Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does Quality of Life at Older Ages Vary with Socio-Economic Position?

The increase in life expectancy at middle age has added quality of life to the policy concerns related to older ages. The present article asks whether this quality of life varies with socio-economic position. Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (n.d.), the article answers this question in terms of the National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification and CASP-19, a measure of positive quality of life in early old age. Among all respondents aged 50 to 75 years, quality of life was found to be graded by social position, with the difference in quality of life between the higher managerial and professional group and the routine group being of comparable size to having a limiting long-standing illness; with the size of this difference varying between labour market sub-groups. The implication of these findings for ageing policy and for the National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification are discussed.
Construction and enhancement of stereo vacuum tube amplifier with precision machined enclosure

The purpose of this project was to build a high fidelity tube amplifier from a kit, and machine a beautiful enclosure to house the electronics. Improvements were made to the circuit, and the amplifier was then tested for audio performance. Figure 1: The finished amplifier. Introduction Since their invention, transistors have provided an increasingly economical and accurate way to amplify electrical signals. Despite the technical advantages of solid state amplification, amplifiers utilizing vacuum tube triodes are still widely used for audio amplification due to the warm sound they produce and the pleasing quality of the distortion introduced at higher amplifications. Tube amplifiers are commercially available at a premium price. The aim of this project was to modify an inexpensive tube amplifier kit to archive high-end amplification performance with a finer enclosure
Battery-conscious task sequencing for portable devices including voltage/clock scaling

Operation of battery-powered portable systems can no longer be sustained once a battery becomes discharged. Maximization of the battery lifetime is a difficult task due to nonlinearity of battery behavior that depends on the characteristics of the system load profile. We address the problem of task sequencing without and with voltage/clock scaling that shapes the profile so that the battery lifetime is maximized. We developed an accurate analytical battery model and validated it with measurements taken on a real lithium-ion battery used in a pocket computer. We use the model as a basis for a unique battery-conscious cost function and utilize its properties to develop several novel algorithms, including insertion of recovery periods and voltage/clock scaling for delay slack distribution.
Neutrophils Induced Licensing of Natural Killer Cells

Natural killer (NK) cells acquire effector function through a licensing process and exert anti-leukemia/tumor effect. However, there is no means to promote a licensing effect of allogeneic NK cells other than cytomegalovirus reactivation-induced licensing in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in human. In mice, a licensing process is mediated by Ly49 receptors which recognize self-major histocompatibility complex class I. The distribution of four Ly49 receptors showed similar pattern in congenic mice, B10, B10.BR, and B10.D2, which have B10 background. Forty Gy-irradiated 2 × 106 B10.D2 cells including splenocytes, peripheral blood mononuclear cells in untreated mice, or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treated mice were injected intraperitoneally into B10 mice. We found that murine NK cells were effectively licensed by intraperitoneal injection of donor neutrophils with its corresponding NK receptor ligand in B10 mice as a recipient and B10.D2 as a donor. Mechanistic studies revealed that NK cells showed the upregulation of intracellular interferon-γ and CD107a expression as markers of NK cell activation. Moreover, enriched neutrophils enhanced licensing effect of NK cells; meanwhile, licensing effect was diminished by depletion of neutrophils. Collectively, injection of neutrophils induced NK cell licensing (activation) via NK receptor ligand interaction.
The Human Costs of Education Reform: The Case of School Reconstitution

School reconstitution has become a prevalent but underexamined policy option. Although the stated aim of school reconstitution is to enhance the human capital available in low-performing schools, this aim may not be realized. Instead, reconstitution reform may impose substantial human costs, which undermine its ability to achieve its primary aim. This article draws on 2 years of case study data to examine the nature, distribution, and consequences of the human costs associated with this reform. This case study can be empirically instructive, because it exposes a category of costs—namely, human costs— that were largely unanticipated and/or underestimated by the policy makers but were highly consequential for the fate of the reform. This discovery is significant, theoretically, because it reaffirms the recognition that human costs exist, and it contributes to the understanding of how these costs might be operationalized and linked to the efficacy of personnel-dependent reforms.
A perceptual pitch boundary in a non-human primate

Pitch is an auditory percept critical to the perception of music and speech, and for these harmonic sounds, pitch is closely related to the repetition rate of the acoustic wave. This paper reports a test of the assumption that non-human primates and especially rhesus monkeys perceive the pitch of these harmonic sounds much as humans do. A new procedure was developed to train macaques to discriminate the pitch of harmonic sounds and thereby demonstrate that the lower limit for pitch perception in macaques is close to 30 Hz, as it is in humans. Moreover, when the phases of successive harmonics are alternated to cause a pseudo-doubling of the repetition rate, the lower pitch boundary in macaques decreases substantially, as it does in humans. The results suggest that both species use neural firing times to discriminate pitch, at least for sounds with relatively low repetition rates.
Microfluidics-Based Subretinal Chemical Neuromodulation of Photoreceptor Degenerated Retinas.

Purpose Retinal prostheses can restore rudimentary vision in cases of photoreceptor degeneration through electrical stimulation, but face difficulties achieving high spatial resolution because electrical current is an inherently unnatural stimulus. We investigated the therapeutic feasibility of using patterned delivery of the glutamate neurotransmitter, a primary agent of natural synaptic communication of the retina, as a biomimetic chemical alternative to electrical current for neuromodulation of photoreceptor degenerate retina. Methods We injected small quantities of the neurotransmitter glutamate into the subretina of 20 explanted photoreceptor degenerated S334ter-3 rat retinas using glass micropipettes and a prototype multiport microfluidic device to accomplish single- and multisite stimulation in vitro. The effects of chemical stimulation were characterized by recording neural responses from retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) using a multielectrode array. Results Subretinally injected exogenous glutamate activates RGCs, despite the substantial anatomic and physiologic changes caused by retinal remodeling, eliciting robust neural responses. The presence of excitatory and inhibitory RGC responses provides evidence that exogenous glutamate differentially activated neurons presynaptic to RGCs, likely inner retinal neurons belonging to the OFF and ON pathways. We also demonstrate that glutamate injections can evoke focal RGC responses with spatial resolutions comparable to or better than current generation electrical prostheses and, when applied at multiple sites simultaneously with the multiport microfluidic device, can produce spatially patterned neural responses. Conclusions These significant results establish that chemical stimulation of degenerated retinas with neurotransmitters is an effective neuromodulation strategy with the potential of restoring high-resolution visual perception in patients rendered blind through photoreceptor degeneration.
The Byzantine agreement problem: optimal early stopping

Addresses solutions to the problem of reaching agreement in the presence of faults. Whereas the need for agreement has surfaced mainly in fault-tolerant real-time applications, agreement can be a useful mechanism in network security to mask intrusions. However, due to the communication overhead involved and the fact that the system is expected to operate without problems most of the time, early stopping algorithms are of special interest. We introduce a non-authenticated early stopping algorithm that is optimal in terms of rounds and the number of processors in the system. The basic idea of the algorithm as closely related to the work of P. Berman et al. (1992). However, our algorithm is easier to implement because of its algorithmic definition. It is directly derived from the algorithm by L. Lamport et al. (1982) and is based on two simple functions only. We are convinced that the construction of the early stopping algorithm presented in this paper increases understanding and clarifies the underlying problems of early stopping.
Language Modeling Using Dynamic Bayesian Networks

In this paper we propose a new approach to language modeling based on dynamic Bayesian networks. The principle idea of our approach is to find the dependence relations between variables that represent different linguistic units (word, class, concept, .) that constitutes a language model. In the context of this paper the linguistic units that we consider are syntactic classes and words. Our approach should not be considered as a model combination technique. Rather, it is an original and coherent methodology that processes words and classes in the same model. We attempt to identify and model the dependence of words and classes on their linguistic context. Our ultimate goal is to devise an automatic mechanism that extracts the best dependence relations between a word and its context, i.e., lexical and syntactic. Preliminary results are very encouraging, in particular the model in which a word depends not only on previous word but also on syntactic classes of two previous words. This model outperforms the bi-gram model.
Intelligent Feedback System (IFS) in Tele-Learning Environment

This paper describes the innovative Learner Intelligent Feedback System (IFS) in terms of a set of three agent: Interface Agent (IFA), Information Agent(IMA), and Intelligence Agent(ILA). The agent can deduce the correct answers to test questions and provide intelligent feedback and hints to the learner. The intelligent feedback system is : Firstly, system presents content in initial learning style. Secondly, learner takes a diagnostic test. Thirdly, system analyzes user performance. Fourth, system identifies concept deficiencies and chooses the best learning model. Finally, system dynamically creates a remedial course tailored to the learner. The learner takes the remedial course, at the end of which is another test. If the learner still does not get the concept, he or she is returned to another dynamically generated course presented in a different learning style. At the same time the tutor agent notifies that one of her students is having trouble. The Tutoring agents are the driving engine of the system. Their main tasks are to generate appropriate learning feedbacks for learners and provide new learning problems and advanced situations. IFS can be used for complete course training, including test from a remote site.
Some Recent and Future Developments in the Study of Social Representations

Social representation theory studies social knowledge created by groups which becomes objectified, as if it existed outside of social processes. In this paper, some new themes and directions for social representation research are discussed. Overall, it is suggested that more emphasis be placed back onto the group dynamics which create, change and maintain social representations. Too much emphasis, perhaps, has been put on finding and describing the objectified knowledges rather than the social processes which sustain them. In particular, more needs to be known about the groups themselves which create and maintain social representations, and the conditions for such groups' existence. The methods for research need to reflect the social processes over time and anthropological methods of research might help in this regard. It is then argued both that social relations are a prerequisite for social representations and that social representations can be utilized by groups for various functions. Both these points emphasize that social representations exist through, and are maintained by, group dynamics, which need to be studied in addition to descriptions of the content of social representations.
TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF POST-TRAUMATIC NEUROSES

1. The incidence of post-traumatic neuroses varies considerably since the development of psychogenic disturbance depends upon emotional factors related to the accident. Terrifying events, such as the Cocoanut Grove fire disaster, have a higher incidence of neuroses traceable to the circumstance of the accident than the everyday head injuries in civilians. 2. A differentiation can be made between "fear neurosis" and "conflict neurosis" as such conditions are designated by Symonds. The former are characterized by emotional disturbance and nightmares immediately following the accident, which recapitulate the circumstances of the injury. This type of neurosis developed in 54 percent of the victims of the Cocoanut Grove disaster, who had gone through a harrowing experience. The latter type occurred in about one-third of our series of head injury patients. Here, as a rule, the neurosis developed after an interval, at a time when the patients were physically fit to return to their duties. Nightmares were charact.
Combining local and remote visualization techniques for interactive volume rendering in medical applications

For a comprehensive understanding of tomographic image data in medicine, interactive and high-quality direct volume rendering is an essential prerequisite. This is provided by visualization using 3D texture mapping which is still limited to high-end graphics hardware. In order to make it available in a clinical environment, we present a system which uniquely combines local desktop computers and remote high-end graphics hardware. In this context, we exploit the standard visualization capabilities to a maximum which are available in the clinical environment. For 3D representations of high resolution and quality we access the remote specialized hardware. Various tools for 2D and 3D visualization are provided which meet the requirements of a medical diagnosis. This is demonstrated with examples from the field of neuroradiology which show the value of our strategy in practice.
The reliability and validity of two structured diagnostic interviews for personality disorders.

BACKGROUND The reliability and validity of Axis II diagnoses were investigated in a sample of 108 patients with nonpsychotic Axis I disorders. METHODS Patients were assessed for personality disorders (PDs) with either the Personality Disorder Examination (PDE) or the Structured Interview for DSM-III-R Personality (SIDP-R). Validity was examined by comparing interview diagnoses with "best-estimate" consensus diagnoses assigned by a panel of judges. RESULTS Interrater reliabilities were excellent when using continuous data (eg, total or cluster scores; intra-class correlation coefficients, .82 to .92); they were lower with categorical diagnoses (eg, any PD vs no PD; kappa = 0.55 and 0.58 with the two interviews). Validity coefficients (ie, kappa values reflecting agreement between the interviews and the consensus diagnosis) for the decision of any PD vs no PD were 0.18 (56% agreement) with the PDE and 0.37 (75% agreement) with the SIDP-R; validity coefficients for identifying cases of "marked" PD were 0.21 (62% agreement) with the PDE and 0.24 (60% agreement) with the SIDP-R. CONCLUSIONS There have been important advances in the development of structured interviews for Axis II diagnoses, but the findings suggest a continued need to be thoughtful about their strengths and weaknesses before accepting their results as definitive diagnostic tests. The findings also demonstrated some of the advantages of continuous vs categorical data.
Family Structure and the Reproduction of Poverty

Recent analysts have argued that the female-headed family is responsible for the growth of an "underclass" in America. This study uses longitudinal data taken from the Michigan Panel Study of Income Dynamics to address the questions whether and why offspring in female-headed households are more likely to experience persistent poverty in adulthood. Four hypotheses regarding the effect of a father's absence are tested: the "no-effects" hypothesis, the "economic-deprivation" hypothesis, the "father-absence" hypothesis, and the "family-stress" hypothesis. Separate analyses are presented for black and whites. The findings indicate that growing up in a female-headed family increases the risk of poverty, but not because of father absence per se. Among whites, economic deprivation and the stress associated with recent family disruption account for nearly all the negative effects of family structure on offsprings' attainment, whereas among black the results are more mixed.
Central Nervous System and Peripheral Inflammatory Processes in Alzheimer’s Disease: Biomarker Profiling Approach

Brain inflammation is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD) and a current trend is that inflammatory mediators, particularly cytokines and chemokines, may represent valuable biomarkers for early screening and diagnosis of the disease. Various studies have reported differences in serum level of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in patients with mild cognitive impairment or AD. However, data were often inconsistent and the exact function of inflammation in neurodegeneration is still a matter of debate. In the present work, we measured the expression of 120 biomarkers (corresponding to cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and related signaling proteins) in the serum of 49 patients with the following diagnosis distribution: 15 controls, 14 AD, and 20 MCI. In addition, we performed the same analysis in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 20 of these patients (10 AD and 10 controls). Among the biomarkers tested, none showed significant changes in the serum, but 13 were significantly modified in the CSF of AD patients. Interestingly, all of these biomarkers were implicated in neurogenesis or neural stem cells migration and differentiation. In the second part of the study, 10 of these putative biomarkers (plus 4 additional) were quantified using quantitative multiplex ELISA methods in the CSF and the serum of an enlarged cohort composed of 31 AD and 24 control patients. Our results confirm the potential diagnosis interest of previously published blood biomarkers, and proposes new ones (such as IL-8 and TNFR-I). Further studies will be needed to validate these biomarkers which could be used alone, combined, or in association with the classical amyloid and tau biomarkers.
Implementing Security Via Modern Programming Languages

Security topics in all areas are a pressing need for Computer Science instructors. This paper provides a survey of security features in modern programming languages. We present the role that type safety and capabilities provide for the building of secure systems, and how language systems allow designers to model security issues that once were part-and-parcel of Operating Systems, or that can not be modeled by such.
Memory bandwidth optimizations for wide-bus machines

The authors describe and evaluate the effectiveness of some code improvement techniques that are designed to take advantage of wide-bus machines (WBMs): that is, a microprocessor with a memory bus width at least twice the size of the integer data type handled by the processor and assumed by the programmer. They discuss some compiler optimizations that take advantage of the increased bandwidth available from a wide bus. The investigations show that WBMs can expect reduction in memory bus cycles on the order of 5 to 15%. Using new code improvement algorithms designed to exploit the availability of a wide bus, the studies show that, for many memory-insensitive algorithms, it is possible to reduce the number of memory loads and stores by 30 to 40%. <<ETX>>
The research and improving for multi-pattern string matching algorithm

The paper proposes improving methods to advance the matching rate for multi-pattern string matching algorithm Wu-Manber. First, string abstract value matching method advances the precision of the first matching, and reduces the string comparing times; second, heuristic matching method increases the safe moving distance when the matching of string matched is successful; third, multi-level cache parallel matching method removes the delay time of the long pattern string matching and hash operation. Lastly, the algorithmic complexity is analyzed. The algorithmic effectiveness of improved W-M algorithm is demonstration by experimenting
Analyzing Political Bias through a User-Friendly Interface

Many news outlets report stories shown with biased undertones that mislead readers to believe one story over another about the same event. To help people delineate between liberallyand conservatively-biased news articles, we created a website which uses a recurrent neural network with long short-term memory nodes trained to identify bias found in news articles. The network achieved an F1 Score of 0.76, and is used to provide one liberally-biased article and one conservatively-biased article side-by-side for a user to read when the user searches for a specific news story.
Mutually Exclusive Cytoplasmic Dynein Regulation by NudE-Lis1 and Dynactin*

Background: Cytoplasmic dynein performs a great variety of cellular functions using a diversity of regulators. Results: NudE and dynactin compete for a common site within the dynein complex. Conclusion: This mechanism prevents dual regulation by dynactin and LIS1 and suggests a major new mode of regulatory control. Significance: This is the first insight into coordination of cytoplasmic dynein regulators. Cytoplasmic dynein is responsible for a wide range of cellular roles. How this single motor protein performs so many functions has remained a major outstanding question for many years. Part of the answer is thought to lie in the diversity of dynein regulators, but how the effects of these factors are coordinated in vivo remains unexplored. We previously found NudE to bind dynein through its light chain 8 (LC8) and intermediate chain (IC) subunits (1), the latter of which also mediates the dynein-dynactin interaction (2). We report here that NudE and dynactin bind to a common region within the IC, and compete for this site. We find LC8 to bind to a novel sequence within NudE, without detectably affecting the dynein-NudE interaction. We further find that commonly used dynein inhibitory reagents have broad effects on the interaction of dynein with its regulatory factors. Together these results reveal an unanticipated mechanism for preventing dual regulation of individual dynein molecules, and identify the IC as a nexus for regulatory interactions within the dynein complex.