Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fronto‐Parietal gray matter and white matter efficiency differentially predict intelligence in males and females

While there are minimal sex differences in overall intelligence, males, on average, have larger total brain volume and corresponding regional brain volumes compared to females, measures that are consistently related to intelligence. Limited research has examined which other brain characteristics may differentially contribute to intelligence in females to facilitate equal performance on intelligence measures. Recent reports of sex differences in the neural characteristics of the brain further highlight the need to differentiate how the structural neural characteristics relate to intellectual ability in males and females. The current study utilized a graph network approach in conjunction with structural equation modeling to examine potential sex differences in the relationship between white matter efficiency, fronto‐parietal gray matter volume, and general cognitive ability (GCA). Participants were healthy adults (n = 244) who completed a battery of cognitive testing and underwent structural neuroimaging. Results indicated that in males, a latent factor of fronto‐parietal gray matter was significantly related to GCA when controlling for total gray matter volume. In females, white matter efficiency and total gray matter volume were significantly related to GCA, with no specificity of the fronto‐parietal gray matter factor over and above total gray matter volume. This work highlights that different neural characteristics across males and females may contribute to performance on intelligence measures. Hum Brain Mapp 37:4006–4016, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chapter 2 Hardware / Software Partitioning for Embedded Systems

Current methods for designing embedded systems require specifying and designing hardware and software separately. Hardware/software partitioning is concerned with deciding which function is to be implemented in Hardware (HW) and Software (SW). This type of partitioning process is decided a priori to the design process and is adhered to as much as possible because any changes in this partition may necessitate extensive redesign. As partitioning is an NP hard problem, application of the exact methods tends to be quite slow for bigger dimensions of the problem. Heuristic/evolutionary methods have been proposed for partitioning problems. This chapter deals with multi-objective optimization of minimizing two objectives area and the execution time of the partition. To validate the efficiency of the algorithms, performance metrics are calculated. Experimental results for the HW/SW partition for mediabench and DSP benchmarks are tabulated and analyzed.
The chromatin remodelling factor Brg‐1 interacts with β‐catenin to promote target gene activation

Wnt‐induced formation of nuclear Tcf–β‐catenin complexes promotes transcriptional activation of target genes involved in cell fate decisions. Inappropriate expression of Tcf target genes resulting from mutational activation of this pathway is also implicated in tumorigenesis. The C‐terminus of β‐catenin is indispensable for the transactivation function, which probably reflects the presence of binding sites for essential transcriptional coactivators such as p300/CBP. However, the precise mechanism of transactivation remains unclear. Here we demonstrate an interaction between β‐catenin and Brg‐1, a component of mammalian SWI/SNF and Rsc chromatin‐remodelling complexes. A functional consequence of reintroduction of Brg‐1 into Brg‐1‐deficient cells is enhanced activity of a Tcf‐responsive reporter gene. Consistent with this, stable expression of inactive forms of Brg‐1 in colon carcinoma cell lines specifically inhibits expression of endogenous Tcf target genes. In addition, we observe genetic interactions between the Brg‐1 and β‐catenin homologues in flies. We conclude that β‐catenin recruits Brg‐1 to Tcf target gene promoters, facilitating chromatin remodelling as a prerequisite for transcriptional activation.
Hybrid constructed wetlands system with intermittent feeding applied for urban wastewater treatment in South Brazil

Hybrid constructed wetlands composed by vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) followed by horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (HFCW) are a wastewater treatment technology employed worldwide. However, there are few studies of their application in Brazil. Treatment performance is not achieved directly after the start of operation and may change according to external conditions over time. This paper evaluated a VFCW–HFCW hybrid system applied to treat urban wastewater in southern Brazil during the first 70 operational weeks. The system was operated with cycles of rest and feed periods. The results point to the first 10 weeks of operation as a transitioning period, especially for VFCW, after which chemical oxygen demand (COD) (from 77% to 90%) and total suspended solids (TSS) (from 90% to 100%) removal performances stabilized and reached their peak rates. Factors such as rainfall precipitation, macrophytes' adaptation, and time of operation affected pollutants' removal. Regardless of the fluctuations throughout the period, the hybrid system presented resilience by generating excellent average removal rates. It showed a mean removal efficiency of 99% for TSS, 98% for COD, 69% for total nitrogen (TN), 91% for NH4+-N, and 96% for P-PO43−. Moreover, the effluent was always suitable to be discharged into the environment according to Brazilian national and state regulations.
Author ' s personal copy Rating agencies in the face of regulation

This paper develops a theoretical framework to shed light on variation in credit rating standards over time and across asset classes. Ratings issued by credit rating agencies serve a dual role: they provide information to investors and are used to regulate institutional investors. We show that introducing rating-contingent regulation that favors highly rated securities may increase or decrease rating informativeness, but unambiguously increases the volume of highly rated securities. If the regulatory advantage of highly rated securities is sufficiently large, delegated information acquisition is unsustainable, since the rating agency prefers to facilitate regulatory arbitrage by inflating ratings. Our model relates rating informativeness to the quality distribution of issuers, the complexity of assets, and issuers’ outside options. We reconcile our results with the existing empirical literature and highlight new, testable implications, such as repercussions of the Dodd-Frank Act. & 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Diffusion layer effects on permeation of phenylbutazone through polydimethylsiloxane.

The permeation of phenylbutazone through polydi-methylsiloxane was studied under conditions of varying membrane thickness, stirrer speed, and pH. The results are described in terms of the two-phase model of general transport theory and provide experimental evidence of its usefulness. It was found that permeation rates are controlled by the aqueous diffusion layer at the membrane surface, especially when permeation cells equipped with thin membranes are weakly stirred. Gentle agitation and thin membranes exist in the intestinal tract, so that drug absorption rates in vivo may be limited by a diffusion layer. Diffusion layer control may lead to a breakdown of the pH-partition theory because the ionic and nonionic forms of the drug diffuse through the aqueous diffusion layer. The diffusion of phenylbutazone in polydimethylsiloxane did not obey Fick's law of diffusion.
The Effect of Social Media on Market Liquidity

Recent studies have investigated the effect of investors’ opinions, or peer-based advice, available on social media platforms or stock discussion forums on the financial market. The researchers have been focusing on stock earnings surprises, abnormal returns and trading volume. But the jury is still out on when and how the discussion on social media impacts financial markets, especially market liquidity. For example, are social media platforms heterogeneous in the value they offer to investors? Further, we do not know if peer-based advice contains information that will be reflected by the market liquidity. We aim to shed light on these concerns by evaluating whether sentiments from messages on online discussion forums could influence the short sales activities in the Australian market. We employ textual analysis techniques to extract sentiments from these platforms. Practical implications for the markets have been discussed.
Time-resolved compound repositioning predictions on a text-mined knowledge network

Background Computational compound repositioning has the potential for identifying new uses for existing drugs, and new algorithms and data source aggregation strategies provide ever-improving results via in silico metrics. However, even with these advances, the number of compounds successfully repositioned via computational screening remains low. New strategies for algorithm evaluation that more accurately reflect the repositioning potential of a compound could provide a better target for future optimizations. Results Using a text-mined database, we applied a previously described network-based computational repositioning algorithm, yielding strong results via cross-validation, averaging 0.95 AUROC on test-set indications. The text-mined data was then used to build networks corresponding to different time-points in biomedical knowledge. Training the algorithm on contemporary indications and testing on future showed a marked reduction in performance, peaking in performance metrics with the 1985 network at an AUROC of . 797. Examining performance reductions due to removal of specific types of relationships highlighted the importance of drug-drug and disease-disease similarity metrics. Using data from future timepoints, we demonstrate that further acquisition of these kinds of data may help improve computational results. Conclusions Evaluating a repositioning algorithm using indications unknown to input network better tunes its ability to find emerging drug indications, rather than finding those which have been withheld. Focusing efforts on improving algorithmic performance in a time-resolved paradigm may further improve computational repositioning predictions.
Measurement of winds using backscatter lidar

Backscatter lidar offers a simple method of measuring wind speeds in optically clear air. This technique involves an applied statistical and signal processing method known as cross-correlation. This method is an established practice, however, the lidar needs to be operated at low elevation angles to cater to aerosols motion in the horizontal direction [Eloranta et al., 1975]. This scheme contains a pulsed laser that directs a narrow light beam into the atmosphere. As the pulse of light radiation propagates, it interacts with tiny aerosol particles, which scatter radiation back toward the lidar system. Aerosols are freely suspended particles in air and have no self weight. Hence these particles move along with the background winds. The laser backscattered radiation received from particles in motion contains Doppler information. The wind deriving procedure from lidar utilizes a time series data and evaluates the strength and direction between time-lagged relations between signals. However, better estimates require improved lidar signal to noise ratio. Towards this, sometimes, spatial averaging of lidar scans is required. In this paper, we discuss the technique and the method of deriving the boundary layer winds from lidar signals over a tropical site in India. The lidar data obtained at lidar site also discloses additional information such as altitude distribution of clouds, elevated aerosol layers, BL height/ stable layering etc.
5-Dichloroacetyl-4-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-one hemihydrate

There are two crystallographically independent organic molecules in the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C12H12Cl2N2O2·0.5H2O. The benzodiazepine ring adopts a distorted boat conformation in both molecules. The crystal packing is controlled by N—H⋯O, C—H⋯O and O—H⋯O intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds. A graph-set motif of R 3 3(14) dimer formation by a combination of N—H⋯O, O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds stabilizes the molecules and extends along a axis.
Structural and Optical Properties of Ag Nanoparticles Synthesized by Thermal Treatment Method

The modified thermal treatment method via alternate oxygen and nitrogen flow was successfully employed to synthesize very narrow and pure Ag nanoparticles. The structural and optical properties of the obtained metal nanoparticles at different calcination temperatures between 400 and 800 °C were studied using various techniques. The FTIR and EDX confirmed the formation of Ag nanoparticles without a trace of impurities. The XRD spectra revealed that the amorphous sample at 30 °C had transformed into the cubic crystalline nanostructures at the calcination temperature of 400 °C and higher. The TEM images showed the formation of spherical Ag nanoparticles in which the average particle size decreased with increasing calcination temperature from 7.88 nm at 400 °C to 3.29 nm at 800 °C. The optical properties were determined by UV-vis absorption spectrophotometer, which showed an increase in the conduction band of Ag nanoparticles with increasing calcination temperature from 2.75 eV at 400 °C to 3.04 eV at 800 °C. This was due to less attraction between conduction electrons and metal ions as the particle size decreases in corresponding to fewer numbers of atoms that made up the metal nanoparticles.
Supporting Volumetric Data Visualization and Analysis by Combining Augmented Reality Visuals with Multi-Touch Input

We present our vision and steps toward implementing a collaborative 3D data analysis tool based on wearable Augmented Reality Head-Mounted Display (AR-HMD). We envision a hybrid environment which combines such AR-HMD devices with multi-touch devices to allow multiple collaborators to visualize and jointly discuss volumetric datasets. The multi-touch devices permit users to manipulate the datasets' states, either publicly or privately, while also proposing means for 2D input for, e. g. , drawing annotations. The headsets allow each user to visualize the dataset in physically correct perspective stereoscopy, either in public or in their private space. The public space is viewed by all, with modifications shared in real-time. The private space allows each user to investigate the same dataset with their own preferences, for instance, with a different clipping range. The user can later decide to merge their private space with the public one or cancel the changes.
NEW ANALYTICAL METHODS AND THEIR VALIDATION FOR THE ESTIMATION OF METOPROLOL SUCCINATE IN BULK AND MARKETED FORMULATION

Metoprolol succinate is cardiovascular agent. Mainly used for the treatment of hypertension, heart failure, and cardiovascular diseases. Purpose: Analytical methods are required to characterize drug substances and drug products composition during all phases of pharmaceutical development. Development of methods to achieve the final goal of ensuring the quality of drug substances and drug products must be implemented in conjunction with an understanding of the chemical behavior and physicochemical properties of the drug substance. This determination requires highly sophisticated instruments and methods like HPLC, HPTLC and Spectrophotometer. Hence there was a need for the development of newer, simple, sensitive, rapid, accurate and reproducible analytical methods for the routine estimation of metoprolol succinate in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage form. Methods: The present work describes two new spectrophotometric methods for the determination of metoprolol succinate in bulk and marketed formulations. Method A is based on oxidation reaction. Metoprolol succinate in presence of acidic medium reacts with excess amount of chloramine-T and remaining chloramine-T react with malachite green to produce orange colour chromogen which showed λmax at 516 nm. In Method B, the drug was diazotised with sodium nitrite in presence of hydrochloric acid and then it was coupled with β-naphthol in alkaline medium. Which produce red colour chromogen which showed λmax at 688 nm. Results: The linearity was found in concentration range of 5-30μg/ml for both method A and method B. The correlation coefficient was found to be 0.9983 and 0.9993 for method A and method B respectively. The methods were validated as per ICH guidelines. The LOD and LOQ for estimation of Metoprolol succinate were found as 0.0773, 0.2343 for method A and 0.0667, 0.2021 for method B respectively. Conclusion: Proposed methods were successfully applied for the quantitative estimation of Metoprolol succinate in marketed formulations.
Lightning and Plasma Wave Observations from the Galileo Flyby of Venus

During the Galileo flyby of Venus the plasma wave instrument was used to search for impulsive radio signals from lightning and to investigate locally generated plasma waves. A total of nine events were detected in the frequency range from 100 kilohertz to 5.6 megahertz. Although the signals are weak, lightning is the only known source of these signals. Near the bow shock two types of locally generated plasma waves were observed, low-frequency electromagnetic waves from about 5 to 50 hertz and electron plasma oscillation at about 45 kilohertz. The plasma oscillations have considerable fine structure, possibly because of the formation of soliton-like wave packets.
IMPACT OF BASKETBALL FAN BEHAVIOUR ON THE ORGANIZATION’S BRAND

Background. In recent years sports industry has been growing fast, changing trends forced organizations to be creative and look for different ways to increase the competitiveness. Sport has become a business that meets all key management principles (Paul, 2003). In order for an organization to be profitable it is important to have good governance and effective marketing to attract new customers (Fillis & Mackay, 2014), in sports – fans that create added value for the clubs (Zagnoli & Radicchi, 2010). Some authors argue that fans are not only consumers, but also co-creators of the final product (Richelieu & Pons, 2011). The objective of this work was to measure the impact of basketball fan behaviour on the brand of sport organization. Methods. To measure the impact of basketball fan behaviour on the brand of sports organization methodological triangulation was used in the study. The research consisted of 3 stages: questionnaire (Sandanski, Slavchev, & Draganov, 2016), semi-structured interviewing I and semi-structured interviewing II. The study was partly conducted during the Erasmus+ Sport project “Fans Against Violence”. In Lithuania the aforementioned project was conducted by the Lithuanian Basketball Federation in the partnership with association “Aktyvistai”. 240 basketball fans from 5 different Lithuanian basketball clubs participated in the survey, 4 representatives from different basketball clubs and 4 fan leaders from different sport clubs were interviewed. Results and conclusions. The majority of basketball fans that participated in the survey were men aged 20–24 years (25.8%) and attended basketball matches by the guidance of hedonistic will (13.5%). The same men became basketball fans encouraged by other fans (25%). The strife between fans from different basketball teams goes from generation to generation and the main reason of aggressive behaviour is provocative actions from opposite fans (15%) and alcohol consumption (11.4%). While alcohol consumption is considered to be one of the main reasons to encourage fans’ aggression, only a small percentage of the respondents were strongly against the use of alcohol (7%). Summarizing all the results that were received during a semi-structured interviewing II it can be stated that the behaviour of the fans not only affects the brand of a basketball club, but is the main factor that impacts the brand of the club.
Molecular Detection of Leptospira spp. in Rodents Trapped in the Mozambique Island City, Nampula Province, Mozambique.

Introduction Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease caused by a bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In Africa it is frequently mistaken for frequently occurring conditions such as malaria. The aim of this study was to identify rodent species involved in the transmission of the disease, the prevalence of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in selected rodent species and risk factors for human leptospirosis. Material and Methods We conducted a descriptive and exploratory epidemiological and molecular study in Mozambique Island city in 2015. Six neighborhoods, comprising 30 households each were randomly selected. People from the selected 180 households were interviewed regarding their awareness of the disease, the presence of rodents in their houses, chemicals used to eliminate them, sewage disposal, water supply system, and other key issues related to the disease. In each neighborhood we trapped 10 rodents for morphometric study to identify their species and for molecular isolation of Leptospira DNA. We extracted kidneys from 57/60 of rodents trapped, and performed nested polymerase chain reaction targeting rrs 16S ribosomal DNA and lipL32 genes for identification of Leptospira genus and pathogenic Leptospira spp. respectively. Results Of the 180 participants 92 (51%) reported having heard of leptospirosis; 107 (59%) have had the disease; 151 (83%) reported the existence of rats in their house; 100 (56%) had latrines; 118 (66%) used chemicals to kill the rats; 102 (57%) used well water and 114 (63%) used trash containers. The most prevalent rodent species captured was Rattus norvegicus 36/60 (60%), followed by Rattus rattus 19/60 (31.67%) and Mus musculus 3/60 (5%). rrs 16S ribosomal DNA was identified in 20/57 (35.%) rodents. Out these two were positive for lipL32 gene, giving an overall pathogenic Leptospira infection of 3.5% (2/57). The rodent species identified as carriers of pathogenic Leptospira were Rattus norvegicus (1) and R. rattus (1). Conclusion This is the first study in Mozambique to identify the presence of pathogenic species of Leptospira using molecular tools. Leptospirosis risk factors in Mozambique Island city are rodent's infestation, limited disease awareness, lack of access to clean water, insufficient resources for waste collection, greater clustering of households, poor sanitation environment and degradation of living conditions. Pathogenic Leptospira spp. are present in the area studied and at least two species of rodents, the R. rattus and R. norvegi-cus are potentially involved in the transmission of the causal agents of the disease.
Coherence aware GPU‐based ray casting for virtual colonoscopy

In this paper, we propose a GPU‐based volume ray casting for virtual colonoscopy to generate high‐quality rendering images with a large screen size. Using the temporal coherence for ray casting, the empty space leaping can be efficiently done by reprojecting first‐hit points of the previous frame; however, these approaches could produce artifacts such as holes or illegal starting positions due to the insufficient resolution of first‐hit points. To eliminate these artifacts, we use a triangle mesh of first‐hit points and check the intersection of each triangle with the corresponding real surface. Illegal starting positions can be avoided by replacing a false triangle cutting the real surface with five newly generated triangles. The proposed algorithm is best fit to the recent GPU architecture with Shader Model 4.0 which supports not only fast rasterization of a triangle mesh but also many flexible vertex operations. Experimental results on ATI 2900 with DirectX10 show perspective volume renderings of over 24fps on 1024 × 1024 screen size without any loss of image quality. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.