Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prenatal programming of sporting success: Associations of digit ratio (2D:4D), a putative marker for prenatal androgen action, with world rankings in female fencers

Abstract Associations of the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D), a putative marker for prenatal androgen action, and of absolute finger length, a putative marker for pubertal–adolescent androgen action, with sport performance were examined in a multinational sample of 87 world-class women épée fencers. Lower (masculinized) digit ratios correlated, although not significantly so, with better current and highest past world rankings. These correlations were significant for right-hand 2D:4D with controls for the most salient factors for 2D:4D (ethnicity) and world rankings (years of international experience, height, and weight). Longer (masculinized) fingers correlated strongly with better current and highest past world rankings; these correlations became insignificant with the same controls. Replicating previous evidence for fencers, left-handedness was much more prevalent in this sample (21%) than in the female general population, and left-handers had somewhat, but not significantly so, lower 2D:4D as well as better world rankings than right-handers. These findings extend related evidence suggestive of prenatal programming of aptitude across a variety of sports, especially running and soccer. Some known extragenital effects of prenatal testosterone that contribute to the development of efficient cardiovascular systems, good visuospatial abilities, physical endurance and speed, and to the propensity for rough-and-tumble play, apparently promote sporting success in adult life.
Vision-based Detection and Tracking for Space Navigation in a Rendezvous Context

This paper focuses on navigation issues for space au- tonomous, uncooperative rendezvous with targets such as satellites, space vehicles or debris. In order to fully local- ize, using a vision sensor, a chaser spacecraft with respect to a target spacecraft or debris, a visual model-based de- tection and tracking technique is proposed. Our track- ing approach processes complete 3D models of complex objects, of any shape by taking advantage of GPU ac- celeration. From the rendered model, correspondences are found with image edges and the pose estimation task is then addressed as a nonlinear minimization. For de- tection, which initializes the tracking, pose estimation is based on foreground/background segmentation and on an efficient contour matching procedure with synthetic views, over a few initial images. Our methods have been evaluated on both synthetic images and real images.
Modality, mood, and change of modal meanings: A new perspective

Abstract This paper has two goals. The first is to develop a cross-linguistically valid model of modality and mood that captures the most important dimensions along which modal expressions vary. I posit a model with two such dimensions, one of volitivity, and one of event-orientation vs. speaker-orientation, mood being placed at the speaker-oriented end relative to modality proper. The second goal is to provide a new perspective on semantic change of modal expressions on the basis of the proposed model. I argue that unidirectional change along the event-oriented / speaker-oriented dimension is the one overarching tendency of semantic change in modals. This stands in contrast to the widespread perception that change from deontic to epistemic is the dominant tendency. The directionality suggested in this new model is also more comprehensive than previously proposed tendencies of change, such as ‘‘from agent-oriented to epistemic’’, ‘‘from agent-oriented to speaker-oriented’’, and ‘‘from participant-internal to participant-external’’, as it better accounts for various kinds of change that have been previously neglected, including change from epistemic to deontic.
Objectivity and the role of history in the development and review of accounting standards

Considers what role history plays in the US accounting standard‐setting process and how this role may be constrained by an emphasis on objectivity and an adherence to a positivistic view of bureaucratic decision making. Explores the role history could play in the development and review of accounting standards and, in particular, how history might contribute to pluralizing the past, problematizing the present and revisioning the future.
Absorption, lipoprotein transport, and regulation of plasma concentrations of vitamin E in humans.

This review describes the general characteristics of vitamin E, then focuses on its absorption and transport in lipoproteins in normal subjects and in patients with either genetic abnormalities of lipoprotein metabolism or of vitamin E transport. The basis for the biological preference for RRR-cx-tocopherol over other forms of vitamin E is then discussed. Finally, the evidence that the hepatic tocopherolbinding protein regulates vitamin E transport and plasma a-tocopherol concentrations is presented. I. STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION O F VITAMIN E
Automated Evaluation of Network Intrusion Detection Systems in IaaS Clouds

This paper describes an approach for the automated security evaluation of operational Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS) in Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) cloud computing environments. Our objective is to provide automated and experimental methods to execute attack campaigns and analyze NIDS reactions, in order to highlight the ability of the NIDS to protect clients' virtual infrastructures and find potential weaknesses in their placement and configuration. To do so, we designed a three-phase approach. It is composed of the cloning of the target client's infrastructure to perform the subsequent audit operations on a clone, followed by the analysis of network access controls to determine the network accessibilities in the cloned infrastructure. Using evaluation traffic we modeled and generated, the last phase of the approach, presented in this paper, focuses on executing attack campaigns following an optimized algorithm. The NIDS alerts are analyzed and evaluation metrics are computed. Our approach is sustained by a prototype and experiments carried out on a VMware-based cloud platform.
An Approximation Algorithm for linfinity Fitting Robinson Structures to Distances

In this paper, we present a factor 16 approximation algorithm for the following NP-hard distance fitting problem: given a finite set $X$ and a distance $d$ on $X$, find a Robinsonian distance $d_R$ on $X$ minimizing the $l_{\infty}$-error $||d-d_R||_{\infty}=\mbox{max}_{x,y\in X}\{ |d(x,y)-d_R(x,y)|\}. $ A distance $d_R$ on a finite set $X$ is Robinsonian if its matrix can be symmetrically permuted so that its elements do not decrease when moving away from the main diagonalalong any row or column. Robinsonian distances generalize ultrametrics, line distances and occur in the seriation problems and in classification.
Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance

In 1941, Albert Alexander, a policeman in Oxford, England, was the first patient to ever be treated with an antibiotic. While tending to his garden, he had been scratched by a rose a scratch that quickly became infected by bacteria, probably Staphylococcus aureus with an admixture of various Streptococci, and turned septic. The sepsis spread, caused the patient’s head to swell with abscesses that necessitated the removal of one eye; in short, he was on the verge
Towards Micromechanical Radio: Overtone Excitations of a Microresonator Through the Nonlinearities of the Second and Third Order

A micromechanical resonator with eigenfrequencies in the megahertz-range is excited by signals having frequencies from tens of megahertz to gigahertz. The high-frequency excitation voltage is downconverted to mechanical force at the lower resonance frequency by the second-order force-voltage nonlinearity. The conversion is either assisted by additional local-oscillator signal or it is intrinsic due to an amplitude-modulated (AM) input signal. A circuit-simulator model is tested against measurements and an excellent agreement and thorough interpretation of the results is found. The third-order intercept point is measured and simulated to study the strength of the capacitive third-order nonlinearity. Finally, various nonlinear contributions are compared and further improvements for the device are suggested based on the simulations.
Comparative Study on Vector Control and Differential Geometry Decoupling Control Method of Induction Motor

Induction motor is a strong coupling, multivariable and nonlinear controlled object. This paper makes a comparative study of two decoupling control methods based on the theory of differential geometry and the classical vector control. The former uses nonlinear multi-input-multi-output state feedback decoupling method based on the theory of differential geometry, the latter uses rotor field-oriented control method. Results show vector control only realizes static decoupling between speed and rotor flux, which can not realize dynamic decoupling, In the process of transient regulation of flux linkage, the rotor speed subsystem doesn't achieve decoupling and rotor speed varies with response to flux linkage. Only when flux linkage becomes stable, rotor speed subsystem achieves decoupling. But the decoupling method based on the theory of differential geometry can realize full decoupling between flux linkage subsystem and rotor speed subsystem in the dynamic process, which have no influence on each other in the process of dynamic flux linkage or rotor speed regulation. Simulation and experimental results are demonstrated to prove decoupling method based on theory of differential geometry is better than that of vector control
The On-Line Shortest Path Problem Under Partial Monitoring

The on-line shortest path problem is considered under various models of partial monitoring. Given a weighted directed acyclic graph whose edge weights can change in an arbitrary (adversarial) way, a decision maker has to choose in each round of a game a path between two distinguished vertices such that the loss of the chosen path (defined as the sum of the weights of its composing edges) be as small as possible. In a setting generalizing the multi-armed bandit problem, after choosing a path, the decision maker learns only the weights of those edges that belong to the chosen path. For this problem, an algorithm is given whose average cumulative loss in n rounds exceeds that of the best path, matched off-line to the entire sequence of the edge weights, by a quantity that is proportional to 1/√n and depends only polynomially on the number of edges of the graph. The algorithm can be implemented with complexity that is linear in the number of rounds n (i.e., the average complexity per round is constant) and in the number of edges. An extension to the so-called label efficient setting is also given, in which the decision maker is informed about the weights of the edges corresponding to the chosen path at a total of m ≪ n time instances. Another extension is shown where the decision maker competes against a time-varying path, a generalization of the problem of tracking the best expert. A version of the multi-armed bandit setting for shortest path is also discussed where the decision maker learns only the total weight of the chosen path but not the weights of the individual edges on the path. Applications to routing in packet switched networks along with simulation results are also presented.
The SVM optimized by culture genetic algorithm and its application in forecasting share price

In the analysis of predicting share price based on Support Vector Machine (SVM), the parameters of SVM, c and sigma, which its value have important effect on the predicting accuracy, must be predetermined carefully. In order to solve this problem, this paper proposed a new Culture Genetic Algorithm (CGA) to optimize the parameters of SVM. Through embedding GA into the cultural algorithm framework, this CGA algorithm constructed the population space and the knowledge space based on genetic algorithm. The two spaces evolved independently, at the same time, the population space continuously transferred the evolving knowledge to the knowledge space, and then the knowledge space to achieve global optimization. Additionally, the proposed CGA-SVM model that can automated to determine the optimal values of SVM parameters was test on the prediction of share price of one listed company in China. Then we compared the accuracies of CGA-SVM with other models (Standard SVM, GA-SVM and GA-BPN). Experimental results showed that CGA-SVM performed the best prediction accuracy and generalization, implying that the hybrid of CGA with traditional SVM can serve as a promising alternative for predicting share price.
Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071 results in a greater proportion of healthy days and a lower percentage of academically stressed students reporting a day of cold/flu: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Acute psychological stress is positively associated with a cold/flu. The present randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effect of three potentially probiotic bacteria on the proportion of healthy days over a 6-week period in academically stressed undergraduate students (n 581) who received Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, Bifidobacterium longum ssp. infantis R0033, Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071 or placebo. On each day, participants recorded the intensity (scale: 0 = not experiencing to 3 = very intense) for nine cold/flu symptoms, and a sum of symptom intensity >6 was designated as a day of cold/flu. B. bifidum resulted in a greater proportion of healthy days than placebo (P≤ 0·05). The percentage of participants reporting ≥ 1 d of cold/flu during the 6-week intervention period was significantly lower with B. bifidum than with placebo (P< 0·05). There were no effects of B. infantis or L. helveticus compared with placebo on either outcome. A predictive model accounted for influential characteristics and their interactions on daily reporting of cold/flu episodes. The proportion of participants reporting a cold on any given day was lower at weeks 2 and 3 with B. bifidum and B. infantis than with placebo for the average level of stress and the most commonly reported number of hours of sleep. Daily intake of bifidobacteria provides benefit related to cold/flu outcomes during acute stress.
Content-based image retrieval systems: A survey

In many areas of commerce, government, academia, and hospitals, large collections of digital im- ages are being created. Many of these collections are the product of digitizing existing collections of analogue photographs, diagrams, drawings, paintings, and prints. Usually, the only way of search- ing these collections was by keyword indexing, or simply by browsing. Digital images databases however, open the way to content-based searching. In this paper we survey some technical aspects of current content-based image retrieval systems.
The Effects of Related and Unrelated Cuts on Television Viewers' Attention, Processing Capacity, and Memory

This study tested the differential effects of two different types of cuts (related and unrelated) on attention, capacity, and audio and visual memory for the information contained in television messages. Related cuts were related by either visual or audio information. Unrelated cuts occurred between two completely unrelated scenes. Unrelated cuts were always associated with a change in content. Related scenes were never associated with a change in content. Results showed that both related and unrelated cuts resulted in cardiac orienting responses. Reaction times were slower immediately following unrelated cuts than when following related cuts, indicating that processing unrelated cuts required more capacity than processing related cuts. Memory was better for information presented after related cuts than it was for information presented after unrelated cuts. This effect was greater for visual memory than for audio memory. These results add to the growing body of knowledge on how people process television.
Magnet or sticky? an OSS project-by-project typology

For Open Source Software (OSS) projects, retaining existing contributors and attracting new ones is a major concern. In this paper, we expand and adapt a pair of population migration metrics to analyze migration trends in a collection of open source projects. Namely, we study: (1) project stickiness, i.e., its tendency to retain existing contributors and (2) project magnetism, i.e., its tendency to attract new contributors. Using quadrant plots, we classify projects as attractive (highly magnetic and sticky), stagnant (highly sticky, weakly magnetic), fluctuating (highly magnetic, weakly sticky), or terminal (weakly magnetic and sticky). Through analysis of the MSR challenge dataset, we find that: (1) quadrant plots can effectively identify at-risk projects, (2) stickiness is often motivated by professional activity and (3) transitions among quadrants as a project ages often coincides with interesting events in the evolution history of a project.
Towards a model of cross-sectoral policy development in leisure: the case of sport and tourism

Whilst leisure studies has now become an established field of academic analysis, there is still little literature on the dynamics of the leisure policy process, particularly in the area of cross-sectoral liaison. This paper attempts to synthesize previous research relating to general policy dynamics in developing a model of cross-sectoral policy development. In developing this model, particular attention is given to two major ESRC funded projects of the 1980s – work on Inter-Governmental Relations and Government Industry Relations – which produced two recognizably different models of the policy process. A combined model is proposed which is used to examine and compare the structures of the sport and the tourism policy communities and to analyse how these structures might effective the emergence of a sport-tourism policy network. In conclusion, the extent to which the model this paper develops might be applicable to other areas of leisure policy is discussed.
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience Cellular Neuroscience

, but the effect on SR dynamics is still unclear. Quantal analysis of crustacean neuromuscular synapses revealed reduction of quantal content and number of available release sites and spared quantal size and release probability at HP (Golan et al., 1994, 1995). HP-induced reduction of synaptic inputs was relieved by increasing [Ca 2+ ] o , and mimicked by lowering [Ca 2+ ] o in both, brain and crustacean preparations. HP and low [Ca 2+ ] o increased facilitation/potentiation in crustacean neuromuscular (Grossman and Kendig, 1990; Golan and Grossman, 1992) and cerebellar parallel fiber (Etzion and Grossman, 2000) " unsaturated " synapses. But " saturated " synapses exhibited either pressure-independent paired-pulse-depression
Isothermal real-time polymerase chain reaction detection of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 on a light-actuated digital microfludics platform

We report on a light-actuated digital microfluidics platform for real-time, isothermal helicase-dependent polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This platform is used to detect Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1). Reagents in droplets are individually addressed, mixed, transported and arrayed on-chip before the PCR process. 16 droplets were formed from mixing 400 nl PCR master mix droplets with 35 nl HSV-1 viral lysate droplets, arrayed into a 4×4 matrix, and amplified simultaneously, all on chip. Amplification and detection of HSV-1 can be achieved within 45 minutes. No cross contamination was observed.
A measurement model for trustworthiness of information on social network services

Due to the spread of unreliable online information on social network services (SNS), the users are faced with a difficult problem for determining if the information is trustworthy or not. At present, the users should make a decision overall by themselves for trustworthiness of information. Therefore, we need a way to systematically evaluate trustworthiness of information on SNS. In this paper, we design a trust metrics, called TII (Trust Index for Information on SNS), as a criterion for measuring the trust degree of information on SNS. Using TII, the users are readily able to determine whether the information is trustworthy. Consequently, we can estimate the social trust degree based on the variation of TII. This paper derives the various factors affecting trust from the properties of SNS, and proposes a model to evaluate the trustworthiness of information that is directly produced and distributed over the online network. Quantifying the trust degree of the information on SNS allows the users to make efficient use of the social network.
The numbers game: A case study of mathematical literacy at a South African newspaper1

Abstract This paper draws on a mathematics audit of a South African newspaper to make a quantitative assessment of numerical accuracy in that local paper. It attempts to answer three research questions: how often do news reports in a daily newspaper include a quantitative element? How often do mathematical errors occur in those reports? What types of mathematical errors occur in those reports? Twelve consecutive weekday editions of the Cape Times, a daily newspaper based in Cape Town, South Africa, were examined to measure the frequency of quantitative elements in news reports, the frequency of mathematical errors in those reports containing quantitative elements, and the types of errors that occur. The data revealed that a large proportion of news reports include a quantitative element, supporting the hypothesis that journalists need to be mathematically literate. News reports with a quantitative element had a high rate of numerical errors, mostly due to a lack of ability in or attention to basic arithmetic. The findings raise questions about the numerical competency of South African journalists and concerns about the ability of the South African media to perform their normative role within a developing democracy.
Stress, Social Support, and Depression: A Test of the Stress‐Buffering Hypothesis in a Mexican Sample

This study examined social support as a potential moderator between stress and depressive symptoms among Mexican university applicants aged 16–21 years (N = 6,715; M age = 17.9 years; 55% female). In bivariate analyses, perceived stress was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, and social support with lower levels of both stress and depression. Moderation analyses conducted using hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that global social support reduced the association between stress and depression. Analyses examining support from different sources (family, friends, and significant other) indicated that family support played a unique role in buffering the negative effects of stress. Findings are consistent with the stress-buffering hypothesis and confirm the importance of the family as Mexican youth enter late adolescence.
Planning with Durative Actions in Stochastic Domains

Probabilistic planning problems are typically modeled as a Markov Decision Process (MDP). MDPs, while an otherwise expressive model, allow only for sequential, non-durative actions. This poses severe restrictions in modeling and solving a real world planning problem. We extend the MDP model to incorporate-1) simultaneous action execution, 2) durative actions, and 3) stochastic durations. We develop several algorithms to combat the computational explosion introduced by these features. The key theoretical ideas used in building these algorithms are -- modeling a complex problem as an MDP in extended state/action space, pruning of irrelevant actions, sampling of relevant actions, using informed heuristics to guide the search, hybridizing different planners to achieve benefits of both, approximating the problem and replanning. Our empirical evaluation illuminates the different merits in using various algorithms, viz., optimality, empirical closeness to optimality, theoretical error bounds, and speed.