Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Educational Campaigns and Smoking Bans in Public Places on Smokers' Intention to Quit Smoking: Findings from 17 Cities in China

Despite the perceived success of educational campaigns and smoking bans in public places in China, the actual effects have not been investigated. This study examines the effects of the two policies by major characteristics of smokers and whether the affected smokers have intention to quit smoking. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 17 cities in China and 16,616 participants were selected using multistage stratified sampling. Logistic regression models were used to examine the effects of educational campaigns and smoking bans in public places on their intention to quit smoking. Results show that the Chinese government should try every means to build its tobacco control publicity and implement various forms of public educational campaigns to enhance smokers' knowledge of the health consequences of smoking. In addition, China should emphasize the enforcement of the existing smoking prohibitions and regulations by implementing local tobacco control legislation and total prohibitions in all public places and workplaces.
Neural adaptation reveals state‐dependent effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is now widely used as a ‘virtual’ lesion paradigm to investigate behavioural functions, but the mechanisms through which it influences neural processing are unclear. To understand the differential effects of TMS on spatially overlapping populations of neurons we manipulated the relative activity levels of visual neurons by adapting subjects to a range of visual stimuli. By applying TMS to the visual cortex representing the central visual field we have shown in two experiments that the behavioural and perceptual effects of TMS depend on the state of adaptation of the neural population stimulated by TMS. Specifically, we have demonstrated that within the stimulated area TMS perceptually facilitates the attributes encoded by the less active neural population. We have demonstrated the generality of this principle for both suprathreshold and subthreshold TMS as well as for colour and orientation‐contingent colour using both subjective reports and psychophsyical measures. These findings can explain how TMS disrupts cognitive functions and therefore have implications for all studies which use TMS to disrupt behaviour.
Planar odometry from a radial laser scanner. A range flow-based approach

In this paper we present a fast and precise method to estimate the planar motion of a lidar from consecutive range scans. For every scanned point we formulate the range flow constraint equation in terms of the sensor velocity, and minimize a robust function of the resulting geometric constraints to obtain the motion estimate. Conversely to traditional approaches, this method does not search for correspondences but performs dense scan alignment based on the scan gradients, in the fashion of dense 3D visual odometry. The minimization problem is solved in a coarse-to-fine scheme to cope with large displacements, and a smooth filter based on the covariance of the estimate is employed to handle uncertainty in unconstraint scenarios (e.g. corridors). Simulated and real experiments have been performed to compare our approach with two prominent scan matchers and with wheel odometry. Quantitative and qualitative results demonstrate the superior performance of our approach which, along with its very low computational cost (0.9 milliseconds on a single CPU core), makes it suitable for those robotic applications that require planar odometry. For this purpose, we also provide the code so that the robotics community can benefit from it.
Ketamine as a Fast Acting Antidepressant: Current Knowledge and Open Questions

Several recent studies have shown that a single intravenous subanesthetic dose of ketamine, a NMDA receptor antagonist, exerts rapid antidepressant effects in patients with treatment refractory mood disorders and reduces suicidal ideation. Those insights have fueled tremendous excitement in the efforts to elucidate the mechanism underlying ketamine's antidepressant properties in animal models of depression, as well as in humans through the use of brain imaging as well as peripheral blood measurements. For example, there is emerging evidence that ketamine's antidepressant properties rely on increasing AMPA signaling and rapidly inducing synaptogenesis. While pilot clinical studies are promising, a number of critical questions still remain unanswered. They relate to the safe and effective use of ketamine in patients with mood disorders regarding the optimal dose range, modality and method of administration for acute and long‐term maintenance of effect, and the biomarkers associated with response/nonresponse. In this review article, we first summarize the clinical evidence about the use of ketamine in mood disorders, as well as preclinical and humans studies which investigated the mechanisms of action of ketamine, and predictors of antidepressant response in clinical populations. We then provide a critical overview of the knowledge gaps about the use of ketamine in depression and suggest some future research directions for the investigation of ketamine as a promising tool to develop novel more effective and fast acting antidepressants.
A design method for an improved soft core of ARMv4 instruction set based on FPGA

The commercial embedded microprocessor requires to be authorized, which increases the cost of the chip. The free embedded microprocessor soft-core is of poor portability, which causes difficulty on system design. In order to solve the above problems, this paper introduces an improved IP core base on ARMv4 instruction set. With an independent architecture, the IP core possesses good portability and compatibility. Firstly, hardware multiplier is used to solve the problem of the delay of multiplier, which can raise the speed of arithmetic. Secondly, taking the place of the three-stage instruction pipeline, a five-stage instruction pipeline is used to solve the problem of low efficiency. Finally, the whole core is implemented on FPGA, the utilization of resource is increased with resource sharing technique. The experiment results show that the ARMv4 instruction set can run correctly on the embedded microprocessor described in this paper. Compared with the similar ARMv4 microprocessor, it not only contains the advantage of high performance and open interface, but also is easy to design. The embedded microprocessor can be used in both the SOC system and the FPGA embedded system.
The Generation of High-Level Structure for Extended Explanations

This paper analyzes the structural features of naturally-occurring extended explanations and argues that current generation methodologies are inadequate for determining high-level structure. It presents a computational model based on the hypothesis that high-level structure - composed of a unifying framework and its associated basic blocks - can be determined by bottom-up processes that attempt to satisfy speaker, listener, and compositional goals, after which top-down strategies can be used to organize the material about the selected framework.
PRAGMATICS, DISCOURSE, AND COGNITION

While the field of pragmatics includes a great variety of approaches to language use, most pragmatic research can be related to two fairly broad traditions and one recent development : linguistic-philosophical pragmatics (or so-called Anglo-American pragmatics), sociocultural-interactional pragmatics (or so-called European-Continental pragmatics) and intercultural pragmatics. Linguistic-philosophical pragmatics seeks to investigate speaker meaning within an utterance-based framework focusing mainly on linguistic constraints on language use. Sociocultural interactional pragmatics maintains that pragmatics should include research into social and cultural constraints on language use as well. The link between classical philosophically-oriented pragmatics and research in intercultural and inter-language communication has led to the development of intercultural pragmatics, focusing on the roles and functions of language and communication within a world-wide communication network. Intercultural pragmatics attempts to combine the two traditions into one explanatory system that focuses special attention on characteristics of intercultural interaction.
Face Recognition from Video: a Review

Driven by key law enforcement and commercial applications, research on face recognition from video sources has intensified in recent years. The ensuing results have demonstrated that videos possess unique properties that allow both humans and automated systems to perform recognition accurately in difficult viewing conditions. However, significant research challenges remain as most video-based applications do not allow for controlled recordings. In this survey, we categorize the research in this area and present a broad and deep review of recently proposed methods for overcoming the difficulties encountered in unconstrained settings. We also draw connections between the ways in which humans and current algorithms recognize faces. An overview of the most popular and difficult publicly available face video databases is provided to complement these discussions. Finally, we cover key research challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the field as a whole.
Association between bevacizumab-related hypertension and response to treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Background Bevacizumab has become standard of care as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), after proving increased response rates and improvement in survival outcomes. Hypertension (HTN) is a common complication of the treatment with bevacizumab and, owing to its close relation with antiangiogenic mechanism, may represent a clinical biomarker to predict the efficacy of the treatment. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate if HTN grades 2 to 3 were correlated with response to treatment with bevacizumab in first line, as well as with improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), in a series of patients with mCRC. Methods Retrospective evaluation of clinical records of patients with histologically proven mCRC, treated with bevacizumab as first-line treatment, between January 2008 and December 2013. Results 79 patients were evaluated. 51.9% of patients developed HTN G2-G3 during chemotherapy-bevacizumab treatment. In the group of patients who developed bevacizumab-related HTN, 73.2% showed response to treatment (complete response (CR)+ partial response (PR)) and 97.6% achieved disease control (CR, PR or stable disease) compared to 18.4% of patients with response and 63.2% with disease control in the group that did not (OR 12.08; 95% CI 4.13 to 35.29; p<0.001 responders vs non-responders; OR 20.8; 95% CI 2.56 to 168.91; p 0.005 controlled vs non controlled disease). The median OS was 28 months (22.7–33.3). Significant statistical difference was obtained in PFS between the two groups (p<0.001). In the group that developed bevacizumab-related HTN, the median OS was 33 months (25.7–40.3), and in the group that did not, it was 21 months (16.5–25.5) with no significant statistical difference between the two groups (p 0.114). Conclusions In this subset of patients, HTN G2-3 was predictive of response to treatment with bevacizumab and of PFS but not of OS.
Adaptability and Diversity in Simulated Turn-taking Behavior

Turn-taking behavior is simulated in a coupled-agents system. Each agent is modeled as a mobile robot with two wheels. A recurrent neural network is used to produce the motor outputs and to hold the internal dynamics. Agents are developed to take turns on a two-dimensional arena by causing the network structures to evolve. Turn taking is established using either regular or chaotic behavior of the agents. It is found that chaotic turn takers are more sensitive in response to inputs from the other agent. Conversely, regular turn takers are comparatively robust against noisy inputs, owing to their restricted dynamics. From many observations, including turn taking with virtual agents, we claim that there is a complementary relationship between robustness and adaptability. Furthermore, by investigating the recoupling of agents from different GA generations, we report the emergence of a new turn-taking behavior. Potential for synthesizing a new form of interaction is another characteristic of chaotic turn takers.
MLE Solution Research for a Certain Kind of Two-dimensional Lognormal Distribution Function

Aimed at the puzzle that it is hardly possible to solve maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) of two-dimensional lognormal distribution function directly, the paper presents a novel solution based on extremum equivalent conversion. The puzzle could be transformed to solve the extremum of an equivalent function about independent variable, and then mathematical expression of the extremum was obtained by conventional differential method. Take the study on location in wireless sensor network as an example. The research shows that the method can obviously reduce difficulty of the puzzle and the algorithm complexity, so the presented method provides an effective solution for similar problems.
A Formal Model of QoS-Aware Web Service Orchestration Engine

QoS-aware applications can satisfy not only the functional requirements of the customers, but also the QoS requirements. QoS-aware Web service orchestration translates the QoS requirements of the customers into those of its component Web services. In a system viewpoint, we discuss issues on QoS-aware Web service orchestration and design a typical QoS-aware Web service orchestration engine called QoS-WSOE. More importantly, we establish a formal model of QoS-WSOE based on actor systems theory. Within the formal model, we use a three-layered pyramidal structure to capture the requirements of the customers with a concept named QoS-aware WSO service, characteristics of QoS-WSOE with a concept named QoS-aware WSO system, and structures and behaviors of QoS-WSOE with a concept named QoS-aware WSO behavior. Conclusions showing that a system with QoS-aware WSO behavior is a QoS-aware WSO system and further can provide QoS-aware WSO Service are drawn.
Optimization and performance evaluation of multicarrier transmission

Optimization of the performance of multicarrier transmission over a linear dispersive channel is presented. The optimum data and power assignment to the subcarriers are derived for both the conventional error probability criterion, and a new criterion based on the normalized mean-square error. The assignments and algorithms hold for channels where performance is degraded by additive noise, intersymbol and interchannel interference. Lower bounds on throughput are derived and are used to compare multicarrier performance with conventional single-carrier quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) with both linear and decision feedback equalization. It is seen that multicarrier transmission can provide a significant improvement at low and intermediate channel signal-to-noise ratios. As an example, the optimization is applied to the high-speed digital subscriber loop, and multicarrier transmission is demonstrated to be superior to decision feedback equalized single-carrier QAM.
Capacitive driven-right-leg grounding in Indirect-contact ECG measurement

For the reduction of common-mode noise level in Indirect-contact ECG (IDC-ECG) measurement, a driven-right-leg grounding method was applied to the IDC-ECG. Because the IDC-ECG does not require any direct contact between the electrodes and the human skin, it is adequate for un-constraining long-term ECG measurement at home and its various applications are now under development. However, larger 60 Hz noise induced by power line appears in IDC-ECG than in conventional ECG, that is a restriction of IDC-ECG application. In this study, the driven-right-leg ground which has been used in conventional direct-contact ECG, was adapted to the IDC-ECG measurement, by feedback of the inversion of amplified common-mode noise to the body through the conductive textile laid on the chair seat. It was shown that the level of 60Hz power line noise was reduced to about -40 dB when the driven-right-leg gain was 1000.
Does diabetic state affect co-localization of peptide YY and enteroglucagon in colonic endocrine cells?

BACKGROUND Changes in the numbers of PYY- and enteroglucagon-immunoreactive cells in colon of animal models of human diabetes have been reported. As these peptides co-localize in the same cells it is possible that the observed changes are a result of changes in co-localization. METHODS Animal models of human type 1 and type 2 diabetes, namely the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse and the obese (ob/ob) mouse, were studied. As controls for the NOD mice, BALB/cJ mice were used and for ob/ob mice, homozygous lean (+/+) mice were used. Tissue samples from colon were double-immunostained for PYY and enteroglucagon according to the indirect immunofluorescence method. RESULTS Co-localization of enteroglucagon and PYY was found in colonic endocrine cells in all groups investigated. Compared with controls, pre-diabetic NOD mice showed a decreased proportion of enteroglucagon/PYY co-localization. There was no difference in diabetic NOD mice or diabetic ob/ob mice when compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS Whereas the number of cells containing solely enteroglucagon and solely PYY increases in pre-diabetic NOD mice, production of enteroglucagon in PYY-immunoreactive cells decreases. Although the numbers of PYY and enteroglucagon cells have been reported to be changed in both diabetic NOD mice and in obese mice, the balance between co-expressing and mono-expressing cells seems to be preserved.
Complex Evolutionary Events at a Tandem Cluster of Arabidopsis thaliana Genes Resulting in a Single-Locus Genetic Incompatibility

Non-additive interactions between genomes have important implications, not only for practical applications such as breeding, but also for understanding evolution. In extreme cases, genes from different genomic backgrounds may be incompatible and compromise normal development or physiology. Of particular interest are non-additive interactions of alleles at the same locus. For example, overdominant behavior of alleles, with respect to plant fitness, has been proposed as an important component of hybrid vigor, while underdominance may lead to reproductive isolation. Despite their importance, only a few cases of genetic over- or underdominance affecting plant growth or fitness are understood at the level of individual genes. Moreover, the relationship between biochemical and fitness effects may be complex: genetic overdominance, that is, increased or novel activity of a gene may lead to evolutionary underdominance expressed as hybrid weakness. Here, we describe a non-additive interaction between alleles at the Arabidopsis thaliana OAK (OUTGROWTH-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN KINASE) gene. OAK alleles from two different accessions interact in F1 hybrids to cause a variety of aberrant growth phenotypes that depend on a recently acquired promoter with a novel expression pattern. The OAK gene, which is located in a highly variable tandem array encoding closely related receptor-like kinases, is found in one third of A. thaliana accessions, but not in the reference accession Col-0. Besides recruitment of exons from nearby genes as promoter sequences, key events in OAK evolution include gene duplication and divergence of a potential ligand-binding domain. OAK kinase activity is required for the aberrant phenotypes, indicating it is not recognition of an aberrant protein, but rather a true gain of function, or overdominance for gene activity, that leads to this underdominance for fitness. Our work provides insights into how tandem arrays, which are particularly prone to frequent, complex rearrangements, can produce genetic novelty.
Neuroprotective Effects of 17β-Estradiol Rely on Estrogen Receptor Membrane Initiated Signals

Besides its crucial role in many physiological events, 17β-estradiol (E2) exerts protective effects in the central nervous system. The E2 effects are not restricted to the brain areas related with the control of reproductive function, but rather are widespread throughout the developing and the adult brain. E2 actions are mediated through estrogen receptors (i.e., ERα and ERβ) belonging to the nuclear receptor super-family. As members of the ligand-regulated transcription factor family, classically, the actions of ERs in the brain were thought to mediate only the E2 long-term transcriptional effects. However, a growing body of evidence highlighted rapid, membrane initiated E2 effects in the brain that are independent of ER transcriptional activities and are involved in E2-induced neuroprotection. The aim of this review is to focus on the rapid effects of E2 in the brain highlighting the specific role of the signaling pathway(s) of the ERβ subtype in the neuroprotective actions of E2.
Memory impairments following chronic stress? A critical review.

Does chronic stress lead to memory impairments? Several authors hypothesized that elevated levels of glucocorticosteroids, released in the blood during sustained stress, cause damage to the hippocampus - a brain area involved in episodic memory. We reviewed evidence for impaired memory performance due to chronic stress and found that glucocorticoid excess as a result ofCushing's syndrome, atypical aging, or use of synthetic corticosteroids such as prednison is associated with hippocampal atrophy and memory dysfunction. However, studies showing reduced memory performance after acute stress suffer from methodological shortcomings. In addition, attributing memory impairments and reduced hippocampal volume in trauma survivors suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder to the effects of sustained stress appears to be problematic. We promote longitudinal research into glucocorticoids and memory functioning in individuals with stressful professions. This could yield more information about the, possibly deleterious, effects of stress on memory.
A Bias-Controlled Noise-Canceling CMOS Tuned Low Noise Amplifier for UWB Transceivers

This paper describes a noise canceling tuned CMOS LNA using the TSMC 0.18 mum 3M2P CMOS process technology for 3.1 GHz - 10.6 GHz ultra wide band (UWB) RF receiver system. Bias-controlled noise canceling technique is used to improve the noise figure of a common-gate RF amplifier, which is ultra-wide-band tuned by a matched 3rd order band-pass butterworth LC filter section. The amplifier had a -3 db bandwidth(between the corner frequencies) of around 6.3 GHz with a power gain (S21) of ap 11 dB consuming around 55 mW. Also, the amplifier had a noise figure(NF) under 5 dB within the UWB pass-band utilizing the bias- controlled noise canceling technique. It had an IIP3 of -2.4 dBm and a 1 dB compression point of -13dBm at 5GHz. In addition S-parameter simulations indicated a reverse isolation of -100 dB (from the S12 plot).
Dependency Annotation Scheme for Indian Languages

The paper introduces a dependency annotation effort which aims to fully annotate a million word Hindi corpus. It is the first attempt of its kind to develop a large scale tree-bank for an Indian language. In this paper we provide the motivation for following the Paninian framework as the annotation scheme and argue that the Paninian framework is better suited to model the various linguistic phenomena manifest in Indian languages. We present the basic annotation scheme. We also show how the scheme handles some phenomenon such as complex verbs, ellipses, etc. Empirical results of some experiments done on the currently annotated sentences are also reported.