Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantifying the Ebbinghaus figure effect: target size, context size, and target-context distance determine the presence and direction of the illusion

Over the last 20 years, visual illusions, like the Ebbinghaus figure, have become widespread to investigate functional segregation of the visual system. This segregation reveals itself, so it is claimed, in the insensitivity of movement to optical illusions. This claim, however, faces contradictory results (and interpretations) in the literature. These contradictions may be due to methodological weaknesses in, and differences across studies, some of which may hide a lack of perceptual illusion effects. Indeed, despite the long history of research with the Ebbinghaus figure, standardized configurations to predict the illusion effect are missing. Here, we present a complete geometrical description of the Ebbinghaus figure with three target sizes compatible with Fitts' task. Each trial consisted of a stimulus and an isolated probe. The probe was controlled by the participant's response through a staircase procedure. The participant was asked whether the probe or target appeared bigger. The factors target size, context size, target-context distance, and a control condition resulted in a 3 × 3 × 3+3 factorial design. The results indicate that the illusion magnitude, the perceptual distinctiveness, and the response time depend on the context size, distance, and especially, target size. In 33% of the factor combinations there was no illusion effect. The illusion magnitude ranged from zero to (exceptionally) 10% of the target size. The small (or absent) illusion effects on perception and its possible influence on motor tasks might have been overlooked or misinterpreted in previous studies. Our results provide a basis for the application of the Ebbinghaus figure in psychophysical and motor control studies.
The new approach of Rijndael key schedule

The key schedule function in Rijndael block cipher did not receive the same amount of attention during design as the cipher components. Based on our research, there are several properties in key schedule that seemed to violate the design criteria, which was published by NIST, and this has lead to many types of attack performed on Rijndael block cipher. The aim of this research is to produce a new key schedule algorithm, an enhancement from the Rijndael key scheduling, which follows the principle of secure cipher by Shannon, where the new key schedule must satisfy the bit confusion and diffusion properties for security purpose. After both keys from schedule algorithms (Rijndael and the proposed approach) have been analyzed, the results show that the proposed approach satisfies the requirement that set by Shannon in achieving both of the properties.
Influence diagram of physiological and environmental factors affecting heart rate variability: an extended literature overview

Heart rate variability (HRV) corresponds to the adaptation of the heart to any stimulus. In fact, among the pathologies affecting HRV the most, there are the cardiovascular diseases and depressive disorders, which are associated with high medical cost in Western societies. Consequently, HRV is now widely used as an index of health. In order to better understand how this adaptation takes place, it is necessary to examine which factors directly influence HRV, whether they have a physiological or environmental origin. The primary objective of this research is therefore to conduct a literature review in order to get a comprehensive overview of the subject. The system of these factors affecting HRV can be divided into the following five categories: physiological and pathological factors, environmental factors, lifestyle factors, non-modifiable factors and effects. The direct interrelationships between these factors and HRV can be regrouped into an influence diagram. This diagram can therefore serve as a basis to improve daily clinical practice as well as help design even more precise research protocols.
Observer‐based control of linear complementarity systems

In this paper we present observer and output‐based controller design methods for linear complementarity systems (LCS) employing a passivity approach. Due to various inherent properties of LCS, such as the presence of state jumps, mode dynamics described by differential and algebraic equations (DAEs), and regions for certain modes being lower dimensional, various observer and control design schemes that have been proposed for other classes of (hybrid) dynamical systems do not apply to LCS. In particular, we present an observer design method for LCS which is effective even in the presence of state jumps. We show the well‐posedness of the observer, in the sense of existence and uniqueness of solution trajectories for the estimated state, and prove the global exponential stability of the observation error. These two properties guarantee that the estimated state exponentially recovers the state of the system. For the problem of stabilization based on output measurements only, we adopt an observer‐based control approach in which we apply a state feedback law to the estimated state obtained from the observer. We prove that the resulting closed‐loop system is well‐posed and globally exponentially stable. In order to show the well‐posedness of the closed loop, novel well‐posedness results for LCS based on low‐index properties are presented. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in the Rat Nucleus Accumbens

The effects of glutamate metabotropic receptors (mGluRs) on excitatory transmission in the nucleus accumbens were investigated using electrophysiological techniques in rat nucleus accumbens slices. The broad‐spectrum mGluR agonist (1S,3R)‐1‐aminocyclopentyl‐1,3‐dicarboxylate, the mGluR group 2 selective agonists (S)‐4‐carboxy‐3‐hydroxyphenylglycine, (1S,3S)‐ACPD) and (2S,1′S,2′S)‐2‐(2′‐carboxycyclopropyl)glycine (L‐CCG1), and the mGluR group 3 specific agonist L‐2‐amino‐4‐phosphonobutyrate (L‐AP4) all reversibly inhibited evoked excitatory synaptic responses. The specific group 1 mGluR agonist (R,S)‐3,5‐dihydroxyphenylglycine [(R,S)‐DHPG] did not depress transmission. Dose‐response curves showed that the rank order of agonist potencies was: L‐CCGI > L‐AP4 > (1 S,3S)‐ACPD. Group 2 and 3 mGluRs inhibited transmission via a presynaptic mechanism, as they increased paired‐pulse facilitation, decreased the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents and had no effect on their amplitude. The mGluRs did not inhibit transmitter release by reducing voltage‐dependent Ca2+ currents through N‐ or P‐type Ca2+ channels, as inhibition persisted in the presence of a‐conotoxin‐GVIA or Aga‐IVA. The depression induced by mGluRs was not affected by specific antagonists of dopamine D1, GABA‐B or adenosine A1 receptors, indicating direct effects. Finally, (13,s)‐DHPG specifically blocked the postsynaptic afterhyperpolarization current (Iahp). Our results represent the first direct demonstration of functional mGluRs in the nucleus accumbens of the rat.
The Efficiency of ITQs in the Presence of Congestion Externalities : Reply to Danielsson

Professor Danielsson (this journal 2000) argues that congestion externalities are solved if individual transferable quotas (ITQs) are introduced. This is in direct contrast to my own research (Boyce 1992, Corollary 1, p. 399). Danielsson raises an interesting question about how congestion externalities should be modeled. However, I argue that my own result is fundamentally correct, based on the assumptions I made. Furthermore, my paper defined congestion externalities in a manner that is consistent with the literature, while Danielsson does not. In addition, the manner in which Danielsson specifies congestion externalities is indistinguishable from a pecuniary externality—thus it is hardly surprising that he finds that ITQs simultaneously solve both the congestion and common property externality problems.
Circadian rhythms in the development of obesity: potential role for the circadian clock within the adipocyte

Obesity is one of the most profound public health problems today, and simplistic explanations based on excessive nutritional consumption or lack of physical activity are inadequate to account for this dramatic and literal growth in our world population. Recent reports have suggested that disruptions in sleep patterns, often linked to our ‘24‐h’ lifestyle, are associated with increased body fat and altered metabolism, although the cause–effect relationship for these associations has yet to be elucidated. Abnormal sleep/wake patterns likely alter intracellular circadian clocks, which are molecular mechanisms that enable the cell/tissue/organism to anticipate diurnal variations in its environment. The environment may include circulating levels of nutrients (e.g. glucose, fatty acids and triglycerides) and various hormones (e.g. insulin, glucocorticoids). As such, alterations in this molecular mechanism, in particular within the adipocyte, likely induce metabolic changes that may potentiate disrupted metabolism, adipose accumulation and/or obesity. Although diurnal variations in adipokines and adipose tissue metabolism have been observed, little is known regarding the molecular mechanisms that influence these events.
EGFR controls IQGAP basolateral membrane localization and mitotic spindle orientation during epithelial morphogenesis

Establishing the correct orientation of the mitotic spindle is an essential step in epithelial cell division in order to ensure that epithelial tubules form correctly during organ development and regeneration. While recent findings have identified some of the molecular mechanisms that underlie spindle orientation, many aspects of this process remain poorly understood. Here, we have used the 3D‐MDCK model system to demonstrate a key role for a newly identified protein complex formed by IQGAP1 and the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) in controlling the orientation of the mitotic spindle. IQGAP1 is a scaffolding protein that regulates many cellular pathways, from cell‐cell adhesion to microtubule organization, and its localization in the basolateral membrane ensures correct spindle orientation. Through its IQ motifs, IQGAP1 binds to EGFR, which is responsible for maintaining IQGAP1 in the basolateral membrane domain. Silencing IQGAP1, or disrupting the basolateral localization of either IQGAP1 or EGFR, results in a non‐polarized distribution of NuMA, mitotic spindle misorientation and defects in single lumen formation.
Genetic Variation in Financial Decision Making Forthcoming

Individuals di¤er in how they compose their investment portfolios, yet empirical models of portfolio risk typically only account for a small portion of the cross-sectional variance. This paper asks if genetic variation can explain some of these individual di¤erences. Following a major pension reform Swedish adults had to compose a portfolio from a large menu of funds. We match data on these investment decisions with the Swedish Twin Registry and nd that approximately 25% of individual variation in portfolio risk is due to genetic variation. We also show that these results extend to several other aspects of nancial decision-making. David Cesarini is at the Department of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN); Magnus Johannesson and Björn Wallace are at the Department of Economics, Stockholm School of Economics; Paul Lichtenstein is at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet; and Örjan Sandewall is at the Department of Economics, London School of Economics and Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN). We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers and the editors for detailed comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. We also thank Malcolm Baker, Jonathan Beauchamp, Terry Burnham, Chris Dawes, Esther Duo, Ernst Fehr, James Fowler, Glenn Harrison, David Laibson, Matthew Notowidigdo, Magnus Dahlquist, Sandy Jencks, James Poterba, Drazen Prelec, Andrei Shleifer and Per Strömberg for helpful discussions. The Institute of Industrial Economics provided a hospitable environment in which a rst draft of this paper was written. The usual caveat applies. An Internet Appendix containing supporting material is available at http://www.afajof. org/supplements.asp.
Compressive Sensing for Wideband SAR Imaging Systems

In this paper the adaptive basis selection (ABS) compressed sensing method is proposed. In contrast to conventional compressed sensing with fixed sparsifying basis, the proposed ABS method adapts the basis to the image as the image is evolved during the iterations of the algorithm. In this method the sparsifying basis is selected from a set of bases based on the information from incomplete measurements without any a priori knowledge of proper basis. The algorithm benefits from the ability to search through a diverse set of bases for unknown signals. A decision metric is introduced based on the sparsity of the image and the coherence between the measurement and sparsifying matrices. This decision metric makes the adapting process possible for practical applications. The results of our experiments show that the proposed algorithm is capable of recovering 2D synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images very well without compromising the complexity of the recovery process.
Pharmacological Treatment of Obesity in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder affecting women of reproductive age and it is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Obesity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PCOS, and the majority of patients with PCOS are obese. Over the last 20 years, the prevalence of obesity has dramatically increased, with probable associated increase in PCOS. Weight reduction plays an integral part in the management of women with PCOS. In this paper, current available weight reduction therapies in the management of PCOS are discussed.
Perforin-Dependent Cryptococcal Microbicidal Activity in NK Cells Requires PI3K-Dependent ERK1/2 Signaling1

Previously, NK cells have been reported to kill the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans through a perforin-dependent mechanism; however, the receptor and signaling involved are unknown. In this report we sought to identify the signaling pathways activated and required for direct perforin-mediated killing of microbes. In this study, using the NK-like cell line YT and primary peripheral blood NK cells, it is demonstrated that YT cells kill C. neoformans and that the killing is accompanied by the activation of PI3K. We demonstrate that inhibition of either the catalytic subunit (using a pharmacological inhibitor) or the α-regulatory subunit (using small interfering RNA knockdown) of PI3K significantly inhibited the killing of C. neoformans. Downstream of PI3K, ERK1/2 was activated in a PI3K-dependent fashion and was required for cryptococcal killing. Furthermore, we demonstrate that perforin release from YT cells can be detected by 4 h after contact of the YT cells with C. neoformans and that the release of perforin is blocked by pharmacological inhibition of either PI3K or ERK1/2. Defective degranulation is rooted in the inability to polarize perforin-containing granules toward the target. Finally, we demonstrate that PI3K-ERK1/2-dependent signaling is activated and required for the killing of C. neoformans by primary NK cells. Taken together, these data identify a conserved PI3K-ERK1/2 pathway that is used by NK cells during the direct killing of C. neoformans and demonstrate that the pathway is essential in the formation and activation of the microbicidal mechanism.
ShapeCanvas: An Exploration of Shape-Changing Content Generation by Members of the Public

Shape-changing displays - visual output surfaces with physically-reconfigurable geometry - provide new challenges for content generation. Content design must incorporate visual elements, physical surface shape, react to user input, and adapt these parameters over time. The addition of the 'shape channel' significantly increases the complexity of content design, but provides a powerful platform for novel physical design, animations, and physicalizations. In this work we use ShapeCanvas, a 4×4 grid of large actuated pixels, combined with simple interactions, to explore novice user behavior and interactions for shape-change content design. We deployed ShapeCanvas in a café for two and a half days and observed users generate 21 physical animations. These were categorized into seven categories and eight directly derived from people's personal interest. This paper describes these experiences, the generated animations and provides initial insights into shape-changing content design.
Geography, assortative mating, and the effects of sexual selection on speciation with gene flow

Theoretical and empirical research on the evolution of reproductive isolation have both indicated that the effects of sexual selection on speciation with gene flow are quite complex. As part of this special issue on the contributions of women to basic and applied evolutionary biology, I discuss my work on this question in the context of a broader assessment of the patterns of sexual selection that lead to, versus inhibit, the speciation process, as derived from theoretical research. In particular, I focus on how two factors, the geographic context of speciation and the mechanism leading to assortative mating, interact to alter the effect that sexual selection through mate choice has on speciation. I concentrate on two geographic contexts: sympatry and secondary contact between two geographically separated populations that are exchanging migrants and two mechanisms of assortative mating: phenotype matching and separate preferences and traits. I show that both of these factors must be considered for the effects of sexual selection on speciation to be inferred.
Paracentesis modeling and VR-based interactive simulation with haptic display for clinical skill training and assessment

In this paper we describe the development of an interactive virtual reality (VR) system that aims to realistically simulate specific paracentesis clinical procedures (particularly the procedure involved in the catheterization of the subclavian vein). Two elastostatic finite element (FE) models are developed to enable physically based simulation of the deformable tissues, particularly skin deflection during needle insertion. The first one is a two-dimensional approximation FE model, while the second one is a further simplified 1D model with inhomogeneous properties. Simulation results from both FE models are compared to real experimental data available in the literature (reporting on human skin deformation profiles) and demonstrate their applicability for realtime interactive applications under the specific constraints and assumptions of the paracentesis simulation application considered in this paper. Furthermore, a haptic feedback device is coupled with the VR-based simulation to provide the user with realistic feeling of the interaction forces applied during the simulated paracentesis procedure. The system described in this paper is developed in the frames of a research project aiming to develop a larger-scale virtual environment simulator of emergency room scenarios and protocols for clinical skill training and assessment.
Smoking Amplifies Cardiovascular Risk in Patients With Hypertension and Diabetes

Smoking is considered an important “risk factor” for arterial hypertension and diabetes management, according to, respectively, the current guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension and the European Society of Cardiology on the management of arterial hypertension (1) and the guidelines on diabetes of the European Society of Cardiology and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (2). The aim of the current article is to further evaluate the effect of smoking on mortality and cause-specific cardiovascular events in hypertension and in diabetes and to assess whether there is a significant interaction between the effects of smoking and diabetes. To assess the effect of smoking on mortality and cause-specific cardiovascular events, and the interaction between smoking and diabetes, we analyzed a database of 3,468 hypertensive patients without major cardiovascular disease at baseline and with prospective follow-up for morbidity and mortality (3). The database consists of individual data of hypertensive patients from four prospective studies performed in Europe (4–7). Age of the subjects averaged 61 ± 13 years (mean ± SD), 45% were men, and 61% were under antihypertensive treatment at baseline. Office blood pressure averaged 159.0 ± 19.9/91.0 ± 11.7 mmHg and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure 138.1 ± 16.4/82.3 ± 11.0 mmHg. Current smoking and diabetes were coded as yes or no at the baseline examination; 13.7% of the patients smoked and 8.4% had diabetes. We used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to assess the prognostic significance of smoking, with stratification for study and adjustment for age, sex, diabetes, total cholesterol, 24-h systolic blood pressure, antihypertensive treatment, and BMI. The average 24-h blood pressure was used because its predictive power has been shown to be superior to that of office blood pressure (3). Median follow-up time was 6.57 years (range 0.08–13.1) and total follow-up time amounted to …
Poincaré inequalities and quasiconformal structure on the boundary of some hyperbolic buildings

In this paper we shall show that the boundary 9Ip,q of the hyperbolic building Ip,q considered by M. Bourdon admits Poincare type inequalities. Then by using Heinonen-Koskela's work, we shall prove Loewner capacity estimates for some families of curves of WIp,q and the fact that every quasiconformal homeomorphism f : 0Ip,q d9Ip,q is quasisymmetric. Therefore by these results, the answer to questions 19 and 20 of Heinonen and Semmes (Thirty-three YES or NO questions about mappings, measures and metrics, Conform Geom. Dyn. 1 (1997), 1-12) is NO.