Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neural Systems underlying Lexical Competition: An Eye Tracking and fMRI Study

The present study investigated the neural bases of phonological onset competition using an eye tracking paradigm coupled with fMRI. Eighteen subjects were presented with an auditory target (e.g., beaker) and a visual display containing a pictorial representation of the target (e.g., beaker), an onset competitor (e.g., beetle), and two phonologically and semantically unrelated objects (e.g., shoe, hammer). Behavioral results replicated earlier research showing increased looks to the onset competitor compared to the unrelated items. fMRI results showed that lexical competition induced by shared phonological onsets recruits both frontal structures and posterior structures. Specifically, comparison between competitor and no-competitor trials elicited activation in two nonoverlapping clusters in the left IFG, one located primarily within BA 44 and the other primarily located within BA 45, and one cluster in the left supramarginal gyrus (SMG) extending into the posterior superior temporal gyrus. These results indicate that the left IFG is sensitive to competition driven by phonological similarity and not only to competition among semantic/conceptual factors. Moreover, they indicate that the SMG is not only recruited in tasks requiring access to lexical form but is also recruited in tasks that require access to the conceptual representation of a word.
Genetics of Uveal Melanoma and Cutaneous Melanoma: Two of a Kind?

Cutaneous melanoma and uveal melanoma both derive from melanocytes but show remarkable differences in tumorigenesis, mode of metastatic spread, genetic alterations, and therapeutic response. In this review we discuss the differences and similarities along with the genetic research techniques available and the contribution to our current understanding of melanoma. The several chromosomal aberrations already identified prove to be very strong predictors of decreased survival in CM and UM patients. Especially in UM, where the overall risk of metastasis is high (45%), genetic research might aid clinicians in selecting high-risk patients for future systemic adjuvant therapies.
Easy and Efficient Disk I/O Workload Characterization in VMware ESX Server

Collection of detailed characteristics of disk I/O for workloads is the first step in tuning disk subsystem performance. This paper presents an efficient implementation of disk I/O workload characterization using online histograms in a virtual machine hypervisor VMware ESX Server. This technique allows transparent and online collection of essential workload characteristics for arbitrary, unmodified operating system instances running in virtual machines. For analysis that cannot be done efficiently online, we provide a virtual SCSI command tracing framework. Our online histograms encompass essential disk I/O performance metrics including I/O block size, latency, spatial locality, I/O interarrival period and active queue depth. We demonstrate our technique on workloads of Filebench, DBT-2 and large file copy running in virtual machines and provide an analysis of the differences between ZFS and UFS filesystems on Solaris. We show that our implementation introduces negligible overheads in CPU, memory and latency and yet is able to capture essential workload characteristics.
Using behavioural insights for citizen compliance and cooperation

Abstract In recent years, public agencies have frequently deployed behavioural insights to generate benefits for society, through encouraging citizens to comply with official requests, and more generally encouraging them to cooperate with public agencies to help deliver outcomes of collective benefit. In parallel, there has been a large increase in the amount and quality of the research evidence available on behavioural public policy. This review takes two contrasting areas where behavioural insights have been used: tax collection where government policy is compulsory (i.e. requiring compliance), and energy use where social objectives are non-compulsory, and achieved more by persuasion and encouragement. Processes of modifying and changing behaviour require different approaches whether the change is deemed necessary by the state or not. In taxes, the sole use of enforcement is rarely efficacious, whereas increasing the uncertainty of follow-up and audit increases compliance. Offering discounts for energy bills appears to be an effective method for achieving cooperation. However, the use of social norms and increased information and professional advice is effective for both compulsory and non-compulsory areas of compliance and cooperation. This has important implications for policymakers, who may be seeking effective methods of encouraging behaviour change. While there are differences in approaches for compulsory and non-compulsory areas of policy, there may be areas that move from non-statutory to statutory in the future. In this case, the development of desired social norms appears to be the most effective method of ensuring overall compliance.
Scalar quantifiers: Logic, acquisition, and processing

Superlative quantifiers (‘at least 3’, ‘at most 3’) and comparative quantifiers (‘more than 2’, ‘fewer than 4’) are traditionally taken to be interdefinable: the received view is that ‘at least n’ and ‘at most n’ are equivalent to ‘more than n–1’ and ‘fewer than n+1’, respectively. Notwithstanding the prima facie plausibility of this claim, Geurts and Nouwen (2007) argue that superlative quantifiers have essentially richer meanings than comparative ones. Geurts and Nouwen's theory makes three kinds of predictions that can be tested by experimental means. First, it predicts that superlative and comparative quantifiers should give rise to different patterns of reasoning. Second, the theory leads us to expect that children will master comparative quantifiers before superlative ones. Third, superlative quantifiers should be harder to process than comparative ones. We present three experiments that confirm these predictions.
Toward Self-Healing Multitier Services

Are self-heating database-centric multitier services Utopia or just a hard puzzle? We argue for the latter and aim to identify the missing pieces of this puzzle. We advocate robust and scalable learning-based approaches to self-healing that we expect to work well for a large class of multitier services. We identify performance-availability problems (PAPs) as the most relevant target for self-healing, and argue that PAPs are best addressed macroscopically. outside the realm of individual tiers. Finally, we lay out a research agenda for learning-based approaches to self-healing, to enable wider deployment of self-healing multi-tier services.
Infrared signal detection by upconversion technique

We demonstrated up-conversion assisted detection of a 2.05-μm signal by using a bulk periodically poled Lithium niobate crystal. The 94% intrinsic up-conversion efficiency and 22.58% overall detection efficiency at pW level of 2.05-μm was achieved.
Adding tocilizumab or switching to tocilizumab monotherapy in methotrexate inadequate responders: 24-week symptomatic and structural results of a 2-year randomised controlled strategy trial in rheumatoid arthritis (ACT-RAY)

Objective In patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite methotrexate, to compare the efficacy of adding tocilizumab to that of switching to tocilizumab monotherapy. Methods Double-blind, 2-year study in which adults with active RA (DAS28 >4.4) despite methotrexate were randomly assigned either to continue methotrexate with the addition of tocilizumab (MTX+TCZ) 8 mg/kg every 4 weeks or switch to tocilizumab and placebo (TCZ+PBO). The primary endpoint was the DAS28–erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) remission rate at week 24. Secondary objectives included other symptomatic outcomes, quality of life and progression of structural damage. Results Of 556 randomly assigned patients, 512 (92%) completed 24 weeks. DAS28–ESR remission rates were 40.4% for TCZ+MTX and 34.8% for TCZ+PBO (p=0.19); American College of Rheumatology 20/50/70/90 rates were 71.5%/45.5%/24.5%/5.8% (TCZ+MTX) and 70.3%/40.2%/25.4%/5.1% (TCZ+PBO; differences not significant). A significant difference between groups was seen for low DAS28 (61.7% vs 51.4%). Radiographic progression was small and not different between groups (Genant–Sharp score progression ≤ smallest detectable change in 91% (TCZ+MTX) and 87% (TCZ+PBO)). Rates per 100 patient-years of serious adverse events and serious infections were 21 and six, respectively, for TCZ+MTX and 18 and six, respectively, for TCZ+PBO. Alanine aminotransferase elevations greater than threefold the upper limit of normal occurred in 7.8% and 1.2% of TCZ+MTX and TCZ+PBO patients, respectively. Conclusion No clinically relevant superiority of the TCZ+MTX add-on strategy over the switch to tocilizumab monotherapy strategy was observed. The combination was more commonly associated with transaminase increases. Meaningful clinical and radiographic responses were achieved with both strategies, suggesting that tocilizumab monotherapy might be a valuable treatment strategy in suitable RA patients.
An efficient broadcast authentication scheme in wireless sensor networks

A broadcast authentication mechanism is important in wireless sensor networks, assuring receivers of a packet's validity. To provide authentication, some researchers utilize one way key chains and delayed disclosure of keys; however, such an approach requires time synchronization and delayed authentication. Another technique uses one-time signature schemes. Unfortunately, such schemes suffer from large key sizes and a limited number of uses per key. To cope with these problems, we propose an efficient, one-time signature-based broadcast authentication scheme for wireless sensor networks that reduces storage usage and includes a re-keying mechanism.
pO2, pH, and Redox Potential of Experimental Abscesses

Summary Abscesses were induced in rats by injection of turpentine or turpentine plus bacteria. Other abscesses were induced by subcutaneous nitrogen injections followed by bacteria. pO2 of the abscesses was diminished (mean 25.3 mm Hg, range 0-75 mm Hg), the pH was acid (mean 7.0, range 6.2-7.2), and the oxidation-reduction potential was lowered (mean +1 mV, range −20 to +40 mV). Since low pO2 interferes with PMN bactericidal activity, this may in part explain the frequent failure of undrained abscesses to resolve.
Detecting delay flaws by very-low-voltage testing

The detectability of delay flaws can be improved by testing CMOS IC's with a very low supply voltage-between 2 and 2.5 times the threshold voltage V/sub t/ of the transistors. A delay flaw is a defect that causes a local timing failure but the failure is not severe enough to cause malfunctioning. Delay flaws caused by degraded signals and gates with lower drive capability than expected are considered. This paper investigates the voltage dependence of the effects of delay flaws and derives the test conditions for them.
Development of Extracellular matrix-nano Hydroxyapatite composite scaffold for Bone tissue engineering

Adipose tissue has an extracellular matrix (ECM) which is enriched in the fibrillar protein collagen, elastin, basement membrane protein laminin, Glycosaminoglycans, and proteoglycans. All the components have very important role in tissue development and function, hence applicable in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. We decellularised the adipose tissue using the combination of 1) Physical methods such as blending and freeze-thawing and the 2) chemical methods such as SDS. We found that the subsequent freeze dried decellularized adipose tissue results in highly porous scaffold of average pore size 257µm. We characterized the scaffold and found that it is suitable for soft tissue engineering applications but it is not suitable for bone tissue engineering because of its poor mechanical strength. To increase the mechanical strength, we prepared the composite of hydroxyapatite nanoparticle and ECM and characterized by FTIR and XRD. We prepared the Hydroxyapatite nanoparticle by wet chemical method and ECM-nano hydroxyapatite composite scaffold by the suspension method. The scaffolds fabricated possess a porous structure with an average pore size of 170µm and with an improved mechanical strength which is suitable for bone tissue engineering.
AGO2 Negatively Regulates Type I Interferon Signaling Pathway by Competition Binding IRF3 with CBP/p300

Viral infection triggers a series of signaling cascades and host innate immune responses, including interferon (IFN) production, which depends on coordinated activity of multiple transcription factors. IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and transcriptional coactivator CREB binding protein (CBP) and/or p300 are core factors that participate in transcriptional complex formation in the nucleus. In general, cells balance the production of IFNs through suppressive and stimulative mechanisms, but viral infections can disrupt such equilibrium. This study determined that H5N1 viral infection reduced the distribution of human argonaute 2 (AGO2) in A549 cell nucleus. AGO2 did not block phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and DNA binding ability of IRF3 but inhibited its association with CBP. Therefore, this newly revealed mechanism shows that cellular response leads to transfer of AGO2 from cell nucleus and promotes IFN-β expression to increase host survival during viral infection.
Geología de la Hoja Paraíso (1:10 000), Costa Rica

Este trabajo presenta los datos derivados del cartografiado geologico de la hoja Paraiso (3445-IV-23), escala 1:10 000, ubicada dentro del Valle Central de Costa Rica, junto con los aspectos estructurales e hidrogeologicos de mayor relevancia. En general se determino la existencia de un basamento rocoso asociado a la Formacion Pacacua del Mioceno Superior, sobreyacido discordantemente por materiales provenientes del paleovolcan Irazu, relacionados a la Formacion Paraiso del Pleistoceno Medio y a la Formacion Reventado del Pleistoceno Superior. Debido a las condiciones climaticas y a la composicion de los materiales volcanicos se ha desarrollado la unidad Capa de Laterita el Rincon, la cual aflora en la mayor parte de la hoja. Estos materiales son sobreyacidos discordantemente por los Depositos Aluviales del Pleistoceno Superior y por los Depositos Lacustres, mientras que los Depositos Aluviales Actuales sobreyacen discordantemente a los materiales anteriores debido a cambios en el nivel base de los rios producto de la tectonica activa en la region. Segun observaciones morfologicas se plantea un modelo estructural con un eje de esfuerzos de orientacion N-S, compuesto por fallas inversas de orientacion E-W, con fallas de desgarre asociadas con orientacion NE-SW y NW-SE. El modelo hidrogeologico esta conformado por dos acuiferos asociados a coladas de lava, con capacidad intermedia y afectado por los efectos de la actividad tectonica en el sector E de la hoja.
Immunity to Francisella

In recent years, studies on the intracellular pathogen Francisella tularensis have greatly intensified, generating a wealth of new information on the interaction of this organism with the immune system. Here we review the basic elements of the innate and adaptive immune responses that contribute to protective immunity against Francisella species, with special emphasis on new data that has emerged in the last 5 years. Most studies have utilized the mouse model of infection, although there has been an expansion of work on human cells and other new animal models. In mice, basic immune parameters that operate in defense against other intracellular pathogen infections, such as interferon gamma, TNF-α, and reactive nitrogen intermediates, are central for control of Francisella infection. However, new important immune mediators have been revealed, including IL-17A, Toll-like receptor 2, and the inflammasome. Further, a variety of cell types in addition to macrophages are now recognized to support Francisella growth, including epithelial cells and dendritic cells. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are clearly important for control of primary infection and vaccine-induced protection, but new T cell subpopulations and the mechanisms employed by T cells are only beginning to be defined. A significant role for B cells and specific antibodies has been established, although their contribution varies greatly between bacterial strains of lower and higher virulence. Overall, recent data profile a pathogen that is adept at subverting host immune responses, but susceptible to many elements of the immune system's antimicrobial arsenal.
Global Phosphorus Recovery for Agricultural Reuse

Abstract. Phosphorus is is an element necessary for the development of crops and is thus commonly applied as fertilizer to sustain agricultural production. It occurs naturally at indefinite quantities, of uncertain quality, in phosphate rock formations, but also concentrates itself in urban and livestock wastewater wherefrom it is often lost as a pollutant. Recovering phosphorus from wastewater to partially meet agricultural demand can contribute to tackling both phosphorus pollution as well natural resource depletion. Here we show that humans discharge a maximum of 3.7 Mt P into wastewater thereby potentially satisfying 20 % of the global fertilizer demand. Provided 2015 market dynamics, however, we conclude that only 4 % of this throughput is technologically and economically recoverable while rock phosphate products exist. Nonetheless, through this recovery many wastewater treatment facilities can contribute to creating sustainable communities as well as protecting the environment, while reducing their own operational cost.
Development of Novel Breast Cancer Recurrence Prediction Model Using Support Vector Machine

Purpose The prediction of breast cancer recurrence is a crucial factor for successful treatment and follow-up planning. The principal objective of this study was to construct a novel prognostic model based on support vector machine (SVM) for the prediction of breast cancer recurrence within 5 years after breast cancer surgery in the Korean population, and to compare the predictive performance of the model with the previously established models. Methods Data on 679 patients, who underwent breast cancer surgery between 1994 and 2002, were collected retrospectively from a Korean tertiary teaching hospital. The following variables were selected as independent variables for the prognostic model, by using the established medical knowledge and univariate analysis: histological grade, tumor size, number of metastatic lymph node, estrogen receptor, lymphovascular invasion, local invasion of tumor, and number of tumors. Three prediction algorithms, with each using SVM, artificial neural network and Cox-proportional hazard regression model, were constructed and compared with one another. The resultant and most effective model based on SVM was compared with previously established prognostic models, which included Adjuvant! Online, Nottingham prognostic index (NPI), and St. Gallen guidelines. Results The SVM-based prediction model, named 'breast cancer recurrence prediction based on SVM (BCRSVM),' proposed herein outperformed other prognostic models (area under the curve=0.85, 0.71, 0.70, respectively for the BCRSVM, Adjuvant! Online, and NPI). The BCRSVM evidenced substantially high sensitivity (0.89), specificity (0.73), positive predictive values (0.75), and negative predictive values (0.89). Conclusion As the selected prognostic factors can be easily obtained in clinical practice, the proposed model might prove useful in the prediction of breast cancer recurrence. The prediction model is freely available in the website (http://ami.ajou.ac.kr/bcr/).
Regularization of the differential inverse orientation problem of generic serial revolute joint manipulators

Orienting manipulators in robotics are used to achieve the desired orientation of the end effector of the manipulator. These manipulators are composed of rotational joints, and thus inherently burdened with singularities. In singular configurations, the differential inverse orientation problem can not be applied since the Jacobian becomes singular. A regularization method is discussed that regularizes the Jacobian in singular configurations, by first transforming the angle-axis representation of angular velocities to infinitezimal rotation about an axis and infinitezimal translation perpendicular to that axis, then regularizing the infinitezimal translational motion in the new representation. It is shown that the Jacobian of generic manipulators composed of three rotational joints is always regularizable, so methods based on the Jacobian can be applied even in singular configurations. The method is generalized to redundant orienting manipulators as well, and its application is demonstrated on two examples: a 3R Euler wrist and a 4R Hamilton wrist.
A Zero-Voltage-Switching Contour-Based Outphasing Power Amplifier

A parallel class-E modified Chireix outphasing power amplifier (PA) that can maintain high efficiency across a wide output power range is presented. The architecture presented essentially implements a zero voltage switching (ZVS) contour-based PA using a modified Chireix outphasing structure. It utilizes the inherent load modulation present in the outphasing scheme and combines it with duty cycle modulation to satisfy ZVS conditions over a wide range of output powers. Thus, a ZVS contour-based PA is realized, and the amplifier maintains high efficiency for about 9-dB back-off of output power. Beyond the 9-dB range, simple outphasing is performed to extend the dynamic range up to about 30 dB. The proposed PA, implemented using discrete components on an FR4 printed circuit board, achieves a dynamic range of 30 dB with a peak power of 29 dBm and a peak drain efficiency of 65% at about 6-dB back-off from the peak output power at 100 MHz from a 3-V supply.
Determination of main vertical ore-lift shaft location in two planes

A method of determination of main vertical ore-lift shaft location considering the difference between freight traffics is presented. The method is based on the rule of academician L D Shevyakov: “When freights are concentrating on one line and considering the minimum transportation work the main vertical ore-lift shaft must be located in a place of concentrating of this freight. If this freight would be summed with all the freights from the left, the result would be more than the freights from the right. If this freight would be summed with all the freights from the right, the result would be more than the freights from the left”.