Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Designing emergence : automatic extraction of stigmergic algorithms from lattice structures

The complex behaviour of relatively-simple creatures in nature, such as that of social insects, has often inspired research into how such intricate networks of cooperation operate, and how such cooperation can be implemented to solve other problems. Stigmergic construction techniques attempt to demonstrate how complex structures may be built without explicit communication between agents. An abstract model of sematectonic stigmergic construction was presented in 1995 by Bonabeau & Theraulaz[158, 156], capable of reproducing some of the complex structures observed in social insect research. The investigation into this model was motivated by the potential application of stigmergic techniques, by engineers and designers, as the basis of as system of artificial construction. In this thesis, their model and assertions are critically reviewed, and the concepts provided by Bonabeau & Theraulaz[158, 156, 22, 19] shown to be insufficient for use in arbitrary construction tasks. A new software implementation and new concepts for considering the behaviour of stigmergic algorithms – post-rules – are devised and presented as a more concrete basis for investigation. Computational constraints surrounding Bonabeau & Theraulaz’s approach, which prohibit further consideration using their techniques, are then presented. In an attempt to address the motivation which inspired the original work, a novel process is presented, which allows the automatic generation of stigmergic algorithms from arbitrary existing structures. A new algorithm is presented which reduces the complexity of a stigmergic rule set. Limitations of this approach are discussed, and several refinements which improve the quality of the extracted algorithm are then described in detail, along with experimental results. Finally, our ability to derive stigmergic algorithms of the same quality as those noted in nature is investigated, and the limitations of sematectonic stigmergy for arbitrary architecture construction are investigated and shown in detail.
A New Bronchodilator drug: Alupent (Th. 152)

Recently a new compound, ' Alupent ' (Th. 152), has been synthesized and this is closely related chemically and pharmacologically to isoprenaline. It is 1-(3,5-dihydro-oxphenyl)-1hydroxy-isopropylaminoethane. Animal experiments in the guinea pig and dog showed that Alupent given by intravenous injection or by aerosol had a protective effect against druginduced bronchospasm (Engelhardt et al 1961). This protective effect of Alupent was less than that of isoprenaline, but about equal to that of adrenaline. Only Alupent was found to have a substantial bronchorelaxant effect when given by mouth. Toxicity studies in mice showed the LD50 when given by the intravenous, subcutaneous and oral routes to be 114mg/kg, 290mg/kg and 4.8g/kg" respectively. Preliminary continental clinical trials, on patients with chronic bronchitis and asthma, reported that Alupent had a spasmolytic effect when given by mouth or by inhalation (Gunthner ct al 1961; Spitzbarth et al 1961; Zidek 1961). Taken by mouth effects began after 15 minutes, were maximal after one hour and lasted two hours or more. By inhalation the maximum effect developed after 8-10 minutes. By comparison with isoprenaline and ephedrine, Alupent appeared equally effective, but had a more prolonged action and sideeffects such as tachycardia were less. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the short-term effects of Alupent in selected, well-studied ' asthmatic individuals ', and to compare the effects with those obtained following the inhalation of aerosol adrenaline 1/1000.
Mechanisms of postburn intestinal barrier dysfunction in the rat: Roles of epithelial cell renewal, E-cadherin, and neutrophil extravasation*

Objective:Our group has previously shown that the intestinal epithelium exhibits increased postburn barrier permeability and bacterial translocation associated with deranged neutrophil activity. The purpose of this investigation is to explore possible underlying intestinal structural mechanisms, leading to those functional changes with emphasis on (1) neutrophil influx and extravasation in the intestinal lamina propria 1–3 days after burn and (2) enterocyte proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and E-cadherin junctional epithelium levels 3 days after burn. Design:Freshly isolated ileum specimens were quick frozen, then cut by a cryostat into 30-micron-thick sections. Sections from day 1 postburn rats were immunostained with (1) anti-granulocyte or anti-elastase antibodies to assess neutrophil influx or (2) combined anti-granulocyte and anti-von Willebrand factor double immunolabeling to compare levels of neutrophil extravasation. Sections from day 3 postburn rats were immunostained with (1) bromodeoxyuridine immunohistochemistry 1, 3, 6, or 18 hrs after bromodeoxyuridine injection to assess enterocyte proliferation and migration, (2) cytokeratin-18 M30-immunohistochemistry to compare levels of enterocyte apoptosis, and (3) E-cadherin immunohistochemistry to compare junctional E-cadherin integrity. Ileal myeloperoxidase activity and bacterial translocation of Enterococcus faecalis were assessed biochemically and by E. faecalis-specific bacterial cultures, respectively, in day 3 postburn rats. Setting:Research laboratories in a medical center and an academic institution. Subjects:Male Sprague-Dawley rats given sham treatment or treatment as a burn model with full-thickness skin scald over 30% total body surface area. Conclusions:We report (1) increased levels of neutrophil influx and extravasation in villi lamina propriae, including elastase-positive cells (postburn day 1), (2) heightened levels of intestinal myeloperoxidase activity (postburn day 3), (3) decreased levels of epithelial cell proliferation, migration, and E-cadherin (postburn day 3), and (4) increased enterocyte apoptosis and E. faecalis bacterial translocation (postburn day 3). Based on these structural and functional abnormalities, we propose a mechanism for burn injury-related intestinal barrier dysfunction that includes increased trans- and para-cellular leakage caused by impaired enterocyte renewal and decreased junctional E-cadherin levels subsequent to increased neutrophil influx and extravasation within the villus lamina propria microenvironment.
Preoperative n-3 Polyunsatured Fatty Acids Are Associated With a Decrease in the Incidence of Early Atrial Fibrillation Following Cardiac Surgery

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery is associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and expenditure. Controversial data exist on possible preventive effects of n-3 polyunsatured fatty acids (PUFAs) against postoperative AF. We investigated whether preoperative PUFA therapy is effective in reducing AF after cardiac surgery during the surgical hospitalization and/or the cardiac rehabilitation period. Methods: Over a 4-year period, 530 patients (363 men, 68.5%) with a mean age of 66.4 ± 10.9 years, undergoing cardiac surgery were monitored for ‘‘early AF’’ and ‘‘late AF’’ defined as AF documented in the surgical department or during the rehabilitation program, respectively. Results: The overall incidence of early AF in the whole study sample was 44.7%, whereas late AF occurred in 14.7% patients. Patients with AF had a longer length of hospital and rehabilitation stay (10.4 ± 9.8 vs 9.5 ± 9.2 days, P = .025 and 24.2 ± 15.3 vs 21.1 ± 8.3 days, P = .008, respectively). Early AF occurred in 31.0% of the patients with preoperative PUFAs compared with 47.3% of those without them (P = .006). Conversely, late AF was not influenced by preoperative PUFA regimen (11.9% vs 15.2%, P = .43). Preoperative PUFAs were independently associated with a 46% reduction in risk of early AF development (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31-0.92), after propensity score analysis. Conclusion: Preoperative PUFA therapy is associated with a decreased incidence of early AF after cardiac surgery but not late AF. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery may benefit from a preventive PUFA approach.
Work-related stress and asthma: results from a workforce survey in New Zealand

Objectives We assessed the association between work-related stress and asthma in a cross-sectional workforce survey in New Zealand. Methods Men and women randomly selected from the Electoral Roll were invited to take part in a telephone interview, which collected information on current workplace exposures and respiratory symptoms. Participants rated how stressful they found their current job on a 5-point scale. We conducted unconditional logistic regression to calculate prevalence ORs and 95% CI for job stress and both current and adult-onset asthma, adjusting for age, sex, smoking, and deprivation. Analyses were also stratified by sex, smoking status, and body mass index (BMI). Results Results were based on 2903 interviews. Participants with very or extremely stressful jobs were twice as likely to have current asthma (OR=1.98; 95% CI 1.52 to 2.58) and 50% more likely to have adult-onset asthma (OR=1.50; 95% CI 1.05 to 2.15) compared to those with not at all or mildly stressful jobs. This association was evident for both sexes and was not explained by either occupation, BMI or smoking, although the results did differ by smoking status. Conclusions Our study adds to the sparse evidence on the relationship between work-related stress and asthma in adult working populations.
Effects of Bosch scallops on metal layer stress of an open Through Silicon Via technology

Through Silicon Via (TSV) is a lead topic in interconnects and 3D integration research, mainly due to numerous anticipated advantages. However, several challenges must still be overcome if large scale production is to be achieved. In this work, we have studied effects of Bosch scallops concerning mechanical reliability for a specific TSV technology. The presence of scallops on the TSV wall modifies the stress distribution along the via. By means of Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations, we could assess this change and understand the process. The achieved results support experiments and give a better insight into the influence of scallops on the stress in an open TSV.
Ionospheric irregularities, scintillation and its effect on systems

An essential component of the ionosphere is a small-scale electron density structure that causes scintillation of radio waves on transionospheric links. We briefly review the morphology of irregularities and physical mechanisms of their formation. Results of the scintillation theory relating statistical characteristics of irregularities and scintillation are also outlined. Examples of the scintillation effect on the system performance are given. Finally, we will present recent attempts to model the scintillation.
Direct measurement of the London penetration depth in YBa2Cu3O6.92 using low-energy μSR

A direct measurement of the London penetration depth in the high-${T}_{c}$ superconductor ${\text{YBa}}_{2}{\text{Cu}}_{3}{\text{O}}_{6.92}$ has been made using low-energy $\ensuremath{\mu}\text{SR}$ with an effective background suppression method. The average magnetic field versus mean depth was measured in the Meissner state of high-purity detwinned crystals of ${\text{YBa}}_{2}{\text{Cu}}_{3}{\text{O}}_{6.92}$. The resulting magnetic field profiles along the $a$ and $b$ axes are consistent with a local London model beyond 10 nm but there are deviations close to the surface. The absolute values of ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{a}$ and ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{b}$ extrapolated to zero temperature are $126.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3$ and $105.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3\text{ }\text{nm}$, respectively. These results are compared with other less direct methods and extend the use of low-energy $\ensuremath{\mu}\text{SR}$ to small crystals.
Determination of Mesoscale Predictability Limits with Respect to Uncertainty in the Larger-Scale Environment

Abstract : LONG-TERM GOALS. Our goal is to determine the limits of predictability inherent in atmospheric forecasts due to uncertainty in their initial conditions. These uncertainties are a consequence of inaccuracies of observational data and the algorithms that produce 3-dimensional analysis. Even if a model can simulate atmospheric behavior perfectly, since atmospheric flows exhibit instabilities leading to chaos, any errors in a forecast s initial condition will tend to grow, until information content of the forecast is negligible. The result is a limit to predictability. This predictability limit has been known for some time (Lorenz, 1963), although it continues to be ignored by some who make very optimistic claims (see Errico and Baumhefner, 1987 for some examples). Its character, especially regarding how various types of errors influence the predictive skill of various fields on various scales, has only been superficially explored to date (Lorenz, 1969; Errico et al., 1995). Since characterization of this limit has crucial implications regarding forecast reliability and possible observation system impacts, its determination is critical (Tribbia and Baumhefner, 1988).
Risk of Aplastic Anemia and Pesticide and Other Chemical Exposures

Risk of aplastic anemia (AA) from occupational exposures to pesticides and industrial chemicals was evaluated in a hospital-based case control study in Thailand (541 cases of AA and 2261 controls). Exposure data were obtained via participants’ self-reports and by experts’ assessments and the data from these 2 exposure assessment methods were compared. There was an increased risk of AA associated with several classes of pesticides measured by either self-report or expert assessment. The strongest associations were seen in those whose exposures were identified both by self-report and by expert assessment. Comparing very high/high to no exposure, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were as follows: for organophosphates 3.20 (1.87-5.46), carbamates 4.75 (1.92-11.75), organochlorines 6.04 (1.31-27.84), and paraquat 2.17 (1.11-4.25). There were correlations among the pesticides because many types were used in the same job, so it was not possible to determine whether these risks were independent or because of confounding of one by another.
A Nonconvex Approach for Phase Retrieval: Reshaped Wirtinger Flow and Incremental Algorithms

We study the problem of solving a quadratic system of equations, i.e., recovering a vector signal x ∈ R from its magnitude measurements yi = |〈ai,x〉|, i = 1, . ,m. We develop a gradient descent algorithm (referred to as RWF for reshaped Wirtinger flow) by minimizing the quadratic loss of the magnitude measurements. Comparing with Wirtinger flow (WF) (Candès et al., 2015), the loss function of RWF is nonconvex and nonsmooth, but better resembles the least-squares loss when the phase information is also available. We show that for random Gaussian measurements, RWF enjoys linear convergence to the true signal as long as the number of measurements is O(n). This improves the sample complexity of WF (O(n logn)), and achieves the same sample complexity as truncated Wirtinger flow (TWF) (Chen and Candès, 2015), but without any sophisticated truncation in the gradient loop. Furthermore, RWF costs less computationally than WF, and runs faster numerically than both WF and TWF. We further develop an incremental (stochastic) version of RWF (IRWF) and connect it with the randomized Kaczmarz method for phase retrieval. We demonstrate that IRWF outperforms existing incremental as well as batch algorithms with experiments.
The Role of Cdc 42 p GTPase-activating Proteins ( GAPs ) in Assembly of the Septin Ring in Yeast

The septins are a conserved family of GTP-binding, filament-forming proteins. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the septins form a ring at the mother-bud neck that appears to function primarily by serving as a scaffold for the recruitment of other proteins to the neck, where they participate in cytokinesis and a variety of other processes. Formation of the septin ring depends on the Rho-type GTPase Cdc42p but appears to be independent of the actin cytoskeleton. In this study, we investigated further the mechanisms of septin-ring formation. Fluorescence-recoveryafter-photobleaching (FRAP) experiments indicated that the initial septin structure at the presumptive bud site is labile (exchanges subunits freely) but that it is converted into a stable ring as the bud emerges. Mutants carrying the cdc42 allele or lacking two or all three of the known Cdc42p GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs: Bem3p, Rga1p, and Rga2p) could recruit the septins to the cell cortex but were blocked or delayed in forming a normal septin ring and had accompanying morphogenetic defects. These phenotypes were dramatically enhanced in mutants that were also defective in Cla4p or Gin4p, two protein kinases previously shown to be important for normal septin-ring formation. The Cdc42p GAPs co-localized with the septins both early and late in the cell cycle, and overexpression of the GAPs could suppress the septin-organization and morphogenetic defects of temperature-sensitive septin mutants. Taken together, the data suggest that formation of the mature septin ring is a process that consists of at least two distinguishable steps, recruitment of the septin proteins to the presumptive bud site and their assembly into the stable septin ring. Both steps appear to depend on Cdc42p, whereas the Cdc42p GAPs and the other proteins known to promote normal septin-ring formation appear to function in a partially redundant fashion in the assembly step. In addition, because the eventual formation of a normal septin ring in a cdc42 or GAP mutant was invariably accompanied by a switch from an abnormally elongated to a more normal bud morphology distal to the ring, it appears that the septin ring plays a direct role in determining the pattern of bud growth.
The Greek as a Mercenary Soldier

Every young man in Greece during the fifth and fourth centuries b.c. had to be a soldier or a sailor, whether he liked it or not, for the greater part of his life; we may recall that Socrates ‘trailed a pike’ when he was forty-five at the battle of Delium, and the records of those times certainly show that anyone to whom the life of soldiering appealed had ample opportunity to indulge his taste to the full. If he did not like it, there was little remedy, and no provision for conscientious objection in the city-state. There were some, however, who found an outlet for their surplus energies not in the army of their own city but in that of a foreign overseas power, or even of a neighbouring and rival state, sometimes from choice, often compelled by a variety of causes which we shall shortly mention. It was with the Carians of southern Asia Minor that mercenary service of this sort traditionally originated in the eighth and early part of the seventh centuries b.c.—with their neighbours from Ionia they had long been troubling the shores of the Nile Delta by their freebooting expeditions until Psammetichus I actually took them into his service in his successful attempt to gain the throne of Egypt, and then formally incorporated them in his army, stationing them at Daphnae on the eastern frontier of the Delta. From that time onward Egypt also knew other large bodies of Greek soldiers, still mainly from Asia Minor; in return for their help the Egyptian kings on various occasions sent gifts to the great shrine of Apollo at Branchidae. Later on we find that this habit of mercenary service spread to, and grew in, mainland Greece.
Design and evaluation of a modular lower limb exoskeleton for rehabilitation

This paper deals with the evaluation of an exoskeleton designed for assisting individuals to rehabilitate compromised lower limb movements resulting from stroke or incomplete spinal cord injury. The exoskeleton is composed of lightweight tubular structures and six free joints that provide a modular feature to the system. This feature allows the exoskeleton to be adapted to assist the movement of one or more patient joints. The actuation of the exoskeleton is also modular, and can be performed passively, by means of springs and dampers, or actively through actuators. In addition, its telescopic tubular links, developed to adjust the size of the links in order to align the joints of the exoskeleton with patient joints, allows the exoskeleton to be adjustable to fit different patients. Experiments considering the interaction between a healthy subject and the exoskeleton are performed to evaluate the influence of the exoskeleton structure on kinematic and muscular activity profiles during walking.
GLORP: generic lightweight object-relational persistence

Simple approaches can be used for basic mapping -assigning a class for each table and an instance variable for each column, managing relationships manually -but these do not scale well as complexity and performance requirements increase. A particular difficulty is that object applications must often deal with preexisting relational schemas designed for other purposes. Mapping these schemas into objects may require a great deal of flexibility.
A technique for making structured programs more readable

One of the most important attributes of computer programs is readibility [i]. A program that is easy to read and understand is easier to test, maintain, and modify. Readibility of programs should be one benefit of structured programming [I]; yet, structured programs can still be difficult to understand, especially if the program control structures are heavily nested or many lines separate parts of control structures. This paper will mention a number of techniques that are currently used to make structured programs easier to read by making their logical structure more visible. Then a new technique will be discussed which will use automatically generated lines to connect separated parts of control structures to help a reader comprehend the logical structure of programs.
Utility of DNA Barcoding in Distinguishing Species of the Family Taeniidae

Abstract: The family Taeniidae comprises many parasitic species, which cause serious zoonoses. However, effective identification of Taeniidae species is a long-standing problem, especially in samples from wild hosts with mixed infections of different Taeniidae species. DNA barcoding analysis of small fragments of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene has been confirmed as an effective and useful method for identifying Taenia species. We therefore performed DNA barcoding analysis using a 351-bp region of the COI gene to identify 27 taeniid species including 9 in the genus Echinococcus, 2 in Hydatigera, 15 in Taenia, and 1 in Versteria. A total of 484 COI sequences were used to calculate genetic divergence expressed by the Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) distance. The mean intra-specific K2P distance in the family Taeniidae was 0.71 ± 0.17% (±SE), while inter-specific divergences were considerably higher. We found that, generally, a 2.0% optimal barcoding threshold could be set to distinguish taeniid species. Taenia polyacantha and Hydatigera taeniaeformis were the only 2 false-positive species identification cases in this study for their intra-specific divergences above the 2.0% optimal threshold. Their high intra-specific divergences coincided with fact that cryptic divergences exist in these 2 species, to which new taxa were recommended. On the other hand, sister species T. asiatica and T. saginata showed a 2.48 ± 0.83% inter-specific divergence, which was the smallest among all the taeniid species. Although fitting the 2.0% optimal species barcoding threshold, the close genetic relationship between T. asiatica and T. saginata implies that longer mitochondrial DNA sequences like the complete COI sequence are needed to strictly distinguish them. Therefore, we concluded that the barcoding technique based on a 351-bp region of the COI gene is able to distinguish taeniid species except for cryptic T. polyacantha and H. taeniaeformis and should be carefully used in distinguishing the closely related species T. asiatica and T. saginata.