Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How nuclear proliferation causes conflict: the case for optimistic pessimism

ABSTRACT The claim that the spread of nuclear weapons leads to interstate conflict and nuclear war has become very influential. However, proliferation pessimists have failed to specify how and when nuclear proliferation precipitates conflict. I make four arguments for an optimistic pessimism. (1) The few preventive strikes against nuclear facilities that have occurred would have occurred absent of the target's nuclear program, and these rare strikes did not lead to conflict escalation. (2) The problem of nonsurvivable arsenals is, properly understood, a problem of preventive-war motivations where subjective uncertainty reduces the dangers of arsenal survivability. (3) Claims that bias within nuclear organizations may lead to accidental nuclear detonations suffer from omitted variable bias: leaders' decisions to revise the status quo after developing nuclear weapons tend to give rise to the most dangerous nuclear accidents. Accidents that have not occurred during a nuclear crisis pose substantially less risk of nuclear escalation. (4) Leaders of nuclear states have tended to engage in conventional aggression, but experience with nuclear weapons moderates their conflict propensity. Ultimately, I argue that while nuclear weapons have led to conflict through one causal mechanism and for a limited time, the dangers are substantially weaker than usually assumed.
The potential of return-to-zero coding in optically amplified lasercom systems

Our investigations clearly show a sensitivity gain for low-duty-cycle RZ coding, even if the receiver bandwidth is not increased compared to that employed for NRZ signals. This improvement presupposes constant energy per pulse, i.e, that the transmitter-and hence any optical booster amplifier-is not limited by peak power but by average power.
Dynamic Discovery and Composition of Semantic Web Services Using Abductive Event Calculus

Service Oriented Computing (SOC) is gaining prominence as the technology of choice for integrating applications in diverse and heterogeneous distributed environments. Web Service technology is an important instance of Service Oriented Computing aiming at facilitating the integration of new applications, avoiding difficulties due to different platforms, languages etc. In this regard building complex services from simpler ones is called composition. In this paper a composition strategy using abductive planning capability of the Event Calculus (EC) is proposed. An algorithm for abductive planning, that creates a partially ordered list of events of the required services is presented. This algorithm performs a fine-grained matching at the level of atomic process, rather than at the level of entire services for process level discovery, composition and execution.
Predictive spatio-temporal models for spatially sparse environmental data

We present a family of spatio-temporal models which are geared to pro- vide time-forward predictions in environmental applications where data is spatially sparse but temporally rich. That is measurements are made at few spatial locations (stations), but at many regular time intervals. When predictions in the time di- rection is the purpose of the analysis, then spatial-stationarity assumptions which are commonly used in spatial modeling, are not necessary. The family of models proposed does not make such assumptions and consists of a vector autoregressive (VAR) specification, where there are as many time series as stations. However, by taking into account the spatial dependence structure, a model building strategy is introduced which borrows its simplicity from the Box-Jenkins strategy for univari- ate autoregressive (AR) models for time series. As for AR models, model building may be performed either by displaying sample partial correlation functions, or by minimizing an information criterion. A simulation study illustrates the gain re- sulting from our modeling strategy. Two environmental data sets are studied. In particular, we find evidence that a parametric modeling of the spatio-temporal cor- relation function is not appropriate because it rests on too strong assumptions. Moreover, we propose to compare model selection strategies with an out-of-sample validation method based on recursive prediction errors. In this article we present a model building strategy designed to work within a family of vector autoregressive models for time series being recorded at specific spatial locations. The methodology has been developed with environmental ap- plications in mind where measurements on a variable are made at regular time intervals and at several stations located within a specific area. More specifically, we focus on situations were measurements are available at a few stations −the spatio-temporal data is sparse in space but rich in time. We put the discussion into concrete form with two examples treated previously in the literature. The first data set we consider consists of average daily wind speeds mea- sured at 11 synoptic meteorological stations located in Ireland during the period 1961-78, 6,570 observations per location. Gneiting (2002) used this data set to
Cost-Driven Multiple Importance Sampling for Monte-Carlo Rendering

The global illumination or transport problems can also be considered as a sequence of integrals, while its MonteCarlo solutions as different sampling techniques. Multiple importance sampling takes advantage of different sampling strategies and combines the results obtained with them. In this paper we propose the combination of very different global illumination algorithms in a way that their strengths can be preserved. To do this, we generalize the fundamental theory of multiple importance sampling for sequences of integrals and also take into account the computational cost associated with individual sampling techniques. The theoretical results are used to combine bi-directional path tracing and ray-bundles based stochastic iteration.
‘There were more wires than him’: the potential for wireless patient monitoring in neonatal intensive care

Background The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be one of the most stressful hospital environments. Alongside providing intensive clinical care, it is important that parents have the opportunity for regular physical contact with their babies because the neonatal period is critical for parent–child bonding. At present, monitoring technology in the NICU requires multiple wired sensors to track each baby's vital signs. This study describes the experiences that parents and nurses have with the current monitoring methods, and reports on their responses to the concept of a wireless monitoring system. Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted with six parents, each of whom had babies on the unit, and seven nurses who cared for those babies. The interviews initially focused on the participants’ experiences of the current wired system and then on their responses to the concept of a wireless system. The transcripts were analysed using a general inductive approach to identify relevant themes. Results Participants reported on physical and psychological barriers to parental care, the ways in which the current system obstructed the efficient delivery of clinical care and the perceived benefits and risks of a wireless system. The parents and nurses identified that the wires impeded baby–parent bonding; physically and psychologically. While a wireless system was viewed as potentially enabling greater interaction, staff and parents highlighted potential concerns, including the size, weight and battery life of any new device. Conclusions The many wires required to safely monitor babies within the NICU creates a negative environment for parents at a critical developmental period, in terms of physical and psychological interactions. Nurses also experience challenges with the existing system, which could negatively impact the clinical care delivery. Developing a wireless system could overcome these barriers, but there remain challenges in designing a device suitable for this unique environment.
Integrating Meta-Level and Domain-Level Knowledge for Interpretation and Generation of Task-Oriented Dialogue

There is general agreement that knowledge plays a key role in intelligent behavior, but most work on this topic has emphasized domain-specific expertise. We argue, in contrast, that cognitive systems also benefit from meta-level knowledge that has a domain-independent character. In this paper, we propose a representational framework that distinguishes between these two forms of content, along with an integrated architecture that supports their use for abductive interpretation and hierarchical skill execution. We demonstrate this framework’s viability on high-level aspects of extended dialogue that require reasoning about, and altering, participants’ beliefs and goals. Furthermore, we demonstrate its generality by showing that the meta-level knowledge operates with different domain-level content. We conclude by reviewing related work on these topics and discussing promising directions for future research.
Suppressive Effect on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Proinflammatory Mediators by Citrus aurantium L. in Macrophage RAW 264.7 Cells via NF-κB Signal Pathway

Citrus fruits have been used as an edible fruit and a traditional medicine since ancient times. In particular, the peels of immature citrus fruits are used widely in traditional herbal medicine in Korea, as they are believed to contain bioactive components exerting anti-inflammatory activity. This study examined whether the crude methanol extract of Citrus aurantium L. (CME) has a suppressive effect on inducible enzymes and proinflammatory cytokines by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway in LPS-stimulated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The cells were pretreated with the indicated concentrations of CME (5, 10, 20, and 50 μg/mL) and then treated with LPS (1 μg/mL). The results showed that CME (10, 20, and 50 μg/mL) inhibited the LPS- (1 μg/mL) induced mRNA and protein expression of iNOS in macrophage Raw 264.7 cells. In addition, the expression of COX-2 was inhibited at the mRNA and protein levels by CME in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6, were markedly reduced by CME (10, 20, and 50 μg/mL). Moreover, CME clearly suppressed the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunits, which was correlated with its inhibitory effect on I-κB phosphorylation. These results suggest that CME has anti-inflammatory properties by modulating the expression of COX-2, iNOS, and proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6, in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells via the NF-κB pathway.
Authoritarian learning: a conceptual overview

ABSTRACT There is increasing evidence that the renewed resilience of authoritarian regimes is due, in part, to authoritarian learning. While scholarly interest in authoritarian learning is growing, it remains an underdeveloped area of study. This article aims to provide an overview of the state of the field and to promote future research and debate. It begins with a discussion of how the broader concepts of learning are applicable to authoritarian learning, specifically. It then examines the primary strands of the existing literature and identifies areas for future research. The final section introduces the following two contributions to this three-article symposium.
Correlation of Papillomacular Nerve Fiber Bundle Thickness with Central Visual Function in Open-Angle Glaucoma

Purpose. To determine the correlation of reduced retinal thickness in the central papillomacular bundle (CPB) to central visual function, including central retinal sensitivity and visual acuity, in glaucoma patients. Methods. This study enrolled 50 eyes of 50 patients with open-angle glaucoma who were carefully screened for comorbid conditions that can cause decreased central visual function, such as cataracts or macular diseases. We used a novel CPB analysis comprising a program for optical coherence tomography that measured RNFL thickness and GCC thickness in the CPB and divided lengthwise into three parts (upper, middle, and lower CPB). The relationship of these parameters, including conventional macular thickness, to visual field sensitivity in four central standard automated perimetry points (the central four thresholds) and BCVA was analyzed. Results. The two parameters most highly correlated with central four thresholds were macular GCCT and macular RNFLT. The two parameters most highly correlated with BCVA were middle CPB (mid-CPB) GCCT and mid-CPB RNFLT. A multiple regression analysis revealed that mid-CPB GCCT was an independent factor impacting central retinal thresholds and BCVA. Conclusions. Our results suggest that mid-CPB RNFLT and GCCT, parameters of a novel papillomacular bundle analysis, are candidate biomarkers of decreased central visual function in glaucomatous eyes.
The Ccr4‐Not complex is a key regulator of eukaryotic gene expression

The Ccr4‐Not complex is a multisubunit complex present in all eukaryotes that contributes to regulate gene expression at all steps, from production of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in the nucleus to their degradation in the cytoplasm. In the nucleus it influences the post‐translational modifications of the chromatin template that has to be remodeled for transcription, it is present at sites of transcription and associates with transcription factors as well as with the elongating polymerase, it interacts with the factors that prepare the new transcript for export to the cytoplasm and finally is important for nuclear quality control and influences mRNA export. In the cytoplasm it is present in polysomes where mRNAs are translated and in RNA granules where mRNAs will be redirected upon inhibition of translation. It influences mRNA translatability, and is needed during translation, on one hand for co‐translational protein interactions and on the other hand to preserve translation that stalls. It is one of the relevant players during co‐translational quality control. It also interacts with factors that will repress translation or induce mRNA decapping when recruited to the translating template. Finally, Ccr4‐Not carries deadenylating enzymes and is a key player in mRNA decay, generic mRNA decay that follows normal translation termination, co‐translational mRNA decay of transcripts on which the ribosomes stall durably or which carry a non‐sense mutation and finally mRNA decay that is induced by external signaling for a change in genetic programming. Ccr4‐Not is a master regulator of eukaryotic gene expression. WIREs RNA 2016, 7:438–454. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1332
Creation of an Adiposity Index for Children Aged 6–8 Years: The Gateshead Millennium Study

Objective. A number of measures of childhood adiposity are in use, but all are relatively imprecise and prone to bias. We constructed an adiposity index (AI) using a number of different measures. Methods. Detailed body composition data on 460 of the Gateshead Millennium Study cohort at the age of 6–8 years were analysed. The AI was calculated using factor analysis on age plus thirteen measures of adiposity and/or size. Correlations between these variables, the AI, and more traditional measures of adiposity in children were investigated. Results. Based on the factor loading sizes, the first component, taken to be the AI, consisted mainly of measures of fat-mass (the skinfold measurements, fat mass score, and waist circumference). The second comprised variables measuring frame size, while the third consisted mainly of age. The AI had a high correlation with body mass index (BMI) (rho = 0.81). Conclusions. While BMI is practical for assessing adiposity in children, the AI combines a wider range of data related to adiposity than BMI alone and appears both valid and valuable as a research tool for studies of childhood adiposity. Further research is necessary to investigate the utility of AI for research in other samples of children and also in adults.
Continuous analysis of the additive Schwarz method: A stable decomposition in H1 with explicit constants

The classical convergence result for the additive Schwarz preconditioner with coarse grid is based on a stable decomposition. The result holds for discrete versions of the Schwarz preconditioner, and states that the preconditioned operator has a uniformly bounded condition number that depends only on the number of colors of the domain decomposition, the ratio between the average diameter of the subdomains and the overlap width, and on the shape regularity of the domain decomposition. The Schwarz method was however defined at the continuous level, and similarly, the additive Schwarz preconditioner can also be defined at the continuous level. We present in this paper a continuous analysis of the additive Schwarz preconditioned operator with coarse grid in two dimensions. We show that the classical condition number estimate also holds for the continuous formulation, and as in the discrete case, the result is based on a stable decomposition, but now of the Sobolev space H 1 . The advantage of such a continuous result is that it is independent of the type of fine grid discretization, and thus does the more natural continuous formulation of the Schwarz method justice. The upper bound we provide for the classical condition number is also explicit, which gives us the quantitative dependence of the upper bound on the shape regularity of the domain decomposition.
Fighting to survive in a 'woman's world' : an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of men's experiences of having breast cancer

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Why You Are More Engaged : Factors Influencing Jilin

Twitter has been used for engaging with audiences online in several popular political movements. In this paper we explore factors that influence the engagement of Twitter users during the recent Occupy Wall Street movement, where engagement is measured by retweets and hashtag usage related to the movement. Through analyzing Twitter activities of more than 18,000 users, we found that users’ general activity level, geographic location, topic interests and interpersonal interactions before the movement all had measurable effects on users’ engagement level during the movement.
From Solitary to Social: The Process of Resocialisation of Rescued Primates

Generally, non-human primates are social species. Literature indicates that suboptimal housing conditions and social deprivation may lead to the development of abnormal behaviour, which is considered a sign of impaired welfare (Shyne, 2006; Novak et. al, 2002; Novak, 2003; Dellinger-Ness and Handler, 2006). Most non-human primates that are rescued by AAP, a rescue centre for exotic animals, have a history which is characterized by social deprivation or isolation. Therefore, it is no surprise that many of these animals display abnormal behaviour when they arrive at AAP. Social housing of rescued primates is essential for improving their welfare and usually leads to an increase in natural behaviour and a decrease in abnormal behaviour. Social housing of primates is an important part of the resocialisation process, which is defined as reverting to a natural behaviour repertoire as much as possible. Social housing starts with introducing rescued primates to conspecifics, further referred to as social introductions. This paper will discuss some of the issues to take into account when performing social introductions.
Glaucoma in primates: cytochrome oxidase reactivity in parvo- and magnocellular pathways.

PURPOSE To evaluate the differential effects of ganglion cell depletion from experimental glaucoma on the relative metabolic activities of neurons in the parvo (P)- and magno (M)-cellular visual pathways of the macaque visual system. METHODS Monocular experimental glaucoma was induced in monkeys (Macaca mulatta and M. fascicularis) by applying a laser to the trabecular meshwork to increase intraocular pressure (IOP). After other behavioral and electrophysiological studies, the lateral geniculate nuclei (LGNs) and the primary visual cortices were analyzed for functional afference from surviving ganglion cells, indicated by cytochrome oxidase (CO) histochemistry. RESULTS CO reactivity (COR) indicated a general reduction in neural metabolism with increasing severity of glaucoma. COR in the LGNs was reduced to the same degree in both the P- and M-cellular layers. In layer 4Cbeta of the V1 cortex, the reactivity was always reduced more than in the layer 4Calpha division. CONCLUSIONS Experimental glaucoma in monkeys reduces visual afference to the central nervous system, thereby reducing the metabolic drive as indicated by COR. The detrimental effect of glaucoma did not appear to be any greater for the M-cell, rather than the P-cell pathway in the LGN or in the visual cortex. Both are affected by the duration and severity of the experimental glaucoma. Overall, the alterations in metabolism of neurons in the parallel visual pathways supplied by the Palpha and Pbeta ganglion cells do not suggest that tests based on the functional properties of one or the other would provide optimal assessment of glaucoma.
The State Children's Health Insurance Program and Job Mobility: Identifying Job Lock among Working Parents in Near-Poor Households

To assess whether near-poor parents' job mobility is reduced due to the non-portability of employer-provided health insurance—an effect termed job lock—the authors examine data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation for 1996 and 2001, years bracketing the introduction of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Among the working fathers whose children met the SCHIP eligibility criteria, those whose wives did not have their own employer-provided insurance were 5–6% more likely to separate from their current employer in the year of the later survey than in the year of the earlier survey, whereas those whose wives were insured exhibited no comparable change in mobility. These results confirm the presence of job lock: for men whose wives were uninsured, but not for those whose wives were insured, the authors argue, the SCHIP program presented a new opportunity to switch jobs without losing health insurance.
ERMIS - A novel biologically inspired flexible robotic mechanism for industrial applications

Biology inspires mechatronics for the development of mechanisms that are similar in many aspects with a living organism. Nature has to give various alternatives for most, if not for every, technical problem. In this work a novel mechanism, based on the spinal column of vertebrate animals, is presented to address specific industrial application needs. Moreover, the multilayered control scheme developed and the use of standard industrial grade control modules make the specific system suitable for demanding industrial needs, like spray enameling of sanitary ware products.
Bmc Cardiovascular Disorders Home-based versus Hospital-based Cardiac Rehabilitation after Myocardial Infarction or Revascularisation: Design and Rationale of the Birmingham Rehabilitation Uptake Maximisation Study (brum): a Randomised Controlled Trial [isrctn72884263] Cardiac Rehabilitationrandomis

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation following myocardial infarction reduces subsequent mortality, but uptake and adherence to rehabilitation programmes remains poor, particularly among women, the elderly and ethnic minority groups. Evidence of the effectiveness of home-based cardiac rehabilitation remains limited. This trial evaluates the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of home-based compared to hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation.