Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A novel versatile circuit functioning as both filter and oscillator based on CCCCTAs

A circuit which can function both as quadrature oscillator and as a universal biquad filter (low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, band-reject and all-pass functions) is introduced in this paper. Working as quadrature oscillator, the oscillation condition and oscillation frequency can be adjusted independently with the input bias currents. Functioning as a universal biquad filter, the quality factor and natural frequency can be tuned orthogonally via the input bias currents. The proposed circuit can work as either a quadrature oscillator or a universal biquad filter without changing circuit topology. The proposed circuit description is very simple, consisting of merely 2 current controlled current conveyor transconductance amplifiers (CCCCTAs) and 2 grounded capacitors. Without any external resistors and using only grounded elements, this circuit is thus suitable for IC architecture. The PSPICE simulation results are depicted, and the given results agree well with the theoretical anticipation. The maximum power consumption is approximately 3.78 mW at plusmn1.5 V power supplies.
Construction of the Value Function and Optimal Rules in Optimal Stopping of One-Dimensional Diffusions

A new approach to the solution of optimal stopping problems for one-dimensional diffusions is developed. It arises by imbedding the stochastic problem in a linear programming problem over a space of measures. Optimizing over a smaller class of stopping rules provides a lower bound on the value of the original problem. Then the weak duality of a restricted form of the dual linear program provides an upper bound on the value. An explicit formula for the reward earned using a two-point hitting time stopping rule allows us to prove strong duality between these problems and, therefore, allows us to either optimize over these simpler stopping rules or to solve the restricted dual program. Each optimization problem is parameterized by the initial value of the diffusion and, thus, we are able to construct the value function by solving the family of optimization problems. This methodology requires little regularity of the terminal reward function. When the reward function is smooth, the optimal stopping locations are shown to satisfy the smooth pasting principle. The procedure is illustrated using two examples.
Consequences of advanced aging on renal function in chronic hyperandrogenemic female rat model: implications for aging women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine and reproductive disorder in premenopausal women, characterized by hyperandrogenemia, metabolic syndrome, and inflammation. Women who had PCOS during their reproductive years remain hyperandrogenemic after menopause. The consequence of chronic hyperandrogenemia with advanced aging has not been studied to our knowledge. We have characterized a model of hyperandrogenemia in female rats and have aged them to 22–25 months to mimic advanced aging in hyperandrogenemic women, and tested the hypothesis that chronic exposure to hyperandrogenemia with aging has a deleterious effect on renal function. Female rats were chronically implanted with dihydrotestosterone pellets (DHT 7.5 mg/90 days) that were changed every 85 days or placebo pellets, and renal function was measured by clearance methods. Aging DHT‐treated females had a threefold higher level of DHT with significantly higher body weight, mean arterial pressure, left kidney weight, proteinuria, and kidney injury molecule‐1 (KIM‐1), than did age‐matched controls. In addition, DHT‐treated‐old females had a 60% reduction in glomerular filtration rate, 40% reduction in renal plasma flow, and significant reduction in urinary nitrate and nitrite excretion (UNOxV), an index of nitric oxide production. Morphological examination of kidneys showed that old DHT‐treated females had significant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, global sclerosis, and interstitial fibrosis compared to controls. Thus chronic hyperandrogenemia that persists into old age in females is associated with renal injury. These data suggest that women with chronic hyperandrogenemia such as in PCOS may be at increased risk for development of chronic kidney disease with advanced age.
Screening for fragile X syndrome in women of reproductive age

We conducted a prospective intervention study of screening for fragile X syndrome in the general population. Antenatal and preconceptional screening were carried out in 9459 women aged between 19 and 44 with no known family history of fragile X syndrome. 80% were tested antenatally. 134 carriers were detected (a frequency of 1 in 70); 130 had a premutation (PM) and 4 had a full mutation (FM). Prenatal diagnosis was carried out in 108 concurrent or subsequent pregnancies among carriers involving 111 fetuses. Nine had an FM, a rate of 1 in 12; two of the affected embryos received the FM directly from the mother and in seven it was the result of expansion from a PM. In all cases with an FM the pregnancy was terminated. In PM carriers there was evidence of a selection against the mutated chromosome with a segregation ratio of 0.40. Owing to the high rate of premutated chromosomes in our population we conclude that screening for fragile X syndrome among women of reproductive age should be more widely available. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PERSONALITY CORRELATES OF PIDGIN ENGLISH USAGE AMONG JAPANESE-AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS IN HAWAII

Hawaii has developed its own characteristic speech, Island Dialect, or Pidgin English. The present study investigated the personality characteristics of college-level Japanese Americans in Hawaii referred to remedial speech courses because of severe Pidgin English usage. 79 Island-born Japanese Americans in remedial speech were compared with 60 Caucasian Americans and with 75 Island-born third-generation (sansei) Japanese-American " controls " on the Cattell 16 P. F. Questionnaire. Both firstand second-order factors in the
Defining the Minimal Detectable Change in Scores on the Eight-Item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale

Background Self-report scales are used to assess medication adherence. Data on how to discriminate change in self-reported adherence over time from random variability are limited. Objective: To determine the minimal detectable change for scores on the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Methods: The MMAS-8 was administered twice, using a standard telephone script, with administration separated by 14-22 days, to 210 participants taking antihypertensive medication in the CoSMO (Cohort Study of Medication Adherence among Older Adults). MMAS-8 scores were calculated and participants were grouped into previously defined categories (<6, 6 to <8, and 8 for low, medium, and high adherence). Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 78.1 (5.8) years, 43.8% were black, and 68.1% were women. Overall, 8.1% (17/210), 16.2% (34/210), and 51.0% (107/210) of participants had low, medium, and high MMAS-8 scores, respectively, at both survey administrations (overall agreement 75.2%; 158/210). The weighted κ statistic was 0.63 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.72). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.78. The within-person standard error of the mean for change in MMAS-8 scores was 0.81, which equated to a minimal detectable change of 1.98 points. Only 4.3% (9/210) of the participants had a change in MMAS-8 of 2 or more points between survey administrations. Conclusions: Within-person changes in MMAS-8 scores of 2 or more points over time may represent a real change in antihypertensive medication adherence.
Bled Econference Ecollaboration: Overcoming Boundaries through Multi-channel Interaction Usability of Crm Systems as Collaboration Infrastructures in Business Networks

Collaboration among companies is a major development in business and electronic business concepts. While groupware, teleconferencing or e-mail-systems are widespread and cross-functional in nature, support for collaboration in business processes has mainly been studied in the engineering and supply chain area. Virtual organizations and networked business also require collaboration in customer-oriented processes such as the management of offer generation, campaigns, customer data or complaints. While the concept of collaborative customer relationship management (CRM) has been discussed by several authors already, the technological scenarios available to implement these processes are still open for research. This paper investigates the role of CRM systems as application architectures for collaborative CRM. The findings show that CRM systems provide only basic functionalities for inter-organizational collaboration and seem currently not able to support collaborative CRM without help of additional supporting tools or extensive customizing of system functionalities.
Consumer adoption of PDA phones in Taiwan

This empirical study applies the structural equation model to test hypotheses about the adoption of PDA phones from a consumer perspective. It finds that adoption and purchase intentions are distinct from each other and have different antecedents. While perceived usefulness and enjoyment have more significant effects on adoption intention, perceived risk and cost have more significant effects on purchase intention. The adoption intention widely used in TAM studies does not fully explain a consumer's adoption behaviour. The results of this paper extend TAM studies and offer more insight into a consumer's adoption behaviour regarding ICT products.
The Computational Complexity of Structure-Based Causality

Halpern and Pearl introduced a definition of actual causality; Eiter and Lukasiewicz showed that computing whether X = x is a cause of Y = y is NP-complete in binary models (where all variables can take on only two values) and \Sigma^P_2-complete in general models. In the final version of their paper, Halpern and Pearl slightly modified the definition of actual cause, in order to deal with problems pointed by Hopkins and Pearl. As we show, this modification has a nontrivial impact on the complexity of computing actual cause. To characterize the complexity, a new family D_k^P , k = 1,2,3,. , of complexity classes is introduced, which generalizes the class D^P introduced by Papadimitriou and Yannakakis (DP is just D^P_1). We show that the complexity of computing causality under the updated definition is D^P_2 -complete. Chockler and Halpern extended the definition of causality by introducing notions of responsibility and blame. The complexity of determining the degree of responsibility and blame using the original definition of causality was completely characterized. Again, we show that changing the definition of causality affects the complexity, and completely characterize it using the updated definition.
Construct Validity of the Chinese Version of the Self-care of Heart Failure Index Determined Using Structural Equation Modeling

Background:The Self-care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) is an empirically tested instrument for measuring the self-care of patients with heart failure. Objective:The aim of this study was to develop a simplified Chinese version of the SCHFI and provide evidence for its construct validity. Methods:A total of 182 Chinese with heart failure were surveyed. A 2-step structural equation modeling procedure was applied to test construct validity. Results:Factor analysis showed 3 factors explaining 43% of the variance. Structural equation model confirmed that self-care maintenance, self-care management, and self-care confidence are indeed indicators of self-care, and self-care confidence was a positive and equally strong predictor of self-care maintenance and self-care management. Moreover, self-care scores were correlated with the Partners in Health Scale, indicating satisfactory concurrent validity. Conclusion:The Chinese version of the SCHFI is a theory-based instrument for assessing self-care of Chinese patients with heart failure.
Retinopathy in a population-based study.

SINCE THE INVENTION OF THE OPHTHALMOSCOPE IN 1852, RETINAL MIcroaneurysms, blot hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, and hard exudates have been observed.12 Their appearance has been associated with a number of ocular and systemic conditions.1"34 Although these retinal lesions were frequently observed in persons with diabetes,5 it was not until the 1940s that it was commonly accepted that they could appear as a result of diabetes in the absence of other systemic conditions, such as hypertension or atherosclerotic vascular disease.6'7 The appearance of these retinal lesions in persons with known diabetes characterizes diabetic nonproliferative retinopathy.8'9 Retinal microaneurysms, blot hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, and hard exudates, along with changes in retinal arteriolar caliber and appearance, have also been associated with elevated blood pressure.9-18 This association was first described in 1859 in patients with Bright's disease with severe hypertension and has since been described by numerous investigators.18 In addition, retinal microaneurysms, blot hemorrhages, and cotton-wool spots have been described in patients with venous stasis retinopathy secondary to occlusive internal carotid artery disease. 19-21 These lesions have also been observed in a growing number of other systemic conditions as well and are thus not pathognomonic of any.3'22 The frequency of these retinal lesions in the general population and their diagnostic value for the presence of systemic disease other than diabetes is not certain. Studies by Ballantyne and Loewenstein6 in the 1940s suggested that although lesions such as microaneurysms and blot hemorrhages could appear in nondiabetic patients with retinal vascular disease, this situation was considered to be rare. Friedenwald7 studied the retinas of more than 76 nondiabetic persons and concluded that
PCVs in individuals at increased risk of pneumococcal disease: a literature review

The use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in childhood pneumococcal immunization programs successfully reduced the incidence of pneumococcal disease in children. Nonetheless, there remains a high burden of pneumococcal disease in adults, especially the elderly, and children/adults with chronic medical conditions. Two pneumococcal vaccines are currently available for adults at risk of pneumococcal disease: the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) and the more recently licensed PCV13. As it is not possible to determine vaccine efficacy in all populations at risk of pneumococcal disease, immunogenicity studies, measuring pneumococcal-specific antibody concentrations and/or the opsonophagocytic activity of serum can provide valuable comparative data for PPV and PCV immunization. This article provides consolidated data on the immunogenicity of PCVs (largely PCV7, and a few studies with PCV9 or PCV13) based on a review of immunogenicity/safety studies in populations (mainly pediatric) at increased risk of pneumococcal disease.
Situational Variation in Intonational Strategies

This paper will use data from two large corpora of spoken American English to analyze variation in prosodic strategies. In this paper the relative importance of cognitive and interactive determinants of intonational choices will be reconsidered, as well as the importance of register (Biber 1995) and stance and footing (Goffman 1981) to the choice of prominent or reduced not, especially when the speaker is doing a repair (Sacks 1992). The paper shows not only that a quantitative study of prosodic variables is possible, but that register and stance and footing influence a speaker’s prosodic choices. The study finds that if we consider Biber’s Dimension 1 (the variation from informative to interactive situations), all things being equal, negatives, which carry important information, will be prosodically prominent more consistently in informative situations. However, the paper will also show that stance and footing must be distinguished from each other: when speakers are in an interactive situation which requires a non-supportive/adversarial stance, the repair negatives -- and even the purely informative but not face threatening negatives -- will be prosodically prominent more consistently than they are when the interactive stance is not adversarial, and the repair tokens will be more consistently prominent than (even) informative tokens. In addition, the distinction between purely informative, interactively supportive, and remedial footing must also be taken into consideration. This paper provides evidence that while linguistic choices are theoretically shaped by the cognitive needs of the hearer, in interactive situations social concerns predominate over such cognitive ‘needs’.
Visualisation of spoken dialogues

Evaluation of spoken dialogue systems is in the main interest of the application developer. During the whole development cycle reliable and straightforwardly interpretable measures are needed in order to identify weak points of the user interface and the actual implementation. This paper proposes two issues. First, a visualisation method is introduced in order to follow what exactly happens in spoken dialogues during the interaction and thus giving means for system developers to explore dialogue paths explicitly in a statistical sense. The formalism of the visualisation process is explained and examples are given for different interaction types. The second issue is the introduction of a measure derived directly from the visualisation method. This measure is a sort of combination of traditional success rate and average number of system-user turns. The measure provides means for system developers to compare the average system performance to a pre-defined interaction described by a dialogue path. Example is given with a speaker-independent name dialling application.
Excessive tumor-elaborated VEGF and its neutralization define a lethal paraneoplastic syndrome

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent endothelial cell mitogen and key regulator of both physiologic and pathologic (e.g., tumor) angiogenesis. In the course of studies designed to assess the ability of constitutive VEGF to block tumor regression in an inducible RAS melanoma model, mice implanted with VEGF-expressing tumors sustained high morbidity and mortality that were out of proportion to the tumor burden. Documented elevated serum levels of VEGF were associated with a lethal hepatic syndrome characterized by massive sinusoidal dilation and endothelial cell proliferation and apoptosis. Systemic levels of VEGF correlated with the severity of liver pathology and overall clinical compromise. A striking reversal of VEGF-induced liver pathology and prolonged survival were achieved by surgical excision of VEGF-secreting tumor or by systemic administration of a potent VEGF antagonist (VEGF-TRAPR1R2), thus defining a paraneoplastic syndrome caused by excessive VEGF activity. Moreover, this VEGF-induced syndrome resembles peliosis hepatis, a rare human condition that is encountered in the setting of advanced malignancies, high-dose androgen therapy, and Bartonella henselae infection. Thus, our findings in the mouse have suggested an etiologic role for VEGF in this disease and may lead to diagnostic and therapeutic options for this debilitating condition in humans.
A New Whole-Line Quick-Action Protection Principle for HVDC Transmission Lines Using One-End Current

HVDC transmission systems have found wide applications in modern power systems and have produced a useful influence on the stability and security of power systems. The currently used protections for HVDC systems operate on the principles which have poor reliability and inadequate sensitivity. To overcome these problems, this paper presents a new whole-line quick-action protection principle for HVDC transmission lines. The proposed method, based on the boundary characteristics of the line, can distinguish internal faults from external ones using single-terminal current measurements only. The criterion of this protection has been formulated. Simulations on frequency-dependent parameter-line model and the field-recorded data of a ±500-kV HVDC system show that this method is valid and feasible. The proposed protection, sound and clear in principle and easy to implement, can be expected to become a primary protection of HVDC transmission.
Zip4 (Slc39a4) Expression is Activated in Hepatocellular Carcinomas and Functions to Repress Apoptosis, Enhance Cell Cycle and Increase Migration

Background The zinc transporter ZIP4 (Slc39a4) is important for proper mammalian development and is an essential gene in mice. Recent studies suggest that this gene may also play a role in pancreatic cancer. Methods/Principal Findings Herein, we present evidence that this essential zinc transporter is expressed in hepatocellular carcinomas. Zip4 mRNA and protein were dramatically elevated in hepatocytes in the majority of human hepatocellular carcinomas relative to noncancerous surrounding tissues, as well as in hepatocytes in hepatocellular carcinomas occurring in farnesoid X receptor-knockout mice. Interestingly, meta-analysis of microarray data in the Geo and Oncomine databases suggests that Zip4 mRNA may also be elevated in many types of cancer. Potential mechanisms of action of ZIP4 were examined in cultured cell lines. RNAi knockdown of Zip4 in mouse Hepa cells significantly increased apoptosis and modestly slowed progression from G0/G1 to S phase when cells were released from hydroxyurea block into zinc-deficient medium. Cell migration assays revealed that RNAi knockdown of Zip4 in Hepa cells depressed in vitro migration whereas forced over-expression in Hepa cells and MCF-7 cells enhanced in vitro migration. Conclusions ZIP4 may play a role in the acquisition of zinc by hepatocellular carcinomas, and potentially many different cancerous cell-types, leading to repressed apoptosis, enhanced growth rate and enhanced invasive behavior.
The tightening of wide binaries in dSph galaxies through dynamical friction as a test of the dark matter hypothesis

We estimate the time-scales for orbital decay of wide binaries embedded within dark matter haloes, due to dynamical friction against the dark matter particles. We derive analytical scalings for this decay and calibrate and test them through the extensive use of N-body simulations, which accurately confirm the predicted temporal evolution. For density and velocity dispersion parameters as inferred for the dark matter haloes of local dSph galaxies, we show that the decay time-scales become shorter than the ages of the dSph stellar populations for binary stars composed of 1 M⊙ stars, for initial separations larger than 0.1 pc. Such wide binaries are conspicuous and have been well measured in the solar neighbourhood. The prediction of the dark matter hypothesis is that they should now be absent from stellar populations embedded within low velocity dispersion, high-density dark mater haloes, as currently inferred for the local dSph galaxies, having since evolved into tighter binaries. Relevant empirical determinations of this will become technically feasible in the near future, and could provide evidence to discriminate between dark matter particle haloes or modified gravitational theories, to account for the high dispersion velocities measured for stars in local dSph galaxies.
The Psychology of Lust Murder: Paraphilia, Sexual Killing, and Serial Homicide

Preliminary TOC Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: On Paraphilia and Lust Murder Chapter 3: On Sexual Homicide and Serial Murder: What Do We Know? Chapter 4: An Integrative Model: What Do We Need Chapter 5: The Case of Jeffrey Dahmer Chapter 6: Dahmer, Sexual Deviance and Lust Murder: Testing the Models Chapter 7: In Search of Meaning: On Theory Construction and Model Making Chapter 8: Implications and Conclusions