Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peer effects in science: evidence from the dismissal of scientists in Nazi Germany

This paper analyzes peer effects among university scientists. Specifically, it investigates whether the number of peers and their average quality affects the productivity of researchers in physics, chemistry, and mathematics. The usual endogeneity problems related to estimating peer effects are addressed by using the dismissal of scientists by the Nazi government as a source of exogenous variation in the peer group of scientists staying in Germany. Using a newly constructed panel dataset covering the universe of physicists, chemists, and mathematicians at all German universities from 1925 until 1938 I investigate peer effects at the local level and among co-authors. There is no evidence for localized peer effects, as neither department level (e.g. the physics department) nor specialization level (e.g. all theoretical physicists in the department) peers affect a researcher's productivity. Among co-authors, however, there is strong and significant evidence that peer quality affects a researcher's productivity. Loosing a co-author of average quality reduces the productivity of an average scientist by about 13 percent in physics and 16.5 percent in chemistry.
Experimental Investigation and Theoretical Prediction of Extrudate Swell Using Conformational Rheological Models

Abstract In this study the extrudate swell of polymer solutions is estimated using the microstructure of polymer molecules. When a flexible polymer chain goes through a narrow die shear stress exerting on the chain will cause the polymer chain to be stretched along the flow direction. After emerging from die all external stresses vanish immediately and the chains tend to recover their previous state due to elastic recovery. This phenomenon will results in a gradual increase in extrudate diameter and this is used as the key idea for estimating swell ratio. A Giesekus based conformational model was used in order to predict polymer chains microstructure everywhere in the domain. The resulting PDE set including, continuity, momentum, and conformational rheological model were solved using a finite volume method with the OpenFOAM software. Numerical results were compared with experimental data which were obtained for aqueous solutions of Carboxymethylcellulose. It was found that model predictions are in good agreement with experimental data. The results were also compared to results which were obtained by the Tanner relation which underestimates experimental data.
Selenium supplementation and colorectal adenomas: An analysis of the nutritional prevention of cancer trial

Selenium status has been inversely associated with colorectal cancers (CRC) and adenomas. This investigation evaluates the association between selenium supplementation and prevalent and incident colorectal adenomas and CRC detected during the Nutritional Prevention of Cancer trial follow‐up. Of the 1,312 randomized to 200 mcg of selenized yeast of matching placebo, 598 participants underwent endoscopic screening (flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy) for CRC sometime during the follow‐up period, which ended in February 1, 1996. There was no colorectal screening performed at baseline. Of those screened, 77% were male (with a mean age of 62.8 years), 42% were former and 25% were current smokers. Adenomas were classified as prevalent (identified at the first endoscopic examination postrandomization during the follow‐up period) or incident (identified at the second or subsequent examination). Ninety‐nine prevalent and 61 incident adenomas were ascertained. Logistic regression odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, adjusting for age, gender and smoking status. For prevalent adenomas, there was a suggestive but nonsignificant decrease in risk associated with selenium treatment (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.43–1.05). Subjects in the lowest tertile of baseline selenium (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.09–0.77) and current smokers (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.11–0.66) had significant reductions in risk. The OR for incident adenomas was 0.98 (95% CI = 0.57–1.68). In addition to being associated with a reduced risk of incident CRC, selenium supplementation was associated with a significantly reduced risk of prevalent adenomas, but only among subjects with either a low baseline selenium level or among current smokers. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A new switching charger for photovoltaic power system by soft-switching

This paper presents an intelligent control method for the maximum power point tracking(MPPT) of a photovoltaic powered water pump system for long tailed boat in Thailand by using DC-DC boost converter as switching charger, this system consisted of a solar array, a switching battery charger based on boost DC-DC converter, a battery and small water pump. The solar array had a specification as 75 watts of output power, 14-18 volts of output DC voltage, and 3A of output DC current. The output power of solar array was the input power for boost DC-DC converter as the switching charger. To control the boost converter, the pulse width modulation (PWM) was applied. The water pump was controlled by a microcontroller PIC 186627. When the water amount reaches the specified level, a sensor will send the signal to the microcontroller for controlling a relay to drive a motor in the water pump. To verify the proposed pump system, the prototype of water pump for small boat was built to experiment. From the results, to stabilize the output voltage of the boost DC-DC charger at 25.6 volts, the duty ratio was controlled at 35-50% with 100 kHz of switching frequency. The battery having rated voltage as 24 volts and rated current as 7 amps per hour was used in the system.
Insulin Sensitivity and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness: Relationship Between Insulin Sensitivity and Cardiovascular Risk Study

Objective—Despite a wealth of experimental data in animal models, the independent association of insulin resistance with early carotid atherosclerosis in man has not been demonstrated. Approach and Results—We studied a European cohort of 525 men and 655 women (mean age, 44±8 years) free of conditions known to affect carotid wall (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia). All subjects received an oral glucose tolerance test, a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp (M/I as a measure of insulin sensitivity), and B-mode carotid ultrasound. In 833 participants (380 men), the carotid ultrasound was repeated after 3 years. In men, baseline intima-media thickness in the common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the lowest M/I tertile, whereas in women CCA-IMT was higher (P<0.0005) in the highest fasting plasma glucose tertile (after adjustment for established risk factors). In multiple regression models, with CCA-IMT as the dependent variable and with risk factors and univariate metabolic correlates as independent variables, circulating free fatty acids and the leptin:adiponectin ratio replaced M/I as independent metabolic determinants of CCA-IMT in men. The strongest metabolic determinant of CCA-IMT in women was fasting plasma glucose. Three-year CCA-IMT changes were not associated with any cardio-metabolic risk factor. Conclusions—In young-to-middle aged apparently healthy people, the association of CCA-IMT with insulin sensitivity and its metabolic correlates differs between men and women. Lower insulin sensitivity is associated with higher IMT only in men; this association seems to be mediated by circulating free fatty acids and adipocytokines. In women, CCA-IMT is independently associated with fasting plasma glucose.
Causal Learning and Explanation of Deep Neural Networks via Autoencoded Activations

Deep neural networks are complex and opaque. As they enter application in a variety of important and safety critical domains, users seek methods to explain their output predictions. We develop an approach to explaining deep neural networks by constructing causal models on salient concepts contained in a CNN. We develop methods to extract salient concepts throughout a target network by using autoencoders trained to extract human-understandable representations of network activations. We then build a bayesian causal model using these extracted concepts as variables in order to explain image classification. Finally, we use this causal model to identify and visualize features with significant causal influence on final classification.
Spontaneous regional lymph node metastases of three variants of the B16 melanoma: Relationship to primary tumor size and pulmonary metastas

We studied the patterns of spontaneous regional lymph node metastases of three variants (Fl, F10, and BL6) of the B16 melanoma in C57BL/6 mice and related the incidence to primary tumor size and pulmonary metastases. The incidence of regional lymph node and pulmonary metastases correlated with increasing primary tumor size (p ⩽ 0.0001). The incidence of pulmonary metastases in mice whose regional lymph nodes did not contain tumor also correlated with increasing primary tumor size (p ⩽ 0.0001). This propensity for direct hematogenous spread was more apparent in BL6 tumors than in F1 and F10 tumors (p ⩽ 0.0001). BL6 tumors also metastasized to regional nodes at smaller primary tumor sizes (p ⩽ 0.04). Heterogeneous variants that metastasize earlier to regional lymphatic and hematogenous sites dictates the natural history of the primary tumor. Whether prophylactic lymphadenectomy for melanomas is therapeutic may depend on dissemination‐related phenotypic characteristics.
See it: a scalable location-based game for promoting physical activity

See It is a location-based treasure hunt game designed to promote physical activity amongst players. In the game, players use ambiguous visual clues in the form of images and video clips to find locations containing a hidden container. Players can also create and hide game content in order to help promote long-term engagement and an increasing numbers of players.
Sentences Simplification for Automatic summarization

In this paper, we emphasize the need for conserving space within sentences by introducing a Sentences Simplification Module (SSM). The module is aimed to shorten the length of sentences via either splitting or compression. We describe how the module is integrated in a Wikipedia-based summarization framework. We highlight the performance differences obtained from introducing such a module by running a series of evaluations.
Homer3 regulates the establishment of neutrophil polarity

Most chemoattractants rely on activation of the heterotrimeric G-protein Gαi to regulate directional cell migration, but few links from Gαi to chemotactic effectors are known. Homer3 is a novel Gαi2-interacting protein that spatially organizes actin assembly to support efficient polarity and motility in neutrophils.
Toll-Like Receptor 2 Impairs Host Defense in Gram-Negative Sepsis Caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei (Melioidosis)

Background Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are essential in host defense against pathogens by virtue of their capacity to detect microbes and initiate the immune response. TLR2 is seen as the most important receptor for gram-positive bacteria, while TLR4 is regarded as the gram-negative TLR. Melioidosis is a severe infection caused by the gram-negative bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei, that is endemic in Southeast Asia. We aimed to characterize the expression and function of TLRs in septic melioidosis. Methods and Findings Patient studies: 34 patients with melioidosis demonstrated increased expression of CD14, TLR1, TLR2, and TLR4 on the cell surfaces of monocytes and granulocytes, and increased CD14, TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, LY96 (also known as MD-2), TLR5, and TLR10 mRNA levels in purified monocytes and granulocytes when compared with healthy controls. In vitro experiments: Whole-blood and alveolar macrophages obtained from TLR2 and TLR4 knockout (KO) mice were less responsive to B. pseudomallei in vitro, whereas in the reverse experiment, transfection of HEK293 cells with either TLR2 or TLR4 rendered these cells responsive to this bacterium. In addition, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of B. pseudomallei signals through TLR2 and not through TLR4. Mouse studies: Surprisingly, TLR4 KO mice were indistinguishable from wild-type mice with respect to bacterial outgrowth and survival in experimentally induced melioidosis. In contrast, TLR2 KO mice displayed a markedly improved host defenses as reflected by a strong survival advantage together with decreased bacterial loads, reduced lung inflammation, and less distant-organ injury. Conclusions Patients with melioidosis displayed an up-regulation of multiple TLRs in peripheral blood monocytes and granulocytes. Although both TLR2 and TLR4 contribute to cellular responsiveness to B. pseudomallei in vitro, TLR2 detects the LPS of B. pseudomallei, and only TLR2 impacts on the immune response of the intact host in vivo. Inhibition of TLR2 may be a novel treatment strategy in melioidosis.
Memory System for a Dynamically Adaptable Pixel Stream Architecture

Nowadays, embedded vision systems have to face new hard requirements involved by modern applications: real-time processing of high resolution images issued by multiple image sensors. Recently, a new adaptable ring-based interconnection network on chip has been proposed. Based on adaptive datapath, it allows handling of multiple parallel pixel streams. In this paper, we present a new hierarchical memory system proposed for this adaptable ring-based architecture. The design of its different levels is discussed and we show how the memory system adapts dynamically with respect to the datapath and data access management in the interconnection network. We also present the timing performance and area occupation measured on an FPGA prototype.
Decision Fusion for Isolated Malay Digit Recognition Using Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) and Hidden Markov Model (HMM)

This paper is focused on Malay speech recognition with the intention to introduce a decision fusion technique for isolated Malay digit recognition using Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) and Hidden Markov Model (HMM). This study proposes an algorithm for decision fusion of the recognition models. The endpoint detection, framing, normalization, Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficient (MFCC) and vector quantization techniques are used to process speech samples to accomplish the recognition. Decision fusion technique is then used to combine the results of DTW and HMM. The algorithm is tested on speech samples that is a part of a Malay corpus.
Allosteric Modulation of the Activity of the Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Metabolite GLP-1 9–36 Amide at the GLP-1 Receptor

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) released from intestinal L cells in response to nutrients has many physiological effects but particularly enhances glucose-dependent insulin release through the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R). GLP-1 7–36 amide, the predominant circulating active form of GLP-1, is rapidly truncated by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 to GLP-1 9–36 amide, which is generally considered inactive. Given its physiological roles, the GLP-1R is targeted for treatment of type 2 diabetes. Recently ‘compound 2’ has been described as both an agonist and positive allosteric modulator of GLP-1 7–36 amide affinity, but not potency, at the GLP-1R. Importantly, we demonstrated previously that exendin 9–39, generally considered a GLP-1R antagonist, enhances compound 2 efficacy (or vice versa) at the GLP-1R. Given that GLP-1 9–36 amide is the major circulating form of GLP-1 post-prandially and is a low affinity weak partial agonist or antagonist at the GLP-1R, we investigated interaction between this metabolite and compound 2 in a cell line with recombinant expression of the human GLP-1R and the rat insulinoma cell line, INS-1E, with native expression of the GLP-1R. We show compound 2 markedly enhances efficacy and potency of GLP-1 9–36 amide for key cellular responses including AMP generation, Ca2+ signaling and extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Thus, metabolites of peptide hormones including GLP-1 that are often considered inactive may provide a means of manipulating key aspects of receptor function and a novel therapeutic strategy.
Application Frequency of Dietary Vibrio harveyi Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on Growth and White Spot Syndrome Virus Resistance of Post Larvae Penaeus monodon

This study evaluated the effects of dietary Vibrio harveyi lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as an immunostimulant fed at different frequencies for improving growth performance, immune response, and disease resistance of post larvae Penaeus monodon against white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). In an 8 week feeding trial, shrimp were fed a treatment diet containing Vibrio harveyi LPS at a predetermined dose of 50 mg/kg diet daily or every 2, 5, and 7 days. A basal diet was given to the treatment groups when the shrimp were not fed the dietary immunostimulant. Results showed 90-96% survival of the test animals, and weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) were significantly enhanced in shrimp fed LPS every 2 days. No significant differences were observed in the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of any of the test groups. Following WSSV challenge, the groups receiving LPS-supplemented diet exhibited increased disease resistance compared to the control group. Shrimp fed with LPS every 2 days exhibited significantly higher survival rate (53%) than the other treatments. The same group consistently showed significantly higher values in all immune indices measured including total hemocyte count (THC), phenoloxidase (PO) activity, and respiratory burst activity (RBA). This study suggests that dietary administration of Vibrio harveyi LPS at 50 mg/kg concentration fed every 2 days is optimum to enhance growth, immune response, and protection against WSSV in post larval P. monodon. The IJA appears exclusively as a peer-reviewed on-line open-access journal at http://www.siamb. org.il/. To read papers free of charge, please register online at registration form. Sale of IJA papers is strictly forbidden.
Regional cerebral blood flow and cytokines in young females with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether there is any difference in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and serum cytokine levels and association between clinical parameters and rCBF and serum cytokine levels in young females with fibromyalgia (FM). The other aim was to search whether the depression state has any effect on these two parameters. METHODS Nineteen women with FM and 20 healthy women had 99mTc-HMPAO brain single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) to evaluate rCBF. Serum interleukin (IL) levels (IL 1 beta, IL 2r, IL 6 and IL 8) were measured. Clinical and psychological evaluation was also carried out in FM patients and healthy controls. RESULTS The patients with FM had significantly higher radioactivity uptake ratio in right and left caudate nucleus (p = 0.009, p = 0.001, respectively) than healthy controls. There was statistically significant decrease in the 99mTc-HMPAO uptake in the right superior parietal (p = 0.041), gyrus rectalis (p = 0.036) and pons (p = 0.023). FM patients had significantly higher serum IL 2r and IL 8 levels (p = 0.023, p = 0.011, respectively) than controls. Additionally, FM patients had significantly higher Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and Hamilton Depression Rate scale (HDRS) scores (p = 0.000) than controls. Interestingly, the patients with mild depressive symptoms or without (i.e. HDRS-score < or = 16) had significantly higher serum IL 8 levels (p = 0.027) and increased radioactivity uptake ratio in the pons (P = 0.036) than the patients with more severe depressive symptoms (i.e. HDRS-score > 16). With regard to regional cerebral blood flow, significant correlations were detected between RSP and morning stiffness (r = 0.70, p < 0.01) and sleep disturbance (r = -0.53, p < 0.05), and between gyrus rectalis and FIQ score. There were significant correlations between LCN and IL-2 (P = 0.025), between RSP and morning stiffness (P = 0.006), sleep disturbance (P = 0.021) according to multiple regression analysis test. CONCLUSION This study shows a significant increase in rCBF of caudate nuclei, a reduction in the pons, some cortical regions activity and a increase in IL 8, IL2r levels of young female patients with FM. These findings are more prominent in patients with low HDRS scores.
Randomized trial of medical or endoscopic therapy to prevent recurrent ulcer hemorrhage in patients with adherent clots.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Treatment of high-risk patients with nonbleeding adherent clots on ulcers is controversial. In a previous randomized trial, there was no benefit to endoscopic therapies compared with medical therapy for prevention of ulcer rebleeding. Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that patients treated with combination endoscopic therapy would have significantly lower rebleeding rates than those treated with medical therapy. METHODS In this randomized, controlled trial, 32 high-risk patients with severe ulcer hemorrhage and nonbleeding adherent clots resistant to target irrigation were randomized to medical therapy or to combination endoscopic therapy (with epinephrine injection, shaving down the clot with cold guillotining, and bipolar coagulation on the underlying stigmata). Physicians blinded to the endoscopic therapy managed all patients. RESULTS Patients were similar at study entry, except for older age in the medical group and lower platelet count in the endoscopic group. By hospital discharge, significantly more medically treated patients (6/17; 35.3%) than endoscopically treated patients (0/15; 0%) rebled (P = 0.011). There were no complications of endoscopic treatment. CONCLUSIONS Combination endoscopic therapy of nonbleeding adherent clots significantly reduced early ulcer rebleeding rates in high-risk patients compared with medical therapy alone. This endoscopic treatment was safe.
Coffee Consumption and Digestive Tract Cancers 1

The relationship between coffee drinking and the risk of digestive tract neoplasms was analyzed in a case-control study of 50 cases of cancer of the mouth or pharynx, 209 of the esophagus, 397 of the stomach, 455 of the colon, 295 of the rectum, 151 of the liver, 214 of the pancreas, and 1944 control subjects admitted for acute, non-digestive tract disorders. There was no significant or consistent association between coffee and cancers of the mouth or pharynx, esophagus, stomach, liver, or pancreas. In particular, for pancreatic cancer, the multivariate relative risks for the intermediate and upper fertiles were 1.05 and 1.01, respectively. There were significant inverse trends in risk with measures of coffee consump tion for colon and rectal cancers, the multivariate relative risks according to fertiles of coffee consumption being 0.86 and 0.64 for colon and 0.97 and 0.66 for rectum. This apparent protection is in agreement with some (but not all) previous epidemiolÃ3gica! evidence and finds a possible biological interpretation in terms of interference on bile secretion, causing reduced bile acid and neutral stero! concentrations in the bowel. In conclusion, the results of this study, the major interest of which lies in the opportunity of drawing up an overall pattern of risk for various digestive neoplasms, offer further reassurance as regards the effects of coffee on digestive tract carcinogenesis.