Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Atteintes sensorimotrices dans la sclérose latérale amyotrophique chez l'homme

La Sclerose Laterale Amyotrophique est une maladie neurodegenerative de l'adulte caracterisee par la perte des neurones moteurs. Consideree comme une maladie affectant uniquement les voies motrices, des etudes ont apporte des preuves de l'atteinte precoce et parallele des voies sensitives mais egalement des interneurones, pouvant preceder et mener a l'hyperexcitation des neurones moteurs. Bien que l'activite des motoneurones soit etroitement associee a celle des afferences sensitives et des interneurones, l'effet de ces derniers sur l'excitation des motoneurones et leur participation a la propagation des atteintes n'ont jamais ete etudiees dans la maladie. Le but de cette these etait d'une part, de confirmer et de caracteriser anatomiquement et fonctionnellement les atteintes sensitives au niveau spinal et cortical chez les patients au stade precoce de la maladie et, d'autre part, d'evaluer l'effet induit par de tels influx sur l'activite des motoneurones mais egalement a travers des interneurones de la moelle cervicale et lombaire. L'originalite du projet de recherche etait de se focaliser sur des muscles proximaux cliniquement non-atteints dont les motoneurones " pre-symptomatiques " recoivent des influx sensitifs provenant de muscles distaux cliniquement atteints. Nous avons montre que : 1) malgre leur reduction, les afferences sensitives induisent l'hyperexcitation des motoneurones ; 2) l'etat et l'excitabilite de ces noyaux moteurs sont inchanges a travers les afferences corticospinales alors qu'ils sont hyperexcites par les afferences peripheriques ; 3) l'activite du systeme propriospinal cervical et lombaire, ainsi que l'inhibition recurrente sont renforcees.
The Effects of Alkalization to the Mechanical Properties of the Ijuk Fiber Reinforced PLA Biocomposites

— Today, the pollution due to non-degradable material such as plastics, has led to studies about the development of environmental-friendly material. Because of biodegradability obtained from natural sources, polylactid acid (PLA) and ijuk fiber are interesting to modify into a composite. This material is also expected to reduce the impact of environmental pollution. Surface modification of ijuk fiber through alkalinization with 0.25 M NaOH solution for 30 minutes was aimed to enhance its compatibility to PLA, in order to improve properties of the composite such as the mechanical properties. Alkalinization of the ijuk fibers annihilates some surface components such as lignin, wax and hemicelloluse, so the pore on the surface clearly appeared, decreasing of the density and diameter of the ijuk fibers. The change of the ijuk fiber properties leads to increase the mechanical properties of PLA composites reinforced the ijuk fibers through strengthening of the mechanical interlocking with the PLA matrix. An addition to enhance the distribution of the fibers in the PLA matrix, the stirring during DCM solvent evaporation from the mixture of the ijuk fibers and the dissolved-PLA can reduce amount of the trapped-voids and fibers pull-out phenomena, which can decrease the mechanical properties of the composite
HR analytics and ethics

The systematic application of analytical methods on human resources (HR)-related (big) data is referred to as HR analytics or people analytics. Typical problems in HR analytics include the estimation of churn rates, the identification of knowledge and skill in an organization, and the prediction of success on a job. HR analytics, as opposed to the simple use of key performance indicators, is a growing field of interest because of the rapid growth of volume, velocity, and variety of HR data, driven by the digitalization of work processes. Personnel files used to be in steel lockers in the past. They are now stored in company systems, along with data from hiring processes, employee satisfaction surveys, e-mails, and process data. With the growing prevalence of HR analytics, a discussion around its ethics needs to occur. The objective of this paper is to discuss the ethical implications of the application of sophisticated analytical methods to questions in HR management. This paper builds on previous literature in algorithmic fairness that focuses on technical options to identify, measure, and reduce discrimination in data analysis. This paper applies to HR analytics the ethical frameworks discussed in other fields including medicine, robotics, learning analytics, and coaching.
Modeling Nonlinear Granger Causality and Co-Integration Between Gold Price Returns and Crude Oil Price Returns

To model the nonlinear analysis of commodities, Gold market and crude oil market have importance to test their lead and lag price mechanism between the two. For this purpose, the log transformation has been done to calculate easier multiplicative effects. However, to record the dynamic effects of long run cointegreation model applied and tested to find the significance of the problem statement issues. Furthermore, granger causality approach also uses to examine the fundamental linkages between Gold Prices and Crude Oil prices. Meanwhile, the study of Gold markets and oil markets gained popularity among development economists during in last some decades. And try to find out stochastic relationship between the two nonlinear markets. The academic practitioners paved their efforts to run casual time series models in order to find out the robust results which help the economists and financial experts to drive the industry indicator in positive way. This study confirmed that there is cointegration between the two important indicators of large market commodities i.e Gold and crude oil and also casual interactions. Pairwise Granger Causality Tests concluded that Gold Prices return has Granger Cause on Oil Prices return in the long run and if the βeta change in the prices of gold may effect on the prices of crude oil in the long run.
Autoimmunity to Vimentin Potentiates Graft Vasculopathy in Murine Cardiac Allografts

Background. There is increasing evidence for a role for autoimmunity in transplant rejection. It has previously been shown that autoantibodies to vimentin (Vim) accelerate acute rejection of murine cardiac allografts. We have investigated whether autoimmunity to Vim contributes to development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). Methods. Two well-established minor mismatch murine models of CAV were used, transplantation of 129/sv hearts into T-cell-depleted C57Bl/6 (B6) recipients and transplantation of FVB hearts into nonimmunosuppressed DBA/1 recipients. Recipients were immunized with recombinant mouse Vim in complete Freunds adjuvant, and controls received hen egg lysozyme 2 weeks before transplantation. T cell and antibody responses to Vim were assessed by ELISPOT and ELISA, respectively. CAV within transplanted hearts was assessed by quantitative morphometry of occluded vessels, presence of smooth muscle cells, deposition of C3d, and confocal microscopy. Results. Allografts were harvested from B6 recipients at days 30 and 45 and from DBA/1 recipients at days 18 and 35. At all days, there was significantly more intimal occlusion of arteries of Vim -immunized mice than controls. There was significantly more smooth muscle cell alpha actin in vessels from Vim-immunized mice, and more C3d deposited in hearts from Vim-immunized mice. Confocal microscopy demonstrated colocalization of Vim with C3d on endothelial cells, leukocytes, and platelets in allogeneic but not syngeneic hearts. Serum from Vim-immunized mice, but not controls, caused platelet/leukocyte conjugation when added to mouse leukocytes. Conclusion. The autoimmune response to Vim accelerates CAV progression in these minor-mismatched models.
Interference Mitigation in IEEE 802.15.4-A Cluster Based Scheduling Approach

Problem statement: In universal networking environments; two or more heterogeneous communication systems coexisting in a single place. Especially, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) based on IEEE 802.11b specifications and Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) based on IEEE 802.15. 4 specifications need to coexist in the same Industrial, Science and Medial (ISM) band. If the WPAN communication coverage is expanded using a cluster-tree network topology, then the 802.15. 4 network is more susceptible to interference from neighboring WLANs. Approach: In this study, we propose an adaptive transmission power aware cluster scheduling algorithm using multiple channels in a WPAN in the presence of WLAN interference. Results: The algorithm includes node identification, channel allocation, clustering and time scheduling. To evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, the performance metrics such as Bit error, Packet Error Rate (PER), Throughput, Average End-End Delay and Average Jitter is measured through Qualnet simulation. PER is calculated from bit error rate. The simulation results are compared with the conventional TDMA scheme. Conclusion/Recommendations: The measurement result shows that the proposed algorithm is effective in an IEEE 802.15. 4 cluster-tree network in the presence of multiple IEEE 802.11 interferers.
Integration of IT strategy and enterprise architecture models

The paper provides the rationale and concept for integration of models and modeling objects of Enterprise Architecture and IT Strategies. The cohesion between and within Business and IT is achieved by means of services. Among other applications this concept justifies inclusion of Enterprise Architecture as perspective in Balanced Scorecards used for IT Strategy management and measurement. Then the relations between BSC objects and EA objects can be maintained in a single modeling repository thus providing an integrated environment for methods, processes, models and variants of objects and enabling holistic strategy, project and architecture management.
Feature preserving method for creating visual appearance models and virtual views from collective images

With respect to satellite and aerial RGB images, ground-based acquisitions can provide a more detailed representation of a natural landscape, especially for steep slopes. Moreover, for some applications the generation of a new `virtual' view-point can provide a valuable visualization tool. Using such a technique, the visual appearance of a landscape (generated from one or several geo-registered images) can be seen from a new, specified vantage point. In this paper, we propose a method of generating a visual appearance model and subsequent virtual views, through a direct re-projection of visual content from source geo-registered images.
A general algorithm for speed and position estimation of AC motors

A computationally efficient speed and position estimation algorithm, generally applicable to AC motor drives, is designed and analyzed. Applications include: (a) sensorless permanent-magnet and reluctance synchronous motor drives using the fundamental excitation as information source; (b) sensorless drives using saliency and signal injection; and (c) sensored drives using resolvers. Particular attention is given for case (a). Low parameter sensitivity in the entire speed range (except at low speeds for the reluctance motor)-implying a small position estimation error-and good dynamic properties at nominal speeds are verified.
Lake remediation by top-down and bottom-up management : an ecosystem-scale experiment in the English Lake District

Lake ecosystems face a variety of pressures arising from catchment-based anthropogenic activities and long-term changes in background environmental conditions, which greatly threaten their structure, function and the sustainable provision of essential ecosystem services. The response of lakes to external perturbations is controlled by a complex interaction of top-down (predation) and bottom-up (resource availability) food web processes. A better understanding of how these processes interact is vital if they are to be effectively manipulated in the remediation of degraded lakes. In this study, Esthwaite Water, a eutrophic lake in the English Lake District, was used as the model ecosystem to investigate the relative importance of these two opposing forces in determining water quality changes in response to anthropogenic pressures, specifically eutrophication and climate change. The research is presented as three studies which address the historical, contemporary and future impact of stressors on the ecological structure and function of Esthwaite Water. Analysis of long-term monitoring data determined that phosphorus availability was the main driver of water quality degradation throughout the study period (1970 to 2014). Despite substantial reductions to the external phosphorus load in later decades, water quality improvements were not observed. Phosphorus release from lake sediments and the effects of climate change on phytoplankton community structure appear to have buffered against the desired impact of reduced external nutrient loads. Analysis of contemporary surface sediments revealed a legacy of phosphorus enrichment from years of high external loading, including from aquaculture cages previously installed on the lake. Much of the sediment phosphorus was determined to be stored in release-sensitive forms. The PROTECH lake model was used to test the response of the phytoplankton community to variations in both nutrient availability and zooplankton grazing rate. The dominant controlling factor on total phytoplankton biomass was nutrient availability. When nutrient loads were high, cyanobacteria dominated the phytoplankton community. Such conditions limited the potential for top-down regulation by herbivory owing to food quality constraints upon zooplankton. The inclusion of climate warming in modelling scenarios resulted in the exacerbation of the symptoms of eutrophication. As such, it is recommended that future attempts at water quality improvement take a bottom-up approach, with a focus on controlling the internal phosphorus load.
Approaches to academic growth assessment.

BACKGROUND There is much interest in assessing growth in student learning. Assessments of growth have important implications and affect many policy decisions at many levels. AIMS In the present article, we review some of the different approaches to measuring growth and examine the implications of their usage. SAMPLE Samples used in research on growth models typically include students enrolled in public schools that primarily serve kindergarten through the 12th grade. METHOD Definitions of growth and gain are reviewed, and five types of growth models are examined: (1) Student Gain Score Model, (2) The Covariate Adjustment Model, (3) The Student Percentile Gain Model - referred to as single-wave value-added models, (4) Univariate Value-Added Response Models, and (5) Multivariate Value-Added Response Models. RESULTS Modelling approaches are vastly different, whereas Student Gain Models are mathematically and conceptually simple, Multivariate Models are highly complex. CONCLUSION Educators assessing growth must make critical decisions about measurement. The type of instrument that is selected and the type of analytic techniques selected are of great importance. Growth must be considered from technical, pedagogical, and policy perspectives.
The Role of the Time-Arrow in Mean-Square Estimation of Stochastic Processes

The purpose of this letter is to point out a certain dichotomy between the information that the past and future values of a multivariate stochastic process carry about the present. More specifically, vector-valued, second-order stochastic processes may be deterministic in one time-direction but not in the other. This phenomenon, which is absent in scalar-valued processes, is deeply rooted in the geometry of the shift-operator. The exposition and the examples we discuss are based on the work of Douglas, Shapiro, and Shields on cyclic vectors of the backward shift and relate to classical ideas going back to Wiener and Kolmogorov. We focus on rank-one stochastic processes for which we obtain an explicit characterization of all regular processes that are deterministic in the reverse time-direction. This letter builds on examples and the goal is to provide insights to a control engineering audience with interests in estimation theory and modeling of time-series.
Review: Treatment options for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease comprises a range of disorders from steatosis and steatohepatitis through to cirrhosis. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis can progress to cirrhosis and liver-related death. Therefore, managing this common disorder is becoming an important public health issue. Lifestyle measures are commonly suggested but robust data are lacking. Trials with antioxidants (vitamin E, betaine) as well as cytoprotectants (ursodeoxycholic acid) have been disappointing. While data for insulin sensitizers such as metformin are less conclusive, thiazolidinediones appear promising. However, not all patients respond to thiazolidinediones. Moreover, issues related to weight gain, cardiovascular risk need to be addressed. The use of endocannabinoid antagonists and insulin secretagogues are novel strategies to combat this disorder.
Analysing the impact of trap shape and movement behaviour of ground‐dwelling arthropods on trap efficiency

The most reliable estimates of the population abundance of ground‐dwelling arthropods are obtained almost entirely through trap counts. Trap shape can be easily controlled by the researcher, commonly the same trap design is employed in all sites within a given study. Few researchers really try to compare abundances (numbers of collected individuals) between studies because these are heavily influenced by environmental conditions, e.g. temperature, habitat structure and food sources available, directly affecting insect movement activity. We propose that useful insights can be obtained from a theoretical‐based approach. We focus on the interplay between trap shape (circle, square, slot), the underlying movement behaviour and the subsequent effect on captures. We simulate trap counts within these different geometries whilst considering movement processes with clear distinct properties, such as Brownian motion (BM), the correlated random walk (CRW) and the Lévy walk (LW). (a) We find that slot shaped traps are far less efficient than circular or square traps assuming same perimeter length, with differences which can exceed more than two‐fold. Such impacts of trap geometry are only realized if insect mobility is sufficiently large, which is known to significantly vary depending on type of habitat. (b) If the movement pattern incorporates localized forward persistence then trap counts accumulate at a much slower rate, and this rate decreases further with higher persistency. (c) If the movement behaviour is of Lévy type, then fastest catch rates are recorded in the case of circular trap, and the slowest for the slot trap, indicating that trap counts can strongly depend on trap shape. Lévy walks exacerbate the impact of geometry while CRW make these differences more inconsequential. In this study we reveal trap efficiencies and how movement type can alter capture rates. Such information contributes towards improved trap count interpretations, as required in ecological studies which make use of trapping systems.
Inventory routing with non-stationary stochastic demands

We solve a rich logistical problem inspired from practice, in which a heterogeneous fixed fleet of vehicles is used for collecting recyclable waste from large containers over a finite planning horizon. Each container is equipped with a sensor, which communicates its level at the start of the day. Given a history of observations, a forecasting model is used to estimate the point demand forecasts as well as a forecasting error representing the level of uncertainty. The problem falls under the framework of the stochastic inventory routing problem. We introduce dynamic probabilistic information in the solution process, which impacts the cost through the probability of container overflows on future days and the probability of route failures. We cast the problem as a mixed integer non-linear program and, to solve it, we implement an adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm, which integrates a specialized forecasting model, tested and validated on real data. Computational testing demonstrates that our algorithm performs very well on inventory routing and vehicle routing benchmarks from the literature. We are able to evaluate the benefit of including uncertainty in the objective function on rich IRP instances derived from real data coming from the canton of Geneva, Switzerland. Our approach performs significantly better compared to alternative policies in its ability to limit the occurrence of container overflows for the same routing cost. We also analyze the solution properties of a rolling horizon approach and derive empirical lower and upper bounds.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Plasticity of fear memory : a search for relapse prevention

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Amino Acid-Induced Translation of TOP mRNAs Is Fully Dependent on Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase-Mediated Signaling, Is Partially Inhibited by Rapamycin, and Is Independent of S6K1 and rpS6 Phosphorylation

ABSTRACT Vertebrate TOP mRNAs contain an oligopyrimidine tract at their 5′ termini (5′TOP) and encode components of the translational machinery. Previously it has been shown that they are subject to selective translational repression upon growth arrest and that their translational behavior correlates with the activity of S6K1. We now show that the translation of TOP mRNAs is rapidly repressed by amino acid withdrawal and that this nutritional control depends strictly on the integrity of the 5′TOP motif. However, neither phosphorylation of ribosomal protein (rp) S6 nor activation of S6K1 per se is sufficient to relieve the translational repression of TOP mRNAs in amino acid-starved cells. Likewise, inhibition of S6K1 activity and rpS6 phosphorylation by overexpression of dominant-negative S6K1 mutants failed to suppress the translational activation of TOP mRNAs in amino acid-refed cells. Furthermore, TOP mRNAs were translationally regulated by amino acid sufficiency in embryonic stem cells lacking both alleles of the S6K1 gene. Inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin led to fast and complete repression of S6K1, as judged by rpS6 phosphorylation, but to only partial and delayed repression of translational activation of TOP mRNAs. In contrast, interference in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase)-mediated pathway by chemical or genetic manipulations blocked rapidly and completely the translational activation of TOP mRNAs. It appears, therefore, that translational regulation of TOP mRNAs, at least by amino acids, (i) is fully dependent on PI3-kinase, (ii) is partially sensitive to rapamycin, and (iii) requires neither S6K1 activity nor rpS6 phosphorylation.
Video-Based Sentiment Analysis with hvnLBP-TOP Feature and bi-LSTM

In this paper, we propose a new feature extraction method called hvnLBP-TOP for video-based sentiment analysis. Furthermore, we use principal component analysis (PCA) and bidirectional long short term memory (bi-LSTM) for dimensionality reduction and classification. We achieved an average recognition accuracy of 71.1% on the MOUD dataset and 63.9% on the CMU-MOSI dataset.