Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tunable nonequilibrium dynamics of field quenches in spin ice

Significance Spin ices are a class of magnetic compounds exhibiting a unique ground state in the form of a so-called magnetic Coulomb liquid that has as its excitations emergent magnetic monopoles. It is through the motion of these monopoles that spin ices are dynamical; dynamical studies thus exhibit new behavior on account of the exotic magnetic phase and also provide experimental evidence of its unusual monopole excitations. We find that nonequilibrium dynamics is an ideal setting for achieving both goals—in particular, it brings together notions from different types of dynamical systems popular in other branches of the natural sciences, such as reaction-diffusion problems, dimer physics, and kinematically constrained dynamics. Such dynamics can be transparently understood theoretically and simply probed experimentally. We present nonequilibrium physics in spin ice as a unique setting that combines kinematic constraints, emergent topological defects, and magnetic long-range Coulomb interactions. In spin ice, magnetic frustration leads to highly degenerate yet locally constrained ground states. Together, they form a highly unusual magnetic state—a “Coulomb phase”—whose excitations are point-like defects—magnetic monopoles—in the absence of which effectively no dynamics is possible. Hence, when they are sparse at low temperature, dynamics becomes very sluggish. When quenching the system from a monopole-rich to a monopole-poor state, a wealth of dynamical phenomena occur, the exposition of which is the subject of this article. Most notably, we find reaction diffusion behavior, slow dynamics owing to kinematic constraints, as well as a regime corresponding to the deposition of interacting dimers on a honeycomb lattice. We also identify potential avenues for detecting the magnetic monopoles in a regime of slow-moving monopoles. The interest in this model system is further enhanced by its large degree of tunability and the ease of probing it in experiment: With varying magnetic fields at different temperatures, geometric properties—including even the effective dimensionality of the system—can be varied. By monitoring magnetization, spin correlations or zero-field NMR, the dynamical properties of the system can be extracted in considerable detail. This establishes spin ice as a laboratory of choice for the study of tunable, slow dynamics.
Why Faces Are Not Special to Newborns

Newborns' visual preference for faces might be regarded as a proof of the existence of a specific innate bias toward this class of stimuli. However, recent research has shown that this putatively face-specific phenomenon might be explained as the result of the combined effect of nonspecific perceptual constraints that stem from the general properties of visual processing shortly after birth. General, nonspecific biases may tune the system toward certain aspects of the external environment, allowing, through experience, the emergence of increasingly specialized processes devoted to faces.
The comforting substrate and the right brain.

: The author tested the hypothesis that the comforting substrate is located in the right parietal area of the brain. Sixty subjects (39 women, 21 men) were given two forced-choice tasks treated as comparison experiments. Given the choice between two identical bright red balls (one on the left and one on the right), only 20% of the right-handed subjects chose the left ball (p < .01). Given the choice between identical stuffed, white bears, which were described as grieving and urgently in need of comfort, 54.5% of the subjects chose the left bear (p < .05, with ball selection as control and analyzed by the binomial). Considering only discordant pairs (left bear-right ball combination or vice versa), 20 of 23 subjects chose the left bear (p < .0002). Results suggest the possibility that right-brain lateralization of the comforting substrate is more pronounced among females, especially mothers.
An effective music information retrieval method using three-dimensional continuous DP

This paper describes a music information retrieval system that uses humming as the key for retrieval. Humming is an easy way for a user to input a melody. However, there are several problems with humming that degrade the retrieval of information. One problem is the human factor. Sometimes, people do not sing accurately, especially if they are inexperienced or unaccompanied. Another problem arises from signal processing. Therefore, a music information retrieval method should be sufficiently robust to surmount various humming errors and signal processing problems. A retrieval system has to extract the pitch from the user's humming. However, pitch extraction is not perfect. It often captures half or double pitches, which are harmonic frequencies of the true pitch, even if the extraction algorithms take the continuity of the pitch into account. Considering these problems, we propose a system that takes multiple pitch candidates into account. In addition to the frequencies of the pitch candidates, the confidence measures obtained from their powers are taken into consideration as well. We also propose the use of an algorithm with three dimensions that is an extension of the conventional Dynamic Programming (DP)algorithm, so that multiple pitch candidates can be treated. Moreover, in the proposed algorithm, DP paths are changed dynamically to take deltaPitches and IOIratios (inter-onset-interval) of input and reference notes into account in order to treat notes being split or unified. We carried out an evaluation experiment to compare the proposed system with a conventional system . When using three-pitch candidates with conference measure and IOI features, the top-ten retrieval accuracy was 94.1%. Thus, the proposed method gave a better retrieval performance than the conventional system.
Outcomes after anti-rheumatic drug use before and during pregnancy: a cohort study among 150 000 pregnant women and expectant fathers

Objectives: To study (i) the drug utilization pattern of anti-rheumatic drugs in pregnant women and expectant fathers and (ii) the association between the use of anti-rheumatic drugs during pregnancy and the risk of congenital malformations. Method: Pregnancies registered in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN) were linked to the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) in the period 2004–2007. Prescriptions for anti-rheumatic drugs issued to women 3 months prior to and during pregnancy and to men 3 months prior to conception were identified. Congenital malformations were recorded according to the European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies (EUROCAT) guidelines. Results: In 154 976 singleton pregnancies, 1461 of the women (0.9%) and 1198 (0.8%) of the known fathers (150 530) were dispensed anti-rheumatic drugs at least once during the study period: 723 had non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), 633 prednisolone (CS), 119 sulfasalazine (SASP), 101 azathioprine (AZA), 58 hydroxychloroquine (HQC), 37 etanercept (ETAN), eight methotrexate (MTX), two leflunomide (LEF), and three adalumimab (ADA). Odds ratios (ORs) for malformations in children born of women (w) or men (m) who had received the drugs were ORw = 1.06 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85–1.32] and ORm = 1.19 (95% CI 0.93–1.51), respectively, and for major malformation ORw = 1.05 (95% CI 0.79–1.40) and ORm = 1.26 (95% CI 0.93–1.71), respectively. None of the children whose mother had received MTX, LEF, ETAN, or ADA were reported to be born with major malformations. Conclusions: This study revealed no major malformations of the alert drugs MTX, LEF, ETAN, or ADA. Although the numbers are limited, this provides important population-based information to both expectant parents and prescribers.
‘Breaking the Cycle’ of maternal substance use through relationships: a comparison of integrated approaches

Abstract Background: To compare a novel relationship-focused intervention (RFI) for maternal substance use, offered through ‘Breaking the Cycle (BTC)’, to standard integrated treatment (SIT). Although SIT focuses on the mother–child relationship tangentially by providing basic parenting information, RFI involves a central focus on promoting healthy maternal relationships with a particular emphasis on fostering mother–child interactions. Method: Measures in the domains of addiction, relationship capacity, and mental health were administered to 65 women receiving RFI and 25 receiving SIT, at intake (T1) and one year later (T2). Results: While both groups of mothers improved in addiction severity, women receiving RFI also improved in mental health functioning and relationship capacity. Improvements in relationship capacity predicted addiction severity, over and above improvements in abstinence self-efficacy, social support, and mental health. Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of a relationship-focus in assisting mothers to make broad changes that support addiction recovery. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Lychee seed extract protects against neuronal injury and improves cognitive function in rats with type II diabetes mellitus with cognitive impairment

Lychee seed is a traditional Chinese medicine and has many beneficial effects such as modulation of blood sugar and lipids, antioxidation, antivirus and antitumor. Studies have indicated that type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) share common biological mechanisms including insulin resistance, impaired glucose metabolism, β-amyloid (Aβ) formation, oxidative stress and presence of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The present study investigated the effects of lychee seed extract (LSE) on neuroprotection, cognitive function improvement and possible underlying mechanisms in a rat model of T2DM with cognitive impairment. We analyzed the chemical profile of LSE using a UHPLC-SPD chromatogram and evaluated its effect on the improvement of spatial learning and memory of rats by a Morris water maze. The levels of glucose, insulin, Aβ, AGEs, Tau protein and acetylcholinesterase in the blood and/or hippocampus of rats were determined by blood-glucose meter, radioimmunoassay, chemical chromatometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemical analysis, respectively. Results demonstrated that LSE consists of eight major and around 20 minor ingredients, and it remarkably prevents neuronal injury and improves cognitive functions in T2DM rats. The levels of glucose, insulin, Aβ, AGEs and Tau protein were significantly increased in the blood and/or hippocampus of T2DM rats, while LSE remarkably decreased their levels compared to vehicle treatment (P<0.01). The possible mechanisms may be associated with IR improvement and decreased formations of Aβ, AGEs and Tau protein in the hippocampus of T2DM rats. LSE may be developed as the agent for the treatment of T2DM and/or AD clinically.
Rethinking Panethnicity and the Race-immigration Divide

Although demographic shifts continue to spark interest in the racially transformative effects of immigration, researchers routinely lament the lack of dialogue between race and immigration scholarship. We use recent research on panethnicity to illustrate the conceptual divides that exist between the two subfields. Panethnicity research has shed new light on the formation of group identities and political mobilization, but we contend that it is problematically divorced from research on racialization. Panethnicity scholars largely view racialization and panethnic group formation as separate processes, with the latter sequentially following the former. In this article, we argue that this analytical distinction both reflects and reifies the divide between race and immigration research and yields an incomplete understanding of the group formation process. We propose an ethnoracialization model to show how the concept of panethnicity can be reconfigured to develop a robust account of group formation and to bridge the much-lamented divide between race and immigration research.
Gender and Age Differences in Short- and Long-Term Outcomes Following Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND Studies have reported that women with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have worse short- and long-term outcomes than men. It has not yet been confirmed whether these differences reflect differences in age between men and women. METHODS We retrospectively enrolled 1035 consecutive STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Baseline clinical characteristics, coronary anatomy, and outcome were compared between young (< 65 years old) and older patients (≥ 65 years old) of both sexes. RESULTS Younger women presented with a lower incidence of typical angina (83% vs. 93%, p = 0.03), single-vessel disease (21% vs. 35%, p = 0.03), and total occlusion of infarct-related artery (65% vs. 83%, p = 0.001) than younger men, with no gender difference noted in the older group. Younger women in the study had a higher incidence of reinfarction, heart failure requiring admission, or mortality (23% vs. 6%, p < 0.001) during follow-up, compared with younger men, with no gender difference in the older group. Using the Kaplan-Meier analysis, younger women had lower rates of event-free survival (p < 0.001 by log-rank test) than younger men, with no gender difference in the older group. In multivariate analysis, age could predict long-term outcome in men (Hazard ratio 4.43, 95% confidence interval: 2.89-6.78, p < 0.001) but not in women. CONCLUSIONS In STEMI patients receiving primary PCI, sex-related long-term outcome differences were age-dependent, with younger women likely to have a worse long-term outcome when compared with younger men. KEY WORDS Coronary heart disease; Gender; Myocardial infarction.
The human Rothmund-Thomson syndrome gene product, RECQL4, localizes to distinct nuclear foci that coincide with proteins involved in the maintenance of genome stability

Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS) is a human genetic disorder characterized by genome instability, cancer susceptibility and premature aging. The gene defective in a subset of RTS cases, RECQL4, encodes a member of the RecQ family of DNA helicases. To better define the function of the RECQL4 protein, we have determined its subcellular localization. We have raised antibodies against the N- and C-terminal parts of RECQL4 and could show that in various human cells endogenous RECQL4 forms discrete nuclear foci that colocalize with promyelotic leukaemia protein (PML). The number of foci and their colocalization with PML does not significantly change after induction of different types of DNA damages. Silencing of RECQL4 expression by siRNA causes a significant reduction in RECQL4 nuclear foci formation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that RECQL4 foci coincide with foci formed by human Rad51 and regions of single-stranded DNA after induction of DNA double-strand breaks. In agreement with this, we also show that RECQL4 and Rad51 form a complex in human cells. Our findings suggest a role for RECQL4 in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks by homologous recombination and shed new light onto RECQL4's function in human cells.
The negative effect of red tape on procedural satisfaction

ABSTRACT In this study, we aim to replicate and extend the negative effect of red tape on procedural satisfaction by conducting an experiment via the online crowdsourcing service MTurk. Our findings indicate that a higher level of red tape is indeed associated with lower procedural satisfaction. We also find support for a statistically significant interaction between red tape and political ideology; the negative effect of red tape on procedural satisfaction is stronger for individuals with more conservative political views. These findings confirm the pathological nature of red tape and affirm the relevance of experimental red tape research.
Sarcolemmal ATP-sensitive potassium channels modulate skeletal muscle function under low-intensity workloads

ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels have the unique ability to adjust membrane excitability and functions in accordance with the metabolic status of the cell. Skeletal muscles are primary sites of activity-related energy consumption and have KATP channels expressed in very high density. Previously, we demonstrated that transgenic mice with skeletal muscle–specific disruption of KATP channel function consume more energy than wild-type littermates. However, how KATP channel activation modulates skeletal muscle resting and action potentials under physiological conditions, particularly low-intensity workloads, and how this can be translated to muscle energy expenditure are yet to be determined. Here, we developed a technique that allows evaluation of skeletal muscle excitability in situ, with minimal disruption of the physiological environment. Isometric twitching of the tibialis anterior muscle at 1 Hz was used as a model of low-intensity physical activity in mice with normal and genetically disrupted KATP channel function. This workload was sufficient to induce KATP channel opening, resulting in membrane hyperpolarization as well as reduction in action potential overshoot and duration. Loss of KATP channel function resulted in increased calcium release and aggravated activity-induced heat production. Thus, this study identifies low-intensity workload as a trigger for opening skeletal muscle KATP channels and establishes that this coupling is important for regulation of myocyte function and thermogenesis. These mechanisms may provide a foundation for novel strategies to combat metabolic derangements when energy conservation or dissipation is required.
Vehicle attitude estimation in adverse weather conditions using a camera, a GPS and a 3D road map

We investigate the scenario of a vehicle equipped with a camera and a GPS driving on a road whose 3D map is known. We focus on the case of a road under fog or/and snow conditions. The GPS is used to estimate the vehicle pose and yaw and then the 3D road map is projected onto the camera image. The vehicle pitch and roll angles are then refined by fitting the projected road to detected road markings. Finally, we discuss the pros and cons of the obtained road registrations in the images and of the vehicle pitch-roll estimates, with respect to the vehicle dynamics and the driving environment, in adverse weather conditions.
Image classification with visual words co-occurence matrix

Bag of visual words (BoW) representation has recently demonstrated impressive levels of performance in image classification tasks and attracted great attentions in computer vision community. Original BOW represents an image as an orderless collection of local features, while disregards all information about the spatial layout of the features, leads to a limited descriptive ability. Spatial pyramid matching (SPM) approximates geometric layout by partitioning the image into increasingly fine sub-regions, and has become a standard procedure for image classification. In this paper, we use cooccurence matrix to study the spatial layout of visual words, then represent an image with visual words co-occurence matrix (VWCM). We evaluate the proposed method, BOW and SPM on two standard datasets, i.e., 15 scenes and Caltech-256, with equal experimental protocol. The results validate the performance of VWCM in image classification.
A brief introduction to Distributed Cognition

History and Background The Distributed Cognition (dcog) approach was developed by Ed Hutchins ad his colleagues at University California, San Diego in the mid to late 80s as a radically new paradigm for rethinking all domains of cognitive phenomena. The traditional view of cognition is that it is a localised phenomenon that is best explained in terms of information processing at the level of the individual. In contrast Hutchins was making the claim that cognition is better understood as a distributed phenomenon. The theoretical and methodological base of the distributed cognition approach derives from the cognitive sciences, cognitive anthropology and the social sciences.
INCREASING STABILITY IN DYNAMIC GAITS USING NUMERICAL OPTIMIZATION

Optimal gait planning is applied in this work to the problem of improving stability in quadruped locomotion. In many settings, it is desired to operate legged machines at high performance levels where rapid velocities and a changing environment make stability of utmost concern. Since gait planning still remains a vital component of legged system control design, an efficient method of determining periodic paths is presented which optimize a dynamic stability criterion. Efficient recursive multibody algorithms are used with numerical optimal control software to solve the minimax performance stability criteria.
Electrophysiological, biochemical and ultrastructural effects of radiotherapy on normal rat sciatic nerve

Abstract Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the electrophysiological, biochemical and ultrastructural changes on the rat sciatic nerve after radiotherapy. Material and Methods: Thirty male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups as: Control group (n = 10), Group I: 3 months after radiotherapy (n = 10), and Group II: 6 months after radiotherapy (n = 10). Groups I and II were irradiated with a 60Co gamma source. A dose of 20 Gy in 10 fractions was applied to Groups I and II. Compound motor action potentials (CMAP) were recorded in all groups. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in the sciatic nerve of rats using the biochemical methods. Ultrastructural changes were determined by electron microscopy. Results: In Groups I and II, the amplitude of CMAP was significantly lower and the latency was significantly higher than that of the control group. There were no significant differences between Groups I and II regarding the CMAP amplitude and latency. The MDA levels were significantly increased, whereas the SOD and CAT activities were significantly decreased in experimental groups when compared with the control group. However, there were no significant changes in these parameters between Groups I and II. Degeneration in myelinated nerve fibers was observed ultrastructurally only in the experimental groups. Significant changes were observed between the control group and experimental groups in terms of ultrastructural myelin grading score and axonal damage score. No significant differences were found between Groups I and II. Conclusions: These findings indicated that the dose of 20 Gy in 10 fractions radiotherapy caused neuropathic damages in normal rat sciatic nerve 3 and 6 months after irradiation.
MRBAC/AR: an Information Flow Control Model to Prevent Both Intra- and Inter-Application Information Leakage

Preventing information leakage during program execution is essential for modem applications. This paper proposes a model to prevent information leakage for object-oriented systems, which is based on role-based access control (RBAC). It is named MRBAC/AR (modified RBAC for both intrA- and inteR-application information flow control) because it is a modification of RBAC96. It offers the following features: (a) adapting to dynamic object state change, (b) adapting to dynamic role change, (c) avoiding Trojan horses, (d) detailing access control granularity to variables, (e) controlling method invocation through argument sensitivity, (f) allowing declassification, (g) allowing purpose-oriented method invocation, (h) precisely controlling write access, and (i) preventing both intra- and inter-application information leakage. We evaluated MRBAC/AR through experiments. The evaluation result is also shown in this paper.