buddhist nuns who consumed a lacto-vegetarian diet had mildly elevated fasting plasma homocysteine levels presumably due to lower levels of plasma vitamin B-12. J. Nutr. 132: 152–158, 2002.
New technology for developing facial expression recognition in e-learning

This project develops a face expression recognition system based on facial expression features that extracted by FaceSDK in JAFFE database. To verify the performance of our facial expression recognition system, the system was tested on JAFFEE database among static picture environment and randomly moving picture environment. The system can real-time captures participants' facial features several times in one second and then records the information in database for further analysis. Research results shows that the high performance and generalizability of our system via various machine learning algorithms. We believe that the developed facial expression recognition system with algorithms is an effective mechanism for e-learning system or another research issues.
Landform and surface attributes for prediction of rodent burrows in the Western Usambara Mountains, Tanzania.

Previous studies suggest that rodent burrows, a proxy for rodent population are important for predicting plague risk areas. However, studies that link landform, surface attributes and rodent burrows in the Western Usambara Mountains in Tanzania are scanty. Therefore, this study was conducted in plague endemic area of the Western Usambara Mountains in northern, Tanzania, to explore the relationship between rodent burrows, and landform and surface attributes. The study was carried out in three areas corresponding to high (Lokome), medium (Lukozi) and low. (Mwangoi) frequency of reported plague cases. Data were collected from 117, 200 and 170 observation sites for Lokome, Lukozi and Mwangoi, respectively using 100 m x 200 m quadrats. Remote sensing and field surveys were used to collect data on landform and surface attributes. Rodent burrows were surveyed and quantified by counting the number of burrows in 20m x 20m grids demarcated on the main 100m x 200m quadrats. The collected data were analysed in R software using boosted regression trees (BRT) technique. Rodent burrows were found at an elevation of above 1600m in the high and medium plague frequency landscapes. No burrows were found in the low plague frequency landscape situated below 1500m. BRT analysis shows a significant relationship between landform characteristics and rodent burrows in both high and medium plague frequency landscapes. Overall, elevation and hillshade are the most important determinants of rodent burrow distribution in the studied landscapes. It is concluded that in high altitudes, specific landform attributes (hill-shade, slope, elevation) and vegetation cover- favour rodent burrowing.
Low field dedicated magnetic resonance imaging in untreated rheumatoid arthritis of recent onset

OBJECTIVE To compare a low field dedicated extremity magnetic resonance imaging system (E-MRI) with x ray and clinical examination, in the detection of inflammation and erosive lesions in wrist and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints in newly diagnosed, untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA). PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty five patients (disease duration ⩽1 year) and three healthy controls entered the study. Anx ray examination and MRI (before and after intravenous injection of a contrast agent) of the 2nd–5th MCP joints and the wrist was performed. The number of erosions onx ray examination and MRI was calculated, and synovitis in the MCP joints and wrists was graded semiquantitatively. RESULTS E-MRI detected 57 bone erosions, whereas only six erosions were disclosed byx ray examination (ratio 9.5:1). Synovial hypertrophy grades were significantly higher in RA joints with clinical signs of joint inflammation—that is, swelling and/or tenderness (median 3, 5th–95th centile 1–4) than without these clinical signs (median 2, 5th–95th centile 1–3), p<0.001. 51% of the joints without clinical signs of synovitis showed synovial hypertrophy on E-MRI. There was a positive correlation between MRI scores of synovitis and the number of erosions detected by MRI in the MCP joints (Spearmanr s=0.31, p<0.01). No healthy controls had erosions or synovitis on MRI. CONCLUSION Joint destruction starts very early in RA and E-MRI allows detailed evaluation of inflammatory and destructive changes in wrists and MCP joints in patients with incipient RA.
Sando: an extensible local code search framework

Developers heavily rely on Local Code Search (LCS)---the execution of a text-based search on a single code base---to find starting points in software maintenance tasks. While LCS approaches commonly used by developers are based on lexical matching and often result in failed searches or irrelevant results, developers have not yet migrated to the various research approaches that have made significant advancements in LCS. We hypothesize that two of the major reasons for this lack of migration are as follows. First, developers do not know which approach is the best, due to a lack of comparative field studies and the discrepancies in the underlying LCS process that these research approaches address. Second, developers lack access to a stable implementation of most of the research approaches. To address these issues, we studied a number of LCS approaches, distilled the general component structure underlying these approaches and, based on this structure, developed a LCS tool and framework, called Sando. Currently used by developers at ABB, Inc. and elsewhere, Sando also supports the flexible extension of its components to rapidly disseminate research advancements, and allows for user-based evaluation of competing approaches.
Understanding trust formation in digital information sources: The case of Wikipedia

This article contributes to knowledge on how users establish the trustworthiness of digital information. An exploratory two-stage study was conducted with Master’s and undergraduate students in information studies. In the first phase of the study respondents commented on the factors and processes associated with trust formation. Participants commented on authorship and references, quality of writing and editing, and verification via links to external reference sources. Findings from the second phase, based on a checklist, suggested that participants relied on a range of factors when assessing the trustworthiness of articles, including content factors such as authorship, currency and usefulness together with context factors such as references, expert recommendation and triangulation with their own knowledge. These findings are discussed in the light of previous related research and recommendations for further research are offered.
Selectivity Mechanism of ATP‐Competitive Inhibitors for PKB and PKA

Protein kinase B (PKB) acts as a central node on the PI3K kinase pathway. Constitutive activation and overexpression of PKB have been identified to involve in various cancers. However, protein kinase A (PKA) sharing high homology with PKB is essential for metabolic regulation. Therefore, specific targeting on PKB is crucial strategy in drug design and development for antitumor. Here, we had revealed the selectivity mechanism for PKB inhibitors with molecular dynamics simulation and 3D‐QSAR methods. Selective inhibitors of PKB could form more hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic contacts with PKB than those with PKA. This could explain that selective inhibitor M128 is more potent to PKB than to PKA. Then, 3D‐QSAR models were constructed for these selective inhibitors and evaluated by test set compounds. 3D‐QSAR model comparison of PKB inhibitors and PKA inhibitors reveals possible methods to improve the selectivity of inhibitors. These models can be used to design new chemical entities and make quantitative prediction of the specific selective inhibitors before resorting to in vitro and in vivo experiment.
Success in the STEM Curricula.

The importance of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) professions to America’s ability to advance its quality of life have long been a matter of discussion on a national level. The rewards of study in these areas are as evident to those who teach it, as they are, often, difficult for students to appreciate. This article seeks to delineate evidence-based factors relating to student success in STEM at the postsecondary level, focusing especially on secondary school preparation and competence in mathematics and other STEM areas. The article concludes with suggestions for curricular and pedagogical approaches to address some of these issues. Dr. Narayanan Dr. Narayanan is an assistant professor in the department of Biology at Touro College. Her research interests include molecular biology, biochemistry and postsecondary pedagogy. In her academic experience, she has taught Biology majors, students who wish to pursue a career in medicine and students majoring in various allied health sciences.
The Duration of Systole in an Electrocardiogram in Normal Humans and in Patients with Heart Disease *

All clinicians agree that patients with heart disease may have an uncertain prognosis, with the main reason due to the limited resources to analyze the functionality of the myocardium. Therefore, it is desirable to find abnormalities that are not indirect symptoms of a weakness of the vascular system, but rather, depend more directly on the work of the myocardium. Graphic methods opened a number of new possibilities that resulted in a better insight into the working myocardium. However, not all possible conclusions derived from these graphical methods have been analyzed in a comparable manner. Arrhythmias and the impairment of the propagation of an electrical pulse are of particular interest. Graphic signs that are associated with an abnormality of the myocardium, especially pulsus alternans and inversion of the T-wave in the electrocardiogram, have been intensively studied. Graphic recordings and certain interesting features of the electrocardiogram have not been studied intensely. One area of special interest is the duration of the ventricular electrocardiogram (the duration of electrical systole). A detailed study of the duration of electrical systole is promising because recent progress in the physiology of the heart analyzed primarily the time dependency of the working heart. In addition, several publications have identified specific alterations in the duration of the ventricular electrocardiogram of the heart in different forms of heart disease. For example, Steriop-
Relevance of Gamma Interferon, Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, and Interleukin-10 Gene Polymorphisms to Susceptibility to Mediterranean Spotted Fever

ABSTRACT The acute phase of Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) is characterized by dramatic changes in cytokine production patterns, clearly indicating their role in the immunomodulation of the response against the microorganism, and the differences in cytokine production seem to influence the extent and severity of the disease. In this study, the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) −308G/A (rs1800629) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) −1087G/A (rs1800896), −824C/T (rs1800871), and −597C/A (rs1800872) and the gamma interferon (IFN-γ) T/A SNP at position +874 (rs2430561) were typed in 80 Sicilian patients affected by MSF and in 288 control subjects matched for age, gender, and geographic origin. No significant differences in TNF-α −308G/A genotype frequencies were observed. The +874TT genotype, associated with an increased production of IFN-γ, was found to be significantly less frequent in MSF patients than in the control group (odds ratio [OR], 0.18; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.06 to 0.51; P corrected for the number of genotypes [Pc], 0.0021). In addition, when evaluating the IFN-γ and IL-10 genotype interaction, a significant increase of +874AA/−597CA (OR, 5.31; 95% CI, 2.37 to 11.88; Pc, 0.0027) combined genotypes was observed. In conclusion, our data strongly suggest that finely genetically tuned cytokine production may play a crucial role in the regulation of the immune response against rickettsial infection, therefore influencing the disease outcomes, ranging from nonapparent or subclinical condition to overt or fatal disease.
The Sask Formula to Estimate Glomerular Filtration Rate in Renal Transplant Patients

The aim of this study was to develop a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) equation for renal transplant and compare its performance with Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) equations. Using genetic symbolic regression analysis, the Sask equation was developed from a training sample of 772 isotope GFR (iGFR) scans performed in 99 transplanted patients. It was then validated in two other samples of 269 scans with the same number of patients. Standard methods including accuracy at 30% range from reference values were compared. In two validation samples, the Sask equation maintained the lowest bias of –0.7 ± 19.0 and 0.4 ± 18.4 ml/min/1.73 m2 (p < 0.05) versus –3.1 ± 19.6 and –7.2 ± 18.8 ml/min/1.73 m2 for CKD-EPI and –2.2 ± 19.2 and –6.5 ± 18.3 ml/min/1.73 m2 for IDMS, respectively. In those with iGFR between 90 and 30 ml/min/1.73 m2, the Sask equation demonstrated: (1) the lowest bias of –1.0 ± 15.7 and –0.4 ± 15.7 ml/min/1.73 m2 (p < 0.05 vs. other tests); (2) an accuracy of 75.5 and 76.1% (p < 0.05 vs. other tests), and (3) a mean percentage error of 1.9 ± 30.5 and –4.1 ± 31.4 ml/min/1.73 m2 (p < 0.05 vs. other tests). Analysis based on gender demonstrated improved performance in the total and subtotal female populations with GFR between 90 and 30 ml/min/1.73 m2. The CKD-EPI and Sask equations performed better than IDMS. The Sask equation demonstrated improved bias over CKD-EPI, with iGFR between 90 and 30 ml/min/1.73 m2, particularly in females.
Prognostic value of flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery in patients with cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE Endothelial dysfunction is thought to represent the initial stage in the development of atherosclerosis. Recently, noninvasive examination of endothelial function has become possible using flow-mediated endothelium-dependent dilation of the brachial artery (FMD) during reactive hyperemia. We examined whether FMD has prognostic value for the prediction of subsequent cardiovascular events. METHODS Patients were followed prospectively every month until the occurrence of the cardiovascular events. PATIENTS The study subjects comprised 221 consecutive patients (men 108, mean age 61.4+/-10.6, ischemic heart disease 152, cardiomyopathy 28, arrhythmia 12, valvular disease 5, congenital heart disease 3, and cardioneurosis 21). The mean FMD was 4.77+/-2.85% and this value was used to divide the patients into the 2 groups (Group 1: FMD > or =4.7%; Group 2: FMD <4.7%). RESULTS There were 110 patients in Group 1 (men 36, mean age 60.5+/-10.9), and 111 patients in Group 2 (men 72, mean age 62.2+/-10.3). Patients were followed until the occurrence of at least 1 of the major clinical cardiovascular events. Seven cardiovascular events occurred in Group 1 (6.4%, 1.14 events per 100 patient-years), while 16 occurred in Group 2 (2.88 events per 100 patient-years). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a significantly higher probability of developing cardiovascular events in Group 2 than in Group 1. CONCLUSION The present results demonstrated that the magnitude of FMD in the brachial artery was a good predictor of subsequent cardiovascular events.
Enhancing trust establishment in wireless multi-hop networks via preferential attachment

In this paper the problem of enhancing trust establishment in multi-hop wireless networks is addressed. Exploiting small-world features and based on preferential attachment and initial node trust values, we design inverse Topology Control methods that achieve to reduce the mean hop-distance between two nodes and increase the average trust value of the shortest paths. Based on continuum theory a mathematical framework is developed for the overall socially-motivated trust-based network churn mechanism. Analytical and simulation results exhibit the effectiveness of the proposed approaches for enhancing physical topologies, increasing the average trust path values, and thus further securing future communications systems.