Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An instrument that isn't really (Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench)

The concept and development of LabVIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench), a virtual instrument (VI) that provides a simple, graphical way to set up and run numerous instruments on a Mackintosh PC, are described. The first concept basic to LabVIEW had its roots in a large test system comprised of programmable signal sources compatible with IEEE-488 interface specifications, and switching matrices and measurement instruments controlled by a minicomputer. The test system's strength was its flexibility, which it owed to its several levels of user interfaces. This flexible configuration was refined into the notion of instrumentation as a hierarchy of virtual instruments in which all VIs at all levels had the same type of construction. Another characteristic was that each VI have its own user interface. The final conceptual element was the use of loop data-flow structures as the technique used by an engineer to construct and run his or her own VIs. Problems encountered in the development of LabVIEW and the solutions used are discussed. <<ETX>>
"Like Sheep Among Wolves": Characterizing Hateful Users on Twitter

Hateful speech in Online Social Networks (OSNs) is a key challenge for companies and governments, as it impacts users and advertisers, and as several countries have strict legislation against the practice. This has motivated work on detecting and characterizing the phenomenon in tweets, social media posts and comments. However, these approaches face several shortcomings due to the noisiness of OSN data, the sparsity of the phenomenon, and the subjectivity of the definition of hate speech. This works presents a user-centric view of hate speech, paving the way for better detection methods and understanding. We collect a Twitter dataset of $100,386$ users along with up to $200$ tweets from their timelines with a random-walk-based crawler on the retweet graph, and select a subsample of $4,972$ to be manually annotated as hateful or not through crowdsourcing. We examine the difference between user activity patterns, the content disseminated between hateful and normal users, and network centrality measurements in the sampled graph. Our results show that hateful users have more recent account creation dates, and more statuses, and followees per day. Additionally, they favorite more tweets, tweet in shorter intervals and are more central in the retweet network, contradicting the "lone wolf" stereotype often associated with such behavior. Hateful users are more negative, more profane, and use less words associated with topics such as hate, terrorism, violence and anger. We also identify similarities between hateful/normal users and their 1-neighborhood, suggesting strong homophily.
Distinct Mechanisms Account for the Linear non–Separability and Conjunction Effects in Visual Shape Encoding

In a series of visual search experiments involving simple 2D shapes, Arguin and Saumier (2000) showed that targets that were made of conjunctions of distractor features or that were a linear combination of distractor features were searched at significantly slower rates than single-feature linearly separable targets. The present study assessed whether these conjunction and linear nonseparability effects can be attributed to distinct mechanisms. Specifically, we studied the impact of target–distractor similarity on the search rates for single-feature, conjunction, and linearly nonseparable targets. The results replicate the conjunction and linear nonseparability effects obtained by Arguin and Saumier. They also show that the conjunction and linear separability effects are differently modulated by variations in target–distractor similarity. This dissociation demonstrates that both effects are based on distinct mechanisms. The possible nature of these mechanisms is discussed.
Automatic Brain Tissue Extraction Method Using Erosion-Dilation Treatment (BREED) From Three-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging T1-Weighted Data

To improve the efficiency of brain image analysis, we propose a full-automatic method for extracting brain tissue from three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging of T1-weighted data on the human head (brain tissue extraction method using erosion-dilation treatment [BREED]). The extraction processing is realized by combining signal intensity thresholding by means of the discriminant analysis method and an erosion-dilation treatment of the image. The accuracy of BREED is evaluated using both simulated and subject data. BREED can extract brain tissues with high accuracy (approximately 97%) for either simulated or subject data.
STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF THE GENERALIZED TAYLOR RULE

This paper analyzes the dynamical properties of monetary models with regime switching. We start with the analysis of the evolution of inflation when policy is guided by a simple monetary rule where coefficients switch with the policy regime. We rule out the possibility of a Hopf bifurcation and demonstrate the possibility of a period-doubling bifurcation. As a result, a small change in the parameters (e.g., a more active policy response) can lead to a drastic change in the path of inflation. We show that the New Keynesian model with a current-looking Taylor rule is not prone to bifurcations. A New Keynesian model with a hybrid rule, however, exhibits the same pattern of period-doubling bifurcations as the analysis with a simple monetary rule.
Experimental warming alters spring phenology of certain plant functional groups in an early successional forest community

Experimental study of the effects of projected climate change on plant phenology allows us to isolate effects of warming on life‐history events such as leaf out. We simulated a 2 °C temperature increase and 20% precipitation increase in a recently harvested temperate deciduous forest community in central Pennsylvania, USA, and observed the leaf out phenology of all species in 2009 and 2010. Over 130 plant species were monitored weekly in study plots, but due to high variability in species composition among plots, species were grouped into five functional groups: short forbs, tall forbs, shrubs, small trees, and large trees. Tall forbs and large trees, which usually emerge in the late spring, advanced leaf out 14–18 days in response to warming. Short forbs, shrubs, and small trees emerge early in spring and did not alter their phenology in response to warming or increased precipitation treatments. Earlier leaf out of tall forbs and large trees coincided with almost 3 weeks of increased community‐level leaf area index, indicating greater competition and a condensed spring green‐up period. While phenology of large trees and tall forbs appears to be strongly influenced by temperature‐based growth cues, our results suggest that photoperiod and chilling cues more strongly influence the leaf out of other functional groups. Reduced freeze events and warmer temperatures from predicted climate change will interact with nontemperature growth cues to have cascading consequences throughout the ecosystem.
Validation of blood testing for K-ras mutations in colorectal and pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND K-ras mutation in a tumour is a powerful negative predictor for treatment success. Identifying tumour K-ras mutation is complex, and could be simplified by an appropriate blood test. Clinical studies were identified in which K-ras mutation status was assessed in both blood and tumour to ascertain whether blood K-ras mutation is predictive of tumour K-ras mutation. Between 29% and 100% of patients with a tumour K-ras mutation in 11 studies presented the same mutation in peripheral blood. Only 5/272 patients presented blood K-ras mutation in the absence of the same tumour mutation, possibly due to sampling errors. K-ras mutation in blood appears to indicate K-ras mutation in tumour, while the absence of blood K-ras mutation does not prove lack of mutation in the tumour. This suggests that a blood test for the detection of tumour K-ras may be possible, and could direct cancer treatment strategies.
Basic Needs Budgets Revisited: Does the U.S. Consumer Price Index Overestimate the Changes in the Cost of Living for Low-Income Families?

The consumer price index (CPI) is used in the United States to measure changes in the cost of living. Since the CPI is used to index the official U.S. poverty guidelines and to establish eligibility criteria for various public assistance programs, a change in the methodology used to calculate the CPI would impact the accuracy of poverty statistics and, more importantly, poor families' access to public assistance. Since the majority of these poor families are headed by women, the CPI becomes a critical issue for feminist economics. In December 1996 the United States Senate Finance Committee's Advisory Commission to Study the Consumer Price Index issued its final report which concluded that use of the consumer price index results in widespread substantial overindexing. This paper uses the basic needs budgets (BNB) to evaluate changes in the cost of living for low-income families. The author compares the cost of the BNBs for single-parent families in 1983 and 1996 and finds that the cost of the bundle of goods and services included in the BNBs has increased faster than the CPI. The author finds similar results for two-parent families.
Microscopy Image Browser: A Platform for Segmentation and Analysis of Multidimensional Datasets

Understanding the structure–function relationship of cells and organelles in their natural context requires multidimensional imaging. As techniques for multimodal 3-D imaging have become more accessible, effective processing, visualization, and analysis of large datasets are posing a bottleneck for the workflow. Here, we present a new software package for high-performance segmentation and image processing of multidimensional datasets that improves and facilitates the full utilization and quantitative analysis of acquired data, which is freely available from a dedicated website. The open-source environment enables modification and insertion of new plug-ins to customize the program for specific needs. We provide practical examples of program features used for processing, segmentation and analysis of light and electron microscopy datasets, and detailed tutorials to enable users to rapidly and thoroughly learn how to use the program.
Monitoring obesity prevalence in the United States through bookmarking activities in online food portals

Studying the impact of food consumption on people’s health is a serious matter for its implications on public policy, but it has traditionally been a slow process since it requires information gathered through expensive collection processes such as surveys, census and systematic reviews of research articles. We argue that this process could be supported and hastened using data collected via online social networks. In this work we investigate the relationships between the online traces left behind by users of a large US online food community and the prevalence of obesity in 47 states and 311 counties in the US. Using data associated with the recipes bookmarked over an 9-year period by 144,839 users of the Allrecipes.com food website residing throughout the US, several hierarchical regression models are created to (i) shed light on these relations and (ii) establish their magnitude. The results of our analysis provide strong evidence that bookmarking activities on recipes in online food communities can provide a signal allowing food and health related issues, such as obesity to be better understood and monitored. We discover that higher fat and sugar content in bookmarked recipes is associated with higher rates of obesity. The dataset is complicated, but strong temporal and geographical trends are identifiable. We show the importance of accounting for these trends in the modeling process.
Adrenoreceptor‐mediated modulation of the spinal locomotor pattern during swimming in Xenopus laevis tadpoles

This study focused on the contribution of different adrenoreceptor subtypes to the modulation of fictive swimming activity in a relatively simple, yet intact, lower vertebrate system, the immobilized Xenopus laevis tadpole and explored their possible role in mediating the noradrenergic modulation of spinal motor networks. In Xenopus embryos, near the time of hatching, activation of α1 adrenoreceptors increased the duration of episodes of fictive swimming, whilst in larvae, 24 h after hatching, they were decreased. Activation of α2 adrenoreceptors, however, markedly reduced episode duration at both developmental stages. Cycle periods in both stages were increased by the activation of α1 and/or α2 receptor subclasses, whereas β adrenoreceptors were not apparently involved in the modulation of cycle periods or the duration of swim episodes. However, both β and α1 receptor activation decreased the intersegmental delay in the head‐to‐tail propagation of swimming activity, while α2 receptors did not influence these rostro‐caudal delays. Activation of neither α, nor β, receptor subclasses had any consistent effect on the duration of ventral motor bursts. Our findings suggest that noradrenergic modulation of the swim‐pattern generator in Xenopus tadpoles is mediated through the activation of α and β adrenoreceptors. In addition, activation of particular receptor subclasses might enable the selective modulation of either the segmental rhythm generating networks, the intersegmental coordination of those networks or control at both levels simultaneously.
The Environmental Kuznets Curve and Spatial Pattern of Environmental—Economy in China: Evidence from a Panel Cointegration Test

Abstract: This paper applies the panel unit root, heterogeneous panel cointegration test and panel—based dynamic OLS recently developed to re—investigate the Environmental Kuznets Curves for 30 provinces in mainland China from 1985 to 2007. The empirical results show that there is a positive long—term cointegrated relationship between economic growth and three types of environmental pollution. The relationships take on inverted U—shaped EKCs, but the turning points in these curves differ from those found in previous studies. We then analyze the spatial pattern of environmental—economy in China based on the estimations of this study. Most provinces in central and western China are not above the turning points of the EKCs, where industrial pollution emissions show an increasing trend. At present, China is subject to tremendous environmental pressures, and will need to meet enormous cost for pollution emissions reduction. However, environmental economic policies should differ over time and region.
A low-power low-cost built-in jitter measurement circuit for DDR4-2133

Knowing the phase jitter is helpful for improving the design quality of a GHz clocking system. In this paper, we present how to design a low-power and low-cost built-in jitter measurement (BIJM) circuit in 28 nm CMOS for monitoring the on-chip clock jitter in DDR4-2133. The implementation and measurement results show that the proposed BIJM achieves a 77% power reduction and a 7% area reduction compared to the state-of-the-art design.
Factor seven activating protease (FSAP): does it activate factor VII?

Background: Factor seven activating protease (FSAP) was initially reported as an activator of single‐chain urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (scuPA) and factor VII (FVII). Subsequently, numerous additional substrates have been identified, and multiple other biological effects have been reported. Due to the apparent lack of specificity, the physiological role of FSAP has become increasingly unclear. Rigorous studies have been limited by the difficulty of obtaining intact FSAP from blood or recombinant sources. Objectives: Our aim was to produce intact recombinant human FSAP, and to assess its role as a trigger of coagulation and fibrinolysis. Results: Expression of wild‐type FSAP in various mammalian cells invariably resulted in the accumulation of degraded FSAP due to autoactivation and degradation. To overcome this problem, we constructed a variant in which Arg313 at the natural activation site was replaced by Gln, creating a cleavage site for the bacterial protease thermolysin. HEK293 cells produced FSAPR313Q in its intact form. Thermolysin‐activated FSAP displayed the same reactivity toward the substrate S‐2288 as plasma‐derived FSAP, and retained its ability to activate scuPA. Polyphosphate and heparin increased Vmax by 2–3‐fold, without affecting Km (62 nm) of scuPA activation. Surprisingly, FVII activation by activated FSAP proved negligible, even in the presence of calcium ions, phospholipid vesicles and recombinant soluble tissue factor. On membranes of 100% cardiolipin FVII cleavage did occur, but this resulted in transient activation and rapid degradation. Conclusions: While FSAP indeed activates scuPA, FVII appears remarkably resistant to activation. Therefore, reappraisal of the putative role of FSAP in hemostasis seems appropriate.
COMPARISON OF METHODS FOR THE VALUATION OF IRRIGATION WATER: CASE STUDY FROM QAZVIN, IRAN

Physical availability and adequate distribution of irrigation water are two globally pressing resource management issues. In the long run, the design of irrigation infrastructure should be based on the economic value of irrigation water, taking into account a full analysis of all associated costs and benefits. In the absence of water markets, non‐market valuation methods need to be employed to assess the economic value of irrigation water. A multitude of valuation methods are available, which often differ substantially in their results. We compare three different methods using primary data collected from the Qazvin irrigation network in Iran. We compare economic values based on contingent valuation (197 rial m‾3), the value of marginal product (430/476 rial m‾3 depending on functional form assumptions), and change in net rent (1080 rial m‾3). The hypothetical nature of the contingent valuation and the presence of strategic responses may have resulted in understatements of the true water values. Thus, a stochastic frontier analysis was used to correct for undervaluation bias, which is estimated at 272 rial m‾3. Our results suggest that actual water prices fall substantially short of the estimated economic values in the Qazvin irrigation network: higher water prices would hence improve the allocation of water. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Isolation of tetracenomycin C-nonproducing Streptomyces glaucescens mutants

We analyzed the properties of tetracenomycin C (TcmC)-nonproducing mutants of Streptomyces glaucescens to establish the nature of pathway intermediates and to provide some information about the genetics of antitumor anthracycline antibiotic production. Using cosynthesis properties and metabolite accumulation data, we classified a collection of 34 TcmC-nonproducing strains into seven different groups. From this information, we deduced the positions of the tcm mutations in relation to a hypothetical TcmC biosynthetic pathway and suggest which pathway enzymes are affected by the different mutations.
Interventional Cardiology spirin and Clopidogrel Drug Response in atients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention he Role of Dual Drug Resistance

OBJECTIVES We sought to evaluate the response to clopidogrel among aspirin-resistant versus aspirinsensitive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). BACKGROUND Wide variability has been reported in response to aspirin and clopidogrel. There are limited data on the simultaneous responses to both drugs. METHODS Elective PCI patients (n 150) who received aspirin for 1 week but not clopidogrel were included. All patients received bivalirudin during PCI. Blood samples were drawn at baseline and 20 to 24 h after a 300-mg clopidogrel dose. Aspirin resistance was defined by 2 of 3 criteria: rapid platelet function analyzer-ASA score 550, 5 mol/l adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced aggregation 70%, and 0.5 mg/ml arachidonic acid-induced aggregation 20%. Clopidogrel resistance was defined as baseline minus post-treatment aggregation 10% in response to 5 and 20 mol/l ADP. RESULTS Nineteen (12.7%) patients were resistant to aspirin and 36 (24%) to clopidogrel. Nine (47.4%) of the aspirin-resistant patients were also clopidogrel resistant. Aspirin-resistant patients were more likely to be women and have diabetes than were aspirin-sensitive patients. They also had lower response to clopidogrel, assessed by platelet aggregation and activation markers (flow cytometry-determined PAC-1 binding and P-selectin expression). Elevation of creatine kinase-myocardial band after stenting occurred more frequently in aspirin-resistant versus aspirin-sensitive patients (38.9% vs. 18.3%; p 0.04) and in clopidogrel-resistant versus clopidogrel-sensitive patients (32.4% vs. 17.3%; p 0.06). CONCLUSIONS Aspirin-resistant patients as a group have reduced response to clopidogrel. Furthermore, we have identified a unique group of dual drug-resistant patients who may be at increased risk for thrombotic complications after PCI. (J Am Coll Cardiol 2006;47:27–33) © 2006 by the ublished by Elsevier Inc. doi:10.1016/j.jacc. 2005.08. 058
Different strokes: regulatory styles and environmental strategy in the North‐American oil and gas industry

The environmental management and policy literature presents competing arguments for and against different styles of environmental regulations – command-and-control versus flexible regulations that enable voluntary actions. On the one hand, it is argued that firms will not adopt minimum environmental standards without command-and-control regulations and that such regulations may actually result in competitive benefits for first movers. On the other hand, the literature argues that command-and-control regulations stifle innovation and that flexible regulations encourage proactive environmental strategies that lead to competitive benefits for organizations. This study compared the environmental strategies and competitiveness of oil and gas firms in two different regulatory contexts – the command-and-control based US environmental regulations and the flexible collaborative Canadian context. The study found no significant differences in the degree to which firms within the two contexts were more or less proactive in their environmental strategies or in the extent of competitiveness associated with corporate environmental strategies. Follow-up interviews with 12 Canadian and US companies indicated that regulations appeared to be more important drivers of corporate environmental practices at initial stages and eventually other external and internal drivers became more important influences on corporate environmental strategies. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment