Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
3D z‐shim method for reduction of susceptibility effects in BOLD fMRI

Susceptibility‐induced magnetic field gradients (SFGs) perpendicular to the slice plane often result in signal dropout in blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments. Two‐dimensional (2D) z‐shim methods reduce these effects by acquiring multiple images with different slice refocusing gradient areas. In this work a 3D z‐shim method is introduced as a more efficient alternative. The technique augments the k‐space data for a conventional 3D phase encoding acquisition with N additional lines that extend the kz coverage sufficiently to sample k‐space fully in regions with SFGs. Multiple subsets of these data are reconstructed using a sliding window that provides N +1 z‐shim images. Fewer total acquisitions are required than with the 2D method for the same coverage, and finer z‐shim steps are obtained. The technique is demonstrated with a motor task using intentionally introduced SFGs and compared with the 2D method. The results confirm increased BOLD SNR and activation with the new method in good agreement with theory. Magn Reson Med 42:290–299, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Time and Energy Pro ling in Production Sensor Networks with Quanto Basil Crow

We present improvements to Quanto, a network-wide time and energy proler for embedded network devices.We present an ecient method for estimating the individual energy consumption of concurrently operating hardware components when only their aggregate energy is observable. We also present a method for causally connecting energy usage to high-level, programmer-dened activities without recourse to bandwidthintensive logging. Our improvements drastically reduce the impact of Quanto’s time and energy proling on system behavior, enabling Quanto to scale from test environments to production sensor networks alike.
Psychosocial Dimensions of Exceptional Longevity: A Qualitative Exploration of Centenarians' Experiences, Personality, and Life Strategies

This qualitative study provides a comprehensive account of the social and life experiences and strategies and personality attributes that characterize exceptional longevity (living to 100 or over). It is based on nine semi-structured interviews of relatively healthy and functional Greek centenarians of both sexes. The analytic approach was thematic and based on grounded theory. We found that our participants were characterized by selectiveness in their socializing with other people and tendency to avoid conflicts. Also, we found that they predominantly used the “flight” response whenever confronted with stressors. Further, they appeared to be much adaptive as they had managed to overcome adversity and adapt successfully to major life changes. These findings provide insights into three possible pathways (social selectivity, conflict avoidance, and adaptiveness) through which psychosocial factors might be associated with aging and exceptional longevity.
Skill Acquisition in Skin Cancer Detection

Previous research has shown that the ability to detect potentially dangerous skin lesions is not improved by viewing a pamphlet describing the characteristic features of such lesions. A different approach to improving this skill was investigated in this study. 100 student recruits were tested to investigate the effect of practice at distinguishing between dangerous and nondangerous skin lesions. Around 30 minutes of such practice, viewing 360 pictures of skin lesions, provided a significant advantage in making decisions about a target set of dangerous and nondangerous lesions, compared to no practice or practice with a filler task. Viewing a skin cancer pamphlet for 5 min. at the beginning of the experiment made no difference to the speed or accuracy of decisions regarding the test lesions. The results are interpreted as evidence for a form of implicit learning of a skin cancer detection skill, a finding that is consistent with what is known of the nature of expertise in dermatologists. The results also point to the ineffectiveness of pamphlets to engender such expertise in the general public.
Researching Race in Mathematics Education

Background Within mathematics education research, policy, and practice, race remains undertheorized in relation to mathematics learning and participation. Although race is characterized in the sociological and critical theory literatures as socially and politically constructed with structural expressions, most studies of differential outcomes in mathematics education begin and end their analyses of race with static racial categories and group labels used for the sole purpose of disaggregating data. This inadequate framing is, itself, reflective of a racialization process that continues to legitimize the social devaluing and stigmatization of many students of color. I draw from my own research with African American adults and adolescents, as well as recent research on the mathematical experiences of African American students conducted by other scholars. I also draw from the sociological and critical theory literatures to examine the ways that race and racism are conceptualized in the larger social context and in ways that are informative for mathematics education researchers, policy makers, and practitioners. Purpose To review and critically analyze how the construct of race has been conceptualized in mathematics education research, policy, and practice. Research Design Narrative synthesis. Conclusion Future research and policy efforts in mathematics education should examine racialized inequalities by considering the socially constructed nature of race.
Reliable MultiPath Routing Schemes for Voice over Packet Networks

Applying forward error correction (FEC) in offline streaming with large buffering time dramatically improves the quality and performance of communications under challenging network conditions. However real-time streaming puts hard restrictions on the buffer size and therefore does not allow FEC to compensate for long link failures on single path routes. However, multi-path routing, orthogonal to buffering, can make FEC effective also for real-time streaming. For this purpose we introduce a capillary routing algorithm offering layer by layer a wide range of multi-path routing topologies starting from a simple multi-path solution and evolving toward more reliable and secure schemes. The friendliness of a particular multi-path routing scheme is rated by a measure called Redundancy Overall Requirement (ROR), which is proportional to the total amount of the FEC codes required for combating the individual failures of all links in the multi-path route. A dozen of capillary routing layers, built on several hundreds of network samples obtained from a random walk wireless Mobile Ad-Hoc Network (MANET), are rated with ROR. We show that the overall amount of FEC codes decreases substantially as the spreading of the routing grows.
Selective Down-regulation of KV2.1 Function Contributes to Enhanced Arterial Tone during Diabetes*

Background: KV channels in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) regulate arterial tone. Results: KV2.1 in VSMCs is down-regulated via AKAP150-CaN-dependent NFATc3 signaling during diabetes. Conclusion: Transcriptional suppression of KV2.1 contributes to enhanced arterial tone in diabetes. Significance: AKAP150-CaN-dependent activation of NFATc3 may be a general mechanism for transcriptional regulation of K+ channels, and a valuable target to prevent and treat diabetic vascular complications. Enhanced arterial tone is a leading cause of vascular complications during diabetes. Voltage-gated K+ (KV) channels are key regulators of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contractility and arterial tone. Whether impaired KV channel function contributes to enhance arterial tone during diabetes is unclear. Here, we demonstrate a reduction in KV-mediated currents (IKv) in VSMCs from a high fat diet (HFD) mouse model of type 2 diabetes. In particular, IKv sensitive to stromatoxin (ScTx), a potent KV2 blocker, were selectively reduced in diabetic VSMCs. This was associated with decreased KV2-mediated regulation of arterial tone and suppression of the KV2.1 subunit mRNA and protein in VSMCs/arteries isolated from HFD mice. We identified protein kinase A anchoring protein 150 (AKAP150), via targeting of the phosphatase calcineurin (CaN), and the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T-cells c3 (NFATc3) as required determinants of KV2.1 suppression during diabetes. Interestingly, substantial reduction in transcript levels for KV2.1 preceded down-regulation of large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channel β1 subunits, which are ultimately suppressed in chronic hyperglycemia to a similar extent. Together, our study supports the concept that transcriptional suppression of KV2.1 by activation of the AKAP150-CaN/NFATc3 signaling axis contributes to enhanced arterial tone during diabetes.
Use of the King's Outcome Scale for Childhood Head Injury in the evaluation of outcome in childhood traumatic brain injury

Objective: To examine the inter-rater reliability of The King's Outcome Scale for Childhood Head Injury (KOSCHI) with clinicians of varying experience in paediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI); and to examine change in outcome during long-term follow-up of children following traumatic brain injury (TBI) using KOSCHI. Method: Retrospective assessment of detailed clinic reports of 97 children followed-up by a tertiary specialist paediatric brain injury service. Investigators were blinded to each other's scores. Results: Inter-rater reliability was substantial (weighted kappa 0.71) and similar for investigators of varying experience. KOSCHI outcome was strongly associated with markers of injury severity (p = 0.028). In longitudinal follow-up, KOSCHI score worsened in 7 (23%) children who were injured under 8 years but in no older children (p = 0.02). Conclusion: KOSCHI has high inter-rater reliability for investigators of different experience. Long-term KOSCHI outcome is associated with injury severity. Some young children may develop worse disability over time.
Flexible power modeling for wireless systems: power modeling and optimization of two Bluetooth implementations

Battery-powered mobile devices featuring wireless connectivity are becoming part of everyday life. In a functional breakdown of their power budget, communication accounts for a steadily increasing share of the total power; this is pushing research on power management of the wireless interfaces. The key to effective power management is power modeling. We describe a power modeling methodology featuring variable granularity and low computational burden, which can be applied to any wireless protocol. We apply it to Bluetooth and model two different BT modules, highlighting how different power management policies suit different implementations.
An Interest Based Opportunistic Network Mobility Model and Routing Method

This paper presents an interest - based mobility model in order to portray the social property of opportunistic networks. In this model, mobile node and the geographical area is assigned to a multi-dimensional interest vector, and the probability of a region is selected as the moving target by a node is related with the inner product of two interest vectors and geographical distance between the node and the region. Based on the mobility model an interest based forwarding utility (IBUF) computing method is proposed also. This forwarding utility is used by nodes when they decide whether delivery of the message to the node encountered and decrease the hop count of the message. We evaluate the performance of IBUF with an interest-driven mobility model against routing methods like Epidemic, SprayAndWait and Prophet by perform them in the ONE simulator tool.
Characterization, fate, and function of hamster cortical granule components

Little is known about the composition and function of mammalian cortical granules. In this study, lectins were used as tools to: (1) estimate the number and molecular weight of glycoconjugates in hamster cortical granules and show what sugars are associated with each glycoconjugate; (2) identify cortical granule components that remain associated with the oolemma, cortical granule envelope, and/or zona pellucida of fertilized oocytes and preimplantation embryos; and (3) examine the role of cortical granule glycoconjugates in preimplantation embryogenesis. Microscopic examination of unfertilized oocytes revealed that the lectins PNA, DBA, WGA, RCA120, Con A, and LCA bound to hamster cortical granules. Moreover, LCA and Con A labeled the zona pellucida, cortical granule envelope, and plasma membrane of fertilized and artificially activated oocytes and two and eight cell embryos. Lectin blots of unfertilized oocytes had at least 12 glycoconjugates that were recognized by one or more lectins. Nine of these glycoconjugates are found in the cortical granule envelope and/or are associated with the zona pellucida and plasma membrane following fertilization. In vivo functional studies showed that the binding of Con A to one or more mannosylated cortical granule components inhibited blastomere cleavage in two‐cell embryos. Our data show that hamster cortical granules contain approximately 12 glycoconjugates of which nine remain associated extracellularly with the fertilized oocyte after the cortical reaction and that one or more play a role in regulating cleavage divisions. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 58:223–235, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genetic and Biochemical Diversity among Valeriana jatamansi Populations from Himachal Pradesh

Valeriana jatamansi Jones is an important medicinal plant that grows wild in Himachal Pradesh, India. Molecular and biochemical diversity among 13 natural populations from Himachal Pradesh was assessed using RAPD and GC-MS to know the extent of existing variation. A total of seven genetically diverse groups have been identified based on RAPD analysis which corroborated well with the analysis based on chemical constituents. The essential oil yield ranged from 0.6% to 1.66% (v/w). A negative correlation between patchouli alcohol and viridiflorol, the two major valued constituents, limits the scope of their simultaneous improvement. However, other few populations like Chamba-II and Kandi-I were found promising for viridiflorol and patchouli alcohol, respectively. The analysis of chemical constitution of oil of the populations from a specific region revealed predominance of specific constituents indicating possibility of their collection/selection for specific end uses like phytomedicines. The prevalence of genetically diverse groups along with sufficient chemical diversity in a defined region clearly indicates the role of ecology in the maintenance of evolution of this species. Sufficient molecular and biochemical diversity detected among natural populations of this species will form basis for the future improvement.
Module-based large-scale software evolution based on complex networks

Large-scale software systems usually consist of a huge number of modules, and have a series of releases along with these modules. This can be seen as software evolution. In recent years, researchers have put forward several models of software evolution by employing the theory of complex networks. In this paper, we put forward a refined model of software evolution based on the BA model: module-based evolution. We theoretically prove that the power-law degree distribution can be held in our model. We also build a tool to construct and analyze the class diagrams of JDK (Java Development Kits) evolved from version 1.2 to 1.6. The class diagrams can be seen as complex networks under evolution. We apply the module-based evolution model to these complex networks and simulate the evolution of key network features such as average clustering coefficient and average path length. Compared with real networks, our model can precisely describe the evolution of these features, and be used to help developers understand the characteristics of large-scale software evolution.
Genetic Association Studies of Suicidal Behavior: A Review of the Past 10 Years, Progress, Limitations, and Future Directions

Suicidal behaviors (SBs), which range from suicidal ideation to suicide attempts and completed suicide, represent a fatal dimension of mental ill-health. The involvement of genetic risk factors in SB is supported by family, twin, and adoption studies. The aim of this paper is to review recent genetic association studies in SBs including (i) case–control studies, (ii) family-based association studies, and (iii) genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Various studies on genetic associations have tended to suggest that a number of genes [e.g., tryptophan hydroxylase, serotonin receptors and transporters, or brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNFs)] are linked to SBs, but these findings are not consistently supported by the results obtained. Although the candidate–gene approach is useful, it is hampered by the present state of knowledge concerning the pathophysiology of diseases. Interpretations of GWAS results are mostly hindered by a lack of annotation describing the functions of most variation throughout the genome. Association studies have addressed a wide range of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in numerous genes. We have included 104 such studies, of which 10 are family-based association studies and 11 are GWAS. Numerous meta-analyses of case–control studies have shown significant associations of SB with variants in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT or SLC6A4) and the tryptophan hydroxylase 1 gene (TPH1), but others report contradictory results. The gene encoding BDNF and its receptor (NTRK2) are also promising candidates. Only two of the GWAS showed any significant associations. Several pathways are mentioned in an attempt to understand the lack of reproducibility and the disappointing results. Consequently, we review and discuss here the following aspects: (i) sample characteristics and confounding factors; (ii) statistical limits; (iii) gene–gene interactions; (iv) gene, environment, and by time interactions; and (v) technological and theoretical limits.
A Comprehensive Approach to WSN-Based ITS Applications: A Survey

In order to perform sensing tasks, most current Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) rely on expensive sensors, which offer only limited functionality. A more recent trend consists of using Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) for such purpose, which reduces the required investment and enables the development of new collaborative and intelligent applications that further contribute to improve both driving safety and traffic efficiency. This paper surveys the application of WSNs to such ITS scenarios, tackling the main issues that may arise when developing these systems. The paper is divided into sections which address different matters including vehicle detection and classification as well as the selection of appropriate communication protocols, network architecture, topology and some important design parameters. In addition, in line with the multiplicity of different technologies that take part in ITS, it does not consider WSNs just as stand-alone systems, but also as key components of heterogeneous systems cooperating along with other technologies employed in vehicular scenarios.
Forward Guidance and the Role of Central Bank Credibility under Heterogeneous Beliefs

This paper studies the macroeconomic effects of central bank forward guidance when central bank credibility is endogenous. In particular, we take a stylized New Keynesian model with an occasionally binding zero lower bound constraint on nominal interest rates and heterogeneous and boundedly rational households. The central bank uses a bivariate VAR to forecast, not taking into account the time-variation in the distribution of aggregate expectations. In this framework, we extend the central bank's toolkit to allow for the publication of its own forecasts (Delphic guidance) and the commitment to a future path of the nominal interest rate (Odyssean guidance). We find that both Delphic and Odyssean forward guidance increase the likelihood of recovery from a liquidity trap. Even though Odyssean guidance alone appears more powerful, we find it to increase ex post macroeconomic volatility and thus reduce welfare.
Exact stability analysis of 2D systems using LMIs

In this paper, we propose necessary and sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability analysis of 2D systems in terms linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). By introducing a guardian map for the set of Schur stable complex matrices, we first reduce the stability analysis problems into nonsingularity analysis problems of parameter-dependent complex matrices. Then, by means of the discrete-time positive real lemma and the generalized S-procedure, we derive LMI-based conditions to verify the asymptotic stability in an exact (i.e., nonconservative) fashion. It turns out that we can reduce the size of LMIs by employing the generalized S-procedure.
Discriminant-enhanced neighborhood preserving embedding for dimensionality reduction

Neighborhood preserving embedding is an useful linear dimensionality reduction method by preserving neighbourhood structure of high-dimensional data. However, it takes advantage of less class information to keep away data point from different classes for better recognition. In this paper, we proposed an improved neighborhood preserving embedding dimensionality reduction approach named discriminant-enhanced neighborhood preserving embedding (DNPE). It seeks to preserve the intrinsic structure of original data by constructing the neighborhood relationship of data point in the same class and enhance the discriminability by employing maximum margin criterion. Compared to using fisher criterion, the proposed method can avoid the small sample size (SSS) problem by introducing maximum margin criterion to its objective function. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method, experiments are conducted using k-nearest neighbor classifier on CMU PIE and UMIST database. The experimental results show that the proposed method performs better than some other linear methods in recognition on both databases.
Report on the evaluation of the VA/Seattle below-knee prosthesis.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Rehabilitation Research and Development (Rehab R&D) Service, Technology Transfer Section (TTS) with collaboration from the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) managed clinical trials to evaluate the VA/Seattle Below-Knee (BK) Prosthetic System. The clinical trials were held at the Prosthetic Treatment Center (PTC), VA Medical Center, Hines, Illinois. Five other VA medical centers participated in the outreach program of the trials as satellite stations, with PTC Hines as the central fabrication facility. The VA/Seattle BK system is the first complete prosthetic system designed and developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. It consists of a socket designed and fabricated using computer-aided, automated technology, and off-the-shelf modular components: a lightweight pylon and an ankle unit, and a lightweight, energy-storing foot. The computer-based socket design software, the modular components, and the prosthetic foot were developed with funds from the VA Rehab R&D Service. The evaluation trials were conducted to determine the efficacy of the VA/Seattle prosthesis, its reliability, and acceptance by veterans. The clinical trials began in April 1991 and were completed in August 1992. Forty-six BK amputee veterans were fitted with the VA/Seattle prosthesis. Their progress with the prosthesis was followed for a period of 6 months and data were gathered at intervals of 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Forty sets of subject data instruments were collected. In order to maintain the accuracy of the results, TTS used the 22 sets that were complete for data analysis. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)