Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of obesity on respiratory resistance.

To assess the effects of obesity on pulmonary function, 46 healthy subjects exhibiting various degrees of obesity underwent lung function tests. Subjects were divided into three groups according to body mass index (BMI): 13 had minimal obesity (BMI, 25 to 29 kg/m2, group 1); 24 had a BMI in the 30 to 40 range (group 2); and 9 displayed to morbid obesity (BMI > 40, group 3). Respiratory resistance was estimated by the forced random noise oscillation technique and airway resistance was determined by body plethysmography. Lung volumes and expiratory flows were also determined and significant negative correlations with BMI were found. Expiratory flows diminished in proportion to lung volumes, and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity was within normal limits. Although expiratory flows did not suggest bronchial obstruction, both respiratory resistance and airway resistance rose significantly with the level of obesity (p < 0.005 and p < 0.025, respectively), from 3.2 (+/- 0.02) and 3.2 (+/- 0.02) cm H2O.s. L-1, respectively, in group 1, to 5.5 (+/- 0.06) and 5.0 (+/- 0.05), respectively, in group 3. Evaluation of the factors responsible for this increased resistance disclosed a significant linear correlation between airway conductance and functional residual capacity (r = 0.70, p < 10(-4)), but specific airway conductance was found to be independent of the degree of obesity. The difference between respiratory resistance and airway resistance did not widen significantly according to the level of obesity, suggesting that chest wall resistance was not a factor enhancing these resistances. Taken together, these findings suggest that in addition to the elastic load, obese subjects have to overcome increased respiratory resistance resulting from the reduction in lung volumes related to being overweight.
Reshetikhin{Turaev invariants of Seifert 3{manifolds and a rational surgery formula

We calculate the RT{invariants of all oriented Seifert manifolds directly from surgery presentations. We work in the general framework of an arbitrary modular category as in (Tu), and the invariants are expressed in terms of the S {a nd T{matrices of the modular category. In another direction we derive a rational surgery formula, which states how the RT{ invariants behave under rational surgery along framed links in arbitrary closed oriented 3{manifolds with embedded colored ribbon graphs. The surgery formula is used to give another derivation of the RT{invariants of Seifert manifolds with orientable base. AMS Classication 57M27; 17B37, 18D10, 57M25
Near-Infrared Colors of Hard X-Ray-selected Active Galactic Nuclei

We present results of near-infrared photometry (J, H, Ks) for a hard X-ray-selected sample of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) obtained from optical identification of the sources detected in ASCA surveys (total ~75 deg2) with a flux limit of (1-3) × 10-13 ergs s-1 cm-2 (2-10 keV). The sample covers the AGNs at 0.1 ≲ z ≲ 1 with L2-10 keV ~ 1042-1046 ergs s-1 with very high completeness. The near-infrared photometric data of the sample are obtained from the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) and observations with Kitt Peak National Observatory 2.1 m telescope and the University of Hawaii 2.2 m telescope. The fraction of red (J-KS > 2 mag) AGNs in our sample is ~2% ± 1%, which is comparable with that for optically or UV-selected quasi-stellar objects (QSOs, i.e., luminous AGNs). The number of red AGNs found in our sample is consistent with that expected from the surface density of red AGNs found in 2MASS by Cutri et al. (2001). We find that the anomalously small dust-to-gas ratios in circumnuclear gas, which is seen in some AGNs with Seyfert-class luminosity, also occur in the QSOs (AGNs with luminosity of L2-10 keV ≥ 1044.5 ergs s-1) in the systematically surveyed sample in hard X-rays. For all the QSOs with an X-ray absorption of NH ≥ 1022 cm-2 in our sample, the values of AV/NH are smaller than the Galactic value by a factor of ~5 to ~100. Since the fraction of this population among the QSOs in our sample is about 30%, the fraction of optical/UV-selected type 1 QSOs known to date may show a type 2 nature in X-ray.
Confidential Communication Techniques for Virtual Private Social Networks

In this paper, we are concerned with techniques for establishing confidentiality of user-generated content (UGC), shared in centralised and untrusted online social networks (OSNs). We describe how the concepts of secret sharing and steganography can be combined to result in a technique for sending confidential messages, as part of a proposed architecture for a virtual private social network (VPSN). We consider the types of UGC confidentiality threats that the VPSN can mitigate, based on those of a decentralised online social network (DOSN). We also postulate the concept of a virtual distributed online social network (VDOSN) in which a VPSN is established across multiple centralised OSNs.
Q-learning for history-based reinforcement learning

We extend the Q-learning algorithm from the Markov Decision Process setting to problems where observations are non-Markov and do not reveal the full state of the world i.e. to POMDPs. We do this in a natural manner by adding ‘0 regularisation to the pathwise squared Q-learning objective function and then optimise this over both a choice of map from history to states and the resulting MDP parameters. The optimisation procedure involves a stochastic search over the map class nested with classical Q-learning of the parameters. This algorithm ts perfectly into the feature reinforcement learning framework, which chooses maps based on a cost criteria. The cost criterion used so far for feature reinforcement learning has been model-based and aimed at predicting future states and rewards. Instead we directly predict the return, which is what is needed for choosing optimal actions. Our Q-learning criteria also lends itself immediately to a function approximation setting where features are chosen based on the history. This algorithm is somewhat similar to the recent line of work on lasso temporal dierence learning which aims at nding a small feature set with which one can perform policy evaluation. The distinction is that we aim directly for learning the Q-function of the optimal policy and we use ‘0 instead of ‘1 regularisation. We perform an experimental evaluation on classical benchmark domains and nd improvement in convergence speed as well as in economy of the state representation. We also compare against MC-AIXI on the large Pocman domain and achieve competitive performance in average reward. We use less than half the CPU time and 36 times less memory. Overall, our algorithm hQL provides a better combination of computational, memory and data eciency than existing algorithms in this setting.
Wobble Inosine tRNA Modification Is Essential to Cell Cycle Progression in G1/S and G2/M Transitions in Fission Yeast*

Inosine (I) at position 34 (wobble position) of tRNA is formed by the hydrolytic deamination of a genomically encoded adenosine (A). The enzyme catalyzing this reaction, termed tRNA A:34 deaminase, is the heterodimeric Tad2p/ADAT2·Tad3p/ADAT3 complex in eukaryotes. In budding yeast, deletion of each subunit is lethal, indicating that the wobble inosine tRNA modification is essential for viability; however, most of its physiological roles remain unknown. To identify novel cell cycle mutants in fission yeast, we isolated the tad3-1 mutant that is allelic to the tad3+ gene encoding a homolog of budding yeast Tad3p. Interestingly, the tad3-1 mutant cells principally exhibited cell cycle-specific phenotype, namely temperature-sensitive and irreversible cell cycle arrest both in G1 and G2. Further analyses revealed that in the tad3-1 mutant cells, the S257N mutation that occurred in the catalytically inactive Tad3 subunit affected its association with catalytically active Tad2 subunit, leading to an impairment in the A to I conversion at position 34 of tRNA. In tad3-1 mutant cells, the overexpression of the tad3+ gene completely suppressed the decreased tRNA inosine content. Notably, the overexpression of the tad2+ gene partially suppressed the temperature-sensitive phenotype and the decreased tRNA inosine content, indicating that the tad3-1 mutant phenotype is because of the insufficient I34 formation of tRNA. These results suggest that the wobble inosine tRNA modification is essential for cell cycle progression in the G1/S and G2/M transitions in fission yeast.
Image Thresholding for Optical Character Recognition and Other Applications Requiring Character Image Extraction

Two new, cost-effective thresholding algorithms for use in extracting binary images of characters from machine- or hand-printed documents are described. The creation of a binary representation from an analog image requires such algorithms to determine whether a point is converted into a binary one because it falls within a character stroke or a binary zero because it does not. This thresholding is a critical step in Optical Character Recognition (OCR). It is also essential for other Character Image Extraction (CIE) applications, such as the processing of machine-printed or handwritten characters from carbon copy forms or bank checks, where smudges and scenic backgrounds, for example, may have to be suppressed. The first algorithm, a nonlinear, adaptive procedure, is implemented with a minimum of hardware and is intended for many CIE applications. The second is a more aggressive approach directed toward specialized, high-volume applications which justify extra complexity.
Extracellular cytolysis by activated macrophages and granulocytes. II. Hydrogen peroxide as a mediator of cytotoxicity

When deprived of oxygen, Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-activated macrophages no longer lysed P388 lymphoma cells. Both H2O2 release and cytotoxicity by BCG-activated macrophages and by granulocytes triggered with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) were markedly inhibited when the glucose concentration in the medium was reduced to 0.03 mM or less, or if glucose were replaced with galactose. Catalase abolished PMA- triggered cytotoxicity by both types of effector cells, whereas superoxide dismutase had no effect. Ferricytochrome C reduced the cytotoxicity of BCG-activated macrophages, an effect which was largely reversed by superoxide dismutase. 10 drugs, thought to quench singlet oxygen and/or scavenge hydroxyl radical, did not affect cytotoxicity in this system. Neither azide nor cyanide reduced cytolysis, but there was marked inhibition by lactoperoxidase and iodide. This suggested that cytotoxicity was not dependent upon myeloperoxidase, and that lactoperoxidase may have diverted H2O2 from the oxidation of target cells to oxidation of substances in serum. Mouse erythrocytes, although sensitive targets, interfered with the cytolysis of lymphoma cells, probably by competition for H2O2. Starch particles with covalently bound glucose oxidase resembled macrophages in their spatial relation to the target cells and in the flux of H2O2 they generated from their surface, but were not expected to produce any other potentially toxic products. Such particles lysed lymphoma cells, and the lysis was prevented by catalase. Neither arginase nor thymidine appeared to be involved in cytolysis by BCG-activated macrophages under the conditions used. These findings demonstrated that release of H2O2 was both necessary and sufficient for cytolysis by BCG-activated macrophages and by granulocytes when pharmacologically triggered.
Current mode analog integrated circuits and linearization techniques in CMOS technology

This thesis is divided into two parts: a section on current-mode ana¬ log integrated circuits and one on linearization techniques in CMOS technology. The most important building block of current-mode analog inte¬ grated circuits is the current mirror. In Chapter 3 four frequently used current mirrors are thoroughly investigated with respect to their out¬ put resistance, dc matching error, output voltage swing, bandwidth, high-frequency harmonic distortion, mismatch, and noise. With a new mathematical approach, accurate expressions of the output resistance and current ratio of the current mirrors have been obtained. A large variety of current-mode analog integrated circuits including linear, non¬ linear, conversion, and trigger circuits are presented in Chapter 4. It is shown that due to their simplicity, controllability, and versatility, current-mode circuits have great advantages over conventional voltagemode circuits. The analysis and the design are emphasized. In Chapters 5 and 6 a linearization technique called square difference algebraic identity is proposed to exploit the square-law current charac¬ teristic of MOS transistors operating in saturation and to implement high-performance transresistors and transconductors. Using this tech¬ nique, linear transresistors can be obtained using only two MOS tran¬ sistors for ac input current. The transconductance of linear transcon¬ ductors is linearly controllable via a dc voltage. Linear grounded and floating resistors are presented in Chapter 7, using a triangle-biasing technique to linearize the characteristic of the MOS transistor operat¬ ing in nonsaturation. Chapter 8 describes an all-MOS four-quadrant, analog multipUer with single-ended voltage output, which is based on
Bézier Triangles with G2 Continuity across Boundaries

PN (point-normal) triangles are cubic Bezier triangles which meet at their edges to surface a triangular mesh, but this only achieves G0 continuity. We define blending regions that span the edges shared by adjacent pairs of triangular domains and blend the corresponding Bezier triangles using a univariate blending function formulated in terms of barycentric coordinates. This produces G2 continuity across boundaries while preserving G1 continuity at vertices. The sharpness of the blends can be controlled locally by varying the extent of these blending regions. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique by showing several modeling examples.
Regular TreeMap layouts for visual analysis of hierarchical data

Hierarchical relationships play an utmost important role in many application domains. The appropriate visualization of hierarchically structured data sets can contribute towards supporting the data analyst in effectively analyzing hierarchic structures using visualization as a user friendly means to communicate information. Information Visualization has contributed a number of useful techniques for visualization of hierarchically structured data sets. Yet, the support for certain regularity requirements as arising from many data element types has to be improved. In this paper, we analyze an existing variant of the popular TreeMap family of hierarchical layout algorithms, and we introduce a novel TreeMap algorithm supporting space efficient layout of hierarchical data sets providing global regular layouts. We detail our algorithm, and we present applications on a real-world data set as well as experiments performed on a synthetic data set, showing its applicability and usefulness.
Language, Literature and Education in Multicultural Societies: Collaborative Research on Africa

This book presents a vivid overview of linguistic, literary and educational issues in a multicultural context from various perspectives. These range from large-scale surveys to specific analyses on aspects of language, literature and education. Contributions are very original and based on a common denominator: Multiculturalism. Despite the numerical dominance of contributions from Cameroon (one of the most multilingual countries in the world), this book brings together views from specialists in the different domains from several parts of the world (Africa, Europe and the United States of America). These contributions exhibit not theoretical issues that underpin current academic debates in linguistic and literary research, but also empirical and interesting data that can further be exploited to other ends. Critical views on literature and postcolonialism, the fears of language death with the advent of globalisation and the spread of English language, the educational significance or influence of the internet, the wealth of Cameroon/African literature and the education of the Cameroonian/African child, and theoretical issues in language and literary education are themes handled here in an accessible manner to readers without previous knowledge of language science, literature and education.
Complexity results for restricted instances of a paint shop problem

We study the following problem: an instance is a word with every letter occurring twice. A solution is a 2-coloring of the letters in the word such that the two occurrences of every letter are colored with different colors. The goal is to minimize the number of color changes between adjacent letters. This is a special case of the Paint Shop Problem, which was previously shown to be $\mathcal{NP}$-hard. We show that this special case is also $\mathcal{NP}$-hard and even $\mathcal{APX}$-hard
Guest Editors' Introduction: Labeling the World

Our actions in the physical world are increasingly linked with processes in the virtual world. The increased availability of machine-readable tags accelerates this merge and helps to blur the border between physical matter and digital bits in a variety of environments across the globe. This special issue on labeling the world presents five articles that together illustrate how labeling technology impacts human and machine processes today, samples application area diversity, and hints at where this powerful mechanism could take us tomorrow.
Picomole-scale characterization of protein stability and function by quantitative cysteine reactivity

The Gibbs free energy difference between native and unfolded states (“stability”) is one of the fundamental characteristics of a protein. By exploiting the thermodynamic linkage between ligand binding and stability, interactions of a protein with small molecules, nucleic acids, or other proteins can be detected and quantified. Determination of protein stability can therefore provide a universal monitor of biochemical function. Yet, the use of stability measurements as a functional probe is underutilized, because such experiments traditionally require large amounts of protein and special instrumentation. Here we present the quantitative cysteine reactivity (QCR) technique to determine protein stabilities rapidly and accurately using only picomole quantities of material and readily accessible laboratory equipment. We demonstrate that QCR-derived stabilities can be used to measure ligand binding over a wide range of ligand concentrations and affinities. We anticipate that this technique will have broad applications in high-throughput protein engineering experiments and functional genomics.
Too Good to Be True? An Examination of Three Economic Assessments of California Climate Change Policy

California's Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 limits California's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2020 to their 1990 level. In 2006, three studies were released indicating that California can meet its 2020 target at no net economic cost - raising questions about whether opportunities truly exist to substantially reduce emissions at no cost, or whether studies reaching such conclusions may simply severely underestimate costs. This paper provides an evaluation of these three California studies. We find that although opportunities may exist for some no-cost emission reductions, these studies substantially underestimate the cost of meeting California's 2020 target by omitting important components of the costs of emission reduction efforts and by overestimating offsetting savings that some of those efforts yield through improved energy efficiency. In some cases, the studies focus on the costs of particular actions to reduce emissions, but fail to consider the effectiveness and costs of policies that would be necessary to bring about such actions.
Victims of crime : problems, policies, and programs

Criminal Victimization - Wesley G Skogan, Arthur J Lurigio and Robert C Davis Patterns of Criminal Victimization in the United States - John H Laub Healing the Psychological Wounds of Criminal Victimization - Arthur J Lurigio and Patricia A Resick Predicting Postcrime Distress and Recovery Victims of Sexual Assault - Patricia A Resick Domestic Violence - Lucy N Friedman and Minna Shulman The Criminal Justice Response The Adjudication of Child Sexual Abuse Cases - Barbara E Smith Families and Friends - David S Riggs and Dean G Kilpatrick Indirect Victimization by Crime The Police - Irvin Waller First in Aid? Victim Service Programs - Robert C Davis and Madeline Henley Victim Participation in the Criminal Justice System - Deborah Kelly Restitution and Victim Rights in the 1980s - Susan Hillenbrand The 'Victims Movement' in Europe - Mike Maguire and Joanna Shapland Which Victim Movement? The Politics of Victim Policy - Robert Elias Crime Victims - Gilbert Geis Practices and Prospects
Fuzzy-belief K-nearest neighbor classifier for uncertain data

Information fusion technique like evidence theory has been widely applied in the data classification to improve the performance of classifier. A new fuzzy-belief K-nearest neighbor (FBK-NN) classifier is proposed based on evidential reasoning for dealing with uncertain data. In FBK-NN, each labeled sample is assigned with a fuzzy membership to each class according to its neighborhood. For each input object to classify, K basic belief assignments (BBA's) are determined from the distances between the object and its K nearest neighbors taking into account the neighbors' memberships. The K BBA's are fused by a new method and the fusion results are used to finally decide the class of the query object. FBK-NN method works with credal classification and discriminate specific classes, meta-classes and ignorant class. Meta-classes are defined by disjunction of several specific classes and they allow to well model the partial imprecision of classification of the objects. The introduction of meta-classes in the classification procedure reduces the misclassification errors. The ignorant class is employed for outliers detections. The effectiveness of FBK-NN is illustrated through several experiments with a comparative analysis with respect to other classical methods.
The time of origin of the mesencephalic trigeminal neurons in Xenopus

Time of orgin of the mesencephalic trigeminal cells (MTC) in Xenopus has been studied with 3H‐thymidine autoradiography. The first MTC's were formed at stage 20, and they continued to arise up to stage 58. The mitotic rate of MTC's was found to be ten per cent at any time from stages 20–50, with a slow decrease thereafter. MTC's in the tectum were distributed in a spatiotemporal manner. Cells generated earliest were located in the rostral pole of the tectum and were followed in caudomedial sequence by cells formed later. The generation times of MTC and the neurons of the sensory trigeminal ganglion (TGC) were strikingly dissimilar, indicating that they probably do not represent a common cell lineage, that is, the former may not arise from the mesencephalic neural crest. It is proposed that the majority of MTC's generated from stage 30 onward, derive through proliferative activity of precursor cells in the di‐mesencephalic junction and in the tectal neuroepithelium.