Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social and physical reasoning in human-reared chimpanzees : preliminary studies

A challenging issue in the comparative and developmental literature concerns the effort to define and describe the underlying nature of concepts and representations. This volume represents an attempt to define perception, and what it might mean for an organism to have a “theory of perception. ” Typically, if an organism is able to differentiate between different objects, making operational choices between them, that organism is said to have an understanding of the objects’ different properties, or at least to have discriminated between them in a meaningful way. If the organism can predict that different objects will have differential effects on the world that organism may be said to have some limited causal understanding. Adding complexity to the study of such topics is the issue of implicit versus explicit levels of understanding. To act on objects in the world in meaningfully different ways is not necessarily functionally equivalent to reflecting on those objects, or one’s own actions, in a conscious or metacognitive manner. As evolutionary psychologists, our focus has been to understand how our closest living relatives may be both similar to and different from humans in their approach to solving social and physical problems. We have previously proposed that one critical way in which non-humans, even the other apes, may differ from humans, is in their ability to represent and reason about unobservables (Povinelli, 2004; Vonk and Povinelli, 2006). We posit that to have a true “theory” of objects or other organisms (whether it be a theory of perception or a theory of mind), an organism must represent
A Linear Programming Approach for the Least-Squares Protein Morphing Problem

This work addresses the computation of free-energy differences between protein conformations by using morphing (i.e., transformation) of a source conformation into a target conformation. To enhance the morphing procedure, we employ permutations of atoms; we transform atom n in the source conformation into atom σ(n) in the target conformation rather than directly transforming atom n into atom n. Because shorter morphing paths reduce the cost of the free-energy computation, we seek to find the permutation σ that minimizes the mean-square distance traveled by the atoms. Instead of performing this combinatorial search in the space of permutations, we relax the search onto the space of bistochastic matrices and solve the relaxed problem by linear programming. Using Birkhoff’s theorem, we show that the solution of the relaxed problem is indeed identical to the solution of the original problem. We demonstrate that the use of such optimal permutations significantly improves the efficiency of the free-energy computation.
Arterial pressure variations as parameters of brain perfusion in response to central blood volume depletion and repletion

Rationale: A critical reduction in central blood volume (CBV) is often characterized by hemodynamic instability. Restoration of a volume deficit may be established by goal-directed fluid therapy guided by respiration-related variation in systolic- and pulse pressure (SPV and PPV). Stroke volume index (SVI) serves as a surrogate end-point of a fluid challenge but tissue perfusion itself has not been addressed. Objective: To delineate the relationship between arterial pressure variations, SVI and regional brain perfusion during CBV depletion and repletion in spontaneously breathing volunteers. Methods: This study quantified in 14 healthy subjects (11 male) the effects of CBV depletion [by 30 and 70 degrees passive head-up tilt (HUT)] and a fluid challenge (by tilt back) on CBV (thoracic admittance), mean middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow velocity (Vmean), SVI, cardiac index (CI), PPV, and SPV. Results: PPV (103 ± 89%, p < 0.05) and SPV (136 ± 117%, p < 0.05) increased with progression of central hypovolemia manifested by a reduction in thoracic admittance (11 ± 5%, p < 0.001), SVI (28 ± 6%, p < 0.001), CI (6 ± 8%, p < 0.001), and MCAVmean (17 ± 7%, p < 0.05) but not in arterial pressure. The reduction in MCAVmean correlated to the fall in SVI (R2 = 0.52, p < 0.0001) and inversely to PPV and SPV [R2 = 0.46 (p < 0.0001) and R2 = 0.45 (p < 0.0001), respectively]. PPV and SPV predicted a ≥15% reduction in MCAVmean and SVI with comparable sensitivity (67/67% vs. 63/68%, respectively) and specificity (89/94 vs. 89/94%, respectively). A rapid fluid challenge by tilt-back restored all parameters to baseline values within 1 min. Conclusion: In spontaneously breathing subjects, a reduction in MCAVmean was related to an increase in PPV and SPV during graded CBV depletion and repletion. Specifically, PPV and SPV predicted changes in both SVI and MCAVmean with comparable sensitivity and specificity, however the predictive value is limited in spontaneously breathing subjects.
A new fiberoptical respiratory rate monitor for the neonatal intensive care unit

A new technique for respiratory rate measurement in the neonatal intensive care unit, fiberoptic respirometry (FORE), was tested using a specially designed nasal adapter. The aim was to investigate the system's accuracy and compare it to the transthoracic impedance (TTI) method and manual counting (MC). Further, the relationship between accuracy and degree of body movement was investigated. Seventeen neonates of median gestational age 35 weeks were included in the study. Video recordings (synchronized with data recordings) were used for classification of body movement. Breaths per minute data were obtained for 23–32‐min periods per child, and a subset of these included MC performed by experienced nurses. A Bland‐Altman analysis showed low accuracy of both FORE and TTI. A >20% deviation from MC was found in 22.7% and 23.8% of observations for the two methods, respectively. Both methods had accuracy problems during body movement. FORE tended to underestimate respiratory rate due to probe displacement, while TTI overestimated due to motion artefacts. The accuracy was also strongly subject‐dependent. The neonates were undisturbed by the FORE device. In some cases, though, it was difficult to keep the adapter positioned in the airway. Further development should, therefore, focus on FORE adapter improvements to maintain probe position over time. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Benefit of Additional High-School Math and Science Classes for Young Men and Women

This article examines the effects of taking more high-school math and science classes on wages, the likelihood of entering a technical job or a job traditional for one's sex, and the likelihood of choosing a technical college major or a major traditional for one's sex. Results from two data sets show that taking more high-school math increases wages and increases the likelihood of entering technical and nontraditional fields for female college graduates. No significant impact from taking more high school math is consistently observed for other workers, and high-school science courses have little effect on these outcomes.
Trust management for trusted computing platforms in web services

The concept of trusted platforms using trusted computing technology such as the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is becoming significant in that such technologies are being increasingly available in PCs and mobile devices today. When such trusted platforms are used in applications, one of the key design issues is the ability to capture platform level requirements and to represent them as security policies for authorization decision making. This paper makes some contributions which we believe are an important first step in achieving policy based decision making with trusted platforms. It outlines a platform based trust management framework for specification of trust policies. In this context, we argue the need for a higher level abstraction that is able to capture the lower level state of the platform and use this in the evaluation of trust between the communicating entities. We extend the notion of trusted platform properties by introducing the concept of Component Property Certificates, which can be used in specifying and building trust relationships. We then illustrate how component property certificates can be used in the specification of trust policies of different granularities.
Temporal Dynamics of Motivation-Cognitive Control Interactions Revealed by High-Resolution Pupillometry

Motivational manipulations, such as the presence of performance-contingent reward incentives, can have substantial influences on cognitive control. Previous evidence suggests that reward incentives may enhance cognitive performance specifically through increased preparatory, or proactive, control processes. The present study examined reward influences on cognitive control dynamics in the AX-Continuous Performance Task (AX-CPT), using high-resolution pupillometry. In the AX-CPT, contextual cues must be actively maintained over a delay in order to appropriately respond to ambiguous target probes. A key feature of the task is that it permits dissociable characterization of preparatory, proactive control processes (i.e., utilization of context) and reactive control processes (i.e., target-evoked interference resolution). Task performance profiles suggested that reward incentives enhanced proactive control (context utilization). Critically, pupil dilation was also increased on reward incentive trials during context maintenance periods, suggesting trial-specific shifts in proactive control, particularly when context cues indicated the need to overcome the dominant target response bias. Reward incentives had both transient (i.e., trial-by-trial) and sustained (i.e., block-based) effects on pupil dilation, which may reflect distinct underlying processes. The transient pupillary effects were present even when comparing against trials matched in task performance, suggesting a unique motivational influence of reward incentives. These results suggest that pupillometry may be a useful technique for investigating reward motivational signals and their dynamic influence on cognitive control.
The Les Houches accord PDFs (LHAPDF) and LHAGLUE

We describe the development of the LHAPDF library from its initial implementation following the Les Houches meeting in 2001 to its present state as a functional replacement for PDFLIB. Brief details are given of how to install and use the library together with the PDF sets available. We also describe LHAGLUE, an add-on PDFLIB look-a-like interface to LHAPDF, which facilitates using LHAPDF with existing Monte Carlo generators such as PYTHIA and HERWIG.
Averaging for attitude control and motion planning

Shows how to use periodic forcing to solve the constructive controllability problem for drift-free, left-invariant systems on matrix Lie groups with fewer controls than states. In particular, the authors prove a second-order averaging theorem applicable to systems evolving on general matrix Lie groups. Using this theorem, the authors show how to construct open loop controls for complete controllability of systems that require up to depth-one Lie brackets to satisfy the Lie algebra controllability rank condition. The authors apply these results to the attitude control problem with only two controls available and to the unicycle motion planning problem. <<ETX>>
The effect of natamycin on the transcriptome of conidia of Aspergillus niger

The impact of natamycin on Aspergillus niger was analysed during the first 8 h of germination of conidia. Polarisation, germ tube formation, and mitosis were inhibited in the presence of 3 and 10 μM of the anti-fungal compound, while at 10 μM also isotropic growth was affected. Natamycin did not have an effect on the decrease of microviscosity during germination and the concomitant reduction in mannitol and trehalose levels. However, it did abolish the increase of intracellular levels of glycerol and glucose during the 8 h period of germination. Natamycin hardly affected the changes that occur in the RNA profile during the first 2 h of germination. During this time period, genes related to transcription, protein synthesis, energy and cell cycle and DNA processing were particularly up-regulated. Differential expression of 280 and 2586 genes was observed when 8 h old germlings were compared with conidia that had been exposed to 3 μM and 10 μM natamycin, respectively. For instance, genes involved in ergosterol biosynthesis were down-regulated. On the other hand, genes involved in endocytosis and the metabolism of compatible solutes, and genes encoding protective proteins were up-regulated in natamycin treated conidia.
Predicting extinction rates in stochastic epidemic models

We investigate the stochastic extinction processes in a class of epidemic models. Motivated by the process of natural disease extinction in epidemics, we examine the rate of extinction as a function of disease spread. We show that the effective entropic barrier for extinction in a susceptible–infected–susceptible epidemic model displays scaling with the distance to the bifurcation point, with an unusual critical exponent. We make a direct comparison between predictions and numerical simulations. We also consider the effect of non-Gaussian vaccine schedules, and show numerically how the extinction process may be enhanced when the vaccine schedules are Poisson distributed.
The effect of lysine on gluconeogenesis from lactate in rat hepatocytes.

1. In freshly prepared isolated rat liver cells there is a lag in gluconeogenesis from lactate. The magnitude of the lag increases with increasing lactate concentration. 2. The lag is virtually abolished by lysine. 3. A few other amino acids (tyrosine, arginine, asparagine, ornithine) and NH(4)Cl had effects similar to, but less pronounced than, lysine during the early stage of incubation. Lysine was unique in accelerating gluconeogenesis beyond the lag period. 4. The effects of the accelerators are not additive. 5. Glycine, serine, threonine, cysteine, tryptophan and histidine at 2mm markedly inhibit (>20%) gluconeogenesis from lactate. 6. Oleate, which promotes gluconeogenesis from lactate by supplying acetyl-CoA required for the pyruvate carboxylase reaction, had no effect on the lag, yet oleate oxidation showed no lag. 7. Preincubation of cells decreased the lag and decreased the magnitude of the lysine effect. 8. Pyruvate (added at 1mm to give an initial [lactate]/[pyruvate] ratio of 10) also abolished the lag and decreased the lysine effect by about 50%. 9. Lysine reversed the inhibition by ethanol of gluconeogenesis from lactate. 10. All accelerators increased the rate of re-oxidation of cytosolic NADH as shown by a rapid re-adjustment of the [lactate]/[pyruvate] ratio on addition of 10mm-lactate. 11. The accelerated rates of gluconeogenesis are associated with an increased formation of aspartate and glutamate and especially alanine. 12. The existence of the lag period can be explained on the basis of the fact that the accumulation of pyruvate during the lag diverts oxaloacetate from gluconeogenesis to malate formation, i.e. that the re-oxidation of cytosolic NADH takes precedence over gluconeogenesis. This means that much oxaloacetate formed by the pyruvate carboxylase reaction has to be transferred twice from the mitochondria to the cytosol by the aspartate shuttle. Under these conditions the operation of the shuttle limits the rate of gluconeogenesis from lactate. Lysine and other accelerators may increase the effectiveness of the shuttle by providing components of the aspartate aminotransferases involved. The question of why lysine specifically accelerates gluconeogenesis beyond the lag period is discussed.
Disaster preparedness among Hong Kong nurses.

AIM This paper is a report of a survey to explore Hong Kong nurses' disaster preparedness. BACKGROUND Increasingly frequent global disasters are posing threats to human health and life. The World Health Organization has called for countries to have detailed plans at all levels in order to be prepared for disasters that may arise. METHOD A questionnaire was distributed to convenience samples of practising Registered Nurses studying in Master's degree programmes at a Hong Kong university in 2007. Results. Of a possible 174, 164 questionnaires were returned (Response rate 94%). Almost all nurses (97.6%) considered the government health department to be the organization most involved in disastrous situations. The majority (84.8%) were aware of the existence of a protocol on disaster management at their workplace. About one-third would respond in accordance with protocol (38.4%) or rely on directions from their immediate supervisors (34.8%) if a disaster occurred. Almost all the nurses (97%) considered themselves not adequately prepared for disasters. They recognized that a protocol for disaster management (85.4%) and training and drills for disasters (both 84.1%) are useful tools. CONCLUSION Nurses in Hong Kong are not adequately prepared for disasters, but are aware of the need for such preparation. Disaster management training should be included in the basic education of nurses.
AT2L2 o N2/2 for fast fourier transform in multilayer VLSI

In this paper, we show that <i>N</i>-point fast Fourier transform (FFT) circuits with throughput 1 (i.e., time 1 after pipelining) can be optimally laid out with area <i>N</i><sup>2</sup>/(4⌊ <i>L</i><sup>2</sup>/2 ⌋) + <i>o</i>(<i>N</i><sup>2</sup>/<i>L</i><sup>2</sup>) under the multilayer 2-D grid model, where only one active layer (for network nodes) is required and <i>L</i> layers of wires are available, 2 &lte; <i>L</i> &lte; <i>o</i>(*sqrt;[3]<i>N</i>). We further propose AT<sup>2</sup><i>L</i><sup>2</sup> or 2 <i>AT</i><sup>2</sup> ⌊ <i>L</i><sup>2</sup>/2 ⌋ as a new parameter for characterizing the area-time complexity for multilayer VLSI, and show that <i>AT</i><sup>2</sup><i>L</i><sup>2</sup> ο <i>N</i><sup>2</sup>/2 for <i>N</i>-point Fourier transform.
Marine Organic Aerosol and Biological Oceanic Activity

Marine aerosol constitutes one of the most important natural aerosol systems at the global level and comprises both organic and inorganic components of primary and secondary origin. This work presents new results on organic marine aerosol properties and its link with oceanic biological productivity. Laboratory experiments have shown that sea-spray aerosol originating from highly biologically active sea water has a significant organic fraction, which increases with decreasing particle size, up to 77±5% below 0.25 μm diameter. Submicron sea-spray organic matter is mainly water-insoluble and composed of phytoplankton exudates (mainly lipo-polysaccharides). With regard to secondary organic aerosols, new components have been detected: dimethyl and diethyl amine salts turned out to be the most abundant organic species, alongside methanesulphonic acid, in fine marine particles over the North Atlantic. Clear evidence of a marine biological origin for dimethyl and diethyl amine salts has been observed, pointing to a new atmospheric organic nitrogen global source, with a seasonality connected to oceanic biological productivity and an atmospheric cycle parallel to that of the organosulphur species.
Telomeric Trans-Silencing: An Epigenetic Repression Combining RNA Silencing and Heterochromatin Formation

The study of P-element repression in Drosophila melanogaster led to the discovery of the telomeric Trans-Silencing Effect (TSE), a repression mechanism by which a transposon or a transgene inserted in subtelomeric heterochromatin (Telomeric Associated Sequence or TAS) has the capacity to repress in trans in the female germline, a homologous transposon, or transgene located in euchromatin. TSE shows variegation among egg chambers in ovaries when silencing is incomplete. Here, we report that TSE displays an epigenetic transmission through meiosis, which involves an extrachromosomal maternally transmitted factor. We show that this silencing is highly sensitive to mutations affecting both heterochromatin formation (Su(var)205 encoding Heterochromatin Protein 1 and Su(var)3–7) and the repeat-associated small interfering RNA (or rasiRNA) silencing pathway (aubergine, homeless, armitage, and piwi). In contrast, TSE is not sensitive to mutations affecting r2d2, which is involved in the small interfering RNA (or siRNA) silencing pathway, nor is it sensitive to a mutation in loquacious, which is involved in the micro RNA (or miRNA) silencing pathway. These results, taken together with the recent discovery of TAS homologous small RNAs associated to PIWI proteins, support the proposition that TSE involves a repeat-associated small interfering RNA pathway linked to heterochromatin formation, which was co-opted by the P element to establish repression of its own transposition after its recent invasion of the D. melanogaster genome. Therefore, the study of TSE provides insight into the genetic properties of a germline-specific small RNA silencing pathway.
An Implementation and Analysis on the Effectiveness of Social Search

The explosive growth of the Web and its information contents addresses the need for the design of effective tools which can help people to find out proper information they need in an efficient way. Various Web search services have been developed and used so far but their quality of services in terms of user needs has been far from perfection and the problems of these services have been continuously pointed out. Most of these Web search services are based on the traditional approach of information retrieval, which assumes that the query space and the document space are identical. However, in a real situation, especially in the new Web environment, it is not quite true. Web search service users are formulating very ambiguous and short queries unlike experimental settings where a lot of queries were formulated and refined by domain experts and the length of them was long enough to express users’ information needs. Most users are not familiar with expressing their needs in exact query terms which appears in the document space and the number of terms used for their queries are just two or three in average (Lawrence, and Giles, 1998). This situation brings the mismatch between the query space and the document space (Freyne J. and Smyth B, 2004). Also, most of the Web search engines adopt a “one size fits all” approach. Different users get the same set of search results if they use the same query with other users when they use search engines based on this approach. They are not personalized and are context-independent, so they can’t serve different users’ different needs. Conventional rank information alone cannot provide users with enough information to find out relevant documents they need. Therefore, various new ideas have been developed to overcome the limitations of the traditional approach. For example, Google is exploiting link-connectivity information in addition to the traditional term based retrieval model. It applies higher weights to the documents which has more in-link counts and let them appear closer to the beginning of the retrieved result list (Brin, and Page, 1998). This approach can be understood as for finding out popular ones in terms of links
A security monitoring service for NoCs

As computing and communications increasingly pervade our lives, security and protection of sensitive data and systems are emerging as extremely important issues. Networks-on-Chip (NoCs) have appeared as design strategy to cope with the rapid increase in complexity of Multiprocessor Systems-on-Chip (MPSoCs), but only recently research community have addressed security on NoC-based architectures. In this paper, we present a monitoring system for NoC based architectures, whose goal is to help detect security violations carried out against the system. Information collected are sent to a central unit for efficiently counteracting actions performed by attackers. We detail the design of the basic blocks and analyse overhead associated with the ASIC implementation of the monitoring system, discussing type of security threats that it can help detect and counteract.