Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chemiexcitation of melanin derivatives induces DNA photoproducts long after UV exposure

The dark side of melanin exposed Sun worshippers may have more to worry about than the DNA damage that occurs while they're relaxing on the beach. It seems that the DNA photoproducts responsible for cancer-causing mutations in skin cells continue to be generated for hours after sunlight exposure. Premi et al. find that a key mediator of this delayed damage is melanin, a pigment thought to protect against cancer (see the Perspective by Taylor). They propose a “chemiexcitation” model in which reactive oxygen and nitrogen species induced by ultraviolet light excite an electron in melanin fragments. This energy is then transferred to DNA, inducing the same damage as ultraviolet light, but in the dark. Conceivably, this energy could be dissipated by adding quenchers to sunscreens. Science, this issue p. 842; see also p. 824 Melanin, a pigment thought to protect against skin cancer, contributes to DNA damage occurring after ultraviolet exposure. [Also see Perspective by Taylor] Mutations in sunlight-induced melanoma arise from cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), DNA photoproducts that are typically created picoseconds after an ultraviolet (UV) photon is absorbed at thymine or cytosine. We found that in melanocytes, CPDs are generated for >3 hours after exposure to UVA, a major component of the radiation in sunlight and in tanning beds. These “dark CPDs” constitute the majority of CPDs and include the cytosine-containing CPDs that initiate UV-signature C→T mutations. Dark CPDs arise when UV-induced reactive oxygen and nitrogen species combine to excite an electron in fragments of the pigment melanin. This creates a quantum triplet state that has the energy of a UV photon but induces CPDs by energy transfer to DNA in a radiation-independent manner. Melanin may thus be carcinogenic as well as protective against cancer. These findings also validate the long-standing suggestion that chemically generated excited electronic states are relevant to mammalian biology.
Practical issues in self-observation.

Using self-observation as a clinical or research tool requires attention to a number of practical concerns. In this article, issues involved in selecting a self-observation method are considered, including determining the dimension of behavior to be observed and choosing a method and recording device for sampling behavior. The literature on training individuals to self-observe, which supports the importance of comprehensive multicomponent training, is surveyed. Also considered are ways of evaluating and improving data quality as the self-observer collects information and of engineering compliance with requests to self-monitor. Future research should (a) systematically examine ways of obtaining high-quality self-observation data and enhancing participant compliance and (b) extend findings of older investigations both to contemporary methods of collecting information and to self-observation of private events.
Telaprevir with peginterferon and ribavirin for chronic HCV genotype 1 infection.

BACKGROUND Current therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is effective in less than 50% of patients infected with HCV genotype 1. Telaprevir, a protease inhibitor specific to the HCV nonstructural 3/4A serine protease, rapidly reduced HCV RNA levels in early studies. METHODS We randomly assigned patients infected with HCV genotype 1 to one of three telaprevir groups or to the control group. The control group (called the PR48 group) received peginterferon alfa-2a (180 microg per week) and ribavirin (1000 or 1200 mg per day, according to body weight) for 48 weeks, plus telaprevir-matched placebo for the first 12 weeks (75 patients). The telaprevir groups received telaprevir (1250 mg on day 1 and 750 mg every 8 hours thereafter) for 12 weeks, as well as peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin (at the same doses as in the PR48 group) for the same 12 weeks (the T12PR12 group, 17 patients) or for a total of 24 weeks (the T12PR24 group, 79 patients) or 48 weeks (the T12PR48 group, 79 patients). The primary outcome was a sustained virologic response (an undetectable HCV RNA level 24 weeks after the end of therapy). RESULTS The rate of sustained virologic response was 41% (31 of 75 patients) in the PR48 group, as compared with 61% (48 of 79 patients) in the T12PR24 group (P=0.02), 67% (53 of 79 patients) in the T12PR48 group (P=0.002), and 35% (6 of 17 patients) in the T12PR12 group (this group was exploratory and not compared with the control group). Viral breakthrough occurred in 7% of patients receiving telaprevir. The rate of discontinuation because of adverse events was higher in the three telaprevir-based groups (21%, vs. 11% in the PR48 group), with rash the most common reason for discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with a telaprevir-based regimen significantly improved sustained virologic response rates in patients with genotype 1 HCV, albeit with higher rates of discontinuation because of adverse events. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00336479.)
The consequences of halo "error" in performance ratings: A field study of the moderating effect of halo on test validation results.

Performance ratings of 294 clerical workers in a validation study of clerical ability tests indicated that halo, measured as the standard deviation across dimensions, consistently moderated the relationships between dimension ratings and scores and valid tests. Greater halo resulted in higher validity coefficients, and also was related to higher performance ratings. The results of this study contradict the traditionally held view of halo as a rating «error», and are consistent with recent laboratory studies that have found accuracy and halo positively related
Rhetoric versus Reality: Exploring Consumer Empowerment in a Maternity Setting

This study explores consumer empowerment in a maternity setting in the Republic of Ireland. Our results indicate that empowerment is a complex phenomenon influenced by many variables. While the current health services literature is focusing on active consumers of health services, our study shows that not all pregnant women have the same needs for and attitudes toward empowerment: some women do indeed seek to be overtly empowered in the maternity setting and equate empowerment with a high level of control over the service provision; others pursue a more passive role but may still experience such a role as empowering. A theoretical discussion focusing on the complexities of empowerment and issues of power and authoritative knowledge in cultural systems concludes this paper.
The Putative AKH Receptor of the Tobacco Hornworm, Manduca sexta, and Its Expression

Abstract Adipokinetic hormones are peptide hormones that mobilize lipids and/or carbohydrates for flight in adult insects and activate glycogen Phosphorylase in larvae during starvation and during molt. We previously examined the functional roles of adipokinetic hormone in Manduca sexta L. (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). Here we report the cloning of the full-length cDNA encoding the putative adipokinetic hormone receptor from the fat body of M. sexta. The sequence analysis shows that the deduced amino acid sequence shares common motifs of G protein-coupled receptors, by having seven hydrophobic transmembrane segments. We examined the mRNA expression pattern of the adipokinetic hormone receptor by quantitative Real-Time PCR in fat body during development and in different tissues and found the strongest expression in fat body of larvae two days after molt to the fifth instar. We discuss these results in relation to some of our earlier results. We also compare the M. sexta adipokinetic hormone receptor with the known adipokinetic hormone receptors of other insects and with gonadotropin releasing hormone-like receptors of invertebrates.
A decentralized output feedback controller for a class of large-scale interconnected nonlinear systems

The decentralized output feedback control problem for a class of large-scale interconnected nonlinear systems is considered. The nonlinear interconnection function of each subsystem is assumed to satisfy a quadratic constraint on the entire state of the large-scale system. A decentralized estimated state feedback controller and a decentralized observer are designed for each subsystem. Sufficient conditions, for each subsystem, under which the proposed controller and observer can achieve exponential stabilization of the overall large-scale system are developed. Simulation results on a numerical example are given to verify the proposed design.
Integrating Joint Intention Theory, Belief Reasoning, and Communicative Action for Generating Team-Oriented Dialogue

The goal of this research is to develop an architecture that can guide an agent during collaborative teamwork. The architecture should generate communication and dialogue during the performance of collaborative multi-agent tasks as a byproduct of the agent's rationally pursuing its intentions. This paper describes how a joint intention interpreter that is integrated with a reasoner over beliefs and communicative acts can form the core of a dialogue engine. As an interpreter of joint actions, the architecture enables agent programmers to describe a domain declaratively, specifying an agent's individual and joint intentions, plans and actions at a high level. The interpreter attempts to fulfill the agent's individual and joint intentions, subject to its beliefs and mutual beliefs. As a consequence, the system engages in dialogue through the planning and execution of communicative acts necessary to attain the collaborative task at hand. The dialogue engine is general enough to be applicable to both agent-agent and agent-human teams. The system has been implemented in a combination of Java and Prolog, and can be shown to obey the predictions of joint intention.
Design methodology for a tightly coupled VLIW/reconfigurable matrix architecture: a case study

Coarse-grained reconfigurable architectures have seen growing importance recently. Design tools and methodology are essential to their success. Based on our previous work on modulo scheduling algorithms and a novel architecture with tightly coupled VLIW/reconfigurable matrix, we present a C-based design flow using an MPEG-2 decoder as a design example. The application is mapped to the architecture in less than one person-week starting from a software implementation. The kernel and overall speedup over the reference VLIW are 4.84 and 3.05 respectively. The case study shows that our methodology and architecture can deliver a competitive package in terms of design efforts and performance over other programmable architectures.
Dispersion and Dispatch Movement Design for a Multi-Robot Searching Team Using Communication Density

In recent years, since the cooperation of multiple robots provides numerous advantages in engineering applications, the research topics on multi-robot systems have received great attention. Due to the complexity and/or difficulty of a task, the performance by one single robot is usually limited. However, the performance limitation could be overcome by the cooperation of multiple robots. Compared with one single robot, a multi-robot team could provide advantages such as better efficiency, robustness, execution time saving, and so on, which are mainly achieved because of the characteristics of multi-robot cooperation. In a multi-robot team, the possible abilities of each robot can be usually classified as the following four types: communication, sensing, computation, and actuation. Among these abilities, the communication between robots is the most important factor for the cooperative characteristics of a multi-robot team. If every robot is considered as a networking node, the communication links between any pair of robots form a communication network. In order to guarantee the cooperative characteristics of a multi-robot team, the method of maintaining a good communication network thus becomes a critical issue. Considering the robot mobility, environmental limitation, user requests or other factors, many moving algorithms driving robots to form a good communication network are previously proposed. In most of these algorithms, robots are assumed to be well equipped with advanced sensing or positioning devices such as global positioning system, radar and/or camera. These equipments could provide enough information for the moving algorithms and hence output good performance. Sometimes, because of the computation complexity of the algorithm, other advanced processing units are also needed. These assumptions, however, are not easily implemented in real applications. Moreover, cost or retrieve would be another important design issue for the searching task by a robot team. To achieve the cooperative characteristics and information sharing, the team of robots must maintain a good communication connection while moving or performing tasks. In real implementation, sharing enough information quantity among multiple robots could be a challenging problem. In this chapter, inspired by the bacteria mobility behavior, a dispersion movement design for a multi-robot team is presented. The goal of the dispersion algorithm is to maintain the communication network among robots and enlarge the coverage area as widely as possible. Unlike other previously proposed algorithms, the O pe n A cc es s D at ab as e w w w . in te hw eb . c om
Research on the Architecture of Distributed Web Mining System

A new distributed web-mining system based on CORBA (DWMBC) is proposed. It is based on web and takes advantage of CORBA for distributed processing. Distributed data processing and web mining are effectively combined to meet the demand of multi-platform in the system, and the safety and scalability of the system are reinforced. In addition, the Java technology is applied to meet the real time requirement of the presentation of the mining results. At last, a system instance is developed to implement this distributed system model.
Visual consumption, collective memory and the representation of war

Conceiving of the visual as a significant force in the production and dissemination of collective memory, we argue that a new genre of World War Two films has recently emerged that form part of a new discursive “regime of memory” about the war and those that fought and lived through it, constituting a commemoration as much about reflecting on the present as it is about remembering the past. First, we argue that these films seek to reaffirm a (particular conception of a) US national identity and military patriotism in the post–Cold War era by importing World War Two as the key meta‐narrative of America’s relationship to war in order to “correct” and help “erase” Vietnam’s more negative discursive rendering. Second, we argue that these films attempt to rewrite the history of World War Two by elevating and illuminating the role of the US at the expense of the Allies, further serving to reaffirm America’s position of political and military dominance in the current age, and third, that these films form part of a celebration of the generation that fought World War Two, which may accord them a position of nostalgic and sentimental greatness, as their collective spirit and notions of duty and service shine against the foil of what might frequently be seen as our own present moral ambivalence.
Research Paper Series Globalisation and Labour Markets Welfare Magnets, Border Effects or Policy Regulations: What Determinants Drive Migration Flows into the Eu? Welfare Magnets, Border Effects or Policy Regulations: What Determinants Drive Migration Flows into the Eu?

Acknowledgements I would like to thank GEP, and especially David Greenaway, for inviting me to visit GEP and giving a seminar (16 January 2006). I am further grateful to Robert Shelburne (UNECE) and GEP seminar participants for helpful comments and suggestions. Abstract This paper aims at explaining recent migration trends into the EU. A first contribution is to provide an original eclectic theoretical model from the new developments in migration theories. Second, an empirical panel data model is provided in order to explain the emigration rate into 18 EU countries, from 67 source countries, over the past 10 years. Finally, this model simultaneously tests the impact of the traditional and the new variables on migration flows into the EU. From both static and dynamic panel data estimators, the results show that the new variables are of particular significance, compared to traditional ones.
Divide & Conquer-based Inclusion Dependency Discovery

The discovery of all inclusion dependencies (INDs) in a dataset is an important part of any data profiling effort. Apart from the detection of foreign key relationships, INDs can help to perform data integration, query optimization, integrity checking, or schema (re-)design. However, the detection of INDs gets harder as datasets become larger in terms of number of tuples as well as attributes. To this end, we propose Binder, an IND detection system that is capable of detecting both unary and n-ary INDs. It is based on a divide & conquer approach, which allows to handle very large datasets -- an important property on the face of the ever increasing size of today's data. In contrast to most related works, we do not rely on existing database functionality nor assume that inspected datasets fit into main memory. This renders Binder an efficient and scalable competitor. Our exhaustive experimental evaluation shows the high superiority of Binder over the state-of-the-art in both unary (Spider) and n-ary (Mind) IND discovery. Binder is up to 26x faster than Spider and more than 2500x faster than Mind.
Shrinkage Estimation for Functional Principal Component Scores with Application to the Population Kinetics of Plasma Folate

Summary. We present the application of a nonparametric method to performing functional principal component analysis for functional curve data that consist of measurements of a random trajectory for a sample of subjects. This design typically consists of an irregular grid of time points on which repeated measurements are taken for a number of subjects. We introduce shrinkage estimates for the functional principal component scores that serve as the random effects in the model. Scatterplot smoothing methods are used to estimate the mean function and covariance surface of this model. We propose improved estimation in the neighborhood of and at the diagonal of the covariance surface, where the measurement errors are reflected. The presence of additive measurement errors motivates shrinkage estimates for the functional principal component scores. Shrinkage estimates are developed through best linear prediction and in a generalized version, aiming at minimizing one‐curve‐leave‐out prediction error. The estimation of individual trajectories combines data obtained from that individual as well as all other individuals. We apply our methods to new data regarding the analysis of the level of 14C‐folate in plasma as a function of time since dosing of healthy adults with a small tracer dose of 14C‐folic acid. A time transformation was incorporated to handle design irregularity concerning the time points on which the measurements were taken. The proposed methodology, incorporating shrinkage and data‐adaptive features, is seen to be well suited for describing population kinetics of 14C‐folate‐specific activity and random effects, and can also be applied to other functional data analysis problems.
One size does not fit all: complexity, religion, secularism and education

The continuing incidence of extremist acts committed in the name of religion underscores the need to examine the interplay between religion and learning. This article argues for a secular foundation in society and school to protect against religion contributing to conflict and extremism. However, this is not a hard version of secularism, but a dynamic secularism which adapts to different contexts in time and space. A number of myths about secularism are exposed. The article draws on complexity theory to show how religion amplifies conflict, but also to show how a complex adaptive society can accommodate diverse faiths. A comparative perspective across a range of countries and continents reveals highly diverse patterns of religious education, and shows their links to power and nation-building. There are clear dangers of the politicization of religion and of segregation in a plural society. Yet, a complexity approach also warns of blanket global recommendations about the intersection between faith and schooling. Only two basics are posited: first, that there should be transparency and consistency in government policies on religion or secularism, and second, that schooling should promote the critical thinking which enables religious messages to be critiqued and the rights of all upheld.
Turn-Directed α-β Conformational Transition of α-syn12 Peptide at Different pH Revealed by Unbiased Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The transition from α-helical to β-hairpin conformations of α-syn12 peptide is characterized here using long timescale, unbiased molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in explicit solvent models at physiological and acidic pH values. Four independent normal MD trajectories, each 2500 ns, are performed at 300 K using the GROMOS 43A1 force field and SPC water model. The most clustered structures at both pH values are β-hairpin but with different turns and hydrogen bonds. Turn9-6 and four hydrogen bonds (HB9-6, HB6-9, HB11-4 and HB4-11) are formed at physiological pH; turn8-5 and five hydrogen bonds (HB8-5, HB5-8, HB10-3, HB3-10 and HB12-1) are formed at acidic pH. A common folding mechanism is observed: the formation of the turn is always before the formation of the hydrogen bonds, which means the turn is always found to be the major determinant in initiating the transition process. Furthermore, two transition paths are observed at physiological pH. One of the transition paths tends to form the most-clustered turn and improper hydrogen bonds at the beginning, and then form the most-clustered hydrogen bonds. Another transition path tends to form the most-clustered turn, and turn5-2 firstly, followed by the formation of part hydrogen bonds, then turn5-2 is extended and more hydrogen bonds are formed. The transition path at acidic pH is as the same as the first path described at physiological pH.
Log-Linear Framework for Linear Feature Transformations in Speech Recognition

Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) has been es- tablished as an important means for dimension reduction and decorrelation in speech recognition. The major points of criticism of LDA are that it uses an ad hoc and non-discriminative training criterion, and that the estimation is performed in a separate preprocessing step. This paper presents a new discriminative training method for the estimation of (projecting) linear feature transforms. More precisely, the problem is formulated in the log- linear framework, resulting in a convex optimization problem. Experimental results are provided for a digit string recognition task to compare the performance and robustness of the proposed approach (in combination with ML or MMI optimized acoustic models) with conventional LDA. Also, first experiments for a large vocabulary task are presented.