Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mental workload measurement for emergency operating procedures in digital nuclear power plants

Mental workload is a major consideration for the design of emergency operation procedures (EOPs) in nuclear power plants. Continuous and objective measures are desired. This paper compares seven mental workload measurement methods (pupil size, blink rate, blink duration, heart rate variability, parasympathetic/sympathetic ratio, total power and (Goals, Operations, Methods, and Section Rules)-(Keystroke Level Model) GOMS-KLM-based workload index) with regard to sensitivity, validity and intrusiveness. Eighteen participants performed two computerised EOPs of different complexity levels, and mental workload measures were collected during the experiment. The results show that the blink rate is sensitive to both the difference in the overall task complexity and changes in peak complexity within EOPs, that the error rate is sensitive to the level of arousal and correlate to the step error rate and that blink duration increases over the task period in both low and high complexity EOPs. Cardiac measures were able to distinguish tasks with different overall complexity. The intrusiveness of the physiological instruments is acceptable. Finally, the six physiological measures were integrated using group method of data handling to predict perceived overall mental workload. Practitioner Summary: The study compared seven measures for evaluating the mental workload with emergency operation procedure in nuclear power plants. An experiment with simulated procedures was carried out, and the results show that eye response measures are useful for assessing temporal changes of workload whereas cardiac measures are useful for evaluating the overall workload.
Event-Triggered Optimization

This section introduces an event-triggered distributed al gorithm that solves network utility maximization (NUM) problems in large-scale networked systems [18, 17]. Existi ng distributed algorithms for the NUM problem are gradient-based schemes whose convergence to the optimal po int pr vided the communication between subsystems is sufficiently frequent. Analytic bounds on the communicat ion interval required to ensure convergence tend to be inversely proportional to certain measures of network comp lexity such as network diameter and connectivity. As a result, the total message passing complexity in such algori thms can be very great. The event-triggered algorithm presented in this section appears to reduce the message passing complexity by nearly two-orders of magnitude. Moreover, experimental results indicate that this complexity is scale-free with regard to network diameter and connectivity.
Bilateral extraocular muscle metastasis from primary breast cancer

Background: In retrospective studies, estimates of hastened dying among seriously ill patients range from <2% in one national survey to as much as 20% in end-stage disease cohorts. Objective: To examine, in prospective studies, dying patients in the months before death, in order to understand the wish to die. Methods: Patients with advanced ALS with a high likelihood of death or need for tracheostomy within 6 months were identified. Patients were assessed monthly with an extensive psychosocial interview, including a diagnostic interview for depression. Family caregivers were interviewed on the same schedule and also after patient deaths. Results: Eighty patients with ALS were enrolled, 63% of eligible patients; 53 died over follow-up. Ten (18.9%) of the 53 expressed the wish to die, and 3 (5.7%) hastened dying. Patients expressing the wish to die did not differ in sociodemographic features, ALS severity, or perceived burden of family caregivers. They were more likely to meet criteria for depression, but differences were smaller when suicidality was excluded from the depression interview. Patients who expressed the wish to die reported less optimism, less comfort in religion, and greater hopelessness. Compared with patients unable to act on the wish to die, patients who hastened dying reported reduction in suffering and increased perception of control over the disease in the final weeks of life. Conclusion: These findings suggest caution in concluding that the desire to hasten dying in end-stage disease is simply a feature of depression.
The Trend Unemployment Rate in Canada: Searching for the Unobservable

In this paper, we assess several methods that have been used to measure the Canadian trend unemployment rate (TUR). We also considerimprovements and extensions to some existing methods. The assessment is based on four criteria: (i) the extent to which methods provide explanations for changes in trend unemployment; (ii) whether revisions to unemployment gap (UGAP, the difference between the actual unemployment rate and TUR) estimates are well behaved; (iii) if UGAPs provide information about future inflation; and (iv) if UGAPs help explain historical data about wages and consumer price inflation. In our assessment of conformity to the second and third criteria, we use real-time data, i.e., the data available to policymakers at the time of making decisions. We find that while all methods we consider have both strengths and weaknesses, those based on variables thought to determine TUR provide better interpretation and tend to do at least as well as others against the other criteria. These are most promising for future work. Nevertheless, there is considerable uncertainty about the value of TUR, which suggests it would be prudent to use a range of models in research or policy work. While estimates of TUR have declined since the mid-1990s, it is assessed to range between 5.6 and 6.7 per cent in 2018Q4.
Chinese Medicine: The Law of Five Elements

In this chapter we will examine an ancient system of healing. It is quite elaborate yet exquisitely simple. As we take this journey, it is useful to put the ancient Chinese system into perspective by comparing it with the origins of all healing traditions and by contrasting it to the Western system. The origins of ancient Chinese medicine lie in the concepts of the Tao, Ch'i, and Yin/Yang. These three philosophical notions pervade all systems of Chinese medicine and most systems of Eastern healing that arose from them. There are a number of different systems that are called traditional Chinese medicine, but in this discussion, we shall explore only one of them in depth—the Law of Five Elements. We will concentrate on two of the major cycles within the Law of Five Elements. The first of these is the Shen Cycle or the Cycle of the Spirit. It will demonstrate how the Chinese regarded officials, organs and functions, and the elements of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood.2 Students of psychology will discover how dreams and
Compact modeling of a flash memory cell including substrate-bias-dependent hot-electron gate current

We propose a compact model for a Flash memory cell that is suitable for circuit simulation. The model includes a hot-electron gate current model that considers not only channel hot electron injection but also channel initiated secondary electron injection to express properly substrate bias dependence of gate current. Tunneling gate current for erasing is expressed by the BSIM4 tunneling gate current model. Good agreement between measured and simulated results of both programming and erasing characteristics for 130-nm technology Flash memory cells indicates that our model is useful in designing and optimizing circuit for Flash memories.
How Does Green Product Knowledge Effectively Promote Green Purchase Intention?

Knowledge can influence the whole decision-making process of consumers. While green product knowledge is often conceptualized as a direct antecedent of green purchase intention, empirical findings in support of this relationship are inconsistent. Based on 236 samples, this study investigates how green product knowledge promotes consumers’ green purchase intention. Results show that green trust and perceived consumer effectiveness partly mediate the relationship between green product knowledge and green purchase intention. The relationship between green trust and green purchase intention is positively moderated by perceived price. Compared with low perceived price, green trust has a greater effect on green purchase intention in the case of high perceived price. However, the relationship between perceived consumer effectiveness and green purchase intention is not moderated by perceived price. This study provides a new insight into green product knowledge and how to promote green purchase intention, and the findings help government and enterprises to formulate strategies to promote consumers’ green purchase intention.
Structure of the Alzheimer's Disease Amyloid Precursor Protein Copper Binding Domain

A major source of free radical production in the brain derives from copper. To prevent metal-mediated oxidative stress, cells have evolved complex metal transport systems. The Alzheimer's disease amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a major regulator of neuronal copper homeostasis. APP knockout mice have elevated copper levels in the cerebral cortex, whereas APP-overexpressing transgenic mice have reduced brain copper levels. Importantly, copper binding to APP can greatly reduce amyloid β production in vitro. To understand this interaction at the molecular level we solved the structure of the APP copper binding domain (CuBD) and found that it contains a novel copper binding site that favors Cu(I) coordination. The surface location of this site, structural homology of CuBD to copper chaperones, and the role of APP in neuronal copper homeostasis are consistent with the CuBD acting as a neuronal metallotransporter.
State Convergence of Passive Nonlinear Systems With an $L^{2}$ Input

We show that the state of a strictly output passive system with an L 2 input converges to zero. The result is applied to the disturbance rejection problem (with reference signal zero), where the disturbance can be decomposed into a finite superposition of sine waves of arbitrary but known frequencies and an L 2 signal. Using an LTI controller, constructed based on the internal model principle, the state trajectories of the plant (and hence also the error signal) converge to zero.
Effect of Curcumin on Liposome: Curcumin as a Molecular Probe for Monitoring Interaction of Ionic Liquids with 1,2‐Dipalmitoyl‐sn‐Glycero‐3‐Phosphocholine Liposome

Recent increase and wider use of ionic liquids (ILs) for various applications has drawn attention to their toxicological consequence on human health. The present study explores effects of three different kinds of widely used ILs, such as 1‐methyl‐3‐octylimidazolium chloride, 1‐buytl‐3‐methyl imadazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1‐benzyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate, on liposome properties of 1,2‐dipalmitoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (DPPC) by applying curcumin as molecular probe. Fluorescence intensity of curcumin is reported as a novel rotor which is sensitive to viscosity and thus the fluidity of the solvent. It follows a linear relationship of log fluorescence vs viscosity as proposed by Förster–Hoffmann equation. Curcumin binds strongly to liposome. At low concentration, the lipophilic drug curcumin does not appreciably influence the phase transition temperature of DPPC but as concentration reaches high levels significantly depresses the phase transition temperature. ILs diminish membrane fluidity. 1‐methyl‐3‐octylimidazolium chloride disorders membrane properties by lowering the phase transition as is observed for higher concentration of curcumin, but 1‐buytl‐3‐methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1‐benzyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate do not modify phase transition temperature perceptibly; rather they broaden the phase transition at low molar concentration ratio. The three different kinds of ILs under study behave similarly at a high IL:DPPC ratio (1:2), while they behave differently at lower ratios (1:10–1:5).
Correlation of T Cell Independence of Antibody Responses with Antigen Dose Reaching Secondary Lymphoid Organs: Implications for Splenectomized Patients and Vaccine Design1

Many natural viral and bacterial pathogens activate B cells independently of Th cells (TI Ags). This study analyzed the characteristics of the activation of B cells after immunization with various forms of viral Ags using different immunization routes and found a decreasing dependence on T help with increasing amounts of Ag recruited to the spleen. Repetitive antigenic structure facilitated TI B cell responses if Ag was present in lymphoid organs. These results suggest that 1) Ag dose and localization in secondary lymphoid organs are the key for B cell activation in the absence of T help; 2) early TI Ab responses are crucial to protect against systemically spreading acute cytopathic infectious agents; and 3) there may be new rationales for improved vaccine design.
Lower Limbs Power and Stiffness after Whole-Body Vibration

Abstract The interest in whole-body vibration (WBV) for the enhancement of neuromuscular performance has received considerable attention. However, scientific evidence supporting the optimal prescription of WBV settings is lacking. This study investigated the acute effect of WBV combining high frequency/high peak-to-peak displacement (HH) or low frequency/low peak-to-peak displacement (LL) vs. sham intervention (SHAM) on lower limb muscle power and stiffness. A total of 223 volunteers were randomly assigned to either the HH, LL or SHAM group. Countermovement jump (CMJ) height, maximal and average power, maximal and average lower limbs stiffness obtained during a hopping test were recorded before and after the respective intervention. After the intervention, the HH group showed an increase of 4.64% in CMJ height (p<0.001) whereas the values of both the LL and SHAM groups did not change. In addition, maximal and average power of the lower limbs were significantly increased in all groups (p<0.001; 10.89% and 12.82%, respectively) while no effect on lower limbs stiffness was observed. Our data show that high frequency combined with high peak-to-peak displacement is the most optimal WBV setting for CMJ height enhancement. Further investigation should be undertaken to ascertain the effectiveness of WBV on lower limbs stiffness.
Childhood behavior problems linked to sexual risk taking in young adulthood: a birth cohort study.

OBJECTIVE To study whether behavioral and emotional problems during childhood predicted early sexual debut, risky sex at age 21 years, and sexually transmitted infections up to age 21 years. Some possible mediational pathways were also explored. METHOD Participants were enrolled in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (n = 1,037), a prospective, longitudinal study of a New Zealand birth cohort born in 1972-1973. Data obtained at ages 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 21 years were used. Adjustment was made for gender, socioeconomic status, parenting factors, and residence changes. RESULTS High levels of antisocial behavior between age 5 and 11 years were associated with increased odds of early sexual debut (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.17, 95% confidence [CI] 1.34-3.54) and risky sex (AOR 1.88, 95% CI 1.04-3.40). No relationship was observed between hyperactivity and later sexual health outcomes. In contrast, high levels of anxiety were associated with reduced odds of risky sex (AOR 0.45, 95% CI 0.25-0.80) and sexually transmitted infections (AOR 0.34, 95% CI 0.17-0.70). Involvement with delinquent peers explained some of the association between antisocial behavior and early sexual debut and risky sex. A poor relationship with parents also explained some of the association between antisocial behavior and early sexual debut. CONCLUSIONS The findings demonstrate links between behavioral and emotional problems occurring early in life and later deleterious sexual health outcomes. Targeting antisocial behavior and teaching accurate appraisals of danger during childhood may help mitigate these negative consequences.
Decreased cerebral Irp‐1B limits impact of social isolation in wild type and Alzheimer's disease modeled in Drosophila melanogaster

Environmental factors, such as housing conditions and cognitively stimulating activities, have been shown to affect behavioral phenotypes and to modulate neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting cognitive functions. Epidemiological evidence and experimental studies using rodent models have indicated that social interaction reduces development and progression of disease. Drosophila models of Aβ42‐associated AD lead to AD‐like phenotypes, such as long‐term memory impairment, locomotor and survival deficits, while effects of environmental conditions on AD‐associated phenotypes have not been assessed in the fly. Here, we show that single housing reduced survival and motor performance of Aβ42 expressing and control flies. Gene expression analyses of Aβ42 expressing and control flies that had been exposed to different housing conditions showed upregulation of Iron regulatory protein 1B (Irp‐1B) in fly brains following single housing. Downregulating Irp‐1B in neurons of single‐housed Aβ42 expressing and control flies rescued both survival and motor performance deficits. Thus, we provide novel evidence that increased cerebral expression of Irp‐1B may underlie worsened behavioral outcome in socially deprived flies and can additionally modulate AD‐like phenotypes.
Causality between Terrorism and FDI in Tourism: Evidence from Panel Data

The aim of this research was to examine the causal link between terrorism and FDI in tourism on the example of a panel of 50 countries for the period from 2000 to 2016. Other control variables were included in order to ensure the validity of the results—number of international tourist arrivals per capita, the KAOPEN index, the KOF Globalisation Index and GDP per capita. The main goal was to look at this issue from the perspective that terrorism does not affect FDI in tourism. The research employed the Granger causality test in a vector autoregressive model (VAR model), the analysis of variance decomposition and the impulse response function within the panel setting. Based on research results, it was found that terrorism does not Granger cause FDI in tourism. The results are in line with recent research related to the subject matter which indicated that the negative effect of terrorism on FDI in tourism was questionable.
Compatibility Relationships With Simple Lever Tools

Objective: The study focuses on potential compatibility relationships when simple lever tools are used. Background: Spatial compatibility between stimuli and responses determines performance. However, many tasks require the use of simple tools, such as levers that transform hand movements into tool movements. We explore with such a tool whether and how the correspondence or noncorrespondence between stimulus-side and hand movement (stimulus-response compatibility), between stimulus-side and tool-effect movement (stimulus-effect compatibility), and/or between hand movement and tool-effect movement (response-effect compatibility) affects performance. Method:U-shaped and inverted-U-shaped levers were used as tools, allowing us to examine the contribution of each compatibility relationship to response times and errors without any confounds and omissions. Results: Responding was delayed and error prone when the hand movement and the movement of the effect point of the tool did not correspond. Effects of stimulus-response compatibility and stimulus-effect compatibility were observed only when the hand movement direction remained untransformed in the tool-effect movement. Conclusion: The results point out that the inversion or noninversion of tool-effect movements plays an underlying role when handling a tool. Application: Potential applications of this research include the prediction and possibly manipulation of unwanted behavioral tendencies in laparoscopic surgery and other lever movements.
Dual Role of Peroxiredoxin I in Macrophage-derived Foam Cells*

We and others have shown that foam cell formation initiated by exposing macrophages to oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) triggers the differential expression of a number of proteins. Specifically, our experiments have identified peroxiredoxin I (Prx I) as one of these up-regulated proteins. The peroxiredoxins, a family of peroxidases initially described for their antioxidant capability, have generated recent interest for their potential to regulate signaling pathways. Those studies, however, have not examined peroxiredoxin for a potential dual functionality as both cytoprotective antioxidant and signal modulator in a single, oxidant-stressed system. In this report, we examine the up-regulation of Prx I in macrophages in response to oxLDL exposure and its ability to function as both antioxidant enzyme and regulator of p38 MAPK activation. As an antioxidant, induction of Prx I expression led to improved cell survival following treatment with oxLDL or tert-butyl hydroperoxide. The improved survival coincided with a decrease in measurable reactive oxygen species (ROS), and both the increased survival and reduced ROS were reversed by Prx I small interfering RNA transfection. Additionally, our data show that activation of p38 MAPK in oxLDL-treated macrophages was dependent on the up-regulation of Prx I. Reduction of Prx I expression by small interfering RNA transfection resulted in a significant decrease in p38 MAPK activation, whereas the up-regulation of Prx I expression with either oxLDL or ethoxyquin led to increased p38 MAPK activation. These results are consistent with multiple roles for Prx I in macrophage-derived foam cells that include functionality as both an antioxidant and a regulator of oxidant-sensitive signal transduction.
Subclinical cardiac abnormalities and kidney function decline: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Clinical heart failure (HF) is associated with CKD and faster rates of kidney function decline. Whether subclinical abnormalities of cardiac structure are associated with faster kidney function decline is not known. The association between cardiac concentricity and kidney function decline was evaluated. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS This is a longitudinal study of 3866 individuals from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (2000-2007) who were free of clinical cardiovascular disease, with an estimated GFR (eGFR) ≥60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) at baseline and 5 years of follow-up. Concentricity, a measurement of abnormal cardiac size, was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and evaluated as a continuous measurement and in quartiles. GFR was estimated by creatinine (eGFRcr) and cystatin C (eGFRcys). The association of concentricity with annual eGFR decline, incident CKD, and rapid kidney function decline (>5% per year) was investigated using linear mixed models as well as Poisson and logistic regression, respectively. Analyses adjusted for demographics, BP, diabetes, and inflammatory markers. RESULTS Median decline was -0.8 (interquartile range, -3.1, -0.5) by eGFRcr. Compared with the lowest quartile of concentricity, persons in the highest quartile had an additional 21% (9%-32%) decline in mean eGFRcr in fully adjusted models. Concentricity was also associated with incident CKD and with rapid kidney function decline after adjustment. CONCLUSIONS Subclinical abnormalities in cardiac structure are associated with longitudinal kidney function decline independent of diabetes and hypertension. Future studies should examine mechanisms to explain these associations.